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They Hate Each Other
Jonah and Dylan get along like oil and water. Until a fake dating ploy gives them new perspective, and they realize that “falling for your enemy” isn’t as impossible as it seems.
There are plenty of words Jonah Collins could use to describe Dylan Ramírez. “Arrogant,” “spoiled,” and “golden boy” to name a few. Likewise, Dylan thinks he has Jonah accurately labeled as an attention-seeking asshat who never shuts his filthy mouth. Their friends are convinced Jonah’s and Dylan’s disdain for one another is just thinly veiled lust—a rumor that surges like wildfire when the two wake up in one bed after homecoming. Mutually horrified, Dylan and Jonah agree to use the faux pas to their advantage by fake dating. If they can stay convincing long enough to end their “relationship” in a massive staged fight, they can prove their incompatibility to their friends once and for all. But the more time they spend together, the more their plan begins to fall apart—and the closer they come to seeing each other clearly for the first time.
There are plenty of words Jonah Collins could use to describe Dylan Ramírez. “Arrogant,” “spoiled,” and “golden boy” to name a few. Likewise, Dylan thinks he has Jonah accurately labeled as an attention-seeking asshat who never shuts his filthy mouth. Their friends are convinced Jonah’s and Dylan’s disdain for one another is just thinly veiled lust—a rumor that surges like wildfire when the two wake up in one bed after homecoming. Mutually horrified, Dylan and Jonah agree to use the faux pas to their advantage by fake dating. If they can stay convincing long enough to end their “relationship” in a massive staged fight, they can prove their incompatibility to their friends once and for all. But the more time they spend together, the more their plan begins to fall apart—and the closer they come to seeing each other clearly for the first time.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2023
222 people are currently reading
20952 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Woody
3 books627 followersA. M. Woody is a queer nonbinary author based in metro-Detroit and represented by New Leaf Literary. Some of their book weaknesses include:
Uncontrollable magic
Boys who fall in love
Girls with swords
Snarky banter
Eyes that glow
Chaotic queers
Dorks to lovers
Pirates and thieves
Uncontrollable magic
Boys who fall in love
Girls with swords
Snarky banter
Eyes that glow
Chaotic queers
Dorks to lovers
Pirates and thieves
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,525 reviews
July 3, 2023
thank you amanda, for finally giving me the enemies to lovers story every author has failed to give.
while this is a romance, it also deals with heavy topics that fuels that teenage angst. i love that there’s no homophobia, which is intentional from the author too, and how accepting everyone is. even with the issues the characters are dealing with, the story is relatively warm. there is a lot to appreciate—from the relationship development, to the friendships, to the realistic scenarios of high school in the u.s, to the misunderstandings between family members, this kept reminding me why i love ya and wanna come back to the genre.
i was expecting a romance in this story first and foremost, and while we do get plenty of that, there is more to unpack for the main leads. both of the boys are carrying a lot of weight, judged for how they appear and unfortunately misunderstood. i wanted to do nothing but hug both of them. they’re opposites yet similar with their tender hearts. jonah is a protector, older brother, and selfless. he puts others before him, especially his younger sisters, and wants the best for them. dylan hides his true emotions, trying his best to play off a cool demeanor despite struggling with ptsd and panic attacks. one thing they have in common is that both young men are dealing with a lot that was placed on them at a young age. they both learn to lean on each other for some time, becoming vulnerable with each other and seeking each other for comfort. their hate starts off through petty reasons we always see, but it remains for a big portion of the book. even if they don’t exactly wish the worst for each other, it’s still difficult for them to get along.
it pleases me to say that when i say i want enemies to lovers, this is what i mean! i was a quarter in and these two were still in archenemy territory. they didn’t suddenly stop hating each other because they “realized how attractive the other person is.” they didn’t lie about how they felt and pretend to hate the other person. they actually did. shocker, i know! adult romance authors need to take notes.
agreeing to pretend to date is difficult at first and comes off as weird. both jonah and dylan were uncomfortable and hated doing it. they struggled, and their inner thoughts were about how disgusted they were. hang holding once and twice didn’t magically give them butterflies. one fake date didn’t magically change everything. the thought of kissing didn’t magically make them always think about their lips. one time of physical contact didn’t magically make them wanna be close to each other. we see their fake relationship not only become vulnerable and more real, but generally stronger. i loved seeing how the author developed their relationship—from disgust to confusion to complete adoration. even towards the end, they still had their sassy banter that grew loving. i also loved seeing them be together and become somewhat intimate with each other, especially because even though it wasn’t graphic (it’s ya so duh), it still felt more graphic compared to other ya stories. it showed how realistic it is, considering not only are jonah and dylan in their senior year of high school but exploring things together, especially jonah.
there’s a lot to appreciate about this that i wish i could write a full review for, but because i don’t have my laptop and am writing this small review on my phone, i’ll leave it at this: i highly recommend this for anyone looking for an actual hate to love romance with fake dating, opposites attract, size difference (THE WAY DYLAN WOULD CARRY JONAH?!? 🥹), accepting and respectable friendships and relatives, no stupid drama (the “drama/third act conflict is so understandable but resolved maturely and realistically), sweet and tender moments, cute space facts, fake dates that slowly feel more real, teenagers you just wanna hug, and cute little sisters. read this! 💜
in conclusion: jonah collins and dylan mauricio da costa ramírez, my two babies who deserve nothing but love 🫶🏻
while this is a romance, it also deals with heavy topics that fuels that teenage angst. i love that there’s no homophobia, which is intentional from the author too, and how accepting everyone is. even with the issues the characters are dealing with, the story is relatively warm. there is a lot to appreciate—from the relationship development, to the friendships, to the realistic scenarios of high school in the u.s, to the misunderstandings between family members, this kept reminding me why i love ya and wanna come back to the genre.
i was expecting a romance in this story first and foremost, and while we do get plenty of that, there is more to unpack for the main leads. both of the boys are carrying a lot of weight, judged for how they appear and unfortunately misunderstood. i wanted to do nothing but hug both of them. they’re opposites yet similar with their tender hearts. jonah is a protector, older brother, and selfless. he puts others before him, especially his younger sisters, and wants the best for them. dylan hides his true emotions, trying his best to play off a cool demeanor despite struggling with ptsd and panic attacks. one thing they have in common is that both young men are dealing with a lot that was placed on them at a young age. they both learn to lean on each other for some time, becoming vulnerable with each other and seeking each other for comfort. their hate starts off through petty reasons we always see, but it remains for a big portion of the book. even if they don’t exactly wish the worst for each other, it’s still difficult for them to get along.
it pleases me to say that when i say i want enemies to lovers, this is what i mean! i was a quarter in and these two were still in archenemy territory. they didn’t suddenly stop hating each other because they “realized how attractive the other person is.” they didn’t lie about how they felt and pretend to hate the other person. they actually did. shocker, i know! adult romance authors need to take notes.
agreeing to pretend to date is difficult at first and comes off as weird. both jonah and dylan were uncomfortable and hated doing it. they struggled, and their inner thoughts were about how disgusted they were. hang holding once and twice didn’t magically give them butterflies. one fake date didn’t magically change everything. the thought of kissing didn’t magically make them always think about their lips. one time of physical contact didn’t magically make them wanna be close to each other. we see their fake relationship not only become vulnerable and more real, but generally stronger. i loved seeing how the author developed their relationship—from disgust to confusion to complete adoration. even towards the end, they still had their sassy banter that grew loving. i also loved seeing them be together and become somewhat intimate with each other, especially because even though it wasn’t graphic (it’s ya so duh), it still felt more graphic compared to other ya stories. it showed how realistic it is, considering not only are jonah and dylan in their senior year of high school but exploring things together, especially jonah.
there’s a lot to appreciate about this that i wish i could write a full review for, but because i don’t have my laptop and am writing this small review on my phone, i’ll leave it at this: i highly recommend this for anyone looking for an actual hate to love romance with fake dating, opposites attract, size difference (THE WAY DYLAN WOULD CARRY JONAH?!? 🥹), accepting and respectable friendships and relatives, no stupid drama (the “drama/third act conflict is so understandable but resolved maturely and realistically), sweet and tender moments, cute space facts, fake dates that slowly feel more real, teenagers you just wanna hug, and cute little sisters. read this! 💜
in conclusion: jonah collins and dylan mauricio da costa ramírez, my two babies who deserve nothing but love 🫶🏻
June 15, 2023
I've been waiting since 2013 for this moment, you bet your sweet ass I'm rating my own book 5 stars.
