This was a super cute, spice free romance. I really enjoyed the narrator, the characters, the redemption storyline, just all of it!

“Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other” by Bethany Turner is a delightful enemies-to-lovers rom-com filled with witty banter and heartwarming moments. Set against a small-town backdrop, the story shines with humor and emotional depth. Brynn and Sebastian’s dynamic feels authentic, making this an engaging, feel-good read for romance fans.

Returning to your hometown isn’t always easy—especially when you’ve publicly criticized it. In this compelling story, a successful newscaster is forced to face the town she once shamed, only to discover that home is more complicated than she remembered.

As someone from a small town, I deeply appreciated the way the author captured the intricacies of small-town life—where grudges last for years, gossip spreads like wildfire, but at the core, there’s still an undeniable sense of community. The protagonist’s journey was especially engaging. At first, her criticism of her hometown made her seem harsh, but as her difficult childhood was revealed, I saw her in a completely different light. Her emotional growth was one of the highlights of the book, making her transformation feel earned and deeply satisfying.

The romance in this story was another standout. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was fun to watch unfold as the leads slowly let their guards down. Their connection deepened in a way that felt authentic, filled with tension, banter, and eventually, heartfelt understanding.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did an incredible job of bringing the story to life. The emotions, character dynamics, and small-town charm were all enhanced by the performance, making it an even more immersive experience.

Overall, this book was an engaging read (or listen!) with well-developed characters, a satisfying romance, and a thoughtful exploration of what it means to come home. If you enjoy small-town settings, second chances, and layered protagonists, this one is worth picking up.

This was funny and super entertaining. So happy I was affordable an audio version of this early through Netgalley. I high recommend listening or reading this book.

3.75 starts.

Thanks to NetGallery for providing a copy of the audiobook after publication in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. The main female character, Brynn, is not sunshine, she just plays one on tv. Sebastian can be grumpy but that doesn’t stop him from being sociable and helpful. In short, this is less grumpy x sunshine and more enemies to friends to lovers. I appreciated that these characters are so clearly flawed and must work to be likable to the reader. I also liked that these characters are older (37? And 40)…they have some life experience under their belts already. It was fun listening to both characters make errors of varying degrees and then have to change their views and/or make amends.

The audiobook was fine, though I think I would have enjoyed it more if we had two different voice actors. The switch from first to third person every chapter wasn’t all that jarring, but it was one of the things I didn’t like. The other thing ai didn’t care for is the title of the book; it’s really uninspired.

This is a well-paced and easy read: the drama is presented immediately and contained in a manageable way that allows the building romantic connection to shine rather than reader and characters caught up in ten different plot points/other possible love interests. I appreciated it. One little spicy scene would have definitely bumped it up to a 4.

DNF 15% - the main characters really didn't do much for me. I just found myself not wanting to pick up this book time and time again. I wish it was for me but I really just think I needed to move on?

3.5 ⭐️

🌷The first 30% of the book was a bit difficult to get through because Brynn was not kind and came off very arrogant (obviously we were supposed to not like her) and I didn't like her at all.

🌷After 30%, when we got to the actual story and her being at the town it was sweet, the towns people were amazing and it gave a very homey feeling. Also Sebastian and Brynn's banter/ interactions were great.

🌷It really was just a 3.5 ⭐️ for me because Brynn was hard to like and because the enemies to lovers happened a bit to fast for me.

🌷Spice:0

🌷Language : 0

🌷TW: difficult family dynamics, war violence, grief.

Brynn, a morning show newscaster, accidentally speaks out about her hometown, Adelaide Springs, while a hot mic is on and her career is about to go down the drain if she doesn’t go back to Adelaide Springs and make peace with the residents.

Sebastian was a world famous reporter until something snapped and has taken refuge in Adelaide Springs. When Brynn comes to town, Sebastian is assigned to chauffeur her and sparks fly.

This was a reread for me because I’m going back and reading the series and awaiting the 3rd Adelaide Springs book, Wes and Addie Had Their Chance. This time though, I was able to listen to it! I loved the book the first time and still loved it after listing to the audio.

I feel conflicted about Brynn at the beginning of the book because she’s so self centered and trying to “be” the image the network wants her to be. I also am amazed that she doesn’t know who Sebastian is until it hits her in the face! So I side with how Sebastian feels about her until she’s literally stuck up in a tree, which coincidentally is about where Sebastian has second thoughts about his judgment of Brynn. ☺️

I loved how Brynn and Sebastian got to see each other at their lows and helped one another through their struggles. I also loved the small town dynamics. The townfolks loved Brynn but were still hurt by her words so there were peace treaties to be made and offerings to be given. ☺️

It wasn’t until I listened to audio book that I realized Brynn’s chapters were written in 1st person and Sebastian’s were in third person. So while I usually like the MMC to be read by a male narrator I totally understand why Talon David read the whole book. Plus, Talon David was the perfect voice of Brynn and she did a great job with Sebastian and the other male voices!

"Brynn Cornell was a mess. And he was crazy about her."

A big THANK YOU to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ALC! I fell in love with a different audiobook I listened to through Thomas Nelson's Netgalley books, and was quick to jump on another opportunity to listen to more of their published works.

I've had the book about Cole and Leila on my TBR for a while now, and was happy to realize that these are interconnected! I still need to listen to Cole and Leila's story, but I can vouch for this one and say that it works just fine as a standalone. :) I enjoyed this one a lot! Brynn and Sebastian's banter was to die for, as well as their reluctant attraction to one another. Sebastian is an amazing guy who is protective of the people who basically saved him from himself, and I enjoyed seeing how he interacted with the people of Adelaide Springs.

The reason I can't quite give this book a full five stars is because I felt Brynn's much-needed character arc didn't start until we were over 50% into the book. It was hard to listen to her grouch about things when Orley's advice to just "be a good person" was 100% called for and needed. Obviously, she did grow in the latter half and started showing the qualities that made Sebastian fall in love with her, but it took a hot minute haha.

I also really loved the audiobook! I'm always a tad skeptical about women doing men's voices, but this narrator was wonderful and portrayed each character in distinct, unique ways that kept listeners engaged and in-tune with the speaker/POV. She did an excellent job with Sebastian's persona, which is a HUGE plus :)

SUMMARY
When a hot-mic snafu slams the brakes on Brynn Cornell’s morning show co-host career, she begrudgingly embarks on an apology tour with only one stop-- the small Colorado town she grew up in. The same one she unknowingly lambasted on air, causing her hometown acquaintances and small towns everywhere to take offense and turn a cold shoulder on Brynn’s apology attempts.

Sebastian Sudworth is an ex-journalist with big time reporting credits attached to his name. A name he’d like to keep quiet since he left the fast-paced life of international journalism. He’s found a home in Adelaide Springs, Colorado and he’ll do anything to protect it and the people he’s come to love.

Brynn & Seb's opposing personalities collide when he’s tasked with guiding her and her camera operator around town. They both have to confront their pasts, their futures, and what it means to live authentically.

WHAT WE LIKE
• The FMC - Brynn Cornell - Brynn is a wonderful representation of what it’s like to work in the corporate world as a femme-presenting person. The expectations of sunny personalities and unassuming ambitions juxtaposed with the grit of dogged determination and hard work required to propel a career in a competitive industry are highlighted in Brynn’s experiences with the production studio and her male co-host. She’s relatable, funny, and dynamic. It’s refreshing to see the underbelly of what could be considered a two-faced personality explored through Brynn & Seb’s conversations (and arguments!).
• The MMC - Sebastion (Seb) Sudworth - Seb’s character follows the classic grumpy/secretive past trope, but it’s a classic for a reason! It’s done well, and his empathy and compassion for those around him makes him all the more endearing as those layers get pulled back. It’s easy to root for him and hope they can bring out the best in each other!
• The Banter - The ping ponging of quips, sarcasm, and flirting between Seb & Brynn is goofy-grin-while-you-read good. The writing is smart and there aren’t any moments of frustration where the reader has to question why the characters are so oblivious understanding each others’ communication. You get why they are guarded and why they second guess themselves, so when they finally start opening up it feels like a well-deserved win!
• The Side Characters - They are quirky and fun, you believe the history they have with Brynn, and they have satisfying B character story arcs.
• The Ending - Turner’s ending to the story was a thoughtful wrap-up that was satisfying in that she allowed both characters to grow and retain their identities. It deviates from the typical picket-fence direction so common to the genre. And we love to see it!

REAL TALK
- Romance Tropes Included -
• Enemies to lovers
• Lovers in denial
• Emotional scars
• Parental rejection
• Sunny/grumpy
• Want different things (career)
• Different worlds (big city/small town)
• Fish out of water
- The Spice - This is a great slow burn story with a sweet, happy ending, but the spice is paprika-low. There’s kissing and that’s it. We still think it’s worth the read and a really well-done romance, but if you’re looking for the bow-chicka-wow-wow, we’ve got other recs for you because you won’t find it here.

BOOK DRAGON RATING
Turner gives a sweet and compelling story that is easy to get lost in. The spice is low at 1/5, but the enjoyment is high so it rates a 5/5 on the Book Dragon Scale.

Cute, easy, enemies to lovers with a little more depth. The main character was annoying in the beginning but I think she was supposed to be, she got better throughout the book.

This book was okay. I do enjoy enjoy dual POV books, but in audio version I prefer the male POV to be a male. Overall, the book had a good story to it but I just could not get past how bratty Brynn was. I know that she was supposed to be that type of character coming home from the big city, but eventually I thought it would get better. She just seemed to feel so entitled about everything throughout the whole book too that her character got to be annoying. She came off as the mean girl and not the FMC that was supposedly finding herself again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

What I didn’t like:
⭕️ Brynn was super unlikable…I am not sure I even really liked her by the end

What I liked:
❤️ The narrator
❤️ The dynamics between the FMC and the MMC
❤️ The small-town characters
❤️ The overall story and how it reminded me of the under-appreciated show Great News (rip)

I was overall pleasantly surprised by this book, given the mid ratings. It took awhile for me to get into it, but it ended up being really cute!

I have just loved both books that I've read so far by Bethany Turner. I read Cole and Laila are Just Friends out of order last year and was so excited to go back and catch up on Brynn and Seb's love story. It certainly didn't disappoint. I adore the town of Adelaide Springs and all of its' precious people. Bethany's world building and characters are top notch. Now, I just can't wait to read about Addie and Wes to round out the bunch!

Brynn...Man, this girl was super hard to like at the beginning, but then I of course adored her by the end. I think that's such a mark of a great author...someone whose words can make you do a complete one-eighty with a character over the course of a story. I loved Brynn's arc. She experienced so much trauma growing up and then became a girl boss in spite of all the struggles she went through at the hands of her mother. My favorite part was of course her reconnection to the amazing people who loved her through every phase of her life, serving as the most incredible found family that she could have ever imagined.

Seb...Oh, boy. What an absolutely dreamy guy. It was incredible to see how truly healing the people and physical place of Adelaide Springs was for Seb. I could literally see him running from his past right into the welcoming arms of this precious town. I loved how seamlessly Seb fit in even though Adelaide Springs was a far cry from where he came from. It truly seemed like he had just always been a part of the town. I also really appreciate how gentle and patient Seb was with Brynn. He was so supportive of her even though it meant possible sacrifice and heartache on his part. What a man.

Things I loved:

❤️Brynn and Seb's meet not-cute in the plane
❤️Insights into the world of news
❤️Orly
❤️Doc
❤️Brynn's relationship with Mrs. Stoddard
❤️The tree scene 😂
❤️Brynn's reunion with Laila and Cole
❤️Sledding at Adelaide Gulch
❤️Welcome Home party
❤️Township Days compromise
❤️Breaking news story
❤️Epilogue (made me want to squeal with joy)

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

From the start, it was hard to have empathy for Brynn. As the book starts with her being rude on national television, it is a hard climb to redeem her character in the rest of the book. A big issue throughout the narrative is that Brynn can't seem to decide which character she is. Big city girl that doesn't care about her hometown? Small-town girl who has been repressed to chase bigger dreams? And Sebastian... It's hard to understand him as well. The change in narrative perspective in his POV chapters is hard to connect with and makes him seem less likable. Finally, the thing that broke it for me was that their feelings for each other seemed to develop overnight. One moment, they are insulting each other on the plane, and the next, they are cuddling on his couch with him opening his soul to her. It wasn't very convincing, and it didn't give me enough time to get used to them being antagonistic to each other. Also, I think Brynn becomes too much of a pick-me girl when she's trying to get Sebastian to notice her. Overall, I just wish this book chose one thing: Brynn's development and connection to her long-lost hometown or her romance with this new "antagonist", Sebastian. It seemed that there was too much being done at once.

This was such a lovely light-hearted read, though there were themes of wars and violence, but only briefly. The romance made me go gooey and on the verge of squealing on several occasions. I also truly believed their chemistry. In other words, I loved this book!

I really got on with the narrator. She had a lovely tone to her voice, making me intrigued throughout the story.

The plot itself was fun, funny and I really liked both protagonists (Brynn and Sebastian). It was definitely a great escape and I am really happy and feel so grateful that I got to listen to this book!

Thank you!

ARC Review: Cute and hallmarky, enemies to lovers, but the FMC was very unlikable from the start. Towards the end, it is semi-clear why she is the way she is. I wish that it covered pieces of this information in more detail throughout the book. It was too hard to make me really like the FMC in the very end. The premise of the plot was interesting, but I wanted to DNF. It could’ve been me and my mood, but I wasn’t into it as much as I wanted to be. The tree part did make me laugh out loud, though, so just wait 😂 I loved the audio narrator!!! I think if you enjoy anything related to being a reporter, you should still give it a try! HEA but I wish it played out better for the FMC than the MMC.

I am a bit torn on this one. The narration is fantastic but, and I absolutely hate to type this, I was bored. It didn’t grab me and refuse to let me put it down. I will try again later to see if I think differently but ultimately, I felt it predictably grumpy.

3.5 stars
“Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other* is a funny romantic comedy that delivers exactly what fans of Bethany Turner have come to expect—sharp wit,
and endearing characters, with a added irresistible small-town charm. The banter between Brynn and Sebastian is full of hilarious tension. While the pacing did feel a little slow at the start and begins to feel somewhat forced toward the midpoint, the heartwarming small-town setting makes it easy to forgive. Turner’s signature humor is alive and well, making for an enjoyable and lighthearted read.

The audiobook narration of of this enemy to lover type genre is truly captivating. The voice actor does an excellent job transitioning between male and female characters, making the listening experience enjoyable. However, the story itself didn’t feel as engaging. The enemies to lovers dynamic seemed rushed, with the characters developing an attraction too quickly after their first private encounter. While some might enjoy the fast paced romance, I personally wished for a bit more tension and buildup