This was a Taming of the Shrew retelling, which I never read but I have seen 10 Things I Hate About You and I definitely saw some similarities between the two - even down to the paintball scene! I LOVED the first book in the Wilmott Sister series, Two Wrongs Make a Right so I was very excited for the second in the series. However, I wasn't a big fan of this one. I did love the representation this book had - ADHD, migranes, demi-sexual. But the age-gap/I knew you when you were born and I was 6 just didn't work for me. I found it creepy that it would flashback to when they were kids and there were a few other cringey things in it for me - how the male MC was a manwhore until she Kate showed interest in him. I do love enemies to lovers but even that trope couldn't save this one for me. I just wasn't a big fan of it. I do look forward to more books from this author though because this content aside, I did love the first book and I enjoy her writing.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Short synopsis: Kate is a traveling photographer who rarely finds time to go home. In a rare visit she runs into her childhood neighbor nemesis Christopher… is there still an animosity between them, or something sweeter.

My thoughts: What a sweet and tender story of classic childhood enemies to lovers. I loved the neurodivergent/adhd rep, it was displayed so well.

I could feel the tenderness and love Christopher showed towards Kat. I loved that he encouraged her to be HER! He knew all her favorite things (flowers, donuts, homemade pasta) and admitted when he was wrong.

This was such a great reimagining of The Taking of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You, with a lot of found family and banter intermixed in! And one of my favorites parts is there is No 3rd act breakup!

Read if you love:
- Childhood Enemies to Lovers
- Age gap
- 10 Things I Hate About You
- Sibling interconnected stories (this can totally be a standalone)
- Neurodivergent/ADHD and Chronic Pain Rep

Chloe Liese is my hero! A+ romance A+ representation wrapped up in a fabulous childhood enemies to lovers read!

Fans of 10 things I hate about you are going to devour this book! It's fun and feisty and yet very vulnerable and emotional. ALL the feels!

Despite growing up as childhood neighbors as adults, Christopher and Kate live in different hemispheres. When Kate returns home for a rare visit, their deep-seated animosity reignites. Despite pleas from friends and family to make amends, Christopher doubts Kate's willingness to do so. When Kate confesses her hostility was based on a misunderstanding, Christopher decides to seek peace. As the two are further are drawn to each other, they must decide if they should risk their hearts and trust their feelings for each other or maintain their hatred.

I loved reading and learning about these characters and the sexual tension was so well done (and ugh that first kiss), but I loved them even more growing together! They really are relationship goals with good communication and willingness to learn and grow!

Easily a top 10 read of the year!

Better Hate than Never by Chloe Liese, book two in the Wilmot Sisters series, is a modern take on The Taming of the Shrew, and follows Kate, the youngest sister, and her childhood next door neighbor Christopher. The two have been at odds for forever, never seeing eye to eye since they shared a back yard as kids. Growing up, and in their adult lives, they’ve always butted heads. Christopher has always been close to Katerina’s family, and when they beg him to be nice to her after she returns home, he begins to see things in a different light. Finally, his walls come down as he begins to try to make peace and get to know her better. When they come together for a kiss, fireworks go off and they begin to wonder how deep their feelings really go. One kiss, just one kiss changes everything. Once the two opened up more and their relationship bloomed, I couldn’t get enough of their banter, intimacy and honesty as they went from childhood enemies to lovers. Plus, the no third act breakup was refreshing. The representation of chronic illnesses such as migraines and mental health issues such as ADHD is informative, helpful, and realistic along with a demisexuality rep (her) and the chronic migraine/panic attack rep (him). I highly recommend Better Hate than Never to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I STAYED UP UNTIL TWO IN THE MORNING TO FINISH THIS MASTERPIECE

I’m not disappointed. Chloe Liese can do no wrong, this book was a PERFECT follow up to Two Wrongs Make A Right, following Bea’s little sister, Katerina and Christopher, the family friend.

We have two people who absolutely despise each other, and the TENSION is palpable. The absolute longing between the two characters had me giddy.

And they were both so mature and communicative, what a breath of fresh air that is.

A million out of five stars, I highly recommend. Thank you to Berkley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I definitely did a little happy dance when I opened a package from Berkley to see this book because after reading Two Wrongs Make a Right last year I could not WAIT to read this one, and it did not disappoint.

Kate and Christopher’s story is CLASSIC hate to love, and the dual-POV amplifies all the angst and tension to another level. Both the characters are very stubborn and headstrong in their own ways, but over the course of the story they also come to realize that they are actually more similar than they once thought. Everything about their love story was to die for, especially after Christopher vows to make things right between the pair. I quite simply could not put the book down until I got to see them open up to one another (I mean, I read SIXTY PERCENT of the book in one sitting, that’s how addicting it is).

Also- Christopher Petruchio the man that you are… I absolutely adored him from the first page and just fell more and more in love with everything he did to make things right with Kate.

And of course I love seeing all the characters from the last book return in supporting roles, especially Jamie and Bea, and I’m just even more excited now for Juliet’s book.

Overall, this is a delightful hate to love romantic comedy (with no third act breakup whaaat we love communication!) that is perfect for fans of 10 Things I Hate About You, and should definitely be put at the top of your fall tbr!

I loved this sequel in the Wilmot sister series! It was so cute and everything I wanted in a story. I really liked reading about Kate and Christopher. The fact that there was past history between them made it all the more angsty and I loved that. I can't wait for the next book! This is for those who enjoy the enemies to lovers trope.

This was literally a perfect fall read!

I loved the first book in this series, Two Wrongs Make a Right, so I definitely had to request this one! I wasn't disappointed. It had some....

• Frenemies to Lovers
• Slow burn
• ADHD and chronic migraine reps
• Opposites attract

There was seriously so much to love about this one! The tension was so good, and the banter was fantastic, as was the spice. It all made the moment they finally get together that much more satisfying.

I loved Kate, and it was so eye-opening seeing things from her perspective. My stepdaughter has ADHD, so I feel like reading books with the rep helps me to better understand her and her needs. Kate is also very correct in her opinion that fall flavors are superior! 😂

I definitely related to Christopher having suffered from migraines myself in the past. I felt like it dealt with his struggles in an honest way.

Overall, it was definitely enjoyable and totally worth the read!

Thank you @BerkleyPub and @Netgalley for the #gifted eARC of BETTER HATE THAN NEVER!

I absolutely adored TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT last year and was thrilled to receive an eARC of BETTER HATE THAN NEVER. And as much as I loved the first book in the series, I think this one may take the spot as my favorite of the series so far.

I’ve never actually read Shakespeare’s THE TAMING OF THE SHREW but the 1999 movie 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU is one of my all time favorite rom coms from my childhood. (RIP Heath Ledger). I think Chloe Liese must also be a 10 THINGS fan because she snuck in a paintball scene that made me so nostalgic.

The tension between Christopher and Katerina is just *chef’s kiss* perfection. They are childhood enemies who can’t decide if they actually hate each other or maybe just really want to be seen and understood by the other. Their chemistry is FIRE. This is definitely more of a slowburn but oh man it's so good.

I can’t wait to get Jules’s story next as I am completely smitten with these sisters!

BETTER HATE THAN NEVER is out today!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5380247695
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CyOTehzrIyv/

One of my top romance reads of the year!

Read if you enjoy:
- Childhood enemies to lovers
- Slow Burn
- Chronic Migraines Rep (Him) & ADHD Rep (Her)
- Dual POV

After reading this book I had to message the author and express my gratitude because this book just made me feel so seen.As someone who suffers from chronic migraines, I was able to relate to the MMC and his struggles. It was just a different experience to be able to relate to one of the characters. I loved the Dual POV. I am the kind of person who likes to understand both sides of the story and this is exactly what I got. Christopher and Kate's story was just so heartwarming and full of tension. Nothing felt rush and I was super invested. It is important to note that Christopher had made it to my list of book boyfriends. He is just so perfect and kind. Just the kind of guys who pretends to be super tough but is really a teddy bear. We love that!! To all my romance lovers, make sure you add this to your TBR. You will not regret it!

Quick Breakdown

Childhood Adversaries
Enemies to Lovers
Age Gap - 6 Years
It's Always Been You Vibes
Slow Burn
No 3rd Act Breakup
Demisexual Rep
ADHD & Migraine Rep
Dual POV
Open Door - Moderate Detail

Thank you @PRHaudio for the complimentary audiobook and @berkleryromance for free physical copy in exchange for my honest opinons.

Better Hate Than Never is a Taming of The Shrew meets 10 Things I Hate About You, enemies to lovers romance between childhood neighbors / adversaries. Enemies to lovers can be an iffy trope for me, mainly because I want the MC's to actually feel like enemies. That's exactly what you get here. The feud here was deliciously intense - these two could barely handle being in the same room together - and I think it worked so well because the underlying circumstances are so realistic. Christopher has had his reasons for pushing Kate away, but after a disasterous family dinner, he's asked to to make peace. He's hesitant to make amends, but after a night of drinking, Kate admits she only hates him because he made it known he hated her first. What follows is a slow burn wooing / low key, long term grovel as Christopher shows Kate that he's never truly hated her. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

I don't think I'm capable of not loving Chloe's writing at this point. Her writting is fan-fluffing-tastic and if you haven't picked up one of her books yet, you 1000% should. Seriously, stop what your doing and add her books to your TBR now. Not only is her writting soft, swoony, full of smart banter & humor, but her characters are so three dimentional, you can't help but see yourself in them. I love how Chloe wrote Kate and Christopher so relateable to readers in giving them / us representation you don't often see in romances (Kate - demisexual & ADHD. Christopher - migraines).

While there are so many little moments I want to save and remeber forever - him making her homemade pasta, the fact thaty he's the only one who calls her by her full name - really, it's the book as a whole that does me in. I loved the effortless transition from intense hate to tender romance filled with raw vulnerability. And while it does come later in the book, the lingering sass mixed with all that heart brings the spicy heat I love & crave.

Moral of my story: go run & pick up this book.

Hi and welcome to my blog tour stop for Chloe Liese's Better Hate Than Never! If you're interested in a Taming of the Shrew retelling with fire and heart, you should check this one out.

​A big thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

​Summary.
Childhood enemies discover the fine line between love and loathing in this heartfelt reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Katerina Wilmot and Christopher Petruchio shared backyards as kids, but as adults they won’t even share the same hemisphere. That is, until Kate makes a rare visit home, and their fiery animosity rekindles into a raging inferno.

Despite their friends’ and families' pleas for peace, Christopher is unconvinced Kate would willingly douse the flames of their enmity. But when a drunken Kate confesses she’s only been hostile because she thought he hated her, Christopher vows to make peace with Kate once and for all. Tempting as it is to be swept away by her nemesis-turned-gentleman, Kate isn’t sure she can trust his charming good-guy act.

When Christopher’s persistence and Kate’s curiosity lead to an impassioned kiss, they realize “peace” is the last thing that will ever be possible between them. As desire gives way to deeper feelings, Kate and Christopher must decide if it’s truly better to hate than to never risk their hearts—or if they already gave them away long ago.

My review.
One of my fave things about Chloe Liese’s writing is how bold it is about being soft. Better Hate Than Never comes in blazing hot with its Taming of the Shrew dislike to enemies vibes but what really takes it to the next level for me is the moments of care from primary & secondary characters alike.

Kate Wilmot & Christopher Petruchio have been longtime enemies. Christopher has also been a longtime addition to their family gatherings, especially when Kate is traveling the world as a photojournalist.

But Kate has returned home—keeping the reasons to herself—& she & Christopher find themselves in each other’s orbit again & Christopher with a request from Kate’s dad that he try to make an effort with Kate.

I have so much adoration for a hero who tries to be strong but also has to admit that he has had feelings for the heroine for *a very long time.* Also a hero who makes homemade pasta .

