Book Review: Dear Grumpy Boss by Julia Wolf

Title: Dear Grumpy Boss (The Harder They Fall #1)

Author: Julia Wolf

Published: March 9, 2023

Source: ARC received from Valentine PR

Type: e-copy

Blurb:

I’ve spent the better part of the last few years successfully avoiding my brother’s best friend, Weston Aldrich.

As CEO of Andes Inc, the infuriatingly handsome and incessantly grumpy Weston also happens to be my new boss. It shouldn’t have been hard to continue avoiding him. After all, he’s on the executive floor and I’m one of many copywriters. Weston has his own ideas about how things should go between us. He’s in my emails, leaving notes on my desk, and as if that’s not enough, he arranges for me to accompany him on a business trip. That leads to stolen touches, frenzied kisses, and the undeniable need to work each other out of our systems. That always works, right? Except now that I know what it feels like to have Weston Aldrich appreciate every inch of my abundant curves, avoiding him is impossible.

But he’s my brother’s best friend. And a workaholic. We have to stop. And we will. Soon.

Just…not yet.

Check it on Amazon & Goodreads

To me, this feels like quite a complex book. The author combined a plus size heroine with a hero addicted to his company, adding on top bullying and environmental issues. I do appreciate a story with depth and Julia Wolf tried to offer just that, while keeping the origins or keeping the focus on this being a romance book, a “feel good” book, but with spicy moments. Before we get into all these themes, let’s discuss the easy part.

From plot point of view, our heroine finds out that her boyfriend did not appreciate her as much as she thought, to put it gently. Mostly his friends, actually. When she finds out that somehow she became the joke of the group, she calls her brother to help her disappear. He moves her back home, with a new phone number, a new rented apartment with her old roommate and best friend and a good job. Basically, she ran away and immediately settled into a new life, with her emotions almost shattered. Coming back home means seeing her first love, Weston Aldrich, CEO of Andes Inc. and also her current boss and neighbor. As expected, sparks fly and they give into their attraction, even if they are both aware it won’t last, with Weston being addicted to his work and she being Weston’s best friend’s sister.

The Miscommunication and Stuff

There is a level of miscommunication in the story, coming from their high school years, which affected both characters and their brothers. They manage to have a long overdue conversation and after that sparks start to fly. The attraction is there, but so are the obstacles they have to face, starting with family and ending with their own personalities. Elise has learned to move past the bullying she received during her childhood for being more round than other girls. She learned to love herself and appreciate her body and this is something she holds on to like dear life. Weston has worked hard to grow Andes Inc. The company has his time and effort at the moment. Relationships, if they are not business relationships, never took priority. Them getting involved would not be a good idea. If we bring the brothers into discussion: Weston’s brother has tormented Elise in high school, Elise’s brother would throw Weston out a window if he ever found out about the things he wants to do with his sister. But is it worth the risk?

I liked the characters in the beginning, but later on I started seeing their flaws. Elise has no intention of solving any of her problems. Running away is always the best option. While I understand that, the past has always a way of coming back. It’s best to deal with it. She runs from her ex, runs from Weston at some point, doesn’t want to hear explanations from anybody. She was willing to listen to Weston’s brother simply because the poor guy caught her into a corner and almost forced her to listen. Weston was too much into his work. Ok, I work in a corporation, I understand working late. But there was an incident which absolutely consumed him. He did not give her a second thought. This cannot be. I mean you cannot simply dismiss the one you love. On the other hand she was so pushy and so persistent and had little to no consideration for his position.

More Themes, Good Idea!

Sorry, I got a bit intense there, let’s see the other themes: bullying and concerns for the environment. Elise has been the subject of jokes as a result of her appearance. Her self-esteem was shattered but somehow she pushed past that. She learned to stand strong and tall and lover her body, love herself. Our emotions are as fragile as a snow flake in the summer heat, but there is strength in each of us to overcome anything. We are powerful. We are smart and we are beautifully strong.

Weston’s company is one that prides itself on being environment friendly and this is the expectation they have from their suppliers. A business deal gone wrong causes a bunch of ugly things to come out. That’s not the point. I appreciated the author thinking about a textile company being environment-friendly. I started sewing some time ago and since then I’ve discovered what textile waste really means and how people are underpaid and all that ugly stuff the textile and fashion industry causes. I do appreciate the author bringing this into the story, even if in a subtle way.

Favorite Quote:

My body might not have been everyone’s ideal, but it belonged to me. If I didn’t love it, who would?

Cover Review: I don’t know, the guy doesn’t look as a badass CEO to me. I don’t necessarily like it. I like the background, it depicts the corporate world somehow. But the book is more than that. The red in the “Grumpy” underlines a feature that Weston doesn’t necessarily have. He is not grumpy, he’s just busy.

Ok, after all this talks, did I enjoy the book enough? I did. It made me feel good. I liked the romance, I like how their relationship grew. I did not necessarily like the characters, but I liked the themes the author brought into discussion and for that, I’m willing to give the story 3.5 stars. And yes, I do plan on continuing with the series. As per Goodreads, book 2 is scheduled for release this year as well and I am really interested in reading it.