First off, thank you to Netgalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book! The following is my honest review and opinion of the book.

While I adore the cover of this book and the premise of the story, I had a hard time getting into the book. In all honesty, this book was read at a time in my life that we had family dealing with a lot of health issues and so I do not think I enjoyed it as much as I could have. For that reason, when it comes out I will most definitely be giving it a second chance and listening to the audiobook.

If you love a cute romance (and dogs) this book is a must though, and even though it didn't click for me I know many people who have read and loved it!

3.5 stars
If you love happy romances, dogs, pageants and shows, and also dogs, then this is the rom-com for you! We follow Ruby, who takes on the impossible task of making one of her residents' overweight, questionably-full-bred Golden Retriever a dog show star, and Spencer, a strict dog show judge who seems dead set against Wheezy competing. There was obviously some immediate dislike between the two, but I'm sure you can gather where it goes from there. Overall this was a fun, swoony romance novel and I loved the dog show element, particularly because Wheezy had great comedic timing and was your typical lazy dog who didn't listen to commands. The romance was good but I did think there was a lack of chemistry in some regard, their relationship just didn't feel completely realistic and particularly at the moment-of-doubt portion of the book we all know and love, I didn't really understand why everything blew up? It was a little bit miscommunication and a little bit stubbornness and it seemed too elaborate for the story. Like I said though, for a quick, entertaining romance I would recommend picking this one up!

Funny premise but a little...boring?

I though the dog show backdrop was really original and funny, but I quickly found myself struggling with the *human* characters.
Ultimately okay and light.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I picked this book up for two reasons—the cover is adorable and the blurb sounded so good. I knew it was going to be an enemies to lovers rom-com going in, but I didn’t realise just how much I would love these characters. I Hate You More has dogs, a former beauty queen, a hot (but stiff) vet, quirky old ladies who get high at a nursing home and a host of great supporting characters. It was a cute, fun, flirty and quick read; which I devoured in a day.

Ruby Taylor might have walked away from the pageant circuit the first chance she got, but when she’s asked to take a lazy, adorable and golden retriever as a contestant on a dog show, the shenanigans begin. I loved Ruby so much. I went in expecting her to be a vapid woman who has spent so much time surrounded by hair spray that she’d be hard to love—but I got a whole other character. Ruby is incredible. She’s got a spark and charm, she’s sarcastic and quick on her feet. Ruby has had enough of people only treating her a certain way because of how she looks, so she’s always ready to snap back and put people in their place. Ruby is not a woman to be underestimated, because she’s so much more than her beauty.

Then there’s Spencer Wilson, a handsome grump of a man who is not only a vet, but also the man that started the dog show. He’s gruff, impatient and honestly has no time for anything or anyone in the world. Spencer was such an incredible hero and the perfect balance to Ruby’s wild and vivacious ways. As a twin, Spencer always feels like he’s the lesser of the two and he’s closed himself off because of that. But despite those things, he’s got so much going for him. Spencer loves animals and he loves his family, but it’s not always easy for him to express those feelings and thoughts. And I love how he’s hot and sexy one minute, but awkward and uncomfortable the next—it shows how amazing he can be!

“She was like the sun walking into the room—and into his life. Every time she appeared, his chest contracted and expanded in equal proportions.”

Their relationship is so entertaining. They don’t like each other from the moment they meet—Ruby’s trying to sneak into the dog show late and Spencer is not having it—but as they spend time together, their relationship evolves and grows into something so great. Ruby has no filter and Spencer’s life is lived through a filter, so every chance they’re around each other it’s a test of patience. It’s obvious that Spencer is drawn to Ruby because she’s beautiful and she’s drawn to him because he’s handsome, but there’s so much more to their relationship and watching that unfold was a great time. Ruby keeps pushing Spencer past his comfort zone and he’s constantly trying to straighten her out as much as possible.

While hot, this book is low on steam. One of my favourite scenes—the 140 push-ups is pretty special too—is after they’ve spent the day babysitting three little boys. It’s a slow burn, but that scene on the couch with her dress and buttons…I was fanning myself a whole lot. I think what really works for them is their chemistry and the sexual tension—which is pretty hot considering Spencer spends so much time refusing to accept that he wants more from Ruby.

I wish I could write a whole book about the book, but there’s so much that you need to discover as you read. Their familial and personal relationships were great, it gives you so much insight into who these two people are. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew Ruby and Spencer personally and when that happens, it’s always a great thing. Plus, if you like dogs, you’re going to absolutely love Wheezy!

*POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD*

Oh, how I enjoyed this read! I loved having a full range of characters from family, to friends who feel like family. The witty banter between our love interests was delightful, and the dog competition setting was unique! The fact that the theme of loving someone for who they are, and not judging their appearance happens amidst a dog show competition that judges based on looks is the kind of irony I adore!

The part of the story that gave me pause was the strip tease scene. Ruby feels that all anyone sees when they look at her is a former beauty queen. She desperately wants to be respected for her skills and knowledge, and for people not just to see a pretty face when they look at her. That’s why it was so odd to read a scene in which she does a strip tease in front of the person she wants to impress the most. Not only was the scene itself out of place (didn’t feel like they were at that place in their relationship yet), but it also felt wildly out of character for Ruby, who works so hard to earn everyone’s respect, to suddenly strip down in front of a virtual stranger. I don’t have an issue with strip teases, but the way this scene played out felt unnecessary and took me out of the story for a minute.

But even so, I still had a fun time reading this and could possibly see this continuing onto book two for Caleb 😉

3.5 stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an early copy! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading I Hate You More! I haven't read a romance novel that was like this one before and actually found that it was interesting. I liked how Lucy Gilmore characterized both Ruby and Spencer. They were cute together, and I loved the inclusion of the dog show. Animals make all books better (just in case anyone wants to add an animal to their book --> ALWAYS BETTER). Wheezy was so cute, and actually reminded me of my dog: a mess of a dog that is absolutely adorable anyway.

I'm excited to read more of Lucy Gilmore's books. It looks like she has more books with dogs and I'm here for that. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a quick but adorable romance read that includes dogs.

This was a fun romance with dogs. I had just finished a very unsatisfying book and was eager for something light and fun. All in all, this fits the bill. Ruby is a former beauty queen now working as a CNA. One of her elderly patients has commissioned Ruby to show Wheezy, her golden retriever. Spencer and Caleb are identical twins, but nothing is identical about them. Spencer is a veterinarian and dog show judge. He's a meticulous rule-follower. Caleb, not so much. Caleb is barely scraping by as a dog trainer. The two of them are competitive and both have eyes for Ruby. But, she only sees Spencer. But, does Spencer see her?

The only thing that seemed off was the "stroke" scene with Ruby and Spencer. It seemed very out of character for Spencer.

All in all, this was a fun read. I would happily read more by this author. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I Hate You More is absolutely adorable. I couldn’t put it down, finished it in less than 24 hours! I admit that the plot was a little light, but the tension and the charisma between Ruby and Spencer made up for it and then some. I would have rated this 3.5 stars but rounded up for how engaged the story kept me.

I Hate You More is about a former beauty pageant named Ruby who is entering a scruffy poorly behaved golden retriever into a dog show. The vet who started the dog show and is also one of the judges, Spencer, is stuffy and uptight and does not have time for beauty queens who think their pretty faces can get them whatever they want. Of course there’s much more to the story than that in this enemies-to-lovers rom com.

I think we all know by now I’m a sucker for books that involve dogs. I totally fell for Wheezy and his lazy dog ways! And honestly I identified more with the hero in this book since I tend to be the more responsible straitlaced one in most of my social circles. I know nothing about pageantry so it was equal parts fascinating and appalling to hear what Ruby went through as a child competing in pageants nonstop.

While this was enemies-to-lovers, it was also fairly insta-lovey to me. I found myself going back a couple of chapters to see if I had somehow missed something to explain how they suddenly got together. I think I just prefer to see couples develop and grow together rather than having it happen quickly with so little cause. It was a fun fairly lighthearted read but I didn’t really connect with the heroine or their love story like I have with other recent reads. But if it sounds like it might be your jam, this book comes out November 12th! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourceboks Casablanca for this eARC copy.

I am a big dog lover but just couldn’t get into this book. It was like a hallmark movie from a few years ago that I did not like either. Might try again later.

I was super excited for this book and it really does not disappoint. This whole book has absolutely chaotic vibes and I love it. Ruby and Spencer banter like it's their job and they show once again why grumpy x sunshine and stuck-up hero/ free spirited heroine are superior tropes. Spencer is such a rule follower and serious guy (mostly because of his brother) and Ruby is the epitome of competitive and smart as hell. We have to stan. I love the premise of making an "unqualified" dog into a champion and the potential for hilarious situations was well and truly used to the max. While the storyline is overall very funny, there are also more serious scenes and aspects about family relationships and growing up. Ruby really grows as a person and learns how to truly love herself as she is.
I highly recommend this book, if you are looking for a Rom-Com with a lot of chemistry, banter and a few steamy scenes.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thankyou so much to the author, @sourcebookscasa and @netgalley for this eARC.
This was a really cute story! With a light hearted romance and characters who showed depth and had development throughout. I don't think there is anything i love more in a book than enemies to lovers, and the best part of the trope is the tension and banter between the pairing, which this book definitely didn't disappoint on. I really enjoyed all the different dynamics mentioned in the story, especially between the twins which was hilarious. Ruby and Mrs. Orson were a nice relationship to read about too, and the ladies at the nursing home. I actually really liked the first steamy scene between the two characters, i could feel the tension!!
Grumpy/sunshine and enemies to lovers, how do you beat that? especially when you add dogs into the mix!

I really like books where the two main characters constantly bicker with underlying sexual tension, and I, as the reader, just want them to kiss. That was what I was expecting when going into this. However, it fell short for me.
It was overall a fast read with a cute romance. I really liked the set-up of having the twin brother train the dog so that the two main characters would be forced to interact. However, the romance felt rushed. They went from being against each other to being horny for each other to being in love really fast. (The scene with the strokes was something I was not expecting and I was very shook, to say the least.)
The characters were okay, I didn't care that much about them, although I did enjoy their individual character developments.

This was such a cute story and I LOVED the dog aspect as a golden retriever owner myself. The banter and enemies to lovers trope was well paced with great tension. I especially enjoyed the relationship of Ruby and Mrs.Orson and the twins rivalry was hilarious. Ruby and her mother growing closer was an unexpected storyline I also enjoyed. The one thing that felt forced to me was the steamy parts. The first scene especially felt awkward and didn't seem to fit the personalities of either character. Besides that I really enjoyed the story!

This was just what I needed this week! It's light and bright with a recalcitrant and stubborn bulldog. I expected a little more hate per the title, but I loved the effortless ease into the relationship for these two.
Ruby may be an ex-beauty pageant contestant but she knows the tricks of the trade like the back of her hand. So what if the contestant is a stubborn, lazy and slightly overweight dog that may have false papers. No one can stop Ruby from pulling out all the stops and making that dog a champion. Except that the only person he'll listen to is one of the judges, grump Spencer.
This grump/sunshine combo was delightful. This is my first read by Lucy but I know it won't be my last. I enjoyed the banter and the supporting cast quite a bit. It's an easy and fun page turner.
Steam: spicy and skippable
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This was a cute read. It took me a little while to get into it at first, but it had me hooked after Chapter 5. A good break from fast-paced or fantasy novels. I loved the chemistry between Ruby and Spencer, Cause wow chapter 9 hit different!

I loved that this book represented the importance of personal growth and standing up for yourself and for what you want to do. The author also does a great job of setting up an image if the setting in your brain as the way the book is written is detailed and draws you in.

If you like: Rom-coms, banter, enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, dogs, this book is for you!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped to, it just didn't live up to the expectations of the description. The characters were not as likeable as you'd want them to be in a romance novel, and the narrative style was not form me. Obviously everyone has different opinions and I can see how this book can have good potential to other readers.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I was thoroughly disappointed at this little antagonists to lovers book about an ex beauty pageant queen and the judge to a dog show she's trying to make a dog participate in. I was expecting to have a cute and fun time with this book based on the synopsis and the cover but I felt like this books was too forgettable and the dynamic between the characters was off and felt very rushed.

I wasn't a fan of the romance and it was mainly because they went very quickly from being antagonistic but horny for each other to being deeply in love. Everything about it was lacking and there was no chemistry between them. I will, however, say that I enjoyed their first sex scene together because wheeew that was fun BUT not even that was truly amazing to me.

The characters themselves were ok, I didn't really much care for them as individuals either but I could appreciate their little development. I also liked the relationship between the twins,it was very sweet.

Overall, didn't make me feel anything

This was a very sweet book! It starts with Ruby wanting to participate in a canine contest with Wheezy, who's not entirely a competition kind of dog and this seems to make Ruby want to win more. Of course, then she meets the two brothers Caleb and Spencer except Spencer is one of the judges and he does not think she can win and Caleb will try to train the dog to win. I wondered if this would become a love triangle but the way Ruby wanted to compete to piss off Spencer made me realize that they were the enemies to lovers! This book was funny and a feel-good rom-com but with a little of enemies to lover, although I felt more the "lovers" part than the "enemies". Overall, I did enjoy it and I also loved reading about dogs in a enemies to lovers book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this read! I found the beginning a bit slow but after the first 50 pages it picked up and I couldnt put it down.

The plot was funny and completely new! The main characters were relatable and strong willed which I loved! And the side characters really made this book! Looking at you Wheezy!

Overall, if you enjoy a good enemies to lovers romance I believe you would enjoy this read!