4.5⭐️

Just finished Love to Hate You by Marina Adair and wow—SO good. The banter was hilarious, the tension was chef’s kiss, and the romance had me grinning like an idiot. If you’re into enemies-to-lovers with heart, definitely give this one a go!!!

- for fans of Annabel Monaghan: if you love her writing you will love Marina Adair!!

🎵 the louvre by lorde

Thanks NetGalkey for the e-arc!! Loved it sm!!

I always love to read a good enemies to lovers romance. There is just such a fine line there that’s just perfect when it is crossed and feelings come out. I enjoyed this story and these characters. They are opposites in so many ways but their chemistry is undeniable.
Summer and Wes make this a fun read especially with their banter. I feel that is so so important with book characters because it really helps bring you in to their story.

"A modern enemies-to-lovers twist on You've Got Mail starring competing bookstore owners."

I was so excited for this book, but for me it fell short. Too much of a cliche, and I really didn't like her super low self esteem and constant comparison with her sister.

Love to Hate You has all the ingredients for a fun enemies-to-lovers romance, quirky small-town charm, witty banter, and two leads with undeniable chemistry. Summer Russo, the passionate indie bookstore owner, and Wes Kingston, the brooding corporate CEO, are set up for a classic rivals-to-romance dynamic that starts off strong.

The setup is engaging, and the initial tension between the characters is entertaining, with a few genuinely funny and sweet moments. Marina Adair does a great job capturing that lighthearted rom-com energy, and the story flows easily from one chapter to the next.

That said, the book didn’t fully stick the landing for me. While the premise was promising, the emotional depth felt a bit underdeveloped. The transition from enemies to lovers came a little too quickly, making the payoff feel less impactful. It’s like everything was almost there—funny, romantic, emotional—but not quite fleshed out enough to really hit home.

Still, it’s a pleasant, quick read with a feel-good vibe. If you're in the mood for a low-stakes romance with light drama and a happy ending, it’s worth picking up—just don’t expect it to break any new ground

Don’t worry, the solution to the big-box bookstore moving in next door to the small town romance bookstore is not the big-box bookstore absorbing the small bookstore. The solution, in order for Summer and Wes to get their HEA, is a tad bit more palatable than that.

This story was much more emotional than I had anticipated. By all accounts, Summer has a fantastic family and is very close with them. It doesn’t take long to see the cracks in Summer’s relationship with her twin sister, though. And once Summer is stuffed into a cabin with her whole family as well as her arch nemesis, it becomes clear that Summer is the pushover. She does what needs to be done to make everyone else happy and keep the peace, never sticking up for herself. Not that most of her family is bad. They just don’t realize how they hurt her with some of their teasing and meddling since she never voices her discomfort. Wes notices this dynamic immediately and finds himself stepping in time and again to soften the blow to Summer. He may be single-minded and come across as pompous, but Wes is a good egg and turns out to be a swoony hero.

I was trying to figure out my problem with this book, because I did have some issues with not staying fully engaged. I love the characters, there is fantastic chemistry, Summer’s woes are gut-wrenching and were giving me all the feels, so what was the problem? Having sat with this for a few days, I think it’s the intensity of the rivals part of the rivals-to-lovers. Sometimes, Wes and Summer were cruel to each other. While I’m sure some readers eat that up with a spoon, it was a bit too much for my belly…it felt hollowed out at times. So that’s going to be a preference thing for sure.

For me, I loved seeing Wes and Summer lifting each other up…even before they became friends. That means the beginning, before they made it to the cabin, was a rough start for me. Also, I hated Summer’s sister so much and didn’t even forgive her at the end with her groveling.

Love to Hate You by Marina Adair is an enjoyable and humorous enemies-to-lovers journey, with forced proximity, a secret will with stipulations, meddling family members and steamy chemistry between unequal rivals. Summer Russo is the current owner of a local romance bookshop, one that’s been in her family for a few generations. Wes Kingston, one of the heirs to a corporate book chain, is opening a rival store, next to Summer’s store. Their initial meetings are filled with tension, misunderstanding, and conflict. Summer fiercely opposes Wes’s store, fearing it will put her beloved bookstore out of business. Wes, meanwhile, matches her resistance with equal determination, making for a series of entertaining and fiery encounters. When these two discover their siblings’ are dating during Summer’s family annual summer vacation, fireworks might ensue. Forced to interact in a more personal setting, the two begin to see each other in a new light. Through their interactions, they realize that their assumptions about one another were wrong, and what starts as a mutual disrespect and contempt begins to turns into understanding and, ultimately, affection.

Ms. Adair adds a refreshing modern spin to the classic You’ve Got Mail formula, entwining a corporate vs. indie bookstore rivalry. Summer and Wes’s journey is one of personal growth and emotional vulnerability as they move past their initial misconceptions; allowing themselves to trust and love. The family dynamics and the business rivalry add richness, making their transformation from enemies to lovers feel both believable and rewarding. The chemistry between Summer and Wes sizzles, their arguments are foreplay, and their witty back-and-forth leads to some truly swoon-worthy moments.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #8thNotePress # LoveToHateYou

I really enjoyed this book and have to say it’s one of my favorites by this author. I liked our heroine Summer right from the get-go and I wasn’t expecting Wes. I should have figured from all their arguing and bantering that they were meant to be together, but I didn’t see it at first. I really felt bad for Summer being mistaken for her oh so perfect twin sister Autumn but as the story progresses, we find out that Autumn isn’t as perfect or so together as her image projects. So many things I loved about this story - - the discussion of the various colors of pink, Cupid’s Guide to Love; how competitive Summer’s family is; the wonderful bookstore Summer owns and how a weekend away with too many surprises for Summer that a romance started between her and Wes. I wasn’t a fan of Autumn and Wes especially when their true colors started showing at the weekend getaway and yes, they eventually come around, but they’re still not my favorite characters. I did enjoy Cecilia and Frank, however. I liked seeing Summer and Wes together, but Randy does what he does and causes major trouble for Summer when an event she planned has the potential to blow up in her face. Even though they aren’t together or talking, Wes takes care of the situation and it’s a huge win for Summer in the end. I have to say not that anything was a competition between Summer and Autumn, but I feel like in life Summer won hands down and as with any good romance, we got ourselves a Happily Ever After. Great book!

I couldn’t read this book fast enough! I adored this one! Summer is living the life she loves, but also one that passed down to her. She took over her grandmother’s bookstore. She is the type who believes in HEA and wants everyone to get it, even if it’s at her own expense. Wes hasn’t had an easy life and a HEA is the furthest thing from his mind. He’s in town to get a job done and that’s it. But the infuriating woman next door to his bookstore captures his attention! I loved the banter and the hate between Wes and Summer. It was fun watching circumstances change and seeing their walls drop as they got to know each other better. I can’t recommend this book enough! Be sure not to let this book pass you by!

I am an absolute SUCKER for an enemies to lover’s story.
Summer is a hopeless romantic trying to save her indie bookstore (I would gladly go shopping at your bookstore, Summer!!). Wes is all about business and brutal take overs. The perfect pair for a good enemy to lover’s story. Add the forced proximity trope? Hook, line and sinker.
It was an enjoyable read. The story flowed well, and I enjoyed the characters. The banter between the two was fun! Didn’t enjoy the sister, but we can’t like all the characters. 😉
Marina was a new author for me, but it will not be the last book I will read of hers! I will be recommending this book.

I loved this book and could really relate to Summer. Having expected to initially dislike Wes, due to his trying to put Summer out of business, instead I found him very authentic and imminently likeable, right from the start. The gorgeous seaside setting of Summer’s family’s holiday home, as well as her quirky family members, really enhanced the book for me, though I felt very aggrieved at the way her twin sister treated her. As always there is plenty of humour, heat and heart. Reading Summer and Wes’ story made me feel really happy - it’s the perfect Summer holiday read!

Wes and Summer are rival bookstore owners. She is a small town owner, while he is a big box bookstore owner. All the other can see is competition and their store closing (more her than him). I loved the banter and the hijinks they go through. Anyone with eyeballs can see that there is more between them than the feud, but he struggles with trust due to his dad and his upbringing. She is the hopeless romantic that gets her heart stomped on constantly.

One week changes everything for them. He realizes that her family doesn’t appear to have her back, but they support her twin. His brother and her twin add a whole layer of confusion for them, and a marketing strategy could end a newly formed relationship before it begins.

I really enjoyed this book and wish we could have more of these characters. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

Love to Hate You by Marina Adair follows Summer Russo, a hopelessly romantic bookshop owner, and Wes Kingston, part owner of a chain of bookstores called BookLand. Summer is the owner of her family’s independent bookshop, and Wes is facilitating the opening of a new BookLand directly across the street. Summer hates his guts, Wes loves her hate. Even though their passion is rooted in hatred, with feelings so intense, it’s no surprise that they eventually tip the other way into love.

My personal opinions: The writing style is really easy, just laid back and relaxed (no better way to describe it). I don’t necessarily love that Summer hosts a podcast, but that’s just me personally. Summer and Wes’s chemistry (albeit one of hatred) is off the charts. I do like that Summer and her sister Autumn are so close, but good grief Autumn is infuriatingly selfish. Even worse is that she doesn’t seem to realize it. I do appreciate the way that Autumn apologized, but I still feel like there’s a long way to go. Also, the romance is electric. A truly darling ending, watching their romance grow was something I could read over and over again. I nearly wanted to wring Wes’s and Autumn’s necks several times throughout the book, but Wes redeemed himself (and then some) with his grand gesture. I give it a 4.5/5, with .5 docked because I don’t think Autumn truly made it up to Summer for how selfish she was.

This book is perfect for readers who love books about books (and book lovers), and a very sweet, rivals to lovers romance. Thank you so much to Netgalley and 8th Note Press for allowing me to read this e-arc.

This book was a lot of fun to read! I love a good, humorous enemies to lovers trope! Marina Adair never disappoints. Summer is definitely an independent, people pleaser. Wes is an arrogant, rich guy. I loved the banter in this book. The writing was solid. The pacing was good. I loved the small town. Both characters had good backstory. This kept me entertained from start to finish. An enjoyable read! Huge thanks to Netgalley and 8th Note Press for allowing me to read and review this book!

Love to Hate You was a cute enemies-to-lovers story. I enjoyed it and loved the surprise at the ending!

Love to Hate You was such a cute book. I loved the You’ve Got Mail vibes and the beachy east coast vacation setting. The banter between the two MCs is top notch and there was a lot of fun shenanigans.

There is a lot of family drama especially between Summer and her twin sister. Some of it was challenging for me personally, but it served the story very well.

I have been a fan of Marina’s for many years and really enjoyed this book from her. Highly recommend if you are looking for a fun, beachy read! Thank you to Marina Adair and 8th Note Press for this advanced copy!

If like me, you're a sucker for enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and opposites attract, you'll enjoy Love to hate you.
We got Summer Russo — a hopeless romantic who owns a bookstore and dreams of having her own meet cute. Her nemesis? Wes Kingston is a cold, corporate CEO who moves in next door with his big-box chain and zero belief in love. Sparks fly as the two clash over business models — but the real fireworks start when they find themselves unexpectedly sharing a vacation in the same beachside town. Hello, forced proximity.
Did I mention there is a pasta competition and lots of banter?
I appreciated that the emotional side of the story balanced well she spice and sparks. And when I say sparks the chemistry is like magic, the attraction made even more irresistible by the love-hate relationship.

New to Marina Adair, I was curious to see what unique qualities she brought to contemporary romances. Right off the bat, I was drawn in by her lovable characters, hilarious and witty banter, and the raw, real depth she gave not only to the main characters but also to the supporting ones in her stories. Within the first few chapters, I knew I was in for a treat.

Summer Russo gives a whole new meaning to the term "hopeless romantic." Meet-cutes, destiny, love at first sight, forever - these are words that warm her heart and fuel her dedication to her bookstore, All Things Cupid. Unfortunately, romance may have missed the memo. Plagued with meet-uglies and forever living in the shadow of her mirror twin, Autumn, Summer dreams of finding "the one" and getting her own happily-ever-after. That is, right after she deals with the pompous Brit building a behemoth of a bookstore right next to hers!

Shots are fired, and the battle between Wes and Summer rages on. Refusing to back down but desperately needing an escape, Summer turns to her annual vacation with her family for refuge - only to find the enemy darkening her doorstep. Of all the places to be stuck for a week, being trapped with her sister Autumn’s new boyfriend’s brother, who also happens to be the man trying to put her out of business, is downright unforgivable.

All his life, Wes Kingston has been the outsider looking in. Born from an affair and cast aside, Wes learned early on that the only thing that mattered was the bottom line. Love was for fairy tales - money and success were the only things he could rely on. What he didn’t expect was for a spitfire bookstore owner to make him question everything he’d ever believed in.

