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A review by onthesamepage
Better Hate than Never by Chloe Liese
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:hate to love, he falls first, first time
Steam level: 🌶🌶🌶
Chloe Liese's books are always fast reads for me. I read all of this in a day, and yet I can't say that I absolutely loved it.
Hate to love is a trope that can work for me, but the rationale behind the hate (and the subsequent events leading to love) have to be really solid. I don't think that was the case here. Both Kate and Christopher cling to a hatred from when they were younger for really stupid reasons, and the way they act around each other is reminiscent of kids at a playground, not two adults. Christopher's behavior especially felt really over the top and borderline toxic. It's not that I didn't believe he was sorry (but he was only sorry after he realized he'd actually hurt Kate, I guess if she'd been able to take his abuse better it would've been fine), but the whole "I've always loved you and that's why I pushed you away" thing always sounds like a load of crap.
Did I still enjoy the book for what it is? Sure. But the first installment in the series is much better.
Also, I'm just irrationally annoyed that while Christopher is focused on ethical investments (which includes environmental responsibility), and Kate is a photographer who has done work related to global warming, both of them thought it was totally fine to do Christmas in July "while the updated AC blasts through the house". Because that's good for the environment. Right.
Tropes:
Steam level: 🌶🌶🌶
Chloe Liese's books are always fast reads for me. I read all of this in a day, and yet I can't say that I absolutely loved it.
Hate to love is a trope that can work for me, but the rationale behind the hate (and the subsequent events leading to love) have to be really solid. I don't think that was the case here. Both Kate and Christopher cling to a hatred from when they were younger for really stupid reasons, and the way they act around each other is reminiscent of kids at a playground, not two adults. Christopher's behavior especially felt really over the top and borderline toxic. It's not that I didn't believe he was sorry (but he was only sorry after he realized he'd actually hurt Kate, I guess if she'd been able to take his abuse better it would've been fine), but the whole "I've always loved you and that's why I pushed you away" thing always sounds like a load of crap.
Did I still enjoy the book for what it is? Sure. But the first installment in the series is much better.
Also, I'm just irrationally annoyed that while Christopher is focused on ethical investments (which includes environmental responsibility), and Kate is a photographer who has done work related to global warming, both of them thought it was totally fine to do Christmas in July "while the updated AC blasts through the house". Because that's good for the environment. Right.