The Grump Next Door

Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove, Book 1

By: Brighton Walsh

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Emma Wilder

Our first kiss was a lie. Our second was a mistake. And the night we spent tangled up in each other? Hot as hell, but a complete disaster.

Because now Sutton Sinclair—the sharp-tongued troublemaker who left claw marks down my back and a dent in my self-control—is living in my backyard cottage with her teenage daughter. And I’m her goddamn landlord.

I like things quiet. Controlled. She's neither. Sutton’s chaos wrapped in sunshine, a temptation in scrubs I can’t seem to stay away from.

When her ex shows up acting like Sutton’s still his to lose, I claim her on instinct. The kiss? Hot. The fallout? Immediate.

Now my family—and the entire town—thinks we’re a couple.

Fake dating Sutton wasn’t in my playbook, but if being a pro-footballer turned high school coach has taught me anything, it’s how to pivot. All I have to do is keep my hands to myself.

Then her cottage floods.

Now we’re sharing a roof…and a bed. The line between real and fake is blurring faster than I can redo the guest house.

This is supposed to be temporary. But Sutton doesn’t just crash into my life—she rewrites it. She’s in my home, moaning my name, breaking every rule I’ve ever lived by.

And I’m starting to want something permanent with the woman who’s already got one foot out the door.

©2025 Brighton Walsh (P)2025 Brighton Walsh

GRUMPY HOTTIE.. yes please.

HOLY FREAKING HELL. This was my first Brighton Walsh book, and it absolutely will NOT be my last. I devoured this book in 24 hours, and it left no crumbs.

I LOVE a good broody, grumpy man... and my lanta if Atlas Steele didn’t just become my number one favorite grumpy MMC. This man was pure perfection throughout the entire book, and I really loved that he stayed grumpy the entire time. This man gives off the hottest, most sexy energy throughout the entire book. It’s like you cannot stop because my GOD.. the mouth on this man was everything. The way he is so protective over Sutton, from the second they meet, was absolute perfection. He fit into their lives, like he was just always meant to be there. The way he not only fell in love with Sutton, but the way he truly fell for Laurel too, in the sense of a “dad” role.. it was so special to watch unfold. I may have squealed when she called them “her parents”.

Sutton is pure sunshine and banter wrapped into one. The brat side of her, was written phenomenally and made for a perfect brat tamer + pleasure dom trope! I also really loved the role that Sutton plays at the school - especially when working with the football players and talking with Coach Asshole! But the greatest thing Brighton did, that I haven’t seen done, is a true mother/daughter relationship with the most perfect vibes of being respected but also like friends. I loved that so much.

There is so much I could say about this book. SO much. It was everything I never knew I needed. It was one of those books I couldn’t put down, I was sucked into from the start, and one I would read a million times over!

Now that I finished The Grump Next Door, I am so excited to head back to Starlight Cove with Xander and Chloe! Bring on another absolute show stopping book!

Loved this one!!

I loved every moment of this hilarious, fast-burn romance. The witty banter between the grumpy neighbor and the sunshine girl had me laughing out loud—and their chemistry? Incredible. The spice was off the charts🔥🔥.

The way they went from bickering neighbors to something so much more was just chef’s kiss. If you’re looking for a romance with humor, heart, and seriously steamy moments, this one’s a must-read!

Daddy Grump was just perfection and I love the way he fell for Laurel and the way she fell for him. Watching Sutton fall for Atlas was swoon worthy!

Audiobook review:

I LOVED the dual narration. The male narrator read a little too slow for my own tastes, but I sped up the audio and it worked perfectly. The female narrator was the absolute perfect Sutton!

Great story

Loved the sweet story and the narrators were awesome. My first book by Brighton Walsh and will read more about

classic trope but kept it interesting!

we all love the classics but sometimes the stories get too redundant.... I thought this one was unique & adorable... kept my interest, made me laugh & the spice was perfect! shes quickly becoming an immediate buy Author for me!

Loved it

Jason Clarke’s narration did it for me. Very spicy, dirty talk, swoon. Atlas was a great book BF. Sutton was likable too. Lots of chemistry. Nice love story.