I absolutely devoured this book.
The humour was so precise and absolutely Talia Hibbert coded (that may just be the dry British humour) and I loved every second.
The Roy Kent vibes, the perfect grumpy/sunshine romance, the forced proximity, the way he’s the softest guy despite the gruff outer shell.
I absolutely loved the book and the plus size representation just knocked it out of the park.

I had a great time listening to this!

If I was to describe this book in one word it would be 'horny'

I really loved both main characters and how opposite they appeared at first and how different they were. I loved that they both brought each other out of their shells and we're doing things they were uncomfortable with just because they loved the other person

I really liked the inclusion of social media posts and news articles at the end of each chapter from other people talking about their relationship, it was so fun and unique

I wish we saw more of them together post 3rd act break up

I enjoyed the narration for the most part, however I did struggle at times to work out who was talking (just by the sound of the narrators voice) or if parts were being spoken or they were just thoughts

- fake dating
- famous ex footballer X ghost writer
- British main characters

When curvy ghost writer Mabel meets a famous ex footballer Alfie, things take an unexpected turn. Thrown together by work, they enter into a fake relationship, which can only end in tears, or can it? A raunchy, laugh out loud book, if you are offended easily though, watch out fire lots of swearing.

Unfortunately I had many issues trying to listen to this audiobook. When I finally got through a few chapters it refused to continue so will have to purchase the book to continue. From what I've listened to so far, I enjoyed where the story was going and how it was written so will continue.

Don't let the cutesy title turn you off. This is a fun book. i enjoyed the writing and the narration and would read other books by this author.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a banter-filled romcom following Mabel, a bubbly and bright ghostwriter, and Aflie a famous retired footballer in need of help writing his memoir. When the two get close while detailing Alfie's life, they find themselves falling for each other further when their relationship is discovered by the public and the two are forced to pretend to be a couple.

My Roy Kent loving heart is conflicted! While I enjoyed every minute of this charming romcom, the writing was so lengthy yet choppy; I couldn't follow what was being said half the time. Their banter and honest relationship kept me invested the whole time, but, I couldn't overlook the writing. While I had a great time reading this, I think it needed a whole lot more editing and proofreading. I also found issue with the one-year separation and time skip in the last 10% of the book; the ending was rushed and completely out of character with the story and plot. Despite my issues with the writing and ending, I did very much enjoy the story and will absolutely be on the lookout for more from Charlotte Stein!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Charlotte Stein for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounding up to 3 stars 🌟

Grumpy/sunshine is one of my favourite troupes so I knew I just had to pick this up after reading the synopsis.

I loved the fact that the book opens up with content warnings so you know what to expect. I also loved that it was set in the North of England and full of British humour.
I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the narrators voice which kept me engaged.

I did enjoy that we get the grumpiness immediately and our love interest meet basically straight away. I think that Alfie was suitably grumpy and Mabel is a Ray of sunshine I found that the execution of the storyline didn't fully work and the miscommunication between them annoyed me. It would have been better to have had a dual POV to see Alfies side of things and to see how their miscommunications played out from the other side.

Overall the book didn't quite hit the mark for me when it had the potential to have been great.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan UK Audio, and Charlotte Stein for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the start of this book, but ended up DNF at about 36%. This was partly due to the unnecessary overuse of the F word. I think the editor needed to highlight there are other swear words available. I also wasn't drawn into the characters' stories enough to continue.

This is a very sweet and charming rom-com
, grumpy/sunshine, and fake -dating type of book. I couldn't stop giggling at the banter in this novel late into the night. It's fantastic that authors are writing plus-sized characters as well; this makes the book incredibly inclusive and suitable for all readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan, Uk for a copy of this book in exchanged for an honest review.

HAPPY PUBLICATION WEEK!

As lighthearted romance books go, this was nice as long as you didn’t think too much into it. There were various plot holes and it felt kind of ‘pick me’ at moments. I liked the idea of the ending however it just didn’t feel completely polished.

The audio narration was lovely though. Something about northern accents always puts me into the zone.

I was sent an audiobook ARC of this via Netgally in return for an honest review.

This was a highly anticipated release, as a huge fan of Ted Lasso a Roy Kent inspired romance was going to capture my attention!

Unfortunately this didn't land for me and no one is more devastated than me. This is sold as grumpy x sunshine with Alfie, our MMC being sold as a stubborn, scary, pain-in-the-ass ex-footballer but that doesn't come across in the book. He falls for Mabel so quickly and explains away why he asks how he does immediately after the first meet. He quickly becomes charming and lovely and this lives the "grump" park of the entire book. Mabel, the FMC is charming and bubbly but lacks emotional depth. I needed some back story, the reason she is so afraid of commitment.
This had the bones of a great book but wasn't executed well.

This was so cute and a lovely rom-com! 😊

Even though there was of course a misunderstanding and breakup in the end, for most of the book the characters managed to actually talk to each other and be honest and respectful with each other which was lovely. Maybel is so sweet and Alfie is just great, I'm always a sucker for soft men!

I listened to this as an audiobook and after taking a while to get used to the narrator, I really enjoyed it. She has a rather strong accent but that fit the story well and I enjoyed listening to her. I'm not sure if it's because of the audiobook but some bits were dragging a bit, like the newspaper clippings or tweets at the ends of chapters. I also found that the conversations had a little much anticipating what the other would say which slowed them down unnecessarily at times. Still the writing was fun without being overly quirky and laden with pop culture references, like many romance novels tend to be at the moment.

So overall a very fun book with cute characters and a sweet love story 💚

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audiobook 😊

*I listened to this on audiobook*

This was a very enjoyable read! Mabel is hired to ghost write for retired famous footballer Alfie’s memoir. Its opposites attract heaven from here as she tries to coax his story out of him with her cheerfulness and silliness while he remains gruff and uptight. He gradually begins to melt for her but their developing romantic feelings start to become too overwhelming for Mabel. The characters are endearingly funny, especially Alfie - I love his blundering and pained responses to everything Mabel does and says. It’s pretty swoony to read them falling for each other despite their differences, and to see Mabel bring out the real Alfie.

What to expect:

- fake dating
- celebrity romance
- he falls first
- grumpy x sunshine
- quite spicy

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein. At a first glance, the cover is amazing but the title sounds like it wants to attract attention purely on the popular grumpy/sunshine trope rather than the actual story.
Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one. I didn’t connect to any of the characters and the ‘grumpy’ mmc was actually just rude.
The scene where Alfie screams ‘fuck’ 20 times and Mabel’s inner monologue goes into detail about what a ‘symphony’ it was and how beautiful the song was honestly hard to listen to. I was unable to finish it and ended up dnf’ing at 50% because I didn’t like the writing style or the main girl’s inner monologue and I had no interest in seeing how it ended.

A banter filled grumpy meets sunshine audiobook. The premise set it up to be a great audiobook but I just struggled listening to it. Although it started great I felt there was almost too much banter. I loved the characters and they too were set to make the book very good but the audiobook did not live up to its potential. I did not enjoy the miscommunication but I often do not like miscommunication trope books.

I did enjoy the slow burn between Mabel and Alfie it was done relatively well, and I’m a sucker for enemy to lovers. I could not connect with the audiobook due to the narration. May try reading the book and see how I find that.

Thank you for the arc

Alfie needs help to write his autobiography, this help will come in the sign of a ghostwriter. But when the paparazzi get the wrong idea, it might be good for them to just play along. But soon sparks will fly and something they thought was just a game will turn into something very real.

This book fell a little bit flat for me, I just couldn't take to the characters or believe them. I understand that this is non-fiction but I just wanted to be able to connect with them and I really couldn't. The things that I really liked about this book, were the quick one-liners. However, I did feel that the banter was unbelievable as well as a bit too much.

There is a huge miscommunication within this novel which I completely understand but if there was so much chemistry between the two characters as well as a lot of intimacy, I was surprised that nothing more was said.

Overall this was an okay novel, but not one I would try again, however, I would give the author another go.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
I had a love/hate relationship with this book! One minute I loved it and couldn’t put it down, and then the banter would continue and I’d get bored. I loved the way the narrator brought the characters to life.

The story starts with Mabel and Alfie getting off on the wrong foot when they meet. Mabel agrees to ghostwrite Alfie’s autobiography and as they get to know each other she discovers the man underneath the grumpy footballer facade.

There’s lots of banter which is fun at first but tends to go on a bit. It also ruined the spicy scenes for me.

I liked the premise of the story and the characters’ personalities with their difficult backgrounds which shaped them into the adults they are. Some elements just didn’t work for me, but it was still an enjoyable read.

If you’re not a fan of miscommunication romances then I’d steer clear of this book.

*Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

Embark on a charmingly humorous journey through Charlotte Stein’s beautifully-narrated "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" by. Starting from the backdrop of a grumpy retired footballer reluctantly penning his memoirs, this rom-com unfolds with delightful banter and unexpected chemistry.

The audio version immerses listeners into the heart of the story, capturing the essence of the characters and the quirky dynamics between them. The dual point-of-view narrative, skillfully brought to life, adds depth and humour to the tale, making it an enjoyable experience from start to finish. Mabel, the bubbly and vivacious ghostwriter, perfectly contrasts Alfie, the retired footballer known for his grumpiness. Their interactions, filled with witty repartee and genuine affection, form the backbone of the narrative, keeping listeners engaged throughout.

While the storyline offers plenty of laughs and steamy moments, some aspects of the plot tend to seem rushed, particularly towards the end. Yet, this minor point is overshadowed by the overall charm and humour of the story.

Despite its flaws, "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" remains a delightful rom-com, blending humour, romance, and character growth in equal measure. Fans of Olivia Dade and those who enjoy banter-filled romances will find much to enjoy in this audiobook rendition.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan UK Audio, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review. If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #WhenGrumpyMetSunshine #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

Cute story!
Not the most memorable, but still really cute and good narration.
I loved how sunshiney the main character was and her sense of style etc.

I had so much hope for this book, I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, despite its wonderful potential, it just didn't do it for me.
I listened to the audio version, I did not expect so much swearing, and as broad-minded as I am, using the derogatory c-word that begins with c, ends in t and is not coconut, was just too much.