Thank you to net galley and all who allowed me to read this.

This book was just a good read for me. I really loved the premise but unfortunately the execution fell a little flat for me. The banter was fun and it was a quick read.

If “Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am” was a book, this would be it. The premise had all the ingredients for a fun rom-com (rival bookstores, grumpy/sunshine banter, small-town charm), but instead it felt rushed, undercooked, and about as satisfying as instant noodles when you’re craving a five-course meal.

The characters barely had time to develop before they were shoved together, and the “romance” moved so fast it left zero space for tension or genuine connection. Honestly, if I blinked, I probably missed half the plot. The charm of enemies-to-lovers is usually in the slow burn, the build-up, the delicious hate-to-love transition—none of which really happened here.

I wanted to swoon, I wanted to root for the couple, but instead I found myself checking how many pages were left. Not the worst book ever, but definitely not one I’ll be rushing to recommend.

This was a great quick summer romance read. I really liked the romance moments and thought the characters were great.

Fight, war and love. Fantastic book. Well written and worth every minute spent reading! I liked the transition from enemies to lovers and the way Wes helped in the end.

Love to Hate You by Marina Adair

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5

This was a cute, quick summer read! I enjoyed reading this by the pool☀️

I really enjoyed the family dynamics in this read. I wanted to pinch Autumn’s head off many, many times for how she was treating Summer. The rest of her family, too! My poor girl was taking hits left and right all vacation long. I love that her dad could see she was hurting, though, and sent Wes to try to support her and make it right every single time. You could tell he truly cared for his daughter and saw her trying to play peacemaker at her own expense.

Wes and Summer’s romance was so cute! The tension and banter were off the charts. I love that he was messing with her so much in the beginning, thinking he was being cute and flirty, while she was actively trying to take him down. I was mentally kicking Wes in the shins at the end, though, when he made his choice 😭 I think Summer wrongfully took the fall for some of that, when it was definitely all his fault. The theme of this book could probably be “Summer wrongfully taking the fall” for a lot of things actually. I’m so glad our people pleaser got what she deserved in the end, though!

I would recommend this for a lighthearted, summer read. Nothing too heavy with just the right amount of spice!

Thank you to 8th Note Press, Marina Adair, and NetGalley for the eARC! All opinions stated are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
This was a really fun and quick read and I look forward to reading more from Marina in the future!

It has been a while for me for a romantic read, but this book brought my heart back to them.

I love the book and it was such a fun read. Was it partly predictable, yes. But that did nothing to take away the love I have for these main characters. The ending was the perfect way to end the book that fit the characters to a tee. I had a lot of fun reading this and am thankful for it bringing me back to the romantic books. Perfect enemies to lovers summer read!

Summer is a bookstore owner and a hopeless romantic who has to fight for the survival of her bookstore against Wes and his chain of bookstores. But when the sworn enemies meet each other at the family weekend at Summers family all bets are of the table and Summer is set in making his live as uncomfortable as possible.

The banter between these two is everything! I love the dual pov in the book, always a plus in my opinion.

The only thing i did not like were some of the family members and their treatment of Summer

No, no, no. Too many things went wrong here for me to recommend this book. What is it like? Repetitive, predictable, and promoted with wrong tropes. There's no enemies-to-lovers here. I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, I didn't this time.

ARC provided by NetGalley

This was auch a cute read. I really had fun reading it.
Love the mcs soooo much
Big thanks to netgally for this book

It has been awhile since i have read a rom-com and this was a pretty good one although I have some complaints. The good - the meet cutes, the enemies to lovers, etc are good and Wes is a good book boyfriend. The concerns- I would have loved to see Summer come into her own more and have some character growth. I didnt get to see her really stand up for herself, set boundaries and become the person she deserved to be on her own without needing someone else to "save the day." But it was a fun and quick easy read

Tension you could cut with a knife, laugh out loud humor, and especially lovable characters.

I LOVE Summer Russo, our fun-loving FMC who has a heart of gold and an easygoing manner—well, that is, as long as Wes Kingston isn’t around. Wes presses her buttons like no other person has come close to doing. Summer's known for being a gentle person, but when Wes is around, her claws surely come out. These two were the perfect enemies to lovers! The banter was BANTERING. Oh, and he calls her “love” even though they’re enemies; HOW CUTE IS THAT!? He’s also British!!! Enough said. The author really delivered with this book!

