Well, what a pleasant read They Hate Each Other was. At first, I really didn’t like the narrative of them hating each other for seemingly no reason. But their little back and forth really grew on me.

Fake dating will always be a hit with me, especially when the characters dislike each other to begin with. Watching their dynamics and feelings change over time is so exciting and that was exactly the case here. You could slowly see Dylan and Jonah warming up to each other, but they kept their usual taunting. The progression of their relationship was done in a very careful manner and nothing felt too rushed.

The casual queer representation was really refreshing to read; our two main characters were bisexual, they had one non-binary friend and another who was asexual but in a loving 2 year long relationship and Jonah had a trans younger sister. It’s so nice to see these represented in a world where no one questions their decisions or whether they are “too young to really know who they are”. Huge respect to Amanda Woody for that.

I really liked both Jonan and Dylan as the main characters, but I have a real soft spot for Jonah. He was so sweet but seeing him work so hard to provide for his sisters and his fear of losing them was heartbreaking. But it did show just how strong he is and the fact that he learns that it’s ok to ask for help made me feel so proud of him. I loved his space facts too, they were very interesting.

Dylan also had a lot of troubles and the way in which he handled them could have been better sometimes, but he also goes through an incredible amount of growth throughout the book. He did do one thing that I thought was absolutely out of order, but it was to help so it’s not so bad. But going behind someone's back about something so important is never a good idea. He does learn from his mistake though.

They Hate Each Other dealt with way more serious topics than I expected (there is a list of trigger warnings at the beginning). It had a great balance between cutesy romance and real world problems - something that isn’t always easy to get right.

I think if I had read this book in a shorter time frame (I had to take a few days off from reading due to being on a work trip) I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Which is big praise because I already enjoyed this massively.

If you are looking for a dislike to lovers/fake dating book, I’d definitely recommend They Hate Each Other. It has a lot of fun moments and all of the characters (well most of them) are completely wonderful and endearing.

Another enemies to lovers book. Am I getting tired of them yet? Apparently not.

Jonah and Dylan's friends are convinced that their thinly veiled contempt for each other is actually sexual tension. Jonah and Dylan couldn't disagree more. Jonah thinks that Dylan is arrogant. Dylan thinks Jonah is a loud attention seeker. When they end up sharing a bed after a drunken night, the rumour mill goes into overdrive, and no matter how much Jonah and Dylan deny that anything happened, people just don't believe them. Their solution? Go along with it. They decide to pretend to date for a couple of months, then have a blow up fight and break up.

Seems like a lot to go through to get your friends off your back, but it was a cute, feel-good romance which was exactly what I wanted when I was reading it.

Thanks NetGalley and Hodder for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely incredible, it made me laugh it made me sob and then made me cry happy tears! Dylan and Jonah are so special to me now the way their relationship develops the way Dylan is trying to hard to help Jonah and Jonah helps Dylan with his family and his panic attacks. Jonah was my favourite, poor child, he deserves so many good things and the shit he's going through just made me SOB, and Dylan with his brother CRIES I loved Hanna and Andre too I just love this book so god damn much

Thank you NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Amanda Woody for providing me with an ARC for review of They Hate Each Other. Wow. This is a great book. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I have to admit that I did!

Available 9 May 2023 - will post to socials closer to publication date.

This book is like when you start at a new workplace and there is a gay in the team, and you both know that you both know you are the gays in the team and that the rest of team thinks that you should at least get along, if not hook up! and you hate each other for basically no reason other than the fact that the other is gay. Well this is that but for Bisexuals!

I really do not enjoy the Enemy to Lovers trope as I often feel like it is just not plausible, like how? How could these sworn enemies do a complete 180 and start feeling the feels for each other? But this book does it sooooooo well. This book gives Dylan and Jo-Jo the space and time to open to each other, to realise that the other is actually not a complete ass and then shifts nicely into the 'we have to address this' moment.

This book made me so happy. There is so much to both Jo-Jo and Dylan. Love.

One hesitation - why fake date so quickly? I was sitting there like 'there are a large number of other options to deal with this scenario and this one sounds drastic!' But in the end we all know what we were signing up for with this book, it is a fake dating, enemies to lovers book. I am not a baker like Dylan but I have watched plenty of The Great British Bake Off and bread week is almost always unpredictable. Maybe think of this quick, and probably poor, decision by the two as getting the dough mixed SUPER fast and leaving you with just the right amount of time for it to prove. And then again with the second prove ;)

This story beautifully combines a love story that will have your heart racing with every story beat, with a poignant exploration of the protective love between siblings and heavy burden of responsibility which that love can produce.

Dylan and Jonah have been archenemies since they were eleven. Unfortunately, they share a friend group and everyone is convinced they have AMAZING chemistry and are destined to fall in love. After accidentally falling asleep in the same bed following homecoming, their friends' nagging reaches unbearable levels and they devise a plan to fake date to get them off their case once and for all.

Themes: Romance, LGBT, Bisexuality, Transgender character, Friendship, Siblings, Family, Abuse, Anxiety and Panic.

Trigger warning ⚠️

There are very good depictions of panic attacks and anxiety which could be triggering. There is also mention of child abuse, although it is not explicit. Violence and alcoholism in guardians and parental figures is also featured.

Spoilers below!

I really expected this book to be your classic enemies to lovers story (with a queer main couple) and thus everything I love in a romance book. It completely delivered on that front, however I did not expect to connect so deeply with the story.

The love story which unfolds between the main characters is lovely, cute, funny, and exciting. You enjoy watching them slowly develop feelings for each other, despite trying to cling to their mutual hatred as long as possible. Both Jonah and Dylan are lovable and kind, and you are truly rooting for both of them by the end of the story.

In the background, both characters are facing complicated challenges in their own families. Although, this is primarily a romance, the author has woven a poignant exploration of sibling and parental relationships around the central love story. I recognised so many of my own experiences in those of the characters. As the characters come to terms with their feelings towards their family, I felt small parts of myself heal along with them. I think the way the theme of family is handled is truly the triumph of this book.

Bisexuality and homosexuality are so beautifully represented. This is not a coming out story, nor do the characters face any homophobia. The lack of discrimination doesn't feel unrealistic, characters discuss the difficulties of having a marginalised identity and the intersections between race, sexuality and class, but it isn't a part of THIS particular story. As a bisexual woman, it was so beautiful to read a story where two bisexuals were just existing in their community.

I also found the depictions of panic and anxiety incredibly accurate. The story is written in dual POV, and so we experience both the perspective of characters being guided through a panic attack and helping someone else with one. The story discusses the ways in which trauma can emerge at times we least expect it to, and how we can overcome trauma when we feel safe to open up about our experiences. I found the author really understood these feelings and depicted them perfectly.

Overall, this story is funny and engaging. It is paced extremely well, keeping the story flowing and balanced well between dialogue and prose. The plot is realistic and the outcomes all feel earned. There were moments where my heart was beating so fast, and I think I read the last third of the book in a ridiculous amount of time - something like 45 minites. I cannot recommend this book enough! I really think it will be the next big book in queer romance 💗

It was what I wanted from a so-called romcom : humor that would make me smile or even laugh, and a romance where I would just be rooting for them! And it was really done well, on top of having more heavy stuff with how important it is to seek help when needed (please check the TW, there's quite a lot! The author writes them down at the beginning of the book if you need them)

I loved that double POV Jonah / Dylan, I loved both characters and their personalities which are incompatible but at the same time, like their friends said, what each others actually need. The way their romance is building up slowly, on several months, is what makes it so great about the relationship and I was soooo into that couple rooting for them and swooning ;; Jonah made me smile a lot but their banter actually made me laugh!

That famous 3rd act was done well and it's not one to be put there just to make it a 3rd act. As besides of romance, there's a heavy subject of "seeking help to heal from their trauma" which is important here, on both Dylan and Jonah sides. We follow them both through their trauma, the whole telling about it to each others, understanding they need help and actually seeking them, but also still not fully back to normal after the help arrived so it stays true to real life : trauma is hard to heal from. We're also not on the horrible "now I'm in love so everything's better" trope, their relationship pushes them through yes but that's just done well.

PS1: I hope it'll be corrected in the published copy but I'd have loved to have translation of the spanish sentences, because while I do understand some words like cariño or por favor, full length sentences made me stop my reading to check on google translation for what they actually said..

PS2: I wouldn't say no to a Andre and Hannah spin-off, and telling about their romance as allosexual (I believe he is) and asexual! As an ace myself I was surprised in a good way to see this little rep even if we don't see much about them except that they're cute and dorkie and in love ♥

I loved reading They Hate Each Other!
It was so well written and the book actually me both laugh and cry.
I also really loved both Jonah and Dylan together!
While this was a really cute and sweet book it did have its serious moments which I really liked.
I really do highly recommend you read this book!
It was so good!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I saw the pretty cover, then I saw the title, then I read what the book was about, and all of these signs pointed towards my loving this book. The signs were correct. I did, in fact, love this book.

Dylan and Jonah hate each other. Thanks to their best friends dating, they're forced to spend time together and loathe it. They know how to rile each other up like no one else, and it doesn't help that their friends think they would be perfect together.

To stop the nagging of their friends, and after a drunken Jonah staggers into Dylan's room proclaiming he wants to fight but promptly passes out, the two plan to fake a relationship to get them off their backs.

Dylan and Jonah schedule when they'll talk, and what affection they'll display, when they'll kiss or hug. It's hilarious how they try to look like they love each other when they don't. But things start to change; the closer they get to each other, the more they see a person they never knew was underneath.

Jonah is loud, dramatic and wonderful. While he displays all his emotions on his face, he's managed to keep a pretty big secret for the past five years, but when the walls start crumbling down and Dylan kicks the final bricks to the curb, the tentative truce they've made blows up. It doesn't help that Dylan is fighting battles of his own.

Can the two find their way back to each other after the dust settles?

Gosh, this book was beautiful. I loved Jonah and Dylan, together and apart. The journey they took together and the individual journies they took to heal and grow was heartbreaking to read but so touching. 10/10 recommend.

This is another book where I just feel it's being mismarketed as a romance. From the title to the synopsis, everything focuses on the romance, which is why I expected the romance to be more central than it was, and I also expected the book to be fluffier than it was. This has been happening to me quite regularly, and honestly, I'm getting a little fed up. Begging publishers to market their books honestly so readers know what to expect going into them.

All this is not to say that the book was bad, just that it was not what I expected in a way that threw me off. Everything was a lot more tense than I'd anticipated and I'd picked this up hoping for a comfort read.

Most of the book isn't really about the romance, but moreso about both character's complicated home lives. This adds a lot of tension, and while I did think a lot of things were handled well, I ultimately felt like the ending rushed towards fixing things.

When it comes to the romance, I thought I would really enjoy this at first, when they started fake dating. But pretty soon I realized I just wasn't feeling the chemistry between them. That's very personal, of course, but it meant that the book just didn't end up working for me in the end.

Oh my goodness this book.was amazing. I laughed, I cried and I could not remove the smile from my face. I loved all of the representation and lily and Mik are 100% my favourite characters they are the sweetest. I really felt myself enter the world and it's the first time that's happened in a long time. I love this book and feel privileged to have read it.

What a wonderfully delightful and heartwarming read this was! I started reading They Hate Each Other knowing I was going to love it and by the end, I was truly enchanted by the story. From the start to the finish, I was hooked on the book. I experienced a whole range of emotions, from wide smiles to teary eyes, after reading some of the events that happen in the book.

Amanda Woody has done a fantastic job at making you feel what the characters feel. I loved Jonah and Dylan; their dynamic was amazing and to see them grow, not just together but individually as well was so nice. The side cast was so well-developed; I would love a chaotic friend group like this. They just have my heart.

If They Hate Each Other isn't on your radar, then it definitely should be!

This wasn't bad. It was well written, but formulaic and predictable. I liked the characters well enough but I felt like I had read this book many times before with very little to mark it as anything standout

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder Books and Hodder Publicity for the advance reader copy of this book.

Firstly I am a sucker for a fake dating/ enemies to lovers story. And this book delivers just that. It’s a cute YA story that is set in a cute town without homophobia which is such a nice change from the real world.

The main characters are Jonah and Dylan whose friends have been trying to set them up for as long as they’ve know them without success. After a party which is where the book starts rumours fly and then the story gets going.

It’s a beautiful story with complex characters with their own problems and things they need to resolve. There’s a range of LGBTQIA characters who feature in the story.

If you love a good enemies to lovers with complex characters, you’ll enjoy this book!

You know a book is good when you stay up late in the night reading it. If it weren't for the fact I am a semi-responsible adult, I'd have kept reading till midnight.

It's rare that dual POV characters feel entirely different enough for me to distinguish between them. In this case, I never failed to remember whether it was Dylan or Jonah speaking. I appreciated that they had their own issues to deal with that they helped each other with, but didn't entirely fix, just nudged along. I also loved Jonah's sisters and his extended family.

