This one was a miss for me. I found myself bored and not into this one at all. I picked it up and put it down more times to count in a 2 week period.

I was really looking forward to reading this book and it did not disappoint! This was the first that I read by this author. It was funny and steamy at the same time with a feel good ending. My favorite!

Evelyn Abbey is doing her best to juggle adulthood and a career. As a talent agent in Los Angeles, she knows better than most of how difficult it is to find someone to really relate to. But just leave it to her insane – yet loveable – circle of friends to set her up with the perfect guy.

When her firm unexpectedly merges with his, there may not be room for the both of them. Desire and rivalry make strange bed fellows and it’s only a matter of time before one of them breaks.

“Hi.” I hold out my hand. “I’m Evie.”
“Is that short for Evil?” He pretends to be scared as he tentatively returns the handshake. “Are you sure you’re Gryffindor? Your laugh makes me think you have a secret lab and are building an apocalyptic robot dog that’s going to eat every smug person here. Slytherin for sure.”
“It’s short for Evelyn. The cackle is my gift. It keeps the delicate ones away.”
“I’m Carter.” He points two thumbs at his chest. “Not delicate, I promise.”

Carter Aaron left the East Coast for LA to further his career. If he wanted to be the best, he had to move to the City of Angels to do it.

Meeting Evie when he did was both a blessing and a curse. The chemistry between them is unlike anything he’s ever known and now it seems to have ended before it even began.

The heart is a treacherous thing. And between the two of them, they are about to give the phrase “Love your enemy” a whole new meaning.

“Okay, great,” he says absently, and I know we could have said, We’re doing pretty shitty, Brad. You’ve put us both on edge. A week ago we were cruising down the road toward a stellar bang, but now we’re trying to seek out each other’s weaknesses and exploit them, and he would have had the same reaction. Brad really is a dick. I’m glad Evie gave him that dog-food bar.

With Dating You / Hating You, Christina Lauren have once again proven that they deliver some of the very best swoon in the business! Not only is it snarky and wildly smart, it’s also tender and real in a way that speaks right to the heart.

So get ready to laugh out loud and love fiercely because this book is one that will make you feel it. All of it. Right down to your toes…

Dating You/Hating You is another laugh-out-loud, and highly enjoyable read from Christina Lauren. It is a delightful combination of contemporary romance and chick lit, which highlights issues of modern womanhood amidst the backdrop of the cutthroat world of Hollywood agenting.
For those who have read Christina Lauren's previous series', this new stand-alone book is a little more light-hearted, and a little less steamy than their earlier works. I would definitely recommend this book to both fans of contemporary romance and chick lit, as well as those looking for a fun and engaging romantic read.
The perfect easy read for a summer vacation or staycation.

This was fun, and really funny in parts! I loved the chemistry between these two, and how they couldn't decide if they loved or hated each other. The storyline revolving around how sexist the business is hit the mark, and as usual with these authors, the romance and sexy times were wonderful

Christina Lauren is one of my favorite authors of all time, so it kills me to say I didn't really enjoy this book. I see a lot of people already comparing this book to The Hating Game but the only thing this book has in common with The Hating Game is that it's an office romance that follows a male and female lead who are competing for the same position. This book follows Evie and Carter and they are both talent agents in Hollywood, trying to find the next big thing in Hollywood. This storyline should be right up my alley because I love reading books that take place in Hollywood and involve the movie scene, but this book ended up being kind of boring....

I didn't really care for either Evie or Carter in this book, and I especially didn't care whether or not they ended up together. I didn't see the chemistry between them, which is shocking because Christina Lauren has written some of my favorite fictional couples ever, but this one just didn't do it for me. Also, this story is so much more focused on the work and the business an their jobs than on the actual romance itself - which made it incredibly boring for me at times. The way Evie and Carter would pick on each other was immature and childish, in an obnoxious way that got on my nerves. And this story is so repetitive, with their love/hate relationship for each other. It got frustrating after so many times.

The one thing I really liked about this book is how it talks about women vs. men in the office and the sexism that happens all the time. It really dives deep into this topic, and at times I thought it got a little too political for a new adult romance, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

The ending was very predictable, I saw it coming from a mile away, and it was cheesy. I'm just completely shocked that I didn't love this. I barely even liked it. I would recommend Christina Lauren's Wild Seasons series over this, or The Hating Game by Sally Thorne if you're looking for a good office romance. Unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me.

Ok, so the chemistry between Evie and Carter was great, and I was definitely entertained. But this book was a little too much like The Hating Game for my tastes. I might have liked it better if it didn't feel like the diet version of one of my favorite books. Still, I suppose it was an enjoyable read.

The dynamic author duo, Christina Lauren, continues to blow me away. Their writing is smart, sexy and heartfelt, and I am addicted. There is an additional depth and complexity to Dating You / Hating You that makes it much more than simply a hot love story, and you do not want to miss this fantastic book.

Carter and Evie are both intelligent and funny, and they both take their job representing talent in Hollywood seriously. They meet through friends, and they are both instantly attracted and drawn to each other, but this is not instant-lust or instant-love. Their relationship is meticulously and brilliantly developed.

They have an amazing first date and both are excited about the possibility of a relationship when their rival agencies suddenly merge, which makes them competitors for the same position. Their career is important to both of them, and the potential romance is set aside as these two prepare to battle it out. They went from potential lovers to workplace adversaries overnight.

Unfortunately for Evie, Carter has a leg up simply because he is a male, and Dating You / Hating You subtly layers this romance to weave in an important issue in society today while still maintaining the flirty and lighthearted tone. I truly appreciate them taking the time and effort to do this and believe it is why this book is extraordinary.

You will not be able to put Dating You / Hating You down. It truly has it all: a well developed, complex story, sizzling chemistry, hilarious banter and sigh-worthy romance. I loved it and know you will, too. I cannot wait to see what Christina Lauren writes next.

ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.

http://shhmomsreading.com/new-release-review-dating-youhating-christina-lauren/

Evie and Carter have what I'd call tough jobs. I give them major props for dealing with Brad and their clients on a daily basis. Dating while married to your job is a tough thing to do especially if the other person is the same way. The shenanigans between Evie and Carter were epic and done so well. Brad definitely got what he deserved as he was an idiot throughout the whole story.
I couldn't wait to see what the next sentence held for me. I was glued to the story from the beginning.

I am a massive Christina Lauren fan. Have been since I first found their books in 2013 and have devoured each they have put out since. Dating You Hating You was was very different but still had the quintessential Christina Lauren feel to it. Their ever present witty dialogue was present as well as a very well written story.
Dating You Hating You was an office romance with an enemies to lovers twist to it. With Evie and Carter having instant chemistry and hooking up and then they soon find out that they are vying for the same job. Antics start and while they want to take the other down they also feel the constant pull they would love to deny. This was a fun and easy read very reminiscent to Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game which was one of my top five reads last year.
If you love enemies to lovers romances and office romances than you won’t want to miss this one. While it might not be my absolute favorite that this duo has produced I definitely think I you should give this one a try.
~miranda

Dating in Los Angeles… sounds like a nightmare come true. All the guys are either douchebags, taken or gay. Definitely not the scene for a young thirty something single woman lost in the sea of Botox and plastic barbies.

Meet Evie, beautiful, smart and successful, but just hasn’t found the “one”. She is married to her job, so even if Mr. Right came along, she’d have very little time for him in her life.

“…let me remind you that I am no longer in my twenties, and when you meet men at my age you immediately place them on one of three lists, just to make life easier for everyone: datable, not datable, or gay.”

Carter is a transplant from New York, a few years younger than Evie and very successful. Oh and HOT… can’t forget to mention that!

They meet at a Halloween party and sparks fly. They seem to be the perfect match. Until… well until the shit hits the fan and they wind up working at the same agency competing for the same job!! #FacePalm

What follows is a disaster of epic proportions. Christina Lauren takes their new standalone novel to great heights as you wonder how these two can get over the clusterfuck that transpires. Their writing is fantastic and they deliver a story that will have you laughing and swooning!

Normally I love Christina Lauren but I couldn't get into the dialogue. It wasn't driven by the love story and I found I didn't care nor like the two main leads. This is the first dud I've ever read of theirs where I just wasn't sucked into the story. 2stars because it is Christina Lauren, otherwise this would be a dnf for me.

Have you ever found yourself just completely and totally immersed in the plot and characters of a book to a point where an explosion could go off behind you and you wouldn’t even hear it to react? It’s a rare occurrence for me, but it was the situation I found myself in while reading Dating You/Hating You. I could have cared less about eating dinner, taking care of our dogs, answering my husband’s numerous texts while he was grocery shopping. I just wanted to be left alone with Carter and Evie.

I love a great enemies to lovers romance. From their hilarious meet-cute through their crazy antics trying to one-up each other in the office, I had a blast with Carter and Evie. I loved their romance dynamic. Loved their stupid pranks. Loved how they just couldn’t get the other out of their heads and hearts. Loved their sexy times between the sheets. *fans self* Loved their friends and family members. I just straight up loved Dating You/Hating You.

Very cute. Evie and Carter first meet at a mutual friend's party and they hit it off despite being Hollywood agents and married to their jobs. But one morning they're both thrown for a loop when their companies merge and now they're both in competition for the final position - the other one will be sacked or possibly transferred. That puts a thorn in their budding romantic relationship.

I liked this story. I thought the zany hijinks were funny and I liked that they both maintained their integrity even though underhandedness could have been so easy. I like how CL brought to the forefront sexism in the workplace and how easy it is for even good men to not see it happening. I liked the originality of the profession being in a romance book. I've never read it before.

The only thing that bugged me was the ending. I wanted something a little more confrontational between Evie and Brad. But I ain't mad. Nicely done.

Great Summer read, will appeal to fans looking for the next HATING GAME. I enjoyed their chemistry and their duel. Great title to put Publisher backing behind. Will appeal to many crossover readers.

I really really really loved this book and at first I didn't expect to. I have enjoyed some of Christina Lauren's books before such as the Beautiful series, not so much the Wild Seasons series, and wondered how I would like this one. It is a work place romance/competition. Evie and Carter meet at a party where they have friends in common. There are sparks and over the next week get to meet each other for more sparks. Both are Hollywood agents with different firms. Then the firms merge and they are competing for the same job. It is a fun romp, a romance comedy with an actual plot, and that doesn't always happen with romance comedies, at least for me. Super enjoyable and I have a feeling this is going to be a big hit for Christina Lauren! Thanks as always to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this for an honest review.

The spectacular writing dual of Christina Lauren have done it again with this unique and fun romantic comedy! Laugh-out-loud funny with interesting characters that had fantastic, witty banter as well as playful animosity. Add in some sweet and sexy, some drama, and a whole lot of tension and you've got just the right mix to pull off a fantastic romantic comedy. Let's not forget a well rounded cast of characters too. This was a truly awesome read!

I loved the ease of Carter and Evie's relationship in the beginning, it was crazy watching everything develop as changes occurred in both their lives. I loved their chemistry! There are so many obstacles thrown at them, it made for a lot of drama as well. I found it all extremely entertaining. I loved when things changed and became slightly more chaotic for them as they navigate their relationship, it turns into a funny, love-hate thing. Carter and Evie were both so genuine, sweet, and nerdy (in an adorable way). They had great personalities and were really likeable characters. I liked their back stories and history as well.

There were just so many fun moments in this. I loved the fun pop culture references, the hijinks and shenanigans. The writing was great writing with spot on descriptions and there was a decent pace. I loved that this was dual POV so I really got a sense of who both Carter and Evie were.

There are some ups and downs but overall it was funny and oh so sweet. All in all this was a really great read! Super entertaining with a great cast of characters. :-)

Evie’s in denial, trying to convince herself that she hates Carter.”
“Ohhhh. I like Carter…”
“You realize he’s my nemesis, right?”

This book started out as a light-hearted romantic comedy, before taking a turn into seriously angsty territory, and then rolling out incredibly important themes that made it such an relevant story to be told today. I was so impressed with this story -- not only was it entertaining and enjoyable, it also sent a strong message. A truly fantastic read!

The writing was absolutely outstanding. Every few pages, I'd literally make these little notes to myself commenting on how amazing and strong the writing was. The words flowed, the characterizations and descriptions were vivid, and it all rounded out by great editing. The pacing was on point, and the story was structured in such a way where I felt like I could see everything playing in my mind like a movie. It was snappy, witty, intelligent, and addictive!

Carter and Evie were both very strong, career-driven character and I loved their chemistry. I could feel it and my heart pitter-pattered through most of their scenes together. Their draw towards each other was palatable and I really loved their romance. Plus, I felt that the story gave a really fresh, modern portrayal of adulthood.

“Hey, Evil,” he says, walking toward me.
It doesn’t feel weird to reach up and hug him.
He wraps his arms all the way around me, and I shiver a little when I feel the solidness of his body against mine.
“It’s so good to see you.”
“You too,” I say.
… I know how relationships work. My mom reminds me of this all the time, and of the balance it takes for two people to combine their lives into one. But I’ve always felt like it shouldn’t be work right away. Over time, yeah, I can see some effort needing to come into play when the honeymoon phase wears off… But initially, being with someone should feel like the best and most natural thing in the world.
I’ve never felt that chemistry before, but I definitely feel it with Carter. My blood hums just being near him, and I can’t stop grinning. He smells amazing and holds me so tight, squeezing a little more just before letting go.
Straightening, he gazes down at my face. “I think I forgot how pretty you are.”


So the story itself is about these two rival Hollywood agents who are both single -- married to their work if anything. They've both sacrificed and worked hard to get to where they are and their respective reputations within their industry have been well earned. They're introduced at a party one night through a mutual friend and hit it off strong.

“You know I’m hoping to kiss you later, no matter how many dorky pictures you show me.”
My heart takes off, a beating drum in the wild jungle beneath my ribs. “I’m older than you,” I blurt.
He just shrugs, like this was a completely normal thing to say. “So?”
“We’re in the same business.”
I watch him process this for a breath, and he chews on his lip before saying, “Maybe it’s not ideal, but it’s not worth staying away from you because of it.”
… “I’m notoriously married to my job.”
“That’s super convenient because so am I. It’ll be like we’re cheating on our jobs with each other.” He says this as if he’s just discovered some brilliant loophole.


After their first date confirms that their sizzling chemistry is something they both want to pursue, they're happily and dreamily heading into dating-ville when an unexpected and shocking change uproots their lives.

Their rival agencies merge overnight and suddenly they're being forced to compete for the same coveted position. They both need this job, they've both dedicated their lives to get this far, and they both have everything to lose and are determined not to give up. So their budding romance quickly turns into a competitive sabotage driven war...

“Simply put, Evelyn Abbey is my former almost-girlfriend-turned-archnemesis-turned-tentative-ally whom I would now very much like to permanently seduce...”


So... I kind of went into this book expecting the whole thing to be a light-hearted, sexy enemies-to-lovers romp -- almost more of a fun, fluffy read. And yes, many parts of it were that. But there was a really cleverly-written undertone that really MADE this book in my eyes -- and that was tackling the issue of sexism in the workplace. I don't think there's a woman alive who won't relate on some level to what Evie went through in this book.

There is an unspoken pecking order in agenting, defined primarily by who brings in the most publicity and money — and this year, that is likely to be me.
But there are other factors, too. Such as: having a penis. Apparently that’s a big one.


At first, before I realized it to be one of the book's themes, I was just annoyed with how her boss was treating her -- I thought his misogynist treatment of her was being used as a way to stir up drama. But the more I read, the more I realized just how IMPORTANT that element of this story was. How relevant. How incredibly fucking real it was. I was MAD. ANGRY. The way her boss treated her made my blood boil. In part, my drive to keep reading was just as much a visceral desire to see him get his comeuppance as it was my investment in the romance. And I was so impressed with the way this storyline was used to bringing attention to workplace sexism. And the reason its portrayal was so well done was because of how SUBTLE it was. There were no over-the-top outrageously things her boss did -- it was aaaaaall about the subtleties and little comments, little actions. So seeing Carter come to realize what was happening and seeing him choose how to handle it was incredible satisfying as a female reader.

“Carter, look at this from my side. No one ever told a guy he needs to be nicer at work to get ahead… I tried nice, Carter,” she says, “and here I am, fighting to keep my job — a job I’m more qualified for, if we’re being honest.”


And on a lighter note, there was a lot more to this book than that theme (even though for me, that was the standout part of the story) and overall it was a really great read. I didn't want to put it down. I was rooting for the romance and found myself strangely invested in even their work lives (which is rare for me, since usually I only really care about the romance) but I definitely credit the writing for the fact that all aspects of this story were interesting. The writing was easily 5 STARS. However, I did find both the ending and the 'reveal' to be predictable so while nothing really came as a surprise to me, I still have to give major kudos to the authors for making this book addictive even though I knew what was going to happen. In a perfect world, I would have wanted the ending to have a bit more of a triumphant 'oooomph' and to surprise me a little, but even still, it delivered a satisfying and solid ending!

This was a complete standalone told in alternating POVs in first person perspective. It had both a fun, flirty, light-hearted, and sexy side to it, as well as a much more serious and raw undertone. I really enjoyed it!

This book delivered the perfect blend of smart writing, sexy romance, and an addictive story! Whether you're a long-time fan of these authors or you're new to them, I'd definitely recommend trying this out!

Rating: 4.5 stars! Standalone Contemporary Romance