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Cider Bar Sisters #2
His Grumpy Childhood Friend
It's been five years since Charlotte Tam had to endure a public proposal at a baseball game—literally the stuff of her nightmares—and realized her ex never really knew her. She hasn’t dated since, afraid that no man will understand her cranky, introverted, coffee-obsessed self, but she wants to try again. Her friend suggests she ask a guy to ease her into the dating game and give her some lessons.
That night at the cider bar, Charlotte runs into Mike Guo, her childhood best friend who lived in the house next door twenty years ago. Surely easygoing Mike, who is now surprisingly handsome, must do well in the world of love. He’s the perfect candidate for this.
But as they go on practice dates around Toronto and even have kissing lessons, Charlotte starts to fall for Mike, and that was never part of the plan. He’s too different from her, just like her ex—how could it work? And she suspects Mike has secrets of his own…
Can their childhood friendship really become love?
That night at the cider bar, Charlotte runs into Mike Guo, her childhood best friend who lived in the house next door twenty years ago. Surely easygoing Mike, who is now surprisingly handsome, must do well in the world of love. He’s the perfect candidate for this.
But as they go on practice dates around Toronto and even have kissing lessons, Charlotte starts to fall for Mike, and that was never part of the plan. He’s too different from her, just like her ex—how could it work? And she suspects Mike has secrets of his own…
Can their childhood friendship really become love?
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2020
219 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Lau
39 books869 followersJackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
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October 30, 2020A very low-conflict story though dealing with a difficult subject: hero endured major emotional abuse from his parents and is still struggling with the effects. It's definitely the right decision not to pile any extra plot trauma on him because his mental health feels pretty fragile, and Lau doesn't do 'magic healing sex' nonsense, but we do close the book with a strong sense that he's got a long way to go.
Otherwise a low-angst story, where the main issue is that both hero and heroine (a massive introvert) need a great deal of space, and have to figure out what a relationship with a lot of space in it looks like, in a world that prizes PDAs and intense closeness and people being up in your business.
I must add, the heroine drinks too much coffee to the point that it was making *me* jittery and unable to sleep just from reading about it. Jesus, woman, cut back, you're going to have a heart attack.
Otherwise a low-angst story, where the main issue is that both hero and heroine (a massive introvert) need a great deal of space, and have to figure out what a relationship with a lot of space in it looks like, in a world that prizes PDAs and intense closeness and people being up in your business.
I must add, the heroine drinks too much coffee to the point that it was making *me* jittery and unable to sleep just from reading about it. Jesus, woman, cut back, you're going to have a heart attack.
April 10, 2023
Another satisfying contemporary romance from Jackie Lau! These read like comfort food, and they kind of are - everything I've read of hers is an homage to the Toronto food scene! I say this every review but it's so darn charming, okay.
Charlotte was very entertaining as a blunt grump who knows who she is and what she wants. She was a firm dominant personality for Mike's more insecure softness. And their steamy scenes! Her childhood desk- Anyways, enjoyed this a lot, even if Emily Woo Zeller pronounced toque wrong the whole time.
Charlotte was very entertaining as a blunt grump who knows who she is and what she wants. She was a firm dominant personality for Mike's more insecure softness. And their steamy scenes! Her childhood desk- Anyways, enjoyed this a lot, even if Emily Woo Zeller pronounced toque wrong the whole time.
December 17, 2021
Childhood best friends + fake dating + grumpy/sunshine trope in reverse = INJECT THIS INTO MY VEINS AHHHHHH
I read The Professor Next Door before this and wanted to check out Charlotte and Mike's story as well! This was super sweet and a quick read. I also loved all the food descriptions!!! So scrumptious.
Content warning: past emotional and verbal abuse, explicit sex scenes
I read The Professor Next Door before this and wanted to check out Charlotte and Mike's story as well! This was super sweet and a quick read. I also loved all the food descriptions!!! So scrumptious.
Content warning: past emotional and verbal abuse, explicit sex scenes
May 29, 2022
This was another fun and rather sweet book in the Cider Bar Sisters series. It’s a grumpy-sunshine where the heroine is the grumpy side of the relationship. Charlotte didn’t seem too grumpy to me (maybe we are kindred spirits?), and she was especially sun-shiny around Mike.
Charlotte and Mike were best friends until his family just up and left. I have to say, Mike’s backstory was sort of heartbreaking. It was actually amazing how wonderful he was despite his upbringing. Charlotte really showed her gentle side when dealing with that damage Mike’s parents did to him. Though I felt like this was supposed to be Charlotte’s story, I found myself more invested in Mike. I cried at certain points because I was so happy for him and how he was slowly putting distance between him and his past.
I am trash for friends-to-lovers, and the addition of these two finding their way back to one another just made this romance even more satisfying for me. Sweet and touching, I was happy crying at the end.
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Charlotte and Mike were best friends until his family just up and left. I have to say, Mike’s backstory was sort of heartbreaking. It was actually amazing how wonderful he was despite his upbringing. Charlotte really showed her gentle side when dealing with that damage Mike’s parents did to him. Though I felt like this was supposed to be Charlotte’s story, I found myself more invested in Mike. I cried at certain points because I was so happy for him and how he was slowly putting distance between him and his past.
I am trash for friends-to-lovers, and the addition of these two finding their way back to one another just made this romance even more satisfying for me. Sweet and touching, I was happy crying at the end.
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February 5, 2021I'm not rating this one because external factors! It was published in October 2020 and I don't think I want covid in my contemporary romance, but it was also very strange to read a book full of people going to bars and exploring restaurants. So it's very possible authors in this genre just can't win with me right now!
And I'm not sure how much of that reaction colored all my other reactions! Like, Lau's writing clicked with me much less than it has in the past, but maybe that was also because I couldn't really connect to this strange, strange world!
I did like the story of two people who kinda just like each other and were still working on themselves and didn't have huge stupid conflicts.
And I'm not sure how much of that reaction colored all my other reactions! Like, Lau's writing clicked with me much less than it has in the past, but maybe that was also because I couldn't really connect to this strange, strange world!
I did like the story of two people who kinda just like each other and were still working on themselves and didn't have huge stupid conflicts.
October 8, 2020
While the first book in Jackie Lau’s Cider Bar Sisters series, Her Big City Neighbor grew on me as I read it, I fell immediately into the second book, His Grumpy Childhood Friend. Charlotte is at a baseball game with her boyfriend of 3 years when her actual nightmare happens, he proposes on the jumbotron. She runs away and goes on a five year dating moratorium. As one does.
When we rejoin Charlotte in the present (an alternate universe present with no COVID-19), she would like to have a boyfriend again, but is insecure about her rusty dating skills. Charlotte is very happy that her work at home job as a geophysicist consultant means she can go days without leaving the house or interacting with people. I know she’s smiling on the cover, but she’s the grumpy one. I love that she’s just grumpy. It isn’t because of childhood trauma or an unhappy family. She was a grumpy child too. I’m all in favor of women getting to be grumpy just because they are.
Mike, on the other hand, did have a traumatic childhood with verbally and emotionally abusive parents. As a front, he learned to be the super fun sunshine guy. When Charlotte and Mike run into each other at the cider bar, Charlotte sees an opportunity to get in some practice dates. She asks Mike to be her dating coach because surely he knows all about dating. Mike doesn’t tell her that he has mostly spent his adult years trying to repair the damage from his childhood and does not have vast dating experience. He is very happy for an excuse to spend time with Charlotte and maybe turn those dating lessons into real dating. Mike especially enjoys easing Charlotte out of her comfort zone, just a little bit and winning smiles from her.
Their transition from former friends reconnecting as adults who fake date for fun to a real couple with a strong chance of a long and successful relationship is lovely. The crisis that arises in their relationship is not big, but it is handled beautifully and with compassion. I can’t talk about the ending, of course, because of spoilers, but I think it may be my favorite resolution to any of Jackie Lau’s book.
His Grumpy Childhood Friend has all the great Toronto food and strong friendships you want from a Jackie Lau, with an addition of terrible geology puns. It’s out October 27th. I received this as an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When we rejoin Charlotte in the present (an alternate universe present with no COVID-19), she would like to have a boyfriend again, but is insecure about her rusty dating skills. Charlotte is very happy that her work at home job as a geophysicist consultant means she can go days without leaving the house or interacting with people. I know she’s smiling on the cover, but she’s the grumpy one. I love that she’s just grumpy. It isn’t because of childhood trauma or an unhappy family. She was a grumpy child too. I’m all in favor of women getting to be grumpy just because they are.
Mike, on the other hand, did have a traumatic childhood with verbally and emotionally abusive parents. As a front, he learned to be the super fun sunshine guy. When Charlotte and Mike run into each other at the cider bar, Charlotte sees an opportunity to get in some practice dates. She asks Mike to be her dating coach because surely he knows all about dating. Mike doesn’t tell her that he has mostly spent his adult years trying to repair the damage from his childhood and does not have vast dating experience. He is very happy for an excuse to spend time with Charlotte and maybe turn those dating lessons into real dating. Mike especially enjoys easing Charlotte out of her comfort zone, just a little bit and winning smiles from her.
Their transition from former friends reconnecting as adults who fake date for fun to a real couple with a strong chance of a long and successful relationship is lovely. The crisis that arises in their relationship is not big, but it is handled beautifully and with compassion. I can’t talk about the ending, of course, because of spoilers, but I think it may be my favorite resolution to any of Jackie Lau’s book.
His Grumpy Childhood Friend has all the great Toronto food and strong friendships you want from a Jackie Lau, with an addition of terrible geology puns. It’s out October 27th. I received this as an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2023
I really liked this one and read it in one sitting. The fake dating trope felt forced but I liked the level of communication between the MCs and the gender dynamics. I liked Charlotte's group of friends and her family. Mike really needed a hug and Charlotte was the perfect woman for him (and vice versa). We finally got a Lau book without the pointless 80% break up, alleluia!
April 9, 2023
Jacki Lau consistently writes books that I like, but rarely love, and this was no exception. But oh, the food in this book (and all her books.) I would read a book just of her writing about food.
May 31, 2023
This was so incredibly cute, I had a smile on my face the entire time. It was sweet and simple and lighthearted, just what I was in the mood for. I loved Charlotte and Mike’s relationship, they hadn’t seen one another in 20 years and yet it was like no time had passed, they clicked so well. They just made sense and I support it fully.
January 11, 2022
This was super adorable and Charlotte was soooo relatable in many ways (hello fellow introvert who enjoys working from home and not dealing with people).
However, what made me dock a star was the moments when Charlotte was irritating af, aka when she constantly judged other ppl for their food and drink choices. If I had to hear her complain about Mike putting pineapple on his pizza one more friggin time…Food shaming annoys the heck out of me, and I really wish Charlotte hadn’t been so judgmental because it made her seem more pretentious than necessary.
Otherwise, this was another great romance from an author who is quickly becoming an auto read for me, and whose huge backlist I’m slowly trying to make my way through!
However, what made me dock a star was the moments when Charlotte was irritating af, aka when she constantly judged other ppl for their food and drink choices. If I had to hear her complain about Mike putting pineapple on his pizza one more friggin time…Food shaming annoys the heck out of me, and I really wish Charlotte hadn’t been so judgmental because it made her seem more pretentious than necessary.
Otherwise, this was another great romance from an author who is quickly becoming an auto read for me, and whose huge backlist I’m slowly trying to make my way through!
April 28, 2023
I'm obsessed with everything this author writes. She could put out her grocery list and I'd be like, amazing, 10/10, what's next.
February 20, 2022
A second chance
Is Charlotte grumpy or is she an introvert who's needs are often overlooked? I'm just saying.
A chance encounter reconnects Charlotte and Mike her childhood neighbor. This encounter opens the door for practice dating since Charlotte swore off dating after a botched proposal. She's now ready to date again and why not do it with someone who she has history with. Nothing could go wrong, right? 😅
These two are so sweet together and meet each other where they are. A little uncertain about romantic love but definitely not unsure about each other. Mike's backstory of emotional abuse make him particularly in tune with Charlotte's needs but it never felt like she abused his need to take care of. Actually it was the opposite because she was also questioning if she deserves this level of care. I also loved that there wasn't a third act breakup because it would have ruined the character work we got. They both had great friend groups and on page talked about not losing themselves in this relationship. Yeah I highly recommend this book. I realized after get about 10% in I wasn't reading the series in order but this entry definitely set me up to read the entire series. Loved it that much!!!!
CN: emotional abuse, child neglect and manipulation, therapy, dating anxiety, anxiety with panic attacks, depression (side character), heavy menstruation, family dynamics that encourage competition between siblings, open relationship (I think the ex wanted to cheat but this was his workaround)
Is Charlotte grumpy or is she an introvert who's needs are often overlooked? I'm just saying.
A chance encounter reconnects Charlotte and Mike her childhood neighbor. This encounter opens the door for practice dating since Charlotte swore off dating after a botched proposal. She's now ready to date again and why not do it with someone who she has history with. Nothing could go wrong, right? 😅
These two are so sweet together and meet each other where they are. A little uncertain about romantic love but definitely not unsure about each other. Mike's backstory of emotional abuse make him particularly in tune with Charlotte's needs but it never felt like she abused his need to take care of. Actually it was the opposite because she was also questioning if she deserves this level of care. I also loved that there wasn't a third act breakup because it would have ruined the character work we got. They both had great friend groups and on page talked about not losing themselves in this relationship. Yeah I highly recommend this book. I realized after get about 10% in I wasn't reading the series in order but this entry definitely set me up to read the entire series. Loved it that much!!!!
CN: emotional abuse, child neglect and manipulation, therapy, dating anxiety, anxiety with panic attacks, depression (side character), heavy menstruation, family dynamics that encourage competition between siblings, open relationship (I think the ex wanted to cheat but this was his workaround)
October 28, 2020
Practice dating. Cranky introvert. Cinnamon roll hero. Friends to lovers. Food porn. Holy cow, Jackie Lau conjured up the magical romance formula to soothe my pandemic rage brain. This is a romance so lusciously lowkey, and low-angst that even our grumpy heroine Charlotte would approve. Like so many others, reading has been such a tense battlefield for me lately; I needed something to take the edge off, unclench my jaw, and help me forget, even for a minute, this crazy nightmare. And this adorably gentle reunion between the cranky introvert girl and her childhood buddy-turned-cinnamon-roll-cutie was exactly the panacea I needed.
See the full review on my blog Lucky Reads Romance.
See the full review on my blog Lucky Reads Romance.
November 15, 2020
Jackie writes such real characters and this is another fine example, a friends to lovers romance that makes the reader root for their happy ending.
Charlotte Tam knew she was making a big mistake when her boyfriend proposed to her in public, her worst nightmare. It's been 5 years since then and she's had no luck in the relationship department, until a chance encounter with an old childhood neighbour. Mike Guo had been one of her best friends until his family abruptly moved and they'd lost contact. Meeting him again, they strike up the same friendship and Charlotte feels comfortable with Mike, so comfortable in fact that she is able to strike a bargain with him for some dating lessons (that turn to kissing lessons, and so on). Could their fake relationship turn into something real?
I don't think Charlotte is grumpy at all! She's just introverted and likes things a certain way. I can relate to her preference for staying home over going out and being sociable. She has some very good girlfriends who understand her and don't push her to do things that are uncomfortable for her. As for Mike, he's a pretty shy guy actually, due to the emotional abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents whom he no longer has any contact with. And I appreciated that Charlotte was totally on his side and didn't tell him he should try to smooth things over with them. Even though there are some heavy topics, the book itself is mostly lighthearted and definitely sexy, Charlotte and Mike finding themselves very sexually compatible. The happy ending is well deserved for these two characters. Family, friendship, sex, challenges, romance - this is what every Jackie Lau romance brings to the table and I am here for it!
