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3.5 ⭐️This story gave off similar vibes to The Hating Game, while also reminding me of A Deal with the Devil. The banter between the two main characters was sharp and engaging, creating a palpable tension throughout. Although the emotional depth between them wasn't particularly profound, Mia stood out as a relatable, strong-willed, and determined character. I also appreciated how Mia and Liam's struggles reflected those of their friends, which helped them gain a better understanding and empathy for their own relationship challenges. Thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the copy!

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OMG this book had me laughing so much!! I was hooked from the very beginning! I listened to Leslie North's Manhattan Bossholes Series last month and really enjoyed those audiobook so when I saw this new release coming up I knew I had to read it. I'm so glad I did because this is a new favorite of mine. These characters were s much fun and I had a blast getting to know them.

Liam is Mia's brother Jake's best friend so Mia has always been off limits. When Jake asks Liam to give her an interview as a writer for his hit show he does it because he wants to make Jake happy. Jake was a firefighter and had a bad accident last year and is now in a wheelchair so he's been struggling. So when Mia shows up for the interview he thinks his team will just blow Mia off like the rest of the people they have interviewed. Well the joke is on him because they end up LOVING her. So now he has to work with her and try to keep his hands off of her because he's secretly liked her for years but won't risk his friendship with Jake.

Mia has always had a crush on Liam and now working with him will definitely make things more challenging. Slowly these two will start becoming friends along the way. Mia also writes a webcomic and one of the characters is named Miles and is based off of Liam. Oh he hates that too and because of that character these two have some good banter over that! I dyed laughing so many times because of it!

You will fall in love with Liam and Mia so easily. The side characters are also amazing. I loved getting to know a little bit about her brother, co-workers, her best friend and Ash (he's a dog that will come along a steal the show). This book will have you laughing like a complete fool, smiling, blushing, and leave you with the perfect ending!! I HIGHLY recommend this book. If you loved the movie The Hating Game and Morning Glory then you will LOVE this book!

Thank you Leslie North, Relay Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

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ARC REVIEW - 3.25 stars

Thank you to Leslie North, Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
If you're looking for an easy quick workplace romance, this one is for you.
Mia is working for her brother's best friend and she has had a crush on him since she was a teenager but he's very grumpy.
I'm actually eager to read the story of Connor - as I'm expecting a single dad romance and you know how we feel about those,...
They got together a bit too early in the book so I was certain we were going to have a 3rd act break up.
Liam gave me whiplash with the break up, kinda felt out of character? I would have NEVER forgiven him if it was me but that's just me ahaha
The end felt a bit rushed but mostly I got the ick from the way Liam did something at the very end (don't want to spoil) but the place didn't feel intimate at all, it's my personal nightmare I'm not objective on that part sorry.

Tropes:
- brothers best friend
- workplace romance
- enemies-to-lovers?
- fake-dating
- 3rd act break up

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Wow! Liam does come off as a jerk in the beginning of the story. Mia doesn't let it slide either. She calls him out on it in person in front of everyone and then again in her comic book that she writes. She doesn't let him off easily. At that point I started to feel bad for him also we get a little back ground into why he acts this way. The T.V. aspect of the story is intriguing.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 4.5/5 – Smart, Sizzling, and Utterly Addictive

The CEO I Hate by Leslie North is an absolute treat for fans of workplace romance, slow-burn tension, and snappy dialogue. At the heart of this captivating story are Mia and Liam—two characters who spark off each other with such fire and chemistry, it’s impossible to look away.

Mia, an ambitious aspiring TV writer, is witty, sharp, and impossible not to root for. When Liam—her brother’s best friend, the CEO of VeriTV, and a full decade older—offers her the role of head writer on a smash-hit show, the stakes skyrocket. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, but it’s complicated by years of simmering tension and an unresolved attraction that neither of them can ignore.

The banter between Mia and Liam is phenomenal—crackling with wit, sass, and that delicious enemies-to-lovers energy that keeps you turning the pages late into the night. Mia’s voice is especially standout: bold, unfiltered, and impossible to top. She challenges Liam at every turn, and watching him fall under her spell (while trying to maintain his CEO composure) is immensely satisfying.

