This Rec League was sent in from Cassidy:
I’m looking for a book recommendation (recommendations if I’m being honest) for a book with a reverse grumpy x sunshine relationship. As much as I appreciate the brooding, cold, grumpy hero, I prefer romance where it’s the woman who is the grumpy or closed off one while the guy is social, pleasant to be around, funny, and an overall ball of sunshine/ a golden retriever—but books with this relationship trope are so much harder to find. It feels like literally every fictional romantic relationship is ‘grumpy guy x sunshine girl’. I don’t need a romance novel specifically; literally any type of genre (mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, etc) that has at least a romantic subplot would be great.
Amanda: Tangentially, do we think this flipped trope would be the Black Cat/Golden Retriever or is that a different flavor?
Sarah: Yes, I think it’s similar to black cat/golden if the person is just a ball of sunshine, per the request.
I am fascinated by how this trope is returning in a new form, because way way back, like, 20-30 years ago, most of the time the hero was a grumpy, taciturn, surly, horny asshole.
I think the Chris Pratt/Audrey Plaza pairing from Parks & Rec is a big example – I don’t know their names because I never watched it.
Howl’s Moving Castle ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) predates that, too – so interesting to see the cycles.
Rosie Danan is superb at this trope pairing – both The Roommate and The Intimacy Experiment.
Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur, The Kiss Quotient, too. Oh – Silver Silence by Nalini Singh.
Wait for It by Jenn McKinlay, too. ( A | BN | K )
Shana: Talia Hibbert has many books with a grumpy heroine paired with a sunshiny dude. I’m partial to A Girl Like Her, but that whole Ravenswood series has a bit of that vibe.
Elyse: I’m reading 32 Days in May ( A | BN | K | AB )which I think qualifies but her grumpiness is the direct result of chronic illness.
What would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!
I would suggest ‘Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies” by Heather Fawcett!
I just started ‘Nun The Wiser’ by Lissa Sharpe, which absolutely fits this dynamic!
ROLE PLAYING by Cathy Yardley – both characters have emotional depth, but the FMC is definitely grumpy/semi reclusive.
FAN SERVICE by Rosie Danan – the FMC is pretty closed off. The MMC is a bit overly optimistic and has a touch of desperation to his sunny side. But it makes sense given both of his complicated life situations.
I know I’ve read others recently. I’ll continue to ponder (and search my backlist of books)
Seconding @SarahGale on Fan Service!
Other romances with a grumpy/serious FMC and a sunshine/golden retriever MMC:
Tessa Bailey–Window Shopping
Cara Bastone–Sweet Talk
Olivia Dade–All The Feels
Following for more recs!
Second Emily Wilde series
Ten Thousand Stitches
His Grumpy Childhood Friend
I remember this being a trope in manga for a while. Beauty Pop by Kiyoko Arai is the first to come to mind.
I think Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori also has the same vibe.
Ooooh I love this dynamic and have read & loved most of these books!
For historicals, The Widow of Rose House and Earls Trip are the first two to come to mind for me.
His Grumpy Childhood Friend and Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau. Also her Man versus Durian to a lesser extent.
Seconding Role Playing!
I think Jackie Lau is very good at this. In addition to her books mentioned in previous comments, I also rec The Stand-Up Groomsman. Heroine is prickly in so many relatable ways; hero isn’t necessarily sunshine but hides a lot behind his comedic skills.
It’s been a while since I read it, but Courtney Milan’s Trade Me might fit this too?
Grumpy Valentine by DL White A fun Vday novella featuring a grumpy tech pro and her coworking office mate. He’s too smooth, too corny, too handsome. Too bad her bestie couldn’t disagree more.
Booksbydlwhite.com/grumpyval
I’m thinking of two old romances, Angel Rogue by Mary Jo Putney, and My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverly, that feature heroes who are much more lighthearted than the heroines. Both heroines are on serious missions and the heroes just tag along for the fun of it, but I wouldn’t call them golden retrievers.
All the Feels by Olivia Dade totally fits this trope !
Some really good recs here! I’ll add Chloe Liese’s Always Only You, featuring a black cat heroine (who experiences a chronic pain) and the golden retriever hockey player who has had it bad for her from the beginning. Sarah Hawley’s A Werewolf’s Guide To Seducing a Vampire also fits. It’s got forced-proximity as well. Ainsley Booth’s The Scoring Secret has a bit of this and a touch of the “You Got Mail” trope of falling for someone online.
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian for historicals, but you’re going to want to read the M/M Queer Principles of Kit Webb first.
Seconding a number of the earlier comments – the Jackie Lau books and Cathy Yardley’s. The other one I was thinking of I think is Grumpy/Grumpy (Rai’s A gentleman in the street) but more will come to me, and following in general.
Shout out for Small Change by Roan Parrish! It’s a contemporary with working-class protagonists. Complicated, defensive Ginger is probably my favorite romance heroine not written by Talia Hibbert. KJ Charles’ Goodreads review sums it up beautifully.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1976950112
Seconding Cathy Yardley’s Role Playing and Jackie Lau’s books.
If self recs are allowed, I’d suggest The Winner Bakes It All (written as Jeevani Charika)
Sherry Thomas – Not Quite a Husband
Mary Jo Putney – Silk and Shadows
Isn’t Verity from Cat Sebastian’s “A Duke in Disguise” a grumpy heroine? It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but I have a vague impression that she was.
Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford is a fun exploration of this dynamic!
Yardley’s Role Playing was the first one I thought of, probably becauseI love this dynamic and it’s pretty rare. Most of the books that meet this criteria for me share a Venn diagram with Sex puppy heroes. So, here goes.
Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase
Historical romance with a scholar FMC on a quest and a lordling who agrees to act as muscle
What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken*
Fantasy Romance with a vain, shit-stirring dragon shifter and a warlord’s dour military strategist daughter known as the Beast
Play by Kylie Scott
Rock Romance with FMC with money troubles and a sister to look after who becomes involved with frenetic drummer from a famous rock band who hides his kindness behind an over-the-top persona
Rhythm by Julie Kriss
Rock Romance with (another) drummer, this one more cinnamon roll than maniac, who becomes involved with his relationship averse next door neighbor.
* Actually I think Aiken/Shelly Laurenston has a number of pairings like this across several series. Her FMCs are always badasses with warrior MMCs who are basically just dazzled by the badassery and happy to support their sweetie.
@PamG yes to Shelley Laurenston/GA Aiken — CW all of these books have lots of over the top violence on page. That’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
GA Aiken – HOW TO DRIVE A DRAGON CRAZY – this needs the context of the previous books. The MCs grow up from the “teen” years through the other books. Important background info needed to enjoy.
Shelly Laurenston – The second book in the CALL OF CROWS series – THE UNDOING has a caretaker MMC and an introverted, super quirky FMC.
BIG BAD BEAST and the MANE SQUEEZE – both part of the PRIDE series. These both fit into the context of the series. You can read on own, but will be fuller experience with the other books.
I feel a reread coming on
Oooh, adding the Laurenstons to my 2025 comfort rereadapalooza list.
There are several in the Psy/changeling series that fit this. The one with the wolf and the cat lieutenants (Mercy and Drew), and whatever involves a psy female and a changeling guy, after the first few.
Cecilia Grant – A LADY AWAKENED – regency. The recently widowed FMC hires the MMC to get her pregnant for Plot Reasons. The romance between the two leads is so amazingly developed and there is wonderful character development from both leads even though they remain the same people. However the sex starts off horrendously bad and (obviously) eventually gets good, but this is off putting for some readers. One of my favorite historicals. Actually everything by this author is top tier, it’s a shame she only published 3.5 books.
Mia Vincy – A DANGEROUS KIND OF LADY – regency. Fake engagement storyline, but there’s a lot of other stuff going on too. This FMC is one of my faves, scheming and smart, but also has a lot of heart.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
Seconding the GA Aiken dragon book. Also for a more urban fantasy I think Ilona Andrews FATE’S EDGE fits the bill. For historical I would also add SUDDENLY YOU by Lisa Kleypas and it also has a ‘younger man’ thing going on. If no one else has mentioned it MR. IMPOSSIBLE has a perfect irreverent hero and no nonsense heroine vibe. All are great reads.
I greatly enjoyed Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley — my favorite of her books. Both middle-aged protagonists: FMC is a struggling food stylist/cookbook ghostwriter and MMC is single father handyman living on his family farm.
Additional thumbs-up for Courtney Milan (I’d call Trade Me reverse grumpy-sunshine), Talia Hibbert, Jackie Lau, and Cat Sebastian books! I also really liked Small Change by Roan Parrish.
T. Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel series is superb: Paladin’s Strength (book 2) is reverse grumpy-sunshine; but I’d need to re-read Paladin’s Grace to refresh my memory about the protagonists’ temperaments.
Adding to the pile of commenters recommending Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. The banter is so good.
I nearly forgot some RGS cozy romantasy books by Celia Lake: The Fossil Door, about Rathna a Bengali-British portal magician (she analyzes & builds ’em!) who’s had *enough* racism, sexism, and elitism, and Gabe a bubbly investigator from a wealthy, privileged background. Goblin Fruit, about Lizzie trying to make ends meet as a temp worker (while supporting a sister recovering from TB) and Lord Carillon, a war vet with a rakish reputation. Facets of the Bench, about Annice a struggling gem carver living in a poor village and Griffin an ambitious yet very kind attorney living in a diverse, well to do city.
Those are the ones off the top of my brain!
Maybe Terry Pratchett’s Moist von Lipwig and Adora Belle Dearheart? He’s an ever optimistic conman (you kinda have to be when trying to run a con in Lord Vetinari’s city, Ankh-Morpork); she’s a chain-smoking cynic with a pair of wicked sharp stilettos. Their romance, like most Discworld romances, is lightly played but is there in Going Postal and Making Money.
Thornhedge by T Kingfisher
Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie.
Not a romance but The Teller if Small Fortunes by Julie Leong has a heroine who is grumpy/prickly and the other characters bring sunshine and stick with her. Cosy fantasy. Found family.
Enthusiastically seconding the Roan Parrish suggestion – Small Change has such wonderfully complex characters and the way the mcs wind up falling for each other is perfect!
For another historical rec, Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh has this dynamic. It’s the third in the series, but I’ve been assured that you can read it as a standalone by a friend.
Silver Silence is my most favorite of Singh’s series. Do I own them all – no. Do I own Silver Silence? Yes, yes I do