Abbie and Matt are struggling. They're married but barely talk or have sex. Abbie knows their relationship won't last this way so she initiates Operation Memory Lane, recreating happy times from their past to get them talking again. But Abbie has a secret. And once they start talking again and she tells Matt, will this be the end of the road?⁣
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I love a good second chance romance and this one was especially good, given the couple was already married. Just a warning - there are some heavier themes within this book and it is not as light and fluffy as the cover portrays! A great read - highly recommend if you want a romance with a bit more depth.

This one hit me hard because I felt like I was in the exact same point in my life and my marriage as Abbie, and in fact it was what attracted me to P.S. I Hate You in the first place.

I enjoyed this story. I particularly enjoyed the flashbacks as, again, it was very relatable as I am the same age as Abbie and so her flashbacks were very much like reliving my past. Lots of fun.

This story made me laugh and cry.

P.S. I Hate You was the first book I've read from this author, and I will absolutely be reading more!

Thanks to Sophie Ranald, Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me access to this ARC.

Abbie and Matt are experiencing a dry spell in their marriage. So dry, Abbie is considering divorce. After meeting in high school, they both thought they'd be together forever. But life and the setbacks that come with it have taken their toll. Now they barely speak. In a last ditch effort to save their marriage, Abbie comes up with a plan. Go back to some of the places that were benchmarks in their relationship. Reignite their love and try and remember the love that got them this far.

Told in alternating chapters, you'll follow Abbie and Matt from the beginning. From their first date to their wedding day. Throughout you'll see them revisit those places and memories while learning what went wrong and got them to where they are now. This book is truly beautifully written, but extremely heavy. You'll see them deal with infertility, a close friends addiction, and various other super heavy situations. I wasn't expecting it to be so damn heavy. This one is hard for me to review because I know the book was so well written, it was just personally hard for me to get through it. I'm also dealing with the dregs of a winter of depression, so the heaviness of the story made it hard for me to get through. Its truly very well written and a great tale of love lost and found. Just be ready to deal with super heavy and slightly depressing relationship situations. Its not something I have saw the author tackle before but she did it with grace and exquisite storytelling.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you to Bookouture, Sophie Ronald, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love me a good second chance romance! Especially when it’s involving a well established relationship that’s fallen into a slump and they’re trying to rekindle the flame. I had high hopes that this was going to make my heart happy… instead it made me feel nothing at all. This is one of those books where you’ll either love it or hate it, with very little in between. It’s all going to come down to your own life and personal experiences that will determine how well you relate to this book. In a way it’s a good thing I didn’t relate though lol. I’ve been with my husband for 24 years in total (married 14) and every marriage has ups and downs. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows. It’s not always anger and hurt. But there seemed to be so many things in this book that needed to be repaired and I’m not sure it was displayed enough to me to make me feel anything for these characters.

Here’s the thing – these characters were just flat. I have no real idea what their personalities are like, even after reading almost 300 pages. Their conversations were flat and holy hell did they ever lack communication in their relationship! They had been together for over 20 years and they still have secrets? How? They would speak to each other with very little emotion and then Abbie would have an inner monologue thinking about things from her past and how she wants things to be. But would she talk about any of this with Matt? Not really. She would skirt around the issue spending page after page wondering what he was thinking. That’s not my style at all and I think that’s what really drove me crazy. You need to talk with your partner if you expect things to change. You need to have a conversation letting them know what you want in order for changes to be made. You need to make your feelings known if you’re hurt, otherwise you’ll end up with 20 years of resentment… which is precisely what led them to this path in the first place. So yeah, it was the authors intent but it still irked me on a personal level.

What make this book even more difficult was the fact that their marital problems weren’t believable. Wait… that’s not entirely true. She made a good point where Abbie realizes (at the beginning of the book) that she’s not happy in her marriage when she sees a dirty spoon sitting NEXT to the dishwasher instead of being INSIDE the dishwasher. Seems trivial, right? It is, but that’s how marriage works sometimes. It’s not always the big explosive blowouts that cause problems. Sometimes it’s an accumulation of small things that pile up and break you. I’ve been there. But there wasn’t a whole lot from their past that was like the “AHA!” moment where she knew things were going wrong. We didn’t get a lot of background information on their marital problems in a way that would have made me connect with them more.

I honestly feel like, if this would have been a dual perspective novel, it would have been a GAME CHANGER! From where I sat, I really struggled to see how Matt was struggling because we only ever heard from Abbie. He seemed to be so loving and thoughtful around her. He would go out of his way to do things for her because he knew she liked it. He would touch her shoulder or say “I love you”. Small things that a partner does to let the other know they care. He didn’t seem as unhappy as she was, that’s for sure. But, though her perspective, she sounded as if he was utterly miserable. It wasn’t balanced. I needed to see things from both perspectives to really believe it. I would have loved to hear how he felt, not only in the marriage, but also through the recreation of happy times in their past and what that was doing to repair their relationship.

I feel like this book had a lot of potential but it really missed the emotional connection mark for me. Had it been dual perspective, I think that would have saved it. But I guess we will never know. And, like I mentioned earlier, I think the enjoyment of this book is all going to boil down to how you relate to the characters and the situation, which I didn’t have that connection either. I know that there are going to be people out there that love this book though! Second chances and reliving the past – it’s going to be someone’s new favourite… just not mine! Sorry!

Abbie&Matt, a couple going through a tough face in their marriage. I think I didn't really expect it to be such a great love story. I thought I will read a rom-com but this was like a beautiful romance book based on real-life facts. Like reading a marriage memoir.
Love it. Love it so much. I cried at some point. The struggle is real.

This ARC was granted to me through NetGalley and approved by Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

{Huge thank you to @netgalley @bookouture for this eARC to read and review}

This book is described as a “heartwarming comedy” and while this book had some funny and cute moments, just know that this book is more serious. I would not describe this as a light read.

It is a tender yet heartbreaking story about having the courage to move forward even though the future isn’t what you pictured it to be.

I’ve been with my husband for over 20 years so I immediately related to this story in several ways. I liked it! Even with the sensitive subject matter, I thought it was handled really well and I finished this book smiling!

2.5⭐ Gracias Netgalley y a la editorial por brindarme este e-ARC, a cambio de una reseña honesta.

⚠️ Infertilidad y aborto espontáneo

Leí súper rápido este libro , es mega bueno para salir de un bloqueo lector. Estaba emocionada por leerlo , lamentablemente no cumplió con mis expectativas.

Siendo sincera , pensé que iba a ser un enemies to lovers ( tu ves el título y piensas " será este mi nuevo enemies to lovers favorito?") , pero resultó ser second chances romance, no tengo nada en contra de esto trope solo que soy muy especial y tengo que llegar a conectar con la razón de la separación.

Primero que nada Abby no odia a Matt , llevan 20 años juntos de los cuales 9 - 10 son de casados. Son literalmente la definición de high-school sweethearts. Su relación en el presente llega a ser indiferente , tienen sus problemas ( como todas las parejas) pero estos no llegan a llevarlos al odio.
Aún no me caso , pero sé que en algún momento la "llama" se apaga y es un trabajo en equipo buscar una solución.

El libro está armado en dos líneas temporales ( pasado y presente) , el pasado me gustó bastante , ya que vemos cómo se van enamorando, primeras citas y todo lo ✨💖✨. El presente no tanto , ya que no llegaba a conectar con Abby al 100%.

Hubo varias cosas que le faltaron como otras que estaban de más , la idea en general fue muy interesante el problema para mí fue la ejecución.

👀 Advierto que hay mucho uso de Slang's

"I don't care if I never kiss anyone else in my life, ever again, she thought. And twenty years later, she hadn't."

It was a good contemporary romance. It hit the spot but nothing amazing. I was a little disappointed because I was expecting something a little more engaging but it was good enough. The characters were okay albeit a bit bland. The romance was sweet I guess. Basically it all could have been better.

Unfortunately this book took me a while to get to and through. I heard many good reviews for it and maybe the high expectations stunted me from my own review of the book. I'll admit though. THIS BOOK IS VERY CUTE. There is many cute zingers as the two characters "rekindle" their marriage after the passion flame went out. There's a very good nostalgic feeling as Abbie goes down memory lane to remember why she fell in love with Matt. I felt like the book centered around Abbie a bit too much though and wish we got more from Matt's perspective. Overall, it's cute!

3.5-4 stars. Abbie is stuck in a life rut. She and Matt have been together for nearly 20 years, married for almost half of that time. They are like cohabitating roommates who work at home for the time being. Yet in the flashbacks, they have this ongoing dynamic full of humor, spontaneity and constant attraction. Most of their adult life together, they shared mutual goals where they saved for the important priority items and made do with what they had. As long as they had the other, they could weather any storm.

Abbie embarks on Operation Memory Lane. Because now whenever she looks at Matt, she doesn't see the man she was once in love with. She wonders if there's anything left to salvage between them and if those feelings can be revived. Matt, to his credit, is pretty laid back overall and seems to follow Abbie's lead although there's an obvious awkwardness. How these two people can be in such close proximity all day, every day and yet still feel miles away emotionally is quite the dilemma.

When they converse, Matt and Abbie are really funny. They immediately pick up on the other's dialogue and keep the banter going. While I could resonate with Abbie's concerns, they were never well detailed enough to see what was so wrong or annoying or frustrating about Matt. Even if they had an argument, there was no description of that in detail to see what Matt said wrong or anything to make Matt look like the bad guy or at least worthy of a moment of contempt. That confused me a bit because then I wondered what was wrong with Abbie, if she was depressed or having a mid-life crisis or becoming too complacent in her own blasé existence because she seldom left the home.

There is a reason behind Abbie's discomfort, and although it's not elaborately outlined, many women can relate and it can certainly be a source of marital strife. I did love them revisiting the past of fond memories and recreating new ones in the process, even if Abbie didn't always think the mission was a success. However, 2 decades later, these two have definitely changed from becoming older and wiser so their perspectives on the experience come from a different lens. I could appreciate the story of two people who drifted apart, somewhat attributed to keeping secrets and avoiding open communication, and how they found their way back once those doors opened and burdens were lifted. I couldn't get a solid vibe on a resolution of the issue that had been bothering Abbie, but I do think she made peace with it and chooses to look forward and to find new adventures instead. This isn't a heavy read at all even though it does touch on issues that can impact a marriage, it still carries a jovial tone and ends on a light note.

Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I was not compensated for this review and am leaving it voluntarily.

This book is a little different to the romantic comedies I have read recently. Abbie & Matt are in an established relationship when the book begins and the story is a homage to the work couples undertake to keep a marriage together, rather than the first sparks of passion and romance when falling in love.

I loved the realism of this book and the parallels that I could draw between this couple and my own relationship made it easier for me to identify with these characters. The story isn't just about how couples can come together and drift apart multiple times during a long term relationship but also about the importance of friendship, of forgiveness and of leaving the past in the past.

I enjoyed reading this book for more than the romance, although Matt and Abbie's tentative steps towards falling in love with each other again are very sweet. It was the hopefulness and empathy that they both displayed for the people around them and themselves that made this a stand out read for me.

Please note that I received this via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and they publisher for this advanced copy.

This book goes between two timelines. One while they were young and falling in love and then to the present time when they have been married for 20 years and fighting over the most inconsequential things. Everything Matt does annoys Abbie and when Abbie discusses this with her friends they suggest going down memory lane to remind each other why the fell in love in the first place.

I thought this book was a realistic example of what could happen in marriage and how people can begin to drift apart. Reading the story you feel for these characters and are rooting for them to get to a better place. Even though they are in this tough spot you can see that they both want to make it work and enjoyed reading about the journey and the ups and downs of this process.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would like to read more from the author.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4581823608

Many thanks to NetGalley/author/publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

I read this in one sitting as it was just SO good.. (apart from having issues downloading it originally)

I love how fun, witty, and easy-going the story was, it was exactly what you would expect.

I loved Abbie and Matt (sometimes Matt more) and as a "second chance" romance it was such a lovely read. After being together for 20 years... at 37, Matt and Abbie were struggling.

I would definetly recommend this for an emotional ride of a book!

Abbie and Matt have been together since they were teenagers. They’re now 37 and having a difficult time in their marriage. Unable to have a child, this has brought pressure on their relationship and they need to try to rekindle some of the romance that brought them together all those years ago.

P.S. I Hate You (Abbie never does actually hate Matt), skips back and forth between the present, and when Abbie and Matt first met, following them throughout significant events in their life together. The author focuses a huge amount on how important friends are in a woman’s life and how good friends stick around, no matter what. If Abbie has a problem, or is upset, it’s The Girlfriend Club’s WhatsApp group she turns to, and there is always someone at the end of a message with support and advice.

I enjoyed how Abbie tried to recreate some of the good memories that her and Matt had shared, some worked out, some didn’t but it both were keen to try! Sophie Ranald shows us the parts of relationships that people rarely talk about, the frustrating, annoying little things that when things are going well, we don’t care about, but when something isn’t right, then we create mountains out of molehills!

If you want something easy and fun to read, to while away a few hours, then try this new one from Sophie.

I am lucky enough to be a part of Books on Tour for this, so thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of P.S. I Hate You by Sophie Ranald.

Matt and Abbie are both 37 and have been together for 20 years. Now they fight over the most inconsequential of things. Abbie is going to ignite “Operation Memory Lane” to remind her husband and herself about all the reasons she loves him rather than the things she now hates, in an attempt to rescue her marriage.

P. S. I Hate You is witty and heartfelt, told through alternating past and present chapters from Abbie. Romantic and emotional in part, the author also allows a bird's eve view into the daily domestic minutiae of married life. The main characters, their habits, memories, chemistry and love are well portrayed. A good, solid romantic read written with astuteness, that isn't too sugary.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

P.S. I Hate You by Sophie Ranald

Published: March 3, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 331
Genre: Romantic Comedy
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Sophie Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her mid-20s. As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her fiction-writing skills describing holidays to places she'd never visited. In 2011, she decided to disregard all the excellent advice given to aspiring novelists and attempt to write full-time. After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to Steal My Sister's Boyfriend (Wouldn't It?) seemed to write itself, and six more novels have followed. Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion, finance, and fitness. She lives in southeast London with her excellent partner Hopi and their two adorable cats.

“Nobody’s perfect.”

Abbie and Matt have been together since they were teenagers. And Abbie thought they would always be couple goals, but lately, she isn’t sure if their past is enough to lead to a future together.

I enjoyed this book. It was very realistic, and I think people can relate to Abbie and Matt's struggles.

After being together for so long and overcoming so much, I think it is feasible that comfortability and other life struggles can weigh you down and make you question everything.

I loved the advice the girlfriends gave, and I enjoyed taking the trips down memory lane with Abbie as she took this journey. I found her and Matt’s dynamic well suited, and I think it is apparent they do love each other, but life has added burdens they haven’t processed.

I also felt like many of their issues could have been resolved if Abbie had spent more time talking to Matt and less to her girlfriends, but I also get running to your girls when you’re struggling.

This is an emotional, comical, sweet story about falling in, slipping out, and falling back in love.

Happy Pub Day to @sophieranald for P.S.I Hate You.
Thank you @netgalley & @bookouture for the arc. The opnions are my own.
🌼👫
Abbie and Matt have been together for twenty years and are married, at a point in their marriage where romance, especially intimacy is missing and they are more like mates living together. Both have a routine, work from home, have meals together in companionable silence (mostly) and occassionally go out.

Marriage is complicated and not the perfect fairytale that magazines, books or social media make it to be; and I enjoyed reading how it is described as raw and unfiltered, something a lot of people can relate to. Domestic romances can border on being boring but this one has a lot of humorous instances such as Abbie's friends giving her suggestions on how to rekindle their romance.

I enjoy second chance romances and this was definitely one. I only felt that it lacked a bit of steam to make it a perfect read. ❤👫

BOOKWORMS REVIEW:
I've read one of Sophies books before and although this cover looks rom.com-like,it deals with serious issues of fertility etc,and is not as light as previous books.

The story follows Abbie & Matt...from school and college in the form of flashbacks to the present day. The title is a little misleading as while they do have their issues I certainly don't get hate from them. On the outside they seem perfectly happy but no marriage is without it's woes. They try to rekindle the romance amidst their problems by reminiscing their earlier years..a suggestion from friends. An honest look at relationships and fertility. You feel for these characters and root for them. A good read from Sophie Ranald.

BOOKWORMS RATING: 📕📕📕📕

With thanks to Sophie,Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

I feel like riding roller coaster in mind and heart while read this book....

Follow Abbie who already with Matt for 20 years and with 9 years of marriage. Everything tastes bland in their married life these days. Abbie would angry to Matt for a little matters and this make Abbie wondering is she still love her husband. But, she also think that she can't live without Matt. Her best friend told Abbie to do Operation of Memory Lane, to make the feeling between them spark again.

Honestly, I'm not married yet so maybe I can't really feel what Abbie feels. But, sometimes I wondering how it feel to live with the same person for almost all your life? what about your love? would you stay just because you're used to it? And this book exactly tell me that.

I can see how dilemma it is for Abbie. She want it to work with her husband but it's not easy. So, we will follow two timelines here. First from their early day as a couple and in the present day. Abbie try to follow her friend suggestion "Operation of Memory Lane" so we will see the memory first and follow their present. Why I said this is like riding a roller coaster? Because when I read in their younger days, I can feel how their love growing, how their life was colorful and how fun it was when they together, I really can feel it. But, when we look at their present time, I also can feel how dry and bitter their relationship turn out.

Mostly, that is what this book will tell us. But, I really enjoy following their growing up to become a better couple. And of course it gave me a lesson, about how important communication and honesty from this book. And I really love their younger life as couple, it so sweet and both of them really made for each other. That's why while read this book I really hope things will get better for them!

(This book review will up on my blog on second week of March)

Thank you so much Bookouture for giving me an arc.

This is a second chance romance between a married couple. I was a bit intrigued with the title because I thought it was an enemies to lovers trope. Nevertheless this was a cute read with a lot of trip to memory lane and a cat. P.s I hate you tells the story of Abbie and Matt as they find ways to rebuild the spark they had before they got married. Being married for a long time but yet they still feel unease with each other and how they lose each other as different problems strikes them.

The plot of second chance romance in married couple is new to me. In fact, this is the first time I read a contemporary romance with married protagonists. It was a fun change of pace. The different POVs of Abbie telling stories of the past is so cute. I love the throwback vibes they had with the stories of what they do in their high school, college and newly married days. You can definitely see the changes they have with each other and how they matured.

The bonding each characters have is refreshing. Everytime they bond together is like being high school all over again despite having families of their own.

The ending was cute (I want more of Shrimp) but the dozens of secrets is giving me a lot of whiplashes.

Overall it is was a fun and romantic read. I am thinking of rereading this one soon.