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The Grumpy Landlord: A Steamy Grumpy Sunshine Best Friend's Brother Romance
He’s my best friend’s grumpy brother, my new landlord, and the one man I’m strictly forbidden to touch.
Ethan Rourke is a surgeon with a God complex and a house like a museum.
Cold. Sterile. Terrifyingly orderly.
I’m a chaotic artist with a cat who thinks prize roses are chew toys.
When I got evicted, he offered me his guest house.
Big mistake.
Now I’m living fifty feet away from the most brooding, damaged, insanely hot man in town.
He wants silence.
I bring noise.
He has strict rules about "boundaries" and "quiet hours."
I have a bad habit of breaking them.
We are fire and ice.
We shouldn't work.
But when a late-night argument turns into him pinning me against a wall covered in paint…
I realize the ice is just a shield.
And the fire is going to consume us both.
He thinks he’s too broken to love.
He says I’m just a temporary mess he has to clean up.
But the way he holds me in the dark tells a different story.
I’m ready to paint a future with him.
If only he doesn't scrub me out of his life first.
Ethan Rourke is a surgeon with a God complex and a house like a museum.
Cold. Sterile. Terrifyingly orderly.
I’m a chaotic artist with a cat who thinks prize roses are chew toys.
When I got evicted, he offered me his guest house.
Big mistake.
Now I’m living fifty feet away from the most brooding, damaged, insanely hot man in town.
He wants silence.
I bring noise.
He has strict rules about "boundaries" and "quiet hours."
I have a bad habit of breaking them.
We are fire and ice.
We shouldn't work.
But when a late-night argument turns into him pinning me against a wall covered in paint…
I realize the ice is just a shield.
And the fire is going to consume us both.
He thinks he’s too broken to love.
He says I’m just a temporary mess he has to clean up.
But the way he holds me in the dark tells a different story.
I’m ready to paint a future with him.
If only he doesn't scrub me out of his life first.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2025
6 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 3, 2026
The Grumpy Landlord — Anna May Grace
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
This was such a fun, grumpy-meets-sunshine romance with just the right mix of humor, heart, and slow-burn tension.
The MMC is peak grumpy landlord energy — closed-off, rigid, and very set in his ways. The FMC, on the other hand, is warm, determined, and not at all intimidated by his attitude. From the moment their paths cross, the banter is sharp and the chemistry simmers under every interaction.
The vibes:
🏠 Grumpy landlord x persistent tenant
😒 “I don’t need anyone” MMC energy
💬 Witty banter and slow-burn tension
💔 Emotional walls + gradual softening
🫶 Comfort, growth, and earned romance
What I really enjoyed was watching the MMC slowly unravel — the cracks in his gruff exterior showing as feelings sneak in despite his best efforts. The romance doesn’t rush, and the emotional payoff feels satisfying because you see the growth happen step by step.
If you love grumpy heroes, opposites-attract dynamics, and romances where irritation turns into affection (and then something deeper), The Grumpy Landlord is an enjoyable, cozy read that I definitely recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
This was such a fun, grumpy-meets-sunshine romance with just the right mix of humor, heart, and slow-burn tension.
The MMC is peak grumpy landlord energy — closed-off, rigid, and very set in his ways. The FMC, on the other hand, is warm, determined, and not at all intimidated by his attitude. From the moment their paths cross, the banter is sharp and the chemistry simmers under every interaction.
The vibes:
🏠 Grumpy landlord x persistent tenant
😒 “I don’t need anyone” MMC energy
💬 Witty banter and slow-burn tension
💔 Emotional walls + gradual softening
🫶 Comfort, growth, and earned romance
What I really enjoyed was watching the MMC slowly unravel — the cracks in his gruff exterior showing as feelings sneak in despite his best efforts. The romance doesn’t rush, and the emotional payoff feels satisfying because you see the growth happen step by step.
If you love grumpy heroes, opposites-attract dynamics, and romances where irritation turns into affection (and then something deeper), The Grumpy Landlord is an enjoyable, cozy read that I definitely recommend.
January 20, 2026
It's cute. It has great bones...but its missing so much. There's no meat. No context regarding the main characters history...and there's so many inconsistencies.
The book is about a struggling artist, Willow and her best friends, brother, Ethan. Willow and Ethan are quite literally opposites of one another. Willow is colorful, loud, messy, chaotic. Whereas, Ethan is monochromatic, quiet, clean, precise, and orderly. He's a veteran with PTSD and a surgeon. The mention of PTSD is barely there, but it's pretty obvious he's struggling...
Willow ends up homeless and Ethan appears out of nowhere to save the day and let's her move into his guest house. Here's where things feel empty... it literally goes from meeting these characters to the characters having strong feelings for each other. There's nothing indicating how long they've known each other or if they had any interactions previously. No significant events happen that might bring them together or show theyre compatible in anyway. At one point Willow says something about him being the "ghost" in photos...which leads me to believe she's never met him in person. Then Ethan says something about her being stubborn like she was when they were kids. Which leads me to the inconsistencies... simple stuff like, she's wearing a black dress to a gala...Willow mentions it being black 2+ times...but Ethan says it's colorful 2+ times. 🤷♀️ That's just one of many...
Both characters are emotionally immature and throw tantrums repeatedly. I understand drama is needed for a book sometimes but more than 2 freakouts is overkill...especially when they're almost identical in nature.
I believe this book could be a really cute and comfy read with some extra editing. It reads like I'm reading the very beginning of the story and the end by the time I'm only 50% in. We need some context and history. We need things that bring them together in a way that's natural and doesn't feel rushed...and we need consistency...
But not the constant use of the word turpentine. We get it. There's turpentine. It's mentioned so much! Along with other smells. Over and over...
The book is about a struggling artist, Willow and her best friends, brother, Ethan. Willow and Ethan are quite literally opposites of one another. Willow is colorful, loud, messy, chaotic. Whereas, Ethan is monochromatic, quiet, clean, precise, and orderly. He's a veteran with PTSD and a surgeon. The mention of PTSD is barely there, but it's pretty obvious he's struggling...
Willow ends up homeless and Ethan appears out of nowhere to save the day and let's her move into his guest house. Here's where things feel empty... it literally goes from meeting these characters to the characters having strong feelings for each other. There's nothing indicating how long they've known each other or if they had any interactions previously. No significant events happen that might bring them together or show theyre compatible in anyway. At one point Willow says something about him being the "ghost" in photos...which leads me to believe she's never met him in person. Then Ethan says something about her being stubborn like she was when they were kids. Which leads me to the inconsistencies... simple stuff like, she's wearing a black dress to a gala...Willow mentions it being black 2+ times...but Ethan says it's colorful 2+ times. 🤷♀️ That's just one of many...
Both characters are emotionally immature and throw tantrums repeatedly. I understand drama is needed for a book sometimes but more than 2 freakouts is overkill...especially when they're almost identical in nature.
I believe this book could be a really cute and comfy read with some extra editing. It reads like I'm reading the very beginning of the story and the end by the time I'm only 50% in. We need some context and history. We need things that bring them together in a way that's natural and doesn't feel rushed...and we need consistency...
But not the constant use of the word turpentine. We get it. There's turpentine. It's mentioned so much! Along with other smells. Over and over...
January 31, 2026
ARC review!
I thought it was a good quick read! Only thing that I was getting tired of was the back and forth between the MMC and FMC. Not a fan of miscommunication trope and this book is FILLED with it! Other than that it was good spice was good as well!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thought it was a good quick read! Only thing that I was getting tired of was the back and forth between the MMC and FMC. Not a fan of miscommunication trope and this book is FILLED with it! Other than that it was good spice was good as well!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 16, 2026
I got hands on a book with a grumpy landlord, haha! It's a different kinda story, tackles some heavy stuff like PTSD with a vet, but I felt like it skimmed over some important details. Not bad, just not the best. Not sure if it's her first rodeo, but it was a quick, easy read... just didn't blow me away, it still took me out of reality and into the world. I still enjoyed it. I have read so much worse
January 10, 2026
I thought that this was a cute plot idea but in truth I think the writing missed the mark a little. While there is a brief instance of there being a landlord/tenant relationship but it really wasn’t. It was very insta lovey and full of the main characters jumping to conclusions about what the other wants or needs. It was mentioned that they knew each other when they were growing up but then there was no dive into what that era of their relationship looked like. There were many instances throughout the book where the characters said the exact same thing and there were a lot of repeating references and words. It is dual pov and I think that caused there to be a lot of inconsistencies in the timeline from one chapter to the next.
January 10, 2026
Im unsure if this was supposed to be chaotic due to the FMC being chaotic but i felt like I couldnt follow the story fully. There was bits that didn't follow on correctly, the relationship all seemed very rushed without much depth or build up between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 7, 2026
The first few chapters of this book were fun. However, then the pacing became really strange. The most significant impacts on the pacing were: 1) the very purple prose and 2) the needless turbulence of the relationship.
Let's start with the purple prose. Almost everything in this book is described three times. Each of those three sentences are pretty, but all of them together, the pacing is entirely slowed down and it's just boring. Here's some examples:
She's describing a wall. That was 46 words to describe a white wall.
Any of these lines are lovely when considered individually. All together, it makes me wish that we'd get to the point.
The second pacing issue was the turbulence for the relationship. Of course, conflict is great! But each conflict these characters have seem as significant as the last. There's no building climax. I lost times of the number of break-ups or near break-ups this couple have. This whiplash make each following one seem less significant.
I also found the characters strangely self-aware. Willow is always describing herself as a mess, or chaos, or colour. On repeat, consistently, with no change in herself by the end of the story. Ethan similarly knows himself to be stark, precise, rigid. And, even if we didn't have them describing themselves, Sadie (the friend/sister) helpfully comes along and mirrors these sentiments.
