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Something Like Love #1
I Like You, I Love Her
I Like You, I Love Her is Book 1 of the Something Like Love Series. It can be read as a standalone.
Severin
It feels like I’ve been in love with Bryan Winthrop my entire life.
Before he kissed me in front of the entire school.
As he danced with her the night of our senior prom.
After his younger brother, Ben, made me smile through my tears.
“It’ll never work with him. He will never leave her…”
It’s been more than ten years since I let myself fall
for the boy whose heart wasn’t mine.
And the Prom King’s lips are finally mine to kiss.
“When I came back here I wasn’t expecting to see you,
and when I did, I felt this tumble…”
But he’s still keeping me in the shadows.
As his younger brother breaks me open in the day.
Ben
You shouldn’t covet whom your brother desires.
Our pastor father would say he taught me better than that.
But I knew over ten years ago my brother didn’t deserve her.
And nothing’s changed since she came back into both our lives.
“You think what you felt for my brother back then was love,
but what I felt can’t be the same?”
I’m still the one who makes her laugh—
the one who challenges her.
And he’s still the one treating her like a dirty little secret.
“You really are a watercolor, Severin Thompson. I can read you…”
You shouldn’t covet whom your brother desires.
This summer, I’ll remind him of that.
Severin
It feels like I’ve been in love with Bryan Winthrop my entire life.
Before he kissed me in front of the entire school.
As he danced with her the night of our senior prom.
After his younger brother, Ben, made me smile through my tears.
“It’ll never work with him. He will never leave her…”
It’s been more than ten years since I let myself fall
for the boy whose heart wasn’t mine.
And the Prom King’s lips are finally mine to kiss.
“When I came back here I wasn’t expecting to see you,
and when I did, I felt this tumble…”
But he’s still keeping me in the shadows.
As his younger brother breaks me open in the day.
Ben
You shouldn’t covet whom your brother desires.
Our pastor father would say he taught me better than that.
But I knew over ten years ago my brother didn’t deserve her.
And nothing’s changed since she came back into both our lives.
“You think what you felt for my brother back then was love,
but what I felt can’t be the same?”
I’m still the one who makes her laugh—
the one who challenges her.
And he’s still the one treating her like a dirty little secret.
“You really are a watercolor, Severin Thompson. I can read you…”
You shouldn’t covet whom your brother desires.
This summer, I’ll remind him of that.
ebook
First published September 27, 2018
251 people are currently reading
1059 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Rogue
60 books851 followersJ.R. Rogue first put pen to paper at the age of fifteen after developing an unrequited high school crush and has never stopped writing about heartache. She has published multiple volumes of poetry and novels. Her work has been recognized with three Goodreads Choice Awards nominations, a testament to the impact of her work on readers.
In addition to her writing, J.R. Rogue is a certified yoga teacher with additional certification in Yoga Nidra and Trauma-Informed Yoga. She is passionate about mindfulness and meditation, and currently studying Foundations in Meditation. Furthermore, J.R. Rogue has been sober from alcohol since January 1st, 2020, a personal achievement that she is proud of and that has strengthened her commitment to mindfulness and wellness.
J.R. Rogue resides in a small town in the Midwest with her family, where she enjoys a peaceful life reading and telling stories
In addition to her writing, J.R. Rogue is a certified yoga teacher with additional certification in Yoga Nidra and Trauma-Informed Yoga. She is passionate about mindfulness and meditation, and currently studying Foundations in Meditation. Furthermore, J.R. Rogue has been sober from alcohol since January 1st, 2020, a personal achievement that she is proud of and that has strengthened her commitment to mindfulness and wellness.
J.R. Rogue resides in a small town in the Midwest with her family, where she enjoys a peaceful life reading and telling stories
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
September 30, 2018
2 Stars
I'm not going to use my typical review format for this book, because I'm just not feeling it tbh. I struggled. A LOT. With this book, and I really should have put it on my dnf shelf when I first had the thought to (about 30ish%). That being said, I chose to continue because I was curious as to how everything was going to pan out. The way it's written encourages that, because it flip-flops between the past and the present and it drops many hints about some huge heartbreaking event that isn't revealed until almost the very end. Honestly, I don't see the "romance" in this book. If it was marketed as a book about a woman finding herself and coming to terms with past hurts -- I think that would be more accurate. Many things didn't work for me, but here are the big ones.
Don't click on my spoiler tag if you don't want the book to be possibly ruined, because these are BIG SPOILERS!
Sorry for my rants! I should've just stopped reading and followed my gut, but oh well! On to the next 😘
I'm not going to use my typical review format for this book, because I'm just not feeling it tbh. I struggled. A LOT. With this book, and I really should have put it on my dnf shelf when I first had the thought to (about 30ish%). That being said, I chose to continue because I was curious as to how everything was going to pan out. The way it's written encourages that, because it flip-flops between the past and the present and it drops many hints about some huge heartbreaking event that isn't revealed until almost the very end. Honestly, I don't see the "romance" in this book. If it was marketed as a book about a woman finding herself and coming to terms with past hurts -- I think that would be more accurate. Many things didn't work for me, but here are the big ones.
Don't click on my spoiler tag if you don't want the book to be possibly ruined, because these are BIG SPOILERS!
Sorry for my rants! I should've just stopped reading and followed my gut, but oh well! On to the next 😘
Read
October 3, 2018DNF @ 28%
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I cannot connect with anything in this story... I'm struggling to keep reading it.
TBH I'm feeling really bored with the characters and all this mystery around them about what happened in the past.
It seems like I'm not in the mood... so I better follow my gut and stop here.
Maybe I'll come back to finish it. Maybe not.
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I cannot connect with anything in this story... I'm struggling to keep reading it.
TBH I'm feeling really bored with the characters and all this mystery around them about what happened in the past.
It seems like I'm not in the mood... so I better follow my gut and stop here.
Maybe I'll come back to finish it. Maybe not.
July 24, 2019
Read full review here: Ashes Books & Bobs.
SO FREAKING GOOD!!!!
______
I Like You, I Love Her is the type of book I don't have words for, instead, I'm full to the brim with feelings and nostalgia. I have never read a book before that mirrored my high school existence quite so clearly. This book transported me back to one of the most tumultuous times in my life, almost as if I had teleported back ten+ years ago! All of the rawness, angst, and trivialities of high school came rushing back to me - things I had pushed from my mind or thought I had forgotten returned because of J.R. Rogue's incredible writing.
Take away the theater aspect and Severin is me in high school. She's quiet, she's a watcher more than a participant in the jungle that is high school (à la Mean Girls). She feels everything, especially the crush she's burning with for Bryan, but more than anything, she is ready to make her own place in the world, away from her sleepy small town. I am Severin more than I can possibly describe without giving details of the book away. I have NEVER, even in my all-time favorite book, felt such a soul connection with a fictional character. I could have been reading my high school journal!
For those who are worried this is a cheating novel, I don't think this book quite fits into the category of a "cheater romance". This is more of a journey of self-discovery as the main character makes her way back to her hometown. She's urged to figure out if she's still the same girl she was or the new creature she has become upon leaving her old life behind. I would consider this more of a story about growing up and reflecting on life, and the consequences of actions taken, rather than a romance. The added romance simply adds to the character growth and Severin's self-discovery as she tries to figure out the woman she wants to be. Truly, this is a one-of-a-kind story that refuses to be put in a box.
"It's a time warp. Towns like this seemed to be stuck in glass jars. I want to grab this one, shake it up."
To date, this is Jen Rogue's best work, in my opinion. I couldn't stop reading, the characters are still on my mind, and I could even do with a sequel (ok, I'm begging for one...or even a short novella)! I can't begin to describe how impressed I am with J.R. Rogue's constant growth as a writer. Each book is infinitely better than the last, featuring honest and real characters I can't help but love. She places the most relatable nuggets of truth in her writing, making all the women reading feel a fistbump of solidarity.
"When our mistakes and sins are repeated from our own mouths, we often see ourselves in a new light."
My favorite thing about this book after reading, besides the feelings it evoked, was the way the title was worked into the story. Before I started, the title made me nervous, like many readers. However, I guarantee it will take on a completely new meaning in the end! I love this book, guys! It's my new fave of J.R. Rogue's, and that is saying a lot after Kiss Me Like You Mean It.
Pick up this 5-star read today! You won't want to miss this walk down the halls of high school!
SO FREAKING GOOD!!!!
______
I Like You, I Love Her is the type of book I don't have words for, instead, I'm full to the brim with feelings and nostalgia. I have never read a book before that mirrored my high school existence quite so clearly. This book transported me back to one of the most tumultuous times in my life, almost as if I had teleported back ten+ years ago! All of the rawness, angst, and trivialities of high school came rushing back to me - things I had pushed from my mind or thought I had forgotten returned because of J.R. Rogue's incredible writing.
Take away the theater aspect and Severin is me in high school. She's quiet, she's a watcher more than a participant in the jungle that is high school (à la Mean Girls). She feels everything, especially the crush she's burning with for Bryan, but more than anything, she is ready to make her own place in the world, away from her sleepy small town. I am Severin more than I can possibly describe without giving details of the book away. I have NEVER, even in my all-time favorite book, felt such a soul connection with a fictional character. I could have been reading my high school journal!
For those who are worried this is a cheating novel, I don't think this book quite fits into the category of a "cheater romance". This is more of a journey of self-discovery as the main character makes her way back to her hometown. She's urged to figure out if she's still the same girl she was or the new creature she has become upon leaving her old life behind. I would consider this more of a story about growing up and reflecting on life, and the consequences of actions taken, rather than a romance. The added romance simply adds to the character growth and Severin's self-discovery as she tries to figure out the woman she wants to be. Truly, this is a one-of-a-kind story that refuses to be put in a box.
"It's a time warp. Towns like this seemed to be stuck in glass jars. I want to grab this one, shake it up."
To date, this is Jen Rogue's best work, in my opinion. I couldn't stop reading, the characters are still on my mind, and I could even do with a sequel (ok, I'm begging for one...or even a short novella)! I can't begin to describe how impressed I am with J.R. Rogue's constant growth as a writer. Each book is infinitely better than the last, featuring honest and real characters I can't help but love. She places the most relatable nuggets of truth in her writing, making all the women reading feel a fistbump of solidarity.
"When our mistakes and sins are repeated from our own mouths, we often see ourselves in a new light."
My favorite thing about this book after reading, besides the feelings it evoked, was the way the title was worked into the story. Before I started, the title made me nervous, like many readers. However, I guarantee it will take on a completely new meaning in the end! I love this book, guys! It's my new fave of J.R. Rogue's, and that is saying a lot after Kiss Me Like You Mean It.
Pick up this 5-star read today! You won't want to miss this walk down the halls of high school!
September 27, 2018
I was wrapped up in this book the way Severin is wrapped up in Bryan Winthrop. My infatuation was painful and unhealthy and all-consuming. And as much as it hurt so good, I knew it couldn't end well. Still, I couldn't let go. I couldn't stop scrambling for scraps, taking whatever I could get even though I was desperate for so much more.
This was my first J.R. Rogue novel and I fell hopelessly, desperately, irrevocably in love with her writing. She's a tease. She waves bits and morsels in front of you, glimpses of emotion, nibbles of sensuality, before tugging it back behind the curtain. Her words are concise and quick and simplistic and beautifully poetic, leaving you breathless and ravenous for the story to unfold. It's the most intriguing, refreshingly stunning way of telling a story, and I was dumb struck.
Is this truly a romance? I couldn't answer that for so much of this story. I'm still unsure if that question has an answer. You can decide for yourself once you read. For so much of this book, it never felt like a happily ever after was remotely possible. There was too much complicated emotion flooding every page. There was too much in the way dividing these characters. It all just felt impossible. This story gave me nostalgic vibes reminiscent of The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher and Avoiding Commitment by KA Linde. J.R. Rogue's storyline is DRASTICALLY different but anyone who's read those books knows how they felt while reading them. Haunted. Unsettled. Enraged. Like those books, I Like You, I Love Her evoked so much frustration and desperation as I read. Like those books, there's an overwhelmingly somber undercurrent, a feeling that there's just no righting all that's been wronged no matter how much these characters seem to belong together.
I read... ok, I DEVOURED... this book, hoping and praying and longing for something that just felt so out of reach. The odds were so stacked against Bryan and Severin. It obliterated my heart just to keep moving, to keep turning the pages, and yet I just had to know what would become of everyone on these pages. This is an unconventional love story that's about as outside the box as you can get. I think some readers will hate how this book makes them feel. Why? Because readers have a hard time connecting with a love story that has so many moving parts. They like straight lines, dots that only connect from point A to point B. They like a romance that begins and ends with two people and this story is messy. The lines are jagged. There's many points to this indefinable shape and it's often ugly and difficult to define. But in true love, in an honest romance, sometimes a character just disappoints you. They don't live up to the hopes and dreams you had in place for them and that freaking sucks. But that's why this story worked for me. I love reading a book where a character's journey is more important than a sugary, contrived HEA. I love originality and an author that takes risks. Because of that, I. COULD. NOT. LOOK. AWAY. FROM. THIS. BOOK. This was a wholly unpredictable, unputdownable story, a horrific trainwreck of tumultuous emotion and it killed me to see it through. But I am so glad I did. It's different. It feels satisfying and unsettling all at once, a journey rich with complications and heartbreak. You never see the conclusion coming and as bittersweet as it is, I enjoyed every brutal moment of the ride. I can tell you this, I won't shake this one for a long, long time.
This was my first J.R. Rogue novel and I fell hopelessly, desperately, irrevocably in love with her writing. She's a tease. She waves bits and morsels in front of you, glimpses of emotion, nibbles of sensuality, before tugging it back behind the curtain. Her words are concise and quick and simplistic and beautifully poetic, leaving you breathless and ravenous for the story to unfold. It's the most intriguing, refreshingly stunning way of telling a story, and I was dumb struck.
Is this truly a romance? I couldn't answer that for so much of this story. I'm still unsure if that question has an answer. You can decide for yourself once you read. For so much of this book, it never felt like a happily ever after was remotely possible. There was too much complicated emotion flooding every page. There was too much in the way dividing these characters. It all just felt impossible. This story gave me nostalgic vibes reminiscent of The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher and Avoiding Commitment by KA Linde. J.R. Rogue's storyline is DRASTICALLY different but anyone who's read those books knows how they felt while reading them. Haunted. Unsettled. Enraged. Like those books, I Like You, I Love Her evoked so much frustration and desperation as I read. Like those books, there's an overwhelmingly somber undercurrent, a feeling that there's just no righting all that's been wronged no matter how much these characters seem to belong together.
I read... ok, I DEVOURED... this book, hoping and praying and longing for something that just felt so out of reach. The odds were so stacked against Bryan and Severin. It obliterated my heart just to keep moving, to keep turning the pages, and yet I just had to know what would become of everyone on these pages. This is an unconventional love story that's about as outside the box as you can get. I think some readers will hate how this book makes them feel. Why? Because readers have a hard time connecting with a love story that has so many moving parts. They like straight lines, dots that only connect from point A to point B. They like a romance that begins and ends with two people and this story is messy. The lines are jagged. There's many points to this indefinable shape and it's often ugly and difficult to define. But in true love, in an honest romance, sometimes a character just disappoints you. They don't live up to the hopes and dreams you had in place for them and that freaking sucks. But that's why this story worked for me. I love reading a book where a character's journey is more important than a sugary, contrived HEA. I love originality and an author that takes risks. Because of that, I. COULD. NOT. LOOK. AWAY. FROM. THIS. BOOK. This was a wholly unpredictable, unputdownable story, a horrific trainwreck of tumultuous emotion and it killed me to see it through. But I am so glad I did. It's different. It feels satisfying and unsettling all at once, a journey rich with complications and heartbreak. You never see the conclusion coming and as bittersweet as it is, I enjoyed every brutal moment of the ride. I can tell you this, I won't shake this one for a long, long time.
September 27, 2018
So, I went back and forth with my rating. 4 stars or 5 stars? What do I do? What will truly justify this book for the people who read my reviews? But the more I discussed the book, mainly with Jen, and the more I focused on writing my review and getting my feelings down, this book deserves five stars. Probably more than that.
Jen showed us a different side of her as an author, she went there for us. ILYILH was not poetic. Not to me anyways. It was not based around beautiful prose and lyrical writing. It was sharp, poignant, and jarring in all of the right ways. Which to me showed how dynamic Jen can write. Which in turn shows me how talented she truly is. Going from KMLYMI to ILYILH was a huge jump for her to take and to me she landed that jump flawlessly and stuck it like a pro.
