Hate by Tate James is all about the spice, suspense and adrenaline rush. This college why choose stepbrother romance will certainly take you on a ride.

I started writing the Synopsis and then realised it's all too long and convoluted. In short it's a revenge romance set in college where Madison Kate wants to take revenge on the three mysterious guys who framed her for the crime she never committed and effectively ruined her life. But she had to live with them now. They are her stepbrothers now. Her tormentor..And they have electrifying chemistry.

It started with a bang. Straight into an action packed night with introduction to some dynamic characters. Madison Kate, Archer, Steele and Kody. Last three being part of a ruthless gang before. It's a story of mind games and power plays. But after first few chapters...it just flattened out. It was like a cycle. MK acting sassy and impulsive and b1tchy while the men try to tame her. Steele is the softest of them. Kody is a mix of funny and ah0le and Archer is straight out ah0le alpha. It was never ending parties and college drama ( that sounded like high school) and tug of war between MK and the guys. She is supposed to despise and hate the guys but her libido was directing a lot of her actions. The guys were more consistent ones, at least Kody and Steele. They didn't hide their desires and adoration as much as Archer did..He straight up antagonized MK at every step. He is also the most jealous possessive of the bunch. I was waiting for things to happen but it didn't until last few chapters. There wasn't much build up of emotional connection either..something that's a must for me in a Why choose romance. I probably should feel empathy and anger on behalf for MK but mostly I was annoyed.

This is first book of a series and ends in a cliffy.

PS DID ANYBODY FIND IT WEIRD THAT THEY CALL HER MADISON KATE ALL THE TIME? FULL NAME?

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

I originally read this series back when it first came out but I'm a sucker for a new cover and decided to do a little reread. This is a reverse harem, new adult romance with three badass men. Madison Kate is not particularly likable in this book but from what I remember of the others, she grew on me so if that's an issue you have with this one I recommend giving the next book a shot if you still liked the plot. I really like the beginning of the story and the guys are 👌, but there are some parts of the book that lack substance and honestly that's fine. It's a quick easy read with the focus on the four main characters. This is the first book in a series so you can expect that there will be more action to come and it leaves off on a cliffhanger that will leave you wanting to know what happens next. There's definitely some miscommunication here so be warned if that's not something you like to see.

Read if you like:
- bully romance
- reverse harem
- forced proximity
- rated R spice
- banter
- suspense

Thank you Bloom Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hate by Tate James is Book 1 in the Madison Kate series and it is amazing!! It was not what I was expecting at all. Hate is a reverse harem, enemies to lovers, love to hate, why choose, dark romance. It was spicy but I also laughed.

Madison Kate Danvers FMC is strong willed and fierce.
MK lives Shadow Grove and while out celebrating Halloween her life is turned upside down. By the end of the night she is left taking the blame for the events that happened. After her horrible father and the boys who “rescued” let her take the fall, any hopes of her bright future are gone. After spending some time in jail her father sends her to Cambodia to live with her aunt.

Almost a year later, MK returns home to a different Shadow Grove, a new house, full of hate, and ready for revenge . She learns that Archer D’ath, Max Steele and Kodiak Jones the guys who let her take the fall have moved into her father’s house. The only problem is guys become very protective over her and she finds herself softening towards Steele and Kody.

Hate left me on a cliff hanger and I can’t wait to jump into book 2. Tate James did such a great job of showing MK’s tough persona, then giving you a glimpse of her vulnerability, and then show the internal struggle she has being attracted to Archer, Steele, and Kody. I enjoyed the banter that MK had with the guys. Thank you to Bloombooks and NetGalley for giving me this ARC for my honest thoughts and opinions.

From hate to intrigue; Madison’s story

First of all, I’d like to express my gratitude towards Netgalley, Bloom Books and Tate James for generously providing me with a free advanced reader copy. This review is entirely voluntary, and I want to emphasize that it truly reflects my genuine emotions and thoughts about the story.

Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️(½) Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️(½)

I hadn't delved into Tate James' works before, but the overwhelming praise surrounding her books had me convinced I'd fall in love with them. The allure of dark romance, reverse harem, suspense, and spice sounded like the perfect combination. After diving into "Hate," the first book in the Madison Kate series, I can confidently say she has gained another fan, contributing to her growing fanbase.

While thoroughly enjoying the suspense and banter in MK's journey, the revelation that the series is centered around a young character at a university added a layer of understanding to certain immature behaviors, notably from characters like Bree and MK. At times, repetitive descriptions and the age-related immaturity tested my patience, almost leading me to a DNF moment. However, persevering through those challenges proved worthwhile, and I'm eager to unravel the sequel's mysteries, especially after that intense cliffhanger.

The character development in “Hate” was okay. MK, with her fierce, stubborn, and sassy personality, became a character I gradually grew fond of. Despite her admirable qualities, her naivety, especially concerning her safety and personal history, was a source of frustration. Nevertheless, the three male characters: Archer, Kody, and Steele, kept me intrigued. The dynamic between MK and Archer, marked by her sassy attitude, created a delightful clash that I anticipate evolving. Kody and Steele, my personal favorites, shone brightly from the start.

On the flip side, Bree, supposedly MK's best friend, didn't resonate well with me. Something about her felt off, and I'm hopeful for her redemption in the sequels.

While the series' start was strong, I'm particularly looking forward to more intricate plot developments in the upcoming sequels. Overall, it's a promising beginning, and I'm excited to see where the story leads.

Obsessed, I want to know what happens next. I was expecting something else but I was so pleasantly surprised. There was so much suspense and intrigue. The plot was so well done and the set up for the next books in the series are great. I really want to read more to see what happens. I love how the three guys have completely different personalities and how that affects the relationships they each have with MK. All they want to do is protect her and I cannot even tell you who my favorite is. Some things are truly impossible.

This is book 1 of four in a Reverse Harem, enemies to lovers, dark romance with spice.

Madison Kate is strong and fierce living Shadow Grove.

While going out to celebrate Halloween her life is turned upside down ...

She gets blamed for the things that happened, and her dad ships her off to her aunt ...

After a year MK comes back to Shadow Grove but it is not how she left it.

A new house, full of hate she is ready for revenge.

Be warned this book ends on a cliff hanger.

This very quickly became a annual reread for me after I devoured this book for the first time July 2022. I absolutely adore going to Shadow Grove and am so excited for even more people to love and adore MK and the crew.
Tate James creates a world that you can vividly imagine and is the queen of cliffhangers. The characters are there for you to love to hate and eventually purely adore their traits. Ensure you read the trigger warnings as this is not for everyone.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me to dive back in.

Hate is the first book in the Madison Kate series by Tate James and absolutely sets the benchmark for the whychoose, romantic suspense genre. The cover is eyecstching and pays homage to the hard and kickas& nature of MK and the boys.

The dynamics of the trio and MK following riot night are just starting to firm in this first installment and it is beyond delicious. We get some back stories and alot of squirmy moments. The writing and plot are an absolute 10/10. Shadown Grove is a book world that I always love to revisit and the extra scene in this publication was a highlight! This read deserves all the stars!!

Hate is SO GOOD! I absolutely love this world and Madison Kate! She’s feisty, strong, and most importantly, lovable! You can already tell that she has all of these boys wrapped around her finger! This book is sexy, hot, and you’ll definitely have a STRONG need for book 2!! Highly Recommend!!!

The opening book in a reverse harem series that began on Halloween when the heroine Madison Kate Danvers ventured into the bad part of town to watch a fight. On a night when everything went to hell in a hand basket, she found herself accused of being the mastermind behind a gang war that almost destroyed the town. Guilty or innocent Madison’s life would never be the same again. Now one year later she’s back in Shadow Grove with revenge in her heart.

Madison Kate was just such a strong character even though she did seem to regress and go a bit weak at the knees when in the presence of her prospective harem before she remembered that she held them accountable for the loss of her dreams and pushed them away. She had a hate/love/hate relationship going on there with emphasis on the hate and her methods of revenge, petty they might’ve been tickled me. Her love interests Archer, Kody and Steele were still a bit of a mystery, but I think these dark, and flawed heroes have their own agenda and probably hold the key to what is really going on. With plenty of twists and turns and a strong flow to a story which for me gave off distinct dystopian vibes, this book had me absorbed to the extent that when I was reading, I struggled to put it down and it was a case of just one more chapter especially with the emergence of a stalker intent on Madison which heightened the suspense to a new level.

This was the first time I’ve read this author if this book is anything to go by, I’ll definitely be working my way through her back catalogue starting with the rest of this series.

If you’re looking for something to heat🔥 up your weekend, Hate is all that and more!

A great quick read with a strong female MC, revenge plot, and why choose. With 3 gorgeous tattooed gods, why bother choosing?

Halloween night Madison Kate and bestie Bree sneak off to an illegal MMA fight, which turns out to turn her life upside down.
After some time away, she returns home to find herself living with 3 of the hottest males around. Brace yourself. This house is filled with revenge, hate, and a lot of sexual tension.

Coming up on another Halloween, Madison Kate once again finds herself in an impossible situation…….

And then…..

Cliffhanger. Tate James, why do you do this to me?! Now I must get my hands on the next book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: 06 Feb 2024

2.5⭐️ from what I saw so far.

I really, really tried to like this, but I’m going to have to DNF.
Those dudes were giving me the ick, and the main girl seemed like a character I would love over time, but she was all “I hate those boys but they’re so hot!” This just gives me the vibe that she is going to let the dudes walk all over her, and I unfortunately cannot do that myself.

I’m also DNF-ing because I’m just not in the right state of mind to read, and need a breather.

E-ARC received from Netgalley and Bloom Books!

Received an ARC of Hate by Tate James, courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

I did unfortunately had to DNF this one.

The first chapter made me cringe. Hard. The FMC felt like she was trying too hard to be a badass, and she comes across as really pushy and bitchy.

Overall, I did not really enjoy this book.

I start with what I liked...
I liked that it was a page-turner, addictive and angsty. I like Madison's violence and that she didn't back down.
I like all the push-and-pull games. But I think that's it. It had an interesting ending, so I wanted to read the sequel!! That's something.

No not so good things....
I have seen so many good reviews about this book/series, but I don't understand how.
Don't get me wrong I love RH books. But this didn't excite me that much. I get the plot and characters. I get why Madison was angry, but I hate the miscommunication trope so much that I was angry when I read this. Open your mouth and talk. It's not that hard.
And Madisond 'revenge'... I'm speechless... oh photoshop guys that they are gay, c'mon it's not the 18th century, nobody cares who you like...
Mostly I didn't like that they were so young, who acted like adults. While there weren't any adult figures around. All the school scenes were pointless.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some aspects I really enjoyed but there was a few things that I didn’t love. I loved the tension and angst between Madison Kate, Archer, Kodi and Steele and their hate to love relationships. I liked Madison Kate’s character throughout this book even though she made some questionable decisions but I enjoyed Kodi and Steeles characters a lot more. I’m interested to see where her relationship with Archer goes into the other books.

I absolutely disliked her best friend Bree and her dad. Every time either one of them was mentioned it irritated me.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book. The cliff hanger at the end left me wanting to read the next immediately to see what happens with MK and the guys.

Thank you to NetGalley for the book and all opinions are my own.

It’s easy to read, easy to follow, and I can definitely see why it’s blown up. While I stopped at 5%, this is an easy three to four stars from the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this story but it was a bit slow moving and repetitive for awhile. It ends on a cliff note so now I’m desperate to start the others. I feel like this one just barely scratches the surface of what’s to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc. I LOVED THIS BOOK! At the beginning I was a little eh but once I got into the story and fell for the characters I was hooked! I need to read the second one immediately!!!!!

Adison Kate totally steals the show, no doubt about it. She's got this whole combo of being violent, arrogant, and carrying a serious grudge – and I was all for it. Even as her character kinda mellows out in the book, she still rocks this super-sarcastic vibe. What's cool is that she's not just following the guys around; she's doing her own thing, ditching them a few times. In a genre where heroines usually play it second fiddle, Adison's alpha level matches, or even beats, the guys'. It was a solid, satisfying read, enjoyed it enough to give it a bump-up in my rating. And man, I'm itching for the sequel – things were getting juicy right before the end.

This is one of my favorite series of all time & I got so excited when I saw that the Madison Kate series got picked up by a traditional publisher! I love a good female main character with a strong personality that isn't afraid to be herself and do what she wants. She's not perfect and she has a lot of trauma to work through. This series has a near perfect balance between plot lines and spice.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Bloom, and Tate James for sending me an early copy!