Hate and Other Acts of Fiction

by Megan Oliver

Former lovers turned rival tour guides must join forces to overcome scandal—in this steamy second-chance romance from the author of Secret Nights and Northern Lights.

Sadie Stockton has the almost-perfect job leading tours through the former home of her favorite author, the enigmatic recluse Hazel Wilmont. But when the owners of the Wilmont House announce plans to increase the estate’s revenue by hosting an overnight murder mystery set in a cocktail lounge, Sadie is less than thrilled. Yet again, Hazel’s legacy is being tarnished by the fictitious, decades-old rumors she poisoned her husband(s).

Worse? The new tour will mean working with none other than Ryan Pearson—local mixologist, owner of Pearson’s Pub Crawls, and Sadie’s long-standing professional rival and personal regret. She can’t stand him. Or his smug grin. Or his boastful T-shirt declaring his pub crawl the city’s number-one rated tour. And no, she doesn’t still think about their short-lived, meaningless college fling. Ever.

With a potential promotion on the line, Sadie must play nice with Ryan in order to make the “Mixtures & Murder” tour a success. But over late nights and cocktail tastings, all clues indicate a reigniting attraction between the two. And as new discoveries at the mansion unfold, Sadie is forced to confront her own narratives about Ryan, about Hazel, and about the past she’s tried for years to bury.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers

432 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

Megan Oliver is a writer, an avid romance reader, and a travel enthusiast whose vacation mishaps provide plenty of inspiration for her characters on page. She lives with her husband, two dogs who refuse to cuddle as much as she’d prefer, and a cat who barely tolerates the presence of any and all above. Secret Nights and Northern Lights is her debut novel.

Reviews

[fromthestudyof]

murder mystery party hosted by two people who are pretending they don’t want to rip each other’s clothes off

things to note:
- rivals to lovers
- seems chance romance
- forced proximity
- get locked in a closet AND elevator
- he’s down badddd
- she’s got abandonment issues

this was really really cute. and also - weirdly enough - not the first book about rival tour guides falling in love that I’ve read this month???

4.5 stars

[Katie Naymon]

Another banger from Megan Oliver! I loved her debut, and I was SEATED for this one - the cover? The title? The vibes??? I loved it! This was truly VERY hot - the tension! The elevator scene! All the delicious forced proximity and eventual spice? So good. It's also a story about complex families and divorce - and readers who appreciate high character growth, complex FMCs, and a delectable will-they-won't-they will love this one as much as I did.

[chelseabrookelikesbooks]

I’ve noticed a lot of the early reviews are calling Sadie “immature” or saying she’s “terrible at communicating,” and respectfully… I don’t think we read the same book.

Did you read the words, or did you actually read Sadie?

So much of who she is comes from childhood trauma. Her fear of abandonment has shaped the way she handles relationships, conflict, and vulnerability. Of course she struggles to communicate. She was never taught how. Of course she pushes people away. She’s terrified of getting hurt first.

None of that felt random or frustrating to me because the book takes the time to show you why she is the way she is. Her flaws weren’t there just to create drama. They were the story.

If you’ve experienced childhood trauma yourself, I think Sadie is going to hit very differently. I saw a woman who was messy, guarded, scared, and trying to rewrite the narratives she’d carried around for years.

And honestly… I loved that. Characters don’t have to be perfect to be well written. Sometimes they’re supposed to make you uncomfortable because healing is uncomfortable too.

I also had so much fun with the murder mystery element! The tours through the mansion, the clues sprinkled throughout, the mystery surrounding Hazel, and trying to piece everything together made this such a fun read. It added the perfect amount of intrigue alongside the romance and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next.

This one ended up being so much deeper than I expected. Come for the second-chance romance, stay for the mystery, and leave with a story about healing, trust, and realizing your past doesn’t have to define your future. 💜

Thank you so much to Berkley, NetGalley, and Megan Oliver for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Madison (madinotmaddiereads)]

Thanks so much to Berkley romance for a digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌

This was DARLING! So much fun and had so many facets that worked so well together! With its Georgia setting (assuming Savannah inspired!), this felt like a true homage to the peach state (my home!) and read in such a charming way, I think fellow Georgians (and southern state dwellers in general) will be really happy with how southern culture is being repped in Hate and Other Acts of Fiction.

Our FMC Sadie is a tour guide at a historic manor of a famous children’s author and works hard to shine a light on Hazel’s beloved stories and further steer away from the public speculation surrounding Hazel’s husband’s untimely death. Due to its mysterious air and the promise of more cash flow, the owners thrust Sadie into a new murder mystery role play program that leans into this false narrative of her childhood hero and Sadie finds herself along for the tumultuous ride (with the dangling prize of a promotion in the future) and partnered with her estranged college fling, Ryan.

The banter between these two could easily rival that of Mia and Nicholas in Princess Diaries 2 (“I loathe you. I loathe you!” *kiss lol) and I think a lot of people will be able to see themselves in Sadie’s character and find a sense of comfort in how she navigates her family dynamics. Coming from a divided household myself, I could resonate a lot with the way Sadie’s brain works and the tendency to lash out at sudden newness in a routine that has kept difficult things to process at bay. I loved how Ryan stepped in to support but also appreciated the author’s decision to highlight Sadie’s journey to therapy and not have these characters fall into what could have easily been a codependent relationship. Yay for therapy!

Anyway I’ll be thinking about “Tell me to stop” anytime I see this book 🫦 Our boy, Ryan is a massive FLIRT and we love that for him…and for her obvi 😜

[Laurensliterarylair]

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Megan Oliver, and Berkeley for the ARC of this book!! WOW WOW WOW Megan absolutely knocked this book out of the fricking park!! I absolutely loved Megan’s debut but this one was absolutely incredible.

First of all the plot was so fun to read. I loved the setting where both characters are tour guides for competing businesses. Sadie Runs the tours for a local mansion that tells the story of an author whose stories are deeply significant and important to Sadie and her childhood. Ryan runs a beer crawl and does his best to help make his business thrive all on his own. It starts with them very much disliking each other, mostly from Sadie’s end, but as they work together to help with a new event where Sadie works they are thrust together to make the event successful. Sadie and Ryan both have something to prove!

This plot was literally so fun to read and I adored watching them plan it together while also learning more about the historical mansion that Sadie works in! I did want to yell at Sadie to take a break though because the poor girl was so overworked and didn’t recognize people trying to help her versus people thinking she was unprofessional. The poor girl felt like she needed to run herself ragged and every time someone looked out for her like sending her home early she thought she did something wrong. This broke my heart!! Her trauma was very much associated with her need to never let anyone down and I can relate to that so heavily. I think Sadie is incredibly mature and independent for someone who has had to cope with so much!

Also the character arcs were elite. The trauma that Sadie experienced as a child and how it affected her adult life made a lot of sense. I thought this was done really well and I really enjoyed watching Sadie become vulnerable and open up. It was so sweet to see her open her heart up. I also loved Ryan’s character who we hated at first but realized he was actually such a sweetheart, super patient, and had his own battles to overcome.

Please please I beg you to read this book because it was so so good. Highly recommend!

[cara ☾]

Sadie Stockton gives tours of her favorite author, Hazel Wilmont’s, historic home. Her former college fling and current rival, Ryan hosts a pub crawl in the same town. Now they both must work together to run a murder and mystery tour at the Wilmont House. Even though she can’t stand him the chemistry between them is still there.

I did like Sadie, she did however have her moments where I not of a fan of how she acted and got aggravated. However I did sympathize with her knowing it all stemmed from trauma. I really liked Ryan and i’m sad we didn’t get his perspective as I feel that really would’ve added to the story. I feel like that really would have made me connect with the couple more. It just felt like something was missing, it would have been nice to see moments of him and his sister/family from his perspective. I did like them as a couple they were cute but again I wish we got more.

The side characters were all very likable (Eric, Simon and Charity) and I loved getting to see their moments and fun banter. Between them, the mystery and the setting I found myself entertained. It didn’t completely sweep me off my feet but I still enjoyed and had fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Madisyn Ferguson]

HATE AND OTHER ACTS OF FICTION (ARC) | ★★★★☆.75 | KINDLE


hate and other acts of fiction by megan oliver was an incredible novel that was full of whimsy, mystery, and healing through trauma.

sadie stockton is in a role where she feels successful. working as a historic tour guide in hazel wilmont’s house was a dream come true. hazel’s stories were an essential part of sadie’s childhood as a way to cope through the household trauma she suffered through with her parents' marriage.

and though sadie doesn’t believe she has been affected. it’s clear her trust is not easily come by.

when the owners of the wilmont house decide they want to run a trial program of a murder and mystery tour. sadie is put at the forefront, but alongside her she will be working with the man she hates most.

ryan pearson.

not only is ryan’s pub crawl tour in the number one spot, overtaking sadie’s historical tour. they also happen to have a past. a past that sadie doesn’t like to revisit. but one that leads more to the truth than she realizes.


when i say that this book was everything and more. i mean it. the way the story was interwoven with the past events was perfect. it explained sadie’s character and why she acted the way she did. does she get on your nerves for the choices she makes? absolutely. but, at the same time her past traumas give us insights as the reader why she is the way she is. honestly, my heart broke for sadie the whole time. you could tell she just wanted to have genuine friendships and feelings but because of her complicated past she pushed everything away. as if that would be easier to deal with than the real thing in front of her.

ryan and sadie’s relationships was dynamic and pulling. the way he yearned and bantered with her just made ryan that much more hot -- and god do i mean HOT! but, ryan was also complex and his history isn’t all what is the truth but rather under false pretenses of sadie’s beliefs. which is interesting to look at when you see the interconnected story of hazel wilmont and the rumours that sit with her.

i loved the spice, it was fun, it was sexy, it was just downright a good time. plus, ryan the man that you are. GOOD GOD DAMN.

this story was intertwined with so much richness and history within the past and the present. I loved the way we were given insight to the characters, their histories, and how they had to rediscover themselves. this was a fantastic read and one i will definitely be getting as a trophy copy because i need ryan pearson for the rest of my life.

thank you @meganoliverbooks , @netgalley , and @berkleypub for the opportunity to read this e-arc!

keep your eyes out for this tantalizing book, it drops 11-10-26.

[Jodi Schulz]

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I really hate when I love an authors first book and the second book isn’t as good and this keeps happening more and more. I loved this author’s first book, I picked it up on a lark at the library, and I had such a hard time getting into this. The characters needlessly fought over nothing and the plot was not that good.

[Anna (annasbookstacks)]

3.5 ★

[Kelsey]

When I talk about wanting a novel that has a little bit of everything? This is what I mean. Megan Oliver crafted a novel that felt like it was written specifically for me - honestly, not much higher praise I can give than that. But I’ll try.

This was a second chance romance (my favorite) written in single POV (another favorite element of mine for romance books) and done in third person (not my favorite unless it’s done well, and this was done very well - it felt so natural and effortless). Every single character, from our FMC Sadie, to our MMC Ryan, to our supporting characters were so well fleshed out and developed. Each character was just so immediately clear to me, they just instantly felt real and I didn’t have to work to picture them in my mind. I was immersed in their story from the get go.

Sadie specifically was such a messy but absolutely lovable character. She experienced so much growth through the course of the novel and the author did a fantastic job of making sure us readers understood her so well. If anyone who has experience childhood trauma, only to get into their 20s (or 30s and 40s) without realizing how much that trauma affected them, until it came boiling over and they finally decided they needed to go to therapy to work through it? Then you should easily be able to connect with Sadie as she goes through these motions herself. I saw myself in Sadie in so many ways even though our stories were different; our shared feelings of neglect, abandonment, and not being able to trust easily were so similar. I felt so seen reading her story of healing and acceptance. I would be remiss not to mention how much I adored our MMC, Ryan, and how much I loved how down bad he was for Sadie. Their chemistry together was insane. Simon, Eric, and Charity were great supporting characters too.