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
Charlotte Tam knew she was making a big mistake when her boyfriend proposed to her in public, her worst nightmare. It's been 5 years since then and she's had no luck in the relationship department, until a chance encounter with an old childhood neighbour. Mike Guo had been one of her best friends until his family abruptly moved and they'd lost contact. Meeting him again, they strike up the same friendship and Charlotte feels comfortable with Mike, so comfortable in fact that she is able to strike a bargain with him for some dating lessons (that turn to kissing lessons, and so on). Could their fake relationship turn into something real?
I don't think Charlotte is grumpy at all! She's just introverted and likes things a certain way. I can relate to her preference for staying home over going out and being sociable. She has some very good girlfriends who understand her and don't push her to do things that are uncomfortable for her. As for Mike, he's a pretty shy guy actually, due to the emotional abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents whom he no longer has any contact with. And I appreciated that Charlotte was totally on his side and didn't tell him he should try to smooth things over with them. Even though there are some heavy topics, the book itself is mostly lighthearted and definitely sexy, Charlotte and Mike finding themselves very sexually compatible. The happy ending is well deserved for these two characters. Family, friendship, sex, challenges, romance - this is what every Jackie Lau romance brings to the table and I am here for it!
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
May 30, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up.
Probably my least favorite Jackie Lau I’ve read thus far. Part of what I love about Lau’s books is the unrelenting enthusiasm of characters about food. True, they may not like everything (see: the ones with Durian and Ice Cream in the title), but the positives usually far outweigh the negatives. This one just felt super negative. Yes, the heroine is branded as grumpy. But it felt like she just didn’t like *anything.* and like she was shitting on everything the hero liked. It just didn’t have the same joy that the rest of her writing has.
The hero’s “you deserve better than me!” tapped into some personal pet peeves. Although I did really appreciate that there wasn’t some overdramatic breakup near the end. They actually sat down and talked about their issues like adults, which was unexpected and refreshing.
Steam: 3/5🔥
CW: description of childhood emotional abuse by parents
Probably my least favorite Jackie Lau I’ve read thus far. Part of what I love about Lau’s books is the unrelenting enthusiasm of characters about food. True, they may not like everything (see: the ones with Durian and Ice Cream in the title), but the positives usually far outweigh the negatives. This one just felt super negative. Yes, the heroine is branded as grumpy. But it felt like she just didn’t like *anything.* and like she was shitting on everything the hero liked. It just didn’t have the same joy that the rest of her writing has.
The hero’s “you deserve better than me!” tapped into some personal pet peeves. Although I did really appreciate that there wasn’t some overdramatic breakup near the end. They actually sat down and talked about their issues like adults, which was unexpected and refreshing.
Steam: 3/5🔥
CW: description of childhood emotional abuse by parents
April 28, 2023
3.75 stars rounded up
May 8, 2023
I haven’t finished a book in a day in a gazillion years.
This was fast paced, super cute romance, with great steam. Childhood besties reunited years later they start up a fake dating plan which soon becomes real dating. They both deal with individual traumas very realistically but with just enough of a positive flair to not ensue anxiety. So it’s low angst, low stakes, and adorable romance!
This was fast paced, super cute romance, with great steam. Childhood besties reunited years later they start up a fake dating plan which soon becomes real dating. They both deal with individual traumas very realistically but with just enough of a positive flair to not ensue anxiety. So it’s low angst, low stakes, and adorable romance!
January 17, 2024
Five years ago, Charlotte’s nightmare came true: her then boyfriend proposed in public, on the Jumbotron at a Jay’s game. She ran away and swore off dating. Present day, Charlotte decides she is ready to date again, but is worried she’ll mess it up because she prefers wearing PJs and drinking coffee at home alone. When she runs into Mike, her childhood best friend she hasn’t seen in 20 years, she asks if he’ll go on some practice dates with her so that she will be ready to enter the dating world again.
His Grumpy Childhood Friend is an excellent fit for this month’s TBR Challenge theme, Once More with Feeling. Adolescent Mike was in love with Charlotte, but was too young to understand his feelings. His verbally and emotionally abusive parents moved their family in the middle of the night and refused to let him keep in contact with Charlotte. As the pair reconnect in present day, they get a chance to repair the bond of friendship while adding in a whole lot of feelings.
Both Charlotte and Mike carry baggage into the budding relationship, but both are aware that they can get help rather than walk away. Mike has gone through therapy and cut all ties with his parents, but he recognizes his issues run deep and he needs more help. I love that he acknowledges his issues and reaches out to trusted people. Even though he can spiral into “I’m no good, she deserves better,” he realizes it’s not the truth. Meanwhile Charlotte prepares herself by reading about bad dates and relationship pitfalls online, freaking her out a bit. But she knows that not all men are her ex (or a maniac out to kidnap and kill her) and is able to move forward.
His Grumpy Childhood Friend is a thoughtful, sexy romance featuring imperfect characters and no drama. I appreciate that Lau works to give readers relatable characters who deal with issues in a responsible manner.
My Rating: B
His Grumpy Childhood Friend is an excellent fit for this month’s TBR Challenge theme, Once More with Feeling. Adolescent Mike was in love with Charlotte, but was too young to understand his feelings. His verbally and emotionally abusive parents moved their family in the middle of the night and refused to let him keep in contact with Charlotte. As the pair reconnect in present day, they get a chance to repair the bond of friendship while adding in a whole lot of feelings.
Both Charlotte and Mike carry baggage into the budding relationship, but both are aware that they can get help rather than walk away. Mike has gone through therapy and cut all ties with his parents, but he recognizes his issues run deep and he needs more help. I love that he acknowledges his issues and reaches out to trusted people. Even though he can spiral into “I’m no good, she deserves better,” he realizes it’s not the truth. Meanwhile Charlotte prepares herself by reading about bad dates and relationship pitfalls online, freaking her out a bit. But she knows that not all men are her ex (or a maniac out to kidnap and kill her) and is able to move forward.
His Grumpy Childhood Friend is a thoughtful, sexy romance featuring imperfect characters and no drama. I appreciate that Lau works to give readers relatable characters who deal with issues in a responsible manner.
My Rating: B
October 27, 2020
I received an ARC of this book to read through a review crew. All opinions are my own. His Grumpy Childhood Friend by Jackie Lau is the second book in her delightful Cider Bar Sisters series. It could be read as a standalone; however, the first book is excellent, so I recommend reading them both. Charlotte Tam swore off men and dating five years ago when her then-boyfriend subjected her to a Blue Jays jumbotron proposal, something that still gives her introverted soul nightmares. Deciding to dip her toes in the dating pool again has her nervous, and with her friends, she comes up with the idea of practice dating … but with whom?
Mike Guo on the surface appears to be outgoing and confident but an abusive childhood has left him unsure of himself on the inside no matter what image he projects to others. When Charlotte runs into her childhood friend Mike at the cider bar she asks him to be her pretend date because he already knows her foibles and he’s good at this stuff isn’t he? I look upon Jackie Lau books as comfort food reading, you get interesting, intelligent, likeable protagonists, a fairly low angst romance with just the right amount of steam, and a glorious tour of all of the wonderful food to be found in downtown Toronto. The stories are a bit of a love letter to the city I grew up in. I enjoyed this book immensely. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: October 27, 2020 #HisGrumpyChildhoodFriend #JackieLau #CiderBarSisters #ContemporaryRomance #bookstagram #bookstagrammers #IndieAuthors #IndieBooks
Mike Guo on the surface appears to be outgoing and confident but an abusive childhood has left him unsure of himself on the inside no matter what image he projects to others. When Charlotte runs into her childhood friend Mike at the cider bar she asks him to be her pretend date because he already knows her foibles and he’s good at this stuff isn’t he? I look upon Jackie Lau books as comfort food reading, you get interesting, intelligent, likeable protagonists, a fairly low angst romance with just the right amount of steam, and a glorious tour of all of the wonderful food to be found in downtown Toronto. The stories are a bit of a love letter to the city I grew up in. I enjoyed this book immensely. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: October 27, 2020 #HisGrumpyChildhoodFriend #JackieLau #CiderBarSisters #ContemporaryRomance #bookstagram #bookstagrammers #IndieAuthors #IndieBooks
May 26, 2023
This is about Charlotte and Mike.
