Thank you NetGally and Berkeley Pub for a copy of this eARC!

I gave this one 4 stars, and wow, it really packed an emotional punch. It had me feeling all sorts of things, and if you’ve ever lost someone close to you, I think it will hit you right in the heart. But what makes this story so special is that it’s not just about grief, it’s also a beautiful journey of healing and finding a way to move forward, even when it feels impossible. This is definitely a contender for one of my favorite listens this year. It’s so good, and the narration is done by one of the absolute best. Highly recommend!

You know a book is good if it makes you cry a little bit. I loved the journey Maggie and Dom went on together even if their characters did get a little tedious. Does dom do anything but growl? Just curious. Overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing company for this Advanced Readers Copy of PS I Hate You by Lauren Connolly!

I loved this book! This was a contemporary romance that had funny and light moments but also suprisingly emotional and heartwrenching moments as well.

I came for the romance but I stayed for the plot—and not even the spice could distract me from how compelling it was. Yes, I’ve read plenty of stories with scavenger hunts before, but this one hit so hard emotionally that I couldn’t put it down. I love how Lauren weaves dry humor, angst, and pain into the story while still offering hope, especially as the characters grapple with grief. She did an amazing job tying it all together, I appreciated how she gave humor to side characters and gave them more life. The biggest downside to this story was the miscommunication, and it felt like it was dragging on longer than it needed to be. Nevertheless, it’s a wonderful second chance, brother’s-best-friend, enemies-to-lovers story—highly recommend! Just a heads-up: it’s a slow burn and can get pretty heavy emotionally, but it’s so worth it.

▫️what I liked:
-plot
-Adam/twins
-Josh/letters

▫️what I didn’t like:
-miscommunication
-I WANT DOM’s POV

Why Did I Listen To PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connelly?

Initially I thought that I had downloaded PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connelly via Netgalley, so my brain logic was like, well if I listen to it via audiobook I'll get to it faster. Well, I did not download this one on Netgalley. However, I am so very glad I listened to this book. I am a sucker for a contemporary romance - in particular one that makes me tear up and makes me really care about the characters. So, my mistake was a very happy accident. I am so, so glad I picked PS: I Hate You up. And okay, on second look, I did download this. In all fairness, it has been a very long 2025 and I am thankful for books like this which are getting me through and providing some real self care.

What's The Story Here?

PS I Hate You opens up at the funeral of Maddie Sanderson's brother, Josh. Unfortunately, Josh passed away due to cancer. He leaves behind several letters. For Maddie, it is a packet of letters shared with his best friend, her enemy, Dominic Perry. Maddie is asked to spread Josh's ashes over several states that Josh has never visited. However, she has to do this in partnership with Dominic. Maddie isn't too pleased about him but she will do what it takes to have those final words from her brother, whom she loved deeply. Through the various trips we start to learn more about Maddie's past with Dominic, whom she had a crush on growing up. We also learn about Maddie's feelings of abandonment from her mother and the distance from her grandmother. I just felt so terribly for the hand Maddie had been dealt and understood why she keeps people at arm's length. Over the trips, she starts to become close to Dominic again -- and we see some tropes that I truly appreciated.

How Did I Like PS: I Hate You?

I was captivated by Lauren Connelly's PS: I Hate You. Maddie is a character that you root for. She works so hard at her job. She's a good person. However, she's really been through it with her mother and then later on, with the loss of her brother. You can see how she views what happened with Dom in the past as echoing the other times she was abandoned and why her guard is up. I liked how hard Dom had to work to win her trust. I liked how the story spun out. I even liked when her best friend -- also her bisexual ex -- unraveled his past to her as a means of showing her that she is a good person and deserves to feel able to trust those she cares about to not abandon her. And this isn't even delving into the romance or the travel aspects of this book - which are so fantastically written as well. I just loved this story so much.

How's The Narration?

The audiobook of PS: I Hate You is narrated by Karissa Vacker. I really enjoy Vacker's narration - this is one of many audiobooks I've listened to with her narration. Also, this audiobook kept me chilled out when I was driving at night listening to it. I don't drive as much at night anymore because I am old but also all the construction on the highways by me, and well, props to Vacker for keeping my attention and for keeping me calm through dark lane changes and weird traffic patterns. I thought this was well narrated and that was such a big factor in my enjoyment. I think if you are someone who is newer to audiobooks and likes contemporary romance, this might be the gateway audiobook for you! It's 11 hours and 22 minutes unabridged.

This is a really touching second romance in that grief also plays a role. Maddie is fulfilling her brother‘s last wishes by scattering his ashes over a lot of different places, but she hast to do it with his best friend who broke her heart years ago Dom. I really thought that the way Maddie’s grief was handled the thoughtful and it was realistic in that. It comes up when she doesn’t expect it. It’s a fascinating book because it’s handling the recon thing of relationship while also dealing with old memories while dealing with grief at the same time. It’s a touching book from start to finish.

I didn’t anticipate that this book was going to rock me the way that this one did! This was so well written and will touch you deep in your bones! The roller coaster of emotions this one will give you between the humor, laughs, cries and everything in between! It was so real and the banter was the best! Super fun read that you’ll be able to read in one sitting!

I have read and enjoyed books from Lauren before, but this is my new favorite she's written. This is the kind of book that will stick with me for a very long time, and I already can't wait to go back and reread it.

P.S. I Hate You deals with sadness and grief in a heartbreaking and honest way. There is great character growth and I loved Dom and Maddie so much. Often I prefer dual POV, but this story truly needed to be told solely by Maddie. She's snarky, sometimes difficult, and hurting more than even she realizes, but she's also relatable, likeable, and someone so many of us can see ourselves in.

I was hooked from the very first chapter and I loved every minute of reading it. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Lauren Connolly’s PS I Hate You is an emotional, laugh-out-loud, and deeply moving romantic comedy that delivers everything you could want from an enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romance wrapped in a poignant journey of love, grief, and healing.

Maddie Sanderson never expected her late brother’s final request to include teaming up with the one man who broke her heart—Dominic Perry, her brother’s lifelong best friend and her personal enemy. But Josh’s dying wish demands that the two embark on a cross-country road trip to scatter his ashes at the places he never got to visit. Forced into proximity, Maddie and Dom navigate old wounds, undeniable chemistry, and a whole lot of unresolved history.

💕 What Makes This Book Stand Out:
✔ Enemies-to-Lovers with Second Chances – The tension between Maddie and Dom is palpable—every interaction crackles with a mix of frustration, longing, and the ache of unfinished business.
✔ A Grief-Fueled Road Trip – The unique premise adds depth, giving both characters time to grow, reflect, and confront their past while discovering new places.
✔ Josh’s Presence as a Matchmaker from the Afterlife – The way his love for both of them lingers throughout the story makes it all the more bittersweet.
✔ Forced Proximity & Tension-Filled Moments – A snowstorm, a shared bed, and all the feels—yes, please!
✔ Emotional but Uplifting – While grief is central to the story, the humor, banter, and sizzling chemistry keep it from being overly heavy.

This book hurts in all the best ways. It’s raw, romantic, and full of moments that will make you tear up, laugh, and swoon. If you love road trip romances, forced proximity, and a second-chance love story with depth, PS I Hate You is an absolute must-read.

A solid road trip with the enemy story, but I really felt like had the two of them just had a real conversation....this whole thing could have been avoided. I was fine with Maddie being angry, hurt, embarrassed, etc. But again, it went on for so long that it made me it hard to continue sympathizing with her when Dom was being so kind and clearly going through something. Not to mention, her avoidance of him and the way she would hold things from him felt so petty and unforgivable at times.

Dom is also kind of a dummy and really he should have forced a conversation much sooner, especially considering why he married someone else after their moment.

I enjoyed this, but I was frustrated. Now the really elaborate trips to spread the ashes of the brother was so good, and I liked learning all the destinations and the significance of them. But again, sometimes the Maddie/Dom arguing and pettiness kind of took away from the sweet moments or the idea of experiencing that grief with someone else who felt Josh was one of the most important people in their life.

I would definitely read another book by Lauren Connolly though, because I do think overall, I liked this and there were so many great moments of humor or sadness that hit me.

4.75⭐, 2🌶️

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I definitely took me some time to warm up to it, but once I was in, I WAS IN! Because I binged this book in one day. I've read this kind of book several times (someone dies and sends their loved one on a mission) but dang was this the best adaptation of it. I didn't relate much to Maddie, but I loved her as much as I do characters I do relate to. She was just heartbreaking and I loved her. And then DOM?! I'm convinced I will no matter what always love a character named Dom, but dang was he so frustratingly swooooony! *sigh* I think this story also is now the motivation I have for planning US based vacations - yes I wanna take my current 11 month old onto an iceberg.

