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The Way We Hate
"Why can't I stop? Why don't I ever stop?
Brody
Avoiding Thanksgiving was not an option this year. I couldn’t prevent the inevitable from happening, no matter how much I wanted to. I’d have to see him, my step-brother. Evren. I’m not sure what’s worse, seeing him or what I refuse to acknowledge. He’s all that I hate and everything I’m not. The longer he clings to that night three years ago, the more I question my ability to endure this intense hatred. I may hate Evren, but I hate myself more.
Evren
I hate how perfect he is. I hate how he lights up the room just with his smile. And I hate the way he makes my rotten heart thump back to life with a single look. Brody is pretentious, hypocritical, and the worst liar on the planet. So when he shows up for Thanksgiving, giving himself away at every turn, I try to remind him why he has hated me all these years. The only problem with this plan is that I’m not sure I want him to hate me anymore, or if I ever wanted him to hate me at all.
The Way We Hate is an MM, step-brothers, enemies-to-lovers romance with a guaranteed HEA.
TWs are listed within the book. Please take them seriously. Your mental health matters.
Brody
Avoiding Thanksgiving was not an option this year. I couldn’t prevent the inevitable from happening, no matter how much I wanted to. I’d have to see him, my step-brother. Evren. I’m not sure what’s worse, seeing him or what I refuse to acknowledge. He’s all that I hate and everything I’m not. The longer he clings to that night three years ago, the more I question my ability to endure this intense hatred. I may hate Evren, but I hate myself more.
Evren
I hate how perfect he is. I hate how he lights up the room just with his smile. And I hate the way he makes my rotten heart thump back to life with a single look. Brody is pretentious, hypocritical, and the worst liar on the planet. So when he shows up for Thanksgiving, giving himself away at every turn, I try to remind him why he has hated me all these years. The only problem with this plan is that I’m not sure I want him to hate me anymore, or if I ever wanted him to hate me at all.
The Way We Hate is an MM, step-brothers, enemies-to-lovers romance with a guaranteed HEA.
TWs are listed within the book. Please take them seriously. Your mental health matters.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2024
223 people are currently reading
1612 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
February 22, 2024
I’m completely torn by this book, I honestly don’t know how to rate it…. It could be 5 or 1 ⭐️ so I have to do some deep analysis to come to terms with what I feel!
Loved Evren and Brody to the moon and back 🖤 they are perfectly imperfect… how the author approach some issues is a problem to me…
After some thinking I opted for a 2⭐️, manly because the first 80% was good.
I'll keep it simple: I loved the first 80% of the book and was in love with their story, their connection, and the way they were working through their traumas to be together. Evren and Brody deserve everything, after all the suffering... The last 20% destroyed the book for me. I’m a very tolerant person with reviews, I always try to see the good stuff in the book and let it weigh more than the bad, so this really upset me… Venting spoilers from now on.
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We know Brody was sexually abused by his uncle (his father´s brother) from age 11 to 15—not only physically but also mentally, because he made Brody think he was a freak and was the reason his uncle abused him (piece a shit). He remembers that on the night he hit his uncle, his father maybe knew something was up, so almost 20 years later he decides to confront him. His father confirms that he had suspicions, as did his mother, and did nothing. Get this: His father says he didn't do anything because Brody never complained, and maybe it was consensual... And that ladies and gentlemen killed me... Because after hearing this, in 2 sentences, Brody forgives his father, says he is going to try to show up more, and this subject is never discussed again... We never see him talking to a therapist or his mother. And I can't ever accept this. Such a heavy and painful thing should be treated with more compassion and respect. Because of this, I didnt feel the closure I needed. And I'm so sad because I was enjoying this book so much. They deserved more. The epilogue is another family thanksgiving, all happy… and while I wished dealing with this trauma would be this ease, I bet it’s not!
My suggestion to the author is that, if you choose a hard and heavy topic, make sure to address it with the due respect 🙏
Loved Evren and Brody to the moon and back 🖤 they are perfectly imperfect… how the author approach some issues is a problem to me…
After some thinking I opted for a 2⭐️, manly because the first 80% was good.
I'll keep it simple: I loved the first 80% of the book and was in love with their story, their connection, and the way they were working through their traumas to be together. Evren and Brody deserve everything, after all the suffering... The last 20% destroyed the book for me. I’m a very tolerant person with reviews, I always try to see the good stuff in the book and let it weigh more than the bad, so this really upset me… Venting spoilers from now on.
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We know Brody was sexually abused by his uncle (his father´s brother) from age 11 to 15—not only physically but also mentally, because he made Brody think he was a freak and was the reason his uncle abused him (piece a shit). He remembers that on the night he hit his uncle, his father maybe knew something was up, so almost 20 years later he decides to confront him. His father confirms that he had suspicions, as did his mother, and did nothing. Get this: His father says he didn't do anything because Brody never complained, and maybe it was consensual... And that ladies and gentlemen killed me... Because after hearing this, in 2 sentences, Brody forgives his father, says he is going to try to show up more, and this subject is never discussed again... We never see him talking to a therapist or his mother. And I can't ever accept this. Such a heavy and painful thing should be treated with more compassion and respect. Because of this, I didnt feel the closure I needed. And I'm so sad because I was enjoying this book so much. They deserved more. The epilogue is another family thanksgiving, all happy… and while I wished dealing with this trauma would be this ease, I bet it’s not!
My suggestion to the author is that, if you choose a hard and heavy topic, make sure to address it with the due respect 🙏
August 14, 2025
Reread #2
4 Stars!⭐️
3🌶️
I Loved This Reread So Much Y’all, This Is A Comfort Read For Me. I Absolutely Adore Evren And Brody So Much And This Book Was Just Phenomenal I Loved It So Much It’s Definitely A Book I’m Doing A Yearly Reread For💕
——————————————-
Read #1
4⭐️
3.75🌶️
A True Enemies To Lovers MM Done So WELL, LOVE! Highly, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!🥰🫶💕
Read #2
5 Stars!⭐️
3.75🌶️
OMG! Y’ALL, THIS BOOK! SO Much Better Reading It The Second Time. ONE OF MY FAVORITE STEPBROTHER ROMANCES EVER! AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE MM ROMANCES EVER AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE READS THIS YEAR! Brody And Evren OMFG! THESE BOYS! Were Everything To Me And I Mean It, THEY WERE EVERYTHING! I Love These Two With My Whole Heart And PHYSICAL BODY! There Romance Was Just UGH! So Beautiful And So Wholesome And SO EMOTIONAL! UGH! Never Getting Over Them And This Book, NEVER! Also It’s Enemies To Lovers, I Repeat, ENEMIES TO LOVERS, What’s Not To Love😂🫶 HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR ALL MM ROMANCE LOVERS OUT THERE, YOUR WELCOME.💕💕💕💕
4 Stars!⭐️
3🌶️
I Loved This Reread So Much Y’all, This Is A Comfort Read For Me. I Absolutely Adore Evren And Brody So Much And This Book Was Just Phenomenal I Loved It So Much It’s Definitely A Book I’m Doing A Yearly Reread For💕
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Read #1
4⭐️
3.75🌶️
A True Enemies To Lovers MM Done So WELL, LOVE! Highly, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!🥰🫶💕
Read #2
5 Stars!⭐️
3.75🌶️
OMG! Y’ALL, THIS BOOK! SO Much Better Reading It The Second Time. ONE OF MY FAVORITE STEPBROTHER ROMANCES EVER! AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE MM ROMANCES EVER AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE READS THIS YEAR! Brody And Evren OMFG! THESE BOYS! Were Everything To Me And I Mean It, THEY WERE EVERYTHING! I Love These Two With My Whole Heart And PHYSICAL BODY! There Romance Was Just UGH! So Beautiful And So Wholesome And SO EMOTIONAL! UGH! Never Getting Over Them And This Book, NEVER! Also It’s Enemies To Lovers, I Repeat, ENEMIES TO LOVERS, What’s Not To Love😂🫶 HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR ALL MM ROMANCE LOVERS OUT THERE, YOUR WELCOME.💕💕💕💕
January 26, 2024
I am sorry to say but this was not good. I had a problem with a lot of thins.
As a friend told me, this had some tropes I love: Stepbrothers, Love-hate, slow burn, but the mixing of things felt very unripe.
The beginning was fine, I really felt the animosity and got the why but the turning points were very sharp and for me it didn't feel like a process, whice for me is the best thing with Love-hate relationship.
From a point of absolutely loathing anything to do with being "not normal" (and each other) to a point of "What is going on, Baby" before they even had one civil conversation made me feel very estranged to them both.
The fact that they went back and forward a lot didn't help.
Another problem for me was bringing on very serious issues and not dealing with them properly.
Addictions and mental issues should not be toss aside and people don't miraculously overcome them just because someone is holding their hand (or in the case here, their di**)
I was considering DNF from around 80% because things were getting silly and over dramatic but I guess I just went with it.
As a friend told me, this had some tropes I love: Stepbrothers, Love-hate, slow burn, but the mixing of things felt very unripe.
The beginning was fine, I really felt the animosity and got the why but the turning points were very sharp and for me it didn't feel like a process, whice for me is the best thing with Love-hate relationship.
From a point of absolutely loathing anything to do with being "not normal" (and each other) to a point of "What is going on, Baby" before they even had one civil conversation made me feel very estranged to them both.
The fact that they went back and forward a lot didn't help.
Another problem for me was bringing on very serious issues and not dealing with them properly.
Addictions and mental issues should not be toss aside and people don't miraculously overcome them just because someone is holding their hand (or in the case here, their di**)
I was considering DNF from around 80% because things were getting silly and over dramatic but I guess I just went with it.
January 23, 2024
4/5 stars
If loving Evren makes me a freak, so be it. I can’t find it in me to care anymore.
I just want him. He’s mine.
But like the tattoo that I have over my heart, he’s my light and I’m his. And I’ll do anything at all to keep him forever.
May 17, 2024
“Polar opposite reactions, but the same pain.”
“I always wondered why, when I look at you, I see my soul reflecting in your eyes.”
“It’s the reason when I listen to your heart, it beats like mine.”
HOLY CRAP.....
I can't find it ،i can't form the words , THAT WAS HEAVY .
This was FUCKING FLAWLESS, PERFECT 😭😭😭😭..
Oh my god , this renders me speechless, god , I'm hopeless .
Good , just fantastic , fabulous, outstanding, top notch .
Fuck, fuck , fuck the way this fucking book made me feel , this book could be my home .
Angel and ev could be my home , they are EVERYTHING AND MOOOORE.
I HIGHLIGHTED THE WHOLE FUCKING BOOK , LIKE EVERYTHING, BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING .
LOVE LOVE LOVE ITTTTTT , I came to terms with the fact that this book will live In my heart my head and my soul for the rest of my life , how! When! How cares? I don't even care , I just knew it the second I finished the book , wait , I mean the second that this book finished me .
You know I don't need to talk about anything, cuz as I said, it was just flawless .
God , this is woww , the author made me fucking sob , when I say I was sobbing, I mean it 😭💔.
Fuck I love them soooooo much , this 2 men carved their own way into my fucking heart and they wil be locked here for life .
“I always wondered why, when I look at you, I see my soul reflecting in your eyes.”
“It’s the reason when I listen to your heart, it beats like mine.”
HOLY CRAP.....
I can't find it ،i can't form the words , THAT WAS HEAVY .
This was FUCKING FLAWLESS, PERFECT 😭😭😭😭..
Oh my god , this renders me speechless, god , I'm hopeless .
Good , just fantastic , fabulous, outstanding, top notch .
Fuck, fuck , fuck the way this fucking book made me feel , this book could be my home .
Angel and ev could be my home , they are EVERYTHING AND MOOOORE.
I HIGHLIGHTED THE WHOLE FUCKING BOOK , LIKE EVERYTHING, BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING .
LOVE LOVE LOVE ITTTTTT , I came to terms with the fact that this book will live In my heart my head and my soul for the rest of my life , how! When! How cares? I don't even care , I just knew it the second I finished the book , wait , I mean the second that this book finished me .
You know I don't need to talk about anything, cuz as I said, it was just flawless .
God , this is woww , the author made me fucking sob , when I say I was sobbing, I mean it 😭💔.
Fuck I love them soooooo much , this 2 men carved their own way into my fucking heart and they wil be locked here for life .
July 19, 2025
Tropes: step brothers, hate to love, rockstar/doctor, hurt/comfort, forced proximity
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 2/5
Kinks:
Angst: high
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: internalized homophobia, CSA of MMC, severe child abuse of MMC, attempted SA, traumatic injuries, active addiction, drug use, unsafe sex, pining, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts by MMC
Cheating between MCs: Yes (I'm labeling what happened cheating, because they didn't talk about NOT being exclusive. And even after they did talk about being exclusive, some of the stuff Evren did was intended cheating or blacked out so who knows how what happened)
Any cheating: See below
Other person drama: they met when they were 17 and 16, they were both attracted to each other and pined for the other person and were jealous of their lovers. They had a kiss 3 years ago but nothing more, and kept hooking up with others. Then they hook up in the present, and they both hook up with others after, then they hook up with each other again and again, and they are hooking up with others even after that - Evren for a bit longer than Brody. They start being exclusive at 48%, but Evren gets blackout inebriated on drugs and thinks he didn't but isn't 100% sure whether he f***** around.
2.75 stars
Brody is 30. Evren is 29. They have known each other since they were 17 and 16, when their parents started dating. They've been step brothers since. They both have very traumatic childhoods. Evren was neglected and severely physically and psychologically abused by his mother. He turned to drugs and built up a wall around himself. Brody was groomed and CSA'd by his uncle for years as a kid, and his uncle would spew homophobic s*** and it gave Brody internalized homophobia and scarred him mentally. Brody has been gay his whole life, but he couldn't bring himself to give in to his urges because of what was instilled in him, he tried so hard to be normal and be with women. He was always a good boy who behaved growing up, who followed all the rules, was a nerd, became a doctor.
They avoided each other as much as they could over the years. Brody is busy as a doctor and buries himself in work. And Evren is a struggling Rockstar. They see each other at family events. 3 years ago they shared a kiss in a heated moment. Evren wants Brody so bad, he needles him trying to rile him up, he wants another situation where Brody will cave to him. He kisses him again in the present, and it stirs things up in the next time Brody is the one to kiss him, and they start hooking up. But Brody is still in denial and doesn't want to be gay, so he occasionally fucks an OW to prove to himself that he is "normal" (it's not on page but there are descriptions). Evren also feels rejected and like they aren't exclusive/that he has no reason to be exclusive, so he keeps hooking up often with men and women (he's bi, there isn't anything explicit on page). They keep being drawn back to each other, but they aren't open with each other, they have their individual secrets about their traumas and they are both hurting each other by not being all in.
The story was okay, there was some good things about it. There was a complicated history to their relationship. And you felt the characters struggle. But it's kind of hard for an author to try to serve up pining while both characters are living their lives and having sex with other people, especially when they are still having sex with other people after they have gotten together. Like, if you're so in love and lusting after that person, why are you hooking up with someone else the next day or days? They can't be that important to you. I also was alarmed by the unsafe sex in this book. Especially because Evren was in active addiction and using so much that he would block out and f*** people and be unsure if he had used protection. And then he would f*** Brody without protection. Brody is a doctor, he should know better.
Spoiler for the ending... I think the author made some bad plot choices at the end and didn't properly wrap things up. Having them finally start being happy at 90%, after all the abuse both of them have been through since childhood, and then putting Brody in a car accident at 91% with severe injuries and brain damage is cruel. Brody had a severe brain injury. And he wakes up at 96% and immediately starts talking and making references to what happened 13 years ago and what happened in the recent present? That seems really unrealistic that he would jump into sensical conversation. There wasn't really enough time at the end for the author to wrap things up in the remaining 4%. The ending was rushed and missed addressing some things. The conflict Brody had at the hospital with Layla accusing him of sexual harassment and his colleagues being scandalized by his relationship with his stepbrother and people gossiping that he might be acting inappropriately with patients was barely addressed, it was just said that Layla doesn't work there anymore. And Brody was very severely injured, it wasn't clear if Brody had any long-term deficits/injuries from the car accident. It's mentioned that he's doing a research project, but was he able to resume work at the hospital? And they never addressed that Brody has concerns with Evren working in the music industry, they just said that Evren started another band with Lex, and they never talked about whether he would be able to handle returning to that lifestyle. Yeah Evren is seeing a therapist now (which is good! Brody should be too!), but he has addiction issues and Brody was worried that lifestyle hurts his sobriety and that he would cheat.
