When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a classic romance trope and this story is the epitome of it. Alfie is a retired footballer who is a certified grump. The last thing he wants to do is write his memoirs, yet here he is. Mabel is a sassy and sweet ghostwriter who seems to bring sunshine with her when she enters the room. They immediately clash, with Alfie accidentally insulting Mabel. But to Mabel’s shock, Alfie has taken a liking to her and wants Mabel to be the one to write his story. As they get to know each other, they also get roped into a fake dating scheme. But once the memoir is over, will their relationship continue? 

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a hilarious, slow-burn romance. Mabel and Alfie have excellent chemistry and they are simply a fun couple. The fake dating scheme adds some delightful forced proximity that leads to only-one-bed shenanigans. When the romance hits, there are some scorching steamy scenes. I enjoyed how Mabel manages to reveal a side of Alfie that he’s never shown to anyone. When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a sweet romance that I devoured. I would recommend it if you enjoy grump/sunshine, fake dating, and forced proximity. If you like witty banter and wish romances had more of it, you need to read this book! 

Thank you to Charlotte Stein, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.