I went into P.S I Hate You blindly and was honestly completely unprepared for the emotional punch this beautiful story packed! It was my last read of November and ended up being my favorite read of the month and I just know it’s going to end up on my best of 2024 list as well.

The story follows Maddie Sanderson, who has recently lost her beloved brother Josh to cancer. Josh spent his 29 years living an adventurous life but there were 8 states he didn’t make it to before he got sick and his dying wish is for Maddie to scatter his ashes in those 8 states. There’s just one catch - he wants her to do it with his best friend, Dominic (Dom) Perry, the man who broke Maddie’s heart years ago. Maddie can’t think of anything she wants to do less than make these trips with Dom, but it’s for Josh so of course she agrees.

These trips give Dom and Maddie a chance to get reacquainted and start to work through their past issues and realize they still have amazing chemistry, and eventually give way to a second chance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, spicy romance.

What really made this such an unforgettable read for me though was this journey of grief and healing that Maddie and Dom take together. It feels like Josh knew that these two would need each other on so much more than just a romantic level and wanted to do everything in his power from beyond the grave to make sure neither of them was alone.

The story really caught me off guard with how emotional it made me and I was not expecting to shed as many tears as I did.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, Berkley Romance. and Penguin Random House for this copy of "PS I Hate You."

Wow - what an amazing book! Definitely one of my favorites of this year - if not all time. It was one of those books that had you laughing one minute, then sobbing the next, and turning pages as fast as possible, but then you didn't want it to end because you'd miss the friends you made.

And then after I finished it, I didn't want to read any more rom-coms because I wanted to savor the feelings for awhile.

So Maddie's brother Josh just died from cancer and the book opens (no pun intended) at his funeral. Right away we meet Dominic (Josh's best friend and the guy who broke Maddie's heart 7 years ago), Cecilia (Maddie and Josh's neglectful, narcissistic mother), and Dominic's family (reminded me of the Weasley's from Harry Potter).

Josh has written individual letters to family members, except Maddie's letter is co-addressed to Dominic. In it, he asks them to spread his ashes in 8 states that he never got to visit. But they have to do this task together.

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly is a deeply emotional and beautifully crafted novel about grief, healing, and the unexpected ways love can resurface. It is a story about loss, but it’s also about rediscovering yourself, letting go of the past, and learning to forgive—not just others, but yourself. From its poignant exploration of family dynamics to its raw, heart-wrenching portrayal of grief and emotional healing, this book is an unforgettable journey that will have readers laughing, crying, and reflecting long after the final page.

The story revolves around Maddie, who is left devastated after the sudden death of her older brother, Josh. The loss of Josh leaves her adrift, reeling from both the absence of her brother and the weight of unresolved emotions. Maddie’s grief is complicated further by the fact that she hasn’t been able to process her feelings, largely because she keeps everyone at arm’s length. Her relationships, particularly with her mother and the people closest to her, are strained, and Maddie struggles to let anyone in, convinced that she can handle this on her own. This isolation is both a defense mechanism and a sign of just how deeply she’s hurting.

When Dom, Josh’s best friend and Maddie’s long-time nemesis, shows up with news about Josh’s will, Maddie’s world is thrown even further off balance. It turns out that Josh left behind a letter, one that Maddie wasn’t expecting—and one that has a task for both her and Dom to fulfill. In this final act of love and defiance, Josh has asked Maddie and Dom to travel across the United States and visit all the places that Josh never had the chance to experience. In doing so, they are meant to spread Josh’s memory and spirit, completing his final journey in a way that allows him to live on, even if only in pieces, in these places.

Maddie is, of course, vehemently opposed to the plan. She has no desire to spend more time with Dom, a man who broke her heart years ago and whose presence still stirs up old wounds. But as much as she protests, there’s a part of her that knows this is something she has to do—for Josh, for herself, and for the unresolved emotions she’s been running from. What follows is a road trip that forces Maddie and Dom to face their past, navigate their complicated feelings for each other, and ultimately find healing in the places they visit and the memories they honor.

What makes PS: I Hate You such a powerful read is the way it captures the complexity of grief. Maddie’s emotional journey is portrayed with such authenticity that it’s impossible not to empathize with her. Her grief isn’t just about losing Josh; it’s also about the ways in which she feels abandoned by those around her, especially her mother, whose own grief leads her to retreat emotionally from Maddie. As Maddie is forced to confront her own pain, she also begins to uncover the truths about her relationships—particularly the one with Dom.

Dom and Maddie’s history is fraught with tension. Years ago, Dom made the difficult decision to break Maddie’s heart, a choice he thought was for the best at the time. But now, as the two of them work together to honor Josh’s final wish, they’re forced to revisit their past, reflect on their mistakes, and face the people they’ve become. Their relationship evolves in such a subtle, natural way that it’s impossible not to root for them. As Maddie starts to let go of her anger and resentment toward Dom, she realizes that maybe the person who broke her heart wasn’t the villain she had built him up to be. Both of them were young, confused, and doing the best they could with what they knew at the time. Their relationship deepens as they spend more time together, and what begins as an uncomfortable and reluctant partnership transforms into something much more open, honest, and heartfelt.

There are so many emotional moments in this book that will leave you teary-eyed. The grief Maddie feels at the loss of Josh is so palpable, and there are moments when you can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the weight of her sorrow. But what truly sets PS: I Hate You apart is the way it balances the heartbreak with beautiful, tender moments. The road trip itself is filled with a sense of bittersweet joy, as Maddie and Dom learn more about each other and come to terms with their past. There’s a sweetness to their evolving relationship, one that proves love can take unexpected forms, even after years of pain. Watching Maddie rediscover herself, her worth, and her ability to forgive is deeply moving, and the love story that unfolds feels earned and real.

Beyond Maddie’s journey, the book also delves into her relationships with other important people in her life, including her mother and her friends. Maddie’s strained relationship with her mother is one of the most poignant aspects of the book, as both women try to navigate their shared grief while also processing their own pain. The book does a wonderful job of illustrating how complicated familial relationships can be, especially in the wake of loss. Maddie’s friends are also a source of comfort and support, and the theme of “chosen family” is one of the most touching elements of the novel. These friendships provide Maddie with the strength she needs to move forward, and their unconditional love is a reminder of the importance of surrounding yourself with people who care about you.

The pacing of the story is perfect—while the emotional weight of the narrative is never overwhelming, the development of the characters and their relationships unfolds at a natural pace, making each emotional breakthrough feel earned. The connection between Maddie and Dom is one of the highlights of the book, but the story also provides a much-needed space for Maddie’s personal growth and healing. She doesn’t just find love again; she learns to love herself, to accept her grief, and to realize that it’s okay to move forward, even when it feels impossible.

Ultimately, PS: I Hate You is a deeply moving, emotionally rich novel that beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and forgiveness. The journey that Maddie and Dom take together is one of self-discovery and emotional healing, and it’s a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there can be light—and sometimes that light comes in the form of someone who has the potential to help you heal, even if they once broke your heart. With its richly developed characters, its sensitive handling of grief, and it's heartwarming love story, PS: I Hate You is a book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s a story about second chances, both in love and in life, and it’s a book that I will wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves a poignant, soul-searching romance. If I could give it more than five stars, I absolutely would.

I’ve read two romance books back-to-back about dead family members and traveling to spread their ashes—a dark way to close out 2024. But in spite of the tragic circumstances surrounding this book, I really did enjoy it.

Maddie is a feisty, puzzle-loving, sarcastic introvert and she’s quite angry at her brother, whose last request is to have her team up with his best friend, Dominic, to spread his ashes at all the states he didn’t get to travel himself. A request made much harder when you learn that Maddie and Dominic have a shared past that ended in heartbreak.

I found the journey these two take to be cathartic and emotional. Even as Maddie struggled to grieve and cry, I did enough tearing up for both of us. The mix of loss, love, anger, abandonment and self-doubt/self-destruction, plus the strong themes of friends as family and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone—there is just a lot to unpack here. I thought author Lauren Connolly paced it all wonderfully. I almost didn’t want it to end, while also anxiously awaited to see what each adventure had in store for them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Josh's passing has Maddie wondering why she can't mourn her brother like others seem to be able to. He was the best part of her life and now he's just gone. At his funeral, she discovers an unexpected letter that leads to adventure and the possibility of being with her brother's presence for a little longer. The only trouble is that she's forced to do the tasks with Josh's best friend and her nemesis, Dom.
Lauren's writing is easily devour-able. I couldn't stop once I started even though I also couldn't stand the MC for a good portion of the book. I really struggle with anger in characters. Lauren really focuses on the anger stage of grief, which is such a different place to sit in within a novel and I have to give her kuddos for embracing it. It's hard for me to sympathize or love on them when I just so badly want them to look for their blessings and see their character growth. The ending, however, is so beautiful. I love that Maddie finds a way to grieve for Josh in a healthier way. Josh stole the show for me from the first page. I've never loved a dead character more!
Thank you to Berkley Besties and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Following the death of her brother, Maddie fulfils his wish to scatter his ashes in 8 states he never got to visit. The only catch is, he assigned his best friend Dom as her partner to complete the mission — the same guy who broke her heart years earlier.

Brother's best friend is one of my favorite romance tropes, so I was excited to pick this up even with its heavier premise. I loved the adventurous quests to visit places Josh never got to see, and getting to know Maddie and Dom as they reminisced on their childhoods and memories of Josh. We follow along their healing journey and the author did a great job blending grief and humor.

If you like found family and slow-burn romances (with a little spice), I'd suggest picking this one up!

Tis the season to be griefy. I get that not everyone will understand Maddie's approach to grief, but I did and I was so quick to connect with her anger and disappointment but also have great hope for her.

Lauren showed great care in approaching all elements of grief and mostly importantly that time doesn't heal all but it makes it different.

Thanks to Berkley Romance for this gem, my blue Christmas heart is warmed a bit more because of this book.

What would you do if you lost the one person in the world who meant the most to you? When Maddies brother died he left her one gift she never expected. Now, she'll have to find a way to honor his wishes with the one person who broke her heart.

8 letters will take Maddie on an unexpected journey to re-discover her purpose, family, and friendships.

Life is a puzzle and when you don't have all the pieces it can be a challenge to complete it. One moment changed Maddies life but when she finally uncovers the truth will she have the courage to leap and give love a second chance?

Readers should take note that this story deals with the loss of a loved one

This one is for the girlies with complicated family relationships and/or the girlies who didn’t have any other choice to go no contact with a parent and by default have some ✨abandonment issues✨

Read if you like:
😭 Sad/Emotional Reads
🥺 Healing Plots
✈️ Adventure and Travel
🥈 Second Chance Romances
💌 Letters that Make you Cry
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Found Family
❤️‍🩹 Healing from a Loss

I absolutely loved Maddie, and I think that honestly characters I relate the most to are complex, loving and give a lot to others but also push those they love away, are a little too focused on work, have family trauma… and that’s probably because feeling seen is something validating, especially around deep traumas. If a book makes me sob while making me feel like I’m not alone I feel like stories are written for me, and are usually an automatic 5✨ read, and this story did just that for me!

I think honestly that’s all I want to say, because the book is perfection and going in blind made me love it more, so ppssse take my advice and pick this one up!

Thank you to Berkley for my ARC and PRHA for my gifted audiobook! I listened to this one and gosh, Karissa Vacker’s narration absolutely wrecked me in the best way! Also, if you loved Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez, read this book!

First and foremost, if a book about grieving is not your thing you may want to take a pass on PS: I Hate You. If you are okay with characters going through grief and loss this book is a solid read. So emotional and heartfelt. I did struggle with Maddie in the beginning, she was just a mean and impulsive hothead, but I think her growth through the novel was well done. The romance was secondary to the story and a bit too much smuttiness for the vibe of the story (just my opinion, I have a low tolerance for gratuitous sex scenes and that is how they came across in the story). A bittersweet story that does pull at the heart. There were some great secondary friend characters that I would have loved to see make more of appearance to the story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review and advanced digital copy.

Brothers bff, road trip, puzzles! Loved this one. I really liked the way grief was handled as well. It was very well done while not taking away from the romance! Great debut!

This was a fun romance to read! I enjoyed it and I recommend if you want something quick but fun! I will be looking for more books by this author for sure.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Maddie sets out to fulfill her late brother’s final wish…by visiting every state he never made it to with his best friend (and the man who broke her heart).

There are no words for how much I loved this book, or for how much it now means to me. By complete coincidence, I had already started it when I suffered the unexpected loss of a family member…but I’m so glad fate chose to give me this book at exactly the moment I most needed it.

