Thank you to Bethany Turner, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other comes out September 5, 2023.

I’m going to be honest, getting into this book was very hard. The way Brynn talks about her hometown and also acts to the people she left behind was unenjoyable. I also think that the enemies portion of this book was intense like to the point that I didn’t know if the lovers portion would happen. That being said in the second half of the book while Brynn was on her redemption arc/character growth period the book becomes more enjoyable and pretty good. You get the sense that you needed the first uncomfy half to get to the ending. Also the epilogue was very sweet.

Such a cute enemies to a lovers' story. I'll admit that at the beginning, Brynn drove me a little batty with her personality. The progression she makes and then the connection with Sebastian helped turn all that around. She showed so much growth.

The backstory, banter, and love connection was so good. Set in a small town, it all made for a great rom com.

The audio was also so great. Love the narrator and the way she portrayed the characters.

Thank you @netgalley @seebethanywrite & @thomasnelson for allowing me to read and listen and give my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Books for the complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved the beginning of the book, as I have a history in TV news and morning shows. While I was fortunate enough to not have too many divas to work with at the local level, Brynn did remind me of one or two who only saw our city as a steppingstone to bigger jobs in bigger TV markets. She’s not very likable, and for the sake of the book, she has to be that way for this to work.

While Brynn’s story is told from the first person, Sebastian’s was told from the third person POV, which made it harder to get to know him. The other problem I had with the Sebastian chapters was that there was so much superfluous stuff in there I found myself skimming through those chapters, wanting to find out more about his mysterious past and getting through the fluff.

The enemies-to-lovers trope makes sense, as Brynn bashes her old hometown on national TV and returns to the village to make amends. Sebastian found this little town to get away from the limelight and doesn’t want Brynn to make a spectacle of the tiny town or its people. They clash from the start.

Overall, I thought this was a cute romance if you can stand Brynn long enough to get to her redemption. Both she and Sebastian have trauma in their past lives that they need to reconcile with and get past in order to have a relationship, and there’s a healthy growth between the characters and within themselves. While I don’t think this is a 5-star book, it’s a solid 4. Recommend!

Brynn Connell is at the top of her game! She's a sunny morning show host and has the world at her feet! Until... she trash talks her hometown LIVE on air unbeknownst to her!

Back home she goes to make nice with the people she grew up with and to show the world that she's not a horrible person behind scenes.
Here she meets Sebastian, the only new resident to the small town in 20 years. A loved local but NOT well liked by Brynn.

Sebastian is given the role of chauffeuring Brynn and her camera man around town trying to rectify Brynns good girl image.

There's lots of banter in this enemies-to-lovers relationship. We quickly go from insulting one another to 'liking' one another. It's definitely a he-falls-first but she's not far behind.

Together Brynn and Sebastian discover parts of themselves that have been hidden away and it's enjoyable watching it all unfold.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Brynn Cornell is a morning talk show host who radiates sunshine, at least her viewers thought. She is caught on a hot mic complaining about how her hometown is full of a bunch of half-witted nincompoops and it turns out to have some potentially dire consequences for her career. The station at which she works asks her to spend a week in her hometown in order to redeem her image.

She and her co-worker meet Sebastian Sudworth, who has been assigned to their point of contact while they are there and has a past in journalism that ended abruptly. Sebastian has been living in her hometown for the last six years, working odd jobs. Things start out shaky between Brynn and Sebastian and remain that way for a little bit, but walls begin to crumble between them, showing each other a side that they never thought they would have seen or predicted.

The book had a good start and I really liked how Brynn was portrayed as this relatable, smart, and sarcastic career woman (she was at least relatable to me). However, I got this sense that she was a selfish princess, and it was a little off-putting. Frankly, I was getting Alexis vibes from Schitt's Creek. In fact, some of the book reminded me of Schitt's Creek and the dynamic between rich and high-maintenance and blue-collar, hard-working, and family-oriented in a small town.

I didn't like how the book kept switching between first person and third person. While I really appreciated the perspectives between Brynn and Sebastian, I would like to have had Sebastian's perspective in the first person. I didn't necessarily get a sense of how he was feeling with the narrator telling the story. I also wish the pacing of the story was quicker. The tension was broken between Brynn and Sebastian after 50% of the story was completed, and it just seemed abrupt. The tension didn't build; it was as if they all of a sudden started having feelings for each other.

I did appreciate how the author concluded the book. I like how Sebastian got his redemption arc, albeit for something that didn't seem that catastrophic to begin with and that Brynn and Sebastian lived happily ever after at the end.

