I'm always delighted to find a new-to-me author who can engage me right from the very first pages of their book. With Dare You to Hate Me, B. Celeste has done just that and I do believe I've found another excellent writer to help me when I need a YA/NA fix. This story is filled with the kind of angst that I knew would break my heart one way or another and I wasn't proven wrong. Which made me extremely happy because it truly hurt so good!

This second-chance romance ticked off all the boxes for me when two people find each other again. The interactions between Ivy and Aiden are all kinds of painful to witness. How they both struggle to ignore the other's presence yet can't stop the deep-seated feelings they still have for one another. All that Ivy has endured during their time apart when she decided at the age of 16 to leave her home and live a life for 4 years that was both desperate and downright hard. That she forgave Aiden for not following her but yet has many hard-to-ignore thoughts of abandonment. The way he tries over and over again, whether it's the small gesture of only ordering half a bagel from the bakery she works at so she'll have something to eat or the big reveal later on in the book that finally solidifies her decision to stay with him forever, I was a goner for Aiden Griffith, just like Ivy was.

These two go back and forth over and over again, but I was glad to see Aiden call Ivy out on her insecurities, never wanting her to fully describe what she had to do to survive on her own, yet wanting her to desperately move on from all the pain thrown her way. I was glad to see some resolution with Ivy and her family and the way she stood up to the past and what they did to her psyche all those years ago. She's a true survivor and it's no wonder Aiden couldn't forget her.

Fate clearly decided to put these two former best friends and next-door neighbors back in each other's paths and despite all the hurt and misunderstandings, Aiden and Ivy were meant to be. My own complaint is that I wish we could have been privy to when they finally saw each other again across the bakery when Ivy decided to go to Linden U. We are told it was a shock to both of them but I wanted that moment. For me, that pivotal scene is what makes a second-chance romance that much more poignant.

But overall, I literally devoured this book in one day and loved Celeste's writing style. She is good to her characters and presented them without any unnecessary distractions or foolish actions. These two 20-somethings each feel as if they have something to prove to the world and with much despair, sadness and glimmers of hope, find that with each other by their sides, anything is possible. Both Aiden and Ivy have a ton of guilt to overcome but the forgiveness they find not only with one another but with their families and friends is a truly beautiful thing to see.

I look forward to seeing more of these two, together with the rest of their friends in future books. I know one is currently out and will for sure be grabbing that one next. B. Celeste clearly took hold of my heartstrings with this beautiful book and I happily give this well-crafted storyline a huge 4 stars!

Move over hockey romances! I've found a new type of sports romance to hyper-fixate over! Football is in. I think we can also thank Rihanna for that.

I always have such a great time when it comes to sports romances! They’re just so unlike any and all of my interests in real life and it actually makes me want to learn more about them?? Like suddenly I have an interest in football. I want a jersey! (Specifically Aidens)

This is book 1 in The Lindon U series and it was a solid start!
It has:
- childhood friends to strangers to enemies to lovers
- found family
- NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP THANK GOD

be warned going into this that our main characters discuss some pretty heavy topics so do check your trigger warnings.

cannot wait to start on the next one!!

Thank you Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for an e-arc of this book!

A second chance at life, childhood friends to lovers and in a sports romance setting. This is standalone story in the Lindon U series by B.Celeste. This is the first book I have read from her, and it honestly was a pretty quick read. I think I just wished there was more dimension out of the characters. While there is some topics like toxic family trauma/attempted suicide, I still feel like I wasn’t extremely attached to the characters. I enjoyed their HEA for the most part if not pretty predictable. I think that this could use another round of editing as there was some grammatical errors I noticed. There was one quote, “I can feel the rising tension in my stomach, but not as much as her offspring behind me” I just felt like the wording was really cringe. Again I think this story was okay, but it just seemed sort of flat. I kind of hoped for more plot. The spice is like a level 1. There was only a couple scenes and they were ok. I wish I could say I liked it but honestly one of the scenes was just like a quick pump thrust and cum, and idk I need more than that lol. The girl deserves more than that. I’m sure there are people who would enjoy this more than I did.

This is the 1st book of Lindon U series, it can be read as stand alone. My first in this series and this book is good. Theme of this book is what belong to you will find you again. I really sory for what happend to Ivy, it is still beyond me why parent do such thing, tell children a burden, worthless, didnt support her future, love each children differently and easily letting go children. She still 16 when get through a lot. Aiden have his own problem, this problem lead him meet Ivy again. I love how they are for each other, knowing each other habits, knowing each other around without tell. Aiden give Ivy future, second chance, believe, trust again.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#DareYoutoHateme #LindonU #BCeleste #SourceBooks #BloomBooks #NetGalley #ARC

Dare You to Hate Me is book one in the Lindon U Series by B. Celeste and I’m going ahead and saying this now.
This is my favorite book I’ve read all year!
Hells bells I loved this book. This was such an emotional read. That had me completely and utterly hooked.
This story had everything I wanted in a childhood friends to adult lovers story.
Amazing plot, fantastic pace and writing. B. Celeste blew this one outta the water.
She creates these very relatable characters and stories that you can't seem to stop reading. They have so much care and love you feel when you read it.
It’s truly amazing.
I can’t wait to start book two.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Bloom Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

3.5 stars

Dare you to hate me was my first book my B. Celeste. My go to book lately have been sports romance, and my favorite trope has always been friends to lovers. This book hit the mark by having both. I was loved Aiden characters. I felt he had a good heart and head on his shoulders and wasn't an over the top alpha male you see in a lot of sport romances. However, i was struggling with liking Ivys character. She was a strong and independent women who had been through so much to get to that place. But there was just something about her I just didn't like (and can't exactly say why)

That being said, I still enjoyed reading this book and even liked a lot of the side characters. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I loved the way this story was written. And the heat factor? It was steaming up my kindle. Overall I thought this was a good story.

3 ⭑
„i dare you to hate me, ivy. because we both know you don’t. you couldn’t even if you tried.“

aiden was so cute and thoughtful and ivy was such a strong character that was interesting to read about. i love childhood friends to lovers so I was very excited to start this book but the smut scenes were just okay not bad but nothing special either, actually kind of boring and what really annoyed me was the lack of chemistry. they had sweet moments together, but nothing special.

Dare You to Hate Me is my first read by author B Celeste.

This is a sports romance and a second chance romance as well . I love both of these genres, so of course I enjoyed the story! I also really liked how the author spent time developing the characters and their romance. It helped feel a better connection to them.

The ending was a bit rushed, but overall I still enjoyed this one.

B Celeste hit it out of the park again! I read Under The Sycamore Tree and loved it so much that when I saw another of her books available for review I knew I had to read it. I'm so glad I did! I devoured this story in one sitting! Ivy and Aiden are fire together and I don't want to spoil much but when I tell you my heart MELTED that Aiden didn't spend their years apart whoring around , omg just made me love him so much more! I'd give more than 5 stars if I could. I'm ready for the next B Celeste Masterpiece! I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Bloom Books for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!!

What a great second chance sports romance!! This definitely had a lot of angst and tension. The first chapter set the tone of the story and the difficulties Ivy has been through. There were lots of heavy topics, but it was handled well between the two MCs. I loved getting to know Aiden and seeing him through his friends eyes. I will definitely be reading the next in the series!