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The Grump Next Door
Not yet published
Expected 11 Feb 26
One guest house. One week. One slow-burn disaster waiting to happen.
Dean Whitaker has zero interest in weddings, fairy lights, or the perky woman currently turning his guest house into a scented-candle crime scene.
He’s a divorce attorney. He thrives on prenups, logic, and not getting glitter on his suits.
Poppy Monroe is a wedding planner with a checklist for everything—except how to survive living next door to a hot, brooding, tightly wound lawyer—aka the groom’s brother.
They’re opposites in every way—except for the undeniable chemistry neither of them wants to talk about.
Their mission: survive one week of wedding chaos.
Her sunshine and glitter pens.
His whiskey and restraint.
Opposites attract. Then they combust.
Dean Whitaker has zero interest in weddings, fairy lights, or the perky woman currently turning his guest house into a scented-candle crime scene.
He’s a divorce attorney. He thrives on prenups, logic, and not getting glitter on his suits.
Poppy Monroe is a wedding planner with a checklist for everything—except how to survive living next door to a hot, brooding, tightly wound lawyer—aka the groom’s brother.
They’re opposites in every way—except for the undeniable chemistry neither of them wants to talk about.
Their mission: survive one week of wedding chaos.
Her sunshine and glitter pens.
His whiskey and restraint.
Opposites attract. Then they combust.
- GenresForced ProximityRomance
449 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 11, 2026
7 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
About the author
Kendall Ryan
134 books18.4k followersKendall Ryan is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of flirty, feel-good romance filled with heart, heat, and plenty of banter. An American author who has lived all over the world, her books have sold millions of copies and been translated into multiple languages. She writes swoony heroes, bold heroines, and stories that make you laugh, blush, and fall in love. When she’s not dreaming up new plotlines, she is a proud mom to two amazing sons and the wife of her real-life hero.
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VISIT MY AMAZON PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/Kendall-Ryan/e...
VISIT MY FACEBOOK!
www.facebook.com/kendallryanbooks
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM!
www.instagram.com/kendallryan1
GET 2 FREE READS!
www.kendallryanbooks.com/freebooks
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 14, 2026
I can honestly say this is the best book Kendall Ryan has EVER written. This book had everything, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In Ryan’s latest novel, we follow wedding planner Poppy and divorce lawyer Dean. Always positive Poppy was just fired and has to plan and prep the wedding of the year on her own. She’s staying at the grooms’ brother’s house in the guest cottage, but grumpy Dean would rather the wedding take anywhere else except his home. Thwarted by cloth-eating goats, random thunderstorms, and so many other twists, Dean realizes Poppy has brought a purpose to his life and he’ll stop at nothing to ensure the wedding goes off seamlessly.
I loved these two! These are the epitome of opposites attract and finding someone who completes you. This is a longer book with a slow burn, but between the near miss kisses, sweet gestures, and pining looks, you will be falling in love right alongside these characters. I couldn’t get enough.
Shout out to George the Goat and Muffin the dog. Best sidekick characters I’ve read in a long time!
I absolutely enjoyed this book. My one tweak would be to end the book around chapter 38. I don’t think we needed all those time jumps into their future. I think we know by that point the end game strategy.
*_An ARC was provided by the fabulous author in exchange for an honest review.
In Ryan’s latest novel, we follow wedding planner Poppy and divorce lawyer Dean. Always positive Poppy was just fired and has to plan and prep the wedding of the year on her own. She’s staying at the grooms’ brother’s house in the guest cottage, but grumpy Dean would rather the wedding take anywhere else except his home. Thwarted by cloth-eating goats, random thunderstorms, and so many other twists, Dean realizes Poppy has brought a purpose to his life and he’ll stop at nothing to ensure the wedding goes off seamlessly.
I loved these two! These are the epitome of opposites attract and finding someone who completes you. This is a longer book with a slow burn, but between the near miss kisses, sweet gestures, and pining looks, you will be falling in love right alongside these characters. I couldn’t get enough.
Shout out to George the Goat and Muffin the dog. Best sidekick characters I’ve read in a long time!
