This one started out strong. I loved the meeting of Ruby and Spencer and the initial loathing. I loved the set up of having Caleb train the dog which would force the two characters to interact. But then when Spencer and Ruby first "interacted" (if you've read this, you know the part I'm talking about!) that seemed completely out of character for both of them-especially Spencer. From that point on, I felt like they were immediately in love and I just didn't buy it. I'm not against insta love if it's done right, but in this case, I wasn't sold. It was a cute and quick read, but ultimately forgettable. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. A solid 3 stars.

*3.5/5 stars
I really enjoyed this book! It included so many great things: adorable puppies, enemies to lovers, complex characters and well-written family relationships. This is a great story if you’re looking for a rom com that is an adorable, banter-filled romance, but also has emotional depth. The one thing that I didn’t love about it is that the end was a little but unrealistic and rushed, but no so much that it ruined the rest of the book for me. I recommend it for fans of The Hating Game and The Love Hypothesis. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"I Hate You More" by Lucy Gilmore
Release Date: 11.2.2021

Ruby Taylor was a pageant girl until she turned 18 years old, and then gave it all up. She works as a nursing assistant to the elderly, and she loves her job. An old friend begs her to show Weezy, her Golden Retriever, at an upcoming Canine Classic, and Ruby agrees.

Spencer Wilson is a veterinarian and is chosen for the judge for the Canine Classic. Spencer advises Ruby to quit, but Ruby will not quit. Ruby will prove that Weezy belongs in the show. She works with Spencer's twin brother, Caleb, a dog trainer, to prepare Weezy, but Weezy will only take instructions from Spencer.

I love good banter and witty remarks, and this book delivered! It was filled with sarcasm, and I was laughing out loud quite often. Weezy was my all-time favorite character; he flat out ignored Ruby and ran away quite often, bringing some very funny moments.

Thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #netgalley #netgalleyreads #2021bookreleases #contemporaryromance #2021romancebooks #ihateyoumore #lucygilmore #romanticcomedynovel

Omg this book had me laughing so much. The witty remarks, banter, this book was hilarious. It was filled with sarcasm and perfectly entertaining. It was cute, had passion, will be the perfect rom-com you want.

Ruby is former beauty pageant queen but after the crossing the age of 18, she gave it up. Now she is a nursing assistant to the elderly and loves what she does. One of her old friends has asked her to take the golden retriever Wheezy to the upcoming Canine Classic dog show and what starts from here will take you on the journey of laughter. Ruby wants to prove that she can do it and they can win the show has all the confidence and determination.

Spencer Wilson is the one who stands in her way. He is the handsome, grumpy veterinarian and the dog show judge. Yeah! You tell me, he is total dog whisperer. He is caring too. Starting on the wrong foot both of them get competitive with each other.

This book is a total delight. The side characters were well written and all of them were immediately likable. With all the fun Lucy Gilmore also talks about standing up for oneself, family, personal growth and how we want to be treated as equal. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a chance to read this.

Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Read if you liked: Hallmark Movies + a Little Steam
Steam: 3/5
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I Hate You More will be published on November 2nd.

This was a cute and short read (under 300 pages) and I honestly would have liked a bit story to flush out some of the storyline. It was hard to connect with the characters with a slow start and quick finish. But it did have some cute, funny moments and recommend if it you are looking for hallmark quirks with some steam.

Things I loved: Wheezy was the best! The romance reading older ladies give me joy! Dogs and small children…seriously adored when the kids were show training with the dog. Ruby was super determined! Love some good banter. This was a unique concept and not one I have read that before. I did enjoy the personal growth aspects + family drama.

Things I didn’t care for: This was very much an insta-hate to lust to quick love and I really didn’t feel it. I love a steamy moment but one of our scenes just felt so out of place for me and made me a bit uncomfortable. Lots of mini conflicts…please pick one or two and not five.

I Hate You More is the first book that I've read by Lucy Gilmore and I kinda have mixed feelings regarding this book. As much as I did enjoy the storyline, it wasn't able to capture my entire attention nor heart as much as I have expected it to be. The main reason is because of the couple themselves. I didn't actually feel the chemistry between them at all. It feels as if there's something lacking when it comes to the romance in this story. Overall, it was a nice read for me but not memorable enough to remember. Even so, I do recommend those who are searching for a light fun story to read this book.

Ruby, a former beauty queen, has been a nursing assistant at a senior residence for the last decade. When a resident asks her to show her golden retriever in a local dog show, Ruby can't say no. Unfortunately for Ruby, the golden retriever, Wheezy, is less than dog show material and Spencer, a judge in the dog show, knows it.

With the help of Spencer's twin brother Caleb, a dog trainer, Ruby is determined to get Wheezy into tip-top shape for the dog show in hopes that he has a chance of winning. But Wheezy doesn't want to listen to Caleb or Ruby, he only responds to Spencer...and Ruby finds she responds to him too.

This is an enemies-to-lovers romance with a lot of dogs and some steamy scenes. The title didn't strike me at first but the story was a quick and enjoyable read. I liked it better than I expected.

I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers but unfortunately…this was not it for me.

Spencer is a dog show judge and veterinarian. Ruby is a former beauty Queen working at a nursing home, who enters one of her resident’s dogs in a dog show. Spencer’s twin brother tries to make a move on Ruby. Spencer dislikes her because….he doesn’t like the dog?
Honestly every interaction they had I just thought “This is so weird”. It was very unbelievable, and a bit cringey. When they start forming more of a romantic relationship, I couldn’t figure out why? I’m not sure what there was to like about each other, or what conversation they’d had that expressed interest. I was hoping the spice would save it, but honestly that was poorly written too.

Maybe if you’re SUPER in to dog shows this is for you, but I would not recommend it.

This book was definitely unexpected! I didn’t think a story abut training for a dog competition would be interesting but it actually was!! I love how Ruby was able to work through some of her own issues while training a dog for a pageant, it’s such a strange but also really cute situation! This book moved pretty fast for me. Ruby and Spencer went from barely knowing each other to full on steaminess in like 10 seconds but it was still good!

This book was lighthearted, funny, and cute. It’s not a romance novel that is going to make you feel all the feels but sometimes its nice to have a book that is simple and has fewer hardships for the characters!

This book comes out November 2nd, 2021 and I would recommend it to anyone that loves light-hearted romance, dogs, and grumpy men that also like dogs.

Ruby finds herself entering a dog that doesn’t belong to her into a best in show competition. She doesn’t know what she wants more, for Wheezy the questionable Golden Retriever to somehow win, or for the hunky veterinarian/ judge Spencer to be proved wrong when saying wheezy can’t be trained.


This is an arc I got from NetGalley. This book is a super quick read. Things I liked: the sunshine/ grumpy trope, weird old lady, and dogs. Things I didn’t like: I didn’t feel the chemistry between Ruby and Spencer. It was like “wow, I find this person attractive. Let me act upon it and declare my love for them after 15 minutes”. There were some plot lines that didn’t need to be in there. It was well written, it just didn’t pull me in like other romcoms have. 3/5 recommend

I love me a grumpy love interest with a cheerful woman to help him get out of his ways. I Hate You More follows Ruby Taylor who is helping out of of her senior home patients win a dog show. She meets the owner of the show and judge, Spencer Wilson, who is grumpy and judges her overweight golden retriever as soon as he seems him.

Ruby is determined and full of confidence. I really enjoyed that about her character. Reading how determined she was to win best in show and train Weezy to the best of her abilities even though he wouldn't listen to her was funny. I could invision Weezy ignoring her, falling asleep and running away any chance he got.

Spencer was a ruler maker, strict and grumpy judge that you could see had a heart of gold underneath it all. I enjoyed reading in his POV with how conflicted he was and how Ruby made him react.

Overall, I enjoyed the story but I felt a bit disconnected between the two love interests. I knew they were attracted to each other but it felt like a lot talking about feelings instead of showing the chemistry between them. I give this book a 3.5/5 stars!

I Hate You More is a WONDERFUL enemies-to-lovers book filled with great characters, puppies, and some great banter.

Ruby Taylor, ex-pageant queen current nursing assistant at a retirement facility, gets roped into entering a dog show with one of her patient's very cute, but very disobedient golden retriever. Rule-following stickler, Spencer Wilson, who just so happens to be a judge, takes one look at Ruby and Wheezy and knows they're going to be trouble.

Ruby was a really charming and charismatic character, winning over everyone she meets. As a former pageant queen, she's obviously very beautiful, but that beauty runs deep in her. I loved watching her relationship with Spencer start off SUPER rocky, and quickly blossom into something real.

I Hate You More by Lucy Gilmore is a gorgeous romcom with one of my favourite animals - Dogs! Ruby, our MC, gave up pageant life when she was 18, but she is dragged back into it when her elderly friend makes a "dying wish." Her wish is for her Golden Retriever to enter and win the Canine Classic dog show, despite the dog being overweight and unimpressed. 

While attempting to register Wheezy in the dog show, Ruby meets one of the judges, Spencer, and his twin brother Caleb. The relationship between the brothers was easily one of the best parts of this book, their banter and inability to live harmoniously together was hilarious. Ruby and Spencer don't immediately hit it off, and while it isn't a complete enemies to lovers situation, it isn't far off. I liked the tension (both sexual and otherwise) between Ruby and Spencer throughout the book, and I loved Ruby's determination and personality. 

There are some very unbelievable scenes (Um... what was that in the living room and the 'strokes'?!) but overall the book was a very fun and enjoyable read.

If you enjoy rom coms, dogs or both, definitely give this one a try!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to review in exchange for an honest review.

Funny, sexy, and full of paw-some four legged friends—I Hate You More is a delicious slow burn romance with swoon worthy characters.

Ruby's got a heart of gold and looks that will bring a man to his knees. She's tasked with putting Wheezy, her patients crazy spaz of a dog, through the West Coast Canine Classic dog show.

When two men, Spencer and Caleb, are suddenly become a part of her life she realizes two things.

1. Wheezy will compete in the WCCC and WIN.
2. Spencer is more than just the grumpy sexy dog show judge he seems like.

I loved this book so much. I wasn't sure how I felt about it in the first few chapters, but I quickly fell in love.

4.5

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝. 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬.” ~ 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒚 𝑮𝒊𝒍𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝑰 𝑯𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆


With many years of beauty pageantry under her belt and a taciturn Golden Retriever in lead, Ruby Taylor has what it takes to make her dog win the dog show. Never mind the fact that Wheezy, the Golden Retriever with questionable heritage, isn’t really her dog or may not respond to commands. Or calls. Or anything, really. But with a self-proclaimed dog trainer and numerous cheeseburgers in hand, Ruby and Wheezy have what it takes to win.The only thing standing in her way of winning is one particular dog show judge—Spencer Wilson.

As a veterinarian and dog show judge, Spencer thinks it’s an absolute joke and offence to the Classic Canine show that Wheezy, a mutt, is here to win. But with Ruby’s grit determination, and Wheezy’s unique charm, they may just win more than a gold medal.

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: I Hate You More
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Lucy Gilmore
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Adult, Romance
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 🌶 🌶

𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐇:
• The premise alone lured me to this book because who doesn’t love dogs, a veterinarian + dog judge love interest, and a dog pageant?!
• I liked the characters here: the star of the show, Wheezy, the questionable Golden Retriever was the cutest! The main character, Ruby, was ambitious, determined, and strived for more. The love interest was taciturn, strict, yet genuine and shy. The side characters (Mrs Orson, Eva, Caleb, etc.) were fun and endearing.
• This was an entertaining, cute quick read with funny and heart-warming moments. There was little spice but not too much.

𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐄:
• The relationship lacked depth. Whilst I enjoyed the two main characters and their interactions, I failed to see how their attractions developed into love and how they claimed to have loved each other.
• Some scenes felt like it came out of nowhere? I had to reread certain parts to ensure I did read it right.
• I appreciate how they wanted the MC (Ex-beauty pageant) to be more than her looks, however, the story constantly referred her to her outward appearance and it felt counterproductive at times.

𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
✔ dogs
✔ grumpy x sunshine characters
✔enemies (sort of) to lovers
✔slow-burn romance


𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: self-acceptance, family dynamics

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: fans of light-hearted romance, dogs, ambitious main characters

𝐂𝐖: mentions of starving oneself, mentions of gambling

Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher (Sourcebook Casablanca) for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠: 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐣𝐨𝐲.𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞.

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺 (𝘈𝘙𝘊) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

This book is about Ruby, a former pageant queen and current nurse assistant, and Spencer, a grumpy as hell vet. Ruby and Spencer meet when Ruby signs up for a dog show for one of her elderly patients.

Right off the bat, this book had me laughing. Ruby is not only the nicest, most dedicated and most hard working character but she is also hilarious. Honestly the interactions between Ruby and Wheezy, the cute chunky golden retriever, were my favourite.

Ruby and Spencer had an instant dislike towards each other when they first met but they were forced to spend time together when Spencer’s twin offered to help Ruby train Wheezy for the dog show.

You slowly see that Spencer isn’t actually a big grump but is actually so sweet and caring but also a bit blind to what’s in front of him.

I loved him and Ruby together, and their first spicy where she challenged him to stroke himself 140 times….. it was soooo good. The tension was *chefs kiss*

Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I Hate You More by Lucy Gilmore tells the story of Ruby Taylor, a former pageant queen who works as a nursing assistant, and Spencer Wilson, a veterinarian who also works as a judge for a dog show. They both meet when Ruby goes to sign Wheezy, the golden retriever of one of her residents at the nursing home, into Spencer’s dog show. From the very beginning they are both set on being competitive towards one another and challenging each other at every step of the way.

This book was such a fun and endearing romcom, this new-to-me author really surprised me with her writing style and characters! Ruby and Spencer have instant chemistry from the very beginning, but they are so different to one another when it comes to character. Ruby is a fierce determined woman that is set on taking whatever life throws at her and speaking her mind at any time, while Spencer is more of the quiet type that tends to keep things to himself. However, spending time together works in favor for their developing relationship and feelings that follow closely behind. With all the witty banter and flirting, something is bound to happen between these two.

I really liked this book, I think the author managed to balance every element in favor of the story. There were funny, passionate and, heartwarming moments that were perfectly tied together. The presence of the dogs was something that I enjoyed very much, I think they provided the necessary cuteness to the story and obviously funny moments.

*ARC kindly provided via NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca in exchange for an honest review.

What do you get when you mix a former pageant beauty superstar now working as a nursing home aide with a taciturn veterinarian who judges dog shows and his bad-boy twin brother? You get romantic hijinks. One of Ruby’s nursing home residents requests the heroine’s help with her golden retriever at a local dog show because she is dying, and it’s her last wish that her untrained, overweight, and very severely behaved golden retriever compete in a local dog pageant. Ruby has only weeks to train this dog for competition, so she hires the bad-news twin brother of the veterinarian to train the dog (he has experience). Still, Caleb also has “issues” that require Ruby to travel to the home he shares with the hunka-hunka-burning-love vet/dog show judge brother, Spencer. Caleb is trouble; the good brother, Spencer, is shy, smitten by Ruby, yet mortified by his brother’s behavior. Everyone, except Ruby, realizes that the golden retriever will never win the dog show even though Ruby doesn’t lose in beauty pageants even if she is not actually the competitor. She’s a winner. This is a low heat, slow-burn romance that is PG13. It’s so light and fluffy it is a book version of cotton candy. However, for those who like their romance on the “light” side and want some fun distraction, this is the book for you.

I love rivals to lovers books, and I love dogs, so this seemed like the perfect read for me! Ruby is a headstrong character who enters a dog showing contest on behalf of one of the ladies she cares for at the nursing home. The only issue is that her dog is not any good at following directions. Spencer is one of the judges of the dog show, and him and Ruby don’t get on well to begin with. Spencer’s brother is a dog trainer and offers to help Ruby, which forces Ruby and Spencer to spend a lot of time together as the two brothers live together.

This book was funny, fairly lighthearted and a perfect romance read. I really enjoyed Spenceer and Ruby’s point of views and their acknowledgement of their feelings for one another. I also loved the presence of dogs and how Ruby uses her experience from her past pageant life to prove that she has what it takes to win.

‘When you set your heart on a thing, you’re unstoppable. You always have been.’

This was a really fun, unputdownable book and I recommend for all romance lovers! Especially if you love dogs and slow burn romance.

Firstly, I love the cover and the synopsis. The book is a fun enemies to lovers rom com and I definitely recommend it! I loved the relationship between Ruby and Spencer. This story would be the perfect movie!

Thank you Lucy Gilmore, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca sharing this digital copy of this ARC for my honest opinion.