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The Grumpy Plus-One: A Small Town Rom-Com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 8, 2026
Molly and Her Plus One . . .
Molly Miller has carefully planned her sister’s destination wedding, examining all points of potential failure to avoid any glitches when the Big Day comes. But Life loves to toss in variables to see how we humans deal with it... and Molly ends up being dumped by her boyfriend two weeks before the event. It would not look good that the wedding planner can't keep her own relationship together. In desperation, Molly approaches her grumpy neighbor to ask if he would be her fake boyfriend for this weekend event. He reminds her that what she is asking him to do describes a "fraud" or at best "a favor with deceptive intent". But since Dustin Grant is a divorce lawyer currently writing a book about marriage failures, Molly suggests this would be a perfect research tool to watch one up close! He was impressed how she turned the request around like that. He will behave perfectly and watch everything fall apart... to be included in his book. He finally agreed but required her signing a "Fake Boyfriend Contract" with clearly established boundaries, the rules of what he is willing to do (i.e. no kissing). But what will he do when everything goes wrong instead for his own research?
The hotel is just about fully booked since they were the last ones in, so they will have to share the only remaining available room... together. He and Molly will also have to sleep in the same bed! Even worse, her family somehow actually likes him without being coerced! And he finds himself falling for Molly even when her ex-boyfriend Connor assumes he was still invited to attend and decides he wants her back. Dustin walked up to them, extended his hand and introduced himself: "Dustin Grant. Molly's boyfriend." (Dealing with this part wasn't even in the contract)! But she introduced Connor as "a friend" while Dustin continued to keep his arm around her -- and her mother smiled as she watched. Will Dustin's "favor" end in a HEA?
Molly Miller has carefully planned her sister’s destination wedding, examining all points of potential failure to avoid any glitches when the Big Day comes. But Life loves to toss in variables to see how we humans deal with it... and Molly ends up being dumped by her boyfriend two weeks before the event. It would not look good that the wedding planner can't keep her own relationship together. In desperation, Molly approaches her grumpy neighbor to ask if he would be her fake boyfriend for this weekend event. He reminds her that what she is asking him to do describes a "fraud" or at best "a favor with deceptive intent". But since Dustin Grant is a divorce lawyer currently writing a book about marriage failures, Molly suggests this would be a perfect research tool to watch one up close! He was impressed how she turned the request around like that. He will behave perfectly and watch everything fall apart... to be included in his book. He finally agreed but required her signing a "Fake Boyfriend Contract" with clearly established boundaries, the rules of what he is willing to do (i.e. no kissing). But what will he do when everything goes wrong instead for his own research?
The hotel is just about fully booked since they were the last ones in, so they will have to share the only remaining available room... together. He and Molly will also have to sleep in the same bed! Even worse, her family somehow actually likes him without being coerced! And he finds himself falling for Molly even when her ex-boyfriend Connor assumes he was still invited to attend and decides he wants her back. Dustin walked up to them, extended his hand and introduced himself: "Dustin Grant. Molly's boyfriend." (Dealing with this part wasn't even in the contract)! But she introduced Connor as "a friend" while Dustin continued to keep his arm around her -- and her mother smiled as she watched. Will Dustin's "favor" end in a HEA?
August 7, 2026
This was a sweet and spicy novella by a new-to-me author, Milly Birk. It’s funny, romantic and enjoyable.
Molly has a problem. She is planning her sister’s wedding, but gets dumped a few weeks before the big day. She talks her neighbor, Dustin, into going as her plus one. He’s a divorce lawyer writing a book, WHY MARRIAGE FAILS, and Molly convinces him to attend the festivities to do more research.
My one small critique is that I would have liked Molly and Dustin to have a bit more of a basis for their relationship before the wedding weekend. I think it would have made the whole falling in love idea more believable. But otherwise I had a good time with this one.
The author really made the seaside town of Whitesplash Cove come alive and feel like a place I’d want to visit, despite how it got its name. :) I could picture Molly and Dustin there, walking the boardwalk and falling in love.
I also liked how the two characters warmed up to one another without even realizing it. They made such a sweet pair. And the way Dustin and Molly took care of each other and took notice of things was so romantic.
And I loved the humorous thoughts they both had throughout the book. For example, when they arrived in Whitsplash Cove Dustin mused of the town, “It was trying very hard to be charming. I resented it on principle.”
