Common Sense Media Review
By Victoria Quistgaard
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute teen hockey romance with silly, endearing characters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In GRUMPY DARLING, Paige Price has no clue what she wants to do after high school, so she makes a bucket list to help her figure it out. She realizes that she doesn't want to leave high school without having her first kiss. Grayson Darling and Paige have been best friends forever, and he's been in love with her the entire time. But his reputation as a Darling Devil, and as the resident grump, makes him fearful that he's not good enough to be Paige's boyfriend. When Paige finds out that she's no good at flirting, she enlists her best friend, Grayson, to be her flirting coach. Grayson doesn't want to lose Paige to another guy, so he uses the opportunity to show Paige that he can be romantic and she should be with him instead. Will Paige see Grayson as more than a friend, or will Grayson remain in the friend zone forever?
Is It Any Good?
This teen hockey romance is an easy read for anyone who loves adorable, sporty romantic vibes, and it's a great alternative for teens showing interest in other popular, adult hockey romances. Grumpy Darling is as quick and fun as the first book, if a bit predictable and full of common romance tropes. Seeing characters from the first book is a welcome addition, and readers who fell in love with Paige and Grayson, will certainly enjoy the new supporting characters. Readers looking for love stories with depth and nuance will probably be left wanting, but it's the perfect pick for light, cheery romance reading.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role of integrity in Grumpy Darling. Honesty is key in all relationships, but it's not always easy. Why was it so difficult for Paige and Grayson to be honest about their feelings for each other?
Why is it important to communicate honestly with people? Talk about a time you communicated your honest feelings with someone and it went really well, or a time when it didn't go well. Either way, what did you learn about communication?
Do you think Paige's mom was right or wrong in pushing her to have a plan for the future? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Baking , Cooking , Friendship , School ( High School ) , Sports ( Hockey )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Avon a
- Publication date : June 3, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 387
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : April 8, 2026
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