The Heartbreaker and the Grump

by Stephanie J. Scott

A Valentine’s Day delivery mix-up brings my noisy new neighbor’s chaotic life to my front door.

Christopher:
It’s Valentine’s Day, the anniversary of my divorce, and all I want is some peace and quiet. Only there’s a giant stuffed bear blocking my door. Life-sized, pink, and—is that music coming from its mouth?

The delivery tag shows my condo unit, but I know who this intrusive gift belongs to. It’s hers.

My noisy new neighbor, whose dog barks at all hours, sending my cat into hiding. Who entertains seemingly endless parties. And that’s just this week.

When I confront her, she has the nerve to say she’s not taking the bear. And in fact, she rejects all Valentine’s gifts because she doesn’t believe in love…because she’s cursed.

Brigitte:
My ex sent me a giant teddy bear when I’ve already told him we’ll never work. I only date casually, but every so often, a nice guy gets caught in the snares of my curse.

The curse that ruined my engagement. That destroyed every relationship I've ever had.

When my grumpy neighbor discovers I believe I'm destined to be alone, I expect him to laugh. Instead, Christopher rolls up his sleeves and announces we're breaking this curse. Together.

The Heartbreaker and the Grump is part of The Fur Ever After Series. Here's what you'll find:
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Neighbors
• Opposites Attract
• Small town
• Kisses-only

107 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2026

About the author

Stephanie J. Scott writes light-hearted, quirky romance and young adult. She enjoys dance fitness, everything cats, and has a slight obsession with Instagram. A Midwest girl at heart, she resides outside of Chicago with her tech-of-all-trades husband and fuzzy furbabies.

I spend a lot of time on Instagram! @stephaniejaynebooks

More about books & my author newsletter at:
www.stephaniejscott.com

Reviews

[TheGood ByeGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read, I really enjoyed the two main characters, I laughed out loud at the bear situation.

I read this over 2 nights, with my 2 cats hanging out with me. Black cats rule (IMHO).

[Donna Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read by this author and I loved this book! It was humorous throughout the entire book and the characters were engaging!

Christopher is a quiet man and just wants to be left alone. When he’s coming home to his apartment one night, after being stopped by a little girl who wants to give his cat a Valentine, he turns to go into his apartment and runs into… a pink, stuffed, life-sized bear. It is blocking his entire door so he can’t go into his apartment!

Then he meets the woman next door who is subletting the apartment, Brigitte. She takes the bear. She tries to throw it away a couple of times, but she just can’t do it. She believes she is cursed and the person who sent the bear is the one who cursed her. Christopher thinks there’s no such thing as a curse, but he tells her he’ll help her try to end the curse. He thinks she’s hot, so he really doesn’t mind spending time with her!

She decides she’s going to help him as well. She’s going to “socialize” him. The karaoke event was a disaster! But she keeps trying. Christopher realizes she’s right, so he becomes involved in a town committee, something he never thought he would do. And he keeps researching about how to end the curse.

She learns that he has a 14-year old son! He finally introduces them and it makes her feel like she is more attached to Christopher. Then she takes him to meet her parents! Her mother is furious when she realizes how long her daughter has believed in this curse! The person who “cursed” her is an enemy of her mother’s and she gives them the name of the woman. They go to visit her (Philomena) in an assisted living facility. She informs them that there really is no curse!

This makes Christopher happy – learning that the curse is just hooey (just as he suspected)! So now it’s gone and they can move on with their lives… together? You’ll have to grab this book to find out!

This was a fun read and them dealing with the stuffed bear just cracked me up all throughout the book! I’m giving this book 5 stars!

[Jenny x Carolena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a quick, fun read and perfect for the Valentine’s Day season. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Christopher and Brigitte made me laugh out loud more than once, especially with the chaotic neighbor antics and the infamous giant teddy bear kicking everything off. The humor is light and playful, but there’s also a sweet undercurrent as the two team up to “break the curse” and unexpectedly open their hearts.

I loved how the story balanced comedy with cozy romance. It’s a charming neighbors-to-lovers tale with plenty of cute moments, witty banter, and feel-good vibes. If you’re looking for a lighthearted romcom that will make you smile and put you in a Valentine’s mood, this one is an easy recommendation.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Andreza Novaes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed for my first read of the year: light, funny, and simple in the best way. It was such an enjoyable start.

I really liked how the author showed us the reasons behind the main female character’s behavior and beliefs. It made her feel more real and understandable. I just wish we could have had more moments of them as a couple; especially during the arc where he realizes he’s in love and she decides to ignore the “curse” before everything is resolved. I would have loved to see that tension explored a bit more.

I also think more interactions with the neighbor and Ben would have added even more depth and fun to the story.

Overall, though, this is definitely a book I’d recommend. It’s sweet, entertaining, and a great comfort read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet story. Christopher prefers the peace of his own little fortress, working from home and only venturing out to spend time with his son. Brigitte, on the other hand, is outgoing and full of energy. When she moves in next door, Christopher isn’t sure he can handle her as a neighbor. She keeps inviting him to do fun things, and though he resists at first, she eventually wins him over. Brigitte confides that she’s cursed never to marry, while Christopher, divorced and uninterested in going down that road again, doesn’t believe in such things. Still, he decides to help her break the curse because she believes it’s real. As they work together, they grow closer, and maybe—just maybe—their hearts are changing. Can they break the curse?