Those snarky little thoughts, along with the romantic moments big and small, made this one a pleasure to read. I was charmed. I’m looking forward to reading more from Milly Birk.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Molly has a problem. She is planning her sister’s wedding, but gets dumped a few weeks before the big day. She talks her neighbor, Dustin, into going as her plus one. He’s a divorce lawyer writing a book, WHY MARRIAGE FAILS, and Molly convinces him to attend the festivities to do more research.
My one small critique is that I would have liked Molly and Dustin to have a bit more of a basis for their relationship before the wedding weekend. I think it would have made the whole falling in love idea more believable. But otherwise I had a good time with this one.
The author really made the seaside town of Whitesplash Cove come alive and feel like a place I’d want to visit, despite how it got its name. :) I could picture Molly and Dustin there, walking the boardwalk and falling in love.
I also liked how the two characters warmed up to one another without even realizing it. They made such a sweet pair. And the way Dustin and Molly took care of each other and took notice of things was so romantic.
And I loved the humorous thoughts they both had throughout the book. For example, when they arrived in Whitsplash Cove Dustin mused of the town, “It was trying very hard to be charming. I resented it on principle.”
Those snarky little thoughts, along with the romantic moments big and small, made this one a pleasure to read. I was charmed. I’m looking forward to reading more from Milly Birk.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2026
Grumpy Plus-One is a fantastic wedding novella dipped in shenanigans. I am enchanted by this one, y’all! The banter between the MCs makes the whole story. With the adorable setting and close-knit family drama weaving in and out, the hot scenes end up as an ingredient added to but not the entire main dish. Makes me want to go and hug a loved one, flexing my romantic muscle and faith in forever.
This a short bit with the promise of more small town wedding romcom to come and I am here. For It.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This a short bit with the promise of more small town wedding romcom to come and I am here. For It.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2026
A short read about wedding planner, Molly and her neighbour, Dustin, a divorce lawyer. Molly's boyfriend breaks up with her and she urgently needs a partner to go with her to her sister's wedding.
Dustin agrees to play her fake boyfriend in the name of research. He is writing a book and is attending the wedding to observe couple behaviour. He is a cynic and being in the profession that he is in, he is very surprised when Molly turns his interpretation of relationships right around.
This is an enjoyable read and both main characters were likeable. Though the book was entertaining, the storyline is quite generic. There is a downloadable epilogue with sign-up to the author's newsletter.
Dustin agrees to play her fake boyfriend in the name of research. He is writing a book and is attending the wedding to observe couple behaviour. He is a cynic and being in the profession that he is in, he is very surprised when Molly turns his interpretation of relationships right around.
This is an enjoyable read and both main characters were likeable. Though the book was entertaining, the storyline is quite generic. There is a downloadable epilogue with sign-up to the author's newsletter.
August 10, 2026
This short read was easily digestible like a sweet treat🍦 and for me, the plot was predictable, but not disappointingly so! Punctuation/ flow seemed a little choppy at first (lots of short sentences) but didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. Overall was a good find, esp. since I’m a very picky reader!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 3, 2026
The Grumpy Plus One
Super cute novella rom-com that hits all the good feels. I wouldn’t really call Dustin grumpy, analytical is more accurate, but that probably wouldn’t make for a good title lol. The banter between Molly and Dustin has great buildup and makes you really root for them.
Super cute novella rom-com that hits all the good feels. I wouldn’t really call Dustin grumpy, analytical is more accurate, but that probably wouldn’t make for a good title lol. The banter between Molly and Dustin has great buildup and makes you really root for them.
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July 30, 2026A book about an uptight family attorney and a wedding planner. He was researching a book about divorce and she is planning a beautiful wedding for her sister. It was not a filled out as I would have liked. Most of it takes place in one weekend. I will try other books by this author
July 31, 2026
Great message
Great message about working on marriage for it to work.
Would have preferred omission of graphic sex scenes.
Also included the concept that a person can learn a different perspective is he/she keeps an open mind.
Great message about working on marriage for it to work.
Would have preferred omission of graphic sex scenes.
Also included the concept that a person can learn a different perspective is he/she keeps an open mind.
August 5, 2026
I loved every page! I wish it wasn’t a short story so I could know more about Molly and Dustin.
August 13, 2026
A very good read
This story brings you into the emotions of two people learning about each other and themselves at the same time. Its a great short story.
This story brings you into the emotions of two people learning about each other and themselves at the same time. Its a great short story.
August 25, 2026
After getting dumped by her current boyfriend, by text! Molly asks her neighbor Dustin to be her plus one at her sister's weeding in two weeks. Easy read. Short rom-com.
August 13, 2026
great short read. funny and captivating
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews