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Oakley Island #1
Eloise and the Grump Next Door
I'm not sure which is worse--the lawyer handling my grandmother's estate or the attack pelican living on the screened-in porch. Just kidding--I'll take the pelican any day.
After graduation, I thought I'd be off to grad school, doing research on my favorite poet. Instead, I'm renovating my late grandmother's home and posting about the process on Instagram. Talk about a detour ...
But here I am. Turning Gran's beach house into a bed and breakfast--a process that would be a lot easier if I didn't have to deal with the grumpy lawyer living next door. It doesn't help that the night Jake and I met, I got a little tipsy, and he had to carry me back to my hotel.
But the longer I stay on Oakley Island, the more I feel a connection to my childhood and to my grandmother. This isn't the life I dreamed of, but dreams can change. Especially when new dreams include a future with Jake. On the outside, he might be pricklier than a puffer fish, but I catch glimpses of a delicious, cinnamon roll center.
Did I mention the tattoos he hides underneath those crisp button-down shirts? Yowza.
When I'm suddenly presented with the academic opportunity of my dreams (former dreams?), my picturesque life on Oakley starts to unravel.
A part of me wants to stay. If only a certain tattooed grump didn't seem so determined to send me away ...
Eloise and The Grump Next Door is a grumpy sunshine, closed door romantic comedy. The Oakley Island Romcom series follows three very different sisters as they renovate the house they inherited and find love on the island along the way. Each book will have sizzling chemistry but no spice.
After graduation, I thought I'd be off to grad school, doing research on my favorite poet. Instead, I'm renovating my late grandmother's home and posting about the process on Instagram. Talk about a detour ...
But here I am. Turning Gran's beach house into a bed and breakfast--a process that would be a lot easier if I didn't have to deal with the grumpy lawyer living next door. It doesn't help that the night Jake and I met, I got a little tipsy, and he had to carry me back to my hotel.
But the longer I stay on Oakley Island, the more I feel a connection to my childhood and to my grandmother. This isn't the life I dreamed of, but dreams can change. Especially when new dreams include a future with Jake. On the outside, he might be pricklier than a puffer fish, but I catch glimpses of a delicious, cinnamon roll center.
Did I mention the tattoos he hides underneath those crisp button-down shirts? Yowza.
When I'm suddenly presented with the academic opportunity of my dreams (former dreams?), my picturesque life on Oakley starts to unravel.
A part of me wants to stay. If only a certain tattooed grump didn't seem so determined to send me away ...
Eloise and The Grump Next Door is a grumpy sunshine, closed door romantic comedy. The Oakley Island Romcom series follows three very different sisters as they renovate the house they inherited and find love on the island along the way. Each book will have sizzling chemistry but no spice.
332 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2022
2409 people are currently reading
11043 people want to read
About the author
Emma St. Clair
61 books3,831 followersEmma St. Clair is a USA Today Bestselling Author who loves sassy heroines, witty banter, and love stories with heart and humor. She has an MFA in Fiction and lives in Katy, Texas (go, Tigers!) with her hubby, five children, and Great Dane. Her favorite place to write is tapping on her phone while on the elliptical machine. No Emmas have been hurt in the writing of these novels. (Yet.)
Want a free novella? Grab Upping the Ante here: https://emmastclair.com/ante
You can follow the day-to-day on instagram @kikimojo.
Want a free novella? Grab Upping the Ante here: https://emmastclair.com/ante
You can follow the day-to-day on instagram @kikimojo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 822 reviews
November 26, 2022
Not bad, but not memorable either.
My fav moment was definitely when both the MCs are reading books they’ve recommended for each other. That was just 100% aww moment right there. 🤍
My fav moment was definitely when both the MCs are reading books they’ve recommended for each other. That was just 100% aww moment right there. 🤍
August 22, 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: death of a loved one, brief mentions of divorce
Eloise "Lo" Markham has come to Oakley Island for her grandmother's funeral, only to have a brief and awkward run-in with her grandmother's attractive lawyer, Jake Fieldstone, in the local bar. Turns out Jake is now going to be her next door neighbor and overseeing Lo as she renovates her grandmother's house into a bed and breakfast. Despite the fact that Jake is ten years older than her and keeps finding her in awkward situations, Lo can't deny the fact that she's attracted to him. Now she'll have to decide if she wants to stay on the island and put her heart on the line for an older man who might not be as emotionally available as she'd like.
Don't hate me for this, okay? I know 3.5 stars isn't that bad, but it's hard not to feel like a jerk when everyone on Bookstagram is shouting from the rooftops about their love for this book. From the very beginning this gave me insta-love vibes, and I couldn't get past that. Lo and Jake had a very brief interaction, and then they suddenly couldn't stop thinking about each other or wanting to be around each other. It just didn't feel right to me. We also get hints at the fact that Jake was close to Lo's grandmother, but we never get his backstory until almost halfway into the book. Yes, these two had some seriously steamy kisses and an adorable snuggle session that involved Jake's nephew as his wingman, but otherwise they never seemed to get to know each other. He even made comments about people in their twenties being immature that came across as kind of insensitive considering the fact he's considering a future with a girl who is just 21. I wanted to love this, but unfortunately it wasn't the right fit for me. I still do want to continue the series, though, and I'm curious to learn more about the other Markham sisters.
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: death of a loved one, brief mentions of divorce
Eloise "Lo" Markham has come to Oakley Island for her grandmother's funeral, only to have a brief and awkward run-in with her grandmother's attractive lawyer, Jake Fieldstone, in the local bar. Turns out Jake is now going to be her next door neighbor and overseeing Lo as she renovates her grandmother's house into a bed and breakfast. Despite the fact that Jake is ten years older than her and keeps finding her in awkward situations, Lo can't deny the fact that she's attracted to him. Now she'll have to decide if she wants to stay on the island and put her heart on the line for an older man who might not be as emotionally available as she'd like.
Don't hate me for this, okay? I know 3.5 stars isn't that bad, but it's hard not to feel like a jerk when everyone on Bookstagram is shouting from the rooftops about their love for this book. From the very beginning this gave me insta-love vibes, and I couldn't get past that. Lo and Jake had a very brief interaction, and then they suddenly couldn't stop thinking about each other or wanting to be around each other. It just didn't feel right to me. We also get hints at the fact that Jake was close to Lo's grandmother, but we never get his backstory until almost halfway into the book. Yes, these two had some seriously steamy kisses and an adorable snuggle session that involved Jake's nephew as his wingman, but otherwise they never seemed to get to know each other. He even made comments about people in their twenties being immature that came across as kind of insensitive considering the fact he's considering a future with a girl who is just 21. I wanted to love this, but unfortunately it wasn't the right fit for me. I still do want to continue the series, though, and I'm curious to learn more about the other Markham sisters.
June 11, 2024
I LIKE that the writing style flowed so nicely between these two authors.
I DIDN’T like that MMC’s initial dynamic with Eloise. He was older but treated their relationship immaturely imo.
He was fixated on her younger age but couldn’t help his physical attraction. I don’t relate to that which is what I need to like a story.
I LIKE the sister relationship and the sister’s themselves.
I DIDN’T like that a lot of the characters felt like stereotypes and one dimensional.
I also didn’t like that the guy was supposed to be older but seemed to have the emotional depth of a 21 year old. Maybe that’s why he worked with Eloise.
I LIKED that the romance was tame kisses only. They talked about physical attraction on every page though. It got old.
I would recommend because I think I’m just burnt out of these kinds of books. I need a break from cheesy rom-coms for a bit.
I DIDN’T like that MMC’s initial dynamic with Eloise. He was older but treated their relationship immaturely imo.
He was fixated on her younger age but couldn’t help his physical attraction. I don’t relate to that which is what I need to like a story.
I LIKE the sister relationship and the sister’s themselves.
I DIDN’T like that a lot of the characters felt like stereotypes and one dimensional.
I also didn’t like that the guy was supposed to be older but seemed to have the emotional depth of a 21 year old. Maybe that’s why he worked with Eloise.
I LIKED that the romance was tame kisses only. They talked about physical attraction on every page though. It got old.
I would recommend because I think I’m just burnt out of these kinds of books. I need a break from cheesy rom-coms for a bit.
August 24, 2022
Jake was less grumpy than I expected, but absolutely loveable nonetheless! The setting of Oakley Island with its salty air and charming residents (including Steve the pelican) was a really fun escape!
Inheriting a beach house from their grandmother, a stipulation in the will sends the Markham sisters on a renovation project to turn the location into a bed & breakfast. First up on the adventure? Eloise!
The romance between Eloise and Jake—the handsome lawyer and neighbour—was incredibly sweet. With eleven years between them, it’s an age gap romance done to perfection. It serves as an overhanging conflict in the romance, but I loved digging even deeper into the true insecurities and doubts Jake had toward Eloise. Those moments of jealousy and being unable to resist his feelings made my heart burst in delight. And the kiss scenes! So good.
With lots of mishaps and awkward rescues that made me laugh, I adored seeing these two inevitably fall in love. And of course with any great series starter, I am itching for the next romances that were hinted throughout!
Inheriting a beach house from their grandmother, a stipulation in the will sends the Markham sisters on a renovation project to turn the location into a bed & breakfast. First up on the adventure? Eloise!
The romance between Eloise and Jake—the handsome lawyer and neighbour—was incredibly sweet. With eleven years between them, it’s an age gap romance done to perfection. It serves as an overhanging conflict in the romance, but I loved digging even deeper into the true insecurities and doubts Jake had toward Eloise. Those moments of jealousy and being unable to resist his feelings made my heart burst in delight. And the kiss scenes! So good.
With lots of mishaps and awkward rescues that made me laugh, I adored seeing these two inevitably fall in love. And of course with any great series starter, I am itching for the next romances that were hinted throughout!
August 18, 2022
“You,” he says between heavy breaths, “are insufferable.” From anyone else, this would be an insult. But from Jake? It sounds like he has just told me I am the sexiest woman alive.
This book was so sweet and endearing! I actually have read both the authors' books and I quite enjoy both of their writing styles because they're so similar. And this has got to be one of the cutest reads I picked up this year! Eloise & Jake were the sweetest couple. They were so opposite yet fit together just perfectly. It was really enjoyable to see Eloise strip off Jake's grumpy layers bit by bit and when Jake eventually gave in to his feelings, seeing them together made me feel so happy. They have an eleven year age gap and she has just moved into the town to renovate her late grandmother's beach house into a B&B as per her wishes and Jake being her grandmother's lawyer has to look over the decisions to help Eloise. There's a catch though, Jake had a good relationship with Eloise's grandmother and she rented a part of her outhouse for him to live in while the other part was left unoccupied. Now Eloise has no choice but to live next to her hot grump of a neighbor whom she has developed a crush on. Overall, this book was just so darn cute which left me feeling happy and in a light mood. I just wish we could get to see some bonding between Eloise and her sisters especially because the next book is going to be about Merrith (her older sister. Aside from that, I did end up really enjoying this book. I would rate it a solid 4.5 stars!
"And once again, it feels like Eloise and I are fighting. But something about her fury is intoxicating. I feel more alive than I have in months."
This book was so sweet and endearing! I actually have read both the authors' books and I quite enjoy both of their writing styles because they're so similar. And this has got to be one of the cutest reads I picked up this year! Eloise & Jake were the sweetest couple. They were so opposite yet fit together just perfectly. It was really enjoyable to see Eloise strip off Jake's grumpy layers bit by bit and when Jake eventually gave in to his feelings, seeing them together made me feel so happy. They have an eleven year age gap and she has just moved into the town to renovate her late grandmother's beach house into a B&B as per her wishes and Jake being her grandmother's lawyer has to look over the decisions to help Eloise. There's a catch though, Jake had a good relationship with Eloise's grandmother and she rented a part of her outhouse for him to live in while the other part was left unoccupied. Now Eloise has no choice but to live next to her hot grump of a neighbor whom she has developed a crush on. Overall, this book was just so darn cute which left me feeling happy and in a light mood. I just wish we could get to see some bonding between Eloise and her sisters especially because the next book is going to be about Merrith (her older sister. Aside from that, I did end up really enjoying this book. I would rate it a solid 4.5 stars!
"And once again, it feels like Eloise and I are fighting. But something about her fury is intoxicating. I feel more alive than I have in months."
September 14, 2022
Here’s the problem with bookstagram, when a book is super hyped, you go in with high expectations. I’m rounding this book up to 4 stars, but it was more a 3.5
I really struggled to stay engaged through the story, it didn’t capture my attention like other books by Emma has done in the past. I found myself wanting to check social media more than caring to continue into the next paragraph. Took me a week to read it and I was sick and had down time that I could’ve read, so it wasn’t as though I was overly busy.
Not to mention, I didn’t love Eloise and Jake’s relationship. It was missing a lot of the friendship and emotional connection. I got 70% in and there wasn’t any conversations between them with fun witty banter and building a friendship. They were almost always with people, she was almost always doing something embarrassing or needing to be rescued. It felt mostly physical. I ended up skimming some parts between 70-90% because I didn’t want to just DNF.
Some parts felt like a Disney movie to me, where it was going more of a cheesy humor that didn’t seem overly believable. And yes, I get it, it’s not real, it’s a Romcom. An example that comes to mind is when the pelican is being removed from the house and the wildlife assistant guy dives into a fetal position (or of the sort) and basically cowers away, why? I mean why would he be in his position if he is going to act like that? Like I said, I know it was supposed to be funny, but it just felt like it belonged in a younger level reading.
It was a cute story. And most people I’ve talked to love it. I’m sharing my personal thoughts which might not match most people’s. So take it for what it is.
I really struggled to stay engaged through the story, it didn’t capture my attention like other books by Emma has done in the past. I found myself wanting to check social media more than caring to continue into the next paragraph. Took me a week to read it and I was sick and had down time that I could’ve read, so it wasn’t as though I was overly busy.
Not to mention, I didn’t love Eloise and Jake’s relationship. It was missing a lot of the friendship and emotional connection. I got 70% in and there wasn’t any conversations between them with fun witty banter and building a friendship. They were almost always with people, she was almost always doing something embarrassing or needing to be rescued. It felt mostly physical. I ended up skimming some parts between 70-90% because I didn’t want to just DNF.
Some parts felt like a Disney movie to me, where it was going more of a cheesy humor that didn’t seem overly believable. And yes, I get it, it’s not real, it’s a Romcom. An example that comes to mind is when the pelican is being removed from the house and the wildlife assistant guy dives into a fetal position (or of the sort) and basically cowers away, why? I mean why would he be in his position if he is going to act like that? Like I said, I know it was supposed to be funny, but it just felt like it belonged in a younger level reading.
It was a cute story. And most people I’ve talked to love it. I’m sharing my personal thoughts which might not match most people’s. So take it for what it is.
November 22, 2022
3 ½ Stars!
“I see your eyes every time I close mine, and I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful.”
This is a great example of a book that could have had some polish in the writing and plot, but I was too entertained to really care too much. I know my rating makes it look like I didn’t like it, but I enjoyed many parts so let’s get to it…
I LOVED:
-The kissing scenes and romance. This Is a closed-door romance, so I LOVED all of the tension.
-The location, atmosphere and overall vibe. I loved how fun and fresh the location felt, and the side characters were funny and endearing.
-The age gap was done beautifully.
-The siblings and their dynamic were great! As the youngest sibling, I related to Eloise SO much!
-So many laugh out loud moments.
-The conflict wasn’t too emotionally heavy which I appreciated.
-A book I read in two days. I didn’t want to put it down.
This is the first in a series so I tried not to critique anything that could relate to later books. If you loved this and are not interested in my criticism’s, then stop reading and live in your bliss and lovely memories. I don’t mind either way.
DIDN’T LOVE:
-The miscommunication trope shows up towards the end for a little bit. Not to a huge degree but enough to irk me.
-The plot was predictable. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes you want a book that doesn’t take a lot of brain power, but I would have liked a little bit of surprise.
-The main characters are also predictable. Eloise is short, cute, constantly tripping on things, quirky, loves literature and is adorable. Jake is tall, dark and handsome with a sexy man bod. While I enjoyed them, these kinds of character are overdone in my opinion.
-Jake’s ex-girlfriend Is what I like to call “the character that’s used when needed for the plot but has no substance.” AND completely disappears at a certain point.
-Eloise graduated college at the age of 20-21? I mean, that’s nice, but this seems very unique so why didn’t we get some explanation as to WHY and apparently being a little genius?
-Jake is not grumpy. He’s a little insensitive, assuming and has a perpetual scowl but I never would have labeled him as grumpy.
-I felt like there was something missing with the grandma. I think if we could have had some flashbacks and or memories where she’s talking to the characters, it would have improved my connection to her. I also would have liked for her to “speak” to Eloise AND Jake. Not just one of them.
-Liam is a wonderful character but he doesn’t remind me of an 8-year-old. He felt like a 10 – 11-year-old to me.
OVERALL:
This is a fun and clean romantic ride. It's an easy and entertaining read that reminds me of my favorite 90’s romantic comedies. Sure, its predictable, a little cheesy at the end and not exactly perfection, but I like it anyway.
WORTH THE HYPE: For me… no, but it could be for someone else and that's ok.
Characters/Depth/Growth – 5
Atmosphere/World - 7
Writing Style - 7
Plot – 5
Intrigue - 8
Love/Relationships - 7
Enjoyment/Memorable - 9
Total: 48
Divided by 7 = 6.5 (3 ½ stars)
“I see your eyes every time I close mine, and I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful.”
This is a great example of a book that could have had some polish in the writing and plot, but I was too entertained to really care too much. I know my rating makes it look like I didn’t like it, but I enjoyed many parts so let’s get to it…
I LOVED:
-The kissing scenes and romance. This Is a closed-door romance, so I LOVED all of the tension.
-The location, atmosphere and overall vibe. I loved how fun and fresh the location felt, and the side characters were funny and endearing.
-The age gap was done beautifully.
-The siblings and their dynamic were great! As the youngest sibling, I related to Eloise SO much!
-So many laugh out loud moments.
-The conflict wasn’t too emotionally heavy which I appreciated.
-A book I read in two days. I didn’t want to put it down.
This is the first in a series so I tried not to critique anything that could relate to later books. If you loved this and are not interested in my criticism’s, then stop reading and live in your bliss and lovely memories. I don’t mind either way.
DIDN’T LOVE:
-The miscommunication trope shows up towards the end for a little bit. Not to a huge degree but enough to irk me.
-The plot was predictable. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes you want a book that doesn’t take a lot of brain power, but I would have liked a little bit of surprise.
-The main characters are also predictable. Eloise is short, cute, constantly tripping on things, quirky, loves literature and is adorable. Jake is tall, dark and handsome with a sexy man bod. While I enjoyed them, these kinds of character are overdone in my opinion.
-Jake’s ex-girlfriend Is what I like to call “the character that’s used when needed for the plot but has no substance.” AND completely disappears at a certain point.
-Eloise graduated college at the age of 20-21? I mean, that’s nice, but this seems very unique so why didn’t we get some explanation as to WHY and apparently being a little genius?
-Jake is not grumpy. He’s a little insensitive, assuming and has a perpetual scowl but I never would have labeled him as grumpy.
-I felt like there was something missing with the grandma. I think if we could have had some flashbacks and or memories where she’s talking to the characters, it would have improved my connection to her. I also would have liked for her to “speak” to Eloise AND Jake. Not just one of them.
-Liam is a wonderful character but he doesn’t remind me of an 8-year-old. He felt like a 10 – 11-year-old to me.
OVERALL:
This is a fun and clean romantic ride. It's an easy and entertaining read that reminds me of my favorite 90’s romantic comedies. Sure, its predictable, a little cheesy at the end and not exactly perfection, but I like it anyway.
WORTH THE HYPE: For me… no, but it could be for someone else and that's ok.
Characters/Depth/Growth – 5
Atmosphere/World - 7
Writing Style - 7
Plot – 5
Intrigue - 8
Love/Relationships - 7
Enjoyment/Memorable - 9
Total: 48
Divided by 7 = 6.5 (3 ½ stars)
November 10, 2022
I think this is the year I discovered how much I love a good age gap romance.
When I heard Emma and Jenny were doing a co writing project I was SO EXCITED. Honestly I knew this was going to be a fun time full of funny rom com moments, swoony kisses and heartfelt reveals.
Let’s talk about the setting. The sweetest little island that we all now want to go visit and live on. It’s got the meddling small town community that really creates this found family dynamic.
Let’s talk about the romance…forced proximity…and slightly off limits…gasp…but it was so good. I loved how dual POV was used to build the tension and chemistry between these two wonderful characters. The way the age gap was handled was realistic and kept me turning pages. And who doesn’t love a good old home renovation? (Also included)
I always love a family tie and there’s plenty of that to go around. I enjoyed the sister dynamic and the aspects of finding your people who aren’t family but who love you despite your mess and chaos.
There are so many fun romantic elements, great kissing scenes, and letters to swoon for. It’s all tied in with references to literary greats, talking parrots and a grandmother from the other side who may or may not be meddling in her loved ones futures. A really great ending where neither character has to compromise what’s important to them…which is always appreciated.
I cannot wait for book 2 because it sounds like it’s going to be GOOD.
When I heard Emma and Jenny were doing a co writing project I was SO EXCITED. Honestly I knew this was going to be a fun time full of funny rom com moments, swoony kisses and heartfelt reveals.
Let’s talk about the setting. The sweetest little island that we all now want to go visit and live on. It’s got the meddling small town community that really creates this found family dynamic.
Let’s talk about the romance…forced proximity…and slightly off limits…gasp…but it was so good. I loved how dual POV was used to build the tension and chemistry between these two wonderful characters. The way the age gap was handled was realistic and kept me turning pages. And who doesn’t love a good old home renovation? (Also included)
I always love a family tie and there’s plenty of that to go around. I enjoyed the sister dynamic and the aspects of finding your people who aren’t family but who love you despite your mess and chaos.
There are so many fun romantic elements, great kissing scenes, and letters to swoon for. It’s all tied in with references to literary greats, talking parrots and a grandmother from the other side who may or may not be meddling in her loved ones futures. A really great ending where neither character has to compromise what’s important to them…which is always appreciated.
I cannot wait for book 2 because it sounds like it’s going to be GOOD.
October 21, 2022
DNF @ 41% 😞 I liked the idea of this book but it just wasn’t giving me what I needed it to be giving. And a lot of it seemed so unreal I just couldn’t connect with it. Sorry sorry sorry. I hate giving up on books but it��s been 12 days and I’ve got nowhere.
September 2, 2022
Oh. My. Goodness. This book came out of nowhere--it was a surprise release and came at the perfect time because I had just finished a book. This is a grumpy/sunshine, small town, close proximity romance romantic comedy and I loved it.
I loved Eloise (or Lo as she preferred to be called). She was young, happy and full of energy. She seemed to take the responsibility of renovating her late grandma's house in stride and used Instagram to her advantage. She was a list maker which I loved--list makers unite!! I loved her inner voice, especially as she fought her attraction to Jake. I'd like to get my hands in there and muss it myself. Alert! Alert! Alert! Defenses have been breached! Abandon ship! We're going down. I curl my fingers to my palms just in case they get any ideas about touching Jake.
Speaking of Jake, he's kind of a grump and for some reason Eloise makes him grumpier. I think that's because he was trying so hard to fight the feelings he was developing for Eloise. Under that grumpiness is a wonderful brother, uncle and a hunk of a man. Read the scene where he answers the door straight out of the shower and then we can talk. (holy Hannah)
This book made me laugh so much, especially the scenes with Liam, but it also handled topics such as difficult family relationships and dealing with the loss of people we love. Pairing these two authors together was a wonderful idea and I can't wait to read more about Eloise's sisters.
I received a complimentary copy to review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I loved Eloise (or Lo as she preferred to be called). She was young, happy and full of energy. She seemed to take the responsibility of renovating her late grandma's house in stride and used Instagram to her advantage. She was a list maker which I loved--list makers unite!! I loved her inner voice, especially as she fought her attraction to Jake. I'd like to get my hands in there and muss it myself. Alert! Alert! Alert! Defenses have been breached! Abandon ship! We're going down. I curl my fingers to my palms just in case they get any ideas about touching Jake.
Speaking of Jake, he's kind of a grump and for some reason Eloise makes him grumpier. I think that's because he was trying so hard to fight the feelings he was developing for Eloise. Under that grumpiness is a wonderful brother, uncle and a hunk of a man. Read the scene where he answers the door straight out of the shower and then we can talk. (holy Hannah)
This book made me laugh so much, especially the scenes with Liam, but it also handled topics such as difficult family relationships and dealing with the loss of people we love. Pairing these two authors together was a wonderful idea and I can't wait to read more about Eloise's sisters.
I received a complimentary copy to review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 4, 2023
Audio reread Jan. 2023 Loved this book all over again & the audio was fantastic too!!
Thank you to the authors for an eARC!
ABSOLUTELY LOVED.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I expected nothing less from this duo. It is the pairing I didn’t know I needed and now want ALL THE TIME. Bless them for giving us a full series together.
The chemistry between Lo and Jake was off the charts. I am hit or miss on age gap and this one HIT. It was played so well and I loooooooooved it. And the forced proximity? THE BEST. I LIVE FOR FORCED PROXIMITY. Add in a house that needed renovated and a grandmother who has passed away and still subtly matchmaking. The rest of the charming side characters (like Jake’s nephew) won me over too.
And the KISSING SCENES? THE SIZZLING HEAT Y’ALL. This is what I love about an amazing closed door romance. The heat can still be brought with without actual spice. I loved all of the little moments watching these two fall in love.
I couldn’t put this down and easily read it in a day. I just loved everything about it. It made me feel good, happy, light. And those are the kind of reads I often reach for. I’m so excited to continue this series and can’t wait for more.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: make-outs
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a grandmother, divorced parents
Thank you to the authors for an eARC!
ABSOLUTELY LOVED.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I expected nothing less from this duo. It is the pairing I didn’t know I needed and now want ALL THE TIME. Bless them for giving us a full series together.
The chemistry between Lo and Jake was off the charts. I am hit or miss on age gap and this one HIT. It was played so well and I loooooooooved it. And the forced proximity? THE BEST. I LIVE FOR FORCED PROXIMITY. Add in a house that needed renovated and a grandmother who has passed away and still subtly matchmaking. The rest of the charming side characters (like Jake’s nephew) won me over too.
And the KISSING SCENES? THE SIZZLING HEAT Y’ALL. This is what I love about an amazing closed door romance. The heat can still be brought with without actual spice. I loved all of the little moments watching these two fall in love.
I couldn’t put this down and easily read it in a day. I just loved everything about it. It made me feel good, happy, light. And those are the kind of reads I often reach for. I’m so excited to continue this series and can’t wait for more.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: make-outs
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a grandmother, divorced parents
September 24, 2022
What I loved:
- the sunshine x grump trope. This was so well done!
- so sweet and endearing. I loved this love story. The two of them together made me so happy.
- Steve the pelican, lol. And all the other hilarious moments.
- very bingeable, the perfect beach read
What I didn't like:
- not much!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Romance: kisses, make outs
TW: grief
- the sunshine x grump trope. This was so well done!
- so sweet and endearing. I loved this love story. The two of them together made me so happy.
- Steve the pelican, lol. And all the other hilarious moments.
- very bingeable, the perfect beach read
What I didn't like:
- not much!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Romance: kisses, make outs
TW: grief
April 18, 2023
I enjoyed this fun romcom by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor. I felt like the characters behaved in an authentic matter that didn't rush their feelings or the growth of them. I'm not a fan of big age gap romances and while this one was rather big (eleven years) I appreciated that the authors didn't keep bringing it up in a way that feels icky (do we really need to be reminded of the whole I was in college and they were in elementary school? Ew.). I think the big win here for is the introduction of stand-out secondary characters who, according to the author's notes, reveals we may get their stories too! Overall, a fun read, closed-door romance that contains heated kisses and the tiniest innuendos about further physicality but nothing beyond the barest thoughts. Looking forward to reading more from this duo.
June 3, 2024
Cute and sweet!
It’s light and doesn’t dive too deep.
I liked the dynamic between the three sisters.
Without being too invested in the characters, I was rooting for the MCs to get together.
No spice- but a lot of talk about alcohol that I could have done without.
It’s light and doesn’t dive too deep.
I liked the dynamic between the three sisters.
Without being too invested in the characters, I was rooting for the MCs to get together.
No spice- but a lot of talk about alcohol that I could have done without.
October 7, 2022
What do Woody & Buzz, Tom & Jerry, Sherlock & Watson, Shawn & Gus, Pooh & Piglet, Ben & Jerry, Lucy & Ethel, Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Cory & Shawn, DJ & Kimmy, Law & Order, Hall & Oates, and EMMA ST. CLAIR & JENNY PROCTOR all have in common?
They are two that come together to become some of the most ICONIC DUOS EVER! 😍🤩
They came, they wrote, they published, they conquered!!! ✊🏻
If you couldn’t tell… I loved this book!
It was exactly what I needed. It was beachy, hilarious, swoony and so much fun!
I’m not a huge fan of age gaps. So I was definitely hesitant going in to this book. I need not have been though! It was done wonderfully and I truly felt that Jake and Eloise were an amazing match!
When they got together? Watch out! The chemistry was INSANE. 😍🔥🔥
I loved every frustrating, delicious part of it!
I will say the end conflict and how Jake handled it irritated me. However, it made sense. I got it. It just frustrated me… 😂
A sign of a good book is when it makes you feel all the emotions and this one definitely did! 🤣
I am so excited for their next release together! I’ll admit, Merritt was definitely not my favorite sister in this book… But, I have all the faith in the world that Emma & Jenny will succeed in making me adore her as much as Eloise!
Extra parts I Loved:
The entire first chapter was GOLD 😍
Ned and the Literary Talking Parrot 🦜
Fresh from the shower, doorstep scene 🚿🧼
Steve the Pelican
“Strictly Business” lunch at Harriet’s 😂😂😂
Frank and his TikTok 🤣
The Instagram Live fiasco 🤳🏻
Swimsuit malfunction 👙
Gluten Free Mac & Cheese, dishes, and movie with Liam 🥰
The bar scene. Everything about it. 😍🔥🔥
The wildlife team trying to catch Steve 😂
The LETTERS 💌
I want to say a big thank you to Emma and Jenny for providing us with an eARC to review!
All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely genuine!
They are two that come together to become some of the most ICONIC DUOS EVER! 😍🤩
They came, they wrote, they published, they conquered!!! ✊🏻
If you couldn’t tell… I loved this book!
It was exactly what I needed. It was beachy, hilarious, swoony and so much fun!
I’m not a huge fan of age gaps. So I was definitely hesitant going in to this book. I need not have been though! It was done wonderfully and I truly felt that Jake and Eloise were an amazing match!
When they got together? Watch out! The chemistry was INSANE. 😍🔥🔥
I loved every frustrating, delicious part of it!
I will say the end conflict and how Jake handled it irritated me. However, it made sense. I got it. It just frustrated me… 😂
A sign of a good book is when it makes you feel all the emotions and this one definitely did! 🤣
I am so excited for their next release together! I’ll admit, Merritt was definitely not my favorite sister in this book… But, I have all the faith in the world that Emma & Jenny will succeed in making me adore her as much as Eloise!
Extra parts I Loved:
The entire first chapter was GOLD 😍
Ned and the Literary Talking Parrot 🦜
Fresh from the shower, doorstep scene 🚿🧼
Steve the Pelican
“Strictly Business” lunch at Harriet’s 😂😂😂
Frank and his TikTok 🤣
The Instagram Live fiasco 🤳🏻
Swimsuit malfunction 👙
Gluten Free Mac & Cheese, dishes, and movie with Liam 🥰
The bar scene. Everything about it. 😍🔥🔥
The wildlife team trying to catch Steve 😂
The LETTERS 💌
I want to say a big thank you to Emma and Jenny for providing us with an eARC to review!
All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely genuine!
August 20, 2022
Oh. My. Lanta. A collab from the dream team of romcom authors? Uhmm, yes please!
This grumpy/sunshine romance was everything I hoped for and more. It was everything I love from the writing of both authors combined in one magical place. I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter and binge-read the entire book in one sitting.
What I loved most about this book is it made me feel all the feels! It was charming, hilarious, heartbreaking, swoony, and downright delicious.
I love that these authors weren't afraid to write a romcom with some depth. It made me connect with the characters and fall in love with Eloise, Jake, and a whole host of fabulous small town side characters, including a pelican named Steve. #iykyk
And let's not forget the romance! So.much.chemistry between Jake and Lo. Like sizzling and swoony but always on the sweet side of the line. This is an age gap romance which is not always my thing but seriously, it was done so well I not only didn't care it was an age gap, I actually loved that it was! It made for such a fun dynamic between Jake and Lo along with their grump/sunshine mix. (Jake was definitely a cinnamon roll!) And that he lived next door and they shared a bedroom wall? Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
This is definitely one of my favorite romcoms this year and I am so glad there will be more collabs from this author duo because they knocked this one out of the park!
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
This grumpy/sunshine romance was everything I hoped for and more. It was everything I love from the writing of both authors combined in one magical place. I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter and binge-read the entire book in one sitting.
What I loved most about this book is it made me feel all the feels! It was charming, hilarious, heartbreaking, swoony, and downright delicious.
I love that these authors weren't afraid to write a romcom with some depth. It made me connect with the characters and fall in love with Eloise, Jake, and a whole host of fabulous small town side characters, including a pelican named Steve. #iykyk
And let's not forget the romance! So.much.chemistry between Jake and Lo. Like sizzling and swoony but always on the sweet side of the line. This is an age gap romance which is not always my thing but seriously, it was done so well I not only didn't care it was an age gap, I actually loved that it was! It made for such a fun dynamic between Jake and Lo along with their grump/sunshine mix. (Jake was definitely a cinnamon roll!) And that he lived next door and they shared a bedroom wall? Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
This is definitely one of my favorite romcoms this year and I am so glad there will be more collabs from this author duo because they knocked this one out of the park!
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
September 26, 2022
Eloise is left to renovate her late Grandma’s beach house and turn it into a bed and breakfast. A process that she has no idea about and would be easier if she didn’t have to deal with the older grumpy hot lawyer her grandma left to guide Eloise with the renos, who happens to live in the adjoining house. Being on the island and fixing up the beach house isn’t the life Eloise had imagine for herself after graduation, but the longer that Eloise is there, the more she finds herself reconnecting with the childhood memories that she had forgotten. And the more she gets to know her grumpy neighbor, Jake, she realizes that dreams can change that may include Jake in it.
Reading this book was satisfying and a delightful cup of tea. It warms your soul. Both the characters are lovable, with their own flaws, yet their ability to take chances, is so emotionally uplifting. I really enjoyed the connection between Jake and Eloise that begins as a playful forbidden love interest and eventually developing into a sweet friendship. Everything came together in a HEA in the end. I am looking forward to reading about Merritt and Hunter.
Read this book if you love tropes that include grumpy sunshine, forbidden love, small town vibes, closed door romance. It is the perfect beach read.
Reading this book was satisfying and a delightful cup of tea. It warms your soul. Both the characters are lovable, with their own flaws, yet their ability to take chances, is so emotionally uplifting. I really enjoyed the connection between Jake and Eloise that begins as a playful forbidden love interest and eventually developing into a sweet friendship. Everything came together in a HEA in the end. I am looking forward to reading about Merritt and Hunter.
Read this book if you love tropes that include grumpy sunshine, forbidden love, small town vibes, closed door romance. It is the perfect beach read.
Read
May 25, 2025Love these ladies and their books!
Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. The romance felt too lusty for my personal comfort levels. But I appreciated the sweet and thoughtful moments. And I am going to give the rest of the series a try since I love a good oldest sister book.
Content: accidentally drunk episode played for laughs; lots of bikini talk; accidental nudity (no description); lots of muscle touching and ogling; long make outs; heavier innuendo
Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. The romance felt too lusty for my personal comfort levels. But I appreciated the sweet and thoughtful moments. And I am going to give the rest of the series a try since I love a good oldest sister book.
Content: accidentally drunk episode played for laughs; lots of bikini talk; accidental nudity (no description); lots of muscle touching and ogling; long make outs; heavier innuendo
August 27, 2022
The two authors are some of my favorite closed door writers. So I think my expectations may have been a little too high for this one. I think it’s tough to co-write. And it felt like here both authors were a bit watered down.
There were a couple of major plot points that never felt justified. Namely, Jake is not a grump. I could never come close to seeing a logical justification for this on the page.
Further, too much and not enough was made of this age gap. Since age was mentioned so often, I wanted an explanation of how Eloise graduated college at 20. I mean, that’s really young to graduate. Also, it was mentioned that Genevieve had an age gap marriage, but only mentioned not really tied into the story. Actually a lot about Genevieve’s part in the story felt unresolved. I mean, she’s dead. So that’s resolved. But her thread of involvement and influence still lingered but wasn’t really defined. Maybe it will come up in future books.
Also, that part where a college bound freshman went to a 7 year old Eloise’s lemonade stand and remembered it 14 years later, specifically her EYES, came off as hella creepy. Yikes.
And just to pile on my grievances I’ll mention that I had issues with Liam, who played a pretty big role in the book. I’ve got a decent amount of experience with 8 year old boys and I’ve yet to meet one with the emotional maturity or frankly vocabulary of Liam. He felt like a character only there to deliver the advice Jake needed to hear. I wish that if the character were going to be a child, he’d been more childish.
I still love both of these authors and will continue to read other books probably including others in their co-written series.
There were a couple of major plot points that never felt justified. Namely, Jake is not a grump. I could never come close to seeing a logical justification for this on the page.
Further, too much and not enough was made of this age gap. Since age was mentioned so often, I wanted an explanation of how Eloise graduated college at 20. I mean, that’s really young to graduate. Also, it was mentioned that Genevieve had an age gap marriage, but only mentioned not really tied into the story. Actually a lot about Genevieve’s part in the story felt unresolved. I mean, she’s dead. So that’s resolved. But her thread of involvement and influence still lingered but wasn’t really defined. Maybe it will come up in future books.
Also, that part where a college bound freshman went to a 7 year old Eloise’s lemonade stand and remembered it 14 years later, specifically her EYES, came off as hella creepy. Yikes.
And just to pile on my grievances I’ll mention that I had issues with Liam, who played a pretty big role in the book. I’ve got a decent amount of experience with 8 year old boys and I’ve yet to meet one with the emotional maturity or frankly vocabulary of Liam. He felt like a character only there to deliver the advice Jake needed to hear. I wish that if the character were going to be a child, he’d been more childish.
I still love both of these authors and will continue to read other books probably including others in their co-written series.
September 11, 2022
***3.5***
I liked the backdrop and setup for the series. Grandmother leaves her estate to her 3 granddaughters. The terms of the estate forces them back to the island of their childhood to work together and maybe find something of themselves they've lost along the way (with the obvious potential for romance of course). This first book is the youngest sister's story: Eloise 'Lo' and the attorney handling the estate, Jake, who also happens to be a tenant of her late grandmother.
I personally find 'Lo' kind of an awkward nickname for 'Eloise' so I get Jake having a hard time making the switch from Eloise to Lo. I didn't find Jake all that grumpy or disagreeable to be honest. If it weren't for 'Lo' always using that term to describe him, it's not something I would have naturally associated with him. I didn't know I had a thing for age gap romances until a certain show I watched made it very apparent I did. I think 15 years may be my max, but even then I think it all depends on the connection (and their actual ages). Any conflict that existed in the story surrounding their relationship existed only in their own minds. Primarily Jake's. And a lot of that had to do with the age gap (she was still young and may regret her decisions later). His hot and cold was a little frustrating, for him, for her, for me to read. And I wanted to see more of the renovation and maybe see Lo do more with her Instagram following. But I guess we need to leave some of the renovation for the next two books, though, right?
All in all, it ended up being a sweet story about a slightly guarded 32 year old falling for a less guarded 21 year old.
I liked the backdrop and setup for the series. Grandmother leaves her estate to her 3 granddaughters. The terms of the estate forces them back to the island of their childhood to work together and maybe find something of themselves they've lost along the way (with the obvious potential for romance of course). This first book is the youngest sister's story: Eloise 'Lo' and the attorney handling the estate, Jake, who also happens to be a tenant of her late grandmother.
I personally find 'Lo' kind of an awkward nickname for 'Eloise' so I get Jake having a hard time making the switch from Eloise to Lo. I didn't find Jake all that grumpy or disagreeable to be honest. If it weren't for 'Lo' always using that term to describe him, it's not something I would have naturally associated with him. I didn't know I had a thing for age gap romances until a certain show I watched made it very apparent I did. I think 15 years may be my max, but even then I think it all depends on the connection (and their actual ages). Any conflict that existed in the story surrounding their relationship existed only in their own minds. Primarily Jake's. And a lot of that had to do with the age gap (she was still young and may regret her decisions later). His hot and cold was a little frustrating, for him, for her, for me to read. And I wanted to see more of the renovation and maybe see Lo do more with her Instagram following. But I guess we need to leave some of the renovation for the next two books, though, right?
All in all, it ended up being a sweet story about a slightly guarded 32 year old falling for a less guarded 21 year old.
February 6, 2023
This is why I don’t start books late in the evening…because all the sudden it’s 2am and the only moving I’ve done is to flip from sitting, to laying down, to sitting again.
Absolutely DEMOLISHED this story and let me tell yooouuu it was SCRUMPTIOUS! 👏🏻
We had age gap! We had forced proximity! We had sunshine/grump! We had a pelican! (We love you Steve) We had broken people. We had healing. We had SIIIIZZZLLLEEEE! And boy oh BOY did we have kisses.
One thing that makes a rom-com a step above just a “fun read” for me is when the characters feel real. When life just seems to slap em around a bit, and they hurt and they grieve, and they GROW!
Don’t get me wrong I will sign up and swoon for all the romance and chemistry!! I’ll take cheese! But when writers give DEPTH to the story, I’ll be the first one on that bandwagon!
While I wish the characters had talked to each other a bit more about the “future” it also made sense considering how new and sudden everything was. They both had a lot of internal things to work out.
