This book was a cute read, I found Wes very funny, his banter was great!
I didn’t really like Summer or Autumn. I found that their relationship irritated me, I feel like it wasn't really as true as it could be. Summer was a huge pushover and Autumn was selfish, yet they managed to resolve everything with the click of a finger.
I also found Randy to be absolutely cringey!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!!!
This book absolutely did not disappoint based on its name. I love me a good enemies to lovers trope and this truly delivered while also throwing in a hot billionaire as the MMC!!!! On top of that, he reads books *swoon*.

I will say that the ending felt a bit rushed as I hit 96% and therr occurred thr third act breakup. A little too close to the end of the book fot my liking. However, the delicious banter between the characters and the proposal using the bookmark really saved the book and made it a solid 4 star read.

Would highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun and spicy read!!!

Summer is a bit unlucky in love. She runs a book store that was her grandmother's, and has a flighty twin sister Autumn who Summer feels out-shines her. She's shy, a bit socially awkward, and has difficulty reading genuine romantic interest. Looking for "the One" but she never gets past the meet-cute. She also has an antagonistic relationship with handsome but cocky rival bookseller conglomerate Wes.
Get ready for:
• Family dysfunction
• Meet-cute fixation
• Forced proximity
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Opposites-attract
• Age-gap
• Dual POVs
• Open door steamy scenes

A bit formulaic, with obvious comparisons to "You've Got Mail." Cute enough, and the "love to hate you" schtick was entertaining. The obvious acknowledgement of tropes was fun (as was the running joke of the dating app). Personality-wise they seem well-matched, with both of them being family caretakers of self-centered siblings. I liked the development of their relationship as they stopped seeing each other as enemies. I had a hard time getting past the 8-year age gap, though. There's a big difference in life experience and maturity between 24 and 32, and having Wes be that much older than Summer felt mildly infantilizing for her character. Although she didn't defer to him, she did come across as immature at times. I am likely over-thinking it and your own mileage may vary, but the age gap took me out of enjoying the story a bit. Suspend disbelief for best results! Fun trope-heavy escapist read with an HEA, great if you're looking for a quick and light weekend read. 3.5 stars. Publishes April 22, 2025. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

2.5 ⭐

Oh, how I wish I trusted my gut and just DNF'd this book. How many times should we readers tell you that hate/rivalry to love does not equal hate to lust?? Please, I need tension, I need pining. I don't need "I love you, let's shaka laka boom boom." I just hated this book with every fiber of my being.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Thank you so much Netgalley and 8th Note Press for approving my request for the eARC 🩷💋

‘Love to Hate You’ is a classic enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance story, which is full of tropes, including grumpy x sunshine and close proximity.

We follow the FMC, Summer, and MMC, Wes, as they go from locking horns over their competing businesses to being forced to spend time together and deal with their feelings.

The book also tells the tale of a young woman coming into her own, after a lifetime of being a self-proclaimed people pleaser, and explores the fragility of family ties. I really enjoyed these aspects of the book because it helped me to connect with the characters, particularly the FMC.

I gave the book three stars as I struggled with the writing style and felt like it took me a long time to read for the size of the book, but this is more of a personal preference.

Overall, ‘Love to Hate You’ is a fun read and I would recommend it to fans of the iconic rom-com movies of the 90s and 00s!

I would like to thank NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

This book? Absolutely slaps. From the first page, I was hooked. It's fluffy, it's fun, and it's got that perfect amount of "ugh, they're annoying but also kinda cute" energy.

Wes and Summer? They're the definition of a chaotic couple. The whole "enemies to lovers" thing is done so well in this book. Like, you can feel the tension jumping off the page. They're constantly going at it, whether it's about their bookstores or just, like, existing in the same space. It's hilarious and also kinda hot, ngl.

Marina really nailed making them hate each other, but in a way that you know there's something more bubbling underneath. It's the kind of will they or won't they that keeps you up at night, furiously turning pages.

What truly made this book special, though, was the emotional depth. It wasn't just a fluffy romance. Summer's passion for her bookstore, her belief in true love, it all felt so real and genuine. And watching Wes's walls slowly crumble as he spent time with her? Chefs kiss! Like he goes from this emotionally unavailable dude to this swoon-worthy guy who's down to make sacrifices for love.

And Okay, can we talk about Autumn? She seriously needs to chill! Like, from page one, I was side-eyeing her so hard. I'm all for sisterly love, but Autumn's treatment of Summer throughout the book? It made me wanna throw my Kindle across the room and i love how Summer found her own voice and power to finally stand up for herself.

The way Wes and Summer eventually start to see each other differently? Absolutely beautiful! It's not just about physical attraction (though, let's be real, that's definitely part of it). It's also about them realizing they might have misjudged each other and that there's more to the other person than meets the eye. It's cute, it's sweet, and it gave me all the feels.

Thank you so much Netgalley and 8th Note Press for approving my request for the ARC <3

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Billionaire romance, age gap, enemies to lovers, opposite attract, forced proximity

"Love to Hate You" by Marina Adair is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that kept me entertained from start to finish. The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and their witty banter adds a fun layer to the story. Adair's writing is engaging, with well-developed characters that feel authentic and relatable.

While the plot follows some familiar tropes, it still manages to surprise me with its twists and turns. The emotional depth of the characters adds a nice balance to the humor, making for a well-rounded read. My only minor critique would be that some parts felt a bit predictable, but overall, it's a captivating story that will leave you rooting for love. A solid 4-star read!

The story follows Grace, a determined woman trying to rebuild her life, and Noah, a cocky, successful man who seems to have it all—except the ability to stay out of Grace’s way. After a series of unfortunate (and hilarious) run-ins, their animosity simmers beneath the surface, eventually turning into undeniable attraction. But with their past baggage and differences, can love really win?

What I Loved in this book was the strong enemies to lovers tension. Their banter was witty and kept me turning the pages!! :) plus, i really liked the slow burn.
I also really enjoyed how the book had humour, and explored themes like personal growth, healing, and trust. And Adair was such a funny character, i loved her!!! :)

I would totally recommend this book if you love a swoony romance with banter and chemistry.

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

For lovers of cheesy nineties rom-coms comes a new take on You've Got Mail !

Love to Hate You follows Summer, who owns a three-generation-owned bookshop, and Wes, a CEO intent on ruining her indie bookshop with his own corporate bookstore. But as luck would have it, the man Summer loves to hate shows up to her annual family vacation. Their proximity tests the thin boundary between love and hate, and perhaps they're more similar than they realize.

I loved both Summer and Wes so much more than the usual enemies-to-lovers couples I've read! First off, their communication was so refreshing! Both Summer and Wes always shared their true feelings with each other, whether it was their growing attraction or disagreeing sentiments towards love. While the two are complete opposites, they supported each other's growth and helped each other understand their issues. Summer wears her heart on her sleeve and allows people to take advantage of her, while Wes worries about the facts and takes control of the situation. It was satisfying to see them learn and grow from one another. I originally thought this was a 3.5-star read, but that epilogue had me swooning and kicking my feet.

I'm not a big third-person POV romance reader, but I found this one to be palatable. This was my first novel by Marina Adair, and I'll now keep an eye out for more of her books! Generally speaking, it was a cozy rom-com that would be a perfect beach read or even a vacation read.

It took me quite some time to get through this book. To sum up my thoughts—the best part was the MMC Wes Kingston. If only the FMC had been a more likable character! I always feel a little let down when I can’t connect with the main character, and unfortunately, Summer Russo was the biggest drawback for me. She came across as immature and selfish, making it hard to root for her.

Even the spicy scenes, which should have been a highlight, felt more cringy than enjoyable. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic also fell flat—we barely got to see any real animosity between Wes and Summer since most of their conflicts happened off the page. Their banter and tension could have made the story much more engaging, and a stronger slow burn would have only deepened their chemistry. On top of that, the third-act breakup felt unnecessary and disappointing.

The writing style could use some improvement as well. Despite all this, I pushed through and ended up giving it 2.5 stars.

