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PS: I Hate You
In this splendidly bittersweet romantic comedy, enemies forced together by a mutual loss are led on a cross-country journey toward a second chance.
Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous twenty-nine-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at her brother's funeral, she would kill him for this.
Sure, Dom was Josh’s lifelong best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a series of farewell trips that span thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.
After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.
Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous twenty-nine-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at her brother's funeral, she would kill him for this.
Sure, Dom was Josh’s lifelong best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a series of farewell trips that span thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.
After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.
418 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2024
2029 people are currently reading
108796 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Connolly
39 books1,265 followersLauren Connolly is an award-winning author of contemporary and magical romance stories. She’s lived among mountains, next to lakes, and in imaginary worlds. Lauren can never seem to stay in one place for too long, but trust that wherever she’s residing there is a dog who thinks he’s a troll, twin cats hiding in the couch, and bookshelves bursting with stories written by the authors she loves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,011 reviews
December 2, 2024
The beginning of this book was so sweet and then it abruptly got so smutty in a way that felt out of character (and let the record show I have nooooo problem with smut.) The specific anatomical words the author used in the sex scenes were bone chilling (derogatory.) Also the male love interest was completely unrealistic towards the end- men don’t behave like that. But there were of course some sweet parts of the book too- I loved the found family aspect. And Dom was sexy. 3.5 stars.
August 4, 2025
This book hit me hard, making me embrace my own grief process, which is nasty, painful, and never completely heals. Even though the bleeding stops, the wound is always there, triggered by a small memory, a word, a place, or sometimes a person.
This bittersweet, emotionally compelling, but also promising enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, self-exploration, and second-chance romance is engaging and well-written. It takes two people on a journey, both literally and metaphorically, to understand their pasts, learn forgiveness, and discover themselves, thereby changing their future paths. Maddie and Dominic have a task to complete a bucket list for someone they love, someone they never wanted to lose, and whose disappearance from their lives hurt more than they could imagine.
Maddie Sanderson returns home for the funeral of her brother, the only family she had after years of dealing with an abusive grandmother and narcissistic mother, abandoned by their father at a young age. Her plan to attend the funeral in Philly and return to Seattle without looking back changes when her brother’s best friend Dominic, who is the main reason she left home at 19 after he broke her heart, is there to read his will. The worst part is that her brother's dying wish is for her and Dominic to visit eight different cities, spreading his ashes, starting from Delaware to Alaska—a journey that may take them two years to complete.
Maddie is initially against her brother's decision to take a long farewell trip with the man who hurt her feelings, making her insecure about people who may always choose to leave her like her father, ex-boyfriends, and now her brother. But she cannot betray her brother’s last wishes, and with each coordinate they reach, they open a letter he wrote. These letters are the only things left from her brother, motivating her to continue this journey.
During their travels, Maddie confronts her resentments and finds missing pieces of her past relationship with Dom. She realizes her hatred turns into forgiveness, and she starts thinking they can even be friends because they need each other. But the hardest thing is not falling for the man who broke her heart into pieces. Can she manage that when he's all she can see, and what if their feelings are mutual? Can Maddie get over her insecurities and learn to open her heart, destroy her walls, and give happiness a chance?
Overall, this is a beautiful, meaningful, angsty, bittersweet grief journey, with two people finding themselves lost in the dark, holding each other to see the end of the tunnel. I hated Maddie’s mother and wanted to punch her every time she opened her mouth to push insecurities on her daughter with her abusive words. I loved Maddie’s tough healing journey and her chemistry with Dom. What more can I add? I loved this book and have added Lauren Connolly to my auto-approved authors list!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this amazing novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This bittersweet, emotionally compelling, but also promising enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, self-exploration, and second-chance romance is engaging and well-written. It takes two people on a journey, both literally and metaphorically, to understand their pasts, learn forgiveness, and discover themselves, thereby changing their future paths. Maddie and Dominic have a task to complete a bucket list for someone they love, someone they never wanted to lose, and whose disappearance from their lives hurt more than they could imagine.
Maddie Sanderson returns home for the funeral of her brother, the only family she had after years of dealing with an abusive grandmother and narcissistic mother, abandoned by their father at a young age. Her plan to attend the funeral in Philly and return to Seattle without looking back changes when her brother’s best friend Dominic, who is the main reason she left home at 19 after he broke her heart, is there to read his will. The worst part is that her brother's dying wish is for her and Dominic to visit eight different cities, spreading his ashes, starting from Delaware to Alaska—a journey that may take them two years to complete.
Maddie is initially against her brother's decision to take a long farewell trip with the man who hurt her feelings, making her insecure about people who may always choose to leave her like her father, ex-boyfriends, and now her brother. But she cannot betray her brother’s last wishes, and with each coordinate they reach, they open a letter he wrote. These letters are the only things left from her brother, motivating her to continue this journey.
During their travels, Maddie confronts her resentments and finds missing pieces of her past relationship with Dom. She realizes her hatred turns into forgiveness, and she starts thinking they can even be friends because they need each other. But the hardest thing is not falling for the man who broke her heart into pieces. Can she manage that when he's all she can see, and what if their feelings are mutual? Can Maddie get over her insecurities and learn to open her heart, destroy her walls, and give happiness a chance?
Overall, this is a beautiful, meaningful, angsty, bittersweet grief journey, with two people finding themselves lost in the dark, holding each other to see the end of the tunnel. I hated Maddie’s mother and wanted to punch her every time she opened her mouth to push insecurities on her daughter with her abusive words. I loved Maddie’s tough healing journey and her chemistry with Dom. What more can I add? I loved this book and have added Lauren Connolly to my auto-approved authors list!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this amazing novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
January 3, 2025
I’m literally so disappointed and sad because i was so hyped for this!! Like i was so excited and waiting patiently for new year to read this because i saw a-lot of five stars and people saying they cried during every second of this book! My expectations were sky high and i was ready for this to be my first five stars read of 2025 but omg reading this felt like a punishment!! I was suffering 😭✋🏻
let’s start the our yapping session
the fmc ” I never claimed to be mature. In fact,I’m often extremely immature for my age” these are her words not mine ✋🏻 omg the whole book was ina single pov so i was stuck in her head all the time and the only thought that was in my mind was “ what bad thing have i done in my life to deserve this” because ugh she was insufferable. I get she was hurting!! I understand but omg her lack of sympathy toward everyone around her even the people that cared about her was unbearable!! She was so mean and rude acting like she was the only one who was hurting but news flash Bestie you’re not the only one okay!!Ugh she was so bitter all the time and most of her action were childish it was actually embarrassing. I decided to read this so i can be sad and crying in the middle of the night but instead i got so angry and was scoffing and rolling my eyes it was so frustrating ✋🏻
the romance i’m all for a second chance romance because it’s a good trope but omg what was this 😭😂 I expected cute flashbacks or friendship between them or something but all i got was the flashbacks of the one night stand that they had and then she ran away 😭 so the one night stand was the one that made them fall in love? It must be one hell of a night ✋🏻 so unrealistic plss!!! And excuse me he didn’t even spare a second thought about the fmc before going and proposing to the other woman!! And didn’t try to reach out or talk and explain anything for the fmc for 7 damn years and at the end he was like “ but i’ve always loved u” can we have some standers ffs ✋🏻 he didn’t even grovel for her after what he did! They fucked and kissed and everything like the past didn’t happen! This is a no from me!
- she always said that she loved him and that she knew him while she actually didn’t know shit!!! She didn’t know why he always felt and acted in a responsible way? Didn’t know about his brothers? About him taking it as his responsibility to care for them! She didn’t know what he really felt about josh or losing josh because he was the only one asking her what she felt most if the time? Or his grief about the son that he lost or anything? Ugh it’s so frustrating how self centered she was I can’t stand it ✋🏻 Dom deserves a medal for keeping up with her because i could never ✋🏻
the grieving well that what i liked about the book! The grieving and Dom and josh friendship and their moments that what made me sad i loved it but the rest umm no✋🏻
let’s start the our yapping session
the fmc ” I never claimed to be mature. In fact,I’m often extremely immature for my age” these are her words not mine ✋🏻 omg the whole book was ina single pov so i was stuck in her head all the time and the only thought that was in my mind was “ what bad thing have i done in my life to deserve this” because ugh she was insufferable. I get she was hurting!! I understand but omg her lack of sympathy toward everyone around her even the people that cared about her was unbearable!! She was so mean and rude acting like she was the only one who was hurting but news flash Bestie you’re not the only one okay!!Ugh she was so bitter all the time and most of her action were childish it was actually embarrassing. I decided to read this so i can be sad and crying in the middle of the night but instead i got so angry and was scoffing and rolling my eyes it was so frustrating ✋🏻
the romance i’m all for a second chance romance because it’s a good trope but omg what was this 😭😂 I expected cute flashbacks or friendship between them or something but all i got was the flashbacks of the one night stand that they had and then she ran away 😭 so the one night stand was the one that made them fall in love? It must be one hell of a night ✋🏻 so unrealistic plss!!! And excuse me he didn’t even spare a second thought about the fmc before going and proposing to the other woman!! And didn’t try to reach out or talk and explain anything for the fmc for 7 damn years and at the end he was like “ but i’ve always loved u” can we have some standers ffs ✋🏻 he didn’t even grovel for her after what he did! They fucked and kissed and everything like the past didn’t happen! This is a no from me!
- she always said that she loved him and that she knew him while she actually didn’t know shit!!! She didn’t know why he always felt and acted in a responsible way? Didn’t know about his brothers? About him taking it as his responsibility to care for them! She didn’t know what he really felt about josh or losing josh because he was the only one asking her what she felt most if the time? Or his grief about the son that he lost or anything? Ugh it’s so frustrating how self centered she was I can’t stand it ✋🏻 Dom deserves a medal for keeping up with her because i could never ✋🏻
the grieving well that what i liked about the book! The grieving and Dom and josh friendship and their moments that what made me sad i loved it but the rest umm no✋🏻
December 19, 2024
“𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘?” “𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒔𝒆𝒆.”
WHAT👏A👏BOOK👏
If you're a big fan of P.S I Love You, let me tell you this book is going to top it!!!! Yes, I said it! This story is emotionally and devastatingly beautiful, and I could talk about it all day long. 🥹✨
The book follows Maddie Sanderson, who has recently lost her brother, Josh. His final wish? To take a trip to eight different states to spread his ashes. At each destination, there's a letter waiting for her. Easy, right? NOPE. Josh also insists that his best friend, Domenic Perry, accompany her. The problem? Maddie and Domenic have a history, and she is not ready to reopen those old wounds or forgive him lol she definitely hates him.
The author did an incredible job making this story feel so realistic! I was worried it would be rushed, but it wasn’t. The timeline felt authentic, showing just how long it actually takes to spread ashes across eight states (it took around two years). Each time Maddie and Domenic tackled another letter, let’s just say… Josh knew what he was doing 👀
Maddie Sanderson’s heartbreak was raw and relatable. The way she processes her emotions isn’t perfect (honestly, we all struggle), but that’s what makes her journey feel so real. Some heartbreaks leave scars, and with her past, you can feel her struggles and most importantly her growth. Meanwhile, Domenic starts off as this quiet, stoic character, but once he begins opening up? OOF. I fell hard for him. 🥰
“𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏.” “𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓? 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.”
"𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆, 𝒊'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑵𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘."
Now, let’s talk about the romance. 🫠 The miscommunication in this book will have you wanting to slap everyone involved. But honestly? It’s what makes the story so believable. Once you understand their history and circumstances, you might find yourself thinking you’d react the same way. TBH, I just want to hug EVERYONE in this book and never let go. 🫂💖
"𝑴𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕"
Why 5 stars?
1. I CRIED LIKE A BABY. SO. MANY. TIMES.
2. I was invested! The characters, the journey, the emotions—it all pulled me in.
3. This was my first book by Lauren Connolly, and now I can’t wait to read more from her! 🥹👏
Highly recommend this heartfelt, gut-wrenching, and ultimately beautiful read.
Tropes
🧩 brother's best friend
🧩 forced proximity
🧩 witty banter
🧩 enemies to lovers
🧩 miscommunication past
🧩 he falls hard and never lets her go
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ my mood reader tendencies are showing hehe *adds another book to rotation*
Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review as soon as I read the premise I know I will love this book 🥺
WHAT👏A👏BOOK👏
If you're a big fan of P.S I Love You, let me tell you this book is going to top it!!!! Yes, I said it! This story is emotionally and devastatingly beautiful, and I could talk about it all day long. 🥹✨
The book follows Maddie Sanderson, who has recently lost her brother, Josh. His final wish? To take a trip to eight different states to spread his ashes. At each destination, there's a letter waiting for her. Easy, right? NOPE. Josh also insists that his best friend, Domenic Perry, accompany her. The problem? Maddie and Domenic have a history, and she is not ready to reopen those old wounds or forgive him lol she definitely hates him.
The author did an incredible job making this story feel so realistic! I was worried it would be rushed, but it wasn’t. The timeline felt authentic, showing just how long it actually takes to spread ashes across eight states (it took around two years). Each time Maddie and Domenic tackled another letter, let’s just say… Josh knew what he was doing 👀
Maddie Sanderson’s heartbreak was raw and relatable. The way she processes her emotions isn’t perfect (honestly, we all struggle), but that’s what makes her journey feel so real. Some heartbreaks leave scars, and with her past, you can feel her struggles and most importantly her growth. Meanwhile, Domenic starts off as this quiet, stoic character, but once he begins opening up? OOF. I fell hard for him. 🥰
“𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏.” “𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓? 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.”
"𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆, 𝒊'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑵𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘."
Now, let’s talk about the romance. 🫠 The miscommunication in this book will have you wanting to slap everyone involved. But honestly? It’s what makes the story so believable. Once you understand their history and circumstances, you might find yourself thinking you’d react the same way. TBH, I just want to hug EVERYONE in this book and never let go. 🫂💖
"𝑴𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕"
Why 5 stars?
1. I CRIED LIKE A BABY. SO. MANY. TIMES.
2. I was invested! The characters, the journey, the emotions—it all pulled me in.
3. This was my first book by Lauren Connolly, and now I can’t wait to read more from her! 🥹👏
Highly recommend this heartfelt, gut-wrenching, and ultimately beautiful read.
Tropes
🧩 brother's best friend
🧩 forced proximity
🧩 witty banter
🧩 enemies to lovers
🧩 miscommunication past
🧩 he falls hard and never lets her go
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ my mood reader tendencies are showing hehe *adds another book to rotation*
Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review as soon as I read the premise I know I will love this book 🥺
Read
December 21, 2024DNF at 60%
P. S. I Hate You … maybe? A little bit?
OK, OK … I don’t really hate this book. Hate is such an extreme word, but hard as I’ve tried to keep going, I’m two-thirds of the way in waiting for any glimmer of love to show up in my heart for this story, and it just isn’t sparking!
Here’s what I did like:
The premise. Twenty-six-year-old Maddie’s older brother Josh’s dying wish is that she travel to eight states he never got to visit and have an adventure of his choosing before scattering his ashes with the help of his best friend Dominic: the guy who broke her heart at nineteen. It had loads of potential.
The themes. I appreciate any author who draws attention to serious themes and the complexity of being human, so props to her for that. This story examined the grief journey in all its messiness, since people usually aren’t their best selves when trying to process pain. No matter how difficult it was to like Maddie’s behavior, at least I could understand it. It also dealt with chronic illness in the form of her asthma and her mother’s toxic narcissism.
Here’s what I didn’t like:
The main character. Grieving or not, Maddie herself says at one point: “I never claimed to be mature. In fact, I am often extremely immature for my age.” It shows often and it’s pretty insufferable in the first half of the book to watch how she treats Dom in her pain. I’m sure if I kept reading, he’ll be the saint who forgives all her insults and she'll see the light about his past choices, but it feels too easy to just gloss over how utterly obnoxious she’s been by blaming all of it on her grief. Dom’s willingness to keep taking her verbal punches isn't admirable to me.
The spice. I can handle a decent amount of spice in my books, though I’ll always prefer the door slightly less open. What I can’t handle is sexuality that’s anatomically described in great detail or relies on more crass sexual terms to get me onboard with how much they want each other. Maybe I’m just getting too old for this stuff, but even my twenties self would cringe at some of the narrative and dialogue.
The audio. I’ve enjoyed Karissa Vacker’s narration for other books, but she nails Maddie’s immaturity and constant snark so well that I suspect it actually made me dislike her more than I might’ve if I’d only read it.
Anyways, the book is working well for many others as evidenced by it's overall rating, so I’ll accept that as me just being the wrong reader for it. It’s well-written - it’s just not my type, so to speak! Since it’s a DNF, I’ll withhold a rating.
____________________________
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Lauren Connolly for this digital ARC to honestly review. It's available now.
P. S. I Hate You … maybe? A little bit?
OK, OK … I don’t really hate this book. Hate is such an extreme word, but hard as I’ve tried to keep going, I’m two-thirds of the way in waiting for any glimmer of love to show up in my heart for this story, and it just isn’t sparking!
Here’s what I did like:
The premise. Twenty-six-year-old Maddie’s older brother Josh’s dying wish is that she travel to eight states he never got to visit and have an adventure of his choosing before scattering his ashes with the help of his best friend Dominic: the guy who broke her heart at nineteen. It had loads of potential.
The themes. I appreciate any author who draws attention to serious themes and the complexity of being human, so props to her for that. This story examined the grief journey in all its messiness, since people usually aren’t their best selves when trying to process pain. No matter how difficult it was to like Maddie’s behavior, at least I could understand it. It also dealt with chronic illness in the form of her asthma and her mother’s toxic narcissism.
Here’s what I didn’t like:
The main character. Grieving or not, Maddie herself says at one point: “I never claimed to be mature. In fact, I am often extremely immature for my age.” It shows often and it’s pretty insufferable in the first half of the book to watch how she treats Dom in her pain. I’m sure if I kept reading, he’ll be the saint who forgives all her insults and she'll see the light about his past choices, but it feels too easy to just gloss over how utterly obnoxious she’s been by blaming all of it on her grief. Dom’s willingness to keep taking her verbal punches isn't admirable to me.
The spice. I can handle a decent amount of spice in my books, though I’ll always prefer the door slightly less open. What I can’t handle is sexuality that’s anatomically described in great detail or relies on more crass sexual terms to get me onboard with how much they want each other. Maybe I’m just getting too old for this stuff, but even my twenties self would cringe at some of the narrative and dialogue.
The audio. I’ve enjoyed Karissa Vacker’s narration for other books, but she nails Maddie’s immaturity and constant snark so well that I suspect it actually made me dislike her more than I might’ve if I’d only read it.
Anyways, the book is working well for many others as evidenced by it's overall rating, so I’ll accept that as me just being the wrong reader for it. It’s well-written - it’s just not my type, so to speak! Since it’s a DNF, I’ll withhold a rating.
____________________________
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Lauren Connolly for this digital ARC to honestly review. It's available now.
September 28, 2025
There will be spoilers in this review.
I feel like I should start this off with something positive as I always try to do but to be very honest with you nothing comes to mind rn.
Now, in theory, the idea of two exes having to come together to fulfil the last wish of their brother/best friend sounds like a good story. In practice, however, it wasn’t.
I’ll admit that at first, I was entertained. It was easy to read, the pacing was good. I’m always intrigued by second chance romances, I just can’t resist them for some reason. And I thought Maddie was kind of fun and relatable with her standoffish behaviour at first. That didn’t last very long, though, unfortunately.
Because she was awful. Like the most annoying, rude and childish character I’ve read about in a long time. She felt so sorry for herself and treated everyone so terribly, especially Dom. And I feel like the book tried to justify her behaviour with the fact that her brother had just died, which made me so angry. Like she wasn’t the only one hurting and grieving, and even if that doesn’t give her the right to act this way. I’ve seen children deal with their emotions better than she did.
Now consider that this book has 400+ pages written entirely from her POV and you know why this was a struggle for me.
As for the romance, it also didn’t work for me. For one, they weren’t even exes?! They had one singular hook up like 10 years ago, and then he decided to marry his actual ex THE NEXT DAY because he found out she was pregnant.
And that’s just not something I could forgive. He very literally chose another woman over her one day after they fucked and stayed married to that woman for years (even though there wasn’t even a kid because she had a miscarriage).
It also came across as kind of pathetic for her to still be this upset about it. Instead of hating him so much, she should have been glad that he showed his true colours early on and just moved tf on. Like I would never take this dude back, wtf.
Also there were some really weird things in here that just bothered me sm:
-Dom’s brother tells a room full of people at Josh’s funeral that Maddie was in his “teenage spank bank” and she found this funny? And not at all weird or gross??
-Maddie and Dom spread some of the ashes at a beach in like knee-deep water, like right at the beach?! But the ashes don’t sink, so she freaks out and starts to press them underwater with her hands, standing right in his ashes. Again, WTF?!
Just very weird all around.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
___
Trying to catch up on arcs 🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️
I feel like I should start this off with something positive as I always try to do but to be very honest with you nothing comes to mind rn.
Now, in theory, the idea of two exes having to come together to fulfil the last wish of their brother/best friend sounds like a good story. In practice, however, it wasn’t.
I’ll admit that at first, I was entertained. It was easy to read, the pacing was good. I’m always intrigued by second chance romances, I just can’t resist them for some reason. And I thought Maddie was kind of fun and relatable with her standoffish behaviour at first. That didn’t last very long, though, unfortunately.
Because she was awful. Like the most annoying, rude and childish character I’ve read about in a long time. She felt so sorry for herself and treated everyone so terribly, especially Dom. And I feel like the book tried to justify her behaviour with the fact that her brother had just died, which made me so angry. Like she wasn’t the only one hurting and grieving, and even if that doesn’t give her the right to act this way. I’ve seen children deal with their emotions better than she did.
Now consider that this book has 400+ pages written entirely from her POV and you know why this was a struggle for me.
As for the romance, it also didn’t work for me. For one, they weren’t even exes?! They had one singular hook up like 10 years ago, and then he decided to marry his actual ex THE NEXT DAY because he found out she was pregnant.
And that’s just not something I could forgive. He very literally chose another woman over her one day after they fucked and stayed married to that woman for years (even though there wasn’t even a kid because she had a miscarriage).
It also came across as kind of pathetic for her to still be this upset about it. Instead of hating him so much, she should have been glad that he showed his true colours early on and just moved tf on. Like I would never take this dude back, wtf.
Also there were some really weird things in here that just bothered me sm:
-Dom’s brother tells a room full of people at Josh’s funeral that Maddie was in his “teenage spank bank” and she found this funny? And not at all weird or gross??
-Maddie and Dom spread some of the ashes at a beach in like knee-deep water, like right at the beach?! But the ashes don’t sink, so she freaks out and starts to press them underwater with her hands, standing right in his ashes. Again, WTF?!
Just very weird all around.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
___
Trying to catch up on arcs 🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️
June 28, 2025
✩ 2 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Second Chance
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Brother’s Best Friend
➼ Grief & Loss
➼ Brother’s Last Wish
➼ Farewell Bucket List Trip
➼ Poor Communication
➼ Narrated by Karissa Vacker
➼ First Person POV
P.S. I hated it. 🙃
I genuinely can’t believe how many people recommended this to me or told me they loved it. Did we even read the same book? The FMC was incredibly annoying and the MMC was a doormat who almost never responded to her cries for attention and validation. Their interactions felt just plain awkward to me. They had a terrible lack of communication, not miscommunication mind you, just no communication at all. The only real green flag I saw in this relationship was that she at least went to therapy at the end instead of them just jumping straight into a relationship.
This was the author’s big line that was supposed to make us all swoon… “When you’re in the room,” he says, “you’re all I see.” What about when she’s not in the room? It’s giving “out of sight, out of mind.” Especially considering their history, this just wasn’t as romantic as the author wanted it to be. His reasoning for what happened between them was completely obvious to me and would have been obvious or at the very least considered by her if her self esteem wasn’t on the floor. She really read like a teenage girl with no filter and I just wasn’t vibing with her at all.
I did enjoy some of their travels and the pieces of the story that focused more on her brother, but their love story just didn’t do it for me.
Sad to say that this one was a bust for me. Happy for all of you who loved it. 💖
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: It turns out I’m not really in the mood for A Curse Carved in Bone so I started this one too. 🙃
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
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What to Expect:
➼ Second Chance
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Brother’s Best Friend
➼ Grief & Loss
➼ Brother’s Last Wish
➼ Farewell Bucket List Trip
➼ Poor Communication
➼ Narrated by Karissa Vacker
➼ First Person POV
P.S. I hated it. 🙃
I genuinely can’t believe how many people recommended this to me or told me they loved it. Did we even read the same book? The FMC was incredibly annoying and the MMC was a doormat who almost never responded to her cries for attention and validation. Their interactions felt just plain awkward to me. They had a terrible lack of communication, not miscommunication mind you, just no communication at all. The only real green flag I saw in this relationship was that she at least went to therapy at the end instead of them just jumping straight into a relationship.
This was the author’s big line that was supposed to make us all swoon… “When you’re in the room,” he says, “you’re all I see.” What about when she’s not in the room? It’s giving “out of sight, out of mind.” Especially considering their history, this just wasn’t as romantic as the author wanted it to be. His reasoning for what happened between them was completely obvious to me and would have been obvious or at the very least considered by her if her self esteem wasn’t on the floor. She really read like a teenage girl with no filter and I just wasn’t vibing with her at all.
I did enjoy some of their travels and the pieces of the story that focused more on her brother, but their love story just didn’t do it for me.
Sad to say that this one was a bust for me. Happy for all of you who loved it. 💖
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: It turns out I’m not really in the mood for A Curse Carved in Bone so I started this one too. 🙃
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
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August 1, 2024
This was everything I needed in a contemporary romance novel!!!
Maddie and Dom have a strained relationship at the start of the book. They were once friends, had a one-night stand, and now are basically strangers, at least from Maddie’s point of view.
I adored the whole plot of Josh using his funeral as a means to bring Maddie and Dom back together, without them realizing it until halfway through the book. The adventure through different states and the reveal of each letter was both heartwarming and heartbreaking to read. Usually, I have a dislike for books that contain time skips, but this one does it so well, contributing to the plot without feeling unnecessary. I love how the story takes place over two years, with the main characters only meeting up every season for the next letter. I adore the character growth that takes place during the time skips.
Josh is the central heart and soul of this book. We know from the start that he has died, but the story keeps his soul alive throughout the novel by reminiscing about his memory and all the fun times the characters had with him till the very end. This was by far my favorite part of this book.
This book focuses on loss, grief, and learning to move on while still holding those we love dear to our hearts, as well as a story about second-chance romance...
My main issue is that the romance aspect of this book could have been easily solved years ago if only the characters had communicated with each other. That’s my main irk about it. I would have loved this even more if it was a dual POV to get the male lead's side of the story, as he didn’t speak much until the second half of the novel. I think this would have made for a more fleshed-out conclusion, as it felt like something was missing for me.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Maddie and Dom have a strained relationship at the start of the book. They were once friends, had a one-night stand, and now are basically strangers, at least from Maddie’s point of view.
I adored the whole plot of Josh using his funeral as a means to bring Maddie and Dom back together, without them realizing it until halfway through the book. The adventure through different states and the reveal of each letter was both heartwarming and heartbreaking to read. Usually, I have a dislike for books that contain time skips, but this one does it so well, contributing to the plot without feeling unnecessary. I love how the story takes place over two years, with the main characters only meeting up every season for the next letter. I adore the character growth that takes place during the time skips.
Josh is the central heart and soul of this book. We know from the start that he has died, but the story keeps his soul alive throughout the novel by reminiscing about his memory and all the fun times the characters had with him till the very end. This was by far my favorite part of this book.
This book focuses on loss, grief, and learning to move on while still holding those we love dear to our hearts, as well as a story about second-chance romance...
My main issue is that the romance aspect of this book could have been easily solved years ago if only the characters had communicated with each other. That’s my main irk about it. I would have loved this even more if it was a dual POV to get the male lead's side of the story, as he didn’t speak much until the second half of the novel. I think this would have made for a more fleshed-out conclusion, as it felt like something was missing for me.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 20, 2024
hell no
he’s her brothers best friend who she’s had a crush on for ages and they end up hooking up when he’s on a break with his high school sweet heart but the very next day his gf tells him she’s pregnant and they get married but it’s all good bc he only did it to do the right thing and he acc loves the fmc 🤡 yet he had no issue staying w the ow for like 7 years. yeah fuck that
he’s her brothers best friend who she’s had a crush on for ages and they end up hooking up when he’s on a break with his high school sweet heart but the very next day his gf tells him she’s pregnant and they get married but it’s all good bc he only did it to do the right thing and he acc loves the fmc 🤡 yet he had no issue staying w the ow for like 7 years. yeah fuck that
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2024
if i had a nickel for every book with a dead brother who sends his sister and best friend on a scavenger hunt to help them realize theyre meant for each other and ruined me in the process i would have two nickels which isnt a lot but crazy that it happened twice 😭😭😭
lord have mercy when this book showed up in my email i was a little hesitant to go for it because i knew that it would hurt my feelings but once i saw just how many 4 & 5 stars this book had, that even though it was painful SO many people loved this story i just could help myself and knew that the pain would be worth it in the end and man was it ever 😭🩵
reading this book and feeling these emotions are akin to riding the hulk rollercoaster while absolutely plastered in the sense that youre laughing one second and then youre crying the next and then youre scared for whats to come and maybe you feel like throwing up a little because of all of these emotions youre cycling through 💀
this story had me hooked from start to finish, i loved both maddie and dom immediately and by the end of the first trip wanted these two to stop fucking around and be together immediately LOL. i was super glad to see that i didn’t necessarily have to wait very long for it to happen, i was pleasantly surprised by the open door scenes as well i didnt think this book would have any at all tbh!! this was one of my favorite third act break up books ive read because 1) i kinda agreed it needed to happen so maddie could get her shit together to be better for herself & their relationship but 2) because dom never stopped showing up, he did everything in his power to prove he was all in and i really admired that about him 🥹
i think that one of my absolute favorite things about this read was that even though the entire book josh has already passed away you feel like you really got to know him through the characters and his letters, you could just feel the love that he had for everyone and seeing the mark he made on those who were strangers to maddie & dom was very endearing. he is a character that i wish i would have gotten to know prior to his life ending bc he just seemed like one of the best kinds of people🥹
if you are in the market for a sad but very heartwarming and promises to put you back together again by the end of the book then look no further!!
lord have mercy when this book showed up in my email i was a little hesitant to go for it because i knew that it would hurt my feelings but once i saw just how many 4 & 5 stars this book had, that even though it was painful SO many people loved this story i just could help myself and knew that the pain would be worth it in the end and man was it ever 😭🩵
reading this book and feeling these emotions are akin to riding the hulk rollercoaster while absolutely plastered in the sense that youre laughing one second and then youre crying the next and then youre scared for whats to come and maybe you feel like throwing up a little because of all of these emotions youre cycling through 💀
this story had me hooked from start to finish, i loved both maddie and dom immediately and by the end of the first trip wanted these two to stop fucking around and be together immediately LOL. i was super glad to see that i didn’t necessarily have to wait very long for it to happen, i was pleasantly surprised by the open door scenes as well i didnt think this book would have any at all tbh!! this was one of my favorite third act break up books ive read because 1) i kinda agreed it needed to happen so maddie could get her shit together to be better for herself & their relationship but 2) because dom never stopped showing up, he did everything in his power to prove he was all in and i really admired that about him 🥹
i think that one of my absolute favorite things about this read was that even though the entire book josh has already passed away you feel like you really got to know him through the characters and his letters, you could just feel the love that he had for everyone and seeing the mark he made on those who were strangers to maddie & dom was very endearing. he is a character that i wish i would have gotten to know prior to his life ending bc he just seemed like one of the best kinds of people🥹
if you are in the market for a sad but very heartwarming and promises to put you back together again by the end of the book then look no further!!
January 30, 2025
4.25💫
"I messed up. I will again. You had me on a pedestal, and I hurt you when I fell off it. I can't promise you perfection, much as I want to be that man for you. What I can swear is that I will never be the one to leave. I'm yours, Maddie Sanderson. And I'm ready to wait, as long as it takes."
Maddie + Dom💛💛
This was so sweet. The storyline was so sad and i just ached for maddie because she was going through so much. she didn’t want to train someone at work because she didn’t want to give her boss a reason to leave her like everyone else:( thats so sad. Dom was so good to her and picked up all of the pieces to help put her back together. He love love loves her and always has.
I also just adore the twins so much. Best side characters frl!!!
Super easy read and the plot moved pretty fast. I do wish we spent a little more time in each spot visiting where Josh told them to, not just maybe a chapter of half a chapter for each trip. Overall, so sweet, emotional, heartwarming, and just so good!!!!
botm november 2024✨
"I messed up. I will again. You had me on a pedestal, and I hurt you when I fell off it. I can't promise you perfection, much as I want to be that man for you. What I can swear is that I will never be the one to leave. I'm yours, Maddie Sanderson. And I'm ready to wait, as long as it takes."
Maddie + Dom💛💛
This was so sweet. The storyline was so sad and i just ached for maddie because she was going through so much. she didn’t want to train someone at work because she didn’t want to give her boss a reason to leave her like everyone else:( thats so sad. Dom was so good to her and picked up all of the pieces to help put her back together. He love love loves her and always has.
I also just adore the twins so much. Best side characters frl!!!
Super easy read and the plot moved pretty fast. I do wish we spent a little more time in each spot visiting where Josh told them to, not just maybe a chapter of half a chapter for each trip. Overall, so sweet, emotional, heartwarming, and just so good!!!!
botm november 2024✨
November 15, 2024
I had high hopes for this book seeing as it’s so highly rated. However, in my opinion, the characters lacked depth of real humans, which fell annoyingly flat on the page. But the most grueling aspect of getting through this 400+ page book was how emotionally immature the main character is, whose toxic inner dialogue is redundant, chapter after chapter. I would not recommend this book to a single person I know.
February 12, 2025
Just finished this book with tears in my eyes.
I’ll be honest—getting through the first 30% wasn’t easy. Maddie, the main character was insufferable at least to me. She is an introvert who avoids risks, shuts people out, and resists others' care or advice. She’s grieving her beloved brother, Josh, who passed away from cancer, and has endured emotional abuse from her mother and grandmother. Maddie works with data, lives a guarded life, and can’t seem to allow herself to simply... cry.
Yet, even though Josh is gone, Connolly’s writing keeps him vivid on every page. His memory lingers as Maddie and his best friend Dominic follow the instructions he left them—eight envelopes, each with coordinates to places where they are to scatter his ashes. But for Maddie, spending time with Dom is painful; he once broke her heart.
While it follows some familiar beats—enemies to lovers and back again—this story is so much more. It’s about healing from loss, family hurt, and the walls we build when those who should love us most let us down. I didn’t understand Maddie’s anger at first, but as her story unfolded, her pain and rejection became so clear—abandonment by her family, and ultimately, losing her brother.
There’s romance, sure, with some steamy moments, but what really stands out is the chemistry and deep history between Maddie and Dom. Their shared past, the eight places Josh sends them, and the love and loss that ripple through each stop make this a tearful journey. Josh’s absence is powerful, and you feel how deeply he’s missed.
I would have liked the author to explore that pivotal day in their youth a bit more, but by the end, I understood why she chose not to.
In the end, this was more than just a romance—it’s a moving story about how, even in death, someone can bring us back together.
Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley for the advanced copy!
I’ll be honest—getting through the first 30% wasn’t easy. Maddie, the main character was insufferable at least to me. She is an introvert who avoids risks, shuts people out, and resists others' care or advice. She’s grieving her beloved brother, Josh, who passed away from cancer, and has endured emotional abuse from her mother and grandmother. Maddie works with data, lives a guarded life, and can’t seem to allow herself to simply... cry.
Yet, even though Josh is gone, Connolly’s writing keeps him vivid on every page. His memory lingers as Maddie and his best friend Dominic follow the instructions he left them—eight envelopes, each with coordinates to places where they are to scatter his ashes. But for Maddie, spending time with Dom is painful; he once broke her heart.
While it follows some familiar beats—enemies to lovers and back again—this story is so much more. It’s about healing from loss, family hurt, and the walls we build when those who should love us most let us down. I didn’t understand Maddie’s anger at first, but as her story unfolded, her pain and rejection became so clear—abandonment by her family, and ultimately, losing her brother.
There’s romance, sure, with some steamy moments, but what really stands out is the chemistry and deep history between Maddie and Dom. Their shared past, the eight places Josh sends them, and the love and loss that ripple through each stop make this a tearful journey. Josh’s absence is powerful, and you feel how deeply he’s missed.
I would have liked the author to explore that pivotal day in their youth a bit more, but by the end, I understood why she chose not to.
In the end, this was more than just a romance—it’s a moving story about how, even in death, someone can bring us back together.
Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley for the advanced copy!
January 7, 2025
Ps I hated it
December 19, 2024
i want to say really nice things about this, particularly the grief portrayal because this is a lot more rom-traum than not, but…i kinda can’t. this won’t be a story i’ll be coming back to anytime soon
i thought so many aspects of this book were odd: the dead brother extravaganza was a morbid take for a romance (although i DO completely understand that is, in fact, the whole point) and the healing romance with the fmc and ol’ brothers best friend that i thought started off strong dwindled into a melodramatic third-act-going-on-10-season-with-a-spinoff-series tangent.
it was bingable which i think speaks to the writing but the story itself didn’t capture my heart and from the reviews that seems to be a me thing!! i wouldn’t want to deter anyone from reading this especially if they enjoy more meaningful, deeper romances
i thought so many aspects of this book were odd: the dead brother extravaganza was a morbid take for a romance (although i DO completely understand that is, in fact, the whole point) and the healing romance with the fmc and ol’ brothers best friend that i thought started off strong dwindled into a melodramatic third-act-going-on-10-season-with-a-spinoff-series tangent.
it was bingable which i think speaks to the writing but the story itself didn’t capture my heart and from the reviews that seems to be a me thing!! i wouldn’t want to deter anyone from reading this especially if they enjoy more meaningful, deeper romances
August 12, 2025
3⭐️ why was i crying? i never cry😭
i have been in such a terrible reading slump since the beginning of summer, i have tried to pick up TEN different books but none of them caught my attention.
finally i decided to randomly pick an audio book and this one just happened to catch my eye.
i’m gonna be honest, the romance part of this book was not great to me. I think Dom was kind of boring and Maddie, while I didn’t hate her, was very obnoxious at MANY of parts.
I did like the fact that Dom had an ex-wife, that made their relationship at least a BIT more interesting.
what really bumped this book up for me in stars was the grief and the notes Josh wrote. By the end of the book with Rosalind, i was SOBBING. Sitting there in the car, tears spewing out of me.
this book isn’t bad and i think most people would like the romance, i’m just not the biggest fan of romance books in general besides a few authors so i do recommend! be prepared though, it gets SAD.
i have been in such a terrible reading slump since the beginning of summer, i have tried to pick up TEN different books but none of them caught my attention.
finally i decided to randomly pick an audio book and this one just happened to catch my eye.
i’m gonna be honest, the romance part of this book was not great to me. I think Dom was kind of boring and Maddie, while I didn’t hate her, was very obnoxious at MANY of parts.
I did like the fact that Dom had an ex-wife, that made their relationship at least a BIT more interesting.
what really bumped this book up for me in stars was the grief and the notes Josh wrote. By the end of the book with Rosalind, i was SOBBING. Sitting there in the car, tears spewing out of me.
this book isn’t bad and i think most people would like the romance, i’m just not the biggest fan of romance books in general besides a few authors so i do recommend! be prepared though, it gets SAD.
November 19, 2024
Book Of The Month, you did me dirty. I can’t even count the number of times I almost DNF. I think I only kept reading because I paid for it and didn’t borrow it from the library. The main female character is SO ANNOYING. And immature. I couldn’t stand her. Also the cover says, “two exes” they aren’t exes, they were friends and spent one night together. Do Not Recommend.
October 15, 2025
4 Stars
I originally "rated" this 3-3.5 starts immediately after finishing, but since this book has stayed with me a bit since, I thought it deserved an upgrade.
I really liked this book. For some reason I am really drawn to books about grief, which is ridiculous. But here we are. Anyway, I really enjoyed Maddie and and Dominic's dynamic here. Their shared history and their own histories with Maddie's brother.
I also just liked Maddie a lot as a character...her quirkiness, her armor, her complex relationship with her mother. I always love books that explore the dynamics of families. The roles we are somehow assigned and/or take on. And I thought the author here did a really good job of showing the reader the complexities of Maddie and her brother's experience as related to their mother and how that shaped them.
I enjoyed the "treasure hunt" aspect of Maddie and Dominic going to each place as prescribed by her brother. And I like that it was extended over a period of time and not one condensed road trip.
My only gripe is the "big miscommunication" element that existed. But other than that, I really liked this story and will definitely read more from his author.
I originally "rated" this 3-3.5 starts immediately after finishing, but since this book has stayed with me a bit since, I thought it deserved an upgrade.
I really liked this book. For some reason I am really drawn to books about grief, which is ridiculous. But here we are. Anyway, I really enjoyed Maddie and and Dominic's dynamic here. Their shared history and their own histories with Maddie's brother.
I also just liked Maddie a lot as a character...her quirkiness, her armor, her complex relationship with her mother. I always love books that explore the dynamics of families. The roles we are somehow assigned and/or take on. And I thought the author here did a really good job of showing the reader the complexities of Maddie and her brother's experience as related to their mother and how that shaped them.
I enjoyed the "treasure hunt" aspect of Maddie and Dominic going to each place as prescribed by her brother. And I like that it was extended over a period of time and not one condensed road trip.
My only gripe is the "big miscommunication" element that existed. But other than that, I really liked this story and will definitely read more from his author.
January 20, 2026
this book had everything i usually eat up & i wanted to love it so bad, but i just didn’t… ❤️🩹🧩
i thought the basic plot was really strong, and i definitely enjoyed the writing style & a lot of the side characters! but it was exhausting to be inside maddie’s head for 400+ pages… she is soooo avoidant (like literally allergic to communicating). and listen! everyone processes grief differently (and usually an insufferable fmc can charm me), but maddie isolates herself so successfully that she gets stuck in the same kinda emotional loop for most of the book. i just felt like we were going in circles! josh is really the emotional core of this story, and you can really feel his absence on every page.
i also felt like this book wasn’t quite sure what it wanted to be at times…? grief is too central to the plot for it to be a raunchy rom-com… but it’s surprisingly spicy for your typical women’s fiction… and the whiplash from scattering ashes to getting hot & heavy was a bit clunky to me. i think in general i just wanted more emotional depth & less repetition! i liked it, but i didn’t love it 🤷♀️
i thought the basic plot was really strong, and i definitely enjoyed the writing style & a lot of the side characters! but it was exhausting to be inside maddie’s head for 400+ pages… she is soooo avoidant (like literally allergic to communicating). and listen! everyone processes grief differently (and usually an insufferable fmc can charm me), but maddie isolates herself so successfully that she gets stuck in the same kinda emotional loop for most of the book. i just felt like we were going in circles! josh is really the emotional core of this story, and you can really feel his absence on every page.
i also felt like this book wasn’t quite sure what it wanted to be at times…? grief is too central to the plot for it to be a raunchy rom-com… but it’s surprisingly spicy for your typical women’s fiction… and the whiplash from scattering ashes to getting hot & heavy was a bit clunky to me. i think in general i just wanted more emotional depth & less repetition! i liked it, but i didn’t love it 🤷♀️
June 5, 2025
damn this was NOT the cute enemies to lovers romcom i expected, way more tears shed and topics of grief lol
rtc <3
pre-read ౨ৎ
i've seen this book a lot and it seems so fun!! second chance is one of my favorite tropes so i hope this delivers 😙💌
rtc <3
pre-read ౨ৎ
i've seen this book a lot and it seems so fun!! second chance is one of my favorite tropes so i hope this delivers 😙💌
March 2, 2025
Well, this one was a mix of hating it and liking it.
Maddie is in her twenties, a workaholic who hates nothing more than feeling abandoned. It seems this keeps happening to her. The latest person to leave her is her brother, who died of cancer when the book begins.
Maddie tries to avoid everyone and hides in a closet. She doesn't recognize anyone at the funeral. Also, she doesn’t have a good relationship with her mother or grandmother; both seem to despise her.
Josh, her brother, was the one person she could count on. What she wasn’t prepared for was him asking a favor from beyond the grave. He wants her and his best friend, Dominic Perry, to spread his ashes across eight different states he never got to visit. Maddie wishes she could say no because Dominic is the man who broke her heart, and she still harbors a lot of anger toward him.
What could go wrong?
Things I didn’t like:
Maddie was so immature at times (or most of the time), and it drove me insane! She was extremely rude and obnoxious for half the book—or more.
I didn’t like the way she treated her friends.
I hated how she behaved in state number seven.
The reason behind Dominic’s behavior when they were younger.
Things I liked:
The twins.
The descriptions of the views at the places they traveled to.
Maddie’s best friends.
In the end, I won’t say I loved the resolution of their troubles, but I liked it well enough.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Maddie is in her twenties, a workaholic who hates nothing more than feeling abandoned. It seems this keeps happening to her. The latest person to leave her is her brother, who died of cancer when the book begins.
Maddie tries to avoid everyone and hides in a closet. She doesn't recognize anyone at the funeral. Also, she doesn’t have a good relationship with her mother or grandmother; both seem to despise her.
Josh, her brother, was the one person she could count on. What she wasn’t prepared for was him asking a favor from beyond the grave. He wants her and his best friend, Dominic Perry, to spread his ashes across eight different states he never got to visit. Maddie wishes she could say no because Dominic is the man who broke her heart, and she still harbors a lot of anger toward him.
What could go wrong?
Things I didn’t like:
Maddie was so immature at times (or most of the time), and it drove me insane! She was extremely rude and obnoxious for half the book—or more.
I didn’t like the way she treated her friends.
I hated how she behaved in state number seven.
The reason behind Dominic’s behavior when they were younger.
Things I liked:
The twins.
The descriptions of the views at the places they traveled to.
Maddie’s best friends.
In the end, I won’t say I loved the resolution of their troubles, but I liked it well enough.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
December 8, 2024
the way this made me violently ill. throwing up. pissing blood. shitting tears. frothing at the mouth. what the fuck.
November 22, 2024
first half was so promising but maddie is INSUFFERABLE
October 15, 2025
A story of loss 😢 and friendship ❤️ has some spice 🌶️
January 18, 2025
*Thank you NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
4.25 Stars!
Watch me reading this book again in the very near future.
Also, drop all your current reads and pick up this book, if you're into the 'chick lit' genre. ;)
I received an email saying that I have access to this book, which I had never noticed before. However, after reading the premise, I know this book is right up my alley.
The topes:
- One bed trope
- Bestfriend's sister
- Second chance romance
- Passed away sibling's last wish
- Brother's bestfriend
- Friends to enemies/strangers to more
- Roadtrip with the person you still have feelings for after many years
4.25 Stars!
Watch me reading this book again in the very near future.
Also, drop all your current reads and pick up this book, if you're into the 'chick lit' genre. ;)
I received an email saying that I have access to this book, which I had never noticed before. However, after reading the premise, I know this book is right up my alley.
The topes:
- One bed trope
- Bestfriend's sister
- Second chance romance
- Passed away sibling's last wish
- Brother's bestfriend
- Friends to enemies/strangers to more
- Roadtrip with the person you still have feelings for after many years
March 22, 2025
Wow! Such a beautiful story. I had my doubt when I started PS: I Hate You. I was not a big fan of Maddie. It seem she is a bitch. Being resentful of everything. And yet, I fall in love with the story.
Miss Connolly done a perfect job bringing her characters to live. The plot and how she unravel Maddie so I ended up loving her.
This book is brilliant.
5 stars
Miss Connolly done a perfect job bringing her characters to live. The plot and how she unravel Maddie so I ended up loving her.
This book is brilliant.
5 stars
July 10, 2025
Maddie Sanderson is on a mission to scatter her late brother’s ashes across eight destinations he never got to visit. The twist? She has to do it with Dominic Perry, her brother’s best friend and the guy who shattered her heart. What should have been a bittersweet farewell turns into a chaotic, emotional rollercoaster.