The other part of the story that just made this novel an absolute blast to read was the location and murder mystery element. As someone who has been on several walking ghost tours in the South (specifically New Orleans), Sutton Island and the Wilmont Mansion were so atmospheric and gave so much good energy to the entire novel. It was giving New Orleans, but make it small town. The mystery of the novel about Hazel and her husbands was interspersed perfectly and minimally throughout the novel and kept the intrigue just enough. The murder mystery really allowed for some fun moments to come through and the mystery really helped push Sadie’s story forward.

I loved this book and these characters and this world so much that I immediately went and preordered a copy through the authors preorder campaign. And a moment for the cover? It’s superb and perfectly fitting for this story.

Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

[WSY]

*AN ADVANCED READERS COPY REVIEW*

=> Childhood Trauma & Healing
=> Second-Chance Romance & Vulnerability
=> Mystery & Murder
=> Trust & Abandonment
=> Contemporary Romance

💜 Megan Oliver absolutely knocked this one out of the fricking park. I loved her debut, but this one somehow managed to be even better. At first glance, it’s a second-chance romance wrapped up in a fun mystery, but underneath all of that is a much deeper story about trauma, trust, abandonment, and learning to let people care about you.

📖 I’ve seen some early reviews calling Sadie “immature” or saying she’s terrible at communicating, and respectfully… I don’t think we read the same book. So much of Sadie’s behavior is rooted in her childhood trauma, especially her fear of abandonment and her constant need to never let anyone down. She overworks herself, struggles to accept help, pushes people away, and has a hard time being vulnerable because she was never really taught how to feel safe doing those things. None of that felt random or frustrating to me because the book actually takes the time to show you why she is the way she is.

💗 I really loved Sadie’s character arc. Her flaws weren’t just there to create unnecessary relationship drama. They were the story. Watching her slowly recognize the narratives she had carried with her for years and begin to open herself up was one of my favorite parts of the book. I actually found her incredibly resilient and independent considering everything she had been through. Characters don’t have to be perfect to be well written, and sometimes watching someone struggle is far more meaningful than watching them make all the “right” choices.

🍻 I also had SO much fun with the actual plot. Sadie works as a tour guide at a historic mansion connected to an author whose stories are deeply meaningful to her, while Ryan runs a competing beer crawl business. They start off very much disliking each other, mostly thanks to Sadie, but when they’re forced to work together on a new event, they have to put all of that aside and make it work. I loved watching them plan the event together while slowly learning more about the mansion, its history, and each other. The poor girl was also working herself into the ground, and every time someone tried to help her, she assumed she had done something wrong. My heart was breaking for her.

🔎 And the mystery element was such a fun surprise! The mansion, the clues scattered throughout, the mystery surrounding Hazel, and trying to piece everything together kept me completely invested. It added exactly the right amount of intrigue without taking away from the romance, and I genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen next.

⭐ Ryan also grew on me so much. We’re introduced to him in a way that makes it very easy to dislike him, but he slowly turns into such a sweetheart. He’s patient with Sadie, has his own struggles to work through, and I loved watching both of them learn how to become more vulnerable with each other. Their relationship worked especially well because neither character was simply there to “fix” the other. They both had their own baggage, and they had to work through it themselves.

⭐ This ended up being so much deeper than I expected. The romance was fun, the mystery kept me turning pages, and Sadie’s journey toward healing gave the story an emotional core I really appreciated. I did occasionally want to scream at Sadie to PLEASE take a fucking break, but apparently fictional women are not allowed to rest until they have resolved every emotional wound known to humanity. 😂 Overall, this was a heartfelt, entertaining read about healing, trust, and realizing that your past doesn’t have to define your future. 4 stars. 💜

[Karolina Reads]

This book was such a fun little surprise. I came here for the romance, but the author said “Why not add a haunted mansion vibe, a murder mystery tour, cocktails, chaos and two people who absolutely refuse to admit they still care about each other?” honestly… I support the drama.

The tension between Sadie and Ryan was EVERYTHING. Their banter had that perfect “I cannot stand you… why are you making me laugh?” energy. I loved watching them challenge each other, push each other’s buttons and slowly unpack all the things they thought they knew about their past. The chemistry was there from the beginning, but the emotional side of their relationship made it even better. I understood Sadie’s fears, her walls and the way she protected herself all came from somewhere. I appreciated that the story didn’t make her struggles disappear overnight. Watching her learn to trust, open up and let people in felt like an actual journey.

And Ryan? I loved him. He brought such a steady, warm energy into Sadie’s chaotic little world. The patience he had with her and the way he saw through her defenses made me smile so much. He wasn’t trying to “fix” her… he was just someone who made her feel safe enough to start figuring things out herself. The mystery element was such a fun addition too. The Wilmont House setting, the rumors surrounding Hazel and the murder mystery tours gave the story a cozy, slightly dramatic atmosphere that made me want to grab a fancy drink and pretend I was solving clues.

I also really enjoyed the side characters. Simon and Eric brought some much needed humor and the friendships gave the story that extra cozy feeling. It wasn’t just about Sadie and Ryan finding their way back to each other, it was also about finding your people and realizing you don’t have to carry everything alone. If I had one small complaint, it would be that some moments felt like they could have moved a little faster, but overall, I had such a good time with this book. It was funny, charming, emotional and had just enough mystery to make it stand out from other contemporary romances.

Final thoughts:
A second chance romance with rivals, forced proximity, a historic mansion, cocktails and murder mystery vibes? Yes, please. This was like a cozy vacation I didn’t have to pack for and I’m not mad about it. If you love romances where the characters have history, unresolved feelings and enough banter to keep you entertained, definitely add this one to your list.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and Megan Oliver for allowing me to read this eARC before its release through NetGalley. Hate and Other Acts of Fiction releases on November 10, 2026.

