Our favorite grumpy sunshine romances from Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood, and more
The promise of spring has me excited about one of the most fun romance tropes—grumpy sunshine (emphasis on the sunshine). The concept is that one of the protagonists is sunshine—optimistic, upbeat, etc., while the other is, well, a grump. It’s one of my favorite flavors of “opposites attract.” In honor of this theme, and to hopefully force warmer weather to come a little sooner, below are just a few of the Amazon Editors’ picks for grumpy sunshine romances. Check out Best Romance Books of the Month for more romance reads, as well as our Best Books of the Month across all genres.
In anticipation of Emily Henry’s newest book, Funny Story (April 23), we had to start the list with Beach Read. January Andrews has always believed in a happy ending, which has helped her become a successful romance author. But a bad breakup and a family betrayal have made her unable to write about “happily ever after.” She’s not the only one with writer’s block. Her unfriendly new neighbor for the summer, Augustus Everett, is a beloved literary writer with the same problem. Judgemental of the other’s style, they make a bet: he’ll write a beach read, she’ll write the next great American novel, and may the best writer win. But as sparks begin to fly, they may find their way to more than their next best seller. A great romance for any time of year. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
A truly delightful first novel—I smiled and giggled my way through it. Meghna and Karthik are arranged to meet by their mothers, who have hopes for wedding bliss. But Meghna and Karthik couldn’t be more different. She is fun and open where he is stiff and stoic. Motivated to get a bit of peace from his mother, Karthik convinces Meghna to trick their families by faking their engagement. And there’s a little quid pro quo involved—if Meghna goes along with the ruse, Karthik will be her plus one at the wedding of her ex-boyfriend/best friend who she still has a crush on. There’s so much more to this story than the fake-dating, enemies-to-lovers tropes. It’s about self-discovery, stepping outside your comfort zone, and going for what you want. Throw in musicals, punny t-shirts, and an emotion-filled plot, and you have a story that will stay with you. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
“Very cinematic. In my head, I’m already casting the movie.” That’s what Amazon Editorial director Sarah Gelman said about this rom-com when she raved about it on The View. A third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive, and a “lab tyrant,” Adam, become fake boyfriend and girlfriend. But this little love experiment between two nerdy scientists turns so hot it may just burn the lab down. Nerdy, funny, and just the right amount of racy, this was our favorite romance novel of 2021. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor
The first in Tessa Bailey’s new sports romance series, Fangirl Down follows Wells Whitaker, a professional golfer who’s lost his game. But no matter how poorly he plays or how rude he is, a beautiful redhead is always on the sidelines cheering him on. Until he quits on himself, forcing her to quit on him, too. Josephine Doyle isn’t just a Wells Whitaker fan; she runs her family’s struggling golf shop and is an expert on the game. When Wells shows up at her door with a proposal to be his caddy for an upcoming tournament, she can’t refuse. Their chemistry is undeniable, and they both discover there’s more to the other person than meets the eye. Wells is an incredibly thoughtful (and hot) grump, and Josephine is a confident badass who believes in the best in people. This book was so fun and so, so sexy. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
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