Overall, I found this novel really difficult to get through. The premise was cute, the writing (if reduced by a third) was also good. It was clean in terms of spelling and grammar and all those niceities. But I only finished this book because I'm a 'finisher', not because I enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Let's start with the purple prose. Almost everything in this book is described three times. Each of those three sentences are pretty, but all of them together, the pacing is entirely slowed down and it's just boring. Here's some examples:
The wall loomed over me like a judge in a white robe. Twelve feet of pristine, unblemished drywall that smelled of lemon polish and aggressive cleanliness. It was the architectual equivalent of Ethan's soul before I crashed into it, perfect, cold, and utterly terrifying to touch.
She's describing a wall. That was 46 words to describe a white wall.
The house was offensive in its size. It stretched around me, vast and echoing, a monument to quiet I no longer knew how to inhabit. I wandered the halls like a ghost haunting my own life. My boots on the hardwood were too loud, the rhythm aggressive against the silence.
Any of these lines are lovely when considered individually. All together, it makes me wish that we'd get to the point.
The second pacing issue was the turbulence for the relationship. Of course, conflict is great! But each conflict these characters have seem as significant as the last. There's no building climax. I lost times of the number of break-ups or near break-ups this couple have. This whiplash make each following one seem less significant.
I also found the characters strangely self-aware. Willow is always describing herself as a mess, or chaos, or colour. On repeat, consistently, with no change in herself by the end of the story. Ethan similarly knows himself to be stark, precise, rigid. And, even if we didn't have them describing themselves, Sadie (the friend/sister) helpfully comes along and mirrors these sentiments.
Overall, I found this novel really difficult to get through. The premise was cute, the writing (if reduced by a third) was also good. It was clean in terms of spelling and grammar and all those niceities. But I only finished this book because I'm a 'finisher', not because I enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2026
The most important element of my review is that I really enjoyed this book. I was expecting something light and maybe a little frivolous, but what I discovered was intense in places with strong elements relating to personal trauma and issues with mental health. However, the story never felt overwhelming, and the romance theme is solid. I do enjoy books where the story allows the lead characters to find each other early on and then navigate the challenges that arise along their shared journey. The Grumpy Landlord certainly ticks that box, and I was definitely pleased with the way their relationship unfolded.
This is an open-door romance, but it was handled with genuine empathy, and nothing felt seedy. Yes, there are references and descriptions of sex, but the writing is mature, and whilst intense, the scenes are not gratuitous.
The characters are well developed, and I was invested in discovering how Willow and Ethan would bridge their differences and find a happy ending. In fairness, that was not an easy road to travel, so the support of Willow’s friends, Riley, and Sadie was invaluable. The dynamic created as a result of Willow’s best friend, Sadie, also being Ethan’s little sister, was particularly interesting and proved to be the catalyst for their burgeoning relationship.
The only frustration for me was that I believe the book would have benefited from a good beta reader. There were flaws to the continuity, which, although they didn’t ruin my enjoyment, I found them frustrating. Perhaps the author will take an opportunity to iron out the irritating wrinkles and take this book to the next level. I am used to the occasional imperfections of early reading copies, so I was still able to enjoy this story and wouldn’t hesitate to read more of their books in the future.
This is an open-door romance, but it was handled with genuine empathy, and nothing felt seedy. Yes, there are references and descriptions of sex, but the writing is mature, and whilst intense, the scenes are not gratuitous.
The characters are well developed, and I was invested in discovering how Willow and Ethan would bridge their differences and find a happy ending. In fairness, that was not an easy road to travel, so the support of Willow’s friends, Riley, and Sadie was invaluable. The dynamic created as a result of Willow’s best friend, Sadie, also being Ethan’s little sister, was particularly interesting and proved to be the catalyst for their burgeoning relationship.
The only frustration for me was that I believe the book would have benefited from a good beta reader. There were flaws to the continuity, which, although they didn’t ruin my enjoyment, I found them frustrating. Perhaps the author will take an opportunity to iron out the irritating wrinkles and take this book to the next level. I am used to the occasional imperfections of early reading copies, so I was still able to enjoy this story and wouldn’t hesitate to read more of their books in the future.
January 4, 2026
Would of done 3 1/2 stars cuz of some issues that could of been fixed by proof reading
An Author Friend of mine suggested this story & thought it would be a story I'd like & for the most part I really did enjoy this! I don't want to give much away cuz it's better for the creativity the writer is conveying!
The story was very well written the characters you can picture in your mind & imagine what Anna is weaving!
Only thing I didn't like was it has much detailed Sex for my taste, but you're able to skim over to the point you can skip the majority and just get back to the guts of the incredible story. The other part was the repetitive of some parts and some totally confusing parts(like someone getting out of a shower wearing a towel to them kissing getting hot & heavy to turn around & take off her clothes instead of just the towel she was wearing; things like that & the proposal)but with the emotional upheavals mmm not the right word maybe the emotional issues No don't like this word either cuz it is very serious again don't want to give away the story that the mains are experiencing(it's believable do to how many people are diagnosed with not to mention the other one which would be categorized as mental health which I don't agree with which is why having a hard time finding the right word)& can be why repetitive, but I just yell at it to get on with it, you said that last time but dealing with the traumatic ailments I've seen it done with real people experiencing these same issues it difficult to overcome but with perseverance, support & so much understanding they can be!