Some notable moments:
"I can’t believe how hard and deep he’s kissing me. My heart swells at the same time my dick does. Holding either side of his neck, I suck his bottom lip the way he likes, watching his eyes flutter and roll. Popping off, I whisper, “So you really did have to work?” Brushing my hair behind my ear, he nods. “Yes, baby.” Baby. He called me baby. Unable to hide my shit-eating grin, I dive and latch onto his neck. Mine."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 2/5
Kinks:
Angst: high
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: internalized homophobia, CSA of MMC, severe child abuse of MMC, attempted SA, traumatic injuries, active addiction, drug use, unsafe sex, pining, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts by MMC
Cheating between MCs: Yes (I'm labeling what happened cheating, because they didn't talk about NOT being exclusive. And even after they did talk about being exclusive, some of the stuff Evren did was intended cheating or blacked out so who knows how what happened)
Any cheating: See below
Other person drama: they met when they were 17 and 16, they were both attracted to each other and pined for the other person and were jealous of their lovers. They had a kiss 3 years ago but nothing more, and kept hooking up with others. Then they hook up in the present, and they both hook up with others after, then they hook up with each other again and again, and they are hooking up with others even after that - Evren for a bit longer than Brody. They start being exclusive at 48%, but Evren gets blackout inebriated on drugs and thinks he didn't but isn't 100% sure whether he f***** around.
2.75 stars
Brody is 30. Evren is 29. They have known each other since they were 17 and 16, when their parents started dating. They've been step brothers since. They both have very traumatic childhoods. Evren was neglected and severely physically and psychologically abused by his mother. He turned to drugs and built up a wall around himself. Brody was groomed and CSA'd by his uncle for years as a kid, and his uncle would spew homophobic s*** and it gave Brody internalized homophobia and scarred him mentally. Brody has been gay his whole life, but he couldn't bring himself to give in to his urges because of what was instilled in him, he tried so hard to be normal and be with women. He was always a good boy who behaved growing up, who followed all the rules, was a nerd, became a doctor.
They avoided each other as much as they could over the years. Brody is busy as a doctor and buries himself in work. And Evren is a struggling Rockstar. They see each other at family events. 3 years ago they shared a kiss in a heated moment. Evren wants Brody so bad, he needles him trying to rile him up, he wants another situation where Brody will cave to him. He kisses him again in the present, and it stirs things up in the next time Brody is the one to kiss him, and they start hooking up. But Brody is still in denial and doesn't want to be gay, so he occasionally fucks an OW to prove to himself that he is "normal" (it's not on page but there are descriptions). Evren also feels rejected and like they aren't exclusive/that he has no reason to be exclusive, so he keeps hooking up often with men and women (he's bi, there isn't anything explicit on page). They keep being drawn back to each other, but they aren't open with each other, they have their individual secrets about their traumas and they are both hurting each other by not being all in.
The story was okay, there was some good things about it. There was a complicated history to their relationship. And you felt the characters struggle. But it's kind of hard for an author to try to serve up pining while both characters are living their lives and having sex with other people, especially when they are still having sex with other people after they have gotten together. Like, if you're so in love and lusting after that person, why are you hooking up with someone else the next day or days? They can't be that important to you. I also was alarmed by the unsafe sex in this book. Especially because Evren was in active addiction and using so much that he would block out and f*** people and be unsure if he had used protection. And then he would f*** Brody without protection. Brody is a doctor, he should know better.
Spoiler for the ending... I think the author made some bad plot choices at the end and didn't properly wrap things up. Having them finally start being happy at 90%, after all the abuse both of them have been through since childhood, and then putting Brody in a car accident at 91% with severe injuries and brain damage is cruel. Brody had a severe brain injury. And he wakes up at 96% and immediately starts talking and making references to what happened 13 years ago and what happened in the recent present? That seems really unrealistic that he would jump into sensical conversation. There wasn't really enough time at the end for the author to wrap things up in the remaining 4%. The ending was rushed and missed addressing some things. The conflict Brody had at the hospital with Layla accusing him of sexual harassment and his colleagues being scandalized by his relationship with his stepbrother and people gossiping that he might be acting inappropriately with patients was barely addressed, it was just said that Layla doesn't work there anymore. And Brody was very severely injured, it wasn't clear if Brody had any long-term deficits/injuries from the car accident. It's mentioned that he's doing a research project, but was he able to resume work at the hospital? And they never addressed that Brody has concerns with Evren working in the music industry, they just said that Evren started another band with Lex, and they never talked about whether he would be able to handle returning to that lifestyle. Yeah Evren is seeing a therapist now (which is good! Brody should be too!), but he has addiction issues and Brody was worried that lifestyle hurts his sobriety and that he would cheat.
Some notable moments:
"I can’t believe how hard and deep he’s kissing me. My heart swells at the same time my dick does. Holding either side of his neck, I suck his bottom lip the way he likes, watching his eyes flutter and roll. Popping off, I whisper, “So you really did have to work?” Brushing my hair behind my ear, he nods. “Yes, baby.” Baby. He called me baby. Unable to hide my shit-eating grin, I dive and latch onto his neck. Mine."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
well they went from "i hate you" to "baby" pretty quickly (the cover is beautiful tho)
![Profile Image for melancholy_reader [hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1749135172i%2F159391289._UY200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
January 13, 2025
2 ⭐️⭐️
• enemies to lovers
• stepbrothers
• trauma/abuse
• opposites attract
• gay awakening
I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did.
The writing was a hot mess. The story had a great potential but it wasn’t delivered.
We are talking about two men 29 and 30 who think and act like teenagers and this kinda bugged me.
I try to find anything at all to explain why I hate him, but I can’t stop thinking about it.
DUUUUUDE THE SENTIMENT IS MUTUAL 🙄🙄🙄
I really don’t fucking know why these two hate each other so much, not really, they kind of explain it going forward, but it doesn’t make sense to me tbh. And to be more “specific” the reason is YOU’RE TOO PERFECT, YOU SMILED AT ME AND I SAW THE SUN (yadayada) AND I THOUGHT I WOULD EVENTUALLY HURT YOU AND YOU COULD’VE LEAVE ME SOME DAY SO I HAD TO HATE YOUR GUTS SO I DIDNT LOOSE MY SHIT TELLING YOU I LOVED YOU FROM THE START AND GIVE TROUBLE TO YOU, MY DAD AND YOUR MOM. Nope, it does nothing to me, sry.
