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But I Hate Him
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Expected 25 Aug 26Win a free print copy of this book!
23 days and 10:08:09
50 copies available
U.S. only
From New York Times and #1 Indies bestselling author Page Powars, a sizzling queer YA romcom about academic rivals who face off at the most competitive camp in the country. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alice Oseman.
Rory is academic royalty.
As the heir to the most successful tutoring company in the world, he can be nothing less than perfect if he wants to gain his parents’ approval. So it's simple. Rory studies harder than anyone else. He does not make mistakes. And he never loses.
Except to Luca Melendez. The infuriatingly good-looking hockey player who wins every academic competition without even trying.
When Rory has a very public meltdown, throwing a smoothie at Luca and shattering his own public image in the process – it feels like one more thing Luca ruined.
To salvage his reputation, Rory has his sights set on winning the most cutthroat academic camp in the country, BRAIN. There is nothing standing between Rory and the final medal.
Until, Luca Melendez shows up.
This means war and Rory has the perfect Make Luca fall in love with him.
And then break Luca’s heart right before the final competition.
Rory is academic royalty.
As the heir to the most successful tutoring company in the world, he can be nothing less than perfect if he wants to gain his parents’ approval. So it's simple. Rory studies harder than anyone else. He does not make mistakes. And he never loses.
Except to Luca Melendez. The infuriatingly good-looking hockey player who wins every academic competition without even trying.
When Rory has a very public meltdown, throwing a smoothie at Luca and shattering his own public image in the process – it feels like one more thing Luca ruined.
To salvage his reputation, Rory has his sights set on winning the most cutthroat academic camp in the country, BRAIN. There is nothing standing between Rory and the final medal.
Until, Luca Melendez shows up.
This means war and Rory has the perfect Make Luca fall in love with him.
And then break Luca’s heart right before the final competition.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 25, 2026
3747 people want to read
About the author
Page Powars
6 books775 followersPage Powars is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of And They Were Roommates, The Borrow a Boyfriend Club, and more coming down the line. He was raised by video game lore that requires stringboard analyses to understand. Now, he writes books for teenagers and adults. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
This was so sweet, exactly what I needed.
But I hate him is a ya romance with academic rivals to lovers and it more than delivered. I like the arc the main character goes through and it would only be better if we had an epilogue. I'm serious GIVE ME AN EPILOGUE, I want to see them happy as a couple in their university life it's a NEED.
It was a super quick read and very light-hearted. The conflict was more of the same but that's just a personal preference, I just hate miscommunication and lying. The highlight for me is that it was SO FUNNY. I rarely laugh reading books but I was audibly cackling almost every chapter, the titles killed me, I love them so much.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC.
This was so sweet, exactly what I needed.
But I hate him is a ya romance with academic rivals to lovers and it more than delivered. I like the arc the main character goes through and it would only be better if we had an epilogue. I'm serious GIVE ME AN EPILOGUE, I want to see them happy as a couple in their university life it's a NEED.
It was a super quick read and very light-hearted. The conflict was more of the same but that's just a personal preference, I just hate miscommunication and lying. The highlight for me is that it was SO FUNNY. I rarely laugh reading books but I was audibly cackling almost every chapter, the titles killed me, I love them so much.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC.
high-priority-tbr
October 5, 2025I loved And They Were Roomates, this is immediately going on the "High Priority TBR" lol. Someone tell me when this comes out, because your boy DOES NOT have any mainstream social media LOL
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My first Page Powars book, but certainly not my last!
I don't read much YA these days, largely because the premises are often a little outlandish and silly, and I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the case here. Rory, our MC, is the poster child of Prince List, a well-known, influential tutoring company owned by his parents, and his life is...complicated. His parents have strict rules for how Rory is to conduct his life with the goal of ensuring Prince List's image stays spotless. And, in a lot of ways, that works for Rory. He's super-smart and spends all of his time studying and working toward his scientific goals; he doesn't have time for trivial things like dating or making friends. His one major downfall is Luca Melendez, who has beat him in 35 science competitions over the years.
After a PR nightmare of a situation takes place between Rory and Luca at yet another science competition, the future that Rory and his parents have worked so hard to secure for him is suddenly at risk. As a last resort, he decides to attend BRAIN's summer camp in hopes of winning the Medal of Victory and the coveted Ivy League admission he'd receive as a result, but then his plans once again feel thwarted when Luca shows up, too.
Amidst the so-called BRAIN Wars that take place over the course of the camp, Rory strategizes to destroy Luca's chances of winning by making him fall in love with Rory...and then breaking his heart. But as the two boys spend more time together and get to know one another in ways they haven't had the chance to before, Rory realizes yet another one of his plans are being destroyed by Luca—and Rory's suddenly very real feelings for him.
I really enjoyed Rory's arc throughout this book and the ways in which he was able to figure out who he was and what he wanted outside of his parents' expectations. His budding relationship with Luca was really sweet, although, admittedly, I would've loved to have seen a little more of them together once they patched things up between them. The science-y aspect was fun, and everyone knows I can't resist a character who doubles as a great hockey player.
If you've read Page's other books and enjoyed them or just want a cute, fast-paced rom-com with queer and trans rep, this one should definitely be on your list!
Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I don't read much YA these days, largely because the premises are often a little outlandish and silly, and I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the case here. Rory, our MC, is the poster child of Prince List, a well-known, influential tutoring company owned by his parents, and his life is...complicated. His parents have strict rules for how Rory is to conduct his life with the goal of ensuring Prince List's image stays spotless. And, in a lot of ways, that works for Rory. He's super-smart and spends all of his time studying and working toward his scientific goals; he doesn't have time for trivial things like dating or making friends. His one major downfall is Luca Melendez, who has beat him in 35 science competitions over the years.
After a PR nightmare of a situation takes place between Rory and Luca at yet another science competition, the future that Rory and his parents have worked so hard to secure for him is suddenly at risk. As a last resort, he decides to attend BRAIN's summer camp in hopes of winning the Medal of Victory and the coveted Ivy League admission he'd receive as a result, but then his plans once again feel thwarted when Luca shows up, too.
Amidst the so-called BRAIN Wars that take place over the course of the camp, Rory strategizes to destroy Luca's chances of winning by making him fall in love with Rory...and then breaking his heart. But as the two boys spend more time together and get to know one another in ways they haven't had the chance to before, Rory realizes yet another one of his plans are being destroyed by Luca—and Rory's suddenly very real feelings for him.
I really enjoyed Rory's arc throughout this book and the ways in which he was able to figure out who he was and what he wanted outside of his parents' expectations. His budding relationship with Luca was really sweet, although, admittedly, I would've loved to have seen a little more of them together once they patched things up between them. The science-y aspect was fun, and everyone knows I can't resist a character who doubles as a great hockey player.
If you've read Page's other books and enjoyed them or just want a cute, fast-paced rom-com with queer and trans rep, this one should definitely be on your list!
Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
This was such a cute and wholesome read! I love how Page Powars writes characters who feel so deeply and are flawed. But they always grow exponentially and come out on top. The romance was also adorable.
The only reason I docked a star was that I felt the ending was super rushed. Like another chapter or two wrapping things up with his cabin mates would have been nice. Or an actual confrontation with her parents (mostly his mom). But this was still a satisfying ending, so I shouldn't complain too much.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. If you want an academic rivals to lovers set at a summer camp, this is the book for you.
This was such a cute and wholesome read! I love how Page Powars writes characters who feel so deeply and are flawed. But they always grow exponentially and come out on top. The romance was also adorable.
The only reason I docked a star was that I felt the ending was super rushed. Like another chapter or two wrapping things up with his cabin mates would have been nice. Or an actual confrontation with her parents (mostly his mom). But this was still a satisfying ending, so I shouldn't complain too much.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. If you want an academic rivals to lovers set at a summer camp, this is the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review But I Hate Him.
4.25 stars!
This is a wonderful YA coming-of-age romance novel. It has a really cute story filled with academic rivals and misunderstanding after misunderstanding.
Rory is a mess under the careful image crafted by his parents, struggling to express himself and be his true self.
Luca is his opposite he is smart, confident, knows how to have fun, and seems much more sure of who he is.
For the age range this book is marketed toward, I think it strikes a really nice balance. It’s lighthearted and sweet while still touching on the pressures Rory feels from his family and expectations.
Overall, this was super cute.
4.25 stars!
This is a wonderful YA coming-of-age romance novel. It has a really cute story filled with academic rivals and misunderstanding after misunderstanding.
Rory is a mess under the careful image crafted by his parents, struggling to express himself and be his true self.
Luca is his opposite he is smart, confident, knows how to have fun, and seems much more sure of who he is.
For the age range this book is marketed toward, I think it strikes a really nice balance. It’s lighthearted and sweet while still touching on the pressures Rory feels from his family and expectations.
Overall, this was super cute.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
THIS WAS SO GOOD. With a main character AND a love interest who are both equally oblivious and slightly idiotic (despite being literal geniuses), it was wonderfully adorable, hilarious, and just incredible to read.
Plus, I absolutely adored how WRONG Rory was allowed to be. He made a lot of stupid decisions, but they each made so much sense: he's a teenager with the weight of his parent's company and expectations on him. Of course he's gonna do everything he can to be exceptional, even if it's morally questionable. And it made his growth all the more impactful.
Really I just wanna hug Rory and Luca. I love them so much.
Plus, I absolutely adored how WRONG Rory was allowed to be. He made a lot of stupid decisions, but they each made so much sense: he's a teenager with the weight of his parent's company and expectations on him. Of course he's gonna do everything he can to be exceptional, even if it's morally questionable. And it made his growth all the more impactful.
Really I just wanna hug Rory and Luca. I love them so much.
March 5, 2026
Shout out to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s for this ARC! “Page Powars, you've charmed me. I'm charmed." (That's my impression of myself each time I read one of his books.) I couldn't put But I Hate Him down. It was, as all his books are, funny, sincere, and somehow exactly what I've been wanting to read without even realizing it. His books have so much heart and personality, and he has an incredible talent for chapter titles. I can’t wait to recommend this to everyone. Everyone!!!!!
Want to read
March 5, 2026💚 But I Hate Him
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WHERES THE EPILOGUE
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews