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The Love Study #2
The Hate Project
This arrangement is either exactly what they need--or a total disaster
Oscar is a grouch.
That’s a well-established fact among his tight-knit friend group, and they love him anyway.
Jack is an ass.
Jack, who’s always ready with a sly insult, who can’t have a conversation without arguing, and who Oscar may or may not have hooked up with on a strict no-commitment, one-time-only basis. Even if it was extremely hot.
Together, they’re a bickering, combative mess.
When Oscar is fired (answering phones is not for the anxiety-ridden), he somehow ends up working for Jack. Maybe while cleaning out Jack’s grandmother’s house they can stop fighting long enough to turn a one-night stand into a frenemies-with-benefits situation.
The house is an archaeological dig of love and dysfunction, and while Oscar thought he was prepared, he wasn’t. It’s impossible to delve so deeply into someone’s past without coming to understand them at least a little, but Oscar has boundaries for a reason—even if sometimes Jack makes him want to break them all down.
After all, hating Jack is less of a risk than loving him…
The Love Study
Book 1: The Love Study
Book 2: The Hate Project
Book 3: The Life Revamp
Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
Oscar is a grouch.
That’s a well-established fact among his tight-knit friend group, and they love him anyway.
Jack is an ass.
Jack, who’s always ready with a sly insult, who can’t have a conversation without arguing, and who Oscar may or may not have hooked up with on a strict no-commitment, one-time-only basis. Even if it was extremely hot.
Together, they’re a bickering, combative mess.
When Oscar is fired (answering phones is not for the anxiety-ridden), he somehow ends up working for Jack. Maybe while cleaning out Jack’s grandmother’s house they can stop fighting long enough to turn a one-night stand into a frenemies-with-benefits situation.
The house is an archaeological dig of love and dysfunction, and while Oscar thought he was prepared, he wasn’t. It’s impossible to delve so deeply into someone’s past without coming to understand them at least a little, but Oscar has boundaries for a reason—even if sometimes Jack makes him want to break them all down.
After all, hating Jack is less of a risk than loving him…
The Love Study
Book 1: The Love Study
Book 2: The Hate Project
Book 3: The Life Revamp
Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2021
51 people are currently reading
1215 people want to read
About the author
Kris Ripper
89 books401 followersKris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
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May 5, 2021A hugely enjoyable read about depression and anxiety, which is not a sentence you hear often.
Oscar is pretty much a mess. We're in his first person narrative throughout so it's very much about his struggle to reconcile mental illness, a grumpy personality, and fear of intimacy, with his growing feelings for Jack. Who is a bit of a grumpy mess also. You'd say they are not meant to be but they very clearly are, finding a lovely accommodation together when they aren't getting in their own ways.
It's immensely sweet for a book with this title, ahaha. Doesn't shy away from how persistent, debilitating, and exhausting to others Oscar's condition is, but does bring us a real and convincing love story with no miracle cure, and a believable happy ending. And it's very funny with a cracking voice and some excellent banter.
Oscar is pretty much a mess. We're in his first person narrative throughout so it's very much about his struggle to reconcile mental illness, a grumpy personality, and fear of intimacy, with his growing feelings for Jack. Who is a bit of a grumpy mess also. You'd say they are not meant to be but they very clearly are, finding a lovely accommodation together when they aren't getting in their own ways.
It's immensely sweet for a book with this title, ahaha. Doesn't shy away from how persistent, debilitating, and exhausting to others Oscar's condition is, but does bring us a real and convincing love story with no miracle cure, and a believable happy ending. And it's very funny with a cracking voice and some excellent banter.
May 17, 2021
*2.5 stars*
I feel wildly torn in my rating about The Hate Project by the very talented Kris Ripper. On one hand, I found this book to be relentlessly exhausting to read, even to the point that I dreaded picking it up to continue reading it. However, on the flip side, I thought it was an exceedingly accurate portrayal of depression and I was impressed by the writing. But still, the dread. I think most readers will fall into either the dislike or like camp, and the reviews will be very split.
I personally found Oscar to be very, very realistic but also not really someone that I think is in the right place for any sort of relationship. I mean, who am I to judge what kind of place he is in, right?, but I didn't like the way he hurt Jack and screwed up communicating, even if it wasn't his fault. I also found Jack to be difficult to get to know, mostly because we didn't get his POV.
I loved the hoarding and cleaning plotline and Jack's spunky grandma, and those were highlights for me. I had a bit of a hard time with all of the friends in the book, mostly because I didn't remember much from the first book in the series, but I think they were lovely and supportive overall.
The romance was also a big sticking point for me. I don't quite view this as a romance, partly because I didn't really get the chemistry and even the impression that Jack and Oscar got along all that well. I guess something was *starting* between them, but I was meh about the whole thing.
The Hate Project has very, very strong and accurate depression rep, from what I could gather, and I loved how the issues didn't magically resolve themselves. That being said, I found the book emotionally draining to read and not a particularly satisfying romance. However, I think for readers who relate to Oscar, this book would be very welcome and much needed. Moral of the story: ignore my rating and read this book to decide how you feel yourself.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I feel wildly torn in my rating about The Hate Project by the very talented Kris Ripper. On one hand, I found this book to be relentlessly exhausting to read, even to the point that I dreaded picking it up to continue reading it. However, on the flip side, I thought it was an exceedingly accurate portrayal of depression and I was impressed by the writing. But still, the dread. I think most readers will fall into either the dislike or like camp, and the reviews will be very split.
I personally found Oscar to be very, very realistic but also not really someone that I think is in the right place for any sort of relationship. I mean, who am I to judge what kind of place he is in, right?, but I didn't like the way he hurt Jack and screwed up communicating, even if it wasn't his fault. I also found Jack to be difficult to get to know, mostly because we didn't get his POV.
I loved the hoarding and cleaning plotline and Jack's spunky grandma, and those were highlights for me. I had a bit of a hard time with all of the friends in the book, mostly because I didn't remember much from the first book in the series, but I think they were lovely and supportive overall.
The romance was also a big sticking point for me. I don't quite view this as a romance, partly because I didn't really get the chemistry and even the impression that Jack and Oscar got along all that well. I guess something was *starting* between them, but I was meh about the whole thing.
The Hate Project has very, very strong and accurate depression rep, from what I could gather, and I loved how the issues didn't magically resolve themselves. That being said, I found the book emotionally draining to read and not a particularly satisfying romance. However, I think for readers who relate to Oscar, this book would be very welcome and much needed. Moral of the story: ignore my rating and read this book to decide how you feel yourself.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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April 21, 2021
Now Available in Audio, performed by Gomez Pugh. Either read or listen, I highly recommend this one & you can do it as a standalone. purchase link
My Review:
Kris Ripper never fails to blow me away with the uniqueness of zir’s writing. The characters, and the situations in which they find themselves, are thought provoking and endlessly entertaining.
The second novel in The Love Study series, Ripper continues to find love matches for The Marginalized Motherfuckers. This group of friends from college is expanding with significant others, and the dynamic between them just keeps getting better.
I completely lost my heart to Oscar (he so would be my friend IRL), I found his quirks incredibly endearing.
The way Kris Ripper writes each of these stories from one character’s point of view creates a wonderful feeling of intimacy. We get to know each of them in a unique way, plus we get to see the other members of the group through their eyes. You don’t need to have read The Love Study first, but Declan is an absolute hoot from Oscar's side of things.
I’m looking forward to the release of the third novel in this series, The Life Revamp, which (unless I’ve completely missed the point) will be Mason’s story. Sweet, funny, and incredibly unique, Kris Ripper’s Love Study series is a winner!
thank you to NetGalley and Carina Adores for providing this ARC, these opinions are entirely my own
My Review:
Kris Ripper never fails to blow me away with the uniqueness of zir’s writing. The characters, and the situations in which they find themselves, are thought provoking and endlessly entertaining.
The second novel in The Love Study series, Ripper continues to find love matches for The Marginalized Motherfuckers. This group of friends from college is expanding with significant others, and the dynamic between them just keeps getting better.
I completely lost my heart to Oscar (he so would be my friend IRL), I found his quirks incredibly endearing.
The way Kris Ripper writes each of these stories from one character’s point of view creates a wonderful feeling of intimacy. We get to know each of them in a unique way, plus we get to see the other members of the group through their eyes. You don’t need to have read The Love Study first, but Declan is an absolute hoot from Oscar's side of things.
I’m looking forward to the release of the third novel in this series, The Life Revamp, which (unless I’ve completely missed the point) will be Mason’s story. Sweet, funny, and incredibly unique, Kris Ripper’s Love Study series is a winner!
thank you to NetGalley and Carina Adores for providing this ARC, these opinions are entirely my own
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June 27, 2024First thing first: Gomez Pugh narrates well and I'd like to see him do more m/m romances.
Other thing: This book brought me up short, thinking about when someone's mentally ill and when they're just an asshole.
MC1, Oscar, has depression and a debilitating anxiety disorder, and his shitty behavior toward MC2, Jack, arises almost entirely from the latter. But. But. We're told that Oscar provided all the support in the world to his best friend when she was transitioning, but we don't see that on page (or, this being an audiobook, hear it in ear: whatever); in fact, we scarcely see him behaving well toward anyone. He's not generous, he's not thoughtful, he basically spends the entire book sucking up other people's nurturance and patience. I have no idea what Jack sees in him apart from the fact that Oscar is plump and hairy and thus Jack's physical type. Well, the mutual snarking is sometimes fun.
Obviously people who have chronic illnesses suffer downswings from time to time, and we do learn that apparently the meds Oscar is on at the book's opening aren't working for him very well (anymore?), so eventually he switches. But, because the story of the book covers only a few months in Oscar's life, he's at his worst pretty much throughout. I heartily disliked him and wanted Jack to kick him to the curb -- even if I was supposed to sympathize with Oscar's distress, I can't imagine how an intimate relationship with him would be anything but damaging. You could never, ever count on him not to bolt when something alarmed him, and intimacy is invariably full of alarms.
I definitely did not think Jack owed him any apologies, for ending the relationship after the big "fight," JFC. It wasn't even a fight, properly; it was Oscar saying nasty things and then high-tailing it to avoid his own feelings. Who needs that shit?
Kris Ripper is one of my favorite writers of relationships and sex. But certain kinds of conflict seem to defeat them, or rather, perhaps, they're trying to be evenhanded on the basis of the principle that there are always wrongs on both sides of a quarrel. But the principle is in error.
Huh, I was more pissed off by this book than I realized at first.
Other thing: This book brought me up short, thinking about when someone's mentally ill and when they're just an asshole.
MC1, Oscar, has depression and a debilitating anxiety disorder, and his shitty behavior toward MC2, Jack, arises almost entirely from the latter. But. But. We're told that Oscar provided all the support in the world to his best friend when she was transitioning, but we don't see that on page (or, this being an audiobook, hear it in ear: whatever); in fact, we scarcely see him behaving well toward anyone. He's not generous, he's not thoughtful, he basically spends the entire book sucking up other people's nurturance and patience. I have no idea what Jack sees in him apart from the fact that Oscar is plump and hairy and thus Jack's physical type. Well, the mutual snarking is sometimes fun.
Obviously people who have chronic illnesses suffer downswings from time to time, and we do learn that apparently the meds Oscar is on at the book's opening aren't working for him very well (anymore?), so eventually he switches. But, because the story of the book covers only a few months in Oscar's life, he's at his worst pretty much throughout. I heartily disliked him and wanted Jack to kick him to the curb -- even if I was supposed to sympathize with Oscar's distress, I can't imagine how an intimate relationship with him would be anything but damaging. You could never, ever count on him not to bolt when something alarmed him, and intimacy is invariably full of alarms.
I definitely did not think Jack owed him any apologies, for ending the relationship after the big "fight," JFC. It wasn't even a fight, properly; it was Oscar saying nasty things and then high-tailing it to avoid his own feelings. Who needs that shit?
Kris Ripper is one of my favorite writers of relationships and sex. But certain kinds of conflict seem to defeat them, or rather, perhaps, they're trying to be evenhanded on the basis of the principle that there are always wrongs on both sides of a quarrel. But the principle is in error.
Huh, I was more pissed off by this book than I realized at first.
April 20, 2021
ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.
First things first: This book isn't a feel good romance.
It's not going to follow that almost cookie cutter recipe we've see a thousand times.
It's not going to progress in the way you want it to, it just *is*.
It's definitely not the adorable, heart warming frenemies-to-lovers you may very well be looking for, but it might just be the one that you need!
From my first encounter with Oscar I could tell we were made of the same star stuff.
The portrayal of his anxiety touched something in me, it was something I hadn't known I'd been dying to read.
Kris Ripper always does an amazing job of touching on parts of the human nature that aren't always easy to digest. The bits that get a makeover before being shown to the public. Often times authors dull the edges, buff the corners and give it fresh coat of paint to make a character more palatable. To make them cute. Make them lovable. The result is often someone less real.
I found something in the portrayal of Oscar's anxiety that no book I've read had succeeded in conveying before. It was raw and ugly and unedited and it made me feel seen in ways I both can and can't explain.
All I can say is thank you.
First things first: This book isn't a feel good romance.
It's not going to follow that almost cookie cutter recipe we've see a thousand times.
It's not going to progress in the way you want it to, it just *is*.
It's definitely not the adorable, heart warming frenemies-to-lovers you may very well be looking for, but it might just be the one that you need!
From my first encounter with Oscar I could tell we were made of the same star stuff.
The portrayal of his anxiety touched something in me, it was something I hadn't known I'd been dying to read.
Kris Ripper always does an amazing job of touching on parts of the human nature that aren't always easy to digest. The bits that get a makeover before being shown to the public. Often times authors dull the edges, buff the corners and give it fresh coat of paint to make a character more palatable. To make them cute. Make them lovable. The result is often someone less real.
I found something in the portrayal of Oscar's anxiety that no book I've read had succeeded in conveying before. It was raw and ugly and unedited and it made me feel seen in ways I both can and can't explain.
All I can say is thank you.
April 27, 2021
Oscar is surrounded by a supportive circle of friends (The Motherfuckers) who know how to deal with his anxieties and even help him through some. He’s grumpy, not happy with himself, and looking at his own body isn’t helping either. A lot in his life is because of his anxiety. Oscar isn’t only his anxiety, depression, or meds, he’s a lot more. I think he doesn’t know but he’s so funny with his grumpiness. I think a lot of people can relate to him, stressing out in a car, being horrified by the company of other people, feeling incompetent and insecure. His home is a safe place.
There is a new friend, Jack, Oscar doesn’t like him. Jack is an ass.
They insult and snapping at each other and always arguing. It’s exhausting. To get the edge off they end up in bed, a one-time thing, right! Until there is another reason to do it again.
Jack sees him in a different way than Oscar sees himself. Jack loves to touch him, though Oscar hates to be touched.
“I wanted to hate him, but hearing my name in that I’m-just-about-to-come voice made it impossible.”
Oscar lost his job, mostly because of his anxieties.
For an exorbitant amount of money, Oscar will help clean out Jack’s grandparent’s house, where Jack grew up. His grandfather was a hoarder. There is a lot to clean and run through.
Oscar finds private papers and can’t help being interested in Jack’s life. Did I say interested? Nope, Jack is… irritating, rude, judgmental, has great hands, and looks delicious in a suit. It brings chaos to Oskar’s head.
– Don’t ask what happened. Don’t ask what happened.
Don’t ask what happened. “What happened?” –
Many wars and conflicts are racing through Oscar’s head, those were devastating and hurtful moments.
How dare Jack tells him he’s hot. How dare he! The f word presented itself a thousand times.
This is not a typical romance. But slowly there is some kind of consistency in their relationship, until there is not.
There are so many wonderful passages, It’s almost impossible to choose a quote.
I adored Oscar’s inner conversations, his view on his awkwardness, the honest, blunt, thoughts, about his body, his behavior, his changing feelings of Jack! The denial, the self-sabotage, the loathing, all heavy emotions!
I adored this story, it was amazing, don’t expect something super romantic, you will not find it, but there is a romance between them, in their own awkward way, their way, and that’s what really matters. Oskar was awkward, exhausting, and adorable, he has some amazing, nurturing friends.
The story is told from Oscar’s point of view, at times I was really curious what was going on in Jack’s head. I loved his personality and the way he was with Oskar. Let’s not forget Jack’s awesome grandmother Evelyn, what a wonderful personality!
Again, I adored this story, even though it was for me tiresome. The writing style was excellent, very entertaining, and consistent, the story felt in every way plausible.
Read and Reviewed for LoveBytes
There is a new friend, Jack, Oscar doesn’t like him. Jack is an ass.
They insult and snapping at each other and always arguing. It’s exhausting. To get the edge off they end up in bed, a one-time thing, right! Until there is another reason to do it again.
Jack sees him in a different way than Oscar sees himself. Jack loves to touch him, though Oscar hates to be touched.
“I wanted to hate him, but hearing my name in that I’m-just-about-to-come voice made it impossible.”
Oscar lost his job, mostly because of his anxieties.
For an exorbitant amount of money, Oscar will help clean out Jack’s grandparent’s house, where Jack grew up. His grandfather was a hoarder. There is a lot to clean and run through.
Oscar finds private papers and can’t help being interested in Jack’s life. Did I say interested? Nope, Jack is… irritating, rude, judgmental, has great hands, and looks delicious in a suit. It brings chaos to Oskar’s head.
– Don’t ask what happened. Don’t ask what happened.
Don’t ask what happened. “What happened?” –
Many wars and conflicts are racing through Oscar’s head, those were devastating and hurtful moments.
How dare Jack tells him he’s hot. How dare he! The f word presented itself a thousand times.
This is not a typical romance. But slowly there is some kind of consistency in their relationship, until there is not.
There are so many wonderful passages, It’s almost impossible to choose a quote.
I adored Oscar’s inner conversations, his view on his awkwardness, the honest, blunt, thoughts, about his body, his behavior, his changing feelings of Jack! The denial, the self-sabotage, the loathing, all heavy emotions!
I adored this story, it was amazing, don’t expect something super romantic, you will not find it, but there is a romance between them, in their own awkward way, their way, and that’s what really matters. Oskar was awkward, exhausting, and adorable, he has some amazing, nurturing friends.
The story is told from Oscar’s point of view, at times I was really curious what was going on in Jack’s head. I loved his personality and the way he was with Oskar. Let’s not forget Jack’s awesome grandmother Evelyn, what a wonderful personality!
Again, I adored this story, even though it was for me tiresome. The writing style was excellent, very entertaining, and consistent, the story felt in every way plausible.
Read and Reviewed for LoveBytes
May 9, 2023
To me, this M/M book is the perfect blend of romance, personal journey (for Oscar, the POV character, but also for Jack), and a kick-ass friend group that demonstrates the power of queer found family.
If you like your romance MCs grouchy, snarky, and arguing with each other even while they’re falling in love, you’re in for a treat with this one. (If you don’t, it’s not for you.) Oscar’s anxiety and depression are very real factors in his life and mindset for much of this story, but tbh I don’t think he would be a smiley ball of sunshine with those well-managed, and that’s okay.
(If you’ve read Ripper’s Gays of Our Lives, Oscar sometimes reminds me of Emerson in that way - a set of personality traits turned up to 11 by difficult circumstances, when the genuine crankiness setting is maybe a 6 but with more room for joy and hope. And he does start to get there. :)
I really loved it, and I'm excited for the next book in this series.
If you like your romance MCs grouchy, snarky, and arguing with each other even while they’re falling in love, you’re in for a treat with this one. (If you don’t, it’s not for you.) Oscar’s anxiety and depression are very real factors in his life and mindset for much of this story, but tbh I don’t think he would be a smiley ball of sunshine with those well-managed, and that’s okay.
(If you’ve read Ripper’s Gays of Our Lives, Oscar sometimes reminds me of Emerson in that way - a set of personality traits turned up to 11 by difficult circumstances, when the genuine crankiness setting is maybe a 6 but with more room for joy and hope. And he does start to get there. :)
I really loved it, and I'm excited for the next book in this series.
June 1, 2021
I've given this a B at AAR.
Kris Ripper’s The Hate Project is a warm, quirky and often very funny romance with a difference – a grumpy/grumpy pairing – and I enjoyed it a lot. It’s a well-written mixture of snarky and poignant, and I loved the idiosyncratic and uncompromising voice of PoV character Oscar, whose anxiety and depression are presented in a way that feels very authentic. But while the book is a romance and there is a strong HFN, the overall balance is a little skewed in favour of Oscar’s navigating through life changes and the idea of being in a relationship, so that Jack – his love interest – feels a little distant and is less easy to know.
We first met the group of friends who term themselves the Marginalised Motherfuckers in last year’s The Love Study. Declan, Mason, Oscar, and Ronnie and Mia (who are a married couple) have known each other since college, but now their number is gradually expanding. In The Love Study, commitment-phobe Declan met and fell in love with Sydney (the host of a popular You Tube advice show of the same name) so Sydney is now an honourary Motherfucker, as is Jack whom Dec met at work and decided to invite to join them, too. Jack and Oscar pretty much hated each other on sight and never miss a chance to snipe and snark and bicker, so much so that their friends – not-so-jokingly – tell them to get a room!
Nobody is more surprised than they are when one night – they do.
Oscar has lived with anxiety and depression all his life, but he’s dysfunctionally functional – most of the time. When he loses his job – even though he hated it – it throws him off an already delicate balance, the thought of having to apply for jobs and potentially interview filling him with dread. The MFs rally round, throwing him an impromptu lost-your-job party, understanding his need to just be around them rather than interact with them. Somehow, he and Jack end up leaving the party at the same time and then heading back to Jack’s place; the sex is hot and steamy and, strangely, fun… but things end awkwardly with Jack almost immediately leaping out of bed and hustling Oscar back out to the car. It’s not that Oscar is interested in anything other than sex anyway, but still… Rude.
A few days later, Oscar is still jobless and not doing so well with the lack of routine or the prospect of job-hunting when Ronnie tells him that Jack has to clear out his grandparents’ house and could do with some help. All the MFs rally round to lend a hand at the weekend, but It turns out that Jack’s late grandfather was a hoarder (something which Jack is obviously embarrassed about) and the house needs a LOT more clearing out than they can do in a day. As Oscar needs to earn money while he’s looking for another job and Jack needs help clearing out the house to get it ready to sell and is prepared to pay someone to do it… just like that Oscar has a job. (And the possibility of turning their one-off into a more regular frenemies-with-benefits situation. Win.)
Oscar has good days and not-so-good days, but he finds himself kind of enjoying the work, and even taking pride in it, thoughtfully organising family papers and going above and beyond in many small ways. More than that though, it becomes impossible for him to continue to see Jack as simply the brusque, argumentative dickhead he’s always seen him as; going through the contents of the house Jack grew up in, Oscar can’t remain completely detached as he starts to learn more about him and understand him a little.
While Jack is less well-defined than Oscar, the author does a decent job of presenting him to the reader through Oscar’s eyes. He’s prickly and blunt and sometimes downright rude – but there’s a real sense that it’s a cover for what’s really underneath. It’s clear that he has a lot of emotional baggage associated with the house, stuff Oscar doesn’t know about (none of the MFs do), which brings home to Oscar just how little any of them know about Jack. The introduction of Jack’s feisty, no-nonsense grandmother to the mix serves to shed some more light on Jack’s past and on the guy he really is beneath his armour of sarcasm; he obviously adores Evelyn but is determined not to show it. Evelyn’s immediate inclusion of Oscar into their family group throws Oscar off balance slightly, but he soon finds himself enjoying her company – and being with Jack outside the bedroom, seeing another, slightly less jerkish side of him… well, that isn’t so bad either.
The days and weeks pass, and although neither had intended it, Oscar and Jack end up spending time together hanging out at the end of the day, eating together – and sometimes with Evelyn – and Oscar comes to realise, horror of horrors, that he might… actually… like Jack. And that isn’t something he bargained for or ever wanted.
There’s a lot to like about The Hate Project. Oscar is a terrific character with a very distinctive voice, and I really appreciated that the author doesn’t shy away from showing all the complications and contradictions that go along with severe anxiety and how hard Oscar has to fight some days just to open his eyes in the morning. I enjoyed his inner dialogue – which, admittedly, does meander a bit too much at times – and the self-awareness and raw honesty that show us so clearly how he sees himself. I also loved the way that his friends offer him such unwavering and unconditional support, how they respect his needs and wishes but are prepared to provide tough love if needed.
But because Oscar is such a brilliantly written, vividly realised character, his voice dominates the novel to such an extent that the romance feels unbalanced. I appreciated that, even when Jack isn’t present physically, he’s never far from Oscar’s thoughts, but he is nonetheless a little overshadowed by Oscar, and his issues – dating back to childhood – are strongly hinted at but never addressed in depth.
Despite that however, The Hate Project hooked me in from the first paragraph and kept me there until the last. The terrific banter, Oscar’s dark sense of humour, the diversity of the cast and the author’s frank and unsentimental treatment of mental health issues might not add up to a perfect read, but it’s well worth checking out if you’re looking for something a bit different to the norm.
Kris Ripper’s The Hate Project is a warm, quirky and often very funny romance with a difference – a grumpy/grumpy pairing – and I enjoyed it a lot. It’s a well-written mixture of snarky and poignant, and I loved the idiosyncratic and uncompromising voice of PoV character Oscar, whose anxiety and depression are presented in a way that feels very authentic. But while the book is a romance and there is a strong HFN, the overall balance is a little skewed in favour of Oscar’s navigating through life changes and the idea of being in a relationship, so that Jack – his love interest – feels a little distant and is less easy to know.
We first met the group of friends who term themselves the Marginalised Motherfuckers in last year’s The Love Study. Declan, Mason, Oscar, and Ronnie and Mia (who are a married couple) have known each other since college, but now their number is gradually expanding. In The Love Study, commitment-phobe Declan met and fell in love with Sydney (the host of a popular You Tube advice show of the same name) so Sydney is now an honourary Motherfucker, as is Jack whom Dec met at work and decided to invite to join them, too. Jack and Oscar pretty much hated each other on sight and never miss a chance to snipe and snark and bicker, so much so that their friends – not-so-jokingly – tell them to get a room!
Nobody is more surprised than they are when one night – they do.
Oscar has lived with anxiety and depression all his life, but he’s dysfunctionally functional – most of the time. When he loses his job – even though he hated it – it throws him off an already delicate balance, the thought of having to apply for jobs and potentially interview filling him with dread. The MFs rally round, throwing him an impromptu lost-your-job party, understanding his need to just be around them rather than interact with them. Somehow, he and Jack end up leaving the party at the same time and then heading back to Jack’s place; the sex is hot and steamy and, strangely, fun… but things end awkwardly with Jack almost immediately leaping out of bed and hustling Oscar back out to the car. It’s not that Oscar is interested in anything other than sex anyway, but still… Rude.
A few days later, Oscar is still jobless and not doing so well with the lack of routine or the prospect of job-hunting when Ronnie tells him that Jack has to clear out his grandparents’ house and could do with some help. All the MFs rally round to lend a hand at the weekend, but It turns out that Jack’s late grandfather was a hoarder (something which Jack is obviously embarrassed about) and the house needs a LOT more clearing out than they can do in a day. As Oscar needs to earn money while he’s looking for another job and Jack needs help clearing out the house to get it ready to sell and is prepared to pay someone to do it… just like that Oscar has a job. (And the possibility of turning their one-off into a more regular frenemies-with-benefits situation. Win.)
Oscar has good days and not-so-good days, but he finds himself kind of enjoying the work, and even taking pride in it, thoughtfully organising family papers and going above and beyond in many small ways. More than that though, it becomes impossible for him to continue to see Jack as simply the brusque, argumentative dickhead he’s always seen him as; going through the contents of the house Jack grew up in, Oscar can’t remain completely detached as he starts to learn more about him and understand him a little.
While Jack is less well-defined than Oscar, the author does a decent job of presenting him to the reader through Oscar’s eyes. He’s prickly and blunt and sometimes downright rude – but there’s a real sense that it’s a cover for what’s really underneath. It’s clear that he has a lot of emotional baggage associated with the house, stuff Oscar doesn’t know about (none of the MFs do), which brings home to Oscar just how little any of them know about Jack. The introduction of Jack’s feisty, no-nonsense grandmother to the mix serves to shed some more light on Jack’s past and on the guy he really is beneath his armour of sarcasm; he obviously adores Evelyn but is determined not to show it. Evelyn’s immediate inclusion of Oscar into their family group throws Oscar off balance slightly, but he soon finds himself enjoying her company – and being with Jack outside the bedroom, seeing another, slightly less jerkish side of him… well, that isn’t so bad either.
The days and weeks pass, and although neither had intended it, Oscar and Jack end up spending time together hanging out at the end of the day, eating together – and sometimes with Evelyn – and Oscar comes to realise, horror of horrors, that he might… actually… like Jack. And that isn’t something he bargained for or ever wanted.
There’s a lot to like about The Hate Project. Oscar is a terrific character with a very distinctive voice, and I really appreciated that the author doesn’t shy away from showing all the complications and contradictions that go along with severe anxiety and how hard Oscar has to fight some days just to open his eyes in the morning. I enjoyed his inner dialogue – which, admittedly, does meander a bit too much at times – and the self-awareness and raw honesty that show us so clearly how he sees himself. I also loved the way that his friends offer him such unwavering and unconditional support, how they respect his needs and wishes but are prepared to provide tough love if needed.
But because Oscar is such a brilliantly written, vividly realised character, his voice dominates the novel to such an extent that the romance feels unbalanced. I appreciated that, even when Jack isn’t present physically, he’s never far from Oscar’s thoughts, but he is nonetheless a little overshadowed by Oscar, and his issues – dating back to childhood – are strongly hinted at but never addressed in depth.
Despite that however, The Hate Project hooked me in from the first paragraph and kept me there until the last. The terrific banter, Oscar’s dark sense of humour, the diversity of the cast and the author’s frank and unsentimental treatment of mental health issues might not add up to a perfect read, but it’s well worth checking out if you’re looking for something a bit different to the norm.
September 29, 2024
This was solid, well done, and I enjoyed it, just not as much as Book Boyfriend
The voice, and Ripper's writing are great. Less great... I'm not sure if this is really a negative or a positive, but I felt kind of... adrift? in the sense I had no real feel for where I was in the story. Around the 50-something percent mark I noticed the percentage and was like eh? is that all?
I was perhaps mildly dissatisfied that It just seemed like that had been setup to be something and there was no payoff. The whole cleaning thing felt like it should have led to some sort of payoff, some insight into Jack. But we don't really ever get much knowledge of Jack, which... ok. That's not 100% mandatory, but the book seemed to lack in any kind of setup/payoff structure entirely.
And then at the end the relationship seemed to accelerate way too quickly.
Also how the hell did Oscar afford a solo apartment in wherever the hell this is set (NY? CA? I have no clue, but it seems like one of those) with those jobs?
The voice, and Ripper's writing are great. Less great... I'm not sure if this is really a negative or a positive, but I felt kind of... adrift? in the sense I had no real feel for where I was in the story. Around the 50-something percent mark I noticed the percentage and was like eh? is that all?
I was perhaps mildly dissatisfied that It just seemed like that had been setup to be something and there was no payoff. The whole cleaning thing felt like it should have led to some sort of payoff, some insight into Jack. But we don't really ever get much knowledge of Jack, which... ok. That's not 100% mandatory, but the book seemed to lack in any kind of setup/payoff structure entirely.
And then at the end the relationship seemed to accelerate way too quickly.
Also how the hell did Oscar afford a solo apartment in wherever the hell this is set (NY? CA? I have no clue, but it seems like one of those) with those jobs?
March 10, 2021
This book is going to be perfect for people who love the grumpy x grumpy dynamic, two people who fight all the time but still they're cute together.
I've been really looking forward to this book as I loved The Love Study so much and I loved Oscar, I thought he had a lot of potential as a main character. And I did love Oscar, and I mostly enjoyed this book too. Not as much as The Love Study, which was a 5 star read for me, but still, I definitely did enjoy it.
What I loved most about this book is how Oscar's anxiety is represented in an unpalatable way. He's grumpy, he acts out, he fights with people. His anxiety actually impacts the way he's functioning. This felt very refreshing to read!
I'm convinced Oscar is somewhere on the aromantic spectrum, by the way. There's just something about the way his relationship with Jack that felt distinctly aro to me (I'm aro myself, for the record). It's not canon or anything and it might not have been meant like this/everyone might not agree with me, but that's what I took from the book!
I want to finish this review with a warning, because Oscar does deal with a lot of body image issues and internalized fatphobia. He's generally self aware about it and I think this is something a lot of people struggle with and it deserves to be discussed in books, but please be careful if this might be difficult for you to read.
I've been really looking forward to this book as I loved The Love Study so much and I loved Oscar, I thought he had a lot of potential as a main character. And I did love Oscar, and I mostly enjoyed this book too. Not as much as The Love Study, which was a 5 star read for me, but still, I definitely did enjoy it.
What I loved most about this book is how Oscar's anxiety is represented in an unpalatable way. He's grumpy, he acts out, he fights with people. His anxiety actually impacts the way he's functioning. This felt very refreshing to read!
I'm convinced Oscar is somewhere on the aromantic spectrum, by the way. There's just something about the way his relationship with Jack that felt distinctly aro to me (I'm aro myself, for the record). It's not canon or anything and it might not have been meant like this/everyone might not agree with me, but that's what I took from the book!
I want to finish this review with a warning, because Oscar does deal with a lot of body image issues and internalized fatphobia. He's generally self aware about it and I think this is something a lot of people struggle with and it deserves to be discussed in books, but please be careful if this might be difficult for you to read.
May 9, 2021
He thinks he knows everything, I definitely know everything, and even though for the most part we would arrive at the same point from different angles, we spent most of our fights poking at each other’s angles to prove they were incorrect.
This was so so much fun! A really witty, bantery, emotionally real and tonally perfect enemies to lovers romance.
Though enemies to lovers isn't the best way to describe it; they aren't ENEMIES. Hate to love? Bickering to love? Fuckbuddies to love? Oscar and Jack are part of the same friend group, Jack having been roped in at some point during the course of the last book, and unlike the rest of their friends, they're both pretty grouchy and pessimistic and bitchy. Put together, they're combative, messy, and will bicker about pretty much anything. They end up having no-strings-attached sex at the beginning of the book, and when Oscar loses his job, Jack offers him one, helping clear out his grandparents' house in preparation for a sale.
I don't always have success with hate to love, because a lot of excessive arguing and animosity can just get really exhausting to me, and it's really not fun to read. I think the reason why this worked so well for me is that Oscar and Jack never really hated each other. There was sniping and bickering galore, but it never really got mean or cruel, and from the beginning, their chemistry was so strong, and the potential for a relationship was really obvious to the reader, even if not to the characters. I never thought that it got to be too much, because the underlying attraction was so good. All of their interactions and snarking at each other were light and funny, and their synergy was amazing.
There's really great anxiety and depression rep in this. I really loved the note at the beginning that notifies the readers that Oscar still has his anxiety issues at the end of the book, and that's okay, because having anxiety and experiencing depression doesn't bar you from having a happily ever after. I recognised myself and a lot of my coping mechanisms in Oscar, and I loved the frank ways the author talked about dealing with meds, the social aspects of anxiety (that crop up even with close friends), and some of the misunderstandings that can crop up. The conflict in this book was kind of frustrating, but totally understandable in the circumstances. The book doesn't pull punches when it comes to describing Oscar's conditions, but it never becomes hopeless.
I also really liked the tone and the writing. It was light and humorous, and still deftly handled all of the tougher subjects with skill and care. I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Love Study, but I did think it read a little young in terms of the attitudes and behaviours of some of the characters, even though they're in their late twenties for the most part. This, thankfully, didn't have that problem. It's funny, but not immature. I also appreciated the fat rep, and representations of different types of anxiety, and the diversity of the friend group, and all the themes that were explored through cleaning out a house that belonged to a hoarder; something that wasn't treated with derision at all, which I was thankful for.
All in all this was a really solid romance that I enjoyed a lot, and I'm more and more becoming a fan of Ripper's writing. <3
Content warnings: .
☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
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July 8, 2025Original 2021 review:
3.5 stars (rounded up)
Kris Ripper writes self-aware characters who are flawed and real and constantly making mistakes while still trying to be better at the whole life/human being thing in a way that just really works for me.
Zir found families work well for me, too. Usually this type of group would feel too quirky to seem real, but here they just feel like people who know each other really well, flaws and all, who don't ignore the flaws, and sometimes argue quite heatedly about said flaws, but continue to support each other anyway. Her first book in this series was one of my favorite reads last year, and I love how ze made this same group of friends feel very different when viewed from a different character's perspective.
I did *not* think Oscar the grouch was going to work for me, but I was so, so wrong! I was very quickly all in on everything this book was doing.
And holy shit, the realism of those sex scenes was a revelation!!! I loved everything about them. I read a lot of romance, and the repetitive, manufactured, too picture-perfect formula of them often pulls me out of the story at the worst times. I don't know how ze managed to make clunky, fumbling, bumbling, awkward sex hot as hell, but ze definitely did.
There's about 20% in the middle of this that got a little draggy. Oscar is in a bit of a spiral, and while the portrayal of the circular thought patterns and abject frustration of knowing what you *should* be doing to get yourself out of this spiral without actually being able to get yourself to DO IT was done so well, I didn't necessarily want to experience so very much of it with him.
I was so relieved when he pulled out of that tailspin because it was starting to pull me down a little, too. The end of the book lost some of the magic for me, but not in a way that I have any real complaints about. (Although that is where it lost that half star.)
I'm not sure how much of that was due to the incredibly realistic and therefore frustrating-to-experience funk Oscar was in leading up to it, and how much of it was because Jack has drawn back into his shell after the events that led to the spiral, so he's just beginning to creep back out and show us his real personality again when it ends. (This is written as a single POV, so we're only experiencing Jack from Oscar's perspective.)
The epilogue was awesome, so I think I just wish we'd gotten a little more of Jack being more open again before the end.
I still loved these two, and now I'm super excited for Book 3 next month. Mason and polyamorous romances aren't even things that I necessarily find appealing at the moment, but this reminded me why Kris Ripper is on my list of favorite authors. This series is really working for me right now, and I will go wherever ze wants to take it.
(Also, I don't think you'd need to read the first book of the series to enjoy this one. The prominent characters are all fully drawn as if this was a standalone, and it's the opposite set from the characters who were more prominent in Book 1. There were maybe a handful of sentences that I got more enjoyment out of from knowing Sidney and Declan's relationship story.)
**This book was provided for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley**
3.5 stars (rounded up)
Kris Ripper writes self-aware characters who are flawed and real and constantly making mistakes while still trying to be better at the whole life/human being thing in a way that just really works for me.
Zir found families work well for me, too. Usually this type of group would feel too quirky to seem real, but here they just feel like people who know each other really well, flaws and all, who don't ignore the flaws, and sometimes argue quite heatedly about said flaws, but continue to support each other anyway. Her first book in this series was one of my favorite reads last year, and I love how ze made this same group of friends feel very different when viewed from a different character's perspective.
I did *not* think Oscar the grouch was going to work for me, but I was so, so wrong! I was very quickly all in on everything this book was doing.
And holy shit, the realism of those sex scenes was a revelation!!! I loved everything about them. I read a lot of romance, and the repetitive, manufactured, too picture-perfect formula of them often pulls me out of the story at the worst times. I don't know how ze managed to make clunky, fumbling, bumbling, awkward sex hot as hell, but ze definitely did.
There's about 20% in the middle of this that got a little draggy. Oscar is in a bit of a spiral, and while the portrayal of the circular thought patterns and abject frustration of knowing what you *should* be doing to get yourself out of this spiral without actually being able to get yourself to DO IT was done so well, I didn't necessarily want to experience so very much of it with him.
I was so relieved when he pulled out of that tailspin because it was starting to pull me down a little, too. The end of the book lost some of the magic for me, but not in a way that I have any real complaints about. (Although that is where it lost that half star.)
I'm not sure how much of that was due to the incredibly realistic and therefore frustrating-to-experience funk Oscar was in leading up to it, and how much of it was because Jack has drawn back into his shell after the events that led to the spiral, so he's just beginning to creep back out and show us his real personality again when it ends. (This is written as a single POV, so we're only experiencing Jack from Oscar's perspective.)
The epilogue was awesome, so I think I just wish we'd gotten a little more of Jack being more open again before the end.
I still loved these two, and now I'm super excited for Book 3 next month. Mason and polyamorous romances aren't even things that I necessarily find appealing at the moment, but this reminded me why Kris Ripper is on my list of favorite authors. This series is really working for me right now, and I will go wherever ze wants to take it.
(Also, I don't think you'd need to read the first book of the series to enjoy this one. The prominent characters are all fully drawn as if this was a standalone, and it's the opposite set from the characters who were more prominent in Book 1. There were maybe a handful of sentences that I got more enjoyment out of from knowing Sidney and Declan's relationship story.)
**This book was provided for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley**
May 17, 2024
I skimmed a bit of this but ended up enjoying it. Kris Ripper has really cornered the market on contemporary romance about extremely normal, specific people in a certain echelon (?) of the US. (Was going to say “in California” but Book Boyfriend was set in NYC, throwing off my plans for generalization.) Like just enough cultural/social references (eg Obamacare) to fix the time period, but not too much contemporary detail cluttering up the story.
I had sort of been avoiding this particular set of books because I read the Amazon preview for The Love Study and wasn’t feeling it, but now I kind of want to read something else in the set - the next one maybe? - just to see what the friend group vibe is like from another character’s perspective.
Yeah, Oscar was a pill! Was impressed that this book works even though he seems like someone who it would really suck to be around. You kind of have to assume that he offers more than he thinks he does and that’s why all these people are still friends with him - I guess that’s the whole deal with this book tho.
Sort of rambling now but I guess I’ll close it out by saying that Kris Ripper writes great character-specific sexual/romantic chemistry and this book is not an exception. What a skill!
I had sort of been avoiding this particular set of books because I read the Amazon preview for The Love Study and wasn’t feeling it, but now I kind of want to read something else in the set - the next one maybe? - just to see what the friend group vibe is like from another character’s perspective.
Yeah, Oscar was a pill! Was impressed that this book works even though he seems like someone who it would really suck to be around. You kind of have to assume that he offers more than he thinks he does and that’s why all these people are still friends with him - I guess that’s the whole deal with this book tho.
Sort of rambling now but I guess I’ll close it out by saying that Kris Ripper writes great character-specific sexual/romantic chemistry and this book is not an exception. What a skill!
April 18, 2021
I have received an ARC of this book by NetGalley, and Carina Adores and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review. The Pub date of the book is April 27th. This review will be posted on my Goodreads, Facebook page and Instagram.
It is difficult to evaluate this book, since I am not sure how to describe it. But I will try.
The perspective is all on Oscar's side and he is a peculiar character, with mental health problems and some difficulties in ordinary day-to-day life and in relationships with friends and boyfriends. I will not use this as an excuse to say that it was my favorite, since he was not. I was unable to connect very directly with him. I know how his difficulties can be, since I have some mental problems that I recognized, but even so, there was a small space that did not allow me the connection with him. I think that was also due to excess of Oscar. In my opinion there could be a break for we to know Jack’s point of view since we only know him through the eyes of Oscar and what we see through Oscar. I felt that I needed more information about Jack's life and personality, feelings, and thoughts. I liked him a little more than Oscar, honestly.
The story itself is well accomplished, but I felt it could have been better. It was difficult to deal with their situation as a couple, given that they were always arguing and that in Oscar's perspective, it was always Jack's fault, when in reality…it was not. It was not sacrilegious read the book, but I would like to have enjoyed reading a lot more, mainly with such important themes as mental health, gender, identity ...
It was not the best for me, but it can certainly be for other people. Maybe it was me who did not get the necessary connection with the characters.
It is difficult to evaluate this book, since I am not sure how to describe it. But I will try.
The perspective is all on Oscar's side and he is a peculiar character, with mental health problems and some difficulties in ordinary day-to-day life and in relationships with friends and boyfriends. I will not use this as an excuse to say that it was my favorite, since he was not. I was unable to connect very directly with him. I know how his difficulties can be, since I have some mental problems that I recognized, but even so, there was a small space that did not allow me the connection with him. I think that was also due to excess of Oscar. In my opinion there could be a break for we to know Jack’s point of view since we only know him through the eyes of Oscar and what we see through Oscar. I felt that I needed more information about Jack's life and personality, feelings, and thoughts. I liked him a little more than Oscar, honestly.
The story itself is well accomplished, but I felt it could have been better. It was difficult to deal with their situation as a couple, given that they were always arguing and that in Oscar's perspective, it was always Jack's fault, when in reality…it was not. It was not sacrilegious read the book, but I would like to have enjoyed reading a lot more, mainly with such important themes as mental health, gender, identity ...
It was not the best for me, but it can certainly be for other people. Maybe it was me who did not get the necessary connection with the characters.
April 26, 2021
I think this is one of those "It's not you, it's me," situations and/or not the right Ripper title to start with and/or you should probably read the first book in this series to understand and empathize with a few of the quirkier characters in this tiny Marginalized Motherfuckers universe. Unfortunately, Ripper is new-to-me; I didn't read the first book; and I didn't really get why only one of these characters ever got fed up with Oscar.
Okay, okay, slow your roll! I get that Oscar struggles with anxiety and panic attacks and it leads him to self-sabotage events and experiences in his life. I GET THAT. I sympathize with how that must make even the tiniest, most insignificant experiences bigger and worser (!) then they would otherwise be. I get that sometimes even the best coping strategies fail. I can't relate, but I can listen and try to understand.
However.
I don't want to read a romance novel wherein I want to shout at one of the principal characters after every single event or experience.
I found The Hate Project exhausting. I was frequently frustrated with Oscar, who's painful POV carries the story, and I could not understand his relationship with Jack. They aren't nice to each other MOST of the time, their antagonistic "conversations," simply made me wonder what exactly they found appealing about each other (aside from the casual, AMAZING blowjobs and Oscar's appearance), and if Oscar wanted a best friend, why couldn't he just be friends with the grandmother and keep Jack in his Motherfucker's posse? I barely know anything about Jack from the start of this story to the end, and even with the teases about his marriage and divorce, and close-knit relationship to his grandparents, we barely scratch the surface of who he is. I couldn't really figure out why he ended up in that group anyway?
And then there's the Motherfuckers. Look, I have a potty mouth, too. But referring to your group of friends as Motherfuckers is bizarre, AND felt like an inside joke from the first book which I never read so that was annoying.
So. This was a fail for me. But maybe not for you.
Okay, okay, slow your roll! I get that Oscar struggles with anxiety and panic attacks and it leads him to self-sabotage events and experiences in his life. I GET THAT. I sympathize with how that must make even the tiniest, most insignificant experiences bigger and worser (!) then they would otherwise be. I get that sometimes even the best coping strategies fail. I can't relate, but I can listen and try to understand.
However.
I don't want to read a romance novel wherein I want to shout at one of the principal characters after every single event or experience.
I found The Hate Project exhausting. I was frequently frustrated with Oscar, who's painful POV carries the story, and I could not understand his relationship with Jack. They aren't nice to each other MOST of the time, their antagonistic "conversations," simply made me wonder what exactly they found appealing about each other (aside from the casual, AMAZING blowjobs and Oscar's appearance), and if Oscar wanted a best friend, why couldn't he just be friends with the grandmother and keep Jack in his Motherfucker's posse? I barely know anything about Jack from the start of this story to the end, and even with the teases about his marriage and divorce, and close-knit relationship to his grandparents, we barely scratch the surface of who he is. I couldn't really figure out why he ended up in that group anyway?
And then there's the Motherfuckers. Look, I have a potty mouth, too. But referring to your group of friends as Motherfuckers is bizarre, AND felt like an inside joke from the first book which I never read so that was annoying.
So. This was a fail for me. But maybe not for you.
March 21, 2021
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
I'm conflicted as I attempt to write this review. Part of me doesn't even want to rate it but since it's a review copy I'll try to voice my thoughts. From the synopsis I went in expected two grouchy personalities and a hate to love situation. For the most part that's what I got from it, but I'm not sure if I fully enjoyed the experience. {{head scratch}}
Let's talk characters, I'll start with Oscar because the whole book is from his point of view which single POV is always a huge missed opportunity in my opinon. Oscar is on the heavy side, battling depression, very little comfort in his own skin and his life is completely control by his anxiety. He has a lot of rambly internal dialogue which at first I didn't mind at all because I could relate very much to most of his train of thought because of my own struggles with anxiety. All his mental struggles made him into the stand-offish and sort of rude person he behaved as, therefore I found it unfair to call him "a grouch". Around halfway through the rambling became exhausting which I think if it had been broken up by Jack's POV that may have not been an issue.
Now onto Jack, who I don't have much to say about because we never got into his head and spent so much time in Oscars struggles that he sort of just existed within the story to me. Jack could have been any closed off or prickly bastard and it wouldn't have made a difference to me. Now together Oscar and Jack were just constantly arguing even before during and after intimacy. In my opinion it wasn't in a "hate sex , wow that's hot" kind of way. Oscar lashed out because of his anxiety and fears while Jack slashed out because he was an a**hole .
By the end of the story I was just ready for it to be over. I gave up expecting any sort of cute moments between the two. Even the end when they "make up" it was filled with harsh language and bluntness. Sadly I don't think I'll be reading any more by this other.
I'm conflicted as I attempt to write this review. Part of me doesn't even want to rate it but since it's a review copy I'll try to voice my thoughts. From the synopsis I went in expected two grouchy personalities and a hate to love situation. For the most part that's what I got from it, but I'm not sure if I fully enjoyed the experience. {{head scratch}}
Let's talk characters, I'll start with Oscar because the whole book is from his point of view which single POV is always a huge missed opportunity in my opinon. Oscar is on the heavy side, battling depression, very little comfort in his own skin and his life is completely control by his anxiety. He has a lot of rambly internal dialogue which at first I didn't mind at all because I could relate very much to most of his train of thought because of my own struggles with anxiety. All his mental struggles made him into the stand-offish and sort of rude person he behaved as, therefore I found it unfair to call him "a grouch". Around halfway through the rambling became exhausting which I think if it had been broken up by Jack's POV that may have not been an issue.
Now onto Jack, who I don't have much to say about because we never got into his head and spent so much time in Oscars struggles that he sort of just existed within the story to me. Jack could have been any closed off or prickly bastard and it wouldn't have made a difference to me. Now together Oscar and Jack were just constantly arguing even before during and after intimacy. In my opinion it wasn't in a "hate sex , wow that's hot" kind of way. Oscar lashed out because of his anxiety and fears while Jack slashed out because he was an a**hole .
By the end of the story I was just ready for it to be over. I gave up expecting any sort of cute moments between the two. Even the end when they "make up" it was filled with harsh language and bluntness. Sadly I don't think I'll be reading any more by this other.
July 25, 2025
Less compelling than "Settle the Score" but relatable. I liked the complexity of the characters and especially the depicting of depression and anxiety were good without making it a crippling disorder disabling an independant life. What bothers me, after devouring the novel in one go, is that the main characters were kind of dull people. The narration was very good.
Edit about my second read: I could not take yet another paragraph about hoarding. Did not finish.
Edit about my second read: I could not take yet another paragraph about hoarding. Did not finish.
January 12, 2022
Kris Ripper (ze/zir Pronouns) gives us a great Romance Read that perfectly captures what many of us are now feeling in the past year/current year.
Oscar has anxiety, which he is trying to control and find work.
Jack is trying to clean out his grandmother, Evelyn's house, and is desperate for a cleaner.
Oscar and Jack reach an agreement: I'll pay you if you help clear out the house and we can also have non-committal sex.
DEAL!
The house, Evelyn, Jack's cocky demeanor and Oscar's over-thinking mind, combined with their friends' circle of support may be what these two need.
Ripper does a fantastic job of diving into Oscar's mind so that readers may get a glimpse into how someone with anxiety handles situations, jobs, calling/phones, friends/social settings, organization and relationships. We also get to see how Oscar's friend-circle each provides their own method of communication with Oscar.
Spice level-About a 5 (Ze doesn't hold back when its there and its there more than most romances, but not always so descriptive, which works with the story)
Romance Level-About a 7 (But this is NOT a typical romance in how it is finished)
Character Development-About a 9
Pacing Speed-About an 8
I also didn't realize that this was Book 2 of a the universe/social circle that the book takes place in and I may go back and read the first one and definitely want to read the finale.
Oscar has anxiety, which he is trying to control and find work.
Jack is trying to clean out his grandmother, Evelyn's house, and is desperate for a cleaner.
Oscar and Jack reach an agreement: I'll pay you if you help clear out the house and we can also have non-committal sex.
DEAL!
The house, Evelyn, Jack's cocky demeanor and Oscar's over-thinking mind, combined with their friends' circle of support may be what these two need.
Ripper does a fantastic job of diving into Oscar's mind so that readers may get a glimpse into how someone with anxiety handles situations, jobs, calling/phones, friends/social settings, organization and relationships. We also get to see how Oscar's friend-circle each provides their own method of communication with Oscar.
Spice level-About a 5 (Ze doesn't hold back when its there and its there more than most romances, but not always so descriptive, which works with the story)
Romance Level-About a 7 (But this is NOT a typical romance in how it is finished)
Character Development-About a 9
Pacing Speed-About an 8
I also didn't realize that this was Book 2 of a the universe/social circle that the book takes place in and I may go back and read the first one and definitely want to read the finale.
July 26, 2024
4.5? B+/ A- I really enjoyed this mm contemp romance that starts with two grumpy acquaintances having pity sex, becoming frenemies with benefits and then developing inconvenient emotions.
I think your enjoyment of this book will depend on how well you can handle being in the head of our narrator Oscar - an anxious, depressed underachieving 29 year old. The description of his anxiety felt very real - different than my experience but believable and overwhelming.
Read the sample.
I also thought that the romance was under-developed, mostly because this is told only from Oscar's point of view. But I enjoyed reading about Oscar and his found family of queer friends so much that I didn't mind. I liked it better than the first book in the series, mostly because I found Oscar's morose POV much, much less grating than Dec's aggressively clever POV in book 1. Even though it probably wasn't a great idea for me to read this book while I am also dealing with unemployment and serious anxiety - it hit a little too close to home at times.
I think your enjoyment of this book will depend on how well you can handle being in the head of our narrator Oscar - an anxious, depressed underachieving 29 year old. The description of his anxiety felt very real - different than my experience but believable and overwhelming.
Read the sample.
I also thought that the romance was under-developed, mostly because this is told only from Oscar's point of view. But I enjoyed reading about Oscar and his found family of queer friends so much that I didn't mind. I liked it better than the first book in the series, mostly because I found Oscar's morose POV much, much less grating than Dec's aggressively clever POV in book 1. Even though it probably wasn't a great idea for me to read this book while I am also dealing with unemployment and serious anxiety - it hit a little too close to home at times.
Read
May 14, 2021So I think the people who read this book will fall into two camps: those who will be so frustrated with Oscar (one of the MCs & the narrator) to the point that they'll probably DNF; and those who will be be nodding their head in cringing recognition at Oscar's self-destructive behavior. I fall into the latter camp. I have read romances that deal with mental illness before (including the excellent first book in this series) but this was on a whole other level. Very, VERY true to life. Including the part about cleaning out your relatives' house. Hoo boy. Given all the obstacles Oscar and Jack have to overcome, their HFN was very satisfying. I love these two. Highly recommended.
May 30, 2021
*I received a free copy of The Hate Project. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*
I had no idea what this book was about when I clicked on it - but it was definitely my kind of book. Oscar, Jack, and all their friends were the kind of family that everyone should have. Oscar with his anxiety, but definitely some tools to deal with things, at least most of the time, is the protagonist. And Jack is the object of his... hate? attraction? love? friendship? it could go either way.
I had no idea what this book was about when I clicked on it - but it was definitely my kind of book. Oscar, Jack, and all their friends were the kind of family that everyone should have. Oscar with his anxiety, but definitely some tools to deal with things, at least most of the time, is the protagonist. And Jack is the object of his... hate? attraction? love? friendship? it could go either way.
June 16, 2025
uhfhjdjdj this was so good. i looooooved their dynamic like sooooo much. i was gonna say i’ve never read anything like it, but i realized just now that some of my favorite pairings actually have similar banter/teasing meanness. but it still felt very original and so so fun. i also really loved the house organizing stuff!!! that was a cool plot device. and the grandma, omg evelyn i love you. great continuation of the characters, interesting to see them from a different pov. oscar’s mental health stuff was A Lot but it was really well written. loved jack, missed him during the part of the book he wasn’t in. overall a fabulous read!
May 24, 2022
This book was off to a rocky start for me, but I decided to stick with it. I'm glad I did. It was endearing to see that Oscar had created a family for himself and I enjoyed watching him realize that no matter how grumpy or grouchy he was, they would stick with him because they cared.
May 23, 2022
3.5 stars
i loved the anxiety rep in this so much but i would've liked the story more if we got jack's pov too
i loved the anxiety rep in this so much but i would've liked the story more if we got jack's pov too
April 27, 2021
4.5 stars - 4 for the story, 5 for the narration.
When I saw that Gomez Pugh was narrating this, I pounced immediately because I knew he'd be absolutely perfect for Oscar - and I wasn't wrong.
When I saw that Gomez Pugh was narrating this, I pounced immediately because I knew he'd be absolutely perfect for Oscar - and I wasn't wrong.
March 29, 2023
Reread March 2023 rating upgraded to 5 stars
I don’t know why, but this book just REALLY worked for me this time. I don’t know if it’s because I could relate with Oscar in some aspects of his anxiety, or if I’m just in a different headspace, idk? I really liked this one on this read.
Something else I really liked, and I think it’s something that I’m seeing from authors who write all sorts of romances, is that sex doesn’t have to be penetrative to be sex. Or, I guess blowjobs are penetrative… but I really appreciate that in this book sex is getting off with another person, whatever that may look like.
Also, I’ve recently joined Ripper’s Patreon and there was a fantastic little Jack/Oscar story that takes place 2 years after the book, and it is kind of perfect. Tentacles, baby!🐙
_____
3.5 stars
Of the three books in the series, I liked this one the least, though I still liked it! I think the reason I didn't like it as much was because the characters, Oscar and Jack, aren't as likeable as the characters in the other two books, except that's the whole point. They are both assholes. They are constantly fighting and are snarky with each other, and it is THE BEST. Like, they are even snarky and low-key mean when they're having sex, which I feel like shouldn't work, except that it totally does.
Despite all the snarky fighting, I really liked that the sex didn't come across as hate sex, which I don't think it was at all, but I could see how it could have easily gone there. That is something that I just don't understand, so I'm glad that's not what happened.
I also really liked how Jack was understanding of Oscar's anxiety. He was quite blunt about it, just asking what he needed to know, and I liked that, that he wasn't tiptoeing around or being weird, it's just a part of Oscar that he's getting to know.
I also LOVED the author's note at the very beginning, where it mentions that the book contains depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, that it's not a quirky plot point, it's just how the character is and that he still has anxiety at the end of the book and that anxiety and depression can totally be part of a HEA. I think that somewhat relates to what I said above; Jack just takes Oscar as he is, with his anxiety, he doesn't try to fix it or anything, and at the same time Jack isn't portrayed as being a "cure" to Oscar's anxiety. Ugh, just give me all that realistic mental health rep, please!
I don’t know why, but this book just REALLY worked for me this time. I don’t know if it’s because I could relate with Oscar in some aspects of his anxiety, or if I’m just in a different headspace, idk? I really liked this one on this read.
Something else I really liked, and I think it’s something that I’m seeing from authors who write all sorts of romances, is that sex doesn’t have to be penetrative to be sex. Or, I guess blowjobs are penetrative… but I really appreciate that in this book sex is getting off with another person, whatever that may look like.
Also, I’ve recently joined Ripper’s Patreon and there was a fantastic little Jack/Oscar story that takes place 2 years after the book, and it is kind of perfect. Tentacles, baby!🐙
_____
3.5 stars
Of the three books in the series, I liked this one the least, though I still liked it! I think the reason I didn't like it as much was because the characters, Oscar and Jack, aren't as likeable as the characters in the other two books, except that's the whole point. They are both assholes. They are constantly fighting and are snarky with each other, and it is THE BEST. Like, they are even snarky and low-key mean when they're having sex, which I feel like shouldn't work, except that it totally does.
Despite all the snarky fighting, I really liked that the sex didn't come across as hate sex, which I don't think it was at all, but I could see how it could have easily gone there. That is something that I just don't understand, so I'm glad that's not what happened.
I also really liked how Jack was understanding of Oscar's anxiety. He was quite blunt about it, just asking what he needed to know, and I liked that, that he wasn't tiptoeing around or being weird, it's just a part of Oscar that he's getting to know.
I also LOVED the author's note at the very beginning, where it mentions that the book contains depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, that it's not a quirky plot point, it's just how the character is and that he still has anxiety at the end of the book and that anxiety and depression can totally be part of a HEA. I think that somewhat relates to what I said above; Jack just takes Oscar as he is, with his anxiety, he doesn't try to fix it or anything, and at the same time Jack isn't portrayed as being a "cure" to Oscar's anxiety. Ugh, just give me all that realistic mental health rep, please!
Read
April 27, 20214.5 stars rounded up to 5
The anxiety rep in The Hate Project is written so well and was relatable at many times. I loved Oscar's grouchiness, and his lack of self-confidence was endearing in a way.
I was happy to see Jack get some of the spotlight, even if through Oscar's perspective. In the beginning, these two seem very much mismatched but, as the story progresses, it becomes apparent how well-matched they are. It's always a wonderful read when characters balance each other out in ways that aren't so typical.
The theme of found family is again a strong point in this second installment of The Love Study series. I just love the Motherf***ers! Every single member of this group of friends is delightful. They all bring something unique the group, and the way the express their love and support for each other is too damn cute.
***Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***
The anxiety rep in The Hate Project is written so well and was relatable at many times. I loved Oscar's grouchiness, and his lack of self-confidence was endearing in a way.
I was happy to see Jack get some of the spotlight, even if through Oscar's perspective. In the beginning, these two seem very much mismatched but, as the story progresses, it becomes apparent how well-matched they are. It's always a wonderful read when characters balance each other out in ways that aren't so typical.
The theme of found family is again a strong point in this second installment of The Love Study series. I just love the Motherf***ers! Every single member of this group of friends is delightful. They all bring something unique the group, and the way the express their love and support for each other is too damn cute.
***Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***
April 28, 2021
"Just to clarify," I called as I caught up with him, "I don't do relationships."
He hit a button that unlocked his car, "Just to clarify, I am not offering one.
📚 Series? Yes, but can be read as a standalone.
📚 Genre? Contemporary Romance > LGBT
📚 Read for? Carina Adores Blog Tour
📚 Cliffhanger? No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Body issues/fatphobia. Anxiety and panic attacks. Suicide ideation. Lots of explicit sexual content.
⚠ Book Tags : Group of friends. MLM of color. Mental health. Grumpy x Grumpy. Fun Grandmas.
☁ A GRUMPY x GRUMPY STORY I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED ☁
The Hate Project is the second book in Kris Ripper's The Love Study series. We meet another part of the Marginalized Motherfuckers: this time, Oscar and Jack. Both are equally grumpy characters, but in a way, they work well with each other.
However, it is important to note that this is not your typical love story. Here, we only see the inner workings of Oscar's mind and how he sees Jack. But, despite this being a love story, a huge chunk of this novel shows us Oscar's struggles, especially with his mental health. He definitely suffers hugely from anxiety and that takes a toll on how he goes through life.
What makes this book unique in its storytelling is the beauty of Kris Ripper's writing style. Ze offers interesting scenes and setups, often very entertaining, but it also gives thought-provoking encounters.
Again, Kris Ripper gave a fun friendship dynamic. It is so satisfying seeing them being there for each other and always helping each other become better versions of themselves. Their banter is super fun and charming.
☁ FINAL THOUGHTS & RECOMMENDATIONS ☁
Overall, I really enjoyed the second installment of The Love Study series. It was realistic, heartfelt, honest, and very entertaining. I recommend this title for people who are curious about the Grumpy x Grumpy trope, loves an amazing group of friends and looking for some fun and fresh entertainment.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Synopsis:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.09/5 ☁
Much thanks to Carina Adores, the publisher, for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
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September 22, 2021
Rep: gay MC, anxiety, depression, fat MC
TW: anxiety, depression
This book was very meh for me.
First I have to say though that I absolutely loved the anxiety and depression rep in this. It was very realistic and unadorned. There was talk of medication, but also didn’t leave out the side effects and the constant trial and error of it. Loved it.
I loved the first book, it was super cute and romantic.
This one was very different.
The “romance” absolutely wasn’t for me, because it mainly consisted of two people having hate-sex, which just isn’t a thing I get at all. And it wasn’t in a hot way.
The steamy scenes were a lot and made me cringe and feel so uncomfortable. Especially some of the things Jack said (and him being turned on by Jack feeling self-conscious??).
They didn’t talk a lot, they were constantly rather rude to each other and I don’t know if they had anything in common honestly.
The main plot of this was also Oscar cleaning out Jacks grandparents’ old house which wasn’t particularly interesting to begin with. But it was also a rather long book and by the end I just wanted it to be over.
But with them not talking much and most of the plot revolving around Oscar we didn’t even get to know Jack. I couldn’t tell you a single thing I learned about him in this book.
My highlight of this book was surprisingly Jacks grandmother Evelyn. She was hilarious and snappy and I loved her! To me she was more interesting than the MCs. 😂🙈
I loved the queer family in this though. The way they always help each other and always have each other’s back, no matter what. I wish I had friends like that.
TW: anxiety, depression
This book was very meh for me.
First I have to say though that I absolutely loved the anxiety and depression rep in this. It was very realistic and unadorned. There was talk of medication, but also didn’t leave out the side effects and the constant trial and error of it. Loved it.
I loved the first book, it was super cute and romantic.
This one was very different.
The “romance” absolutely wasn’t for me, because it mainly consisted of two people having hate-sex, which just isn’t a thing I get at all. And it wasn’t in a hot way.
The steamy scenes were a lot and made me cringe and feel so uncomfortable. Especially some of the things Jack said (and him being turned on by Jack feeling self-conscious??).
They didn’t talk a lot, they were constantly rather rude to each other and I don’t know if they had anything in common honestly.
The main plot of this was also Oscar cleaning out Jacks grandparents’ old house which wasn’t particularly interesting to begin with. But it was also a rather long book and by the end I just wanted it to be over.
But with them not talking much and most of the plot revolving around Oscar we didn’t even get to know Jack. I couldn’t tell you a single thing I learned about him in this book.
My highlight of this book was surprisingly Jacks grandmother Evelyn. She was hilarious and snappy and I loved her! To me she was more interesting than the MCs. 😂🙈
I loved the queer family in this though. The way they always help each other and always have each other’s back, no matter what. I wish I had friends like that.
July 27, 2021
Almost this entire tale is told by Oscar. Since I started with book 2...maybe the first one and the last one will let us hear more from Jack. I don’t really see how anyone could possibly put themselves in the position to try to love either of them. We learn right off that Oscar has anxiety and depression.... big time! It didn’t say... but I think low self-esteem should also be on that list. I found myself feeling compassion for him, but have to wonder why his friends didn’t try harder to encourage him to find help along with the pills.... not JUST with the pills. I sincerely hope that medical offices are not really just handing these meds out and not seeing that the people they are giving them to are damaged beyond what a mere pill could ever hope to cure. I liked Jack, but I didn’t understand why he accepted Oscars’ behavior as anything resembling “normal”. Being around Oscar for any length of time is simply exhausting for the reader. Jack’s grandfather was a hoarder...making “collections” for 20 or more years...so I found it almost impossible to believe that when his grandfather died Jack would actually still live in the house with that mess...let alone give/pay someone as emotionally unstable as Oscar the task of cleaning out the house. It seemed an unrealistic task for someone with Oscar's problems. I did find places in the book that was humorous but I’m not sure if I’m up to the task of tackling the other two books.
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