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But I Hate Him
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Expected 25 Aug 26From 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.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Page Powars
4 books991 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 - 30 of 174 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
August 12, 2026
Thank you @macmillanusa for the digital copy to review!
This book by @pagepowars was a perfect book to read during the #TransRightsReadathon! Luca and Rory were literally everything to me. I *LOVED* their rivalry and chemistry and banter and cute moments. But also, the initial meeting we see them at had me gasping 😅😅😅.
I also have to say, I still think Page is writing the funniest YA books right now. The chapter titles alone sent me into oblivion. I was reading this while getting my hair done and I couldn’t stop giggling.
The dynamic between Rory, our main character and storyteller, and Luca, his “enemy” and pseudo love interest was so much freaking fun. I *KNEW* about Luca but oh my god was it so great to watch Rory figure it out too. Their ice skating date? The stars? The work on Luca’s project?? I’m so in love with them.
Anyway I don’t want to spoil the goodness but trust me - this one is fantastic. I already preordered my signed copy (you can too!) and can’t wait to tell Page how much I loved it.
This book by @pagepowars was a perfect book to read during the #TransRightsReadathon! Luca and Rory were literally everything to me. I *LOVED* their rivalry and chemistry and banter and cute moments. But also, the initial meeting we see them at had me gasping 😅😅😅.
I also have to say, I still think Page is writing the funniest YA books right now. The chapter titles alone sent me into oblivion. I was reading this while getting my hair done and I couldn’t stop giggling.
The dynamic between Rory, our main character and storyteller, and Luca, his “enemy” and pseudo love interest was so much freaking fun. I *KNEW* about Luca but oh my god was it so great to watch Rory figure it out too. Their ice skating date? The stars? The work on Luca’s project?? I’m so in love with them.
Anyway I don’t want to spoil the goodness but trust me - this one is fantastic. I already preordered my signed copy (you can too!) and can’t wait to tell Page how much I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
💔📚 But I Hate Him 📚💔
This was a cute queer YA romcom!
It’s a fairly short and easy to read romance. The antics between the different teams trying to sabotage each other were genuinely funny. I also really liked the competitive camp setting.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
🏳️🌈What to Expect
• Academic rivals
• Queer YA romcom
• Academic camp
• Overachiever MMC
• Hockey player MMC
• Enemies to lovers
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 Stars
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
This was a cute queer YA romcom!
It’s a fairly short and easy to read romance. The antics between the different teams trying to sabotage each other were genuinely funny. I also really liked the competitive camp setting.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
🏳️🌈What to Expect
• Academic rivals
• Queer YA romcom
• Academic camp
• Overachiever MMC
• Hockey player MMC
• Enemies to lovers
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 Stars
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
July 24, 2026
Let me tell you, I love a romance between dumb and dumber. Rory and Luca are so incredibly dense for some of the smartest teens in the country. They’re both flirting with a brick wall, completely misunderstanding each other. Rory having the audacity to claim Luca is oblivious, meanwhile he himself is clueless. What a dynamic. They’re actually so adorable.
I was honestly taken off guard by how sweet Rory was. Because of his upbringing, I assumed he would be a more conflicting character. Someone with a superiority complex and an inclination toward ruthlessness. Especially since the entire plot surrounds this plan to break Luca’s heart so he can beat him in the competition. And yet, he can’t even go through with it. Rory has so much pressure placed on his shoulders by his parents, and he feels like he must fill a certain role to make them proud. But he doesn’t actually want any of it. He’s just a boy who loves astronomy and has a hard time connecting with others. However, despite his lack of social skills he ends up becoming a uniting force for his cabin mates. As well as someone Luca can lean on.
Luca is completely mischaracterized by Rory at first, and it was nice to slowly see the truth of him. Luca is an incredibly intelligent kid, but his main love is hockey. He doesn’t come from wealth like Rory and the other campers. He works hard to avoid placing the burden of paying for his future on his mom. Even though they had such a rocky start, I think Luca and Rory bring out the best in each other. Luca really grounded Rory and taught him how to loosen up. And Rory affirmed Luca, assuaging his imposter syndrome.
I love queer and trans joy + love! This was an adorable romance with lovable characters and a heartfelt coming of age focus. I thought the Brain camp element was really unique and fun, making this a great summer read.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the eARC!
I was honestly taken off guard by how sweet Rory was. Because of his upbringing, I assumed he would be a more conflicting character. Someone with a superiority complex and an inclination toward ruthlessness. Especially since the entire plot surrounds this plan to break Luca’s heart so he can beat him in the competition. And yet, he can’t even go through with it. Rory has so much pressure placed on his shoulders by his parents, and he feels like he must fill a certain role to make them proud. But he doesn’t actually want any of it. He’s just a boy who loves astronomy and has a hard time connecting with others. However, despite his lack of social skills he ends up becoming a uniting force for his cabin mates. As well as someone Luca can lean on.
Luca is completely mischaracterized by Rory at first, and it was nice to slowly see the truth of him. Luca is an incredibly intelligent kid, but his main love is hockey. He doesn’t come from wealth like Rory and the other campers. He works hard to avoid placing the burden of paying for his future on his mom. Even though they had such a rocky start, I think Luca and Rory bring out the best in each other. Luca really grounded Rory and taught him how to loosen up. And Rory affirmed Luca, assuaging his imposter syndrome.
I love queer and trans joy + love! This was an adorable romance with lovable characters and a heartfelt coming of age focus. I thought the Brain camp element was really unique and fun, making this a great summer read.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the eARC!
July 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Page Powars for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.
I picked this up because the premise screamed rivals-to-lovers, and I was excited to dive into a messy, emotional romance. While I enjoyed parts of the story, it didn’t quite deliver what I was expecting.
My biggest issue was that the rivalry felt very one-sided. Rory spends so much of the book disliking Luca, while Luca is mostly just…existing. Because of that, the romance never fully clicked for me. There also weren’t enough meaningful moments between the two of them, so when their relationship finally progressed, it felt a little rushed and underdeveloped. I also found myself much less invested whenever the focus shifted to Rory’s camp friends and the secondary romance.
That said, I did appreciate the humor, the summer camp setting, and the discussions around identity and self-discovery woven throughout the story. Even when I wasn’t completely invested in the romance, those moments gave the book heart.
The audiobook was definitely the highlight for me. Joshua Waters gave a wonderful performance, bringing personality and emotion to the characters, and his narration kept me engaged even during the slower parts of the story.
Overall, this one just wasn’t the right fit for me, but I can absolutely see why so many readers are connecting with it. If you’re interested in a YA queer romance with themes of identity, friendship, and growth, it’s still worth checking out—especially in audiobook format.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Page Powars for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.
I picked this up because the premise screamed rivals-to-lovers, and I was excited to dive into a messy, emotional romance. While I enjoyed parts of the story, it didn’t quite deliver what I was expecting.
My biggest issue was that the rivalry felt very one-sided. Rory spends so much of the book disliking Luca, while Luca is mostly just…existing. Because of that, the romance never fully clicked for me. There also weren’t enough meaningful moments between the two of them, so when their relationship finally progressed, it felt a little rushed and underdeveloped. I also found myself much less invested whenever the focus shifted to Rory’s camp friends and the secondary romance.