Other than the problems I mentioned it was Beautiful
Thank you, Anna for such A Beautifully written Story
Look forward to the next
An Author Friend of mine suggested this story & thought it would be a story I'd like & for the most part I really did enjoy this! I don't want to give much away cuz it's better for the creativity the writer is conveying!
The story was very well written the characters you can picture in your mind & imagine what Anna is weaving!
Only thing I didn't like was it has much detailed Sex for my taste, but you're able to skim over to the point you can skip the majority and just get back to the guts of the incredible story. The other part was the repetitive of some parts and some totally confusing parts(like someone getting out of a shower wearing a towel to them kissing getting hot & heavy to turn around & take off her clothes instead of just the towel she was wearing; things like that & the proposal)but with the emotional upheavals mmm not the right word maybe the emotional issues No don't like this word either cuz it is very serious again don't want to give away the story that the mains are experiencing(it's believable do to how many people are diagnosed with not to mention the other one which would be categorized as mental health which I don't agree with which is why having a hard time finding the right word)& can be why repetitive, but I just yell at it to get on with it, you said that last time but dealing with the traumatic ailments I've seen it done with real people experiencing these same issues it difficult to overcome but with perseverance, support & so much understanding they can be!
Other than the problems I mentioned it was Beautiful
Thank you, Anna for such A Beautifully written Story
Look forward to the next
February 2, 2026
Holy smokes!!! I kind of got beauty and the beast vibes! Pretty steamy read! I was excited about the buildup. The descriptions of the emotions and actions is raw. Absolutely love the buildup of tension and explosions when the tension eases up.
There was representation for the LGBTQ community.
I really enjoyed it and then there came a part where I was like ehhhh I am not sure about this book. I was completely over the same cycle over and over again. However, this is the second book that has reeled me back in towards the end of the book!!
We all know a Marian Dewitt! The characters are easy to relate to and gain a relationship with. I love that it wasn't traditional (you will have to read the book to understand what I mean)! It made me smile, even become giddy at times rooting for the characters or by things that were happening for them or with them at certain times.
Overall, gave a four-star rating due to being repetitive with a cycle, I got bored with the back and forth. However, I love that it made me laugh at times, it had me crying at some points. It had a feel-good ending! I am glad that I finished it! The book is witty. I liked the lesson that it had in the end. I liked that it showed that even when we feel broken, someone loves us. I love that it showed there is healing for trauma and hurt. I would recommend this book to friends and family!
There was representation for the LGBTQ community.
I really enjoyed it and then there came a part where I was like ehhhh I am not sure about this book. I was completely over the same cycle over and over again. However, this is the second book that has reeled me back in towards the end of the book!!
We all know a Marian Dewitt! The characters are easy to relate to and gain a relationship with. I love that it wasn't traditional (you will have to read the book to understand what I mean)! It made me smile, even become giddy at times rooting for the characters or by things that were happening for them or with them at certain times.
Overall, gave a four-star rating due to being repetitive with a cycle, I got bored with the back and forth. However, I love that it made me laugh at times, it had me crying at some points. It had a feel-good ending! I am glad that I finished it! The book is witty. I liked the lesson that it had in the end. I liked that it showed that even when we feel broken, someone loves us. I love that it showed there is healing for trauma and hurt. I would recommend this book to friends and family!
January 8, 2026
Ethan and Willow
Tropes:
* Small town
* Sister’s best friend/Best friend’s brother
* Opposites attract
* Grumpy x sunshine
* He falls first
* Protective MMC
* Artsy FMC
It started one way and went another.
Willow is a free-spirited artist, who is currently being treated pretty horribly.
Ethan is her best friend’s brother, an uptight surgeon recruited into helping her find a place to live.
Offering her a guest house on his property, little does he know how much his world is going to change.
I liked Willow, and it took me a while to like Ethan - he was a bit of an a-z….
The villain was deliciously deranged, thankfully not bunny boiler, but definitely heading that way…!
I loved the very slow awakening…. Definitely a bit more palatable than the whole ‘I’ve known you 5 seconds, let’s get into bed’ version of the instalove trope.
What I didn’t like was the additional angst that led to a pretty serious consequence (partial third act breakup), and the lack of anything permanent for the nasty troll woman stealing her gallery time.
Overall, a page turner with a mix of sweet, spicy and cute. The HEA was gorgeous and had a deeper meaning for anything not feeling quite right.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Tropes:
* Small town
* Sister’s best friend/Best friend’s brother
* Opposites attract
* Grumpy x sunshine
* He falls first
* Protective MMC
* Artsy FMC
It started one way and went another.
Willow is a free-spirited artist, who is currently being treated pretty horribly.
Ethan is her best friend’s brother, an uptight surgeon recruited into helping her find a place to live.
Offering her a guest house on his property, little does he know how much his world is going to change.
I liked Willow, and it took me a while to like Ethan - he was a bit of an a-z….
The villain was deliciously deranged, thankfully not bunny boiler, but definitely heading that way…!
I loved the very slow awakening…. Definitely a bit more palatable than the whole ‘I’ve known you 5 seconds, let’s get into bed’ version of the instalove trope.
What I didn’t like was the additional angst that led to a pretty serious consequence (partial third act breakup), and the lack of anything permanent for the nasty troll woman stealing her gallery time.
Overall, a page turner with a mix of sweet, spicy and cute. The HEA was gorgeous and had a deeper meaning for anything not feeling quite right.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 28, 2026
I’m delighted to thank Anna May Grace for the opportunity to read this charming small-town romance. I thoroughly enjoyed every page.
The story kept me hooked, and I felt every emotion the characters experienced. The adorable cover drew me in, and despite my initial uncertainty about what to expect, I’m glad I read it. It was an easy read overall. I particularly liked Willow’s free-spirited nature, even though she faced some mistreatment at the beginning. It took a while for me to warm up to Ethan, given his reserved nature. However, I understood his good intentions as he helped Willow early on in the book. Once he opened up and let Willow in, I fell in love with him. I feel like I needed more background and context for both main characters, but the story was still enjoyable. I’d love a sequel that delves deeper into Ethan and Willow’s story, as I believe it ended just as their budding romance was beginning to blossom. I’m eagerly anticipating more books from this author.
The tropes for this book include:
- Small-town romance
- Best friends, brother
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Protective MC
- Artistic FMC
- Opposites attract.
The story kept me hooked, and I felt every emotion the characters experienced. The adorable cover drew me in, and despite my initial uncertainty about what to expect, I’m glad I read it. It was an easy read overall. I particularly liked Willow’s free-spirited nature, even though she faced some mistreatment at the beginning. It took a while for me to warm up to Ethan, given his reserved nature. However, I understood his good intentions as he helped Willow early on in the book. Once he opened up and let Willow in, I fell in love with him. I feel like I needed more background and context for both main characters, but the story was still enjoyable. I’d love a sequel that delves deeper into Ethan and Willow’s story, as I believe it ended just as their budding romance was beginning to blossom. I’m eagerly anticipating more books from this author.
The tropes for this book include:
- Small-town romance
- Best friends, brother
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Protective MC
- Artistic FMC
- Opposites attract.
January 29, 2026
I don’t even know where to begin. This book took me in and I couldn’t stop until the last page.
Ethan and Willow are absolutely perfect for each other. Ethan, the grump, the pristine, everything needs to be in order, perfect, gray, sterile surgeon. Willow, the loud, the chaos, the color, the sunshine artist.
When they say opposites attract, this book nailed that perfectly. This book took the raw, real life truths of a relationship and put them on pages to show how two people come together to be the quiet and the chaos. They aren’t perfect, their love isn’t perfect, but love isn’t perfect, it’s messy, it’s chaotic, it’s live throwing every single curveball at you and getting through it together.
The electricity, the yearning, the banter, it’s everything you want to read about. This book had me laughing, crying, wanting to throw my kindle, and kicking my feet with love. Some parts hit home in ways I haven’t thought about in a long time but in the best way possible. It was amazing to see an author put raw, real life experiences on a page. I cannot wait to read more of what Anna puts out there!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ethan and Willow are absolutely perfect for each other. Ethan, the grump, the pristine, everything needs to be in order, perfect, gray, sterile surgeon. Willow, the loud, the chaos, the color, the sunshine artist.
When they say opposites attract, this book nailed that perfectly. This book took the raw, real life truths of a relationship and put them on pages to show how two people come together to be the quiet and the chaos. They aren’t perfect, their love isn’t perfect, but love isn’t perfect, it’s messy, it’s chaotic, it’s live throwing every single curveball at you and getting through it together.
The electricity, the yearning, the banter, it’s everything you want to read about. This book had me laughing, crying, wanting to throw my kindle, and kicking my feet with love. Some parts hit home in ways I haven’t thought about in a long time but in the best way possible. It was amazing to see an author put raw, real life experiences on a page. I cannot wait to read more of what Anna puts out there!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 3, 2026
I really liked the idea of this story, a bohemian artist who is a little chaotic and a tightly wound former soldier who is now a surgeon suffering with PTSD forced to live together. Grumpy vs sunshine, best friend's brother, and forced proximity are some of my favorite tropes. But this story somehow just missed the mark. The FMC & MMC were likeable and I really liked their chemistry. It was the other characters I had an issue with. First, I don't understand the MMC's sister and didnt get why everyone in town had an opinion of either one of them. Also there were a few times in the book where one thing would be happening and then it was like wait that can't be right. For instance someone would be in just a towel after a shower and a few sentences later someone is helping them take their clothes off from before the shower. Maybe that wont bother some readers but I found it distracting. Overall not a bad story just not great. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 24, 2026
This was a fun, cozy, steamy read with some heavier themes. Ethan is a veteran with severe PTSD and survivors guilt, and I truly appreciated watching him fight to overcome it and face his fears. While I did get tired of all the military metaphors, I feel like it also did a great job of showing when he had mentally checked out and how hard his friends and family had to work to communicate with him when his brain couldn't process anything else.
