The Gossip and the Grump by Pippa Grant
Three Best Friends and a Wedding #2
Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy
October 5-2023- Self-Published
ARC

Review by Angela

The second book in the Three Best Friends and a Wedding series focuses on Sabrina Sullivan, best friend to the would-be bride and gossip extraordinaire, and the man she met in Hawaii during the disastrous wedding week. Who turns out to be the new owner of her family’s coffee cafe.

Sabrina is depressed and upset by how her BFF’s wedding ended and her part in keeping secrets about her fiancee’s past. She sets out to do nothing but good deeds and make atonement. While doing those good deeds she runs into a man in a bar getting hit on by a woman who can’t seem to take no for an answer, so of course, she pretends to be his wife. All of this leads to a night of getting to know you, without real names or identities, and a one-night stand that rocks both of their worlds.

It turns out the one-night stand is the same man who bought her family’s cafe and is set upon revenge.

I enjoyed this rom-com, and yes, I would call it a rom-com. There isn’t any surprise cancer diagnosis or sexual assault, just shitty family members and exes, fun banter between enemies to lovers who are attracted to each other against their better judgment, and a sweet overgrown puppy. Of course, there is background as to why the MMC, Greyson Cartwright, wants to buy up the coffee shop and ultimately change it into something else- but I’m not going to spoil it for you. Sabrina is determined to change his mind AND stop her gossiping ways. I won’t spoil how she goes about doing that either.

This is the quintessential small-town romance, with helpful neighbors, lots of history, and quirky characters. The secondary characters give life to the story and add humor on every page. Especially Grey’s “assistant” and family member Zen. I loved them. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Jitter, Sabrina’s lovable dog, who seems to always be bringing people together.

As with any Pippa Grant book, it’s a rollicking good time with lots of crazy shenanigans and laugh-out-loud moments. Not quite as sexy as some of her other books, the open-door love scenes don’t happen until about 75%, but I think that worked with the storyline. All in all, this was a fun read. The set-up for the next, and I presume last, book in the series looks to be a surprise pregnancy- and I know that is sure to make fans of this author happy.

Grade- B