I didn’t feel the forbidden, I didn’t feel the angst, and much to my disappointment I didn’t feel the addiction and trauma.
Sex scenes were hot though (that’s me being a 🤡)
Thanks but no thanks ⏭️⏭️
• enemies to lovers
• stepbrothers
• trauma/abuse
• opposites attract
• gay awakening
I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did.
The writing was a hot mess. The story had a great potential but it wasn’t delivered.
We are talking about two men 29 and 30 who think and act like teenagers and this kinda bugged me.
I try to find anything at all to explain why I hate him, but I can’t stop thinking about it.
DUUUUUDE THE SENTIMENT IS MUTUAL 🙄🙄🙄
I really don’t fucking know why these two hate each other so much, not really, they kind of explain it going forward, but it doesn’t make sense to me tbh. And to be more “specific” the reason is YOU’RE TOO PERFECT, YOU SMILED AT ME AND I SAW THE SUN (yadayada) AND I THOUGHT I WOULD EVENTUALLY HURT YOU AND YOU COULD’VE LEAVE ME SOME DAY SO I HAD TO HATE YOUR GUTS SO I DIDNT LOOSE MY SHIT TELLING YOU I LOVED YOU FROM THE START AND GIVE TROUBLE TO YOU, MY DAD AND YOUR MOM. Nope, it does nothing to me, sry.
I didn’t feel the forbidden, I didn’t feel the angst, and much to my disappointment I didn’t feel the addiction and trauma.
Sex scenes were hot though (that’s me being a 🤡)
Thanks but no thanks ⏭️⏭️
September 17, 2025
An emotional MM romance with stepbrothers one is a doctor the other a rockstar this is almost a one sided hate to love romance. There are a lot of really heavy topics that they both overcome together be sure to check your triggers such as drug abuse, suicide, SA, depression and abusive parents being present in this book. I really enjoyed this book and the healing they do they deserve all the happiness.
February 19, 2024
"If he hated me, then I’d be okay—safe. If he hated me, then I wouldn’t ruin my dad’s life because I knew the moment I laid eyes on Brody Angel Anderson that I was in love. And I’ve lost everything I’ve ever loved."
The Way We Hate is only Myka Loren's second book and their first MM standalone, and I absolutely loved it! Honestly, it's got all of my favourite tropes and E2L stepbrothers is basically my kryptonite 😈. This is Brody and Evren's story and it's pretty angsty at times, so do check out the author's intro to be safe.
You will love The Way We Hate if you're all about:
🌶️step-brothers
🌶️enemies-to-lovers
🌶️opposites attract
🌶️forced proximity
🌶️all the angst
🌶️all the steam
🌶️first times
🌶️hard won HEA
"I always wondered why, when I look at you, I see my soul reflecting in your eyes." He leans in, lips brushing over mine as he whispers, “It’s the reason when I listen to your heart, it beats like mine." Then he kisses me.
Love, love, love.
4.5 stars
The Way We Hate is only Myka Loren's second book and their first MM standalone, and I absolutely loved it! Honestly, it's got all of my favourite tropes and E2L stepbrothers is basically my kryptonite 😈. This is Brody and Evren's story and it's pretty angsty at times, so do check out the author's intro to be safe.
You will love The Way We Hate if you're all about:
🌶️step-brothers
🌶️enemies-to-lovers
🌶️opposites attract
🌶️forced proximity
🌶️all the angst
🌶️all the steam
🌶️first times
🌶️hard won HEA
"I always wondered why, when I look at you, I see my soul reflecting in your eyes." He leans in, lips brushing over mine as he whispers, “It’s the reason when I listen to your heart, it beats like mine." Then he kisses me.
Love, love, love.
4.5 stars
November 18, 2024
This could have been a 5* book with some simple changes. Firstly, Brody and his parents. I would have gone noncontact with my parents if they knew/ suspected I'd been abused by a family member and just not done anything..."it could have been consensual"...yeah your 15 year old son really consented to having sex with your brother, that's why he punched him so his nose bled. Jesus. Terrible choice to make in the story telling.
Also, for once it would be nice that falling in love didn't magically cure someone's depression. I know it's a fictional book, but it's a dangerous message to spread around.
Also, for once it would be nice that falling in love didn't magically cure someone's depression. I know it's a fictional book, but it's a dangerous message to spread around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2024
every single parent in here disgusts me.
September 30, 2025
This book gave me everything I crave in hurt/comfort — raw pining, desperate love, and that deliciously toxic angst that makes you ache. But it also threw in a pile of unnecessary drama that dragged it down from a 5-star to a 4-star read for me.
Thirteen years ago, Brody’s mom married Evren’s dad, tying two broken boys into a reluctant family. Brody grew up to be the golden one — an ER doctor, all sharp edges and control, desperate to project “normal” while burying the truth of his trauma and sexuality. Evren spiraled into the opposite direction — a guitarist living on bitterness, addiction, and self-destruction, lashing out to hide how deeply he aches for the one person he can’t have. What started as cold indifference has grown into a decade-long war of hatred, pining, and denial. Now, forced back into each other’s orbit as adults, their stepbrother bond burns with a toxic, magnetic pull neither of them can break.
I’ll start with what worked: Brody and Evren’s dynamic absolutely wrecked me in the best way. That helpless pull they had toward each other? Magnificent . When Brody snaps and drops to his knees, growling “I hate you. It’s killing me,” while Evren can only pant out “I-I know,” I swear my heart did a full somersault. It’s hate, it’s love, it’s obsession — all wrapped in one, and it’s exactly the kind of angst I live for.
