Wow! Hello spice! I never thought a book of the spicy persuasion that even 80% of the way through still has no...penetration, could be spicy. I was wrong! Smith definitely deserves a "well done" and round of applause for this vivacious and delicious, enemies to lovers romance.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harlequin Romance for the eARC in return for an honest review.
Did I love the fact that there were easter eggs of Shakespeare's work in this story? YES!
Did I love that there was a story within a story playing out like the best homage to Shakespeare's greatest literary device? YES YES YES
Did I love the love story? Yes, so darn cute!
Did I relate to the MC's and root for them to finally figure it the heck out? ABSOLUTELY!!!
Did I literally LOL? Many times.
Did I find the smut smutty enough? *Wink* Yes, I did!!! She says with a sly smile.

If you look for any of those things in your reading, then I suggest you pre-order and/or eagerly await the release date on May 27th 2025. You're going to want to read this!!!

No regrets!!!!
4.3 out of 5 stars

Although the premise was really good, I didn't have huge expectations about this book, but I surprisingly enjoyed its reading.

Here's what this is about: Aidan is an English professor who writes steamy Shakespearean fanfics published in a writing platform. Micah is a financial auditor hired by the university to help the English department so it could cut costs. As son as they met, they face hostility for the other. She's there to make changes in the department, which which would represent a possible threat to Aidan—maybe losing his job, which he loves so much. Fortunately, Aidan has a reader who loves his work so much. What both Aidan and Micah didn't know is that he's THE fanfic writer and she's THE avid reader...

Both characters have some charm, but they can be kinda childish and stubborn. I felt their interactions a bit off and their chemistry, which they have, suffers from that because it's diluted in their awkwardness. That said, the sexual tension and the banter between them saves this couple from being cringe. Aidan is an idiot sometimes, but his "double life" makes him interesting. And Micah is a tough nut to crack!!

As I said, the premise gave the story great opportunities to shine, and the side characters helped with it. The scenes were good, yet I found some were out of place. In short, I liked the story. Is it perfect? No, but you can enjoy it, and that's the goal, right?

I feel this book has a very specific demographic, and while I think anyone that picks it up will enjoy it, maybe not everyone will be obsessed with it. So many elements of this book seemed to reel me in like the workplace enemies-to-lovers, the fanfic elements, and the witty banter. But while this was enjoyed sometimes it would also got a bit childish at others. It was well pased and a quick read but it's not something I would pick up over and over again. I did like to book for what it was and think it's audience will love if for what it is.

Aiden is an English professor who spends his free time writing spicy Shakespearean fan-fiction. He meets Micah when she comes in to audit the university English department. Micah doesn't love her job since everyone hates the person who may get them laid off, and she likes to unwind by reading fanfic, but doesn't know her favorite writer is the same guy who's been a jerk to her at work. While sparks fly at work, they unknowingly bond by messaging each other using their pen-names. The first 60% of this book just felt like an HR violation waiting to happen, and the beginning attraction between the two felt like more telling than showing and I wasn't really buying it. Towards the end, the spicy scenes seem more authentic, and the HEA was cute. I thought this would be more of a Shakespeare retelling, but this just wasn't it for me. But if you're in the mood for a quick, light read about enemies-to-lovers nerds who write fanfic, you'd enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

HOT HOT HOT!!! This book was so great!!! I need more about this couple and others in this world!!! This book ended too soon!!! I will read anything by this author!!!

This book had dual narrators and they truly embody their characters. They did an excellent job. Enemies to lovers is a trope I will forever love so I wanted to read this book and it did not disappoint. Interesting side stories that are spicy Shakespearean stories which I thought was wild, but also had me turning pages faster to see what would happen next. The MMC is very realistic to the point I truly hated him at first. It was nice to see him have growth in the book.

Well, this felt uneven AF.

The first half was a struggle to get through. The MCs were annoyingly juvenile, and absolutely none of their sabotage of each other was remotely amusing. After their hatef*ck? More of the same.

Once they figured out what we all already knew about their online lives, things got better--though to be completely honest, there's a heck of a lot of sex on the page (theirs, and their Wattpad-style online fic) and I mostly skimmed through those bits.

I know, I know. But there was just so much of it. And I still didn't really like them all that much at that point.

The ending was cute, though, and as long as you can get over (spoiler)[the idea that a grown-ass woman who's still recovering from making some very bad financial decisions during her last relationship is going to decide to quit her job to write romance for a living after only writing a handful of stories and flash fiction online (hide spoiler)] you might not hate it?

I just wanted to like this so much more than I did, and that makes me sad. English professor writing smutty Shakespearean fanfic in a Shakespeare-inspired enemies-to-lovers smutty romance novel? Should be so much yes. And that cover? Lovely. It just didn't live up to the expectations for me.

Rating: 3 stars / C

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This book follows Micah, who works for an auditing company and is currently reviewing a English department of a college to see how they can cut expenses. Aidan, the MMC, works for a college professor at the school.

This is definitely an enemies to lovers but otherwise I didn't see any plot similarities to Much Ado About Nothing, the Shakespeare play, which I assumed would be there from the name.

This is a quick and spicy read. However, the characters felt quite immature at times. I did enjoy the pen pal aspect. Honestly, the plot of this book almost has more similarities to You've Got Mail, than Much Ado About Nothing.

A fun read, but not my favorite.

Much Ado About Hating You is a romance with a Shakesperean twist.

"Financial auditor Micah Mila is used to being the bearer of bad news, and her latest assignment in the local university’s English department has been especially taxing—no thanks to a literature professor who clashes with her at every turn. Thankfully, she has an after-hours escape: reading spicy Shakespearean fanfic.

Professor Aidan Scott is damn good at his job. But Micah has been a thorn in his side since the moment he laid eyes on her—eyes that really like what they see. Yet, with his job on the line, there’s no room for distractions. At least, not beyond the sexy fanfic he secretly writes."

The premise is fun- but for me it was a bit 'too.' The initial hatred was too mean (and seemed out of character once we got to know them). The enemies-to-lovers happened too fast.

But it is still a fun read!

Enemies by day. Spicy fanfic author and devoted reader by night.
Things are about to get downright Shakespearean.
All’s fair in love. And war. And fandom.

Micah Mila, a financial auditor, is used to being the bearer of bad news. Professor Aidan Scott excels at his work. When these two meet, they do not hit it off. The downside? The relationship these two are forming over Scribble Share without knowing they're talking to each other about one another.

With Micah’s audit due and Aidan’s career at risk, separating fantasy from reality becomes complicated…

This is another one of those reads that I couldn’t put down once I picked it up, but it took me a long time to pick it up. I love a good Shakespearean moment so much, and loved how these two seemingly had no clue they were talking to each other online about each other. I think the thing that got me was the raw heartache after the first sexy encounter between the two. It was obvious to me that these two didn’t hate each other, but didn’t know how to convey that. I think that part alone allowed me to see the characters in a different light.

This book single-handedly pulled me out of a book slump because of how it ended. We got angst and then a happy ending!

Big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!

This book had all the right tags for me: enemies to lovers, fan-fic, romance, and Shakespeare.

I am only 25% through the book, and I just cannot. The “fighting” is so unrealistic. I honestly cannot see two adults behaving this way, picking silly fights. You can be upset about an auditor, and you can be upset that, as an auditor, sorry, no one likes you, and that creates tension, and SO MUCH MORE could have been done here. But this was written like a 16 year olds in high school fighting over who was going to get to be class president. So immature.

But I had to quit when Micah (the gal) left her shirt unbuttoned (unknowingly) and it distracted Aiden (unsurprisingly), who tries to tell her, and then she gets mad about his honesty (not cool). And when we could have left it there, he turns around and victim blames her.

It’s all a mess. A slow burn, tense scenes were SO available, with the obvious lead up to a “you’ve got mail” situation. So much potential just wasted.

A fun read for the more adult romance fan who is here for a fun read, low stakes, and a fun and silly premise. Fanfiction fans may appreciate this, though be warned - it does not fully grasp how fanfiction culture works today, though it comes close.

