Chloe Liese just gets it. Characters that you fall in love with and want to be friends with? Check. Tender moments that make you swoon followed by moments that moves you to tears followed by laughing at a piece of dialogue that is hilarious and perfect? Check.
This story was beyond amazing, and I read it at a moment when I really needed it so that made it even more meaningful. Kate Wilmot has my whole heart and I want to protect her forever♥️ Run to buy this book when it comes out in October, y’all.
Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for a free ARC.

Chefs kiss💕✨❤️


Thank you soooooo much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

I am thoroughly enjoying this series and am really hoping to read Juliet's story next. I enjoyed seeing the way Kate and Christopher overcame their animosity (though I found it a little hard to believe that years of negative behaviour could be overcome so quickly) to find their happily ever after.

5/5
Better Hate Than Never is an exemplary hate-to-love romance surrounding the misperceptions that come from protecting ourselves and those we care about, and how we can break down those barriers and better ourselves. Part Shakespeare retelling, and all things hot and vulnerable, Liese’s tremendous talent for portraying personal transformation and vulnerability is at its height. Kate and Christopher truly are the moment, with an open communication that is worth angsting over and longing for. Liese will give you standards you didn't even know you needed, like a man who makes you pasta at the drop of a hat. Better Hate Than Never is not only a fantastic love story, it’s Liese’s best work to date.

A full review will be posted on my blog closer to publication!

I loved Two Wrongs Make a Right so I was super excited to get to read this one! I liked this one too. My favorite thing about it was all the Fall cozy vibes. I identified with Kat a lot since I too am a donut aficionado, neurodivergent, and really hate doing laundry. The friends to lovers mixed with enemies to lovers tropes in this book didn't have the same vibrancy that I felt with Two Wrongs Make a Right, but overall it was a sweet romance that I will recommend to any romance lover out there!

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5 (4.25)
rep: chronic migraines, ADHD, demisexual MC
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for an ARC copy! I love Chloe Liese’s books, and I was extra excited when I heard that this had chronic migraine rep as someone who suffers from them. As usual, Chloe nailed it with her disability rep. In every book of hers, it is so clear that so much love, care, and thoughtfulness has gone into making sure that the various disability/mental health rep is accurate. Her books are truly some of the best for disability rep in my opinion. However, this book was unfortunately not my favorite of hers. I really enjoyed Two Wrongs Make A Right, but I think I preferred it to this one. Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t feel as connected to the story and I had some trouble staying engaged. Other than that, I enjoyed this! Kate and Christopher are so sweet together, and there were so many amazing and lovely quotes that I highlighted throughout. All in all, I can’t wait to see what’s next from Chloe! Thank you again NetGalley!

Wow, I really enjoyed this one! This was my first book by Chloe Liese, and I honestly can’t wait to read more from her. This was as sweet as it was charming, and I didn’t want to put it down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️*
3 peppers because the spice is descriptive and exciting but it doesn’t come until the last like 30-25% of the book.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
- ADHD Rep
- "Friends" to Lovers
- Taming of the Shrew Retellings
- No Third Act Breakup

Chloe Liese is the queen of sibling stories. With the Bergman family and now the Wilmot sisters, I can't wait to see what family Chloe will introduce us to next.

I read this in a day while I was traveling so you know it had to be good if I was able to tune out all the airport noise and keep focused while reading.

I love friends to lovers and enemies to lovers and with Kate and Christpher, it was kind of a mix of those two tropes. They've known each other forever and know how to get under each other's skin which leads to mouthwatering banter.

The pace of Kate and Christpher's story was perfect and I never found myself wishing things would move faster. Along with that, Kate and Christpher are wonderfully fleshed out characters that made all their actions make sense.

NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP! I love how Chloe Liese writes characters that communicate SO WELL.

There are a fair amount of appearances from Jamie and Bea - from the first book in the series and I'm hoping we get Juliet's story next (of course with major appearances from Jamie, Bea, Kate and Christoper).

This is the second installment of the Wilmot Sisters series and follows Kate, the youngest sister, and her childhood next door neighbor Christopher. The two have been at odds for forever, so when Kate moves back home, will they keep up the enemies act or begin to realize how much they’ve been lying to themselves ?!

I am a big Chloe Liese fan, but this story took me a while to get into (about 50%). It wasn’t so much the plot or characters, as I grew to love both, and as always the representation and realness of the story was top notch. However, there was a lot going between Kate’s sisters and the newly introduced characters at the start that I found myself getting lost, and I struggled to see that something was there between Kate and Christopher despite the childhood animosity, which felt immature with the large age gap. Also, there was one paintball scene that lasted a bit too long for me (about three chapters). Once the two opened up more and their relationship bloomed, I become more invested in the story and couldn’t get enough of their banter, intimacy and honesty. Plus, the no third act breakup was refreshing.

Even though this wasn’t my favorite of the bunch, I’ll continue to read all of Chloe’s books, and I know many will absolutely love this!

Read if you like:
-Enemies to lovers
-Close proximity (next door neighbor)
-Age gaps (6 years)
-Chronic migrain and ADHD rep
-Demisexual heroine
-Books that follow sisters

Better Hate Than Never is a modern take on The Taming of the Shrew featuring Katerina and Christopher, two people who seemingly know each other better than most and have seemed to hate each other for most (?) or all (?) of their adulthood.

Katerina is a traveling photographer who has a passion for causes and uses her passion and talent to tell those stories. Christopher is a venture capitalist whose firm invests in progressive causes. He shares a yard with her parents, parents who took him in after his died and he needed the love and guidance of someone who knew them better than his grandmother. Essentially, in his most formative years, Katerina's family was like his. They were close. Knew everything about each other. That knowledge fueled an antagonist relationship between Katerina and Christopher. All she wanted was his attention and respect and all he wanted was her love and to protect her and keep her close. Despite what they wanted, what they had was a relationship where she needled him about being a money sucking capitalist and he needled her about running away and never being home. Round and round they would go until her dad intervened and asked Christopher to try to stop.

As anyone in a mutually antagonistic relationship knows, when one of the parties starts being nice, you get really suspicious really fast. So when Christopher tries to care for her, she's prickly and resistant until she sees his sincerity. Once she believes them, their love story is sweet and tender and respectful.

If you're familiar with the play that this novel is based on, you can definitely recognize many of the original features-lots of witty banter, lots of barbs, and a truly sweet ending. As a fan of the Shakespearean version, I can definitely recommend this one.

I love this angsty, accepting world Chloe Liese has created. Better Hate than Never is the second in Chloe's Wilmot Sisters series. This time it follows the story of rebel youngest sister Katerina and the boy next door Christopher. I love a hero who has been denying his love for the heroine.

I can't want to read everything Chloe Liese writes in the future.

All the stars for Chloe Liese's newest book featuring The Wilmot family!!
This was a great friends to enemies to lovers book featuring another one of Chloe's wonderfully written men, Christopher Petruchio. Again, I cannot stress how much I love Chloe's characters, who always seem to be written with so much care and attention that I just fall in love with them with all the books I've read from her. This was a wonderfully written, emotional, and beautiful love story and I cannot wait for more to come!!

In this retelling of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, photographer Kate is broke and back at home after years of adventure. She falls right back into old patterns of dealing with the orphaned boy next door her parents helped to raise: ethical investor Christopher. Six years her senior, his first interaction with her was when infant Kate had a diaper pooplosion on his lap, and things have gone downhill ever since.

I did not have as much love for this as for Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right, in part because I don’t know Taming of the Shrew as well as Much Ado About Nothing, and I think I had more forgiveness for Beatrice and Benedick because they were manipulated, as opposed to holding a grudge and being purposefully antagonistic. I really loved the nods and asides to 10 Things I Hate About You (which is my primary frame of reference for TotS). The writing is excellent and clever, the story features neurodivergent characters, and the family and sisterly relationships are strong.

I received an advance reader’s review copy of #BetterHateThanNever from #NetGalley.

Chloe, why do you do us like this?!?

Man, Kate and Chris. Christopher and Kate!!! Sigh. Swoon!! More, please more!!!

First, I love how Liese gives us a little Shakespeare for those who love it, but keeps it light for those (me) who could take it or leave it. She has the perfect balance.

While balance is present, there is equally chaos! As a neurodivergent myself I saw so much of my own chaos being explored in Kate. Watching her be accepted for who she is when he rejection dysmorphia is high was simply the best.

Watching her recognize that she is wanted and loved, and in return wanting and loving another, was magical.

Liese has such a beautiful way of showcasing beautiful people who think they're flawed, but really...they're just you and me!

Also, COMMUNICATION is present and we are HERE FOR IT!!! I love me some healthy communication.

Now, to go research ethical stock exchange!

Thank you so much Berkley for this advanced copy of Better Hate Than Never. I devoured it like all Liese books, and always am so pleased.

Chloe once again manages to write a romance novel full of feels, incredible representations and so much love. She’s incredible. This book is incredible. If you’re a romance reads or not, you need this book!!

I’ve read this author before so I was excited to read this book. She’s good at creating a slow burn and this one was similar. I was really into the book for the first 2/3 of the book and then the last 1/3 seemed to drag and was a bit too fluffy for me.

It’s about neighbours who have known each other forever, literally. Christopher essentially becomes part of Katerina’s family after his parents pass when he’s a teenager and he spends more time with the Wilmots than his grandmother. Christopher and Kate always have had a fiery relationship, pushing each others buttons. After Kate comes home for Thanksgiving (she’s a photo journalist who travels a lot) and gets into it with Christopher, Kate’s dad him and ask him to get along better. With her dad realizes that Christopher has used this animosity to cover his attraction to her over the last several years. That’s a story progresses. Kate realizes that she is also drawn to Christopher and away. It’s not childhood friend related.

I do like that the author talks about Kate struggle with ADHD and Christophers struggle with reoccurring migraines, and how to impacts both of their lives. It does add a different dimension to the story.

Overall will be a great relief for the fall.
#indigoemployee

4.5⭐️
“I’m going to communicate like a goddamn adult.”
If you enjoy a feminist retelling of Shakespeare where the characters actually talk through their feelings like adults like I do, read this book! I absolutely adore Chloe Liese’s writing! I was hooked from the first page, first from the antagonistic tension between Christopher and Kate to then the romance that kept me on my toes as I waited for them to finally get together! The only thing that I didn’t love was the age gap. I really wish that they had been slightly closer in age. Four years apart would have made sense given that they have known each other as since they were kids. Overall, this was a great book!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Chloe Liese can do no wrong.

I'm a big fan of enemies to lovers, and I'm finding that through Kate and Christopher's story, I'm an even bigger fan of enemies to friends to lovers.

Kate and Christopher grew up together as neighbors, and over the years, the animosity between them grew. Snarky comments, pranks, and basic shenanigans ensue until a finally-grown Kate flees home.

Years pass before they see each other again, but when Kate does return home, it's as if the animosity between them hadn't waned at all. With their families begging for peace between them, the two determine that they need to start getting along.

They do get along... too well.

Watching them fall in love was nothing short of magical. I loved this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.4 stars. I really, really enjoyed this, which surprised me since I have often not enjoyed this author’s books for various reasons. When I was offered this as an advanced reader copy (ARC), I jumped on it because I love the title and then realized the author later. But, I thought I’d give it a try anyway and see. And since it’s an ARC, I didn’t read any reviews (sometimes I don’t anyway). While I LOVED this book a lot, I cannot give it 5 stars for several reasons... mainly re: Observation 4, below.

This is kind of a Taming of the Shrew retelling... but not. It more references elements (including multiple character names) than really uses the play as a plot map.

These two have known each other their whole lives (at least Kate’s life since he’s 6 years older). She’s been the odd one out in her family. Her parents are very much in love and her older sisters are twins so the heroine has felt like there is no one for her. Plus, with her ADHD, she couldn’t stay still and be the “normal” everyone else was or expected. She’s been wandering the world as a professional photographer, but every time she comes home, the boy next door has tormented her. He is like an adopted son/brother to her family and always has something to say about her choices which just exacerbates her feelings of being the odd one out.

Well, this time she’s come home sad and burnt out, not sure what happens next and STILL, the boy next door picks on her. It gets to the point where he out and out says: “I haven’t hidden my disagreement with her choices, my concer—my disapproval, I mean—of how she lives.”

She’s sad and feels his disapproval keenly. There are several scenes where my heart ached for her (I’ll admit it, I was reading and tears were rolling down my face). And when he FINALLY realizes he’s been hurting her, his heart aches too. And that was lovely. And then, from there, it’s a pretty smooth story of him working to be kinder to her and being open to the idea that he’s treated her badly because he was afraid of, and for, her. This leads to some really sweet sneaky treats for her from him that I absolutely adored. They are a great team when they work together and I loved seeing them let their walls down.

Observations
1. This author tries hard to represent a wide variety of folks and these main characters provide some representation for demisexuality, severe migraines, ADHD, etc.

2. Loved the heroine’s work. She is a professional photographer and has a very missional look at her work. "...it’s what I’ve always aspired to in my photojournalistic work—activism through storytelling, giving my subjects the chance to be heard, their voices amplified through the power of images that make people stop and listen.” Love that!

3. Poor, hot mess heroine. This wasn’t terrible, but still something I would rather see less of in romance novels. Yes, she has ADHD, but does she have to barely make ends meet, including having worn out and holey clothing (including “once-white but not dingy-dishwater” underwear)?

4. Wealthy, manwhore hero. We didn’t have to see him on any dates, but the author really clubs us over the head with his 7/women a week player ways. There are endless reminders that he’s been sexually active, from his “one-and-done” policy to his assurances to her right before sexy times that he’s not a “selfish, mediocre lover”. I hate this crap. Why must we have so many “heroes” that have been sexing it up and treating women like disposable gloves to be used and discarded, until they meet “the one” that they’ll treat well and respectfully. Here's a quote to illustrate his grossness and the level of detail I DID NOT NEED:

<blockquote>"I’ve abandoned my routine—a meal at the bar, a flirtatious conversation and then a frank one (I’m yours all night. Only one night. No repeats.), then a hotel room, the exhilarating challenge of a new body to learn and become an expert of, the thrill of wrenching orgasm after orgasm from her, the blissful mindlessness of my own release."</blockquote>

He seriously has a woman every night and when he stops (after he realizes he wants the heroine and no other), his admin comes up to him because he maintains the hero's calendar and is aware that the hero hasn't been getting some. Seriously, WAY TOO MANY DETAILS in this book about the hero's manwhore ways.

The wealthy part is fine and par for the course. It’s just overdone to have the guy be the wealthy one and the woman to be poor and barely able to make ends meet.

5. Don’t even get me started on the whole “I’ve always loved you but was trying to forget with other women” angle this book has. That’s complete trash. I would forgive it more if the author had included a “I didn’t realize how awesome you were and was wasting my time playing the field when you were right there”. But no… that is not the case. And this is the primary reason I have to mark this book down. Here's a quote that perfectly captures this:

<blockquote>“I’ve wanted you for a long time, Kate.”

My heart leaps—he’s wanted me the way I’ve wanted him. But then it plummets—because it’s so hard to reconcile that while he says he deeply he desired me, he spent night after night sharing an intimacy with others that I’ve never even experienced.</blockquote>

5. I wish there was more character growth in this book, especially for the heroine. When drama goes down at around 95%, the heroine’s first reaction is hurt and confusion over what she overhears the hero saying to a friend. But she squishes down her feelings and says “I’m going to communicate like a goddamn adult” but then says, “I don’t want to hear Christopher explain and defend himself”. Huh? That’s not communicating like a mature person. It’s like this author gets emotional maturity half right. If you hear something that makes you react emotionally and, at first, assume the worst, you go to your partner and ask, “hey, what did you mean when…?” not tell him, “I trust you and you don’t have to explain yourself”. That’s just burying your own feelings and telling yourself your first reaction was wrong. How are you ever going to retrain your brain if you don’t allow yourself to feel what you feel and then pursue the truth?

6. No third act breakup. Even tho there is that stupid drama towards the end, it gets resolved well.

7. Is it plausible or possible that a new orgasm-er would have 10 orgasms in a row? Not sure, but he must have some magic in that manwhore self of his cause she does.

8. She's never had sex and has never had anyone give her an orgasm. Another overdone trope in the romance world and didn't need to be part of this book. Ya, ya, she's demisexual, so "representation". You know what would have been better? A demisexual hero who didn't sleep around with EVERYONE. That would have been representation.


Safety deets
A. No OM/OW. However, he’s a recovered manwhore. For her.

B. No condoms used, because of course the manwhore can be trusted when he says he’s clean two weeks after his last one night stand. There’s a scene where he says “my results were negative for STIs”, she says “I got the shot this week” and then they proceed to have lots of sex, as if a manwhore can be trusted and birth control is 100% reliable.

C. Excellent consent. She tells him her boundaries and they stick to those and communicate well.

D. HFN ending with an epilogue where they are together and negotiating their differences in a lovely way.

E. She's a virgin and he's a manwhore. Sigh.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me at this one early! The first book was one of my faves from 2022.
4.5? Started out at about 4 stars and worked it's way up. Not quite 5 stars, but there's a lot to love.
Loved the ADHD rep (I feel SEEN!!) and the demisexual rep. And the migraine-haver rep! Also loved the fact that when it looked like a misunderstanding was going to bog down the plot, Kate refused to let that happen.

Also also Jamie and Bea were very cute in the background.