Grin and Bear It

by Lexes Stack

Ellie Taylor has always gone wherever the wind blew…as long as it didn’t carry her back to her hometown of Chapel, Texas.
After a sudden break up and a family emergency, Ellie has no choice but to return to the town she fled ten years ago. Time hasn’t softened the ache of lingering failure or the expectations placed upon her by her mother. She’s determined to keep her stay short, hiding behind her passion for photography on the ranch that shaped her childhood.
The last thing she wants to deal with is the bane of her entire adolescence: Sonny Barrett.
Her best friend’s older brother.
Now a retired rodeo champion running Chapelwood Ranch, Sonny has too many secrets and a past he keeps buried beneath inked skin and broody silence. He’s tasked with teaching Ellie to ride again for her summer job, but she’s not the pesky girl he used to avoid at all costs. She’s grown into a woman with sharp edges and an even sharper tongue. Every lesson blurs the line between irritation and something far more dangerous.
Sonny knows better than to want his little sister’s firecracker of a best friend.
Ellie knows better than to fall for the arrogant cowboy who drives her insane.
Now, their biggest fight won’t be against each other. It’ll be for each other.

Genres: Westerns

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2026

Reviews

[Rosalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)

This was such a cute cowboy romance perfect for a spring/summer read with all the Texas vibes. It had me smiling, laughing, and fully invested. The banter? Top tier. 🤣

Ellie leaves her hometown to escape her mother’s expectations, but when a family emergency brings her back 10 years later, she’s forced to face everything she left behind… so it’s been a while since she seen Sonny and when they finally reunite? GAME. ON.🍒🔥

Sonny is a retired rider who cut his career short (mysteriously 🤔) and returned home to run the family ranch. And yes… he is a HOT AF cowboy. 🤠🔥

This is DEFINITELY a slow burn.. but the good kind. The kind that has you screaming “JUST GET TOGETHER ALREADY!!” while still loving every second of the tension. 🤌🏽

If you love:
• Small town romance
• Slow burn 🔥
• Best friend’s brother
• Age gap
• Loathe to lovers
• Family ranch vibes
• Forced proximity

You need to pick this one up!
Huge thank you for the ARC so grateful I got to read this early! 💖
OUT NOW! 📕3/20

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!

I was privileged to be able to obtain an ARC copy, it certainly didn’t disappoint! Ellie and Sonny are shit heads to each other for most of the book. But when they come together lort bless you girl you know how to write a spicy scene! It’s very spicy, but also very cozy, and of all of the books I’ve read it’s the first cowboy romance I’ve ever read. It definitely didn’t disappoint, I will impatiently await book two!

Watching him slowly open up to her is truly magical, the author truly has a talent for writing in emotion. I was feeling all of the feelings along with the characters. It’s a very typical best friend’s older brother romance, but still in all a must read. I never in a million years seen how the ending turned out and who caused all of the drama. But honestly I’m here for the love and boy you delivered!

[Steph’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grin and Bear it by Lexes Stack
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❤️‍🔥"Happiness is a stubborn thing, it doesn't wait for perfect timing or permission"

🍒Fun fact: this is only my second ever cowboy romance I've read and I loved it so much, it was both relatable and heartwarming. And I don't know what it is but I love the best friend's brother storyline, then pair it with loathe to lovers- chiefs kiss 💋 This isn't my first book by Lexes and definitely won't be my last. I lover her writing style, it's easy it instantly get hooked on the storyline and the way she writes her characters.

🍒Despite the real life struggles both Ellie and Sonny are experiencing and dealing with they find comfort and a love in each other that neither one expected but ultimately needed. Sonny is broody, closed off and has a slutty mustache with a FILTHY mouth lol Ellie is strong willed, feisty and has a smart mouth that gives Sonny a run for his money. The tension between these two was off the carts! And the cherry pie scene had me blushing🤭I cannot wait for book 2!
🍒Small Town
💋A Best Friends Brother
🍒Slow Burn
💋Forced Proximity
🍒Age Gap
💋Cowboy Romance

Thank you so much @lexesstackauthor for the arc opportunity! I can't wait to see what you have next for us in this series!

[Livy dow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay yeah I’m officially obsessed with Grin and Bear It by Lexes Stack 😭🤠

This book honestly had me hooked from the start. Sonny is the perfect broody cowboy MMC and the chemistry between him and Ellie was SO good. The banter, the tension, the history between them… I was eating it up the entire time. Every interaction felt so charged and I genuinely could not stop reading.

I also really loved Ellie’s character and seeing her come back home and deal with everything she tried to leave behind. It made the story feel really emotional underneath all the romance and tension. And Sonny 😩 this man was actually unreal. Quiet, grumpy, protective cowboys will always do it for me.

