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The Lasker Brothers #3
The Ex I'd Love to Hate
Grant Lasker. My first love. My first heartbreak. And now, my boss.
Grant Lasker is the first guy I fell in love with.
The first guy I shared everything with.
I thought what we had was perfect…until I found out I was just a bet to him.
All the lavish gifts and attention were nothing more than tricks to fool me.
Grant always wins, no matter the collateral damage.
I left him without a second glance and rebuilt my life, along with the walls around my heart.
Fourteen years later, I manage to find a job that pays enough to keep my beloved grandfather in a private assisted-living center.
There is just one problem…
The person I need to work for is Grant, and he seems to think I betrayed him and is doing everything in his power to make my life hell.
But if he thinks he's going to win again, he's in for a very nasty surprise.
The Ex I'd Love to Hate is a standalone contemporary romance. Do you love enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, second chance romance with all the feels? Then grab The Ex I'd Love to Hate today!
Grant Lasker is the first guy I fell in love with.
The first guy I shared everything with.
I thought what we had was perfect…until I found out I was just a bet to him.
All the lavish gifts and attention were nothing more than tricks to fool me.
Grant always wins, no matter the collateral damage.
I left him without a second glance and rebuilt my life, along with the walls around my heart.
Fourteen years later, I manage to find a job that pays enough to keep my beloved grandfather in a private assisted-living center.
There is just one problem…
The person I need to work for is Grant, and he seems to think I betrayed him and is doing everything in his power to make my life hell.
But if he thinks he's going to win again, he's in for a very nasty surprise.
The Ex I'd Love to Hate is a standalone contemporary romance. Do you love enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, second chance romance with all the feels? Then grab The Ex I'd Love to Hate today!
474 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2023
3614 people are currently reading
7126 people want to read
About the author
Nadia Lee
76 books2,817 followersBilingual former management consultant Nadia Lee has lived in four different countries and enjoyed many adventures and excellent food around the globe. In the last eight years, she has kissed stingrays, got bitten by a shark, and petted tigers.
She shares an apartment overlooking a river and palm trees in Japan with her husband, winter white hamsters and an ever-widening pile of books. When she's not writing, she can be found digging through old Asian historical texts or planning another trip.
Visit Nadia on her website or her blog. You can also say hello on Facebook or Twitter.
She shares an apartment overlooking a river and palm trees in Japan with her husband, winter white hamsters and an ever-widening pile of books. When she's not writing, she can be found digging through old Asian historical texts or planning another trip.
Visit Nadia on her website or her blog. You can also say hello on Facebook or Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 603 reviews
January 17, 2023
It is so bad I want to give you a zero but that’s not possible, so I give you a one
When he told her he had tattoo tally marks for every year they were apart (14 years! LOSER GET A JOB)… like be serious
When he told her he had tattoo tally marks for every year they were apart (14 years! LOSER GET A JOB)… like be serious
January 29, 2023
i need to stop giving tik tok recommendations a chance lol
May 29, 2025
Well, I hate him.
Normally when I DNF I don't rate a book, but the hero is so awful, OTT petty and even physically abusive I just can't stand it. He makes all those vengeful Mediterranean H's look tame and sane.
I've read these books all out of order, and the H doesn't come across that great in My Grumpy Billionaire, but he's worse and whinier in this one. He's a self entitled jerk when they meet in college and he's grown exponentially worse after their great big misunderstanding. I mean just grow up.
Revised from a 1 star. It's a rage inducer for sure though, but well done.
P.S.
Did a re-read and, yep, for some reason he did not improve, still horrible.
I did want to say that this gives off big Maya Alden vibes with such a horrible, vindictive hero. So if you like a little emotional torture with your heroes, give it a try.
Normally when I DNF I don't rate a book, but the hero is so awful, OTT petty and even physically abusive I just can't stand it. He makes all those vengeful Mediterranean H's look tame and sane.
I've read these books all out of order, and the H doesn't come across that great in My Grumpy Billionaire, but he's worse and whinier in this one. He's a self entitled jerk when they meet in college and he's grown exponentially worse after their great big misunderstanding. I mean just grow up.
Revised from a 1 star. It's a rage inducer for sure though, but well done.
P.S.
Did a re-read and, yep, for some reason he did not improve, still horrible.
I did want to say that this gives off big Maya Alden vibes with such a horrible, vindictive hero. So if you like a little emotional torture with your heroes, give it a try.