Severin is life. Her snark, wittiness and down right charming self was radiant and cutthroat and I really liked that about her. She knew what she wanted and she knew what she had to do with her life to get there. To me, she was a strong woman, the type you don’t read about in most books. The type that more books should have.
The alternating POVs of the past and the present add such a build to the story that I didn’t even know I needed. It gave me LIFE. Seeing how the tension of the characters build and build in their high school years and then going to present time to see how the characters are still teetering around each other brought a whole new meaning to this story. The worlds colliding was magical. Not to mention the end left me so satisfied. I was so thrilled to know I would get to interpret things my own way with Severin. I know what she would want for herself and so does she.
I love how the title fits in and plays a huge role into the story. Period. End of story. When an author does that I get the goosebumps and I smile real cheesy-hard like. Jen did that to me.
Ben. Ben Ben Ben. The almighty philosopher Ben. I love you. My moth flutters are forever yours, I don’t have to make love such a tragedy for you! I promise!
I can’t wait to share my favorite quotes with you guys. My favorite lines and the meanings I took from them. I can’t wait for you to read this book that Jen poured her heart out for US. And I can’t wait for you to experience that feeling of reading it for it the first time.
Jen showed us a different side of her as an author, she went there for us. ILYILH was not poetic. Not to me anyways. It was not based around beautiful prose and lyrical writing. It was sharp, poignant, and jarring in all of the right ways. Which to me showed how dynamic Jen can write. Which in turn shows me how talented she truly is. Going from KMLYMI to ILYILH was a huge jump for her to take and to me she landed that jump flawlessly and stuck it like a pro.
Severin is life. Her snark, wittiness and down right charming self was radiant and cutthroat and I really liked that about her. She knew what she wanted and she knew what she had to do with her life to get there. To me, she was a strong woman, the type you don’t read about in most books. The type that more books should have.
The alternating POVs of the past and the present add such a build to the story that I didn’t even know I needed. It gave me LIFE. Seeing how the tension of the characters build and build in their high school years and then going to present time to see how the characters are still teetering around each other brought a whole new meaning to this story. The worlds colliding was magical. Not to mention the end left me so satisfied. I was so thrilled to know I would get to interpret things my own way with Severin. I know what she would want for herself and so does she.
I love how the title fits in and plays a huge role into the story. Period. End of story. When an author does that I get the goosebumps and I smile real cheesy-hard like. Jen did that to me.
Ben. Ben Ben Ben. The almighty philosopher Ben. I love you. My moth flutters are forever yours, I don’t have to make love such a tragedy for you! I promise!
I can’t wait to share my favorite quotes with you guys. My favorite lines and the meanings I took from them. I can’t wait for you to read this book that Jen poured her heart out for US. And I can’t wait for you to experience that feeling of reading it for it the first time.
September 27, 2018
This was so... disappointing.
Bryan was a fucking headache, what an annoying piece of man. And Severin, why did she cling so much to this unworthy dude.
Ben, now. I liked him, but just that.
I thought this novel was gonna be an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions but instead I found myself bored out of my mind with these characters and their problems they totally blew out of proportion.
Bryan was a fucking headache, what an annoying piece of man. And Severin, why did she cling so much to this unworthy dude.
Ben, now. I liked him, but just that.
I thought this novel was gonna be an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions but instead I found myself bored out of my mind with these characters and their problems they totally blew out of proportion.
September 29, 2018
3.5 Stars
May 27, 2022
I like you, I love her a.k.a an ode to toxicity and crappy relationship dynamics
The characters
This book could have been a perfect opportunity to accompany Severin, our protagonist, on a powerful journey of self-discovery in which she realizes that toxic relationships exist, that life is not a fairy tale, and above all, that people are rational beings, with the ability to analyze our impulses and decide to use our brains and not our hearts to distance ourselves from people or situations that cause us pain. Romantic love should not be the ultimate life goal.
Yet Severin spends 288 pages being a complete moron. As a reader, it's hard to respect her, since she doesn't respect herself enough not to be Brian's doormat.
I can tell that the author was trying to portray Severin as this empowered woman, but she actually came off as very rude. Telling the people you’re talking to that they’re boring doesn’t make you strong, it makes you an asshole. And who exactly is the boring one here? I’m not the one pining after her high school crush (who was too embarrassed to give you the time of day in public) 10 frigging years later.
And, oh, don’t get me started on Brian. I don’t think I’m capable of hating him any more than I do. He’s wishy-washy, boring, selfish, and a professional manipulator.
Ben and Aurora were ok characters I guess, but we see so little of them that who actually cares?
The writing
The book is written in a way in which chapters from the past are intermingled with the present and let me say, it doesn't work. The past is not interesting enough to require half the chapters of this book. It's a teen drama with a B-movie worthy "mystery” inserted at the end.
The writing was also confusing, with looooong and drawn out conversations and obnoxious fade to black scenes that only confused me as to who said what, what happened the night before and what was the whole point of that chapter, and because this is categorized as "romance", I'm cutting right to the chase, there weren't even any remotely spicy scenes.
This book was overall a complete waste of time, money, braincells, and ink and paper.
The characters
This book could have been a perfect opportunity to accompany Severin, our protagonist, on a powerful journey of self-discovery in which she realizes that toxic relationships exist, that life is not a fairy tale, and above all, that people are rational beings, with the ability to analyze our impulses and decide to use our brains and not our hearts to distance ourselves from people or situations that cause us pain. Romantic love should not be the ultimate life goal.
Yet Severin spends 288 pages being a complete moron. As a reader, it's hard to respect her, since she doesn't respect herself enough not to be Brian's doormat.
I can tell that the author was trying to portray Severin as this empowered woman, but she actually came off as very rude. Telling the people you’re talking to that they’re boring doesn’t make you strong, it makes you an asshole. And who exactly is the boring one here? I’m not the one pining after her high school crush (who was too embarrassed to give you the time of day in public) 10 frigging years later.
And, oh, don’t get me started on Brian. I don’t think I’m capable of hating him any more than I do. He’s wishy-washy, boring, selfish, and a professional manipulator.
Ben and Aurora were ok characters I guess, but we see so little of them that who actually cares?
The writing
The book is written in a way in which chapters from the past are intermingled with the present and let me say, it doesn't work. The past is not interesting enough to require half the chapters of this book. It's a teen drama with a B-movie worthy "mystery” inserted at the end.
The writing was also confusing, with looooong and drawn out conversations and obnoxious fade to black scenes that only confused me as to who said what, what happened the night before and what was the whole point of that chapter, and because this is categorized as "romance", I'm cutting right to the chase, there weren't even any remotely spicy scenes.
This book was overall a complete waste of time, money, braincells, and ink and paper.
Read
September 28, 2018DNF. Didn't like the writing style or the hero.
September 7, 2018
Brand new novel based on real experiences from my High School years!
PRE-ORDER: https://amzn.to/2w9DBqh
ADD ON GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/ILYILHGR
VOTE FOR #ILYILH IN SEPT MOST ANTICIPATED ROMANCES: http://bit.ly/ILYGRVOTE
PRE-ORDER: https://amzn.to/2w9DBqh
ADD ON GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/ILYILHGR
VOTE FOR #ILYILH IN SEPT MOST ANTICIPATED ROMANCES: http://bit.ly/ILYGRVOTE
September 27, 2018
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired..
I made EIGHTEEN (18) HIGHLIGHTS during my first read of ILYILH. That's a record.
This is one of those books where I don't want to give away anything, I want you to trust my recommendation and just read it. I don't want to convince you, I don't want to give any little bit up, I just want you to go in with an open mind and I can only hope you find yourself connecting with it the way I did. J.R. Rogue has created characters, a world, a story, that feels like my own without really being my own. The aching hearts, the confusion, the desperation for an answer, the things Severin wants I once wanted, maybe in a different way, but I knew exactly how she felt from beginning to end. I connected with her, I cried even when she didn't, and at the end of the novel I scrolled back to page one and knew I just had to read it again.
"A lie can be a good reason if you repeat it over and over again."
