I’ve Got a Crush on You Summary: A Grumpy-Sunshine Rom-Com by Lauren Blakely
Introduction
A Grumpy-Sunshine Rom-Com Where a Dog Trainer Finds Her Unexpected Second Chance
A woman falls into a lake at a celebrity Corgi’s birthday party.
A brooding stranger jumps in to save her.
By the next morning, they agree the night they shared was a one-time mistake, a fleeting escape from bad days.
This is the spark that ignites I’ve Got a Crush on You by Lauren Blakely.
This summary maps out a story of professional sabotage, hidden identities, and the chaotic collision of a “sunshine” dog trainer with a “grumpy” businessman.
The narrative unfolds in Darling Springs, a cozy California town turning into a television production hotspot.
What starts as a secret hookup quickly becomes a forced-proximity workplace dilemma, where old wounds and new desires pull two people in opposite directions.
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TL;DR: A Steamy Secret Collides with a Small Town
- Core Dynamic: Chloe Rivers, a fired event planner and dog trainer, has a no-strings-attached night with Sawyer Dumont, only to find he’s her new landlord and business associate back in Darling Springs.
- Central Conflict: They must maintain a professional facade to win a major television contract while navigating intense physical chemistry and the emotional baggage of her disastrous divorce and his deep-seated trust issues.
- Secret Identity Twist: Sawyer secretly performs as a karaoke legend named Sam Silversmith. This hidden persona becomes the key that unlocks his emotional vulnerability.
- The Grand Gesture: A public declaration of love on a community stage resolves the central tension, blending a career-saving performance with an unguarded romantic reveal.
I’ve Got a Crush on You Summary: From Lake Rescue to Karaoke Confession
WARNING: This deep dive contains full plot SPOILERS.
Continue with the Full Chapter-by-Chapter Guide
Chloe Rivers loses her event-planning job in humiliating fashion. Her ex-husband, August, sabotages a town function with exploding glitter balloons, and his father fires her without hearing her side.
Determined to resurrect her career as a dog trainer, she attends an over-the-top party in San Francisco for a celebrity’s dog.
At the party, a massive Mastiff slams into her, sending her plunging into a lake. Sawyer Dumont, a handsome and reserved man, rescues her.
Their chemistry is instant and consuming, leading to a single, steamy night in a hotel. They part ways believing they will never see each other again.
Back in Darling Springs, Chloe’s luck shifts when a famous actress hires her. She needs professional space and leases a training nook in a reopened doggy daycare called Dog Tails.
The owner is Sawyer. The reunion is jagged and hostile. Sawyer accuses her of tracking him down using his personal information. Once he realizes his mistake, he gives a blunt apology and proposes a strict business arrangement.
A Webflix production, Happily Maybe After, arrives to film in town. Chloe and Sawyer unite to pitch their services to the show’s icy producer.
They win the contract, but the forced togetherness on set reignites their physical relationship. While wrestling with their “co-workers with benefits” dynamic, Chloe stumbles onto Sawyer’s hidden outlet.
He blows off steam by performing karaoke under a secret identity, Sam Silversmith, at a dive bar. She uses this discovery to nudge him into performing at the town fundraiser.
As they rehearse a dance number for the fundraiser, the relationship deepens. Sawyer repairs Chloe’s car and adopts a rescue dog she names Mister Dog.
The delicate balance shatters at a community pool event. August appears, spits venomous remarks at Chloe, and Sawyer reacts by shoving him into the pool.
This public outburst terrifies Sawyer, who fears he is destroying the professional reputation he carefully rebuilt. He pulls away from Chloe completely, leaving her heartbroken.
A conversation with his father and his employees’ unexpected support changes Sawyer’s perspective. He decides to make a public stand at the community fundraiser.
During his performance, he sheds his Sam Silversmith mask and sings “I’ve Got a Crush on You” straight to Chloe.
Her dog, Captain, brings her a rose on stage as Sawyer declares his love in front of the entire town.
The story closes with their dogs becoming a family, their businesses thriving, and Darling Springs cemented as a filming destination.
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“It Seemed Like a Good Idea!” by Lauren Blakely — Another Darling Springs novel following Chloe’s friend Ripley, packed with forced proximity and a bodyguard-protector dynamic.
“The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne — A workplace romance classic driven by a sharp grumpy/sunshine rivalry that slowly transforms into an intense connection.
“Grin and Beard It” by Penny Reid — A story featuring a brooding, bearded hero and a sunny, determined heroine navigating humor and heart in a tight-knit small town.
“Rescue Me” by Sarra Manning — A dog-focused romance where a reserved man and a vibrant woman co-parent a difficult rescue dog, forcing them to address their emotional baggage.
“Part of Your World” by Abby Jimenez — A high-powered professional finds love and a redefined sense of self after being drawn into the charm and close bonds of a small community.
Characters In This Book
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Chloe Rivers | A dog trainer rebuilding her life and career after a sabotage-driven firing and a painful divorce. |
| Sawyer Dumont | Owner of the Dog Tails daycare franchise who hides a secret life as a karaoke performer. |
| August Fitzburger | Chloe’s ex-husband who actively sabotages her professional reputation. |
| Captain | Chloe’s intelligent German Shepherd mutt who plays a pivotal role in the final romantic gesture. |
| Mister Dog | A rescue dog Sawyer adopts, symbolizing his emotional opening. |
| Karen Rivers | Chloe’s theatrical mother who directs the community fundraiser. |
| Bridget & Ripley | Chloe’s loyal best friends who provide support and blunt honesty. |
| Alexandra Bourbon | The formidable producer of the Webflix show filming in Darling Springs. |
| Jubilee | The famous dog star of the television production. |
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What Drives the Story
| Theme | How the Book Presents It |
|---|---|
| Rebuilding After Betrayal | Chloe’s professional life is destroyed by her ex-husband’s sabotage, forcing her to construct a new business from scratch while dealing with the constant reminder of his presence in town. |
| A Split Professional and Private Self | Sawyer maintains a rigidly controlled business persona as the owner of Dog Tails while secretly needing the alter ego of “Sam Silversmith” to express raw, unpolished emotion. |
| Community as a Safety Net | The town of Darling Springs operates through a network of friends, family, and employees who push the main characters toward honesty and catch them when their personal facades crumble. |
| Positive Reinforcement Beyond Dog Training | Chloe’s professional dog training philosophy of rewarding good behavior mirrors the romantic arc, where vulnerability and direct kindness yield more growth than emotional distance. |
| Confronting Past Mistakes Publicly | The narrative resolution hinges not on private conversation but on a public karaoke stage where Sawyer must expose his hidden identity to prove his commitment. |
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Lauren Blakely: A Bestselling Voice in Romance
Lauren Blakely is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for crafting contemporary romance novels filled with witty banter, heart, and heat.
Her writing consistently delivers emotional depth wrapped in a lighthearted, steamy package.
Readers can find more of her book breakdowns on this site, including a look at other summaries of Lauren Blakely novels.
FAQ
Is “I’ve Got a Crush on You” part of a series?
Yes, I’ve Got a Crush on You is the second book in Lauren Blakely’s Darling Springs series, following interconnected friends in a small California town.
What happens at the end of “I’ve Got a Crush on You”?
At the community fundraiser, Sawyer publicly reveals his secret karaoke identity, sings a love song directly to Chloe, and her dog delivers a rose to her on stage as a declaration of love.
Does “I’ve Got a Crush on You” have a grumpy/sunshine trope?
The book is built on a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, with Chloe’s bright, determined personality clashing and connecting with Sawyer’s brooding, guarded demeanor.
Who are the main characters in this Lauren Blakely novel?
The story follows Chloe Rivers, a dog trainer recovering from a divorce, and Sawyer Dumont, a businessman and secret karaoke performer who becomes her new landlord.
Is there a dog in “I’ve Got a Crush on You”?
Dogs play a central role, especially Chloe’s German Shepherd Captain and a rescued Finnish Spitz-Basenji mix named Mister Dog, who both feature in the romantic arc.
What is the secret identity in the book?
Sawyer lives a double life as a local karaoke legend named Sam Silversmith, a persona he uses to relieve stress away from his carefully controlled professional image.
Does “I’ve Got a Crush on You” end happily?
The book concludes with a happily ever after, showing the couple living together, their dogs bonded as a family, and their businesses flourishing side by side.
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