Destiny Amor is the best friend we all need who will lift up our spirits and give us strength to face another day. She has experienced much heartbreak in her young life but when she looks up at the heavens and thinks about her parents, she knows everything will be alright. She is upbeat, energetic and always has a smile on her face. Destiny had a dream to own her own business and she was working hard to make it come true. Ryan ‘Fletch’ Fletcher, or “Molly’s Dad” as he is known at the pet groomer’s where Destiny works, may be devastatingly handsome and in love with his dog, but he was just so hard to figure out. He was always in a hurry, a bit aloof and not very friendly. Destiny knew Fletch was a good person because he treated his dog Molly, like a princess.

Fletch had noticed how beautiful and carefree Destiny was but he had sworn off women and romance was not on his agenda. Fletch and Destiny bumped into each one day at the park, under the most peculiar and confusing circumstances. They were both embarrassed and upset but upon much reflection, this brought them closer together. Fletch became her business advisor and confidant and in return, Destiny agreed to be his fake girlfriend. Fletch vowed to keep Destiny firmly in the friend zone but that didn't last long as she fell for his charm, his dog and his kindness. Fletch needed someone like Destiny to brighten up his lonely life and show him that true love comes from the heart and that everyone deserves a second chance. Will Fletch leave his bachelor days behind him for a life full of fun adventures, quiet nights under the stars, and long walks with the woman of his dreams? I certainly hope so because Fletch and Destiny were always meant to be together!

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Tropes:
🩶small town
🩷grumpy x sunshine
🩶fake dating
🩷friends to lovers
🩶opposites attract
🩷dual first person POV
🩶meet cute— sorta 🤭😂
🩷rom com

This is not my first book by Melissa Foster, but it might just be one of my favorite books by her. The Mr Right Check list was one I could not put down and just wanted to keep reading. I definitely needed the palette cleansing story of Destiny and Ryan "Fletch".

The Fmc, Destiny Amor has just moved to town a few months ago to be close to her best friend, as she has no family left. Destiny is working with her friend as a dog groomer. This is not truly what she dreams of doing, she wants to open a marriage proposal business. Destiny, even with the loss she's experienced in her life walks around breathing sunshine and rainbows into others lives. She adores her 4 legged friends, especially Molly, who belongs to a man she has nicknamed Grumpy Gus.

The MMC, Ryan "Fletch" Fletcher is a hot professor, who after his divorce has given up on love. He has become a rather grumpy person, thus earning the nickname of "grumpy Gus" from Destiny. When an event she planned, ends up a disaster, he decides to help Destiny with her business and in return she'll help him by being a date to his brother's upcoming wedding.

What neither of them plan for is this fake friendship to become more real than either anticipated. But...
Fletcher doesn't check off any boxes on her Mr.
Right Checklist. Will they give each other a real chance at love? Will Fletch stop being so closed off to love? Will Destiny throw away her list and realize it's the little things in love that mean the most?

I'm a fan of Melissa's work but for me this book was so good, and I was not ready for this story to end. It was such a fun book to read with plenty of laughs, some tearing up moments, and the side characters and antics were great.

Another hit from Melissa

I loved this book! I knew Melissa Foster would be a five star but this book was such a fun read. I loved the dynamic of the two characters and their animals who have the mirrored personality of the opposite owner. This grumpy-sunshine romance was adorable. There were lots of cute little details that really made the book unique. It was nice to see a few characters who had their own books, but this one can certainly be read as a standalone.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a classic grumpy x sunshine rom-com. It was cute, it made me smile. I enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this!

The Mr Right Checklist, checked all my boxes. This was the book I didn't know I needed right now, it got me out of the little funk I was in. It was absolutely charming, adorable, sweet, spicy, heartfelt, emotional, romantic, it truly encompassed everything I look for in a romance book. I was absolutely hooked straight from the start, the characters were so endearing and loveable, add on some freaking adorable pets and I was an absolute goner. For me the love story and every little thing encompassed, the little attentions, all the details Melissa put into this book made for a masterpiece of a romance.

