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5 stars without even thinking twice. It was easy to read and just flowed from start to finish. I really liked how Mia and Liam interacted, their energy together felt intense but also fun at the same time. There was drama, emotions, tension, and some really great banter between them. I smiled a lot while reading. Mia was such a strong and relatable character. She had passion and didn’t give up, even when things weren’t easy. Liam was grumpy and cold sometimes, but deep down you could tell he cared. Their connection grew slowly but in a way that felt very real to me. I also liked that the story had some emotional layers. It was definitely one of those stories I didn’t want to end. Everything came together so well, and I enjoyed every chapter. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

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When Mia unexpectedly runs into Liam Lockhart, her brother’s best friend and the man who once kissed her only to push her away, old feelings resurface. Now working together, Mia is determined not to repeat the past, especially if it means risking her dream job. But when Liam kisses her again, resisting becomes far more complicated.
This is a fun and flirty romance that balances emotional tension with witty banter. There is plenty of banter between Mia and Liam, as well as a lot of chemistry. I found the story entertaining and enjoyed the relationship between Liam and Mia. As they navigate their feelings while also caring for Mia’s injured brother, she begins to feel overlooked, particularly in her budding relationship with Liam. This book delivers a steamy romance, with plenty of heartfelt moments. An enjoyable romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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brothers best friend
enemies to lovers
workplace romance
3rd act break up

All my favorite tropes in one book.

I really liked this book, I thought the characters were great, and it was a quick read. I did lose interest towards the end of the book and ended up skipping through to the end.

This book follows two people in the tv / writing industry. If you are really into that, then this is perfect for you. Those were the parts I skimmed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Relay for the arc.

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If you’re looking for a quick office romance, this is just that. The book was not short but didn’t feel fleshed out. I don’t think we got time to really connect to them as a couple. I think when there’s a third act breakup, the readers should feel a little down because of how much they like the couple and I just couldn’t feel anything. It’s a cute not so palette cleanser since it’s not as short. I like that the brother didn’t act irrational the way they usually do in the brother’s best friend trope. Mia was cutesy, I think I just couldn’t feel the romance aspect from Liam. I also like that they actually fleshed out the brother’s story.

Thank you to Leslie North, Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

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I really really loved this book!!! It was a quick and fun romance with a pace that kept you wanting to read more. Workplace Romance? Brother’s best friend? Enemies to lovers? Check check check!!

I really loved the two main characters together and their banter. It really kept me interested through the whole book. Mia is a badass and I loved the overall storyline, I feel like it had a great mix of romance and fiction that you don’t always get!

I am really excited to read the next books in this series, I think the premise of a brothers trilogy is always a hit for me!

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4⭐️ 2🌶️ I really enjoyed this book and all the tension and top tier banter! One passionate kiss between Mia and Liam had Liam running for hills after realizing what he did with his BFFs little sister that is 10 years younger than he is.

The banter between Mia and Liam was so dang funny, the scene in the coffee shop and my cackling!! The tension is high between these two, but Liam is down bad and can’t stay away like he feels he should. Loved their journey to a HEA!

I really enjoyed the side characters in this story, crossing my fingers Jake and Gabrielle and their HEA. Lyle & Damion are the villains we love to hate!

Thank you NetGalley and Relay Publishing for this advanced copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.

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4 🌟
Spice: open door
Format: ebook

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. (I did read on KU though so the author gets paid)

This was everything I thought it would be! I think a lot of friends would enjoy it. I love the TV show aspect, it was different and made me wish the show was real so I could watch. I really liked Mia & Liam together. I love a good brother's best friend book so it had me hooked by that alone. I am excited to read the other Lockhart brothers books. So many great side characters in this book too! Side characters can make or break a book for me. Ash is probably the best side character of all.

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This book was a fun read, I enjoyed the plot which was written so well that it had me hooked from the moment I started reading. I liked Liam and Mia, their chemistry was brilliantly written, these characters were perfection. The bond that formed between all the characters was top notch.

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4.25/5 stars ✨ Leslie North has knocked another book out of the park. I always love her books - they’re fun, easy reads with lots of spice and banter.

This book follows Mia, who lands a job at the TV studio owned by the infamous Liam Lockhart - who also happens to be her brother’s best friend and a one-night kiss several years ago. Liam will do anything to get rid of her, but she’s naturally perfect for the job and wins over the studio. Their current project is Season 2 of an award-winning drama TV series, and I love that it felt like we were behind the scenes of this in the making, as well as getting the romance and the story with it.

The characters were fun, the drama and side plots were AMAZING, and the romance was spicy. I enjoyed the banter so much, and really liked the character development, especially as Liam finally woke up to himself on what he was missing out on with Mia. I wish he got a clue sooner, but I feel like Leslie did a really good job of portraying the miscommunication between them and the perils of being a stubborn MMC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Leslie North for the eARC of this book!

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The CEO I Hate follows the story of Liam and Mia. Off the rip I want you to understand the banter and arguing in this book is borderline insane. I am all for banter of the main characters but in the beginning there has to be an end to arguing and the 'hate' between these two. It felt a bit much to me.

I did love the story and the sidekicks throughout the book. & the third act break up was justified because of how the MMC was acting and not realizing that she just wanted comfort and acknowledgement of her feelings.

What I have realized while reading this book (as a fixer) is that sometimes we're so focused on fixing the problem we forget to ask & acknowledge the other person. & maybe, what they want isn't for us to fix things.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

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⭐⭐⭐.5

This book follows Liam, who is the CEO of a production company that is putting out a TV show. They happened to lose their head writer going into season 2 and Liam is desperate to keep the show afloat. That is where Mia comes in. She is a writer and also Liam's Best friend's little sister. He gets her an interview and she blows everyone away easily earning herself the job. But there are some unresolved feelings between Liam and Mia that really come to the surface with them now working closely together.

Overall, this was a cute, quick, somewhat spicy read. I really liked Mia! She was driven, funny, smart and excelled in her field. I couldn't get myself to like Liam though, unfortunately. What caused their third act breakup (because there is what felt like a pretty lengthy third act break up) seems like a big issue and I felt like it was kind of swept under rug. Idk, maybe I just don't think I would get back together with someone after something like that happened lol. Also there was a cringy (in my opinion) moment after they got back together. Don't want to say too much and spoil it! I really enjoy Jake (Mia's brother) and wish he was getting a book too! I do look forward to reading Finn and Connor's books when they come out later this year!


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

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If you are a Leslie North reader, you are going to love The CEO I Hate. This brother's best friend, secret romance is the start of new series by North. Mia and Liam's story makes for a super fun beach read.

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The CEO I Hate is a sizzling, sharp, and wildly entertaining romance that proves sometimes the mistakes we swear we’ll never repeat are the ones we can’t seem to resist.

At the heart of the story is a deliciously messy dynamic between fiery, stubborn writer Evie and brooding CEO Liam Lockhart—her brother’s best friend, her biggest heartbreak, and the unintentional muse behind her wildly popular webcomic villain. Two years ago, their unforgettable kiss ended with rejection that still stings, but now, fate (and her brother’s injury) has thrown them back together.

Evie’s dream job—head writer for Liam’s streaming platform—comes with one massive catch: working side by side with the man she’s spent years drawing as a smug, infuriating nemesis. Their chemistry crackles through every page, fueled by sharp banter, lingering resentment, and undeniable attraction. Between secret kisses, stolen glances, and the hilarious addition of a stray dog that seems to adore Liam, their "strictly professional" plan unravels fast.

This book strikes the perfect balance between humor, heart, and heat. Evie is witty and refreshingly self-aware, and Liam’s blend of grumpy charm and hidden vulnerability makes him an irresistible leading man. Their push-pull dynamic is addictive, and the "forbidden" element—hiding their connection from her brother—adds just the right dose of tension.

Full of laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt confessions, and swoony romance, The CEO I Hate is a must-read for fans of enemies-to-lovers, brother’s-best-friend tropes, and messy, complicated love stories with a happy ending. It’s witty, steamy, and absolutely unputdownable.

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Wow, I flew through this one. This book was a spicy, easy read. One where you just got caught up in the story and didn't even realize how late you stayed up reading. I hope to see more in this series in the future.

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Workplace Romance
Brother's Best Friend

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The CEO I Hate is surprisingly….not filled with a lot of hate. Or at least the first part is, and it’s deliciously banter-y, but that quickly changes once our leads get together. While I felt as though the story really slowed down at that point, this was still an engaging read and a fun contemporary romance. My biggest complaint is the wire characters felt very flat and one-dimensional; I have a feeling subsequent books will focus on some of their stories— it will be interesting to see how North fleshes them out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Relay Publishing for the ARC Copy of this book for review
Honestly, when it comes down to it, I’m always going to choose the book with the grumpy billionaire who thinks he can fix it all. Spoiler? Maybe. I’ll put a caption on this one just in case. But come on. With the charm the Lockhart brothers have, who WOULDN’T fall for those blue eyes and charming smile? (Oh you mean most people? Yeah, yeah I know. Let me be a hopeless romantic for a second…)

On to the real review.

We follow Mia as she learns her way around the writing room and how to handle her webcomic and handle her brother as he heals from his accident and learns his way around life and her overbearing parents who don’t think her career is real and the workplace drama and… geez. What can’t this girl handle?
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely a nice break from the typically heavy stuff I read, and made me laugh, smile, cry, cheer for the bad guy, and make me want to fall in love all over again. The writing was clear and easy to read, and there were few publishing errors that I noticed. While there is typically a pattern to romance novels, I like how Leslie North shook hers up a bit. The ending didn’t feel rushed, and that is something I see in a lot of the typical romance novels I read as well. The whole concept was original, and I loved that as well. The only thing I wish there was more of was there could have been more workplace drama in the second half. It almost felt out of place that there was as little as there was, but then again, I was relieved that there wasn’t more. I really enjoyed reading this author, and can’t wait to read more of her work!

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The CEO I Hate is a sizzling, enemies-to-lovers office romance that’s witty, emotional, and steamy.

Liam Lockhart is a grumpy, brooding media executive and unfortunately, also the best friend of the FMC's brother. Two years ago, a single unforgettable kiss between them ended in heartbreak when Liam pushed her away. Now, fate (and her brother’s injury) throws them back together when she’s offered her dream job: head writer for Liam’s streaming platform.

This means working side by side with the man she once turned into the villain of her webcomic. As old sparks reignite and new boundaries blur, the tension between them builds into something neither of them can ignore. But with secrets, sibling loyalty, and professional lines at stake, falling for Liam again could be a disaster waiting to happen.

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The CEO I Hate is an easy read. It wasn't to heavy on emotional topics like some other romance books. I was hesitant at first because the clash at the coffee shop made both main characters seem annoying. It was hard to root for them to get together with how much they argued with each other.

What sold me on the book wasn't the romance but the other characters in the book. I loved seeing Liam and Mia life separately from each other. With Mia, her brother and their struggle with their parents made them both repeatable. I enjoyed Mia working with other writers as their dynamic was fun to read. I also like reading Liam interacting with his brothers and how their dynamic was. All in all this was a fun light read that I would recommend to someone in a reading slump.

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I really liked this book, such an easy read and the storyline was very easy to follow.

A CEO that isn't overly dominating but actually likeable with his quirky character. I feel like I was very much like Mia, giving the sass back 🤘!

I sometimes felt like the characters needed to just shake Jake, and speak there minds to him but I suppose he just needed to figure it out on his own after going through trauma. Also felt like it was another book where the main character just let their parents walk all over them, maybe it's different in America but in the UK we have open discussions about the way we are treating one another.

All in all a good book, spicy but not too spicy ❤️‍🔥

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⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️.5

This book surprised me (in a good way). I had never read anything by this author, but I really enjoyed her writing style. I feel like if you enjoy authors like Meagan Quinn or Sally Thorne, you’d enjoy this read.

This is a grumpy x sunshine, brother’s best friend, and workplace romance. The FMC was so lovable and I could feel the sunshine she radiated off the pages. The MMC was a classic grump but not the mean kind (iykyk the difference). The plot was well fleshed out and the journey to their HEA was really well done. There is a third act breakup, but it is warranted (no miscommunication trope here). I was getting nervous the FMC was settling, so the breakup was kind of a relief. This story didn’t have them immediately get back together either, which I appreciated. The dog being included was a huge bonus for me. He was so cute and felt almost like a main character. I enjoyed getting to know more about the FMCs brother too and his struggle with being bound to a wheelchair. I feel like you don’t get a lot of details about side characters in books, especially rom coms like this, so it was refreshing to see.

There were some parts of the book that I felt lost some context. The beginning pages for example: “Got a pass on that script I’d told you about. My agent called to inform me first thing.” When was this phone call? When she said who answers their calls? I’m confused because there was no mention of it. Then in the next chapter with Liam “The only thing more frustrating than Mia Collins was city hall. Barely.” This makes me think he’s at city hall. Not enough information showcasing he’s actually at Jake’s apartment. I had to go back and re read this part because I was confused. Just some things I noticed that maybe is user error on my part.

I wish we got more details on the main characters too. I didn’t feel a full connection with them. I felt like I knew more about writing for a TV show and the ins and outs of that business more than the characters. But there’s only so much you can pack into a shorter book, so that was understandable.

Overall, this was a really funny and enjoyable read. The book would also be a good palette cleanser or something that could get you out of a book slump. It didn’t require a lot of thinking and you can just turn your brain off and enjoy the read. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author after reading this.

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