E-galley Review: The Way I Hate Him by Meghan Quinn

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Way I Hate Him by Meghan Quinn
on August 1, 2023
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance, Adult Rock Star Romance, Adult Romantic Comedy
Pages: 524
Source: the author
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
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Blurb:

Why am I holding a box of stolen memorabilia formerly owned by my ex-boyfriend’s boss in my arms? It’s called . . . revenge. 

After failing my last semester for my masters degree, I decided to come back to my hometown of Almond Bay and wallow in self pity while my boyfriend told me everything was going to be okay. To my dismay, instead of open arms, he greeted me with a box to move my things. 

Now I’m not a petty person, but when he told me he broke up with me because I was boring, there’s only so much of the higher road I can take. Hence the box of memorabilia I took from him. 

The plan? To give it back to his boss, who happens to be my brother’s nemesis, and get the ex fired. But plans never go the way you want them, because instead of dropping off the box with a note, I’m pinned with the crime by Hayes Farrow himself. 

And because my life is so pathetic, he gives me two options: turn me into the police and press full charges or . . . work it off. How could I possibly work for someone I can’t stand? Easy, I don’t look good in orange. 

But working for Hayes isn’t as horrible as I thought it would be. The hate I had for him begins to turn into something else – something deeper, something I never thought I’d feel. 

Unfortunately there are still old grudges and family drama to deal with. And what happens when my brother finds out that I’m working for the guy he hates more than anyone else in the world? Will I be able to follow my heart or will the way I hate him blind me from the love I feel?

My Review

Of course as soon as I started this book I was immediately struck by how good it was. So invested in the characters from the start, as well as laughing, and feeling all the things! I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a big fan of age gap romances, although I am a little more lenient or accepting if the age gap is more brother/sister ages as opposed to father/daughter ages. And this one worked because Hayes was her older brother’s former best friend turned enemy. The reason for the hatred/enemy status was not revealed until later in the book. So I had to just go with something bad had happened when wondering how her family could hate him so much.

As I read though, I just kept thinking to myself about how good all of Quinn’s books are. I’m just blown away every time by the detailed story and all the things she can make you feel. So many scenes that have me rolling with laughter so much I have to put the book down until I can finish. Like when they were discussing insults:

“No one says dick as an insult anymore. Be more clever.”

And then there are scenes that have tears running down my face, like when Hattie is dealing with her sister seeming to give everyone a letter except her, or when her other sister can’t seem to spend any time with her. So many different aspects of emotions. Loving her niece Mac as she deals with the death of her mother and her whole life having been turned upside down. Then there is Hayes and what his family life was like, and of course his adorable meddling grandmother.

Another thing I LOVE about Meghan’s books, can I call her Meghan? It feels weirdly too familiar, but that’s what I’m going with because Quinn sounds too impersonal, lol. Another thing I love is how all her worlds, for the most part, have little Easter eggs placed throughout almost every other story of hers. Like, I’m so excited for this new town that I think we’re going to get more in because she has a map for it, and she mentioned Lovemark movies! And then there are references to my favorite baseball book boyfriend series, love, love, love how she does this!

For me I was a little irritated with what turned into the last act break up, it seemed a little out of character in a way for how things had been going, but as the characters worked through his reasoning for it, I was a little more okay with that. And I was also happy with how it was fixed for the final reunion. Another wonderful story from Meghan Quinn and I can’t wait for more set in Almond Bay, as well as just any other story from her!