Book Review: Dear Grumpy Boss by Julia Wolf – Great Tropes, Disappointing Delivery

“Why did I have to kiss him? Now I have to live the rest of my life knowing kissing like that exists.”

I have to admit, Dear Grumpy Boss by Julia Wolf left me a little disappointed. This was surprising, because after reading P.S. You’re Untolerable last year, I fell in love with Julia’s writing and storytelling. I recommended that book to anyone who would listen. Naturally, I decided to go back to the beginning of the series to learn more about the characters I’d already met and loved. Unfortunately, Dear Grumpy Boss just didn’t live up to my expectations.

Summary of Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf

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.

Review of Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf

I was really excited to start Dear Grumpy Boss. It promised a workplace romance and the brother’s best friend trope, so I was like, YES, give it to me! I was ready to love this book. And to be fair, I did enjoy the first 30%… but unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. So let’s dive into my review and break down what didn’t work for me.

Plot Analysis of Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf

After a brutal breakup, Elise returns home to lick her wounds and rebuild her life. The last thing she expects is to end up working for Weston Aldrich, her brother’s best friend, the boy who starred in all her teenage fantasies, and the man she’s been avoiding for years. But with Weston offering her a job and the two of them living in the same building, avoiding him is no longer an option.

The old spark between them quickly reignites, and Weston proves he’s just as affected as she is. Yet their biggest challenge isn’t Elise’s protective brother, it’s Weston’s obsession with his company. As chemistry gives way to real feelings, Elise must decide whether love can survive always coming second to Weston’s work.

Characters of Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf

Elise Levy : I don’t know what’s in the air lately, but I really didn’t like our FMC in this book either. Her immaturity was overwhelming to the point of being distracting, at times, it felt like she might need a hundred years of therapy just to reach a baseline level of maturity. And don’t get me started on the main character syndrome, yes, she’s the main character, but that doesn’t mean everything revolves around her. Her biggest problem? Zero communication skills. I get that she has trauma, but come on. She ghosted her ex-boyfriend and was ready to pull the same move on West. Like… girl, if something’s bothering you, just SAY IT.

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT — skip this if you haven’t read the book!

When West’s company faced a serious crisis and he had thousands of employees relying on him, her frustration with his priorities felt misplaced. Did he make mistakes? Absolutely. But expecting him to set aside his responsibilities as a CEO in those moments was unrealistic, and it undermined the credibility of her conflict with him.

Weston Aldrich : West is your typical billionaire, grumpy, possessive MMC. Honestly, I feel kind of indifferent about him. He made his fair share of questionable and frustrating choices throughout the book, but he did manage to redeem himself by the end. We actually got to see some growth and development in his character, which I appreciated.

Lise & West : The first 30% of the book gave us West and Elise pining for each other, and it was SO GOOD. I was eating it up. But then… they started banging like rabbits. Honestly, it felt like a countless number of smut scenes — definitely over fifteen, and at some point it felt like that’s all the book was. Then came the third-act breakup where, of course, they didn’t actually talk things through. And suddenly she decides she wants to talk like an adult, and bam, they’re back together. Sorry, but I don’t buy it. Honestly, I think they’ll break up right after the epilogue. I don’t believe in their relationship at all. The only way it could work is if she went through a lot of therapy. We’ve seen West actually put in some work on himself, but Elise? She spent most of the book in “I’m the victim of his neglect” mode.

Pacing & writing style

The writing in Dear Grumpy Boss was easy to read and follow, and I felt the same way when I read P.S. You’re Untolerable. Many books feel longer than they are because of writing style, but that has never been the case with Wolf’s work — her prose flows smoothly, and the pages turn quickly.

My big issue with this book was the abundance of smut scenes. Honestly, it was just too much. In my opinion, we didn’t need that many. You could easily replace three or four of those chapters with actual character growth for Elise, so she might’ve come across as more mature.

Another thing: some of West’s speeches were straight-up cringe. I felt secondhand embarrassment reading certain lines. I honestly don’t remember that happening in P.S. You’re Untolerable, nor do I remember it being quite so heavy on the spice.

The pacing throughout Dear Grumpy Boss was well balanced and kept me engaged. However, I encountered the same issue I had with P.S. You’re Untolerable: the first kiss felt abrupt. Yes, we saw them pining for each other, but it was all from a distance. As a result, when the kiss finally happens, it seems to come out of nowhere. I just needed more tension, more build-up, to make that moment hit harder.

Tropes and Trigger warnings of Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf

Tropes of Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf

• Brother’s best friend
• Workplace romance
• Forced proximity
• Plus size FMC
• Billionaire romance
• Grumpy x Sunshine

Trigger warnings of Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf

• Grief
• Child abuse ( mention)
• Child neglect (mention)
• Substance abuse

Final Thought

At the end of the day, Dear Grumpy Boss left me disappointed. I was hyped going in, brother’s best friend, workplace romance, forced proximity? That’s literally everything I love. And to be fair, the first 30% delivered: West and Elise pining for each other was amazing, and I was fully invested. But after that, the book lost me. It relied way too much on smut, honestly, a countless number of scenes that felt repetitive, and skipped over the emotional growth I needed to believe in this couple.

Elise, especially, was hard to root for. She was immature to the point of distraction, constantly refusing to communicate, and acting like everything revolved around her. Trauma or not, she needed a lot more work on herself before being ready for this romance. Meanwhile, West wasn’t perfect, but at least we saw growth and effort from him. By the end, I just couldn’t see them lasting, unless Elise gets about a hundred years of therapy.

That’s not to say Julia Wolf can’t deliver, she absolutely can. P.S. You’re Untolerable proved that to me, and I still stand by how much I loved that book. Her writing here was still easy to read and kept me turning the pages, but the story choices just didn’t land. Too much spice, not enough substance, a rushed resolution.

So while Dear Grumpy Boss had the tropes I usually eat up, it didn’t give me the emotional depth I needed. If you love a high-heat romance and don’t mind a heroine who tests your patience, this one might work better for you. For me, though, it fell flat, and I’m left wishing the story had focused less on steam and more on the kind of heartfelt, character-driven romance Julia Wolf is clearly capable of writing.

About the author

Practical Information for Readers

Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf Book Formats

Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:

• Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
• eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
• Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
• PDF Dear grumpy boss : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.

Where to find Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf PDF

1. Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
2. Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
3. Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.

Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf Age Rating

I’d recommend Dear grumpy boss by Julia Wolf for readers aged 17+ due to explicit sexual content and themes of grief and loss. The book deals with some heavy topics, which could be triggering for some readers, so keep that in mind before diving in.