This book was not what I expected. I thought I was just going to read another romance novel, set at a university with football players and their groupies as the main characters.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. The story of Ivy Underwood and Aiden Griffith was so much more than that. This was the story of two best friends who met when they were nine years old. He was her safe haven when things in her home were not what they should be. When she left, a young teenager, she left alone. And for the next several years, Ivy did what she had to do to survive.

Then all of a sudden, while trying to get her life back on track, to take control of herself and her life, Ivy decides to go to Lindon University. And guess who’s playing football at Linden U!

These two best friends find their way back to each other. And while I thought this was just going to be a collection of sex scenes after sex scenes, as I mentioned above, I was wrong. The best part of this book was the relationship between Ivy and Aiden, that friends to lovers trope, that I love so much. The author did a great job of showing us what was in their minds, both of them, before, during, and after the relationship changed. We saw the struggles, and we saw love win out.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for this ARC, and all opinions are my own.

This book was NOT the light fun football romance I thought it was going into it but honestly I really enjoyed it!

CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS as this contains suicidal ideation and self harm!

I enjoyed the friends to lovers aspect, and enjoyed the struggle these characters went through to be together.

At times I felt Ivy was unlikable, but that was also apart of the point as she made bad choices and pushed people away.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I did not finish and I’m so sorry my home life has been horrible so I wasn’t able to finish any of the books that I was reviewing but from what I read I loved it

“I dare you to hate me, Ivy. Because we both know you don’t. You couldn’t even if you tried.”

→ Honestly when I started this book I had zero expectations from it, I’m not really a fan of friends to lovers but the blurb piqued my curiosity and I NEEDED to read it. So, thank you bloom books for sending me a copy!

→ Now the main reason I loved this book was because of someone who took the complete spotlight, there was only ONE main lead here and that was Ivy Underwood (Sorry darling Aiden but it was HER show, don’t worry though you were an amazing side character).

→ It’s been a long time since I’ve loved a FL more than the ML, her childhood made me cry, her present made me her biggest cheerleader. This book highlights how emotional/verbal abuse has a big impact in a person’s life. People will say that at least it wasn’t physical abuse but personally for me, I think verbal abuse is far worst, as you those invisible scars take longer time to heal or never do at all.

→ Ivy was sarcastic, knew how to stand up for herself and best of all wanted to take control of her life. She wanted to prove to the world that she can also make something of herself, that she isn’t just chaos. She went through so much just to get into a decent college, fought her depression, abonnement issues and pride just so she could make it.

“I know you want to help. To fix things. But you can’t. I’m the only person who can do something about my life, Aiden. You need to accept that or you will lose me.”

Queen Energy

→ Aiden was just perfect. I can not imagine anyone else for Ivy. When he finally spoke to her in the bakery, my heaaaaaaart. He also wasn’t your typical sports romance ML (thank God). He was patient, caring and understanding. The self-control that man had chefs kiss

“Ivy.”
It doesn’t roll off the tongue like he’s testing its sound.
It’s in familiarity.

→ Their relationship built up was amazing, I loved the pacing of the book. They had amazing chemistry

→ Yes, I did love the book but there came a point for me where, the Ivy’s past being brought up again and again was getting a literal tiring.

PS: some people don’t deserve to be parents, e.g., Ivy’s parents.

After posting an exclusive look at the first chapter of this book, I knew I had to read it. That excerpt sucked me in immediately and endeared me to both characters and made me want to know more. The book did not disappoint! I loved the push and pull between these two and everything they had to overcome to be together. There are a lot trigger warnings to this book, and it's a pretty heavy read in some places, but it's well done and leaves an emotional impact. I also love books that clearly set up other characters we'll follow in the future, and this one had that in spades. Looking forward to the next one!

Ever since I read the Off-Campus series, I've had a soft spot for sport romances. Sprinkle in some wholesome childhood friends to lovers and this should've been a hit for me. It wasn't. It wasn't bad by any means but it felt very average.

Ever since Ivy and her family moved next door to Aiden's, the two kids have been best friends. But then Ivy ran away at 16 (family drama) and they don't see each other again until 4 years later, when fate brings them back together. Aiden is a sweet cinnamon roll of a football player, who will not let Ivy go now that he just got her back, but Ivy has gone through a lot and she's not the same happy, trusting girl she was back then.

I generally love it when there's a deeper story to the romance and the characters are well fleshed out, but this was like a Colleen Hoover book in the sense that Ivy is the typical protagonist who is given way too many traumas to be able to act like she does in the book. By the way, content warnings for child neglect, child abuse (emotional), self-harm, thoughts of suicide and attempted suicide.

I think if you love Colleen Hoover books, this would be right up your alley. However, I don't particularly like CoHo and this story felt cookie-cutter to me. I liked the characters but I didn't really connect with them, I wasn't rooting for them the way I should and I was just bored most of the time.

“I dare you to hate me, Ivy. We both know you don’t. You couldn’t even if you tried.”

Ivy has been broken and putting the pieces back together the best she could, running away at sixteen and leaving her best friend behind. He couldn’t go with her and she couldn’t stay, but their goodbye only lasted until they crossed paths again at Lindon U four years later. Only now, Aiden is the star tight end destined for the NFL while Ivy is still clawing her way back from a place she didn’t expect to survive.

No matter how much Ivy pushed back at Aiden to let go of their mutual feelings, he consistently showed up for her and I loved him for it. Ivy’s journey was so much more emotional than I had anticipated, and her growth in navigating her family dynamics and claiming her worth was such a triumph.

“Aiden believed in me when I couldn’t even believe in myself, giving me what I needed when I was sure I didn’t need anybody.”

[Be prepared - Ivy’s trauma is heavy]

You’ll Find —
Childhood Friends to Lovers
“It’s Always Been You”
Found Family
College Football

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and B. Celeste for the gifted digital review copy!

I love the friends to lovers trope in this book so much. It was done perfectly! The amount of times Aiden had me kicking my feet and giggling to myself was not countable.
The character development was amazing to read about and the epilogue couldn’t have been better for them.

In a way, I relate to Ivy and what she has been through which is sad I know I know.
Wanting the control over everything so you don’t lose yourself in the chaos is something I’m familiar with. I had many moments I couldn’t think of better times and sometimes I still think that. Some things don’t heal but we can decide to process and move on from these poisonous memories.

I can’t wait to read the 2nd book in the serie!

Dare You to Hate Me is the first book in the Lindon U series by B. Celeste, which follows the lives of the Lindon University football players and the girls who change their lives forever. The story revolves around Ivy and Aiden, who were best friends in their childhood, but separated for four years until they reunite at Lindon University. Despite knowing they will have to say goodbye again, they can't seem to let each other go.

The chemistry between Ivy and Aiden is amazing and their friendship is refreshing, making the romance between them magical. The development of Ivy's character is fantastic as she deals with a terrible home life and self-harm. The story delivers on second chances and new starts for both characters, and the character development between Aiden and Ivy is well-executed. The emotions behind the story and the friendship between Ivy and Aiden are the perfect examples of childhood friends to lovers.

The book is a captivating read, leaving readers satisfied despite not always having happy endings. The male lead, Aiden, is caring, understanding, and Ivy's biggest supporter, making him a lovable character. The story is creative and the buildup of Ivy's story as the conflict, rather than the relationship itself, is impressive.

The only downside to the book is that it does not hook the reader from the start. However, the book is enjoyable and has a sprinkle of football, which makes it even more interesting. Ivy's character is sometimes frustrating with her behaviour, but it's understandable considering her past.

First off, this was a slow burn for me which I don't typically go for, but this was just a captivating and page turner book for me to stick with. Second, I can relate to Ivy on some levels in terms of having a very shady, dark past and having to use that to help you heal and grow stronger can be such a struggle to overcome especially if you don't have a great support system by your side, but Ivy really owned that and be who she is now and really see her evolve makes this feel real. Aiden is so caring and loving towards her because he was always there for her even though she didn't need him, he was her cheerleader and vice versa. This may not be for everyone, but I will highly recommend to go into this with open mind and prepare to feel all the emotions. This was beautifully written by B. Celeste.

This book was pretty good. it took me a little while to read it, this was a new to me author but the story was super good. I cannot wait to read more by B. Celeste!

B. Celeste’s Dare You to Hate Me pulls you in from page one. Aiden’s love for ivy is beautiful. He will do whatever he can for her to keep her in his life even as she tries as hard as she can to push him away. Ivy has had a hard life and doesn’t trust easily even if it’s her best friend she hasn’t seen since she ran away. Aiden is focused and driven, aspiring to go to the NFL. His path has been set for him. But as their relationship grows, Aiden is looking at his path a little differently. B. Celeste slowly reveals Ivy’s reasons for running away. As she does so, she weaves in the growing friendship between ivy and Aiden as children. You can’t help but root for these two to find their way back to each other and to embrace the love they have for one another. I love that this heartfelt story is anything but predictable and one you won’t want to put down.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Any book I've read by B Celeste has been great. Their writing style is great.
Dare You To Hate Me is a sports romance book. I have to admit - the sports trope isn't my thing usually. I just have a hard time getting into it or relating it typically. BUT this cover caught my eye, and I'm so glad It did.

