Poetry professor Naomi Price loves everything about her job at Hainamor University...everything except for her arch nemesis Sebastian Blake. Blake is a novelist and creative writing professor. Both are up for the same award: Distinguished Professor Award. To add to Naomi's issues is that Blake's desk is directly across from hers in the open concept English department suite where all the professors are merely separated by cubicle walls. Price and Blake are always throwing cruel, witty, comments at each other. It doesn't help that Blake has this whole dark and broody sexy thing going on. It's not like he's gorgeous with those piercing blue eyes and dark hair. She begins to see glimpses of a sweet man who holds the door for her, walks her to her car, and drives her home in a snow storm. She even enjoys sharing a meal with him --without trying to verbally decimate the man. 

Sebastian Blake has a secret and one best selling novel--and three other mediocre novels. Every year before Thanksgiving, Blake gets blind drunk. He never intends to but it always happens. This year, he also trashes his house, furniture, and kitchen. He goes on a four day bender--even cancelling his Monday class. He can't cope. How is he supposed to move on? Why can't he stop thinking about the petite poetry professor? He has been a jerk to her from the moment she arrived as an adjunct. Why? What is it about her that rubs him the wrong way--maybe the right way? He can't stop thinking about that kiss in the parking lot after the NatWriMo marathon before he takes her home. Why does he want it to happen again? The more time he spends with her, the more he wants her. He has baggage that he isn't sure that she can handle.

This was such a fun quirky read!! I love Sebastian and Naomi’s story! It was one wild ride!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet romantic comedy and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

They often say there's a thin line between love & hate. This book sets out to prove just that. In the beginning of the story, Naomi & Sebastian are constantly at each other with quick & cutting remarks. Then they are put up against one another for an award that will allow the winner to take a paid semester off & earn the title. This once again leads to many caustic remarks but suddenly things take a bit of a change. Both of them have some deep scars from past events & after sharing these things, they begin to become close. Of course things can't always be smooth sailing, so the ups & downs of this couple are riveting. I highly recommend reading this book to find out how they end up...together or apart?

I was really enjoying this book but by the time I finished it, it was not my favourite in this genre. The characters and setting were cute but it felt a bit too insta-lovey to me.

“I Hate You, I Love You” follows the notorious romance trope of enemies to lovers (which is honestly one of my favorites). This book was sweet, funny, and sexy, and I love me a bit of a broody, hot male protagonist. The characters had some great chemistry in the second half of the book and were endearing. I could truly feel for their individual plights and was happy when we finally got to see the two together. Unfortunately, this book, although with its own redeemable and charming qualities, will unfortunately not become one of my favorites of this beloved trope. It was a cute and enjoyable read, but I just felt like there were some aspects to it that overshadowed the good parts.

Let me break it down for you:

The Plot. We have a pretty straightforward formula with this book:

girl meets boy at work + boy demonstrates a general disdain for girl = girl becomes prickly and disdainful right back
competition for some job award + forced time spent together to attain a common goal + obvious sexual tension = a not-so-gradual emergence of a romantic relationship
sad and/or dark pasts + inevitable relationship conflicts + FINALLY communicating properly = happily ever after

Generally, the progression of their relationship from enemies to lovers was inevitable and completely predictable (duh, that’s why it’s a trope). It’s refreshing when a novel throws its readers for some twists and turns that the characters take in that journey. But this book was pretty straightforward and lacked a particular spark.

Additionally, the story was pretty slow in the beginning, and once it started to really catch on, the main characters were so quickly jumping towards the “love” part of their love/hate relationship that it felt rushed and a little bit sloppy. The characters didn’t question it nearly enough and it seemed unrealistic and slightly surreal.

The characters. Sebastian and Naomi were both incredibly smart, witty, and charming. I loved their banter throughout their relationship, both professional and romantic, and I thought that they did have great chemistry. I just felt like they were both given some tragic back-story in order to kind of explain away their initial resentment towards one another and attempt to make them more multi-dimensional. It certainly made you more empathetic for them both, but it also felt slightly forced and unnecessary.

The relationship. As I hinted at before, their relationship progressed rather suddenly from hate to love. I understand that this might be a contentious claim, since there was obviously some sexual tension from the get-go and there’s the cliché that “With that much passion thrown at each other, there must be something more than hate brewing there.” I get it. Yes, their bantering and outward disdain to one another was most likely masking their true feelings for all those years and progression in their relationship was long-coming. But it all happened so fast. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Sebastian and Naomi being in a relationship, but it just felt odd and like their individual characters didn’t have enough progression of their own for the relationship to actually be feasible or believable.

Overall. It was a sweet, simple read. If you don’t really care about whether their relationship is realistic or progresses naturally, then I highly recommend this book. Honestly, that and the pacing were the only big qualms I had about it. Unfortunately, they both soured it for me since I spent a large chunk of the book questioning the characters and yelling “But why aren’t YOU confused by this?” at them through my kindle.

It was fun and enjoyable though, so go for it if that’s your cup of tea.

Elizabeth Hayley tried to create two characters that hate each other but also fall in love with each other. This type of romance has two type of outcome either readers love it or they hate it. No in between.

I found myself not in love with the story in fact the characters didn't come out as two well educated adults but rather bratty teenagers. The banter at times felt unnatural and forced to what the characters the author created.

I finished the book only because I wanted to write and review and say I finished it. The book has potential but somewhere it all falls apart.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher Loveswept for an advance copy of Elizabeth Hayley I Hate You, I Love You

A first for this author for me. I've kinda liked getting to know new authors lately. Their banter is fabulous. A definite slow burn angst with these two. Very slow burn. I'll admit, their backstories/tragedies made me cry. What horrible things to have to go through, no wonder they are they way they are. But it was worth it. I enjoyed the story. Wish it was first person point of view but that's a personal preference. Not an book problem.

Sebastian is very, very lucky that Naomi has an easy going personality with the patience and tolerance of a saint! Their love/hate was set from the get go, fortunately for Sebastian, Naomi didn't drag his ass to the HR department and get him fired! At least she smart enough to realize that her feelings were starting to change, while Sebastian kind of had to be hit over the head, or get stupid drunk to realize what the driving force was behind his open bitterness and hostility towards Naomi.

It's a quick fun read, with some fun sexy scenes, lots of banter, and a good dose of competition.

This book is for a much older readers than what I figured it for. I really couldn’t get into the story line at all. The characters was great it just had way to much going on in the story for me!

I always enjoy a cleverly written enemies-to-lovers romance and this fit the bill. The title tells it all. Both Naomi and Sebastian are professors of literature and creative writing at a small Vermont liberal arts college. There have been sparks, of the antagonistic kind, from the moment she joined the department. They’re both good professors and are now put into the odd position of competing against each other for a teacher of the year award. He’s surly and withdrawn, but a published best-selling novelist whom the students seem to adore. It helps that he is very hot. She hopes to be a published poet and she has thrown herself into the college atmosphere.

Surprise, surprise, but these two antagonists find that they have more in common than they suspected and are actually quite attracted to each other.

The dialogue is witty and the competition between them is entertaining without being silly.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Not for me. The characters had no redeeming traits to me and without being able to be invested in them, the story feel flat and I couldn't enjoy it.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started the book, beyond the fact that I think we realize it takes as much effort to hate someone as it does to love them. I was surprised from the start at how easy the characters of Naomi and Sebastian were to relate to, their grief, their stories, their love, quite frankly.

The dialogue between the characters was witty, and watching their relationship develop was something that I honestly enjoyed. Although it is clear where the story is headed, the way the authors approach their relationship is different from many romantic stories, and I think that makes the book even more interesting.

It was a worthwhile quick read, that reminds us that even if we are a little bit broken, that we still have the ability to connect with others.

I wanted to love this book, but I did not. I found myself speed reading through the end, which is unfortunate given that the resolution should be the most satisfying part of the book. It really bothered me that the reason they broke up was her desire to have children (a character motivation that was literally dropped into the end of the book seemingly just to provide conflict). Then they get back together without discussing it. WTF?

I also thought the book was pretty vulgar for being women's fiction. In language, in explicit and graphic scenes and in the coarseness of her best friends.

It had one of my favorite tropes, which is why it's so sad that I just didn't enjoy the execution.

I received "I hate you, I love you" by Elizabeth Hayley for free in exchange for an honest review. I have not read any other books by this author, but will definitely keep my eye out for it. This was truly a "hate to love" story. Most that are billed that way are more a "kind of like you to love story." This definitely wasn't. There was chemistry between the main characters- Naomi and Sebastian. They both had good back stories and I really enjoyed the book. I devoured it in one night. I was sad when it was over as I was hoping for more to the story at the end-- a sign of a great writer! Thanks for this opportunity.

A great sexy introduction to this series. I loved the characters and feel in love with their storyline. Need more from this series.

"I've lost the battle, but not yet the war, As long as you hate me but love me more."

Sebastian and Naomi are coworkers, both professors in the same department, at a small college in Vermont. They are constantly competing with each other over everything. Then they are both told that they are the finalists for an award that has them trying to outdo the other. So what happens when they start working together and seeing that there's more to the other, than they originally thought?? This was your classic "I hate you, but really I'm attracted to you. And now I love you."

I really enjoyed this novel, even with it's popular trope. But what can I say? I'm a sucker for angst and there was plenty to go around in this book. The characters were likable with some added vulnerability to each of them. This book is a great way to spend a relaxing rainy day at home. Will it be the best thing you've ever read? Probably not. But it was highly entertaining and sometimes that is all that I am looking for in a book.

3.5 Stars

Other than the storyline of the book, I really enjoyed all of the witty banter. It was what truly made this stick out above other books in the same genre. Well written dialogue that was so enjoyable and hilarious to read. Sebastian Blake's character was so much fun to watch develop and I loved reading his detailed backstory.

Brilliant banter and an engaging plot. Loved this! This was my first time reading a book by this author.

This author could work on some characterization and creating characters that makes the reader feel connected. I drug my way through this, but didn't really have any connection, so I didn't really care what happened. OK, they hate each other (although why is a rather vague concept) and then they start competing, but the hate doesn't become more intense or fully formed, it's just there. Not sure this is an author issue or if there's an editor that should have demanded a little more character, a little more conflict and a little better pacing. Not my fave, but not awful.