Determined to keep his distance and stay focused on his job and grand opening, Wes finds himself constantly at odds with Summer - and yet, he’s surprised to find there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. As the stakes escalate, so does the fire burning between them. Can they keep their hearts from becoming casualties of war?

There were so many people and moments in this book that I truly enjoyed, but the two things that stood out the most were Cleo (everyone should have a Cleo in their life!) and the annual games - specifically the scavenger hunt. These moments made me feel like I was part of the family and helped me understand why this vacation was such a cherished annual event and a pivotal turning point between Wes and Summer.

Marina demonstrated immense talent in her ability to manage three parallel storylines, giving each one the love and attention it deserved as it cycled through the classic arcs of introduction, fallout, and resolution.

I’ll hand it to Marina - I actually thought I was going to escape the classic third-act breakup. As I approached the finish line, everything seemed to be going well… until a particular chapter title reminded me that, to get that HEA, it has to be threatened first. And boy, did she go all in on the fallout.

Truth be told - I kind of saw it coming, so in the back of my mind, I was anticipating it, but she held out just long enough for me to let my guard down. Just a reminder - never trust a contemporary romance author!

Even though I was enthralled with the book, there was quite a bit of repetition, reiteration, and redundancy. For example, Marina’s references to how Wes ended up in his position were fine the first and second time, but repeating the entire situation each time became somewhat off-putting. The same applies to Summer being a mirror twin. As readers, we understood these details as essential to the characters' backstories, but they didn’t need to be fully explained every single time they were mentioned.

Despite that, I absolutely loved the humor woven into the spicy moments of the book. These days, spice in a book is a dime a dozen, and for those of us who read a plethora of contemporary romances, it’s easy to feel desensitized to it. You almost need a position or situation unheard of by mankind to really get a reaction.

For Marina, while the traditional spicy scenes were present, it was the humor embedded in those moments that truly stood out.

For those who caught the undertones, Marina beautifully blended in the love of Pride and Prejudice along with The Princess Bride. From the dog being named Princess Buttercup, to Wes as the male protagonist - named after Cary Elwes’s character Westley - and, of course, the line that still makes every woman swoon to this day. There may have been other references, but those were the most obvious ones that stood out to me.

Spoilers have been removed.

When a hopeless romantic saves a failing indie bookstore, the last thing she needs is a smug CEO setting up shop next door. Summer Russo is all heart, love stories, and charm. Wes Kingston? He’s all business, boardrooms, and brutal takeovers. Sparks fly fast—and not the flirty kind—when their bookstore turf war kicks off. But things get really messy when a beach vacation neither one of them was expecting, turns into forced proximity, and they realize their lives (and hearts) are more tangled than they thought.

This story is packed with snappy banter, great chemistry, family chaos, and just enough steam to keep things interesting. Summer and Wes are total opposites, but their dynamic is electric. If you love enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, or books about book people, this one’s for you. Pranks, tension, romance, and a touch of drama—it’s all here. A super entertaining, feel-good read!

Thank you @authormarianaadair @8thnotepress and @netgalley for the ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

Love to Hate You by Marina Adair is a fun and flirty enemies-to-lovers romance with a cozy bookish vibe.
Summer owns a small indie bookstore, while Wes is the CEO of a big-box chain moving in next door. Sparks fly when they’re unexpectedly stuck together on a family beach vacation—and things go from competitive to complicated real fast.
I enjoyed their banter, chemistry, and how Wes actually listens and supports Summer. He wasn’t the typical cold rich guy, which was a nice surprise. The forced proximity trope worked well here, and the writing was fast-paced and fun.
That said, Summer’s twin sister was hard to like, and the third-act drama felt unnecessary. Still, this was an easy, entertaining read with some swoony moments. If you like rom-coms this one’s worth a try!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Summer Russo believes in destiny, true love and chocolate cake. She has her own bookstore and podcast, specializing in the romance genre. Wes Kingston is her business rival, the tall, dark and handsome CEO of his company.

The story is not slow-burn, but it is enemies to lovers and forced proximity, full of sparks between the two.

I loved that Wes supports Summer, that he listens to her, that he sees and understands what she feels, and that they communicate beautifully about everything. The story is well written, full of emotion. I didn't like her sister and family, who all expect Summer to give them everything and give her nothing in return, especially her spoiled sister.

I give this book 5 stars.