Hating Him

by M.K. Hale, Meredith Hale

Rules for Seduction:
​1. Make sure the boy you are going to seduce is there when you try to seduce him.
2. Make sure when you are waiting in his room to seduce him, a totally hot stranger does not walk in on you.
3. Make sure to leave the light on, so you don’t mistake the stranger for the one you were waiting for.
4. Never see that totally hot stranger ever again even if he was the best kisser you’ve ever had and his incredible body is like something out of an erotic fairytale.
5. Don’t fall in love with the self-centered, pompous, unbelievably sexy stranger.
Sadly, Mandy has broken all of these rules.

Mandy has a plan to move on from her cheating ex by seducing her best friend’s brother. Instead, she mistakenly seduces a stranger with a body from an erotic fairy tale. For Mandy, an art major who only paints in black and white, Brandon adds a dangerous splash of color to her life.
Brandon Gage is used to getting what he wants, so he won't give up his pursuit of her despite her telling him she's been in love with his roommate Jake since high school. After a sports injury, he becomes her patient at the health clinic where she works and hatches his own plan to make Mandy forget about Jake and fall for him.
He soon learns that pretending to date her only makes him want her more. Who will be the winner in “Operation Mandy”?

Genres: Romance, College, Sports, Sports Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fake Dating

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 2018

About the author

Also known as Meredith Hale

Romance Writer. Romance Reader. Comedian.

M. K. Hale writes romance novels starring dirty-talking heroes and the witty women who leave them tongue-tied. She specializes in romantic comedies and has dabbled in comedy for years, including standup, improv, and sketch comedy. She believes laughter is the best medicine, except for, you know, actual medicine.

She obtained her English degree from the University of Maryland and spends her free time reading as many romance novels as humanly possible. If you enjoy paranormal reverse harem romance with an abnormal amount of heat, she also writes under M. K. Kate.

Follow her on social media: @mkhaleauthor
Facebook Fan Group: “M. K. Hale’s Hotties”
Join her newsletter:
http://www.mkhale.com/contact.html


Reviews

[Rose Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a beautifully written love story that is full of great characters, comedy, angst, and love, I suggest you read Hating Him. Now. Stop. Don’t pass go. Get this book immediately. M. K. Hale took me on a wonderful journey of young love, weaving a poignant tale that I never wanted to end. Brandon and Mandy captured my heart from the beginning, and I know they will captivate you, too.

[Christy Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had it all! And man oh man was it hot! Such a good book. Definitely 5 star material! Brandon made me laugh so hard at times I was almost crying. The chemistry these two shared was off the charts and I loved both POV

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!!! Brandon and Mandy were great together. I love the chemistry between them and I kinda hated Jake for being a jerk. This book made me smile but also wrecked me emotionally. You will not be disappointed with this book!!!

[Jamielee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has me conflicted. It was a decent book but there was so many errors that should have been caught before publishing that it took away from my enjoyment of the book.

1. First part of the book we are told Blondie goes to all of Jake's games to watch him play and she has been in love with him since she was 14 years old.

2. Around 30% we are told she doesn't know the rules or terms or anything about Football. She says funnel instead of fumble since she is so clueless about the sport. Jake sees her at game and is surprised since she never goes and doesn't like football.

3. We learn around 50% she was the Captain of her Cheerleading Team all through High School.
Incase you are wondering Cheerleaders go to Football games - you would have to be completely oblivious to everything around you to be in Cheer for 4 years and not know the basics of Football. So she goes to games but doesn't. She was Cheer Captain but doesn't enjoy or know a single thing about Football.

4. Lucas is from the SOUTH. Southern people don't say POP. Pop is a midwestern thing. So at 57% saying he says Pop since is from the South... just no.

5. 70% Leading Lady is involved in a "Cheer off" (this actually happens twice) with someone who is actually a College Cheerleader and we are lead to believe that she kicks her butt in acrobatics even though she didn't stretch, she didn't practice and she hasn't cheered in 4 years. Oh and we aren't supposed to think it is odd that 2 grown women are sitting there doing the splits and seeing who can hold their foot above their heads longer.


So as you can see... the book has potential but I couldn't focus on the book when I was being given so many conflicts stories. If this book is edited and republished I think it would really be something people would enjoy.

[s.shadereads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge sucker for a love hate relationship. And let me tell you Mandy sure loved to hate Brandon.

This was a case of girl trying to get boys attention, girl accidentally getting the attention of wrong boy, girl falling for wrong boys charm. Or in this case boys persistent cockiness and need to be around said girl.

Once Brandon had Mandy in his sights he would not let her go. He persistently pursued her and what started out as wanting to get in her pants turned into wanting to just be WITH her. Only problem with that is she loved someone else. So in an effort to be close to her, Brandon came up with a plan to help Mandy get her dream guy while making her fall in love with him instead.

Along the way Mandy catches feeling for Brandon and must make a choice between the two men vying for her attention. Will she choose the man who makes her feel safe and secure or the man who sets her body and soul on fire? Through constant struggles and toxic people surrounding her relationship Mandy ends up with her perfect guy.

I enjoyed Mandy and Brandon's story. As I said I really enjoy a good love hate relationship. The witty banter and fast comebacks that these two characters threw at each other was so great. However, I felt that these characters were a bit immature for my taste. The story had a very high school drama feel to me. And when I say drama, I mean DRAMA at every turn. These two could not catch a break. At every turn something stood in there way. And towards the end, Hale through me such a curve ball that I did not even see it coming, which threw me off completely.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a fluffy romance, this book is for you. It's a cute and goes though the romantic relationship between Mandy and Brandon.

For me, it wasn't personally my cup of tea. I think that the writing style seemed very juvenile. It made attempts at discussing meaningful life topics and issues, but doesn't quite get there. I found that the problems that were presented in the book were all just surface level. It didn't make me feel anything for the characters because even when things weren't great everyone seemed really happy and hopeful or it got resolved super quickly. I'm not going to lie I also hated that plot twist at the end. I might have given it 3 stars, but that alone lost one star for the book.

[ikc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Such a great read. Mandy Is such a strong character and she was matched with an even stronger one , Brandon!!! I loved him from beginning to end. Jake had nothing on Brandon but Hale did a great job on keeping readers on edge as to who Mandy would end up choosing!! Definitely recommend for someone who loves a good girl hates boy then ends up loving him story. It had a little love triangle going on but in the end #teambrandon saw victory. Such a cute fun and sassy read. Definitely joining the M.K Hale fan club.

[ReadonReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously fell in love with this book, I devoured it on a day. Brandon and Mandy has so much chemistry together and the way they banter was so much fun to read. They meet in a very different way and at the time Mandy can’t stand Brandon, he irritates her and loves to mess with her. Brandon thinks he only wants Mandy for one thing only but the more he pursues her and annoys her he starts to fall in love with her. They have some rocky starts to their relationship but once they commit to each other that’s it for them. Jake was a surprising jerk, I kind of expected him to be more like a big brother type but when he showed his true colors I instantly didn’t like him. Natalia was annoying too, she just couldn’t handle rejection and tried to make everyone miserable but then you get side characters like Ashley and Lucas and they make up for the jerks. This story, to me, contains the perfect amount of drama where it isn’t over the top but definitely enough to keep you intrigued until the end. Another thing is Brandon’s honesty and the way he makes Mandy laugh with his ridiculous innuendos it is perfect. I really loved this book and I highly recommend it.

[Nut Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a kind of bad I have never experienced before. I seriously considered the possibility that it was written by an algorithm, so I wasn't quite relieved to discover it was actually written by a college student. While I commend her for finishing an entire novel at her presumably young age, like most if not all novels written by teenagers, this should have been considered at best the rough draft for a story to be heavily revised at a later date.

I wish that I could say there was just one problem that needed to fixed, but unfortunately the issues are so pervasive that fixing them would require such a complete overhaul that the result would be unrecognizable. The plot alone is such a mess that I can only wonder whether she was provided a list of romance tropes to choose from and rather than selecting one or two, simply decided "screw it, I'll use them all." I don't see any other explanation for why she would include a case of mistaken identity, hate-to-love, a fake relationship love triangle AND a case of amnesia all in the same story.

All might have been forgiven in the face of good, or even competent writing, but instead we are faced with statements such as these:
"Even thinking about seducing Jake was hard. Now, I knew I wasn't ugly. Heck, I used to be a cheerleader and an athlete, so I was fit in all the right places."