“𝐼’𝓋𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝓈𝓀𝑒𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑒𝓎𝑒𝓈 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒹𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔… 𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓁 𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊.”

Also the slow burn in this book??? Absolutely delicious. I love when the tension builds properly and this one did it SO well because by the time they finally gave in to each other I was losing my mind 🥵 The spice was so worth the wait.

Honestly this book just gave me all the feelings. Cute, emotional, frustrating in the best way, and ridiculously addictive. Now I need approximately 100 more cowboy romances immediately 🐻🖤✨

[Bounded and Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

[ARC review] Love love love LOVE this book! Everything was perfect. This is a modern cowboy romance story that is relatable and heartwarming. It includes a great enemies to lovers trope with hilarious and tension-filled banter. The MMC, Sonny, has a slutty mustache and a FILTHY mouth, so that should be convincing enough for you to read this. And don’t get me started on the cherry pie scene. 🫦🍒🥧😏 I have been on a cowboy romance kick lately and this book totally enforced my obsession for this genre! 🤠

Small town romance ✔️
Enemies to lovers ✔️
Best friend’s older brother ✔️
Forced proximity (hint: ⚙️🐂)✔️
Grumpy MMC overcoming life obstacles and trauma ✔️
Tense family dynamics on the FMC’s side ✔️
Found family ✔️
Slutty mustache ✔️

I mean what more could you want in a cowboy romance? I was kicking my feet giggling while reading this book. And the ending?! I am SO excited for book 2 😍

[Shannon Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review, thank you Lexes for the opportunity to read this early.

This is my first book by this author and I am a lifetime fan.

Sonny and Ellie are everything you need in your life. Neither of them have had great go at adulthood. The twists and turns along the way make this story great. It is a best friend’s brother but the storyline is so much more. I love Ellie’s feistiness and the ability to be true to herself.

Sonny is all grumpy and broody until smart mouth Ellie gives it back to him. I love the banter between the two and how it mae their relationship so much stronger.

MMC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FMC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Plot ♾️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Side Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I hope Remi and Wil get books too.

[Emily Arriola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED Grin And Bear It! I am a huge fan of a lot of the tropes in this book and I felt like they were executed really well!

I was obsessed with the tension between Ellie and Sonny! And my jaw was on the ground when they finally snapped!!

If you also like these tropes:
❤️best friend’s brother
❤️age gap
❤️cowboy x photographer
❤️slow burn
❤️loathe to lovers
❤️family ranch
Then you need to read Grin and Bear it right away!!

Thank you to Lexes Stack for this ARC!

[Christina Mobley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first-ever ARC, and it did not disappoint. Sonny and Ellie’s relationship develops in the most enjoyable way, and their dynamic is a highlight—full of warmth, humor, and heart. They each carry real-life struggles into adulthood, and watching them come together is beautifully written. The back-and-forth banter is a delight, and the spice level is spot-on. I’m already hoping Remi gets a book next!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 74%

I was hoping to tough it out but I cannot be bothered to read another 100 pages. There is simultaneously too much and not enough happening.

The slow burn was generally working for me, but I feel like the characters did not interact enough in the first 100 pages to hold my interest. Once there’s more consistent interaction with the riding lessons, the slow burn was appropriate.

I should have DNF’ed it when the author used “unalive” in a serious context but I tried to overlook it.

[Karson A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely AMAZING! Very beautifully written! I fell in love with the mmc and fmc! If you love a good cowboys romance this one is one of the BEST I'VE READ! EVER! The plot was amazing and spicy was spicing! And bonus points because he has a mustache!!

[Lyndsey Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first ARC reading and couldn’t have picked a better book!! It was so good, had me hooked the entire time!! I love cowboy romances and adding best friends brother! Him holding her on the mechanical bull in the bar, had my jaw dropped! Can’t wait for book 2! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Paulina Lozano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, I really enjoyed this reading, I pick it with no expectations only because I love the best friend's brother trope, and it turn to be a 5 stars book, the banter, the slow burn, the side characters, everything was exceptionally written.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC! I enjoyed this book.

[Elizabeth Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this read! Thank you for the ARC!

[Carrisa Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. watching these two learn their roles in the ranch after being gone for so long was so amazing. also his dad's peptalk about when you know you know was so sweet.

[jeorgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS. THE EASIEST FIVE STARS⭐️

[Stephanie Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! Sonny is grumpy cowboy with a filthy mouth and slutty mustache and Ellie loves taking photos and hopes her photos will be seen and she’s also best-friends with Sonny’s younger sister. This book had me laughing!! The banter and tension between them was off the charts!!!! I will be adding this book to my favorites list! This is definitely a must read and I highly recommend it. Thank You Lexes for this ARC.

[Lauren Golding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhh the slow burn, Enemies to lovers… best friends brother…. It was such a fun read…. Loved the trauma bonding…. Really good read!!!