Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other
By Bethany Turner
Pub Date Sept, 5, 2023
Thomas Nelson
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I wanted to enjoy this book but I couldn’t connect with the heroine. Sebastian was easier to like. Brynn was very annoying, the second half was better.
3 stars

"Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other" is a contemporary romance written by Bethany Turner.

The story follows 37-year-old Brynn Cornell, a famous TV host. She is "America's Ray of Sunshine," the girl-next-door whose presence brings an automatic increase in TV ratings due to her positive and friendly attitude. A woman who almost reached the pinnacle of her career as co-host of the popular morning show Sunup. Or at least, she was, until scandal hit her. All it takes is one morning of setbacks to jeopardize everything. A morning in which, unaware that she is on the air, she exposes her arrogant and snarky side to the whole world, dropping her carefully constructed mask. The cameras catch her insulting her town of origin and its inhabitants, revealing the farce of her character in front of all viewers. A mistake that threatens to cost her dearly, destroying everything she has worked so hard for. In a final and desperate attempt to convince viewers that she is not the shallow, lying girl they think she is, Brynn decides to return to her hometown of Adelaide Springs, Colorado. All she has to do is apologize and capture some good, feel-good frames, reminding everyone that she is merely a girl from humble beginnings, that she is grateful for her big break and perhaps, in doing so, can save both her career and her image. But the town contains painful memories that she is not ready to face. Into this situation comes Sebastian Sudworth, a successful former reporter, winner of several awards and accolades, with a reputation for being the center of attention and his fearlessness. Until something snapped inside him and he vanished from the scene under mysterious circumstances. Sebastian now lives in and has found refuge in quiet Adelaide Springs, working various odd jobs and trying to blend in as a scruffy mountain citizen. When Sebastian is assigned to escort Brynn around town, Brynn is certain that he can see through her carefully constructed sunny facade. In fact, their first meeting is rather stormy, and Sebastian seems to be immune to her smiles and her enthusiasm, so much so that they do nothing but argue and provoke each other. However, as the days progress, something begins to change between them, leading to unexpected developments.

Cute, light and funny romance. I admit that some things didn't convince me, it didn't totally excite me and it's not among my favorites, but overall I found it an enjoyable read.

I found the writing to be captivating, sparkling and simple, with pleasant descriptions and brilliant dialogue. The presence of short chapters, combined with the rapid pace, made it an extremely easy read. The only thing that puzzled me was the choice to alternate between Brynn's pov, in first person, and Sebastian's pov, in third person. This is not the first time I have encountered such a situation, but usually there are separate timelines or very special conditions, which allow me to appreciate the narrative. In this case, however, the alternation between first and third person, in scenes frequently interrupted in one pov and then resumed in another pov, left me dazed because of the sudden change. In addition, unfortunately, I confess that I am not fond of the use of the third person in romance. I don't know why, but it prevents me from fully connecting with the characters. In this case, abetted by the presence of Brynn's first-person pov and perhaps the fact that I liked Sebastian so much, the issue disturbed me yes, but less than elsewhere.

I absolutely loved the setting! I love romance set in quaint little towns, and Adelaide Springs, Colorado, won me over. It is a small town lost in the mountains, with a very small number of inhabitants and very few businesses, characterized by beautiful scenery. The vivid descriptions allowed me to imagine the various places and made me want to visit them. I felt a sense of calm, comfort, which relaxed me so much. I also appreciated the strong sense of community and unity among the residents, and I don't know, I felt like I was wrapped in a nice, soft blanket. It was really all very cozy!

I really liked Brynn and Sebastian, protagonists with their respective first- and third-person povs. Brynn is a 37-year-old woman in crisis with her career as a journalist and TV host. Nicknamed "America's Ray of Sunshine," she is the girl-next-door who climbed the various steps to almost the top, becoming co-host of a popular morning show. Her smiling and sunny attitude, her polite and friendly personality, have made her enormously popular with viewers. However, the cheerful and positive nature she displays is actually a mask they have sewn on her for the show. Artificial, as much as the lines she is forced to read every day on the monitors and then recite. The unexpected on-air incident, with the cameras picking up her harsh words for the viewers, highlights this aspect. Beneath the apparent positivity, Brynn in fact is full of doubts and uncertainties, tired of being stuck in her role, scarred by a difficult past. I admit that at first I found it difficult to like her because of her apparent superficiality, her brashness, and her egocentricity. However, as I went along, I began to understand her and her painful history better, becoming attached. She is a complex, troubled character with a very good development. My only criticism is that in my opinion her development, though enjoyable, is too fast. The story takes place in the span of a week and she has this profound change that okay, maybe it was already in the air, but it seemed a bit excessive to me.

Sebastian, on the other hand, is a 40-year-old man who lives in Adelaide Springs. An ex- world-renowned journalist, winner of several awards and accolades, famous for his field reports, especially in difficult areas, he mysteriously abandoned his career and disappeared into thin air. Reeling from a number of difficult episodes, characterized by a complex family and personal situation, he has found refuge and solace in the small town in the mountains, where he works a variety of odd jobs and is a member of the town council. Sebastian is a man on the outside gruff and reserved, blunt in his observations, thoughtful and of few words. Beneath the tough outer shell, however, he hides a sensitive, loyal and selfless soul. He knows that he has made many mistakes, that he is not perfect, and has no problem acknowledging his faults and responsibilities. His experiences have left him broken, scared and lost, with frequent panic attacks and despondency. Living in Adelaide Springs has helped him to recover, to embark on a healing journey, to be reborn. Sebastian is a character I really enjoyed and was so involved with his story. My only dilemma with him was the choice of the third person.  I enjoyed him a lot yes, but I realize that I could have enjoyed him more with the use of the first person.

The romance between Brynn and Sebastian seemed to me sweet, but it did not convince me. According to the premise, their relationship is supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers, and in theory, at least in the beginning, it is. Only that after a few days, once they are alone, the relationship runs fast toward attraction and then love. All of this considering that the story takes place in a week. I don't know, it seemed a bit forced to me, no matter how cute and effective they are together.

All in all, I found it a light, sweet and funny romance that, although some elements did not convince me, I recommend to fans of the genre.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I struggled with this one. Brynn was set up as a somewhat bratty character who got too big for her small hometown. She then returned to her hometown to win them back over. This is not my favorite trope. I also felt the pacing was somewhat off and very slow at the start. On the flip side, I really enjoyed some of the side characters.

Title: Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other
Author: Bethany
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance
Tropes: enemies to lovers, small town
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you to the publisher, Thomas Nelson and also NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was super cute. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope so I knew I had to read this one. Small town romance was a bonus!

I loved Sebastian right from the beginning, but it took a lot for me to like Brynn. At times she was just too much. The pacing was a little off for me as well. I wanted them to be “enemies” for months, not just a couple days.

If you want a cute, clean romance this is definitely for you! I think it was just a little *too* sweet for me. It was definitely a quick and easy read and I know I have some friends who this book will be perfect for!

Perfect for romcom lovers! Reminded me a lot of Sweet Home Alabama, but even better.
You’ll enjoy this if you like….
- small town vibes
- Morning news shows (the today show, good morning America etc)
- MC coming to terms with their past
- Grumpy cinnamon roll MC
- Not so sunshiny FMC

Brynn is the sunny personality on the morning show T.V. program. She is caught with a "hot mic" saying bad things about her hometown, Adelaide Springs, Colorado. She needs to salvage her reputation by returning to the town she hasn't called home for 20 years and win the hearts of the town and America. The first person she crosses paths with is Sebastian, who is a retired, award winning journalist, and now resident of her hometown. Brynn realized she must not only win over the members of her hometown, but also Sebastian.

Brynn, for the first half of the book is a completely unlikeable character. She is self-centered and looks down at the place she came from. As we begin to see her story and understand her history, I think we began to understand who she was and what had caused her to be this way. Sebastian seemed like a good guy through the whole story and I liked how his story unraveled and we understood who he was.

These two really seemed like enemies off the hop, but I think that the pacing was a bit off the mark for me. They went from hating each other, to something more in the span of the week she was home. I really found it difficult to believe that this whole relationship developed in such a short time. The author did do a great job of writing Adelaide Springs and getting me to believe I was in a small town.

This was my first Bethany Turner novel, and I plan to check out more in the future. If you are a fan of small town, enemies to lovers romances this is the book for you! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

"Isn't it funny how the most insignificant words could make the biggest impact?"

This book feels different from other Bethany Turner books I've read. Not bad different, but just different. I'm used to laughing out loud until I cry with her books but I didn't laugh as much with this one. There was pain, guilt, and shame that morphed into healing, freedom, and purpose which had a wonderful redemptive quality. Brynn's first person narrative really showed the dichotomy between her professional image and her real self. A whole lot of hurt from her growing up years became the self-destruct button and only coming back to her hometown begins the bridging of the chasm she created against a town that loves her. Sebastian's third person voice was intriguing - his backstory only came out in bits and pieces which left me gobbling up all of his chapters to finally figure out who he was and has become. At times it was a little difficult to follow the dialogue and thought processes, but overall it was a genuinely moving enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance. I definitely enjoyed learning about the TV studio and broadcasting culture.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I loved this. The title and cover really drew me in and I was able to really feel for the characters and the setting. I can't wait for the next book by this author.

This book simply wasn't for me.

I found the characters unlikable, especially Bree and there was no chemistry between the main characters. The banter felt forced.

The book was also a little too slow for my taste

This is my first book from this author and I was a bit hesitant to start reading it. But I am glad that I did.

What I liked:
Emotional to the point that it made me cry at certain chapters. Style of writing was good and easy to follow. Good story, good characters. The context and background good as well.

What I didn’t like:
I left like story/relationship development was moving too fast. I mean how can you hate someone in the morning and go absolutely nuts about someone in the evening. It was a bit strange and unrealistic.

Overall it was good. Thanks netgalley for the ARC

"Step into the world of 'Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other' by Bethany Turner, an enemies to lovers romance set in a charming small town. This book delivers all the delightful vibes of a Lifetime/Hallmark movie, with endearing characters and a sweet romance. While occasional flat moments affected some parts of the book, I can still appreciate the cute and quick-to-read nature of the story. If you're seeking an adorable, clean romance that is easy to get through, this book might be the perfect fit for you. Super easy and fun read!

I truly really enjoyed this romance! I waited so long to dive into it, and i wish i wouldn’t have!

Our characters are both battling so troubled pasts that cause them to be a level of fake to deal with the pain they’re harboring. The character development for both Brynn & Sebastian was top tier. I didn’t much like Brynn at the beginning but by the end i was her biggest cheerleader.

Sebastian truly was such a big teddy bear. I was LOLing at his banter with Brynn specially when she was stuck in the tree.

The author does an excellent job at holding your attention throughout the entire novel and really makes you fall in love with the setting and characters throughout the story.

It’s giving enemies to lovers and small town romance!

I will definitely read more by this author and really enjoyed this book!

Have you ever done something, or said something that you wished never happened? What if you did it on national television for the world to see and you know it probably hurt a lot of people from your past? Well, that’s exactly what has happened to Brynn Cornell and now she’s backpedaling as hard as she can to make amends to let them know, she truly feels sorry. The only problem is, one of the people she needs to convince believes she’s just faking it. Can she get him to see the “real” her? Does she even remember who the “real” her is?
Oh, my goodness, Bethany Turner has done it again! This book is full of snarky fun dialogue, quirky characters, and moments of fun relationships.
I love how the author includes SO many familiar movies, actors, and songs. It brings the story to life in a fun and charming way.
Bethany Turner has a very fascinating way of writing! It's fresh and delightful even when it was dealing with some difficult issues of these characters’ past. She gave her characters spunk and yet they also had depth and the willingness to learn from their mistakes.
This book is full of humor, drama, and small-town community living, (where “everybody knows your name”) as well as a sweet romance.
It could make you laugh out loud. I found myself having to try and be quiet while reading it late at night, so I wouldn't wake my husband.
I loved this story and will recommend it to anyone and everyone who wants a fun book to read.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Flew through this book, it was very eventful and fun and so so heartwarming! Felt myself smiling a lot.

I enjoyed the setting, even though a small town really isn’t all that rare to find in books. The characters were well thought out and the plot was paced in a way that made sense. I would recommend this book to others and would enjoy reading other novels by this author, as they are so breezy and easy to get through!

As a big fan of enemies to lovers perhaps I judge with higher expectations any book that uses this cliché. And also, because, in general I always like it just for the fact that I love the cliché and it's hard to use it extremely badly. And in this book, I also liked it and enjoyed the story, although I certainly think it's pretty hard to call enemies to lovers a book that lacks the tension of enemies as we call it.
The reality is that the title is really tricky, because not only because of the cliché, but you imagine that much of the story is going to have to do with their enmity. But no, they really hate each other for a few pages, and they don't hate each other anymore. I was kind of disappointed in that sense because I was expecting that enemies to lovers tension and I didn't find it.
The book is beautiful and apart from the fact that it is not an enemies to lovers, it is a lovely story. I would say that the second part of the book is practically a small town romance, the kind that leaves your heart warm and you can't stop smiling while reading it. And it bothers me, because I think I would have enjoyed it much more if it had been sold to me that way rather than the other way around, simply because you have expectations and you expect them to be met.
Also, just for Sebastian is totally worth reading this book for. I really want to protect him from every possible evil. He's a character I've connected with almost from the beginning and I've grown very fond of him.
On the other hand, Brynn is a character I had a hard time connecting with because I think her personality is a bit irritating. Then until we don't get to this second part of the book where everything is more relaxed, we don’t get this nice personality of her than actually makes connect with her.

Wanted to like this romantic comedy, but it fell flat for me.

Didn't connect to the characters well and the chemistry was lacking for me.

Bethany Turner's characters are deeply loveable and flawed. This book was a delight and will tug on your heartstrings more than you could ever imagine.

Brynn Cornell, a popular morning co-host, does not realize the camera is rolling when she mocks her hometown to the world in an embarrassing moment of honesty. Brynn decides to make amends with the people of her hometown, Adelaide Springs, CO., while the camera is rolling so she can attempt to save face and her job. Sebastian Sudworth, a Pulitzer Prize-level journalist, who now lives in Adelaide Springs, gets nominated to babysit Brynn during her stay. From the moment she arrives in town, Sebastian and Brynn clash.

I appreciate a well-written enemies-to-lovers story, but I had a hard time with the book's first half. Brynn is selfish and very spoiled, which makes it unbearable to want to continue reading. The second half was much more interesting, which describes why Sebastian is no longer a journalist, and those parts of the conversation between the two main protagonists made the book much better. They also fell in love over several days, which seemed somewhat ridiculous.

Overall this book was just ok, and I checked constantly to see how much further I had to read. The characters were unlikable, and it was a very slow start. 2.5/5 stars.

"Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This was an adorable small town romance novel. Brynn and Sebastian are enemies in the beginning when Brynn, morning show host, bashes her hometown where Sebastian lives. Brynn goes to visit her hometown, Adelaide Springs, to redeem herself. Sebastian is acting as her babysitter in order to fix the scandal and bring in tourists.


I loved the banter in this book and the small town mountainous feel. I enjoyed seeing the character development and relationship development as the book went on. How Brynn began to change as she spent time in her hometown with her old friends. I also loved Brynn and Sebastian as a couple, their personalities went really well together.


My favorite part of this was the ending. When Brynn goes back on her morning show after falling in love while in Adelaide Springs. It was so adorable I wanted to yell when I read the last lines.


This was a perfect, easy and clean romance to read. It is especially perfect to read when it comes out in September because of the comfy mountainous feel to it!

This was a tough one for me to get through was on the verge of not finishing it a few times. I didn't really connect to either of the characters and can't say I really cared for either of them. I didn't dislike the book just wasn't really the book for me. Giving a 3 star rating because was just ok for me. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.