CEO I Hate is a fun, fiery enemies-to-lovers romance that blends family drama, workplace tension, and heartfelt emotion. Struggling writer Mia Collins has spent years chasing her dream, despite her parents pushing her to give it up. When a chance encounter at a coffee shop reunites her with Liam Lockhart—her brother’s best friend and a billionaire CEO who once kissed then rejected her—sparks immediately fly. Soon, Mia lands a writing job at his TV studio, forcing them into close-quarters collaboration where banter, attraction, and jealousy run high. But Liam is torn between his loyalty to her protective brother and his undeniable feelings for Mia. With family complications, career challenges, and a stray dog thrown into the mix, this is a witty, heartfelt romance about learning to prioritize love and trust while balancing ambition and responsibility.

This was an ok read. I felt that it started off stronger than it finished and the characters lacked the development I was hoping for.

Personally I feel that the last intimate scene was unnecessary and I didn't love the ending.

Overall I would recommend this to very specific reads.

This was a fun, quick read with adorable characters with lots of banter. Mia was herself and owned it the whole time. Liam was definitely a “boss,” which could be somewhat of a turnoff but his love for his family was sweet. They were hot together though! I will definitely continue to read The Lockhart Brothers series.

This book had me hooked from the very first page. The tension between the leads was both infuriating and addictive. The banter was sharp, the slow build delicious, and when things finally tipped over… let’s just say it was worth every page of restraint!!! A perfect blend of forbidden, swoony, and unputdownable.

3 Ash Stars ⭐️
Spicy Rating: 🌶️🌶️/5

What is with me reading brother’s best friend romances lately, where the brother does not support the relationship, or there is the constant "tension" that he wont? This is one of my least favourite ways to execute this trope... I do not know what has infiltrated my reading choices at the moment, but it needs to stop, because I do not enjoy this type of story!!! Since I do not enjoy it, it automatically affects how I feel about the book.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Mia Collins is a graphic writer and has a successful webcomic targeted towards high schoolers, where one of the characters is based on her brother’s best friend. He is ten years older than her, surly, grumpy, and almost always an ass towards her. He also happens to be the CEO of a production company and is looking for a writer to assist on one of his series after the lead writer steps down. His best friend recommends his sister, and as Liam will do anything to cheer him up after a recent firefighting accident left him unable to walk, he agrees to give her a chance. Mia not only impressed him in the interview but also the rest of the writing team and landed herself the job... so now Mia has to be nice to the CEO she hates but also thinks is RIDICULOUSLY SEXY... to bad he can't be attracted to her because she is his BEST FRIEND'S SISTER...

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really loved Mia. She has a girl-next-door vibe that makes you want to root for her no matter what. She stands up for her values, is driven, determined to be independent, and wants to make her own way. She refuses to have things handed to her and wants to prove herself, especially since her parents have been against her career as a writer. She sticks to her guns and does what makes her happy. She owns who she is and does not let herself be bullied or walked over but is open to compromise and discussion. She was a genuinely interesting character to read about and I loved being in her head.

Our grumpy CEO is where I had more issues. Liam Lockhart has sexual appeal, and it was sweet how close he is to his family, and how much he cares for the people who work for him. However, one major flaw is his tendency to take over decision-making entirely. He believes he has to solve everything himself and approaches problems with determination and practicality, often ignoring feelings in the process. He is very analytical and direct, which can come across as abrasive... now this does come through in the story as a "thing" he needs to work on, but it still annoyed me because I couldn't like him while he was working through this...

From a relationship perspective, I did like the enemies-to-lovers pull. These two dislike each other, but despite the dislike, they are highly attracted to each other, so they battle this chemistry while also being forced into this super close proximity. Soon, things begin to happen, and she becomes his “dirty little secret” forcing them to navigate that situation. Their union is explosive, exciting and sweet. But... there is something that is difficult to explain, but something just did not click between these two. I think it was that their attraction was based more on physical desire than a mental or emotional connection. While there were glimpses of something deeper, there was almost too much conflict very early in a relationship for me to believe this was a relationship that would last long-term.

Overall, the romance felt like it was missing something. I could not quite put my finger on it, but the chemistry was not sizzling. It was hot, but not burning off the page. The banter felt a little forced at times, and I disliked that neither character was willing to have open, honest conversations with her brother or with each other about what the relationship meant to them and how it could work. Some conflicts were resolved too quickly, leaving me feeling like I was watching a Hallmark movie when I had been expecting a blockbuster. Hallmark movies are lovely, sweet, and reliable, but you generally know exactly what you are going to get.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Brother's Best Friend Romance
▶ Enemies Hate to Lovers
▶ BossXEmployee (Workplace Romance)
▶ Nicknames
▶ Billionaire Romance
▶ Age Gap
▶ "You Taste Like"
▶ Forced Proximity

That said, I still enjoyed this. It was a light, easy read that is perfect if you want something to pass the time, perfect for a holiday or weekend binge. If you love the tropes, it’ll scratch the itch with a satisfying sense of completion when you turn the last page.

Thank you to Relay Publishing, Netgalley and Leslie North for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own

"The CEO I Hate" is a captivating read! The plot is expertly crafted, moving at a perfect pace and set against an intriguing backdrop. I was particularly drawn to the dynamic between the characters, especially the hilarious banter and verbal sparring. The supporting characters, including the adorable dog, were all very likable. The story also does a good job of balancing the drama and angst with some steamy love scenes. The novel successfully incorporates many popular tropes:

* Love-hate relationship
* Brother's best friend/best friend's little sister
* Childhood crush
* Forbidden love/Off-limits
* Opposites attract
* Grumpy-sunshine
* Workplace romance
* Boss-employee

I enjoyed the story. The plot is very well written and has a good pace, an interesting background, a whole cast of likable secondary characters (including a cute dog), lots of banter and verbal sparring, some drama and angst, steamy love scenes and the following tropes:

- Love-Hate relationship
- Brother’s best friend/best friend’s little sister
- Childhood crush
- Forbidden love/Off-limits
- Opposites attract
- Grumpy-sunshine
- Workplace romance
- Boss-employee

I liked both Mia and Liam, even though he's grumpy and sometimes acted stupidly. But when you get to know him better, you also understand better why he acts the way he does. Mia is talented and warm, but I also found some of her reactions and expectations a little exaggerated, as she had known Liam for a long time and was aware of his priorities beforehand. I can well imagine that some readers will disagree with me in this respect.

Mia Collins is a young screenwriter with her own webcomic in which she makes fun of her brother Jake's grumpy best friend, Liam Lockhart, with whom she had a secret crush for a long time, among other things. Unfortunately, she can't find a job as a screenwriter.
Liam is the CEO of a successful TV company and used to fixing other people’s problems. When his previous showrunner and head writer of his popular firefighting series drops out shortly before the start of the second season, Liam has to find a replacement quickly. To do his best friend Jake, a former firefighter who has been paralyzed since a work accident, a favor, Liam invites Mia for an interview, even though he realizes it's a bad idea since he's been attracted to her for some time, but as Jake's younger sister is off-limits to him.
It turns out that Mia, with her talent and background knowledge of the profession and the previous season, is perfect for the job. Despite all the spats, the tension between them and the reasons that were supposed to keep Liam away from Mia, he finds it increasingly difficult not to give in to his desire...

Overall, an entertaining story with a strong heroine, an honorable but flawed hero, witty banter and bickering, LOL moments, crackling tension, heartbreak and spice that I am happy to recommend! I'm already looking forward to the story of the next Lockhart brother.

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

I loved this!! It was a nice twist on brothers best friend. I loved the dynamic of Liam and Mia. I enjoyed the banter and the denial. The brother was a good addition too and his story I would love to read. I enjoyed the spice and the relationship of the characters. Mia’s best friend was one of my favorite side characters.

Not the most fast paced book you’ll ever read, some parts were good, some parts were kind of cringe.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Fun, Spicy Quick Read!

The CEO I Hate by Leslie North is the perfect pick for when you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, steamy romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers on entertainment.

Mia and the CEO (a.k.a. her brother’s best friend!) have a relationship that starts with plenty of tension. The workplace setting, paired with the enemies-to-lovers vibe, kept me engaged—even if the “hate” to “love” transition felt a little too fast to be entirely believable. Still, I found myself grinning at their banter and enjoying the ride.

The characters were a highlight! I loved getting to know them, and their humor and spark made the story so much fun. On the flip side, there were moments where I wished for a bit more context—some interactions and phone calls lacked the detail I craved, which left me momentarily confused. But honestly? It didn’t take away from my enjoyment overall.

If you want a short, spicy, and entertaining read, this book hits the mark.

Thank you to Leslie North, Relay Publishing, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.25⭐️ Who doesn’t love a grumpy/sunshine, brother’s best friend, and a work place romance. This was a fun read with some hilarious scenes. Mia is a fun loving writer and Liam is a billionaire CEO of VeriTV. When he needs a writer for one of his shows, he ends up bringing Mia into the fold and things begin to heat up between the two. Overall I thought this was a great book for someone needing a quick read. Leslie North’s writing was easy to follow and the chemistry between her characters are great. Also we can’t forget about Ash the dog! He was a stand out and was always there in the perfect moments.

ARC Review - 4/5

thank you Netgalley for this opportunity :)

When I started this book, I didn’t even realize how fast I was reading it until I was already over 50% in. Maybe two hours had passed? Three? No idea. I flew through it.
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The story was really interesting — we have a main character, Mia, who’s had a crush on the hero since she was a kid. He’s her brother’s best friend (yes please), and there’s also that workplace romance element, which I honestly enjoyed a lot.
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Mia was great. Determined, focused, and she knew what she wanted. On the other hand, Liam… yeah, I had some issues with him. He was way too grumpy for me. Like, dude, chill. He wasn’t really willing to compromise, and that third-act breakup? If I were Mia, I don’t think I’d take him back so easily.
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Still, I get where the author was going with it, and it worked within the story. Fiction, yes, but with real-life emotions. So I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.
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Also — I’m super curious about Connor now. I definitely want to read his book next.
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Overall: I liked it. This was my first time reading something by this author and it was a solid experience. Great pacing, good romance, and I really appreciated that there wasn’t a lot of drama around the brother/friend thing. Maturely handled. We love that.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 /5

This book is a quick and easy read that I could definitely finish in one go. When aspiring writer Mia Lockhart lands her dream job on a hit streaming show, she doesn’t expect to find herself working alongside Liam Carter — her brother’s best friend and the grumpy media exec she vowed never to get close to again. Between navigating professional boundaries and the feelings she swore she’d buried; Mia discovers that sometimes the line between love and hate is razor-thin.

The character building in this book is excellent and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. I also think the author has already laid the groundwork for developing other characters in the upcoming novels. The chemistry between the two main characters is strong and full of swoon-worthy moments. The way the author weaves in deeper themes through the side characters is highly commendable.

If you enjoy brother’s best friend, and workplace romance tropes with great character development, this is a book you’ll want to pick up.

A writer who hates the man in charge of one of her favorite shows. He doesn’t like her much either. At first.

Shockingly fast, she ends up as a lead writer for him, and shockingly fast, they start to appreciate each other. I wanted to see something more realistic about her working her way up to head writer status. More personal conflict.

In spite of that personal wish, I did find the research was great in writing for tv. I learned a few things from reading.

Chemistry between the two characters was good. They meshed.

This is the perfect airplane or beach read, it's light fizzy and fun. It has all the tropes you could possibly ask for, older brother friend, workplace romance and of course grumpy sunshine. I felt the characters were somewhat lacking in dimension, but as I said it is a good summer read and the bonus is that it is the beginning of a series. I will definitely be looking for the next one.
Many thanks for the advanced copy.

Oh my god this book was so good! I love a brothers best friend book and add in a bit of enemies and grumpiness and you've written my perfect romantic story, can't wait to read more in this series!

I love a good brother’s best friend romance. This book nailed it. Mia was a delight to get to know and I love the story that was weaved for her. Liam was an idiot, but he pulls it together. I can’t wait to get to know his brothers in the next books.

In this first book of the Lockhart Brothers we follow the oldest brother Liam and his love interest Mia who happens to be his best friends younger sister. We follow along with him being the grumpy ceo who is used to getting his way or at least fixing everything for everyone and Mia who is agent of chaos. There is a lot of big personalities in the side characters and it will be interesting to see what happens in the next two books with the side characters as well. I loved the journey and even one of the villians was slightly redeemed….for now. I look forward to book 2 and the next Lockhart Brother’s story. Thank you Netgalley, Relay Publishing & Leslie North for choosing me to be an arc reader for this book.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did — but it totally surprised me in the best way. If you love authors like Meghan Quinn or Sally Thorne, this one will be right up your alley. It’s a grumpy x sunshine, brother’s best friend, workplace romance with great banter, slow-burn tension, and just the right amount of spice.

Mia is an easy-to-love FMC — bubbly, witty, and full of heart. Liam is the grump we love to root for (not mean, just emotionally guarded). Their dynamic was the perfect mix of tension and charm, and I loved watching it all unfold. The breakup near the end felt earned, not forced, and I appreciated that the characters were given space to grow instead of instantly jumping back in.

Side characters added some nice depth, especially Mia’s brother, whose storyline was emotional without being heavy. And yes, the dog deserves his own mention — total highlight.

There were a few minor bumps — some transitions at the beginning felt a little confusing, and I wanted just a bit more emotional detail from the leads. But overall? This was exactly the kind of low-pressure, high-enjoyment romance I love to binge in one sitting.

A feel-good read with heat, heart, and humor — I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author.

The CEO I Hate by Leslie North is a fast-paced, feel-good romance that hooked me from page one. If you're into grumpy-sunshine tension, brother’s best friend drama, and the kind of workplace romance that sizzles with unresolved feelings—this one’s for you.

Mia is a relatable, determined heroine who's just trying to find joy in her writing career. Enter Liam Lockhart: her brother’s broody, emotionally walled-off best friend who once ghosted her… after that kiss. When Liam needs a head writer for his streaming platform’s hit show, Mia’s suddenly thrown into his world—cue the angst, banter, and undeniable chemistry.

Their dynamic is intense, fiery, and sometimes sweet. The café scene early on was a standout—funny, sharp, and full of foreshadowing. I loved how the emotional layers built over time, making their connection feel earned. And Ash was a delightful side character who added warmth to the story.

This book had me smiling often, especially during their sharp-witted exchanges. While Liam could be frustratingly guarded at times, you could tell he cared, and Mia’s strength and passion carried the story. It’s sexy, emotional, and full of heart.