Hate Thy Neighbor

by S.M. Soto

An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

Fresh out of a failed engagement, Olivia Hales is in dire need of a fresh start. Tired of being the charming and accommodating girl that always gets stomped on, she’s determined to change her outlook on life.

When she finds her dream job in a small town in California, she thinks she’s finally found her place in life. That is, until she meets her new neighbor.

Roman Banks.
Moody. Foul-mouthed. Jerk.
And the hottest man on the planet.

At a sprawling six foot five, he was coldly distant and physically intimidating. Not only was her new neighbor a God that was good with his hands, he was also a grade-A jerk. Trapped on the same street, sharing the same space together, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous, never-ending game of insults and pranks that result in the destruction of two perfectly good homes.

The tension between them is as thick as the walls of their houses are thin. Roman’s touch burned like fire even when his words were ice, and both of them will stop at nothing to make the others life hell.

In the midst of the pranks and the hate they harbor for each other, Olivia slowly pulls back the layers of the man next door and finds herself consumed with wanting to fix him and his past. When both enemies start to catch feelings for each other, Olivia finds herself hiding her own secrets, not wanting to lose another man in her life.

Lines are drawn. Strict rules put into place. But that doesn’t stop Olivia from wanting to save the quiet, broody man next door.

They say you’re supposed to love thy neighbor, but that was the furthest emotion she felt when thinking about Roman. Hate was all there was to their relationship. At the very least, that’s what she tried to tell herself.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Rom Com, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

414 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

S.M. Soto was born and raised in Northern California where she currently resides with her son. Her love for reading began when she was a young girl, and has only continued to grow into adulthood. S.M. lives for reading books in the romance genre and writing novels with relatable characters. She refers to herself as a bit of a romance junkie. S.M. loves to connect with readers and eat copious of donuts that will surely lead to her demise (carbs are life).

Follow links:
Instagram.com/authorsmsoto
Twitter.com/AuthorSMsoto
Facebook.com/romanceauthorsmsoto

Reviews

[FictionalDen · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

So, this is one of those books where the main leads completely ruin the vibe of the entire book for me.

Plot
Olivia is in her twenties; she just broke up with her fiancé and moved into a new town. There she meets her brooding neighbor Ronan. Let me rephrase that, HOT brooding neighbor. She tries to strike polite conversations with him, but he always shut her up by a complete jackass. BUT that did not stop Olivia from still trying to embarrass herself.

Even though it practically kills me to do this, to be the one to extend the olive branch between us, I don’t want to start our neighbor relationship like this. Maybe, if I find out what ticked him off in the first place, we can get past all the nastiness that has transpired since then and move on. I don’t expect us to become the best of friends, but honestly, I don’t know how much more of his scathing glares I can endure.



I mean why shouldn’t she? What is exactly stopping her from talking to a guy who CLEARLY is the worlds biggest ass hat? Self-respect? Oh, HUNNYYYY haven’t you heard? these days that’s not something people have. It’s completely irrelevant.
Anyway 90% of the book is about Olivia again and again trying to “extend the olive branch” no matter how rude Ronan is. Some minor pranks were thrown here and there but that’s it. The other 10% of the book was FAR more interesting to read about than the annoying Olivia and asshole Ronan.

I wish I got to read more about the scenario regarding Ronan and his brother, who was in foster care until Ronan could be deemed fit by the state to raise him on his own and the other thing I wanted to read more about was Olivia’s health. That would have made the book more interesting and my mind would have been on other things besides how annoying Olivia is.

Characters
Olivia
This woman. I have no words for her. I am just going to mention some of my favorite quotes from her, which should make it obvious why I ”LOVE” her so much.

So scene number one, after Miss Olivia saw Ronan fucking some other woman in his room.
I spend the whole day at work, replaying the way his body moved, the muscles jumping and cording, and the expression on his face. I hate myself and the fact that I’m still feeling the effects of what I saw a day later. I’m a disgusting, horrible, horrible human. I need help. Serious psychiatric help. I should probably be talking to a professional about this, but there’s no way I’m going to talk to my father.

I mean at least she admits she needs help. That’s a good start.

Then, let me just point out and say that Olivia and Ronan are still not together here. Ronan was being acting immature and started ignoring Olivia again because he saw Oliva being dropped home by a man named Travis, who by the way is harassing her at work but she isn’t doing anything about it.

Every time I spot a gorgeous woman leaving his house in the middle of the night, I can’t ignore the piercing pain in my chest or the way my stomach revolts. I’m jealous. Horribly jealous that those women have gotten his smile. They’ve gotten his laughter. And I’m sure they’ve gotten much more than that, too.

I don’t know what makes me say it, but as she’s climbing into her car, I yell out, “Did he tell you about the gonorrhea?” I ask, pointing toward Rome’s house. The woman freezes, and her mouth drops open, shock clearly written all over her face. I stifle a laugh, feigning concern I certainly don’t feel. “He didn’t tell you? My, my, you might want to get that checked out in the morning. Have a great night!”

I MEAN HUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNY. WHY!?



I was waiting for Olivia to FINALLY throw the UNO reverse card on Ronan. But that never happened. No matter how many times Ronan embarrassed her or humiliated her she still came back for more. Lmao this one scene she sat in front of her window and masturbated knowing Ronan was watching and thought she did a BIG THING. Like girl? Are you being serious right now with me?

Ronan
He was just an asshole. Simple. But I still honestly preferred his POV's over Olivia’s. Anything would have been better than reading about Olivia.

The cover of this book IS GORGEOUS, So thank you Olivia for ruining it for me.
PS. The review is not detailed because I read this book weeks back and forgot about most of the things that annoyed me.

[❤️ Nanda ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Hate is definitely a word as much strong as Love.

