Much Ado About Hating You follows Micah, financial auditor and fanfic reader, and Aidan, English Professor and secret steamy fanfic writer. When Micah gets assigned to audit the university Aidan works at, they butt heads even though they both have the hots for each other. As Micah spends more time auditing (and reading Aidan’s secret fan fiction), they get closer and closer until their two world’s clash. When Aidan’s secret identity is revealed along with Micah’s secret obsession with his writing, tension rises and hatred turns to lust.

My personal thoughts: Nashville!! Tennessee representation whoo! Very ironic for Aidan to try and get Micah fired when he’s all upset that she’s going to do the same thing to him. The feuding is a bit childish and doesn’t really feel like it would happen in a professional environment at all.. very grade school-ish. The smut scenes are definitely smutty, so at least that’s something. The apology scene was nerdy and sweet, and the ending proposal scene was sweet but man it felt rushed (even if nine months passed). I really wanted to love this book but I feel like the two main characters were just a bit too childish for my liking. They were both petty and seemingly emotionally immature, and I couldn’t really get past that.

Overall, I’d probably give this a 3.5/5. Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this e-arc.

Cute and spicy. And well written. The enemies to lovers didn’t hit me quite the way that. I think the author intended ( I thought there were some things that went too far for a romcom). But he’s an English professor that writes fanfic erotica on the side. And she is an auditor that could get him fired (she also kind love the anonymous fanfic erotica she found. So that is super cute. Anyway, certainly worth a read, I read an ARC.

A perfect fast paced spicy romance! And who doesn’t love an enemies to lovers Shakespearean story? The chemistry was sooooo addictive and the mutual hatred had my giggling and kicking my feet. This had a great plot and was working towards being a 4 star review but I think it could have been slimmed down a bit. Overall, it was still a wonderful story and I ate it up!

Much Ado About Hating You is giving The Hating Game, but on a smaller scale.

It's a very fast paced story, centered around a financial advisor sent to evaluate the University's English Department and a Professor, who's vocal about his dislike for the whole idea. Little did he know that the pretty brunette he bumped into at the elevator is said advisor. And he just talked sh!t about her straight to her back. (Yes, back)

Anyway, their hate is palpable and the only to stop it is to. of course, prank each other. One thing leads to another and we have a hate filled fuck in the conference room. But will their attraction survive?

In short, yes. The story takes place over 6 weeks and they say "I love you" by week 5. Weird, if you ask me.

The read was entertaining, filled with banter. I loved how the characters actually had background stories and how we got to know both of them. MAAHY is more of a tell, not show book. The characters felt too open about their feelings once they realized they chatted to each other on the fanfic app.

Other than that, it's a pretty good short romance book. Be advised, there will be steam ahead.

Ya'll I finished this book in tears, in the BEST way!! I loved this book so much!! I am just so incredibly in love with these two and this book!! Micah was such a real and raw character, and getting to watch her come into her own was amazing! Her journey to accepting and fighting for what she really wanted in her life was so beautiful, and I just loved watching her grow and heal through this story!! And Aiden was the perfect blend of nerdy and sweet with dirty and possessive! His support of Micah and his loved ones was so amazing, not to mention his MOUTH!! These two were so much fun to watch go back and forth! Their banter was top-tier and I just loved watching every showdown they ended up having! And the side characters were so much fun and added just the right tension and comedy to the story! I hope we get to see so much more of them all in the future! The added bonus of all the Shakespeare references just made my little nerd heart happy!! Overall this was a fun, relatively quick read, and I absolutely adored every minute!! 5 stars; 4 chili peppers

Tropes:
- Enemies to Loves
- Secret Identity
- Forced Proximity
- Workplace Romance
- Nerdy and Dirty
- Office Prank War

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was an absolute delight to read—it hit all the right notes for me. With a compelling enemies-to-lovers dynamic, a touch of light bullying, a charming "he falls first" arc, and just the right amount of miscommunication (never overdone), the story kept me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end.

The plot follows Micah, a financial auditor brought in to evaluate the English department at a university, where she meets the enigmatic Professor Aiden. The chemistry between the two is electric, and I especially enjoyed their sharp, witty exchanges. Micah is a genuinely endearing protagonist, seeking stability after a painful breakup with an unsupportive ex who dismissed her dream of becoming a romance author. Aiden, meanwhile, harbors a secret that links their paths in an unexpected way—and once Micah uncovers it, the story truly ignites.

Fast-paced, emotionally resonant, and full of heart, this book captured my attention right from the start and kept me turning pages late into the night.

Thank you to NetGalley and @HarlequinBooks for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn't stop thinking about Much Ado About Hating You by Sarah Echavarre Smith-it completely won me over. And honestly, if Aiden were real, l'd be first in line to claim him! If you're into enemies to lovers, Shakespeare and workplace romance, this book is a must for your TBR. It releases on May 27th, so don't miss it-it's seriously steamy.
Micah is brought in to audit the English department at a university, and that's where Aiden, the brooding professor, comes in. From the start, they're at odds, and Aiden quickly knows how to push Micah's buttons. But beneath all the tension, both characters are dealing with their own issues.
And let's not forget Micah's twin, who wisely points out that some "hand and mouth" action can be exactly what you need when you're not quite ready for a relationship!
Things really heat up when Micah and Aiden secretly start chatting on a fanfic site, bonding over... Shakespearean erotica. Trust me, this is a twist you didn't see coming, and it's absolutely delightful. The banter between them is sharp and witty, the chemistry is undeniable, and the fanfic element? It just takes things to a whole new level of fun.
Can't forget to mention the amazing narrators who brought the characters to life. They both did an amazing job!
This book is a fast-paced, entertaining read, packed with humor, chemistry, and just the right amount of steam. If you're craving a romance that's equal parts playful and passionate, Much Ado About Hating You has got you covered. Don't sleep on this one—it's a gem!
5 Stars!!!
#NetGalley, #HarlequinBooks, #MuchAdoAboutHating You,
#EnemiestoLovers, #SarahEchavarreSmith

I listened to the audiobook and absolutely loved this fun enemies to lovers take! The fact they were also fanfic writers added such a fun spin to this.

Woah HR violations galore, Batman! This story has all the right elements but the execution is a bit off.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The way I SCREAMED when I got the email with my approval for this audio was unreal and the way I devoured this one?? That should tell you all you need to know about why you need this on your TBR.

Okay, I’ll dig more: the hate was HATING. The intimacy was 👩‍🍳 💋 and I could go on, but why spoil any of the bigger parts?? Read it for yourself!!

I was approved for the ARC, too, but audio is best for me when it comes to deadlines.

The narrators @cindykay_vo and @j.f.harding were incredible. They brought this book to life in the best way possible.

This book is out on May 27th so check it out!

Thank you to @harlequinbooks @netgalley and @authorsarahs for the early copies and for giving me everything I needed (and more!)

Such a great, cozy book that managed to combine everything I adore in my personal life. I would highly recommend this not just to fans of Shakespeare but to fans of any romance genre as well. Though as a Shakespeare nerd, the easter eggs hidden throughout were the highlight of my reading experience! Though I can imagine that even for people who have never read a Shakespeare play in their lives, this would still hit all the right notes.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for gifting me a copy of the eARC!

I love me a fun little rom-com and this book definitely hit the spot for me! You meet Aiden, who is an English Professor who writes smutty fanfics based on Shakespearean works and Micah, who is an auditor who has come to look at the English department’s finances— much to Aiden’s and his colleagues’ dismay— who is a huge fan of Aiden’s fanfics.. but has no idea it’s Aiden who’s writing them. The auditing and their work life creates an enemies to lovers situation where they pull shenanigans on each other, and what ensues is an admittedly quick progression from said enemies to lovers. I loved the steamy scenes, and I do like how they end up opening up to each other about realistic things in their life that affects them. I will say that there’s some development that leaves much to be desired, especially between Aiden and an estranged family member that causes said issues for him that is mentioned throughout the entire book, and I do wish that there was a bit more growth and fleshing out between both of the main characters especially regarding some of Micah’s insecurities. That being said, I really adored them both and enjoyed the banter between them. Overall a fun rom-com!

I have a few conflicting feelings about Micah and Aidan.
I will disclose that I find I can see things in a different way- and sometimes am able to take my feelings out of matters that don’t concern me. For example, I found it hard to understand Aidan holding such a grudge towards an auditors job. It is their job to come into a workplace, detached from the employees working there, and are able to give the employers unbiased feedback of what is going on. Auditors are people who have lives too, and while being possibly predisposed to being able to turn off their feelings while at their job, they have to make a living.
I know that grown people can act immaturely while threatened. It was a bit much though when Aidan (32 years old) was whispering while Micah was talking. Then to start to question her credentials? I was in shock.
Then Micah’s immaturity came through when she decided to sabotage Aidan’s sandwich. I was wondering to myself- this is a person who is employed to remain detached and audit workplaces? I was heavily in disbelief how this was going to turn into a love story.
It did, though first came lust. Slowly building a relationship, and being able to strip back each other’s layers allowed for a connection to be made. Considering the conflicting sides they started off on, and the dynamic of “you’re trying to get me fired” x “I’ve come in here to get data” I wasn’t expecting it to happen quickly.
When they bonded over topics they had in common the conversation flowed easily. Taking out the unfortunate dynamic that was initially put in place allowed them to realize that their personalities actually do click.
I love the twist of the fan fiction writing, and how hot and heavy it was. Also, it dragged me back into an earlier time when I was once upon a time writing supportive messages to anonymous authors who wrote their hearts out for the love of writing.
Overall, if there are two people so stubbornly and perfectly made for each other it’s Aidan and Micah.