Also, I gotta say as this book was wrapping up, I knew I liked it. But the last 50 pages? Made me love it. The surprise character details were so good (even though I really wish we learned this stuff earlier because I wanted more of the story with Josh and it felt rushed and incomplete to me)

❤️Brothers Best Friend
💛Forced Proximity
✈️Shared Loss & Grief
💛Second Chance Romance
❤️Asthma Representation

I listened to the audiobook through my Library's Libby App, and I think one of the reasons I loved this book was Karissa Vacker's narration. I just love her voice and would listen to her read a target receipt, non the less a beautiful story of grieve and a second chance on love.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unpaid review!

I saw a review comparing this to Emily Henry and I just knew I had to bump this to the top of my TBR! The comparison was definitely justified and I immensely enjoyed this! It also reminded me of You, With a View. The characters were complex and the storyline was interesting and emotional - I think the author wrote about grief and abandonment really well. Highly recommend if you enjoy second chance romance that will pull at your heartstrings!

I absolutely ADORED PS I Hate You! What a gem of a romance! I laughed, I cried, this book made my heart ache in ways I was not prepared for. I love a road trip romance and the way that these two complex grieving characters were forced together elevated that even more. 10 stars!! One of my absolute favorites of the year so far.

Maddie is grief-stricken over the loss of her older brother, Josh. She is not surprised that he asked her to scatter his ashes. She is shocked that Josh asked his best friend, Dominic, to go with her. Now Maddie must spread his ashes in eight destinations with the one person who broke her heart. Dom has the notes and the instructions to ensure that everything will be completed the way Josh wants.

Trigger Warnings: Loss of a brother

Why Jackie loves it:

This is such a wonderful book about dealing with grief and finding love! The trips that Maddie and Dom have to take are sad and healing at the same time. I love the adventures that they take in this book. They learn how to navigate tremendous loss together. It was such a great love story.

Maddie is wrecked. Her brother, Josh, the person she loved most in the world, has died. At his funeral, which he never wanted, her childhood crush and brother's best friend, Dom, tells her he is the executor of the will. Josh has left Dom and Maddie a series of 8 letters, each detailing a place where he wants them to visit and scatter his ashes. Maddie is apprehensive - how can she do this with Dom, a man who left her after one night of passion and married his high school sweetheart?
In this romance, many serious issues are presented - fear of abandonment, death, miscarriage, and more. I enjoyed it.

This one hit hard! I was crying like a baby multiple times but also laughing and rooting for Dom & Maddie. This is a second chance/brother’s best friend romance but SO MUCH MORE. Maddie’s brother & Dom’s best friend Josh has just passed away and left strict instructions for them to scatter his ashes together in 8 different states with a letter for them in each place. Everything about this story felt authentic. I found Maddie’s grief, sense of humor, and trust issues so relatable. I also related to Dom a lot. Their love story is so beautiful and I just can’t put into words how much I loved it!

“If I have one day left, or thousands, I want you to be in every one of them.” 🩷

4.5⭐️ Talk about the perfect balance of comedy & grief.

This is definitely not a light fluffy read, as grief is a major theme of this book. However, the romance really helped to lighten the load and the FMC in my opinion was hilarious. I had multiple laugh out loud moments.

Add this book to your to read list, I promise you won’t regret it! & then let me know what you thought!

#books #bookstagram #booktok #bookrating #library #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecs#bookcommunity #booklovers #booksofinstagram #bookish #fivestarbooks #romancebook #kindlebooks
#kindleunlimited

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Lauren Connolly for an ARC copy of this book. It was such a good read and I cannot wait to give my review below on this book.

To begin, there are definitely heavier subject matters that take place in this book such as grief, death, talks of cancer and death from cancer, and abuse.

PS: I Hate You follow Maddie and Dom as they go on an adventure at the hands of their deceased best friend and brother. Josh, Maddie's brother and Dom's best friend sadly passed away from cancer, and after his death, he wanted Maddie and Dom to travel to places he had not got the chance to see and spread his ashes. Of course, leaving them notes for every place they visit. But, it should be noted that Maddie and Dom have a somewhat strained relationship to be traveling to random sates and towns together. They had a one night stand that did not end well and Maddie resents Dom because of this. However, they take the trips together as planned by Josh and thing between them intensify along the way. Maddie still have definite feelings for Dom and it seems as if the feelings Dom had for her never went away as well. With Dom being newly divorced, they do become romantically involved with one another on their adventures to fulfill Josh's wishes.

I thought the tone of this book was perfect and seemed so well thought out. It made me laugh and it made me swoon. It also made me immensely sad at some points, thinking about times in my life I might have dealt with grief or the way that Maddie and Dom were feeling. I really found myself just wanting to continue reading this book until I got to the very end! The chemistry between Maddie and Dom was undeniable and sexy. This was such a good read to start off my 2025 book challenge. A SOLID 4 stars.