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One day, you pick up a new romance book and encounter a fun protagonist, full of life, maybe, or down on their luck, searching for something new. The protagonist, in their journey, finds someone who charms them easily. Then, you gradually get to know the love interest as the story progresses. They might be outgoing, flirty, or even a little bit mean — but a little bit too often, you’re meeting yet another grumpy alpha male love interest.
A grumpy alpha male love interest tends to show intensity, power, and indifference all at the same time. As a reader, you may be intrigued by such a character, wondering what will be his next move towards the protagonist. Some readers, though, as I keep seeing more and more in social media, think this is a tired trope: they want to see more range in terms of a male love interest. How about a guy who can’t stop smiling and resembles an over-excited Golden Retriever instead? “Or, you can escape into a romance with a caring, shy, and nerdy love interest.
If you’re in the mood to read romance novels that don’t feature grumpy alpha males, you need to pick up these five romance novels with sunshine love interests.
Slap Shot by Chelsea Curto
Are you ready to meet a hockey player who’s all smiles and has the nicest personality? Hudson Hayes is the man you’ve been looking for!
Slap Shot is Curto’s latest hockey romance in the D.C. Stars series, a romance series about a hockey team where each player gets to have their own happily ever after (even the coach!). In this newest addition, Hudson is looking for a private chef after a series of disappointing ones. Enter Madeline Galloway, a chef from Vegas, who just became Hudson’s roommate alongside her daughter.
A Love Most Fatal by Kath Richards
Nate is a shy math teacher who gets thrust into the mafia world when he meets Vanessa Morelli, the head of her mafia family.
Not at all alpha or grumpy, Nate is the ideal love interest you would love to meet in real life. Good with dogs, open-minded, and easy to love, Nate charms you as soon as you start reading A Love Most Fatal.
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Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi
A sweet museum curator has a chance to meet with a café owner in Best Hex Ever, a cozy fantasy romance that will make the coldest nights feel warm.
One thing you can be sure to find in El-Fassi’s heartwarming romance is a man who is down bad for their love interest from the very first page. While he’s caring and probably the nicest guy you can ever meet, that doesn’t mean he isn’t a little bit possessive under the sheets. Best Hex Ever is one steamy book!
You & Me by Tal Bauer
An adorable slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance, You & Me is a great read if you want two male leads who are the opposite of grumpy and alpha; instead, they are sweet, caring, and just looking for someone to accompany them through life.
The story begins with single dad Luke, who is going through a rough patch with his son. Afraid of their relationship damaging further, he signs up as a volunteer for the football parent program to spend more time with him. There, he meets Super Dad Landon Larsen, who completely changes his life.
Collide by Bal Khabra
If you’re searching for a romance that has a grumpy girl who falls for the sunshine boy, Collide is the book you need to read right away.
The story follows Summer, an honors student, who has to work alongside the hockey team’s captain, Aiden, if she wants to graduate as a sports psychologist.
If you’re interested in reading more about romance tropes, we have a complete guide with some of the most popular ones!