An enemies-to-lovers that I just couldn’t get into. It’s my favorite trope. However, they were just insufferable. They blew everything out of proportion and reacted absolutely unreasonably. There was no real banter, just straight-up arguing. Micha getting back at him with his food. I’m not a nice person, but damn. She just came off as too immature.

Their messaging was supposed to be free and easy but didn’t come off that way. It felt subpar for how excited they both were about the development. It was very casual and polite, like how you talk to a stranger. There wasn’t any fun flirting in my opinion.

The Shakespeare fanfic felt out of place. It was all steamy scenes and not much else. It felt like it took you out of the story.

I’m saddened about how much this just didn’t work for me. I was drawn in by the awesome cover and stayed for the synopsis but ultimately let down by practically the whole thing. These characters were an absolute no for me.

The enemies vibe was strong here and I lived up every moment. Poor guy could not catch a break, he kept putting his foot in his mouth. So many laughs. He writes fanfic in his down time and posts it online and she reads and comments. They become online friends who vent about their annoying co-worker, while in real life they hate each other, her more than him. Fast paced workplace romance and they get stranded one night together after a storm. Fun times.

This book was such a fun surprise! Much Ado About Hating You has everything I love in a rom-com: enemies-to-lovers tension, hilarious banter, a bit of workplace drama, and a secret identity twist that totally hooked me.

Micah is a no-nonsense financial auditor who’s sent to a university to evaluate their English department—and ends up butting heads with the very attractive, very smug Professor Aidan Scott. Their chemistry is off the charts, even when they’re arguing (maybe especially then), and the way they push each other’s buttons had me smiling the whole time.

But here’s the kicker: Aidan also happens to be the anonymous fanfic writer Micah’s been swooning over online. Cue the chaos (and the steam)! I loved how their real-life rivalry slowly morphed into something more tender and vulnerable once all the layers were peeled back.

Sarah Echavarre Smith writes with such warmth and humor, and I really appreciated how grounded the characters felt. There were moments of introspection and emotional growth that gave the story some depth beneath all the snark and sizzle.

My only small gripe? A couple of the conflicts felt like they dragged on a little longer than needed. The miscommunication trope can be kind of hit or miss for me.

If you love books with sharp banter, academic settings, fanfic love stories, and just the right amount of spice, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

**Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC! All opinions are my own.**

The heat between Micah and Aidan is undeniable. The fanfic angle is fun as a way for the two protagonists to interact and build a relationship. I devoured this book.

Fan fiction reader and their favorite fan fiction author is such a promising premise, and one I have definitely enjoyed in the past. While there were things I very much enjoyed about this book, something about the premise just did not connect with me in the way I was hoping. I think perhaps the disconnect for me was in the banter in the beginning half of the book - it was a little too intense for me to suspend my disbelief about the workplace setting, and it made the characters feel more immature than they had any right to be.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the stakes of the university audit (I work at a university and the current climate made this feel very salient). The spice was solid (and plentiful), the ending was sweet if a little confusing giving Micah's history with her ex.

I wasn't a huge fan of this one, but objectively, I'd recommend this to fans of You've Got Mail, hate sex, and workplace drama.

4.5⭐

Much Ado About Hating You follows Micah, a financial auditor who dreams of becoming a writer and Aiden, an English professor by day and spicy Shakespearean fanfic author by night. At the University, Micah and Aiden do not hit it off. They hate each other but at the same time can’t help but be attracted to one another. However, unbeknownst to them, they start forming an online relationship centered around their love of writing and romance.

I’ll be honest, I finished this in one sitting. Was it a life changing read? No. BUT it was a darn good time. It was so fun to read about a hot English Professor who spends his free time writing smut! Micah and Aiden’s chemistry was pretty hot and some of the things Aiden would say had my jaw on the floor.

All in all, this was a fun, spicy read and I’m excited to read whatever the author releases in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!

It was not my speed personally.

I could see why someone might appreciate it because it’s like an enemies to lovers

I’ve read some really really good fanfiction, but the snippets felt like a stereotypical fanfiction that people make fun of which took me out of it.

Spicy for sure but I guess I wanted more depth or shown. It was hard to finish but I will say the Shakespeare references and jokes were on point.