Thank you for this ALC! I had a fabulous time listening along to it. I adored that the MCs both lobes fanfics - writing it and reading it. The narrators were incredible. It was an enjoyable, quick listen.

I was drawn in by this adorable spicy cover, but it was thoroughly deceiving. I haven't read a book I have been this disappointed with in a long time! Even though I loved the idea of the book; the enemies to lovers, the Shakespearean spin, and the hot-for-teacher vibes, it all fell short. If you are looking for a book that is less than 300 pages, and would like characters that are as interesting as a wet blanket, with insults and pranks that my 5 year old niece would think up, than this is the book for you!

Can we discuss the audiobook? The main female character is supposed to be Filipena, and I just don't feel like Cindy Kay helped this book out. I have loved past work that Kay has done, but this one just didn't flow for me. J.F. Harding did an adequate job, but I have heard other books Harding has done, and I know this was not his best work. At times you couldn't tell who was supposed to be speaking (which, I guess is better than a horrible falsetto fake female voice...) but it was tough to understand who was saying what sometimes. The two narrators also didn't mesh well together, and that was tough for me.

The enemies to lovers plot was weak at best. The fighting was dull, and the tension wasn't there. When they threw insults at each other, I didn't feel any passion behind it, and it felt immature at best, and cringe-y at worst. It was difficult to listen to the first 1/3rd of the book, which was ridiculously repetitive. Micah Mila (The fmc) would complain about something, and then we would hear a long rant from Professor Aiden Scott about the same thing, but from his view, and then we would hear it a third time, written as a modern-day Shakespeare rewrite of the situation. And OMG, once was MORE THAN ENOUGH.

Then the pranks. My goodness, the pranks. Ok, mostly just two pranks, one from each of them. Sometimes I read books and I think, "Wow, that was super creative! I wish I was creative like that, that character really punished that other character in a sneaky but also funny way!" (I.e. Sarah Hogle's You Deserve Each Other or The Hating Game by Sally Thorne) and other times, like in this book, I read the pranks an think "really? That is how you want to treat a co worker?" It wasn't funny, it wasn't creative and dark, it was really just childish and dumb.

Ok, let's move on to "the worst day of [her] life", where she states she lost her job, her life savings, her place to live, and her boyfriend.

Ooooook.

Deep breaths.

First of all, she did not lose her life savings on that day. She explains what happened with her money, and yeah, she was kind of dumb, but it didn't happen that day, she was being dramatic (no spoilers). She lost her boyfriend because he was a dummy and sleeping around, and I'm sure she could have made a claim on the house depending on how much was invested and how long she had lived there and what state they were in.

But this is just fiction, so let's just gloss over all of that, and just say she was being super dramatic and it really wasn't that bad. She just rolled over and took it without a fight. And then went crying home to her parents. And then complained some more when she had credit card debt after a couple months of being on her own. Suck it up, buttercup, that's life! Rework your budget, get some roommates, and GROW UP! Holy heck...

(This might be spoiler-y)
I am not even going to go into how ridiculous it was that it basically came down to either her job or his job, and neither one could get their heads out of their bums long enough to come up with a better solution. There is no way at all that the college would just "drop" the audit and come back to it later. There is a reason they did an audit. They paid a company for an audit, and just because she left, doesn't mean the audit won't be completed! Jobs are still on the line! If she had stayed (like a reasonable adult!!) and helped the college work out some solutions, maybe there would have been a way to cut costs without staffing changes!

UGH.

Ok, last thing, we're almost done.

They have one big fight, and then she ends up on her knees in front of him at school? What the what?? There was no chemistry to this, this was not hot. It was like, they are enemies, and then there is some sucky sucky, and then they are enemies until she decides she can like him because he writes mediocre fan fic and they get snowed in together? I hated this. All of it. The lazy contrived way the author put them together, still no chemistry... And then they just hooked up for a third of the book...

IDK, the entire thing just didn't work for me. For a hundred reasons. I am usually not this upset at books, I can't even remember the last time I disliked a book this much!