I could probably go on ad nauseum about the contrived writing, such as the fact that in spite of being a former "cheerleader and athlete," our MC, Mandy, is a klutz who trips on flat surfaces. I can only assume this trait was intended to make up for her lack of any discernible personality or intelligence. In fact, Mandy's sheer stupidity is so glaring at times that the reader is left to wonder how she walks and chews gum at the same time, such as when the obligatory nasty cheerleader successfully convinces Mandy that if she doesn't stop seeing her boyfriend, said cheerleader will pay someone to injure him on the football field, thus spoiling any potential career in the NFL. However, for all the inept characterization, such flaws cannot compare to the sheer ridiculousness and stupidity of the dialogue. When the leading man isn't throwing tired innuendos at our heroine, the reader is subjected to the idiocy of the supporting cast who say things like "How could you not know his name? He's the most attractive, popular guy at Arden," and "You think you can out cheer me?" There is in fact an actual cheer off, concluding with painfully cliche threat of "this isn't over."

Finally, although minor in comparison to the many other glaring inadequacies that abound, I find it particularly grating that inciting incident for the couples romance is the fact Mandy initially rejects Brandon, our purported hero. This is probably the single most tired trope in romance: he wants her because he can't have her. Brandon is unequivocally established as a self-absorbed player with a history of objectifying women. He is so deep in his entitlement that he does not even question the presence of a strange woman waiting in his room, and the only reason his interest lasts longer than his erection is because she says no. Pursuing a woman solely because of her pride-wounding lack of interest is an act dominance; because this woman failed to accept his place in the hierarchy, he is compelled to try and re-establish the status-quo by making her realize his worth. It's inherently problematic as it transforms the act of falling in love to an act of submission, and it's a trope that I fervently wish would go quietly into that good night since it romanticizes the concept of not-taking-no-for-an-answer. Romance is inherently a fantasy, so I can appreciate the fact that stories such as this one should not be taken too seriously. However, if romance novels are part of our collective fantasy life, there is something distinctly disturbing about the perpetuation of narratives that excuse or even reward men who consistently bulldoze over womens objections. Although this novel is no more guilty of this than a hundred other books in the genre, it's still one more strike against it.

Though there were occasional scenes sprinkled throughout that were more funny than painful, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone with a fully functioning brain.
*was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review

[Nerdread · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is my first ever kindle book purchase, which occurred because it is impossible to find this book from my library however I do not regret my decision to buy it.

Anyway here is what I like:
- the main love interest
- the witty comments and banters
- the fake dating aspect

What I dislike or what I found to be disappointing:

- underdeveloped character backstory especially their dynamic with their families and the reason behind them
- instlove from the guy point of view
- surface level friendships
- unnecessary ex girlfriend and boyfriend drama
- inconsistent characteristic of the guy she originally liked
- a scary scene that involved an almost sexual assault that way overlooked and does not have any plot importance other than for the male character to save the girl from scary men who almost sexually assault her.
- the girl almost got sexually assault by a bunch of men and she didn’t deal with it, report it or even through about it after she was saved by her love interest.
- The book doesn’t seems to know what it wants
- None of the things presented seemed challenging for the characters and they didn’t learn anything from it to better themselves.
- and lastly, the last minute amnesia storyline thrown in there when the book was 90% done just to create some drama. Like why?

So at the end he got his NFL dream job but we don’t know what happened to her career other than she’s getting married..... so to say the least, I’m a bit disappointed but I’ll give the author a slack because this is her first book and she’s the same age as me and has already published this so I’m happy to support her!!!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by M.K. Hale and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise! Mandy has always had eyes for her best friend's older brother Jake. To get over her cheating ex, Mandy agrees to a plan hatched by her best friend to seduce Jake. Only problem is she ends up in only a trench coat in Jake's dark dorm room seducing Jake's roommate Brandon instead. Even though Mandy and Brandon's relationship starts out as a hilarious case of mistaken identity, once Brandon cracks Mandy's tough protective walls, their relationship quickly turns into a simple friendship. The more time they spend together, the more their relationship grows into something more. The story was funny and had me laughing out loud a few times. It was easy to read and kept my attention the entire way through.

I would definitely recommend Hating Him to anyone looking for a great read and I look forward to reading more novels by M.K. Hale in the future!

**This book was provided in exchange for an honest review**

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it might be an embarrassment for a man to like a book (or show) about young people, but I was an "adult" fan of 21 Jump Street, Gilmore Girls, Buffy, and Dawson's Creek (blushing). OK Felicity too.. This book, "Hating Him" takes me back to younger years and thoughts. It is an adventure in the psyches of both young men and women and a very fun read. I remember when my six-pack looked just like the cover (well, maybe it was a dream, getting that tan can't be good for future years) instead of the cold ones in a brown paper bag. As I looked on Goodreads and saw the reviews, I want to make a suggestion to the very few "Oh so experienced" reviewers on here. Read 'War and Peace' and then write a review of it. I dare you, I double dog dare you!
Enjoy what you read because regardless of age, you never know, what you will read next! Thank You MK, for making me younger for a few hours.

[Dilek VT]

She wrote this book while she was a college student and from the reviews I have read, I got the feeling that the writing is poor and amateurish. However, I do not have the book so I cannot be sure.

Also, it seems that she couldn't decide which romance trope to choose and therefore nearly used them all: Mistaken identity, hate-to-love, fake relationship, love triangle and amnesia... etc.

For the reasons above, it doesn't sound appealing to me. Still, if any of my close friends with a similar taste to mine read it and recommend it to me, I may reconsider...

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning the story seemed to move real slow and none of the characters felt authentic. It almost felt as though the author was just going through the motions of the story and not putting much emotion behind her writing, so at times I had to motivate myself to even continue reading. I am happy to say though that I'm glad I did read the book in its entirety. Roughly around the middle of the book is when I felt that Hale got her rhythm and truly started to connect with her characters on a personal level and get the chemistry right for Mandy and Brandon. Their attraction towards each other might have been instant but the love between them developed at a reasonable level. It wasn't too realistic or too implausible, it was just right.

The only thing I didnt like (besides the slow beginning) was Natalie. I really believed her character wasn't necessary especially since we had Jake as an antagonist as well. I felt considering he was such an important side character she could have just stayed with using him until the end instead of having Natalie as the psychotic ex girlfriend of Brandon. One of those characters would have been just fine, having both just annoyed me to no end.

Overall though the book was a win for me since I could relate to and like more than one character. I laughed and smiled more than 5x while reading.

[Gi · Rating 5 out of 5]

wooow I couldn't stop reading, those stories that surprises you, makes you laugh, and want to meet in real live someone like Brandon for his quick mind hilarious thinking and the natural dinamic with Mandy, you could see there connection for who they really are, in a relax way, good communication between them; compare to the typical story of the miscommunication drama that is so cringi.

totally recommended for those days you need to get out of your head and makes you smile.

[Rambling Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Brandon and Mandy, and their banter!

This couple is 🔥 with fantastic chemistry and banter reminiscent of Elle Kennedy’s The Deal. If you love a sports romance, enemies-to-lovers, or fake dating this is a perfect read. Not super spicy, but a slow-burn with tons of chemistry and when it finally combusts... 💥💥💥!

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. I just found a lot wrong with the book in my opinion. Also I don’t think you should right a book about a certain profession if you don’t know 100% how it works. If you want a he falls first, college romance, football star, nerdy girl - type book this would be great for you, just wasn’t for me.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hated him then I loved him over and over.
But in the end I loved this book.

A beautifully written story which brought the biggest smile to my face at times, had me throwing the book away at times, close to tears at other times.

[JL Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandy and Brandon have some major chemistry from the moment Mandy accidently seduces him instead of his roommate Jake. It was a mistake on her end and the way he handles it and acts like a cocky jerk leaves her hating him, but Brandon is instantly intrigued and decides she will be his; no one ever says no to him. Eventually they agree to fake date to make Jake jealous. That was Mandy's plan but Brandon's plan was to use the ruse to get closer to Mandy, to make her his. All would be cool if Jake didn't decide to want her just because she's with someone else and the typical mean girl didn't want to sink her claws into Brandon. But they fall hard and fast and even when a football accident leaves Brandon with no memory of Mandy he still feels the pull to her.
Their back and forth banter is hilarious. Their flirty interactions are sweet and sexy. I enjoyed this read and very much loved the characters.

[Alec Gilden · Rating 1 out of 5]

Enjoyment: 1/5
Character Development: 1/5
Conflict: 1/5
Story: 1/5
Ending: 2/5
Worldbuilding: 1/5
Prose and Editing: 2/5
Delivery: 2/5

Rating: 1/5