20 Best Grumpy Sunshine Romances You Won't Be Able to Put Down
From brooding billionaires to grouchy hermits — the ultimate list of grumpy sunshine romance books, including must-reads with curvy heroines
There's something irresistible about watching a grumpy, closed-off hero slowly melt for the one person who refuses to let him stay in his shell. The grumpy sunshine trope is one of romance's most beloved dynamics — and as someone who writes curvy heroines paired with growly, emotionally constipated men, I'm a little bit obsessed with it. Whether you love your grumps brooding in billion-dollar penthouses, hiding out in mountain cabins, or scowling across a shared workspace, this list has you covered.
I've pulled together twenty of the best grumpy sunshine romance books — starting with my own plus-size romance picks, followed by reader-favourite titles from Evie Mitchell, and rounded out with the mainstream bestsellers that helped define the trope. Grab a blanket and clear your schedule, because you're about to build a very dangerous TBR pile.
Grumpy Sunshine Romances with Curvy Heroines
If you love the grumpy sunshine trope AND body-positive romance with plus-size heroines who never have to shrink themselves to be loved, these are for you.
1. Sunshine and the Recluse
The book that started the Hermits & Curves series — and the one readers tell me made them fall in love with the grumpy sunshine trope all over again. A reclusive grump who wants to be left alone meets a curvy, sunny woman who moves in next door and has zero intention of respecting his boundaries. Steamy, swoony, and packed with banter that will make you laugh out loud.
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2. Serenity & the Hermit
Another grouchy hermit, another sunshine heroine who won't take no for an answer. This time, the sparks fly when a free-spirited curvy woman ends up stranded near a brooding loner's mountain property. If you loved book one, you'll devour this — the grumpy-to-soft pipeline is everything.
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3. Sweetheart and the Grouch
The title says it all — sweetheart meets grouch. This curvy heroine refuses to be intimidated by a gruff, prickly hero who pushes everyone away. Their chemistry is electric, and watching him fall for her warmth while she chips away at his armour is peak grumpy sunshine perfection.
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4. Wall St. Grouch
Take the grumpy sunshine dynamic and set it on Wall Street. A sharp-tongued, no-nonsense financier meets the one curvy woman who doesn't care about his money or his mood — and that's exactly what undoes him. This one delivers boardroom tension with bedroom heat and a hero whose grumpy exterior hides a deeply romantic soul.
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5. Dial B for Billionaire
Bennett is the definition of a grumpy billionaire — cold, controlled, and completely uninterested in charm. Then Layla walks in like a human ray of sunshine and turns his carefully ordered world upside down. This is grumpy sunshine meets billionaire romance with a confident, curvy heroine who gives as good as she gets.
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6. His Sunshine
With a title like "His Sunshine," you know exactly what you're getting — and it delivers beautifully. A grumpy candle maker (yes, really, and it works) falls hard for the bright, bubbly curvy woman who stumbles into his world. Cosy, steamy, and sweet in all the right places.
View on AmazonEvie Mitchell's Grumpy Sunshine Favourites
Evie Mitchell writes body-positive, disability-inclusive romance with sharp wit and serious heat. These are reader favourites in the grumpy sunshine space.
7. Muffin Top
A curvy heroine and a grumpy small-town sheriff who can barely manage a smile — until she makes him. Muffin Top is warm, witty, and wonderfully steamy, set in the tight-knit community of Capricorn Cove. The slow thaw of this grumpy lawman is utterly satisfying.
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8. The X-List
A grumpy bookworm hero paired with a loud, cheerful sunshine heroine — this one's a delight for anyone who loves the quiet-meets-chaotic dynamic. He's brooding and bookish, and his sunshine match refuses to let him disappear into his own world. Their opposites-attract chemistry sizzles.
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9. Knot My Type
Disability-inclusive grumpy sunshine at its finest. This book brings the banter, the heat, and the heart — proving that the trope works beautifully with diverse characters and bodies. If you want grumpy sunshine with representation and real depth, start here.
View on AmazonBestselling Grumpy Sunshine Romances
These are the books that put grumpy sunshine on the map — the titles you'll see on every recommendation list for good reason. If you haven't read them yet, your TBR is about to get a serious upgrade.
10. The Hating Game
The OG workplace grumpy sunshine. Two executive assistants are locked in a rivalry that's really just simmering tension waiting to boil over. He's tall, brooding, and infuriating. She's bright, competitive, and determined to win. Their push-and-pull dynamic set the gold standard for the trope.
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11. Beach Read
A grumpy literary fiction writer and a sunshine romance author end up as neighbours for the summer — and challenge each other to swap genres. The result? A beautifully layered story that's funny, emotional, and proves that romance writers know exactly what they're doing.