[Madison]

4 ☆

The cover drew me in, the premise intrigued me, and the reading experience hit all the right marks for me. This was my first Megan Oliver book and it made for such a fresh and unique reading experience that I now cannot wait to get my hands on her debut novel.

Following Sadie and Ryan, who share a complicated past, and are now thrusted together to run a murder mystery night combing his bartending/mixing skills and her knowledge of the famous children's authors home that it's taking place in makes for all the excitement, tension and feelings. I honestly fell in love with the storyline so quickly that it was hard for me to put down. The plot and setting were unlike any other romance I read so it easily stuck out for me. I read a lot of books that can be emotional, swoon-worthy, entertaining and/or healing but I honestly don't know the last time I read a book that was fun. That doesn't go without saying this book lacked any of those traits, because it didn't, but I just yearned to immerse myself back in the story because I was having such a delight.

Sadie and Ryan were a whirlwind of a pair to read about. Together they were a force and the way Ryan was simply so down bad for her from the very beginning had me laughing and clutching this book dearly. He really has the golden retriever infectious energy that made you root for him from page one. Where Ryan is soft and gentle, Sadie is protective and blunt. They really were opposites attract in the best way and showed up in times the way the other couldn't in moments of struggle and heartache.

My one apprehension with the book boils down to Sadie. I really did enjoy her character and connected deeply with also finding solace in the pages of books and stories that carried us through hard moments. What I struggled with was how she would let her fears dictate how she handled relationship with others. I one hundred percent understand and empathize with Sadie having a complicated childhood that made her extremely guarded and unforgiving, there were moments that her past trauma projected those fears under the guise of being mean and was far out of line. There were times the actions couldn't be justified. By the end of the book though, she took accountability for her actions and chose the route of healing to take steps dismantling those fears, and that's why I really only doxed a star. There is nothing harder than confronting those fears head on and making the choice to work through them. She was a character that you grew to love through it all.

This will definitely be a book I will revisit and recommend!

[Peyton Smuzeski]

E-ARC received through NetGalley.

Rival tour guides, a mystery, forced proximity, and a sprinkle of complicated pasts drew me into this story. I’m not usually big on second-chance romances, but this book did it well and definitely has me reconsidering that stance.

If you like some humor and daddy issues, these characters are the ones for you!

-main characters-

Sadie: I really really wanted to love Sadie. She’s an overthinker, and funny, and has the most relatable attachment issues I’ve ever seen a character have. Her flaws are well-written, as were her choices, but I simply wish there was more to her. The whole story, it just felt as though she lacked a depth that made her lovable. She’s definitely likable, and I enjoyed her perspective, but she wasn’t my pull to keep reading.

Ryan: Believe it or not, I liked Ryan more than Sadie. Considerate, witty, and honest, he was a nice male protagonist. He has his own flaws of course, but never made any irredeemable mistakes. One of my favorite scenes actually involves him confronting (…kinda) his past. However, yet again, he didn’t have a magnetic pull for me. There was simply nothing too special for me.

Overall, likable characters who have good dimension.

-Plot-

To start, my least favorite subplot: the weird mystery with the discoveries at the mansion.

Frankly, this subplot could’ve been written out and replaced. Though the mansion and Hazel are incredibly important, this mystery felt very randomly thrown in. It seemed like the characters themselves didn’t even care about it most of the time.

My favorite part of the plot was actually the murder mystery tour. I found myself extremely invested in if it went alright, and how the characters would pull it off. I’m glad this was very fleshed out and detailed, because it definitely was the reason I kept reading!

As for the romance itself, it was sweet. Because I didn’t connect with the characters much, I wasn’t too invested in the romance aspect. They had quite a bit of back-and-forth, and their banter was good, but I didn’t feel any electric spark between them.

There was a good bit of physical intimacy, but my favorite parts of the romance was when I was able to see how much they cared outside of that and how much they knew each other. I wish there were more moments around that for sure!

If you’re looking for a light romance with a unique tour-based spin, I’d suggest picking up this book.

[Brittney]

Hate and Other Acts of Fiction • Megan Oliver

One phrase: rival tour guides and murder mystery tension 🍸🔍

I ate this up.

Hate and Other Acts of Fiction is exactly the kind of romcom setup I love because it has such a fun, specific backdrop. Rival tour guides. A historic mansion. Pub crawls. Cocktail tastings. A murder mystery tour. Former lovers forced to work together.

Perfection.

Sadie has her dream job leading tours through the former home of her favorite author, Hazel Wilmont, and she is very protective of Hazel’s legacy. So when the estate decides to increase revenue with an overnight murder mystery cocktail lounge tour based around old rumors that Hazel poisoned her husbands, Sadie is less than thrilled.

Even worse?

She has to work with Ryan Pearson.

Local mixologist. Pub crawl owner. Professional rival. College fling. Personal regret. Smug grin included.

Naturally, she cannot stand him.

Naturally, the chemistry is still there.

I loved the banter between Sadie and Ryan. It had just the right amount of tension, competitiveness, and “we absolutely do not still think about each other” energy. Their dynamic never felt boring or rushed, and I really liked watching them slowly confront the stories they had been telling themselves about each other and the past.

The setting made this so fun too. I love romcoms with interesting jobs and cozy little worlds, and this one delivered. The mansion, the mystery tour, the cocktail angle, and the literary history all gave the romance such a charming backdrop.

The side characters were great too, and I fully support Simon getting a bonus POV chapter because I need it.

✨ Tropes and vibes:
🍸 rival tour guides
🔍 murder mystery tour
🏛 historic mansion setting
💞 second chance romance
📚 literary history
🔥 former lovers
💬 banter and chemistry
🍹 cocktail tastings
👀 professional rivals
🕯 cozy mystery vibes
😂 fun side characters
💛 romcom with a twist

📚 Read this if you like:
Second chance romcoms, professional rivals, unique small business settings, literary mansions, murder mystery vibes, cocktail tours, and couples who have to work together while pretending the tension is totally not there.

This was fun, charming, clever, and such an easy book to devour.

#HateAndOtherActsOfFiction #MeganOliver #RomComBooks #SecondChanceRomance #BookReview @Berkley

[Tamisha]

Thank you to Berkley for providing me with a complimentary eARC through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I'm landing between 3.5 and 3.75 for this story after sleeping on it and realizing that though a little annoying, Sadie wasn't that bad because it's clear that her past and trauma affected the way she moved through life.

I liked this book! I thought Sadie and Ryan had amazing physical chemistry, a very tense will-they-won't-they dynamic that was fun to see evolve as they worked together on the murder mystery tours at the Wilmont House. I also appreciated the setting for the story - a grand mansion owned by a reclusive author who may or may not have killed her two husbands (who's to say what's real and what's fiction)... I actually could see myself participating in an event like this and I loved how Megan Oliver brought the experience to life through these pages. I also liked the way the writing flowed - though it was in 3rd person POV, it had an almost diary-entry like quality that had me laughing as I read through.

Kinda hinted at this in the beginning but Sadie took quite a bit to get used to. At times, I was annoyed because she was making me side with a fictional man - some of her actions and words were rude, immature, and honestly hard to read. BUT (and this is a big but), she does get around to this realization towards the ending when she sees a therapist and unpacks her childhood trauma. I just don't like that it took so long for her to realize how destructive her behaviors were and that the other characters were subjected to it. Also, Ryan was also sorta douchey when we met him but I must say it is a feat of the author's that I ended up liking them and their relationship by the end of the book.

The standout characters were actually Simon, Eric, and Charity! My word - I loved every single scene they were in. It takes talent to make the side characters shine in a story and the author did just that. I could actually play out every part of their interactions in my mind and now I want to watch a limited TV series based on this book but with an actual murder mystery plot.

Honestly, if you're interested in work rivals to lovers that have a physical and somewhat emotional history, or interested in manors/estates with personality and reading about murder mystery tours, I think you'd enjoy this. Not a bad read in the slightest.

[Jen]

This one was a mixed bag for me. Sadie loves her job giving tours of her favorite author’s historic home, and loathes Ryan, her “friend with benefits” from college who now runs the pub crawl tours that are consistently taking first place in popularity. More things happen, but this is the basic gist. I do not always need a dual POV in romance books, but I think in this instance it would have helped if we had more than just Sadie’s perspective.

This woman had commitment issues even Chandler Bing would find excessive, and didn't seem to realize it. In the world we live in where mental health topics are discussed (for better or worse) in reels, pins, memes, TV shows, books, podcasts, literally everywhere, her lack of self-awareness felt more convenient to the plot than believable. Yes, I know, this is fiction, but still! When it comes to a romance, I do need to like the main characters, and while I had empathy for her, and even related to some of her fears, Sadie just didn’t work for me personally. To me she read as whiny and petulant, with a strange sense of superiority and a hefty dose of judgement for everyone around her. Another personal issue was the way therapy was used as a fix it towards the end. I love seeing therapy positively utilized and discussed in books, but one session and an honest conversation with a friend and suddenly she was ready for that relationship she’d spent 95% of the book adamantly refusing to have. I may have rolled my eyes a little.

Now, what I did like? Ryan was precious, and their co worker, Simon was adorable. The murder mystery tour sounded fun, and I did enjoy seeing Sadie’s love for the children’s author who had meant so much to her. I was also impressed that the author could write spicy scenes that managed to make me forget my frustration with Sadie when she and Ryan were physical. Those two had some chemistry! For me though, that chemistry wasn’t quite enough to make me fall in love with the book. Was it a good way to pass an afternoon? Yes, and if you’re looking for some well written spice with a smidge of a mystery and fun side characters, then I think you should give this a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jess]

Megan Oliver is a new to me author and I'm pretty certain I'll look for her other novels after reading this one.

I found this book to be a sweetly perfect summer evening read. As someone who loves a good Savannah Haunted Pub Crawl and Historic District house tours, the plot completely called to me when I read the book blurb. This book takes place on Sutton Island; Georgia and I appreciated all the nuances that went into the scene setting.

The book blub accurately and perfectly describes what this book is about. Let me list the things I liked about it and why I think you might enjoy this book below.

Why Should You Read This:
-it's a solidly well written enemies to lovers' romance. The miscommunications that occur felt believable to me as I learned about the characters' backgrounds, childhoods, and masks to hide vulnerabilities. Though to be fair, it's a slightly one-sided enemy to lover on Sadie's part and reads like a "he falls first" story at times.
-creating and executing a murder mystery weekend in a historic home. This was such a perfect event to build the romance, the character development, the home construction, the comedy and banter, and overall story flow around. It was really well done.
-the side characters bring the perfect touch of loyal friendship and comedic relief
-the historic mansion is rather a mystery in and of itself. Sadie has a love for the home and its former owner/author, Hazel Wilmont. As she discovers a mystery surrounding Hazel, who has consumed her career, the reader is right alongside of her trying to discover what comes next.
-the banter between Sadie and Ryan is adorable
-if you want to smile as you read- this is a book for you
-the elevator scene: It's good. When you read the book, you will say to yourself "Oh, yeah. I see what she means about the elevator scene".
-a found family which really helps enhance the story
-this literally reads like it could be a terrific rom-com movie. Not all romance books can carry that off, but I can see this one being a good one to translate to the screen as well.

My many thanks to Berkely Publishing Group, Megan Oliver, and Netgalley for so kindly allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I really appreciated the opportunity to do so.

[Sarah Smith]

4 ⭐️ — A fun, flirty second-chance romance with a unique twist

Hate and Other Acts of Fiction was such a fun read! I loved the combination of second-chance romance, workplace rivalry, mystery, and just the right amount of tension between Sadie and Ryan.

The premise immediately pulled me in. Sadie works as a tour guide at the historic home of a famous reclusive author, while Ryan runs pub crawls—and unfortunately for Sadie, the two have a complicated history. Having them forced to work together on a murder-mystery tour was such a great setup for plenty of banter, awkward moments, and unresolved feelings.

The chemistry between Sadie and Ryan was definitely one of my favorite parts. Their history gave their interactions an extra layer, and I enjoyed watching all the old feelings slowly resurface despite how determined Sadie was to convince herself that she was completely over him. Their banter was witty and entertaining, and the romantic tension kept me turning the pages.

I also really enjoyed the Wilmont House storyline. The mystery surrounding Hazel Wilmont and the rumors about her past added something different to the romance and kept the story from feeling like a straightforward second-chance love story. I especially liked how the discoveries at the mansion encouraged Sadie to question some of the stories she had been telling herself about both her past and Ryan.

Sadie wasn’t always easy to understand, particularly when it came to communication and her tendency to let her fears influence her decisions. But I ultimately appreciated that her character had room to grow. Her journey toward recognizing what she actually wants—and learning that protecting yourself from getting hurt can also keep you from experiencing something wonderful—gave the romance more emotional depth.

Overall, Hate and Other Acts of Fiction is a charming, steamy, and entertaining romance with great banter, a fun mystery element, and a memorable setting. If you enjoy second-chance romances, enemies-to-lovers energy, forced proximity, and couples who clearly have unfinished business, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

Thank you to Megan Oliver, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kasey Blake]

This woman has autism. That was all I could think about this entire book. And I’m not one to throw diagnoses out there at the drop of the hat but the entire book she clearly could not interpret social cues or detect tone from how people were speaking. One of the biggest issues throughout the book was her resistance to change making her keep her job that she has had for 7 years at the bridal shop part time because the owner Eric was her only friend and she thought he wouldn’t be friends with her if she quit. Halfway through this book I looked up the dsm-5 diagnostic criteria for autism and she met every single one even the not required ones. Multiple times throughout the book we are told about her sensory issues and her need to fix things and make them orderly. She has a hyper fixation from childhood on her favorite author and now works at a tour guide at her home and lives in the guest house. It just seemed almost purposeful to focus on these snippets of her personality to let the reader know she has autism however, it was never addressed. She did attend therapy at the end of the book but still no diagnosis. And no I don’t think the author was trying to make a point about how often times autism goes undiagnosed in women. It’s upsetting because it truly is impacting her daily life and if she just knew that she processes things differently that would significantly help her daily interactions. She has great people around her who seem to now realize she needs constant reassurance from them, however, a proper diagnosis would be so helpful for her. This seriously took me out of the book all I could think about was whether or not someone would realize she has autism. Also every single conflict in this book stems from the fact that she has autism, which seems unfair to her. It just made me very uncomfortable that her undiagnosed symptoms were being used as a plot device. Also the two leads have nothing in common I have no idea why they’re in love but I was distracted admittedly. Side characters were great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced copy of this arc

[Taylor]

I absolutely LOVED this.

Everything about it just worked for me. The setting, the romance, the mystery, the banter...I was completely hooked from start to finish.

This is going to be the PERFECT fall read. A historic estate, literary history, a murder mystery tour...I wanted to crawl inside this book.

The TENSION between Ryan and Sadie was absolutely delicious. Their history together, the banter, all of the unresolved feelings...this was one where I was sneaking in chapters every chance I got because I just had to know when these two were finally going to figure it out. Ryan completely won me over. He fell first. He fell harder. (Hell yeah.) He was patient, communicative, swoony, and hotttttt.

Now I know Sadie is going to frustrate some readers, but I'm always going to defend a messy female main character who's still figuring things out WITH. MY. WHOLE. CHEST. I never saw someone who was simply "bad at communicating." I saw someone whose fear of abandonment had shaped the way she handled conflict, relationships, and vulnerability. Her flaws weren't there just to create drama. They were THE STORY. She isn't always right, but she felt incredibly real to me, and watching her slowly question everything she'd convinced herself was true made her growth feel so earned.

I also had so much fun with the mystery. The tours through the mansion, the clues sprinkled throughout, the mystery surrounding Hazel...it added just the right amount of intrigue without ever taking away from the romance. I also loved the side characters. Everyone felt fully realized, and it made the whole world that much more fun to spend time in. Also, the recurring "This is going to ruin the tour" joke genuinely made me laugh every single time.

By the time I finished, I was genuinely sad it was over, but so happy I got to experience it. I'm already jealous of everyone who still gets to read this for the first time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Megan Oliver for the ARC!

[Rebecca M]

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tension: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
Prose: 🖋️🖋️🖋️🖋️

I absolutely adored Hate and Other Acts of Fiction, the first book I have read by Megan Oliver! I cared about the characters, their relationships with each other, and their inner struggles. The resolution left me feeling kick-my-feet happy for Sadie and Ryan.

Sadie loves her job as an evening tour guide at Wilmont House, the historic home of her favorite author, Hazel Wilmont. And during the day, she has the privilege to work in a dress shop as an assistant to a friend. But what Sadie does NOT like is when her nemesis and ex-lover Ryan leads his own tours past Wilmont House, wearing a branded T-shirt that boasts his pub tour company as number one in the city... and shows off his great physique. Even worse, when the owner of Wilmont House proposes a collaborative tour called "Mixtures and Murder," Sadie has to work with Ryan to prove she's worthy of promotion to director of Wilmont House.

Sadie's inner struggles with her father leaving when she was young weave perfectly with her inability to trust others in friendships and romantic relationships, creating a beautiful character arc of emotional growth and redemption. Plus, Sadie and Ryan's romance is SPICY! It's the perfect pairing of heat and heart, with some well-placed humor and a compelling narrative voice. The "Mixtures and Murder" tour is a truly fun setting for this book, and (no spoilers) it adds a little mystery, as well.

And speaking of "Mixtures," Megan Oliver serves up the perfect combination of:
🍷 second chance romance
🍷 rivals to lovers
🍷 forced proximity
🍷 banter
🍷 he falls first (twice)
🍷 a sexy elevator scene
🍷 and found family

Hate and Other Acts of Fiction is exactly the type of book contemporary romance readers are looking for!

[Nicole (NicoleIsBooked)]

Sadie and Ryan hooked up in college, and years later, they are working as rival tour guides in the same small town of Sutton Island, Georgia. Sadie has her dream job working in the historic Wilmont House, which is the home of her favorite author. She also works at her friend's bridal boutique. Ryan runs his own his business doing pub crawls, and occasionally, they run into each other.

When they are paired together to work on a new murder mystery late night event at the Wilmont house, they are forced to spend a lot of time together. Sadie wants to avoid Ryan as much as possible, but as they work together, they start to learn more about each other. When they get trapped in an elevator together, things get spicy! He also kisses her on a haunted house tour. They agree to hook up only while they are working together, but feelings develop.


Their constant banter was top tier, and I loved that they called each other by their last names. The spice is a slow burn, but it's worth the wait. Ryan was such an amazing book boyfriend. I loved how much he cared about Sadie and learning more about his backstory added so much to the story.

Things that I loved:
- their banter
- her friend group,
- Sadie's strong relationship with her mom
- Sadie finally went to therapy
- Both of them loved their job
- The murder mystery/ mystery of the authors life,
- that Ryan always loved her,
- The explanation of why things ended in college- it's so important for a second chance romance

Things I didn't like:
- it took so long for her to admit her feelings
- lack of an ending- I wanted to know more!

Overall, this was a spicy slow burn romance with found family, second chance, and workplace romance. This is the first book that I've read from this author, and I look forward to reading more from her.

[Nicole]

I absolutely loved Hate and Other Acts of Fiction. I waited too long after finishing to write this review, so I know I’m going to forget to mention a lot, but I can definitely convey how engaged I was in the story. I didn’t want to put this book down.

I loved Sadie as a character. She had so much depth to uncover and so many things from her past and present that she needed to process. My heart ached for her and her feelings of being easily forgotten or left behind when she didn’t have a purpose to serve for someone. For me, this played into the “other acts of fiction” part of the title and made me love the layers of that. It was clear as an outside observer that Sadie held a much more valuable place in the lives of people around her than she was able to see for herself, but it was so real that couldn’t see it. I think we all struggle to see ourselves the way others do and the thoughts that lie to us are always the loudest. It was healing to follow along as Sadie got to heal the most bruised parts of herself throughout this book.

Ryan was a specific pain from her past that needed to be healed. Reluctant as she was to have to work alongside him, he showed up, he had words and actions of encouragement and support, and he had grown since their time in college to face things more head-on. Once they addressed their past, it was clear he took the key lesson away from that and was more apt to lay it all out there. It was up to Sadie to meet him there, and it contributed to her growth arc that she had to do a great deal of self-work with all the relationships in her life to get there. I felt like she really found her place and her worth by the end in a truly well-rounded and cemented way.

The secondary characters added a richness to this story. I loved the murder mystery tour of it all and the way the history of the home and its owner helped lead the narrative. It was such a fun way to create proximity in multiple ways and bring some walls down.

I had the best time reading and thoroughly love Megan Oliver’s voice, humor, and storytelling. Thank you to Berkley for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia Van Dyke Vriesman]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars, rounded up

This book was very cute and funny. I spent the majority of the time not wanting to put it down until about the last 25%ish, and then I just wanted it to be done. It redeemed itself-for the most part—in the last 10%ish though!

The mystery and the tour parts were fun, but the enemies-to-lovers trope was very recycled and predictable. The characters also felt a bit overdone to me; their personalities were often exaggerated. This book was also incredibly smutty, which was personally a little much for me, but could be a plus for another reader.

The author used SO many similes and metaphors in this book, and a lot of them were weird. There's a sentence about a character being all over another character "like a sexually charged koala," for example. Like, what?? Weird, but also funny lol. In general, the writing style felt a little juvenile to me, or maybe it just lacked a smooth flow.

The main character was pretty frustrating with her self-deprecation and insecurities. Once again, it felt overdone to me, and like the author was laying it on too thick. The other characters were way more patient with her than I was as the reader, that's for sure!

Even though the love story was predictable, it was still pretty enjoyable to read. I enjoyed the full circle moments and the way the characters ended up supporting one another. There were lots of types of love that got to be celebrated by the end, and it was very sweet.

The mystery was unexpected to me, and usually I would feel like the author was trying to add in too many plot points, but by the end of the book, I understood why the author chose to include it in the story. It kind of felt like a fun little side quest!

Overall, I liked this book. It was addictive, even if it was a little overdone in some parts. I think it could use a bit of polishing to make it shine, but I’d still recommend it!

[Madison Murphy]

I really loved this book and our main characters! The pacing in the book is perfect. When we first meet our two main characters and learn about the relationship between them, you can feel the tension but also the familiarity between them. Rivals who both run their own tours on the Island. The forced proximity between these two makes for an interesting relationship buildup and keeps the reader wondering what will happen next.

You could see the wall Sadie has put up from past trauma in her childhood and has a bit of a fear of her loved ones and friends leaving her. I could tell early on the love that Sadie has for everyone, but slowly we see her open up and grow as an individual and realize that sometimes in life you have fears, but you can work through them. I did feel that Sadie could have communicated better with the people around her at times, but I understand that with her experienced trauma, healing takes time.

I love the support and patience that Ryan gave Sadie in this story. Ryan was very outgoing and sweet throughout the book. He was the perfect fit for Sadie to keep her calm, happy, and helped her push through the walls she had built around herself.

This book made me feel like I stepped out of reality into my own vacation full of pub crawls, guided tours, and murder mystery. The very detailed description of the characters and environments made me feel like like I was a character in this book. If you’re looking for a sweet second chance romance with the fun of mystery mixed in, this should be your next fall read!! It was a fun time and I am thankful for the opportunity to review this arc. I will be picking up another Megan Oliver book!!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, NetGalley, and Megan Oliver for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[jordan]

3.75 ⭐️ honestly, this one really grew on me!!

i found the plot intriguing from the beginning (second chance (my favvv), workplace romance, rivals to lovers, a lil murder mystery… so much FUN), but it was really the characters, the romance, & their individual arcs that kept me invested. these characters felt so three-dimensional. i found rooting for them (both individually and together) to be so easy. the romance between sadie & ryan was swoony, tender, and full of simmering tension & playful banter. the chemistry between them felt so natural, and i loved watching them slowly let their guards down (especially, sadie). i loved the emotional depth, and the pacing gave each relationship and character arc the room to develop. i also really liked the use of third-person pov. even though it can sometimes create a little emotional distance, i still felt completely connected to these characters.

i will say i didn’t love the mystery subplot only bc it felt a bit underdeveloped… almost like an afterthought ? BUT, the third act conflict was done really well. it felt necessary for these characters and their arcs (tbh i would’ve been more surprised if it hadn’t happened). plus, the resolution felt realistic, earned, & satisfying!

also, i really loved the side characters (simon, eric, ann, charity, doug!) and all of their relationships with sadie. watching her learn from those around her and seeing those experiences shape both her growth and her relationship made the romance feel even stronger to me. those dynamics added so much heart to the story and honestly ended up being one of my fav parts!! overall, an entertaining and unexpectedly heartwarming romance.

thank you so much to netgalley and berkley for providing me with this arc!

[Ashley | A Pair of Readers]

Entertaining rivals to lovers second chance romance with alot of heart.

This is my first Megan Oliver book, but it won't be my last. I really appreciated Oliver's attention to character development through this book. Sadie definitely has alot of childhood trauma to work through and you can clearly see how it has impacted her relationships (platonic and romantic) right from the start. But things really get interesting when the owner of the historical home where she works forces her to work with Ryan, her college fling and arch nemesis.

I really liked how Oliver used the murder mystery night planning to really drive that forced proximity between these two. The reader definitely clues in there is more to Ryan's behavior than just hate -- even if Sadie continues to miss the mark (don't worry - she gets there too!). Their banter is fun and I was grinning every time they started sparing.

Oliver does an amazing job of helping Sadie come to terms with her own insecurities as things change rapidly with her mom, with Ryan, and with her job. Sadie has some solid friends who often nudge her in the right direction. While Sadie can struggle at times with very real challenges from her past, Oliver does a wonderful job of showing Sadie's breakthroughs throughout the course of the book.

Of course, we cannot talk about Ryan -- who has his own past challenges. I love that this green flag MMC is both sexy and caring -- he pays attention. Their relationship is filled with longing and tension because of it and just me these two when they catch fire -- whoo!

Overall, this is the kind of contemporary romance I love -- spicy romance, solid character development, and a full cast of wonderful characters.

4.5/5

[Jennah Gray]

ARC Review: 4.5 ⭐️

Hate and Other Facts of Fiction by Megan Oliver was the perfect second-chance romance.

Sadie Stockton leads tours though the former home of her favourite author, the enigmatic recluse Hazel Wilmont. But when the owners of the Wilmont House announce plans to increase the estate’s revenue by hosting an overnight murder mystery.

The new tour will mean working with none other than Ryan Pearson—owner of Pearson’s Pub Crawls, and Sadie’s long-standing professional rival and personal regret.

I loved the idea of the Murder Mystery tour being held at the Wilmont House, it fit with the rumour that circulated about the author Hazel.

The back and forth between Sadie and Ryan as rivals just adds to the tension of “will they or won’t they.” There is always a fine line between hate and love, and for them it seems to teeter on explosive tension.

Sadie has some childhood trauma that affects her relationship with though around her, discovering what truly happened between Sadie and Ryan back in college provides the clarity both were missing, the miscommunication and the buried hurt after all this time.

Ryan provides the calm Sadie needs, but it’s in that calm and comfort that she starts self-sabotaging everything.

I enjoyed getting to see Sadie’s growth and character development throughout this, Simon and Eric were comedic and logical sound boards for Sadie. Charity offering support and the friendship she needed as well.

And overall, the second-chance and the healing process for Sadie was perfect and realistic. These things take time, Sadie taking steps to open up and work through things was a moment I enjoyed.

[Maddy Hutchings]

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this would be a fun read while it was available as Read Now on NetGalley, plus it sounded like the type of book I usually enjoy. And I really enjoyed the writing style, and the plot. I think because of that, I’d love to check out more from this author if she continues to write more in the future.

But I think I just struggled to really connect to the main character and hers and Ryan’s relationship. I’ve seen some reviewers saying they think Sadie is selfish, and while she has a couple of moments where she is, I actually wouldn’t describe her that way overall. I think more than anything, she’s kind of immature. I completely understand that she has trauma, and why she approaches a lot of life the way she does, but I still think there’s a lot she could’ve handled better. I am glad that there was a therapy session that happened on page, because I think she definitely needed that (and that’s not a bad thing) to maintain most of the relationships in her life that she valued. But the fact that she was still trying to find ways to dislike the therapist after hardly meeting her like she did with Doug was really irritating.

One other thing that I think was redeeming was a lot of the side/supporting characters. They were well written, and we got to know them and value them without over the top details.

While I probably won’t be buying a physical copy of this for myself, I’d recommend this book, again because I really liked the writing style and I think this author is worth keeping on the radar!