Maddie’s insecurities were almost painfully relatable at times, and Dom is instantly one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends. This book was hilarious and sweet and poignant and made me sob so many times. It’s a plot that keeps you on your toes but is also all of the familiar comforts you want in a romcom.

In short, I can’t say enough good things, and I implore you to pick this one up. The audio production was also STELLAR and I’m so glad I chose this format!

CW: Death/grief; terminal illness; child abuse/emotional abuse

When Maddie’s brother dies he leaves a final wish for her to scatter his ashes throughout the 8 states he never traveled to. The catch? Her travel buddy is his best friend Dominic who Maddie can’t stand. Dominic broke Maddie’s heart years ago by proposing to another woman the night after they hooked up. Now the two spend time together, dealing with their grief, as the follow Josh’s final wishes and get letters from him throughout the process. As they spend time together, old feeling emerge as does the truth about that one night years ago.
This is a story more about grief with a side of romance. This emotional and raw portrayal of two people finding love through their grief journey is a beautiful one. This is a book that stuck with me long after I turned the final page. I loved the inclusion of the letters from Josh and his detailed instructions for his sister and his friend. While there were heavy themes, this book did have many moments of humor and fun. This is a book I couldn’t put down!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the advance copy.

Utterly heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time. Lauren Connolly is not one to miss! I really look forward to what she writes next.

This was an emotional, and heartfelt romance. Our two main characters, Maddie and Dominic, have lost their brother, and best friend, Josh, to cancer. They are on a road trip to scatter his ashes across the states that he wanted to visit, but never got the chance. They are both dealing with immense grief. The grief aspect hit me hard as I lost my own dad to cancer and all too well how the grief is always there, lurking in the background. This road trip isn't easy for these two. Dom had broken Maddie's heart in the past. She still feels hurt about it. You still get to know who Josh was as a person even though he's gone through the characters sharing stories about him, and his own letters to them. So this one is definitely very sweet, but also pretty darn spicy too. I ended up really enjoying this one. I loved seeing how tragedy brought these two people back together.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly is why I've been awake since 3am. I couldn't put it down. It's a book about second chances, grief, adventure, and self-work. It's also the only book of the year that made me cry real tears.

While I don't relate to the coping mechanisms Maddie utilized - I've never avoided a confrontation a day in my life - PS: I Hate You was written believably, and was just a great read. Plus...you know...it was hot.

This book. Ugh. It was perfect. I will for sure be picking up other books by this author.

What worked for me:
- Maddie's grief journey was so beautifully written. It felt very authentic.
- I loved that Josh was such a central character in the book, even though he was gone. I loved that his story was told through memories and the notes he left.
- The romance arc. I loved it. Maddie and Dom's connection was felt throughout the entire book.
- While Dom's journey isn't quite as prominent as Maddie's, I think his growth throughout the story was also great, even if only shown to highlight Maddie's journey.
- The traveling aspect of this was really great. Even though Maddie and Dom were traveling for a sad reason, I loved the authors descriptions of the places they visited, and it made me want to visit some of those places, as well.
- Maddie's overall character growth by the end of the book was wonderful. Her realization that she had some deep rooted issues and chose to find a therapist to help her work through her childhood trauma was great to see.

What didn't work for me:
- Honestly, I loved this book so much, so I have nothing here.

What you'll find:
- Brother's Best Friend
- Forced Proximity
- Dealing with Grief
- Some spicy moments
- Great banter
- Found family

Everyone grieves differently, and this rom-com captured grief beautifully. The book starts with Maddie at her brother’s funeral. She’s sharp, sarcastic, and prickly and I love her. Her brother left letters for all of the most important people (and some petty ones for some deserving folks, I like him too), but Maddie doesn’t get own letter. Maddie has to share with his best friend Dom, which would be fine if Dom hadn’t broken her heart years before. To make things worse he gives Maddie and Dom a mission to travel to the states he never made it to. If he weren’t already dead she would have killed him. The book was about love (it is a romance) but more so it was about grief and healing and the family you find along the way. The writing was good and I really enjoyed the characters. The lack of communication made the story drag just a little, but I think it worked since the two main characters were dealing with so much more than romance which is ok.

This should be marketed as contemporary fiction not romance. The entire book centers around grief and it’s so real. I loved the scavenger hunt twist at the end. I sobbed through the last 20% of the book.