Much Ado About Hating You has forced proximity, secret romance, and sizzling chemistry that will leave you breathless. If you are craving a steamy, enemies-to-lovers romance with some literary smut, this one's for you!  💕
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this highly entertaining, sexy romance!

I had such a fun time reading Much Ado About Hating You by Sarah Echavarre Smith. As a fan of both Shakespeare and contemporary romance, this book felt like the perfect blend. It’s a modern twist on Shakespearean fanfiction that takes the classic enemies-to-lovers trope and turns up the heat, all while keeping things light and hilarious.

From the very beginning, I was hooked by the chemistry between the main characters. Their banter was sharp, their tension was palpable, and the slow burn was so satisfying. I loved how the story didn’t take itself too seriously but still delivered real emotional depth and character growth beneath all the wit and spice.

The nods to Much Ado About Nothing were clever without feeling forced, and it was fun to see how the author played with those classic dynamics in a fresh, modern setting.

If you’re looking for a romance that brings together humor, heat, and heart, this one is definitely worth picking up. It made me laugh, swoon, and smile all the way through.

I enjoyed this book I loved all the Shakespear jokes and banter between the two mains. The book was a fast read I like that about it but over all I felt like it was very heavy on the Romeo and Juliet and light on the Much Ado About You. I was so excited about this book and felt a little dissapointed that it wasn't more people sneakily trying to get two people that hate each other together and more whoops misscomunication. That being said the fan fic was so funny and the banter was great! I will be adding this to my trophy shelf when it comes out!

Much Ado About Hating You was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed the fanfic writing weaved throughout the plot. However, I wish there had been fewer scenes dedicated to their workplace squabbling.

It took me a bit to get into this book. I love a good enemies-to-lovers-to-lovers, but some of the reasons they keep hating each other didn't super feel realistic to me.

There was a side story with a writing app that was a fun addition, but again, it felt like they developed a relationship based on very little, IMO.

By the mid-point, I was hooked and wanted to see where it went. Overall, a quick, satisfying read. I love a hot nerd! :)

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

You know I love a good retelling and this one was no exception. Such a good enemies to lovers! I totally reccomend this!

The story follows Micah. The pragmatic auditor, is refreshingly relatable. She's competent, dedicated, and unapologetically herself, even if that self is a little bit of a rule-follower. Her secret passion for steamy Shakespearean fanfic provides a delicious layer of vulnerability and adds a touch of playful humor to her character.
Aidan, the brooding professor, is equally compelling. Smith cleverly subverts the trope of the aloof academic, revealing a passionate and creative side hidden beneath his controlled exterior. His internal conflict between professional responsibility and his growing attraction to Micah is palpable, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.
The dynamic between Micah and Aidan is the heart of the book. Their initial animosity is expertly crafted, fueled by misunderstandings and professional pressure. The witty banter is sharp, engaging, and genuinely funny, making their eventual shift from adversaries to lovers feel both earned and satisfying. The discovery of their shared secret – Micah being a fan of Aidan's fanfic and Aidan being the author – is a brilliantly executed plot point that catapults their relationship into a new, hotter realm.
While the romance is undoubtedly the focus, the book also touches upon themes of professional integrity, creative expression, and taking risks. The stakes feel real, especially concerning Aidan's career, adding a layer of tension that keeps you invested.
Overall, It's a perfect blend of sweet and spicy, making it an ideal choice if you're looking for a lighthearted, feel-good romance with a unique twist. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers tropes, witty banter, and a dash of Shakespeare, then this book is definitely for you.

Fanfic lovers rejoice- this one is for you!

Micah and Aidan don’t have a meet-cute, they have a meet-disaster. She is doing an audit on the English department where Aidan teaches and after over hearing some not great fuming from Aidan they quickly become enemies. But wait! They’re both vibing with someone on their favorite fan fiction app after hours… what could possibly go wrong?

This book will be great for those who love enemies-to-lovers and English department punnery. Readers should know that this romance is largely steamy scenes draped over a plot, but if you’re game you’ll have a blast.