I was slightly underwhelmed, but it wasn't one of the worst books I've read. I think if a reader is looking for a redemption story with a little bit of romance, this would be the book to choose.

Reading this book felt I was on a roller-coaster. Fantastic strong opening when Brynn, a morning show co-host (America’s sunshine) is caught in a hot-mic flub where she trashes her small home-town in Colorado. The producers quickly send her and one cameraman back home for a week to apologize and re-earn her spot back as America’ sweetheart.
Sebastian is a former international Pulitzer Prize winning journalist recluse (retired after a traumatic story) who relocated to this newly insulted small town that he has grown to love. He doesn’t respect Brynn as a ‘real’ journalist and is furious when he must be her guide for the week. The enemies vibe was so natural and fierce that I honestly wasn’t sure I could even envision these two falling for each other. Brynn came across as cold, lacking genuine remorse, and as a complete snob. But somehow, the author really drew me in for a ‘Brynn redemption’! I love the trope of ‘returning home’ to face your demons, and this one was poignant. Readers will learn about Brynn’s traumatic childhood and more about Sebastian’s early retirement and their hearts with thaw. I really adored the climatic conclusion and the endearing epilogue!
Readers can expect: news anchor/journalist careers, grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, small town charm, PTSD & family trauma, and no third act breakup. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer publishing for my arc in exchange for my honest review.

a cute novel, i really enjoyed it!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for this review copy.

I really wanted to like this book more, despite being a very solid novel, it didn't captivate me enough, Brynn is a character that was very complicated to like throughout the reading and I think there was a little more development with the character of the Sebastian so I could bond. I would love to have enjoyed this read more, but it's just not a book for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

The book is okay but I don't understand why Brynn's pov is in first person and Sebastians is in third, its's really weird. The end of the book is better since they are actually together but I wanted more of that. I also didn't think that Brynn had a good reason for being an asshole, she was just really unlikeable for the first half of the book.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Honestly, I didn’t like this book at the beginning. Brynn is strong-willed, abrasive, and self-absorbed and I absolutely hated her. However, I swiftly changed my viewpoint when learning about her prior history with her mother and reasoning behind leaving Adelaide Springs. Brynn’s character redemption was a real strength of the story and both Brynn and Sebastian’s characters are superbly crafted throughout the story. The side character are utter gems, and I just adored the community of Adelaide Springs.

When an on-air blunder leads to the world hearing Brynn insult her hometown and her viewers. She proposes a return to Adelaide Springs to salvage her reputation and career. The only person standing in her way of becoming America's Ray of Sunshine again is the town’s fiercely protective, Sebastian Sudworth.

If you don’t automatically love this book, like me, stick with it. The further I read, the more I understood the author’s intentions behind Brynn’s character.

Read if you enjoy:
•Enemies to Lovers
•Dual POV
•Small Town Setting

I wouldn’t describe this book as a rom com as I think Brynn’s redemption story is what this book is primarily about. Brynn is extremely unlikeable in the beginning, which is of course the point. But the way she spoke to others and refused to accept responsibility for her actions were downright cringy. I don’t think she did enough to overcome the horrible person she was at first. Sebastian seemed to overlook all of that pretty easily after just one pleasant conversation about movies. It was a hard buy.

The scene that really rubbed me the wrong way though was how Sebastian laughed when Orly realized he was the only Black person in town. I don’t see how that’s funny AT ALL. It was an incredibly culturally insensitive moment.

Lastly, there were several instances where I lost focus on what was happening because there were so many long winded metaphors.

The second half of the book was better overall. I did enjoy how Brynn eventually brought Sebastian out from hiding and the epilogue was sweet.

Thank you to Netgalley for this gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Brynn left Adelaide Springs, her small Colorado hometown, when she was eighteen without looking back. Twenty years later, she's on morning television when she insults her hometown and its people, not realizing they were broadcasting live. The solution? Send Brynn to Adelaide Springs to apologize in person and get footage of the people forgiving her. Cue Sebastian Sudworth, who moved to Adelaide Springs six years ago and sees right through Brynn's acting. This would be so much easier to get through if they didn't hate each other.

This is my third read by Bethany Turner, and it was a lot of fun. I love Brynn and Sebastian and their banter, as well as them as characters individually. They've got complex feelings and they're characters you care about.

CW: mentions of infidelity, death, trauma, PTSD

This was a pretty easy grump/sunshine read. The character dynamic was much different than the usual trope. I’m pretty sure this is the first time ever that I liked the grump character more than the sunshine...and for the entire book. Brynn’s persona was immature (and boarder line bratty)and it kind of killed the “romance” bit. The witty banter, however, was pretty entertaining along with the small town drama and traumas.

Thank you to @seebethanywrite and publisher @thomasnelson for providing an ARC of this book via @netgalley.

Loved it! Fantastic characters, whimsical plot, clever story arc and a dash of humor mixed in with a poignant theme of forgiveness make this my new favorite novel by Bethany Turner. Oh, might I add that Murrow is a delightful working service animal for Sebastian. For me, characters that change and grow throughout the story make for compelling reading. Of course, I'm a goner for a swoon-worthy hero in a small-town setting (wins my heart every time), but Brynn and Sebastian both have well-crafted journeys and I found the ending to be especially satisfying. Nicely done, Bethany!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

"Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other" by Bethany Turner is an enchanting Romance novel that I absolutely loved. From the engaging storyline to the well-crafted characters, this book captured my heart. I'm excited to recommend it to everyone I know because it's a delightful journey of emotions and unexpected connections. Bethany Turner's storytelling talent shines through, creating a memorable and heartwarming reading experience. "Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other" is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a charming and emotionally satisfying romance.

This is a great enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine romance. Those are two of my favorite tropes, so I was eager to dive in! This story was so much fun and had me laughing up a storm.

Brynn is the "sunshine" part of the duo, and, well, I didn't know what to think of her at first. She was essentially playing a role in her job as a morning show anchor. A role that was nothing like who she really was. She was supposed to be "America's Ray of Sunshine", but her true self gets exposed in an unexpected moment on air. To rehabilitate her tarnished image, she heads back to her hometown. A town she's actively avoided since she left twenty years ago. Brynn wasn't the most likable character in the beginning. She came across as rude, condescending, and a bit of a spoiled brat. I was worried that she'd remain unlikable throughout the whole story, but thankfully that wasn't the case. I loved when she started opening up more and we got a glimpse of who she used to be before she became famous.

As soon as Sebastian the Grump appeared on the page, I instantly fell for him. Yes, he was a grump, but he had so many more layers to him. He was a really interesting guy, and the more I learned about him, the more I liked him. You could see how passionate he was about the things (and people) he cared about.

I loved the town of Adelaide Springs. There was a quirky charm to it that I couldn’t help but be drawn to. Their love of colonial history was endearing, and I loved the creativity behind some of their business names. (The Bean Franklin in particular.) And I can't fail to mention the fact that the town was full of some really wonderful people too. Doc, Laila, Cole, Jo, Old Man Kimball—the list could go on and on. By the end of the novel, Adelaide Springs started to feel like home. I didn't want to leave the town or its residents.

If you're looking for a fun romantic comedy set in a charming small town, grab a copy of this book. I highly recommend it!

I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Sadly this was not for me. I just found myself struggling to stay focused on it for more than a chapter without taking a break to do something else.
Both Brynn and Sebastian seemed very boring and plain to me.

I love Dual POV books but Brynn’s POV was written in first person and Sebastian's POV was written in third person which I found very odd.

Tropes
✦ Dual POV
✦ Enemies to lovers
✦ Forced proximity
✦ Return to hometown

Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

From the first chapter, I was hooked. Sticking your foot in your mouth on national television to the extreme that Brynn does in the first few pages is enough to give secondhand anxiety. I was eagerly waiting for what would come next!

Sebastion, who I was curious about from his first chapter, took me a bit longer to want to know. But as the banter between him and Brynn grew from containing animosity to something like friendship, I started to fall for him as well.

A lovely story with a cute main couple, I easily rate this book a 4.5/5. I only wish the author had taken more time to give us more history on Sebastian! There is a really touching scene towards the end of the book where we get a look at the intense past he carries with him. I would have enjoyed a deeper dive.

I recommend this book to romance readers who enjoy the burn more than the payoff.

I loved this book SO MUCH. It was such a fun small town feel, I love a mountain town, and the romance felt so genuine! For some reason it gave me Gilmore Girls vibes in the BEST way. I truly think I will read this one again!

I listed to about half on audio and read half on my kindle and the narrator was wonderful.

5 stars!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy to read.

I also seriously disliked the Brynn we see at the start of "Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other." But just as she grew on Sebastian, she grew on me. By the end I was rooting for her - not just her relationship with Sebastian but also her relationship with herself. While the banter between Brynn and Sebastian is funny, I also liked how the author portrayed the darker aspects of this book. A male romantic lead who goes to therapy? Love it so much. The secondary characters are interesting and add to the story and I hope we get more books out of Adelaide Springs.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions here in are my own.