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12. From Lukov with Love
Mariana Zapata is the queen of slow burn, and this figure skating grumpy sunshine romance is one of her best. A cocky male skater is paired with a fierce, stubborn heroine who wants nothing to do with him. The tension builds achingly slowly until it absolutely erupts. If you love a long, delicious slow burn, this is your book.
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13. All Rhodes Lead Here
A grumpy single-dad landlord and a sunshine heroine who just needs a fresh start. She rents his garage apartment, and their slow, reluctant connection is pure magic. Zapata makes you earn every soft moment, and that's exactly what makes them so rewarding.
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14. The Love Hypothesis
A STEM grumpy hero and a sunshine heroine fake-dating their way into real feelings — this book took BookTok by storm for a reason. He's intimidating, brilliant, and secretly soft. She's determined, optimistic, and in way over her head. The fake-dating setup combined with grumpy sunshine creates absolute fireworks.
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15. It Happened One Summer
A sunshine party girl gets banished to a small fishing town where she clashes with a grumpy sea captain who has zero patience for her sparkle. Naturally, he falls completely. Tessa Bailey nails the grumpy fisherman / sunshine socialite dynamic with heat, humour, and heart.
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16. Icebreaker
A reverse grumpy sunshine — here, the heroine is the grumpy one. She's a focused, no-nonsense figure skater forced to share ice time with a sunshine hockey player who's all charm and easy smiles. The reversal keeps the trope feeling fresh, and the sports-romance setting adds extra tension.
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17. Twisted Love
A brooding, emotionally guarded hero and a sunshine heroine who sees through his walls. This one leans darker and more intense than some of the others on this list, blending grumpy sunshine with suspense elements. If you like your grumps with a dangerous edge, start here.
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18. The Flatshare
Two strangers share a flat — but never meet, because one works days and the other works nights. They communicate through sticky notes, and the grumpy-to-sweet evolution happens entirely through written messages before they ever come face to face. A unique, charming take on grumpy sunshine that proves the trope works in any format.
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19. The Fine Print
A grumpy billionaire boss and a sunshine theme park worker — think Disneyland meets boardroom drama. He's cold, calculating, and focused on the bottom line. She's passionate, creative, and not afraid to challenge him. The power imbalance adds delicious tension to an already electric dynamic.
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20. Faking Mr. Wright
A grumpy, buttoned-up hero and a sunshine heroine who drives him absolutely crazy — in the best way. Their fake relationship quickly spirals into something very real, and watching this uptight man unravel for the one woman who refuses to play by his rules is pure grumpy sunshine gold. Funny, steamy, and deeply satisfying.
View on AmazonGrumpy Sunshine Romance — Frequently Asked Questions
What is grumpy sunshine romance?
Grumpy sunshine romance is a popular trope where one love interest is moody, closed-off, or brooding (the grump) and the other is cheerful, optimistic, and warm (the sunshine). The magic comes from their opposing personalities clashing until the grump's walls come down — usually because the sunshine character is the only person who can crack through their tough exterior. It can work in any direction: grumpy hero with sunshine heroine, grumpy heroine with sunshine hero, or any combination.
Best grumpy sunshine romance series?
Some of the best grumpy sunshine romance series include the Hermits & Curves series by Megan Wade (featuring grouchy recluses falling for irresistible curvy heroines), the Capricorn Cove series by Evie Mitchell, and standalone favourites from authors like Emily Henry, Mariana Zapata, and Tessa Bailey. For readers who love the trope with plus-size heroines, the Hermits & Curves series and Curves of Wall St. series by Megan Wade are standout choices.
What's the difference between grumpy sunshine and enemies to lovers?
While both tropes involve tension between the main characters, grumpy sunshine is about contrasting personalities — one is moody, the other is cheerful. They don't necessarily dislike each other; the grump is just prickly by nature. Enemies to lovers, on the other hand, involves genuine conflict or animosity between the characters. They might actively oppose each other before falling in love. Some books blend both tropes, but grumpy sunshine tends to be warmer and less combative than enemies to lovers.
Best grumpy sunshine romance with a curvy heroine?
For grumpy sunshine romance with a curvy heroine, Megan Wade's Hermits & Curves series is the go-to — Sunshine and the Recluse, Serenity & the Hermit, and Sweetheart and the Grouch all pair grouchy, reclusive heroes with confident, curvy sunshine heroines. Wall St. Grouch from the Curves of Wall St. series and Dial B for Billionaire from the Curves & Capital series are also excellent choices. Evie Mitchell's Muffin Top and Knot My Type are reader favourites in the body-positive grumpy sunshine space as well.
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