A review by lisaluvsliterature
The Way I Hate Him by Meghan Quinn

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Of course as soon as I started this book I was immediately struck by how good it was. So invested in the characters from the start, as well as laughing, and feeling all the things! I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a big fan of age gap romances, although I am a little more lenient or accepting if the age gap is more brother/sister ages as opposed to father/daughter ages. And this one worked because Hayes was her older brother’s former best friend turned enemy. The reason for the hatred/enemy status was not revealed until later in the book. So I had to just go with something bad had happened when wondering how her family could hate him so much.

As I read though, I just kept thinking to myself about how good all of Quinn’s books are. I’m just blown away every time by the detailed story and all the things she can make you feel. So many scenes that have me rolling with laughter so much I have to put the book down until I can finish. Like when they were discussing insults:

“No one says dick as an insult anymore. Be more clever.”

And then there are scenes that have tears running down my face, like when Hattie is dealing with her sister seeming to give everyone a letter except her, or when her other sister can’t seem to spend any time with her. So many different aspects of emotions. Loving her niece Mac as she deals with the death of her mother and her whole life having been turned upside down. Then there is Hayes and what his family life was like, and of course his adorable meddling grandmother.

Another thing I LOVE about Meghan’s books, can I call her Meghan? It feels weirdly too familiar, but that’s what I’m going with because Quinn sounds too impersonal, lol. Another thing I love is how all her worlds, for the most part, have little Easter eggs placed throughout almost every other story of hers. Like, I’m so excited for this new town that I think we’re going to get more in because she has a map for it, and she mentioned Lovemark movies! And then there are references to my favorite baseball book boyfriend series, love, love, love how she does this!

For me I was a little irritated with what turned into the last act break up, it seemed a little out of character in a way for how things had been going, but as the characters worked through his reasoning for it, I was a little more okay with that. And I was also happy with how it was fixed for the final reunion. Another wonderful story from Meghan Quinn and I can’t wait for more set in Almond Bay, as well as just any other story from her!