I made it 60% of the way through this book so i’m deciding to still leave a review. I do not think that this was a bad book. I just have a hard time reading romance novels that are written in third person and I really tried to give it my best shot but the FMC and her sister and the rest of her family was really what added to my urge to DNF this. Basically every single character in this book sucked except for Wes our MMC.

Thank you netgalley and 8th note press for this arc!

💙 Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the early copy!

What happens when a hopeless romantic and a cutthroat CEO are forced into close quarters? Sparks. Lots of them. Love to Hate You is the perfect blend of enemies-to-lovers banter, forced proximity tension, and small-town charm, all wrapped in Marina Adair’s signature humor and heart.

📚 THE STORY:
Summer Russo believes in destiny, love, and happily-ever-afters—so much so that she risked everything to revive a struggling indie bookstore. But just as she’s starting to find her footing, a corporate bookstore chain moves in next door, threatening everything she’s built. The man behind the takeover? Wes Kingston, a ruthless businessman who sees love as a distraction and failure as not an option.

Determined to protect her store, Summer gears up for battle—only to get the shock of her life when she arrives at her family's annual vacation and finds Wes is also on the guest list. Turns out, their siblings are dating, forcing Summer and Wes into a week of very close proximity. Beach days, board games, and one shared cabin later, their rivalry takes an unexpected turn.

Neither Summer nor Wes is willing to go down without a fight, but when fighting turns to foreplay, their battle for the block turns into a battle for their hearts.

🔥 TROPES:
✔ Enemies to Lovers – The bookstore rivalry is on, and the tension is electric.
✔ Forced Proximity – Sharing a vacation home? The ultimate recipe for unexpected romance.
✔ Grumpy x Sunshine – Summer is all heart; Wes is all logic. Opposites attract in the best way.
✔ Family Shenanigans – A meddling sister, chaotic family moments, and a summer vacation that changes everything.

✨ WHAT I LOVED:
📖 Bookish Vibes – A romance centered around bookstores? Say no more.
🔥 Banter for Days – The verbal sparring between Summer and Wes is sharp, witty, and packed with chemistry.
🏖 Beachy Escape – The cozy small-town setting and vacation backdrop make this the perfect summer read.
💖 Emotional Depth – Beneath the playful tension, both characters grapple with personal growth, making their romance even more rewarding.

💙 FINAL THOUGHTS:
Marina Adair delivers a swoon-worthy romance filled with laughter, heart, and just the right amount of steam. If you love a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story with bookstore battles, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and forced proximity tension, this is a must-read!

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I do love enemies to lovers as a trope. And a British man as the MMC who can resist that? The twin sister I personally didn't like but it was needed for the FMC storyline to show that she's a people pleasing person. I live how you saw development in the characters and how they eventually fell in love. I was absolutely not a fan of the third act breakup at the very end of the book. That was unnecessary and it just made me annoyed and that's why it wasn't a 4,5 or 5 star read.

What happens when Summer, who’s been running a bookstore kept in her family for generations: meets Wes, who’s opening the big box book store?

He’s edgy, aggressive and all about the bottom line. Money and profits over everything.

She’s light, fun, loving and believes in love conquering all.

This book took me a bit to get into, but then around the 20% mark it really got going! I could not put it down, even at 230am when my eyes were fighting to stay open.

I love the: forced proximity, one bed, grumpy vs sunshine love story!

Thank you to NetGalley, Marina Adair and 8th Note Press for this ARC!

This is my first book by this author and I was drawn by the enemies-to-lovers premise.
Now, I have to admit it was a pretty rough start, I almost gave up at 10%. It had everything I hate in romance - cliches upon cliches, caricature of characters rather than lifelike ones, terrible writing full catch-up, pop phrases. I was certain that this would not work for me. I was curious still to see if it's salvageable, so I persisted and I finished the book. I am not sure if it actually got better or I just got used to it, but I found the whole middle section rather more enjoyable.
I was still not sold of the family vacation of grown ups being all silly games and traditions but I did like the slow burn, and the main characters gradually opening up to each other. They had their own demons and traumas to deal with but found the support and understanding they needed in each other and I loved that.
The very late third-act break up was so unnecessary and contrived that it made me angry all over. I was just thinking it was not so bad and boom, we were back to silliness and total lack of logic.
The ending was not bad, it was rather fitting the characters, so overall the story ended on a positive note for me.