I've just finished a wine, I'm listening to a playlist that is indie rock, and folk, and youthful pain all at once, and I'm reflecting on the journey that J.R. Rogue takes us on in I Like You, I Love Her. We're in a small town, we're privy to only Severin's thoughts, and yet we're all too aware of the natural hierarchies, the thoughts of others, and the damning lust that changes you, for worse and maybe for better, when it dismantles the belief you once had of your simple world. The sort of love that throttles you when it is finally recognized as unrequited. It's love, lust, and heartbreak turned into a beautiful story, brought to life by J.R. Rogue's lyrical prose that manages to make you cry and smile all at the same time. At the same time, J.R. Rogue takes her writing a step further, breaking up her poetic storytelling style with difficult thoughts and jarring events that only further the believability.
"I want to be a different woman, but I am not. I am weak for him. We all have that one."
The story is Severin's, her past and her present and even her future, and yet it feels like I stepped into her shoes and was there too. I knew her addiction to the untouchable Bryan Winthrop, because I found myself addicted to this book in an unhealthy way, and even more so, I found myself addicted to the real Severin that Ben allowed her to be. I knew the feeling of loving both versions of life, but recognizing that the future must follow a certain path even if the other is the kind of path I once pictured my life taking.
"'And how are they? How are things?'
'I think you know. But the lie is sweeter'"
It's rare that I live in my thoughts about a book so much that I can't even start another, but this book trapped me in its pages for about a week. ILY,ILH is more than a romance, it's a fictional journey of self reflection, personal growth, and the dawning understanding that maybe love can't just carry things forward alone. The story isn't simple, it doesn't move in the expected romantic way, and yet it is real, pulling my heart towards it like Severin feels hers pulled too. It's beautiful, raw, and honest, in a way that I find refreshing and relatable. It's just the kind of book you have to read, and maybe you'll dislike it (don't tell me, we'll argue) or maybe you too will fall in love.
Favorite Quote:
"People are always so worried about pulling the Band-Aid off so they choke on their truths, let lies spill out."
ARC Provided.
I made EIGHTEEN (18) HIGHLIGHTS during my first read of ILYILH. That's a record.
This is one of those books where I don't want to give away anything, I want you to trust my recommendation and just read it. I don't want to convince you, I don't want to give any little bit up, I just want you to go in with an open mind and I can only hope you find yourself connecting with it the way I did. J.R. Rogue has created characters, a world, a story, that feels like my own without really being my own. The aching hearts, the confusion, the desperation for an answer, the things Severin wants I once wanted, maybe in a different way, but I knew exactly how she felt from beginning to end. I connected with her, I cried even when she didn't, and at the end of the novel I scrolled back to page one and knew I just had to read it again.
"A lie can be a good reason if you repeat it over and over again."
I've just finished a wine, I'm listening to a playlist that is indie rock, and folk, and youthful pain all at once, and I'm reflecting on the journey that J.R. Rogue takes us on in I Like You, I Love Her. We're in a small town, we're privy to only Severin's thoughts, and yet we're all too aware of the natural hierarchies, the thoughts of others, and the damning lust that changes you, for worse and maybe for better, when it dismantles the belief you once had of your simple world. The sort of love that throttles you when it is finally recognized as unrequited. It's love, lust, and heartbreak turned into a beautiful story, brought to life by J.R. Rogue's lyrical prose that manages to make you cry and smile all at the same time. At the same time, J.R. Rogue takes her writing a step further, breaking up her poetic storytelling style with difficult thoughts and jarring events that only further the believability.
"I want to be a different woman, but I am not. I am weak for him. We all have that one."
The story is Severin's, her past and her present and even her future, and yet it feels like I stepped into her shoes and was there too. I knew her addiction to the untouchable Bryan Winthrop, because I found myself addicted to this book in an unhealthy way, and even more so, I found myself addicted to the real Severin that Ben allowed her to be. I knew the feeling of loving both versions of life, but recognizing that the future must follow a certain path even if the other is the kind of path I once pictured my life taking.
"'And how are they? How are things?'
'I think you know. But the lie is sweeter'"
It's rare that I live in my thoughts about a book so much that I can't even start another, but this book trapped me in its pages for about a week. ILY,ILH is more than a romance, it's a fictional journey of self reflection, personal growth, and the dawning understanding that maybe love can't just carry things forward alone. The story isn't simple, it doesn't move in the expected romantic way, and yet it is real, pulling my heart towards it like Severin feels hers pulled too. It's beautiful, raw, and honest, in a way that I find refreshing and relatable. It's just the kind of book you have to read, and maybe you'll dislike it (don't tell me, we'll argue) or maybe you too will fall in love.
Favorite Quote:
"People are always so worried about pulling the Band-Aid off so they choke on their truths, let lies spill out."
ARC Provided.
Read
October 16, 2018This will be a DNF for me.
I struggled immensely with the style in which this book was written and the voice felt forced or stilted. It was very difficult to sink into the words and form any sort of bond with the characters because of their immaturity and lack of depth between them as well. With the very awkward sentence structures and the inability to connect to the characters, I needed to call it a loss for me.
I didn't decide this lightly, seeing how that synopsis sucked me in...it just sorta lost me when the fluidity of the reading felt compromised, and my ability to settle into the storyline and the emotional side of it was lacking. Or missing.
This is told in past and present tense, and while that is not one of my favorite ways to read a story, I will stay the course if I am able to connect and the story is building well. I think there were too many variables working against me to grant me the fluency I needed in a new-to-me voice. I do know she is a poet, and so I can understand why her structuring of her sentences would work for her, but they just didn't allow me the capability of forming any bonds with the words, actions, or characters.
I struggled immensely with the style in which this book was written and the voice felt forced or stilted. It was very difficult to sink into the words and form any sort of bond with the characters because of their immaturity and lack of depth between them as well. With the very awkward sentence structures and the inability to connect to the characters, I needed to call it a loss for me.
I didn't decide this lightly, seeing how that synopsis sucked me in...it just sorta lost me when the fluidity of the reading felt compromised, and my ability to settle into the storyline and the emotional side of it was lacking. Or missing.
This is told in past and present tense, and while that is not one of my favorite ways to read a story, I will stay the course if I am able to connect and the story is building well. I think there were too many variables working against me to grant me the fluency I needed in a new-to-me voice. I do know she is a poet, and so I can understand why her structuring of her sentences would work for her, but they just didn't allow me the capability of forming any bonds with the words, actions, or characters.
September 7, 2018
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This book hit the suffocation nail of small town living right on the head and is easily a 4.5 star read! I grew up in a small, rural, midwestern town very similar to the one portrayed in I Like You, I Love Her. Severin’s story whisked me right back to my childhood, my high school days, and all the challenges that come along with growing up in a little town full of little minds. All the politics of living life according to who has the right money and the right last name.
J.R. Rogue captured this world beautifully. She captured the surreal dread of how it feels to return to that world after having been gone, how time stands still and nothing and no one ever changes. The heartbreak that comes from being more than that world, from breaking yourself against those who will never understand your need to leave, to live, to want more than this unforgiving bubble you were raised in. I could see it and feel it and smell it – the stifling smallness trying to suck the air from my lungs and the ambition from my bones.
She also captured what it’s like to be pulled to someone who’s ultimately toxic, I call them addiction relationships when you know it’s not love, you know it’s not good for you but you can’t stop that person no matter how destructive they are. They give you tiny slivers of hope and you hang onto them desperately, until you’re just about to give up and move on and then they feed you another tiny sliver. I’ve often wondered if those relationships were another symptom of the small-town disease, not being able to see that there’s so much more out there, there are people who won’t keep you in the shadows.
Rogue’s words in I Like You, I Love Her are as beautiful and lyrical as ever and this story is ultimately triumphant, although heartbreaking. I hope every small-town girl reads this and sees their world for what it really is and what it can someday be, that they can do so much more than live their lives on repeat. I honestly prefer living in a small town (although NOT the one I grew up in), but I think it is so terribly vital to go out into the world and experience life so you know who you are and where you want to be.
Thank you for this story Jen, it gave a voice to some of my most anguished childhood experiences.
You can read my extended review at mehawkins.com
This book hit the suffocation nail of small town living right on the head and is easily a 4.5 star read! I grew up in a small, rural, midwestern town very similar to the one portrayed in I Like You, I Love Her. Severin’s story whisked me right back to my childhood, my high school days, and all the challenges that come along with growing up in a little town full of little minds. All the politics of living life according to who has the right money and the right last name.
