I'm glad I didn't give up on this book, because I really wanted to in the beginning. I didn't care for the start of the book or the female main character and almost stopped reading, but felt like I was giving the book an unfair chance because I had only read about a chapter. So I continued and was glad I did because I enjoyed Sebastian much more, which honestly is not uncommon for me. Very often I dislike the female main character, but really like the male main character - most of the time because of the way they are portrayed, which was true for this book as well. The FMC's character portrayal does make a lot of sense for her arc and backstory, but that doesn't make it easier in the beginning when you don't know those things yet.

I loved the fact that it was dual POV, I believe even some parts were the same timeline just told from both POVs which I appreciated as well. There wasn't very much miscommunication during the story, both characters were pretty upfront about their feelings. I saw that this book was marketed as a grumpy-sunshine, but I don't really think it is - she's a fake sunshine so as you get to know her true character and not her on air one it doesn't feel like she's that "sunshiney" of a person. They both deal with more issues in their personal lives that make them relatable and you feel empathic towards them though. Definitely enemies to lovers in the most common way - something that could actually happen in real life just by getting off on the wrong foot and making a bad first impression.

The second half of the book was much better and the epilogue was adorable. I believe this is an adult fiction, but there is no spice whatsoever, so if you're looking for a good adult contemporary to branch from YA to adult this would be a good one.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an E-copy of #BrynnandSebastianHateEachOther by Bethany Turner to read and review.

I really enjoyed this one! I wasn’t sure about it at first but it turned out to be cute and fun with that extra layer of depth that I love!

Brynn and Sebastian had great banter and I loved the transition from them hating each other to not 😏 amazing chemistry!

This is a chaste, typical enemies to lovers romance. The narrator does a good job voicing both sides. I, unfortunately, did not love the first half of this book because of all the cringey moments, mostly on Brynn's part. It's not that I found her unlikable, just sick with foot-in-mouth disease. I think the decision to make her so cringeworthy was an attempt to make her character development more obvious, but I found that I couldn't completely recover from how she was portrayed in the beginning. I did like how the author ended the story. I would say trigger warnings apply here; or even just to be aware of a few intense scenes.

OMGoodness!

I totally enjoyed listening to the audiobook Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other. I was intrigued by the book blurb and wanted to check it out. I am glad I did. I was captured into the world of Brynn and Sebastion. I enjoyed the meet-cute, the banter, and their journey. It was opposites attract on steroids, lol.

Let's just say love, healing, and solace find these two when they did not see it coming.

I enjoyed being on the journey with Brynn and Sebastian. And I totally fell in love with the town and people of Adelaide Springs.

This was an enjoyable rom-com that I definitely recommend for your listening reading pleasure.

What I liked about this book:

I am so happy there’s finally a book with characters my age. I was getting so worn out on the idea you can’t have a fun story unless you were 25 or less. So big win there. Characters in mid-late 30’s up to mid 40’s are what the romance genre is missing.

I loved all of the characters except the FMC until around 75% where Brynn finally becomes a character you can root for.

What I didn’t like:

I struggled to keep going with this book around 50%. Brynn was so thoroughly unlikable that even her inner monologue was selfish and superficial. It’s hard to imagine that she put a wall up that was able to so thoroughly collapse and make her into a human as quickly as it did (only within the last 25% of the book). I’m glad I finished to see the turnaround but perhaps had the FMC at least had some favorable inner monologue earlier on (her part was at least first person so that could have been done) I would have finished it with piqued curiosity and enthusiasm instead of the sheer willpower of a book-completionist.

Overall I’d say it’s a 3.5/5. The story itself is good, I just think too much emphasis was put on the discord between Brynn and literally everyone except her cameraman, and the author did too good of a job making her dislikable that the sudden HEA took a very real leap as a reader. Make Brynn more Bren for more of the book and you’d have sold me.

I listened to this as an audiobook and have absolutely zero issues with the narrators style and sound. She did great.

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other didn't work for me. If it wasn't for the small-town vibes, I am not sure I would have finished. The blame lies solely on the female main character, Brynn. She is terrible. Rude. Standoffish. Glib. She thinks she is better than an entire town. A town that did nothing but help take care of her and help her through a very rough childhood.

I think the book's title does a disservice to its readers. I went in thinking this would be a cute enemies to lovers, but the only reason Sebastian has a reason to hate Brynn is because she is so mean. She is instantly rude and condescending to Sebastian when they meet.

Also, they go from hate to love too quickly. There is no build-up, nothing to swoon over. I never rooted for them. Sebastian deserved so much better.

Despite this, I did enjoy the small-town vibes and the town's attempts to hold on to the community they have built.

I did this on audio. It is a dual-POV story but with only a single narrator. I always prefer dual POVs to have duet narration. The narrator did a good job, though.

I should point out that Brynn's storyline is first-person POV, and Sebastian's is third-person POV.

Trigger warnings for past trauma: reporting in war-torn countries and traumatic childhoods.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Brynn & Sebastian Hate Each Other was such a fun ride!

Brynn, a “cheerful” new anchor on Sunup (think GMA), says what’s really on her mind but doesn’t realize they are live in the air. To fix her blunder, she heads back to her home town. What she doesn’t expect is to find is a famous but off-the-map Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Sebastian.

I loved Brynn and Seb’s unique voices, their banter, and the self-discovery. (The mental health representation was appreciated too.) I look forward to reading more by Bethany Turner!

Loved the narration & will be looking for other audio performed by Talon David.

I listened to the Audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed it! This is a romantic comedy where the two main characters definitely start off on the wrong foot. It’s great to see the characters grow throughout the book. I enjoyed that it was told from the two main characters point of view. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but it will not be the last!

I caught feelings for this boook - I'm usually a huge hater of enemies to lovers and this one turned it around for me! I enjoyed these characters so much!

I have read most of Bethany Turner’s books, and enjoy them. This wasn’t my favorite of hers, but it was entertaining. Brynn’s character was difficult to love in the beginning, but I enjoyed her transformation. I wish we had the chance to know her in the new and improved state for more chapters. I loved Sebastian’s character but wanted to know him better as well. I enjoyed the little town of Adelaide, and want to hear Cole and Lacey’s story.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

This was a tough one for me to get through as the first half of the book was rather joyless for a romcom. I didn't connect with either the FMC or MMC. I didn;t feel sparks, but also wonder if it was the narration. I may revisit this in non audiobook form.

"Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other" by Bethany Turner offers a mixed experience for fans of enemies-to-lovers and small-town romances. The protagonist, Brynn Cornell, falls short of expectations, with a slow character development that left the reviewer wanting more. The titular enemies-to-lovers theme is criticized for its abrupt execution, lacking the gradual build-up typical of the trope.

While the first half of the book struggles to engage due to Brynn's perceived shortcomings, the second half shines with a sweeter small-town narrative. The likability of supporting characters, particularly Sebastian, adds charm to the story. Despite reservations about Brynn, Sebastian's character is praised as more likable and attachable, redeeming the overall experience.

The reviewer awards the book three stars, suggesting it may still appeal to those fond of sweet small-town romances despite its flaws.

This is a pretty funny listen. Great for people who love romcoms. Not the usual predictable cookie cutter book. Would recommend.

I just reviewed Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner. #BrynnandSebastianHateEachOther #NetGalley

This book was really interesting.

Lots of pop-culture references. The characters were interesting and unique in a way that's becoming a signature Bethany Turner style.

While it was not my cuppa tea, it was very well written, and I felt the story took some really fun twists.

3 Stars.

* I volunteered to listen to this book for my honest feedback.

3/5 stars

I switched between the kindle and audio versions of this book. I enjoyed the narrator and think audio was the way to go for this book. I think the narration allowed me sink more into the book even though I could not connect to the characters. I will be looking for more audiobooks with this narrator


I really wanted to like this one. But I didn’t automatically like the FMC, Brynn. In fact, I kinda disliked her. I was so relieved to see the author post that you weren’t supposed to like her in the beginning. I wish I would have been able to like her more by the end. I did like Sebastian and wanted to root for their relationship. The first 50% was a little slow and wish I could have connected with Brynn more. I think maybe this book would be a 5 star for someone else, so I would recommend it for people who enjoy the tropes.

Tropes
-Grumpy x (fake) Sunshine
- Small town
- Dual POV
- Enemies to lovers vibes

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early listen. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Cute romance, with characters that make you want to root for them despite their flaws! The ending was adorable. Would read more by this author for sure! The narrator did good as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this audiobook.

✔️Small Town romance
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Grumpy/sunshine
✔️Forced proximity

Generally this was an ok book.
With all these trope I was expecting the story to blow me away, but it didn't. I feel It could have been better especially with a likeable FMC.
I couldn't stand Brynn.(fmc)
Her personality and attitude made is difficult for me to enjoy the story.

However, i liked how caring the town people were and the epilogue wrapped up the story nicely.

Synopsis
Brynn returns to her small town to make amends after publicly insulting the town and it's residents.
Sebastian is a former journalist, who sought refuge in tiny Adelaide Springs, a town he now loves dearly.

When Sebastian is assigned to chauffeur Brynn around town, Brynn is sure he can see right through her carefully cultivated, sunny persona. But she’s determined to do what it takes to maintain her image and save her career

4/5
Great book. Had me kicking my feet and giggling a little bit. Pretty predictable but not in a bad way.
I do wish the different POVs we’re different narrators.

Since I work in television, parts of the story felt very true to life - especially all the mentions about morning shows and how the behind the scenes of television usually isn't what it seems to be to the viewer.
That being said, I just couldn't bring myself to like our main female character, Brynn just came across as obnoxious and judgmental throughout the entire book.

Slightly predictable enemies-to-lovers, sunshine-and-cranky pants romance about a woman looking for redemption and a man looking for respite. It was a very cute story, and the characters were very thoughtful and there was no instalove.

Good audio narration!