Sophie Reads YA: April 2025

April

April Summary

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April

Stacking the Shelves: April 26th 2025

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April

Stacking the Shelves: April 19th 2025

10:00

3 Stars

ARC Review: Romancing the Grump (Appies #4) by Jenny Proctor

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Romancing the Grump
Series: Appies #4
Author: Jenny Proctor
Published April 23rd 2024 by Jenny Proctor Creative

Goodreads Synopsis
He’s a grump and happy to stay that way. But can her sunshine melt the ice around his heart?

Nathan Sanders didn't earn his reputation as the grouchiest player on the Appies hockey team by chance. So when Summer Callahan breezes into his life with her flirtatious smiles and endless charm, he responds like he always does: he completely ignores her.

But Summer is intrigued by the surly defenseman, so when a viral social media post requires her to step in and fake it as Nathan's girlfriend, she jumps at the chance. She's convinced the ones with the hardest shells are often the softest underneath, and she's determined to prove it.

But Nathan doesn't crack so easily. Despite their obvious chemistry, he makes his lack of interest in a relationship—any relationship—perfectly clear. But the longer they pretend, the less fake everything seems, and the more Summer starts to fall.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

It's Summer's first day at her new job, and she's not going to let anyone get in the way of her having fun. Enter Nathan Sanders, the grumpiest player the Appies have ever had, and the person who makes Summer feel likes she's an inconvenience and who should be as far away from his as possible. Determined she won't let him win, she turns her sunshine charm up to 1000, and plans to win him over. Becoming his 'fake' girlfriend for social media purposes, she realises she in over her head when she wishes beyond everything that they were anything other than fake.

I love fake dating scenarios, and hockey romances, so Romancing the Grump was a book I needed to read. Nathan and Summer were the quintessential grumpy/sunshine pairing, and their clashing personalities worked so well together. It was so good to see Nathan come out of his shell, and let Summer in to understand why he was so against relationships. He didn't have much experience being a boyfriend, but Summer made it easy for him, and he fell hard for her.

Dates Read:
February 9, 2025

Rating
3 Stars