The character development was fabulous.. Even for the side characters that weren't my favorites. This book covers Ivy and Aiden's love story. High school friends turned lovers...eventually.

The book was extremely well written. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

I’m a huge fan of sports romance and I love love love watching indie authors get picked up by publishers! I’m so excited for @authorbceleste 😍

Getting to read an arc of the published @read_bloom edition of Dare You To Hate Me was such a treat.

✨Best Friends to Strangers to Lovers
✨Football Romance
✨Forced Proximity
✨It’s Always Been You
✨Healing from Trauma

Ivy left an abusive home years ago. She asked her best friend to go with her. He said no. That should have been the end of them. But years later, they somehow wind up at the same college… like the universe knew they needed to be near each other.

I loved this book. Aiden and Ivy’s friendship is so powerful. Friends to lovers is my favorite for a reason. I love how even with time apart, they knew each other and were fiercely protective of one another. And the spice was perfect!

4.5/5

This book had all the makings of being a really great story but it just doesn't quite get there. I kept having to flick back thinking I'd missed key parts of the story confused on if I missed something .It I think the author tried to fit too much into a book that was not long enough to go through everything throughly. If things were expanded on more it could been a fantastic book.

This book was all I could think about when I wasn't reading it. I was thinking when I could next start reading. I couldn't put this down when I was reading it and I read it at every opportunity. Read it in 1 day.

The character development between Aiden and Ivy was amazing to witness. There were second chances between both characters, not always together, but second chances for themselves. New starts for careers, for finding themselves and then finding each other. This novel may not have always had happy endings for everything, but what did matter ended in the way that left the reader satisfied.

Being front row and witnessing how the characters found they loved each was an emotional rollercoaster. There were ups and downs from both Ivy and Aiden but they learned from their mistakes and still ended up happily together.

So so very good! I’m new to this author but I have every intention of finding her backlist! This was a very intertwined love story that was complicated but simple. Stemming from a deep childhood friendship full of trauma to an evolution of adult love. Bravo! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

3.5 stars

Overall I really enjoyed Ivy and Aiden's story and how they found their way back to each other. Despite Ivy's struggles with her mental illness, she was strong. Aiden was also a strong male lead. He was determined, loyal, and gentle.

One of my complaints about this book is the writing style. Several times I had to re-read sentences to make sure I understood what was happening. The other issue I had was that their friends (ahem, Caleb) told important details about the past that I felt should have been conversations between Ivy and Aiden.

I liked the angst, the hate (she tried really hard to hate him), and the love. I will definitely read more books from this author and look forward to the next book of this series.

As an avid fan of sports college romance, this particular story truly delivered. I found myself on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next, and I simply couldn't put it down. What I particularly appreciated about this tale was the fact that the male and female leads had a pre-existing relationship, and throughout the course of the story, they were able to rediscover their connection in a truly heartwarming way. Overall, I found this to be a truly engaging and captivating read that left me feeling thoroughly satisfied.

Ivy hadn't seen him in four years... Aiden Griffith, her childhood best friend, neighbour and football star. He did all he could to shield her from the trauma of her home life but once she turned 16, she knew she had to leave. She's been through hell since then, but she's alive and now a Freshman at Lindon University.

Aiden is lasered focused; ace his classes and stay on the fast track to a promising NFL career. But when he sees Ivy working at the local Bakery, he's stunned. He was devastated when she left and never thought he'd see her again.

Fate has brought the once inseperable pair back together, but will Ivy be able to let him in again? Will she share the full truth of what she has experienced these last 4 years or will it be too much?

Firstly, what an AMAZING start to the Lindon U series by B. Celeste!! Ivy and Aiden have pure 🔥 chemistry and once you understand more of Ivy's history, the way that Aiden treats her becomes absolute magic. Their connection and the way their friendship has developed over the years was really refreshing; who doesn't want an Aiden in their life! But then that first spicy scene of theirs after so long apart (even if it's not at all what most would expect) is amazing!

I loved what we learnt of the other Lindon U football players and can't wait to read each of their stories. I'm moving straight on to book 2 starring DJ and am excited to see who he falls for!

Thank you to Author B. Celeste, Netgalley and Sourcebooks: Bloom Books for providing me with this ARC. I've willingly provided this review and all opinions are my own.