Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

The vibe: Sunny, warm-hearted writer x her guarded, gruff rival — both chasing the story of a lifetime.

Alice is all optimism and open curiosity; Hayden is serious, closed-off, and not remotely interested in playing nice. Toss them into a rivalry over the same once-in-a-lifetime story and you get slow-burn tension with real stakes underneath the banter. A great anchor for this list if you want grumpy-sunshine with bookish, writerly charm.

Planning to read this one with your group? Don't miss my 15 Book Club Questions for Great Big Beautiful Life , or browse 7 Books Like Great Big Beautiful Life for more in this vein.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The vibe: Sweet, sunshiny Lucy x cold, exacting Joshua, desks pushed right up against each other.

This is the gold standard — the book most people picture when they hear “grumpy sunshine.” Lucy is bright clothes and color-coded pens and relentless optimism; Joshua is joyless, buttoned-up, and quietly intimidating. Their office war — the Staring Game, the HR Game, the elevator — barely disguises the fact that he's been a goner for her the whole time. If you only read one book on this list, this is the one.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

The vibe: Sunny biology PhD candidate x famously stern professor.

Olive impulsively kisses the most feared, scowly professor on campus to convince her best friend she's dating someone — and somehow talks him into a fake-dating deal. What follows is a stern, grumpy academic turning into an absolute softie the second it comes to her. Fake dating, STEM setting, and a grump who falls first and falls hard. I read this one myself and thought it was so cute.

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

The vibe: Runaway bride x bearded, bad-boy small-town barber.

Knox wants a quiet, drama-free life with his dog and his bar, and Naomi shows up towing an entire storm of complications. Cue forced proximity, the rough-around-the-edges charm of Knockemout, and a grump who slowly goes soft for the sunshine who upended his whole solitary routine. This is your pick for small-town warmth and found family.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

The vibe: Sparkly Hollywood socialite x gruff small-town sea captain.

When Piper's party-girl antics get her shipped off to a sleepy Pacific-Northwest fishing town, she runs headfirst into Brendan — a broody, monosyllabic bar owner and boat captain who's sure she won't last a week. Watching this glittery ray of sunshine thaw out one very grumpy fisherman is exactly the coastal-cozy comfort read it promises to be.

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

The vibe: Reluctant fake-date x brooding coworker, at a wedding in Spain.

Aaron is the office grump everyone assumes Lina can't stand — so of course he's the one who volunteers to be her fake boyfriend for her sister's wedding overseas. Turns out all that scowling has been hiding a very long-standing crush. Fake dating, a little enemies-to-lovers, and that classic “wait, there's only one bed” energy.

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher

The vibe: Cynical theme-park billionaire x creative, optimistic park employee.

Rowan is buttoned-up, business-first, and allergic to fun. Zahra is bursting with ideas and heart — exactly the kind of person who drags a grump out of his shell whether he likes it or not. Workplace romance, opposites attract, and a whole lot of him learning to let someone in.

A Deal with the Bossy Devil by Kyra Parsi

The vibe: Smart-mouthed heroine x snarly billionaire boss on a revenge mission.

When one viral stunt costs him a massive deal, this grump decides the fitting punishment is having her at his beck and call — which somehow spirals into a fake engagement. It's fast, funny, and banter-forward, and it's the spicier indie-darling pick on this list, so reach for it when you want your grumpy-sunshine to run hot.

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata

The vibe: Two figure skaters who've spent a decade as icy rivals.

This one's trope royalty for slow-burn lovers — Mariana Zapata basically wrote the manual on aching, take-your-time pining. A little heads-up on the dynamic: here it's Jasmine who's the prickly, defensive one — her own family nicknamed her “Grumpy” — while Ivan is the one quietly, patiently in love the entire time. If you want an epic, low-spice, worth-the-wait build, start here.

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

The vibe: Type-A figure skater x easygoing hockey captain, forced to share a rink.

Another fun role-flip: Anastasia is the anxious, schedule-obsessed, hard-shelled one, and Nate is the warm, patient golden-retriever who falls first and falls hard. If you've seen this one all over romance-reader feeds, this is the appeal. Heads up — it lands on the spicier, new-adult end of the list.

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey

The vibe: Holiday sparkle, opposites-attract energy, and a very cheerful Christmas romance.

This is the cozy holiday one. It's short, sweet, and seasonal, with a fun opposites-attract setup against a backdrop of twinkle lights and holiday window displays. Perfect for a single-sitting December read when you want festive, flirty, and easy to fall into.

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

The vibe: Sunny editorial assistant x brooding, reclusive author — Beauty and the Beast, but make it publishing.

Isabelle gets sent to a gloomy mansion to coax an overdue manuscript out of a famously grumpy author, and you can guess where the fairy-tale bones take it from there. If you love a retelling with a grump who's more wounded than mean, this one's a charmer.

All the Feels by Olivia Dade

The vibe: Chaotic, charming actor x reserved, no-nonsense handler.

Here's another flip — Alex is the impulsive live wire, and Lauren, the burned-out former ER therapist hired to keep him out of trouble, is the guarded, buttoned-up one. Forced proximity, a big protective streak, body-positive representation, and so much warmth hiding under the banter. A great pick if you want your sunshine and grump swapped around.

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

The vibe: Sunny, quick-witted social media manager x grumpy, guarded veterinarian.

Abby Jimenez set out to write a reserved, prickly hero and a warm, sociable heroine — so this lands right in the heart of the trope. Just know going in: this is the big-feelings pick of the bunch. It's got the banter and the swoon, but it also digs into real, tender, life-is-hard territory, so keep some tissues nearby. If you want a grumpy-sunshine that will genuinely make you feel something, save this one for last.