January 5, 2023
This. Is. The. Best. Nadia. Lee. Book. Ever! And that is saying something since she is an incredible writer. This is Grant and Aspen story and what an amazing story it is! I am having a hard time writing this right now because I am suffering from book-hangover. The first 2 Lasker stories were great..this one is better. I felt every emotion, I laughed, cried, got mad and then was utterly satisfied at the end. Please read this book..you will be so happy you did!
Read
January 8, 2023So I finally called it quits this book is honestly not what I expected it to be by the blurb. I won't rate because I DNF.
I recieved an ARC and this is my honest review
I recieved an ARC and this is my honest review
January 7, 2023
ARC REVIEW
🙈🙈🙈
Oof, I really didn’t like this book! I feel it needs lot of editing down and it was very repetitive.
The first half of the book is in the past when both MCs are in college. We get their whole backstory of how they got together and subsequently broke up. There was so much extra information that had no bearing on the story.
The other half is 14 years later when the MCs meet again and hate each other. It’s basically all just one big miscommunication as to why they broke up and hate each other and it was so stupid.
There were backstories for characters that held no bearing to the story (do I really need to read a whole paragraph about the concierge at the nursing home? Or Aspens neighbor?)
They acted like they had this beautiful love affair that was ruined when in reality they dated in college for like 2 weeks. Neither character seemed to change from college to 30s- I didnt feel any connection to either character.
I read the word Maserati at least 200x.
There was a lot of time blown setting up the next book between another brother and the bakery lady.
This is the first I’m reading from this author and it will probably be the last. Sorry! 🙈
🙈🙈🙈
Oof, I really didn’t like this book! I feel it needs lot of editing down and it was very repetitive.
The first half of the book is in the past when both MCs are in college. We get their whole backstory of how they got together and subsequently broke up. There was so much extra information that had no bearing on the story.
The other half is 14 years later when the MCs meet again and hate each other. It’s basically all just one big miscommunication as to why they broke up and hate each other and it was so stupid.
There were backstories for characters that held no bearing to the story (do I really need to read a whole paragraph about the concierge at the nursing home? Or Aspens neighbor?)
They acted like they had this beautiful love affair that was ruined when in reality they dated in college for like 2 weeks. Neither character seemed to change from college to 30s- I didnt feel any connection to either character.
I read the word Maserati at least 200x.
There was a lot of time blown setting up the next book between another brother and the bakery lady.
This is the first I’m reading from this author and it will probably be the last. Sorry! 🙈
April 27, 2023
What the fuck was that. Never again please god never again
October 23, 2023
A really liked this one. I'm a huge fan of second chance romance.
The book starts with them in college, they get together and then they get separated.
The breakup is due to others meddling then circumstances and youth, not sorting things out.
Then we catch up with them 14 years later.
Warning - Heroine has had an awful time and the Hero is really unkind and cruel to her when they reconnect.
Spoiler.
Both have been involved with others in the time apart. No details for the heroine, a mention of Hero's previous.
The heroine gave him her v card, the others revealed the Hero was involved in a bet to take her v card, its not as simple as they make out, he opted out but it is room mates with so they include him, against his wishes. There is history of bets between them.
At the same time the heroine gets bad news about her grandmother.
As he thinks he only used her she doesn't tell the Hero.
The Hero realises she's left campus and at the same time recieves a call from his family's assistant that the heroine is a gold digger who is selling all the things he bought her.
She is actually selling them to pay for her grandmother's medical bills.
They reconnect and he feels used and has become bitter. She is under extreme stress, caring for her grandfather who has memory issues, he's in a care home which she's working to pay for.
No intimate details other than the Hero and heroine.
The meddlers at the college get to pay gor being involved in the separation.
HEA.
Breadcrumbs dropped for future books in series.
The book starts with them in college, they get together and then they get separated.
The breakup is due to others meddling then circumstances and youth, not sorting things out.
Then we catch up with them 14 years later.
Warning - Heroine has had an awful time and the Hero is really unkind and cruel to her when they reconnect.
Spoiler.
Both have been involved with others in the time apart. No details for the heroine, a mention of Hero's previous.
The heroine gave him her v card, the others revealed the Hero was involved in a bet to take her v card, its not as simple as they make out, he opted out but it is room mates with so they include him, against his wishes. There is history of bets between them.
At the same time the heroine gets bad news about her grandmother.
As he thinks he only used her she doesn't tell the Hero.