And the tenderness was just as strong. When Evren is drowning in shame over the state of his apartment, Brody takes charge:
“Go lay down. I got this.”
Evren, blinking, “What?”
“You are sick. Let me help. That’s why I’m here, yes?”
And the tears that follow… that’s comfort. That’s what makes the hurt worth it.
The intimacy between them sealed it:
“You’re mine. This ass is mine. This big dick is mine.”
“Fuck. Yes. Yours.”
Sloppy, messy, animalistic — and then soft as hell when Brody notices Evren’s eyes go lighter after orgasm, and realizes: “It’s love.” That contrast between brutality and tenderness is where this book truly shined.
But then… the author couldn’t stop piling on. Evren was malnourished and abused by his mother, depressed, suicidal. Brody was sexually abused by his uncle, gaslit into believing he “seduced” him, carrying the shame that being gay meant being a freak. Their parents — supposedly “good people” — never had a single heart-to-heart apology with their kids. No “I failed you” from Evren’s father. No “I should have protected you” from Brody’s mom. And therapy? Nowhere. Brody’s a doctor but doesn’t recognize he needs professional help? That was hard to buy.
And then the soap-opera nonsense: the jealous ex fling outing, the car accident, the coma. Honestly, the crash was the breaking point. Totally irrelevant, only added to milk drama, and it yanked me out of the real, tender hurt/comfort vibe I was there for.
Which is a shame, because when Brody finally whispers “You’re coming home to me, angel?” and Evren breathes out “I’ll always come home to you, sweetheart,” it was perfect. That’s the ending note I wanted, not hospital beds and melodrama.
So yes, this book had me both swooning and groaning. The angst and comfort were delicious. The trauma dump and unnecessary drama were not. In the end, I’m landing on 4 stars — because even through the mess, Brody and Evren’s love hit me straight in the chest, and that’s what I’ll remember.
Thirteen years ago, Brody’s mom married Evren’s dad, tying two broken boys into a reluctant family. Brody grew up to be the golden one — an ER doctor, all sharp edges and control, desperate to project “normal” while burying the truth of his trauma and sexuality. Evren spiraled into the opposite direction — a guitarist living on bitterness, addiction, and self-destruction, lashing out to hide how deeply he aches for the one person he can’t have. What started as cold indifference has grown into a decade-long war of hatred, pining, and denial. Now, forced back into each other’s orbit as adults, their stepbrother bond burns with a toxic, magnetic pull neither of them can break.
I’ll start with what worked: Brody and Evren’s dynamic absolutely wrecked me in the best way. That helpless pull they had toward each other? Magnificent . When Brody snaps and drops to his knees, growling “I hate you. It’s killing me,” while Evren can only pant out “I-I know,” I swear my heart did a full somersault. It’s hate, it’s love, it’s obsession — all wrapped in one, and it’s exactly the kind of angst I live for.
And the tenderness was just as strong. When Evren is drowning in shame over the state of his apartment, Brody takes charge:
“Go lay down. I got this.”
Evren, blinking, “What?”
“You are sick. Let me help. That’s why I’m here, yes?”
And the tears that follow… that’s comfort. That’s what makes the hurt worth it.
The intimacy between them sealed it:
“You’re mine. This ass is mine. This big dick is mine.”
“Fuck. Yes. Yours.”
Sloppy, messy, animalistic — and then soft as hell when Brody notices Evren’s eyes go lighter after orgasm, and realizes: “It’s love.” That contrast between brutality and tenderness is where this book truly shined.
But then… the author couldn’t stop piling on. Evren was malnourished and abused by his mother, depressed, suicidal. Brody was sexually abused by his uncle, gaslit into believing he “seduced” him, carrying the shame that being gay meant being a freak. Their parents — supposedly “good people” — never had a single heart-to-heart apology with their kids. No “I failed you” from Evren’s father. No “I should have protected you” from Brody’s mom. And therapy? Nowhere. Brody’s a doctor but doesn’t recognize he needs professional help? That was hard to buy.
And then the soap-opera nonsense: the jealous ex fling outing, the car accident, the coma. Honestly, the crash was the breaking point. Totally irrelevant, only added to milk drama, and it yanked me out of the real, tender hurt/comfort vibe I was there for.
Which is a shame, because when Brody finally whispers “You’re coming home to me, angel?” and Evren breathes out “I’ll always come home to you, sweetheart,” it was perfect. That’s the ending note I wanted, not hospital beds and melodrama.
So yes, this book had me both swooning and groaning. The angst and comfort were delicious. The trauma dump and unnecessary drama were not. In the end, I’m landing on 4 stars — because even through the mess, Brody and Evren’s love hit me straight in the chest, and that’s what I’ll remember.
December 5, 2025
This is was so good up until about 80%. Both mental health and abuse topics were handled SO poorly in this, I just can’t rate it any higher.
January 18, 2026
5 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
format: ebook
i am a huge sucker for a stepbrother romance and i really loved this one.
brody and evren were so cute together, and i loved how fleshed out both characters were. there was a lot of buried angst and pain, and i really enjoyed their journey from antagonistic stepbrothers to the sweetest lovers. a painful read but so worth the hea.
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
format: ebook
i am a huge sucker for a stepbrother romance and i really loved this one.
brody and evren were so cute together, and i loved how fleshed out both characters were. there was a lot of buried angst and pain, and i really enjoyed their journey from antagonistic stepbrothers to the sweetest lovers. a painful read but so worth the hea.
January 29, 2024
01/29/24: Okay. I'm back. Wow. I'm torn. Did this book slam head first into some deep subjects? Yes. Did it address them perfectly? No. This book is a lot. It hits probably half of every known trigger for literally no reason. I absolutely feel like it needed to be either 50-100 pages longer or 50-100 pages shorter.