I absolutely enjoyed this book. My one tweak would be to end the book around chapter 38. I don’t think we needed all those time jumps into their future. I think we know by that point the end game strategy.
*_An ARC was provided by the fabulous author in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Grump Next Door by Kendall Ryan
4 stars
Spice: 🔥/5
I’ll be totally honest with you. I am in Kendall’s ARC team and lately – I haven’t been loving her stuff. I was thinking about removing myself. BUT The Grump Next Door pulled me back into her writing.
The banter in this book brought a smile to my face. The chaos that ensued with this wedding (the goat, specifically) was top notch. The blossoming relationship between Poppy and Dean wasn’t forced and felt natural (despite the elevated timeline). The slow burn and sexual tension was done right.
We do get dual point of views in this book so it’s kind of cool to get both of their backstories and thought processes.
My one complaint – Kendall loves to always have the characters say something and the other reply with “you love it”. It was said three times in this book (which I will let slide because her last book had WAY more than that). That is just something personal I’ve noticed and cringe a little LOL
Overall, I think this is her best book I’ve read <3
#avidreaderbookblog #readingislife #bookblogger #bookstagram #bookblogger #bookstagrammer #booklover #enemytolovers #romance #romancebookblogger #romancebookstagram #romancebookstagrammer #romancebooklover #kendallryan #kendallryanbooks #kendallryanauthor
4 stars
Spice: 🔥/5
I’ll be totally honest with you. I am in Kendall’s ARC team and lately – I haven’t been loving her stuff. I was thinking about removing myself. BUT The Grump Next Door pulled me back into her writing.
The banter in this book brought a smile to my face. The chaos that ensued with this wedding (the goat, specifically) was top notch. The blossoming relationship between Poppy and Dean wasn’t forced and felt natural (despite the elevated timeline). The slow burn and sexual tension was done right.
We do get dual point of views in this book so it’s kind of cool to get both of their backstories and thought processes.
My one complaint – Kendall loves to always have the characters say something and the other reply with “you love it”. It was said three times in this book (which I will let slide because her last book had WAY more than that). That is just something personal I’ve noticed and cringe a little LOL
Overall, I think this is her best book I’ve read <3
#avidreaderbookblog #readingislife #bookblogger #bookstagram #bookblogger #bookstagrammer #booklover #enemytolovers #romance #romancebookblogger #romancebookstagram #romancebookstagrammer #romancebooklover #kendallryan #kendallryanbooks #kendallryanauthor
Review of advance copy received from Author
Poppy Monroe is full of light and happiness as a wedding planner until she gets some bad news. She is staying in the guest house of a groom’s brother for her next wedding planning job that she must plan perfectly. One issue is Dean Whitaker is a divorce attorney and the complete opposite in personality. Can these two find an agreeable balance to living near each other and make sure nothing bad happens at the wedding? Only time will tell lol. This is such a fun strangers to lovers romcom with a great banter between the two main characters. Get ready to go plan one eventful wedding! LOL; Told in first person and dual POV.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Grump Next door is an enemies to lovers rom-com following Poppy, a wedding planner and Dean, the grooms grumpy brother who has sworn off love. Dean agreed to let his brother Mason use his estate for his wedding to his fiancée Ivy who is an influencer.
Dean and Poppy have to work together to make the wedding perfect and somewhere in there Dean realizes maybe a perfect wedding isn't his only goal.
I loved the way Poppy and Dean just clicked and their support of each other and their goals.
Classic Kendall Ryan feel good romance! Definitely recommend if you enjoy an enemies to lovers!
Thank you Kendall for the ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dean and Poppy have to work together to make the wedding perfect and somewhere in there Dean realizes maybe a perfect wedding isn't his only goal.
I loved the way Poppy and Dean just clicked and their support of each other and their goals.
Classic Kendall Ryan feel good romance! Definitely recommend if you enjoy an enemies to lovers!
Thank you Kendall for the ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy
5 stars plus
The Grump Next Door is a highly unusual and entertaining book!
I giggled more often than I probably should have, especially with the antics of the animals and the characters Poppy and Dean!
I wholeheartedly loved every single moment!