Destiny is an absolute joy, a little firecracker, I adored her with all my heart. She was so easy to love, to empathize for, she went through some hard things but she pushed through. Ryan “Fletch” is the epitome of a grumpy hero, but absolutely charming and oh so sexy, impossible not to fall for. Their chemistry was absolutely off the charts, the way Melissa created their romance and made it blossom was absolute chef's kiss. All the little subtle ways they show each other they care and love one another is the most beautiful thing. There were so many spectacular moments between these two, I even had teary eyes at some point.

There's a lot I could say, it truly just warmed my heart in the most perfect way. I just fell in love with Melissa's writing and her amazing storytelling skills. I can say this is not my last book I will be reading by her!

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @brilliance & @melissafoster for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Destiny Amor, a dog groomer turned aspiring marriage-proposal planner, believes wholeheartedly in true love. Even though her own Mr. Right hasn't come along yet, she's dedicated to helping others find happiness. But when her first attempt at planning a proposal goes awry, she’s ready to throw in the towel—until the supposed groom, Ryan "Fletch" Fletcher, proposes an arrangement of a different kind. Divorced and cynical about love, Fletch needs to convince his family he's off the market, so he offers Destiny a deal: he'll help her organize her chaotic business in exchange for her pretending to be his girlfriend for an upcoming family wedding.

I was initially hesitant due to the cover, but the intriguing title and synopsis convinced me to give this book a try, and I'm so glad I did! Right from the start, the story’s quick pace kept me turning pages, and I loved the unexpected, laugh-out-loud meet-cute that set the tone for Destiny and Fletch’s dynamic. While I don’t usually enjoy meet-cutes, this one was genuinely funny and refreshing.

Destiny is a delightful character, whose optimistic outlook, despite her difficult past, made her so endearing. I especially loved how much she cherished her parents, still paying her father’s phone bill so she could talk to him every day—a touching detail that made her feel even more real. She’s willing to go the extra mile to make those around her happy, and that warm, caring quality truly stood out. Fletch, on the other hand, was a wonderful contrast—grumpy on the surface but quietly kind and supportive underneath. Destiny’s witty, playful side had me smiling often, though at times, it did come across as a bit immature. That said, her personality created a nice balance with Fletch’s steady, grounded presence.

And as for the inevitable third-act breakup—usually a deal-breaker for me—I was relieved to see it handled quickly and resolved in a way that didn’t feel drawn out. The story wrapped up with a heartwarming happy ending that felt completely deserved and left me swooning.

In summary, this was an unexpectedly enjoyable read with a perfect mix of humor and warmth. Destiny and Fletch's story is one I’ll be recommending to romance fans looking for a fresh take on the grumpy /sunshine trope.

Destiny Amor finally has her proposal business up and running. She's got her first client and things are on their way! But when the first proposal goes horribly wrong, one of her dog grooming clients, Ryan, offers to help her with the practical business side of things to help her succeed more in business. In return, Destiny will be Ryan's date to his brother's wedding to help get his family off his back. Determined never to get his heart broken again, Ryan offers a fake relationship with an expiration date but can Destiny's deep belief in love help Ryan?

This started off as a grumpy x sunshine romance but I found the FMC too annoying to really enjoy the book. They even describe her as such in the book- "flighty" and "too bubbly, too-loud, too-pushy, and too-f&cking-adorable chatterbox." She felt too airheaded to run a business and Ryan kept having to rescue her from unrealistic ideas. I didn't like his shining-knight shtick. I wish Destiny had been a capable business owner all on her own.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

I really enjoyed this book! I felt all the emotions throughout and even laughed out loud at times. Another winner for Melissa Foster!! Destiny Amor aka Sunshine and Ryan Fletcher aka Fletch, aka Grumpy Gus, were wonderfully lovable characters! His dog Molly and her cat Clementine were a lot of fun! Destiny is genuinely a ray of sunshine and so full of light and joy! It was so much fun rooting for her to win over her commitment-phobe grumpy fake boyfriend, Fletch, without even trying. It’s just the way she is. And Fletch, is just yum. He will do anything for anyone and is all for helping Destiny while she helps him get his family off his back. But we all know what happens with these fake relationships when the chemistry is sizzling and positively through the roof. These two were just fire!
I truly enjoyed this special couple’s journey to a very sweet HEA!

This was a tear jerker and so cute! I loved Destiny. I love her spirit. She didn't have a mean bone in her body for humans and animals. Her parents have both passed away and she only has a best friend Ruby but she always shines bright. When she runs into Fletch everything that could go wrong does! But she never gives up! Fletch says he will never love again and Destiny is all about love. She has a checklist for the perfect guy. She also has a dream of starting a proposal business. Fletch offers to help her with getting her business started. From there the perfect friendship is started between these two. But as the more and more time they spend together, love starts to grow! But Fletch doesn't believe in love and he doesn't quite fit into Destiny's check list.
I loved this story! I was laughing, I was crying and I was so happy. There wasn't much drama and I really enjoyed that. The ending was perfect as well! So so so sweet!

ARC provided by NetGalley. While The Mr. Right Checklist had potential to be a charming, feel-good romance, it unfortunately fell short in delivering a captivating story. The premise of a woman following a literal checklist to find her ideal partner felt too formulaic, lacking originality and emotional depth. The plot is predictable and doesn’t offer much in terms of twists or meaningful surprises.
The characters, especially the protagonist, felt one-dimensional. Despite Foster’s attempts to create a relatable heroine, she comes off as cliché, and her personal growth throughout the story is minimal. The romance between the main characters lacked chemistry and felt rushed, making it difficult to fully invest in their relationship. The secondary characters, although humorous at times, also didn’t add much to the plot.
Additionally, the book's pacing is uneven, with certain sections dragging on while others, especially the climax and resolution, feel hastily put together.

After the tragedy of losing both her parent Destiny Amor still believes in family and love. With her part-time dog grooming job, she wants to start her own marriage proposal business. The client of her first job, a stalker to her grooming job´s client Fletch known as Grumpy Gus, becomes a monstrous disaster. She hasn't expected Fletch's help with the start of her business in exchange for being his fake girlfriend. Ryan Fletcher, a loving dog daddy who is not ready for partnership or marriage again, feels attracted to Destiny and her Southern charm more than he is willing to admit. While Destiny agrees to the due date of the end of their fake relationship, she can´t help but fall in love with Fletch´s gentlemanly attention.
Can they follow their hearts instead of their minds?

This lovely, funny story was like a balm for my soul.

♥︎𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞
♥︎𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

✨Thoughts✨
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 was such a cute story! Destiny's dream of becoming a proposal planner takes a wild turn when her first job turns into a disaster. However, a moody professor offers her a proposition: they pretend to be a couple to appease his family, and in return, he will assist her with her business venture.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 dynamic between the grumpy professor and bubbly Destiny was incredibly entertaining. Watching her shake up Ryan Fetcher's world was a delight, especially when their romantic scenes unexpectedly turned up the heat. Their chemistry and playful banter kept me engaged throughout.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, if you're a fan of the fake dating trope, this book is a must-read!

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝟐/𝟓🔥

The second standalone in Melissa's rom com collection, this one brings us grumpy x sunshine at its best. Destiny is a dog groomer with a dream of starting her marriage proposal planning business. She loves her furry clients, especially Molly, who belongs to "Grumpy Gus". Leave it to Fate that Destiny's first (and failed) marriage proposal will involve Grumpy and Molly! One disaster of epic proportions but that will lead Molly and Fletcher to finally know each other. 

Fletch has given up on love, but he decides to help Destiny with her business and she'll help him by going to his brother's wedding as his date. This way they'll stop harassing him into "finding someone" again. As the weeks go by, their arrangement turns into a steamy "situationship" with them becoming integral parts of each other other's lives. However, Fletcher doesn't tick any boxes on her Mr. Right Checklist and Fletcher doesn't even have a list... Maybe the stars will align and make them see they never needed any list. 

