By Charlotte Stein
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Audiobook rating: 🎧🎧🎧
Blurb
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?
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Read if you Like:
⚽ Grumpy sunshine
⚽ Fake dating
⚽ Celebrity romance
⚽ Romcom
⚽ Single POV
My Thoughts:
I adore the grumpy sunshine trope so I had to listen to this one! I did really enjoy reading about Alfie's grumpy moments. There were times this book had me laughing hysterically!
I will start by saying this book is very British. I have read a lot of books set in the UK and usually, I don't feel like it isn't meant for me as a US reader, but in this case, I got that feeling a bit. There were some jokes and references to regional differences I didn't fully get.
I did like Alfie and Mable's connection. They were both people who were often misunderstood and I liked watching them open up to each other. I do have a soft spot for heroes who come off as grumpy but are actually really sweet. Alfie is totally this! His inability the understand technology was especially funny. This book was also steamy and the spice is well written!
What didn't fully work for me was the miscommunication. Mable had such low self-esteem that it constantly got in the way of her realizing Alfie might have feelings for her. It also caused her to be mean to him when trying to hide her feelings. I would have also liked to know a bit more about both of their pasts.
I recommend this one if you are a fan of British humor and don't mind a couple that is a bit awkward and unable to communicate their feelings.
🌶️🌶️🌶️- There are several detailed spicy scenes in this one as well as a lot of sexual tension.
🎧🎧🎧 - I thought Emily Spowage did a fine job with the narration. There wasn't a lot of distinction between different characters and the spicy scenes were a little underacted for my taste at times. She is a new to me narrator and doesn't seem to have experience with other romance titles.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillion Audio for providing me with this ALC. All opinions are my own.
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