EDIT: Hello!! I'm not going to engage with reviews because this page isn't for me, but I wanted to pop in to inform potential readers who are considering this book to be aware that THEO does deal with heavy elements and situations. They're listed below, but I know there's been a lot of discussion online surrounding the marketing of this book. (Quick note, please be aware that as much as it sucks, most authors have little to no sway in how their book is marketed in traditional publishing. Especially small fry like me who are just getting started!)
I think the biggest issue authors/publishers have is trying to market on social media. That's where a lot of readers find their recommendations! :) When you only have 5 seconds to throw a book at someone who's scrolling by on twitter, most of that time is spent trying to capture attention by emphasizing familiar elements in the book like "fake dating" and "rivals to lovers" and "only one bed."
But they're not usually the full picture. Which is why I've made clarifications on my own social media pages (twitter, IG) that the story elements are a lot deeper than one might expect when diving into this. I've even attempted to poke fun at the marketing on Tik Tok in an effort to spread the word about the darker material in this book.
So! That is also why I'm taking the risk of updating my post here on Goodreads, in the hopes of informing more people about the topics and discussions so they don't feel blindsided if/when they jump into it. I know this edit may be coming a bit late (because this website spooks me lol), but I truly hope this helps anyone who is trying to decide whether they should read this. And I also apologize to anyone who feels they've been misled thus far.
All of this aside, I do believe that traumatized teens who are dealing with a lot deserve to have romcoms and romances that reflect their lived experiences while ultimately giving them the happily ever after they deserve. :)
Here are the content warnings, which are provided at the beginning of the book:
Alcoholism in a parent
Recurring theme of child neglect
Multiple instances of underage drinking
A character copes with PTSD and panic attacks
Multiple mentions of eating habits and body image
A minor is sexually harassed by his employer (not graphic)
Use of abrasive language and explicit sexual language/innuendos
Discussion of physical abuse (some flashes in nightmares/invasive images)
Thank you to anyone who has read this far, or bought the book, or requested it from their library, or borrowed it from a friend, etc.! Your support means the world to me and I really hope you enjoy my disaster sons.
And now! I sprint away.
EDIT: Hello!! I'm not going to engage with reviews because this page isn't for me, but I wanted to pop in to inform potential readers who are considering this book to be aware that THEO does deal with heavy elements and situations. They're listed below, but I know there's been a lot of discussion online surrounding the marketing of this book. (Quick note, please be aware that as much as it sucks, most authors have little to no sway in how their book is marketed in traditional publishing. Especially small fry like me who are just getting started!)
I think the biggest issue authors/publishers have is trying to market on social media. That's where a lot of readers find their recommendations! :) When you only have 5 seconds to throw a book at someone who's scrolling by on twitter, most of that time is spent trying to capture attention by emphasizing familiar elements in the book like "fake dating" and "rivals to lovers" and "only one bed."
But they're not usually the full picture. Which is why I've made clarifications on my own social media pages (twitter, IG) that the story elements are a lot deeper than one might expect when diving into this. I've even attempted to poke fun at the marketing on Tik Tok in an effort to spread the word about the darker material in this book.
So! That is also why I'm taking the risk of updating my post here on Goodreads, in the hopes of informing more people about the topics and discussions so they don't feel blindsided if/when they jump into it. I know this edit may be coming a bit late (because this website spooks me lol), but I truly hope this helps anyone who is trying to decide whether they should read this. And I also apologize to anyone who feels they've been misled thus far.
All of this aside, I do believe that traumatized teens who are dealing with a lot deserve to have romcoms and romances that reflect their lived experiences while ultimately giving them the happily ever after they deserve. :)
Here are the content warnings, which are provided at the beginning of the book:
Alcoholism in a parent
Recurring theme of child neglect
Multiple instances of underage drinking
A character copes with PTSD and panic attacks
Multiple mentions of eating habits and body image
A minor is sexually harassed by his employer (not graphic)
Use of abrasive language and explicit sexual language/innuendos
Discussion of physical abuse (some flashes in nightmares/invasive images)
Thank you to anyone who has read this far, or bought the book, or requested it from their library, or borrowed it from a friend, etc.! Your support means the world to me and I really hope you enjoy my disaster sons.
And now! I sprint away.
February 7, 2025
No, I don’t like you, I just thought you were cool enough to kick it (Thinkin Bout You - Frank Ocean).
That’s a Frank Ocean lyric (this probably seems like an odd thing for me to clarify now that I've edited every song artist in ha ha), because I can only see this book as a Frank Ocean song. Mostly in that every time I put it away, I’d often find my mind wandering back to thinking about it. And look, this wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but I think in the end I enjoyed it. Seriously! It took until almost the ending portion for me to enjoy it! I’m not the biggest fan of when a story is desperately and narrowly focused solely on one very specific trope. It always makes me feel like it was created in a lab, only written to appease some sort of algorithm. I know that the “fake-dating” thing is a big selling point of this novel, so I don’t want to harp on it too much, but I actually think it was my least favorite part of the whole thing. If I closed my eyes hard enough, I could almost imagine the board room this book was cooked up in where there’s a whiteboard with nothing on it except the words “fake-dating????” circled three times in red sharpie. The only real way I can describe my feelings this book is that when I was really liking it felt like an Adam Silvera novel (History Is All You Left Me), and when I was fighting off sleep it felt like... an Adam Silvera novel (Infinity Son). That’s my confusing and convoluted way of saying that at its best, this story is raw and honest in a way that made me think, and at its worst, the narrative gets in its own way. Otherwise, everything outside of the “fake-dating” plot is incredibly compelling! At its core, there’s a powerful story about allowing yourself to feel vulnerable and learning how to accept help after years of putting up walls. Great stuff, really.
It is a shame that the book takes the “fake-dating” trope and runs with it for the majority of the story, because I was a huge fan of literally everything else here! The realistic issues that the characters had to deal with had me cheering them on from the very first chapter! Okay, that’s a lie, maybe from… like, the fifth or sixth chapter. But that’s a good thing, I promise! It meant that the narrative took the time necessary to really let us get to know the characters, rather than trying to make them super likeable from the outset. I love when books are allowed a moment to breathe. I can't even fault the way the friend characters are written. While they were intensely annoying, I couldn’t say that people like them don’t exist! But man, they were so~oo pushy and nosy and intrusive… and I hated them! Like, the fact that Whatever-Jonah’s-Friend’s-Name-Was and Hanna would “ship” Dylan and Jonah simply because they’re both bisexual seemed incredibly gross to me. Hanna gets all "well, actually" and says it's because she could tell that they had chemistry, but I don’t believe that for one second. Not one! Anyway, after taking a step back, I've come to appreciate this book for what it is, rather than what I was expecting it to be when I opened to the first page. It actually reminded me of this lovely book called Here's to You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst, which also did a great job at tugging at my heartstrings! They Hate Each Other can be messy, and sometimes it gets bogged down by its own trope-heaviness, but at the end of the day, its respectful nature and heart-wrenching storytelling made this a deeply moving read. Honestly, I can’t ask for any more in a book!
“Thank you,” I whisper. His gaze falls to my lips.
“It was nothing,” he says quietly.
I smile. “It was something.”
That’s a Frank Ocean lyric (this probably seems like an odd thing for me to clarify now that I've edited every song artist in ha ha), because I can only see this book as a Frank Ocean song. Mostly in that every time I put it away, I’d often find my mind wandering back to thinking about it. And look, this wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but I think in the end I enjoyed it. Seriously! It took until almost the ending portion for me to enjoy it! I’m not the biggest fan of when a story is desperately and narrowly focused solely on one very specific trope. It always makes me feel like it was created in a lab, only written to appease some sort of algorithm. I know that the “fake-dating” thing is a big selling point of this novel, so I don’t want to harp on it too much, but I actually think it was my least favorite part of the whole thing. If I closed my eyes hard enough, I could almost imagine the board room this book was cooked up in where there’s a whiteboard with nothing on it except the words “fake-dating????” circled three times in red sharpie. The only real way I can describe my feelings this book is that when I was really liking it felt like an Adam Silvera novel (History Is All You Left Me), and when I was fighting off sleep it felt like... an Adam Silvera novel (Infinity Son). That’s my confusing and convoluted way of saying that at its best, this story is raw and honest in a way that made me think, and at its worst, the narrative gets in its own way. Otherwise, everything outside of the “fake-dating” plot is incredibly compelling! At its core, there’s a powerful story about allowing yourself to feel vulnerable and learning how to accept help after years of putting up walls. Great stuff, really.
It is a shame that the book takes the “fake-dating” trope and runs with it for the majority of the story, because I was a huge fan of literally everything else here! The realistic issues that the characters had to deal with had me cheering them on from the very first chapter! Okay, that’s a lie, maybe from… like, the fifth or sixth chapter. But that’s a good thing, I promise! It meant that the narrative took the time necessary to really let us get to know the characters, rather than trying to make them super likeable from the outset. I love when books are allowed a moment to breathe. I can't even fault the way the friend characters are written. While they were intensely annoying, I couldn’t say that people like them don’t exist! But man, they were so~oo pushy and nosy and intrusive… and I hated them! Like, the fact that Whatever-Jonah’s-Friend’s-Name-Was and Hanna would “ship” Dylan and Jonah simply because they’re both bisexual seemed incredibly gross to me. Hanna gets all "well, actually" and says it's because she could tell that they had chemistry, but I don’t believe that for one second. Not one! Anyway, after taking a step back, I've come to appreciate this book for what it is, rather than what I was expecting it to be when I opened to the first page. It actually reminded me of this lovely book called Here's to You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst, which also did a great job at tugging at my heartstrings! They Hate Each Other can be messy, and sometimes it gets bogged down by its own trope-heaviness, but at the end of the day, its respectful nature and heart-wrenching storytelling made this a deeply moving read. Honestly, I can’t ask for any more in a book!
“Thank you,” I whisper. His gaze falls to my lips.
“It was nothing,” he says quietly.
I smile. “It was something.”
March 23, 2024
Amanda Woody wrote a sequel but hasn’t sold it yet. If you also crave more of Dylan and Jonah, please share your review here again or share it on Amazon, Instagram, TikTok, etc. The more we do, the more chance the sequel will be out in the world someday!!
—————————
I read this story, the smile on my face grew wider and wider. It reached my eyes that started crinkling from joy. The smile stayed on my face for so long that my jaws hurt. And then, a lump formed in my throat, and a tear escaped my eyes. And another one. And another one. Amanda Woody, you did it! Of course, I didn’t DNF your debut at five percent! They Hate Each Other is awesome. Fantastic. Heart-wrenching at times. I loved Dylan and Jonah from the moment I met them and gobbled up the words and pages from your beautiful book frantically.
My brows knitted together when Dylan and Jonah started fake dating (those pet names …), and I wanted to hug those boys so badly when I learned about their family situations. When they started trusting each other and told one another their secrets, tears slipped into my eyes. The moments between Jonah and Ms. Davis were so precious, and at about 70% of the book, my stomach tightened over and over, and I couldn’t stop the blur in my eyes. But in between the lumps in my throat and shimmering eyes, that smile pulled my lips up again because those two boys, boisterous and stubborn and kind-hearted Jonah, who knew so many fun facts about space, and quiet and patient and anxious Dylan, who baked to push away his problems, just fitted so well together. Thank you, Amanda, for reaching out to me and asking if I wanted to read an ARC. Yessss, I replied because I was so excited to read your debut, and it definitely met my sky-high expectations. I adored the book and can’t wait for what you write next!
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—————————
I read this story, the smile on my face grew wider and wider. It reached my eyes that started crinkling from joy. The smile stayed on my face for so long that my jaws hurt. And then, a lump formed in my throat, and a tear escaped my eyes. And another one. And another one. Amanda Woody, you did it! Of course, I didn’t DNF your debut at five percent! They Hate Each Other is awesome. Fantastic. Heart-wrenching at times. I loved Dylan and Jonah from the moment I met them and gobbled up the words and pages from your beautiful book frantically.
My brows knitted together when Dylan and Jonah started fake dating (those pet names …), and I wanted to hug those boys so badly when I learned about their family situations. When they started trusting each other and told one another their secrets, tears slipped into my eyes. The moments between Jonah and Ms. Davis were so precious, and at about 70% of the book, my stomach tightened over and over, and I couldn’t stop the blur in my eyes. But in between the lumps in my throat and shimmering eyes, that smile pulled my lips up again because those two boys, boisterous and stubborn and kind-hearted Jonah, who knew so many fun facts about space, and quiet and patient and anxious Dylan, who baked to push away his problems, just fitted so well together. Thank you, Amanda, for reaching out to me and asking if I wanted to read an ARC. Yessss, I replied because I was so excited to read your debut, and it definitely met my sky-high expectations. I adored the book and can’t wait for what you write next!
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July 9, 2023
|| 2.0 stars ||
Disclaimer: This is honestly going to be more of a rant than an actual review, because I was just really in the mood for some unedited venting.
Also, more importantly, I will be hating on one of the main characters, so I’m sorry if I’ll offend anyone with that.
Okay, so first of all, this really wasn’t much of a romance and mostly just felt like a big trauma dump. It kinda seemed like the main characters were in constant competition about who had it the hardest in life, which I found… unsettling. Especially since that was all they seemed to be doing. Literally. Nothing else happens in this book other than brooding, misery and trauma. So it’s clearly not much of a romance, even though it’s packaged as such.
The idea of this book is that we have two guys, Jonah and Dylan, who cannot stand each other at all, but they’re in the same friend group so they have to hang out more often than they would like. It’s a classic enemies-to-lovers trope. However, the issue for me was that one of them was the clear problem in their relationship. I’ll explain. Okay, so Jonah is an extravert teenager who has to take care of his younger sisters because his mother is dead and his father is an absent drunk. His life pretty much sucks. He has to play at parent even though he’s a kid himself, he has to work more hours than is legally allowed, he hardly ever eats because he has no money for it, and he can never let himself be sad because he has to be strong for his sisters. As you can probably guess, this guy is under a lot of stress and suffers from a lot of pain, and he never takes time for himself.
Okay, so then now imagine that during the few moments where Jonah does finally get to hang out with his friends and be himself, there is this judgemental, rich, arrogant arsehole who is constantly berating him for being “too loud” and shaming him for wanting “too much attention”. Like fucking excuse me!? And take in mind: Jonah never really did anything to Dylan to deserve this treatment. Jonah just existed, and tried to do the best he could with the shitty cards he’d been dealt, and yet, he still had to suffer through this constant judgement from Dylan FOR NO REASON. Trust me when I tell you I would have done far worse than tease Dylan for being uptight like Jonah did. I would have freaked out on that prick. So yea. Dylan was 100% the problem for me, which is never a good start for an enemies-to-lovers trope, since I’d prefer for both of them to be equally at fault. And preferably, for neither of them to be this unreasonably insufferable.
Anyway, there’s like this elaborate scheme going on in this book where Dylan and Jonah decide to fake-date to get their friends off their backs about saying they should be together. Why Jonah’s friends ever thought Dylan would be perfect for him is beyond me, but whatever. That’s not the point, I guess.
So yes, they start fake-dating. Which should be a fun trope, but was the absolute exact opposite. Their fake-dating felt extremely mechanical, and really lacked any kind of passion or tension. The only time they let themselves get real with each other was when Jonah was functioning as Dylan’s semi-therapist, and there’s not much to their interactions besides that. They truly had no chemistry whatsoever and everything about their dynamic was just bland.
As I think I have made pretty clear already: I really disliked Dylan. He was grumpy in an energy-draining kind of way, and I really struggled to find anything about him I could find charming. It also didn’t help that he lacked the usual protectiveness that goes with grumpy characters. He was actually painfully selfish and self-absorbed. He got pissy about EVERYTHING, and he had the nerve to get offended over every single little thing, even though he was the biggest judgemental arsehole on the planet.
Also, Dylan’s thoughts about Jonah always made me a bit sad. He never appreciated him, and he never stopped judging him. Not when they started getting to know each other better, and not even when they got together. Dylan seemed to have minimal amounts of sympathy and understanding for Jonah, and his thoughts about him were always so dismissive and diminishing. It was just sad, and Jonah deserved so much more than that.
I mean, even the third-act break-up just made me so ANGRY.
Dylan never even considered helping Jonah with his home-life during all the years he’s known him (because he was always too far up his own arse), but when he finally does, he decides to do it in the most invasive and deceitful way possible. He does it in a way that makes Jonah feel betrayed and extremely scared he is going to loose his sisters. And so when Jonah gets (rightfully) angry about that, Dylan stomps on him a bit harder and completely crushes his feelings. And what do you think Dylan does after that? Grovel? Feel guilty? Try to make sure Jonah is alright? No, of course not. He decides to leave for the week and spend time solving his OWN issues. Because this is the perfect time for that, obviously. And he feels just perfectly fine and happy during this time. Just peachy. And when he finally reaches out to Jonah again, it’s because he wants to talk about his OWN issues AGAIN…
Seriously, Dylan might have possibly been the most self-absorbed character I’ve read about in quite some time.
