The Grumpy Player Next Door

Pippa Grant — 2021

I, Tillie Jean Rock, am not in love with my brother's teammate. Sure, he might have those biceps and that "I am the grouchiest of grouchy bears" smolder, and he might shovel snow off his driveway next door wearing nothing but boxer shorts and rubber boots, and he might be running a side business feeding all the stray goats in town, but studliness is only skin-deep. And I might flirt with him every chance I get, but I swear it's only to annoy my brother. And him. Because Max Cole? Under all of those glorious muscles and chiseled cheekbones and searing glares beats the heart of a heartless devil. I could no sooner fall in love with a guy who treats me like a kid, and judges me at every opportunity, and sets an army of garden gnomes loose on my yard, than I could fall in love with my grandfather's pet parrot. But I can definitely annoy him. I can one hundred percent get on board with annoying him. That's what you do when you don't like your neighbor, right? But you know what they say about love and hate... It's a very thin line. Especially when the real reason I'm not in love with Max Cole-that he's incapable of love-might not be true at all. The Grumpy Player Next door is a fun-filled enemies-to-lovers romcom featuring a ray of sunshine on a mission, an athlete who's only grouchy around her, and an epic prank gone wrong. It stands alone and comes complete with small-town shenanigans, a goat who's not nearly as wise as his name suggests, and proof that sometimes, love is the best kind of vengeance.

Reviews

Sara Hamm@sarahamm

Aug 25, 2022

Every time I think I’ve found my favorite Pippa Grant hero she writes a new book. The Grumpy Player Next Door is the latest in Pippa Grant’s Copper Valley Fireballs series. Tillie Jean and Max Cole star in this book and man did I love them. I’m a sucker for the grumpy/ sunshine trope and Pippa knocked it out of the park on this one. Max and Tillie Jean’s story was the perfect mix of humor, angst, and thought provoking. The prank wars, the townspeople, the Cooper Rock! I want to say so much more but I don’t know how without spoiling anything but please read this one as soon as possible. You won’t regret it!

Nicola Sarah Brooks@nikkisbooknook

Dec 8, 2021

OMW the Rock siblings take prank wars to another level. Gitter bombs are the latest craze but when grumpy but oh so sexy Max gets caught up in the sibling's war, will he finally blow his top or crack his cool? Tillie Jean is sunshine personified. But that effervescent personality hides a core of insecurity and fear of failure. Max has the facade of a playboy, he has love them and leave them down to a fine art. But he also has secret fears. Cooper is the best friend he's ever had, one who knows Max's deepest fears, so Max never wants to step over that line - so instead he comes up with zillions of reasons of why TJ is friend-zoned forever. But one prank too many, one lingering look too many and these opposites are going to go up in flames! They will either be the love of the century or a spectacular failure. You can't help but love TJ, even whilst she is causing mayhem in Shipwreck. Max is the epitome of grumpy but only to hide the growing feelings he has for TJ - around everyone else he is a great guy. Another reason why TK makes it her mission to crack his facade. With a cracking cast of secondary characters (not including the Goats!), the town of Shipwreck is a magnet for cooky, quirky characters. I have to admit that even my veggie self wanted to squish a certain parrot! With Goatageddon and other hijinks causing coitus interruptus on several occasions, you knew that the poor table was going to be a casualty in this pairs attempt to have their cake and eat it too! Absolutely cracking story and I can't wait for more.

Mickey Benner@mbenner

Nov 18, 2022

Sarah Kessler@pdxskigirl

Oct 5, 2022

Bee @chaemunk_bee7

Oct 4, 2022

Anri@anrinielsen

Apr 1, 2022

Allie Garza@bookishblus

Nov 22, 2021