I really struggled with this book, and yet I seem to be a black sheep based on other people's reviews. I found Harper irrational and Sterling a straight-up bully. I couldn't connect to either, and by 31%, I gave up trying to read it straight through because I was just irritated by both of them. I decided to skip to the last three chapters to see how it all resolved, and while there were hints of some sizzle between the two, I have no regret for cutting out half the book. All I feel is relief. I usually love hate-to-love, but these characters were just too extreme, and I'm sort of fed up with the stereotypes of the super stuck-up, straight A girl and the delinquent, jock playboy.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Why I Loathe Sterling Lane by Ingrid Paulson! Harper and her twin brother Cole attend and reside at a boarding school. Their father is their only parent and they're not in a very close relationship with him. Harper has always felt responsible for taking care of her brother. Sterling Lane is a new student with a reputation of getting kicked out of schools. He bulldozes into Harper's self-controlled life and she can't quite get her head around it. Cole seems to be in serious trouble and his life, as well as Harper's, begins to spiral out of control and Sterling is right in the middle of it all. Serious and mysterious, as well as cleverly intelligent and full of humor, this book is a wildly entertaining, young adult, realistic fiction read worthy of 5 stars! I had a blast reading this book and absolutely love the personalities of Harper and Sterling and the way they balance each other out and make formidable partners!

received in exchange for a honest review.

So I like the premise of the book and it was entertaining. What drove me batty was Harper. Her constant thinking I am better than the rest and her itty bitty part of I can break rules but you can’t is what got to me. Her always judging Sterling Lane was hard. Because she judged and didn’t let her mind open up to see him. Yes he wasn’t always a great guy but he was trying. He had reasons just as she did for her rules.

Sterling was sarcastic, mischievous but also smart and cunning. He was there when needed and he helped Harper’s brother even kept his confidence.

I think the two were given the personalities they were to show the contrast in them but also the similarities. They both have rules. They both will do anything for their siblings. When push comes to shove they are there for Cole and protect him.

I liked seeing Harper evolve. She learned to let people in and listen. She learned that breaking rules is okay and that everything isn’t black and white. The interactions between Sterling and Harper were so entertaining. It created a tension and yet also attraction that couldn’t be missed.

Teaming together to help Cole and give him a chance is the best part. Why? The get to see who the other is. They saw beyond the stuff shirt primness and the bad boy. We see them work together and at some point they even pick up cues from each other to work in tandem when it came to Cole and his situation.

The characters will have you feel one way or another. Harper I will admit slowly I came around but she still drove me batty with her attitude. But the banter between her and Sterling was great. Snarky, sarcastic and just entertaining. Harper’s roomie helped her change as well.

The story was fun. We have a girl who was strict and uptight meet the boy that drives her nuts. He knows things she feels she should because it is her twin in trouble but she doesn’t think that he may be afraid to talk to her. She sees him in one way and doesn’t like to deviate and this is a detriment to her. She does begin to change thanks to Sterling. Her and Sterling bark at each other, prank one another (his less harmful than hers until she goes over the top for she doesn’t know everything) but when push comes to shove they work together to help Cole. Cole the sweet boy who gets in over his head and needs help finding his way out. He was there for Harper no matter what but his embarrassment and shame along with guilt wore him out. Seeing Harper’s protectiveness of him was great. Slowly Harper sees Sterling in a different light and she starts to reconcile with it after so much denial.

This was entertaining and fun with characters that have you feel something for them and a main character that drives you nuts but you do see her change and lets you going from being driven batty to grudgingly liking and respecting her.

I loved Sterling Lane (the book not the character - although I adored the character too) and in the spirit of the book, here are my reasons why:


1) It was so much fun to read! Harper and Sterling’s game of one-upmanship was hilarious!


2) Two words. Sterling Lane. What a character! And so different to other Entangled characters I’ve read up until now.


3) Harper and Sterling were both unapologetically themselves and didn’t change who they were just because they had fallen/had feelings for each other.