A very sweet yet spicy rom com that has some laugh out loud moments. If you are familiar with  Melissa, you will see some beloved characters from Harmony Pointe show up as Fletcher's best friend is Talia Dalton. I loved catching up with them!

This book is exactly what it proposes to be: a fun, heartwarming ode to love. I loved how Destiny can find a silver lining in everything. Fletcher thinks he's closed off to love until hurricane Destiny comes tearing down his walls.

Perfect for the fans of grumpy X sunshine romances with the signature secondary characters that Melissa does so well as well as the lovely fur babies! Grab a blanket, a cup of cocoa and enjoy!

Thanks, NetGalley and Melissa for the ARC. 

Content notes: mentions of loss of parents, cheating (not MCs)

The grumpy/sunshine rom-com fits this book exactly!
Destiny is a fun-loving, living life-in-the-moment girl. She is starting her own marriage proposal planning business. She is working at her friend’s dog grooming business and meets Grumpy Gus, really known as Fletch. Sunshine!
Fletch is a very organized college professor who has decided that he is never going to fall in love and get married again. Grumpy!
This is a funny book that had me laughing out loud.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was UNEXPECTEDLY SO GOOD! The spice was spicing! The heart felt moments were tear jerkers! And grumpy Gus stole my dang heart! The NICKNAMES?! Sunshine ☀️ was perfect for her! Then Molly and Clementine 🥹 I believe Molly was the true matchmaker here for sure! I am so grateful to have received this book before it officially published! Definitely loved the opposites attract, no third act breakup, heartfelt love story right here!

What a LOL grumpy/sunshine slow burn, fake dating journey to love…an all of the feels, will these friends to lovers finally get their chance or does Destiny loose Fletch due to his past? Loved it!

I absolutely love love loved this book! Destiny & Ryan’s journey to happily ever after was everything! I love a great grumpy sunshine romance. And adding in the banter and off the charts chemistry, I was hooked. Great moments of humor and heart.

I highly recommend.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

What a joy it was reading this book. I’ve been in a year long slump occasionally picking up reads I thoroughly enjoy. I feel that it was “destiny” (get it ☺️) getting approved to read this. Whilst the tropes follow the typical oh let’s fake date to mutually help/repay each other, I can’t help but truly enjoy this book. I resonated a lot with Destiny (as an only child who’s super close to my parents — reading about how Destiny continues seeking out her parents despite them not being physically present touched me. It felt like I was looking in a mirror. I mean I never assumed I have a checklist but to see Grumpy Gus accepting AND loving her, as well as understanding her relationship with her parents? That goes to the top of my checklist. There’s so much to love about this lighthearted yet absolutely enjoyable book. It depicted grumpy x sunshine (like the fact that his nickname for her is sunshine bumped up my ratings immediately), the found family, the pets. It was such a nice, lighthearted read. Definitely recommend this!

3.5 stars. This was a cute, quick, easy read.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Melissa Foster book, but this one was just like what I remember from books I’ve read in the past. I don’t want to say lighthearted because Destiny had experienced a lot of tragedy in her life which was discussed often throughout the story, but it never felt overwhelmingly heavy in the way it was written.

Destiny was an impressive character because of how positive she remained in the face of her tragic backstory. She was bit over-the-top quirky at times though, wavering between cute and borderline cringe.

I do always enjoy a story where one or both characters are so certain they know what they want (or don’t want) in a partner and they meet their exact opposite who changes everything. Destiny and Fletch definitely had that here and their romance was sweet, but they also had some very flimsy denial going on. I didn’t buy that they couldn’t both tell they were in a real relationship by the time a forced “breakup” came. The end was very cute though and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an easy and quick romance read, with great banter between the two main characters, but at times the dialogue would just be cringy. I also think this book had too much dialogue in certain parts so then it just became annoying. Overall, I feel like the characters and the plot were entertaining however, even though the characters had great banter, the romance just really lacked in this book.
2.75