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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
Wow! What. A. Ride! I loved every minute. I ate this book up.
Hotness twisty and turney, I'm so glad there is more in part 2.
*disclaimer:
I do not condone, or enjoy reading some of the sex in this book.
Sometimes it's too much and cringe worthy.
But at the same time I am a full supporter of 'to each his own', adult consent and all that.
This is adult fiction and should be read with a mature mind.
Hotness twisty and turney, I'm so glad there is more in part 2.
*disclaimer:
I do not condone, or enjoy reading some of the sex in this book.
Sometimes it's too much and cringe worthy.
But at the same time I am a full supporter of 'to each his own', adult consent and all that.
This is adult fiction and should be read with a mature mind.
Release Date: April 9, 2020
Actual Rating: 2 stars
Dark Romance | Stalker Romance | Crime
Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy this one. My dislike for the novel isn’t because it’s a dark romance. I actually love dark romance novels especially those books that push the limits and make you squirm. While this book did both of those things there was nothing redeemable about the characters. Even more, the important plot points were eaten up by all the rough and angry sex. Fair warning, if you continue reading this review there are probably going to be spoilers.
Possible Spoilers Ahead
As I mentioned, this is a dark, stalker romance. Not only that, this book revolves around some sort of criminal enterprise (sort of like the mafia). The “hero”/stalker (Jasper), is a hired killer for them and has no problems getting his hands dirty. Jasper’s job is to find a kid from his childhood and essentially take him out before he himself gets killed (it’s a “him or me” situation). In this middle of all this he “meets” a woman who catches his eye and essentially starts to “stalk her”. Eventually he ends up going on a date with her and they bang like rabbits in the dirtiest ways they can think of. She loves being his dirty little slut… Seriously. She notices here and there that things are moved in her apartment and her window is open etc. and eventually learns it was Jasper. Does she care? Nope. She gets turned on by it (cue weird eye roll). And on they go, screwing and screwing, and screwing some more. Listen, I don’t mind sex in books. I’m not a prude and have read my share of erotica. But the sex in THIS BOOK ate up the entire plot! The crime seemed like a small backstory instead of the main issue Had it not been for the little twist in the end it would have been pointless for the story. I think this is exactly why I couldn’t get into it. I tried so hard to like it but there’s just nothing for me to like. Perhaps the next book will be more centered on the actual plot and not just the sex.
Another thing that got on my nerves was the “stalker” part. I have read quite a few books about stalkers and their dark romances and loved them. This stalker? I don’t get it. Why call him a stalker and say this is an actual “stalker romance” if it’s not going to come off like one? Yes, he went into her apartment unawares 2 or three times, but nothing was explained ENOUGH for us to SEE it. Here we are being TOLD these things happened but never SHOWN it. For me to feel a book and connect with it I need to see it. That didn’t happen here.
Finally, the heroine was flimsy at best. I think it’s cool that she has these weird fantasies and I loved knowing she has a dark fetish like Jasper but getting to know her on any kind of level was nonexistent. I know nothing about this woman even though I spent the last few hours reading her story. NOTHING besides the fact that she likes feeling like a whore (her words, not mine).
END SPOILERS
Obviously, this wasn’t my kind of book. Some people will love it, others may have the same feelings as I do. Of course, I don’t want to rip the book apart or be mean in my review, but I do have to give my honest opinion and back it up with the things that bothered me. I mean no disrespect and hope readers will look at many of the other reviews before deciding if they want to read this one.
Rating: 2 stars
Actual Rating: 2 stars
Dark Romance | Stalker Romance | Crime
Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy this one. My dislike for the novel isn’t because it’s a dark romance. I actually love dark romance novels especially those books that push the limits and make you squirm. While this book did both of those things there was nothing redeemable about the characters. Even more, the important plot points were eaten up by all the rough and angry sex. Fair warning, if you continue reading this review there are probably going to be spoilers.
Possible Spoilers Ahead
As I mentioned, this is a dark, stalker romance. Not only that, this book revolves around some sort of criminal enterprise (sort of like the mafia). The “hero”/stalker (Jasper), is a hired killer for them and has no problems getting his hands dirty. Jasper’s job is to find a kid from his childhood and essentially take him out before he himself gets killed (it’s a “him or me” situation). In this middle of all this he “meets” a woman who catches his eye and essentially starts to “stalk her”. Eventually he ends up going on a date with her and they bang like rabbits in the dirtiest ways they can think of. She loves being his dirty little slut… Seriously. She notices here and there that things are moved in her apartment and her window is open etc. and eventually learns it was Jasper. Does she care? Nope. She gets turned on by it (cue weird eye roll). And on they go, screwing and screwing, and screwing some more. Listen, I don’t mind sex in books. I’m not a prude and have read my share of erotica. But the sex in THIS BOOK ate up the entire plot! The crime seemed like a small backstory instead of the main issue Had it not been for the little twist in the end it would have been pointless for the story. I think this is exactly why I couldn’t get into it. I tried so hard to like it but there’s just nothing for me to like. Perhaps the next book will be more centered on the actual plot and not just the sex.
Another thing that got on my nerves was the “stalker” part. I have read quite a few books about stalkers and their dark romances and loved them. This stalker? I don’t get it. Why call him a stalker and say this is an actual “stalker romance” if it’s not going to come off like one? Yes, he went into her apartment unawares 2 or three times, but nothing was explained ENOUGH for us to SEE it. Here we are being TOLD these things happened but never SHOWN it. For me to feel a book and connect with it I need to see it. That didn’t happen here.
Finally, the heroine was flimsy at best. I think it’s cool that she has these weird fantasies and I loved knowing she has a dark fetish like Jasper but getting to know her on any kind of level was nonexistent. I know nothing about this woman even though I spent the last few hours reading her story. NOTHING besides the fact that she likes feeling like a whore (her words, not mine).
END SPOILERS
Obviously, this wasn’t my kind of book. Some people will love it, others may have the same feelings as I do. Of course, I don’t want to rip the book apart or be mean in my review, but I do have to give my honest opinion and back it up with the things that bothered me. I mean no disrespect and hope readers will look at many of the other reviews before deciding if they want to read this one.
Rating: 2 stars
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
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He Hates Me is the first book of the Hate & Love Duet, and it's a collaboration between Rina Kent and Isabella Starling. Having read various books by RK, I knew that this was her element. But I never read anything by IS, so I didn't know what to expect. Well, the result is really interesting.
In this dark romance, nothing is what it seems. But the main protagonist, Jasper, seems to know what lies behind the façade. Because he was trained to smell when something was off, and punish people because of their lies. When he sets his eyes on Georgina, whom he's never seen before, he sees that her smile is fake just by looking at it. And, somehow, it intrigues him. Why? Good question.
Jasper was a psychopath through and through. From the moment the reader meets him, it's clear that he is depraved and he doesn't care. It almost seems as if he's content with the life he leads, even if it's not an easy life. Now I don't want to get into details about what Jasper does for a living, but you find out early on. Let's just say that you wouldn't want him as your enemy. When Jasper sees Georgina, something ticks inside his head. You know, it's like when time stops and you get stuck looking at something or someone, and you don't even understand why. It's like when a book "calls to you" (let me use this term) and you decide you want to know more about it, but are unable to tell yourself why it appeals to you. Maybe what Jasper saw in Georgina was her mask, and he decided he wanted to take that fake smile off her face. Literally. And yes, it sounds creepy, but when you'll read the story you'll realize I'm not exaggerating.
Georgina is a nurse, and she is a cat lady. She also leads a normal life and it seems her friends always want to set her up with somebody, but she doesn't want to. She is very unlucky, and her luck runs even more out after she meets Jasper staring at her one day. But it depends on the point of view, because Georgina is also very lucky to have found somebody who understands her even if the circumstances in which people like Jasper get their background check is not really legal or upfront. Georgina was an enigma. She behaved in a way in front of other people and in another when she was with Jasper. Needles to say, Jasper was right that she didn't show her true self in front of her friends, but she had her reasons and it was her personality. Which was to some level psychotic as much as Jasper's.
This story was much darker than I anticipated and I honestly had a hard time reading some scenes, because they depicted something that I'm usually not acquainted with because maybe I read a lighter kind of dark romance. I thought that I wouldn't be bothered by some things that happened, but I admit that I was, and this was part of the reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Some scenes really disturbed me to the point of wanting to stop reading, but I guess that was the intention of the authors, since they both write very dark romances. But still, I'm honest here. I had a hard time stomaching some behaviors of both Jasper and Georgina and at some points I couldn't understand why they couldn't let go, why they were so bound on doing that to each other. Now I don't want you to put off reading this book, but there are some triggers that may upset other people like me, so you'd want to know.
The story ends with a cliffhanger and raises a hundred of questions, so we'll have to wait two weeks to read how everything ends. I wish that we'll see another side of Georgie and Jasper, because I think that they have a romantic side as well and not only a dark romantic side. Hopefully.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book.
DNF at 50%
Not my book.
All the characters were getting on my nerves. NPS Dinar made it her mission to marry off the FMC to somebody. She had just introduced her to the MMC Jasper, and the next day she’s tugging the FMC out of bed because a male coworker (not the MMC) was asking about her. But the FMC wasn’t any smarter—she actually went, and her reasoning was, “it might make Jasper jealous.” Was this high school??
I also had a problem with the FMC’s pace with alcohol. She didn’t know when to stop or slow down. It wasn’t actually safe for her to drink that much. In one instance, she was drinking even though she knew she had to drive back home.
You know, this is one of those books where the leading male ends up as a blood-seeking killer, and a nice leading lady has the ultimate extreme kink because of a trauma she had. And there's this evil that binds them together.
This book is NOT A ROMANCE! It's an abusive relationship where both sides are MENTALLY ILL. The man is THE ABUSER, and the woman is THE ABUSED. Their lives aren't a safe haven either; they actually need to survive the evil to have a life.
Generally, I'm not too fond of killer Hs, and here I am reading a book where the H is a hitman; but when I actually like everything else, I am still able to vote higher.
HERE I COULDN'T BECAUSE
* Jasper is too much, seriously, the man is the psychical form of "sick horror." I am sorry for him. I truly am, but his final product is not appealing to me. And calling Georgina as Pet or Petal didn't help me like him either. His treatment of her is unacceptable! Oh, let's not forget that he is also the ultimate stalker (Joe from You kind). Shortly he is irredeemable!
*Also, Georgina's kink (it includes actual psychical violence) is too much for me; all I can see is the horror and disturbance. But as always, I found the leading female likable. Except for her kink, I actually liked her—a cat lady who is the mother of two adorable ones, Bingley and Hudson. I am also terribly sorry for Georgina; she deserved none of them. I wish she had the power to fight back. I wish she could survive... Sadly, she is an actual masochist because of her trauma.
OVERALL
*First of all, I am so sorry that I couldn't vote for this book any higher. I just can't. Her kink is a trigger for me; It is too much...
*Secondly, maybe I am not the most objective reviewer for this book because of my particular nuisance towards creepy killer leads!
*MOST IMPORTANTLY: While all those horrible and terrifying things going on, this book still feels like chick-lit. It is disconcerting!!! It is not a daily office romance; the issues are bothersome and dark, for f.ck sake!
*Besides what I mentioned above, the story is okay/average in general. I didn't found the twist so surprising. Still, It was okay.
*There were some AWW moments that I actually wanted to vote higher for this book, but then the end happened, and I remembered my annoyance. With everything that is happening around them, Jasper is still all about animating her ultimate fantasy(!). Yeah, right, it is the exact time for that, Jasper.
*I wish things had been different for both of you, dear Jasper and Georgina. All I wish you is sanity and health!
*No, I won't be reading the next book... Oh, but If they don't have a happy ending, I might actually consider reading it.
*Shamefully, he is just the guy on the cover, I know, but I can't help disliking him. His innocent looks + chick lit vibes on the cover, all of it, I am seriously annoyed; this is not a cover for this book! (But again, sincerely sorry, dude!)
This book is NOT A ROMANCE! It's an abusive relationship where both sides are MENTALLY ILL. The man is THE ABUSER, and the woman is THE ABUSED. Their lives aren't a safe haven either; they actually need to survive the evil to have a life.
Generally, I'm not too fond of killer Hs, and here I am reading a book where the H is a hitman; but when I actually like everything else, I am still able to vote higher.
HERE I COULDN'T BECAUSE
* Jasper is too much, seriously, the man is the psychical form of "sick horror." I am sorry for him. I truly am, but his final product is not appealing to me. And calling Georgina as Pet or Petal didn't help me like him either. His treatment of her is unacceptable! Oh, let's not forget that he is also the ultimate stalker (Joe from You kind). Shortly he is irredeemable!
*Also, Georgina's kink (it includes actual psychical violence) is too much for me; all I can see is the horror and disturbance. But as always, I found the leading female likable. Except for her kink, I actually liked her—a cat lady who is the mother of two adorable ones, Bingley and Hudson. I am also terribly sorry for Georgina; she deserved none of them. I wish she had the power to fight back. I wish she could survive... Sadly, she is an actual masochist because of her trauma.
OVERALL
*First of all, I am so sorry that I couldn't vote for this book any higher. I just can't. Her kink is a trigger for me; It is too much...
*Secondly, maybe I am not the most objective reviewer for this book because of my particular nuisance towards creepy killer leads!
*MOST IMPORTANTLY: While all those horrible and terrifying things going on, this book still feels like chick-lit. It is disconcerting!!! It is not a daily office romance; the issues are bothersome and dark, for f.ck sake!
*Besides what I mentioned above, the story is okay/average in general. I didn't found the twist so surprising. Still, It was okay.
*There were some AWW moments that I actually wanted to vote higher for this book, but then the end happened, and I remembered my annoyance. With everything that is happening around them, Jasper is still all about animating her ultimate fantasy(!). Yeah, right, it is the exact time for that, Jasper.
*I wish things had been different for both of you, dear Jasper and Georgina. All I wish you is sanity and health!
*No, I won't be reading the next book... Oh, but If they don't have a happy ending, I might actually consider reading it.
*Shamefully, he is just the guy on the cover, I know, but I can't help disliking him. His innocent looks + chick lit vibes on the cover, all of it, I am seriously annoyed; this is not a cover for this book! (But again, sincerely sorry, dude!)
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've always had a soft spot for Rina. Her books have always been a source of wonder to me. She's a true legend.
I'm going to finish the next book.
Run
I'm going to finish the next book.
Run
So, He Hates Me is one of those dark romance books that leans heavily into the whole "obsessive stalker, morally gray antihero" trope. And honestly? It does exactly what it's meant to do—give you a broody, dangerous hero and a heroine who can't seem to stay away. The plot? Minimal to Moderate. The spice? Maxed out.
What Worked:
What Worked: