3.5 stars

How do I feel about this book? I'm not sure. In theory it should have been a five star read for me but I just didn't connect with it. I liked that the grumpy/sunshine trope seemed to include both our main characters depending on who they were with but I didn't get overly invested in our heroine.

I loved the epilogue, title and book cover. And I really liked the friends who'd been left behind. I would love if they got their own books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Thomas Nelson.

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner kept me on my toes. Bethany wove together a beautiful story that took me by surprise with the twists that came. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of where Brynn came from, but then an even deeper layer of Brynn’s character and history is revealed. Brynn and Sebastian rub one another the wrong way and seem to like the friction and bitterness. But once they set out to see each other without assumptions, a beautiful transformation takes place. Soon Brynn remembers an important lesson. “There would always be consequences for your actions…but the sooner you owned up to them the sooner you could start healing.” Once she remembers to live that out, her life shakes free and puts her on a path toward freedom and love. At the same time, Sebastian is pushed out of his comfort zone to confront his painful past. Ultimately, they both need each other more than they could have imagined. This is a book I highly recommend. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As a die-hard fan of enemies-to-lovers and grumpy-meets-sunshine tropes, I honestly wanted to enjoy this book. However, I was surprised to find that I disliked the "sunshine" character and empathized more with the grumpy one. The heroine was really annoying, and I kept waiting for her redemption and to see things from a different perspective instead of acting like a spoiled brat. Her character development felt a little slow to me. Additionally, the enemies-to-lovers trope that was emphasized in the title wasn't the main focus of the book. It could have been executed more effectively, but instead, as soon as the characters spent their first alone time together, they just started liking each other, which felt too instant. I had a hard time getting into the story in the first half while I kept disliking Brynn Cornell (our not-so-sunshine heroine). I pushed myself harder to keep going and not choose the DNF option. Thankfully, the second half was a sweeter, more engaging little town story that I easily got attached to the other characters.

Here's a summary of the plot:

Cornell is the "Elle Woods" of the morning show, with a "Ray of Sunshine" persona. However, one wrongful comment disparaging her hometown tarnishes the entire image she has built. Her only chance to salvage her reputation and win back her viewers is to return to the same place she left 20 years ago and film an apology video, winning the blessing of the people. Her path crosses with Sebastian Sudworth, a brooding, retired famous journalist who is working odd jobs to waste his potential, with a mysterious reason for leaving his life behind to make a fresh start in Adelaide Springs, Colorado. He becomes the private chauffeur of Brynn, but as you can imagine, he doesn't like her much. Brynn realizes she has to win over the entire town, including Sebastian, to achieve her goal and return to her old job. Maybe she can do more than win him over—she may also make him fall in love with her.

Overall, I enjoyed the second half more, but I couldn't connect with the heroine. At least Sebastian was a more likable and attachable character. That's why I decided to give it three stars. This is still a good choice for readers who enjoy sweet, small-town romances.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson-FICTION/Thomas Nelson for sharing this ARC copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book had it all for me and that was it. I had to read this to see what it was all about. I was not disappointed and enjoyed the content. Enjoyed this book. I want to find more of her books.

This book was so slow moving that I almost DNF, but I'm glad that I finished it. The second half of the book was much better, and I wish that it was consistent throughout the book. The first half of the book was so slow, and I felt like nothing happened. The characters didn't grow or change. All of a sudden toward the end of the book, Brynn and Sebastian just developed feelings for each other, seemingly out of nowhere. I don't think it's fair to call this an enemies to lovers story because I don't think that it was actually much of a romance story.

At 85%-90%, the story started to pickup steam, and then, it was just over. I wish that the characters had more time to grow and change together. There was too much time wasted on things that were unimportant, and I would have love more with Brynn and Sebastian together.

There were also some pretty heavy moments in the book too, and I think that they were handled well. I would have liked more with that part of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this book.

If you like enemies to lovers this is the book for you!

The first half of it was, in my opinion, a bit slow and boring, I had to start it again a couple of times, it just didn’t capture my interest.

The second half on the other hand was cute and funny, you get to know the characters better and everything works better together.

There are some parts where I really would have slapped Brynn (FMC), her attitude was really annoying, and I get it, it was the whole point of the book, but in some parts she acted so dumbly; like, your biggest concern is that everyone saw that you are a jerk, and you have to redeem yourself, but you keep acting like one… like, seriously?! And to change that someone has to explicitly say to you “stop being one”.

Apart from that, I really enjoyed the book, it’s cute, light, and there are some jokes that are really funny.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.

I have a love hate relationship with this book. I like Sebastian, I like the writing, I loved the epilogue, and I loved a lot of the wittiness. However, I did not like Brynn and I don't think she earned any forgiveness, I also didn't like how any of our usual romcom tropes were used here. Brynn's character kept me from fully enjoying this as much as I wanted.

This book was very underwhelming for me. It was slow to start and I feel towards the end it was a little rush to wrap. I didn't care of Brynn character at all, Sebastians character was a little more tolerable. Honestly my favorite part of the book was the epilogue.

Thanks you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this e arc in exchange for a honest review.

Brynn Cornell is known as the Ray of Sunshine on the Sunup morning show, and has left her hometown of Adelaide Springs, Colorado far behind her. Until, that is, she's caught on a hot mic disparaging her hometown and the people who live there. Her only chance at salvaging her reputation and career seems to be returning to her hometown and the people she left without so much as a goodbye 20 years ago and filming her apology and, hopefully, their forgiveness. While there, she encounters Sebastian Sudworth, who has landed in Adelaide Springs from his own search for a fresh start. Will their fresh starts and second chances counter each other, or be just what they each need?

Normally, I love the enemies to lovers trope in romance, and the need for forgiveness and a second chance was such a great idea for this story. However, it felt like the switched flipped a bit too quickly and easily for Brynn. She didn't really work for any of the forgiveness, and she didn't seem to actually regret her actions, just that she got caught. There were a lot of avenues for side storylines that could have been developed, but there seemed to be an abundance of focus on Brynn's name change from B-R-E-N to B-R-Y-N-N, as if all of her life choices could be hinged on this spelling change.

I also missed some of this author's signature character banter from her previous works. Sebastian and Brynn could have been a fiery match, but it fell a little flat for me. I liked Seb, but found myself not really caring if Brynn found success.

I give this book 3 stars; I really liked the characters from Adelaide Springs, and just wish Brynn's transformation could have been a little more developed.


I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

A sweet , funny and tear-jerker book . Brynn is a cohost in a morning and she made an on-air mistake talking bad about her hometown of Adelaide Springs, Colorado . The only way to make everything better is for her to go back to her hometown and try to apologize . The person that is assinged to drive her around is Sebastian a man who was a famous reporter who has vanished from the media the last 6 six years . Now he lives in Adelaide Springs workings odd jobs and is in the town council . From the minute they meet they hate each other . She doesn't like the way he treats her and him is believing she is phonie . While spending time together they learn about each others pasts and they fell in love .
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

Bethany Turner has a new fan! I loved Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other (although I think the title could be a little less “wordy”). The quick wit and overall snarkiness between Sebastian and Brynn kept me invested until the very last page. If you’re looking to read a cute, innocent, feel good enemies to lovers book, then I recommend you read this one. I hope there is a sequel so I can continue following the love story of Brynn, Sebastian and the people of Adelaide Springs, CO.

This was a quick and easy read. Cute and heartwarming, but I didn’t connect with the characters very well.

At first I wasn’t really getting into it and almost DNF’d, but I was pleasantly surprised that the more I got into it, the more I enjoyed it. The characters become more fleshed out, and it becomes a cozy romance that lovers of the genre will really enjoy. Just give it a minute to get its groove!

Brynn was a cohost of the popular show Sunup. She made one huge on-air mistake and her snarky side was exposed. She's back in her hometown of Adelaide Springs to convince viewers that she's just a sweet girl next door. She meets Sebastian, who was a superstar reporter until something snapped inside and he vanished to Adelaide Springs doing odd jobs. He ends up being Brynn's driver....

Love these hate-to-love trope. Brynn is likable to me because of her snarky side actually. :) I do like Sebastian's grumpy side too. Terrific chemistry. I love how funny the dialogue is... So many LOL moments. A terrific funny book!

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Brynn (formerly Brenn) is America's Ray of Sunshine...at least, that's how she portrays herself on TV. She ran away from home as soon as she could and convinced herself that her hometown was a podunk, meaningless place where people exist but never truly live...and she accidentally said this on live TV. To save face, she goes back home to make amends, but the townspeople are less than thrilled to see her.

