If you love YA romance books with hockey, best friends-to-lovers chemistry, slow-burn romance, and a grumpy hero who has been secretly in love for years, you most definitely need to add Grumpy Darling by Alexandra Moody to your TBR.
The second book in the Darling Devils series, Grumpy Darling follows Paige and Grayson Darling, best friends who have known each other since childhood. Paige has one thing left on her senior-year bucket list: getting her first kiss. And naturally, the person she turns to for dating advice is the one person who has been secretly in love with her all along.
Grayson, meanwhile, is the hockey team's intimidating enforcer and has a habit of scaring away anyone who gets too close to Paige. When she asks him to become her dating coach, he sees an opportunity to finally show her that maybe the person she's been looking for has been right in front of her the whole time. Or to die of a broken heart in the process.
If that setup already has you intrigued, here are 8 reasons you'll fall for the romance in Grumpy Darling.
1. The Grumpy Hockey Hero
Let's start with Grayson Darling. He's big, intimidating, protective, and has earned a reputation as the hockey team's enforcer. On the surface, he has all the qualities you'd expect from a classic grumpy romance hero.
But underneath that tough exterior is someone who is incredibly caring when it comes to Paige. And that's exactly what makes him so swoony.
There's something irresistible about a grumpy hero who may look intimidating to everyone else but becomes a total marshmallow around the girl he loves.
Grayson isn't just protective of Paige. He's been quietly carrying feelings for her for years. And yes, the he-falls-first energy is very much there. What is it with these Darling boys?
2. Friends to Lovers Done Incredibly, Piningly Right
If friends-to-lovers romance is one of your favorite tropes, Grumpy Darling has plenty to offer.
Paige and Grayson already have years of history together. They know each other's personalities, habits, strengths, and weaknesses. And the first book in the series, Rival Darling, let’s us peek into that energy.
That makes their relationship feel different from a romance where two characters are meeting for the first time. There's already trust between them.
The problem? Grayson knows exactly how he feels. Paige doesn't. And watching her slowly begin to see him differently is one of the most fun parts of the romance.
Instead of wondering whether they'll become close, you're waiting for Paige to realize that the person she might be looking for has been beside her all along.
3. The Dating Coach Setup Is Adorably Complicated
Paige wants help with dating, so she asks Grayson to become her dating coach. Which sounds innocent enough.
Except Grayson is completely in love with her. That makes every lesson considerably more complicated.
He's supposed to be helping Paige figure out how to attract someone else, while secretly hoping she'll realize that he's the person she should be falling for.
It's such a fun romance setup because as readers we know something Paige doesn't.
Every piece of advice comes with an extra layer of tension. Every flirting lesson can feel like something more.
And every moment between them has the potential to make Grayson's carefully hidden feelings a little harder to conceal.
4. The Pining Is Everything. And I mean E V E R Y T H I N G
There is something particularly satisfying about a YA romance where he falls first.
Grayson has loved Paige since they were kids, which means this isn't a sudden attraction that appears halfway through the story. His feelings have history. He's been there all along.
That creates plenty of opportunities for yearning, jealousy, hidden feelings, and those little moments where you can see just how much he cares about Paige.
If you love romance books where the hero is secretly head over heels while the heroine takes a little longer to figure everything out, trust me on this: you're going to have a lot of fun with this one.
5. Hockey Gives the Romance Extra Energy
A good YA hockey romance needs more than just a hockey player slapped onto the cover, and the sport is an important part of Grayson's world.
He's a member of the school hockey team, and his intimidating reputation on the ice contrasts nicely with the softer side of his personality.
And it is precisely that contrast what makes the romance work. On the one hand, you get the tough hockey player everyone else sees. On the other, you get the Grayson Paige knows.
That combination of sports romance + high school romance + slow-burn feelings makes Grumpy Darling an easy pick for readers who enjoy romance set around competitive sports.
6. Paige Has Her Own Story to Figure Out
Although Grayson brings plenty of romantic tension, Paige isn't simply there to be the love interest.
She's working through her own senior-year goals and trying to figure out what she wants from dating, relationships, and the next stage of her life.
Her bucket list gives the story an extra coming-of-age element, especially because getting her first kiss is one of the few things she hasn't managed to check off.
That makes the romance about more than simply getting the two characters together.
It's also about Paige gaining confidence, understanding what she actually wants, and realizing that romance doesn't always look the way you expect it to.
7. The Romance Has That Sweet, Slow-Burn Feeling
If you prefer slow-burn YA romance over instant attraction, please believe me: this one should be on your radar.
Paige and Grayson already have a strong emotional connection before either of them fully understands what that connection means.
That gives the romance room to build through friendship, banter, dating lessons, jealousy, pining, and all those little moments that make you want to scream at fictional characters to just admit their feelings already.
It's the kind of romance where the anticipation is part of the fun. You know what Grayson wants. But… you just have to wait for Paige to catch up.
8. It's a Great Pick for Fans of Sweet YA Romance
One of the biggest appeals of Grumpy Darling is that it leans into the things that make YA romance so much fun: first love, friendship, emotional growth, romantic tension, and characters figuring themselves out.
It's also a great choice if you're looking for a clean YA romance rather than an adult romance.
And if you've already read Rival Darling, you'll definitely want to continue with the Darling Devils series and see where Grayson's story takes you. And if you haven’t? Well, you should head straight to my post: Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody: 10 Reasons You’ll Love This Hockey YA Romance.
Alexandra Moody's Darling Devils series
Final Thoughts on Grumpy Darling
Grumpy Darling has a lot going for it if you're craving a YA hockey romance with a grumpy hero, friends-to-lovers chemistry, slow burn, and serious he-falls-first energy.
Grayson and Paige's long history gives their romance an emotional foundation that makes the transition from friendship to something more especially fun to watch.
And honestly? A grumpy hockey player secretly pining after his best friend while pretending to teach her how to date other people is exactly the kind of romantic chaos that makes a YA romance difficult to put down.
So, if you love friends-to-lovers, hockey romance, slow-burn YA romance, grumpy heroes, secret pining, and sweet contemporary romance, add Grumpy Darling to your TBR.
Love YA Romance?
If you're always looking for your next YA romance read, check out more YA romance recommendations on Zøe Haslie World for books featuring swoony romance, small-town settings, slow burns, hockey, found family, and plenty of romantic tension.
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About Me
📍Dumbo - New York
I'm Zøe!
I write heartfelt, character-driven fiction featuring resilient teenage heroines navigating personal challenges and striving to become their best selves. Beyond my novels, I love storytelling in all its forms. On this blog, I share narrative-rich travel pieces, offering glimpses into my favorite places, hidden corners, and unforgettable encounters around the globe.
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