Few romance tropes capture the hearts of readers quite like the irresistible allure of the grumpy/sunshine dynamic. This trope pairs a brooding, often misunderstood character with a vibrant, optimistic counterpart, creating a perfect storm of contrasting personalities that spark and sizzle on the page. The magic of this trope comes with its ability to blend humor, heartache, and healing, as the characters navigate their differences and discover the profound impact they can have on each other's lives. Whether you're a seasoned romance reader or new to the genre, these stories promise an emotional rollercoaster, delivering both laughter and tears as they explore the transformative power of love.

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Twisted Love by Ana Huang

Alex is a cold-hearted CEO with a past that he can’t escape. He’s tasked to take care of his best friend’s annoying little sister, but as time goes on, his heart begins to melt. Ava, the little sister, is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember. Despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world. Including the one person with the coldest heart she’s ever met. Her brother’s best friend.

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It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

A fashionable and influential socialite, Piper, is banished to a small town in Washington with her sister, Hannah, and they’re tasked to run their late father’s dive bar. Brendan, a big, bearded sea captain, doubts Piper and thinks she won’t last a day in this small town. But in a small town, where everyone knows everyone and their business, how can Brendan and Piper avoid each other? LA is calling Piper’s name back, but she’s wondering if the glamorous life she once knew is what she really wants. Brendan may have caught her heart along the way.

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The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos. Olive, a third-year Ph.D. candidate, is trying to convince her best friend that she doesn’t have feelings for her best friend’s boyfriend (their mutual friend). To do so, Olive kisses the first man she sees. Enter: Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor and grumpy man. They agree to fake date for Olive’s scheme, but can they keep feelings out of it? This was a fun, flirty, banter-filled, enjoyable romance that I read in a matter of days!

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Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

Naomi needs to get out of town—she ran from her wedding and needs to escape for a bit. She runs to a small town in Virginia to stay with her twin sister, Tina. But Tina isn’t there when Naomi gets there, but only finds her niece that she never know she had. Now, Naomi must navigate this new guardianship. Enter a bearded, bad-boy barber named Knox, who hates drama, especially one with Naomi. But he’s a good guy and agrees to help Naomi. But … what about feelings?

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Heartless by Elsie Silver

Grumpy Cade needs a nanny for his son. Enter: Willa Grant. He’s 13 years older than her, but he can’t stop thinking about her. And she can’t keep her eyes off him. After one night in the hot tub, and a game of truth and dare, his heart begins to soften.

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All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

Aurora De La Torre, or Ora to her friends, knows moving back to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, a place that was once home and is now full of bittersweet memories of her late mother, isn't going to be easy. Starting your whole life over probably isn't supposed to be. But after breaking up with her longtime, famous musician boyfriend, hiding out in a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart. And checking out her landlord who lives across the driveway just might cure it, too. Only Tobias Rhodes didn't rent out the apartment to her, rather it was his teenage son, Amos. Fiercely protective of his family and distrusting of strangers, gruff and grumpy Rhodes initially keeps little miss sunshine Ora at a distance. But over days and weeks, long hikes and fireside chats, Aurora breaks down his walls and soon an unbreakable friendship blossoms into a once-in-a-lifetime love.

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The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Catalina Martín desperately needs a date to her sister's wedding. Especially since her little white lie about her American boyfriend has spiralled out of control. Now everyone she knows--including her ex and his fiancée--will be there and eager to meet him. She only has four weeks to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic and aid in her deception. New York to Spain is no short flight and her raucous family won't be easy to fool. Enter Aaron Blackford--her tall, handsome, condescending colleague--who surprisingly offers to step in. She'd rather refuse; never has there been a more aggravating, blood-boiling, and insufferable man. But Catalina is desperate, and as the wedding draws nearer, Aaron looks like her best option. And she begins to realize he might not be as terrible in the real world as he is at the office.

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Behind the Net by Stephanie Archer

After my ex crushed my dreams in the music industry, I'm done with getting my heart broken. Working as an assistant for an NHL player was supposed to be a breeze, but nothing about Jamie Streicher is easy. He's an intimidatingly hot, grouchy jerk who can't stand me. The guy has a massive ego. Keeping things professional will be no problem, even when he demands I move in with him. Beneath his surliness, though, Jamie's surprisingly sweet and protective. When Jamie learns how bad my ex was in bed, his competitive nature flares, and he encourages and spoils me in every way. The creative spark I used to feel about songwriting? It's back, and I'm writing music again. Between wearing his jersey at games, rowdy parties with the team, and being brave on stage again, I'm falling for him.

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Reckless by Elsie Silver

Theo is a bull rider and a notorious ladies man. Winter Hamilton has sworn off men entirely. But the way Theo has been eyeing Winter has Winter on alert. As he continues to pursue her, her icy heart begins to melt and then they spend the hottest night of her life with the man she never thought she’d say yes to. She wants simple, and with him, it all feels complicated. It was supposed to be a one-time thing. A secret. But a little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep.

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Beach Read by Emily Henry

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

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Always Only You by Chloe Liese

Ren has known Frankie Zeferino was a woman worth waiting for since the moment they met. She's a master of deadpan delivery, has a secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes his knees go weak. But as long as Frankie's the team's social media manager, she's off limits. Frankie is a self-admittedly blunt, grumbly grump, but even she isn't immune to sunshiney Ren Bergman. Who could be, when he's a six-foot-three hunk of happy with a hockey player's physique? Maybe in the past, Frankie would have gone for a guy like him, but since being burned too many times by people who learn about her diagnoses and see a problem, not a person, she's wised up. After waiting years for the right time to make his move, Ren learns Frankie plans to leave the team to pursue a new career. But what he didn't anticipate is how hard he'll have to work to convince her to let him have his shot at winning her heart.

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When In Rome by Sarah Adams

Amelia Rose, or Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned out from her music career and her “pop image.” She drives off one night for a break in Rome, or Rome, Kentucky, that is. When her car breaks down on the side of the road, she stumbles upon grumpy Noah Walker, who makes it clear she’s not welcome here and he doesn’t have the patience for her and outsiders. He has a pie shop to run! His late grandmother’s pie shop. But he lets her stay in his guest room, because he’s a nice person. But then he starts to see a different side of Amelia. Amelia, not the pop star Rae Rose, but Amelia, the kindhearted and goofy yet lonely woman. They grow closer but once she has to return back to her daily life on tour, will they be able to make it?

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Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong. So she's given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself--even though she's not entirely sure how. Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner's on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car--supposedly by accident. Yeah, right. Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she's infiltrated his work, his kitchen--and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore... and it's melting Jacob's frosty exterior.

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A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn

"How did you two meet?" It's the quintessential question asked to every couple, and the answer is usually some bubbly, lovey-dovey tale of being struck in the bum by Cupid's arrow. But Lottie Gardner's meet-cute was a little different. She was trolling a wealthy neighborhood in Beverly Hills, searching for someone to take her as his bride-you know, to make the arch nemesis who just fired her jealous. And billionaire Huxley Cane was conveniently stomping around the block like some sort of gorgeous ogre, mumbling about a business deal gone wrong. That's when they bump into each other. No sparks. No fireworks. Not even the first seed of blossoming love. But the next thing Lottie knows, she's scarfing down chips and guac, listening to Huxley lay out his problems, and then he tells her: He lied to a crucial client, and he needs a huge favor. A fake fiancée. He's talking living in his mansion together, going on intimate double-dates, and pretending they're head-over-heels in love...and engaged. It's ridiculous, but people do ridiculous things when they're desperate. And Lottie and Huxley both reek of desperation. So, she strikes up the deal. Except her one mistake might be accidentally falling for the incomparable, insufferable Huxley Cane.

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The Chase by Elle Kennedy

Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there's no logical reason why I'm so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don't usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I'm flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn't help that he's buddy-buddy with my brother. And that his best friend has a crush on me. And that I just moved in with them. Oh, did I not mention we're roommates? I suppose it doesn't matter. Fitzy has made it clear he's not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I'm not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I'm not about to start. I've got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he's missing? He knows where to find me.

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In A Jam by Kate Canterbury

When Shay Zucconi's step-grandmother died, she left Shay a tulip farm-under two conditions. First, Shay has to move home to the small town of Friendship, Rhode Island. Second-and most problematic since her fiancé just called off the wedding-Shay must be married within one year. Marriage is the last thing in the world Shay wants but she'll do anything to save the only real home she's ever known. Noah Barden loved Shay Zucconi back in high school. Not that he ever told her. He was too shy, too awkward, too painfully uncool to ask out the beautiful, popular girl. A lifetime later, Noah is a single dad to his niece and has his hands full running the family business. That old crush is the farthest thing from his mind. Until Shay returns to their hometown and turns his life upside down.

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Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

Georgette Castle's family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven't taken her seriously since. Frankly, she's over it. Georgie loves planning children's birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn't been on a date since, well, ever. Nobody's asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that's for sure. Maybe if people think she's having a steamy love affair, they'll acknowledge she's not just the "little sister" who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite? Travis Ford was major league baseball's hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he's flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can't even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his... bat. And then there's Georgie, his best friend's sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme--that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job--he agrees. What's the harm? It's not like it's real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there's nothing fake about how much he wants her...

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Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

Ama Torres is an optimistic wedding planner who doesn't believe in marriage. But weddings? They're amazing. Elliot Bloom is a brooding florist who hates owning a flower shop...until a certain bright-eyed, donut-loving workaholic shows up at his door. Once upon a time, they collaborated on events by day, and by night, Ama traced the intricate flower tattoos etched along his body. Then Ama shattered his heart and never spoke to Elliot again. Now they're working on an event that could make or break both of their careers--except neither of them has gotten over what happened two years ago. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. But as the wedding takes on a life of its own, Ama and Elliot are about to discover that some things can survive a complete catastrophe . . .

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King of Wrath by Ana Huang

Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant. Billionaire CEO Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally. He never planned to marry...until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows. Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy. The wife he never wanted, and the weakness he never saw coming. It doesn't matter how beautiful or charming she is. Dante will do everything in his power to destroy the blackmail and their betrothal. There's only one problem: now that he has her, he can't bring himself to let her go. Elegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered. Vivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family's ticket into the highest echelons of society. Marrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money parents. While the rude, elusive Dante isn't her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty. Craving his touch was never part of the plan. Neither was the worst possible outcome: falling in love with her future husband.

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Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project--a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia--Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward. Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school--archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away. Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it's her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas...devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

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