The only highlight in this book was Jonah and especially his relationship with his little sisters. I really liked Jonah, and my heart broke for his situation. I felt so much warmth for the way he was always there for them in every way. But not only that; he was very perceptive of every other person around him, and he was actually very kind and helpful. The fact that he was able to do this while he was under so much stress himself was super admirable. I mean, he was always there for Dylan, and he always noticed when Dylan needed comfort or help (which was pretty much the opposite of what this guy gave him in return, but whatever… I went on a rant about that long enough).
All in all, this book brought out a lot of annoyance for me, and it’s mostly due to Dylan being absolutely insufferable and mind-bogglingly self-absorbed.
Disclaimer: This is honestly going to be more of a rant than an actual review, because I was just really in the mood for some unedited venting.
Also, more importantly, I will be hating on one of the main characters, so I’m sorry if I’ll offend anyone with that.
Okay, so first of all, this really wasn’t much of a romance and mostly just felt like a big trauma dump. It kinda seemed like the main characters were in constant competition about who had it the hardest in life, which I found… unsettling. Especially since that was all they seemed to be doing. Literally. Nothing else happens in this book other than brooding, misery and trauma. So it’s clearly not much of a romance, even though it’s packaged as such.
The idea of this book is that we have two guys, Jonah and Dylan, who cannot stand each other at all, but they’re in the same friend group so they have to hang out more often than they would like. It’s a classic enemies-to-lovers trope. However, the issue for me was that one of them was the clear problem in their relationship. I’ll explain. Okay, so Jonah is an extravert teenager who has to take care of his younger sisters because his mother is dead and his father is an absent drunk. His life pretty much sucks. He has to play at parent even though he’s a kid himself, he has to work more hours than is legally allowed, he hardly ever eats because he has no money for it, and he can never let himself be sad because he has to be strong for his sisters. As you can probably guess, this guy is under a lot of stress and suffers from a lot of pain, and he never takes time for himself.
Okay, so then now imagine that during the few moments where Jonah does finally get to hang out with his friends and be himself, there is this judgemental, rich, arrogant arsehole who is constantly berating him for being “too loud” and shaming him for wanting “too much attention”. Like fucking excuse me!? And take in mind: Jonah never really did anything to Dylan to deserve this treatment. Jonah just existed, and tried to do the best he could with the shitty cards he’d been dealt, and yet, he still had to suffer through this constant judgement from Dylan FOR NO REASON. Trust me when I tell you I would have done far worse than tease Dylan for being uptight like Jonah did. I would have freaked out on that prick. So yea. Dylan was 100% the problem for me, which is never a good start for an enemies-to-lovers trope, since I’d prefer for both of them to be equally at fault. And preferably, for neither of them to be this unreasonably insufferable.
Anyway, there’s like this elaborate scheme going on in this book where Dylan and Jonah decide to fake-date to get their friends off their backs about saying they should be together. Why Jonah’s friends ever thought Dylan would be perfect for him is beyond me, but whatever. That’s not the point, I guess.
So yes, they start fake-dating. Which should be a fun trope, but was the absolute exact opposite. Their fake-dating felt extremely mechanical, and really lacked any kind of passion or tension. The only time they let themselves get real with each other was when Jonah was functioning as Dylan’s semi-therapist, and there’s not much to their interactions besides that. They truly had no chemistry whatsoever and everything about their dynamic was just bland.
As I think I have made pretty clear already: I really disliked Dylan. He was grumpy in an energy-draining kind of way, and I really struggled to find anything about him I could find charming. It also didn’t help that he lacked the usual protectiveness that goes with grumpy characters. He was actually painfully selfish and self-absorbed. He got pissy about EVERYTHING, and he had the nerve to get offended over every single little thing, even though he was the biggest judgemental arsehole on the planet.
Also, Dylan’s thoughts about Jonah always made me a bit sad. He never appreciated him, and he never stopped judging him. Not when they started getting to know each other better, and not even when they got together. Dylan seemed to have minimal amounts of sympathy and understanding for Jonah, and his thoughts about him were always so dismissive and diminishing. It was just sad, and Jonah deserved so much more than that.
I mean, even the third-act break-up just made me so ANGRY.
Dylan never even considered helping Jonah with his home-life during all the years he’s known him (because he was always too far up his own arse), but when he finally does, he decides to do it in the most invasive and deceitful way possible. He does it in a way that makes Jonah feel betrayed and extremely scared he is going to loose his sisters. And so when Jonah gets (rightfully) angry about that, Dylan stomps on him a bit harder and completely crushes his feelings. And what do you think Dylan does after that? Grovel? Feel guilty? Try to make sure Jonah is alright? No, of course not. He decides to leave for the week and spend time solving his OWN issues. Because this is the perfect time for that, obviously. And he feels just perfectly fine and happy during this time. Just peachy. And when he finally reaches out to Jonah again, it’s because he wants to talk about his OWN issues AGAIN…
Seriously, Dylan might have possibly been the most self-absorbed character I’ve read about in quite some time.
The only highlight in this book was Jonah and especially his relationship with his little sisters. I really liked Jonah, and my heart broke for his situation. I felt so much warmth for the way he was always there for them in every way. But not only that; he was very perceptive of every other person around him, and he was actually very kind and helpful. The fact that he was able to do this while he was under so much stress himself was super admirable. I mean, he was always there for Dylan, and he always noticed when Dylan needed comfort or help (which was pretty much the opposite of what this guy gave him in return, but whatever… I went on a rant about that long enough).
All in all, this book brought out a lot of annoyance for me, and it’s mostly due to Dylan being absolutely insufferable and mind-bogglingly self-absorbed.
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July 3, 2023
"I'm grateful," I say softly. "It means a lot that you'd let me share this place with you."
He smiles, his thumb stroking mine, from my knuckles to my wrist.
"If you decide to let me come here again, I'll bake brownies," I tell him. "I'll frost them and even add sprinkles."
"That sounds really nice," he whispers.
I LOVED THIS. jonah and dylan have my whole heart. they deserve nothing but happiness. 🥺 the characters, the romance, the story, the pacing, the family/friendship bonds - everything about this book worked perfectly for me. it was cute, warm but also heartbreaking at times ... and it just worked? also, as much as enemies to lovers is my favorite romance trope, i admit, most of the time, the pacing of how the etl is executed isn't satisfying enough imo (even with my favorite books within that trope, yes) but i will say i loved the pacing of it here and the transition just felt so natural. the lil moments between jonah and dylan were honestly everything to me (like jonah's fascination with space and the way he blurts out random space facts and dylan just being entraced with him?? I SOBBED). <3
He smiles, his thumb stroking mine, from my knuckles to my wrist.
"If you decide to let me come here again, I'll bake brownies," I tell him. "I'll frost them and even add sprinkles."
"That sounds really nice," he whispers.
I LOVED THIS. jonah and dylan have my whole heart. they deserve nothing but happiness. 🥺 the characters, the romance, the story, the pacing, the family/friendship bonds - everything about this book worked perfectly for me. it was cute, warm but also heartbreaking at times ... and it just worked? also, as much as enemies to lovers is my favorite romance trope, i admit, most of the time, the pacing of how the etl is executed isn't satisfying enough imo (even with my favorite books within that trope, yes) but i will say i loved the pacing of it here and the transition just felt so natural. the lil moments between jonah and dylan were honestly everything to me (like jonah's fascination with space and the way he blurts out random space facts and dylan just being entraced with him?? I SOBBED). <3
August 4, 2023
Spanish is so hot 😭💕🥵🤌🏻✨
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Welcome to part 2920287464 of Krys picking up books just because of their cover
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Welcome to part 2920287464 of Krys picking up books just because of their cover
dnf
May 28, 2025dnf @25%
- fake dating is one of my least favourite tropes, mainly because I often find the reasons for it unconvincing or simply ridiculous. It happened to me here, and in relation to that I'd like to add that I find the friends' nosiness very annoying.
- reading about Jonah's living situation, as well as hints about Dylan, gives me anxiety. I've recently read a YA story where the MC has the same problems and I've had enough of that for a while, including reading about incompetent parents.
- I keep checking whose POV I'm reading, because both sound the same to me, even though Jonah and Dylan are supposed to be complete opposites. Because of that I'm not connecting to either of them.
The first couple of chapters were interesting, but the rest felt like a chore to get through, so I'm giving up. Sadly, it's not working for me.
- fake dating is one of my least favourite tropes, mainly because I often find the reasons for it unconvincing or simply ridiculous. It happened to me here, and in relation to that I'd like to add that I find the friends' nosiness very annoying.
- reading about Jonah's living situation, as well as hints about Dylan, gives me anxiety. I've recently read a YA story where the MC has the same problems and I've had enough of that for a while, including reading about incompetent parents.
- I keep checking whose POV I'm reading, because both sound the same to me, even though Jonah and Dylan are supposed to be complete opposites. Because of that I'm not connecting to either of them.
The first couple of chapters were interesting, but the rest felt like a chore to get through, so I'm giving up. Sadly, it's not working for me.
July 2, 2023
Fabulous YA enemies to lovers done in a very VERY good and believable way. What an excellent read! I’m thoroughly surprised and happy I gave this book a chance since you know..YA is NOT my thing. I can’t express how much I loved these 2 boys . I cried with them and I laughed with them and I wanted to shake Jonah from time to time and I wanted to hug him tight from time to time too. Excellent writing,very realistic and emotional and with a lot of depth, and OMG, their tender moments are so sensual and hot (there is no hanky-panky though because YA). The side characters are amazing too , especially the sisters. (It reminded me a bit of The last thing he needs by J.H. Knight ) . This book deserves all the hype in the world and I wish more ppl gave it a chance, it’s worth it.
June 9, 2023
I loved this! Tears and laughter so I can't really complain, except that the ending was a bit abrupt - I honestly could have kept reading!
Jonah was so funny even though he had to deal with so much, and Dylan was super cute - they really were good for each other.
I liked how for a YA book set in high school the drama wasn't immature or full of bullying. Their traumas were serious issues and it showed how they (mostly) worked through it.
I would love to know what happens next with these characters.
Jonah was so funny even though he had to deal with so much, and Dylan was super cute - they really were good for each other.
I liked how for a YA book set in high school the drama wasn't immature or full of bullying. Their traumas were serious issues and it showed how they (mostly) worked through it.
I would love to know what happens next with these characters.
August 6, 2023
I have said this before and I'll say it again *clears her throat*: I'M A WHORE FOR FAKE DATING STUFF. 🤯🤡
And I loved this!! Yes, I wasn't convinced of the reasons why they started fake dating and yes, their friends are too annoying with the "you guys should be together" bullshit... BUT!!!
But the main characters made everything worth it, I can't even explain how layered this was, how much depth, I've read books about 30 year olds that weren't as deep as this, that didn't talk the way this books does.
AND IT WAS EVERYTHING 😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩
They were so sweet, so ugh! I can't. They made my heart scream. Lovely 🥰
And I loved this!! Yes, I wasn't convinced of the reasons why they started fake dating and yes, their friends are too annoying with the "you guys should be together" bullshit... BUT!!!
But the main characters made everything worth it, I can't even explain how layered this was, how much depth, I've read books about 30 year olds that weren't as deep as this, that didn't talk the way this books does.
AND IT WAS EVERYTHING 😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩
They were so sweet, so ugh! I can't. They made my heart scream. Lovely 🥰
June 18, 2024
fake dating truly never had a bad track i'm gonna eat my entire fist
July 1, 2023
oh.
i'm gobsmacked.
a character-driven tale so brilliant, i needed a moment (or six) to collect myself.
you ever settle down with a new book and this electric buzz starts to build and build in your cells with each word, because at some level of your subconscious, you know you're already too far gone for the characters? utterly smitten and wholly trapped in their homey snare?
the cover and blurb may imply total romcom, but trust me, the most romcom-y thing about this is the fake dating setup. it also hits plenty of comedic notes, but the core topics tackled (be it neglect, ptsd, abuse, etc.) are not to be trifled with. most importantly, they're approached with a raw, nuanced delicacy that slices deep, without being undercut by silly teenage drama or baseless conflicts.
for a debut novel, it is an absurdly stellar piece of work, and the narrators made this perfect story even more perfect still.
Jonah and Dylan, i love you.
Amanda, i thank you.
more. i want more.
thank you to Eli for putting this on my radar!
i'm gobsmacked.
a character-driven tale so brilliant, i needed a moment (or six) to collect myself.
you ever settle down with a new book and this electric buzz starts to build and build in your cells with each word, because at some level of your subconscious, you know you're already too far gone for the characters? utterly smitten and wholly trapped in their homey snare?
the cover and blurb may imply total romcom, but trust me, the most romcom-y thing about this is the fake dating setup. it also hits plenty of comedic notes, but the core topics tackled (be it neglect, ptsd, abuse, etc.) are not to be trifled with. most importantly, they're approached with a raw, nuanced delicacy that slices deep, without being undercut by silly teenage drama or baseless conflicts.
for a debut novel, it is an absurdly stellar piece of work, and the narrators made this perfect story even more perfect still.
Jonah and Dylan, i love you.
Amanda, i thank you.
more. i want more.
thank you to Eli for putting this on my radar!
Read
September 1, 2023i am not even remotely into this book, so i'm dnfing halfway. i didn't like the characters and the reason they started fake dating was stupid and unconvincing. i was also once again reminded why i don't read YA.
April 3, 2023
This is another book where I just feel it's being mismarketed as a romance. From the title to the synopsis, everything focuses on the romance, which is why I expected the romance to be more central than it was, and I also expected the book to be fluffier than it was. This has been happening to me quite regularly, and honestly, I'm getting a little fed up. Begging publishers to market their books honestly so readers know what to expect going into them.
All this is not to say that the book was bad, just that it was not what I expected in a way that threw me off. Everything was a lot more tense than I'd anticipated and I'd picked this up hoping for a comfort read.
Most of the book isn't really about the romance, but moreso about both character's complicated home lives. This adds a lot of tension, and while I did think a lot of things were handled well, I ultimately felt like the ending rushed towards fixing things.
When it comes to the romance, I thought I would really enjoy this at first, when they started fake dating. But pretty soon I realized I just wasn't feeling the chemistry between them. That's very personal, of course, but it meant that the book just didn't end up working for me in the end.
All this is not to say that the book was bad, just that it was not what I expected in a way that threw me off. Everything was a lot more tense than I'd anticipated and I'd picked this up hoping for a comfort read.
Most of the book isn't really about the romance, but moreso about both character's complicated home lives. This adds a lot of tension, and while I did think a lot of things were handled well, I ultimately felt like the ending rushed towards fixing things.
When it comes to the romance, I thought I would really enjoy this at first, when they started fake dating. But pretty soon I realized I just wasn't feeling the chemistry between them. That's very personal, of course, but it meant that the book just didn't end up working for me in the end.
Read
August 31, 2025I’m on BookTube now! =)
A million stars and more!
Gosh, I loved this book so much and Jonah and Dylan are both damn precious!
I absolutely adored the banter and the enemies-to-lovers arc!
It was done so freaking well!! AHHH! Also I cried!!! T_T
Full RTC soon! I need to write down all those FEELINGS!!!
___________________________________
What can I say?
The mood reader in me won. Again. 🤣
But a m/m enemies-to-lovers story with the fake-dating trope & a couple of trigger warnings is too tempting to resist.
I know I'll love this! 😊
And I'll enjoy it even more when they really fall for each other on page. XD
Find me on:
My Blog
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A million stars and more!
Gosh, I loved this book so much and Jonah and Dylan are both damn precious!
I absolutely adored the banter and the enemies-to-lovers arc!
It was done so freaking well!! AHHH! Also I cried!!! T_T
Full RTC soon! I need to write down all those FEELINGS!!!
___________________________________
What can I say?
The mood reader in me won. Again. 🤣
But a m/m enemies-to-lovers story with the fake-dating trope & a couple of trigger warnings is too tempting to resist.
I know I'll love this! 😊
And I'll enjoy it even more when they really fall for each other on page. XD
Find me on:
My Blog
July 6, 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the MC’s hate each other while they’re in a fake relationship. This was a first for me in many ways and I cannot thank elena enough for bring this to my attention.
Also, I’ll whisper a joke to you, and you’ll laugh because of my comedic genius. Couples are always giggling.”
He types once more. “Pretend like Jonah is funny.”
The author did a really impressive job in making the relationship a priority without it being the only focus in the book. We’re given equal importance to the characters lives and struggles and how they battle with it on their own instead of using their relationship or new found spouse as an excuse to make amends and it’s so refreshing <3 (obviously I’m not faulting or diminishing the previous books I’ve read on how they dealt with struggles, I’m just saying that this was a first )
Jonah was our “bratty” main character 😭 he pushed Dylan away several times and declined help from everyone around him resulting in him feeling alone in more than one occasion. But I liked that how no one gave up on him and treated him the same way they always would without making his home life his personality. He had trust issues but knew when he finally needed to ask for help and I loved the point in the book when he sorted everything out and came to terms with his new life.
“My stomach flutters, then sinks with a final, burning realization that drives my face down into my palms.
“Kiss me again,” I whisper.”
this moment >>>>>>💫💫💫
Dylan was our more protective baby who needed protection himself. He struggled with social anxiety and anxiety after his separation from his brother and distancing from his mother. You can see through the book how he progressively tries to take baby steps and when he realizes he’s ready or at least that he’s at his breaking point and it was heart breaking.
I hate how safe you make me feel,” he says sharply. “I hate that I can’t stop wanting to be around you. So, what I’m trying to tell you is . . .”
He freezes. His eyes are giant discs, his face and neck and ears all flushed.
“What I’m trying to say is. Fuck you,” he croaks. “Goodnight.”
Their relationship wasn’t more than an after thought when the MC’s were making amends and it was a new experience for me. Especially because I half them to always think I wonder where he is, it reminds me of him, etc but when they finally got together? It was so rewarding😭😭 they were so cute and nervous and it was precious!!!
I think this was a gem of a book
Also, I’ll whisper a joke to you, and you’ll laugh because of my comedic genius. Couples are always giggling.”
He types once more. “Pretend like Jonah is funny.”
The author did a really impressive job in making the relationship a priority without it being the only focus in the book. We’re given equal importance to the characters lives and struggles and how they battle with it on their own instead of using their relationship or new found spouse as an excuse to make amends and it’s so refreshing <3 (obviously I’m not faulting or diminishing the previous books I’ve read on how they dealt with struggles, I’m just saying that this was a first )
Jonah was our “bratty” main character 😭 he pushed Dylan away several times and declined help from everyone around him resulting in him feeling alone in more than one occasion. But I liked that how no one gave up on him and treated him the same way they always would without making his home life his personality. He had trust issues but knew when he finally needed to ask for help and I loved the point in the book when he sorted everything out and came to terms with his new life.
“My stomach flutters, then sinks with a final, burning realization that drives my face down into my palms.
“Kiss me again,” I whisper.”
this moment >>>>>>💫💫💫
Dylan was our more protective baby who needed protection himself. He struggled with social anxiety and anxiety after his separation from his brother and distancing from his mother. You can see through the book how he progressively tries to take baby steps and when he realizes he’s ready or at least that he’s at his breaking point and it was heart breaking.
I hate how safe you make me feel,” he says sharply. “I hate that I can’t stop wanting to be around you. So, what I’m trying to tell you is . . .”
He freezes. His eyes are giant discs, his face and neck and ears all flushed.
“What I’m trying to say is. Fuck you,” he croaks. “Goodnight.”
Their relationship wasn’t more than an after thought when the MC’s were making amends and it was a new experience for me. Especially because I half them to always think I wonder where he is, it reminds me of him, etc but when they finally got together? It was so rewarding😭😭 they were so cute and nervous and it was precious!!!
I think this was a gem of a book
July 13, 2023
First of all, this cover is too cute! I love the colors and the way cheeky Jonah is peeking around the corner at an annoyed Dylan. I'm glad I didn't see it at a bookstore because I don't need a physical copy, but I definitely would have left with one.
For such young people, both Jonah and Dylan had already been through so much. I loved the nuanced way neglect and grief were portrayed through their characters and how differently they handled the emotional ramifications of both. The way Jonah worked so hard to keep his family together was pretty amazing, even if it should never have been his responsibility in the first place. His love for his sisters poured off the page and I adored every scene with them in it. Lily completely stole my heart and every time someone showed her kindness my eyes would start to leak.
Unlike Jonah, Dylan had the luxury of financial abundance, but an empty house was still an empty house, no matter how big or warm or elegantly furnished it was. While I didn't find Dylan quite as endearing as Jonah, the tension within his family and the reasons for it hurt my heart. I loved the way Jonah helped him when his anxiety became overwhelming. It was interesting to see Jonah, who Dylan always thought of as loud and generally Too Much, become a calming presence in his life.
To echo what I've read in other reviews, I didn't care for the fake dating aspect of the story. Jonah had so much going on in his life that it didn't make much sense for him to tack on the obligation of a fake relationship just to appease their annoying friends. In my opinion, the trope felt squeezed into a story that had enough going on already and would have been just as good, if not better, without it. Once Jonah and Dylan got together for real, though, I was nothing but cheesy smiles for days.
I thought this book was really good and am so impressed that it's the authors debut novel. I think as a whole, we readers tend to be kind of hard on YA novels so I'm happy to see this book getting some well deserved praise.
For such young people, both Jonah and Dylan had already been through so much. I loved the nuanced way neglect and grief were portrayed through their characters and how differently they handled the emotional ramifications of both. The way Jonah worked so hard to keep his family together was pretty amazing, even if it should never have been his responsibility in the first place. His love for his sisters poured off the page and I adored every scene with them in it. Lily completely stole my heart and every time someone showed her kindness my eyes would start to leak.
Unlike Jonah, Dylan had the luxury of financial abundance, but an empty house was still an empty house, no matter how big or warm or elegantly furnished it was. While I didn't find Dylan quite as endearing as Jonah, the tension within his family and the reasons for it hurt my heart. I loved the way Jonah helped him when his anxiety became overwhelming. It was interesting to see Jonah, who Dylan always thought of as loud and generally Too Much, become a calming presence in his life.
To echo what I've read in other reviews, I didn't care for the fake dating aspect of the story. Jonah had so much going on in his life that it didn't make much sense for him to tack on the obligation of a fake relationship just to appease their annoying friends. In my opinion, the trope felt squeezed into a story that had enough going on already and would have been just as good, if not better, without it. Once Jonah and Dylan got together for real, though, I was nothing but cheesy smiles for days.
I thought this book was really good and am so impressed that it's the authors debut novel. I think as a whole, we readers tend to be kind of hard on YA novels so I'm happy to see this book getting some well deserved praise.
June 29, 2021
Before I start rambling and gushing I want to state that I was extremely lucky to receive a draft of this book from the author because she is amazing and I love her. But let it be known that that didn't sway my opinion in the least. This book is freaking fantastic all on its own, thank you very much.
OKAY LET'S DO THIS.
I am not going to say too much because ahaha this book is still years away and I will probably re-read it when ARC's are available and then again when it's out so this is not my full review but just an excuse for me to tell you and scream at you how much you will need this book in your life.
THEY HATE EACH OTHER is, truly, the gay romcom of my heart. Everything from the characters to the writing just had my heart soaring. I LOVED the characters with my whole being and GOD the writing is just SO excellent that it makes me cry with envy. SPEAKING OF CRYING. This book has it all. I'm pretty sure I've never shed this many tears for a book in my life. Whether they be happy tears or ugly sobs, this book gave me all the feels. I could go on for hours about how Jonah is such an amazing character who is loud and so very present all the time but also secretly soft and in need of a hug. How he loves the stars and is so protective over his sisters. I could go on about how Dylan seems uptight, rich and spoiled but is actually dealing with trauma and hurt and pain and how he stress bakes and makes me hungry every time he does that. I could go on about how much I adore their romance with all my heart and how they made me yell and scream and basically make me look like an insane person in front of my partner and daughter while I was reading this.
I could go on and on about this book but really all you need to know is how bloody fantastic it is. And how much you will need this book in your life. Because everyone does. And I can't wait to see this book be enormously successful because it deserves to be.
THEY HATE EACH OTHER is heartwrenching and beautiful and soft and emotional and everything I want in a book. It is without a doubt one of the very best books I have ever read in my life and nobody can change my opinion on that. I can't wait to see what this book will do to the world and I can't wait to read it over and over again. And I can't wait to see Amanda take the world by storm. Because she will.
OKAY LET'S DO THIS.
I am not going to say too much because ahaha this book is still years away and I will probably re-read it when ARC's are available and then again when it's out so this is not my full review but just an excuse for me to tell you and scream at you how much you will need this book in your life.
THEY HATE EACH OTHER is, truly, the gay romcom of my heart. Everything from the characters to the writing just had my heart soaring. I LOVED the characters with my whole being and GOD the writing is just SO excellent that it makes me cry with envy. SPEAKING OF CRYING. This book has it all. I'm pretty sure I've never shed this many tears for a book in my life. Whether they be happy tears or ugly sobs, this book gave me all the feels. I could go on for hours about how Jonah is such an amazing character who is loud and so very present all the time but also secretly soft and in need of a hug. How he loves the stars and is so protective over his sisters. I could go on about how Dylan seems uptight, rich and spoiled but is actually dealing with trauma and hurt and pain and how he stress bakes and makes me hungry every time he does that. I could go on about how much I adore their romance with all my heart and how they made me yell and scream and basically make me look like an insane person in front of my partner and daughter while I was reading this.
I could go on and on about this book but really all you need to know is how bloody fantastic it is. And how much you will need this book in your life. Because everyone does. And I can't wait to see this book be enormously successful because it deserves to be.
THEY HATE EACH OTHER is heartwrenching and beautiful and soft and emotional and everything I want in a book. It is without a doubt one of the very best books I have ever read in my life and nobody can change my opinion on that. I can't wait to see what this book will do to the world and I can't wait to read it over and over again. And I can't wait to see Amanda take the world by storm. Because she will.
June 12, 2023
6.11.23 - reread less then 2 months later because I missed them
4.16.23 “They Hate Each Other” is a wonderfully written queer ya with enemies to lovers and fake dating! Often times books focus too much on their tropes and not the development of characters and natural relationship progression but the opposite is true here. I breezed through this due to how it is written with so much care for the characters. Both of the main characters arcs is so incredibly done. Their relationship is full of great moments of discovering more about each other and falling in love. There are many great scenes that usually come from fake dating which I loved.
The only real thing I could see someone disliking is that this isn’t so much focused on their romance as marketed. There is definitely a lot of romance but this goes hand in hand with the Jonah and Dylan’s own lives and issues. For me, this is just a plus since I adore good character development and this is often missing from other books with similar premises to this!
Overall, I absolutely LOVED this book and would definitely recommend checking it out when it’s available (or preorder it now!)
4.16.23 “They Hate Each Other” is a wonderfully written queer ya with enemies to lovers and fake dating! Often times books focus too much on their tropes and not the development of characters and natural relationship progression but the opposite is true here. I breezed through this due to how it is written with so much care for the characters. Both of the main characters arcs is so incredibly done. Their relationship is full of great moments of discovering more about each other and falling in love. There are many great scenes that usually come from fake dating which I loved.
The only real thing I could see someone disliking is that this isn’t so much focused on their romance as marketed. There is definitely a lot of romance but this goes hand in hand with the Jonah and Dylan’s own lives and issues. For me, this is just a plus since I adore good character development and this is often missing from other books with similar premises to this!
Overall, I absolutely LOVED this book and would definitely recommend checking it out when it’s available (or preorder it now!)
August 31, 2023
The title of this book kind of put me off reading it for a while. They Hate Each Other just feels a bit on the nose. But thankfully I gave it a try because the inside was awesome. I had to ration my reading because I just wanted to devour the book whole.
The tropes are so well executed here. But they don't overpower the book. There's a lot more to these character's than the tropes used. They have very complex familial relationships, history that they have to work through, and they grow immensely as the book progresses.
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Jonah and Dylan are 'enemies' but their friend group all think the animosity is just chemistry, and that they should get together. Both of them are sick of hearing this so they devise a plan to get their friends off their backs.
They're going to fake date. Let their friends think they are finally giving a relationship a go, and then have a breakup so their friends will stop pushing them together.
But you all know how this goes. Enemies-to-lovers and fake dating; Jonah and Dylan are basically destined to catch real feelings.
The tropes are so well executed here. But they don't overpower the book. There's a lot more to these character's than the tropes used. They have very complex familial relationships, history that they have to work through, and they grow immensely as the book progresses.
__
Jonah and Dylan are 'enemies' but their friend group all think the animosity is just chemistry, and that they should get together. Both of them are sick of hearing this so they devise a plan to get their friends off their backs.
They're going to fake date. Let their friends think they are finally giving a relationship a go, and then have a breakup so their friends will stop pushing them together.
But you all know how this goes. Enemies-to-lovers and fake dating; Jonah and Dylan are basically destined to catch real feelings.
July 4, 2025
I just couldn't put this down! Jonah and Dylan's POVs were so fun and by the end of it, I found myself genuinely heartbroken it was over. I love going into books blind because then stories like this one take me by total surprise. It was so funny I laughed out loud, but then it was so heartbreakingly sad that I had to rub my chest to ease the hurt... and there was a lot of hurt. But there was also a lot of hope, and love, and joy.
Do yourself a huge favor and read this book. PLEASE.
Do yourself a huge favor and read this book. PLEASE.
May 29, 2023
This book was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting a light hearted rom com and while it WAS hilariously funny at times, it was also raw and tender and touching and emotional and achingly sweet. The book tackles some heavy topics and has a lot more edge to it then I was expecting. It’s also one of the best enemies to lovers books I’ve ever read and I couldn’t be more in love with both main characters. They Hate Each Other made me laugh and it made me cry and it will definitely be on my list of favorite books for 2023.
November 27, 2024
Yeah, I know the fake dating trope isn’t for everyone. Yes, the way they come up with the scheme is a bit… unrealistic and ott, and yeah their friends are a lot but these things aren’t really the heart of the story. Because the heart of the story are these two lost, sad, lonely, beautiful, beautiful boys and their incredible journeys.
We have Jonah, who has lost his mum to an accident and his dad - who’s still alive but utterly absent - to alcoholism. He goes to school, works full time, and is his sister’s caregiver. He is exhausted and scared and lost and too damn stubborn to accept any help. He’s also - despite it all - a social butterfly and the life of every party. And he hates Dylan with a passion.
Dylan, the cool, calm, collected golden child who apparently has it all: money and a big house, family, a fancy car, the good looks, popularity.
Dylan, who behind all that image though, is maybe the loneliest, saddest, most anxious broken boi I have ever encountered in a book. His story, his trauma and his utter aloneness moved me to tears many times.
For reasons that aren’t really believable and also not really relevant, they decide to fake date and guess what? They still hate each other and I loved that! They hate the touching, they hate the eyes on them, they hate spending time with each other, because they are so different… or are they?
With time they ever so slowly start to care, to support, to comfort, to help, even if some people are too stubborn to accept it at first (JONAH, I’m talking to you). And most importantly they learn that it’s truly okay to need help, to ask for help, to accept help and their whole journey is emotional and angsty and beautiful and meaningful. I loved them so so much.
This is my second time with this book in audio format and I can’t recommend listening to it enough. It’s truly masterful, both narrators did an absolutely fantastic job! I’m bumping this up to 5⭐️ because by now it’s no secret that I love me some broken bois who heal together. And this was done so wonderfully here. 🥹🫶
We have Jonah, who has lost his mum to an accident and his dad - who’s still alive but utterly absent - to alcoholism. He goes to school, works full time, and is his sister’s caregiver. He is exhausted and scared and lost and too damn stubborn to accept any help. He’s also - despite it all - a social butterfly and the life of every party. And he hates Dylan with a passion.
Dylan, the cool, calm, collected golden child who apparently has it all: money and a big house, family, a fancy car, the good looks, popularity.
Dylan, who behind all that image though, is maybe the loneliest, saddest, most anxious broken boi I have ever encountered in a book. His story, his trauma and his utter aloneness moved me to tears many times.
For reasons that aren’t really believable and also not really relevant, they decide to fake date and guess what? They still hate each other and I loved that! They hate the touching, they hate the eyes on them, they hate spending time with each other, because they are so different… or are they?
With time they ever so slowly start to care, to support, to comfort, to help, even if some people are too stubborn to accept it at first (JONAH, I’m talking to you). And most importantly they learn that it’s truly okay to need help, to ask for help, to accept help and their whole journey is emotional and angsty and beautiful and meaningful. I loved them so so much.
This is my second time with this book in audio format and I can’t recommend listening to it enough. It’s truly masterful, both narrators did an absolutely fantastic job! I’m bumping this up to 5⭐️ because by now it’s no secret that I love me some broken bois who heal together. And this was done so wonderfully here. 🥹🫶
Want to read
August 28, 2022Wow! The cover! 😍
June 3, 2023
You know it's a good book when you're at the edge of your seat and biting your nails, even if you know already what's going to happen next. That's the magic of character driven story telling. Of course this requires a lot of work in the character development department. And that's where Amanda Woody excels in their debut novel They Hate Each Other.
The plot seems a bit ridiculous at first. Dylan and Jonah can't stand each other. But their common best friends think they would make the perfect couple. To get them off their backs they decide to fake date and then break up. But as they get to know each other better they slowly learn about well hidden secrets, tragedies and traumas. There are some darker topics in this book but they are extremely well handled by the author. They don't cut too deep to make it unbearable heavy, but they are also not too superficial to make it some kind of joke. I love how Amanda Woody manages to keep the perfect level throughout the whole book. Despite the heavy stuff it's still an uplifting and heart-warming story.
Everyone on my timeline is so enthusiastic about this book and I'm no exception. One of the best reads of 2023 so far and definitely on my favorites shelf. Also my fifth five star rating in a row. Yay! I'm on a winning streak. Thank you Amanda Woody for this awesome book. 💖
The plot seems a bit ridiculous at first. Dylan and Jonah can't stand each other. But their common best friends think they would make the perfect couple. To get them off their backs they decide to fake date and then break up. But as they get to know each other better they slowly learn about well hidden secrets, tragedies and traumas. There are some darker topics in this book but they are extremely well handled by the author. They don't cut too deep to make it unbearable heavy, but they are also not too superficial to make it some kind of joke. I love how Amanda Woody manages to keep the perfect level throughout the whole book. Despite the heavy stuff it's still an uplifting and heart-warming story.
Everyone on my timeline is so enthusiastic about this book and I'm no exception. One of the best reads of 2023 so far and definitely on my favorites shelf. Also my fifth five star rating in a row. Yay! I'm on a winning streak. Thank you Amanda Woody for this awesome book. 💖
June 16, 2025
I'm such an idiot guys. I've been avoiding reading this book for months and now I'm so mad at myself. THIS WAS GREAT!!
The YA aspect was definitely there, and sometimes the writing style felt a little bit childish, but the topics discussed were all heavy and profound. Writing about queer characters isn't easy in the first place, but throwing child abuse and neglect into this is crazy. The only thing I can say is that the author did a great job.
The reason why it's not 4 stars is because Jonah's behaviour made me cringe sometimes. I still love my pookie, but there were times it felt like I was reading about a 12 year old.
The YA aspect was definitely there, and sometimes the writing style felt a little bit childish, but the topics discussed were all heavy and profound. Writing about queer characters isn't easy in the first place, but throwing child abuse and neglect into this is crazy. The only thing I can say is that the author did a great job.
The reason why it's not 4 stars is because Jonah's behaviour made me cringe sometimes. I still love my pookie, but there were times it felt like I was reading about a 12 year old.
May 24, 2023
Ya’ll! This book is the real deal! I FREAKING LOVED IT! 5 Stars all the way! This is a deep and special story that is so much more than tropes; examining trauma, family, and healing - not your typical YA.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 is the story of Jonah and Dylan. Two grumpy boys that CANNOT stand each other! But their friends all insist they should date, because they’re both bi, and think their disdain is just thinly veiled lust. So to get their friends off their backs, they agree to fake date… although ever hear of “falling for your enemy”?
It was truly a wild ride, with highs and lows, so beautifully crafted and funny - THE BANTER, especially Jonah’s quips! Amazing to see that despite their stubbornness and resistance, they grew to one another and became each-others safe space.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 is the story of Jonah and Dylan. Two grumpy boys that CANNOT stand each other! But their friends all insist they should date, because they’re both bi, and think their disdain is just thinly veiled lust. So to get their friends off their backs, they agree to fake date… although ever hear of “falling for your enemy”?
It was truly a wild ride, with highs and lows, so beautifully crafted and funny - THE BANTER, especially Jonah’s quips! Amazing to see that despite their stubbornness and resistance, they grew to one another and became each-others safe space.
December 22, 2022
Thank you penguin teen for and E-ARC
I was in the mood for a cute gay romcom and I love supporting debut authors as much as possible so I gave this a try.
I DNF at 10% and I struggled to even make it to that.
Flat POV’s. Both boys sounded exactly alike voice wise. The “hating eachother” aspect was just plain silly. SO. MUCH. EXPOSITION. I WANTED TO CRY. MAKE IT STOP.
If I could sum up my reading experience in a single gif it would be: dude with skateboard is clearly in his 40’s saying “how do you do fellow kids” that is what the writing felt like.
I was in the mood for a cute gay romcom and I love supporting debut authors as much as possible so I gave this a try.
I DNF at 10% and I struggled to even make it to that.
Flat POV’s. Both boys sounded exactly alike voice wise. The “hating eachother” aspect was just plain silly. SO. MUCH. EXPOSITION. I WANTED TO CRY. MAKE IT STOP.
If I could sum up my reading experience in a single gif it would be: dude with skateboard is clearly in his 40’s saying “how do you do fellow kids” that is what the writing felt like.
December 1, 2023
To finish a book in just 2 days during the work-week means there is something addictive here. Maybe this light enemies-to-lovers/rom-com was just what I needed in between the couple of very serious nonfiction books I'm reading (Killers of Flower Moon; Personal History of Modern Ireland). Whatever - it worked. 4.25* easy.
I liked both characters quickly. Jonah liked being the center of attention in social groups, but had a love for his siblings and astronomy that endeared him to me. Dylan was bigger/taller and focused, which gave him that high-school respect, but had his own social anxieties.
They appeared to be opposites in multiple ways:
J: Poor; D: Rich
J: Work-job; D: Allowance
J: White; D: Brown
J: Extrovert; D: Introvert
J: Shorter/Skinny; D: Tall/Strong
But they shared some same traits that brought them together:
- Both were out about being Bi, and accepted at school and home.
- Both shared the friends Andre/Hannah.
- Both had family secrets.
I can't divulge the family secrets here w/o spoiling, but it was these family secrets that drove the story-line. You felt a little more being revealed as you turned each page, and wanting to know more. These secrets could have destroyed their relationship. The author did a great job keeping the book in the rom/com ('surely this will workout') mode, while making me worry enough at each step that I felt the roller-coaster of emotions constantly.
The family secrets were serious enough to keep this book out of the pure rom/com. It started as fun as these two boys were tired of their friends teasing them so much about needing to be 'together', that they staged a fake relationship. But the "com" part took a back-seat as the underlying serious pieces took over. That is what hooked me.
Some minor dislikes:
- Jonah (the extrovert) is a senior and kissing for the first time?
- Lots of alcohol throughout this book, both at some high school parties and a parent. Yea - I know this can be a reality, but when arriving at a party and friends are 'a few drinks ahead' implies drinking in HS that is usually reserved for a college party.
- The secrets that buoyed the story took extra pages at the end of the book to tie off. I remember passing the climax and glancing to see I still had 30+ pages left to read. Kinda tied the ending off TOO nicely.
4.25* I'm glad I read this uplifting Goldilocks-mix of Rom/Com/Enemies/Lovers story.
I liked both characters quickly. Jonah liked being the center of attention in social groups, but had a love for his siblings and astronomy that endeared him to me. Dylan was bigger/taller and focused, which gave him that high-school respect, but had his own social anxieties.
They appeared to be opposites in multiple ways:
J: Poor; D: Rich
J: Work-job; D: Allowance
J: White; D: Brown
J: Extrovert; D: Introvert
J: Shorter/Skinny; D: Tall/Strong
But they shared some same traits that brought them together:
- Both were out about being Bi, and accepted at school and home.
- Both shared the friends Andre/Hannah.
- Both had family secrets.
I can't divulge the family secrets here w/o spoiling, but it was these family secrets that drove the story-line. You felt a little more being revealed as you turned each page, and wanting to know more. These secrets could have destroyed their relationship. The author did a great job keeping the book in the rom/com ('surely this will workout') mode, while making me worry enough at each step that I felt the roller-coaster of emotions constantly.
The family secrets were serious enough to keep this book out of the pure rom/com. It started as fun as these two boys were tired of their friends teasing them so much about needing to be 'together', that they staged a fake relationship. But the "com" part took a back-seat as the underlying serious pieces took over. That is what hooked me.
Some minor dislikes:
- Jonah (the extrovert) is a senior and kissing for the first time?
- Lots of alcohol throughout this book, both at some high school parties and a parent. Yea - I know this can be a reality, but when arriving at a party and friends are 'a few drinks ahead' implies drinking in HS that is usually reserved for a college party.
- The secrets that buoyed the story took extra pages at the end of the book to tie off. I remember passing the climax and glancing to see I still had 30+ pages left to read. Kinda tied the ending off TOO nicely.
4.25* I'm glad I read this uplifting Goldilocks-mix of Rom/Com/Enemies/Lovers story.
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