The Grumpy Player Next Door

Copper Valley Fireballs, Book 3

By: Pippa Grant

Narrated by: Savannah Peachwood, Wen Ross

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

I, Tillie Jean Rock, am not in love with my brother’s teammate.

Sure, he might have those biceps and that “I am the grouchiest of grouchy bears” smolder, and he might shovel snow off his driveway next door wearing nothing but boxer shorts and rubber boots, and he might be running a side business feeding all the stray goats in town, but studliness is only skin-deep.

And I might flirt with him every chance I get, but I swear it’s only to annoy my brother.

And him.

Because Max Cole?

Under all of those glorious muscles and chiseled cheekbones and searing glares beats the heart of a heartless devil.

I could no sooner fall in love with a guy who treats me like a kid, and judges me at every opportunity, and sets an army of garden gnomes loose on my yard, than I could fall in love with my grandfather’s pet parrot.

But I can definitely annoy him. I can 100 percent get on board with annoying him.

That’s what you do when you don’t like your neighbor, right?

But you know what they say about love and hate…

It’s a very thin line.

Especially when the real reason I’m not in love with Max Cole—that he’s incapable of love—might not be true at all.

The Grumpy Player Next Door is a fun-filled enemies-to-lovers romcom featuring a ray of sunshine on a mission, an athlete who’s only grouchy around her, and an epic prank gone wrong. It stands alone and comes complete with small-town shenanigans, a goat who’s not nearly as wise as his name suggests, and proof that sometimes, love is the best kind of vengeance.

©2021 Pippa Grant (P)2021 Pippa Grant

Laugh out loud funny!

Great for listening while in the car, at work, shopping or anywhere! Can't beat a good Poppa book! 💞

Funny with amusing animals

Funny overall but does address a few personal issues that childhood can create.

Love the parrot !

Tillie Jean finally gets her happy!

Tillie Jean gets her happily ever after and we get more Shipwreck... everyone wins! Tillie and Max's story is a new favorite for sure. Pippa brings us back to Shipwreck to show us how a growly bear pitcher can fall in love with the princess of bright and sunny. Tillie Jean and her family remind us that we can't choose our family but they are always there to support us. Max's grumpy self learns that he's worthy of love despite his past. The antics in this book are exactly what we love in a Pippa book... cursing parrot, bleating goats and the best pranks.

Max made my heart hurt for him and his past which made him the growly bear that he is today. Once he started to show himself to Tillie Jean my heart was so super happy. He is definitely on my Mount Rushmore of Pippa men. This story was able to give us a deeper dive into the inner workings of Shipwreck and the characters that live there. As always I love being able to catch up with previous leading characters from the Fireballs. Now... please... can we have Cooper's book...

Exactly what I needed

Pippa Grant is a true master at delivering stories that touch real life issues. Throw in laugh out loud humor and a parrot that almost stole the limelight and this, like all the others I've read, is a true winner. Savannah Peachwood and Wen Ross are outstanding!

funny love story

loved the story and the characters.
laughter all the way to the end.
Enjoyed the siblings pranks.

So much fun

I love the cast of characters that we have met in the town of Shipwreck. Each book in the Copper Valley fire ball series ties the players together but they are just as much fun if listen to as a standalone.

Shipwreck strikes again!

Tillie Jean and Max’s romance was filled with angry flirting, verbal sparring, neighbor hijinks and sexy romantic interludes. Unfortunately, when this pair finally drops the hostilities they routinely get interrupted by her siblings, his teammates and a wandering male goat named Sue. They say opposites attract and while TJ is Shipwreck’s sweetheart, Max is a grumpy athlete with anxiety only in town for the winter to train with his Copper Valley Fireballs teammates and he’s even grumpy with them. It’s a slow burn enemies to lovers adventure that dragged on a little too long for me but when mighty Max finally falls it’s worth the price of admission. I loved the bathtub scene, the glitter bomb debacle, the dirty garden gnome pranks and drunken glow in the dark putt putt but my favorite was Max’s naked pitching. After all of his snarky remarks it was nice to imagine enjoying the scenery in peace and quiet. :) Get ready to giggle, sizzle and fall in love with Shipwreck all over again. I listened to the audiobook and I loved Savannah Peachwood’s sweet yet feisty girl next door but was a little disappointed in Wen Ross’s lackluster energy. It was good but nothing to rave about.

Fun story!

The Grumpy Player Next Door was another fun rom com from Pippa. Max is the grumpy baseball player next door and Tilly Jean is his teammates little sister that everyone loves. He pretends he doesn’t like her but he can’t stop thinking about her. This book is full of fun hilarious pranks, glitter mishaps and town full of quirky people. I had a lot of fun listening to this one!

Savannah Peachwood and Wen Ross perform this book in dual narration and being to life the grumpy sunshine personalities that are Tilly Jean and Max. This was a fun and enjoyable listen!

Not my favorite

I love Pippa Grant books but I agree with some of the listeners, this book moves way too slowly, and it was hard to finish. I will continue to listen to her books but again this one was a disappointment. I only kept listening because this book is part of a series.

Sweet Romance!

This is the third book in the Copper Valley Fireballs Series, a Sports Romantic Comedy set in a Small Town. This is a great enemies-to-lovers romcom and brother's best friend romance. Tillie Jean (TJ) and Max's story is funny, sweet, and heartwarming. I liked the characters, and the humor. TJ's family is amazing. This is a sweet and beautifully written romance. Savannah Peachwood and Wen Ross did an amazing job with the narration. I enjoyed it.