Eloise & Jake were really adorable together! And I loved every moment!! And the island! The people!! The whole cast of characters! I ADORED Liam & truly hope Naomi gets her happily ever after!!
I’m so excited to read all 3 sister’s stories and get to know each of them! Their hurts, their pasts — all the things!
5/5 stars!!
*not cf, but closed door*
Absolutely DEMOLISHED this story and let me tell yooouuu it was SCRUMPTIOUS! 👏🏻
We had age gap! We had forced proximity! We had sunshine/grump! We had a pelican! (We love you Steve) We had broken people. We had healing. We had SIIIIZZZLLLEEEE! And boy oh BOY did we have kisses.
One thing that makes a rom-com a step above just a “fun read” for me is when the characters feel real. When life just seems to slap em around a bit, and they hurt and they grieve, and they GROW!
Don’t get me wrong I will sign up and swoon for all the romance and chemistry!! I’ll take cheese! But when writers give DEPTH to the story, I’ll be the first one on that bandwagon!
While I wish the characters had talked to each other a bit more about the “future” it also made sense considering how new and sudden everything was. They both had a lot of internal things to work out.
Eloise & Jake were really adorable together! And I loved every moment!! And the island! The people!! The whole cast of characters! I ADORED Liam & truly hope Naomi gets her happily ever after!!
I’m so excited to read all 3 sister’s stories and get to know each of them! Their hurts, their pasts — all the things!
5/5 stars!!
*not cf, but closed door*
August 30, 2022
First of all, this cover is adorable. And it looks like summer, which I need to last as long as possible. Also, I was curious about one of my favorite rom-com authors, Emma St. Clair, writing with another rom-com author who I really need to read more of, Jenny Proctor. Their authors' notes say they don't even remember who wrote what, and I honestly can't tell either. It kind of weirds me out how two authors could have written this, it was so cohesive.
Anyway, this romance is really enjoyable even though I'm not much into age gaps, but I do love the grumpy/sunshine and the next-door forced proximity. Eloise and Jake especially were fun characters to read as they tried to ignore their chemistry as embarrassing situations keep throwing them back together. And the whole lovable town is hard-core shipping them, too.
I felt for both the characters as they wrestled with their own inner demons, her with insecurity over her youth and him with the ghosts of his childhood coming back to haunt him. Though I was somewhat annoyed with Eloise for thinking things weren't happening because he thought she was young, and not because maybe he's a gentleman or has standards?
Other than that, it was a fun romp and a sweet, summer rom-com perfect for fans of both rom-coms and summer.
Note to more sensitive readers: there are strong romantic themes, but it doesn't go past making out.
Review first posted on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...
Anyway, this romance is really enjoyable even though I'm not much into age gaps, but I do love the grumpy/sunshine and the next-door forced proximity. Eloise and Jake especially were fun characters to read as they tried to ignore their chemistry as embarrassing situations keep throwing them back together. And the whole lovable town is hard-core shipping them, too.
I felt for both the characters as they wrestled with their own inner demons, her with insecurity over her youth and him with the ghosts of his childhood coming back to haunt him. Though I was somewhat annoyed with Eloise for thinking things weren't happening because he thought she was young, and not because maybe he's a gentleman or has standards?
Other than that, it was a fun romp and a sweet, summer rom-com perfect for fans of both rom-coms and summer.
Note to more sensitive readers: there are strong romantic themes, but it doesn't go past making out.
Review first posted on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...
June 28, 2024
The age gap was um… unexpected? It wasn’t terrible and pretty easy to get past though. I liked the side characters they seemed to add a lot to the story and I felt like I got to know them. The beginning was a bit slow but after halfway I really enjoyed it. Lo and Jake were very likable characters, although Lo’s sisters (who the next books in the series are about) weren’t my favorite. I’m going to hold out hope for the books they are in 🤞
April 18, 2023
Such a cute, RomCom! Underneath his grumpiness and by the rules guy, Jake is a true romantic. Lo is just what he needed to open up! Loved their story!!
December 30, 2022
I’ve decided that I really dislike dual point of view books. It takes away from the chemistry when you know just how much the hero is already attracted to the heroine. All the suspense is gone. It’s just sort of boring: they both like each other, yay. There are instances when it can be done successfully (looking at you, Double or Nothing by Cindy Steel), but for the most part, it just ruins the chemistry.
I read more than half of this novel but… there’s just no spark.
In this book, the 11-year age gap between them is an issue for the hero. Sounds promising, right? Since he’s trying to creat distance, he says rude and utterly dorky things like, “I’d prefer to avoid the appearance of impropriety,” and “Probably the best way to reach me is to contact my secretary.” (Btw, they are duplex neighbors.)
If a guy sent me **I’M NOT INTERESTED** messages that were that blatant, I would not demean myself to keep openly and obviously crushing on him. He even calls her out for nuzzling him when she falls on him. It’s humiliating. I’m seriously embarrassed for the heroine who is making herself out to be super desperate and making it way too easy on him. She needs to play hard to get after all the lame-o put downs he’s given her.
Sure, crush on him in private, go out of your way to make him want you, play the game- afterall, the chase is the best part!!- but you better make him grovel before you show him how much you still like him, too. Don’t show him your hand so willingly, you overly eager puppy! Make him work for it since he so rudely dismissed you before!
That’s what I want. But it’s not what I’m getting. It’s too easy between these two. I don’t want his POV. Give me some mystery when it comes to the guy she’s interested in, and that’ll keep the chemistry from flopping.
Content-
Language- no swearing
Sex- no sex. This will be clean.
Religion- no religion.
I read this on KU
I read more than half of this novel but… there’s just no spark.
In this book, the 11-year age gap between them is an issue for the hero. Sounds promising, right? Since he’s trying to creat distance, he says rude and utterly dorky things like, “I’d prefer to avoid the appearance of impropriety,” and “Probably the best way to reach me is to contact my secretary.” (Btw, they are duplex neighbors.)
If a guy sent me **I’M NOT INTERESTED** messages that were that blatant, I would not demean myself to keep openly and obviously crushing on him. He even calls her out for nuzzling him when she falls on him. It’s humiliating. I’m seriously embarrassed for the heroine who is making herself out to be super desperate and making it way too easy on him. She needs to play hard to get after all the lame-o put downs he’s given her.
Sure, crush on him in private, go out of your way to make him want you, play the game- afterall, the chase is the best part!!- but you better make him grovel before you show him how much you still like him, too. Don’t show him your hand so willingly, you overly eager puppy! Make him work for it since he so rudely dismissed you before!
That’s what I want. But it’s not what I’m getting. It’s too easy between these two. I don’t want his POV. Give me some mystery when it comes to the guy she’s interested in, and that’ll keep the chemistry from flopping.
Content-
Language- no swearing
Sex- no sex. This will be clean.
Religion- no religion.
I read this on KU
February 1, 2023
EDITED to add AUDIO 5-star review here: https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com...
Below is my review for reading the paperback version:
I will read anything that Emma St. Clair writes. You never know what you are going to get when two authors write together, especially if one is new to you. While there are some scenes I am sure Emma wrote, I would be hard-pressed to pick the book apart and figure out what each author wrote. I am now looking forward to picking up and reading something by Jenny Proctor and figuring out her writing style 😊
Eloise and the Grump Next Door is a fun read! While Jake is not as grumpy as you might expect (I give that role to Merritt!), he can be grumpy. Eloise insists on being called "Lo" which I never got, but she is young, so I guess it fits her personality. There is a wonderful, zany cast of characters. The family dynamics are interesting and I love the small Island feel.
