The Grump Next Door

Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove, Book 1

De: Brighton Walsh

Narrado por: 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

beautiful story

new author for me. got it because I buy anything jason clarke narrates. loved the banter between FMC and her daughter and the daughter's banter with MMC. so entertaining. you won't be disappointed.

THE CHEMISTRY!!!

• Small town
• Football coach x nurse
• Grumpy x sunshine
• Single mom
• Small town
• Found Family
• Neighbors to lovers
• Age gap (8 years)
• Adorable teenage daughter
• One night stand
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced Proximity
• German shepherd MMC

I have heard such amazing things about this book, and it lived up to every expectation I had and more! What an incredible place to start my journey into Brighton's world. Not only did I love the main characters, but so many of the side characters also stole my heart. Mabel in particular! She was such a hoot.

Brighton has done such an incredible job with the adorable small-town feel of Starlight Cove. It was very Gilmore Girls coded, and I absolutely loved it. And to open a book with such a chemistry filled meet cute? She absolutely knew what her readers wanted. Atlas and Sutton's chemistry was unreal from the very beginning. The way she flips it on us and gives such a good enemies-to-lovers story, after such an incredible one-night stand, was so well done. Especially between the grumpiest teddy bear of a man and the sweet, tender single mom who wasn’t afraid to clap back at his grumpy side and put him in his place.

I absolutely loved these characters. Atlas might have been known as the town grump, but he definitely had a sweet, tender side that came out in the most heart-melting ways, like rescuing a kitten or caring for the people he loved. This man put so many people before himself, and Brighton did such an incredible job pairing this grumpy MMC with the most adorable FMC.

Sutton was as tender as she was feisty! Her life hadn’t been easy, but she pushed past her trauma to give her sixteen-year-old daughter the best life she could. I loved the relationship between Sutton and her daughter, Laurel. Brighton nailed her teenage personality so well. Arguably one of the best teenagers I’ve ever read about. Laurel was perfectly sarcastic, and I adored the way she was with Atlas, calling him “Daddy Grump” or a “lovable idiot.” It was such a cute relationship to watch grow.

I am so excited for the next book! We get a tiny peek at what to expect in Xander's book, and I am absolutely here for it. I’ve loved the dynamic of this family and the relationships they all share. Although we didn’t really get to meet Xander, I’m excited to see him thrown into this adorable family dynamic.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
Duet narration
Narrated by Emma Wilder and Jason Clarke

These two narrators nailed their performances! I just love the sound of Jason and Emma together. They’re such a playful duet. Jason always does an incredible job playing the grumpiest of grumps with his deep, growly voice. It fit Atlas’ personality so well. But as good as he is at playing the grump, when that vulnerable side comes out, Jason always delivers it with perfection. The balance was spot on.

Emma’s performance as Sutton was equally perfect. Both spunky and tender at the same time. And not only did she nail Sutton, but she absolutely killed it as Laurel. I was so freaking impressed! She bounced between Sutton and Laurel so flawlessly during conversations, always bringing out both personalities in the best way.

I couldn’t have loved this audiobook more. I highly recommend it! If you’re going to read this book, hands down, try the audiobook. The duet performance paired with Brighton’s writing was amazing

Great

Its was a really great book! I have no cons to it. It was a good read!!

what fun

this is the first book I have ever done by this author but I can tell you this will not be the last. I think I'm starting to fall in love with the grump trope which is exactly what is this book is either this author nailed it out of the park with this or I'm not sure but it was such a good story. And Jason Clark Played the best grump His voices were superb for all the brothers He did an excellent job With his Grum voice and he did an excellent job with being happy with like the other brothers were in this story. the female character though she is strong independent and I just love that she gave as good as the old grump tried to give the banter between these two was great I love the way they met it was absolutely fun I love that she had a teenage daughter and she was a sassy teenage daughter it was great all the banter that she gave out. Emma Wilder did an excellent job with the female voices I love her so much she's always so good and she does not disappoint at all. the story was somewhat emotional it did bring some quite emotional feelings to the surface for me in other words I cried. as well as laughter throughout the book. again I can't tell you how much I love the story and how much I recommend this.

A MUST READ

OMG this author she 100000x great writer, detailed, great experience of words Wow Great!!!