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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Things I liked:
-Realistic descriptions of depression and anxiety (could hit too close to home for some)
-Relationship development was interesting
-Well developed/fully realized MC/POV
Things I didn't like as much:
-Side characters felt a bit flat
-Pacing was weird towards the end-felt a bit rushed, especially when earlier plot points felt drawn out
-Very little sense of place (not important to everyone, but I felt like it could have been set in any major city)
-Realistic descriptions of depression and anxiety (could hit too close to home for some)
-Relationship development was interesting
-Well developed/fully realized MC/POV
Things I didn't like as much:
-Side characters felt a bit flat
-Pacing was weird towards the end-felt a bit rushed, especially when earlier plot points felt drawn out
-Very little sense of place (not important to everyone, but I felt like it could have been set in any major city)
challenging
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders
The Hate Project follows grumpy Oscar and Jack, who aren't exactly friends, but not exactly enemies. Oscar battles a series of mental health issues, including anxiety, and I really liked how the author was able to write that into the story. I could definitely sense how the anxiety was a major issue and could hinder relationships on multiple levels for Oscar. It also helped that the story was told from his POV, which I think helped me connect with the story, and especially with Oscar. The development of the relationship was authentic and I loved the snarky banter between Oscar and Jack. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thought it fantastic! Ripper writes with a variety characters, and you can really get a feel for each one throughout the story. This is the second in The Love Study series, and while I really liked the first book, I think I liked this one just a bit more! Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to review.
Thank you so much to Carina Adores and NetGalley for the arc of this book!
When I saw this book up for review, I requested it so fast. I was a huge fan of The Love Study by Kris Ripper, and to my great surprise, I loved this one even more.
When Oscar loses his job, his world is pretty much turned upside down. Even more so when he somehow starts working for Jack the ass, with who he happened to have a one-night stand. Between their constant bickering and the hoarded house, Jack has hired Oscar to help clean out, something more starts to build between them. Oscar doesn't know what to do with that. Being alone is safer than having your heart broken, after all.
I love Oscar. I love him so much. I relate to him in a way I didn't to Declan and Sydney in THE LOVE STUDY, even though I loved them too. Oscar deals with anxiety that's heavily exacerbated in any sort of social situation. He doesn't do feelings because it's just too much for him. We see him struggle to keep his anxiety and I depression from eating him up, and I loved seeing the emphasis on therapy and medication. We even see Oscar have to go through a medication switch, which as anyone who's had to take them knows, is a giant pain in the ass.
Oscar and Jack snipe at each other the entire book. Even when you can tell things are shifting, there's still the sniping, because that's where their comfort zone is. They don't have to get into the complexity of their relationship or the emotions behind them that way, and it works for them. I loved their back and forth and I loved the come down-to-earth moment of them having to recognize what's actually happening.
The Motherfuckers are of course front and center as they were in the last book, and I loved seeing more of them. We get some really great insight on Ronnie in this book too, which was nice to see. I was really great to see how each of them supported Oscar and what he was going through, letting him know they were there by force if necessary.
Overall, another winner from Kris Ripper. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for us!
When I saw this book up for review, I requested it so fast. I was a huge fan of The Love Study by Kris Ripper, and to my great surprise, I loved this one even more.
When Oscar loses his job, his world is pretty much turned upside down. Even more so when he somehow starts working for Jack the ass, with who he happened to have a one-night stand. Between their constant bickering and the hoarded house, Jack has hired Oscar to help clean out, something more starts to build between them. Oscar doesn't know what to do with that. Being alone is safer than having your heart broken, after all.
I love Oscar. I love him so much. I relate to him in a way I didn't to Declan and Sydney in THE LOVE STUDY, even though I loved them too. Oscar deals with anxiety that's heavily exacerbated in any sort of social situation. He doesn't do feelings because it's just too much for him. We see him struggle to keep his anxiety and I depression from eating him up, and I loved seeing the emphasis on therapy and medication. We even see Oscar have to go through a medication switch, which as anyone who's had to take them knows, is a giant pain in the ass.
Oscar and Jack snipe at each other the entire book. Even when you can tell things are shifting, there's still the sniping, because that's where their comfort zone is. They don't have to get into the complexity of their relationship or the emotions behind them that way, and it works for them. I loved their back and forth and I loved the come down-to-earth moment of them having to recognize what's actually happening.
The Motherfuckers are of course front and center as they were in the last book, and I loved seeing more of them. We get some really great insight on Ronnie in this book too, which was nice to see. I was really great to see how each of them supported Oscar and what he was going through, letting him know they were there by force if necessary.
Overall, another winner from Kris Ripper. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for us!
After loving [b:The Love Study|52739476|The Love Study An LGBTQ Romcom|Kris Ripper|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591818193l/52739476._SY75_.jpg|78704075] I was primed to love The Hate Project, but some elements hit too close to home for me to enjoy myself fully.
The good:
- Oscar comes off as a grouch in the first book and here we learn why - he has social anxiety that can lead to panic attacks. It made past actions understandable and gave me more appreciation for how Ripper set up that first book.
- The dynamics of the friend group are becoming clear and I love the way they interact and support each other. Oscar's friendship with Ronnie is particularly interesting and they shine on the page together. We also learn more about Mason, one of the MCs of the next installment, through his relationship with Oscar. The found family elements, which felt a little forced in the first book, are in delightful full force.
- Jack's grandma is awesome, a no-nonsense type that gets her own mini story arc and characterization.
- Ripper pushes the edges of what's considered du rigueur in romance and I am here for it. The Love Study has an HEA without a solid commitment, and here sex does not lead to the 'I love you' realization that it does in many romances.
- Some people may find the anxiety rep empowering and comforting, however...
The not-so-good:
- ...Oscar's thought spirals are so similar to ones I've experienced (thank you, birth control!) I found myself skimming whole sections. And while Oscar's single PoV works well for the story it also means we're always in his head, close to that anxiety.
I have all the love and respect for what Ripper is doing but unfortunately this book wasn't the one for me. I'm very much looking forward to the next book - a poly relationship, yay!
Thanks to Carina Press for providing a review copy.
CW: anxiety including panic attacks, grief, disordered eating
The good:
- Oscar comes off as a grouch in the first book and here we learn why - he has social anxiety that can lead to panic attacks. It made past actions understandable and gave me more appreciation for how Ripper set up that first book.
- The dynamics of the friend group are becoming clear and I love the way they interact and support each other. Oscar's friendship with Ronnie is particularly interesting and they shine on the page together. We also learn more about Mason, one of the MCs of the next installment, through his relationship with Oscar. The found family elements, which felt a little forced in the first book, are in delightful full force.
- Jack's grandma is awesome, a no-nonsense type that gets her own mini story arc and characterization.
- Ripper pushes the edges of what's considered du rigueur in romance and I am here for it. The Love Study has an HEA without a solid commitment, and here sex does not lead to the 'I love you' realization that it does in many romances.
- Some people may find the anxiety rep empowering and comforting, however...
The not-so-good:
- ...Oscar's thought spirals are so similar to ones I've experienced (thank you, birth control!) I found myself skimming whole sections. And while Oscar's single PoV works well for the story it also means we're always in his head, close to that anxiety.
I have all the love and respect for what Ripper is doing but unfortunately this book wasn't the one for me. I'm very much looking forward to the next book - a poly relationship, yay!
Thanks to Carina Press for providing a review copy.
CW: anxiety including panic attacks, grief, disordered eating
Review here: https://smexybooks.com/2021/04/melindas-minis-the-conductors-by-nicole-glover-and-the-hate-project-by-kris-ripper.html
The Hate Project is the follow up to The Love Study, which I really enjoyed last year.I didn’t like this one quite as much as the last one and I couldn’t quite figure out why the whole time I was listening to it. Oscar and Jack are basically grumpy and grumpier – which is a combo I love. Jack is the MC whose head we’re in the entire book, we begin when he’s lost his job and is unsure what to do next. He accepts the Herculean task of cleaning Oscar’s grandmother’s house for a good-size amount of money and then the two wind up in a casual no-feelings-attached fling.
But where my problems stem from was around the characterization around Jack. He has a lot of anxiety, which I can relate to so much. I absolutely fell in love with how his friends accept this and make allowances for it. They appreciate how much it can incapacitate him and just make necessary adjustments – it’s so wonderful! But there comes a point in the book where Jack crosses over from anxious to…almost overwhelmingly paralyzed. I’m aware that could have been a specific choice the author made for the character but it threw the pacing off for me because it felt like the book stood still for too long because of this paralysis. This could also be an example of hating characteristic I see in myself so…who knows!? I loved Oscar and the grandmother – their relationship is tender and grumpy, it’s perfect. Ripper’s writing is just really unique.
CW: anxiety, grief, panic attacks
The Hate Project is the follow up to The Love Study, which I really enjoyed last year.I didn’t like this one quite as much as the last one and I couldn’t quite figure out why the whole time I was listening to it. Oscar and Jack are basically grumpy and grumpier – which is a combo I love. Jack is the MC whose head we’re in the entire book, we begin when he’s lost his job and is unsure what to do next. He accepts the Herculean task of cleaning Oscar’s grandmother’s house for a good-size amount of money and then the two wind up in a casual no-feelings-attached fling.
But where my problems stem from was around the characterization around Jack. He has a lot of anxiety, which I can relate to so much. I absolutely fell in love with how his friends accept this and make allowances for it. They appreciate how much it can incapacitate him and just make necessary adjustments – it’s so wonderful! But there comes a point in the book where Jack crosses over from anxious to…almost overwhelmingly paralyzed. I’m aware that could have been a specific choice the author made for the character but it threw the pacing off for me because it felt like the book stood still for too long because of this paralysis. This could also be an example of hating characteristic I see in myself so…who knows!? I loved Oscar and the grandmother – their relationship is tender and grumpy, it’s perfect. Ripper’s writing is just really unique.
CW: anxiety, grief, panic attacks
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So I think the people who read this book will fall into two camps: those who will be so frustrated with Oscar (one of the MCs & the narrator) to the point that they'll probably DNF; and those will be be nodding their head at cringing recognition at Oscar's self-destructive behavior. I fall into the latter camp. I have read romances that deal with mental illness before (including the excellent first book in this series) but this was on a whole other level. Very, VERY true to life. Including the part about cleaning out your relatives' house. Hoo boy. Given all the obstacles Oscar and Jack have to overcome, their HFN was very satisfying. I love these two. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes