I wasn’t sure what to make of this book when I first started it but it became such a great, emotional read that I couldn’t put it down. Maddie hates her brother’s best friend. Hurt by him long ago if she never has to see him again it’s good by her. But her brother passes away and leaves Maddie and Dom a scavenger hunt of sort Maddie slowly starts to fall for Dom again but can she truly trust him?

Told over the course of 2 years the relationship between Maddie and Dom is so authentic and real that you couldn’t help but route for them. I loved the love the Maddie had for her brother and how Maddie was so human with her imperfection, which made her very relatable.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

Lauren. Freaking. Connolly. You have done it again. PS: I Hate You had me laughing and crying. I adored this book, these characters, and gosh someone needs to turn this into a movie or show. Stat. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my ARC!

This book does an amazing job balancing heavy emotions with lighter moments. The grief is raw and intense, but it never feels overwhelming—it’s still readable and even funny at times. The romance unfolds at a believable pace, giving both characters the space to heal before fully committing to each other. I really appreciated how it handled themes of self-discovery and emotional healing with care, all while keeping the romantic tension alive.

That said, I wish it had been told from dual points of view. Dom is such a likable character—patient, responsible, and ridiculously hot—but we don’t get enough insight into his thoughts or emotions. His side of the story feels underdeveloped compared to Maddie’s, and I would’ve loved to see more of his perspective as their relationship grew.

The ending is heartfelt and satisfying, though there’s one plot twist that felt a little confusing and unnecessary to me. Still, the book is beautifully written, emotionally engaging, and super addictive, with just the right balance of romance and spice to keep me hooked.

This was a beautifully done romantic comedy and had the characters that I was looking for. It was engaging and had that overall storyline that I was looking for. It had that destination element that I was looking for and enjoyed the characters in this storyline. Lauren Connolly has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this.

when I read the blurb I was immediately hooked. I’m a BIG sucker for a second chance romance. I just felt like the premise was there but the execution was not it.

Maddie’s brother Josh passes away and leaves a quest for her and his best friend Dom to do together. Maddie hates Dom and makes it known… because they shared a one night stand and something happens the next day that breaks Maddie’s heart .


Tbh Maddie was so annoying and so insufferable almost the whole book. Yes I did feel bad for her but that was no excuse for her to be so rude… and she was constantly being rude to Dom… I felt so bad for him..

Maddie Sanderson is devastated when beloved older brother, Josh passes away. Grief stricken, Maddie can’t see a future without Josh, so she figures if she doesn’t fully say goodbye, he won’t ever truly be gone.

But at the reading of his will, the deceased Josh leaves an interesting proposal. A travel junkie while alive, Josh wants his ashes scattered in set states he never got around to visiting himself, all while opening specific letters Josh left behind. The catch? Maddie is to complete this project with her brother’s best friend and current bane of her existence, Dominic Perry.

Dominic and Maddie once had feelings for one another, until one day Dominic turns around and proposes to his high school sweetheart. Reeling from rejection, spending anytime at all with Dominic is the last thing she wants to do. However, carrying out her brother’s dying wishes is ultimately what gets Maddie to embark on the ultimate goodbye tour. Of course, as the pair visit different states and read their accompanying letters, Maddie frustratingly finds herself falling for Dominic all over again. But can she really trust the one man who broke her heart to rewrite their future?

PS I Hate You is a story written as a love letter to travel, time, and deep-seated connections. That being said, I did have some issue with the mega level of miscommunication in this book, and the repeated unreasonableness in Maddie’s actions. While some of her issues with trust were understood given her deplorable parents, she still had such an edge to her that seemed a little much. Also a little much? The graphic sex scenes that came in hot and heavy about midway through the book. Then there was the reading of the states visited, their subsequent letters not needing to be read on any order, but conveniently ending with the most climactic reveal. 🙄

Reminiscent of another hit love story, You, With A View, PS I Hate You is sure to make many readers swoon, but left me, at moments, with a loss for words.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I seriously can't stop thinking about this book. The letters, the adventures, the banter, the TATTOOS.

This is a perfect second chance romance, mostly because it reads more as a "never was" or "one night only" romance. There's so much history, be it Dom being Maddie's brother's best friend, or Maddie babysitting for Dom's little brothers, which just adds to the stakes. Maddie and Dom are utterly incendiary together. The moments between their barbs where the tension just pulls them together and you're not sure if they're going to kiss or kill each other? Ungh. They're each processing their grief after the death of Josh, and I really loved how their grief was portrayed. This wacky adventure that Josh tasked them with only added to it, as it simultaneously served as a mechanism for them to process their grief and to realize their feelings for one another. Also despite it being a slow burn, once the steam hits it is STEAMY.

This was my first Lauren Connolly, but certainly won't be my last.

When Maddie's brother dies at a young age from cancer, he left letters for his friends and family members and Maddie was given the task of going on eight trips to spread his ashes. But, it was not just a solo trip - it was with her ex who was also her brother's best friend. Maddie has felt left behind - fight through the early chapters where she is lashing out and I promise there is a payoff. Besides the spicy romance, there is the journey of grief and setting boundaries, and the journey of the trips themselves. I really enjoy this one. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

If the title P.S. I Hate You rings a bell, it’s probably because you grew up sobbing over P.S. I Love You. This book draws heavy inspiration from that story but with its own unique twist.

P.S. I Hate You follows Maddie, who is grieving the loss of her brother, Josh, to lung cancer. At his wake, she discovers that Josh left behind letters for his family and loved ones—one of which is meant for her and her brother's best friend, Dom. Dom, who also happens to be Maddie’s first love, was once a part of her life until their painful falling out years before, when he married someone else. Maddie still holds onto the resentment and hurt from that time.

The letter sets them on a mission: to scatter Josh’s ashes at eight locations across the U.S., places he always dreamed of visiting. As they travel, Maddie is forced to confront not only her grief but also her unresolved feelings for Dom and her deep-seated fears about trusting others. Along the way, she begins to let go of her anger and understand the complexities of her past, while Dom reveals his own grief and struggles.

The story delves deeply into the grief of both Maddie and Dom. As they journey from state to state, reading Josh's final letters, we watch Maddie slowly shed her bitterness toward Dom and begin to heal. Her personal journey is difficult but real, as she faces issues of abandonment, insecurity, and trust. While Maddie is hard to like at first—she's insufferable for the first 25% of the book—Dom’s patience and understanding make their connection believable. Over time, Maddie’s growth and vulnerability make her more sympathetic, and the romance between her and Dom feels well-earned and natural. However, there’s a part of the story that feels a little difficult to accept, especially at the beginning: It’s hard to believe that Dom could still be in love with Maddie after so many years of no contact and only a brief hookup in their early twenties. Maddie is so cruel to him at the start of the book that I found it tough to understand how Dom could still feel so strongly for her. It takes some time to grasp that his feelings stem from a summer they spent together, where Maddie helped his family through a tough time, but that connection isn’t clear at first.


The book does an excellent job of balancing heavy emotions with lighter moments. The grief is raw and powerful, but the story remains readable and even funny at times. The romance unfolds at a realistic pace, with both characters given the time to heal before fully committing to each other. It handles themes of self-discovery and emotional healing with care, without sacrificing the romantic tension between them.

I do wish the book was told from dual points of view. Dom is a likable character—patient, responsible, and super hot —but we don’t get enough insight into his thoughts and emotions. His side of the story often feels underdeveloped compared to Maddie’s, and I would have loved to see more of his perspective as their relationship deepens. The ending is satisfying and heartfelt, though a particular plot twist feels a bit confusing and unnecessary...Still, the book is well-written, emotionally engaging, and addictive, with plenty of romance and spice to keep readers hooked. While I didn’t always connect with Maddie’s character, I sympathized with her grief, and her emotional arc ultimately made the journey worthwhile.

The main character was annoying and every other character felt one-dimensional. I didn't care for or about the romance or about anything else happening.

This book reminded me of P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. And like that one, it left me in tears.

Maddie has always felt lonely, and now she’s lost the only person in her family who truly cared about her—her brother, Josh, to cancer. Before he passed, he left her a final request: to travel to eight states, scatter his ashes, and open the letters he wrote for each place. Maddie would give anything to read those letters, to hold on to him just a little longer. The only catch? Josh wants her to do this journey with his best friend, Dom. Dom, the guy who broke her heart when she was nineteen.

The book struck a chord with the introvert in me—the part that feels lonely and struggles to trust others for fear of being judged. It’s beautifully written and thoughtfully explores the complex emotions and insecurities that come with grief and healing. Maddie’s struggle with asthma feels incredibly real, and Dom’s patience and protectiveness had me swooning.

The story begins right after Josh's death and spans two years, which makes sense for Maddie’s character. It allows her the time she needs to find a way to trust Dom again. And the chemistry between them steadily intensifies with each stop in their journey.

Other things I thoroughly enjoyed:

- The one bed trope!
- The enemies to lovers arc.
- Single POV in romance novels for the win!!

My only gripe is that Maddie is insufferable for the first 30% of the book. While I understand that she uses humor and snark as a defense mechanism, it still felt a bit annoying and cringey at times.
Also, I wasn’t a fan of the miscommunication trope.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

I’m not going to be able to write a very articulate review, but I do want to tell you that this book was the perfect escape for me this week. It’s an enemies to lovers romance with a very sad twist, which had me both laughing out loud and crying. It felt very cathartic to do both.

There is years long miscommunication, but it didn’t bother me like it usually does. So much of this story is a journey to heal from grief, and that part was done really well.

This is a really weird combination of books, but if Butcher and Blackbird and Pack Up the Moon had a book baby, it would be this.

P.S. I Hate You by Lauren Connolly
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 11/19

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley for my advanced copy!

Maddie Sanderson’s world gets turned upside down when her only brother, Josh, dies. She agrees to fulfill his last wish: scattering his ashes at eight places he never got to visit. But Josh throws a curveball by making her travel with Dominic Perry—his best friend and the guy who once broke Maddie’s heart.

I loved everything about this book, and it has become one of my favorites of 2024! I went through all the emotions while reading it, and cried for the last 20%.

Maddie is super relatable, dealing with grief, abandonment, and the emotional scars left by her difficult family. She’s built walls and avoids opening up, which makes sense given how many times she’s been hurt.

Dom is both annoying and irresistible. His past with Maddie brings out a mix of old wounds and undeniable chemistry. As they move from place to place, there are moments that show their connection deepening, hinting at a second chance.

We learn what happened between Maddie and Dom as the story progresses, which makes their second chance even more satisfying. We see a lot of growth from Maddie throughout the story as she battles with her grief and her feelings for Dom at the same time.

What really stands out is the emotional heartbeat running through every chapter. Each envelope Maddie opens feels like a nudge from Josh, helping her and Dom face their pasts and find some closure. I love the way we get to know him through their memories.

There’s romance and some steamy scenes, but it’s the love, grief, and resilience that hit the hardest. Connolly’s story will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Read if you like:
*heavier themes
*disability rep (sevre asthma)
*open door spice
*single POV

This one is highly emotional - be forewarned. It’s also laugh out loud funny in parts. And so, so worth it.

After the death of her older brother Josh, Maddie and Dom, Josh’s best friend (who’s also the man that Maddie has always loved) have a letter from Josh, requesting that the two of them bring his ashes to the eight US states he’d never gotten around to visiting.

*grief
*road trip
*forced proximity
*banter
*second chance
*personal growth
*found family
*mental health rep
*all the emotions

I loved Josh, I loved Dom, and I (eventually) loved Maddie.

The author beautifully captures the continuous grief of loss and this really spoke to me. I don’t want to share too much about this but will write that this book made me both laugh and cry.

This was my first time reading Ms Connolly’s work and I’ll absolutely be reading more.

Recommended (and make sure to have tissues at the ready).



Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC

A bittersweet tender story.
The only family Maddie truly had was her brother Josh and the Perry’s, especially Dom.
I liked how the traveling kept throwing Dom and Maddie together, even if it was for a sobering task.
I deduced part of the plot but still has surprises.
I thought Maddie wallowed too much and yes ran from her feelings.
Dom was a very patient man who owned up to his mistakes.
Maddie’s mother was absolutely brutal.
Sometimes the closest family has nothing to do with blood.

4.5 rounded to 5

I needed some fluff after last week's total trash fire, and I almost bailed when I realized Msddie was raw with grief after the loss of her brother. Having lost both my brothers, I emphatically didn't want a romance about losing brothers, and yet the snark in her style caught at me, and before I knew it, I'm going through those pages.

The thing about second-chance, grumpy/sunshine romances is, most of the time the plot is built around a devastation long ago that has been a gaping wound due to total lack of communication. Usually I really dislike this trope, especially when there is no reason for two supposed adults not to take the time to communicate. But Connolly builds in excellent reasons for that not happening--Maddie is deeply angry at having been abandoned by everyone she loved most, that she doesn't see it when she ghosts her beloveds in turn.

How Dom gets through those layers of anger--how Maddie does the work on her own--made the pages turn. I loved the friendships here. I loved the other woman's story. I loved Dom's family, and how Maddie and Dom finally broke the walls down. And how I cackled at Maddie's snark!

Pub Date is 12/3/24. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25/5)

Ironically, one of my favorite books is P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern. Thanks to discussions in one of my Instagram chat groups, I decided to try this book. I’m so glad I did!

There are 24 emotions and this book touches on all of them. Yes, it’s sad, there were tears…but not as much as I expected. There were also plenty of smiles. The characters were well written and relatable, as were the situations. These were characters you could see yourself being friends with, wanting to have in your life. Maddie and Josh had a difficult upbringing, although touched on briefly, showed the power of sibling love. Maddie, at times, did annoy me. This girl can hold a grudge which I can totally relate to, so maybe that’s why this bothered me. Unfortunately, I can relate to losing a sibling and the grief that goes with it, even how it manifests itself at different times throughout your life. I did enjoy seeing Maddie take control of her issues and her subsequent growth.

I am pretty selective with my romance reads, so I’m thankful I listened to my friends on this one and in the process found a new author to follow. Although not a fan of spice, there are a few scenes.

Thanks to Berkley Romance/Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This novel wrecked me in so many ways, but it also made me laugh and swoon along with the tears and the anger. Maddie and Dom have incredible chemistry together, but each are grieving the death of the same person in their own ways. Each has a past full of hurt and the resulting emotional scars felt real and made this novel so much more than a romance. This deeply layered plot gave realistic explanations why Maddie and Dom continued to find ways to be together and then not to be. I am blown away at the raw emotions and the dialogue that felt so real, as if I were experiencing their interactions. The travel aspect of this adventure was also fun to ride along with Maddie and Dom and when I typed in the coordinates into my phone, I got to see exactly where these two were at the time. Highly recommended that readers do this too. Thank you to NetGalley for an early digital copy to read.

✉️ Forced Proximity
✉️ Dark Humor
✉️ Found Family
✉️ Travel
✉️ Self Discovery

The cover of this books calls out exes, travel destinations, and angsty romance. While there is that here, it’s much more. Managing grief, the value of family & found family, self-discovery, and growth.

There were a lot of feelings for me. I cried, I laughed, cried again, laughed some more… I got incredibly irritated with our female MC at times, but ultimately it all made for a perfect recipe for a memorable read. 🥜 Peanut butter anyone? IYKYK. I’d love to see this adapted for the screen.

This is surprisingly fun for a book that is entirely centered around grief. I was absolutely sobbing by the end, but I enjoyed the emotional road trip getting there. Maddie was difficult to like sometimes but I think that’s a result of how she dealt with her grief. I gave her a pass, but still occasionally wanted to smack her.