Leslie North delivers a tightly paced romance that balances heartfelt moments with career ambition, family ties, and just the right dose of steam. The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is because the ending felt just a touch too tidy—but honestly, that’s nitpicking when everything else hits so perfectly.

If you love intelligent heroines, forbidden-but-irresistible romances, and power dynamics done right, The CEO I Hate is one to move to the top of your TBR.

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Yes. Just yes. Leslie North's The CEO I Hate is exactly the fun romance novel I wanted/needed to read. Great chemistry between Mia and Liam and I was very pleasantly surprised when Lyle came back that it wasn't the trainwreck I was anticipating. I can't wait for the other Lockhart brothers books!

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The blurb was promising and I was looking forward to reading it. I liked the enemies to lovers trope but I had a little trouble with the execution.
I get that Liam and Mis didn’t like each other (hence the title) but I would have expected them to be a little bit more courteous towards each other. I expected them to gradually view the other person in a better light after getting to know each other better and seeing each other’s good qualities. Instead I felt both of them reacted too aggressive and that the crossed the line in the way they interacted. They might know each other privately but that didn’t give them a free pass to talk to each other the way they did.
For example: the whole coffee debacle which went on and on. Mia being lost on her first day at work and Liam immediately snapping at her and Mia angrily defending herself. Wayyy too hostile, but okay... Then Liam berated her for talking to a colleague and criticized her for the “losers” she’d dated in the past. Again, Mia made it worse by trying to rile him by going into details regarding her sex life - to her boss! It was just all very uncout and unpleasant, let alone unprofessional and disrespectful. If my boss said something like that to me, or said ”Have you finally stopped sulking long enough for us to have a conversation?” I’d immediately quite my job.
So I can confirm Mia indeed did hate the CEO and vice versa. But this hate was so apparent that it made any enemies turned lovers relationship hard to believe. It happened too sudden and in my opinion lacked foundation. The hate part was done very well but the romance part definitely needs a little bit more work.
On the upside: I liked the whole behind the scenes vibe of what’s involved in making a tv series. And the writers were a nice bunch of people.
Trigger warning: secular and religious swearing, depression, disability after an accident.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Banter? Check. Spice? Check. Dislike-to-love that will have you giggling and kicking your feet? DOUBLE CHECK!! The CEO I Hate is a witty story that I couldn’t put down. This book was filled with the best tropes, including brother’s best friend, workplace romances, forbidden romance, and grumpy-sunshine! This dual-POV rom-com set in the world of hit Hollywood TV production was such an enjoyable read.

We follow Mia, who is desperate for her big break in her scriptwriting career, struggling to manage her parents’ expectations of what a “stable” career should look like, countless job rejections, and her own webcomic. Enter Liam: her brother’s best friend, her long-time crush, and her New Year’s kiss two years ago that she can’t seem to rid herself of. When Liam is desperate for a new head writer, he (very reluctantly) needs Mia to swoop in and save the day. Liam knew working with Mia was a bad idea, but he didn’t expect to catch feelings on top of everything else! Liam has enough going on in his life, constantly trying to put out fires (no pun intended) at his production company, with his family, and with Mia’s brother Jake, who was recently in an accident. But Mia is only adding fuel to the fire of his attraction and desire.

Watching these two characters argue, fall in love, and argue some more was a roller coaster of giggles, gasps, and tears. While Mia and Liam couldn’t be more different, they also work so well together in the best way possible.

I appreciate how articulate and expressive Mia is; she is the type of heroine that you can relate to and admire at the same time. She was so good at holding her own and fighting for what she needed—such a girl boss! Liam was a grump with a heart so big it fit everyone in his life and more. His grouchy exterior was offset by his caring actions—though sometimes not great—they were always well-intentioned.

While this book had me giggling, it also gave me room for reflection, as it dealt with real-life realities surrounding friendship, family, and workplace dynamics. I loved the idea of the show, and this book made me wish End in Fire was a real show—I would definitely binge a hot firefighter show!

I think part of what made this book fun to read were the side characters that added depth and dimension to the story. Reading about Jake’s relationships and recovery experiences was really eye-opening. Sophie is definitely one of my favorite book besties, and Ash honestly deserves his own reality TV show.

Leslie North is undoubtedly a talented writer. I was thoroughly impressed with the plot progression. Overall, her writing style genuinely resonated with me; it allowed me to breeze through this book. My only gripe is that I wish there had been more context to some of the issues we were presented with. I think a flashback scene to New Year’s would have allowed the reader to better conceptualize the impact of the kiss on Liam and Mia and better empathize with the build-up of feelings the characters had toward each other. I also would have enjoyed more scenes of the romantic relationship between Mia and Liam that led to the larger issues within their dynamics. More examples of their frustrations and strife would have added even more emotion to the last ¼ of the book and given the audience a better grasp of Mia’s overall struggles in her relationship.

In sum, this was an enjoyable read, and I can’t wait to read Conner and Finn’s books next!

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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes
* Workplace romance
* Enemies to lovers
* Brother’s best friend
* Forced proximity
* He’s her boss
* Dating in secret

Thank you to NetGalley, Leslie North, and Relay Publishing for this eARC! I really enjoyed it and liked all of the tropes and how well they blended together in this book.

I really enjoyed the dual POV of Mia and Liam’s perspectives. Lots of banter and quips back and forth as they annoy and turn each other in simultaneously, which makes it a fun read! The angst and tension was great, and seeing him squirm while he keeps trying to resist her was fun to read.

When he does give in to his lust, it’s steamy and spicy!! Their relationship is troubled, though, and their problems make sense since there are so many layers that make it complicated. Those issues lead to the same types of problems they had as enemies: misunderstanding each other and miscommunication. So it was lovely to see them work those out and come out it with a beautiful relationship! His grand gesture at the end was meaningful and showed he understood where he went wrong and how he could make things right by her.

I also enjoyed her bond with her brother Jake. He has his own problems, and seeing how they support each other while both dealing with heartbreak was a nice addition to this story.

Finally, I liked the subplot with them writing a script for a tv series. The other writers were fun and kind to Mia, and her issues with Damien added to the tension and issues that are a reality for many women in that industry. It made this book well rounded and a great read!

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The CEO I Hate is your classic enemies-to-lovers, best friend’s little sister, workplace romance. This one was enjoyable, but didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

It was a quick and easy read with a relatable FMC that had you rooting for her. The MMC, however, came across more mean and immature rather than charming or endearing, which made it hard to connect with the romance.

While the setup hinted at tension and banter, it never quite delivered and left me wanting more. The emotional connection between the leads felt underdeveloped, and the tension that should drive the enemies-to-lovers plot just wasn’t quite there.

Despite this, the story and writing kept me engaged until the end! Readers looking for a quick, spicy, enemies-to-lovers, best friend’s little sister, workplace romance will enjoy this one!

Thank you to Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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I went into this book sceptical due to just finishing a book that I adored. I was truly surprised by how fast I got into it and finished the book. I haven’t read a contemporary romance in a long time and I found this enjoyable, well paced and the characters likeable. I was looking for breadcrumbs to see if I could figure out who the next book would be about but I have been left clueless! Just have to wait until August to find out!

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This is an unexpected gem! A workplace romance is usually obvious, and insta-love but this book holds so much more than that.

It’s an emotionally complex novel dedicated to the highs and lows of life and love, the easy relationships (Mia and Sophie) and the more difficult (Gabrielle and Jake).

The characters were so beautifully written, each character added personality and stood out individually, and when brought together, the connections between them felt natural. The writing team dynamic was particularly sweet as they championed and supported each other, especially when Lyle and his group came into the mix.

There’s a third act breakup, usually they turn me off and leave me frustrated but it actually made me love this book even more, Liam needed to understand how relationships need compromise, it can’t be all about one of them all the time, there needs to be give and take. Liam having the revelation of “Fear” and how it can hold you back from committing was so real, and his “grand gesture” was perfectly simple but so loud - supporting Mia in exactly the way she needed, not with cliche flowers and words, but with something meaningful and worthy.

The pacing of the story was brilliant, I’ve invested a Sunday into reading it and I’m so glad I did.

I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2 & 3!

I’d also love to see a backstory/future of Gabrielle and Jake’s story, and Sophie too!

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I really enjoyed the storyline. While the book had a bit more smut than what I prefer, I could see this being a good vacation read for the right audience. Dual POV was a nice touch.

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NetGalley ARC Review✨
Goodreads review posted on: 07/05/2025

This story was full of ups and downs and included a slow burn romance between Liam and Mia. In traditional enemies/to-lovers, Liam is Mia’s brother’s best friend and she is pining for him while simultaneously plotting ways to murder him. Mia struggles to navigate a difficult home life with her parents while Liam has demons of his own between his brothers and mom.

This story was adorable and I loved the banter between Liam and Mia. She is a strong FMC and Liam takes some time but definitely turns into the golden retriever boyfriend in the end. This story ends in a HEA but does have some ups and downs to navigate through before! Overall, 4/5 ⭐️ and loved reading The CEO I Hate!

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The CEO I Hate by Leslie North is a refreshing and engaging romantic comedy that blends witty banter, unresolved tension, and heartfelt emotion into a thoroughly entertaining read. Centered around two characters who share a long, complicated history, the story explores the thin line between love and hate with charm and humor. Their dynamic is electric, often hilarious, and grounded in genuine affection that grows more evident with each chapter. North does a fantastic job adding depth to what could have been a standard enemies-to-lovers trope, layering the narrative with emotional complexity and meaningful backstory. This is far more than a simple office romance—it’s a smart, layered love story with a satisfying mix of heart and heat.

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Firstly thank you to Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

*Spoilers ahead*


So this book was actually really good. I really enjoyed the storyline and the past history. Brother's best friend is one of my fave tropes but I liked that this story was quite different given Jake's situation. I enjoyed the concept of Lyle returning and him actually turning out to be okay after the issue with the other writer. I loved the scene where Jake admitted he knew about Mia & Liam and she didn't realise - it really made me laugh. The proposal at the Emmy's was a bit cringe though and it ruined it for me a bit. I thought that was unnecessary in the main plotline, but I was happy they were together. Overall I look forward to the next 2 books in the series which must cover Finn & Connor.

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Steamy, addictive, and full of delicious tension 💼🔥. The CEO I Hate delivers everything you love in an enemies-to-lovers office romance—sizzling chemistry, sharp banter, and irresistible slow-burn passion. Leslie North crafts bold, fiery characters and a fast-paced plot packed with heat and heart. I adored the workplace drama and the undeniable spark between the leads. Perfect for fans of steamy romances with high stakes and even higher emotions.

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“The CEO I Hate” is a romance book by Leslie North. This book is the first in a series. This book follows Mia, who is a writer, and her brother’s best friend, Liam. The book is told in both of their POVs, which I felt really helped this book. Mia has spunk and was likable - and I found myself cheering her on through the book. Knowing nearly nothing about screenwriting and the television industry from a production view, I found the discussions about plots, lining up permits, and all that pretty interesting. Plus, I have to admit, I loved Mia’s room mate, Sally. Liam, both the love interest and Mia’s brother’s best friend, I felt was a bit too much of a “helper/fixer” person, but since I know people like that I got. It, but at the same time I felt like saying to him “You can’t fix everything and listen when people say they don’t want you to fix this!” I felt the 75% way into he book breakup was badly handled by Liam - Mia was right, she was being professional and dealing with it and Liam was not sympathetic to what she needed right then. This book definitely had spice! For me, this book was a quick and enjoyable read - and I look forward to the continuation of this series.

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Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy of the CEO I Hate.

This is the story of Mia who is a writer but struggles to find a job that brings her joy. However, when her brother’s insufferable best friend is looking for a writer for his show, Mia’s brother recommends her to him.

I really enjoyed this book! It was easy to read, not too long, and it just flowed. The relationship between Mia and Liam was cute and fun to read. I liked that she speaks her mind- most of the time- and cares for those she loves.
Ash was also such a nice addition to the story!
One of the scenes that I enjoyed the most was probably the café scene at the beginning. It was also great that it was hinted at throughout the story as I was smiling when reading this scene.

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This book ended up being a fun read with some emotional turns. Mia and Liam just sizzled on the page. Their banter and interactions were perfect. Mia's parents were total, ugh!!

I loved how Mia walked away from Liam, even though he was awful to her. Way to stand for what you think works for you, Mia!!

This was a fast read, cannot wait to see what's in store for the other Lockharts.

#netgalley # TheCEOIHate

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