Had me smiling, just as I expected. ( )

"Hearts are messy, complicated things. I’m trying to do better at listening to mine. To believe that happiness is something I might actually deserve. Your grandmother once told me I wouldn’t believe the way the world opens up when a person decides to love. I think I finally understand what she meant.” ( )

“Hearts are messy, complicated things. I’m trying to do better at listening to mine. To believe that happiness is something I might actually deserve.”

Oh my! This book made me laugh out loud, swoon, cringe in embarrassment, and tear up! I love grumpy/sunshine romances and this one is the best! Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor really are the dynamic duo of romcoms. The writing is seamless. I honestly couldn’t tell who wrote what. It’s romantic, hilarious, heart-tugging (is that a word?), and a page turner. The age-gap romance is believable and works so well. The small southern island beach setting with a cast of quirky characters makes it even more fun.

Eloise or Lo is a passionate, romantic, fun, burst of sunshine. Whether it’s her eccentric dress sense (think pineapples, leaves, and flamingos), or her self-deprecating humor (live videos on instagram), she’s unforgettable. Her 21st birthday though hasn’t been what she expected with losing her grandmother and finding out she didn’t get into grad school. Worst yet, the handsome guy who rescued her from the bar the other night turns out to be the grumpy, serious, hot attorney in charge of her grandmother’s estate.

She and her two sisters just inherited her grandmother’s home with the stipulation that it be remodeled and turned into a bed and breakfast. Since Lo has no obligations, she’s put in charge. While remodeling the house, she’s sharing a duplex with you guessed it the grumpy attorney. He’s literally on the other side of the wall. Their sizzling attraction, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry though make it hard for Lo to even be around him. She also has a knack for embarrassing moments like catching Jake in a towel, him catching her in…well, you’ll just have to read the swimsuit incident iykyk, and literally falling into his arms.

Jake is 32, serious, extremely fit, and grumpy, like Harrison Ford grumpy. But underneath that gruff exterior is a kind uncle, loving brother, and thoughtful friend. When he first meets Eloise, he knows she’s trouble. She has the dangerous ability to see past his surliness and make him fall in love with her. From her bear slippers to her pineapple dress, he can’t help but desire the bundle of sunshine. But his trust was severely damaged with his mother. He can’t risk being left behind again, because Eloise will leave eventually when the remodeling is done, right?

I loved these two! The banter, all the awkward situations, and the touching moments. The ending about tore me apart! I couldn’t believe Jake’s choice, but thankfully it all worked out. I loved Jake’s sister Naomi and his nephew Liam. Liam is eight and says whatever pops into his head and it’s hilarious. Then there’s a crazy pelican named Steve, the poet quoting parrot, plus a whole host of islanders invested in seeing Lo & Jake get together. Beware of old men with smart phones!

This is one clean, funny romcom you do not want to miss! I can’t wait to read Merritt’s story. ( )