I do have to say, the book premise had potential, but everything about it needed life support.

ALC Review: Much Ado About Hating You by Sarah Echavarre Smith
Pub Date: May 27th
Narrators: Cindy Kay and J. F. Harding

I started listening to this book when I was looking for a pretty spicy read, and this truly delivered! The chemistry between Micah and Aidan throughout the book was top tier and I loved the fanfic element! I mean fanfic for Shakespearean plays?? Sounds like something I might need to check out...

I do often find enemies to lovers books to be a little bit overexaggerated in contemporary romances - I just often find it hard to believe that real adults would act the way that some of these characters do. Unfortunately this remained an issue in this book for me but once they gained a better understanding of each other and got together, I liked the book much more.

I really liked the dual narration between Cindy Kay and J.F. Harding and they definitely added to my enjoyment!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

🎭 Much Ado About Hating You by Sarah Echavarre Smith – ★★★☆☆

This was a fun, flirty enemies-to-lovers romance that delivered exactly what I expected, a solid, easy read with a charming premise and a good dose of banter. It’s the kind of book that works perfectly as a palate cleanser between heavier or more emotional reads.

The romance was enjoyable, and while nothing particularly stood out as amazing, it was consistently entertaining. The conflict felt a bit surface-level at times, but that also made it feel low-stakes in a way that was comforting when you're just looking for something light. The audiobook was well done and kept the pace moving smoothly.

Overall, this is a great pick if you're in the mood for something simple, satisfying, and full of enemies-to-lovers tension without too much drama.

Fans of fanfic will love this especially if you like spicy!! Aiden Scott is a professor, and Micah Mila was hired to audit his department. This could mean Aiden will lose his job. And of course that means things are tense between them. Luckily, they each have a release after work - Aiden writes steamy fan fiction and Micah unknowingly loves to read it. They DM each other as writers, and Aiden encourages Micah to write her own fanfic. When Micah finds out Aiden (her work enemy) is behind all her favorite fanfic, things get steamier. But what will happen when Micah gives her audit report? Will Aiden be fired? Will they continue their affair? Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for early access to this audiobook. The 2 narrators were amazing!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC

3.5
It wasn’t good, but I had so much fine.
Plot was mostly absent, and it was mostly an argument scene followed by an hook up, followed by argument and so on.
But I never hidden the fact that I love trash. I love reading things just because they sound bonkers. I like having fun and I listened to this audiobook in record time

Micah is an analyst. She determines who keeps their jobs. She meets Aiden, a professor at the Kentucky University Micah is auditing. Aiden and Micah share a love for Shakespeare fan-fictions where tragedies are given a new life and HEAs. This book was sweet. Aiden and Micah make a cute couple and they worked through their issues well. The ending was a little rushed, I felt like it need about 50 more pages. That is the only thing bringing my rating down. I will defiantly read more from this author. Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook for an honest review.

This was a fun, spicy enemies to lovers romance with a Shakespeare twist! I really enjoyed the chemistry between Micah and Aidan, lots of sharp banter, tension, and heat. The fanfic element was a cute surprise and added a fun, modern layer to the story. Micah was a relatable, confident main character, and I loved how openly she communicated her desires.
That said, Aidan’s behavior at work early on crossed the line into bullying for me, and it was hard to fully root for him after that. He had good moments, but I wish we’d seen more growth or remorse. The pacing was also a little fast, especially their emotional connection, which didn’t feel fully earned by the end.
Still, it’s a smart, steamy romance with a unique setup, and if you like fanfic, academia, and Shakespeare, it’s worth checking out!

Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Much Ado About Hating You is a fun and VERY STEAMY enemies to lovers work place romance. Micah is an auditor hired to audit the college that, our MMC, Aiden works. Aiden is also an anonymous spicy fanfic writer that coincidentally, Micah LOVES. I love that they had a connection through the online forum! I thought it was really cool how they met and fell for each other anonymously, while hating each other in person. It reminded me of You've Got Mail.

I enjoyed the duel POV narration on the audiobook. The narrators did a great job!

This book was an unexpected delight, I enjoyed it far more than I anticipated! The romance was undeniably steamy (let’s just say, if I end up with a baby in nine months, this book might be the reason). Beyond the heat, the characters were thoughtfully developed and experienced meaningful personal growth throughout the story. If you're a fan of spicy reads with substance, this one is definitely worth picking up!

An enemies to lovers romance complete with Shakespeare references, fanfic, and spice.

I wanted to like it... and I DID like a lot of it. However, there was one thing that I couldn’t overlook that ruined the story for me - our MMC engages in outright workplace bullying and he’s mostly unapologetic - even after they get together. Overall, it’s a good read for the spice but I’d skip it if you’re looking for a swoony MMC.

If you like:
- Dual POV
- Enemies to Lovers
- Hate to Love
- Forced Proximity
- Shakespeare
- Fanfic
- Spicy Romance

"Much Ado About Hating You" by Sarah Echavarre Smith was a book I recently read, and it was a bit of a mix. It's an enemies-to-lovers story set against a Shakespearean fanfic backdrop, which is a pretty unique idea. You have Micah, a financial auditor, clashing with Aidan, a literature professor, while she's auditing his department. The twist is, they're unknowingly connecting online through spicy Shakespearean fanfic.
I thought the concept was clever, especially the secret identity aspect of their online interactions versus their real-life animosity. The workplace romance and forced proximity elements are definitely there. It's supposed to be a rom-com, and there are some humorous moments as they navigate their mutual dislike and growing attraction. However, while the idea was fun, I felt that some parts of the execution were just okay. If you're looking for a romance with a unique premise and some academic vibes, it might be worth checking out, but it didn't completely blow me away.

this was a spicy good time. i really enjoyed the narrators on this one and the story was so fun!! i really enjoyed it

This is the first book I’ve read, rather listened to written by this author. I love a good enemies-to-lovers theme. Both narrators were amazing, I mean J. F. Harding…*swoon. The story flows really well and the characters are multi dimensional. This was a fantastic book and I’d love to read more from this author.

THAT COVER drew me into this one! SOOO GORG! This was a fun rivals to lovers workplace romance. Definitely a fun read!

*~* Best Workplace Romance *~*

Aidan is basically a literary girls dream guy. A hot, sensitive professor who is protective of his friends, and secretly writes fan fic stories. Micah is a financial auditor who doesn't deal with people's crap but is secretly an aspiring writer who's dreams were stomped on by a jerk of an ex.
The journey this book took us on with chemistry ---> enemies ---> forced proximity ---> deep conversations ---> romance and unbelievable chemistry.
Was it realistic? No. Would this have been a complete HR nightmare? Yes. But was it fun to escape into this world for a while? Absolutely!
I listened to an audio of this book and the narrators did a great job with the dual POV. I really enjoyed listening.

Thank you to Net Galley, Harlequin Audio, and Sarah Echavarre Smith for an ALC of this story.

༺ALC 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠༻
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
sᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: May 27th
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɪɴ KU: No
ᴘᴀɢᴇs: 288
Audio: 7h 38m
Narrators: Cindy Kay and J.F. Harding

Much Ado About Hating You is a fast-paced, fun, and seriously spicy enemies-to-lovers romance. Micah Mila is a tough financial auditor sent to review a university’s English department. She’s smart, focused, and not afraid to speak her mind—even when it means putting Professor Aidan Scott’s job at risk. They argue constantly, prank each other, and can’t seem to agree on anything during the day. But at night, they’re unknowingly bonding over some very steamy Shakespeare fanfic.
Micah loves reading the fanfic. Aidan is the one secretly writing it. Once they figure it out, the chemistry between them gets even hotter—and yes, the spice level is high both in the fanfic and in their real-life story. There’s also a great snowed-in scene, strong banter, and some surprisingly sweet moments as their relationship grows.
The audiobook is well done, with Cindy Kay and J.F. Harding handling the dual narration. Both bring a lot of energy to their characters, and the back-and-forth between chapters works really well. Harding’s chapters stood out the most for me, but both narrators made it easy to stay hooked.
This is a great pick for anyone who likes workplace drama, secret identities, and books that mix heat with humor. It’s not super deep or emotional, but it’s entertaining, fun, and hard to pause once you start.

᪥ Shakespeare Fanfic
᪥ True Enemies To Lovers
᪥ They Unknowingly Meet Online
᪥ Office Pranks
᪥ Spice in the story and in the fanfic
᪥ Dual POV

First of all thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me an audiobook copy via NetGalley! Honestly was in need of a fun and sexy read after my last read (a dystopian horror). Micah and Aidan had such sexy banter and chemistry. I really appreciated how much this novel modeled open and clear discussions about sex, sexual acts, vulnerability and intimacy. Personally, I have always struggled expressing sexual feelings or desires due to a lifetime of Catholic socialization. Seeing Micah communicate her wants and needs clearly while maintaining the romance of the story honestly helped loosen some of the hesitancy in my own brain regarding openly communicating desire. In addition, the characters’ discussion and appreciation of romance as a genre and mutual validation of their love of the genre was incredibly cute and comforting to read. However there were a few sticking points for me. First, the minimal conflict: even the third act break up was over so quickly over, I felt like it didn’t really make itself felt. Second, (I’ll be vague so as not to spoil the plot) some of the final actions of Aidan and Micah seemed like they could have been written in a slightly more realistic way (especially some of Micah’s big life shifts) that made more sense with Micah’s chosen path without sacrificing the HEA. Finally, this is tiny thing but there was a lot of repetitive language that started to wear on me like the use of “I can’t help it” or referring to his eyes as glacial and icy.

Steamy romance novel about an auditor and a professor who moonlights as an erotica writer, this book really delivered what was promised.

3.5 stars (rounded to 4) – 4 chili peppers – 2 very spicy fan fic authors

- enemies to lovers
- spicy fan fic authors
- hot English professor who plays hockey
- auditor who refuses to back down
-workplace romance
-public spicy time
-shakespeare retelling
-lots of foreplay and build up
- tons of tension
-poc rep
-dual pov + multiple narrators :)
-secret situationship
-no contact with family members

This was such a fun spicy ride! We immediately walked into spicy time – there are multiple times when we are reading the fan fics that the main characters are writing – which took me a second to adjust to. The story line was really good with lots of angst and some straight up hatred in the first half. I do think that both the fmc and the mmc were extremely dramatic in some of their choices. The fmc for the first 20% of this book was really not someone that I enjoyed but she does grow on you and you come to realize that her choices while annoying are justified in her mind.

Micah (fmc) is an auditor who is hired to help the college that Aidan (mmc) works for make some budget cuts. Aidan has the understandable response that Micah could be the reason that he loses his job. Micah doesn’t show any compassion about this situation and instead is incredibly defensive and upset with how the professors act. This is not the best start to a relationship, and they both go on to be incredibly petty towards each other – going so far as to physically mess with one another. Next thing you know they are shacked up together in a snowstorm and we all know how that ends.

I really enjoyed both of the siblings in this story. Aidens brother in particular was great for comedic relief. Hopefully we get his story at some point! Micah’s twin was great for her character development as she provided some much needed insight into her past relationships. It was nice to see Micah and Aiden both evolve into much nicer and well rounded humans.

I really enjoyed the audiobook for this one. The duel narration was great! Cindy Kay and J.F. Harding were both very easy and enjoyable to listen to. Cindy’s voice was clear and easy to understand. She was also able to show a wide range of emotions very quickly. J.F. Harding also had a great voice! Super smooth with just enough gravel to make you pay attention. My only complaint is that I wish that there would have been some way to realize that we were moving on to the fan fic section in the audiobook since if you aren’t paying super close attention you get lost very quickly.

Overall, I would recommend this for someone who wants a quick pallet cleanser or if you really like work place romances. It was a fun story and I hope to come back to see what happens with the rest of the gang!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for my honest review!