I loved: their dynamic, the hate, the "i've loved you forever but martyred myself", the spice.
I less than loved: the way that the mental health of the characters was handled and what was done to them. I especially did not need the ending event.
Was this book semi-realistic and probably as raw as you'll get, sure. I just think some things could have been handled with more care.
3.5⭐️ 3🌶️
01/27/24: I- I need a minute to process. I’ll be back. Rtc.
I loved: their dynamic, the hate, the "i've loved you forever but martyred myself", the spice.
I less than loved: the way that the mental health of the characters was handled and what was done to them. I especially did not need the ending event.
Was this book semi-realistic and probably as raw as you'll get, sure. I just think some things could have been handled with more care.
3.5⭐️ 3🌶️
01/27/24: I- I need a minute to process. I’ll be back. Rtc.
February 28, 2024
I found the writing in this book to be relatively basic. Which I don’t necessarily hate, sometimes it makes a good quick read which I can devour. Especially if the characters are likeable. I thought this book had promise to begin with I couldn’t put it down. I was intrigued by Brodie and Evren’s story’s I love a bit of toxic love mixed with past trama but the way this played out was just crazy. For me the characters became very unlikeable. The storyline with Evrens band was just plain strange, it was really over dramatised with not much substance. I feel the the author was trying to put across as Evren was sexually assaulted by his band mate and Evren was understandably pissed by this. Unfortunately to me the way it played out just didn’t work Evren’s character started getting more and more unlikeable he came across very childish and aggressive in a gross way. There was no character development, they finally discussed their back story’s and why they are the way they are but then it was just glossed over like now we have each other and have told each other, everything is just fine. I feel like there was a lot of trauma bonding not in a good way. The ending was getting more and more ridiculous I had to give up with just 30 pages left to go.
December 6, 2024
4⭐
“I’m here, sweetheart. I’m here. You’re alright.” Brody’s voice is soft in my ear and when I open my eyes, I see a crowd forming. “Shhh. I got you.”
I jerk again. “Let me go.”
“Never,” he squeezes me tighter. “Ignore them, baby. Listen to me. Only me.”
“What the fuck are you looking at!” I scream at the assholes standing there, gawking like I’m some roadside Freakshow.
“Evren,” Brody’s voice booms, “listen to me,” he says softer. He spins me around and holds my cheeks. Blinking through tears I didn’t even know were shedding, he swipes them away. “Give me your pain. Give me your hate.”
I whimper, eyes dashing left and right. “No one wants me.”
“Shh,” he soothes. “Hold on to me, sweetheart. Listen only to me. Go on.” My arms move on their own, securing themselves around his waist. He kisses my forehead. “I love you, Evren. I want you.”
“I’m here, sweetheart. I’m here. You’re alright.” Brody’s voice is soft in my ear and when I open my eyes, I see a crowd forming. “Shhh. I got you.”
I jerk again. “Let me go.”
“Never,” he squeezes me tighter. “Ignore them, baby. Listen to me. Only me.”
“What the fuck are you looking at!” I scream at the assholes standing there, gawking like I’m some roadside Freakshow.
“Evren,” Brody’s voice booms, “listen to me,” he says softer. He spins me around and holds my cheeks. Blinking through tears I didn’t even know were shedding, he swipes them away. “Give me your pain. Give me your hate.”
I whimper, eyes dashing left and right. “No one wants me.”
“Shh,” he soothes. “Hold on to me, sweetheart. Listen only to me. Go on.” My arms move on their own, securing themselves around his waist. He kisses my forehead. “I love you, Evren. I want you.”
March 3, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ this was just ok. I liked Evren and Brody and think they had a really nice connection but something was just missing! The last 10% got really far fetched and I was just waiting for the HEA so I could move on
January 30, 2024
So good!
I don't know what makes me love these types of stories but reading the way these characters found themselves and each other is so beautiful. Only thing I would have liked is more of the recovery at the end of the book. (Trying not to give spoilers) but this book is so worth the read.
I don't know what makes me love these types of stories but reading the way these characters found themselves and each other is so beautiful. Only thing I would have liked is more of the recovery at the end of the book. (Trying not to give spoilers) but this book is so worth the read.
August 6, 2024
⭐︎
4.5 stars rounded up!
⭐︎
Head the TWs at the start of this. There is sexual abuse and child abuse talked about - and in one instance, very briefly, a flashback of the SA happening to Brody, although it doesn't go into real detail and cuts off before it really starts happening.
Evren (which, what a name. It took me a bit to get over that name) was abused by his mother as a kid, to the point of broken bones and malnourishment. It's horrible and hard to deal with in its own way, different to Brody's CSA.
So this is no light read, but it was surprisingly good. With the overall rating, I was expecting to maybe like it alright, but that would be about it.
But I actually really enjoyed this, a lot. And while their family were all pretty okay with them together as stepbrothers, and Brody's friend Aiden was good with it too, the general public was not and actually judged them highly for it when it became public knowledge, which was enough for me. At least there were people who had a problem with them.
My .5 stars off actually comes from the very end, when something happened that I felt was unnecessary:
But other than that, I really enjoyed this and it was such a pleasant surprise. I loved Brody and Evren's chemistry and it actually had them 'hate' each other for a good while there. Maybe it ended a tad too early, but not enough for me to care enough to give anything off for it.
I also saw a complaint that this was on the "loving you makes all the pain and mental health issues go away" and I do not agree with that. Evren, in the epilogue, has been in therapy for 6 months, and Brody is getting there, getting to a place where he's ready for therapy. It wasn't a "we don't need therapy because we have each other" situation.
I definitely, highly recommend this one. If this was a debut (it is certainly one of her first, at the very least), then it was a very good, very strong debut. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future.
Two big thumbs up from me, and onto the next! 🥰😘😍
Head the TWs at the start of this. There is sexual abuse and child abuse talked about - and in one instance, very briefly, a flashback of the SA happening to Brody, although it doesn't go into real detail and cuts off before it really starts happening.
Evren (which, what a name. It took me a bit to get over that name) was abused by his mother as a kid, to the point of broken bones and malnourishment. It's horrible and hard to deal with in its own way, different to Brody's CSA.
So this is no light read, but it was surprisingly good. With the overall rating, I was expecting to maybe like it alright, but that would be about it.
But I actually really enjoyed this, a lot. And while their family were all pretty okay with them together as stepbrothers, and Brody's friend Aiden was good with it too, the general public was not and actually judged them highly for it when it became public knowledge, which was enough for me. At least there were people who had a problem with them.
My .5 stars off actually comes from the very end, when something happened that I felt was unnecessary:
But other than that, I really enjoyed this and it was such a pleasant surprise. I loved Brody and Evren's chemistry and it actually had them 'hate' each other for a good while there. Maybe it ended a tad too early, but not enough for me to care enough to give anything off for it.
I also saw a complaint that this was on the "loving you makes all the pain and mental health issues go away" and I do not agree with that. Evren, in the epilogue, has been in therapy for 6 months, and Brody is getting there, getting to a place where he's ready for therapy. It wasn't a "we don't need therapy because we have each other" situation.
I definitely, highly recommend this one. If this was a debut (it is certainly one of her first, at the very least), then it was a very good, very strong debut. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future.
Two big thumbs up from me, and onto the next! 🥰😘😍
January 23, 2024
3.5 stars. Something about a step brother romance gets me every time. This one certainly captured and kept my attention and I flew through it. I’m just not sure it was really that good, there was a lot of trauma for each character and while hinted at throughout the book, I feel like once both were revealed, the author moved on from it too quickly. It was acknowledged that the trauma still existed for both of them but like one conversation between Brody and his dad is not enough healing. Idk, it just needed more focus and more depth but it was a good read.
February 4, 2024
This story was great until it wasn't. The way the sexual assault of both Brody and Evren was handled really irked me.
When Brody's dad said 'I thought it was consensual' despite the fact it happened on Brody's 15th birthday, and the uncle had a bloodied nose, made my jaw drop. Especially because Brody just went with it, accepted it and told his dad he was going to stay.
We also don't see Brody going to therapy at all. Considering how much of his personality has been influenced by this assault, and that he first confesses to Aiden (who also went through 'intense therapy'), I would have expected him to be in therapy to process how badly the trauma affected him. I also feel like Aiden should have pushed heavily to go to therapy, considering the impact it had for him.
When Brody's dad said 'I thought it was consensual' despite the fact it happened on Brody's 15th birthday, and the uncle had a bloodied nose, made my jaw drop. Especially because Brody just went with it, accepted it and told his dad he was going to stay.
We also don't see Brody going to therapy at all. Considering how much of his personality has been influenced by this assault, and that he first confesses to Aiden (who also went through 'intense therapy'), I would have expected him to be in therapy to process how badly the trauma affected him. I also feel like Aiden should have pushed heavily to go to therapy, considering the impact it had for him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
This was…not great. I read until 74% and just couldn’t do it any more.
The characters and their relationships weren’t fully fleshed either. Feelings seem to move very quickly from “I hate you” to “I’m in love with you” without the MC’s having conversations about their past relationship. I understand what the author was trying to convey, but I think the writing could have been executed better.
There were lots of grammatical errors. Some words were used incorrectly and this really needs an editor. Hone in versus Home in. Exhaling Carbon Monoxide (LOL) as opposed to Carbon Dioxide. Words not capitalized when they should be.
The characters and their relationships weren’t fully fleshed either. Feelings seem to move very quickly from “I hate you” to “I’m in love with you” without the MC’s having conversations about their past relationship. I understand what the author was trying to convey, but I think the writing could have been executed better.
There were lots of grammatical errors. Some words were used incorrectly and this really needs an editor. Hone in versus Home in. Exhaling Carbon Monoxide (LOL) as opposed to Carbon Dioxide. Words not capitalized when they should be.
January 29, 2024
It wasn't bad, but it was very inconsistent. Both of the characters gave me whiplash at times and they were all over the place. The trauma that Brody experienced was severe and his response is believable in the way he was acting.
This is just my personal pet peeve, but I hate it with a passion when characters call they SO angel. I know that's his middle name and it was the reason for the pet name but I was cringing constantly. It's so cheesy.
.
This is just my personal pet peeve, but I hate it with a passion when characters call they SO angel. I know that's his middle name and it was the reason for the pet name but I was cringing constantly. It's so cheesy.
.
February 24, 2024
This one pulled at those heartstrings.
New to me author and I will say this book was amazing. I am a sucker for step brother trope and enemies to lovers then mix in a little hate smex an you have the perfect 5 star read. Loved it!!
New to me author and I will say this book was amazing. I am a sucker for step brother trope and enemies to lovers then mix in a little hate smex an you have the perfect 5 star read. Loved it!!
November 28, 2024
oh i love Brody an Evren so much it hurts! both so broken and figuring things out at a pretty late age in life. From hating each other to the very core to finally coming to terms with the love for one another that’s always burned bright even if they didn’t recognize it for themselves. this story was perfect from beginning to end i love following along with this beautiful, at times heart wrenching love story’
January 12, 2024
This would have been easily a 4.5 star had that been an option. This was a truly heartbreaking story to read with an amazing spice content. This way my first MM romance ever and it was fantastic!
March 24, 2024
Very much enjoyed this one. The Present tense REALLY took me out of the story a lot of times though so I deducted a star for that. I’m hoping her next books won’t be written like that, but I will definitely read more from her!
December 13, 2024
New to me author and I’m hooked. A good read indeed.
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