Let me start by saying Maddie was SO INSUFFERABLE. I mean, I get it, grief sucks, but this girl was just on another level of frustrating. I could barely keep up with her mood swings, and the fact that she was so hard to root for was a real downer. Now, Dominic? He was chef’s kiss. Loved him. He should’ve just done this trip solo honestly. The supporting characters were fantastic but too bad Maddie was hogging the spotlight.
Now, the smut scenes… I can’t even. Everything was so sweet, and then BAM I’m learning about a turned off vulva. Like, was this supposed to be sexy? It was awkward, out of character, and had zero build-up. At one point, I was waiting for a romance, and the next thing I know, I’m in a cringe-worthy anatomy class. And the scenes dragged on like they were trying to give me secondhand embarrassment.
Overall, this book had potential, but it got lost in weird pacing, cringe worthy moments, and a confusing ending. I mean, it was still a fun ride, but I wouldn’t exactly call it smooth sailing.
Let me start by saying Maddie was SO INSUFFERABLE. I mean, I get it, grief sucks, but this girl was just on another level of frustrating. I could barely keep up with her mood swings, and the fact that she was so hard to root for was a real downer. Now, Dominic? He was chef’s kiss. Loved him. He should’ve just done this trip solo honestly. The supporting characters were fantastic but too bad Maddie was hogging the spotlight.
Now, the smut scenes… I can’t even. Everything was so sweet, and then BAM I’m learning about a turned off vulva. Like, was this supposed to be sexy? It was awkward, out of character, and had zero build-up. At one point, I was waiting for a romance, and the next thing I know, I’m in a cringe-worthy anatomy class. And the scenes dragged on like they were trying to give me secondhand embarrassment.
Overall, this book had potential, but it got lost in weird pacing, cringe worthy moments, and a confusing ending. I mean, it was still a fun ride, but I wouldn’t exactly call it smooth sailing.
September 5, 2025
4.5☆
Big feelings, bigger tears... This book really put me through it.
PS: I Hate You was frustratingly real in so many ways. It was raw, messy and often ugly. People made mistakes — big ones — and those mistakes had consequences, no matter how much they regretted them. But that's life, isn't it?
I genuinely feel like this book represents grief so well. It also does an incredible job of showing how trauma can shape a person — how it twists how you see yourself and how you relate (or struggle to relate) to others. The lack of communication in this story was infuriating but also painfully on point.
Maddie is probably one of the most realistic female characters I've read in a romance. Watching her spiral, act out, self-sabotage, push people away, and let her insecurities run absolutely wild was so hard — especially seeing how she treated Dom, and how he just quietly took it. It was hard to watch, but she found a way through — toward healing and growth.
It hurt. It healed. And it made me sob more than once. This book dives into childhood trauma, first loves, last loves, friendship, found family, grief, growth, and finding yourself — all wrapped up in one emotional, frustrating, and ultimately hopeful journey.
Big feelings, bigger tears... This book really put me through it.
PS: I Hate You was frustratingly real in so many ways. It was raw, messy and often ugly. People made mistakes — big ones — and those mistakes had consequences, no matter how much they regretted them. But that's life, isn't it?
I genuinely feel like this book represents grief so well. It also does an incredible job of showing how trauma can shape a person — how it twists how you see yourself and how you relate (or struggle to relate) to others. The lack of communication in this story was infuriating but also painfully on point.
Maddie is probably one of the most realistic female characters I've read in a romance. Watching her spiral, act out, self-sabotage, push people away, and let her insecurities run absolutely wild was so hard — especially seeing how she treated Dom, and how he just quietly took it. It was hard to watch, but she found a way through — toward healing and growth.
It hurt. It healed. And it made me sob more than once. This book dives into childhood trauma, first loves, last loves, friendship, found family, grief, growth, and finding yourself — all wrapped up in one emotional, frustrating, and ultimately hopeful journey.
January 4, 2025
**Many thanks to Berkley and Lauren Connolly for an ARC provided via NetGalley!**
🚨 UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT! 🚨
Maddie Sanderson is far from the adventurous type...that title belonged to her brother, footloose and fancy free world traveler, Josh. But at just 29 years of age, Josh tragically passes away, leaving a long list of unfulfilled travel destinations in his wake, not to mention a grieving family who just can't believe he is gone. Since his passing is the result of a battle with cancer, however, Josh had some time to think about the sort of legacy and message he wanted to leave behind...and it just so happens he had a bit of a crafty 'game' up his sleeve. His dying wish was for his sister Maddie to visit some of the bucket list destinations he DIDN'T see...sounds like a beautiful way to honor his memory, right?
WRONG. Because Josh added one tiny 'clause' to his postmortem contract...Maddie cannot take these journeys alone. No, it's Josh's best friend Dominic Perry who must travel WITH her...the same Dominic Perry who 'loved her and left her' after uh, one night of 'amore' in their teen years. Dom is obnoxious, and clearly doesn't have any problem breaking hearts...but gosh darn it, he's just so HANDSOME. ( Sorry, I am trying to keep my vitriol out of this summary ...🙄) Despite their snipe filled and snarky relationship, the two begrudgingly agree that it's Josh's way or the highway (or I guess, Josh's way AND the highway?) and set off on a year long quest ( yes, we have to follow them for that long ) to fulfill his requests. But as grief pops up in the most unexpected of places, could the mistakes of the past be forgotten as the two attempt to mend their broken hearts...and end up finding more than just solace in one another? Or will this long, LONG trip be all the proof that Maddie needs that her feelings for Dom should stay locked away with her teenage angst...and she should battle her grief on her own?
Okay, so let's start with the elephant in the room. I don't think I've seen too many other reviews mention this...but this book is either an intentional riff or a twisted rip off of Cecelia Ahern's P.S. I Love You I mean, I HAVE to think it was intentional due to the plethora of similarities: aside from the obvious one in the title, as the premise includes the deceased loved one (who passed from a tragic, wasting disease) leaves a TRAVEL BUCKET LIST for their loved one to find with missions to complete. This both helps them work through their grief AND find themselves along the way. So throw in an obnoxious sidekick, make the MC insufferable, AND force them to fall in love along the way...and you have this book. But where P.S. I Love You was drowning in empathy, nuance, care, and insight, THIS book was drowning in immature, obnoxious, odd, and frankly insufferable behavior, with next to NO character growth...and that made it feel more like a 'Nolex' masquerading as a Rolex, if you know what I mean.
Aside from the fact that I was so taken aback by the complete lack of acknowledgement (or even a gentle nod!) to the source material, let's get into these characters, as much as I would rather not revisit them. Unlike the utterly lovable Holly in Ahern's book, we get Maddie, a self-described 'immature' girl (and yes, I refuse to call her a woman) who is such a doormat she might as well have 'Welcome' printed on her forehead. I mean, really. She doesn't deal with her feelings of grief in any way, but yet is so hung up on essentially a one night stand where she thought she received a 'pity favor' of activity with Dom that she can't get over it? ALSO. Apparently asthma is essentially the world's scariest disease...at least, that's how it is presented here. One of the only times that Dom acts 'kindly' towards her (TBH, to me it read creepy and possessive) was when he got very angry about her climbing somewhere without her inhaler. I mean, I've known people with asthma and somewhat severe asthma at that...and NONE of this rang true. All it gave me were more reasons to dislike Dom.
...And there are PLENTY of those, trust me. If his behavior towards Maddie in the past wasn't enough of a turn off, when you read the icky set of circumstances that forced his one night with Maddie to BE only one night...you'll like him even less. His character is nothing short of abhorrent. I'm sorry he lost his friend, but losing someone doesn't make you a good person by default. The more time I was forced to spend with him, the LESS I liked him and honestly wished that we could just fast forward to the next letter from Josh and skip ALL of the 'will-they-won't-they' nonsense between Maddie and Josh. Which brings me to my next point, and one of the book's next main pitfalls: you can't have the ONLY likable character be a dead brother. Having to wait for little glimmers of kindness and common decency and even maturity in LETTER format only? Torturous. I couldn't believe we actually had to go through an entire YEAR of traveling with these two...I honestly started to feel like maybe Josh was the lucky one because he just didn't have to be AROUND either of these humans anymore. 🤦♀️
This author also likes to fixate on certain words, enough that they caught my attention from being repeated so often: taciturn is apparently a fave, along with references to areolas, and calling people 'dick bags'. 🙄 The whole book just had an air of immaturity that felt very YA for a novel that was supposed to be tackling grief, love, and have a certain level of emotional depth. There's also a weird passage where Maddie wants to like Dom's arm. (Okay?) If you think things like a dog peeing on you are funny, then you will undoubtedly laugh along with these characters, instead of the cringing I did through 50-60% of this. This not only kept taking me out of the story, but just detracted from every emotional moment that COULD have given this book the grounded feel it so desperately needed. When a travel aficionado such as myself does NOT enjoy a book that allows me to travel all sorts of places...that says it all right there. I kept waiting to feel something...ANYTHING...but all I could bring myself to feel was annoyed.
Have you ever seen those drawings of Disney characters where artists age them up or make them look evil...and while at its core it is familiar, it just feels WRONG? Much like these semi-facsimiles, whereas P.S. I Love You stands the test of time as a powerful, emotional story, PS I Hate You simply reads like a cheap, unlikable imitation.
3 stars. rounded up from 2.5
🚨 UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT! 🚨
Maddie Sanderson is far from the adventurous type...that title belonged to her brother, footloose and fancy free world traveler, Josh. But at just 29 years of age, Josh tragically passes away, leaving a long list of unfulfilled travel destinations in his wake, not to mention a grieving family who just can't believe he is gone. Since his passing is the result of a battle with cancer, however, Josh had some time to think about the sort of legacy and message he wanted to leave behind...and it just so happens he had a bit of a crafty 'game' up his sleeve. His dying wish was for his sister Maddie to visit some of the bucket list destinations he DIDN'T see...sounds like a beautiful way to honor his memory, right?
WRONG. Because Josh added one tiny 'clause' to his postmortem contract...Maddie cannot take these journeys alone. No, it's Josh's best friend Dominic Perry who must travel WITH her...the same Dominic Perry who 'loved her and left her' after uh, one night of 'amore' in their teen years. Dom is obnoxious, and clearly doesn't have any problem breaking hearts...but gosh darn it, he's just so HANDSOME. ( Sorry, I am trying to keep my vitriol out of this summary ...🙄) Despite their snipe filled and snarky relationship, the two begrudgingly agree that it's Josh's way or the highway (or I guess, Josh's way AND the highway?) and set off on a year long quest ( yes, we have to follow them for that long ) to fulfill his requests. But as grief pops up in the most unexpected of places, could the mistakes of the past be forgotten as the two attempt to mend their broken hearts...and end up finding more than just solace in one another? Or will this long, LONG trip be all the proof that Maddie needs that her feelings for Dom should stay locked away with her teenage angst...and she should battle her grief on her own?
Okay, so let's start with the elephant in the room. I don't think I've seen too many other reviews mention this...but this book is either an intentional riff or a twisted rip off of Cecelia Ahern's P.S. I Love You I mean, I HAVE to think it was intentional due to the plethora of similarities: aside from the obvious one in the title, as the premise includes the deceased loved one (who passed from a tragic, wasting disease) leaves a TRAVEL BUCKET LIST for their loved one to find with missions to complete. This both helps them work through their grief AND find themselves along the way. So throw in an obnoxious sidekick, make the MC insufferable, AND force them to fall in love along the way...and you have this book. But where P.S. I Love You was drowning in empathy, nuance, care, and insight, THIS book was drowning in immature, obnoxious, odd, and frankly insufferable behavior, with next to NO character growth...and that made it feel more like a 'Nolex' masquerading as a Rolex, if you know what I mean.
Aside from the fact that I was so taken aback by the complete lack of acknowledgement (or even a gentle nod!) to the source material, let's get into these characters, as much as I would rather not revisit them. Unlike the utterly lovable Holly in Ahern's book, we get Maddie, a self-described 'immature' girl (and yes, I refuse to call her a woman) who is such a doormat she might as well have 'Welcome' printed on her forehead. I mean, really. She doesn't deal with her feelings of grief in any way, but yet is so hung up on essentially a one night stand where she thought she received a 'pity favor' of activity with Dom that she can't get over it? ALSO. Apparently asthma is essentially the world's scariest disease...at least, that's how it is presented here. One of the only times that Dom acts 'kindly' towards her (TBH, to me it read creepy and possessive) was when he got very angry about her climbing somewhere without her inhaler. I mean, I've known people with asthma and somewhat severe asthma at that...and NONE of this rang true. All it gave me were more reasons to dislike Dom.
...And there are PLENTY of those, trust me. If his behavior towards Maddie in the past wasn't enough of a turn off, when you read the icky set of circumstances that forced his one night with Maddie to BE only one night...you'll like him even less. His character is nothing short of abhorrent. I'm sorry he lost his friend, but losing someone doesn't make you a good person by default. The more time I was forced to spend with him, the LESS I liked him and honestly wished that we could just fast forward to the next letter from Josh and skip ALL of the 'will-they-won't-they' nonsense between Maddie and Josh. Which brings me to my next point, and one of the book's next main pitfalls: you can't have the ONLY likable character be a dead brother. Having to wait for little glimmers of kindness and common decency and even maturity in LETTER format only? Torturous. I couldn't believe we actually had to go through an entire YEAR of traveling with these two...I honestly started to feel like maybe Josh was the lucky one because he just didn't have to be AROUND either of these humans anymore. 🤦♀️
This author also likes to fixate on certain words, enough that they caught my attention from being repeated so often: taciturn is apparently a fave, along with references to areolas, and calling people 'dick bags'. 🙄 The whole book just had an air of immaturity that felt very YA for a novel that was supposed to be tackling grief, love, and have a certain level of emotional depth. There's also a weird passage where Maddie wants to like Dom's arm. (Okay?) If you think things like a dog peeing on you are funny, then you will undoubtedly laugh along with these characters, instead of the cringing I did through 50-60% of this. This not only kept taking me out of the story, but just detracted from every emotional moment that COULD have given this book the grounded feel it so desperately needed. When a travel aficionado such as myself does NOT enjoy a book that allows me to travel all sorts of places...that says it all right there. I kept waiting to feel something...ANYTHING...but all I could bring myself to feel was annoyed.
Have you ever seen those drawings of Disney characters where artists age them up or make them look evil...and while at its core it is familiar, it just feels WRONG? Much like these semi-facsimiles, whereas P.S. I Love You stands the test of time as a powerful, emotional story, PS I Hate You simply reads like a cheap, unlikable imitation.
3 stars. rounded up from 2.5
February 18, 2025
Now, I’m not someone who gets emotional over books, I’m more likely to laugh at a book than cry at one (but this one made me laugh AND cry).
This book is actually laugh out loud funny. Maddie, our FMC, is literally the most snarky and sarcastic woman i’ve ever had to pleasure of reading about. Like, several moments had me genuinely dying of laughter. And Dom, our MMC, can dish it back out too! This was such a funny book while also being a tear jerker!
Maddie’s brother Josh dies, and his final wish is for his ashes to be spread at 8 different locations he didn’t get a chance to visit before dying from lung cancer. The thing is, the task is for Maddie and Dom, her brother’s best friend who Maddie had a complicated history with.
One thing I really liked about this book, is that the timeline isn’t rushed. They don’t visit all locations within a few months and fall in love fast. This book takes place over several years.
I wish this book was longer, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Maddie and Dom yet.
This book is actually laugh out loud funny. Maddie, our FMC, is literally the most snarky and sarcastic woman i’ve ever had to pleasure of reading about. Like, several moments had me genuinely dying of laughter. And Dom, our MMC, can dish it back out too! This was such a funny book while also being a tear jerker!
Maddie’s brother Josh dies, and his final wish is for his ashes to be spread at 8 different locations he didn’t get a chance to visit before dying from lung cancer. The thing is, the task is for Maddie and Dom, her brother’s best friend who Maddie had a complicated history with.
One thing I really liked about this book, is that the timeline isn’t rushed. They don’t visit all locations within a few months and fall in love fast. This book takes place over several years.
I wish this book was longer, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Maddie and Dom yet.
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