You’ve only just heard of grumpy sunshine romance books. That curiosity led you here. Or that you ran out of (more) enemies-to-lovers book recommendations. You’re in the right place if you’re looking for the opposites attract, hate-to-love trope replacements.
Before we get into the tough hero/grumpy heroine books, here’s a small footnote on what it is and why it works.
What Is The Grumpy Sunshine Romance Trope?
A grumpy sunshine trope typically houses a broody, pessimistic character and its sunny, optimistic counterpart to soften their hard exterior. An easy incorporation includes an opposites attract romance plot, often making use of the enemies-to-lovers sub tropes. Books like The Love Hypothesis, The Hating Game, and The Spanish Love Deception are fandom-oriented favorites.
Here’s why grumpy heroes are popular:
- Offer a satisfying personality-wise contrast
- (only) Allow the sunny character’s efforts to melt their (icy) heart
- Invite tension, with real (messy) growth
- Take baby steps in learning how to complement them
- Partake in depth and challenges for a rewarding end
- Enable good chemistry
- Provide redemption and healing at the right time
Essentially, authors who write opposites attract romance indulge in a grumpy hero sunshine heroine. Note: The reverse trope exists, but is rare. Here’s a fun list of heartwarming romance novels to choose from:
1. Emily Henry’s Book Lovers
We had to start with Emily Henry’s Book Lovers where Nora Stephens is a cut-throat literary agent. She’s also a heroine to her clients and her young sister, Libby. On a sisters’ trip, Nora bumps into Charlie Lastra, her supposed hero-to-be. He’s a brooding book editor, and he’s from the city. When they’ve met far too many times without the cutes, will their story be worth the salt?
Good for: Added sisterhood trope, subverts common romance book stereotypes
Read when: You’re up for a modest challenge!
2. Mariana Zapata’s All Rhodes Lead Here
Everyone needs a place to call home. Sometimes, going back there can be more difficult. Torre’s escape into the mountains collides with gruff park ranger Tobias Rhodes. He might breathe her back to life.
Good for: Slow-burn, found family, starting over (with heavier themes)
Read when: Your perfect “one more chapter” read!
3. Tessa Bailey’s It Happened One Summer
An inspired result of Hollywood’s IT Girl x Schitt’s Creek. Piper Bellinger is her own sun, until disaster strikes. Her stepfather ships her off to Washington soon after. Westport’s bearded sea captain Brendan, is sure she won’t last. Too bad Piper is determined to prove she’s more than just a pretty face.
Good for: (decent) MCs transformation, found family HEA
Read when: Your life needs sizzle!
RELATED READING: 11 Books Like The Summer I Turned Pretty
4. Katee Robert’s Neon Gods
A modern retelling of Hades and Persephone following Persephone Dimitrou. Her fleeing ultra-modern Olympus isn’t just escaping political backstabbing or failed engagement. She runs into the shadows, where Hades waits. Is sin supposed to be this sweet?
Good for: Testing boundaries – desire vs control, authority. Christian-Grey-overkill MC
Read when: For a little too hot steam!
5. Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners
Olive mirrors her lucky twin, Ami. Ami’s luck ensured her wedding set-up. Olive is to spend the day with the best man (and nemesis), Ethan. They are shipped off on an all-expenses-paid honeymoon trip to Hawaii. Is luck around the corner for Olive?
Good for: Subverting luck to reiterate the value of vulnerability in a relationship.
Read when: Cute beach/airplane read, single POV nerdy humor.
6. Lauren Layne’s Walk Of Shame
This quintessential grumpy-sunshine follows a misunderstood New York socialite, Georgiana Watkins, and her cynical divorce lawyer counterpart, Andrew Mulroney. He can’t stand her, but their love story stands a chance.
Good for: Head vs Heart battle, braving the boundary.
Read when: Perfect for ridding the reading slump!
RELATED READING: 13 Beautiful Younger Man-Older Woman Romance Books
7. Talia Hibbert’s Act Your Age, Eve Brown
Eve Brown has given up trying. Yet, she shows up at Jacob Wayne’s interview. Epitome of control, Jacob is on a mission to keep her away. With animosity in the air, and forced proximity, will love blossom?
Good for: Need for belonging, overcoming fear of abandonment, autistic representation.
Read when: You need character-driven fluff with cute banter.
8. Danielle Lori’s The Maddest Obsession
This book is all about mafia and sultry dark romance, where Gianna Marino sticks out far too much in the world. Special agent of New York’s underworld, Christian Allister is unbothered. When their lives collide, will their destiny warm their hearts?
Good for: An obsessive steamy romance, with heavier themes of trauma and emotional manipulation.
Read when: You need a SPICY mafia book boyfriend.