Willow is our artsy, bohemian FMC and she got on my nerves a bit, but I think that kind of tracks with her character. She's flighty and emotional, but she's also an artist with a nomadic lifestyle. I mostly hated how quickly she would give up and leave, but it also made her more believable. She truly is the chaotic whirlwind he needs.
This is definitely a little more insta-love than I'm used to, but the slow-burn acceptance balances that out. Plus we also have Marian trying to sabotage them in the background, I really loved to hate her haha. Overall, a good read!
Willow is our artsy, bohemian FMC and she got on my nerves a bit, but I think that kind of tracks with her character. She's flighty and emotional, but she's also an artist with a nomadic lifestyle. I mostly hated how quickly she would give up and leave, but it also made her more believable. She truly is the chaotic whirlwind he needs.
This is definitely a little more insta-love than I'm used to, but the slow-burn acceptance balances that out. Plus we also have Marian trying to sabotage them in the background, I really loved to hate her haha. Overall, a good read!
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January 27, 2026This is the book that cried “3rd act break up” there were 3 or 4 and by the time we got to the actual 3rd act breakup.. it was overkill. They had the same reason for running away/leaving each time and then got back together without the actions to prove it and in another 50 pages one of them left again.
Really wanted to like this one! Cover is cute and the bones are good but it was missing some meat. We didn’t really get the MCs back story.. once scene explained why he had bad nightmares but he never had them on page so it was hard to remember that… especially when he used that as an excuse to walk away.. it felt forced.
Also it had some continuity issues.. I’m assuming the story was changed at some point so when edits were done things were missed. Nothing major but little things like one scene had her dress off and in the shower then the next page he describes her wearing a tank top. Another one similar where MC was in a tux and then the next scene she describes him in jeans.. little things like that, that didn’t match up.
Ebook.
Really wanted to like this one! Cover is cute and the bones are good but it was missing some meat. We didn’t really get the MCs back story.. once scene explained why he had bad nightmares but he never had them on page so it was hard to remember that… especially when he used that as an excuse to walk away.. it felt forced.
Also it had some continuity issues.. I’m assuming the story was changed at some point so when edits were done things were missed. Nothing major but little things like one scene had her dress off and in the shower then the next page he describes her wearing a tank top. Another one similar where MC was in a tux and then the next scene she describes him in jeans.. little things like that, that didn’t match up.
Ebook.
January 30, 2026
I was expecting a lighthearted romance read, but what I got was a complex look on the affects of PTSD and how it impacts relationships.
After a decade of being back from the war, the MMC is a shell of a man with ghosts that haunt his everyday life. This book demonstrates the war inside your head of wanting to change but being too afraid. That is until a pretty woman turns his grey world around and paints it gold.
There were tears and shouting (don't walk away now!) when reading The Grumpy Landlord. But the lasting impact this book holds is finding beauty in the broken.
What I especially loved was the descriptions of the art that was created throughout the book.
There were a few areas that I wished had more depth in Ethan and Willows relationship. Parts were mentioned as a memory but was never a part of the story. I would have liked to see more playful banter and relationship building moments. It felt like it was a series of conflict and resolution. Some of the side plots I felt lacked much substance and in some areas seemed entirely unnecessary for the overall book.
After a decade of being back from the war, the MMC is a shell of a man with ghosts that haunt his everyday life. This book demonstrates the war inside your head of wanting to change but being too afraid. That is until a pretty woman turns his grey world around and paints it gold.
There were tears and shouting (don't walk away now!) when reading The Grumpy Landlord. But the lasting impact this book holds is finding beauty in the broken.
What I especially loved was the descriptions of the art that was created throughout the book.
There were a few areas that I wished had more depth in Ethan and Willows relationship. Parts were mentioned as a memory but was never a part of the story. I would have liked to see more playful banter and relationship building moments. It felt like it was a series of conflict and resolution. Some of the side plots I felt lacked much substance and in some areas seemed entirely unnecessary for the overall book.
February 10, 2026
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
I started off liking this book, but slowly as I continued reading it kinda got worse and worse... The timeline was a little confusing, there was a moment where chapters didn't line up (I was an ARC reader so it could've just been the file), there were like, three different break-ups, all of which were over the same thing and made me roll my eyes a few times. The so called 'best friend/sister' was a little mean for no reason, I understand wanting to protect your brother, but there is a way to talk to someone...
The crazy use of military vocab, medical vocab etc. felt like a lot. I get it, he's a former solider who doesn't want to pull anyone down, I get it, he's super structured and its more of a lifeline than a choice for him, but it read very repetitive. All in all, I didn't like it that much. The plot itself was cute, cute idea and easy to enjoy, but the actual text and structure of the book, the writing etc. just weren't it for me. The more I read the less I liked it.
I started off liking this book, but slowly as I continued reading it kinda got worse and worse... The timeline was a little confusing, there was a moment where chapters didn't line up (I was an ARC reader so it could've just been the file), there were like, three different break-ups, all of which were over the same thing and made me roll my eyes a few times. The so called 'best friend/sister' was a little mean for no reason, I understand wanting to protect your brother, but there is a way to talk to someone...
The crazy use of military vocab, medical vocab etc. felt like a lot. I get it, he's a former solider who doesn't want to pull anyone down, I get it, he's super structured and its more of a lifeline than a choice for him, but it read very repetitive. All in all, I didn't like it that much. The plot itself was cute, cute idea and easy to enjoy, but the actual text and structure of the book, the writing etc. just weren't it for me. The more I read the less I liked it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2026
🌶️🌶️
This story felt a little chaotic at times. I couldn’t tell if that was on purpose (since chaos seemed to be part of the theme) or if it’s just how this author writes. This was my first book by them, so I’m not totally sure.
I did like the storyline between Willow and Ethan. The messy, loud, over-the-top artist paired with the super rigid, ex-military, Type A surgeon was a fun contrast. I liked that each character had their own voice in their chapters. Ethan’s felt very stiff and controlled, while Willow’s were softer and more emotional.
Watching Ethan work through the PTSD from his military days was one of the stronger parts of the book.
That said, there were some areas that pulled me out of the story, plus some repetition and overused words.
Overall, if you’re into cozy reads and can overlook some that, this might still be worth checking out. This was read and reviewed as an ARC, but this is my honest review.
This story felt a little chaotic at times. I couldn’t tell if that was on purpose (since chaos seemed to be part of the theme) or if it’s just how this author writes. This was my first book by them, so I’m not totally sure.
I did like the storyline between Willow and Ethan. The messy, loud, over-the-top artist paired with the super rigid, ex-military, Type A surgeon was a fun contrast. I liked that each character had their own voice in their chapters. Ethan’s felt very stiff and controlled, while Willow’s were softer and more emotional.
Watching Ethan work through the PTSD from his military days was one of the stronger parts of the book.
That said, there were some areas that pulled me out of the story, plus some repetition and overused words.
Overall, if you’re into cozy reads and can overlook some that, this might still be worth checking out. This was read and reviewed as an ARC, but this is my honest review.
February 8, 2026
I liked the concept of this book and the backstories of the characters. I do wish to know a little more about Willow and her story line to understand why she is so self conscious in thinking she is not enough or too loud. I didn’t think the book hit too much on the landlord actually being a landlord but it was a cute love story altogether. I really liked the incorporation of kintsugi into the story line…went well with the mental health therapeutic aspect and helping each other heal. I did feel like a times it was a roller coaster or them being together and several times I felt the book could have ended but kept going. Not to mention the constant description of what they were smelling or tasting, it got old after a while. We got it, the artist smelled like turpentine and vanilla. Overall it was good but I felt it needs a little more work to be a 5⭐️ read.
Thank you for the ARC and opportunity to review your book.
Thank you for the ARC and opportunity to review your book.
January 23, 2026
I was lucky enough to get this book as an arc and am happy to leave a review. Over all I loved the story, forced proximity, grumpy and sunshine all of my favorite troupes! It was a sweet heart warming story that dealt with some heavy topics and definitely left me in tears once or twice. However I do wish there was a little more back story, she’s best friends with his sister, did they know each other in childhood, did she becomes his sisters friend when he was at war making him a virtual stranger? Some background information would have helped me connect more. Because I read it as an arc I did notice some continuity issues that I’m hoping are fixed before publication but over all I would definitely recommend this to a friend and possibly read a sequel about some other the other characters… hint hint (please!)
February 19, 2026
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Romance
Opposites attract
Dual POV
Willow Hart a talented artist who beats to her own drum and tries not to care what those around her thinks is hitting rock bottom as her landlord kicks her out and the competition is dead set on blocking every opportunity she has. When her best friend sends her brother, Ethan Rourke a trauma surgeon who lives for structure to keep his PTSD at bay, to help Willow land on her feet she didn’t know what she was setting them up for. Can Ethan keep Willow and her chaos causing tabby confined to the guest house? Does he want to? Can Willow add a little color to Ethan's dull life?
Loved this book. It was a great story of embracing oneself and the differences of others! It was a quick read which left some details out but it got the basics in! I loved how on point he was for being her support against her nemesis!
Forbidden Romance
Opposites attract
Dual POV
Willow Hart a talented artist who beats to her own drum and tries not to care what those around her thinks is hitting rock bottom as her landlord kicks her out and the competition is dead set on blocking every opportunity she has. When her best friend sends her brother, Ethan Rourke a trauma surgeon who lives for structure to keep his PTSD at bay, to help Willow land on her feet she didn’t know what she was setting them up for. Can Ethan keep Willow and her chaos causing tabby confined to the guest house? Does he want to? Can Willow add a little color to Ethan's dull life?
Loved this book. It was a great story of embracing oneself and the differences of others! It was a quick read which left some details out but it got the basics in! I loved how on point he was for being her support against her nemesis!
January 26, 2026
"Come home, Willow. Please. Come home and wreck my life. I don't want it if it's perfect."
This book was SO damn cute. I've always been a sucker for the grumpy/sunshine trope, so having it be with a traumatised veteran/doctor & a chaotic artist? Yes, please! The way Willow came into Ethan's life like an absolute whirlwind & Ethan tried to hard to keep her at bay... it was thrilling to read & I had an absolute blast ahaha
Also, I love the way the author handled Ethan's trauma, especially the coping mechanisms & way it was framed around the soldier securing the perimeter, the doctor stitching up the wounds. It was actually pretty beautiful in an absolutely gut-wrenching way.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
This book was SO damn cute. I've always been a sucker for the grumpy/sunshine trope, so having it be with a traumatised veteran/doctor & a chaotic artist? Yes, please! The way Willow came into Ethan's life like an absolute whirlwind & Ethan tried to hard to keep her at bay... it was thrilling to read & I had an absolute blast ahaha
Also, I love the way the author handled Ethan's trauma, especially the coping mechanisms & way it was framed around the soldier securing the perimeter, the doctor stitching up the wounds. It was actually pretty beautiful in an absolutely gut-wrenching way.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2026
I really enjoyed this book far more than I expected. What I thought would be a light, slightly frivolous romance turned out to have real emotional depth, touching on personal trauma and mental health in a way that felt intense but never overwhelming. The romance was solid and engaging, with the leads finding each other early and then navigating their challenges together — something I always appreciate. The characters were vivid and easy to invest in, and the supporting cast added warmth and balance to the story. While there were a few minor continuity issues that could benefit from tighter editing, they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. A heartfelt, emotionally charged romance that I’d happily recommend and would read more from this author.
January 23, 2026
This book had potential to be great if only there was more foundation. The story was interesting enough and kept my attention. However, most of the story felt choppy and repetitive. I enjoyed both of the main characters and was invested in their backstories, but felt that there were huge gaps of their past history left out. I oftentimes felt that I was re-reading a section from earlier in the book because so many scenes were similar. I am giving three stars because it did keep my attention and I enjoyed the plot. It just needed more than what was there.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 29, 2026
The Grumpy Landlord by Ann May Grace is a cozy romance built on an opposites-attract dynamic. Willow, an artsy free spirited painter, and Ethan, a rigid, controlled surgeon coping with PTSD. They have an engaging setup, especially with their shared history through his sister and his stepping in to help her when she’s evicted. The story offers a bit of spice and a comforting romance vibe, but it’s also fairly predictable. While the premise had strong potential, some story elements felt underdeveloped and could have benefited from sharper editing and deeper character exploration. I really wanted to love this one, but it fell a little flat for me in several areas.
February 7, 2026
The Grumpy Landlord is a cozy, trope-heavy romance that delivers exactly what it promises. Grumpy landlord, chaotic sunshine tenant, lots of banter, and solid chemistry. I really liked Willow, she felt messy and real and not just “sunshine” for contrast. Watching Ethan slowly soften was predictable but satisfying, and the tension made it hard to put down. The spice was fun and fit the story. I think over all this was an easy, comforting read that I genuinely enjoyed. Perfect if you’re in the mood for grumpy x sunshine done well.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 5, 2026
This is a very enjoyable read! The dual pov, the sharp contrasts between main characters and the way they compromise and become blended made this book interesting. The supporting characters added layers that I would love to see explored in other stories. What this story needed more of was Charlie the Ginger Menace. He certainly started out as a wonderful addition to the chaos, but as an orange cat he has so much more to offer.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 19, 2026
I'm rounding up from 3.5. The story is solid. Both main characters are well formed, maybe a little more back story on each would have helped a little, but they were fine as is. I read this as an ARC and I'm hoping that a few story holes are filled before this is released. it just seemed like a few parts of a few scenes were skipped over or assumed. There's a part where he says that the words weren't enough, but he never said the words. Just a few continuity errors here and there. Other than that, the plot is solid and it's an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2026
Grumpy vs. sunshine? Yes please.
The Grumpy Landlord delivers exactly what the trope promises — a broody, closed-off hero slowly undone by pure sunshine energy. The chemistry and personality contrast were the highlight for me and kept the story fun and engaging.
I did wish for a bit more emotional depth in places, but overall this was an enjoyable, cozy romance. Anna May Grace has a great writing style, and I’m definitely interested in reading more of her books.
Would recommend — especially if you love when a grump turns into a big softy for his lady 💛📖
The Grumpy Landlord delivers exactly what the trope promises — a broody, closed-off hero slowly undone by pure sunshine energy. The chemistry and personality contrast were the highlight for me and kept the story fun and engaging.
I did wish for a bit more emotional depth in places, but overall this was an enjoyable, cozy romance. Anna May Grace has a great writing style, and I’m definitely interested in reading more of her books.
Would recommend — especially if you love when a grump turns into a big softy for his lady 💛📖
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