The Hero realises she's left campus and at the same time recieves a call from his family's assistant that the heroine is a gold digger who is selling all the things he bought her.
She is actually selling them to pay for her grandmother's medical bills.
They reconnect and he feels used and has become bitter. She is under extreme stress, caring for her grandfather who has memory issues, he's in a care home which she's working to pay for.
No intimate details other than the Hero and heroine.
The meddlers at the college get to pay gor being involved in the separation.
HEA.
Breadcrumbs dropped for future books in series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
meh
This the third book I’ve read by this author. I recognize not every story will be a hit, however, I’m on the fence about her work.
I love enemies to lovers and second chance stories. This book is both and yet it completely missed the mark for me. This is a series about the Lasker brothers. Seems their dad had a vasectomy that didn’t take and fathered 7 boys with 7 different women, that were all born within months of each other.
That’s just nasty.
Note to self, scan reviews for books that have been in my queue a while before starting.
Grant & Aspen are the typical opposites attract, rich boy/poor girl couple. Grant was unlikeable for me. He is an arse to her and almost everyone. His parents mostly ignore him and leave him on his own.
Aspen was orphaned as a toddler and subsequently raised by her very loving grandparents. Her grandpa describes her as a prickly pear on the outside with a marshmallow interior. Not the most flattering description.
The book is divided into two parts, their past college romance and flash forward to present day, 14 years later. Their relationship is built on half truths, with major flaws in how they communicate. Keeping secrets from someone you claim you are falling in love with always leads to disaster.
Their campus love story is cut short when Aspen learns Grant’s secret, is then humiliated on campus and flees without word or explanation. He jumps to his own, very wrong conclusions and vows to never open his heart again.
Part 2, 14 years later, Aspen hasn’t fared much better. She is still somewhat destitute and struggling to manage her life. Grant, on the other hand, is a highly successful business owner, who is still an arse.
She is hired as his new assistant and Grant vows to break her as payback for her past transgressions which leads to more misunderstandings and miscommunication… yada, yada, yada… until they come to their senses.
I should have stopped myself from continuing after their “reunion”. Aspen’s inner dialogue hinted at another reason for her not returning to campus to finish her degree. I had a theory and wanted to see if I was right…. I wasn’t. Actually that thread was left hanging and completely forgotten about. And the fact she just gave up on her education and abandoned all effort to finish, declining to transfer to a school closer to her grandparents made zero sense. I didn’t feel any great chemistry or love between them, he was too arrogant for me to root for, period.
Aspen’s relationship with her grandparents is what grabbed me the most and brought me to tears and the sole reason I changed my rating to 2.5 stars.
This the third book I’ve read by this author. I recognize not every story will be a hit, however, I’m on the fence about her work.
I love enemies to lovers and second chance stories. This book is both and yet it completely missed the mark for me. This is a series about the Lasker brothers. Seems their dad had a vasectomy that didn’t take and fathered 7 boys with 7 different women, that were all born within months of each other.
That’s just nasty.
Note to self, scan reviews for books that have been in my queue a while before starting.
Grant & Aspen are the typical opposites attract, rich boy/poor girl couple. Grant was unlikeable for me. He is an arse to her and almost everyone. His parents mostly ignore him and leave him on his own.
Aspen was orphaned as a toddler and subsequently raised by her very loving grandparents. Her grandpa describes her as a prickly pear on the outside with a marshmallow interior. Not the most flattering description.
The book is divided into two parts, their past college romance and flash forward to present day, 14 years later. Their relationship is built on half truths, with major flaws in how they communicate. Keeping secrets from someone you claim you are falling in love with always leads to disaster.
Their campus love story is cut short when Aspen learns Grant’s secret, is then humiliated on campus and flees without word or explanation. He jumps to his own, very wrong conclusions and vows to never open his heart again.
Part 2, 14 years later, Aspen hasn’t fared much better. She is still somewhat destitute and struggling to manage her life. Grant, on the other hand, is a highly successful business owner, who is still an arse.
She is hired as his new assistant and Grant vows to break her as payback for her past transgressions which leads to more misunderstandings and miscommunication… yada, yada, yada… until they come to their senses.
I should have stopped myself from continuing after their “reunion”. Aspen’s inner dialogue hinted at another reason for her not returning to campus to finish her degree. I had a theory and wanted to see if I was right…. I wasn’t. Actually that thread was left hanging and completely forgotten about. And the fact she just gave up on her education and abandoned all effort to finish, declining to transfer to a school closer to her grandparents made zero sense. I didn’t feel any great chemistry or love between them, he was too arrogant for me to root for, period.
Aspen’s relationship with her grandparents is what grabbed me the most and brought me to tears and the sole reason I changed my rating to 2.5 stars.
January 17, 2023
Aspen’s grandparents have always been there for her and she wants to be there for them and knows that college is the best way for that to happen. While there she meets Grant and thinks what they have is special only to believe that she was nothing more than a bet he was determined to win.
Grant comes from an affluent lifestyle and finds himself in college because it was expected of him. He has a different recollection of what happened between he and Aspen so years later when Aspen becomes his new employee the battle is on.
Grant is determined to make things as difficult as possible for Aspen however she has never backed down from anyone and isn’t about to start now. Their journey back to each other is filled with humor and turmoil but it was well worth the ride.
Grant comes from an affluent lifestyle and finds himself in college because it was expected of him. He has a different recollection of what happened between he and Aspen so years later when Aspen becomes his new employee the battle is on.
Grant is determined to make things as difficult as possible for Aspen however she has never backed down from anyone and isn’t about to start now. Their journey back to each other is filled with humor and turmoil but it was well worth the ride.
January 15, 2023
I LOVED this book. I kept checking what page I was on bc I didn’t want it to end. The book takes place in two parts, the past (college) and the present (12 years after graduation), and tells the epic (and unputdownable) love story of Grant, the alpha millionaire, and Aspen, the hardworking, working-class, granddaughter. If you like first loves, second-chance romances,opposites attract, and enemies-to-lovers, put on your swooning boots bc this book has all the feels!
December 14, 2023
SO MAD😡
First, I LOVE drama and miscommunication like this is my thing. However …
1. The tattoos? 🙄🙄 Stupid
2. She accepts clothes again after being so ‘tough’ and then 💥 in his office the next day??? Uh, what?
3. Not Aspen or Grant ever bring up Kat? Especially when Grant was looking for her, he never thought, hmmm - maybe she’s at her Grandma’s house?
4. Zack just faded away after being talked about so much
5. And what really irritated me was this big lead up and secret as to why she really didn’t go back to college……. AND THE AUTHOR NEVER TELLS YOU!!!’ What??? So many lead ups, even by her Grandfather to make you think so many different things: pregnancy? Illness? Scholarships pulled? But NOTHING! It’s forgotten about! 🤬
April 18, 2023
I started this book because I watched a K Drama with a similar plot and this book was almost just as good!
Basically the main characters sleep with each other and then meet again in the future with the main guy (Grant) as the girl’s (Aspen) boss. Aspen and Grant were in college and I found this part of the story really sweet and it describes how they met and the author did a great job with character development and background. This part also had lots of good tropes including enemies to lovers (good angst but wanted more), girl falls first-guy falls harder, one bed trope…I didn’t expect this part to take up almost half of the book, but it actually worked out well and it was my favorite part! The main couple fell in love but at the end of part 1 they of course have a falling out which would then lead to part 2.
Okay so here are the problems with part 2…
1.) IT’S FOURTEEN YEARS LATER!! the characters were 20 in part 1 but whyyy so long after part 1? I don’t get it? I would understand 5 years but 14 is too long.
2.) Aspen was described as a hard working girl who works in college and studies hard for her grades with a passion in economics and a goal to be some form of a financial broker. So please tell me why is this girl almost in her mid thirties and working as a waitress? I’m so confused!! And then an employee from Grant’s company comes in one day and recommends her applying for an assistant position? I understand if this was 5 years later after part 1 and you know life happens so I get it if she had to put college on hold BUT IT HAS BEEN FOURTEEN YEARS. I was really disappointed about that lack of character growth and it almost made me stop reading the book but I had to understand why she waited so long to start her career. When it was revealed that she had dropped out because of her grandma’s death along with her heart break from Grant, I understand with her wanting to take a semester off but it seemed out of character of her to never go back to school.
3.) in Part 2 99% of Aspen’s and Grant’s problems revolve around the fact that they choose not to communication and be honest. Part 2 starts with them hating each other and it takes a very long time for them to admit how they hurt each other in the past. I felt it dragged on for way too long.
Overall, this was a good book. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional in part 2, but I felt part 2 was very sad and sweet at the very end. I like how part 2 felt realistic in the way that unexpected things happen in life that are out of your control and it made the characters feel more real and relatable. This is a bittersweet story and it’s not the romance comedy that I was expecting from the summery that I read but I still overall enjoyed this read.
Basically the main characters sleep with each other and then meet again in the future with the main guy (Grant) as the girl’s (Aspen) boss. Aspen and Grant were in college and I found this part of the story really sweet and it describes how they met and the author did a great job with character development and background. This part also had lots of good tropes including enemies to lovers (good angst but wanted more), girl falls first-guy falls harder, one bed trope…I didn’t expect this part to take up almost half of the book, but it actually worked out well and it was my favorite part! The main couple fell in love but at the end of part 1 they of course have a falling out which would then lead to part 2.
Okay so here are the problems with part 2…
1.) IT’S FOURTEEN YEARS LATER!! the characters were 20 in part 1 but whyyy so long after part 1? I don’t get it? I would understand 5 years but 14 is too long.
2.) Aspen was described as a hard working girl who works in college and studies hard for her grades with a passion in economics and a goal to be some form of a financial broker. So please tell me why is this girl almost in her mid thirties and working as a waitress? I’m so confused!! And then an employee from Grant’s company comes in one day and recommends her applying for an assistant position? I understand if this was 5 years later after part 1 and you know life happens so I get it if she had to put college on hold BUT IT HAS BEEN FOURTEEN YEARS. I was really disappointed about that lack of character growth and it almost made me stop reading the book but I had to understand why she waited so long to start her career. When it was revealed that she had dropped out because of her grandma’s death along with her heart break from Grant, I understand with her wanting to take a semester off but it seemed out of character of her to never go back to school.
3.) in Part 2 99% of Aspen’s and Grant’s problems revolve around the fact that they choose not to communication and be honest. Part 2 starts with them hating each other and it takes a very long time for them to admit how they hurt each other in the past. I felt it dragged on for way too long.
Overall, this was a good book. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional in part 2, but I felt part 2 was very sad and sweet at the very end. I like how part 2 felt realistic in the way that unexpected things happen in life that are out of your control and it made the characters feel more real and relatable. This is a bittersweet story and it’s not the romance comedy that I was expecting from the summery that I read but I still overall enjoyed this read.
January 8, 2023
EILTH by Nadia Lee is the third stand-alone in the Lasker Brothers Series. The previous books are Baby for the Bosshole and My Grumpy Billionaire. For best reading experience I recommend to read the books in order.
This is Aspen and Grant's second-chances-story.
Aspen was raised by her loving grandparents and Grant is part of a big family. He and his six siblings are rich famous, prodigees.
Both meet at college and they fall rather quickly for each other. But it doesn't go that well and,,, fast forward, 14 years later, Aspen has a new boss, Grant a new pa and surprise, there's their second not so meet cute. She needs the job for reasons, he wants her quit - lean back and enjoy.
This book should come witha warning - Unputdownable once started reading, literally.
The story and the characters took me with them on a wild ride, they gave me all the feels, had me teary eyed, wanted to shake the H, my heart was hurting for the h.
And now I'm sitting here with a bookhangover and I know the next thing I'll do is read the first and second book in this fantastic series.
This is Aspen and Grant's second-chances-story.
Aspen was raised by her loving grandparents and Grant is part of a big family. He and his six siblings are rich famous, prodigees.
Both meet at college and they fall rather quickly for each other. But it doesn't go that well and,,, fast forward, 14 years later, Aspen has a new boss, Grant a new pa and surprise, there's their second not so meet cute. She needs the job for reasons, he wants her quit - lean back and enjoy.
This book should come witha warning - Unputdownable once started reading, literally.
The story and the characters took me with them on a wild ride, they gave me all the feels, had me teary eyed, wanted to shake the H, my heart was hurting for the h.
And now I'm sitting here with a bookhangover and I know the next thing I'll do is read the first and second book in this fantastic series.
May 4, 2025
Loved, loved, this book! My favorite in the series. The hate to love. The love to hate. The misunderstandings... the time apart... the meeting again. I wished this book wouldn't end.
**Misunderstandings
**Opposites
**Struggling girl vs. Rich guy
**College setting... Work force
Online audiobook 🎶
**Misunderstandings
**Opposites
**Struggling girl vs. Rich guy
**College setting... Work force
Online audiobook 🎶
January 7, 2023
Way too long and only really started liking the MMC at about 80% of the way through the book, not for me I'm afraid.
May 28, 2025
I enjoyed this book so much I finished it in a day. I love a good second chance romance and I have been seeing this book all over the place lately so i was so excited to read it.
I loved the characters and the plot. I gave it 4 starts because it was way to long and it could’ve been shorter. The author dragged out the time it took for Grant and Aspen to just have an honest conversation about all the misunderstanding that had led to their breakup.
I loved the characters and the plot. I gave it 4 starts because it was way to long and it could’ve been shorter. The author dragged out the time it took for Grant and Aspen to just have an honest conversation about all the misunderstanding that had led to their breakup.
January 8, 2023
The Lasker boys are back!
Although the book is about Grant and Aspen, all the boys make an appearance.
This story gives us a peek into the life of the boys BEFORE they were The Laskers. The majority of the book takes place in the past and tells the beginnings of Grant and Aspen's story. I really enjoyed getting to know them before the cynicism and well life, took over. When everything was fresh and new. That sat with me once the book caught up to current day and their story continued.
It's a book of second chances and first loves reuniting. I was up until 3AM, two nights in a row reading this story. I was hooked.
Of course, you cannot have a Lasker book without an appearance from dear old Dad and WOWZER did he outdo himself in this book. Nadia is a genius writing this character.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.
Although the book is about Grant and Aspen, all the boys make an appearance.
This story gives us a peek into the life of the boys BEFORE they were The Laskers. The majority of the book takes place in the past and tells the beginnings of Grant and Aspen's story. I really enjoyed getting to know them before the cynicism and well life, took over. When everything was fresh and new. That sat with me once the book caught up to current day and their story continued.
It's a book of second chances and first loves reuniting. I was up until 3AM, two nights in a row reading this story. I was hooked.
Of course, you cannot have a Lasker book without an appearance from dear old Dad and WOWZER did he outdo himself in this book. Nadia is a genius writing this character.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.
July 26, 2023
1.4 stars
While I understand this uses the miscommunication trope (it's a trope, right?) as a foundation for the story, I can't help but feel like Grant was an absolute bully. Aspen was literally a victim of mobbing (bullying at work). I don't care how much of a bitch you think someone is, there is no excuse to make her run at 4am as punishment (for what she did 14 years ago!) and make her work 80 hours a week just to force her to quit.
At first, the running was kind of funny, but after a while, considering he consistently did stuff to her, it became too much. And then after 14 years of misunderstanding, of him being the most unfair d*ck to Aspen, he grovels for two chapters and she forgives him.
I'm sorry?? You're trying to convince me a woman deals with a trauma for 14 years (FOURTEEN YEARS!!!!!), gets depressed after losing her grandmother, is in a dire financial situation due to her grandpa's illness, gets bullied for weeks by the ex-boyfriend who traumatised her and then forgives him in two chapters?? I get it: he didn't really want to traumatise her, she misunderstood it all, so did he, but she lived 14 years believing otherwise! You don't forget that in two chapters!
No, just no.
While I understand this uses the miscommunication trope (it's a trope, right?) as a foundation for the story, I can't help but feel like Grant was an absolute bully. Aspen was literally a victim of mobbing (bullying at work). I don't care how much of a bitch you think someone is, there is no excuse to make her run at 4am as punishment (for what she did 14 years ago!) and make her work 80 hours a week just to force her to quit.
At first, the running was kind of funny, but after a while, considering he consistently did stuff to her, it became too much. And then after 14 years of misunderstanding, of him being the most unfair d*ck to Aspen, he grovels for two chapters and she forgives him.
I'm sorry?? You're trying to convince me a woman deals with a trauma for 14 years (FOURTEEN YEARS!!!!!), gets depressed after losing her grandmother, is in a dire financial situation due to her grandpa's illness, gets bullied for weeks by the ex-boyfriend who traumatised her and then forgives him in two chapters?? I get it: he didn't really want to traumatise her, she misunderstood it all, so did he, but she lived 14 years believing otherwise! You don't forget that in two chapters!
No, just no.
October 24, 2024
I'm so confused.
I had a good enough time reading this book, even though I think she forgave him to quickly but whatever.
But the whole time I was waiting for her to tell him that she was pregnant when they were younger and had a miscarriage or gave the baby up for adoption. I though there were hints that something like that happened, because she said at one point that three bad things happend and I still don't know what the third one was and she made a comment about not every pregnancy and birth were troubled or something like that. I really thought it would lead back to her and something that happened and he didn't know about it.
Maybe I just read to much into it or maybe I read until 2 AM and my brain's just tred who knows?
Anyways, I had fun. The ending was kinda boring, but I guess you can't have everything...
I had a good enough time reading this book, even though I think she forgave him to quickly but whatever.
But the whole time I was waiting for her to tell him that she was pregnant when they were younger and had a miscarriage or gave the baby up for adoption. I though there were hints that something like that happened, because she said at one point that three bad things happend and I still don't know what the third one was and she made a comment about not every pregnancy and birth were troubled or something like that. I really thought it would lead back to her and something that happened and he didn't know about it.
Maybe I just read to much into it or maybe I read until 2 AM and my brain's just tred who knows?
Anyways, I had fun. The ending was kinda boring, but I guess you can't have everything...
Want to read
January 18, 2023I'm holding a sign paperback giveaway on my IG page you have until 11:59 pm ET on 1/20/23 to enter ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnj3JyFONQ7/
August 15, 2023
This could have been a great second chance romance except the guy was a massive assh*le up until the last 40 pages or so and that is why I cannot in good conscience give more than a 2.5 rating to this book.
There was literally no groveling whatsoever, he just had his realization and said sorry a couple of times and she forgave him after 1 speech? Hellll no!! Not in this house.
There was literally no groveling whatsoever, he just had his realization and said sorry a couple of times and she forgave him after 1 speech? Hellll no!! Not in this house.
February 24, 2023
Tiktok always tricks me. I actually read this book cause... I got caught in the plot. I mean, the university part was boring asf. But when you start reading the 14 years after it kinds of makes you want to keep reading. Still, the ending its pretty bad. Cause he's just a douchebag. I almost cry, cause she's so alone, and her whole life has been shit, that 14th years of pain. And suddenly she forgives him? Just cause he's cute and her sexy boss. I mean, don't get me wrong, we all want a sexy boss, but DEFENETIVELY NOT when he's the reason why you don't finish college and took your V-card in a bet. I would never forgive him, but she starts the first day of work. I can't. This book it's too messy, very sad, and the characters are so messed up. I just can't.
The story has zero development, I mean, the characters are so basic, even when 14 years passed by. They can't communicate like normal people. He's too lucky, and she's too unlucky.
Even the bet and everything it's bad plotted, cause the friends told her without reason. And she never speak about it whit him¿? ¿?
It's a no from me.
The story has zero development, I mean, the characters are so basic, even when 14 years passed by. They can't communicate like normal people. He's too lucky, and she's too unlucky.
Even the bet and everything it's bad plotted, cause the friends told her without reason. And she never speak about it whit him¿? ¿?
It's a no from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
This was the worst! Grant was awful. The whole time I was wondering how he could come back from all the crap he did to her and he didn't. He did nothing to get her back except take advantage of her while she was drunk and grieving. I wanted her to walk away from him, go to therapy, and take up with Zack. Grant's brothers were all douchebags too.
February 11, 2023
Uhhh what the hell i was promised grovelling . Instead what I got was perhaps 40+ chapters of the piece of shit man doing the most awful thing to the female mc.... she deserves better and he deserved 40+ chapters of his own grovelling and suffering. maaaaaaann this was super disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2023
This cover is an abomination.
Read
September 22, 2023DNF 30%
January 24, 2023
I both loved the book and loathed Grant for most of it….
There is just something about these Lasker Brothers, their ridiculous parentage, and their designer luggage set of emotional baggage. It draws you in, and even when you can’t stand them, you enjoy it somehow.
This book is broken into Part 1 and Part 2: first Aspen and Grant are in their second year in college, then 14 years later when they are brought face to face again. We start with a spoiled, arrogant, tool Grant and a singly-focused determined Aspen … then there’s some swoon as he tries SO hard to be more when he falls for Aspen, only for it all to fall apart. Then he is a total D bag for the majority of the book. Seriously, you will loathe him until 85% of the book, even though we can see that he really believes he has been wronged. Not gonna lie, I struggled a bit with him. I wanted to take a break and read something else because he was so awful. Not that I didn’t think the author would redeem him, I knew she would. He wasn’t completely irredeemable. But because part of me really wanted him to be destroyed with the truth and realize what a grade A jerk he is, and then for Aspen to flip him off and walk away.
Aspen has been kicked down over and over and over. Orphaned as a a young child, she is raised by her loving (but not wealthy) grandparents. Determined to finish college on a scholarship so she can eventually make enough money to repay her grandparents for all that they have done for her, she spends this book being savagely reminded again and again that she is definitely firmly in the have-not category. It’s brutal. Yet somehow she pushes through. She is so determined to take care of her ailing grandfather that she tolerates all the abuse Grant piles on her relentlessly, never allowing him to see her break.
While I did not get the ending where she flips him off and walks away, I did get immense satisfaction when the truth comes out and Grant realizes how wrong he was. And he is devastated. It was delicious. He uses that big brain to recount every unearned lash he threw at her, and every bit of abuse he showered upon her. It was actually quite perfect. I loved their rainy balcony scene, and somehow felt satisfied that their HEA was earned and not forced. There wasn’t a trite “grand gesture” where the fmc is expected to just forgive the wrongs just because he said so.
So prepare to start with immense dislike for him, followed by some swoon, and then intense loathing, but ending with a full heart as they finally get it right. I can’t wait to see what the rest of these ridiculous Lasker boys do next.
There is just something about these Lasker Brothers, their ridiculous parentage, and their designer luggage set of emotional baggage. It draws you in, and even when you can’t stand them, you enjoy it somehow.
This book is broken into Part 1 and Part 2: first Aspen and Grant are in their second year in college, then 14 years later when they are brought face to face again. We start with a spoiled, arrogant, tool Grant and a singly-focused determined Aspen … then there’s some swoon as he tries SO hard to be more when he falls for Aspen, only for it all to fall apart. Then he is a total D bag for the majority of the book. Seriously, you will loathe him until 85% of the book, even though we can see that he really believes he has been wronged. Not gonna lie, I struggled a bit with him. I wanted to take a break and read something else because he was so awful. Not that I didn’t think the author would redeem him, I knew she would. He wasn’t completely irredeemable. But because part of me really wanted him to be destroyed with the truth and realize what a grade A jerk he is, and then for Aspen to flip him off and walk away.
Aspen has been kicked down over and over and over. Orphaned as a a young child, she is raised by her loving (but not wealthy) grandparents. Determined to finish college on a scholarship so she can eventually make enough money to repay her grandparents for all that they have done for her, she spends this book being savagely reminded again and again that she is definitely firmly in the have-not category. It’s brutal. Yet somehow she pushes through. She is so determined to take care of her ailing grandfather that she tolerates all the abuse Grant piles on her relentlessly, never allowing him to see her break.
While I did not get the ending where she flips him off and walks away, I did get immense satisfaction when the truth comes out and Grant realizes how wrong he was. And he is devastated. It was delicious. He uses that big brain to recount every unearned lash he threw at her, and every bit of abuse he showered upon her. It was actually quite perfect. I loved their rainy balcony scene, and somehow felt satisfied that their HEA was earned and not forced. There wasn’t a trite “grand gesture” where the fmc is expected to just forgive the wrongs just because he said so.
So prepare to start with immense dislike for him, followed by some swoon, and then intense loathing, but ending with a full heart as they finally get it right. I can’t wait to see what the rest of these ridiculous Lasker boys do next.
November 17, 2025
This was genuinely awful but I couldn’t look away. I mean there was a ridiculous amount of internalised misogyny on show, characters who really didn’t make any sense and felt fake, an MMC who was terrible and I hate him, and shit tonnes of miscommunication.
When I was reading the first half, which is when they’re in college falling for the first time, I thought it was going to be a so bad it’s almost good and my biggest issue were that I wanted it to be present day with flashbacks rather than past and then present. But holy shit did the second half disappoint.
Seriously, it’s bad. I should have learnt my lesson sooner but the last book I read from her wasn’t this bad, at least from what I remember. Lesson is learned now though.
And just so that people don’t wonder why I didn’t DNF: I was halfway through when it truely started to stuck and I wanted to finish it so I could complete my alphabet challenge (only had e left and now I’m done)
When I was reading the first half, which is when they’re in college falling for the first time, I thought it was going to be a so bad it’s almost good and my biggest issue were that I wanted it to be present day with flashbacks rather than past and then present. But holy shit did the second half disappoint.
Seriously, it’s bad. I should have learnt my lesson sooner but the last book I read from her wasn’t this bad, at least from what I remember. Lesson is learned now though.
And just so that people don’t wonder why I didn’t DNF: I was halfway through when it truely started to stuck and I wanted to finish it so I could complete my alphabet challenge (only had e left and now I’m done)
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