J.R. Rogue captured this world beautifully. She captured the surreal dread of how it feels to return to that world after having been gone, how time stands still and nothing and no one ever changes. The heartbreak that comes from being more than that world, from breaking yourself against those who will never understand your need to leave, to live, to want more than this unforgiving bubble you were raised in. I could see it and feel it and smell it – the stifling smallness trying to suck the air from my lungs and the ambition from my bones.
She also captured what it’s like to be pulled to someone who’s ultimately toxic, I call them addiction relationships when you know it’s not love, you know it’s not good for you but you can’t stop that person no matter how destructive they are. They give you tiny slivers of hope and you hang onto them desperately, until you’re just about to give up and move on and then they feed you another tiny sliver. I’ve often wondered if those relationships were another symptom of the small-town disease, not being able to see that there’s so much more out there, there are people who won’t keep you in the shadows.
Rogue’s words in I Like You, I Love Her are as beautiful and lyrical as ever and this story is ultimately triumphant, although heartbreaking. I hope every small-town girl reads this and sees their world for what it really is and what it can someday be, that they can do so much more than live their lives on repeat. I honestly prefer living in a small town (although NOT the one I grew up in), but I think it is so terribly vital to go out into the world and experience life so you know who you are and where you want to be.
Thank you for this story Jen, it gave a voice to some of my most anguished childhood experiences.
You can read my extended review at mehawkins.com
September 17, 2018
This is Rogue's best novel. What is cool about my saying this is that it's also her most recent novel and, before this one, I thought her previous novel was her "best." This suggests that Rogue will keep writing stellar pieces. Not many writers can raise expectations with each new release without letting their readers down; and not just meet these raised expectations, but exceed them.
Her characters are flawed, honest, and thanks to her poetic background, speak in amazing dialogue that could also stand alone as poetry. I found myself marking lines to go back to because they punched me in my gut, in the most beautiful way. My fave line just may be: "Towns like this seemed to be stuck in glass jars. I want to grab this one, shake it up."
I know the author is from a very small town, so this concept finds itself in one iteration or another in a lot of her work, but it never seems trite. It's always different and believable.
Read this novel - there's nothing else like it, and anything similar that might come after it from anyone else will pale in comparison.
Her characters are flawed, honest, and thanks to her poetic background, speak in amazing dialogue that could also stand alone as poetry. I found myself marking lines to go back to because they punched me in my gut, in the most beautiful way. My fave line just may be: "Towns like this seemed to be stuck in glass jars. I want to grab this one, shake it up."
I know the author is from a very small town, so this concept finds itself in one iteration or another in a lot of her work, but it never seems trite. It's always different and believable.
Read this novel - there's nothing else like it, and anything similar that might come after it from anyone else will pale in comparison.
October 7, 2018
A total train wreck from start to finish in my opinion. Nothing second chance about this and romance was a complete joke. I wasn't impressed with the characters or the plotting mechanisms. Everyone was off-the-charts maddening. From high school to adulthood, these people couldn't get their act together on the simplest choices. And not one of them even tried.
Triggers: alcohol, cheating, and even the triangle turned into a square!
Triggers: alcohol, cheating, and even the triangle turned into a square!
September 4, 2018
This book has romance. But.
There is so much more to this story than romance.
The portrayel of a close knit circle of friends, bonds and strife between family members, personal growth.
And the damn double entendre of a title. Jesus.
Every time I finish a Rogue release I think she has made me feel all I can feel...
Then the next one digs that knife in a bit deeper.
There is so much more to this story than romance.
The portrayel of a close knit circle of friends, bonds and strife between family members, personal growth.
And the damn double entendre of a title. Jesus.
Every time I finish a Rogue release I think she has made me feel all I can feel...
Then the next one digs that knife in a bit deeper.
October 8, 2018
DNF....something I rarely do. I could not connect with the characters at all. The writing was so choppy and confusing.
September 16, 2018
I Like You, I Love Her, is one of those rare books, which weighs heavy on your mind, long after you’ve finished reading.
Captivating and poignant. A style, which is both powerful and sharp. Keeping your heart beating just a little bit faster, as you become engrossed in the nostalgia of it all.
It is so different from Kiss Me Like You Mean It, and yet the transition was flawless.
Jen has a talent for writing strong female characters. Ones, which resonate with me, and Severin was no exception. Smart, tenacious and unassuming. We get a glimpse of how much she’s changed over the course of ten years.
Alternating between her past and present was done so well it kept me invested throughout. As all the pieces of her past gradually came together.
Swoon Ben and those moth flutters; what’s not to love. This book evokes all the feels.
I absolutely loved how the title played into the story, in more ways than one. It brought about what I can only describe as the most natural and true to character ending.
This book had me hooked until the very last page and has now become a firm favourite.
An absolute must-read.
Captivating and poignant. A style, which is both powerful and sharp. Keeping your heart beating just a little bit faster, as you become engrossed in the nostalgia of it all.
It is so different from Kiss Me Like You Mean It, and yet the transition was flawless.
Jen has a talent for writing strong female characters. Ones, which resonate with me, and Severin was no exception. Smart, tenacious and unassuming. We get a glimpse of how much she’s changed over the course of ten years.
Alternating between her past and present was done so well it kept me invested throughout. As all the pieces of her past gradually came together.
Swoon Ben and those moth flutters; what’s not to love. This book evokes all the feels.
I absolutely loved how the title played into the story, in more ways than one. It brought about what I can only describe as the most natural and true to character ending.
This book had me hooked until the very last page and has now become a firm favourite.
An absolute must-read.
September 13, 2018
I didn’t want to put this book down. I love the chapters going from present to past, it definitely helped build the story.
Severin is such a strong character and I definitely I identified with her, especially high school years.
Ben, there’s so much I could say. Sigh.
Jen’s writing is always captivating. I want to devour her words.
Severin is such a strong character and I definitely I identified with her, especially high school years.
Ben, there’s so much I could say. Sigh.
Jen’s writing is always captivating. I want to devour her words.
August 15, 2018
There's something about Jen's writing that is both delicate and powerful. She's delicate in the way she leads you to her powerful messages. Little strokes of paint creating a masterpiece of a novel, full of colors; shades of light and dark.
One of my top reads this year.
Read this book and learn to let go of everything you thought you knew about loving others and yourself.
One of my top reads this year.
Read this book and learn to let go of everything you thought you knew about loving others and yourself.
October 1, 2018
This book snuck up on me and took me by surprise. It was a slow buildup and suddenly I found myself starving for the next line, the next page, the next feeling. I loved this book and this story and the way it unfurled. The characters were so real and I loved the back and forth between high school and present day. I just want to read this one again right away. Please write me another one quickly.
August 23, 2019
I am one member of a wife/husband review team. Here is the review from our book blog shesaidhesaidbookreviews.com.
He said:
The first time I heard the name Jen Rogue was from Erica, my wife. She had just ordered one of Jen’s—I mean J.R.’s—poetry books and was telling me all about her. Later that year, I ordered a custom poem from Jen’s Etsy store and was blown away by the product she produced. Even today, it is framed and prominently displayed on one of our walls.
So when the time came to pick another book for the blog, Jen’s book seemed like an easy choice. Even the title was intriguing: I Like You, I Love Her. I remember asking Erica, “What the hell does that even mean?” to which she responded that I had to read it to find out. Shady wife mind games! But it worked. I read it and am better for finding out the answers for myself.
The book revolves around the main character, Severin (cool name) who is also known as Sev, who returns to rural Kansas to deal with family matters and all that comes with returning to the town you grew up in. The story is told from dual timeframes—one as Sev is growing up and the other as Sev has returned home. These conflicting timelines can sometimes be tough. In my opinion, the author has to be really detailed in making sure information the reader gleans is done in the right time period. Jen does this with ease.
What stood out to me the most about Jen’s writing is the way she writes a male character. For good or bad, I can name about 10 different friends over the years that fall into the role of Ben or Bryan. They seem realistic and I definitely appreciate that. Few things are as challenging as reading a book where a guy does something and I think to myself, “Who in the hell is this guy?! This dude is fucked up/a complete psycho/totally unrealistic.” I didn’t feel that way with Ben or Bryan. I understood their personalities and what drove them to act certain ways, and even more importantly, they made sense.
The other part of this book that I loved is the style in which Jen writes. Some poets might try to jump into the world of a novel and write like a poet: “Her breath was as moist as the dewy spring air that clung to her underboobs like sticks of butter had been used instead of soap.” Okay, maybe that was a bad example. I am not a poet. But what I liked about this book is the way Jen describes various situations. For example, here are some of my faves:
“I do not like to be this fragile. I prefer sarcasm and wit. I prefer the way I can ward off the vulnerability that comes with opening up.”
“He cusses and I slam both of my palms to my face, ears ringing, eyes spitting salt already.”
“No one will care about your sadness as much as you do. No one will be as invested in it, fall apart for it, crumble with it. We all have our demons, and we will find people willing to hold our hands and help us, but no one can fight our battles for us.”
The only minor area I struggled with, at times, is that I got a bit confused on who was being quoted in dialogue. I don’t need every quote to say “he said” or “she said.” But maybe a few more? I found myself thinking I knew who was saying what, until I got to a line that didn’t make sense. Then I had to go back and read it again. But really, this is super minor and probably more user error than anything else.
Jen posted on Facebook recently that this book was originally intended to be light and fun, but that her personal life played into changing the dynamic. I don’t know what happened in her personal life, and I am sorry for whatever it is, but I do appreciate the impact it had on the story. There is a realness and sincerity that comes through the pages and for that, I am grateful.
I can absolutely recommend this book with no qualms at all.
She said:
Underboobs? Seriously? Okay, moving on…
One of my favorite things as a reader is seeing an author grow. When every book they write gets a little better, a little clearer, a little more polished and refined until they reach the holy grail: complete reader love and appreciation (otherwise known as five stars). We don’t give star ratings on this blog out of preference, but this book makes me reconsider, because it is absolutely a five-star read.
What I love about this book is what I always love about Jen’s writing: she invites poetry into her prose. I highlighted so many lines. Here are a few of my favorites that, in my opinion, give nothing away:
“My dad says life is just choices. Roads we take. You can be the passenger, you can let someone take the curves for you, and just hang on. Or you can take the wheel. Take control.”
“People are always so worried about pulling the Band-Aid off so they choke on their truths, let lies spill out.”
“I try to comfort her. I try to be the one giving, not the one taking. My sponge sister and all her worry.”
“I’ve glued together a story. Pieced their scraps into something readable. I need stories, true or fiction, it doesn’t matter, to distract from my own.”
I’m not surprised that Matt had different favorite quotes, because there is so much beauty in this book. There are so many other lines I could share, but they are too telling. Just…when you read this (because you really must read this), give yourself the time to highlight. This is not a get-to-the-end-as-fast-as-possible book. It needs to be savored. It deserves to be savored.
It’s easy to savor, too, because of Jen’s steady pacing. There are no hills and valleys in this book. Everything feels natural and smooth and easy. This isn’t an angsty read where you have to know what happens next. No, instead you want to know what happens next. You become invested in the characters not because they cause you distress but because they are real and relatable, even raw.
What Matt said about the male perspective in this book is spot-on. Jen’s voice for them is so genuine and believable, you’d think a man actually wrote those lines. She’s able to get into Ben’s and Bryan’s heads and give them each a personality that is masculine and different from one another.
But perhaps my favorite thing about this book is the way it all comes together in the end. Questions are answered, motivations are revealed, characters make choices. It left me feeling satisfied. As though Jen had tucked me in at the end of a long day and turned off the light. I’m ready for sleep. I’m ready for these words of hers to be the last I think about.
And think I will. I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come. Because it made me nostalgic, gave me a sense of longing, and made me want to go back in time and make different choices—be a little more brave and a lot more self-aware. The power of a good read is in its ability to change minds and cause reflection. I Like You, I Love Her did both for me, and I’m thankful to have read it.
He Said:
I definitely agree with Erica saying that the pacing of the book is smooth and appropriate. It is a continuous build and I like that. It makes the ending satisfying, and while most questions are answered, some are left to the reader to determine. I like books like that.
When we started this blog, we didn’t want to do starred reviews, mainly because we just wanted to share our opinions and let others determine if the book sounded good to them. It is challenging in what makes something a truly five-star review. As Erica later explained to me, sometimes you have to be in the right mindset, in the right place, for everything to click. That being said, I do understand why she says it would be a five-star read. It’s hard for me to agree with that. Nothing against Jen, but I prefer not to rate the book in stars.
Now that we have that out of the way, I just need to take a second and call out the fact that Erica just wrote that she felt like Jen tucked her in at night after a long day and turned off the light. Uh…hmm… The typical guy in me wants to know if they kissed good night? Did they snuggle? What else happened as she drifted off to sleep? Is that why she said “Jen!” in the middle of the night last night? I know I know, the domesticated version of me understands what she meant…maybe. Muahahahahaha.
Let’s end with one of the best quotes ever:
“‘I’ll say as such as I want to.’ She stuck her tongue out at me.
‘That didn’t make sense.’
‘Your face doesn’t make sense.’”
Whether or not your face makes sense, go get this book.
He said:
The first time I heard the name Jen Rogue was from Erica, my wife. She had just ordered one of Jen’s—I mean J.R.’s—poetry books and was telling me all about her. Later that year, I ordered a custom poem from Jen’s Etsy store and was blown away by the product she produced. Even today, it is framed and prominently displayed on one of our walls.
So when the time came to pick another book for the blog, Jen’s book seemed like an easy choice. Even the title was intriguing: I Like You, I Love Her. I remember asking Erica, “What the hell does that even mean?” to which she responded that I had to read it to find out. Shady wife mind games! But it worked. I read it and am better for finding out the answers for myself.
The book revolves around the main character, Severin (cool name) who is also known as Sev, who returns to rural Kansas to deal with family matters and all that comes with returning to the town you grew up in. The story is told from dual timeframes—one as Sev is growing up and the other as Sev has returned home. These conflicting timelines can sometimes be tough. In my opinion, the author has to be really detailed in making sure information the reader gleans is done in the right time period. Jen does this with ease.
What stood out to me the most about Jen’s writing is the way she writes a male character. For good or bad, I can name about 10 different friends over the years that fall into the role of Ben or Bryan. They seem realistic and I definitely appreciate that. Few things are as challenging as reading a book where a guy does something and I think to myself, “Who in the hell is this guy?! This dude is fucked up/a complete psycho/totally unrealistic.” I didn’t feel that way with Ben or Bryan. I understood their personalities and what drove them to act certain ways, and even more importantly, they made sense.
The other part of this book that I loved is the style in which Jen writes. Some poets might try to jump into the world of a novel and write like a poet: “Her breath was as moist as the dewy spring air that clung to her underboobs like sticks of butter had been used instead of soap.” Okay, maybe that was a bad example. I am not a poet. But what I liked about this book is the way Jen describes various situations. For example, here are some of my faves:
“I do not like to be this fragile. I prefer sarcasm and wit. I prefer the way I can ward off the vulnerability that comes with opening up.”
“He cusses and I slam both of my palms to my face, ears ringing, eyes spitting salt already.”
“No one will care about your sadness as much as you do. No one will be as invested in it, fall apart for it, crumble with it. We all have our demons, and we will find people willing to hold our hands and help us, but no one can fight our battles for us.”
The only minor area I struggled with, at times, is that I got a bit confused on who was being quoted in dialogue. I don’t need every quote to say “he said” or “she said.” But maybe a few more? I found myself thinking I knew who was saying what, until I got to a line that didn’t make sense. Then I had to go back and read it again. But really, this is super minor and probably more user error than anything else.
Jen posted on Facebook recently that this book was originally intended to be light and fun, but that her personal life played into changing the dynamic. I don’t know what happened in her personal life, and I am sorry for whatever it is, but I do appreciate the impact it had on the story. There is a realness and sincerity that comes through the pages and for that, I am grateful.
I can absolutely recommend this book with no qualms at all.
She said:
Underboobs? Seriously? Okay, moving on…
One of my favorite things as a reader is seeing an author grow. When every book they write gets a little better, a little clearer, a little more polished and refined until they reach the holy grail: complete reader love and appreciation (otherwise known as five stars). We don’t give star ratings on this blog out of preference, but this book makes me reconsider, because it is absolutely a five-star read.
What I love about this book is what I always love about Jen’s writing: she invites poetry into her prose. I highlighted so many lines. Here are a few of my favorites that, in my opinion, give nothing away:
“My dad says life is just choices. Roads we take. You can be the passenger, you can let someone take the curves for you, and just hang on. Or you can take the wheel. Take control.”
“People are always so worried about pulling the Band-Aid off so they choke on their truths, let lies spill out.”
“I try to comfort her. I try to be the one giving, not the one taking. My sponge sister and all her worry.”
“I’ve glued together a story. Pieced their scraps into something readable. I need stories, true or fiction, it doesn’t matter, to distract from my own.”
I’m not surprised that Matt had different favorite quotes, because there is so much beauty in this book. There are so many other lines I could share, but they are too telling. Just…when you read this (because you really must read this), give yourself the time to highlight. This is not a get-to-the-end-as-fast-as-possible book. It needs to be savored. It deserves to be savored.
It’s easy to savor, too, because of Jen’s steady pacing. There are no hills and valleys in this book. Everything feels natural and smooth and easy. This isn’t an angsty read where you have to know what happens next. No, instead you want to know what happens next. You become invested in the characters not because they cause you distress but because they are real and relatable, even raw.
What Matt said about the male perspective in this book is spot-on. Jen’s voice for them is so genuine and believable, you’d think a man actually wrote those lines. She’s able to get into Ben’s and Bryan’s heads and give them each a personality that is masculine and different from one another.
But perhaps my favorite thing about this book is the way it all comes together in the end. Questions are answered, motivations are revealed, characters make choices. It left me feeling satisfied. As though Jen had tucked me in at the end of a long day and turned off the light. I’m ready for sleep. I’m ready for these words of hers to be the last I think about.
And think I will. I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come. Because it made me nostalgic, gave me a sense of longing, and made me want to go back in time and make different choices—be a little more brave and a lot more self-aware. The power of a good read is in its ability to change minds and cause reflection. I Like You, I Love Her did both for me, and I’m thankful to have read it.
He Said:
I definitely agree with Erica saying that the pacing of the book is smooth and appropriate. It is a continuous build and I like that. It makes the ending satisfying, and while most questions are answered, some are left to the reader to determine. I like books like that.
When we started this blog, we didn’t want to do starred reviews, mainly because we just wanted to share our opinions and let others determine if the book sounded good to them. It is challenging in what makes something a truly five-star review. As Erica later explained to me, sometimes you have to be in the right mindset, in the right place, for everything to click. That being said, I do understand why she says it would be a five-star read. It’s hard for me to agree with that. Nothing against Jen, but I prefer not to rate the book in stars.
Now that we have that out of the way, I just need to take a second and call out the fact that Erica just wrote that she felt like Jen tucked her in at night after a long day and turned off the light. Uh…hmm… The typical guy in me wants to know if they kissed good night? Did they snuggle? What else happened as she drifted off to sleep? Is that why she said “Jen!” in the middle of the night last night? I know I know, the domesticated version of me understands what she meant…maybe. Muahahahahaha.
Let’s end with one of the best quotes ever:
“‘I’ll say as such as I want to.’ She stuck her tongue out at me.
‘That didn’t make sense.’
‘Your face doesn’t make sense.’”
Whether or not your face makes sense, go get this book.
September 20, 2018
Oh this book...I was captivated by it. I could not put it down. It sucked me in and made me feel ALL of the feels from High School to becoming a young woman. It's nostalgic, emotional, brilliant and beautiful - and I would not expect anything else from JR Rogue.
JR Rogue writes her novels as she does her poems - they are raw, real, and relatable. I absolutely loved how this book was written - going back and forth from the present to the past. It keeps you turning the pages faster than you want to, and I could not get enough of these characters!
This story is about a young woman, Severin, who has battled her feelings for her HS "crush" for over a period of 10 years. But there is so much more to her story! She has dealt with tragedy, self-doubt, rejection, and the loss of friendship. She is deep, and mature beyond her years. She is broken, yet strong. She is beautiful, yet still tries to prove her self-worth to others.
Her relationship with Bryan, the poplular HS jock, is so relatable. It took me right back to HS and those feelings of longing and always wanting something just out of reach. I loved how Severin's character grew from the unsure teenager to a confident young woman, who fought through her emotions and feelings to truly figure out that sometimes it is the unexpected that makes you the happiest.
I fell for Ben, Bryan's brother, immediately....he is so sincere, and the slow unraveling of his past with Sev is sweet and surprising. He is so swoon worthy, and I found myself cheering for this loyal and confident man from the beginning.
There are so many aspects of this book that will steal your heart - the broken and reformed friendships, the tragedies that take place in both the past and present, the unrequited love, the jealousy, and the self-discovery of all the characters. JR Rogue puts it all out on the table in this book, and I couldn't have loved it anymore. It will surprise you, and keep you glued to the pages until you are done; and then you'll want even more. Well done once again JR Rogue!
JR Rogue writes her novels as she does her poems - they are raw, real, and relatable. I absolutely loved how this book was written - going back and forth from the present to the past. It keeps you turning the pages faster than you want to, and I could not get enough of these characters!
This story is about a young woman, Severin, who has battled her feelings for her HS "crush" for over a period of 10 years. But there is so much more to her story! She has dealt with tragedy, self-doubt, rejection, and the loss of friendship. She is deep, and mature beyond her years. She is broken, yet strong. She is beautiful, yet still tries to prove her self-worth to others.
Her relationship with Bryan, the poplular HS jock, is so relatable. It took me right back to HS and those feelings of longing and always wanting something just out of reach. I loved how Severin's character grew from the unsure teenager to a confident young woman, who fought through her emotions and feelings to truly figure out that sometimes it is the unexpected that makes you the happiest.
I fell for Ben, Bryan's brother, immediately....he is so sincere, and the slow unraveling of his past with Sev is sweet and surprising. He is so swoon worthy, and I found myself cheering for this loyal and confident man from the beginning.
There are so many aspects of this book that will steal your heart - the broken and reformed friendships, the tragedies that take place in both the past and present, the unrequited love, the jealousy, and the self-discovery of all the characters. JR Rogue puts it all out on the table in this book, and I couldn't have loved it anymore. It will surprise you, and keep you glued to the pages until you are done; and then you'll want even more. Well done once again JR Rogue!
November 3, 2021
Damn this book was more than I expected. I knew going in that it would be deep, real, and raw. And still, I was unprepared for what was in store for me.
We begin the story with Severin coming home after being gone for 10 years. She's home to help her dad. His health isn't the best and it's only a matter of time. She's home and she rather be anywhere but back in the town she couldn't wait to leave. But her father was a good one and so she's there. He may not know who she is. But she's there.
What she really wasn't expecting was to come face to face with her childhood crush. The one who kept her in the shadows. The one who is now married (well he's separated) with a child. The one she wrote a book and movie about. And now she has to face all that.
There were times I greatly disliked Severin. I wanted her to be better, do better, and just know her worth. She fled that town but still, she's tethered to Bryan (the guy). It took me some time and deep thinking to understand her and sympathize with where she was at in her life. She's flawed. She's human and quite possibly one of the most real character I've read in a long time if not ever.
While Severin was in the clouds she had Ben, Bryan's younger brother, and yes, another part of her past to bring her down to earth. I was team Ben the whole damn way.
There were moments while I was reading when I simply had to stop and really absorb the conversations taking place. And I'm telling you I was in awe.
This book is so much more than what you think it is. And I cannot recommend it enough.
We begin the story with Severin coming home after being gone for 10 years. She's home to help her dad. His health isn't the best and it's only a matter of time. She's home and she rather be anywhere but back in the town she couldn't wait to leave. But her father was a good one and so she's there. He may not know who she is. But she's there.
What she really wasn't expecting was to come face to face with her childhood crush. The one who kept her in the shadows. The one who is now married (well he's separated) with a child. The one she wrote a book and movie about. And now she has to face all that.
There were times I greatly disliked Severin. I wanted her to be better, do better, and just know her worth. She fled that town but still, she's tethered to Bryan (the guy). It took me some time and deep thinking to understand her and sympathize with where she was at in her life. She's flawed. She's human and quite possibly one of the most real character I've read in a long time if not ever.
While Severin was in the clouds she had Ben, Bryan's younger brother, and yes, another part of her past to bring her down to earth. I was team Ben the whole damn way.
There were moments while I was reading when I simply had to stop and really absorb the conversations taking place. And I'm telling you I was in awe.
This book is so much more than what you think it is. And I cannot recommend it enough.
October 12, 2020
J.R. Rogue is a new author to me and I do love new authors. I was completely delighted with my new find too. This book is an emotional rollercoaster for these characters as well as the reader.
Severin Thompson and Bryan Winthrop have been up and down and on and off for years. It doesn't change when they reunite when Severin comes back to town for a family emergency. The difference this time is that there's a new player added to the mix. This book consumes you and draws you in and will have you continually waiting for what's coming next. I thoroughly enjoyed my newly discovered author and I can't wait to read more.
Severin Thompson and Bryan Winthrop have been up and down and on and off for years. It doesn't change when they reunite when Severin comes back to town for a family emergency. The difference this time is that there's a new player added to the mix. This book consumes you and draws you in and will have you continually waiting for what's coming next. I thoroughly enjoyed my newly discovered author and I can't wait to read more.
September 30, 2018
I'm sorry, I hate to give low ratings, but I really didn't like Sev or Bryan.
There was no connection between them and they both annoyed and frustrated me. Why did she even hang onto him for so long?? I wanted to dnf but hoped there would be a silver lining. But nope.
Ben was the only good one. :)
There was no connection between them and they both annoyed and frustrated me. Why did she even hang onto him for so long?? I wanted to dnf but hoped there would be a silver lining. But nope.
Ben was the only good one. :)
October 1, 2018
Hated the characters and the forced love story was beyond impractical. They were all brats. I definitely don't buy the ending either.
September 16, 2018
There are few authors I have read that can write a female character that can truly relate to females at different levels in the same book. Rogue is one of those few authors. I have found in all her novels that each one of her females pulls at me in some way. She makes me relate to them in a way that I can't ever not pull for them to "win" in the end.
Severin was a bit different for me in that she pulled at more than just one part of me throughout this book. If I had to guess she sunk her claws in and pulled from the very soul of my being. I related to Sev in ways that I haven't related to a character in quite some time. Whether that pull was my teenage self or now, a woman in my 30's. The small town girl just wanting to get out. The woman pining for the man that keeps her in the shadows, not because he doesn't care, but maybe because he doesn't care enough. Fighting the ghosts of the past that sometimes you just can't get over. These are all me in some way, at some age.
Severin's wit and sharp tongue were something of awe. The truths she spoke with no regards to how they would affect those she spoke to were pivotal in not only showing that Sev was bigger than her hometown but also showing that in small towns things never really change. The people, the customs, the way they look at you. It. Never. Changes.
The breath of fresh air in this book was Ben. He showed us a side of Sev with his own truths and POV that without him this book would not be what it is. The moth flutters are real with this one.
Bravo on the title Rogue. I wasn't quite sure what to think when I first learned of it but WOW, once I read this book I realized it's probably one of the most powerful titles out there. Also, this book is not poetic like her others but that, in my opinion, is what makes it Jen's best work to date. She showed depth and growth in her writing with this one and makes me crave for her next one.
Severin was a bit different for me in that she pulled at more than just one part of me throughout this book. If I had to guess she sunk her claws in and pulled from the very soul of my being. I related to Sev in ways that I haven't related to a character in quite some time. Whether that pull was my teenage self or now, a woman in my 30's. The small town girl just wanting to get out. The woman pining for the man that keeps her in the shadows, not because he doesn't care, but maybe because he doesn't care enough. Fighting the ghosts of the past that sometimes you just can't get over. These are all me in some way, at some age.
Severin's wit and sharp tongue were something of awe. The truths she spoke with no regards to how they would affect those she spoke to were pivotal in not only showing that Sev was bigger than her hometown but also showing that in small towns things never really change. The people, the customs, the way they look at you. It. Never. Changes.
The breath of fresh air in this book was Ben. He showed us a side of Sev with his own truths and POV that without him this book would not be what it is. The moth flutters are real with this one.
Bravo on the title Rogue. I wasn't quite sure what to think when I first learned of it but WOW, once I read this book I realized it's probably one of the most powerful titles out there. Also, this book is not poetic like her others but that, in my opinion, is what makes it Jen's best work to date. She showed depth and growth in her writing with this one and makes me crave for her next one.
September 11, 2018
I’m having a hard time reviewing this book. My feelings are mixed to how I feel. I know for sure it was a 4 Star read just for the emotions it pulled from me and how I couldn’t put this book down. How I’m still thinking of it a full 24 hours later.
I loved Sev and hated her at the same time. I’ve been Aurora. The girl that was cheated on. The girl that loved a boy so much that she forgave him for everything including things that should never be forgiven. I’ve been Sev too. Pining for a boy that will never be mine. Obsessing over him. His life. Having a life with him that will never be. I was never the other woman though and that kept me from being completely obsessed with this story.
I loved the friendship that Severin and her friends had. I loved the little bit of mystery that kept me reading on. I loved how Severin was well rounded. Her character so real that you could feel her emotions. I loved this book despite the one thing I hated about it.
I knew what I was going to read and I knew the feelings I would have. I just never thought it would affect me so much. I owe J.R. Rogue’s writing for that. Her writing affects you in ways you never thought it would. The good, the bad and the ugly. You can tell she has made sacrifices for her writing. Sacrifices that may seem small to us but is huge for her. For that alone makes her writing addicting.
I loved Sev and hated her at the same time. I’ve been Aurora. The girl that was cheated on. The girl that loved a boy so much that she forgave him for everything including things that should never be forgiven. I’ve been Sev too. Pining for a boy that will never be mine. Obsessing over him. His life. Having a life with him that will never be. I was never the other woman though and that kept me from being completely obsessed with this story.
I loved the friendship that Severin and her friends had. I loved the little bit of mystery that kept me reading on. I loved how Severin was well rounded. Her character so real that you could feel her emotions. I loved this book despite the one thing I hated about it.
I knew what I was going to read and I knew the feelings I would have. I just never thought it would affect me so much. I owe J.R. Rogue’s writing for that. Her writing affects you in ways you never thought it would. The good, the bad and the ugly. You can tell she has made sacrifices for her writing. Sacrifices that may seem small to us but is huge for her. For that alone makes her writing addicting.
October 7, 2018
"You can move on from something, but always have this piece of a person in you."
I've read J.R. Rogue's poetry, but this my first time reading one of her full length novels. I Like You, I Love Her is about a love triangle. It's about messy relationships that become the structure for how we perceive future relationships. It's about emotions and giving up pieces of yourself. It was complex and gritty. The story unfolded in slow waves as we switch back and forth from past to present and connect the dots.
It's so easy to get caught up in someone who shows interest in you. That is exactly what happened to Sev. She was the kind of girl that jocks didn't fall for, but Bryan saw something in her. She felt like he really 'saw' her. Too bad his girlfriend didn't feel the same way. Fast forward, years later, and Sev comes face to face with Bryan again when she's back in her home town. They quickly fall into old habits, but Bryan has a wife and child to think about as well.
There were some parts of the story that I wish had more. The reason why Sev originally left town is glossed over very quickly. She discovers something about Bryan that is also talked about very little. The transitions from chapter to chapter (from present to present or past to past) could use some work because they were a little sloppy.
This one had all the workings to be 5 stars for me. It was full of drama and angst. I just needed more.
I've read J.R. Rogue's poetry, but this my first time reading one of her full length novels. I Like You, I Love Her is about a love triangle. It's about messy relationships that become the structure for how we perceive future relationships. It's about emotions and giving up pieces of yourself. It was complex and gritty. The story unfolded in slow waves as we switch back and forth from past to present and connect the dots.
It's so easy to get caught up in someone who shows interest in you. That is exactly what happened to Sev. She was the kind of girl that jocks didn't fall for, but Bryan saw something in her. She felt like he really 'saw' her. Too bad his girlfriend didn't feel the same way. Fast forward, years later, and Sev comes face to face with Bryan again when she's back in her home town. They quickly fall into old habits, but Bryan has a wife and child to think about as well.
There were some parts of the story that I wish had more. The reason why Sev originally left town is glossed over very quickly. She discovers something about Bryan that is also talked about very little. The transitions from chapter to chapter (from present to present or past to past) could use some work because they were a little sloppy.
This one had all the workings to be 5 stars for me. It was full of drama and angst. I just needed more.
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