Charlotte is an introverted geophysicist who might be a little grumpy and hasn't dated in 5 years after a disastrous proposal gone wrong. She happens to run into Mike her childhood best friend and proposes he helps her practice dating. Fake dating ends to real dating as there two genuinely form a connection.
This was very sweet low angst novella about these two characters fake dating and falling in love. No third act breakup. Mike has some residual trauma from emotional abusive parents so TW for that, as it's mentioned. But otherwise this was so sweet!
It's my first time reading from Jackie Lau and I definitely want to read more from her as I really enjoyed this.
Charlotte is an introverted geophysicist who might be a little grumpy and hasn't dated in 5 years after a disastrous proposal gone wrong. She happens to run into Mike her childhood best friend and proposes he helps her practice dating. Fake dating ends to real dating as there two genuinely form a connection.
This was very sweet low angst novella about these two characters fake dating and falling in love. No third act breakup. Mike has some residual trauma from emotional abusive parents so TW for that, as it's mentioned. But otherwise this was so sweet!
It's my first time reading from Jackie Lau and I definitely want to read more from her as I really enjoyed this.
September 9, 2022
I was simply delighted by this one. His Grumpy Childhood Friend hit a couple different trope happy places for me – second chance romance, friends to lovers – but it also did something I love more and more as I consume a good amount of Romance books: it released its third act tension without a break-up or fight. The tension point of the story isn’t a misunderstanding or one of the pair freaking out and walking away, instead we get characters dealing with traumatic experiences and figuring out how to continue in hope, not fear. Maybe its just where I am in my own life, but this sort of character development is what I’m here for, more and more.
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
May 6, 2023
I’m loving this series! These books just make me grin nearly the entire time. I love how Jackie Lau really leans into some of these fun tropes. I also love how much food are in Jackie Lau’s books! All of her characters love to eat and go to all of these amazing restaurants in Toronto.
Charlotte and Mike were childhood friends & reconnect after 20 years. This one is a kind of second chance/dating lessons book.
CW: Mike has experienced pretty severe verbal abuse from his parents as a kid. He has been in extensive therapy before the book takes place.
Notes: set in Toronto, Canada. Charlotte and Mike are both East Asian Canadians.
Charlotte and Mike were childhood friends & reconnect after 20 years. This one is a kind of second chance/dating lessons book.
CW: Mike has experienced pretty severe verbal abuse from his parents as a kid. He has been in extensive therapy before the book takes place.
Notes: set in Toronto, Canada. Charlotte and Mike are both East Asian Canadians.
June 16, 2021
A very fluffy, light read. I love the Asian/Asian rep (not Asian/white, or Asian/bi-racial; those stories are important, too, but can feel like cop outs or "more palatable" diversity marketing to Western audiences). I also appreciate the lack of toxic masculinity (the male lead goes to therapy, has non-judgmental bromances), and the fact that the female protagonist was an extreme introvert lol.
The reason why it's 3 stars for me: There isn't much conflict. Like, it's resolved in a few pages and is very low-stakes. I also thought that the scenes with the female lead hanging out with her friends was just filler / the usual girlfriends hanging out in a rom-com, sort of deal, but didn't add anything to the story. I get the other friends have their own storylines later, though.
The reason why it's 3 stars for me: There isn't much conflict. Like, it's resolved in a few pages and is very low-stakes. I also thought that the scenes with the female lead hanging out with her friends was just filler / the usual girlfriends hanging out in a rom-com, sort of deal, but didn't add anything to the story. I get the other friends have their own storylines later, though.
January 12, 2022
Another book by Jackie Lau that I loved!
Thr thing with books by this author is that have some heavy issues treated the right way and at that at the same time are romcoms. The characters are mature, likeable and funny.
In this book in particular I loved that Mike knew he had issues and even though there was no therapy on page he knew he needed help. I loved thta after being chidhood friends and being apart many years, Charlotte and Mike found each other and made it work.
This book was cozy, fun and it made me smile.
Can't wait to read the rest of the series ❤
Thr thing with books by this author is that have some heavy issues treated the right way and at that at the same time are romcoms. The characters are mature, likeable and funny.
