Book Review: When Grumpy Met Sunshine - Charlotte Stein

"A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter. When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper. And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds. But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend―until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?"

Read Date - April 2024

Length - 336 pages

Genre - Romance, Contemporary, Sports Romance

Rating - 6/10

Notes - There was a LOT of smut in this book. At least 5 or 6 different scenes, which i’m not complaining about. It just feels, after awhile, you start to wish there was a little more to Alfie and Mabels relationship than just sex. But with the premise of this book being a “fake relationship” trope, it makes sense that the relationship part would be stunted. I love the subtle themes of abuse and trauma and how it’s woven into both characters story arcs so perfectly. It makes it so the ending of the book is believable-- that maybe they really did just miss the warning signs through passionate interactions. ON TOP of this, the main character is a plus size woman. Many other reviews will complain that they don’t like the self-hatred and fatphobia that comes with the territory, claiming that it was the “same old narrative” over and over. if you check my account, you’ll see that i haven’t read many books, so maybe this is just my problem. i haven’t SEEN any other plus size main characters who are perused by attractive and athletic men who are always seen out with models. Of course self doubt would come in with this. I felt, as a plus size AFAB myself, that this was a great representation of myself. Maybe it’s my own self hatred talking (and that would be saying a LOT, because i’m a pretty body positive, self loving person.) but i thought this book was perfect in terms of representation. I just wish it had a little bit more romance and a teeny teeny tiny bit less sex.