Since this book starts with Hate, I'll tell what I didn't liked in it first (I didn't hate anything, but I could've pass without a few things).

Olivia is looking for a fresh start after the break-up of her six year engagement. She's new in the city, in her job and in the neighborhood.
She's super excited to be independent for the first time in her life.
That's until her first encounter with her hot nextdoor neighbor Roman.

Roman is every cliche of a hot badboy that was ever wrote. He's hot as hell, tall as a mountain, esculpted as an Adonis and as mean and jerk as the devil himself, but this last part, only to Olivia. Apparently, she's the only person in the world that he truly hates and treats worst than a real enemy, without any previous contact with her (his future excuse for this is also lame).
They really don't have motives to be enemies.
Olivia in the other hand, describes each curve and detail of Roman's perfect body, face, eyes and smirk EVERYTIME that she thinks or see him. Even when he's growling and barking curses and offenses to her, because he's an asshole with capital A, she's just ogling him like a brainless teenager.

Olivia is a doormat.
Roman is mean to an end.

He's always parading with OW in his house, even having sex in front of an open window, with a full and clear view of Olivia's bedroom... And she enjoyed herself and the view, during this exhibitionist moment.
Yeah... I could've passed without this.

But... Things start to get better after the middle of the book, when their relationship starts to evolve from doormat and biker boots, to something more friendly and less aggressive.
Their banter and all the pranks, were funny and I love it.
They start to feel something for each other, and he starts to open up to his feelings toward her.
Even with all the jealousy and the hot and cold actions, they share a beautiful and growing connection, and she helps him with his family issues, while he helps her with her house.
I really liked the story and the plot, even when I disliked both characters at the beginning, I loved how they connected and how the story ended.

I didn't read the future bonus scene.
I don't think I can handle death.

Other than that, I enjoyed this book.

PS: Female Authors should really stop writing doormat heroines, since women are the majority of their readers.
Strong and fierce women are a thing these days.

ARC Reviewer

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[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars



I’m always looking for a new enemies to lovers book and I’ve been meaning to check out S.M. Soto so when I saw Hate Thy Neighbor was available on audio, I picked it up straight away. There was a lot I liked about, and a few things I wasn’t crazy about. This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me.

Our hero, Roman, was such a jerk at times. Once I heard more of his story I liked him more, but he rubbed me the wrong way the first half (least). I liked Olivia for the most part but I didn’t love a lot of the choices she made.

My favorite parts were the parts with Olivia’s family and Roman’s brother, Ryder. They left me with such a big smile on my face. Even though this story wasn’t the biggest win for me, I liked the authors writing and I’d be willing to give her another try.

Audio book source: Audible (purchased)
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance (Enemies to Lovers)
Length: 10 hours and 49 minutes

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was actually looking forward to this coming out. It looked like a really cute story. Until I realized that he is bringing home random women to f@&$, still, even at 50% of the way through the book. It really hurt the heroine because she likes him,and as his neighbor she has to watch all of this. Their bedrooms are teen feet apart, so of course there was the gratuitous scene where she watches him with a woman and masterbates 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄 Continuing the trend that all the crap authors have been going with lately, of course she isn’t seeing/sleeping with anyone. Not so much as a date, yet he accuses her of being a slut when he simply catches her talking to her boss. Oh and then there is the ever so charming way that he tells her later in the book (when they are cuddling in bed post sex) about how he was “thinking of her” when he was bringing all of his easy pieces home. Such a sweetheart right? I love enemies to lovers. I love an asshole story. But this guy isn’t an asshole he’s just a strait douchebag. Every opportunity he has to do the right thing he doesn’t do it. He’s supposedly trying so hard to get custody of his brother, but even that’s a joke. If he was serious, he would be trying to show everyone around him that he is ready to have a stable home environment. Instead he’s out partying and bringing home random women almost nightly. It’s not like the guy had one woman over, this was an ongoing thing. This is so bad that the author is going on my “authors time avoid” list, because this was just ridiculous.

[zaraa · Rating 2 out of 5]

when i say this one sentence, “𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲.. 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.” sums up my entire mood for the book, i mean it.

i’m all about enemies to lovers and hate to love relationships, but if they are done really well.
to be honest, i was actually excited about this book because let’s be real the cover and the blurb represent a good summer read and even though the book did start off well, but around half way through the book i had gotten so annoyed and frustrated with the same thing over and over again. i couldn’t stand the male character, Roman— i get it he started off as being grumpy and that was fine until he started being rude to Olivia for no reason (also, his reason for being an ass to her since day one was so *insert rolling eyes emoji*) and one of the things that bothered me so much was that even after every single argument and insult, Olivia would still go back to Roman and act so friendly like girl?? where’s the self respect?? i would have loved for her to show him who the real boss is, but girlie’s backbone was not made of steel, sadly. and, by 60% through the book i just wanted to be done with it because Roman and Olivia’s story was not doing it for me. Roman was such an unbearable character, and mostly he ruined the whole book for me. like boy please sit down, you ain’t special or in this case even likable. i just wished Olivia had realized that too and should have left his rude-self on the curb.

p.s. i know this review doesn’t sound too official, but when you’re annoyed, boy you just want to get it over with.

𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

[C.L. Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh-out-loud, swoony, with a dash of arrogance, this next door neighbor hate story is exactly what you need to fulfill your angsty RomCom needs.

[Kim Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and exciting book! The bantering and jokes made for a fun read! But the emotional journey was so touching! Hate turned to love! And lollipops have a new meaning! S.M. Soto has touched my heart! Five fantastic stars for this fantastic story!!

[naz · Rating 2 out of 5]

hate thy neighbor??? nah hun, more like hate thy book.

"Didn't take you for the type, Olivia." "What type?" I whisper, fear settling into the marrow of my bones. "The type to spread her legs for anyone."

WHAT THE FUCK

roman is constantly rude and ignored h because he assumes she's dating/having sex with her boss. WHEN HE IS THE ONE FUCKING OTHER GIRLS WHICH THE h WITNESSES !!! hate authors who do this and leave the h untouched. fuck off.

[Kiki ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Creo que todos estamos buscando a alguien que nos  acepte como somos, nos ame como somos”

2.5/5 ☆

No fue lo que esperaba. Siento que idealicé mucho la sipnosis del libro y me encontré con algo distinto.

La historia trata de que Olivia Hales acaba de salir se su compromiso fallido, las cosas entre su ahora exprometido no funcionaron bien, por lo tanto, ella necesita un cambio de aires, donde pueda ser completamente independiente de la rutina que ya tenia establecida. Al encontrar trabajo en un pequeño pueblo de California se muda ahí, llega con muchas ilusiones por su nuevo comienzo, pero esto se ve arruinado por el vecino de al lado, Roman Banks, un completo imbecil y grosero (palabras de olivia).
Roman Banks es  un hombre bastante temperamental, un GRAN imbecil y bastante apuesto. Olivia y Roman se ven atrapados en esa calle, con sus casas una al lado de la otra, no empiezan con buen pie y se declaran la guerra, pero eso que dicen de que del odio al amor hay un paso corto lea puede ocurrir a ellos. Aunque cuando los sentimientos empiecen a surgir, los secretos que ambos guardan los pueden separar.

Cuando inicié la lectura estaba emocionada, es que este libro tiene un cliché que tanto disfruto, enemies to lovers. Pero me llevé una decepcion, la primera parte del libro me entretuvo muchisimo, aunque desde la mitad hasta el final me pareció horrible, situaciones que me fueron desagradando y aburriendo totalmente.

Olivia y Roman me parecieron unos protagonistas normales, tenian potencial de que me gustaran mucho pero la linea de la historia entre ellos se fue por un rumbo que bajó la puntuación. Ella estuvo bien y me agradaba, hasta que en ocasiones me parecia demasiado boba, siempre queriendo agradar a todos y no tener caracter, ya por el final de la historia me estresaba y la autora puso un drama con relación a ella que me pareció rebuscado, ni siquiera sentí nada por esa situación. Roman es otro que pensé que me encantaria, ya que me gustan los protagonistas misteriosos, pero él despues de un tiempo tenia reacciones DEMASIADO posesivas, me desagradaban completamente (Red Flag activada).

Y la relación entre ellos dos me pareció plana, cuando estaban en la fase odio fue cuando más me divertí porque se lanzaban pullas, bromas y todo eso, pero cuando ya las cosas fluyeron tuve muchos momentos de aburrimiento, además de que las cosas se dierón demasiado lento, que esto es algo que me gustan con algunas historias y personajes, pero aquí ya estaba desesperada y fue un completo fracaso cuando surgió porque no sentí casi nada. Con relación a los secretos que guardaban, sobretodo Olivia, me pareció meh, es que ya este recurso me aburre. Con el de Roman empaticé un poco más, pero es que él cambió, fue para mal con su posesisividad.

En conclusion, fue una historia que comenzó bien pero disminuyó  totalmente lo bueno de la trama, si hubiese tenido otro rumbo me gustaria.  Incluso, en varias ocasiones queria volarme paginas con lo aburrido que se puso ya para terminar. Esta no fue una buena lectura.

[Vanessa (When Vane Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooo good, and so addicting, absolutely brilliant. Hate thy neighbor is a emotional, passionate and fun romance that captivated me from start to end. When Olive comes to live in her new house, she meets the jerk and sexy neighbor Rome who makes life impossible for her, and despite being so asshole to her, all the other neighbors love Roman.

I laughed out loud with their first encounters and the pranks they make to each other, but despite everything, the electrifying chemistry between them every time they are in the same room is undeniable, pure fire.
Love their dialogues and the way that little by little the feelings between them are changing and their scenes are sooo hot!! I loveee them!

This story was so absolutely delicious, I couldn't get enough of this couple, and left me obsessed with this couple, if you love romcom with and emotional edge and scorching hot sex this is one that you will not want to miss!

[Book Maniac Forever · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 "Sunshine" Stars ⭐️
"𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚. 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨."
Hate Thy Neighbor was so entertaining! The palpable pull between Roman and Olivia was electrifying all read long and I was dying for them to jump each other already, lol! While the book started a little slow for me, I loved where the story went with a profound story line.

I’ll admit right away that the reason I didn’t rate this novel higher is because the first few chapters, where it’s all about the antagonizing felt a little too much at times for me and I lost interest. Maybe I just wasn’t in a the right frame of mind! Anyway, I put the book aside a couple days, dived back into the story and I never looked back after. I guess that maybe I just needed a little break from reading and I’m glad I could continue this amazing story with a new outlook to better appreciate it.

There's just something about an a**hole hero, right? At least for me! Roman Banks is certainly the king one of those arrogant and unpleasant guy at first view. While it’s clear there’s desire simmering between Olivia and him, he callously rejects her countless times. The man is so complex and truly kind-hearted under all this bad attitude. I enjoyed peeling his layers and discovering about his past and what made him act this harshly with Olivia. She certainly doesn’t make it easy for him to resist her with her stubbornness and defiance. She’s always ready to one-upped him. Her vibrant personality makes her highly endearing, but after all Roman’s brush-offs she also shows signs of vulnerability.

The development of their romance was a stunning slow burn that had me in awe. When Roman finally let go of his reticence, he’s just the perfect man; so caring and devoted to Olivia. They’re just so beautiful together and the scorching hot encounters they share are WOW! Highly sensual with a side of dirty and emotional!

Hate Thy Neighbor is profound and so much more than meets the eye. This isn't your typical angsty and steamy enemies to lovers romance for sure. This novel is touching and so real! S.M. Soto excels at writing well-round stories and this one is another great example!

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **

[Fanny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Empezar a leer este libro fue una decision impulsiva, me deje llevar por la portada y por reseñas que decian que Hate Thy Neighbor era muy graciosa, pero desgraciadamente, esta novela y yo no hicimos clic.

La trama en si no esta mal, no es la mas compleja o memorable pero entretiene, sin embargo, Olivia y Roman no pueden ser mas cliches ni intentadolo, ambos son personajes superficiales y con personalidades tan parecidas a la de otros protagonistas ( de otros libros ) que me aburrieron mucho, ademas, su " amor " me canso en exceso. Era repetitivo, infantil y un tanto toxico, sinceramente, algunas de las respuestas de Roman hacia Olivia me pusieron los vellos de punta, y no de una buena forma.

Admito que no todo es negativo, hay ciertos aspectos de Hate Thy Neighbor que son redimibles, pero en general, creo que es una historia que pasa sin pena ni gloria, asimismo, no me convencio como se desarrollaron y finalizaron ciertos temas que trata la lectura, creo que la autora quiso abarcar demasiado y finalmente todo quedo en un quiero y no puedo, con soluciones muy predecibles y precipitadas.

Para concluir, Hate Thy Neighbor no me dio lo que esperaba. Personalmente imaginaba una historia distinta, mas cautivadora y no tan olvidable como la que encontre entre las paginas de este libro.

2.25 Estrellas!

[Aundi Living That Book Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Sunshine Crowns

Brooding Asshole ✔️
Fiesty heroine ✔️
Enemies to Lovers at it's best ✔️
Of The Charts Banter ✔️



This book is so much more than an Enemies to Lovers romance, this story will pull at your heart strings and cause an ever-present ache in your soul. Roman and Olivia are pure angsty perfection with their angry banter and kindle melting chemistry that burns with a white-hot flame every time they are near each other. Be prepared to love to hate this perfection of an asshole named Roman Banks.

S.M Soto has created asshole excellence with Roman Banks. And believe me he is without a doubt an asshole. This man is rude, combative, hostile, and just plain arrogant. Roman does not hesitate to incinerate you with his words and pervasive glares. He has the ability to give you legit whiplash with his personality, but’s it this behavior that will have you asking why. Why is this man so angry? Why is he acting the way he is? And it’s in these layers that you find the answers to your questions. S.M made him with so many contrasting levels and nuances that you can’t wait to get through the pages to find out more about him. And underneath all his anger and cruel words that he spews is a man just trying to hold his life together.

I loved Olivia I connected with her on so many levels. Her insecurities and need to belong resonated with me deeply. She never really had a place in her old life, she was a fiancé and had friends, but her friends were his friends. She was always the one that was a second thought not a primary one. She has this deep need to feel connected and belong. I felt this all the way to my marrow, everyone wants to belong somewhere and to someone, it’s human nature. And on top of these emotions she had this deep-rooted feeling of being suffocated by those in her life especially her parents. She was drowning in these feelings, so she needed to run away and escape, so she moves out of the area for a fresh start. And meets her jerk of a new neighbor with soul devouring eyes and a devilish tongue.

S.M has crafted this complex and dynamic enemies to lovers romance. You’re immediately lost to her words from the moment you read the first page. Roman is a character that you will love to hate, he will infuriate you to no end but as the pages progress and the story unfolds, he will own a piece of you. Olivia is someone you can’t help but love, she is really just a sweet person that’s just trying to figure things out, she’s got a spine melded in steal and a fight in her that will make you proud. This book is perfection and is a MUST READ of 2020.

BETA Read

[Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) · Rating 5 out of 5]

➳ Rate: 4,5/ 5 stars

This book was what I call romcom + emotional hybrid gold! It was just so good! So entertaining, so many laugh out loud moments and so many emotional ones too. I loved these two, they were both a match made in hell and a match made in heaven, it was all in their attitude towards each other.

The hatred, the pranks, the trying so hard and failing to make the neighbor like you. Roman was a hard shell to crack but so damn fun, it was all worth it. And what a pearl he was! A bad boy adonis with a heart of gold. I loved the unveiling of who he was and what he was all about. His past was hard and he was fighting for a better future for him and his little brother.

Olivia was an amazing girl. I loved how hard she tried to have some sort of friendship with Roman. She has just been through a break-up and was trying to create a life of her own. All that was stopping her for doing it perfectly was her jerk of a neighbor and her womanizer boss.

There was so much more to these two. Their stories were both emotional and when they came to light, they made their support and love for each other all the more special. I just adored this story. The evolving of their relationship was amazing. They slowly, with every new piece of real information they got on each other, knocked off each other's walls. And once that happened, it was magic between the two of them.

Hate Thy Neighbor is not just an enemies to lovers romance, it's got a beautiful, emotional and a little bit of suspensful love story that is so worth reading! It's got amazing, hilarious characters like Olivia's mom and dad and a super cute dog named Max who definitely plays an important role in these two's story.

➳ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review.

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[Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tough one for me. I have always been a sucker for the enemies turned lovers trope and will say that the author did deliver on that aspect but everything else was… ugh.

The main characters pretty much ruined this for me and I have to admit that Roman and Olivia were thus far the most frustrating characters I have ever come across. Normally I would like one or either, and at rare occasions both but both of these characters made me want to pull my hair out and the constant back and forth between them drove me up the wall.

Roman just made me want to slap the shit out of him. He would always misinterpret the things Olivia would say and will make her take the brute of his anger. I brushed it off the first 1-2 times because it’s supposed to be an enemies turned lovers romance and the relationship is still in the midst of growing but this happened all throughout the read. It was repetitive and annoying as fuck. Like boy, get your emotions in check and stop being a total dickhead (Olivia's words, not mine).

And Olivia was probably even worse. She cared more about her job than being assaulted by the owner’s son. I’m sorry excuse me? Who in their right mind would put themselves in a situation where they are constantly harassed, stalked, cornered and assaulted when there was an out?! This bitch had an out! But instead of taking it she was more worried about losing her job and getting Roman upset. I get that I do but bitch please! She irked my living soul and I simply couldn’t get over her reaction towards Travis and his aggressions.

Ultimately, the author’s writing style is right up my alley despite my thoughts on the novel and seeing how she’s often raved about, I will check out her other releases to see if they are more to my taste.

[Vanessa (nessreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book. Right off the bat I was hooked. I honestly didn’t expect to be hit with so many emotions. Roman and Olivia’s story is a whirlwind—they’ll have you laughing and swooning, but they’ll also punch you with all the feels.

Olivia is determined to live an independent life and do what’s best for her. She’s so kind and optimistic even though life can be cruel. I loved her positivity and outlook on life. She has the biggest and purest heart and she’s just a ray of sunshine—I loved her so much.

Roman Banks, oh let me count the ways. There were countless times I wanted to wring his neck, but at the same time hug him tightly. He is a grade-A a**hole but I loved him all the same. He’s rude and just plain mean, but he’s also this amazing, caring, and selfless man. He’ll do anything for the people he cares for and will go to great lengths to protect them. He might not want to show his caring side, but once that layer is peeled back it’s truly a sight to behold.

Right from the beginning Olivia and Roman clashed. The hate that these two neighbors had for each other was high. The pranks they pulled on one another only added fuel to the fire. But as much as they didn’t get along there was no question of their physical attraction. I loved their bickering and banter so much, it had me laughing so hard. And the sexual tension, my gosh it had me gasping. And when Olivia and Rome finally gave into what they were obviously feeling it was HOT, HOT, HOT!

Hate Thy Neighbor was everything I didn’t know I needed. It was slow burn goodness that had me salivating. This story is so much more than an enemies to lovers romance. It brings the emotions and it’s so real and just beautiful. I loved Olivia and Rome’s story so much. S.M. Soto never ceases to amaze me. Her storytelling is exceptional and the characters she writes are phenomenal. With each book she writes she excels and I can’t wait for what’s to come.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book*

[Nina · Rating 1 out of 5]

hate thy neighbor? more like hate thy book.

i did not like this book and i know im in the minority for saying this but this book was utterly disappointing.

i saw this cover and immediately ran running to goodreads to read the blurb and then i read the blurb and got even more excited for its release.

this book started off so promising. their banter was off the charts excellent. the pranks they played were adorable, but then it all started to go downhill. im genuinely upset and tried so hard to find something i liked but oh my god olivia deserved better. i know it’s an enemies to lovers romance but ROMAN IS AN ASSHOLE WITH A CAPITAL A. the things he said at time straight up pissed me off and made me so so angry.

Here are some of the things he said that made me mad and why i think this book sucks:
(Passages and my rage) (SPOILERS AHEAD)


“𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙪𝙥 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠, 𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣.”

(i mean what is this??? you’re talking about women like this STILL?? fucking let women do whatever the hell they want with their faces and bodies YOU DO NOT GET A SAY ABOUT IT!!)


“𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙨, 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙟𝙖𝙬𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚. “𝘿𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚, 𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙖.”
“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚?” 𝙄 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧, 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚.”

I HAVE NEVER WANTED TO THROTTLE A CHARACTER MORE THEN ROMAN IN THIS SCENE. he is calling her a slut as she’s trying to explain to him something that was obviously taken out of context. THIS ISN’T OKAY AND WHATS WORSE??? SHE FEELS LIKE SHE NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE TO THIS GUY!! WHAT!?!?! she starts crying as he says this and i felt so fucking bad for her. Olivia deserves betters then this guy!!


“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢.”
“𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨!” 𝙄 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙥. “𝙃𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩.”
“𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨? 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮, 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣.”
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙖. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚.”
𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙢 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚. “𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩.”
𝙄 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝. “𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄’𝙢 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩.”

he’s treating her like a piece of furniture in this scene. LITERALLY JUST READ IT AND YOU WILL GET WHY IM MAD


i could go on another whole rant about trevor or travis or whatever the hell his name was but no thank you. we stan only olivia, max, and ryder.


i so desperately wanted to love this book and it started of so so good, but it just ended up disappointing me :(

[Blythe D · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 stars!

The hate-to-love trope in this one was intense to the point that I wanted to choke the hero for his asshole-ness. The hate was justified on some point though. I wanted to give this story a higher rating than 3 stars but it did not really feel more than that.

I found their connection off and kinda narrator-forced, with all the invisible drawing force they're describing between them. I have no problem with imperfect characters but the way they easily walk out in each other after every fight makes me ughh. Also, at the end of the story everything felt all of a sudden super cheesy which felt out of character for the hero, who claims to have spent his whole life becoming someone who is un-feeling. Still, this was mostly an enjoyable read. :)

P.S. This book has a playlist!

[Oumaïma (readwithmima) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book for the following reasons:
- Gaping plot holes
- An unlikable and unrelatable main character
- A bully of a love interest I didn't like one bit
- The most unrelatable miscommunication trope you can see

If any of these elements bother you, maybe you wouldn't like this book as well

[mith · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reminds me (as if I need it) all the reasons I hate men.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY GOODNESS did I love this book! Hate Thy Neighbor is a riveting and soulful love story- so full of heart and teeming with emotional meaning that I found myself quite moved. This book is more than just an enemies turned lovers romance, so much more than a delightfully entertaining rom-com- although it has both of those elements. This book is about the belonging of love, about being lost within the consequences of your own life and finding freedom simply by finding your missing piece, even if that missing piece makes you hate them first.

Our story begins with Olivia making a big move- a landmark for her personally as she seeks both independence from her loving but helicoptering parents and from the dissolution of her engagement. She’s proudly purchased her first home, on her own dime, found a new job as a vet tech, and is starting out in a new town all on her own. She’s hopeful and optimistic about this next step in her journey. But her mysterious next door neighbor Roman with his rude behavior and brash attitude keeps squashing her joy. Despite her best attempts to make nice, or to even avoid the dickhead, she can’t seem to escape their combative interactions, nor can she stop obsessing over him and his brooding good looks. Why does he hate her so much? At first she’s determined to figure it out or change his mind, but her frustrations give way to enemy vibes. Soon their spiteful banter turns into an all out prank war, one that keeps them firmly in one another’s orbit and with stakes that neither of them knew were possible. Little do each of them know, neither is what you see on the surface.

I related so much to Olivia- her personality, her insecurities, her journey just felt so personal to me. She craves so deeply to belong- to FIT somewhere. Always a floater, never really fitting with anyone or anything, she’s surrounded by well meaning people but yet she doesn’t have her “people” or her “place.” She sees her independence as a pathway to finding herself- escaping her parents, escaping the confines of her engagement, even escaping aspects of her identity that we learn about much later. Her quest to free herself, to feel like she has a place in this world just spoke so much to my soul- the kind of questions we all grapple with as humans. She’s also just so incredibly likable - she’s so well meaning, thoughtful and kind. She has a big compassionate heart that she isn’t scared to show, but she’s also got a spine of steel and fights for what, and who, she believes in. I loved her emotional honesty and vulnerability, how she lives with unflinching and unapologetic optimism, even when she has every reason not to see the world this way. Despite all Rome puts her through, despite her lived experience, she still finds the good in her life, she still finds the good in others. I admired her resilience and her energizing hope. She’s truly light personified.

And Rome- WOW. Never has a character given me such whiplash- but few leading men have moved me as much as Rome has. This character is incredibly nuanced, with layer after layer of character depth. SM brilliantly uses the narrative structure to keep him a mystery to us for as long as possible. We have dual POV, but Rome’s POV is withheld for a while, and even as the story progresses, there are moments where we’re only allowed to see a situation from Olivia’s eyes to really keep the tension and mystery going as it relates to just what makes Roman such a jerk. AND HE IS A JERK. He’s arrogant and rude, inconsiderate, and at times outright hostile. What motives could justify such brutish behavior? I couldn’t see any. I wasn’t sure I could love him, or root for him, but then SM Soto opened up his heart and mind in a way that rocked me to my core. Because underneath that very thick facade of disinterest and hatred is a beautiful, complicated man- a man with a loving and passionate heart, a man full of remorse and regret, a man on a redemptive journey. An intense man who has scars and who has made mistakes but who, like Olivia, is just desperately fighting for a type of freedom- a freedom from his past, the independence he needs to have control over his life and to create the future he wants for himself.

The chemistry between these two just exploded off the page. We have all the love-hate fun- from the light hearted banter and pranks to the more serious, dramatic and hurtful moments, but from their first meeting we feel the charge between these two. There is delicious heat between them, but what I felt even more was the emotional draw they had to each other- each recognizing a missing piece in their life in each other. For Olivia, Rome helps her feel like she belongs, helps her be independent by giving her a safe space to be in control, to be on our own without really being alone. And for Rome, Olivia helps him recognize that he is deserving of a life he’s always felt was not an option for him and that he’s not defined by his past, he’s defined by the goodness in his heart. They both find in each other what has felt unreachable before- someone who not only sees the very best in them but who loves and accepts their flaws. Truly, their love story is so beautiful and so meaningful. SM beautifully juxtaposes the two natures - the tension, frustration, and turbulence of their “hate” relationship and the blissful, soothing ease of their “love” relationship. The character development is top notch- both characters are so nuanced, so dynamically and lovingly brought to life. And both of their character journeys were profoundly moving, characters arcs that inspired me to think about how I live my own life, my own baggage, my own hopes and aspirations. I want to live with Olivia’s jubilance and fire, and I want to live with Rome’s selflessness and sense of purpose. Nothing feels generic here- this love story is so very specific, so palpable. Truly one of a kind.

The best kinds of romance stories not only entertain but inspire your heart and mind to think- to think about the world, yourself, others, anything- but to think and examine humanity. And SM Soto has inspired that in me. Not only has created such a sweet and complex love story that makes you swoon and entertain, but she’s examined the nature of true love- how love is redemptive, how love helps you realize your full self, how love is belonging. What a surprisingly complex and emotionally resonant story came from two neighbors who just couldn’t get along. My heart is happy and full of hope.

[Shatarupa Dhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Olivia Rene Hales is twenty-five and is moving into her own house, finally. Much to her parents' concern. One of whom is a psychologist, the other a sex therapist. You can imagine how it gets. After the recent break-up with her fiancé, she's looking forward to a new beginning. A fresh start which calls for her being independent.

Max is a husky who is the neighbor's dog. The neighbor – Roman Banks – is nothing but a twenty-six-year-old mechanic who is a boor to Olivia. But let's just say he's hella easy on the eyes. Their homes mirror each other and Olivia's olive branch does nothing to ease the biting tension between the neighbors. But what is it that set it off in the first place?

Review:
I completely dig an enemies-to-lovers romance, and I'd read anything and everything by S.M. Soto ever since I finished reading her Twin Lies Duet! While that was romantic suspense, this is a contemporary romance. Narrated in the first-person, from dual perspectives, the author linked her playlist for the book with the specific chapters.

Olivia is a veterinary assistant. Her sad excuse of an ex left her with a ton of insecurities which she wants to disprove of, and this new house in a new area with a new job seems to be the first step in that direction.

You know the saying, ‘love thy neighbor’? Well, I’m really starting to fucking hate thy neighbor.

It was something unique, to be having a neighbouring house which is a mirror of her own. And for a neighbor that hot, which results in instant combustion. But not much good can be said about the neighbor, as it's a glare game from the get-go. However friendly Olivia attempts to be, he's just a jerk to her.

It’s obvious the guy hates me, but I’ll never understand why.

Even I was curious about his level of hatred for Olivia. When he is such a charmer to everyone else. I felt bad for Olivia who wasn't welcomed with open arms into the new community. Olivia and Roman were worse than a cat and mouse, looking at how he seemed to be constantly at her throat every moment. They were worse than kids, playing pranks on each other without compunction. And what interesting pranks they were!

It is quite a while before Roman gets his own voice and what a life he's had, he's still having. Trying to straighten up his own life as well as someone else's, after what he's been handed.

Embrace your scars. They’re what make you beautiful. They’re what tell your story.

There's something that Olivia is hiding from Roman, and there's also her icky boss Travis always trying to make a pass at her despite her disinterest. There are so many stories behind every little incident in the book which will warm your heart. With the pranks and the invasive parents, this story drew out so many laughs from me. As intense as the author's last book was, this one was a complete laugh riot. Though it did have its share of tense situations. But their pranks, the jibes, the Tom-and-Jerry vibes, it all made Hate Thy Neighbor a story which I will always cherish.

The epilogue from three years later is so sweet. But the uncertainty hanging over them just about killed me. But also, not everything is always perfect and the author also alluded to the same in an extended epilogue, which is available separately.

P.S. The author has also published an extended epilogue, which is from the point-of-view of thirty-year-old Delilah, the youngest of Roman and Olivia's four children. S.M. Soto has kept it real, not magically making Olivia's condition go away. This epilogue will give you a beautiful closure, but it will move you to tears as well. It will also give you the satisfaction of a new beginning, and if you are anything like me (an insatiable and curious soul), you would want to read this epilogue. An epilogue which finds its continuation in The Consequence of Hating You, the author's next book!

Luke Caldwell from Scoring the Quarterback makes an appearance in this book.

The other books by the author that I have read and also recommend are:
Kiss Me with Lies
Bury Me with Lies

Thank you to Social Butterfly PR for an e-ARC of the book.

Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings

[Books Wine and Besties · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I have been under a rock because holy moly how have I not read SM Soto before. This book. It was everything I love about contemporary romance.
I don’t know when enemies to lovers, next door neighbor became one of my favorite troupes but I am here for it. I mean hot angry stubborn neighbor ... yes please.

“You know the saying, ‘love thy neighbor’? Well, I’m really starting to f**king hate thy neighbor.”

I can’t write this review without mentioning the main event. Enter Roman. Talk about grumpy asshole men. He was arrogant yet kind hearted and oh so sexy.
“All I know is, when I’m with you, Sunshine, heaven feels a whole hell of a lot closer.”

The two main characters were so perfect. I could not get enough of their banter and pranks. Their chemistry was just off the charts. The angst oh the angst... I was screaming “just kiss already!”

“Do I want forever with you? Of course, I do. But I love you so much, I don’t need forever. As long as I have the now, that’s all that really matters. I’ll take the seconds, the minutes, and the days, because it’s you, Sunshine. It’s always you.”

Rom com with emotions. That’s what you get with this book. It had the laugh out loud moments you love but the steam that you crave.

“I think I’m going to call you, Sunshine, from now on. Because that’s exactly what you are, Olivia. You’re the sunshine after a hurricane. After years of living in darkness, you’re the warmth everyone wishes they had for themselves.”

Thanks Social Butterfly PR and S.M. Soto for the arc.

[shre ♡]

dnf @ 15% cause i can’t sit through any more than that.

also got spoiled some things and heard the guy slut shames her at some point in the book and that’s just not ok at all in whatever context in my eyes so goodbye.

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hate Thy Neighbor is a fantastic enemy to lovers romance that is full of wit, charm, laughs, and steam. Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. I was complete hooked from the very beginning.

Olivia is starting over. New home, new town, new job. She is determined to prove that she can take care of herself without her family constantly hovering. She wants her new neighbors to like her, especially her gorgeous, leather wearing one, Roman. Roman comes across as a jerk and he definitely has is moments, but the more you learn about him and his past and why he acts like a jerk you can’t help but swoon. I LOVED these two, despite the insane amounts of frustration they caused me. There is some insane chemistry.

I loved the prank war, it added some laughs to the story. I honestly wasn’t expecting this one to be so emotional. As both Olivia and Roman navigated through their relationship and their pasts. I probably spent the last 20% of this book in tears because it just gutted me.

I HIGHLY recommend downloading a copy of the extended epilogue. Despite the fact that will leave you in a complete emotional wreck I found it fitting for Olivia and Roman and their story.

Hate Thy Neighbor is a MUST READ and one of my TOP READS of 2020. It is the perfect mix of sweet, heat, emotions and witty banter.

[Alba M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Olivia se siente como si hubiera estado dependiendo de alguien toda su vida: primero con sus padres y luego con su ahora ex novio. Por fin tiene su momento de ser independiente en un pequeño pueblo y con su trabajo soñado. Pero cuando se toma un momento de conocer a los vecinos, se encuentra he no todos son amables como ella pensaba, sobre todo con el imbécil de su vecino Roman que parece decidido a odiarla si razón.