This book made me smile!!! Its refreshing, lighthearted and just a wonderful story!
This is my absolute favourite read from Ms Ryan EVER! She has excelled in writing such a fabulous romantic comedy.
This book is priceless to the core…. Poppy is a wedding planner but also a bit of disaster, Dean is a grumpy lawyer, add in animals and its comedic gold.
I absolutely adored the characters and what they go through….
Hands down you MUST read it!
The Grump Next Door is a highly unusual and entertaining book!
I giggled more often than I probably should have, especially with the antics of the animals and the characters Poppy and Dean!
I wholeheartedly loved every single moment!
This book made me smile!!! Its refreshing, lighthearted and just a wonderful story!
This is my absolute favourite read from Ms Ryan EVER! She has excelled in writing such a fabulous romantic comedy.
This book is priceless to the core…. Poppy is a wedding planner but also a bit of disaster, Dean is a grumpy lawyer, add in animals and its comedic gold.
I absolutely adored the characters and what they go through….
Hands down you MUST read it!
January 17, 2026
This book was good. Poppy is a wedding planner and she just got fired from her job. However, she has the biggest wedding to plan and doesn’t tell them she was fired. She goes and does the wedding like planned.
But she runs into the grumpy man that lives next to the guest house. He owns the lands and it’s his brother that is getting married. Things happen between them-goats, a dog, a kiss, a Reddit post, and the intense chemistry.
It ended in an hea. Just needed a bit more spice but it was very good
But she runs into the grumpy man that lives next to the guest house. He owns the lands and it’s his brother that is getting married. Things happen between them-goats, a dog, a kiss, a Reddit post, and the intense chemistry.
It ended in an hea. Just needed a bit more spice but it was very good
Review of advance copy
The Grump Next Door is a hilarious, swoonfest!
Dean is broody, whiskey-loving, and all about logic. Poppy is sunshine, sparkle pens, and wedding-planner energy—staying in his guest cottage for his brother’s wedding, which means chaos is inevitable. 😬✨
Throw in George, the goat 🐐, Muffin, the anxious dog and a week of wedding madness…sparks fly, tension builds, and I could not stop laughing—or swooning. 💥💛
Opposites attract, chaos reigns, and this one is pure fun from start to finish!
Dean is broody, whiskey-loving, and all about logic. Poppy is sunshine, sparkle pens, and wedding-planner energy—staying in his guest cottage for his brother’s wedding, which means chaos is inevitable. 😬✨
Throw in George, the goat 🐐, Muffin, the anxious dog and a week of wedding madness…sparks fly, tension builds, and I could not stop laughing—or swooning. 💥💛
Opposites attract, chaos reigns, and this one is pure fun from start to finish!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Opposites attract
Banter
Grumpy MMC
Wedding planner FMC
Low spice level
Dual POV - 1st person
A good read. I found the story to be a fun and easy read. The chemistry between character is great and the banter was fabulous. Good character development.
Overall, this is a cute story with lots of romcom vibes. I could totally see this being a movie.
Banter
Grumpy MMC
Wedding planner FMC
Low spice level
Dual POV - 1st person
A good read. I found the story to be a fun and easy read. The chemistry between character is great and the banter was fabulous. Good character development.
Overall, this is a cute story with lots of romcom vibes. I could totally see this being a movie.
January 22, 2026
I really enjoyed this book and all of the characters. No matter how stand offish, Dean was still captivated by Poppy with her drive and positivity. Of course, anyone who was able to be a sucker for a dog that wasn’t his but invaded his entire life can’t be all bad. Even though, it takes awhile to break down both Dean’s and Poppy’s walls, it was worth the wait!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was so good. I loved the constant bickering and banter between the characters. George was the best part of this book, he was hilarious. This is one of those books that have you turning the pages just anxiously awaiting what was going to happen next. I loved it!!
Review of advance copy
Oh this was the cutest! I absolutely loved how he was just oh so grumpy and she was the most optimistic person especially about weddings! There wasn’t a thing about this I didn’t love! Especially the ending.
January 22, 2026
Full review coming soon
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews