Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I feel like I was robbed of a potentially great rom com. The beginning of this was great and I loved how savage their letters were to each other, especially considering how young they were to start.

But then most of this book ends up with her not knowing who she's really trying to date, and then she's simultaneously writing letters to Luca, so then she's feeling all torn because of the man she's dating and writing to Luca.

It's pretty clear from the start that Jake is Luca, but even knowing that, because Naomi didn't know it was him, their interactions just weren't the gold I was expecting. I wanted to see their savageness come out in person while becoming friends in person and then having their relationship develop. Instead, she's dating this guy that she really doesn't know anything about it, so everything about it was very surface level.

But the writing was still good and it was still entertaining most of the time. I just feel like the description of this book was misleading and we were expecting something much higher level than what we got 😟

Naomi and Luca have been pen-pals since the fifth grade (10-11 year olds for the non-US readers!). Instead of friendly letters, they pretty much just send each other hate mail throughout the years, until one day the letters stop.

Two years later, Naomi is falling in love with her husky-eyed neighbour when the letters from Luca restart. Will she choose her gorgeous neighbour Jake or her childhood pen-pal (or penemy) Luca?

For a debut novel, this had an interesting plot that kept me up late into the night. Naomi's hunt for Luca was so entertaining and I loved how her work colleague was the one pushing her to do it.

Personally, I think the writing could have been edited for a smoother reading experience, but considering this is the authors first book I could ignore it for the most part. I just found some of the information we were given at times was unnecessary.

I suspected the plot twist early on but it was done in a way that I definitely second-guessed it up until the last moment, which I enjoyed!

Overall, this was a fun palate cleanser and a very easy read! Interested to see what else Donna Marchetti writes in the future.

I received an advanced copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Hate Mail" delivers on its promise of steamy romance and pulse-pounding letters back and forth. Donna Marchetti has written a captivating romance novel that will leave readers breathless and craving more. Her storytelling prowess and knack for creating compelling characters make this a must-read for everyone. Prepare to be swept away on an unforgettable journey of passion and intrigue.

Tropes:
Dual POV
Enemies to Lovers
Pen Pals

3.5 rounded to four

Arc received from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book follows Naomi and Luca who have been pen-pales since 5th grade. Luca is reluctant about this assignment and responds back to Naomi hoping it will deter them from continuing their exchange, however this leads both Naomi and Luca continuing their "hate mail" exchanges for several years each finding themselves reconnecting throughout periods in their lives (maintaining their heated exchanges fueled laced with honestly/struggles they face throughout their years). After not hearing from Luca in a while- Naomi finally receives a letter from Luca but she is not able to respond since he purposely did not give address which fuels her interests (and her best friend, Anne) to locate Luca. Anne is convinced that Naomi needs to finally meet her penpal in order for Naomi to admit that she has been in secretly in love with her penpal off and on throughout the years or move on with her life/get some sort of closure (as Naomi has been approached by her hot neighbor "Jake" but has been hesitant on moving forward with the relationship),

This book is dual POV mostly with Naomi POV present tense while Luca is mostly past tense. (SOME SPOILERS)
At first when I started this book I was not sure how I felt about the character Luca- I too was questioning WHY is he so mean to Naomi. There hate letters to each other were interesting (both laced with honestly and internal issues that they were struggling with). I'm not entirely sure when my opinion changed however as I continued to the book- and got more to see how Luca coped with his dad leaving and then his mom's illness I felt more connected to his character and his need/safety he felt with his relationship Naomi. (Parts of this story made me cry).

Overall I enjoyed this book and I was satisfied with the ending- EVEN THOUGH I did have some questions as to WHY Naomi did not further inquire more information on Jake as they continued their relationship. I will still purchase this book since I was moved by some parts of the book and it was entertaining.

Naomi Light is a weather person for a news station in Miami. Atter her first few weeks being on camera she receives fan mail from someone she never thought she would here from again. In 5th grade she was a student in Oklahoma City who got a boy from San Diego named Luca as her pen-pal. Over the next years, and until about 2 years ago they continued to regularly send each other funny, borderline mean letters to each other. They lost contact after they both moved and didn't have new addresses for the other. But now that Luca has reached out will they finally see if the friendship they built over all those years is the real thing.

This book had me laughing out loud multiple times. The banter in the letters we read of theirs was so funny I never wanted it to end. This book was so fun and I had such a good time. The idea of the whole tension in the book being over a misunderstanding did frustrate me, but over all this was a great fun rom com, and I want so much more from this author.

This was a fun, rom-com.

The book is dual pov and follows the two main characters from fifth grade when they are forced to become pen pals as a school project. Luca starts with a scathing first letter which continues years of hate mail between the pair.

This sometimes predictable, but fun enemies to lovers with mild spice was a good read.

5 ⭐️

This is the best book I’ve read this year so far —a new favourite!

It follows Naomi and Luca, who have been exchanging hostile letters since fifth grade but eventually become friends. Two years after communication stopped abruptly, Naomi receives a mysterious letter reigniting her determination to have the last word.

I had the best time reading this book— couldn’t stop reading and found myself eager to go back to it all the time! This author was born to be a writer! She delivered such an awesome story with great banter, and I can’t wait to read more from here in the future.

I wish I could read this book for the first time again!!! My congratulations to the author on an exceptional and amazing debut novel ❤️

Read if you like:
📩 pen pals.
📩 childhood frenemies to lovers.
📩 open-door rom-com.
📩 dual POV.
📩 miscommunication.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti will be coming out on March 14th.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the arc of Hate Mail.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to complete this book. The authors writing style, how the banter flows and everything is wonderful. But I just found myself reading only a little bit and then coming back later. It couldn’t keep me wanting more if that makes sense? I know many people who would enjoy this read, I just don’t think it was a complete fit for me. Overall, my rating is a 3 ⭐️

I received a free copy of, Hate Mail, by Donna Marchetti, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Luca and Naomi have been fighting for years, sending each other actual hate mail through the mail, pen pals since fifth grade, but people grow up and change, can they actually have an adult conversation? I thought this book was alright.

This book kept me up until 1am! I had to keep turning pages. Grab your copy March 14th so we can chat about this one!

First off, I am a SUCKER for the back and forth letters/writing vibes in a book. (Hello, Divine Rivals!) So when 5th grade pen pals leads to a decades long hate mail exchange. I was intrigued. The letters stop for two years and then suddenly start again. Naomi (FMC) finally tries to find Luca (MMC) and we are taken through a compelling journey of their intertwining lives. We get duo POV and we are teased with tidbits of story that lead you wanting more and wanting to know how this ends. I can't say more without spoiling - but I found myself smirking, laughing, feeling like I was gut punched and teary, and all warm and fuzzy. There's a bit of spice - it's a slow burn and no cringey lines! Is it a perfect book? No, but for giving me that reader high and not being able to put it down, it's gets high marks. 5/5!

This appears to be a debut author and I'd read more from her if her other books had a similar style.

Many Thanks to NetGalley, Donna Marchetti, and One More Chapter for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This honestlymade me laugh outlaid and cry at the same time. it was adorable and a true enemies to lovers in a way I never expected from a non-fantasy book. The characters were adorable. Although "twist" at the end was a little predictable I can say I enjoyed it nonetheless.s

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

When I saw the synopsis of hate mail I was sooo excited to read it. I love the idea of pen-pals + childhood friends to lovers - both are my cup of tea, but this book didn’t hit the mark for me. I think a lot of people would enjoy this rom-com. This book did have a lot of pros such as, the sending eachother letters aspect, the summery feel, and the “ enemies “ to lovers trope.

I really wished I enjoyed this book but there’s a lot of things that fell flat for me. I didn’t enjoy some of the juvenile letters at the beginning I felt like it was extremely off putting for them to talk to eachother life that, but the do have some redemption letters towards the middle & end. I also predicted all of the “plot twist” I felt like this book didn’t need the mystery aspect to it.

I think someone who wants a quick romance read would love this! The vibes were vibing, but not in the way I personally needed them to.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Donna Marchetti for the review copy.

Naomi and Luca have been pen pals since they were in the fifth-grade. But not in the way you'd expect. The more letters they sent the meaner they would get. Until the chain of hate filled letters develops into a distant and still somewhat mean friendship. Two years after the letters suddenly stop, they begin again, with no return address. The adventure begins...

This was definitely a book premise that I hadn’t read before and it was really interesting. I loved the entire treasure hunt vibe and found the adventures Naomi went on really fun. Reading some of their earlier letters, they were like scarily mean to each other but I appreciated that the glimpses of the past were through the letters instead of being entirely dual timeline. I did guess the twist in advance but it didn’t take away my overall enjoyment of the book and I’ll definitely be looking out for more of her books in the future!

I loved this book!!!
I am super impressed that this is a debut!
Their mean letters were so creative and funny. I was rooting for Luca the whole time. I loved how they kept writing to each other for so many years. 
I laughed, I cried, and I was gathering clues to figure out what was what. It was such an incredible read. Could have easily read it in one day if it weren't for life.

This was a light and funny book - I loved the writing style. Hearing the story partially through their letters made the story extra fun.
I generally don’t like love triangles or miscommunication tropes - I am happy that I made an exception for this book.
Now I did guess the major twist pretty early on, but that’s a me thing…I tend to do that.

* Childhood penpals
* Hilarious banter
* Side characters with big impact
* Flirty amounts of spice

Overall 4.5/5

Aww I really liked this!!!

𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿
The cover drew me in, it's pink, and cute, beautiful art!!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁
It's far fetched and a little predictable but it's FUN and I really liked it!

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
I really liked Naomi, I loved her career and seeing how she became who she is in the present day. I wasn't too fond of anyone else!

𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
I laughed so much. In between laughing I was scoffing as well but I couldn't stop reading!!

I was really anticipating this book but everything about it just didn’t click for me. I felt a lot of disconnect from the characters, who have no personality outside of the plot. I don’t know how to quite explain this developing pet peeve of mine, but it’s almost like a bechdel test for how often the characters speak about anything besides their interest in each other. That internal and external dialogue gets boring really quickly and leads to really one dimensional characters. I also got a massive ick from the love interest, even if he is a fifth grade boy the cruel vitriol he spews inexplicably towards the female main character didn’t endear me much to him. The pacing of the novel was also awkward—really clunky and slow. I put this book down a couple times and tried picking it up again, hoping my reading slump was making me extra judgemental, but honestly I just couldn’t get through it.

Such a fun rom com! Easy read that sends you on a whirlwind of emotions. The Enemies to lovers was well done! Read if you love
- pen pals
- rivals
- dual POV's
- spice

This book is super cute and I just couldn't put it down.

At the news station where weathergirl Naomi Light works, she receives a piece of "fan mail" which is slightly on the mean side. Assistant and best friend Anne is shocked but Naomi knows exactly who this is from; her pen pal Luca Pichler who she hasn't heard from in two years.

Naomi and Luca had begun writing letters to each other for a school project back in fifth grade but whilst their classmates letters declined as time went on, Naomi and Luca continued to write their mean letters to each other.

Naomi meets handsome new neighbour Jake at her apartment block and she agrees to go on a date with him but she is distracted by the fact that Luca is now back in touch with her. She is determined to track him down.

This was super entertaining and although the miscommunication trope is usually one that I hate, I really enjoyed this! It has dual POV and Luca is just a fantastic character. I loved his personal growth. Such a cute read!

~ Pen Pals
~ Dual POVs
~ Very Spicy 🌶️
~ Enemies to Lovers

I loved Naomi and Luca. The chemistry between them was undeniable. I love that they’ve been pen-pals since fifth grade. The cover gave off major 2000s chick flick romcom vibes! A heartwarming and hilarious romance. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the arc of this book.