That said, I did appreciate the humor, the summer camp setting, and the discussions around identity and self-discovery woven throughout the story. Even when I wasn’t completely invested in the romance, those moments gave the book heart.
The audiobook was definitely the highlight for me. Joshua Waters gave a wonderful performance, bringing personality and emotion to the characters, and his narration kept me engaged even during the slower parts of the story.
Overall, this one just wasn’t the right fit for me, but I can absolutely see why so many readers are connecting with it. If you’re interested in a YA queer romance with themes of identity, friendship, and growth, it’s still worth checking out—especially in audiobook format.
August 5, 2026
A rivals to lovers sabotage of the heart.
This, like and they were roommates, is a sweet queer YA novel. It's light-hearted, funny, full of shenanigans and clueless boys who haven't a clue when it comes to feelings.
Luca is a part time hockey player part time genius, Rory, is academic royalty and the face of his families tutoring brand. They have been rivals for years, and Rory 'hates' Luca, or so he thinks. When the two end up competing for a prestigious award at summer camp, they both have differing motives but the same goal.
The sabotage attempts, found family rep, and growth in this book were wonderful to read. We see Rory come to terms with what he wants, rather than what's expected from him.
A lovely YA novel with a splash of hockey. (there's a scene where they're on the ice together that I loved). I found this funny, wholesome and enjoyable to read. The audiobook was brilliant and the narrator did a great job at delivering the characters.
Thankyou to the publisher for an ALC and EArc!
This, like and they were roommates, is a sweet queer YA novel. It's light-hearted, funny, full of shenanigans and clueless boys who haven't a clue when it comes to feelings.
Luca is a part time hockey player part time genius, Rory, is academic royalty and the face of his families tutoring brand. They have been rivals for years, and Rory 'hates' Luca, or so he thinks. When the two end up competing for a prestigious award at summer camp, they both have differing motives but the same goal.
The sabotage attempts, found family rep, and growth in this book were wonderful to read. We see Rory come to terms with what he wants, rather than what's expected from him.
A lovely YA novel with a splash of hockey. (there's a scene where they're on the ice together that I loved). I found this funny, wholesome and enjoyable to read. The audiobook was brilliant and the narrator did a great job at delivering the characters.
Thankyou to the publisher for an ALC and EArc!
June 3, 2026
Shane and Ilya in a different font and I loved it so much!!
March 21, 2026
I went into this already knowing I love Page Powars writing And They Were Roommates completely had my heart last year and somehow this one still surprised me. But I Hate Him was everything I wanted and more. I literally binged it in a day because I could not put it down.This story follows Rory, who is basically academic royalty. He’s been raised to be perfect top of his class, no mistakes, always winning because anything less means disappointing his parents. And for the most part, he does win except when it comes to Luca Melendez. Luca is effortlessly good at everything, including beating Rory in every academic competition, and it drives Rory insane. After a very public meltdown (yes involving a smoothie), Rory’s reputation takes a hit, and he becomes determined to win it all at this elite academic camp called BRAIN.But when Luca shows up too, Rory decides on a new strategy: make Luca fall for him and then break his heart before the final competition.And obviously, things do not go the way he plans.What I loved so much about this book is how it takes that classic rivals to lovers energy and adds so much more to it. It’s not just tension and banter (though there’s plenty of that) it’s also about pressure, identity, and what it means to be seen for who you really are outside of expectations. Rory’s need to be perfect and the way that slowly unravels felt so real, especially when mixed with feelings he doesn’t want to admit.
Also, the chemistry was insane. The banter, the slow shift from enemies to something softer, the emotional moments that sneak up on you it all just hits. I was rooting for them so hard even when Rory was being well, Rory.And I think it’s really important to talk about why books like this matter especially during something like the trans rights readathon. Stories like this center queer and trans joy, messiness, growth, and love in a way that feels human and relatable, not just “issue based.” Seeing characters exist fully being competitive, petty, soft, ambitious, and in love matters. It reminds people that trans stories deserve to be celebrated in every genre, including romcoms.This book isn’t just fun (though it absolutely is) it’s meaningful. It gives space for identity, for self acceptance, and for complicated emotions, all wrapped in a story that will have you hooked from start to finish.I loved this so much. if you read And They Were Roommates, you need to pick this one up.LOVED.
Also, the chemistry was insane. The banter, the slow shift from enemies to something softer, the emotional moments that sneak up on you it all just hits. I was rooting for them so hard even when Rory was being well, Rory.And I think it’s really important to talk about why books like this matter especially during something like the trans rights readathon. Stories like this center queer and trans joy, messiness, growth, and love in a way that feels human and relatable, not just “issue based.” Seeing characters exist fully being competitive, petty, soft, ambitious, and in love matters. It reminds people that trans stories deserve to be celebrated in every genre, including romcoms.This book isn’t just fun (though it absolutely is) it’s meaningful. It gives space for identity, for self acceptance, and for complicated emotions, all wrapped in a story that will have you hooked from start to finish.I loved this so much. if you read And They Were Roommates, you need to pick this one up.LOVED.
March 9, 2026
Another excellent book by Page Powars! Thank you NetGalley for approving my request for this ARC! I am such a huge fan of Page Powars and have been dying to get my hands on this book. I read it in one sitting. Such a great read!
Everything about this book was chef’s kiss! The chapter titles were my absolute favorite. The characters in this book are so lovable and so unique. The pacing was great and the end was satisfying! I must say though, I need an epilogue! It simply cannot end like this! Also, the dedication… just yes.
I can’t wait for Page Powars’ next book!
Thank you again to NetGalley for the ARC! <3
Everything about this book was chef’s kiss! The chapter titles were my absolute favorite. The characters in this book are so lovable and so unique. The pacing was great and the end was satisfying! I must say though, I need an epilogue! It simply cannot end like this! Also, the dedication… just yes.
I can’t wait for Page Powars’ next book!
Thank you again to NetGalley for the ARC! <3
Did Not Finish
July 30, 202621% in DNF
I can already tell where this is leading and it’s similar to And They Were Roommates where the main character is “rivals” with the other MMC but it’s honestly just one-sided and he’s mean to the love interest when the love interest literally hasn’t done anything 😀 and the main character already seems pretentious as hell so I KNOW he’s gonna piss me off, especially at a CAMP
I can already tell where this is leading and it’s similar to And They Were Roommates where the main character is “rivals” with the other MMC but it’s honestly just one-sided and he’s mean to the love interest when the love interest literally hasn’t done anything 😀 and the main character already seems pretentious as hell so I KNOW he’s gonna piss me off, especially at a CAMP
April 28, 2026
Cuuuuuute.
The relationship felt a tiny bit forced but other than that I liked it a lot! Rory and Luca are full of miscommunication but adorable el.
A huge fan of the trans man x cis man relationship, I need more!
The relationship felt a tiny bit forced but other than that I liked it a lot! Rory and Luca are full of miscommunication but adorable el.
A huge fan of the trans man x cis man relationship, I need more!
April 28, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of But I Hate Him by Page Powars!!
But I Hate Him was not what I expected in a great way! This book kept me so engaged and on the edge of my seat which hasn’t happened with a romance book before. I loved the writing in this story and I absolutely loved these characters!
This book is a young adult romance that follows Rory and Luca, academic rivals, at an academic camp. These two, facing their own issues, grow closer, despite their personal differences and opposing cabins.
I loved But I Hate Him! I wish it had been longer, but this story was beautiful and great. A very educational story as well! I definitely want to check out more from this author!
But I Hate Him was not what I expected in a great way! This book kept me so engaged and on the edge of my seat which hasn’t happened with a romance book before. I loved the writing in this story and I absolutely loved these characters!
This book is a young adult romance that follows Rory and Luca, academic rivals, at an academic camp. These two, facing their own issues, grow closer, despite their personal differences and opposing cabins.
I loved But I Hate Him! I wish it had been longer, but this story was beautiful and great. A very educational story as well! I definitely want to check out more from this author!
May 15, 2026
I haven’t read And They Were Roommates yet but it’s on my TBR. I’ve heard such great things about this author and was so stoked to get a chance to read this ARC.
The story follows Rory, a wicked smart and academically driven student who has been raised to be the epitome of perfection in school. His parent’s expectations are high and Rory can’t afford to make mistakes.
However, Rory’s perfect life takes a turn when he meets Luca. Luca is effortlessly talented guy who consistently outshines Rory academically. This drives Rory insane. He’s determined to beat Luca at something. His opportunity is an academic camp competition. Rory hopes to distract Luca to gain the advantage but it doesn’t exactly go according to plan.
This had such great chemistry and a lot of laughs. I adored this entire book and I’ll definitely be bumping up ATWR on my TBR. This was a nice break from the more intense and Spicy books I’ve been reading lately!
1/5 🌶️
If you love great tension and banter and rivals to lovers you’ll love this!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.
The story follows Rory, a wicked smart and academically driven student who has been raised to be the epitome of perfection in school. His parent’s expectations are high and Rory can’t afford to make mistakes.
However, Rory’s perfect life takes a turn when he meets Luca. Luca is effortlessly talented guy who consistently outshines Rory academically. This drives Rory insane. He’s determined to beat Luca at something. His opportunity is an academic camp competition. Rory hopes to distract Luca to gain the advantage but it doesn’t exactly go according to plan.
This had such great chemistry and a lot of laughs. I adored this entire book and I’ll definitely be bumping up ATWR on my TBR. This was a nice break from the more intense and Spicy books I’ve been reading lately!
1/5 🌶️
If you love great tension and banter and rivals to lovers you’ll love this!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first Page Powars book, and it definitely won’t be my last! But I Hate Him was a lighthearted, comedic, and endearing read; it was the perfect book for relaxing at night. I absolutely LOVED that Rory was a trans man. I wasn’t expecting it, which made it all the more exciting! I especially loved the representation of him being imperfect (and at times, quite a malicious) person rather than the token ‘perfect transgender’ character that I often see in media. Powars’ writing was incredibly entertaining, and I was hooked from the first few chapters. I loved how he wrote all of the characters, especially Luca. The stakes felt high, but not overwhelmingly so that it stressed me out while reading. I just wish there was an epilogue about Rory and Luca after they started college at the end! I could’ve read so many more chapters about them and how their relationship grew after the dust of the climax settled!
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillam for the ARC!
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillam for the ARC!
August 5, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of But I Hate Him!
First off, can we talk about this cover? It's honestly what drew me to the book in the first place. I also thought the premise sounded right up my alley, and for the most part it was. Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite live up to what I was hoping for.
I did think it was really cute and I had a lot of fun watching these two characters who were so obviously into each other while being completely oblivious to it. There were definitely some funny moments. Unfortunately I never fully connected with the story the way I wanted to. It wasn't a bad read by any means it just didn't quite hit the mark for me emotionally.
Overall, this was a quick, easy, and cute listen that I think a lot of readers will enjoy even if it wasn't a new favorite for me.
First off, can we talk about this cover? It's honestly what drew me to the book in the first place. I also thought the premise sounded right up my alley, and for the most part it was. Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite live up to what I was hoping for.
I did think it was really cute and I had a lot of fun watching these two characters who were so obviously into each other while being completely oblivious to it. There were definitely some funny moments. Unfortunately I never fully connected with the story the way I wanted to. It wasn't a bad read by any means it just didn't quite hit the mark for me emotionally.
Overall, this was a quick, easy, and cute listen that I think a lot of readers will enjoy even if it wasn't a new favorite for me.
June 10, 2026
Page Powars does it again! This was a very fun, very engaging read that had several of my favorite things, like rom-com shenanigans, super smart people, and enemies (?) to lovers! Even though Luca and Rory are geniuses in their own rights, they’re both very stupid about love. This book, as a byproduct of being about a summer camp for genius high school seniors, is kind of full of scientific and math terms, but it is still understandable. Do I know if the science is accurate? No. But it’s believable enough! I loved the climax of the story having to do with a math equation, I just wished we had a little more time for it to settle after. Give me one (to ten) more chapters of them settling into their relationship please!!!
Thanks NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Thanks NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
July 30, 2026
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: August 25, 2026
Summer camp hijinks, but make it academically competitive! This is billed as a YA rivals to lovers but the rivalry was one sided—Rory felt big things about it and Luca was oblivious. That being said, I wanted more dedicated Rory & Luca scenes instead of so many with the rest of camp. At one point, I was convinced Luca wasn’t even actually the rival this was about and the book was actually about Rory & Benedict. This had some fun camp pranks but after a while I found myself zoning in and out.
Summer camp hijinks, but make it academically competitive! This is billed as a YA rivals to lovers but the rivalry was one sided—Rory felt big things about it and Luca was oblivious. That being said, I wanted more dedicated Rory & Luca scenes instead of so many with the rest of camp. At one point, I was convinced Luca wasn’t even actually the rival this was about and the book was actually about Rory & Benedict. This had some fun camp pranks but after a while I found myself zoning in and out.
June 26, 2026
THIS WAS SO GOOD. i was kicking my feet giggling the entire time. i love luca and rory so much and the end im!!!! such fantastic writing and a great story!!!
August 13, 2026
***ARC Review***
I thought this was really funny and cute! God are they both completely oblivious it’s evil 😭 The plot was cute and easy to follow, with chapter titles that really hammer home how ridiculously exasperated Rory is. (p.s., absolutely love the name Rory for a boy—every single time they said his name I was so fond!) The audiobook narrator wasn’t my personal cup of tea, but I think he did a good job of providing a performance that conveyed the characters’ emotions. Overall, giving this a 4 because the author is smaller, but I would probably give it a 3.5! I loved how obvious it was that Rory was completely making up reasons for Luca to be evil when he so clearly was not, lol.
(update: it’s been a week now and i’m still thinking about this book! I am amending my review to be a 4.5 purely because of how fun it was and how glad i am that I read it!)
