Grumpy Sunshine

Category: book reviews

  •  Book Review: The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

    If you love hilarious workplace chaos, swoony second chances, and a rulebook that definitely gets broken… you’ll want to grab The Rule Book ASAP.

    Nora Mackenzie is smart, confident, and not here for drama—especially not the kind that comes with working for Derek Pender, a famous (and still ridiculously hot) football star… who also happens to be her first real love from college.

    There are rules in place to keep things professional:
    ❌ No touching
    ❌ No flirting
    ❌ No talking about the past
    …but Derek is making Nora’s life awful as his agent. And she’s not about to back down.

    Things really spiral after a surprise work trip to Las Vegas, one unexpected night, and—oops—they wake up married. So much for the rules.

    This book is seriously SO funny and romantic. The chemistry between Nora and Derek is amazing, the banter is quick and adorable, and the dual POV lets you see both of them totally falling (again)(and freaking out) in real time. I loved watching them wrestle with old feelings, pretend to be cool, and slowly realize they still care—maybe even more than before.

    🔞 Recommended for ages 14–15+ for a little mature language, a few steamy moments, and some flirty tension—but it stays mostly cute.

    ⭐ My rating: 5/5 stars. The plot is fun, the characters are lovable, and the vibes are everything. I wouldn’t change a single thing.

    📚 If you like dual perspectives, funny twists, fake marriage, and swoon-worthy second chances—this book delivers. Similar authors: Hannah Grace (Icebreaker), Grace Reilly (First Down, Beyond the Play series), Becka Mack (Consider Me)

    Also by Sarah Adams:

  • Book Review: Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh

    Binding 13 is a deep, emotional YA romance set in Ballylaggin, Ireland in 2005. It’s intense, romantic, and occasionally funny (thanks, Gibsie <3), but definitely not your light-and-fluffy read.

    The story follows Shannon Lynch, a sweet, quiet girl who’s been through a lot and is trying to start over at a private school where she can finally feel safe. Then she meets Johnny Kavanagh—rugby star, local legend, and literal walking heartthrob. Their worlds are nothing alike, but somehow, they start to fit into each other’s lives in the most unexpected (and adorable) way.

    This book totally pulled me in. The characters are so different, but when you put them together, they make the story even better. I loved the banter (especially the supportive and hilarious moments), and the way the book shows both Shannon’s and Johnny’s perspectives. Chloe Walsh does a great job showing two very different lives—rich vs poor, popular vs invisible—in a way that feels super real.

    But just a heads-up: this book gets heavy. It deals with some seriously tough stuff like abuse, alcoholism, drug use, fights, and a lot of swearing (including f-bombs and Irish insults). It made some parts hard to read, especially because Shannon is dealing with trauma the entire book. So if you’re not in the right headspace, you might want to wait before diving in.

    🔞 Recommended for 15+ because of mature themes, intense language, and sensitive topics like abuse and addiction. This isn’t a fluffy romance—it’s emotional and raw.

    ⭐ My rating: 4/5. I loved the writing style, the characters, the chapter lengths (not too long!), and even the playlists at the end! The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the heavy stuff sometimes made it hard to fully enjoy the story—but that’s also what makes it powerful.

    📚 If you like friends-to-lovers, dual POV, and emotional romances with real-world problems, this one might be for you.

    Similar authors:

    • Becka Mack (Consider Me) – romance with mature themes
    • Laura Nowlin (If He Had Been with Me, If Only I Had Told Her) – emotional, heavy topics, but a beautiful story
    • Jennifer Gold (On the Spectrum) – teen romance, eating disorders
    • Carley Fortune (Meet Me at the Lake) – dealing with grief, includes smoking

    Also by Chloe Walsh:

    There is more to the Tommen Boys series including Taming 7 and Releasing 10

  •  Book Review: Betting On You by Lynn Painter

    Betting On You is the perfect light and funny teen romance—full of sarcasm, summer vibes, and just the right amount of slow-burn feelings.

    Bailey is a super relatable, slightly cynical teen who doesn’t believe in love (thanks to her mom’s messy relationship history). She’s planning a chill summer working at a fancy resort with her best friend… until she finds out she has to work with him—Charlie, the charmingly annoying guy she sat next to on a flight two years ago and hoped to never see again. Obviously, she doesn’t like him. Right?

    The best part of this book is how the story is told from both Bailey and Charlie’s points of view. You get both sides of the tension, the banter, and the feelings they’re both trying to deny. Lynn Painter does what she does best—writing characters with amazing chemistry, hilarious personalities, and dialogue that snaps.

    I honestly loved every second of it. There’s nothing I would change. It’s the kind of story that makes you smile while reading and maybe even giggle out loud.

    🔞 Recommended for ages 14+ (or mature 13+ readers) for mild topics like divorce, a little underage drinking, and kissing—but overall, it’s a clean and super cute intro to romance.

    ⭐ My rating: 5/5. I loved the characters, the banter, and how naturally their story came together.

    📚 If you love dual POVs, slow-burn romances, and flirty back-and-forth, this one’s for you! Similar authors you might like: Carley Fortune (author of Every Summer After) and C.W. Farnsworth (author of Kiss Now, Lie Later)

    Also by Lynn Painter:

  • Book Review: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

    If you’re into mysterious mansions, mind-blowing puzzles, smart girls, and flirty boys with secrets—The Inheritance Games is a total must-read.

    Avery Grambs is super smart, totally broke, and just trying to survive high school and maybe snag a scholarship. Then—plot twist—she inherits billions from a complete stranger. Sounds amazing, right? Except there’s a catch: she has to move into a creepy (but also super cool) mansion filled with puzzles, riddles… and four Hawthorne brothers who definitely aren’t thrilled she just stole their future.

    Let the games begin. 😏

    This book is soooo fun and totally addictive. Even though the whole “randomly-inherited-billions-at-17” thing feels unreal, the story actually makes sense. The clues and twists are really well thought out, and the plot keeps you guessing. I loved that the chapters are short (like 2–10 pages), so it’s fast-paced and never drags.

    The characters—especially the Hawthorne brothers—are all mysterious and charming in different ways. There’s drama, clever banter, and just enough flirting to keep things interesting without it taking over the story.

    🔞 Recommended for ages 12+ — there’s a little bit of talk about death and family stuff (like abandonment or emotional abuse), but it’s not graphic or too heavy. No swearing, no steam, just one or two sweet kisses

    ⭐ My rating: 5/5 stars. I loved everything—puzzle solving, plot twists, clever writing, and fun character dynamics. It kept me hooked from the very beginning.

    📚 If you like mystery with a side of romance and brainy main characters, you’ll totally love this. Similar authors: Holly Jackson (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder), Karen McManus (One of Us Is Lying), and Lynn Painter (Better Than the Movies) — if you want more romance with smart girls!

    Also by Jennifer Lynn Barnes:

    Book 2 of the Inheritance Games series

    Book 3 of the Inheritance Games series

    Book 4 of the Inheritance Games series

  • Book Review: Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

    Every Summer After by Canadian author Carley Fortune is a beautifully written summer romance with a mix of youthful memories and grown-up feelings. It’s a book about first love, second chances, and the people who shape who we become.

    The main character, Persephone “Percy” Fraser, spends her summers in Barry’s Bay, where her parents bought a cottage when she was 13. Right next door lives Sam Florek, a boy her age who quickly becomes her best friend—and more. For six summers, Percy and Sam are inseparable. But after one summer ends everything, Percy stays away for over a decade… until she’s called back to Barry’s Bay when Sam’s mother passes away.

    What makes this book so special is the way it’s written. Half the story takes place in the past, when Percy and Sam are teens falling in love, and the other half is in the present, where they’re 30 and dealing with everything that happened between them. The time jumps are super well done—you really feel like you’re growing up with them.

    Carley Fortune’s writing is emotional and vivid. You can picture the lake, the cottage, and the hot summer days. While there were a few slower parts, the story picks back up and holds your attention the whole way through.

    🔞 Recommended for ages 14+ due to mild mature themes and emotional depth. Even though the characters are 30 in the present, most of the story is about their teen years and the drama that follows them into adulthood.

    ⭐ My rating: 5/5. I loved the Canadian setting, the realistic characters, and the mix of summer nostalgia and emotional healing. If you like FMC stories and second-chance summer romances, this one is perfect.

    📚 If you liked Mr. Wrong Number or Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter, or The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy (another Canadian!), you’ll probably love this.

    Also by Carley Fortune: