Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other is a sharply witty, deliciously romantic enemies-to-lovers story that had me hooked from the first page. Bethany Turner’s dry humor shines through in every snappy exchange, making their feud as entertaining as it is charged with chemistry.

I’ve seen some readers struggle with Brynn as a protagonist, but to me, her flaws were what made her compelling. She’s messy, ambitious, and unapologetically human—not your typical “likeable” heroine, but all the more real for it. Sebastian, with his gruff charm and hidden soft spots, is the perfect foil for her, and their slow-burn tension is pure catnip for romance lovers.

The small-town setting adds warmth and humor, balancing out the sharper edges of their dynamic. And while the banter is top-tier, Turner doesn’t shy away from emotional depth, giving both characters meaningful growth.

If you love romance with bite, complex characters, and a love story that feels earned, this one’s for you. A standout for fans of The Hating Game or Beach Read—just with more small-town chaos and gloriously petty grudges. Highly recommend!

Perfect for readers who enjoy heroines who aren’t always “nice” but are always interesting!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The character dynamic keeps the reader engaged, even if it’s somewhat predictable. I enjoyed the book from start to end.

I’m glad I stuck with this. I almost gave up because Brynn was so unlikable at first. I am thankful she finally became a better more real person as the story progressed. This is a rom com about small towns, morning shows, journalists, overcoming traumas, and eventually, romance. A decent listen and story for those who might not like spicy romance but like a good rom com.
**Thank you Netgalley for the early listen!”

This book was a fun, lighthearted enemies-to-lovers romance that kept me entertained. Brynn’s sunny, bubbly TV host persona clashing with Sebastian’s cynical, world-weary reporter vibe created great tension and plenty of witty banter. I enjoyed the small-town setting and how both characters had to confront their pasts while navigating their complicated feelings.

The story had a nice mix of humor, heartfelt moments, and slow-burning chemistry that made it easy to root for them despite their initial animosity. The narration by Talon David added charm and personality, making the audio experience even better.

While some plot points felt a bit predictable, the characters’ growth and the dynamic between Brynn and Sebastian kept me hooked. Overall, a cozy and enjoyable romance perfect for anyone who loves a classic hate-to-love storyline with a warm, small-town feel.

I didn't know too much about this book other than I really liked Bethany's earliest books and the title was fun and I liked the cover.

Brynn was extremely unlikable that I considered dnf-ing many times. I get that readers like a redemption story but she didn't seem remorseful, just that she got caught and work forces her to go back to her least favorite place. Sebastian hates her from the beginning. Brynn in her late 30s, returns to a tiny home town up a mountain. She hasn't been back there since finishing high school. It has some small town feels kinda of like Stars Hollow.

I love enemies to lovers but didn't get much chemistry or tension from Brynn and Sebastian. The quick switch was giving me whiplash. I liked hearing about Sebastian's past which made him more human. While Brynn was a little less prickly I still think she needed more of a change of heart. While her circumstances changed, the fact that she can change her personality so quickly is a red flag.

A lot of reviews mentioned too many pop culture mentions. I love when books include some but this was excessive because it just was Brynn coming off as all that. I am surprised that there's a series about Brynn's original friend group. This book doesn't make me care to read them and I'm surprised there's a lot of love for this book. Just wasn't for me.

Thanks to Net Galley and the audiobook publisher for the alc. This book and audio is already out. I didn't like the narrator's voice but then it felt appropriate for Brynn. This is a Christian publisher but there isn't any Christian themes.

Content: PTSD, kissing, mentions of genocide, rescue team on mountain

I have to say, before reading (or listening to) Brynn & Sebastian Hate Each Other, I've been firmly in the "enemies to lovers don't exist in romcoms" camp. I mean, how high could the stakes really be? It's a romcom! But, Bethany Turner has made me a believer because Brynn & Sebastian really did hate each other....until, of course, they didn't. But you'll have to read the book for more on that.

I love the complexity of the characters and their separate worlds, and how they collided in the small mountain town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado. The characters were so well crafted and executed it was easy to get sucked into the story every time I opened it. The pacing of the story was spot on - slow enough that you really get to savor the book but fast enough that you'll never get bored. And as a Colorado native, I can confirm that Turner absolutely nailed to mountain atmosphere, right down to CO natives claiming that God is a Denver Broncos fan because the sunsets are blue and orange (yes, we really do say that).

Brynn & Sebastian's stories separately were heart wrenching, especially Brynn who had more layers than an onion, and as each layer peeled back she was easier and easier to root for. Yes, she's almost insufferable at the beginning, but that's the point everyone! Stick with it, I promise the payoff is worth it. And the way she and Sebastian saw each other's worst moments, their deepest flaws, and accepted each other while also pushing each other to grow and be better was completely captivating. To me, that's what love and romance is all about. We see each other at our worst and love anyway.

Now, this review is for an audio book so let's dive into that a bit. The audiobook was fantastic. It's a single narrator, although the book is dual POV, and I think the narrator handled it beautifully. She was easy to understand (even when I sped up the book a bit) and her male voices were different enough that I could tell the characters apart just by the way she spoke. And I have to say, she really made me enjoy the story even more, I think audiobook narrators can make or break the experience of a book and Talon David nailed it.

Not only will I be listening to (and reading) this book again, I plan to read more from Turner and find more books narrated by Talon David.

Excellent story told by a wonderful narrator, exactly what I'm looking for in a sweet and clean romance. Five stars all the way! Thank you to NetGalley and TNZ for the complimentary audiobook.

It took me some time to get into the story. The narration was good and nice to listen to, but there was just something that didn't really hook me.

The premise sounded exactly like something I would like. I'm a fan of haters to lovers and thought that this would be perfect, especially with the forced proximity.

The story itself was good but sadly nothing spectacular. I didn't really like Brynn most of the time. They also didn't really feel like real enemies to me. Most of the time it felt a bit forced. I also liked Sebastians character a bit more than Brynn.

I liked the end but it again felt a bit rushed. The story had a lot of potential but in the end it wasn't really for me. Maybe the book would have needed to be a bit longer or the first third should have been a bit shorter. The pacing felt a bit off at times.

Thank you to Netgalley for this Audio-ARC!

The title totally hooked me. I was expecting "Ten Things I Hate About You" vibes. And they DO hate each other.. for a long time. The shift to romance comes super late and feels a bit rushed and awkward. Brynn is complex, but hard to like until the very end. Overall, the pacing was off. Slow start, rushed finish. And there wasn’t enough romance to balance all the tension.
Not sure it's one I would recommend..

When you need a story that will make you laugh, smile and swoon, this is the story for you. I liked the banter between Sybastian and Brynn. It was fun to watch! I have to say that sometimes the side characters are the best. The variety of charaters and personalities throughout this story made me laugh and smile. Especially Orly. I could picture him well.
The chemistry throughout the story going back and forth between dislike and attraction made this a fun romantic comedy. I liked how they both had to face the past and learn from it. Although it was a lighthearted story, the lessons in the story bring a depth to the story. I think the reader take some valuable truths from this story as well.

Of the Adelaide Springs series, I think this one was my favorite. It was a cute and easy read. I thought some of the romantic moments that they got to know each other could have been longer though.

Brynn has retreated to her hometown to try and heal her reputation and earn forgiveness after an offhand comment on the air of her morning show reveals that she isn't as sweet as she makes herself out to be. One home, Brynn encounters the grumpy Sebastian who turns out to not be what he seems either. While the story is billed as enemies-to-lovers, the two don't really hate each other as much as the title implies.

I did not find Brynn's character likeable, and had a hard time getting into this story. There was so much build up to the two of them being enemies, but they weren't. There was none of the fun banter in a typical enemies-to-lovers story. I did enjoy the small town aspects of the story, and I eventually liked Sebastian's character. I think readers who enjoy a slow burn and a small town story will find something in this one, but I didn't connect with it as much as I had hoped to, and didn't find the humor I was expecting based on the title.

I listened to this story as an audiobook and I was hooked in the first chapter and blew through this story in just a few days. At first, both main characters seemed annoying: he was rude for no reason and she seemed fake and self-absorbed. But it was like a trainwreck I couldn’t stop watching and the drama between these two characters kept me coming back to find out what would happen next. By the end of this book, I was totally enamored with all the characters and this cute little town. I also enjoyed the narration and pacing of this book. I would definitely read more books by this author!

I loved Sebastian! It was great watching Brynn come off her horse and eat humble pie. It was humorous yet with a great message of treating others well, not forgetting those who have helped you, and forgiveness. I rate it a 4.5

3+⭐

Thoughts: It took me a while to get into the book, I'm not gonna lie.
The characters weren't very lovable at first. There was depth to them but I didn't connect on a personal and emotional level with them.
They fell fast and maybe too fast?
The moment they decided to be together lead to like a chapter and the epilogue. I was interested in how they would navigate things and build something together not just where they end up 3 years later.

Plot: Brynn is the co-host of a morning show and one morning she makes a mistakes. A big mistake. She doesn't know she's back on air and says a couple of mean things about her home town, cracking her carefully curated image.
The only solution she and her boss can think of is to either go to a fancy spa and call it rehab or... go back to said mountain hometown and film the reunion of her making good with the people there.
There, Sebastian the new town counselor is tasked with being Brynn's tour guide. But who is Seb? Why is he so grumpy? Why does the cameraman that came with Brynn know him?
Will Brynn make amends and heal part of her story?
How will they fall for each other?


Tropes: workplace, dislike to love, somewhat forced proximity, healing from trauma, small town, making amends
Spice: making out and closed door (if I remember correctly)
Audiobook: Great narrators. Nothing much to add then that 😂


I got provided an audiobook ARC by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for a RC.

Overall cute and enjoyable. A bit of a slow start and build but the second half of the book was good! The main character became more likable. I wish it wasn’t written from two perspectives but the narrator did a good job of character voices.

You can always go home.

When Brynn came marching back into the town she blasted on national TV trying to mask her vulnerability and hurt it was inevitable that she’d clash with Sebastian who’d fallen in love with Adelaide Springs when he’d moved there after his own journalistic failure. But the other inevitable thing? That they’d be drawn together and fall head over heels.

I love a redemption arc and Brynn’s was very satisfying. It took a bit of convincing but the town that raised her came around. And with no small amount of help from Sebastian who saw in Brynn a kindred spirit.

Thoroughly enjoyed these characters and all of the hijinks they got up to. I think they rediscovered a lust for life and the youthfulness that can come with that. The town and its residents also represented a safe space for both of them to open up again and trust that people had their backs. Their connection was electric as well, they both tried to stay away for various reasons but alas fate had other plans.

So keen to read the next books in this standalone series!

Shoutout to Talon David, narration was top notch.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher & author for this ALC, I was thoroughly invested.

ARC Review:
📖 DNF

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect with this book and decided to DNF. While the premise sounded promising, the story didn’t quite capture my interest, and I found myself not engaging with the characters or plot the way I’d hoped.

That said, I know this book may resonate with other readers who are more aligned with its style or simply in a different reading mood. Just because I didn’t finish it doesn’t mean it won’t be the perfect fit for someone else.

I absolutely adored this story, I didn’t want to stop listening to it, the audio book narrator was wonderful and brought the story to life. At first, I thought Brynn was so unlikeable but as I learned all she went through to become the successful morning show host who spoke badly of her small hometown on national TV, I began to admire her. She had to return to that town to make amends, and I loved how she grew and was able to accept love that she didn’t think she could have. Here she meets Sebastian, and it is instant hate! I love how their relationship developed. I loved all the side characters who added so much to the story. A fantastic story, I will highly recommend, well written and developed.
Thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for this copy, this revies is my own opinion.

2.5 ⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and the publish for a review copy. This book should be called Brynn and Kelly Hate Each Other. The main character Brynn pissed me off so badly, she swears she's not a mean girl but everything she does is the antithesis of being a nice person. And we are supposed to believe this is all because she had a terrible mom. Like girl grow up please. I liked Seb a lot, he was kind and down to earth and deserves better than her. Also there are a LOT of pop culture/ news references so if that's not your thing, you should skip this one.

I wanted to love this one more than I did! The premise had potential, but for most of the book—like 60%—Brynn and Sebastian genuinely do hate each other. Then suddenly they’re kissing with very little build-up or emotional shift? It just felt a little too fast and not quite earned.

I also found the whole "making amends with the town" arc a bit underwhelming. Brynn had this deep history with these people, but instead of really working through it, it was like—cue tears, a group hug, and everyone’s suddenly cool again. I wanted more depth and backstory there, especially since her past was such a big emotional driver.

As for the audiobook: the narration wasn’t bad, but I kept losing track of whose chapter I was in. If I missed the brief intro at the start of a new section, it wasn’t always clear if it was Brynn or Sebastian talking, which threw me off.

Not a bad read by any means, just one that felt a little surface-level when I was hoping for something deeper.