I eat up books when the FMC is book-obsessed AND owns a bookstore like you’re living my dream. I seriously lived vicariously through Summer. Not only did she own a bookstore, but she had a hot British guy to banter with… SWOON!!!

Sure, sometimes things could be a bit corny, but it’s a romcom, and that’s just how they are! Aside from a few little blips, I found a lot of comfort and fun while reading this. Checked all of my boxes!

3.7 ★ (might change to higher, I’m indecisive)

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and author for an advanced copy of this book, Love to Hate You by Marina Adair.
This book was lighthearted, fun and easy to read. I liked both the FMC and the MMC. The enemies/rivals to lovers trope is my favorite. The FMC's sister was awful and I felt like her storyline ended abruptly. I found some of the dialogue super cringy, especially during the x rated scenes. I also hate most 3rd act breakups, luckily this one didn't drag on.

3.25⭐️

i loveeeeddd the enemies to lovers tension in this book. their banter was so good!! :) plus, i really liked the slow burn.
I also really enjoyed how the book had humour, and explored several themes like personal growth, healing, and trust, and Adair, i loved her, she was such a funny character, i loved her!!! :)

I would totally recommend this book if you love a cute little romance :)

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review!

A love story between a hopeless romantic and a grumpy Brit who’d rather debate floor displays than feelings? Yes, please. Love to Hate You is a sunshine-grump, slow-burn delight filled with flirtatious banter, secret softies, and one very kissable rival. If you love books with forced proximity, messy family dynamics, and meet-cutes in the romance aisle… add to cart.

🏷️ Tropes You'll Find:
Indie bookstore owner FMC x corporate bookstore CEO MMC 📚

Enemies to lovers (with chemistry that could melt a paperback)

Opposites attract, naturally

Forced proximity (they’re neighbors, rivals, and allergic to boundaries)

Sunshine x Grump

Small-town charm, big heart vibes

Found family undertones

Unapologetic hopeless romantic energy 💖

🌸 Blush Meter: 🔥🔥🔥/ 5
Low to mid 🌶️. It’s slow burn but there’s definite heat under the surface—a lot of sexual tension, some emotionally charged touches, and one or two scenes where the kiss was doing so much. But this one leans more swoon than sizzle.

🌟 TAK Girlie Rating: ★★★★☆
4 stars for a romcom that had me smiling, swooning, and yelling at fictional family members. I docked one star for an ending that zoomed out too fast, but otherwise? Certified cozy romantic chaos in all the best ways.


Let’s start with Summer Russo—yes, her name is Summer and yes, she’s sunshine incarnate. She’s the kind of FMC who believes in love at first sight, second chances, and third-act romantic declarations in the rain. She wears pink, talks in trope metaphors, and owns a romance bookstore. I mean, come on. If you’ve ever self-diagnosed as a walking Hallmark movie but with better dialogue? You’ll love her.

She’s a lover. A dreamer. A chronic people-pleaser who just wants everyone to be happy—even if it costs her everything.

And look, I love a strong, head-down, boss-girl heroine as much as the next reader. But I also think we don’t talk enough about how brave it is to be soft in a world that keeps trying to harden you. Summer loves big. She believes in soulmates. She literally spends her life savings to save the family bookshop. And while that’s adorable on page, it’s also so real. Her internal conflict—trying to chase her own dreams while constantly deferring to her twin sister’s sharper edges—hit hard. She’s not weak. She’s just wired for love, and I respected her for it.

Now let’s talk about our resident grump: Weston Kingston. British. Rich. Emotionally unavailable with a jawline that screams “yes, I do run a publishing empire and break hearts recreationally.” The guy’s allergic to feelings, flirts like it’s a competitive sport, and shows up in town ready to compete with Summer’s beloved bookshop with his chain store empire.

So yeah, it’s hate at first sight.

But underneath the CEO swagger? Wes is a lonely boy with a wounded heart and a complicated past. He’s not a jerk because he wants to be. He’s just never really had anyone show up for him without strings attached. The abandonment wounds run deep. His estranged father left scars. His self-worth’s tied up in success. And love? That’s always been just a risk he can’t afford.

And then comes Summer—who talks about tropes like they’re strategy and looks at him like he’s worth knowing. The way she slowly cracks him open, one flirtatious insult at a time? Ugh. Elite slow burn material.

