Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other is a sharp, character-driven rom-com full of heart and hilarious tension. Brynn and Sebastian had me feeling all the things—sometimes I wanted to hug them, sometimes shake them—but I was rooting for them the whole way. With great banter, a fun small-town setting, and just the right amount of romantic tension (no spice, just sparks!), this is a perfect feel-good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance listener copy!

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Oof that’s a rough start for our FMC. Though she has a tough personality to like. I like the MMC a lot more.

Loved the feel of the town. I enjoyed the characters much more than I thought I would given the start of the book.

I feel like it was a bit of a rocky start but I started to like it more as it progressed. I also do love a duel POV.

It looks like this is listed as Christian Fiction. And all I’m wondering is how do I keep on accidentally reading Christian romance? 😂 I guess the author is Christian because it’s not actually mentioned in the book.

Audiobook-
The narration was pretty good. She does different voices for the various characters.
Like the sound of her voice.

I had high hopes for “Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other”, unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver for me.

One of the first things that threw me off was the point of view. The story shifts between Brynn’s first-person narration and Sebastian’s third-person perspective, which made the storytelling feel inconsistent. It also made it harder to connect with either of them fully.

Speaking of the characters—while I tried to find redeeming qualities in Brynn, I struggled. She came across as unnecessarily mean and it was difficult to root for her. That might have been easier to overlook if there was any real chemistry between Brynn and Sebastian, but sadly, there just wasn’t. Their interactions felt flat rather than romantic.

Another element I wasn’t expecting was the Christian fiction aspect. I had requested the ARC without realizing the book was part of the genre, and it’s not something I typically seek out.

Last but not least, there were the pop culture references, including One Direction, which I generally dislike.

In the end, what could have been a fun enemies‑to‑lovers romance didn’t live up to my expectations.

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Oher, by Bethany Turner, was quite the ride! I have never read a book where I disliked the main character soooo much for more than half the book - but more on that later.

Brynn is a host for a sunny morning TV news show and has made her way up the ladder by being a sweet, sunny, kind person that everyone loves and admires. Reality is that she is self-centered, shallow, and loudly opinionated. During one news broadcast, her true colors are shown when she didn't realize the cameras were rolling and she put down her super small mountain hometown and all the people that live there and loved her for the first 17 years of her life. As a result, she's forced to go home in order to apologize and make things right again. While there, she meets city council member (and relative newcomer to town) Sebastian. Everyone in town likes and respects him but Brynn gets off on the wrong foot with him and they take an immediate dislike to one another. Turns out, Seb is pretty famous himself, but has taken a step back from the spotlight and has made his home in the quiet mountain town.

Now, back to my earlier claim of disliking the main character. Brynn was extremely disrespectful, rude, and selfish through much of the first half. I almost didn't finish the book, but I just loved Sebastian so much that I kept going. Both main characters had pasts that were not great, leading them to act certain ways in their adult lives. Seb saw so much pain and corruption in his job and chose to leave that life and live a quiet life in the mountains. Brynn was hurt by her mother and her mom's revolving door of boyfriends and chose to run away and make herself new having to be tough and mean to make her way, but still harbored hurt that wasn't resolved. But as she begins to open up to the friends she uncerimoniously left behind 20 years ago, her true personality breaks through.

Now, I do have to say that I don't like the "insta-love" aspect. This timeline shows that everything happened in the span of a week and Seb and Brynn end up madly in love after spending a few days as mortal enemies. I found that very unplausible, but it all seemed to work for them.

If you like small town life, sweet romance (just kisses), and HEA (plus a cute therapy dog), then you'll enjoy this book by Bethany Turner. This is the first book set in Adelaide Springs, Colorado and I am eager to read about the other young couples from this town. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book attempts to blend romantic tension with small town charm and character driven storytelling. Delivered through solo narration by Talon David, it presents an interesting structural choice: firstperson narration for Brynn, the FMC, and third person for Sebastian, the MMC all voiced in a consistently feminine tone. While this may feel disjointed for some listeners as it did for me in the beginning, the narrators performance remains steady and, at times, compelling enough to carry interest even when the plot falters.

In terms of narrative, the novel falls short of its emotional and romantic aspirations. Sebastian’s character is difficult to root for his arrogance, meanness, and apparent hypocrisy overshadow any moments of growth. Brynn, on the other hand, comes across as passive and frustratingly one dimensional. Despite being on the receiving end of repeated criticism, her responses are superficial, often reduced to focusing on shallow affirmations rather than meaningful reactions.

The romance itself lacks credibility. Despite this being a 31 chapter novel minus the epilogue, the emotional connection between the protagonists is absent. The shift from animosity to life planning love in the span of a single day feels rushed and unearned, leaving little space for believable development or authentic chemistry.

Pacing is inconsistent. While the story is set against a backdrop of a quaint, secretly charming small town which occasionally offers moments of warmth and potential the narrative often loses momentum and disrupts engagement. The emphasis on character development is clear, yet poorly executed. Advice and lessons offered to Brynn by other characters are acknowledged but never convincingly integrated into her arc, creating a disconnect between narrative intention and outcome.

While this book might appeal to people with more interest in light women’s fiction or those drawn to imperfect protagonists in imperfect relationships, it may not satisfy listeners seeking depth, chemistry, or satisfying emotional payoff. The audiobook was carried heavily by Talon David’s competent narration, manages to hold attention at times where the text alone may not have succeeded but as a whole the story struggles to leave a lasting impression.

I just didn’t connect with the characters. Brynn’s costly mistake could’ve been avoided, and Sebastian was nonexistent since I quit at 9% into the audiobook, which was incidentally well recorded.

Ok this book was so cute. I found myself telling my friends about it, which is not comment for a cis white person hetero romance, but something about the story just did it for me.

Brynn is a morning show host who's likable on screen, but pretty fake IRL. She has a live mic accident where she insults the small Colorado town where she grew up. She needs to go back home with a camera person to redeem herself. The town has all of the same people who she grew up with, except for one new member of the town counsel, who ends up reluctantly playing tour guide for her. I thought that this book was really sweet, I liked the male character's backstory, the charming town where it took place (do other books take place in this town?) and thought the narration was excellent. Overall, I'd recommend it for anyone who likes a homecoming story with a TV news spin.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for an Advance Listening Copy for an unbiased review.

What a superb example of an enemies to more trope! This book will have you laughing, sighing, and groaning in dismay at times. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I listened to the audio and the narrator is great! There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 kisses only. Dual POV, present tense.

I read Layla and Cole first, but loved coming back to Brynn and Seb! Enemies to lovers at its finest. I loved the trip down memory lane and how Brynn’s road home led her to what she wanted for her future.

What to Expect:
Enemies to Lovers
Small Town
Older MCs
PTSD rep
Forgiveness

Narrator: Great performance! I believe this is the first is have listened of her, and she really brought the characters to life!

Great story! I felt so many things at once with this one. I am not sure I have ever wanted to hug and punch MCs in the face simultaneously so much in one book lol! This story is very much plot and character driven. No spicy scenes, just kissing and S*xual Tension. Thank you, Net Galley, for allowing me to listen and review this title!

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner had an interesting setup and some fun banter, especially between the two main characters and the quirky small-town residents who added a nice touch of humor. I appreciated the light, easy feel of the story.

However, I found Brynn (the FMC) frustrating at times, and Sebastian (the MMC) could’ve used more depth. I wanted to connect more with both of them emotionally. Also, the romance felt a bit too slow for my taste—there’s no kiss until about 80% into the book, which made the romantic payoff feel a little late.

Overall, it had its sweet and funny moments, but I was hoping for a bit more development. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced listener copy!

I really enjoyed this fun romance novel. Starting off with preconceived notions, these two were not fond of each other at the start. I enjoyed the character development and the romance that builds. There is no spice/explicit content in this novel so it’s one I can recommend to younger people. There are so many tropes to enjoy including small town romance, enemies to lovers, and second chances. 4.5⭐️

I enjoyed this enemies to lovers. The news reporter trope is new for me and it was fun! I loved the small town vibes also.

This was an easy read but left me wishing it would’ve gone a little deeper. I didn’t like the main character, Brynn, the first half of the book but was glad that she eventually started to made some progress on her redemption. After making a big mistake at work, she’s forced to retreat back to the hometown that she very publicly ridiculed to try and make up with the people she once knew. That’s where we meet Sebastian, who has his own past and escaped to the small mountain town to start over anonymously.

For both the plot and the characters, there were a few dark issues from these characters pasts but we really only heard quick notes about them and it didn’t feel like they were shaping the story like I wish they would have. I would’ve liked to see the characters show more of themselves and talk about these issues more than just a few brief mentions.

Overall, I thought the story ended well but it had the potential to be a little more! My favorite aspect was the descriptions of the little mountain town and its cozy vibes!

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. It felt like a very slow start that never really led anywhere. I felt like the cover and summary were something that I would regularly enjoy. I am not one to give up on a book easily. However, I felt like this book never went anywhere for me. I was bored and uninterested in what would happen next. However, I do appreciate the chance to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley, or this audiobook in exchange of a honest review.

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other really hit all the right notes for me! I really enjoyed it, especially since the enemies-to-lovers trope can be such a fun dynamic when done well. Small-town romances tend to have that perfect balance of charm, humor, and emotional depth, and it sounds like this book really delivered on that front.The audiobook was so well narrated it the experience so fun and a fast listen. A good narrator can make all the difference, especially with a character-driven story like this one. Brynn's growth as a character is a great highlight—it's always fun when a character you don't initially like manages to win you over by the end.The humor mixed with deeper emotional moments is a great recipe for a romantic comedy, and it sounds like the climax and ending tied everything together perfectly.

4 stars! Brynn & Sebastian Hate Each Other is a fun, flirty rom-com with just the right amount of sass and small-town charm. The audiobook narration brought the banter to life—perfect for when you want laughs, tension, and a guaranteed happy ending.

Bethany Turner's *Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other* is a charming enemies-to-lovers rom-com set in the quaint town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado. The story follows Brynn Cornell, a morning show host whose on-air gaffe forces her to return to her hometown for damage control. There, she crosses paths with Sebastian Sudworth, a former journalist seeking solace in small-town life. Their initial animosity gradually gives way to mutual understanding and affection.

Turner adeptly balances humor with deeper themes of forgiveness and self-discovery. While Brynn's character may initially come across as unlikable, her development throughout the narrative is both believable and engaging. Sebastian's backstory adds depth, making him a compelling counterpart to Brynn. The small-town setting, complete with its quirky residents, provides a delightful backdrop to their evolving relationship. Overall, this novel offers a heartwarming and entertaining read for fans of contemporary romance.

I enjoyed this book. It was a grumpy sunshine story set in the world of news casting and a small town romance. I had a hard time with the FMC - Brynn during the first quarter of the book. For some reason, she was driving me crazy. However, the character really grew on me and I ended up liking her by middle of the book. Author did an excellent job with well developed characters and the plot was well structured throughout. I do love that there was therapy animal representation - adored it! I also adored the chemistry that Brynn and Sebastian develop during the book. Coming from a small town myself, I liked returning home theme and reunification with your roots subplot.
Overall great story. Pace and tone of narration was great as well.

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other is a story packed with pop-culture references that begins with our heroine, Brynn, morning-show host, getting caught on air talking down about her audience and hometown, setting up the stage for her to need to go back home to get some good PR. Whilst in her hometown, she has to deal with Sebastian, a former journalist, who has a mysterious history and becomes the love interest in this dislike-to-lovers story. Sebastian has his moments and is somewhat likeable but although Brynn is painted as “sunny” in the blurb, my experience of the character felt quite different.

The premise was a classic rom-com one: success story goes back to hometown to find herself and runs into a sexy charming stranger, but where it lost me was that the main character Brynn is not just grumpy or prickly, but most of the time downright rude and unlikeable, both in her actions and internal thoughts. Brynn is insufferable through the novel, arguably even right to the very end, disingenuous and patronizing to almost everyone. She does start to go through a bit of a redemption as the story goes on, we get some insight into her past that is meant to soften her, but I was not enough to make me root for her or excuse her behaviour. Ordinarily I have no issues with an unlikable lead character, but in this case it felt like the author wanted us to like her eventually and root for her, but I found it really hard to get on board.

I liked this author’s writing style though and felt it was overall well written, so I wouldn’t be opposed to reading more of her work. In this instance, I listened to the audiobook and did enjoy the narrator, her diction and cadence fit the story and characters well. It was immersive and enjoyable to listen to.