If I have any criticism, it's that their supposed best friends didn't feel fleshed out enough but it didn't detract from what was a great book.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Rating:5/5
I'm usually hesitant to pick YA romcoms because of some previous disappointments, but as fake dating is one of my favourite tropes, I was willing to give it a chance......and I'm so glad I did!! It was a book i didn't know I needed to read!
The fake dating trope, as well as enemies to lovers was done extremely well. In the beginning, I found both Dylan and Jonah annoying, but as I got to know them and their struggles better, I absolutely adored them both. The book deals with some serious issues like alcoholism, sexual harassment of a minor, PTSD and panic attacks,etc. I really appreciated the fact that the trigger warnings were given at the start, which is very important for a book. Homophobia not being one of the trigger warnings was a welcome relief.The romance was extremely cute and believable. I found this book to be heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. I laughed during the funny moments and as Dylan and Jonah opened up to each other, I cried.
I'd definitely recommend this book and it's sure to become one of my favourite reads of 2023!

I loved absolutely everything about this book !!! The dynamic of hatred to 'reluctant' friends to oh shit i have a crush on you to lovers is just phenomanal !!! I love how they both realise how their assumptions about the other is wrong and that theres more to them than they ever thought could be possible. And the fact that there were conflicts and resolutions, but none of them were homophobia/transphobia, external or internal, or coming out, there was sm queer joy and I loved that sm !!!

I loved Jonah so much !!!! He was goddamn sweet and stubborn and would happily die for his sisters. It broke my heart watching him burn himself to the ground trying to give them happiness and buy them what they wanted, watching him tolerate his disgusting manager bc he needed the money, watching him be a parent from 13y/o bc his mother had died and his father drowned himself in alcohol and they had no one else left, he was still a kid himself and yet he took on the role of parent so his younger sisters wouldnt suffer, so he could keep them all together. And yet he still had so much energy and love to give other people, making himself the centre of attention at parties, putting up that persona to hide just how tired he rlly was. I loved his dynamic with Andre, their banter always made me.laugh sm !!! And ofc I loved his dynamic with Dylan, from them purposely trying to get a rise out of each other, to them realising they genuinely cared and helping each other, to the sweet moments they shared.

I also rlly loved Dylan !!! It was so painful to see him punish himself and distance himself from his family bc he blamed himself for being a victim and "breaking up their family" when he was only a child. His panic attacks and fear of being too much, of being a burden, was very real, and I was happy to see him work through them and finally reunite with his brother and work towards his relationship with his mother. Also the fact that big griups of people and being the centre of attention overwhelms him is so relatable !!! And the stress baking, even ij the middle of the night !!!

I loved the romance sm !!! I loved the gradual way they went from absolutely despising each other to realising they cared about each other and supporting the other, Jonah helping Dylan with his panic attacks, and Dylan willing to sacrifice everything to give Jonah a home, a break and the chance to just be a kid again, and how they both realised they were actually falling for the other. I also really loved too that we got to see them still a couple of months after theyd actually gotten together and how their relationship was coming along !!

I also rlly loved the amount of casual queer rep. We had a 9y/o trans girl, we had an asexual young woman who's been in a healthy and loving relationship for over two years, we had casual nonbinary rep, and two bisexual male protagonists, and sm more, and I just love sm that no one ever questioned them or told them they were too young to know who they are, or that they're wrong, there was just sm queer joy !!!

They hate each other, what an amazing read this was.
This is the first time I've genuinely really enjoyed an enemies to lovers story that actually feels believable, it was so heartwarming with the way the story progressed even with the things both Dylan and Jonah were going through.
The side characters were also very lovable even with their annoying pushing of the couple while having amazing personalities of their own

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read an arc of this book.

They Hate Each Other was an highly anticipated book for me and it didn’t let me down at all! I loved the characters and the plot so much. And the amount of representation was amazing.

This story dealt with a lot of heavy topics, such as the death of a parent, an alcoholic parent, parental neglect, work place sexual harassment, loneliness, past abuse and resulting PTSD and panic attacks. All of these topics were addressed with so much respect.

Fake dating tropes are a favourite of mine, and this one was made more unique by the fact that they are also enemies to lovers.

I will definitely be recommending this book to my audience.