I thought this was really funny and cute! God are they both completely oblivious it’s evil 😭 The plot was cute and easy to follow, with chapter titles that really hammer home how ridiculously exasperated Rory is. (p.s., absolutely love the name Rory for a boy—every single time they said his name I was so fond!) The audiobook narrator wasn’t my personal cup of tea, but I think he did a good job of providing a performance that conveyed the characters’ emotions. Overall, giving this a 4 because the author is smaller, but I would probably give it a 3.5! I loved how obvious it was that Rory was completely making up reasons for Luca to be evil when he so clearly was not, lol.
(update: it’s been a week now and i’m still thinking about this book! I am amending my review to be a 4.5 purely because of how fun it was and how glad i am that I read it!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
August 8, 2026very cute
May 23, 2026
stop it rn this was so cute
July 16, 2026
eARC received from Netgalley. Thanks!
So this was really cute. Really really cute. It made me giggle and kick my feet and cringe with second-hand embarrassment. I liked this book far more than the previous novel I'd read from Powars, and the writing was also noticeably better! Seeing Rory break free from the image that his parents had sculpted him into was sooo satisfying, Luca was a absolute gem. Will definitely be picking up more from this author in the future.
So this was really cute. Really really cute. It made me giggle and kick my feet and cringe with second-hand embarrassment. I liked this book far more than the previous novel I'd read from Powars, and the writing was also noticeably better! Seeing Rory break free from the image that his parents had sculpted him into was sooo satisfying, Luca was a absolute gem. Will definitely be picking up more from this author in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
On the surface, this is an enemies-to-lovers story, but more than that, it’s a story about breaking free of your parents’ expectations, learning to embrace your true self, and trusting that you deserve love and friendship for who you are, not what you have accomplished. Rory is a messed up kid, mostly because of the pressure his parents have put on him to be perfect, but also because he’s forced himself to remain aloof and alone to protect his heart. He is also very oblivious and single-minded, and this book is from his perspective, so I spent most of it just as confused about Luca’s feelings and intentions as Rory. I wish this would have been a dual POV story, so we could have seen things from Luca’s perspective all along and realize how distorted Rory’s perception of Luca and view of himself was. But I can see how going along on this journey with Rory got straight to the heart of who he is and who he wants to be: more than just a Perfect Prince, free of expectations and allowed to pursue his passions and stare at the stars and planets to his hearts’ content.
I honestly don’t blame Rory for being confused about all the pranks being pulled at camp — sure, it might seem silly and fun to disrupt someone’s sleep or put their bed on a roof or something similar, but that’s does effect their performance and how well they can learn. Obviously burning down a cabin is serious, but that’s was an accident — the prank Omega was trying to pull would have been in line with the other camp pranks. What Gamma does, destroying experiences and stealing all of Omega’s property and destroying it, is much worse in my opinion because they intended to cause grievous harm, with malicious intent. Christina’s reaction to Rory’s plan to make Luca fall in love with him and then break his heart seemed aggressively over the top considering it seemed to be obvious to everyone else how much Rory actually liked Luca. Why would she assume Rory is telling the truth about his motivations in this one situation when all evidence points to the contrary? And then to betray their group so completely? I would still be mad at her.
The parts of this book I enjoyed the most were when Luca and Rory were actually connecting, sharing their favorite things and dreams and plans with each other. Obviously I was not a fan of Luca’s originally when my only impression of his was Rory’s — that he was self-centered and arrogant. When it became clear that opinion was maybe not 100% correct, though, and that Rory’s obsession was maybe a little more admiring than hatred, my own opinion changed as well. I really appreciated how honest Luca was when confronted about his feelings, and I loved how obvious his flirting was, even if Rory took a long time to figure it out. I kind of wish there had been a longer “wait what do you mean you hated me for 3 years” conversation between them, but I’m glad that they were both willing to set prior misunderstandings and mistakes aside once they realized how much they cared. And I loved the slapshot science.
Also, so much of this book is completely hilarious, but nothing more so than the chapter titles, which include: “IN WHICH I AM TRAPPED IN A CLASSROOM WITH MY ENEMY, WHO I ACCIDENTALLY KISSED, AND AM NOW GNAWING AT THE BARS OF MY ENCLOSURE TO ESCAPE” and “IN WHICH MY ENEMY CALLS ME HOT, AND I ALMOST EAT SHIT ON A SLAB OF ICE.” Lol.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an advance copy of this book for review purposes. It will be released on August 25, and you can preorder or request from your library today!
I honestly don’t blame Rory for being confused about all the pranks being pulled at camp — sure, it might seem silly and fun to disrupt someone’s sleep or put their bed on a roof or something similar, but that’s does effect their performance and how well they can learn. Obviously burning down a cabin is serious, but that’s was an accident — the prank Omega was trying to pull would have been in line with the other camp pranks. What Gamma does, destroying experiences and stealing all of Omega’s property and destroying it, is much worse in my opinion because they intended to cause grievous harm, with malicious intent. Christina’s reaction to Rory’s plan to make Luca fall in love with him and then break his heart seemed aggressively over the top considering it seemed to be obvious to everyone else how much Rory actually liked Luca. Why would she assume Rory is telling the truth about his motivations in this one situation when all evidence points to the contrary? And then to betray their group so completely? I would still be mad at her.
The parts of this book I enjoyed the most were when Luca and Rory were actually connecting, sharing their favorite things and dreams and plans with each other. Obviously I was not a fan of Luca’s originally when my only impression of his was Rory’s — that he was self-centered and arrogant. When it became clear that opinion was maybe not 100% correct, though, and that Rory’s obsession was maybe a little more admiring than hatred, my own opinion changed as well. I really appreciated how honest Luca was when confronted about his feelings, and I loved how obvious his flirting was, even if Rory took a long time to figure it out. I kind of wish there had been a longer “wait what do you mean you hated me for 3 years” conversation between them, but I’m glad that they were both willing to set prior misunderstandings and mistakes aside once they realized how much they cared. And I loved the slapshot science.
Also, so much of this book is completely hilarious, but nothing more so than the chapter titles, which include: “IN WHICH I AM TRAPPED IN A CLASSROOM WITH MY ENEMY, WHO I ACCIDENTALLY KISSED, AND AM NOW GNAWING AT THE BARS OF MY ENCLOSURE TO ESCAPE” and “IN WHICH MY ENEMY CALLS ME HOT, AND I ALMOST EAT SHIT ON A SLAB OF ICE.” Lol.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an advance copy of this book for review purposes. It will be released on August 25, and you can preorder or request from your library today!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2026
But I Hate Him was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I am excited to say it did not disappoint!
Just like in And They Were Roommates, many of the characters in But I Hate Him could easily come across as insufferable or unlikable due to their exceptional talents and intelligence, and the awareness that they are exceptional, but instead Powars has his own exceptional talent of making his characters charming, endearing, and deeper than they initially seem. Rory, Luca, and their entire supporting cast, are a group of young, high-achieving scholars who make mistakes, show vulnerability, get messy, and are sometimes just plain cringe, but in the best, funniest, and most earnest way possible. One scene with a mishap involving creating virtual voice assistants at an academic camp competition even had me yelling, “No! Page, no!” All while I laughed out loud. In short, I enjoyed the character arcs and seeing the relationship dynamics shift not just between Rory and Luca, but also Rory and his cabin mates. I loved reading about their humorous mishaps, their vulnerabilities, and their individual growth. The characterization created was top-notch!
While But I Hate Him is categorized as a rivals to lovers romance, I think there’s an argument to be made that it could also fall under what I’ve seen affectionately referred to as the “idiots to lovers” trope, which just so happens to be a favorite of mine. Despite being these wunderkind/kid-genius types, Rory and Luca are adorably oblivious about the other’s, and sometimes their own, feelings about each other at any given moment. There were too many times to count where my jaw dropped when one of these boys did or said something so obviously sweet or romantic and then dropped again when the gesture or comment went completely over the other’s head. Bonus points go to the endearingly clueless Luca for also being completely unaware about his roommate Benedict’s intentions/feelings. It was fun being a reader who was more aware than the protagonists and waiting for them to catch up. They do all eventually figure things out, but the journey to that point is pure perfection.
My only complaint with the story is that I wanted more at the end. I would have loved a time jump or an epilogue where we got to see Rory and Luca outside of their academic competitions and camp. I really wanted to see their relationship once they’d finally worked everything out. Plus, I was very invested in where their future plans landed in regard to college. A big part of Rory’s development was shifting away from his parents’ expectations and their family’s business. Meanwhile, Luca is trying to fix his slap shot after a hockey injury as one of his personal hurdles throughout the story. I would have loved to see where they both ended up concerning those issues. The ending had a satisfactory resolution, even in regard to these obstacles, but greedily I wanted more. I would love it if Page Powars ever decided to write a sequel, short story, or novella about future Rory and Luca.
I listened to an advanced listener copy of But I Hate Him and thought the voice actor,
Joshua Waters, did a great job. He really brought each individual character to life. I am curious to listen to and watch other works this voice actor is featured in.
It’s been so long since I’ve listened to an audiobook that made me both vocally and physically react to what was happening. Kudos to Page Powars and Joshua Waters for making that happen!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ALC.
Just like in And They Were Roommates, many of the characters in But I Hate Him could easily come across as insufferable or unlikable due to their exceptional talents and intelligence, and the awareness that they are exceptional, but instead Powars has his own exceptional talent of making his characters charming, endearing, and deeper than they initially seem. Rory, Luca, and their entire supporting cast, are a group of young, high-achieving scholars who make mistakes, show vulnerability, get messy, and are sometimes just plain cringe, but in the best, funniest, and most earnest way possible. One scene with a mishap involving creating virtual voice assistants at an academic camp competition even had me yelling, “No! Page, no!” All while I laughed out loud. In short, I enjoyed the character arcs and seeing the relationship dynamics shift not just between Rory and Luca, but also Rory and his cabin mates. I loved reading about their humorous mishaps, their vulnerabilities, and their individual growth. The characterization created was top-notch!
While But I Hate Him is categorized as a rivals to lovers romance, I think there’s an argument to be made that it could also fall under what I’ve seen affectionately referred to as the “idiots to lovers” trope, which just so happens to be a favorite of mine. Despite being these wunderkind/kid-genius types, Rory and Luca are adorably oblivious about the other’s, and sometimes their own, feelings about each other at any given moment. There were too many times to count where my jaw dropped when one of these boys did or said something so obviously sweet or romantic and then dropped again when the gesture or comment went completely over the other’s head. Bonus points go to the endearingly clueless Luca for also being completely unaware about his roommate Benedict’s intentions/feelings. It was fun being a reader who was more aware than the protagonists and waiting for them to catch up. They do all eventually figure things out, but the journey to that point is pure perfection.
My only complaint with the story is that I wanted more at the end. I would have loved a time jump or an epilogue where we got to see Rory and Luca outside of their academic competitions and camp. I really wanted to see their relationship once they’d finally worked everything out. Plus, I was very invested in where their future plans landed in regard to college. A big part of Rory’s development was shifting away from his parents’ expectations and their family’s business. Meanwhile, Luca is trying to fix his slap shot after a hockey injury as one of his personal hurdles throughout the story. I would have loved to see where they both ended up concerning those issues. The ending had a satisfactory resolution, even in regard to these obstacles, but greedily I wanted more. I would love it if Page Powars ever decided to write a sequel, short story, or novella about future Rory and Luca.
I listened to an advanced listener copy of But I Hate Him and thought the voice actor,
Joshua Waters, did a great job. He really brought each individual character to life. I am curious to listen to and watch other works this voice actor is featured in.
It’s been so long since I’ve listened to an audiobook that made me both vocally and physically react to what was happening. Kudos to Page Powars and Joshua Waters for making that happen!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
e-Arc + audiobook Review
i had such high expectations for this book and went into it expecting it to be one of my fav reads of the year based on the marketing and plot but unfortunately it fell short :(
what worked: i devoured this in one sitting because the audio narration was great! joshua did an amazing job portraying rory and luca. i really enjoyed the setting, the camp theme felt perfect for an end of summer read. the com of the romcom part of this book is where i think it really delivers, i found myself audibly laughing multiple times at rory’s poor attempts at wooing luca, his pretentiousness (esp the whole color palette thing) was hilarious to me. also, the chapter titles were so funny, i was always looking forward to the next one just to see what the author would come up with. the physics aspect of it was really entertaining which was an extremely pleasant surprise. and ofc, the queer rep was EVERYTHING!! i loved seeing gay, lesbian, and trans characters all being the forefront of the story ❤️🩹❤️🩹
what didn’t: pretty much everything else. i really wanted to read this book after seeing the author’s insta post quoting rory & luca:
“i’ll cut your throat”
“you’re beautiful”
(this scene does not happen btw, unbeknownst to me. i had to go back to the post after reading to make sure i wasn’t hallucinating)
so i was expecting a one-sided enemies to lovers rivalry arc with rory being threatening and antagonistic and luca loving every second of it. but rory is honestly just awkward and his supposed “hate” for luca is dulled by his guilt and remorse over even *thinking* of tricking him. the guilt would be fine and welcomed once he realized he was actually falling for luca, but it happening before anything even happens made the hate less believable. tldr i wanted rory to be meaner in the first half (i recognize this is an extremely unpopular opinion lol).
the pacing was another no for me, the fake “dating” plot doesn’t begin until 48% (as another reviewer mentioned, idk how that trope is used as the selling point considering it’s barely used) and the conflict is quickly resolved in the last chapter, leaving a big part of rory’s character arc unfinished. i think an epilogue was definitely needed. 😖
while the moments between rory and luca were really cute, i didn’t feel like there was enough for the romance to feel believable to me, especially on luca’s side. he’s apparently been in love with rory for years but hadn’t spoken a word to him? when the L word was dropped i felt more unsettled than happy because i felt it came out of nowhere, i genuinely gasped in surprise lmao. i think more time spent together or even luca flirting with him during competitions (and rory thinking he was mocking him) would’ve helped solidify their relationship.