Kate & Christopher belong together & it’s such a sweet relief when they are there for each other emotionally: like when she gives him a massage & he comforts her when she cries.

There’s a great sense of emotion with this book—it’s really clear why he’s fought his feelings for so long—& overall just a sense of love & respect from all of the characters.

This is my third Chloe Liese book & I’m becoming a big fan. Sooo much heart & it feels like not only could you read these & love the romance but also maybe become more empathetic too.

4.5⭐️. Out now!

CWs: Loss of Christopher's family in car crash. Reference to violent and disturbing world events.

Quotes that will make you want to pick up this swoon worthy book:

✨Mental Health Rep✨
“Medication makes me feel like I spend less time frustrated, spinning my tires, feeling like life happens to me rather than being something I actively choose.”

“Because I was tired and sore and broke and lonely. Because this life I’ve been living that used to fix all my problems started feeling like the source of them. Because it felt so going f to feel needed, and even better to know I could help.”

✨The state of the world✨
“[…] how irrevocably people’s carelessness and selfishness and hatred can destroy lives, the terroristic violence humans have normalized and accepted, how defeating it is, how hard it is to have anything hopeful to say.”

✨To make you aww aloud✨
“You aggravating, maddening, clueless woman— […] as if anyone could not want you.”

“[…] denying myself you has been like battling the tide. If I fight it any longer, I’ll drown: I’m yours, […] for as long as you’ll have me.”

“Should I tell you that I have missed you and ached for you for so long Katerina Elizabeth Wilmont, you define the words.”

“That’s you […] my tree in the storm.”

“You think once I had you, I’d ever want another soul? […] that I’d ever look at another and want anyone but you.”

“Because I have loved you a hundred different ways for so long I don’t know when loving you began, just that I haven’t spent nearly enough of my life making sure you know it”

For lovers of a slow burn that has major payoff with mental health, chronic condition rep, and neurodivergent rep? Pick this one up!

I loved this and that says A LOT because I usually despise a slow burn lol.

The one thing I love about Chloe Liese novels is that they’re about real people with real problems. Her characters worlds are not all rainbows and butterflies. Kat has anxiety problems and Christopher fights ongoing migraines. Both things are central to the plot and to our two main protagonists connection with each other and how they interact with society. I found the migraines to be especially interesting as it was the male protagonist who suffered from them a weakness that most author’s wouldn’t give their strong male character. This affliction made Christopher so much more relatable and I really appreciated how he learned to lean on Kat to help him get through.

We were introduced to the Wilmot sisters in the first novel in this series, although Kat was an honorable mention, Christopher was a side character that we got to know a little bit. I really enjoyed the family dynamics of this close knit family. A plot point that was used to create conflict for Kat in this novel. Feeling as if you don’t belong in your own family is something we’ve all felt a time or two I’m sure. Watching these sisters bond, and seeing Kat grow within that family dynamic added an additional layer to this emotional love story.

I haven’t yet been disappointed by a Chloe Liese novel. She’s quickly become a favorite and I know I can count on her books to be interesting and make me feel. I love her characters, and Kat and Christopher are in my top 3 favorite couples in a novel by this author.

If Chloe writes it, I will read it and, odds are, absolutely love it.
Better Hate Than Never is no exception and is definitely one of my favourite reads of 2023.
The story of Kate and Christopher is filled with emotion, angst, sexual tension, compassion, love, and so much more.

Kate and Christopher are like oil and water. Christopher is more of a homebody, content to stay in the city where he grew up, living in the house his parents left to him when they passed away in his childhood, and spending time with his friends and surrogate family, the Wilmots. He gets along with all the Wilmots, except for Kate, the youngest daughter who is a free spirit, taking off to travel the world for her job as a photographer. They needle each other, argue, and, to a certain degree, resent one another for a variety of reasons that, over the course of the book, they need to work through.

As Kate and Christopher spend more time together, largely to appease family members who want them to call a truce, they grow to better understand each other and recognize that perhaps their animosity isn't really animosity, but a deep-seated attraction.

I think long-time fans of Chloe's are going to love this book and the sensitivity she brings to writing well-developed characters who also have chronic illnesses and/or disabilities and/or neurodivergencies. There are call-backs to one of the best films of the 1990s, 10 Things I hate About You, which is also based on the same Shakespeare play, and we get to catch up with character we first met in Two Wrongs Make a Right.

I love this book so much and am already excited for the third book in the trilogy, about Juliet!

Thanks to Berkley, the author, and NetGalley for an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I really liked the chronic migraine and neurodivergent representation in this book. I think the author did a good job there. This was a decent romance for me. I would love to read more by this author.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of this book! I loved it!

I really enjoyed the first book in this "series," and I was so looking forward to Better Hate Than Never...and it delivered on everything I want in a good romance book!

I don't usually gravitate towards ETL in contemporary romance, but something about this Shakespearan retelling made the ETL vibes just perfection. I think we've ALL had somebody we thought hated us, so we hated them kind of mentality...this book takes that perception and twists it a bit into forcing someone into hate to you can keep your distance (convoluted, I know, but true).

Christopher and Kate are just such a VIBE in this book. I love the banter, the bickering, and then the blatant honesty that pushes them right out of that grey area into something burning red! The tension, the chemistry, OMG, get yourself a water bottle because you're going to need it!

In addition to all that, Chloe Liese just does representation right. Sensory issues, ADHD, pain management...you name it, Chloe can handle it with sensitivity and care while still shedding light on the struggles many go through daily! I appreciate that so much as I saw myself in both of these MCs at different points in the story. That just gave their romance so much additional value IMO!

This was honestly a 4.5 star romance, but I don't give half stars...so I rounded up to five!

Star Rating: 5⭐️

Better Hate Than Never was just as good as I hoped it would be. Chloe Liese is an author that I will read anything from. I liked this even more than the previous book. Loved it!

By 30% I was so totally invested in Christopher and Kate that I didn't think I could put this down. Liese has crafted one of my favorite kinds of romance- the kind where we start tearing down walls right from the beginning, and it's not a painful dance of miscommunication and hurt.

The way that Christopher and Kate open up to each other is so raw and vulnerable it practically bleeds off the page. They're both flawed and have hurt each other in different ways, but Liese portrays the active work it takes on both sides to overcome bruised feelings, communicate, and rebuild a relationship with honesty and trust.

This is a very insular book- lots of internal feelings and scenes with just Christopher and Kate, but it never feels boring or repetitive. Each time they're together, something shifts in their relationship, from animosity to wariness to friendship and on. I loved that they weren't afraid to do the hard work and it wasn't on one person to take all the blame and make all the changes to adjust the way they interacted with the other. The pace slowed down toward the end and dragged a bit, but I'll take that over a pointless third act breakup any day.

An excellently paced contemporary romance. Christopher and Kate are well developed, well-rounded characters that will delight fans of angsty, slower-burn romance.

Hold on to your hearts, folks! If you thought the first book was a romantic rollercoaster, this sequel is like a love spaceship headed for Mars! I was all in for Jamie and Bea, but then Christopher and Kate stormed the stage, and they're stealing the show!

These two have been at each other's throats since sandbox days, and now they're adults living uncomfortably close. Kate injures her arm, putting her photography career on hold. She has no choice but to high-tail it back to her hometown, where, surprise, Christopher is still strutting around, living his hedge fund life to the fullest.

These two are as different as Netflix and opera. Chris loves his suits and board meetings, while Kate would rather skydive than sit in an office. It's like watching a rom-com where the leads start as enemies, and you're screaming at them to realize they're perfect for each other. And then—BOOM!—a boozy night leads to a closet confession. They both see they've been reading the wrong script in their lifelong drama. Kate thinks Chris despises her, but Chris is like, "Nah, I've just been too confused to realize I'm actually crazy about you." And what happens next? The lines between love and hate blur into something deliciously complicated.

CONTENT WARNING: Grief, Death of Parents (off-page, but mentioned), ADHD, Severe Migraines

Thanks to Berkley Romance for sending me a gifted copy!