Mostly Loathing You by Nicole Ryan
Release Daye: 1/26/24
Format: ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of book two in the Just Peachy series by Nicole Ryan! I adored Second Chance Vacation so I couldn’t wait to start Hannah and Liam’s story!

This book is a must read for folks who like:
-Childhood friends to lovers
-Enemies to lovers
-He falls first
-Spice with a side of emotional growth!

I absolutely ripped through this book in one day and, while I wasn’t sold on Hannah OR Liam in the first 25% (they were both so infuriating to me), Ryan really turned the characters into this beautiful and vulnerable couple I was truly fighting for!

I can’t wait until we get Sage & Gabe’s story in the fall!

The writing and premise of this book was good but unfortunately, I DNF at 48%. I think it all boiled down to the mains Hannah and Liam who were just downright childish and immature. At the beginning I thought these characters were in high school or college but in the second chapter we learn they’re both in their late twenties working corporate jobs. The name calling, stomping on the other’s foot and the mocking voices was just too much for me. At the 48% mark I still don’t know the reason why they hate each other, yet they’ve slept together twice. Liam is an absolute a**hole and although I felt bad for Hannah’s terrible family life with her parents, I found my empathy towards her limited due to her behavior towards Liam and on occasion her friends. Unfortunately, I found the build-up between them lacking. One moment they’re being mean to each other and the next scene they’re doing a body shot and making out… which made me question how on earth did we get here? Overall, I found these characters unlikeable which in turn made me not care about them to continue. I'm sure others will love this book, but it wasn't for me.

Thank you @netgalley and @nrcpublishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Mostly Loathing You by Nicole Ryan was the second book in the Just Peachy Series. Written in dual pov, it is a fun story about falling in love with the person you'd least expect.

Centered around Hannah and Liam, their relationship starts off with Hannah "loathing" Liam. With hate and love being a fine line, the author delivered their relationship and their progression from dislike to love in a great way that some authors struggle with. With Hannah being the daughter of Liam's dads best friend, Liam would have never expected he would soon fall for her. Now the two are pushed together, and forced to spend more time with each other, it is clear that their feelings for each other deepen.

Forced proximity, a whole lot of tension and angst, with a little aspects of the bully trope, what more could you ask for?
I would highly recommend this book to any lover of the genre. PS, the use of Taylor Swift songs in the playlist? The Archer? Don't Blame Me? The author is a Swiftie and that alone means she deserves every bit of success. Obsessed, and the dedication? Perfection.

༉‧₊˚. rating ✧˚ ༘ •𓈒⋆｡˚ ⚬
* ੈ ➴ 4.25

✉˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡↪

"'I thought you were considering moving back.' The meaning in his words nearly floats pasts me before it hits me, causing a faint grin to overtake me."
"'You were scared.'"

Holly (FMC) has always been close with her older brother Jackson. However, she's not the only one who has Jackson's attention. Liam (MMC), has been best friends with Jackson for their entire lives since their parents have been longtime friends. Growing up together, Holly and Liam have spent their summers and childhood together, however they're anything but close and friendly. When they're constantly at each other's throats when they're separated by many states, what happens when Holly starts working UNDER Liam??

This book is full of so many LOVEY DOVEY moments that my heart is literally bursting from the seams. This romance is the perfect amount of innocence, naivety, stubbornness, and steamy love that you can't help but fall in love with the characters. If you're into brother's best friend, enemies to lovers, second chance romance, first love tropes... YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK <3

The only downside is that I personally thought the writing in some sections was a bit confusing and would do way better if some things were reworded.

also im kinda in love with these quotes from this book

⤷-✧˖°

'"Fuck me so hard that after I'm irrefutably ruined for any other man, any other partner. Any other person who dares to touch me, knowing that you're on my mind.'"
"Something in her words makes me snap; the simple thought of anyone besides me touching her drums up something feral and animalistic inside me."

Thank you Nicole and NetGalley for this ARC.

Hannah is an aspiring actress trying to page her way onto the theater scene. While she's home in Georgia she takes a job at her family friends law firm. A place that so happens to employ her brother and his best friend Liam--a man Hannah cannot stand. Liam has hated Hannah since they were kids. She grates on his nerves, and he constantly needles her.

Between Hannah working at the firm and the activities for her brother's wedding, she and Liam are spending more time together than ever. Soon lines start to blur and they find themselves wondering what there was to hate.

This was a cute enemies to lovers, forced proximity, brothers best friend romance. I didn't love Liam to start. He was so mean to Hannah. I know it's enemies to lovers but dang, dude. He grew on me as the story went on. I also wish there had been more tension between them. They gave in to the sexual aspect fairly quickly and that lack of sexual tension was missed for me. All in all a solid 3⭐ enjoyable read.

Oh man I was a sucker for this book. I felt so much for Hannah from how Liam has/does treat her to feeling like a failure from not being able to land the job she really wants. As someone who has held in emotions and memories like this it and having to deal with a guy similar to Liam was an instant connection with the characters. I did not read the first one in the series and did not feel like I was missing any important information.

4.5 stars rounded up.
🌶🌶 spice rating
Thank you Nicole Ryan and NetGalley for the eARC

Thanks to @netgalley for the chance to review Mostly Loathing You by Nicole Ryan. I LOVED this book!! It had it all: enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend, flashbacks to childhood friendships, and humor. Hannah is an out-of-work actress who returns home to work with her brother (and her nemesis, Liam) at their law firm. They will need to be in a wedding together, but can’t be around each other without arguing.

The spice was hot, the cast of characters was hilarious, and the romance was super sweet.

Hannah and Liam knew each other since they were kids. Their parents are friends. Now that they are adults, they ‘hate’ each other.

Reading about hate-to-love books without a valid reason for the hatred is a big no for me. If they are enemies or lovers, I need a REAL grade for it. Adult hatred without a valid reason is just embarrassing and childish.

I dropped this 15% in because FMC masturbated while thinking of her ‘enemy’ and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC.

I loved this. Hannah is forced to make the decision to put her dream of being on stage on hold for a job as an legal assistant to her brother and her brother's best friend, Liam. Hannah and Liam have been best of enemies for years. Between work and her brother's upcoming wedding, she and Liam keep getting thrown together and it turns out, even he has to admit that she's really great at her job. Sparks fly, lessons are learned, everyone goes for their dreams and it's a great book. One of the better enemies to lovers ones I've read in a while.

#arc
#netgalley
#mostlyloathingyou

Buckle up for "Mostly Loathing You," where childhood pals turn frenemies and then ride the rollercoaster of love in a workplace drama that's as complex as figuring out your coffee order. Hannah, a struggling actor, takes a detour into Liam's assistant role in the family law firm, setting the scene for a second-gen takeover.

The story serves up an Insta-love cocktail, complete with whipped cream kisses and a spicy kitchen counter rendezvous that'll have you reaching for the cold brew. Liam's desk escapade? Major heat alert! 🥵

Hannah's pansexual reveal brings extra spice, and Liam's dominant yet supportive vibes, especially in the mirror scene, adds that "Oo lala!" factor.

What sets this tale apart is Liam championing Hannah's theater dreams. His support, even when her mom's laying on the guilt for choosing the stage over suits, adds a real-life flavor to their love story.

The emotional highs hit when Liam, despite any loathing, falls hard for Hannah and stands by her through thick and thin. "Mostly Loathing You" captures the vibe of their complex yet rock-solid connection perfectly.

The plot takes a wild turn around 3/4 in when Hannah grabs the mic and fulfills her theater dreams, leaving the firm and Atlanta for a nationwide tour. The tour, post-Liam-Hannah love fest, adds a thrilling twist to their evolving romance.

“The kind that knows what he wants and is clearly in love with her,”

And let's not forget the cute deets, like Hannah's obsession with chicken penne from Andre's—it's the avocado toast of their romance, quirky and utterly delightful.

Shoutout to Liam Park, my 2024 book bae! Welcome to the squad, buddy!

Thank you to NetGalley and NRC Publishing, for sending me an eARC of Mostly Loathing You.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hannah and Liam have known each other all their lives but can barely stand to be in the same room together. When Hannah becomes Liam’s assistant at Baker & Park, Liam will do anything to avoid Hannah, but there is sometimes a thin line between hate and love, which leaves them trying to work out on which side of that line they stand.

I read this book in a day as I couldn’t put it down! I love an enemies to lovers and this, coupled with brothers best friend and childhood crush made the perfect read to bring me out of a recent reading slump.

I did really hate Liams character at the start of this book and the way he treated Hannah at first did start to put me off reading further. But he did manage to win me over in the end.

Overall an addictive read with banter, chemistry and some spice for good measure!

If you are searching for a cute and sexy bullies to lovers romance? Mostly Loathing You is the book you're looking for.

Liam and Hannah know each since they were kids. Their parents are absolutely best friends so naturally they grew up together. BUT, Liam and Hannah hate eah others guts. Of course, WE KNOW that there's more in that story. But I wont give any spolier 🤭

The book was very emotional to me.Liam and Hannah have been pining after each other for years but they are so blind to their true feelings that it hurts. There's hate between them, yes, but they still feel so much for each other and now they reach to a point in their relationship that they can't keep fighting against their hearts corazón.

I completely adored this book and it made me feel so much. This series is one of best reads of the year 😚🤌🏼

It took me a while to figure out why I wasn’t connecting with this book, and I think I figured it out. This book feels like when you’re deep in a fandom and you’re reading a fic and it doesn’t really feel like you know the characters from the writing, but you know them because of the fandom. And then the author kinda just keeps putting their characters through stuff and you deal with it because you know it’ll end with smut and a HEA. I don’t know if I was supposed to know more about Hannah and Liam because it was book 2 in a series, but I just kept reading hoping for a bit more character to happen…and it didn’t - like I was reading a fandom I am not a part of so I didn’t get half the lore. I really wanted to like everyone…but the material just wasn’t there for me.

Thank you so much for the ARC. I am not done reading the book yet, I'm only at 13% but i'm having a difficult time refraining myself. I plan on doing a full review when finished completely and I will update this one.

I am IMPRESSED. I'm in love with the characters already. I just started the book and it doesn't seem like i'm putting it down anytime soon. This is the kind of book that makes me pull all-nighters. My brother & I have been real close growing up, I can only remember a couple- if that- arguments between the two of us. His nick name growing up was Bub. Most importantly, it's been a real breath of fresh air to read about characters my age.

When it comes to E-Books, i'm more focused on the cover and the description then I am the title. I say that because once I realized I'm hooked on a story from a new author, I have to set the book down and research said author. What truly mind boggled me is that this is A SECOND BOOK IN A SERIES. The descriptions of people, places & things are incredible. I would've never even thought this was a second book if I didn't research the author. I feel like I didn't miss a beat; I wasn't confused, at all. The author did a really good job with this book so far. I feel like i'm going to really relate with this story & I can't wait to finish it as fast as slow as I can. Keep it up, Nicole Ryan!

I really enjoy this author and the characters and stories that she writes. But I find them to be very long. It seems like there are a few scenes that could be cut from the book and it would be just as good if not better.

And to that the enemies to lovers and workplace romance tropes, neither of which are my favourite, and the book wasn't a top-tier read for me.

That being said, I do really like this author and her writing style. And I will probably continue the series if the other characters get books.

3 Stars
3 spice

I love enemies to lovers. It’s an excellent trope which imo works where both leads are not perfect but are at the very least relatable and likeable. Liam the hero, and I use that word loosely, is so unnecessarily mean to Hannah the heroine before things turn around that it just put me off him completely. I did not want her to end up with him at all which defeats the purpose of a romance. The writing was good and I think if not for some of the characterisation I would have liked this more. Unfortunately not for me but others might be into this more, 2 ⭐️

Thanks so much to Nicole Ryan and NetGalley for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I adore enemies to lovers so much and this book does it so well, the chemistry between Liam and Hannah is so strong and I love seeing their constant back and forth. Whilst the story is well written, I found the transition from enemies to benefit to eventual lovers awkwardly paced, as well as the ending.

Despite this, I loved how the forced proximity between the two produced excellent moments of tension, and the way Liam protected Hannah from her overbearing parents was so sweet, and seeing that she always had someone to defend her was super heartwarming.

I really did enjoy this book, and would recommend to those that enjoy an enemies to lovers, brother's best friend, second chance romance.

Nicole Ryan's "Mostly Loathing You" takes readers on an exhilarating journey of love, loathing, and unexpected connections. Centered around the tumultuous relationship between Hannah Thatcher-Miles and Liam Park, this contemporary romance novel offers a refreshing twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope. From the very beginning, it is clear that Hannah and Liam share an intense dislike for each other. Hannah finds Liam arrogant, rude, and impossible to resist, while Liam sees Hannah as the bane of his existence. However, fate has a way of intertwining their lives when circumstances force them to work together at Liam's father's law firm, with Hannah serving as his assistant. As the story progresses, the dynamics between Hannah and Liam evolve, revealing deeper layers and hidden vulnerabilities. Ryan masterfully portrays the growing tension between the two characters as they find themselves increasingly unable to escape each other's presence. This tension is further heightened by the fact that they are both participating in Hannah's brother's wedding, adding an extra layer of complexity to their interactions. The author's skillful portrayal of conflicting emotions and internal struggles makes the characters feel authentic and relatable. Hannah's internal battle between her loathing for Liam and her undeniable attraction to him creates a captivating push-and-pull dynamic. Similarly, Liam's realization that his feelings towards Hannah are more complex than he initially believed adds depth to his character. Ryan masterfully weaves together moments of humor, heartache, and passion, keeping readers engaged and eager to discover how the story unfolds. The chemistry between Hannah and Liam is palpable, and their interactions are filled with witty banter and undeniable sparks. "Mostly Loathing You" delves beyond the surface-level animosity to explore the blurred boundaries between love and loathing. As the characters are faced with temptation and their emotions intensify, they are confronted with a challenging question: Can love and loathing truly be separated by only a sliver? Nicole Ryan's writing style is engaging and captivating, immersing readers in the world of Hannah and Liam. With its well-crafted plot, well-developed characters, and an intriguing exploration of emotions, "Mostly Loathing You" is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance novels. In conclusion, "Mostly Loathing You" is a compelling tale that showcases the complexities of relationships and the power of unexpected connections. Nicole Ryan delivers a satisfying blend of tension, romance, and self-discovery, leaving readers eagerly anticipating her future works.

Big Thanks to Netgalley, The publisher and Nicole Ryan for this Arc!!

Despite my initial struggle to get into this book, I enjoyed it. However, getting fully into the story was a bit of a struggle for me.

Big appreciation for Hannah's relatable and sweet nature, Liam, in my view, remained an inexcusable jerk for the majority of the book. Even with the explanation on why he was a jerk to hannah I couldn’t warm up to him.

I also found myself struggling to finish the book, as their romance failed to captivate me.

However I identified strongly with Hannah, the FMC, I appreciated her growth, conveying a heartfelt message about self-worth. The banter in this enemies-to-lovers saga did give me moments of genuine laughter. I would’ve liked to have seen more of a buildup to the romance in this story.

Mostly Loathing You was one of the best enemies/rivals to lovers books I’ve read this year!

The plot progression and pacing was perfect, the tension was there, the characters were detailed.

Such a fun read, very easy to read and remain engaged!

Well worth the read when it is released!!

⏱️Read Time: 3 Hours