That all said, this was not too bad but not great either. With the right expectations - some silliness, some melodarama and lots of cliches, it might be good reading experience for other readers.

Love to Hate You by Marina Adair
4 stars
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥/5

I forgot how much I love a good Marina Adair book. It’s been too long since I’ve been immersed in one of her books.

This was a true enemy to lovers’ plotline, which sometimes, can be not my favorite tropes. But I absolutely loved this one. Marina did a fabulous job with creating the banter between Weston and Summer. I think that is what makes or breaks an enemy to lovers’ is that the banter must be up to par. She brought her A game.

Summer felt a little annoying at times with how much of a pushover and hopeless romantic she was, but she redeemed herself throughout the book. I hated how she let her twin push her around, and I just wanted to scream on her behalf. But I know all too well what being a people pleaser is like. Unfortunately, I have a very similar trait.

I loved Weston’s history and plotline. His character was funny, edgy, smart, swoon-worthy, good-looking, and had a dirty mouth. What more could you want? Oh wait, an accent. YES. A British accent at that. Sign me right up.

Love to Hate You was the perfect feel-good read that you need. The perfect blend of sweet and spicy.

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This book took me awhile to finish because the characters kept making me so mad that I had to put it down and walk away.

The story is about Summer, a small romance book store owner who dreams of her own perfect meet-cute. She is trying to turn her struggling family shop into a success when a new mega bookstore chain location pops up next door. She butts heads with the new CEO Wes until getting to know him more and they find ways to support one another.

This story spent a lot of time on Summer’s twin sister Autumn and her love interest Randy who also happens to be Wes’ brother & all to the family relations seemed odd to me. I also couldn’t really get over the twins named Summer & Autumn just feeling too cheesy.

I found Summer’s character hard to like in this book as she seemed to be constantly upset about something that should not have been a whole big thing, but then not upset when her sister was seriously the most selfish and annoying character out there. As someone who is super close to their sister, their relationship made me cringe. I liked the premise, but did not fall in love with the characters the way I wanted to.

Thank you NetGalley & 8th Note Press for the ARC :)

A little chaos, a little spice, a little romance and everything nice…

Summer feels A LOT, and she struggles with people pleasing and standing her ground, I think a lot of readers will relate to her. Wes? That man is walking red flag, but somehow still had me invested. Their slow burn romance had some really sweet moments, even with all the back and forth tension and ooooof moments.

If you love pop culture references, spice, enemies to lovers, miscommunication, and a relationship that keeps you on your toes, you should add this to your TBR.

Thank you 8th Note, Marina Adair, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Read this if you like:
🛎Enemies to Lovers
🛎Romcom
🛎Close proximity
🛎One bed

Summary:
Summer risks everything to save a failing romance bookstore—until grumpy CEO Wes opens a rival shop next door. He’s all business, no love, and definitely not backing down.

Hoping for a break, Summer heads to her family’s beach vacation… only to find Wes there too. Turns out, her sister’s boyfriend is his brother. Now, their bookstore war and the tension between them are far from over.

Review:

🛎 This was a cute and spicy(not a fan) romcom. The enemies-to-lovers trope was done so well—the tension, the drama, chef’s kiss! And their banter? absolutely swoon-worthy 🤤 I loved wes -liike, so much!! 🤌😍 The way he talked to Summer and comforted her was just the cutest. He always had her back and stood by her through all the chaos with her family.

🛎The side characters seriously tested my patience, especially Autumn. She was so manipulative, and Summer just let things slide way too easily. It was frustrating to watch her get walked all over.

🛎 Another thing that bothered me was how quickly everything got resolved in the end. It felt rushed, and there was barely any groveling.

🛎 Overall, it was a fun, cute romcom—perfect for a vacation read if you're looking for something light and entertaining! Huge thanks to @author and netgalley for the ARC!

This was a cute read. It was not the best romance I have ever read but I still enjoyed it. The romance was cute.