In this book in particular I loved that Mike knew he had issues and even though there was no therapy on page he knew he needed help. I loved thta after being chidhood friends and being apart many years, Charlotte and Mike found each other and made it work.
This book was cozy, fun and it made me smile.
Can't wait to read the rest of the series ❤
August 10, 2022
This is absolute perfection in romance for me! Just everything that I enjoy, from a grumpy heroine who just wants to work from home in her pajamas to a cinnamon roll hero who has a lot of depth and is working through some trauma. Love the deeper personal issues explored, as well as the cute set up of practice dating. Just such a sweet and fun read!
Content Warnings:
trauma, child neglect/abuse, toxic family relationships
Content Warnings:
trauma, child neglect/abuse, toxic family relationships
October 23, 2025
Living up to expectations
Charlotte is against large social gatherings, and for wearing pajama pants while working from home. She is also out of practice dating, so when she sees her childhood friend, she asks him to help.
This is a sweet romance with two people who don't think they will find that special someone.
Some sexy scenes, but nothing too outrageous.
Enjoyable
Charlotte is against large social gatherings, and for wearing pajama pants while working from home. She is also out of practice dating, so when she sees her childhood friend, she asks him to help.
This is a sweet romance with two people who don't think they will find that special someone.
Some sexy scenes, but nothing too outrageous.
Enjoyable
May 23, 2021
I think I would have liked this more if I had read it in non-Covid times. So many great sounding bars and restaurants and my brain was all, “but, but, Covid...!?”
Read
August 4, 2021This one was a little harder for me to get through as some of the conflict (mostly dealing with past trauma) was repetitive. I am going to try 2.5 about Charlotte's sister.
October 1, 2020
Jackie's books always make me super happy, even though I hesitate to call them fluffy or even soft because she works heavy, real world subjects into the narratives. This one has (and needs) a big TW for Mike's verbally and emotionally abusive parents. They're never on page, but he relates several stories of their abuse as well as suffers from low self esteem and self loathing thoughts. He's spent eight years in therapy and doing the work to overcome this, and does, near the end of the book, decide he should see a therapist again. I wish that had been followed up on; a line in the epilogue about how he's clicking with his new psych?
But despite that, it is a really sweet, soft book. It's not quite as grumpy/sunshine tropey as the first book in Cider Bar Sisters, but Charlotte's an introvert with a grumpy streak and Mike is a little golden retriever-ish about her. There's no big mis, a huge plus in my book, and no long, drawn out denial of feelings. The plot is just a nice casual "practice dating" to actual dating with the conflict coming from whether either of the leads is ready to date again. Mike does lie by omission when Charlotte assumes he's more romantically and sexually experienced than he is, but it's a relatively small thing.
The book's got the usual Jackie touches: overly involved family, engineering, and a truly unfair amount of food porn. It's funny, there are emotionally supportive best friends on both sides, and a niece who draws venomous spiders and poisonous mushrooms. I think you'll like this one.
But despite that, it is a really sweet, soft book. It's not quite as grumpy/sunshine tropey as the first book in Cider Bar Sisters, but Charlotte's an introvert with a grumpy streak and Mike is a little golden retriever-ish about her. There's no big mis, a huge plus in my book, and no long, drawn out denial of feelings. The plot is just a nice casual "practice dating" to actual dating with the conflict coming from whether either of the leads is ready to date again. Mike does lie by omission when Charlotte assumes he's more romantically and sexually experienced than he is, but it's a relatively small thing.
The book's got the usual Jackie touches: overly involved family, engineering, and a truly unfair amount of food porn. It's funny, there are emotionally supportive best friends on both sides, and a niece who draws venomous spiders and poisonous mushrooms. I think you'll like this one.
December 7, 2024
His Grumpy Childhood Friend was a wonderful fall read. Charlotte and Mike were both relatable, seeing the Cider Bar sisters and meeting Charlotte and Mike’s families was nice, and I really liked the thesis or theme of the book. Side note: Mike’s friends also had some lovely moments, especially Mason in the second last chapter. I’m looking forward to reading Julie’s novella in the fall and Sierra’s (?) next year.
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