This is one of my all time favorite books! Madison Kate is amazing and Kodiak is my baby boy! Highly recommend this series to anyone who will listen!

I don’t know if I’ve ever devoured a book so quickly. This story gripped me from page one and before I knew it - I was reaching for book two.

Fast paced, unpredictable, un-put-down able.

Highly recommend for the readers interested in a why choose romance series.

Thank you to Bloom Books for an early finished copy. There was no review obligation all opinions are honest and my own.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

TW: death of a parent (mother, past), violence, murder, gangs, gang violence, explicit language and sexual content, on the page sex, stalking, parental emotional neglect and abuse

I need to come back to this because I don’t have time right now to write this review. Did I rate this book under three stars? Yes. Should you mind your business when you see me reading book two? Also, yes.

I’m so weary of authors selling their books as if they are revenge stories full of feminine rage and retribution and all we get is tepid annoyance, with is overwhelmed by the extreme horniness of the FMC. The title is a lie, there is basically instant attraction she never stood a chance at truly getting revenge.

I know this was originally indie published in 2020 I believe and the books are being rereleased by Bloom Books in 2024. The first book at least is about 100 pages shorter than it’s indie counterpart. I want to know what happens next, but if this is the re-edited version there’s no way I’m putting myself through the original. I feel like the author went back in and made the language even more current. Here, let me list a few:

1. BDE (big d*ck energy)
2. Denial is not a river in Egypt
3. Not my monkeys, not my circus

There’s more but these are what I remembered off the top of my head.

This book is engaging in the way that bad reality tv is engaging. There’s enough there to make you want to keep watching, but you also feel yourself losing braincells in the process. Is this entertaining, albeit juvenile and too meta at times? Yeah, sure but the “revenge” is as lackluster as Den of Vipers, but not as severely lacking and disappointing as Corrupt.

Hey, I can admit Tate James still won though. I read it and I’m writing a review, and I’m pretty sure I’ll follow up with a TikTok. I used to think was a staple in “why-choose” romance they way it flooded Bookstagram feeds, but now I know the truth. If you’re expecting a ton of spice in this one adjust your expectations, since this is book one of four. There is mainly tension, make outs, and one kinda minimal sex scene.

Did I hate this book? No
Did I love it? No

I think the amount of times they say her full name "Madison Kate" really threw me off, lol!
But the story was good and fun and quick!

Absolutely loved this book! I read it in one sitting! Thus has become a one click author for me! Thanks to the publisher

“Madison Kate Danvers was murdered tonight.”
Those words changed my life, and not for the better.
They were wrong, of course. I wasn’t dead. But I was set up.
Someone is going to pay for derailing my carefully laid out future. Someone is going to catch the full force of my hate. How very convenient that someone just moved into the bedroom down the hall from me.

Maddison Kate is strong, abrupt and often times violent. She is everything she needs to be in this wacked out world full of gangs, stalkers and MMA fighters. Often, the reverse harem can be a little forced, but Tate never lets us down in that department. The relationships are believable and don't feel forced. Hate is written that the story and the characters come first and the why choose element is the cherry on top of a very sexy sundae. Anyone who knows Tate's writing knows that she loves leaving us on epic cliffhangers and this one is no different. Pretty stoked to be diving into Liar right away! My hopes for the series is have MK just a little less catty - it's okay to be a badass women and not need to be rude, I also need to know more about the world - the stalker, the dad etc. All of those extra characters are here but not here.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Bloom Books and Tate James for an advanced copy in exchange for a review. All books are available now via EBooks and in rapid release paperbacks.

We've got the dark romance vibes without being too dark. Dare I say a pretty good intro to those wanting to sample a taste of what dark romance is? There's darkness to it, dark themes and of course it hints into the reverse harem area though it doesn't quite get there in this book. This is a good introduction and I'm sure as the series goes on, these elements and hints at what is to come will just be elevated.

This read like a good reality tv show to me, big on the dramatics, characters that you love, hate and love to hate, and of course just the general life is a trainwreck that you just can't look away from vibes. It was easy to get sucked in and all of a sudden I'm left at that cliff hanger going "Well now what!". While I'm not typically a fan of those endings that leave so much unresolved, this one gets a free pass because of just how addicting the story is (probably helps that I read when the series was being re-released and I don't have to wait).

You'll want to clear your weekend for this series and go ahead and spiral into the dark

I loved this story and how much of a badass Madison is and how the boys are described and how she is with all of them and how she is trying to make eveything write for her and her family

In theory I should have liked this, I was really excited for it because I had seen good things on TikTok. Unfortunately I thought the story was not super well developed and MK felt very “not-like-other-girls”. Sad to say this wasn’t for me. Writing style was fine though

Hate by Tate James
Genre: Why Choose Romance
Length: 418 pages(ebook)
Series: Madison Kate Series, Book One

Thank you to Netgalley, Tate James and Bloom Books for an e-arc of this book. All thoughts/opinions shared are entirely my own.

Over the years I have heard so many people talk about this series and when I saw it being republished I took it as my sign to finally pick them up. I didn’t know much about the story before diving in other than Madison Kate was framed and she wanted to get back at the guys who ruined her life.

Overall, I couldn’t put this book down, it was a quick and easy read. The pacing felt fine and nothing necessarily dragged. However, one thing I couldn’t get over was just how many times they said “Madison Kate” and boy was it a lot. There is a lot of repetition in this book where characters will say the same things over and over again but never actually have a conversation about what’s important.

I will definitely continue the series because I want to see how certain plot points end.

thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book.
this is my review of this book.
I didnt like it. Few pages in i kinda felt weird. very weird how things went going. Maybe because this is not for me, that can happen. If you like it good for you. I didnt.

Madison Kate Danvers was what people would have thought of as privileged but then everything changed one night. During Riot Night on Halloween, Madison Kate is framed as being the "mastermind" behind a horrific event where gang violence led to murder and mayhem. Even though she's later found innocent of the crimes, the public still knows her as the person there that night and there always seems to be some stigma surrounding her. In addition, her future plans for college were erased the minute she was arrested despite the not guilty verdict. Her entire plan for the future is derailed. And she believes the three guys now living in her father's house were the ones that set her up. The three very hot guys who want to control her in the guise of protecting her. The same three who she finds irresistibly attractive even though she wishes she didn't. Madison Kate refuses to succumb to their charms because she intends to "get even."

This was an enjoyable start to this series and I look forward to continuing it. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I love a good enemies to lovers book! This was SO GOOD, I didn't want to put it down. I can't wait to read the next one! Very well written!

this was such a good and quick read, I was hooked from the beginning and still full of so many questions so I'm excited to read more! I can't wait to see where this story will go and If it's a why choose or if she does choose one of the boys.

Classic college girl romance. I enjoyed this. The tension between the characters was fun and I liked the love hate relationships. I hated the language though, maybe it’s meant for a younger demographic but some of the language was cringe.

The ending is left open so it’s meant to be continued through to the next book. This is NOT a one and done story.

Delving into Tate James' "Hate" was an exhilarating journey, a stark contrast to the juvenile revenge plots I've previously encountered. This narrative, rich with complexity and depth, introduces us to Madison Kate Danvers, ensnared in a web of betrayal and framed for a riot that spirals her life into chaos. The characters, particularly the trio of Archer, Max, and Kodiak, are intricately crafted, each with their unique allure and shadows. The blend of intense drama, the quest for vengeance, and the unexpected living arrangements under her father's roof, where tensions and passions intertwine, captivated me. Despite some plot elements stretching believability, the book's essence — a fierce heroine navigating through adversity, betrayal, and the murky waters of revenge — resonated deeply. The narration, too, added layers of emotion and authenticity, making "Hate" a compelling tale of resilience, redemption, and the complexities of human connections.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book as I tend to find 'Why Choose?' novels are a bit hit or miss. I really, really enjoyed this story though. It was incredibly well paced, and there wasn't any part where I felt like the story was losing its momentum. I liked the characters well enough, although it took me much longer than I care to admit to distinguish the three guys from one another.

I did feel that this was more like a prequel story, as there are still so many threads that need to be unravelled. I also cannot take the word 'engorged' seriously. It reminds me of that scene in '10 Things I Hate About You' and it really threw me off my game - BUT that's just personal preference.

The audiobook was this makes this book 10000% better. The narration between Brooke Daniels and Lucas Webley was soooo good. It is duet narration so you know how that goes.

Kody, Archer, Steele, and Madison. Madison was framed for a crime she did not commit. Her father basically allowed it to ruin her life even though it was proven that she didn’t do it. Filled with hate she goes to Cambodia with her aunt. Her aunt dies and she is forced to go home where she finds the 3 guys who framed her living in her fathers house. Mad at being put in this situation she is determined to make them pay for framing her.

I really like Madison Kate. She is a tough FMC and has been through a lot. Her father hates her and the city of Shadow Grove are no better. The banter between Madison and the guys was hilarious and I loved it. Can we also talk about how hot the guys are? Talk about YUM.

Thank you so much @Read_Bloom for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 06 February 2024)

SYNOPSIS | After a Halloween night gone wrong, Madison Kate is framed and wrongfully charged for a crime that she didn't commit. After a year away, she returns to find that the three boys who framed her are also living in her father's house.

WHAT I LIKED:
- MK's snarky attitude
- the blend of steamy romance & mystery
- a fun, over-the-top, escapist kind of read

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the cliffhanger ending (especially as I am not sure that i'll continue in the series)
- so many plot holes that make things oh so convenient throughout the story
- I didn't understand the world building or character backstories as well as I wanted to
- all of the romances sadly didn't do it for me

Hate, and the Madison Kate series has been a staple among reverse harem lovers for years. It is a go-to recommendation for any interested readers and is always floating around the bookish community. It’s slightly wild seeing unconventional romance books reaching mainstream book shops and traditional publishers but it is great seeing more diversity in the genre and not just in self-published novels.
Hate has been on my lists for years so getting the opportunity to read it now that Bloom Books has acquired the series was great.
The tag line always captured my interest:

"Madison Kate Danvers was murdered tonight."
Those words changed my life, and not for the better.
They were wrong, of course. I wasn't dead. But I was set up.

So, I always expected that MK would be trying to solve her ‘murder’ and what not so the actual plot was a total surprise to me.
Madison Kate is desperate for freedom. Her politically focused father demands obedience and perfection to keep his image clean. The book opens with MK and her best friend Bree sneak off to an underground MMA fight. Things go awry when conflicting gangs get into a gun fight leaving the best friends to find their way home without finding trouble. This doesn’t happen and whilst Bree gets to the car, MK hides from an especially ruthless gang member. She is ‘rescued’ by a few men and sent on her way home. That is until she is pulled over by the police and found with incriminating evidence in a hoodie, she was given by one of the men. Put on trial and persecuted to those around her, MK leaves to live with her distant aunt in Cambodia to try and escape the relentless prejudice she faces at home for a crime she did not commit. She finally returns home after her delightful father (sarcasm) summons her home where she faces the men who incriminated her back on that fateful night.
This is a reverse harem, so there is at least three love interests. Each character had a very distinctive personality meaning they compliment one another and MK well. Archer, Kodiak and Steele are successful in their own right and a battle of wills and wit ensues when MK tried to get rid of them from her father’s house.
There are multiple plot lines woven together in this book. There were gangs, stalkers, enemies to lovers’ pranks and battles, reunited friends and really crappy parents.
Unfortunately, I didn’t like this as much as I had hoped. It felt very juvenile and cheesy. I found the fact that MK and Bree became friends again very unrealistic. Bree didn’t testify on MK’s behalf and left her to face a trial for something she didn’t do. No person would accept that betrayal as if she was stood up at dinner or avoided her calls. It was really serious, and it was brushed over like it wasn’t. I would have preferred that MK found a new friend who believed her and supported her, now she was back facing that community again.
The guys were interesting, but I felt as if we as readers didn’t actually know them.
I think I will read the second book in the hopes it will improve but unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations.
Thank you for the eARC