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other will warm the cockles of your heart. It's full of pop culture references, witty banter, and Hallmark-level small-town romance, and I loved it!

The story moves a little slowly, so be prepared for that. I didn't find that it detracted from my enjoyment because I was in the mood for a slow burn romance with character building, and that's exactly what this book delivered.

My only complaint is that Sebastian's character occasionally sounded like an old man. He'd go from the affable, snarky character to entertaining the PTA ladies on stage for tips, to sounding like the elders in the community. It didn't make me dislike him - in fact, I really liked his character - it was just a little odd. I loved that he continuously picked at Brynn for her faux persona because she NEEDED that, just like she needed Orly to lay out some harsh truths for her.

There was an opportunity for the author to to make a terrible decision and change Brynn into something she wasn't, and I'm happy to say that didn't happen. Instead, Brynn challenged Sebastian to take a step her never would have otherwise, making them even more endearing.

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

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars! This little book took me by surprise. I have to admit I requested this ARC from netgalley partly because of how great I think the cover is, but once you get past that, this is an enjoyable read about redemption, love, and friendship. The female main character, Brynn, is a morning news newscaster putting on a persona that isn’t exactly her own. She ultimately has to face this head-on after a mishap, which results in her confronting her past and how it may intertwine to influence her future in the industry. Along the way there is romance and the grumpy-sunshine trope plays a big role. I felt like both characters were a bit of both grumpy and sunshine, which was a good spin on the trope. My favorite part of the book was the scenery and small town itself, as well as its townspeople. A snowy mountain town will forever be my weakness. Overall, I really enjoyed this book but it did take me about 40% of reading to get fully invested. I feel the two main characters were developed well but I’d love more from the surrounding cast. I do wish the ending wasn’t so quickly wrapped because I was left wanting more, but maybe there will be a sequel I’d gladly pick up! I’m happy to have read this one and think this would be a fun read for anyone!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this eARC

This was genuinely cuter and had more substance than I anticipated. I also couldn’t stand Brynn for the first like 1/3 of the book (from both perspectives - because she kept saying the wrong things and not even seeming to notice that she was). Sebastian was a curmudgeon but so was she, just in a different way, so it was very much a twist on grumpy/sunshine but they’re both grumpy and both sunshine depending on who they’re around!

I felt like the ending could have been longer or more detailed, because I felt like once it started wrapping up everything happened so fast! But I also liked how much “real” stuff was dealt with instead of just the surface level stuff.

i'm so sad because I really wanted to like this book. I just was not for me. I feel like it was just so slow, so slow to the point where the characters had no development. I think brynn and sebastian maybe had one honest conversation and then they suddenly were in love, I was very confused by this book. It was so much plot, no movement at all and it was not centered towards the main couple at all. I also didnt feel like brynn and sebastian hated each other at all really, they had some minor differences. Overall, I think if people want some cool small town vibes then its a good book for that. but not for me unfortunately. thanks to netgalley for the arc.

3 Stars Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner is a classic enemies-to-lovers, small town romance between a disgraced morning show host and a reclusive former superstar journalist. Brynn Cornell is known as America’s Ray of Sunshine…or she was until she crashed and burned on live TV. As host of the popular morning show Sunup, Brynn has made a name as a sweet, self-deprecating sweetheart from a small town. Then she disparages that very same small town while accidentally on-air. In a last-ditch attempt to save her career, Brynn returns to her hometown of Adelaide Springs, Colorado, almost twenty years after she left without saying goodbye. With cameraman Opry along to capture her apology tour, Brynn struggles to reconcile the girl she was with the woman she’s become. It would be easier for her to made amends if she wasn’t being chaperoned by Sebastian Sudworth, who seems to hate her off the bat. Having retreated to Adelaide Springs six years ago to recover from what he saw while reporting as a journalist, Sebastian has a lot of feelings about Brynn and the harmful words she directed at the townspeople who welcomed him into their fold. Brynn and Sebastian spar at every turn, but Brynn is determined to win him over and redeem herself in the eyes of everyone.

This was a very quick and easy read, but enjoyable all around. I could feel Brynn and Sebastian’s frustration and aggravation with each other every time they interacted and pushed each other’s buttons. I like reading about Brynn’s reconciliation with some of her friends from her past; I only wish that her friend Addie had returned or they’d reconnected some other way, somehow. If you like enemies to lovers, you’ll like this one!