Hate To Want You

by Rae Quinn

She’s the one girl I want but can’t have. Lainey. James. Barkley. We’ve practically grown up together. One mistake, one major slip, and everything’s screwed up. I know I shouldn’t want her, I know my sister would be livid. But I can’t bring myself to give a damn. Lainey Barkley, with her long chestnut brown hair and eyes as blue as the ocean with the attitude of a cactus. she’s clawed her way under my skin without even trying and now, I have to have her. I won’t let anything, or anyone stand in my way, including her. The only problem is, she’s my sister’s best friend.

He’s my best friend’s brother. Her twin brother, and a guy I’ve known for years. Holland Grant Monroe. He knows exactly how to push my buttons, and he enjoys pushing until I snap. He knows my history with my parents, with relationships. So when one night turns the wrong direction and the casual friendship we’ve had for years blows up in smoke, my first instinct is to run. But he won’t let me. He won’t let me go, and god help me, I think I want to stay.

354 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2025

Reviews

[Danah]

will update final review after reading <3

thank you for the ARC!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

first off, I would like to say thank you to Rae Quinn for giving me this opportunity to ARC read her book Hate To Want You.

my review:
I had so much fun reading this book. For starters, I couldn't put it down. The way that Rae started the book you instantly got hooked immediately. I am more of a fantasy romance reader, but from time to time, I like to read a good romance book and this book hit the spot. There is a lot of spice and the female main character is pretty feisty, and I feel hard for the main male character who plays rugby. but the fact that this is a book where the female character starts to fall for her best friend's brother is somewhat kind of relatable for me.

I gave this book a five star rating and I will say that if you love a feisty female character and a main male character who falls hard but you love spice this is the book for you

Available October 10!!

[Norymar Sandoval · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Rae Quinn for the Arc Read and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Hate to want you is part of the Ellington U universe of novels.

I would recommend to read the first book “Hate to love you” to get to know more the characters, as they are part of the lives of Lainey and Holland.

And the big event, aka the Wedding of Gwen and Ryker is the driving force for the first thirty-ish chapters.

I enjoyed the banter of Lainey and Holland, I would not put them as “enemies to lovers” as more that they get in each others nerves like life long friends that know how to bother you but you care for them in your own special way.

Liked the dynamics between them.

The spice was spicing.

Overall I enjoyed.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover drew me in. The blurb and graphics had me excited. But….

It’s not a terrible book - it just wasn’t for me. It was almost…boring? Also, I will say that enemies to lovers is rarely my favorite. I can’t exactly put my finger on what it was, but perhaps the hate she had for him even though she had known him most of her life. Maybe it was the continual rehashing of how her parents basically neglected her for her entire life even though they were filthy rich. I’m not exactly sure what it was, but I just didn’t really like it.

I liked the leading man, Holland. The rest of the characters and book were just a miss for me.

But try it for yourself. You may find that you like it.

[Katieeatsbooks]

BETA read, will not be reviewing until ARC/Final read!