4) No mention of love (do the happy dance!) either to each other or in their thoughts. Which to be completely honest was a breath of fresh air. Otherwise the main characters are professing their love for each other even before the book is halfway done.


5) The banter! Oh the banter! I’m glad I was reading the book just before bed and not in front of a crowd because I was laughing out loud & grinning like a loon at my Kindle every time Harper and Sterling interacted.


6) The chapter numbers were written as reasons (i.e. reason 26) instead of chapter 26, a small thing I know but I liked it.


7) The friendship aspect. I’m a huge fan of bromance’s and friendships between girls. And this book has one of the best ones in both Kendall and Harper and Cole/Sterling.


Things I didn’t like about the book:

1) Okay, I admit, that sub-heading is misleading, because there was nothing I really disliked about the book. But I would’ve liked to see more of Sterling’s family (other than his dad) and would’ve liked to know/learn more about Harper’s mum.

Entangled knows how to bring the feel-good factor and Sterling Lane is a prime example of that. Every time I thought “I’ll go to sleep after reaching the end of this chapter.” I’d turn the page so I could start the newest chapter when I next opened my Kindle and was all ready to go to sleep - instead I’d end up reading one more chapter (and one more and just one more etc.) I’m disappointed that it finished… And hope that Cole gets his own book.

Why I Loathe Sterling Lane . . . Okay, I actually love him. Characters like Sterling are my catnip. Beneath wall he puts up for the world to see, if a surprisingly good-natured kinda guy. Harper's character was easy to relate to and fun to read. Every aspect of this book was great.

This is an awesome story for anyone who loves YA books!!

Harper is a Type A rule follower. She has over 500 rules that she follows for how to live her life, has the student handbook of her boarding school memorized, and is quick to point out the infractions of any of her fellow classmates. Needless to say, Harper doesn't really have any friends with the exception of her twin brother, Cole. When Sterling Lane strolls in to Harper's favorite class, late!!, and is disruptive, she starts a list of all the reasons she hates him. By the time the book is over, there's almost 30 of them. Sterling is a classic bad-boy rule breaker. He couldn't be more opposite from Harper if he tried. But when Cole gets into some trouble, Harper and Sterling have to work together to help him and along the way, they learn that they aren't as different as they seem.

This story was adorable and once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I loved how Harper stayed true to herself but was also able to open up to others and finally make some friends. This was my first book by this author but I'll definitely be reading more by her in the future!!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Four words, y'all: YA boarding school romance. In case you're still (somehow) on the fence, this also features flawed yet likeable characters, enemies to lovers, and a prank war.

Harper Campbell doesn't have any friends at her elite boarding school, aside from her twin brother Cole; this is partly because of her type A personality and social anxiety, both of which are perfectly exhibited in her 537 Rules to living life. The Rules have helped her stay on track academically and morally, and Harper clings to them with all her might. But when arrogant, trouble-making new kid Sterling Lane shows up and Cole starts getting into hot water with the school's administration, Harper can't help but draw a connection between the two. To take down Sterling and protect Cole, Harper's going to break more than a few of her own Rules.

The second Harper and Sterling lock swords (and eyes), it was so on. Their chemistry is unbelievable, even when they’re convinced that they loathe each other. You couldn’t find two people who seem more dissimilar: Harper’s tightly wound and über responsible while Sterling comes across as a lazy, spoiled party boy. But underneath it all, these two are different sides of the same coin and their romance is inevitable. Yet a relationship with Sterling would fly in the face of Harper’s sanctified Rules, so what’s a girl to do?

This is a YA romance that peels back the layers of seemingly unlikable characters to show their vulnerabilities without ever changing who they are fundamentally. Highly recommended!

harper campbell's 537 rules help her keep everything in order. ever since her mother died, that's been her goal. if her world is in order then things can't go wrong, right?

but then sterling lane shows up and everything starts going wrong. her brother is in trouble. she can't focus in class. she's not following her study schedule. she's breaking rules.

in why i loathe sterling lane, harper tells us every reason she has to hate him. but the truth is, she only feels this strongly for him because she doesn't hate him at all. she loves him. but she's unaccustomed to letting people in. since her mother's death, she's been so focused on protecting those she loves and herself from that kind of pain again, that making friends, falling in love, were all off the table.

getting to know sterling, working with him, she realizes that sometimes it is okay to break the rules. sometimes it is worth taking a risk, because the rewards are more valuable than the pain. and as difficult as harper makes it to know her and like her, because she is not an easy character to know and love, in the end, you understand why she is the way she is. and as she learns and grows and lets others in, you feel like you finally have a chance to get her too. and deep down she's funny and unique and sensitive and sweet.

This book was a twisty ride. It had its fair share of ups and down and the hate to love trope is one of my favourite and I did enjoy how it was executed in this story.

Sterling is a master prankster and Harper’s life no longer remains the same as soon as he steps foot into her life. Harper follows a strict rule policy in her life but the more she follows them, the more Sterling breaks them. But with her brother falling off the rails, Harper is forced to shake hands with the enemy. What will she do when she finds herself falling for the enemy and will she be able to save her brother with time?

Although the plot was predictable, it was still an enjoyable read. It was hate at first sight for Harper the minute she saw Sterling. Harper loved rules, she lived for rules especially after her mother passed away but after Sterling joined her school, it became nearly impossible her to do anything. He was always one step ahead of her in everything no matter what but when she saw her brother following Sterling blindly and falling into trouble for that, she decided to take matters in her own hand. I enjoyed their love/hate relationship but sometimes it was too much and too repetetive.

It took Harper a while to figure out that Sterling, despite being a notorious rule-breaker, he was the only person who was actually trying to help her brother out but her ego didn’t allow her to see that. She was too up-tight due to which I had a hard time connecting with her. Nonetheless, Harper and Sterling formed a strong duo and though their plan was a bit immature, it was clear that they both cared for their siblings. The romance was rather mild but the chemistry between them was pretty good.

Overall, Why I Loathe Sterling Lane was a good read. The plot was executed neatly and although bits and parts felt a little draggy, I ended up enjoying this book. I also loved the character development throughout the book. The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book.

Recommend it?

Yes.

4.5*

"You're a disaster. You fascinate me."

As much as Harper fascinated Sterling, this book fascinated me. I could not put it down once I started reading! It's slightly bizarre, utterly unique, and totally engaging. I saw someone else mention it and I can't help but completely agree- Why I Loathe Sterling Lane is The Hating Game for the teen-age crowd. Before she even knows who he is, Sterling Lane has thrown Harper Campbell's carefully structured life into an uproar...and things only get crazier from there.

I love a quirky, oddball heroine- one who walks to the beat of her own drum, who doesn't care what people think of her, one who has no problems living her life by her own set of rules. And Harper Campbell fits that description to a T. She makes no apologies for who she is and has no problem speaking her mind. And with Sterling, she speaks her mind...a lot. He knows how to push all her buttons, and he does so with more than a little glee. Having a ringside seat to these two butting heads was completely enjoyable and so much fun- the banter, the back and forth, the pranks, all kinds of amusing!

And when things finally started to become clear to Harper, that maybe she and Sterling weren't exactly working at cross purposes, the entertainment didn't let up one bit. In fact, the tension between them just got hotter. Why I Loathe Sterling Lane is such a delightful read-from the characters, to the bit of mystery, I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

While I ended up enjoying this book, I spent the,first half hating Harper and disliking the story and book. I still don't understand the character from the start. She is obviously suffering from some fairly severe psychological issues, and I can't believe that no adult ever made her go to counseling. She is far beyond uptight or studious, she is far beyond "normal". Also the resolution with Gil was completely unrealistic. I couldn't believe that two high school kids would be able,to conceive and carry out the plan, while dealing with an actual criminal.

I knew when I read the title this book was going to be for me. I love a hate relationship. Sterling rubs Harper the wrong way from the second she meets him. I mean who does he think he is!

Harper follows her own rules which include studying, looking after her brother and keeping on target. She keeps her head in books and her mind on her education. That is until Cole her twin brother gets a new dormitory mate. Sterling is a bad influence right from the start, and Harper is happy to put him in his place. This means war! Sterling is too cocky to take Harper's handouts without retaliation.
I love this book. Harper and Sterling are both great characters. Harper is the ultimate geek and Sterling is the perfect enemy. 5 out of 5.

I received an ARC copy of this book as part of the chapter by chapter blog tour. My review is in no way influenced by this fact. My blog tour date is the 21st June. Please check out my blog on this date for more about this book including Q&A with the author.
http://chaptersthroughlife.blogspot.co.uk/

Great cute & fluffy that hits all the high school hate to love notes.

Why I Loathe Sterling Lane reminded me of some of my favorite teen movies. In the best way possible. I really enjoyed reading it.
But and there is always a but, it reminded me of teen movies. A lot.
So while it is possibly not the most innovative, it does have quite a bit of cliche in there after all, it is however very entertaining. I really enjoyed reading it. In fact so much so that I read it in practically one sitting. Which seems a rather rare thing for me these days.
This is mainly due to the fun plot but also because of the great and witty writing of Paulson. I loved her humor and this had me chuckling to myself on several occasions.
The character building was at the beginning rather expected. So quite typecast. But as the book went on we got more layers to MCs and the support cast. I ended up really liking the crew. I should mention that this is told from POV view. And she was beyond judgmental and put everyone into a box in the beginning. But she does end up seeing different sides to herself and the others, she does significant character growth during the course of the book, which is why I ended up liking her a lot. But even when I felt she was full of it, I could relate. Her insecurities were relatable. I just couldn't relate to her rigidity and her overzealousness. I mean I am Mrs. procrastination after all... writing outlines before a class? Has never and will never happen.
My biggest issue with the character building however, was that they felt much older not like 17year old kids... Even their pranks ect. They just didn't seem high schoolers, they felt like last year in college
. It is a minor thing I know.

Why I loathe Sterling Lane was fun, cute, adorable and everything else I want from a cute & fluffy. A must read!

Oh man. This book was a complete mixed bag for me. Like, I had a true love/hate relationship with it - much like the one between Sterling & Harper. The entire first half grated and dragged for me and then, around 60%? It all changed. What was annoying and infuriating became funny and charming. The chemistry I had been waiting for finally kicked in. It became less about two hateful people competing for who can be the most psychotic, and more about two lost souls making a sparky connection.

Here's the truth: I didn't care for Harper. I tried to keep things in perspective and read her as a television character (seeing comparisons to Paris from Gilmore Girls - which is not inaccurate though I think this character type may benefit from some visual context) or even an autistic character which may have garnered some empathy or patience. But good gravy, y'all. She chewed on my nerves. I balked against her inability to open her mind and consider that things may be different than the way she had assumed them, despite the fact that literally not one single other person would join her bandwagon.

That said?

Sterling Lane wasn't all that great either. Where I wanted to find him roguish, charismatic and a sort of flirty antagonist - he sometimes came off as actually psychopathic the way he tormented Harper. There was no antagonism masking chemistry here - at least not for the vast majority of the book. It was pure antagonism and it was frustrating.

But, like I said, it also wasn't a total loss. I actually grinned like an idiot throughout the last 15% because - while the banter was still highly snarky, it was also laced with genuine care and interest. It wasn't hostile. It had that charisma I had been waiting for, and it was sometimes downright sweet. Finally, the closer I got to the end, the book turned into everything I had hoped it would be - and I just wish there had been so much more of this playfulness versus the actual enmity. In the end, it left me smiling and happy and I'm glad I stuck it out when I wanted to wring both of their necks. It was a bit of a bumpy ride, but I am still definitely glad I read it.

5 STARS!!
I LOVED this book! It was immensely entertaining and smart. It helped that enemies-to-love is one of my most favorite romance tropes. This book took that trope to such a height, I couldn't imagine a way down. Yet, Ingrid Paulding pulled it off with aplomb. I mentioned that this book was smart. I love when an author doesn't question the intelligence of their young adult readers and creates a non-patronizing story. One that not only entertains its intended audience, but also older readers. Yes, the main characters give off Ferris Bueller vibes by out-smarting adults with their craftiness and skirting the rules, but those were some of the most enjoyable moments. A must-read for those who enjoy YA romantic comedies.

Harper is at war with Sterling Lane. Harper is a rule follower and Sterling Lane is a prankster and trouble marker. So when Sterling transfers in to her school all hell brakes loose. Sterling Lane becomes friends with Harper's twin brother Cole, which causes Harper to worry that he will get him in trouble. Harper vows to take him down. But it isn't as easy as she thinks because as she exposes Sterling. He strikes back framing her for his own schemes. Everyone believes Sterling is an angel expect Harper.

Their battle is reaching a boiling point and there is some realization that maybe just maybe she doesn't hate Sterling Lane. Especially when they have to team up to save Cole.


There is always a fine line between love and hate especially with the opposite sex. Harper has a lot of rules and Sterling breaks all the rules. Opposites often attract and I just love these two and their reaction to each other, it is quite funny. I loved both Harper and Sterling. She gets so mad and he just exacts his type of revenge. Its classic! I loved this book. It was a quick read because it was full of drama. There wasn't a dull moment. I couldn't put it down. Loved it.

This book was the cutest contemporary that I have read in a very long time. I got some Jamie McGuire, Beautiful Disaster vibes. I loved the dynamic between Sterling and Harper and how their rivalry very obviously turned into more. I loved how the chapter titles were reasons for us to know why Harper loathed Sterling. My favorite reason was reason number 24- "it was a teeny-tiny kiss-" that had me laughing out loud. I would definitely love to check out more from Ingrid Paulson. 5 out of 5 stars. A+ rating for sure!

Harper Campbell has 537 rules rules that keep her life in her tiny boarding school very organized and under control. When Sterling Lane transfers to the school however he immediately begins to break Harper’s rules putting her at odds of how to deal with the new bad boy.

Harper’s twin brother Cole ends up rooming with Sterling so Harper needs to come up with a way to keep Sterling away from her brother. But when Cole gets himself into trouble Harper knows she needs to protect him at any cost, even if that means teaming up with Sterling to help save her brother.

Why I Loathe Sterling Lane was another of those books I was back and forth on how to rate all during reading this one. It had potential to be a really cute young adult contemporary read but unfortunately Harper herself really brought this one down for me as I really didn’t like her from the start. It is one thing to be the goody goody character going against the bad boy and even falling for him eventually but Harper bordered on being more of a bit too manic in her rules to sit well with me from the start and then ends up breaking more rules than Sterling.

But with this story I think if Harper had been written a bit differently I probably would have really enjoyed the book. The overall plot was interesting with a bit of mystery to solving Cole’s dilemma, a bit of fun and laughter involved with Sterling’s antics, family loyalty between the twins with Harper wanting to do everything for her brother and a case of opposites attracting between Harper and Cole. Probably more that I’m failing to mention too so while I didn’t care for Harper I still thought this one ended up being an OK read in the end.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I'm not going to lie I had to make myself keep reading, my thoughts were please not again not another book that will blend with any other YA book.
I don't regret keep reading it as the book got better as I read. I'm not going to say is going to go in my top ten favorite books but I would likely recommend this to my friends that like YA.
I really disliked our lead girl she got on my nerves most of the time and even do she redeem herself as I kept reading I still couldn't open my whole heart for her. First impressions are everything for me, And the same for our lead guy I just wanted to slap his face and say mature buddie.

Why I gave this 4 stars is because it all made sense when I finish the book. That by the end I loved them together and I got to see why they were that way.
My like for this book was just like their relationship it went from hate to like on their case Hate to Love.

It wasn't awful or anything, i just felt it was too young for me.