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I Hate You, Now Kiss Me
People grow apart, Andy. Get over it.
Their sordid history started before they were born, so in fifth grade when Lena severed her friendship with Andy, she started a war. For over six years, they lived to make each other miserable. That’s why no one was more astonished than Andy when Lena kissed her, not once, but twice, just before they left for college.
Twelve years later, Andy’s unable to find love, Lena runs at the mere hint of emotional entanglement, and family has brought them back home for several weeks. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before they run into each other. Unbelievably, not only are they civil, but they fall into bed, discovering the missing parts of themselves in each other.
Amid family drama and new beginnings, they help each other heal. Some things aren’t always what they seem, and others are exactly how they appear, even when they wish they weren’t. Will they let fear ruin what they’ve rediscovered?
Their sordid history started before they were born, so in fifth grade when Lena severed her friendship with Andy, she started a war. For over six years, they lived to make each other miserable. That’s why no one was more astonished than Andy when Lena kissed her, not once, but twice, just before they left for college.
Twelve years later, Andy’s unable to find love, Lena runs at the mere hint of emotional entanglement, and family has brought them back home for several weeks. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before they run into each other. Unbelievably, not only are they civil, but they fall into bed, discovering the missing parts of themselves in each other.
Amid family drama and new beginnings, they help each other heal. Some things aren’t always what they seem, and others are exactly how they appear, even when they wish they weren’t. Will they let fear ruin what they’ve rediscovered?
314 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2026
16 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Cooper Griffin
16 books77 followersKimberly Cooper Griffin lives in Denver, Colorado. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys a variety of interests. But, at the core of it all, she has an insatiable desire to connect with people and experience life to its fullest. She believes in love at first sight, happily ever afters, that not every story needs a third-act breakup, and a romance isn't complete without a four-legged companion. Her novels explore the complexities of building relationships, communication, and finding balance when life has other ideas.
KimberlyCooperGriffin.com
KimberlyCooperGriffin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
this was such a nice read with a lot of emotional banter and I gotta say, I really liked that.
Starting off, our main characters - Andy and Lena - have known each other since forever basically and when in fifth grade Lena serves the friendship, a ‘war’ between the two break out that lasts their entire teenage-hood. However, it is no surprise then (well it is for Andy), when Lena kisses her twice right before they’re set to leave for college. Then, years later they meet again. Changed and all grown up now.
The story was emotional through and through. I cannot count all the times I actually had tears in my eyes from the emotional load this story brought. Especially everything concerning Lena and her family just hit very close to home for me. Though, I really liked how the story portrayed these toxic family dynamics and showed how it affects the people!
Besides that, I was such a huge fan of the romance between Andy and Lena. They were so cute from the beginning that one just kept hoping automatically that they’d make it. But also the stories of the side characters were nicely done and kept the story overall very engaging.
Besides that though, I do felt like some things were somewhat drawn out. And I had a few moments where I just had to set the book aside and breathe due to the emotionality. However, it is a book worth reading. Especially if you’re a fan of a good character development and healthy relationship dynamics but also want to see how unhealthy/toxic family dynamics can change a person.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for a voluntarily given review!
this was such a nice read with a lot of emotional banter and I gotta say, I really liked that.
Starting off, our main characters - Andy and Lena - have known each other since forever basically and when in fifth grade Lena serves the friendship, a ‘war’ between the two break out that lasts their entire teenage-hood. However, it is no surprise then (well it is for Andy), when Lena kisses her twice right before they’re set to leave for college. Then, years later they meet again. Changed and all grown up now.
The story was emotional through and through. I cannot count all the times I actually had tears in my eyes from the emotional load this story brought. Especially everything concerning Lena and her family just hit very close to home for me. Though, I really liked how the story portrayed these toxic family dynamics and showed how it affects the people!
Besides that, I was such a huge fan of the romance between Andy and Lena. They were so cute from the beginning that one just kept hoping automatically that they’d make it. But also the stories of the side characters were nicely done and kept the story overall very engaging.
Besides that though, I do felt like some things were somewhat drawn out. And I had a few moments where I just had to set the book aside and breathe due to the emotionality. However, it is a book worth reading. Especially if you’re a fan of a good character development and healthy relationship dynamics but also want to see how unhealthy/toxic family dynamics can change a person.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for a voluntarily given review!
April 23, 2026
(rounded down from 4.25)
This was a well-executed enemies-to-lovers romance. I appreciate when characters are well developed and have trauma informing their decisions, and learn to grow out of those patterns. I appreciate just how many gay people are in this story. Wild and also delightful.
This was a well-executed enemies-to-lovers romance. I appreciate when characters are well developed and have trauma informing their decisions, and learn to grow out of those patterns. I appreciate just how many gay people are in this story. Wild and also delightful.
Want to Read
March 24, 2026💋 I Hate You, Now Kiss Me 💋
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
💕 What to Expect
• Childhood rivals to lovers
• Second chance romance
• Forced proximity
• Sapphic romance
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 14, 2026
📝 Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
💕 What to Expect
• Childhood rivals to lovers
• Second chance romance
• Forced proximity
• Sapphic romance
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 14, 2026
📝 Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 11, 2026
Andy Philips & Lena Holmes were childhood best friends turned enemies after grade 5. So they spent all of their high school years being enemies. And just prior to going their separate ways to college, the two shared an unexpected and unforgettable kiss (twice). Now, after 12 years and all grown up, both are back at their hometown at Oceanside, California. And they re-kindled their friendship (and romance) that have been buried a long time ago. Can they put their past behind them and move on..together?
This was such a good book. One that I struggled to put down. I have always loved the enemies to lovers trope but this was also a second chance romance. Both main characters are likeable and you can watch them grow as characters. There was a lot of healing as well from childhood (and current) traumas. The attraction between the two MC were as clear as daylight and it was really enjoyable to see how they navigate their feelings and fears.
There are good side characters too including dogs. Be warned that there is a very unlikable parent causing trouble. Highly recommended book! Can’t wait to re-read.
I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was such a good book. One that I struggled to put down. I have always loved the enemies to lovers trope but this was also a second chance romance. Both main characters are likeable and you can watch them grow as characters. There was a lot of healing as well from childhood (and current) traumas. The attraction between the two MC were as clear as daylight and it was really enjoyable to see how they navigate their feelings and fears.
There are good side characters too including dogs. Be warned that there is a very unlikable parent causing trouble. Highly recommended book! Can’t wait to re-read.
I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 6, 2026
So much drama!
Lena and Andy had been making each other’s lives miserable for years, but Andy kissed Lena, then went off to college. Now, years later they are reunited. Andy has yet to find love, and Lena is only back home for a few weeks after her father had an accident, but that leads to complicated feelings resurfacing and an entanglement of their lives. Somehow they are helping one another and rebuilding what once existed between them, but can they make it work.
So this was pure drama from start to finish! Both Andy and Lena had a lot of complex emotions and complicated situational things, both in the past, and now that were making them hold back, hide truths, or just war with each other for no good reason. I loved how life brought them back together, and how in that time, having had the snippet of their past they had grown. For a time it seemed like they might just casually slot back into one another’s lives but it really wasn’t that simple. Unknown confessions from the past and emotions they both struggled to control quickly surfaced and meant they were falling for one another so quickly. I thought it was really perfect.
Of course, being reunited doesn’t half come with drama and complication, which Kimberly delivered in spades. There was so much going on with both Lena and Andy in their personal lives already, and then with all this on top, they were both spiralling a bit. Their families had known one another for years and now they were learning just how much had happened back then as well to cause rifts and heartache, outside of what had been going on with unrealised feelings between both of them. I just kept my fingers crossed that somehow, if fate had worked this hard to bring them back together, it was going to work out this time.
A great second chance romance that had me hooked. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes that complicated emotional romance with a few twists along the way.
Lena and Andy had been making each other’s lives miserable for years, but Andy kissed Lena, then went off to college. Now, years later they are reunited. Andy has yet to find love, and Lena is only back home for a few weeks after her father had an accident, but that leads to complicated feelings resurfacing and an entanglement of their lives. Somehow they are helping one another and rebuilding what once existed between them, but can they make it work.
So this was pure drama from start to finish! Both Andy and Lena had a lot of complex emotions and complicated situational things, both in the past, and now that were making them hold back, hide truths, or just war with each other for no good reason. I loved how life brought them back together, and how in that time, having had the snippet of their past they had grown. For a time it seemed like they might just casually slot back into one another’s lives but it really wasn’t that simple. Unknown confessions from the past and emotions they both struggled to control quickly surfaced and meant they were falling for one another so quickly. I thought it was really perfect.
Of course, being reunited doesn’t half come with drama and complication, which Kimberly delivered in spades. There was so much going on with both Lena and Andy in their personal lives already, and then with all this on top, they were both spiralling a bit. Their families had known one another for years and now they were learning just how much had happened back then as well to cause rifts and heartache, outside of what had been going on with unrealised feelings between both of them. I just kept my fingers crossed that somehow, if fate had worked this hard to bring them back together, it was going to work out this time.
A great second chance romance that had me hooked. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes that complicated emotional romance with a few twists along the way.
April 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I first got into this. I did think there would be kids involved at first just due to the cover of the book, but then I realized it was the MCs as children lol. Not that it made a difference to me, but it was just funny to see what my intial judgment vs what the book was actually about.
I loved the comfort in this book. The way Andy was so caring and understanding was absolutely adorable. It made sense why Lena acted the way she did in middle and high school. I wish we would’ve gotten to see more into when they were friends, not when they became “enemies”. I think this would help a little with the feeling of insta love that came with I Hate You, Now Kiss Me. Insta love usually is a huge turnoff for me but this was believable and made sense with the backstory.
Overall, this was a great read that was hard to put down. The epilogue was perfect in terms of having a lot of what I love in an epilogue. It was a clearly thought out plot and story with how well the continuity was.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I first got into this. I did think there would be kids involved at first just due to the cover of the book, but then I realized it was the MCs as children lol. Not that it made a difference to me, but it was just funny to see what my intial judgment vs what the book was actually about.
I loved the comfort in this book. The way Andy was so caring and understanding was absolutely adorable. It made sense why Lena acted the way she did in middle and high school. I wish we would’ve gotten to see more into when they were friends, not when they became “enemies”. I think this would help a little with the feeling of insta love that came with I Hate You, Now Kiss Me. Insta love usually is a huge turnoff for me but this was believable and made sense with the backstory.
Overall, this was a great read that was hard to put down. The epilogue was perfect in terms of having a lot of what I love in an epilogue. It was a clearly thought out plot and story with how well the continuity was.
April 14, 2026
Lena and Andy was best friends but had a fallen out they shared a kiss in high school . Andy returns home to care for her father while Lena return also where she has to deal with a mother who treats her horribly. They bump into each other and the old feelings are still there as it’s comes to the surface they both start to help each other overcome the past and start to realize they are better together then apart. This was cute read while I don’t like miscommunication tropes Lena and Andy were great characters felt the emotions love the dynamics they had with their family and how the toxicity of it affect everyone and it can shape a person from child into adult.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
April 14, 2026
A lovely read by a new to me author! Thank to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance review copy for free. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
The song “What started out as a friendship…” takes on a new meaning for our two MCs. Andy and Lena have always known one another. In middle school, and throughout high school, a war broke out between the two filled with witty banter, emotional and stinging. Right before college, Lena kisses Andy. Enemies to lovers anyone? Well not quite. Years later they meet again.
What follows is enlightening, heartwarming, fun and engaging. I appreciated the pacing of both the story and the relationship. There’s a LOT of feels throughout.
Recommend!!
The song “What started out as a friendship…” takes on a new meaning for our two MCs. Andy and Lena have always known one another. In middle school, and throughout high school, a war broke out between the two filled with witty banter, emotional and stinging. Right before college, Lena kisses Andy. Enemies to lovers anyone? Well not quite. Years later they meet again.
What follows is enlightening, heartwarming, fun and engaging. I appreciated the pacing of both the story and the relationship. There’s a LOT of feels throughout.
Recommend!!
April 25, 2026
So overall I really enjoyed this book. I liked the prominent themes of second chances, the pros of good communication, and people doing what it takes to build up broken trust. And forgiveness as well.
I was honestly glad that there wasn't any sort of big blown up fight between Andy and Lena, and that neither of them ended up leaving the other in the third act. Just a normal level disagreement. They'd been through enough as it was up to that point! I'm happy they learned to open up to each other and put the past behind them. I loved the callback at the end with the pool scene as well.
The spice was also very nice!!
An ARC was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
I was honestly glad that there wasn't any sort of big blown up fight between Andy and Lena, and that neither of them ended up leaving the other in the third act. Just a normal level disagreement. They'd been through enough as it was up to that point! I'm happy they learned to open up to each other and put the past behind them. I loved the callback at the end with the pool scene as well.
The spice was also very nice!!
An ARC was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review!
Overall I enjoyed the book, I think i definitely enjoyed the first half more than the second half, it felt like a mix of insta love and miscommunication tropes and those just aren’t my favorite, but second chance romance is.
I also wasn’t a huge fan of the formatting of the book but that could definitely be due to the ARC. I just seemed like out of nowhere it would transition to the other main characters POV. I wish there’s would’ve be a better transition between the switches.
Even with the things I didn’t love about the book. I still definitely enjoyed it, and would recommend it to any other sapphic book lovers!
My last note is omg I love their dads and how their story ends! ♥️
Overall I enjoyed the book, I think i definitely enjoyed the first half more than the second half, it felt like a mix of insta love and miscommunication tropes and those just aren’t my favorite, but second chance romance is.
I also wasn’t a huge fan of the formatting of the book but that could definitely be due to the ARC. I just seemed like out of nowhere it would transition to the other main characters POV. I wish there’s would’ve be a better transition between the switches.
Even with the things I didn’t love about the book. I still definitely enjoyed it, and would recommend it to any other sapphic book lovers!
My last note is omg I love their dads and how their story ends! ♥️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I Hate You, Now Kiss Me by Kimberly Cooper Griffin
1/5 ★’s –
Andy and Lena, two best friends inextricably bound together by girlhood, that is, until the 5th grade. The string untangles, and Andy and Lena are sworn enemies, determined to torment each other for the rest of their lives. They are in constant competition with one another, the string taut with tension. In 2013, now juniors in high school, the chance to graduate early turns up, and something breaks. College is now looming ahead, and Lena closes the distance before it grows even larger. She kisses Andy, not once, but twice, just before they go their separate ways, for good.
Or so they thought. Just a little over a decade later, both girls are drawn back to their hometown due to different circumstances. Unaware of the others' return, they bump into each other. Awkwardness ensues, as we learn neither girl really hated the other. Just as quickly, the awkwardness of their teenage life fades, and they fall back into place. Taking time to learn the adult versions of themselves, what drove them apart, and what is bringing them back together.
“Lena stepped closer. Close enough for Andy to smell the familiar floral scent of her, reminding Andy of a walk in the neighborhood, just before dark in early summer” (Chapter 14).
Throughout reading this novel, my feelings towards it were very up and down, and unfortunately, hanging out near the downside during my reading progress. There are a ton of things that did not work for me, but with critical, there are always positives. A coin has two sides after all! I want to talk about what did work for me, and why I enjoyed it.
Throughout the beginning of the novel, we are flipping between time periods of their teenage lives and their adult lives. We see teenage Lena being written as this awful person towards Andy, constantly throwing snide remarks at her, poking and jabbing at her. It sets the reader up to think that she is an awful person, who randomly cut off her best friend one day in fifth grade. The perspective then changes, as we learn about her unhealthy family dynamic and why she acted the way she did. Following in her later adult years, she opens up and shares her experiences with the one she loves, allowing herself to heal and see herself for who she really is. This worked for me as I deeply resonate with the unhealthy parent-child relationship. It changes how you feel about yourself and the world around you, and I totally understand why she pushed Andy and everyone else around her away.
Something else that worked for me was their jobs; I love seeing women who are educated and have jobs in STEM. The STEM workforce is male-dominated, and seeing two women be successful in their line of work really drives it home for me. I feel that as women, we need to see more of this, especially women in STEM who are also active members of the LGBTQ community. So kudos on this!
Now, while reading, I felt heavily confused regarding the timeline and the ages of the characters in this novel. 2013 was their junior year of high school, so they were 16 to 17 years old. The typical age of a junior. Time skip is 12 years, making the present time of the story 2025. Respectively, they would be 28 or 29. Lena states she is thirty a few times throughout the text. But during the 2012 sequence, which was shown as just before junior year, she was still 15 and her birthday was several months away. Suggesting that it was later in the school year, meaning she didn’t turn 16 until then. I feel this confused me while reading, trying to piece together the timeline. While it isn’t that big of a gap, it is the little details that really make the story click together. This could be because of formatting; as some of the beginning chapters did say “2013,” the ones following into the time skip did not, and you can get lost in the time and whose POV was being told.
I also did not enjoy how centered Andy and Lena were on just each other for the majority of the book. I understand that when you are in this state of mind, it is truly all you think about. But due to the formatting, I felt I was reading the same sentence and phrasing over and over again. Even the hot and heavy scenes felt this way; by the fourth one, they lost their effectiveness. It got boring quickly to me, which I hate saying. I think their relationship could have benefited even further if the story had focused on them respectively. Maybe learn more about their jobs, as I mentioned before, I loved seeing! I feel it would have made for a better balance in their story. Something else I would have loved to see is both of them having more friends in their adult lives to have relationships with, to be able to bounce off of them. Yes, the story is about them; however, someone else there to work off of would have been awesome!
Finally, I think the writing style just didn’t work for me. A couple of things stuck out to me, like the characters' thoughts being written in the text as a standard sentence. It feels off-putting, and a little hard to discern from “story-text” and “thought-text.” As mentioned before, there were lots of phrasings and words that were repeated, and once they were said the first or second time, the text lost its effectiveness. Despite their age, I also feel like their dialogue didn’t quite match up. It felt like a lot of the things they said to each other felt very teenage and even preteen, while yes, they are in love and reminiscing on their younger years and what they could have done differently, etc. Love can make you feel like you are back in those years, but the way they were voiced made them seem a lot younger than they are. Took me out of the illusion that these are adult characters trying their hand at a second chance at love.
Just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean others won’t! I am someone who does not DNF and loves to give books a chance. I enjoyed the plot premises and a few subject matters within the story. If you enjoy complex family relationships, smart women who have issues they learn to work through, saphhic relationships, best friends to enemies to lovers. Definitely give this book a try! Despite my qualms, this book has some pluses. :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the advanced reader copy of I Hate You, Now Kiss Me by Kimberly Cooper Griffin in exchange for an honest review, of which these thoughts are all my own.
1/5 ★’s –
Andy and Lena, two best friends inextricably bound together by girlhood, that is, until the 5th grade. The string untangles, and Andy and Lena are sworn enemies, determined to torment each other for the rest of their lives. They are in constant competition with one another, the string taut with tension. In 2013, now juniors in high school, the chance to graduate early turns up, and something breaks. College is now looming ahead, and Lena closes the distance before it grows even larger. She kisses Andy, not once, but twice, just before they go their separate ways, for good.
Or so they thought. Just a little over a decade later, both girls are drawn back to their hometown due to different circumstances. Unaware of the others' return, they bump into each other. Awkwardness ensues, as we learn neither girl really hated the other. Just as quickly, the awkwardness of their teenage life fades, and they fall back into place. Taking time to learn the adult versions of themselves, what drove them apart, and what is bringing them back together.
“Lena stepped closer. Close enough for Andy to smell the familiar floral scent of her, reminding Andy of a walk in the neighborhood, just before dark in early summer” (Chapter 14).
Throughout reading this novel, my feelings towards it were very up and down, and unfortunately, hanging out near the downside during my reading progress. There are a ton of things that did not work for me, but with critical, there are always positives. A coin has two sides after all! I want to talk about what did work for me, and why I enjoyed it.
Throughout the beginning of the novel, we are flipping between time periods of their teenage lives and their adult lives. We see teenage Lena being written as this awful person towards Andy, constantly throwing snide remarks at her, poking and jabbing at her. It sets the reader up to think that she is an awful person, who randomly cut off her best friend one day in fifth grade. The perspective then changes, as we learn about her unhealthy family dynamic and why she acted the way she did. Following in her later adult years, she opens up and shares her experiences with the one she loves, allowing herself to heal and see herself for who she really is. This worked for me as I deeply resonate with the unhealthy parent-child relationship. It changes how you feel about yourself and the world around you, and I totally understand why she pushed Andy and everyone else around her away.
Something else that worked for me was their jobs; I love seeing women who are educated and have jobs in STEM. The STEM workforce is male-dominated, and seeing two women be successful in their line of work really drives it home for me. I feel that as women, we need to see more of this, especially women in STEM who are also active members of the LGBTQ community. So kudos on this!
Now, while reading, I felt heavily confused regarding the timeline and the ages of the characters in this novel. 2013 was their junior year of high school, so they were 16 to 17 years old. The typical age of a junior. Time skip is 12 years, making the present time of the story 2025. Respectively, they would be 28 or 29. Lena states she is thirty a few times throughout the text. But during the 2012 sequence, which was shown as just before junior year, she was still 15 and her birthday was several months away. Suggesting that it was later in the school year, meaning she didn’t turn 16 until then. I feel this confused me while reading, trying to piece together the timeline. While it isn’t that big of a gap, it is the little details that really make the story click together. This could be because of formatting; as some of the beginning chapters did say “2013,” the ones following into the time skip did not, and you can get lost in the time and whose POV was being told.
I also did not enjoy how centered Andy and Lena were on just each other for the majority of the book. I understand that when you are in this state of mind, it is truly all you think about. But due to the formatting, I felt I was reading the same sentence and phrasing over and over again. Even the hot and heavy scenes felt this way; by the fourth one, they lost their effectiveness. It got boring quickly to me, which I hate saying. I think their relationship could have benefited even further if the story had focused on them respectively. Maybe learn more about their jobs, as I mentioned before, I loved seeing! I feel it would have made for a better balance in their story. Something else I would have loved to see is both of them having more friends in their adult lives to have relationships with, to be able to bounce off of them. Yes, the story is about them; however, someone else there to work off of would have been awesome!
Finally, I think the writing style just didn’t work for me. A couple of things stuck out to me, like the characters' thoughts being written in the text as a standard sentence. It feels off-putting, and a little hard to discern from “story-text” and “thought-text.” As mentioned before, there were lots of phrasings and words that were repeated, and once they were said the first or second time, the text lost its effectiveness. Despite their age, I also feel like their dialogue didn’t quite match up. It felt like a lot of the things they said to each other felt very teenage and even preteen, while yes, they are in love and reminiscing on their younger years and what they could have done differently, etc. Love can make you feel like you are back in those years, but the way they were voiced made them seem a lot younger than they are. Took me out of the illusion that these are adult characters trying their hand at a second chance at love.
Just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean others won’t! I am someone who does not DNF and loves to give books a chance. I enjoyed the plot premises and a few subject matters within the story. If you enjoy complex family relationships, smart women who have issues they learn to work through, saphhic relationships, best friends to enemies to lovers. Definitely give this book a try! Despite my qualms, this book has some pluses. :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the advanced reader copy of I Hate You, Now Kiss Me by Kimberly Cooper Griffin in exchange for an honest review, of which these thoughts are all my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I Hate You, Now Kiss Me – Kimberly Cooper Griffin
Summary
Lena and Andy were inseparable until grade 5, best friends that did everything together until Lena ends their friendship and instead becomes Andy’s tormentor. At times Andy can see past Lena’s actions to the person who used to be her everything, including the two times that they kissed just before graduating high school.
Twelve years later life circumstances bring them back to their hometown. When they meet up they are cautiously friendly with one another and decide to put the past behind them to see if they have a future together.
My Review
Titles of books can sometimes be enough for me to want to start reading them and that was the case with “I Hate You, Now Kiss Me”. I mean the title alone told me that it would be a push/pull, hot/cold, enemies to lovers romance and the book lives up to the title.
Lena cut Andy off in Grade 5, going from best friends to enemies. I kept reading wanting to know why? What could have happened at ten years old that made Lena end their friendship and start tormenting Andy?
As the story unfolds, told in a dual perspective from Andy and Lena, the reasons Lena ends their friendship become clearer. It was never about hating Andy, but about not loving herself.
I didn’t want to like Lena, but as I learned about her upbringing and her motivation for pushing Andy away, I cheered for Lena to learn to love herself after being raised to believe she was worthless and unlovable.
The character development and the interconnections between Lena’s and Andy’s family were well done. It provided context that explained Lena’s behaviours.
Lena, with Andy’s help, showed that you can overcome being screwed up by your family and be your own person.
The lead characters are both involved in STEM, one as a meteorologist and the other a marine biologist. I liked that STEM was highlighted in the book through not only their careers but their involvement in science fairs. The careers were important, but not pivotal to the plot, and I appreciated seeing the representation for women in STEM within the story.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes an enemies to lovers, second chance romance with characters that learn they are worthy of love, despite what they were brought up to believe.
Final Thoughts
As I read this book it made me think a lot about the impact of pushing people away as a means of protection, for them or for ourselves, and how the impact is not always what was intended.
There are elements of emotional abuse in the book that frame Lena’s perception of herself and how she treats others. This is a difficult topic and is well written in the book. If dialogue describing worthlessness and not wanting a child is a trigger than you might want to be careful reading this book.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
Lena and Andy were inseparable until grade 5, best friends that did everything together until Lena ends their friendship and instead becomes Andy’s tormentor. At times Andy can see past Lena’s actions to the person who used to be her everything, including the two times that they kissed just before graduating high school.
Twelve years later life circumstances bring them back to their hometown. When they meet up they are cautiously friendly with one another and decide to put the past behind them to see if they have a future together.
My Review
Titles of books can sometimes be enough for me to want to start reading them and that was the case with “I Hate You, Now Kiss Me”. I mean the title alone told me that it would be a push/pull, hot/cold, enemies to lovers romance and the book lives up to the title.
Lena cut Andy off in Grade 5, going from best friends to enemies. I kept reading wanting to know why? What could have happened at ten years old that made Lena end their friendship and start tormenting Andy?
As the story unfolds, told in a dual perspective from Andy and Lena, the reasons Lena ends their friendship become clearer. It was never about hating Andy, but about not loving herself.
I didn’t want to like Lena, but as I learned about her upbringing and her motivation for pushing Andy away, I cheered for Lena to learn to love herself after being raised to believe she was worthless and unlovable.
The character development and the interconnections between Lena’s and Andy’s family were well done. It provided context that explained Lena’s behaviours.
Lena, with Andy’s help, showed that you can overcome being screwed up by your family and be your own person.
The lead characters are both involved in STEM, one as a meteorologist and the other a marine biologist. I liked that STEM was highlighted in the book through not only their careers but their involvement in science fairs. The careers were important, but not pivotal to the plot, and I appreciated seeing the representation for women in STEM within the story.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes an enemies to lovers, second chance romance with characters that learn they are worthy of love, despite what they were brought up to believe.
Final Thoughts
As I read this book it made me think a lot about the impact of pushing people away as a means of protection, for them or for ourselves, and how the impact is not always what was intended.
There are elements of emotional abuse in the book that frame Lena’s perception of herself and how she treats others. This is a difficult topic and is well written in the book. If dialogue describing worthlessness and not wanting a child is a trigger than you might want to be careful reading this book.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2026
Lena & Andy are childhood best friends until 5th grade. They do everything together and dream innocently of their lives together.
For spoilery reasons I wont say here, Lena pushes Andy away and becomes in many ways her bully. Harsh hurtful words are spoken, but despite that they seem to be consistently drawn to each other which leads to them kissing two seperate times just before graduating highschool.
Over a decade later life brings them back to their hometown and they inevitably run into each other. The draw is still there so they cautiously interact with each other, still acknowledging the hurt by both of them. As they work on this cautious fresh start the chemistry is undeniable. They are able to see past the reactions of their youthful selves and learn secrets that have been long held by both them and their families.
A catchy title can be enough to get me to read a book and that was the case here. I struggled with the pacing a bit in the beginning but the story kept me reading and I am glad I did. I love books with a lot of character growth and when the characters are self aware enough to reflect and process on page.
Lena is unlikeable at first, but as the story went on it was revealed why she did the things she did. It's not an excuse by any means but it really humanized the character for me and made her realistic in her flaws.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was a love story with depth, character development and twists I didn't fully see coming which was refreshing. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates slow burn, dual pov, sapphic love stories with character development.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy
For spoilery reasons I wont say here, Lena pushes Andy away and becomes in many ways her bully. Harsh hurtful words are spoken, but despite that they seem to be consistently drawn to each other which leads to them kissing two seperate times just before graduating highschool.
Over a decade later life brings them back to their hometown and they inevitably run into each other. The draw is still there so they cautiously interact with each other, still acknowledging the hurt by both of them. As they work on this cautious fresh start the chemistry is undeniable. They are able to see past the reactions of their youthful selves and learn secrets that have been long held by both them and their families.
A catchy title can be enough to get me to read a book and that was the case here. I struggled with the pacing a bit in the beginning but the story kept me reading and I am glad I did. I love books with a lot of character growth and when the characters are self aware enough to reflect and process on page.
Lena is unlikeable at first, but as the story went on it was revealed why she did the things she did. It's not an excuse by any means but it really humanized the character for me and made her realistic in her flaws.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was a love story with depth, character development and twists I didn't fully see coming which was refreshing. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates slow burn, dual pov, sapphic love stories with character development.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy
April 18, 2026
I hate you, now kiss me, follows two previous best friends Lena and Andy. Lena one day out of the blue decides she no longer wants to be Andy’s best friend. Andy questions this but Lena tells her to get over it. this continues throughout high school when suddenly to Andy’s surprise even though Lena hates her she kisses her not once but twice, the kiss is amazing for both of them (a never forget kind of kiss) but guess what they the leave for separate colleges never to see each other again until they both return to their home town and bump into each other - maybe a a second chance for both of them to do it right this time.
This was so good to read, you see the before and after and each of the POV. Plus there is so much yearning and passion for each other and a lot of spice! It’s also very kind and understanding, Lena is quite a complex character with her parental trauma but Andy is just so compassionate towards her. You can feel their love for each other radiating off the page, yes there is a bit of miscommunication but they don’t shy away it’s good to see the conflict and trust in each other.
Also there is dogs, no third act breakup (loved!) and Andy’s parents are amazing. Good to see another background love story developed. Would have liked to see Lana’s dad and her relationship smooth out a bit more but just seeing the two haters fall properly in love and fight for each other was enough in itself plus epilogues!
I was given an opportunity to read via NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books, it’s out now - happy reading!
This was so good to read, you see the before and after and each of the POV. Plus there is so much yearning and passion for each other and a lot of spice! It’s also very kind and understanding, Lena is quite a complex character with her parental trauma but Andy is just so compassionate towards her. You can feel their love for each other radiating off the page, yes there is a bit of miscommunication but they don’t shy away it’s good to see the conflict and trust in each other.
Also there is dogs, no third act breakup (loved!) and Andy’s parents are amazing. Good to see another background love story developed. Would have liked to see Lana’s dad and her relationship smooth out a bit more but just seeing the two haters fall properly in love and fight for each other was enough in itself plus epilogues!
I was given an opportunity to read via NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books, it’s out now - happy reading!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
well i have to say that the character of lena was written in such a way that you wouldnt like her.... man she was nasty and she went out of her way to keep the war going with andy right throughout their childhood and until they left for university.... that is some hatred to keep brewing...
poor andy lost her childhood friend not knowing what she had done or the whys of it.... she always had to keep herself together and ignore lenas outbursts at her...because there was always something coming her way from lena and it wasnt good....
but just before they both left for their places lena and andy shared a kiss and it was from that day forward they were ruined for everyone else....
now andy was back after receiving a call about the accident her dad had taken ... andy hadnt been home for several years and her feelings of guilt were at a all time high
lena after seeing how the land was at work walked out and went home...back for a time to live with her mother before she got another job...
what neither andy or lena saw coming was how they would meet up and how it would change them....
well i have to say i really didnt like lena at all... never warmed up to her but as she gradually thawed i could understand the whys and what influenced her..... andy and lena chemistry is hot though so that always kept me reading
well i have to say that the character of lena was written in such a way that you wouldnt like her.... man she was nasty and she went out of her way to keep the war going with andy right throughout their childhood and until they left for university.... that is some hatred to keep brewing...
poor andy lost her childhood friend not knowing what she had done or the whys of it.... she always had to keep herself together and ignore lenas outbursts at her...because there was always something coming her way from lena and it wasnt good....
but just before they both left for their places lena and andy shared a kiss and it was from that day forward they were ruined for everyone else....
now andy was back after receiving a call about the accident her dad had taken ... andy hadnt been home for several years and her feelings of guilt were at a all time high
lena after seeing how the land was at work walked out and went home...back for a time to live with her mother before she got another job...
what neither andy or lena saw coming was how they would meet up and how it would change them....
well i have to say i really didnt like lena at all... never warmed up to her but as she gradually thawed i could understand the whys and what influenced her..... andy and lena chemistry is hot though so that always kept me reading
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This started off as such an interesting second chance romance where you get their view on what happened when Andy and Lena were young to present day. I can honestly say that I loved the first half of the book, to see how they struggle to interact now as adults meeting again for the first time since high school and getting the understanding on what happened back then. I think this part of the story should have been detailed even more, even more about them being the best of friends until one day in 5th grade Lena hands Andy a note saying “People just grow apart, Andy. Get used to it.” After that Lena is treating Andy so poorly, she never deserved that, and you really wonder why when reading the book. We have those two kisses at the end of high school that gives a different message and why not stay in that timeline a bit more to get even more angst and longing.
The book is good, but I think a bit less focus on their struggles as adults to be together as well as some more clarity on the whole childhood trauma would have enhanced the book. Instead, we get a lot about their job situation, struggles with parents and a bonus secondary gay story. I also cannot really understand the need for two epilogues.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.
The book is good, but I think a bit less focus on their struggles as adults to be together as well as some more clarity on the whole childhood trauma would have enhanced the book. Instead, we get a lot about their job situation, struggles with parents and a bonus secondary gay story. I also cannot really understand the need for two epilogues.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review –
A second chance romance following two childhood best friends, whereby one of these best friends blew up this friendship to create a cruel hate in their teenage years. Twelve years later, they are both back in their hometown where it was clear their spark has never disappeared and they were always destined to be together.
The beginning of this book had us following both Lena and Andy in present day, but also going back to their teenage years to see their relationship then. If anything, I would have loved to see more of their dynamic in their teenage years – I felt there was a lot more that could have been explored which would have elevated the emotional connection between present day Lena and Andy. However, I feel the author did an excellent job in writing the emotions between Lena and Andy and I felt their palpable connection on the page.
Whilst there was a lot of plot in this book – in the health and relationships of their parents, as well as their struggles with work, I loved that there wasn’t a huge slide plot point and we could just live alongside Andy and Lena trying to figure it all out.
I loved this book! And I would have been more than happy to keep reading along with Andy and Lena navigating their new relationship and building upon the history they had.
Thanks NetGalley and all for the ARC!
A second chance romance following two childhood best friends, whereby one of these best friends blew up this friendship to create a cruel hate in their teenage years. Twelve years later, they are both back in their hometown where it was clear their spark has never disappeared and they were always destined to be together.
The beginning of this book had us following both Lena and Andy in present day, but also going back to their teenage years to see their relationship then. If anything, I would have loved to see more of their dynamic in their teenage years – I felt there was a lot more that could have been explored which would have elevated the emotional connection between present day Lena and Andy. However, I feel the author did an excellent job in writing the emotions between Lena and Andy and I felt their palpable connection on the page.
Whilst there was a lot of plot in this book – in the health and relationships of their parents, as well as their struggles with work, I loved that there wasn’t a huge slide plot point and we could just live alongside Andy and Lena trying to figure it all out.
I loved this book! And I would have been more than happy to keep reading along with Andy and Lena navigating their new relationship and building upon the history they had.
Thanks NetGalley and all for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I Hate You, Now Kiss Me was the first Kimberly Cooper Griffin book I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last. I found her writing really captivating, and I had a lot of fun reading this book! The story follows Andy and Lena, who were best friends in 5th grade but had a falling-out, leaving them hating each other and creating a rivalry between the two. 12 years later, they both end up back in their hometown, reigniting old feelings.
I found myself becoming really attached to these characters. I saw a lot of myself in Lena, and I found her personal growth throughout the story very compelling. The more you read, the more you understand why she treated Andy the way she did, and it really made me sympathize with both characters. This book brought out a lot of raw emotions in me. I wasn’t expecting this book to be such an impactful read, but I really enjoyed it!
The author’s sense of humour really comes through in the story, and I found the jokes throughout really refreshing. I really appreciate how the dialogue is naturally funny, rather than feeling forced. I also love the way she describes Lena and Andy’s feelings towards each other. The descriptions of their emotions are so beautiful.
This book is a lovely combination of emotional, spicy, and sweet. If you’re looking for a sapphic second-chance romance, you should definitely give this book a try!
I found myself becoming really attached to these characters. I saw a lot of myself in Lena, and I found her personal growth throughout the story very compelling. The more you read, the more you understand why she treated Andy the way she did, and it really made me sympathize with both characters. This book brought out a lot of raw emotions in me. I wasn’t expecting this book to be such an impactful read, but I really enjoyed it!
The author’s sense of humour really comes through in the story, and I found the jokes throughout really refreshing. I really appreciate how the dialogue is naturally funny, rather than feeling forced. I also love the way she describes Lena and Andy’s feelings towards each other. The descriptions of their emotions are so beautiful.
This book is a lovely combination of emotional, spicy, and sweet. If you’re looking for a sapphic second-chance romance, you should definitely give this book a try!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (or title!), but honestly, that is exactly what drew me in.
It’s a childhood best friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story that tackles some very heavy themes. At first, it isn’t clear why Lena decided to cut Andy off when they were barely ten years old, and that really kept me turning the pages until 1am. The eventual reveal is so heartbreaking that you won't want to miss it.
I think the themes of parental neglect and emotional abuse were handled with grace, making it clear why Lena acted the way she did throughout her life.
I also loved their academic rivalry, and how it shaped their professional careers as a meteorologist and a marine biologist. As a fellow queer woman in STEM, I always appreciate the representation!
The only downside is that, at times, important conversations between the main characters felt a bit rushed, lacking a proper sense of closure.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a solid enemies-to-lovers trope rooted in a deep, lifelong connection.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing an advance copia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s a childhood best friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story that tackles some very heavy themes. At first, it isn’t clear why Lena decided to cut Andy off when they were barely ten years old, and that really kept me turning the pages until 1am. The eventual reveal is so heartbreaking that you won't want to miss it.
I think the themes of parental neglect and emotional abuse were handled with grace, making it clear why Lena acted the way she did throughout her life.
I also loved their academic rivalry, and how it shaped their professional careers as a meteorologist and a marine biologist. As a fellow queer woman in STEM, I always appreciate the representation!
The only downside is that, at times, important conversations between the main characters felt a bit rushed, lacking a proper sense of closure.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a solid enemies-to-lovers trope rooted in a deep, lifelong connection.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing an advance copia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lena and Andy were best friends until they were in 5th grade when Lena suddenly fell out with Andy. They would watch each other from a distance and shared a kiss or two whilst in high school.
Now adults Andy had to return home to help her dad after an accident. Lena just happens to return home and relives the horrors of living with her mother. Who is emotionally abusive and makes her feel like a child again.
L and A bump into each other again and all the feelings bottled up come back to the surface raw and fresh.
As they find their friendship again they help each other realise what happened in the past and how they can grow and move on from this.
The downside for me was some of the scenes felt dragged out and could of been sorted sooner. I would of liked individual POV chapters rather than split into different povs mid chapter.
Overall it was a good book and I'd recommend it to people, and would read more by this author.
It was a cute love story with a lovely ending I'd like to see more from these two.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have an advanced copy of this book for a honest review.
Now adults Andy had to return home to help her dad after an accident. Lena just happens to return home and relives the horrors of living with her mother. Who is emotionally abusive and makes her feel like a child again.
L and A bump into each other again and all the feelings bottled up come back to the surface raw and fresh.
As they find their friendship again they help each other realise what happened in the past and how they can grow and move on from this.
The downside for me was some of the scenes felt dragged out and could of been sorted sooner. I would of liked individual POV chapters rather than split into different povs mid chapter.
Overall it was a good book and I'd recommend it to people, and would read more by this author.
It was a cute love story with a lovely ending I'd like to see more from these two.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have an advanced copy of this book for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lena Holmes and Andy Phillips were childhood best friends until the 5th grade. And then Lena turns on Andy as if they were mortal enemies. Some of the actions are very harsh for the beginning of a romance book. Andy tries to glimpses of her old BFF but it is difficult. Jumping forward a dozen years and as adults they return to their childhood homes. Andy is a marine biologist and has come back to care for her father who had a serious work accident that will take months of recovery. Lena quit her job as a meteorologist and on air weather person and returned home to regroup and look for other work. The best way I can put it is they are absolutely drawn to each other.
Grace and understanding are given rather easily. I love how they interact as adults even with the baggage they carry. They aren’t perfect and the story is messy and hot. But I will remember Lena and Andy. They stand out. I have already read my favorite scenes again. I also enjoyed both epilogues. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review. (4.5 Stars)
Grace and understanding are given rather easily. I love how they interact as adults even with the baggage they carry. They aren’t perfect and the story is messy and hot. But I will remember Lena and Andy. They stand out. I have already read my favorite scenes again. I also enjoyed both epilogues. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review. (4.5 Stars)
May 3, 2026
I Hate You, Now Kiss Me is a well-written story that goes beyond a typical romance. What really stood out to me is the deeper layer: it explores where behavior comes from, why people act the way they do, and how past experiences—especially at a young age—can shape someone’s life.
The history between Lena and Andy is complex and emotional, and you can feel how their past continues to influence their present. The story shows not only the impact of those experiences, but also how much effort it can take to grow, to see the world differently, and to want to be seen in a new way. That personal development is, for me, the biggest strength of this book.
Their dynamic, shifting from hostility to something much more vulnerable, is compelling and believable. Combined with family tensions and second chances, it creates a story that feels both emotional and real.
Overall, a meaningful and engaging read that offers more depth than you might expect.
I am voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy of the book.
The history between Lena and Andy is complex and emotional, and you can feel how their past continues to influence their present. The story shows not only the impact of those experiences, but also how much effort it can take to grow, to see the world differently, and to want to be seen in a new way. That personal development is, for me, the biggest strength of this book.
Their dynamic, shifting from hostility to something much more vulnerable, is compelling and believable. Combined with family tensions and second chances, it creates a story that feels both emotional and real.
Overall, a meaningful and engaging read that offers more depth than you might expect.
I am voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm completely new to this author's books, but I'm so incredibly glad I picked this one up. This was such a sweet story about navigating messy feelings and finding connection where you least expect it. I absolutely loved the dual POV. It was integrated seamlessly. Sometimes shifting perspectives can disrupt the flow of a storyline, but here it just added so much heart and depth. What a massive relief to find a romance without the dreaded third-act breakup! Instead, we get a lovely story with lots of genuine sentiment. There was enough raw emotion to actually bring tears to my eyes, but it never crossed the line into being devastating. It's great to explore that vulnerability while keeping things fiercely passionate. And trust me, the spice level is absolutely off the charts. Hot, emotional, and perfectly paced. Plus, there's a dog. Honestly, all books need dogs. Just a wonderful, fiery romance about assessing what you really want and putting your heart first.
April 25, 2026
In I Hate You, Now Kiss Me, Lena and Andy were once the best of friends. And then in fifth grade everything changes, and they become bitter enemies and yet somehow unable to forget about the other. This continues until their senior year, when Lena kisses Andy. Twice.
This part of the novel is fairly short, and we are then brought into their adulthood, when they both end up back in their hometown for different reasons. They quickly join up again, and their feelings soon turn romantic.
The relationship between the two is intriguing in both childhood and adulthood. When it’s just the two of them, the novel works very well. Their families play a large part in who they are as people, and there is a separate story (or stories) with their family members, but I feel like that part of the book actually gets a bit of short shrift. I do wish that part had been expanded a bit. But overall a very good read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This part of the novel is fairly short, and we are then brought into their adulthood, when they both end up back in their hometown for different reasons. They quickly join up again, and their feelings soon turn romantic.
The relationship between the two is intriguing in both childhood and adulthood. When it’s just the two of them, the novel works very well. Their families play a large part in who they are as people, and there is a separate story (or stories) with their family members, but I feel like that part of the book actually gets a bit of short shrift. I do wish that part had been expanded a bit. But overall a very good read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
April 20, 2026
Andy and Lena were best friends until 5th grade when Lena inexplicably ended their friendship and became, over the next years, Andy's bully. Then, in two incidents, as they were leaving high school, Lena kissed Andy. Now more than a decade later, each woman returns to their hometown--Andy to care for his injured father, and Lena, after quitting her job in Phoenix. The book recounts their slow reconnection and the ways in which their families figure into both their present and their past.
This rather long book spends a lot of time inside the heads of each MC as they reflect on the past and try to figure out what they want from each other. There's plenty of sex scenes in the second half as well. One of the most interesting aspects has to do with Lena's family issues and her recovery from trauma.
I was provided an ARC by the publisher via Net Galley.
This rather long book spends a lot of time inside the heads of each MC as they reflect on the past and try to figure out what they want from each other. There's plenty of sex scenes in the second half as well. One of the most interesting aspects has to do with Lena's family issues and her recovery from trauma.
I was provided an ARC by the publisher via Net Galley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
Andy and Lena were best friends as children, until Lena ends their friendship out of the blue. The next few years are spent at odds with one another, doing whatever they can to make the other's life hell. That is until Lena surprised Andy with a kiss (or two) before they head off to college.
Fast forward, and the two are back in town back in town at time in over a decade, and the pair reconnect. Things quickly go from friendly to outright steamy between Lena and Andy in no time, and the pair realize they would have been better together than apart.
Honestly, I Hate You Now Kiss Me was fine. I'm not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, and things between Lena and Andy would not have been so drawn out and awful if they had just talked. Still cute though!
Andy and Lena were best friends as children, until Lena ends their friendship out of the blue. The next few years are spent at odds with one another, doing whatever they can to make the other's life hell. That is until Lena surprised Andy with a kiss (or two) before they head off to college.
Fast forward, and the two are back in town back in town at time in over a decade, and the pair reconnect. Things quickly go from friendly to outright steamy between Lena and Andy in no time, and the pair realize they would have been better together than apart.
Honestly, I Hate You Now Kiss Me was fine. I'm not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, and things between Lena and Andy would not have been so drawn out and awful if they had just talked. Still cute though!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5⭐️
This romcom was a total swoon fest! The story centers on two women mending their broken relationship and navigating the complexities of forgiveness and reconciliation. It is definitely more character-driven than plot-heavy, however, that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story. The protagonists’ growth (especially Lena’s) was so well written that i didn’t mind the slower pace at all. It deals with some heavy topics like child neglect and verbal abuse, so it was a little emotionally taxing at times. There was a third-act breakup by the 80% mark that was thankfully done correctly, it didn’t feel forced and it added some nice tension and conflict to the story.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
This romcom was a total swoon fest! The story centers on two women mending their broken relationship and navigating the complexities of forgiveness and reconciliation. It is definitely more character-driven than plot-heavy, however, that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story. The protagonists’ growth (especially Lena’s) was so well written that i didn’t mind the slower pace at all. It deals with some heavy topics like child neglect and verbal abuse, so it was a little emotionally taxing at times. There was a third-act breakup by the 80% mark that was thankfully done correctly, it didn’t feel forced and it added some nice tension and conflict to the story.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2026
Lena and Andy were best friends who turned enemies in 5th grade. They spend the next 6 years torturing each other, until they share not one but two kisses before leaving for college. Twelve years later, they both end up in their hometown at the same time and reconnect.
I Hate You, Now Kiss Me is a friends to enemies to lovers romance. It is an emotional journey, as the MC’s rekindle their friendship and help each other heal. Lena’s toxic family dynamic with break your heart for her 10 year old self. I’m not really a fan of the miscommunication trope, however it works here to show character growth and how they are working towards overcoming their past.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I Hate You, Now Kiss Me is a friends to enemies to lovers romance. It is an emotional journey, as the MC’s rekindle their friendship and help each other heal. Lena’s toxic family dynamic with break your heart for her 10 year old self. I’m not really a fan of the miscommunication trope, however it works here to show character growth and how they are working towards overcoming their past.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A second chance romance following two childhood best friends who had a blow up that ended their friendship. Twelve years later, they are both back in their hometown where the spark never truly had gone away.
The beginning of this book had us following both Lena and Andy in present day, but it had flashbacks to their teenage years to give insight. It would have been good to see more of their teenage years, but it was still a good read. The author did the story justice and it was a great story with excellent writing.
Very enjoyable book that I would recommend. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of this book had us following both Lena and Andy in present day, but it had flashbacks to their teenage years to give insight. It would have been good to see more of their teenage years, but it was still a good read. The author did the story justice and it was a great story with excellent writing.
Very enjoyable book that I would recommend. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*review of advance reader copy from NetGalley*
The story follows Andy and Lena, childhood best friends who had a sudden falling out in fifth grade and became enemies. After high school, they both leave their hometown, but each end up back at the same time and reconnect/explore their true feelings for each other (hello enemies to lovers!) I enjoyed this book, some parts did feel a bit more like filler, but the characters were all well developed, including the side characters, and boy did I hate Lena's mom! I loved the connection between the two main characters, and the spicy scenes were done really well. Overall this was a more emotional read than I was expecting, but in a good way.
The story follows Andy and Lena, childhood best friends who had a sudden falling out in fifth grade and became enemies. After high school, they both leave their hometown, but each end up back at the same time and reconnect/explore their true feelings for each other (hello enemies to lovers!) I enjoyed this book, some parts did feel a bit more like filler, but the characters were all well developed, including the side characters, and boy did I hate Lena's mom! I loved the connection between the two main characters, and the spicy scenes were done really well. Overall this was a more emotional read than I was expecting, but in a good way.
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