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If You Dare #1
Sweet Hate: If You Dare Series, Book 1
Note to Don’t play truth or dare with your super hot ex best friend if you’re not prepared to lose more than your panties. Which is why avoiding Axel Verona is the only priority as I come back to Sweet Haven for the first time in eleven years. But I didn’t count on accidentally setting my gram’s bakery on fire. Or that the super growly, chisel jawed fireman coming to my rescue would be none other than Axel himself.
FML.
The sparks flying between us are hotter than the flames coming from the oven.
Not that it matters.
After he ghosted me for over a decade, I’m pretty sure he hates me. And you know what? I’m not a fan of his either.
But when he surprises me with a game of truth or dare over text, I can’t back down.
One dare leads to the next, and before I know it…I’m in too deep.
All it takes is a video of him sliding down a fire pole.
One look at those bulging arm muscles and his cheeky wink, and now all I can think about is sliding down his instead.
Last time I gave into those orders, I lost my best friend and that’s one thing I don’t plan on repeating.
FML.
The sparks flying between us are hotter than the flames coming from the oven.
Not that it matters.
After he ghosted me for over a decade, I’m pretty sure he hates me. And you know what? I’m not a fan of his either.
But when he surprises me with a game of truth or dare over text, I can’t back down.
One dare leads to the next, and before I know it…I’m in too deep.
All it takes is a video of him sliding down a fire pole.
One look at those bulging arm muscles and his cheeky wink, and now all I can think about is sliding down his instead.
Last time I gave into those orders, I lost my best friend and that’s one thing I don’t plan on repeating.
Audible Audio
Published July 31, 2026
About the author
Canea Cox
3 books86 followersOh hai!
Welcome to my GR Profile.
I’m a UK based author / illustrator, living in London with my IRL book hubby.
If I’m not dreaming up or drawing my latest book boyfriend, I can be found looking at our predominantly grey skies and manifesting sunset views over the ocean.
Fun fact: my book characters reeeally start talking to me once I’ve drawn them. Sweet Hate all started with their cover, and Haven just couldn’t stop chatting away in my mind at 3am until I listened and spilled out her story.
Between my sheets you can expect to find the inner ramblings of the heroes who love hard, and the sassy, spirited heroines who love to bring them to their knees. You’ll also find, not limited to, crass humour (because yes, I do have the same sense of humour as a teenage boy occasionally 🤷♀️), swearing, spice, and the odd Britishism that will very likely sneak into all my characters because I write how I talk…
If you loved my books, feel free to inbox me on
Insta @caneacoxauthor, because I love to hear about what you enjoyed!
If you hated it, that’s cool, but respectfully, I don’t need those inbox DM’s.
This author shit is a wild ride, and I’m thrilled you hopped on it with me!
Welcome to my GR Profile.
I’m a UK based author / illustrator, living in London with my IRL book hubby.
If I’m not dreaming up or drawing my latest book boyfriend, I can be found looking at our predominantly grey skies and manifesting sunset views over the ocean.
Fun fact: my book characters reeeally start talking to me once I’ve drawn them. Sweet Hate all started with their cover, and Haven just couldn’t stop chatting away in my mind at 3am until I listened and spilled out her story.
Between my sheets you can expect to find the inner ramblings of the heroes who love hard, and the sassy, spirited heroines who love to bring them to their knees. You’ll also find, not limited to, crass humour (because yes, I do have the same sense of humour as a teenage boy occasionally 🤷♀️), swearing, spice, and the odd Britishism that will very likely sneak into all my characters because I write how I talk…
If you loved my books, feel free to inbox me on
Insta @caneacoxauthor, because I love to hear about what you enjoyed!
If you hated it, that’s cool, but respectfully, I don’t need those inbox DM’s.
This author shit is a wild ride, and I’m thrilled you hopped on it with me!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
September 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Haven and Axel were high school friends with benefits/sweethearts turn "enemies" I use that term loosely because they truly didn't hate eahcother. mad at eachother yes. but hate no. they acted like it but. I didn't feel a hate bone.
it was sorta a im push you away and not connect you so you dont stay.
that's what Axel did to her his own personal problems and he knew she would stay for him.
that was the reason. so you see them try to avoid eachother but cant since he lives in the apartment upstairs.
Also hes helping fix up the bakery that caught on fire. there is alot of back and forth between the 2.
it did annoy me why the reason and Axel could've been up front years ago why the ghosting. they sorta had the same problem him thinking she might leave. instead of talking. but if that happen we probably wouldn't get this book.
we get the next couple. and like Axel hes a playboy. and his girl crush doesn't believe hes the one to settle down. and she saw all his hook ups. BECAUSE SHES HIS ROOMMATE. IDK if I'll read that one. girl deserve better.
Saftey- Axel was known as a playboy only did ons nothing else no serious stuff. Before FMC came back home he hasn't slept with anyone in 8 months. So celibate. We do see a ons person but fmc puts her in place.
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Seperation (few years)
Push away from both
praise kink
Mentions of death of a parent
no condom
semi public play
hea
Epilogue
Haven and Axel were high school friends with benefits/sweethearts turn "enemies" I use that term loosely because they truly didn't hate eahcother. mad at eachother yes. but hate no. they acted like it but. I didn't feel a hate bone.
it was sorta a im push you away and not connect you so you dont stay.
that's what Axel did to her his own personal problems and he knew she would stay for him.
that was the reason. so you see them try to avoid eachother but cant since he lives in the apartment upstairs.
Also hes helping fix up the bakery that caught on fire. there is alot of back and forth between the 2.
it did annoy me why the reason and Axel could've been up front years ago why the ghosting. they sorta had the same problem him thinking she might leave. instead of talking. but if that happen we probably wouldn't get this book.
we get the next couple. and like Axel hes a playboy. and his girl crush doesn't believe hes the one to settle down. and she saw all his hook ups. BECAUSE SHES HIS ROOMMATE. IDK if I'll read that one. girl deserve better.
Saftey- Axel was known as a playboy only did ons nothing else no serious stuff. Before FMC came back home he hasn't slept with anyone in 8 months. So celibate. We do see a ons person but fmc puts her in place.
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Seperation (few years)
Push away from both
praise kink
Mentions of death of a parent
no condom
semi public play
hea
Epilogue
August 24, 2025
After eleven years away in London, Haven has returned to the small stateside town where she never felt like she fit in to try to make a go of her grandmother’s bakery. Unfortunately she immediately experiences an electrical fire after accepting a huge job for a socialite’s wedding. As she’s attempting to put out the fire herself, she’s snatched up and tossed over a massive shoulder which just so happens to belong to the one man she hoped she’d be able to avoid.
Firefighter and handyman Axel is shocked when he’s called to the fire beneath his apartment and finds his former best friend and his first love Haven in real danger. Harnessing his fear for her safety, he dons the mantel of anger to scold her for not running out of the building and tries to keep the anger simmering to hold her at arms length. Of course he fails spectacularly and meddling friends conspire to throw the pair of them into each other’s way as much as possible.
Old feelings can’t be contained, but can their need to protect their hearts keep them from a happily ever after?
This was a fun, steamy, and somewhat angsty second chance romance. Four and a half stars rounded to five.
I received an advance reader copy from the author and bookfunnel, and I’m sharing my honest review.
Firefighter and handyman Axel is shocked when he’s called to the fire beneath his apartment and finds his former best friend and his first love Haven in real danger. Harnessing his fear for her safety, he dons the mantel of anger to scold her for not running out of the building and tries to keep the anger simmering to hold her at arms length. Of course he fails spectacularly and meddling friends conspire to throw the pair of them into each other’s way as much as possible.
Old feelings can’t be contained, but can their need to protect their hearts keep them from a happily ever after?
This was a fun, steamy, and somewhat angsty second chance romance. Four and a half stars rounded to five.
I received an advance reader copy from the author and bookfunnel, and I’m sharing my honest review.
November 25, 2025
”We wasted so many years because I was a total idiot”
That sentence pretty much sums up the whole book. (Possible spoilers ahead)
H has some type of martyr complex.
H and h have always been BFFs until the summer they turned 18. h was leaving after the summer to go overseas, so h and H embarked on a FWB relationship. He didn’t tell her his dad was dying because he knew she would stay and give up her dreams. 🙄 Fantastic! Everybody loves a man who assumes and makes decisions for them. 🤦♀️ :/s
So what does he do? He completely ghosted her for 11 years right after she left (but hey, at least he shagged her one last time before she got on the plane 😬) The poor woman kept texting him for weeks and he wouldn’t reply.
I guess his reasoning for not contacting her later on was because he heard she moved on with another guy. What did he expect her to do? 🤷♀️ He had also moved on with every woman in town.
Haha. This H loved h so much that he basically banged EVERY. SINGLE. WOMAN. In town. Let me list all the reasons he justifies to h how she is different, tho.
1. Never bought any of his bangs to his home
2. Never went bare with any other woman
3. Never f’ed any other woman twice
4. Never let any other woman on his motorcycle
5. Never let any other woman call him daddy
Now after 11 years, she’s back in town. For some reason, THAT MAKES ZERO SENSE, he is very angry and rude to her. Buuuuuuut, he’s also always rubbing all up on her. 😏
Random note but WTF does this guy have a white streak of hair in his bangs? It’s mentioned a bunch. Why?
So these two will go about 70% before they will even have a serious discussion, but even then, it’s just brushed over very quickly. They get to the smexing. Both H and h were exhausting with their POVs. None of their actions made any sense at all.
That epilogue was something. It was literally THE SAME DAY.
This H wasn’t nothing but a manchild with a martyr complex.
Meh 🫤
That sentence pretty much sums up the whole book. (Possible spoilers ahead)
H has some type of martyr complex.
H and h have always been BFFs until the summer they turned 18. h was leaving after the summer to go overseas, so h and H embarked on a FWB relationship. He didn’t tell her his dad was dying because he knew she would stay and give up her dreams. 🙄 Fantastic! Everybody loves a man who assumes and makes decisions for them. 🤦♀️ :/s
So what does he do? He completely ghosted her for 11 years right after she left (but hey, at least he shagged her one last time before she got on the plane 😬) The poor woman kept texting him for weeks and he wouldn’t reply.
I guess his reasoning for not contacting her later on was because he heard she moved on with another guy. What did he expect her to do? 🤷♀️ He had also moved on with every woman in town.
Haha. This H loved h so much that he basically banged EVERY. SINGLE. WOMAN. In town. Let me list all the reasons he justifies to h how she is different, tho.
1. Never bought any of his bangs to his home
2. Never went bare with any other woman
3. Never f’ed any other woman twice
4. Never let any other woman on his motorcycle
5. Never let any other woman call him daddy
Now after 11 years, she’s back in town. For some reason, THAT MAKES ZERO SENSE, he is very angry and rude to her. Buuuuuuut, he’s also always rubbing all up on her. 😏
Random note but WTF does this guy have a white streak of hair in his bangs? It’s mentioned a bunch. Why?
So these two will go about 70% before they will even have a serious discussion, but even then, it’s just brushed over very quickly. They get to the smexing. Both H and h were exhausting with their POVs. None of their actions made any sense at all.
That epilogue was something. It was literally THE SAME DAY.
This H wasn’t nothing but a manchild with a martyr complex.
Meh 🫤
July 27, 2025
Let’s start off with a huge apology to Canea. For three days, my giddy self was in your DMs giving you a play by play of my thoughts and feelings while reading your book. Someone needed to hear all my internal thoughts. As this was an ARC, you were the chosen one. You’re welcome. 😊 Hopefully you weren’t bothered too much by my extra self. 🤞🏽
Now on to Haven and Axel.
These two love birds had the angsty, "I hate you" flirting down to a T. The best part? All of their flirting was deliciously filthy. Oh good lord. Axel has a month on him that would make all proper, southern ladies clutch their pearls as they exclaim “I do declare!” Haven isn't any less inappropriate. Girl. Outfit choices. Let’s go shopping. For me. 🤣🤣
So many wonderful things here. Small town, second chance, frenemies to lovers, and a cinnamon alphahole are all found in this story. How can a book have me squealing from the banter (from both the sexy and vanilla kind), cheering when either Haven or Axel made a move, or in tears when they were laying their hearts out on the line?
From the teasers, this book promised smartass comebacks. It delivered on that front. In spades! What was a surprise to me was how much it sucked that every day life got in the way of me finishing this story. The need to cocoon myself in my favorite blanket while devouring this book instead of going to my favorite Yelp event was STRONG!!! The only upside to getting dolled up to party like a 20 something was getting to prolong the ending for an extra day.
Spoiler Quotes. Seriously. Stop if you don’t want to read them.
Last chance.
Stop reading if you don’t want to know.
“Saving kittens? The only pussy I’m trying to save right now is yours, Haven.”
-Axel
“If anything, my inner hussy got off on it. I need my bloody head examined.”
-Haven
“You got a medical condition that stops you from wearing shirts Verona?”
-Haven
“His now full erection prods at my thin panties. Balls…this was not the day to wear a tiny dress. Not when I just passed go and flew right through the friendzone. What was I thinking with this stunt?”
-Haven
“It’s always been her, Keely. Now, if you don’t mind, can you please stop making a scene and get the fuck out of my face so I can get back to spending time with my girl?”
-Axel
“It might be a bit late, but I picked up one of those fancy coffees you like, and I saw you reading one of those lady porn books, so I asked the lady in the bookstore what’s new and popular, and she gave me those. I hope you haven’t read them yet.”
-Axel
Now on to Haven and Axel.
These two love birds had the angsty, "I hate you" flirting down to a T. The best part? All of their flirting was deliciously filthy. Oh good lord. Axel has a month on him that would make all proper, southern ladies clutch their pearls as they exclaim “I do declare!” Haven isn't any less inappropriate. Girl. Outfit choices. Let’s go shopping. For me. 🤣🤣
So many wonderful things here. Small town, second chance, frenemies to lovers, and a cinnamon alphahole are all found in this story. How can a book have me squealing from the banter (from both the sexy and vanilla kind), cheering when either Haven or Axel made a move, or in tears when they were laying their hearts out on the line?
From the teasers, this book promised smartass comebacks. It delivered on that front. In spades! What was a surprise to me was how much it sucked that every day life got in the way of me finishing this story. The need to cocoon myself in my favorite blanket while devouring this book instead of going to my favorite Yelp event was STRONG!!! The only upside to getting dolled up to party like a 20 something was getting to prolong the ending for an extra day.
Spoiler Quotes. Seriously. Stop if you don’t want to read them.
Last chance.
Stop reading if you don’t want to know.
“Saving kittens? The only pussy I’m trying to save right now is yours, Haven.”
-Axel
“If anything, my inner hussy got off on it. I need my bloody head examined.”
-Haven
“You got a medical condition that stops you from wearing shirts Verona?”
-Haven
“His now full erection prods at my thin panties. Balls…this was not the day to wear a tiny dress. Not when I just passed go and flew right through the friendzone. What was I thinking with this stunt?”
-Haven
“It’s always been her, Keely. Now, if you don’t mind, can you please stop making a scene and get the fuck out of my face so I can get back to spending time with my girl?”
-Axel
“It might be a bit late, but I picked up one of those fancy coffees you like, and I saw you reading one of those lady porn books, so I asked the lady in the bookstore what’s new and popular, and she gave me those. I hope you haven’t read them yet.”
-Axel
March 2, 2026
I loved this book!
I was not expecting anything, just a simple romance book, but it was so good. This was fun, exciting, sexy, and with a looot of tension. Exactly what I like.
I’m excited to read the next book in the series this summer!
I was not expecting anything, just a simple romance book, but it was so good. This was fun, exciting, sexy, and with a looot of tension. Exactly what I like.
I’m excited to read the next book in the series this summer!
August 5, 2026
Format Audiobook
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
Narrated in duet style by Andi Eloise & Christian Fox.
Ex best friend
Enemies to Lovers
Fireman
Baker
Small town
Haven and Axel
Haven hasn’t been in town long and she needs to call 911, who turns up to save her, someone she never expected.
Can they put the past behind them and move forward?
Really love the friend group.
Banter is on point for these two
Author is new to me and I can’t to read her next book
Andi Eloise and Christian Fox were the perfect choice.
Thank you Pinup Audio for this ALC
August 8, 2025
I LOVED every minute of it, I was kicking my feet and giggling by the end of chapter 1 and it didn’t stop until I finished the book 3-4 hours later. Also… firefighter x baker romance? A trope I didn’t know I needed!!!
This was one of those books where it was that good that every character was a main character, I absolutely loved Axel and Haven, but the side characters definitely had some of my love too. Everyone was just so much fun to be around.
The banter was also chefs kiss. From the cheeky text messages, to the tension whilst Haven and Axel were around each other, but even more so my favourite parts were the cheeky TRUTH OR DARE games they played. The spice was definitely spicing!!
The friendships were also amazing, considering both Axel’s and Haven’s situationship. I loved how they are all solid friends but they still invested themselves and kept the banter going just to spice things up.
For a debut novel, this book was phenomenal. You would not believe this is a debut book! And I cannot wait for book 2 in the If You Dare series.
This was one of those books where it was that good that every character was a main character, I absolutely loved Axel and Haven, but the side characters definitely had some of my love too. Everyone was just so much fun to be around.
The banter was also chefs kiss. From the cheeky text messages, to the tension whilst Haven and Axel were around each other, but even more so my favourite parts were the cheeky TRUTH OR DARE games they played. The spice was definitely spicing!!
The friendships were also amazing, considering both Axel’s and Haven’s situationship. I loved how they are all solid friends but they still invested themselves and kept the banter going just to spice things up.
For a debut novel, this book was phenomenal. You would not believe this is a debut book! And I cannot wait for book 2 in the If You Dare series.
December 1, 2025
Man I really had to push through this one. Was determined to finish it, in the end I learnt two things.
1. Blow my load in you is not a sexy term and should never be written in spice again.
2. I detest when they refer their bits as he and she
When it comes to the story it was just abit daft. The reason he ghosted her was ridiculous, I truly did not understand why he hated her when she came back to town she did absolutely nothing wrong. It all went abit too fast, from hating her to being in love with her instantly. I'm not against a playboy mmc sometimes it goes with the story, but in this it was talked about FAR too much to a cringey level.
Finally throwing in a daddy kink in the last few chapters is cramming stuff in to appeal to as many people as you can.
In the end, I heavily skipped through the epilogue.
1. Blow my load in you is not a sexy term and should never be written in spice again.
2. I detest when they refer their bits as he and she
When it comes to the story it was just abit daft. The reason he ghosted her was ridiculous, I truly did not understand why he hated her when she came back to town she did absolutely nothing wrong. It all went abit too fast, from hating her to being in love with her instantly. I'm not against a playboy mmc sometimes it goes with the story, but in this it was talked about FAR too much to a cringey level.
Finally throwing in a daddy kink in the last few chapters is cramming stuff in to appeal to as many people as you can.
In the end, I heavily skipped through the epilogue.
August 8, 2025
I had the privilege to read this arc. I absolutely devoured it. It is so good. Its funny, spicy, swoony, and everything. I won't spoil anything, but get some firefighter romance in ya life!
August 21, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ 3🌶️
This was such a fantastic, feel good story that made me laugh and fall in love with these characters from the first chapter. Not only that, but the audiobook is honestly one of my favourites of the year. Haven and Axel were childhood best friends, but it’s been ten years since they last spoke or saw each other. Now Haven has returned to town, and she never expected her new bakery to catch fire or the man who ghosted her to come swooping in.
From the first chapter, you’re sucked in by Haven and Axel’s electric, intense connection. The back and forth between them, along with the added banter, did things to me. I love Haven’s personality. She’s such a beautiful, jumpy, and bubbly person, which gives her character so much depth. From being vibrant and flirty to firm and feisty when it came to Axel, she had me smiling throughout. Axel is a bit of a grump when it comes to Haven, but he is so down bad for her and always has been. The things he does for her while convincing her to stay and be with him melted me.
I loved these two together, along with all the friends and family who were meddling in their relationship. The spice was absolutely delicious and so much fun. Not only do we get that soulmate energy and many fantastic, fun moments, but we also delve into the raw emotions and feelings that have always existed between them, especially when they finally discuss what happened all those years ago. I’ll be thinking about Haven and Axel for quite some time.
Please don’t sit on this audiobook. It’s so brilliant. Andi and Christian captured such a wide range of emotions, and it was a joy to listen to. As mentioned, it’s one of my favourite audiobooks of the year.
This was my first Canea Cox book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I need to add more of her work to my TBR immediately. I’m looking forward to listening to Sour Notes very soon!
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 10hrs 57mins
Narrators: Andi Eloise and Christian Fox - Duet With Apperances from Savannah Thomas and James Cassidy
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: First Person Dual
Series or Standalone: Book One In The If You Dare Series.
Tropes or Themes: Childhood Best Friends, Frenemies To Lovers, Second Chance, Firefighter, He Falls First, Forced Proximity, Chemistry, Tension, Soulmates, Banter, When He Throws Her Over His Shoulder, Truth Or Dare, Past Memories, Friends With Benefits, Jealousy, Mine, My Girl, It’s Always Been You, Sexual Content, Praise, Dirty Talk, Toys, Edgeing, Teasing, Panty Thief, Squirting, Spit Play, Food Play, Taken Bare, Daddy Kink, Public Play, Phone Scene, Motorbike Scene and Office Scene.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Pinterest | Facebook | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
This was such a fantastic, feel good story that made me laugh and fall in love with these characters from the first chapter. Not only that, but the audiobook is honestly one of my favourites of the year. Haven and Axel were childhood best friends, but it’s been ten years since they last spoke or saw each other. Now Haven has returned to town, and she never expected her new bakery to catch fire or the man who ghosted her to come swooping in.
From the first chapter, you’re sucked in by Haven and Axel’s electric, intense connection. The back and forth between them, along with the added banter, did things to me. I love Haven’s personality. She’s such a beautiful, jumpy, and bubbly person, which gives her character so much depth. From being vibrant and flirty to firm and feisty when it came to Axel, she had me smiling throughout. Axel is a bit of a grump when it comes to Haven, but he is so down bad for her and always has been. The things he does for her while convincing her to stay and be with him melted me.
I loved these two together, along with all the friends and family who were meddling in their relationship. The spice was absolutely delicious and so much fun. Not only do we get that soulmate energy and many fantastic, fun moments, but we also delve into the raw emotions and feelings that have always existed between them, especially when they finally discuss what happened all those years ago. I’ll be thinking about Haven and Axel for quite some time.
Please don’t sit on this audiobook. It’s so brilliant. Andi and Christian captured such a wide range of emotions, and it was a joy to listen to. As mentioned, it’s one of my favourite audiobooks of the year.
This was my first Canea Cox book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I need to add more of her work to my TBR immediately. I’m looking forward to listening to Sour Notes very soon!
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 10hrs 57mins
Narrators: Andi Eloise and Christian Fox - Duet With Apperances from Savannah Thomas and James Cassidy
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: First Person Dual
Series or Standalone: Book One In The If You Dare Series.
Tropes or Themes: Childhood Best Friends, Frenemies To Lovers, Second Chance, Firefighter, He Falls First, Forced Proximity, Chemistry, Tension, Soulmates, Banter, When He Throws Her Over His Shoulder, Truth Or Dare, Past Memories, Friends With Benefits, Jealousy, Mine, My Girl, It’s Always Been You, Sexual Content, Praise, Dirty Talk, Toys, Edgeing, Teasing, Panty Thief, Squirting, Spit Play, Food Play, Taken Bare, Daddy Kink, Public Play, Phone Scene, Motorbike Scene and Office Scene.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Pinterest | Facebook | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
September 7, 2025
I tend to hate second chance romance books. When I applied to receive an ARC copy of this book, I somehow missed the "second chance" part of it. After getting the ARC and realizing that this had a second chance element to it, I will not lie - I was slightly disappointed, but I already made the promise to read this book and give my honest input on it. I did just that and I am more than excited to say that my original hate on second chance romances has shifted all thanks to Canea Cox - which might I add, this is her first book released and it is actually amazing! - I cannot wait for more!
This book is a delicious combination of sweet, spicy and hilarious - RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING! The spice is spicing. I give this book a 4/5 on the spiciness scale. The spicy scenes were written very well, but was not overdone or override the plot. The plot and spice seamlessly intertwined.
Now let's talk a little about Haven and Axel. Haven is such a strong and beautiful woman who is amazing at baking and starting fires. That is okay though, because Axel is amazing and will always be there to put out those fires - literally and figuratively 😉
There were times where I literally facepalmed with the denials from Axel and Haven regarding how they never loved each other more than friends. Mind you, Axel came to his senses real quick, but Haven was in full protect her heart. I will not give any spoilers on why - but the ENTIRE explanation is revealed later in the book. It is worth it and had me feeling a type of way.
I must also mention that the insults that were thrown to each other were naughty and hilarious! I am including some of my favourite quotes from the book - that will not have spoilers.
P.S. - stay tuned for the second book in this series (Sour Notes, expected August 2026!!). I have a very strong feeling that it is going to be just as good as this one!
This one hit too close to home! LOL
All in all, I would STRONGLY recommend that you read this book. You will be thoroughly entertained and invested!
This book is a delicious combination of sweet, spicy and hilarious - RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING! The spice is spicing. I give this book a 4/5 on the spiciness scale. The spicy scenes were written very well, but was not overdone or override the plot. The plot and spice seamlessly intertwined.
Now let's talk a little about Haven and Axel. Haven is such a strong and beautiful woman who is amazing at baking and starting fires. That is okay though, because Axel is amazing and will always be there to put out those fires - literally and figuratively 😉
There were times where I literally facepalmed with the denials from Axel and Haven regarding how they never loved each other more than friends. Mind you, Axel came to his senses real quick, but Haven was in full protect her heart. I will not give any spoilers on why - but the ENTIRE explanation is revealed later in the book. It is worth it and had me feeling a type of way.
I must also mention that the insults that were thrown to each other were naughty and hilarious! I am including some of my favourite quotes from the book - that will not have spoilers.
P.S. - stay tuned for the second book in this series (Sour Notes, expected August 2026!!). I have a very strong feeling that it is going to be just as good as this one!
“Saving kittens? The only p**** I’m trying to save right now is yours, Haven.”
Well, if I can grab the damn jar from the top shelf. Apparently the store caters primarily to giraffes, because the height of this shelf is ridiculous.
This one hit too close to home! LOL
The girl who grew a pair of balls since she left. They might shrivel on the odd occasion, but don’t all balls shrink when they get scared? It’s biology.
If anything, the minute she touched my arm, my d*** hid like a turtle in its shell.
He went. He saw. He cumquered.
“Shit, I’ve missed you so much.” I smile down at him ready to admit I’ve missed him too but he’s not looking up at me. Is he talking to my p****?
All in all, I would STRONGLY recommend that you read this book. You will be thoroughly entertained and invested!
July 31, 2025
I fully DEVOURED this book in one sitting. Nothing was gonna tear my eyes away from this one🥵
I have never loved a couple as much as i loved these two. OH MY GOD.
STEAMY ANGST? ✅
GROVELLING? ✅
ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS? ✅
This book had me giggling from the very first sentence, I was chuckling, giggling and kicking my feet throughout it all 🤪
THE MOUTH ON THIS MAN… Axel you have my whole heart baby 😩 How can someone be so sweet and have such a filthy mouth at the same time?! Im on my knees for my new favourite book boyfriend 😮💨
I loveeeeee Haven, she went away, found herself and came back stronger and better than ever, what a woman
The ending to this book was so well rounded for their story, I absolutely loved how their chapter turned out and the epilogue?!? CUTEEEEEE
The love i have for these characters is insane, this is my first book by this author and absolutely wont be my last. Canea’s writing style is right up my alley and the way they portray the want and need of these characters, makes me melt. I am SO excited to read Swayze & Mia’s book, i know that will hit just as good as this one did!
Thank you so much to CC for the opportunity to read this book early! This was an absolute pleasure to read, start to finish ❤️🔥
I have never loved a couple as much as i loved these two. OH MY GOD.
STEAMY ANGST? ✅
GROVELLING? ✅
ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS? ✅
This book had me giggling from the very first sentence, I was chuckling, giggling and kicking my feet throughout it all 🤪
THE MOUTH ON THIS MAN… Axel you have my whole heart baby 😩 How can someone be so sweet and have such a filthy mouth at the same time?! Im on my knees for my new favourite book boyfriend 😮💨
I loveeeeee Haven, she went away, found herself and came back stronger and better than ever, what a woman
The ending to this book was so well rounded for their story, I absolutely loved how their chapter turned out and the epilogue?!? CUTEEEEEE
The love i have for these characters is insane, this is my first book by this author and absolutely wont be my last. Canea’s writing style is right up my alley and the way they portray the want and need of these characters, makes me melt. I am SO excited to read Swayze & Mia’s book, i know that will hit just as good as this one did!
Thank you so much to CC for the opportunity to read this book early! This was an absolute pleasure to read, start to finish ❤️🔥
September 29, 2025
So good!! This is best friends to (kinda) enemies to lovers. The inner monologues of both MCs were so funny and the book flowed really well between the current day and sneak peaks into the past. MMC is a fireman, FMC is a baker, and they’ve both loved each other their whole lives but have been too scared to tell the other, especially after life pulled them apart for a decade at age 18. If you enjoy a good romcom, don’t sleep on this one!!! Can’t wait for book 2 next year!!💗💗💗
4.5🌟
3🌶️
4.5🌟
3🌶️
July 23, 2026
Sweet Hate the Review dun dun da da da da dun dun dun Dee Dee Dee
Overall Sweet Hate is a truly fantastic listen. It's not the sort of book I'd ever pick up or look twice at, but if this was a TV show or a film I'd absolutely have watched it a few times and recommended it more then once to people. I'm very glad it was recommended to me.
The friendship group was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book. They reminded me so much of the crew from Happy Endings( get your fucking mind out the gutter pal). Everyone's close, constantly taking the piss out of each other, living through everyone else's chaos, and it all just felt real. The group chat element is brilliant too. Seeing text messages in books is still something I'm getting used to, but they never felt forced. They felt like actual conversations and the narrators absolutely sold them. By the end I was looking forward to every "Left on Read" section.
The narrators absolutely smashed it.
Andi Eloise was Haven. She got the sass, the attitude, the vulnerability, all of it. Every emotion landed exactly how it was supposed to. She did a great job conveying every emoji *brain explosion* being my absolutely personal favourite and will be how it is seen as going forward.
Christian Fox absolutely became Axel. Stubborn. Protective. Simpy. Cavemanish. He nailed every side of him, but it was the quieter moments that stood out most for me. The way Axel spiralled, overthought everything and convinced himself he was doing the right thing felt very believable. Whether I'm the best judge of male psychology is another story, but I found myself nodding along because he absolutely gets it.
I don't think I've ever said he gets it (shout-out Gamba) so many times during one book.
Talking to his cock? Check ✅
Jealous of a straw because it's between her lips? Completely irrational... but I got it. ✅
Calling her my girl every five minutes? Brother, he was cooked from the second he saw her again.
Haven was brilliant.
As the younger generation and my wife would say she's an icon/diva.
She's clumsy, devious, funny, sassy and an absolute menace, but underneath all that she's caring, driven and strong. She actually reminded me of my wife quite a few times. Refusing to rest after hurting herself, teasing constantly, generally being a lovable brat.
The thing I appreciated most was that she never disappeared into the relationship. Too many romance books have the female lead lose who she is once she gets with the dude. Haven never did. She stayed Haven the whole way through.
Right from the start she knows exactly what she wants and honestly we absolutely love a woman who knows what she wants for the most part. Her stubbornness to force rules into the situation to protect herself was so human and from the outside looking in as annoying as it is I completely understood the reason why. She gets it.
The chemistry between the two of them was ridiculous. It never really went away either. Every time they were together there was something. The Seven Minutes in Heaven scene was brilliant, Truth or Dare got even better once the real dares started, and every bit of tension between them just kept building I'm a sucker for tension for me there's nothing I love more then seeing the tension bubble up in people when it's about to get spicy.
What I liked most was that it never felt onesided. They both wanted each other just as much. It was nice listening to two adult, similar-aged humans(emphasis on humans, yes I'm judging you all who want to read about cows fucking people) who were equally down bad instead of one person doing all the chasing.
This book genuinely made me laugh as well.
"Dole mio?" Fuck off.
"I wonder if he's thinking about elephant orgies."
I can promise you he absolutely wasn't. And he absolutely never ever has 😂😂😂😂 genuinely laughed out loud.
Dr. Foxy! He's my guy man, he had me laughing far more than he should have his constant referral to himself ok the third person was class. Wolf was hilarious every time he showed up, can't wait to see how that plays out in the second book and Lucas dancing to Shakira after finding sequins in Axel's hair absolutely killed me, in true little brother fashion he knew exactly what to do to break the tension every time.
One scene that really stuck with me wasn't even one of the spicy ones. (Shocking I know lol).
When Haven falls cleaning the light fitting, Axel doesn't make a big speech, he just gets on with looking after her. Bag of frozen fruit, water, pillow, chocolate, towel... everything she needed.
That really resonated with me because I think that's one of the purest ways someone can show they love you in my head anywaym
Sometimes it's not saying the words. Sometimes it's buying their favourite drink, changing the bed sheets, grabbing them painkillers, cleaning up, trying to make their day a little easier you know, That's something I always try to do for the people I love, so that whole scene just clicked with me.
I also liked that they didn't communicate properly.
Normally that trope bugs me, but here it made sense. Stress, grief, anxiety and fear make people say and do stupid things. They were both so terrified of getting hurt they couldn't see what was right in front of them. It felt normal.
I was not surprised I was right for calling why Axel ghosted Haven as well. As soon as his dad got mentioned I thought that had to be it. Weird thing to be right about but I'll take it.
Grams is a real one. Definitely leaned more towards Team Axel, but a real one all the same. She's true to this not new to this and she was always backing the love birds.
The only character I never really clicked with was Kim. Everyone else bounced off each other naturally but she just wasn't it for me. That's probably more of a personal preference than anything else, loud, obnoxious pick mes are not my style lol.
The ending was exactly what I wanted. The proposal being hidden in the dare was a nice call back, the wedding was lovely, little Tornado made me laugh and somehow finishing the book with them inevitably having sex at the fire station just felt completely on brand.
Overall I loved this book.
It made me laugh, made me care about the characters, had some genuinely sexy moments, and gave me one of my favourite friendship groups I've listened to well ever.
Canes, you absolutely smashed it.
I can't wait for the next one.
Overall Sweet Hate is a truly fantastic listen. It's not the sort of book I'd ever pick up or look twice at, but if this was a TV show or a film I'd absolutely have watched it a few times and recommended it more then once to people. I'm very glad it was recommended to me.
The friendship group was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book. They reminded me so much of the crew from Happy Endings( get your fucking mind out the gutter pal). Everyone's close, constantly taking the piss out of each other, living through everyone else's chaos, and it all just felt real. The group chat element is brilliant too. Seeing text messages in books is still something I'm getting used to, but they never felt forced. They felt like actual conversations and the narrators absolutely sold them. By the end I was looking forward to every "Left on Read" section.
The narrators absolutely smashed it.
Andi Eloise was Haven. She got the sass, the attitude, the vulnerability, all of it. Every emotion landed exactly how it was supposed to. She did a great job conveying every emoji *brain explosion* being my absolutely personal favourite and will be how it is seen as going forward.
Christian Fox absolutely became Axel. Stubborn. Protective. Simpy. Cavemanish. He nailed every side of him, but it was the quieter moments that stood out most for me. The way Axel spiralled, overthought everything and convinced himself he was doing the right thing felt very believable. Whether I'm the best judge of male psychology is another story, but I found myself nodding along because he absolutely gets it.
I don't think I've ever said he gets it (shout-out Gamba) so many times during one book.
Talking to his cock? Check ✅
Jealous of a straw because it's between her lips? Completely irrational... but I got it. ✅
Calling her my girl every five minutes? Brother, he was cooked from the second he saw her again.
Haven was brilliant.
As the younger generation and my wife would say she's an icon/diva.
She's clumsy, devious, funny, sassy and an absolute menace, but underneath all that she's caring, driven and strong. She actually reminded me of my wife quite a few times. Refusing to rest after hurting herself, teasing constantly, generally being a lovable brat.
The thing I appreciated most was that she never disappeared into the relationship. Too many romance books have the female lead lose who she is once she gets with the dude. Haven never did. She stayed Haven the whole way through.
Right from the start she knows exactly what she wants and honestly we absolutely love a woman who knows what she wants for the most part. Her stubbornness to force rules into the situation to protect herself was so human and from the outside looking in as annoying as it is I completely understood the reason why. She gets it.
The chemistry between the two of them was ridiculous. It never really went away either. Every time they were together there was something. The Seven Minutes in Heaven scene was brilliant, Truth or Dare got even better once the real dares started, and every bit of tension between them just kept building I'm a sucker for tension for me there's nothing I love more then seeing the tension bubble up in people when it's about to get spicy.
What I liked most was that it never felt onesided. They both wanted each other just as much. It was nice listening to two adult, similar-aged humans(emphasis on humans, yes I'm judging you all who want to read about cows fucking people) who were equally down bad instead of one person doing all the chasing.
This book genuinely made me laugh as well.
"Dole mio?" Fuck off.
"I wonder if he's thinking about elephant orgies."
I can promise you he absolutely wasn't. And he absolutely never ever has 😂😂😂😂 genuinely laughed out loud.
Dr. Foxy! He's my guy man, he had me laughing far more than he should have his constant referral to himself ok the third person was class. Wolf was hilarious every time he showed up, can't wait to see how that plays out in the second book and Lucas dancing to Shakira after finding sequins in Axel's hair absolutely killed me, in true little brother fashion he knew exactly what to do to break the tension every time.
One scene that really stuck with me wasn't even one of the spicy ones. (Shocking I know lol).
When Haven falls cleaning the light fitting, Axel doesn't make a big speech, he just gets on with looking after her. Bag of frozen fruit, water, pillow, chocolate, towel... everything she needed.
That really resonated with me because I think that's one of the purest ways someone can show they love you in my head anywaym
Sometimes it's not saying the words. Sometimes it's buying their favourite drink, changing the bed sheets, grabbing them painkillers, cleaning up, trying to make their day a little easier you know, That's something I always try to do for the people I love, so that whole scene just clicked with me.
I also liked that they didn't communicate properly.
Normally that trope bugs me, but here it made sense. Stress, grief, anxiety and fear make people say and do stupid things. They were both so terrified of getting hurt they couldn't see what was right in front of them. It felt normal.
I was not surprised I was right for calling why Axel ghosted Haven as well. As soon as his dad got mentioned I thought that had to be it. Weird thing to be right about but I'll take it.
Grams is a real one. Definitely leaned more towards Team Axel, but a real one all the same. She's true to this not new to this and she was always backing the love birds.
The only character I never really clicked with was Kim. Everyone else bounced off each other naturally but she just wasn't it for me. That's probably more of a personal preference than anything else, loud, obnoxious pick mes are not my style lol.
The ending was exactly what I wanted. The proposal being hidden in the dare was a nice call back, the wedding was lovely, little Tornado made me laugh and somehow finishing the book with them inevitably having sex at the fire station just felt completely on brand.
Overall I loved this book.
It made me laugh, made me care about the characters, had some genuinely sexy moments, and gave me one of my favourite friendship groups I've listened to well ever.
Canes, you absolutely smashed it.
I can't wait for the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2026
I really wanted to like this story, the idea of it was great, but if I read “my girl” one more time, my kindle was about to be yeeted out the window, then “daddy” entered the picture and nope.
Also can we stop talking to people’s bits? Like actually shushing someone because you’re deep in conversation with their parts? He was nicer to it than he was to her in the first entire half of the book?
Also can we stop talking to people’s bits? Like actually shushing someone because you’re deep in conversation with their parts? He was nicer to it than he was to her in the first entire half of the book?
Did Not Finish
October 5, 2026Too silly and the overused British slang seemed out of place. "Bollocks and "twat" were used too much. Not even Christian Fox could save this for me.
September 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️✨ (2.75 stars, rounded up)
I should have loved this book because it combines two of my favorite tropes, friends to lovers and second chance romance, but it just didn't do it for me.
I liked both Axel and Haven, but I didn't understand why Axel was so mean to Haven at first; I sort of (but not completely) understood his motivation for cutting off communications with Haven when she moved away, but I didn't understand why he would then be so mean to her when she came back home, considering it was HIS fault that they stopped talking! It just didn't make sense to me.
I also didn't love the fact that they were so physical, so quickly...I wanted more of a slow burn, more of them pining for each other but thinking their love was no longer reciprocated, but it seemed like they just jumped right back into their physical relationship. I just didn't buy their mutual feelings for each other. 😔
The Truth or Dare element to the story was fun and provided some humor, and lots of steam...this book was quite spicy overall, probably 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 / 5 on spice!
Overall, if you're looking for an easy read that is light on angst and on character development, but fairly heavy on spice, this could be a book for you!
Thanks to the author, Canea Cox, for providing this book for review consideration; all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
I should have loved this book because it combines two of my favorite tropes, friends to lovers and second chance romance, but it just didn't do it for me.
I liked both Axel and Haven, but I didn't understand why Axel was so mean to Haven at first; I sort of (but not completely) understood his motivation for cutting off communications with Haven when she moved away, but I didn't understand why he would then be so mean to her when she came back home, considering it was HIS fault that they stopped talking! It just didn't make sense to me.
I also didn't love the fact that they were so physical, so quickly...I wanted more of a slow burn, more of them pining for each other but thinking their love was no longer reciprocated, but it seemed like they just jumped right back into their physical relationship. I just didn't buy their mutual feelings for each other. 😔
The Truth or Dare element to the story was fun and provided some humor, and lots of steam...this book was quite spicy overall, probably 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 / 5 on spice!
Overall, if you're looking for an easy read that is light on angst and on character development, but fairly heavy on spice, this could be a book for you!
Thanks to the author, Canea Cox, for providing this book for review consideration; all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
September 6, 2026
Rated 4.5 Canea Cox is a new-to-me author, and knowing Hate Sweet is her debut spicy rom-com, I went into this one not really knowing what to expect. This was such a FUN listen. The banter, the ridiculous situations, the Truth or Dare texts, and the undeniable chemistry between Axel and his former best friend Haven made this one incredibly easy to devour. I especially loved that their relationship had history behind it. They weren’t two people who simply met and were instantly attracted to each other there were years of friendship, hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and unresolved attraction underneath every interaction.
I also really enjoyed the balance of rom-com and spice. It was funny without trying too hard to be funny, and spicy without the spice becoming the entire story. There was still an emotional layer surrounding what happened between them eleven years ago and whether they could actually trust each other enough to move forward.
And for a debut? Canea Cox understood the assignment. The writing was fun, sexy, a little chaotic, and didn’t take itself too seriously which is exactly what I want when I pick up a spicy rom-com. I’ll absolutely be watching to see what she writes next. I’m a new fan !
🎧 Now let’s talk about this audio!
Andi Eloise and Christian Fox were a great pairing. Andi nailed Haven perfectly with the humor, sass, and vulnerability, while Christian Fox gave Axel all that growly firefighter energy. Their performances made the banter land, but they also brought out the softer emotions when the story needed them.
💕 Tropes & Vibes
❤️🩹 Second Chance
🚒 Firefighter MMC
🏡 Small-Town Romance
📱 Truth or Dare via Text
😏 Enemies-to-Lovers Vibes
💬 Banter
🌶️ Spicy Rom-Com
❤️🔥 He Never Really Got Over Her
I also really enjoyed the balance of rom-com and spice. It was funny without trying too hard to be funny, and spicy without the spice becoming the entire story. There was still an emotional layer surrounding what happened between them eleven years ago and whether they could actually trust each other enough to move forward.
And for a debut? Canea Cox understood the assignment. The writing was fun, sexy, a little chaotic, and didn’t take itself too seriously which is exactly what I want when I pick up a spicy rom-com. I’ll absolutely be watching to see what she writes next. I’m a new fan !
🎧 Now let’s talk about this audio!
Andi Eloise and Christian Fox were a great pairing. Andi nailed Haven perfectly with the humor, sass, and vulnerability, while Christian Fox gave Axel all that growly firefighter energy. Their performances made the banter land, but they also brought out the softer emotions when the story needed them.
💕 Tropes & Vibes
❤️🩹 Second Chance
🚒 Firefighter MMC
🏡 Small-Town Romance
📱 Truth or Dare via Text
😏 Enemies-to-Lovers Vibes
💬 Banter
🌶️ Spicy Rom-Com
❤️🔥 He Never Really Got Over Her
August 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Book Review
Okay, this book was SO much fun! 🔥❤️🔥 The combination of small-town romance, second chances, best friends-to-lovers, a hot firefighter, and truth-or-dare made this such an entertaining read!
Coming back to Sweet Haven after eleven years and immediately setting her gram’s bakery on fire was definitely NOT the homecoming she had planned. 😂 And then having her super hot ex-best friend—and firefighter—Axel show up to rescue her? Talk about sparks flying!
I loved the chemistry, banter, and tension between these two. There’s definitely a lot of unresolved history between them, and watching those old feelings come rushing back made their story so addictive. The truth-or-dare games added plenty of spice and fun, while the emotional history gave the romance some real depth.
🎧 Narrator Review — Andi Eloise & Christian Fox
Andi Eloise and Christian Fox were fantastic together! Their narration brought so much personality and chemistry to the characters. They captured the playful banter, emotional moments, and spicy tension perfectly.
Their voices made it so easy to get lost in the story, and they really brought Axel and his love interest to life. I loved listening to their performances and thought they were a perfect fit for this fun, flirty, and spicy romance! 🎧🔥
If you love hot firefighters, second chances, small-town romance, best friends-to-lovers, and plenty of spice, definitely add this one to your TBR! ❤️📚
Okay, this book was SO much fun! 🔥❤️🔥 The combination of small-town romance, second chances, best friends-to-lovers, a hot firefighter, and truth-or-dare made this such an entertaining read!
Coming back to Sweet Haven after eleven years and immediately setting her gram’s bakery on fire was definitely NOT the homecoming she had planned. 😂 And then having her super hot ex-best friend—and firefighter—Axel show up to rescue her? Talk about sparks flying!
I loved the chemistry, banter, and tension between these two. There’s definitely a lot of unresolved history between them, and watching those old feelings come rushing back made their story so addictive. The truth-or-dare games added plenty of spice and fun, while the emotional history gave the romance some real depth.
🎧 Narrator Review — Andi Eloise & Christian Fox
Andi Eloise and Christian Fox were fantastic together! Their narration brought so much personality and chemistry to the characters. They captured the playful banter, emotional moments, and spicy tension perfectly.
Their voices made it so easy to get lost in the story, and they really brought Axel and his love interest to life. I loved listening to their performances and thought they were a perfect fit for this fun, flirty, and spicy romance! 🎧🔥
If you love hot firefighters, second chances, small-town romance, best friends-to-lovers, and plenty of spice, definitely add this one to your TBR! ❤️📚
August 13, 2026
Haven is back in town after eleven years, and the last person she wants to see is Axel. These two have a history that was never quite resolved, which makes their reunion so much fun. Haven is incredibly sassy with Axel, and I absolutely love it. She’s witty, confident, and so much fun to listen to. And Axel doesn’t mind her attitude one bit and the chemistry between these two is hot.
Andi Eloise and Christian Fox brought Haven and Axel to life flawlessly. Andi perfectly captures Haven’s confident, sassy personality, while Christian Fox brings Axel’s broody exterior to life while making it very clear that underneath it all, he is absolutely gone for Haven.
This was such a fun, charming listen and I enjoyed every second of it!
Thank you, Canea Cox and Pin Up Audio for the ALC.
Andi Eloise and Christian Fox brought Haven and Axel to life flawlessly. Andi perfectly captures Haven’s confident, sassy personality, while Christian Fox brings Axel’s broody exterior to life while making it very clear that underneath it all, he is absolutely gone for Haven.
This was such a fun, charming listen and I enjoyed every second of it!
Thank you, Canea Cox and Pin Up Audio for the ALC.
August 17, 2026
Pull up the covers and grab a snack because Sweet Hate gave me exactly the kind of best-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers chaos that keeps us all up way past bedtime whisper-reading under the covers.
Haven comes back to Sweet Haven after nearly eleven years and the first person she runs into is Axel Verona. Her ex-best friend. Her unresolved heartbreak. And now the firefighter showing up to rescue her after she accidentally sets her gram’s bakery on fire.
FML.
These two are supposed to hate each other. At least that's what they keep telling themselves.
I’m not buying it.
Not for one second.
The tension between them is impossible to ignore. They talk like they’re done with each other, but everything underneath says otherwise. It’s that delicious, simmering kind of connection where you can tell two people have never truly stopped being important to each other.
And bestie… the way these two act like they hate each other? No one believes it. Not the town. Not the reader. Not even them.
It’s very much “I’m mad at you but also I’d climb you like a tree.”
And Axel?
Oh, Axel is exactly my flavor of MMC.
Golden retriever heart. Alpha tendencies. Filthy mouth. Lethal combination.
This man has loved Haven from day one and you can see it in everything he does. He is self-sacrificing to a fault, constantly putting other people’s happiness ahead of his own and trying to make Haven’s world easier even when she’s convinced he doesn't care.
And then there are the truth-or-dare texts.
Ma’am.
The way a simple game starts peeling back all those years of hurt and unresolved feelings? Delicious. Every dare brings them a little closer to the truth neither one of them is quite ready to admit.
And Haven? She’s carrying eleven years of hurt and trying desperately not to let herself want the one person she never really stopped loving.
The epilogues... yes, plural... were pure serotonin. I smiled through every single one. And when Axel started dropping those “my wife” lines?
Bestie.
I melted. Fully puddled. Gone.
And if you’re an audiobook girlie, Andi Eloise and Christian Fox absolutely delivered. Their chemistry, timing and emotional performances made the whole thing feel even more intimate. They didn't just read these characters. They became Haven and Axel and I was very happy to sit back and let them ruin my evening.
Sweet Hate is tender, messy, funny, charged and full of heart. It’s a story about two people who never really stopped belonging in each other’s lives, even after eleven years of trying to convince themselves otherwise.
And apparently, sometimes finding your way back to your person requires a little truth, a little dare and possibly burning down a bakery first.
I mean...
What’s a second chance romance without a little property damage?
Read it. Listen to it. Come scream with me afterward. 💜
— Naughty Book Nook
Haven comes back to Sweet Haven after nearly eleven years and the first person she runs into is Axel Verona. Her ex-best friend. Her unresolved heartbreak. And now the firefighter showing up to rescue her after she accidentally sets her gram’s bakery on fire.
FML.
These two are supposed to hate each other. At least that's what they keep telling themselves.
I’m not buying it.
Not for one second.
The tension between them is impossible to ignore. They talk like they’re done with each other, but everything underneath says otherwise. It’s that delicious, simmering kind of connection where you can tell two people have never truly stopped being important to each other.
And bestie… the way these two act like they hate each other? No one believes it. Not the town. Not the reader. Not even them.
It’s very much “I’m mad at you but also I’d climb you like a tree.”
And Axel?
Oh, Axel is exactly my flavor of MMC.
Golden retriever heart. Alpha tendencies. Filthy mouth. Lethal combination.
This man has loved Haven from day one and you can see it in everything he does. He is self-sacrificing to a fault, constantly putting other people’s happiness ahead of his own and trying to make Haven’s world easier even when she’s convinced he doesn't care.
And then there are the truth-or-dare texts.
Ma’am.
The way a simple game starts peeling back all those years of hurt and unresolved feelings? Delicious. Every dare brings them a little closer to the truth neither one of them is quite ready to admit.
And Haven? She’s carrying eleven years of hurt and trying desperately not to let herself want the one person she never really stopped loving.
The epilogues... yes, plural... were pure serotonin. I smiled through every single one. And when Axel started dropping those “my wife” lines?
Bestie.
I melted. Fully puddled. Gone.
And if you’re an audiobook girlie, Andi Eloise and Christian Fox absolutely delivered. Their chemistry, timing and emotional performances made the whole thing feel even more intimate. They didn't just read these characters. They became Haven and Axel and I was very happy to sit back and let them ruin my evening.
Sweet Hate is tender, messy, funny, charged and full of heart. It’s a story about two people who never really stopped belonging in each other’s lives, even after eleven years of trying to convince themselves otherwise.
And apparently, sometimes finding your way back to your person requires a little truth, a little dare and possibly burning down a bakery first.
I mean...
What’s a second chance romance without a little property damage?
Read it. Listen to it. Come scream with me afterward. 💜
— Naughty Book Nook
August 18, 2026
I devoured this second chance at romance, it was funny, spicy!
After being away for 11 years, Haven comes back home to give her grandmother's bakery a go but here comes an electrical fire.
The last person she wanted to see is her ex best friend, Axel, whom she had some unfinished history is the chief fireman, who comes to her rescue!
Would i recommend hell yes!! Such a good book!!
After being away for 11 years, Haven comes back home to give her grandmother's bakery a go but here comes an electrical fire.
The last person she wanted to see is her ex best friend, Axel, whom she had some unfinished history is the chief fireman, who comes to her rescue!
Would i recommend hell yes!! Such a good book!!
May 3, 2026
What was rubbish -
1. the forced British slang. It doesn’t flow from the character so sounds extremely cringy - like the author had to prove the FMC lived in London but didn’t know how to apart from throwing a “mate”, “ffs”, “prick”, “twat” around. The problem isn’t about using the slang, it’s with how it’s used and the context it’s used in. Both show the author doesn’t know much
2. MMC keeps swapping between calling her “my girl”, “my hurricane”, “my xyz” to saying I hate her, she ended me, I don’t want to get involved. Considering he literally ghosted her on day 1 of her leaving the country - mind you this is after promising her he would always be her friend -makes him look like a right “prick”. Also, he’s calling her “my girl” on page 2 of the book where they haven’t seen each other for 10yrs and he’s saying he hates her. It just feels extremely weird
3. The MMC and his repetitive inner monologues! This guy is extremely annoying with his constant hot/cold drama. I think the author should have plotted that a bit better to make them sound less like dumb af whiny teenager and actually a full grown man who needs to take some f’ing accountability for ghosting his best friend and girlfriend 2.5 seconds after she leaves in the past. Esp after he repetitively assures her that nothing will change. This made him insufferable - and honestly I wanted him to be ditched
4. She takes him back far too easily and that makes the whole thing feel extremely superficial / sex related only. He ghosted her and doesn’t even explain why but she’s so desperate to have him in her life as a best friend again. Why? When they haven’t worked through anything and he hasn’t even explained or apologised? Makes no sense
5. the really icky daddy kink in the last 10%
What was tolerable -
1. Atleast from her side, the angst was good to start with. From his side, he can really go suck an egg. The plot and angst did derail after the first 20-30% though
2. It was spicy (apart from the jarring daddy scene). At least the hero could deliver on the Os if not anything else. But really that’s all he’s worth. Otherwise he was a whiney little b. Really disliked the way he was written
Overall - 2 generous stars for an extremely vapid book. Ok for the spice, but if you’re looking for an angsty, second chance romance with the pain and rebuilding of the relationship being at the crux, this is not the book for you
1. the forced British slang. It doesn’t flow from the character so sounds extremely cringy - like the author had to prove the FMC lived in London but didn’t know how to apart from throwing a “mate”, “ffs”, “prick”, “twat” around. The problem isn’t about using the slang, it’s with how it’s used and the context it’s used in. Both show the author doesn’t know much
2. MMC keeps swapping between calling her “my girl”, “my hurricane”, “my xyz” to saying I hate her, she ended me, I don’t want to get involved. Considering he literally ghosted her on day 1 of her leaving the country - mind you this is after promising her he would always be her friend -makes him look like a right “prick”. Also, he’s calling her “my girl” on page 2 of the book where they haven’t seen each other for 10yrs and he’s saying he hates her. It just feels extremely weird
3. The MMC and his repetitive inner monologues! This guy is extremely annoying with his constant hot/cold drama. I think the author should have plotted that a bit better to make them sound less like dumb af whiny teenager and actually a full grown man who needs to take some f’ing accountability for ghosting his best friend and girlfriend 2.5 seconds after she leaves in the past. Esp after he repetitively assures her that nothing will change. This made him insufferable - and honestly I wanted him to be ditched
4. She takes him back far too easily and that makes the whole thing feel extremely superficial / sex related only. He ghosted her and doesn’t even explain why but she’s so desperate to have him in her life as a best friend again. Why? When they haven’t worked through anything and he hasn’t even explained or apologised? Makes no sense
5. the really icky daddy kink in the last 10%
What was tolerable -
1. Atleast from her side, the angst was good to start with. From his side, he can really go suck an egg. The plot and angst did derail after the first 20-30% though
2. It was spicy (apart from the jarring daddy scene). At least the hero could deliver on the Os if not anything else. But really that’s all he’s worth. Otherwise he was a whiney little b. Really disliked the way he was written
Overall - 2 generous stars for an extremely vapid book. Ok for the spice, but if you’re looking for an angsty, second chance romance with the pain and rebuilding of the relationship being at the crux, this is not the book for you
October 6, 2026
Oh these decimal rating options are gonna be so much fun. This book was also pretty bad and silly. Don’t think too hard and I guess it’s fine. A lot of use of the C bomb which I could do without. I’m mostly here for Christian Fox as narrator.
August 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS
Give me a man who waits over a whore ANY DAY 😭
Axel Verona: hot firefighter, professional manwhore, childhood best friend, emotionally constipated idiot extraordinaire.
Yeah. I ate this book UP. 🫠
Haven returns home after living abroad for over a decade to take over her grandmother’s bakery. The problem? Axel Verona is still there. Her childhood best friend. The boy she fell in love with. The man who broke her heart by disappearing from her life for ELEVEN YEARS.
And because apparently the universe enjoys watching me suffer, the first time she sees him again is when he’s responding to a fire at her bakery. Of course 😂
Haven and Axel grew up together and were completely inseparable. Everyone could see they were in love except the two idiots actually involved. When they were eighteen, a game of Truth or Dare led to their first kiss, which unlocked a whole lot more. They eventually fooled around, lost their virginities to each other, and basically spent that summer falling completely in love before Haven was supposed to leave for London.
And then Axel finds out his father is dying.
Instead of telling Haven, because he knows she would stay for him, he decides that she deserves to chase her dream. So what does this emotionally constipated man do?
He lets her leave.
After sleeping with her one last time.
Then ghosts her for ELEVEN YEARS.
She calls. She texts. He ignores her. He even has her grandmother tell Haven during those first few weeks that he’s seeing someone so she'll stop trying and move on.
And then this man proceeds to become a WHORE.
Sir. You could have just COMMUNICATED 😭
Fast forward eleven years and Haven is back, taking over the bakery. And guess who lives above the bakery?
Axel.
Because apparently fate looked at these two idiots and said, “You know what would be funny? Forced proximity.”
She initially goes upstairs with cupcakes to ask the handyman for help, only to discover it's HIM. And naturally he turns her down because he’ll help literally anyone but Haven. Until she finds someone else to help her...
Suddenly Axel has time. 😂
The chemistry between these two is absolutely ridiculous. The resentment is just as strong as the attraction, and I LOVED their banter. But one of the little things that genuinely hurt was Haven calling him Verona or Axeman instead of Axel. It sounds colder and more impersonal, especially because she used to know him so intimately. You can feel how much distance there is between who they were and who they are now.
And THE JEALOUSY. 😭
This man was fighting for his LIFE internally.
Haven jumping into his friend's arms, wrapping her legs around him? Axel was about two seconds away from combusting.
Then they're out with friends and Haven is playing Truth or Dare and sits on another guy's lap while Axel is sitting across the bar watching it happen.
Honestly?
I felt for him.
Especially because we later find out Axel had spent years thinking Luke actually liked Haven. Meanwhile Luke had only asked Haven out all those years ago to light a fire under Axel's ass because he knew Axel was in love with her.
THE WAY EVERYONE KNEW EXCEPT AXEL😭
Eventually Axel starts texting Haven and they fall back into playing Truth or Dare like they did when they were younger. Except this time the dares get increasingly flirty, then sexual, and suddenly they're rebuilding the intimacy they lost through a game that started everything between them in the first place.
And then they become friends with benefits.
Because naturally these two STILL DON'T TALK LIKE ADULTS.
Haven thinks she only has about six weeks before she'll have to leave again, and Axel agrees to keep things casual. Except then he finds out she doesn't actually intend to leave...
And suddenly his entire plan changes.
Because if he had known she was staying, he never would have started this as something casual. He would've gone after her properly from the beginning.
Now Axel has to figure out how to make Haven understand that he doesn't just want her for six weeks.
He wants HER.
But he's terrified of putting his entire heart on the table only for her to leave him again.
And this man starts trying to romance her in the most ridiculously adorable ways.
A sparkly pink blanket.
Romance books.
A special takeaway cup for her to use in his car.
AXEL VERONA, YOU ARE A FIREMAN BUT YOU ARE ALSO A SIMP 🫠
And honestly? I loved it.
Because underneath all the possessiveness and jealousy, this man is ridiculously attentive to her. He remembers things. He notices what she likes. He wants to make her comfortable. He just has absolutely no idea how to use his words like a functioning adult.
Which brings me to the SMUT. 🥵
This book is SPICY.
There's praise, filthy dirty talk, mutual oral, shower scenes, kitchen/bakery scenes, public-risk situations, including a diner bathroom and his office, and a particularly memorable motorcycle scene.
And then there's the daddy kink.
My kryptonite 🫠
Let's just say I was listening to the audiobook and suddenly found myself needing to stare at the wall for a minute.
JESUS CHRIST.
But what really made this book for me wasn't actually the spice.
It was finally getting the truth about why Axel disappeared.
His father was dying and Axel genuinely believed that if he told Haven, she would sacrifice her future for him. So he made the decision for her. He thought he was doing the noble thing. He wasn't. He broke her heart. He ignored every attempt she made to reach him.
And when he eventually heard that she had another boyfriend overseas, he convinced himself she was happy and continued staying away.
Meanwhile, he was miserable.
And THAT is where his manwhore phase comes in.
Axel is completely open with Haven about his past. He tells her that none of the women stayed overnight, he never brought them home, he never slept with the same woman twice, never took them on his motorcycle, and none of them ever meant anything to him.
There is no on-page cheating and no scenes of him sleeping with other women during the actual romance. He hadn't even slept with anyone for several months before Haven returned.
And honestly, I appreciated that the book doesn't romanticize his past either.
Axel himself eventually realizes he's tired of it. The hookups are empty. It's a younger man's game and he's just... over it.
There's a moment where one of the women approaches him and casually puts her hands on him, and he realizes what kind of reputation he's created for himself—that women feel entitled to touch him because they assume he's always available.
I actually REALLY liked this realization. Because yes. Maybe more men should have that moment of self-awareness before 30.
Axel tells Haven that if he had known there was even a possibility that she'd come back and that they could eventually have what they have now—if he had known she would love him the way he loved her—he wouldn't have touched another woman.
He would've waited.
Eleven years. More, if that's what it took.
And THAT is the kind of revelation that gets me. Give me a man who waits over a whore any day, PLEASE. 😭
Because suddenly all those meaningless hookups are put into perspective. He wasn't secretly building a life with other women. He wasn't emotionally replacing Haven. He was trying to live without the woman he had convinced himself he could never have again.
And when she finally comes back?
He realizes just how badly he's been settling for something that could never compare.
Of course, because apparently these two weren't allowed to have ONE peaceful moment, we get the final emotional crisis.
Haven has a note in her bag from the hotel she used to work at, offering her a job. Axel sees it. And instead of asking her about it... THIS MAN ASSUMES SHE'S LEAVING AGAIN.
Sir.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS.
COMMUNICATE 😭
He goes off, ends up responding to a fire while emotionally wrecked, and nearly dies. Haven gets the call. He's in the hospital. He's been unconscious for more than four days.
And she finally admits that she loves him. And he wakes up.
I'M SORRY BUT I AM A SUCKER FOR THIS KIND OF DRAMA. 😭
They finally stop running from each other, finally admit what they've both been too scared to say, and actually get their happily ever after.
And YES, we get the wedding.
YES, we get kids.
YES, Axel becomes chief of the fire department.
YES, Haven's bakery becomes a huge success.
THEY GET EVERYTHING THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ALL THOSE YEARS AGO 😭❤️
Was Axel's decision to ghost her for eleven years absolutely insane?
Yes.
Did I want to shake him approximately 700 times and scream “USE YOUR WORDS, YOU ABSOLUTE FUCKING MORON”?
Also yes.
Did I forgive him anyway?
Yeah...
Because underneath the manwhore reputation, the jealousy, the possessiveness and the emotional constipation is a man who loved one woman for more than a decade and genuinely believed he was sacrificing his own happiness so she could have the life she wanted.
And once he finally understands that she would've chosen him?
He's ALL IN.
I loved Haven. I loved their history. I loved the banter. I loved the jealousy. I loved the Truth or Dare element coming full circle. I loved watching Axel go from “I'll help everyone except you” to buying this woman a sparkly pink blanket and romance novels like the biggest fucking simp alive 😂
And I especially loved that despite Axel's extensive manwhore past, there was no OW drama once Haven was back, no cheating, no love triangle, and no third-party sex once their relationship was established.
This was essentially two idiots who had been in love since they were teenagers finally getting a second chance—and being absolute disasters about it.
Axel Verona: firefighter. Manwhore. Jealous bastard. Emotional idiot. Secret romantic.
Haven: bakery owner, chaos incarnate, and the only woman capable of completely wrecking this man's composure.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
Would I recommend communicating instead of ghosting the love of your life for eleven years?
Also absolutely. 😂
5/5 stars.
🔥 Childhood best friends
🔥 Second chance romance
🔥 Firefighter MMC
🔥 Bakery-owning FMC
🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Truth or Dare
🔥 Jealous/possessive MMC
🔥 Friends with benefits
🔥 HEA
🔥 Lots and LOTS of spice
🔥 No cheating
🔥 No OW drama once they reconnect
🔥 Manwhore past, but no on-page OW scenes during the romance
🔥 A man who ultimately realizes he'd rather wait for her than touch anyone else
I fear I am once again a victim of the emotionally unavailable firefighter.
Give me a man who waits over a whore ANY DAY 😭
Axel Verona: hot firefighter, professional manwhore, childhood best friend, emotionally constipated idiot extraordinaire.
Yeah. I ate this book UP. 🫠
Haven returns home after living abroad for over a decade to take over her grandmother’s bakery. The problem? Axel Verona is still there. Her childhood best friend. The boy she fell in love with. The man who broke her heart by disappearing from her life for ELEVEN YEARS.
And because apparently the universe enjoys watching me suffer, the first time she sees him again is when he’s responding to a fire at her bakery. Of course 😂
Haven and Axel grew up together and were completely inseparable. Everyone could see they were in love except the two idiots actually involved. When they were eighteen, a game of Truth or Dare led to their first kiss, which unlocked a whole lot more. They eventually fooled around, lost their virginities to each other, and basically spent that summer falling completely in love before Haven was supposed to leave for London.
And then Axel finds out his father is dying.
Instead of telling Haven, because he knows she would stay for him, he decides that she deserves to chase her dream. So what does this emotionally constipated man do?
He lets her leave.
After sleeping with her one last time.
Then ghosts her for ELEVEN YEARS.
She calls. She texts. He ignores her. He even has her grandmother tell Haven during those first few weeks that he’s seeing someone so she'll stop trying and move on.
And then this man proceeds to become a WHORE.
Sir. You could have just COMMUNICATED 😭
Fast forward eleven years and Haven is back, taking over the bakery. And guess who lives above the bakery?
Axel.
Because apparently fate looked at these two idiots and said, “You know what would be funny? Forced proximity.”
She initially goes upstairs with cupcakes to ask the handyman for help, only to discover it's HIM. And naturally he turns her down because he’ll help literally anyone but Haven. Until she finds someone else to help her...
Suddenly Axel has time. 😂
The chemistry between these two is absolutely ridiculous. The resentment is just as strong as the attraction, and I LOVED their banter. But one of the little things that genuinely hurt was Haven calling him Verona or Axeman instead of Axel. It sounds colder and more impersonal, especially because she used to know him so intimately. You can feel how much distance there is between who they were and who they are now.
And THE JEALOUSY. 😭
This man was fighting for his LIFE internally.
Haven jumping into his friend's arms, wrapping her legs around him? Axel was about two seconds away from combusting.
Then they're out with friends and Haven is playing Truth or Dare and sits on another guy's lap while Axel is sitting across the bar watching it happen.
Honestly?
I felt for him.
Especially because we later find out Axel had spent years thinking Luke actually liked Haven. Meanwhile Luke had only asked Haven out all those years ago to light a fire under Axel's ass because he knew Axel was in love with her.
THE WAY EVERYONE KNEW EXCEPT AXEL😭
Eventually Axel starts texting Haven and they fall back into playing Truth or Dare like they did when they were younger. Except this time the dares get increasingly flirty, then sexual, and suddenly they're rebuilding the intimacy they lost through a game that started everything between them in the first place.
And then they become friends with benefits.
Because naturally these two STILL DON'T TALK LIKE ADULTS.
Haven thinks she only has about six weeks before she'll have to leave again, and Axel agrees to keep things casual. Except then he finds out she doesn't actually intend to leave...
And suddenly his entire plan changes.
Because if he had known she was staying, he never would have started this as something casual. He would've gone after her properly from the beginning.
Now Axel has to figure out how to make Haven understand that he doesn't just want her for six weeks.
He wants HER.
But he's terrified of putting his entire heart on the table only for her to leave him again.
And this man starts trying to romance her in the most ridiculously adorable ways.
A sparkly pink blanket.
Romance books.
A special takeaway cup for her to use in his car.
AXEL VERONA, YOU ARE A FIREMAN BUT YOU ARE ALSO A SIMP 🫠
And honestly? I loved it.
Because underneath all the possessiveness and jealousy, this man is ridiculously attentive to her. He remembers things. He notices what she likes. He wants to make her comfortable. He just has absolutely no idea how to use his words like a functioning adult.
Which brings me to the SMUT. 🥵
This book is SPICY.
There's praise, filthy dirty talk, mutual oral, shower scenes, kitchen/bakery scenes, public-risk situations, including a diner bathroom and his office, and a particularly memorable motorcycle scene.
And then there's the daddy kink.
My kryptonite 🫠
Let's just say I was listening to the audiobook and suddenly found myself needing to stare at the wall for a minute.
JESUS CHRIST.
But what really made this book for me wasn't actually the spice.
It was finally getting the truth about why Axel disappeared.
His father was dying and Axel genuinely believed that if he told Haven, she would sacrifice her future for him. So he made the decision for her. He thought he was doing the noble thing. He wasn't. He broke her heart. He ignored every attempt she made to reach him.
And when he eventually heard that she had another boyfriend overseas, he convinced himself she was happy and continued staying away.
Meanwhile, he was miserable.
And THAT is where his manwhore phase comes in.
Axel is completely open with Haven about his past. He tells her that none of the women stayed overnight, he never brought them home, he never slept with the same woman twice, never took them on his motorcycle, and none of them ever meant anything to him.
There is no on-page cheating and no scenes of him sleeping with other women during the actual romance. He hadn't even slept with anyone for several months before Haven returned.
And honestly, I appreciated that the book doesn't romanticize his past either.
Axel himself eventually realizes he's tired of it. The hookups are empty. It's a younger man's game and he's just... over it.
There's a moment where one of the women approaches him and casually puts her hands on him, and he realizes what kind of reputation he's created for himself—that women feel entitled to touch him because they assume he's always available.
I actually REALLY liked this realization. Because yes. Maybe more men should have that moment of self-awareness before 30.
Axel tells Haven that if he had known there was even a possibility that she'd come back and that they could eventually have what they have now—if he had known she would love him the way he loved her—he wouldn't have touched another woman.
He would've waited.
Eleven years. More, if that's what it took.
And THAT is the kind of revelation that gets me. Give me a man who waits over a whore any day, PLEASE. 😭
Because suddenly all those meaningless hookups are put into perspective. He wasn't secretly building a life with other women. He wasn't emotionally replacing Haven. He was trying to live without the woman he had convinced himself he could never have again.
And when she finally comes back?
He realizes just how badly he's been settling for something that could never compare.
Of course, because apparently these two weren't allowed to have ONE peaceful moment, we get the final emotional crisis.
Haven has a note in her bag from the hotel she used to work at, offering her a job. Axel sees it. And instead of asking her about it... THIS MAN ASSUMES SHE'S LEAVING AGAIN.
Sir.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS.
COMMUNICATE 😭
He goes off, ends up responding to a fire while emotionally wrecked, and nearly dies. Haven gets the call. He's in the hospital. He's been unconscious for more than four days.
And she finally admits that she loves him. And he wakes up.
I'M SORRY BUT I AM A SUCKER FOR THIS KIND OF DRAMA. 😭
They finally stop running from each other, finally admit what they've both been too scared to say, and actually get their happily ever after.
And YES, we get the wedding.
YES, we get kids.
YES, Axel becomes chief of the fire department.
YES, Haven's bakery becomes a huge success.
THEY GET EVERYTHING THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ALL THOSE YEARS AGO 😭❤️
Was Axel's decision to ghost her for eleven years absolutely insane?
Yes.
Did I want to shake him approximately 700 times and scream “USE YOUR WORDS, YOU ABSOLUTE FUCKING MORON”?
Also yes.
Did I forgive him anyway?
Yeah...
Because underneath the manwhore reputation, the jealousy, the possessiveness and the emotional constipation is a man who loved one woman for more than a decade and genuinely believed he was sacrificing his own happiness so she could have the life she wanted.
And once he finally understands that she would've chosen him?
He's ALL IN.
I loved Haven. I loved their history. I loved the banter. I loved the jealousy. I loved the Truth or Dare element coming full circle. I loved watching Axel go from “I'll help everyone except you” to buying this woman a sparkly pink blanket and romance novels like the biggest fucking simp alive 😂
And I especially loved that despite Axel's extensive manwhore past, there was no OW drama once Haven was back, no cheating, no love triangle, and no third-party sex once their relationship was established.
This was essentially two idiots who had been in love since they were teenagers finally getting a second chance—and being absolute disasters about it.
Axel Verona: firefighter. Manwhore. Jealous bastard. Emotional idiot. Secret romantic.
Haven: bakery owner, chaos incarnate, and the only woman capable of completely wrecking this man's composure.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
Would I recommend communicating instead of ghosting the love of your life for eleven years?
Also absolutely. 😂
5/5 stars.
🔥 Childhood best friends
🔥 Second chance romance
🔥 Firefighter MMC
🔥 Bakery-owning FMC
🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Truth or Dare
🔥 Jealous/possessive MMC
🔥 Friends with benefits
🔥 HEA
🔥 Lots and LOTS of spice
🔥 No cheating
🔥 No OW drama once they reconnect
🔥 Manwhore past, but no on-page OW scenes during the romance
🔥 A man who ultimately realizes he'd rather wait for her than touch anyone else
I fear I am once again a victim of the emotionally unavailable firefighter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2026
Such a cute book!! Just the perfect amount of tension and spice with great plot to go with it! I also loved the truth or dare addition to it because who doesn't love good banter amoung friends, lol! The duet narration by Andi Eloise and Christian Fox in the audio was the perfect combo to bring Haven and Axel to life. Haven with her sass and Axel with his charm were just pure perfection together.
April 22, 2026
There was no yearning just straight up hate to falling in love. The whiplash was intense. The book was significantly more smut heavy than plot heavy.
September 17, 2025
Sweet Hate by the wildly talented Canea Cox was exactly the dose of joy, spice, and swoon I needed to shake up this chilly September.
Let me tell you, from the very first page I was gone. Hooked. Glued. Entranced. You know that rare feeling when a book just immediately grabs you by the heart and refuses to let go? Yeah—that was me with this one.
Let’s start with Haven—our main female character, the sassy, confident queen who waltzes back into Sweet Haven after way too much time in London. She’s stylish, sharp, and not afraid to take up space.
When her grandmother hands over the family bakery, Haven suddenly has a decision to make: settle into this sweet little small town permanently or jet back to her London life. Sounds simple, right? Ha! Wrong. Because fate (and Cox’s genius) had something much juicier in store.
Enter Axel Verona. Oh. My. Goodness. Axel. Haven’s former ex–best friend, turned full-blown heartthrob, turned my new fictional obsession.
He is everything—charming, considerate, smart, thoughtful, and so devastatingly in love with Haven it made me want to scream into a pillow. He’s got that mix of boy-next-door warmth and “knock-your-socks-off” allure that you just can’t resist.
And their dynamic? Absolute fire. The banter is razor-sharp, the chemistry is sizzling, and the sexual tension practically leaps off the page.
I swear, their interactions had me laughing one second, blushing the next, and clutching the book like it was my lifeline.
But here’s the kicker: the artwork. Yes, actual illustrations sprinkled throughout the book—done by Cox herself. Talk about talent!
Each drawing made the scenes even more vivid, like stepping directly into Sweet Haven and watching everything unfold in front of me. It turned an already immersive story into a full-on experience.
Reading Sweet Hate felt like biting into the most decadent dessert—sweet, indulgent, satisfying, with just the right amount of heat. It gave me butterflies, it made me grin like an idiot, and it completely reignited my love for small-town romances.
Cox’s writing has that magic blend of charm, sass, and heart that makes you feel everything while also making you laugh out loud.
Bottom line? This book is an absolute gem. It’s addictive, it’s romantic, it’s a total mood-lifter—and honestly? I’m already planning my reread.
Five stars. Ten out of ten. A billion percent recommend. If you’re not reading Sweet Hate yet, you’re missing out on one of the best rom-com delights of the year. Period.
Let me tell you, from the very first page I was gone. Hooked. Glued. Entranced. You know that rare feeling when a book just immediately grabs you by the heart and refuses to let go? Yeah—that was me with this one.
Let’s start with Haven—our main female character, the sassy, confident queen who waltzes back into Sweet Haven after way too much time in London. She’s stylish, sharp, and not afraid to take up space.
When her grandmother hands over the family bakery, Haven suddenly has a decision to make: settle into this sweet little small town permanently or jet back to her London life. Sounds simple, right? Ha! Wrong. Because fate (and Cox’s genius) had something much juicier in store.
Enter Axel Verona. Oh. My. Goodness. Axel. Haven’s former ex–best friend, turned full-blown heartthrob, turned my new fictional obsession.
He is everything—charming, considerate, smart, thoughtful, and so devastatingly in love with Haven it made me want to scream into a pillow. He’s got that mix of boy-next-door warmth and “knock-your-socks-off” allure that you just can’t resist.
And their dynamic? Absolute fire. The banter is razor-sharp, the chemistry is sizzling, and the sexual tension practically leaps off the page.
I swear, their interactions had me laughing one second, blushing the next, and clutching the book like it was my lifeline.
But here’s the kicker: the artwork. Yes, actual illustrations sprinkled throughout the book—done by Cox herself. Talk about talent!
Each drawing made the scenes even more vivid, like stepping directly into Sweet Haven and watching everything unfold in front of me. It turned an already immersive story into a full-on experience.
Reading Sweet Hate felt like biting into the most decadent dessert—sweet, indulgent, satisfying, with just the right amount of heat. It gave me butterflies, it made me grin like an idiot, and it completely reignited my love for small-town romances.
Cox’s writing has that magic blend of charm, sass, and heart that makes you feel everything while also making you laugh out loud.
Bottom line? This book is an absolute gem. It’s addictive, it’s romantic, it’s a total mood-lifter—and honestly? I’m already planning my reread.
Five stars. Ten out of ten. A billion percent recommend. If you’re not reading Sweet Hate yet, you’re missing out on one of the best rom-com delights of the year. Period.
August 2, 2026
Holy mother… hold my cupcakes. 🧁
Because Christian Fox saying “fuuuuuucccckkkk…” has no business sounding that good. I’m convinced this audiobook has raised my blood sugar without me eating a single dessert.
🎧 Sweet Heat by Canea Cox
🎙️ Performed in duet by Andi Eloise & Christian Fox
🎧 Produced by Pinup Audio
I picked this up as a palate cleanser between some darker, heavier reads, and it was exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
From the opening chapters I was laughing out loud. Not the polite little nose-exhale either… proper giggling, snorting and rewinding because I’d missed the next line while I was still laughing.
I’ll admit the premise had me slightly scratching my head at first, but the narration completely swept me away. Once Andi and Christian settled into these characters, I was all in.
Andi Eloise gave Haven so much warmth, confidence and vulnerability. You genuinely feel her growth as she comes back stronger, refusing to settle for anything less than she deserves.
Then there’s Christian Fox…
What on earth was that performance?!
Axel is sweet, charming, completely obsessed, hilariously inappropriate and possesses a mouth that should probably be registered as a lethal weapon. The filthy things that came out of this man’s mouth had me clutching my Kindle while simultaneously laughing like an idiot.
The chemistry between these two narrators is phenomenal. Every flirt, every argument, every emotional moment and every spicy scene felt completely natural thanks to the duet narration.
And let’s talk about the grovelling…
Because I LOVE a man who has to work for his woman, and Axel absolutely delivers.
This book balances humour, romance, spice and emotion so well. One minute you’re laughing, the next you’re swooning, and then suddenly you’re reaching for a fan.
The ending wrapped everything up beautifully, and that epilogue left me with the biggest smile.
This was my first book by Canea Cox, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Also… Pinup Audio continues to prove why they’re becoming one of my favourite producers.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to budget for replacement AirPods because Christian Fox clearly intends to shorten the lifespan of every pair I own.
Because Christian Fox saying “fuuuuuucccckkkk…” has no business sounding that good. I’m convinced this audiobook has raised my blood sugar without me eating a single dessert.
🎧 Sweet Heat by Canea Cox
🎙️ Performed in duet by Andi Eloise & Christian Fox
🎧 Produced by Pinup Audio
I picked this up as a palate cleanser between some darker, heavier reads, and it was exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
From the opening chapters I was laughing out loud. Not the polite little nose-exhale either… proper giggling, snorting and rewinding because I’d missed the next line while I was still laughing.
I’ll admit the premise had me slightly scratching my head at first, but the narration completely swept me away. Once Andi and Christian settled into these characters, I was all in.
Andi Eloise gave Haven so much warmth, confidence and vulnerability. You genuinely feel her growth as she comes back stronger, refusing to settle for anything less than she deserves.
Then there’s Christian Fox…
What on earth was that performance?!
Axel is sweet, charming, completely obsessed, hilariously inappropriate and possesses a mouth that should probably be registered as a lethal weapon. The filthy things that came out of this man’s mouth had me clutching my Kindle while simultaneously laughing like an idiot.
The chemistry between these two narrators is phenomenal. Every flirt, every argument, every emotional moment and every spicy scene felt completely natural thanks to the duet narration.
And let’s talk about the grovelling…
Because I LOVE a man who has to work for his woman, and Axel absolutely delivers.
This book balances humour, romance, spice and emotion so well. One minute you’re laughing, the next you’re swooning, and then suddenly you’re reaching for a fan.
The ending wrapped everything up beautifully, and that epilogue left me with the biggest smile.
This was my first book by Canea Cox, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Also… Pinup Audio continues to prove why they’re becoming one of my favourite producers.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to budget for replacement AirPods because Christian Fox clearly intends to shorten the lifespan of every pair I own.
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