side characters: unfortunately i found them all insufferable. it was driving me crazy that none of them were pulling their weight during projects, making rory do all the work, but they apparently all want to win the medal? and then they kept throwing rory under the bus, blaming him for everything which made me even more annoyed. lastly, the love triangle(?) was not needed.
i would still encourage people to read this and form a personal opinion as it was a fun read nonetheless! i was entertained all the way through. my favorite scenes hands down were in ch 15 & 16, i had a smile on my face the whole time.
i had such high expectations for this book and went into it expecting it to be one of my fav reads of the year based on the marketing and plot but unfortunately it fell short :(
what worked: i devoured this in one sitting because the audio narration was great! joshua did an amazing job portraying rory and luca. i really enjoyed the setting, the camp theme felt perfect for an end of summer read. the com of the romcom part of this book is where i think it really delivers, i found myself audibly laughing multiple times at rory’s poor attempts at wooing luca, his pretentiousness (esp the whole color palette thing) was hilarious to me. also, the chapter titles were so funny, i was always looking forward to the next one just to see what the author would come up with. the physics aspect of it was really entertaining which was an extremely pleasant surprise. and ofc, the queer rep was EVERYTHING!! i loved seeing gay, lesbian, and trans characters all being the forefront of the story ❤️🩹❤️🩹
what didn’t: pretty much everything else. i really wanted to read this book after seeing the author’s insta post quoting rory & luca:
“i’ll cut your throat”
“you’re beautiful”
(this scene does not happen btw, unbeknownst to me. i had to go back to the post after reading to make sure i wasn’t hallucinating)
so i was expecting a one-sided enemies to lovers rivalry arc with rory being threatening and antagonistic and luca loving every second of it. but rory is honestly just awkward and his supposed “hate” for luca is dulled by his guilt and remorse over even *thinking* of tricking him. the guilt would be fine and welcomed once he realized he was actually falling for luca, but it happening before anything even happens made the hate less believable. tldr i wanted rory to be meaner in the first half (i recognize this is an extremely unpopular opinion lol).
the pacing was another no for me, the fake “dating” plot doesn’t begin until 48% (as another reviewer mentioned, idk how that trope is used as the selling point considering it’s barely used) and the conflict is quickly resolved in the last chapter, leaving a big part of rory’s character arc unfinished. i think an epilogue was definitely needed. 😖
while the moments between rory and luca were really cute, i didn’t feel like there was enough for the romance to feel believable to me, especially on luca’s side. he’s apparently been in love with rory for years but hadn’t spoken a word to him? when the L word was dropped i felt more unsettled than happy because i felt it came out of nowhere, i genuinely gasped in surprise lmao. i think more time spent together or even luca flirting with him during competitions (and rory thinking he was mocking him) would’ve helped solidify their relationship.
side characters: unfortunately i found them all insufferable. it was driving me crazy that none of them were pulling their weight during projects, making rory do all the work, but they apparently all want to win the medal? and then they kept throwing rory under the bus, blaming him for everything which made me even more annoyed. lastly, the love triangle(?) was not needed.
i would still encourage people to read this and form a personal opinion as it was a fun read nonetheless! i was entertained all the way through. my favorite scenes hands down were in ch 15 & 16, i had a smile on my face the whole time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✎✧˚ Thank you to the author, Page Powars, and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
But I Hate Him by Page Powars is a lively and emotionally complex young adult romance that blends sharp humor with genuine coming-of-age depth. Set in a hyper-competitive academic summer camp, the novel follows Rory, a perfectionist student whose identity is tightly bound to achievement, and Luca, the effortlessly brilliant rival who constantly upends Rory’s carefully constructed world. What begins as a petty rivalry, fueled by jealousy, pressure, and one very public meltdown, evolves into a messy, heartfelt rivals-to-lovers story that is as entertaining as it is thoughtful.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its tone. Powars strikes a compelling balance between laugh-out-loud moments and intense stress. The camp setting, with its chaotic labs, pranks, and competitive atmosphere, creates a vibrant backdrop that feels immersive and fun while also heightening the stakes. It’s easy to imagine teen readers, especially high-achieving students, seeing themselves reflected in Rory’s spiraling anxiety and relentless drive to succeed.
Rory himself is not always easy to like – but that’s precisely what makes him compelling. He’s flawed, often misguided, and occasionally frustrating in his choices, yet those qualities feel deliberate. His tendency to misread situations and push himself too far under parental and academic pressure gives the story emotional weight. Luca, in contrast, brings a grounding presence. His dynamic with Rory is electric from the start, and the shift from antagonism to vulnerability is handled with care, making their connection feel genuine rather than rushed.
The romance is undoubtedly a highlight, but the novel doesn’t rely on it alone. Powars gives attention to friendships, rivalries, and family expectations, all of which contribute to Rory’s growth. The side characters, in particular, add charm and humor; many feel vivid enough to deserve their own stories. Another notable aspect is the book’s approach to identity. Rory’s trans identity is integrated naturally into the story – it informs his perspective but never defines him. Instead, the narrative focuses on broader themes of self-acceptance, agency, and disentangling one’s sense of worth from external expectations.
If there’s a drawback, it’s the pacing toward the end. After such a rich buildup, the conclusion can feel slightly abrupt, leaving us wishing for a glimpse into what comes next, especially given how much Rory grows over the course of the novel. Overall, But I Hate Him is a fun, messy, and honest read that delivers both rom-com energy and meaningful character development.
"They’re not giving me compliments or telling me why I deserve him. In fact, they’re dispensing soul-crushing insults. But they’re insults of who I used to be. I don’t have to fear what will happen once I shed my old self, because I already have. Now I’m Just Rory. The one who ripped apart a project board and who told his parents how exhausted he is."
But I Hate Him by Page Powars is a lively and emotionally complex young adult romance that blends sharp humor with genuine coming-of-age depth. Set in a hyper-competitive academic summer camp, the novel follows Rory, a perfectionist student whose identity is tightly bound to achievement, and Luca, the effortlessly brilliant rival who constantly upends Rory’s carefully constructed world. What begins as a petty rivalry, fueled by jealousy, pressure, and one very public meltdown, evolves into a messy, heartfelt rivals-to-lovers story that is as entertaining as it is thoughtful.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its tone. Powars strikes a compelling balance between laugh-out-loud moments and intense stress. The camp setting, with its chaotic labs, pranks, and competitive atmosphere, creates a vibrant backdrop that feels immersive and fun while also heightening the stakes. It’s easy to imagine teen readers, especially high-achieving students, seeing themselves reflected in Rory’s spiraling anxiety and relentless drive to succeed.
Rory himself is not always easy to like – but that’s precisely what makes him compelling. He’s flawed, often misguided, and occasionally frustrating in his choices, yet those qualities feel deliberate. His tendency to misread situations and push himself too far under parental and academic pressure gives the story emotional weight. Luca, in contrast, brings a grounding presence. His dynamic with Rory is electric from the start, and the shift from antagonism to vulnerability is handled with care, making their connection feel genuine rather than rushed.
The romance is undoubtedly a highlight, but the novel doesn’t rely on it alone. Powars gives attention to friendships, rivalries, and family expectations, all of which contribute to Rory’s growth. The side characters, in particular, add charm and humor; many feel vivid enough to deserve their own stories. Another notable aspect is the book’s approach to identity. Rory’s trans identity is integrated naturally into the story – it informs his perspective but never defines him. Instead, the narrative focuses on broader themes of self-acceptance, agency, and disentangling one’s sense of worth from external expectations.
If there’s a drawback, it’s the pacing toward the end. After such a rich buildup, the conclusion can feel slightly abrupt, leaving us wishing for a glimpse into what comes next, especially given how much Rory grows over the course of the novel. Overall, But I Hate Him is a fun, messy, and honest read that delivers both rom-com energy and meaningful character development.
"They’re not giving me compliments or telling me why I deserve him. In fact, they’re dispensing soul-crushing insults. But they’re insults of who I used to be. I don’t have to fear what will happen once I shed my old self, because I already have. Now I’m Just Rory. The one who ripped apart a project board and who told his parents how exhausted he is."
July 28, 2026
I read this in less than a day and I LOVED it.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, romance is better when it's in a single POV. I found Rory to be an authentic representation of a high-achieving student who will resonate with YA readers. He's flawed, he makes mistakes, he's selfish at times, but he's also doing his best to cope with intense pressure to be the perfect representative of his parent's company. While I adore Luca, I am so glad that we get this story entirely from Rory's POV because it allows the reader to see how this pressure leads to actions that often time hurt others. He makes me cringe so many times during this book (Rory is a teenager, after all), but that's also what makes him feel so real. Rory may claim that Luca is oblivious to how he makes others feel, but so is Rory. So are most teens, if we're being honest. It also increases the impact of the lessons Rory learns as he confronts his privilege, tries to fix his mistakes, and figures out what he really wants out of life. The book is a powerful examination of how a person's flaws can lead them to make bad decisions, while still being a good person who means well.
The balance between the plot and the romance really worked for me. Often in these types a book, so much of the plot happens off page in order to give time to the relationship, but in this instance, the relationship is built through the plot. We get what we need to get out of the camp challenges to make the stakes just as important there as they are in the relationship. It helps strengthen Rory's motivation to succeed and explains why he's willing to go to the lengths that he does to win. I think it's also important that the side characters, like the other campers in Rory's group, are well developed with personalities and motivations of their own. There's nothing worse than a bunch of two dimensional supporting characters.
Now onto Luca. I would die for this adorable ball of sunshine. His chemistry with Rory is something you can feel almost right away. I really actually liked that the rivalry was one-sided on Rory's part. I learned a lot about myself reading this book, mainly that I love one-sided rivalry to lovers trope (more so than regular rivals to lovers). It works really well in this book, especially when you look the differences in personality, motivation, and external pressure facing Luca and Rory. Ultimately, I found myself really rooting for these two and kicking my feet in giddiness every time they interacted. I felt so much while reading this, especially that sweet, sweet aching in the chest that always means I'm reading a great love story.
I really loved the audio for this book. The narrator's tone really matched Rory's personality and each character had a distinct voice that made it easy to follow along with who's speaking.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this advanced reader copy.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, romance is better when it's in a single POV. I found Rory to be an authentic representation of a high-achieving student who will resonate with YA readers. He's flawed, he makes mistakes, he's selfish at times, but he's also doing his best to cope with intense pressure to be the perfect representative of his parent's company. While I adore Luca, I am so glad that we get this story entirely from Rory's POV because it allows the reader to see how this pressure leads to actions that often time hurt others. He makes me cringe so many times during this book (Rory is a teenager, after all), but that's also what makes him feel so real. Rory may claim that Luca is oblivious to how he makes others feel, but so is Rory. So are most teens, if we're being honest. It also increases the impact of the lessons Rory learns as he confronts his privilege, tries to fix his mistakes, and figures out what he really wants out of life. The book is a powerful examination of how a person's flaws can lead them to make bad decisions, while still being a good person who means well.
The balance between the plot and the romance really worked for me. Often in these types a book, so much of the plot happens off page in order to give time to the relationship, but in this instance, the relationship is built through the plot. We get what we need to get out of the camp challenges to make the stakes just as important there as they are in the relationship. It helps strengthen Rory's motivation to succeed and explains why he's willing to go to the lengths that he does to win. I think it's also important that the side characters, like the other campers in Rory's group, are well developed with personalities and motivations of their own. There's nothing worse than a bunch of two dimensional supporting characters.
Now onto Luca. I would die for this adorable ball of sunshine. His chemistry with Rory is something you can feel almost right away. I really actually liked that the rivalry was one-sided on Rory's part. I learned a lot about myself reading this book, mainly that I love one-sided rivalry to lovers trope (more so than regular rivals to lovers). It works really well in this book, especially when you look the differences in personality, motivation, and external pressure facing Luca and Rory. Ultimately, I found myself really rooting for these two and kicking my feet in giddiness every time they interacted. I felt so much while reading this, especially that sweet, sweet aching in the chest that always means I'm reading a great love story.
I really loved the audio for this book. The narrator's tone really matched Rory's personality and each character had a distinct voice that made it easy to follow along with who's speaking.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC!!!
overall I think I had fun with it. The writing style is incredibly fun and entertaining to read. Rory is.... sigh. Hes so obnoxious in the funniest way to read, sometimes. And sometimes I want to shake him by his shoulders because hes so so smart. and also the *dumbest* teenager alive
Like actually get this kid a Xanax prescription and a 6 month vacation away from his overbearing parents. He's so high strung and concerned with how he is perceived he cant even see how he is *actually* being perceived. and thats as a neurotic know it all who is trying to micromanage everything and everyone LOL
Hes so convinced hes in this rivalry with Luca and that everything out of Luca's mouth is some snide remark about his intelligence- meanwhile Luca is here having fun and is genuinely just being a really nice guy. also is it reeeeeaaaallllyyyyyy fair to call it a "rivalry" when Luca beat him 30+ times without trying and the entire rivalry is in Rorys head 😂
I wish we had more relationship build up between Rory and Luca and saw more of them together. They were really cute when Rory stopped being so obnoxious. But also Luca baby you deserve better than Rory I am SO sorry 💀
I also wish we saw more actual consequences for the FIRE???? How do you accidentally commit arson and NOTHING come from that????
my biggest criticism of this book is the lesbians. why. are. we. always. portrayed. like. this. by. nonlesbians.
We find out Christina and Jade are lesbians/sapphics because they made out affer drinking at a party in front of everyone of course and then chaos ensues and they get into a fight and there's threats and yelling and crying involved and then the competition the next day? why of course they're not willing to work together. they cant put aside their feelings to get the job done while the two boys are able to do so. ugh.
and then they get together off screen and suddenly now Jade is the big bad mean lesbian who protects her shy girlfriend and yells at people and throws things at camp counselors. I am. unimpressed.
The only two sapphic girls present in the book and they're super emotional and one of them is hostile. a mean lesbian? nooooo. im shocked I tell you. shocked! whatever.
anyways. I wish we had more scenes with Luca and Rory. Rory is so stuck in his head Luca had to spell it out for him that he needs the scholarship money to go to college. Rory didn't pick up on that when Luca said he was being raised by a single mom and helped take care of his siblings. Like i get teenagers can be self centered but damn 💀 i just didnt relate considering i grew up in similar circumstances with Luca lmaooo. Justice for Luca he needs a better boyfriend 😂🤣 but at least I guess Rory helped him solve his hockey problems in the end
overall I think I had fun with it. The writing style is incredibly fun and entertaining to read. Rory is.... sigh. Hes so obnoxious in the funniest way to read, sometimes. And sometimes I want to shake him by his shoulders because hes so so smart. and also the *dumbest* teenager alive
Like actually get this kid a Xanax prescription and a 6 month vacation away from his overbearing parents. He's so high strung and concerned with how he is perceived he cant even see how he is *actually* being perceived. and thats as a neurotic know it all who is trying to micromanage everything and everyone LOL
Hes so convinced hes in this rivalry with Luca and that everything out of Luca's mouth is some snide remark about his intelligence- meanwhile Luca is here having fun and is genuinely just being a really nice guy. also is it reeeeeaaaallllyyyyyy fair to call it a "rivalry" when Luca beat him 30+ times without trying and the entire rivalry is in Rorys head 😂
I wish we had more relationship build up between Rory and Luca and saw more of them together. They were really cute when Rory stopped being so obnoxious. But also Luca baby you deserve better than Rory I am SO sorry 💀
I also wish we saw more actual consequences for the FIRE???? How do you accidentally commit arson and NOTHING come from that????
my biggest criticism of this book is the lesbians. why. are. we. always. portrayed. like. this. by. nonlesbians.
We find out Christina and Jade are lesbians/sapphics because they made out affer drinking at a party in front of everyone of course and then chaos ensues and they get into a fight and there's threats and yelling and crying involved and then the competition the next day? why of course they're not willing to work together. they cant put aside their feelings to get the job done while the two boys are able to do so. ugh.
and then they get together off screen and suddenly now Jade is the big bad mean lesbian who protects her shy girlfriend and yells at people and throws things at camp counselors. I am. unimpressed.
The only two sapphic girls present in the book and they're super emotional and one of them is hostile. a mean lesbian? nooooo. im shocked I tell you. shocked! whatever.
anyways. I wish we had more scenes with Luca and Rory. Rory is so stuck in his head Luca had to spell it out for him that he needs the scholarship money to go to college. Rory didn't pick up on that when Luca said he was being raised by a single mom and helped take care of his siblings. Like i get teenagers can be self centered but damn 💀 i just didnt relate considering i grew up in similar circumstances with Luca lmaooo. Justice for Luca he needs a better boyfriend 😂🤣 but at least I guess Rory helped him solve his hockey problems in the end
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC copy of But I Hate Him audiobook!
Rory Prince has always done his best for every academic competition, but its never enough against Luca Melendez who always seems to beat him, every single time. After one such competition where Rory fails yet again he can't help it when he picks up a smoothie and throws it at Luca's head, leading to a PR disaster that could ruin his parents tutoring company and his own chances at getting into any Ivy Leage schools. As a last-ditch effort Rorys parents send him to BRAIN, an academic summer camp that could give him the win he finally needs to make his parents proud. Until Rory arrives and realizes Luca is there too. The two must compete academically all summer long and Rory decides to try to make Luca fall in love with him as a distraction, only to dump him before the final competition, in the hopes of winning the prize himself. But as the weeks go by, and Rory spends more time with Luca, he’s seeing a different version of the boy he’s always hated.
I loved Page Powars other book "And They Were Roommates" and was so excited to pick this one up! I had so much fun with this book and just ate it up in a day! I love all the characters we meet throughout the story as they all feel like realistic people. I also loved the background of an academic rivalry and the cutthroat competition of trying to get into a good college and follow your dreams. I think the romance between Rory and Luca was also hilarious in the way neither could fully read what the others feelings were. I think Rory had some real growth in his attitude not only towards Luca and the other members of the camp, but also himself and what kind of future he wants. It was an emotional story dealing not only with young love, but friendship, family, dreams, and being true to yourself even if it hurts.
The only downside to the story is that Rory has a very skewed vision of himself and those around him. He believes Luca is trying to sabotage or make fun of him when Luca is just being nice or even flirting. It makes it hard to root for him when he blames his behaviors on those around him because he perceives them as all working against him. He grows at the end to wanting to help others, and especially Luca, but by that time it’s too late. That feels like an immature attitude to have for a 17-year-old and I wish there was more consequences for Rorys parents pushing that mentality and behavior on him so young. I also wish there were more consequences in general for his parents because even after Rory stood up for himself and stated his feelings he’s still dismissed by him mother and not stood up for by his father. I would have loved to see a future epilogue of Rory and Luca as well beyond their summer camp rivalry!
I really enjoyed this read and will be keeping an eye out for more by Page Powars!
Rory Prince has always done his best for every academic competition, but its never enough against Luca Melendez who always seems to beat him, every single time. After one such competition where Rory fails yet again he can't help it when he picks up a smoothie and throws it at Luca's head, leading to a PR disaster that could ruin his parents tutoring company and his own chances at getting into any Ivy Leage schools. As a last-ditch effort Rorys parents send him to BRAIN, an academic summer camp that could give him the win he finally needs to make his parents proud. Until Rory arrives and realizes Luca is there too. The two must compete academically all summer long and Rory decides to try to make Luca fall in love with him as a distraction, only to dump him before the final competition, in the hopes of winning the prize himself. But as the weeks go by, and Rory spends more time with Luca, he’s seeing a different version of the boy he’s always hated.
I loved Page Powars other book "And They Were Roommates" and was so excited to pick this one up! I had so much fun with this book and just ate it up in a day! I love all the characters we meet throughout the story as they all feel like realistic people. I also loved the background of an academic rivalry and the cutthroat competition of trying to get into a good college and follow your dreams. I think the romance between Rory and Luca was also hilarious in the way neither could fully read what the others feelings were. I think Rory had some real growth in his attitude not only towards Luca and the other members of the camp, but also himself and what kind of future he wants. It was an emotional story dealing not only with young love, but friendship, family, dreams, and being true to yourself even if it hurts.
The only downside to the story is that Rory has a very skewed vision of himself and those around him. He believes Luca is trying to sabotage or make fun of him when Luca is just being nice or even flirting. It makes it hard to root for him when he blames his behaviors on those around him because he perceives them as all working against him. He grows at the end to wanting to help others, and especially Luca, but by that time it’s too late. That feels like an immature attitude to have for a 17-year-old and I wish there was more consequences for Rorys parents pushing that mentality and behavior on him so young. I also wish there were more consequences in general for his parents because even after Rory stood up for himself and stated his feelings he’s still dismissed by him mother and not stood up for by his father. I would have loved to see a future epilogue of Rory and Luca as well beyond their summer camp rivalry!
I really enjoyed this read and will be keeping an eye out for more by Page Powars!
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