My Grumpy Editor by Rachel Chamberlayne: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Abi has met her ultimate bully. Will she be brave enough to rise to the challenge?

Determined to escape the ghosts of her past, Abi Benson jumps at the chance to skip town when she is offered a ghostwriting position at a prestigious digital marketing firm in the Big City.

When she discovers she’ll be writing for a dream client just two weeks into the job, the opportunity seems almost too good to be true. And when her assigned editor, Philip Baker, informs her of the unfortunate case of mistaken identity that disqualifies her from the running, it turns out that it is.

Desperate to prove herself, Abi strikes up a deal that her broody, enigmatic editor can’t resist. In exchange for keeping her secret about her true identity, she’ll accompany Phil to his brother’s wedding in order to charm his difficult father—who happens to be more distraught over Phil’s recent breakup than he is.

As the guilt over her lie catches up with her, Abi finds comfort in the most unexpected place: her grumpy editor’s surprisingly tender embrace—especially when an assault flips her world upside down and prevents her from revealing the secret she so desperately wants to confess.

Now, hundreds of miles from home and feeling even more distant from God, Abi must summon the courage to face both her fears and her past head on. But will Phil and Abi’s romance survive the storm, or will their differing beliefs extinguish their fragile flame forever?

Book Review

What a beautiful debut this was! Phil and Abi drew me in from their first awkward introduction. They were both imperfect characters, but it was that imperfection that made them more relatable and drew me further into their lives and story. They had a really sweet chemistry between them, and I loved that she brought out a less grumpy side to him. Fake dating and grumpy/sunshine are some of my favorites, and this one definitely felt like a unique take on both... and I adored it. As much as I loved the romance though, more than anything I loved how this story truly pointed to God. Phil isn't a Christian at the start of the story, and seeing his growth as the story went on was really beautiful. Abi, though a Christian, still had her own struggles and ones that I think are going to resonate with many readers. Their story wasn't always an easy, lighthearted one. I loved that the author wasn't afraid to take on heavier topics like sexual abuse, but again pointing to God's love through it all. I won't give too much away, but the topic was handled with grace, and there was one conversation in the story in particular that I think it something that so many Christian women need a reminder of as well. If you love workplace romances and stories with a heavy emphasis on faith, this is certainly one not to be missed. I look forward to seeing what the author does next. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3DnxuoS