[Tracey Rommel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Christopher the neighbor next door to Brigette is quiet. He doesn’t like to socialize until the new neighbor, Brigitte is loud. Her apartment is right next to Christopher’s and he can hear everything that goes on. On Valentine’s Day a large teddy bear is delivered to Christopher’s place. He knows it doesn’t belong to him and it blocks his door. Brigitte admits it’s from her ex-boyfriend but didn’t want him to have her true address. Brigitte tries to talk to Christopher but it takes time and they realize they both work from home. They start to walk Brigitte’s dog during their lunch. Brigitte admits she is cursed. That the guys she dates has terrible things happen to them. Christopher who is developing feels for says he will help her break the curse.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Christopher comes home to a huge stuffed bear outside his apartment, he is flustered and knows it must be for the woman subletting the apartment next door. He gets stuck hauling it to the dumpster for her, then hauling it back in almost immediately per her request. I have to confess I was "hooked" immediately!

Opposites in most ways, Christopher and Brigitte gradually become friends. When she reveals that she has been cursed, A multi-month research begins. I have to say this book was unlike any romance book I have read! However, it was captivating, humorous, romantic, and so much fun! I loved it!!

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher is not a fan of Valentine’s Day and didn’t want anything to do with celebrating it but when he meets Brigitte due to a very large Bear on his doorstep and learns she didn’t believe in Valentine’s Day either because she is convinced she is cursed , he knows he can’t allow her to spend her life believing that so he jumps in to help her break that thought but in the process also ends up getting exactly the healing he needs too and a they both find a love they never expected.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heartbreaker and the Grump is a fun, quick, opposites attract, romantic comedy. It was interesting to watch Christopher, who is determined to help Brigitte break her curse, fall in love. This light, sort novella makes for a pleasant afternoon break.The bear was an interesting presence. This book is full of interesting characters and kept my attention. The plot may require the reader to suspend belief just a bit, but isn't escaping a big reason why we read?

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in The Fur Ever After series and a delightfully fun novella size read by Scott. Sweet with humor, our main characters Brigitte and Christopher are sure to captivate and delight. Well written and smooth flowing with witty banter, cute moments and all the feel goods. Looking forward to seeing what's next!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me smiling the whole time! I so enjoyed Brigitte and Christopher's story. I especially enjoyed how Christopher showed how he cared for Brigitte from the start with his actions. Brigitte's past boyfriends had nothing on Christopher. It was a joy to watch this story develop and these two lovely characters find happiness. READ THIS!

[Allison Zaremba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the greatest book but cute and a fast read. I found the idea of the "curse" and how automatically invested in it Christopher was to be silly. I feel like Ben really didn't need to be in the book. I didn't like how it jumped time so much. Just think there could have been a lot more developed between the 2 main characters… I feel like it went from 0 to 60 way too fast.

[Alison Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year in the life of neighbors Christopher and Brigitte neither of them fans of everlasting love as Christopher is divorced and Brigitte thinks her love life is cursed. She is eternal sunshine and he is looking for peace and solitude. However as they spend time together they each bring out the best in the other. This is a sweet, often funny, slow burn romance and is a delightful read.

[Kelly]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Very cute book. Each character's personality was very obvious. I did not realize that this was a novella, and I typically don't read novellas as I find it hard to get fully involved in the story because they are so short. This book was the same. However, for a novella, it was a quick, cute read.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, fun read novella, involving a giant stuffed bear, a curse (real or imaginary) an almost hermitage and his new neighbor, an all out there nice looking woman (that’s what he thinks anyway).
Fun story that will make you laugh but at the same time believe in second chance love, and that the one is the most unexpected one.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun sweet romance novel. Quirky characters that will make you smile and a storyline that will make you swoon. A fantastic book to relax with.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overcoming

Christopher has so many irritations to overcome with his new neighbor. Brigitte has her own issues to overcome. They are so opposite that, of course, they had to become friends. It's a sweet, cute story with a winning happy ending.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, quick read. An engaging couple of neighbors. Thin walls do not make for happy neighbors. Cute story. Thanks to BookSirens for providing a copy. My review is voluntary.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was fun from the beginning to the end with the giant pink teddy bear, Brigitte and her relationship curse and Christopher, the grump willing to help break the curse.

[LaRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, sweet quick read! The animals were a great addition! Absolutely loved the end and felt like it just wrapped everything up so neatly!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heartbreaker and The Grump is a fun and sweet opposites attract read. It has characters you will love, banter and slow burn chemistry. It’s an entertaining lighthearted story.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute romance.

I really enjoyed this romance. I liked the friendship between Brigitte and Christoper and how they fall in love. This was a cute, quick read.

[Laura Kuckuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorable

This story was absolutely so much fun, I couldn’t put it down and I loved the main characters personalities were so great together.