The story was cute, I just don't think I was in the right headspace to read a romance. I honestly put this ARC down and didn't finish it for a while, but then it bugged me that my NetGalley numbers weren't matching up, so here I am.

Kate is Bea's sister from Chloe Liese's other book TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT, and is also a Shakespeare retelling. Although, I'll admit I've never read the man, so any and all references were lost on me. They've known each other since childhood, and hated each other for some reason I can't remember. Then of course as they get to know each other as adults, shenanigans happen, and blah blah blah.

Like I said, I'm sure I'd like it more if I was in a better headspace to read a romance novel. Thanks anyway, NetGalley!

Chloe Liese does it again! I was already a big fan, but this really sealed the deal for me. I absolutely love the way she writes neurodivergence and chronic illness.

I did end up enjoying this more than the first of this particular series. I think the reason for that is this one is a modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew and I just really enjoy those I guess (see also 10 Things I Hate About You).

Both Kate and Christopher were easy to root for and I loved their banter with each other. I also thought both narrators did a good job bringing the characters to life.

I would highly recommend this one to any and all romance lovers.

I really enjoyed Two Wrongs Make a Right and so I was excited for Better Have than Never. I'm here for all the Shakespeare re-imaginings and while this is more subtle than what one might be expecting, it's delightful. With neurodivergence and ADHD representation, Better Have than Never this childhood enemies to lovers romance is one I finished in a few days. Featuring a dual POV, this was a perfect choice to see the miscommunications, apologies, and has a careful versus a smidge of recklessness.

love love love love loved.

i had such high hopes for this one after reading two wrongs make a right. which is my ALL TIME favorite book!

this one came so close to being #1 for me.

highly recommend if you loved Two Wrongs Make A Right and want to read about the side characters

I enjoyed this even more than Too Wrongs Make a Right! The ADHD and chronic migraine representation was fantastic and I loved the dynamics between the two main characters.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! Chloe Liese is a go-to author for me, and I enjoyed this addition to The Wilmot Sisters series. Kate and Christopher were childhood friends and then rivals in adulthood, and Kate moved back to town to live with her sister from being a world traveling photographer. They drive eachother crazy, until they realize it might actually be chemistry. I enjoyed this book and always love Liese’s writing style; I think she is great at mental health and differing health representation in her character building, as well as hot and steamy scenes. Though I did like this book, I thought some of the dialogue was a bit stilted and the story rushed. But overall, I always enjoy Liese and will definitely be reading her next book in this series and any series she writes. I recommend this book for fans of Chloe Liese, mental health representation (ADHD), chronic pain representation (migraines), and open door, slow burn contemporary romance.

Chloe Liese knows how to do demisexual rep but this was not it. The most frustrating thing for me about this book was the gloss over bonus points Demi rep. If you look at promo materials for this book and even the freaking acknowledgments at the end all of the other major representations in this book are talked about. The ADHD rep and the migraine rep but the demisexual rep is like the red-headed stepchild of representations in this book.

The fact that Chloe Liese wrote The Mistletoe Motive which has exceptional demisexual representation and then proceeded to write this book that has at best, misleading subpar demisexual representation is downright is pointing and borderline problematic.

One of the issues with this is that the characters have known each other forever and so it muddies the waters on when the attraction started. Demisexuality means that someone does not feel sexual attraction until they form an emotional bond. This does not mean that they enjoy sex more when they have an emotional bond or that intimacy comes easier when they have an emotional bond. It means they literally do not experience the attraction until the bond is formed. Demisexuality is so misunderstood already and that's why I say it's borderland problematic to have this sort of blurred lines representation. We don't need more muddy Waters. The supposed demi character in this routinely mentions that intimacy comes easier for her when there's an emotional bond or that she enjoys it more but that's not what demisexuality is!

Anyway, that's not even getting to the point that the actual word demisexual is not even mentioned until the last maybe 10% of the book. I'm frustrated.

What's even more frustrating is that this book isn't bad beyond that. The ADHD rep is okay and the migraine rep is okay but it wasn't problematic. I'm not really sure what happened with this book because I really have genuinely enjoyed almost every single one of Chloe Liese's books and this one just fell quite short for me.

Also can we talk about the fact that these two have been enemies for so long and have routinely griped and bickered and outright fought in front of the family and no one said anything. Are you for real? There's no way no in hell. I also thought that it was a little bit weird that Christopher mentioned that he changed her diapers as a kid and that somehow he was able to form sisterly bonds with Kate's two sisters yet formed a romantic attraction with Kate. They are 6 years apart I believe but they've known each other their entire lives. It was just a little bit weird.

I adored this book so much. Chloe is always so excellent at writing complex characters that you can't help but fall in love with.

i'm a sucker for a shakespeare retelling (maybe it's the shakespeare class i took in school and all the deep dives i did into his plays?!) and was THRILLED that chloe wrote another one, this one spinning off of the taming of the shrew. i LOOOOOVED the first wilmot sisters book and read it recently, so i jumped right into this one, but it makes me sad to say it took a while for me to get in the groove with this one! the second half was wonderful, but it had a slow start and didn't hook me right away, and it didn't end up being the five star favorite i was hoping it would be. i'm still sticking with a solid four stars, and i truly enjoyed it, but it didn't blow me away like i anticipated it would. i just love a katerina story and wanted a liiiiiittle more from this one!

This book is proof that you can write a book with plot and conflict WITHOUT MISCOMMUNICATION.

When I thought the miscommunication shitty moment would come, the one that always separates the characters for no real reason, it didn't come!!!!! It almost did, but instead of freaking out, they communicated, they were adults trusting each other.

We need more books like this!!!

Im also obsessed with Chloe Liesel bfor all the rep she includes in her books
She puts a lot, and imo she does it very well. It was particularly touching for me with Christopher, who suffers from migraines just like me. I've never read a book with a character who has migraines, never. And I've always wanted to write one but was scared it wouldn't be interesting, but it's my reality. And reading Christopher's POV was just so real and I felt so seen.

Book 2 in the Wilmot Sisters book absolutely did not disappoint! This book is based off of a Taming of the Shrew retelling and I was all in! Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this worked perfect for Christopher and Kate. Kate is the sister who is a globetrotter, fly by the seat of her pants type who loves her family but isn’t sure she wants to stay in one place.
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Christopher is reliable, a great friend and a hell of a dancer but him and Kate have never seen eye to eye until they realize their hate is so much more. That’s when things really pick up. I just love the way Liese rights and I especially love how incredibly inclusive she is in writing her characters. I love this world she is creating with these characters and so happy to revisit Jamie and Bea from Two Wrongs Make a Right. I cannot wait for the next book!

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was so nice to see a main character in a romance novel with ADHD, it was super refreshing. I loved Christopher and Kate, they were so cute, they had the whole love to hate you thing going. I absolutely loved the paint ball scene! It was funny and Kate was so badass in it, I loved everything about that scene. I also loved the bromance between Christopher and Jamie, it was so cute. I loved Jamie and Bea's story and seeing them in this book just made me want to back and reread their love story. If you like feisty heroine, who is honestly all around badass then this is the book for you!

Better Hate Than Never is a hard one for me to rate.
While I love enemies-to-lovers and appreciate the representation (disability, feminism, sex positivity) I just felt unconnected to this story. For me the banter, romance, and even the plot wavered from good to ehhh. Why were they enemies? That felt muddy. Her family is supposed to be supportive and concerned but never cared to find out why they had beef? We're told about her struggles in life, but it just felt disingenuous. And the romance didn't have the build-up to last GENERATIONS. Also, would have loved a more realistic portrayal of MC losing her virginity. Look it's not bad, I just thought it could be better.

There are some authors who never fail to make me feel happy while reading their books and Chloe Liese is one of those authors, as I’ve come to rely on her distinctive sense of humour, charmingly witty characters and ability to pen sexy, light-hearted romances that make me swoon though fits of giggles time and time again, not to mention that she writes sexual tension like a boss

These characters were both so lovely! I really loved the fiery enemies to lovers plot and the chemistry between the two main characters was great. The family and friend relationships with the side characters were a nice addition. The spicy ending was a bit too long for my tastes, but I will definitely recommend to those who I know will appreciate it.

I adore everything Chloe writes, and this did not disappoint. Realistic relationship progressions, disability representation, a diverse cast. Amazing. Loved it.

This was a cute romance novel. I loved the representation as well of ADHD and chronic Migraines. I will say I did enjoy the first book in the series a little more but I loved the enemies to lovers aspect of this.

This was an entertaining read. I did appreciate that there was emphasis on communication in this one which isn't the norm for most romance novels and there isn't a third act break-up although it gives hints at one. So all in al lit was relatively low angst in that regard. The insight into people who have chronic migraines and ADHD was also a good example of disability rep. And the spicy scenes were sizzling.

However, I wasn't as enamored of it like I was the first one which was kind of sad considering I love the source material it's based on and "10 Things I Hate About You". I enjoyed it don't get me wrong but I didn't love it as much as I was planning on. Would highly recommend though because this author is pretty amazing and is fast becoming a favorite.

now this is how you write enemies to lovers!!! Make the tension hot. Make the banter funny. Make him apologetic. Make him emotionally damaged. Make him buy her flowers. Make him cook her dinner. Make him obsessed with her!!! I am going to be thinking about Kate and Christopher forever. Their connection, both in hate and love, felt so genuine. I love how damaged Christopher was. I love how so much of Christopher's hostility toward Kate stemmed from his concern for her safety and his abandonment issues and how he comes to terms with that and reconciles so many of his feelings (hot men go to therapy!!!) and works on himself to be better for Kate. I related so much to Kate's burnout, her wanderlust but desperate need for stability and her family. I love how much she loves her sisters and would do anything for them, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. I loved the chronic illness rep in Christopher and the neurodivergent rep in Kate. They are just so perfect

3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this book and there wasn't anything specifically wrong with it or things i would change. I just wasn't obsessed, can't put it down in love with it. I liked the characters and their development. I thought the representation of ADHD and someone who suffers with migraines was done well. I like the whole family dynamic and side characters as well. I didn't read the first of this series so maybe I would have been more invested if I'd already been introduced to the world. The characters had good chemistry and I liked seeing their progression over the course of the story.