My biggest complaint with the story is Jake doing what he thinks is best for Eloise, and it comes across as very controlling. He never asked her what she wanted and didn't let her express how she felt about that. Also, my daughter is getting ready to be twenty, so if I think too much about the age gap, it will diminish my enjoyment of the story. I would not be okay with her dating someone that much older than her at this point in her life.
While we will get Merritt and Sadie's stories in later books (Eloise's sisters), I would love to see Naomi get her own story. The authors have done a fabulous job of setting up Merritt and Sadie's stories. I can't wait to see what happens.
I highly recommend Eloise and the Grump to anyone who needs who enjoys clean romance novels.
Below is my review for reading the paperback version:
I will read anything that Emma St. Clair writes. You never know what you are going to get when two authors write together, especially if one is new to you. While there are some scenes I am sure Emma wrote, I would be hard-pressed to pick the book apart and figure out what each author wrote. I am now looking forward to picking up and reading something by Jenny Proctor and figuring out her writing style 😊
Eloise and the Grump Next Door is a fun read! While Jake is not as grumpy as you might expect (I give that role to Merritt!), he can be grumpy. Eloise insists on being called "Lo" which I never got, but she is young, so I guess it fits her personality. There is a wonderful, zany cast of characters. The family dynamics are interesting and I love the small Island feel.
My biggest complaint with the story is Jake doing what he thinks is best for Eloise, and it comes across as very controlling. He never asked her what she wanted and didn't let her express how she felt about that. Also, my daughter is getting ready to be twenty, so if I think too much about the age gap, it will diminish my enjoyment of the story. I would not be okay with her dating someone that much older than her at this point in her life.
While we will get Merritt and Sadie's stories in later books (Eloise's sisters), I would love to see Naomi get her own story. The authors have done a fabulous job of setting up Merritt and Sadie's stories. I can't wait to see what happens.
I highly recommend Eloise and the Grump to anyone who needs who enjoys clean romance novels.
August 23, 2022
“Ted bundy was handsome and charming” and y’all just let it slip away?
September 12, 2022
Very Entertaining
Cute, cute, cute. Very entertaining. Fun characters, great chemistry. I loved the setting. I can't wait for the next book.
Cute, cute, cute. Very entertaining. Fun characters, great chemistry. I loved the setting. I can't wait for the next book.
August 21, 2022
I loved it from start to finish - this was a sweet and swoony treat, featuring an adorable grump of a hero and playful, lighthearted vibes. I've been meaning to check out both of these authors individually, so I jumped at the chance to read their first team-up, and it was more than I could've hoped for. The story balances humor and heart, tackling heavier subjects such as the loss of a loved one and dysfunctional family dynamics, while also bringing plenty of laughs, banter, and a low angst feel. I LOVED this couple together, particularly the way the sunshine heroine brought out the grumpy hero's gooey cinnamon roll center. And for a book that doesn't have any steam, this was pretty sexy, with so many sexual tension-filled moments - heated glances, scorching kisses, and a great growth in intimacy. The forbidden/age gap dynamic also gave this a definite slow burn feel. I'm excited to read more from the series, because this was an EASY 5-star rating for me.
The story follows Eloise (21) a woman who thought that the days following her college graduation would go very differently. Her plans to go to grad school fell through, her grandmother just passed away, and her family feels more distant than ever. So when Eloise heads to her grandmother's hometown for the funeral - the beautiful, small island community where Eloise spent some of her summers - she's feeling out of sorts. And after a few drinks at the local bar leave her decidedly tipsy, a handsome stranger comes to Eloise's rescue. Unfortunately, Jake (32) also happens to be her grandmother's lawyer, and he's got some information that will further alter Eloise's plans. But spending time in the welcoming community is not a hardship, and it's not long before Eloise is seeing a softer side to the stern and serious Jake.
I'll admit to being a little nervous about this particular age gap, but it really worked out well - Eloise is at a turning point in her life, and Jake is just old enough to see things from a different perspective. It certainly adds plenty of friction to their ever-evolving relationship, and is perhaps the only angsty element to the story. The overall tone is light, fun, and just the right kind of quirky. I loved the small town feel, the chemistry between Eloise and Jake, and pretty much every character we encounter along the way, lol. I'm definitely interested in reading more about the sisters, and this writing duo has set up future love stories in a way that has me itching to get my hands on those books - which is exactly what I hope for every time I read a new-to-me author. This was an all-around win, and I didn't even miss the spice (mostly), because they did such a great job of bringing the sexual tension as well as the swoon. The focus on the emotional connection was awesome, and I really loved Jake (even when he drove me crazy). I loved the whole thing, let's be honest here.
The story follows Eloise (21) a woman who thought that the days following her college graduation would go very differently. Her plans to go to grad school fell through, her grandmother just passed away, and her family feels more distant than ever. So when Eloise heads to her grandmother's hometown for the funeral - the beautiful, small island community where Eloise spent some of her summers - she's feeling out of sorts. And after a few drinks at the local bar leave her decidedly tipsy, a handsome stranger comes to Eloise's rescue. Unfortunately, Jake (32) also happens to be her grandmother's lawyer, and he's got some information that will further alter Eloise's plans. But spending time in the welcoming community is not a hardship, and it's not long before Eloise is seeing a softer side to the stern and serious Jake.
I'll admit to being a little nervous about this particular age gap, but it really worked out well - Eloise is at a turning point in her life, and Jake is just old enough to see things from a different perspective. It certainly adds plenty of friction to their ever-evolving relationship, and is perhaps the only angsty element to the story. The overall tone is light, fun, and just the right kind of quirky. I loved the small town feel, the chemistry between Eloise and Jake, and pretty much every character we encounter along the way, lol. I'm definitely interested in reading more about the sisters, and this writing duo has set up future love stories in a way that has me itching to get my hands on those books - which is exactly what I hope for every time I read a new-to-me author. This was an all-around win, and I didn't even miss the spice (mostly), because they did such a great job of bringing the sexual tension as well as the swoon. The focus on the emotional connection was awesome, and I really loved Jake (even when he drove me crazy). I loved the whole thing, let's be honest here.
January 15, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
Overall I quite enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine, age-gap, neighbor romance set on a small island but I wasn't a huge fan that she was only 21 (she seemed really young compared to the 11 years older male lead). There was great banter and her being an IG influencer was fun as well. I waited for this indie romance to come out on audio and thought the narration by Stephanie Rose and Rock Engle was good. Recommended for fans of Priscilla Oliveras's Keys to love series.
Steam level: kissing only
Overall I quite enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine, age-gap, neighbor romance set on a small island but I wasn't a huge fan that she was only 21 (she seemed really young compared to the 11 years older male lead). There was great banter and her being an IG influencer was fun as well. I waited for this indie romance to come out on audio and thought the narration by Stephanie Rose and Rock Engle was good. Recommended for fans of Priscilla Oliveras's Keys to love series.
Steam level: kissing only
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