Together, these two bicker like it’s their love language. That’s how good the tension is.

But what makes the story interesting isn’t just the banter. It’s the way they see each other. Summer sees the vulnerable parts of Wes no one else bothers to look for. And Wes? He’s the only person in her world who doesn't take advantage of her kindness. He pushes her to speak up. He stands up for her in ways her own family never does.

Speaking of which—let’s address the Autumn problem.

Summer’s twin sister is… a lot. Think “cool girl with a sharp tongue and a tendency to steamroll.” Their dynamic was frustrating to read at times—Autumn takes and takes, and rarely gives. I desperately wanted a full-circle moment where Summer finally stands her ground, and while the book hints at it, I would’ve loved a bigger emotional payoff. A late-night heart-to-heart. A family dinner explosion. Something to show that Summer’s journey toward self-worth includes asking for better from the people she loves.

Also? Justice for Summer’s dad. He’s the quiet, supportive parent and deserved more page time.

As for Wes, I did wish we got to dive a little deeper into his childhood. We got glimpses—his complicated relationship with his younger brother Randy, his grief about their fractured family—but I found myself wanting more. What was his relationship with his family like? What memories haunt him? What shaped him beyond business meetings and heartbreak? The groundwork was there, but the emotional arc could’ve been explored more.

Still, the chemistry? Off the charts. Their scenes together had the perfect blend of “I want to strangle you” and “I might kiss you senseless.” It’s flirty. Tense. Occasionally tender. And when the walls finally fall, you believe it. You root for them. And honestly? I kind of wish the book had an epilogue just to give us a few more moments of them happy and settled, post-drama. They earned that.

💌 Final Thoughts:
If you love romance books where the enemies are never truly enemies, the grump has a tragic backstory, and the sunshine girl refuses to dim her light for anyone? Love to Hate You delivers.

It’s a book about pushing back when the world tells you to shrink. About finding love in unlikely places. And about choosing to risk your heart, even when you’ve been taught it’s safer to stay guarded.

Also, let’s be real—it’s a story about book people falling in love inside a bookshop war. Is there anything more TAK Girlie than that? 🤭🥹

📚 For Fans Of:
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

The Enemy by Sarah Adams

Flirty-but-soft rom-coms with emotional depth

Until the next swoon-worthy story… happy reading and happy romancing! 💕


T.A.K. Girlie 💋

This was a fun read, I read it on vacation and the vibes were really good. This book is easily consumable but the plot honestly lacked for me.

Wes was honestly really enjoyable to read, he called her love which I am a sucker for (Aaron Warner vibes). Idk if he is supposed to be British but that’s the vibe he gave.

Another thing I wasn’t too happy about was that this book is marketed as an enemies to lovers but this is anything but an enemies to lovers book. We need to stop marketing romance books as enemies to lovers because it’s very misleading.

I really enjoyed summer as a character too she was so sweet but also stuck up for herself.

In conclusion this was a 3 star read for me as the plot was lacking but the characters and the ease with which I read this book really saved it!

Thank you to NetGalley. and to the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A modern twist on my favorite movie of all - You've Got Mail? Say less, because honestly I am already squealing and eager to read!!

I felt like this one was super cute - it was an easy to read romance and for sure not what I consider to be enemies to loves - more like opposites attract, rivals to lovers. Still makes for a great read, it's just less intense than what I'd expect in a true enemies-to-lovers fashion. I really found myself enjoying Summer - she was easy to relate too, had a really soft/romantic vibe while also be fiercely opinionated and I LOVED how protective she was over her own feelings and emotions! We truly need much more of that.

Wes was....well he was the perfect romance cliche wasn't he? He fell first and harder, and would do anything for summer from the very beginning. He knew they were competitors, and sure he had his moments with a cold shoulder, but he always loved her!

There was no true "Love story" played out here - it for sure became lust but I'd say the chemistry wasn't enough to really show that they were fully in love.

I still enjoyed it though and think it would make a nice weekend summer read!

Thank you to Marina Adair, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. This was a great, quick travel read to get me ready for summer (haha pun intended).

The story follows our mains Summer and Weston who are rival bookstore owners (think You’ve Got Mail but in a small town). She owns a small, local romance book store and he is a successful English millionaire who has just moved to town and is building a big box bookstore across the street.

I loved their dynamic from them pushing each other’s buttons and driving the other crazy with pranks but secretly admiring each other. I really liked how they constantly brought up book, the typical tropes and meet-cutes. It was so fun to see them compare themselves and Wes trying to pull references for all their meet-cutes.

I found Wes’ character to be refreshing. He first comes off as a typical romance MMC, a cocky, successful millionaire but upon him opening up to Summer we learn that he’s actually purposely guarded due to the rejection and abandonment he’s dealt with from his family and past relationships. I do wish more of his past and life in England was explored and his relationship with Randy.

I enjoyed how Wes constantly supported Summer with her family and her business. He truly seemed as if he was the only one that could see her and how hard she tried to please everyone. Their communication was beautiful, he challenged her to fight for herself and she helped him see a softer side to himself and offered him stability. I loved how their relationship progressed but just wished the story was longer. The ending seemed a bit abrupt.

I loved Summer’s dad but I wish the rest of her family would stand up for her especially towards Autumn. I found every single part with her sister incredibly irritating and even by the end she still wasn’t redeemed in my eyes.

Overall I would suggest as short, quick summer read and if you’re a fan of You’ve Got Mail then the way that film SHOULD have ended.

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Small Town
Hopeless romantic vs Grumpy pessimist

The prompt of the book felt very rom-commy to me, especially with the enemies-to-lovers aspect, so I was very exited going into the book. The book was very gripping and I found myself wanting to keep reading, so the writing and pace is definitely a good aspect! I did find some parts of the books a bit cliche especially within the chicklit/rom-com genre. I don't necesarily mind these cliches if they are done correctly, which was the case for this novel. However, I'm not a big fan of a third part breakup. I feel like some authors, including Marina Adair, insert a third-act-breakup to make the readers more invested in the book (i guess?), but personally I don't like it necesarily unless there is a REALLY good reason for a breakup but there hardly is, including this book.

Things that I loved/liked within the book:
- british MMC (hihi)
- the tension between the FMC and MMC
- I love love love that the FMC is an unapologetic hopeless romantic (this is my favorite type of characters to read)
- fast pace

Things that I didn't like as much:
- the third act breakup (as previously said)
- i think that even though the book was marketed as an enemies to lovers, it lacked a bit of the enemies part. The MMC was a bit cold and distant to the FMC at the beginning but they weren't really enemies still
- i didn't like that the book was written from the 3rd point of view. While reading i sometimes kept getting confused about who was thinking certain things. Maybe for a future book the person who we are following can be placed at the title of the chapter just so we know. This would save me some confusion and cause me to keep on reading more smoothly

my favorite quote from the book: ”When you’re tired of boys and ready for a man, just let me know.” (this is just AAHHHH love it)

Overall, I think this is a great rom-commy book that is fast paced and easy to read. This seems like a perfect summer book to read at the beach. I definitely WOULD recommed this book to others :))

Thank you to Marina Adair, 8th Note Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5 stars

Love to Hate You by Marina Adair is a sizzling, smart enemies-to-lovers delight that blends the charm of You’ve Got Mail with a healthy dose of heat and heart. Summer and Wes are total opposites—she’s a hopeless romantic trying to save her indie bookstore, he’s a ruthless CEO with no time for love—and their chemistry is pure fire from page one.

Adair’s witty banter, forced proximity, and surprise family vacation twist make for laugh-out-loud moments and swoon-worthy tension. Beneath the spicy sparks is a story about passion—for books, for dreams, and for the unexpected people who challenge us most.

Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Tessa Bailey, and The Hating Game. You'll root for Summer and Wes with your whole heart—and want to immediately reread their story the second you finish.

Enemies to lovers? More like I tried to hate you but oops I fell in love—and I was here for every deliciously awkward, swoony, banter-filled moment!

Love to Hate You is the perfect rom-com cocktail: one part sass, one part sweetness, shaken up with sizzling chemistry and a dash of small-town charm. The main characters had me grinning, groaning, and giggling like a schoolgirl. You know the type—you’re rooting for them to kiss even while they’re still throwing verbal jabs at each other. Pure gold.

Marina Adair knows how to write characters with spark and heart, and this one’s no exception. It’s fun, flirty, and full of feels. If you love a good slow-burn that melts into full-on swoon, add this one to your list. 💞🔥