Este libro simplemente no tiene sentido ni base. No lo amé, no puedo amarlo porque DESPUES DE LO IMBECIL INJUSTIFICADO que ha sido Roman como puede alguien quererlo? Porque a mí estas idioteces que siempre dicen que quieren justificar un comportamiento de mierda como el de este tío NO ME VALEN. NO ME VALEN NO ME VALEN Y NO ME VALEN. A mi sí una persona me gusta no la trato como él trato a Olivia, que la humilló y la despreció como si no fuese más que una mierda en el zapato para él. Así que comprenderéis que no entiendo que ella se enamore de semejante monstruo de mierda, y entenderéis que aunque me alegro de que Olivia sea feliz y tenga su final feliz no creo que debiera ser con él por mucho que él cambiase después. Su comportamiento es de enfermos, no tiene justificación diga lo que él diga. PUNTO.
El drama me pareció excesivo, tanto rollo con el tira y afloja de mierda entre Roman y ella y después también le añadimos el asqueroso de Travis y la enfermedad de Olivia y ya está, nos hemos excedido en cantidades industriales. Que luego lo que no me explico es, tan enferma está y tanto eso pero le dejan tener 4 hijos? Con el esfuerzo que eso supone para su cuerpo? TODO ULTRA COHERENTE. Y bueno, ese epílogo final 45 años después?????? ERA NECESARIO!? Esto me recuerda a Trascendent, que no sé para qué hacen este epílogo que en vez de dejarte con un sabor alegre de boca me hacen llorar más... Osea obviamente todos sabemos que envejecemos y que no vamos a vivir toda la vida PERO PARA QUE ME LO CUENTAS!!!!?????? PARA QUÉ? El libro pudo haber tenido el final anterior, que era feliz y dejarse de estupideces como ese epílogo en el que por cierto sale una de las tantas hija de Roman y Olivia que va a cometer el mismo error que sus padres, enamorarse de un imbécil estúpido que se cree que por ser una maleducado de mierda es más atractivo 🙄.

Así que mis 2 estrellas van porque el final es feliz y muy bonito, a pesar de que no creo que debiesen acabar juntos, las escenas son preciosas. Y en ese epílogo que no debió haber sido escrito a pesar de ser triste se escribe sobre el amor tan grande que tuvo Roman por Olivia... Y estoy llorando al acordarme, maldita sea! 🤦🏻‍♀️ En fin, que lo siento pero no voy a recomendarlo, el que dijo que este libro es divertido, NO COMPARTO SU SENTIDO DEL HUMOR.

[Keri Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting because I LOVED this story! An enemies to lovers romance with emotion and so many feels. It was so much more than I expected, but it doesn't surprise me as this author always makes me FEEL and delivers the unexpected. You are going to love this jerk...HARD!

Roman was protective, alpha bossiness that will become your addiction. Starting off, his first name should have been JERK!! But he will win you over with his sexy smirk and big heart. Plus you can't beat a reformed bad boy who rides a motorcycle, rebuilds muscle cars and has abs for days.

Olivia has just moved into her very own home. Sick of being babied by her family, she is ready to spread her wings. She's fresh off a break up, but she's fine with starting over and being on her own. Her new job and her little fixer upper will be her focus.

Olivia wants everyone to like her. Her people pleaser personality pushes her to win people over. She's ready to meet her new neighbors and make some friends. Too bad the guy next door seems to hate her at first sight. She'll need more than a freshly baked cake to win him over.

Roman just wants to work at the garage, rebuild cars in his spare time and work on getting his family back. He has no time for some needy, new neighbor next door. No matter that she's gorgeous and draws him in. He's going to do whatever it takes to keep her away. His focus needs to be elsewhere.

This story was fun and sexy. Rome has all the right moves once he decides he can no longer resist the temptation that is Olivia. It was emotional as both characters worked through their past and were reaching toward their future. The story kept me fully invested and I loved our main characters, as well as the side characters. The family element was a big part of this story and Olivia's mother definitely added the comic relief.

A well written romance with all the elements that came together to make an unforgettable reading experience. The heat was at max level between this couple and I loved their journey.

[Book Boyfriend Whoarder Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

ETA: This Book has been put into question with plagiarism as well. While I don’t know fully what book so I Can do a comparison i will leave this review up with a 3 star rating.


OG review. 4.5 stars
This isn’t your typical romcom, as any of SM Soto’s stories, you’ll get some major angst and this is no different.

Roman, oh man even when he’s a jerk you love him. So we can’t blame our girl Olivia to be obsessed with the broody neighbor next door.

Olivia, not perfect, had many faults but I believe her heart was always in the right place. She loves hard and wants to live her life to the fullest.

The tug and pull between these characters was beyond hot! The chemistry was off the charts. Once they finally collided, the explosion was everything and so much more.

My only set back in this book was Olivia’s secret, which is hidden from Roman and readers majority of the book. To me this was a missed opportunity to connect with her and understand her reasonings into her actions at times. I understood keeping it from Roman. And although as readers we get a vague sense of it being important we don’t know the full picture. For me that full picture would of added to Olivia’s character depth and not make her seem childish at times. She didn’t make it a big deal and swept it under the rug which in turn made me feel she didn’t care about the repercussions and aftermath that could ensue.

Beyond that, I enjoyed this story very much. The cast of characters were delightful and fun to read. Perhaps we will get more from this bunch.

All in all, prepare to laugh, cry, and want to throat punch someone, all in the best way possible.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super excited

3,5 stars

 

  

[Hasi | hasi.readsromance · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star

This book was so dull. I did not like the main characters; they got on my nerves every second of this book. The only character I liked was Mad Max, the dog.