9. Kristen Callihan’s Managed
This second installment follows Callihan’s Idol. Sophie Darling is a big-mouth. Gabriel Scott is man-candy with a big ego. Sophie is determined to change his cold distant hero act. Will Gabriel let Sophie get away with it?
Good for: Workplace employer-employee, forced proximity, slow-burn.
Read when: You’re on the hunt for a near-zero angst, low-stakes, SPICY plot.
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10. Ana Huang’s Twisted Lies
This fourth installment in the Twisted series follows a fake-dating billionaire Christian Harper. He has no use for human emotion, except for the pull of desire towards his downstairs neighbor. Social media star (and introvert) Stella Alonso wants to be more low-key. Tainted by lies, will their love hold in light?
Good for: The need for maintaining an image in the face of deception, suspense and spice.
Read when: Evolution to empowerment means being boy-obsessed.
11. Lauren Asher’s Terms And Conditions
Future-CEO Declan marries his assistant, Iris, to fulfill his grandfather’s clause of company inheritance. When their fake relationship bleeds into the real one, will this billionaire romance finally flourish?
Good for: A well-rounded FMC, and her possessive, down-bad MMC in a marriage-of-convenience.
Read when: An emotional, growth-oriented plot is your last resort.
12. K.A. Tucker’s The Simple Wild
City girl Calla Fletcher is back in the Alaskan wild to tend to her estranged, ailing father. She’s only just getting used to the subarctic climate, but Jonah (burly pilot MC) is convinced she’ll run back to her city roots. With one to stay and one to leave, will their romance take off?
Good for: Small-town romance book, slow burn, abandonment/estrangement, and father-daughter reconciliation
Read when: You’re looking for a non-fake dating plot.
RELATED READING: 11 Love Triangle Books For Romance Fans
13. Lyssa Kay Adams’ A Very Merry Bromance
Country Music’s Golden Boy Colton Wheeler loved immigration attorney Gretchen Winthrop. Their own struggles lead them back to each other. In exchange for three dates before Christmas, will these two make up under the mistletoe?
Good for: Found family, reliable support systems, and healing from toxic family dynamics.
Read when: You’re desperate for a cozy, second-chance grumpy-sunshine.
14. R.S. Grey’s Arrogant Devil
This romcom’s Meredith Avery is walking away from marriage. Her arrival at Blue Stone Ranch was an act of self-preservation. Ranch-owner Jack McKnight receives her. Except he’s already prejudiced about Meredith’s airheadedness, and refuses to look past his judgment of this “spoilt princess.” Will Meredith’s proof of resilience finally be this devil’s redemption?
Good for: Self-discovery post an abusive marriage, persistence, and salvation.
Read when: You wish to add to memorable characters, or a rather tender plot.
15. Karina Halle’s The Royals Next Door
Piper Evans is an outsider in a tight-knit island community she’s lived in for five years. Elementary school teacher by day, and anonymous podcaster by night, she gets by. Until the British royalty move-in next door and their broody bodyguard, Harrison Cole, decides she’s a security threat. Amidst a royal scandal, Piper has to rescue herself. What will she give up for her very own HEA?
Good for: Forbidden love, realistic approach to royal scandals/media scrutiny, mental health stigma (namely around PTSD, BPD, anxiety), privacy invasion.
Read when: You can’t get enough of the smart banter and highly-flammable chemistry!
Further recommendations:
- Nicci Harris’ Our Thing
- Giana Darling’s Dead Man Walking
- Lucy Watson’s Shortcake
- Emily Mayer’s Everything Girl
- Mariana Zapata’s The Wall Of Winnipeg And Me (a rare age gap, sunshine hero romance!)
Conclusion
Grumpy sunshine romance books are often generalized as heartwarming romance novels making them difficult to find. While I can’t choose between funny banter and watching the icyness melt, undeniable chemistry is always a must. What’s your favorite grumpy sunshine romance?
FAQs
1. What makes a book “grumpy sunshine”?
One of the two characters of the book you’re reading has a brooding, pessimistic character. And the other is on a more high-spirited and positive end, then you’ve got a “grumpy sunshine” plot. At its core, it’s the sunny character’s comically emotional involvement that makes it comfortable for the grump to express its vulnerable softer side.
2. Are all grumpy sunshine romances enemies-to-lovers?
No, the tropes are complementary. While grumpy sunshine plots focus on the sunshine’s attempts to melt the grump’s heart, enemies-to-lovers follow rivalry-to-romance developments.
3. Which authors write the best grumpy sunshine romances?
Authors who ace the grumpy sunshine trope include Tessa Bailey, Ali Hazelwood, Mariana Zapata, Lauren Asher, Sally Thorne, and Kristen Callihan.
4. Which is the best grumpy sunshine romance book to start with for beginners?
For an Ali Hazelwood option, The Love Hypothesis is a go-to. Others include Emily Henry’s Beach Read, and Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.
