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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. I love the enemies to lovers trope, and I was excited to read this. However, I couldn't get into it because the female protagonist was insufferable.
It seems like the author wanted to create a prickly protagonist to make the tension more realistic, but she went a little too far. Brynn isn't just misunderstood. She is legit horrible. By the time she finally started to redeem herself (more than halfway through the book), I had stopped caring about both her and Sebastian (loved the camera guy though!)
It's unfortunate because the last 40% of the book is much better, but you have to suffer so much to get there. I only pushed through this because I received an ARC. Had this been a book I just picked up, it would have ended up in my dnf pile.
It seems like the author wanted to create a prickly protagonist to make the tension more realistic, but she went a little too far. Brynn isn't just misunderstood. She is legit horrible. By the time she finally started to redeem herself (more than halfway through the book), I had stopped caring about both her and Sebastian (loved the camera guy though!)
It's unfortunate because the last 40% of the book is much better, but you have to suffer so much to get there. I only pushed through this because I received an ARC. Had this been a book I just picked up, it would have ended up in my dnf pile.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. I love the enemies to lovers trope, and I was excited to read this. However, I couldn't get into it because the female protagonist was insufferable.
It seems like the author wanted to create a prickly protagonist to make the tension more realistic, but she went a little too far. Brynn isn't just misunderstood. She is legit horrible. By the time she finally started to redeem herself (more than halfway through the book), I had stopped caring about both her and Sebastian (loved the camera guy though!)
It's unfortunate because the last 40% of the book is much better, but you have to suffer so much to get there. I only pushed through this because I received an ARC. Had this been a book I just picked up, it would have ended up in my dnf pile.
It seems like the author wanted to create a prickly protagonist to make the tension more realistic, but she went a little too far. Brynn isn't just misunderstood. She is legit horrible. By the time she finally started to redeem herself (more than halfway through the book), I had stopped caring about both her and Sebastian (loved the camera guy though!)
It's unfortunate because the last 40% of the book is much better, but you have to suffer so much to get there. I only pushed through this because I received an ARC. Had this been a book I just picked up, it would have ended up in my dnf pile.
This book is like a Hallmark rom com in the BEST way. Brynn is a news anchor on the most popular morning news show in the country, but after a slip up on air, she is forced to go back home to a small town in Colorado where everyone knows everyone, and the town itself is smaller than 1 square mile. Now a city girl, Brynn is confronted with how much she’s changed, not all of it for the better. Sebastian was a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, but he’s been off the grid for the last six years. Now he serves on the town council for Adelaide Springs, Colorado - Brynn’s home town. Sebastian is tasked with being Brynn’s “host” while she’s visiting. While the two initially butt heads, they grow to respect each other as Brynn slowly rediscovers who she used to be and Sebastian opens up about his journalistic past.
A classic rom com with an HEA, Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other is a sweet small town romance. It’s a quick, enjoyable read sure to delight romance lovers. 0/5 spice level (kissing only).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook.
A classic rom com with an HEA, Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other is a sweet small town romance. It’s a quick, enjoyable read sure to delight romance lovers. 0/5 spice level (kissing only).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Liked it, fun while I was reading it
This contemporary romance tells the story of Brynn Cornell, cohost of the popular morning show Sunup. She's America's Ray of Sunshine—until she makes a huge on-air mistake exposing her snarky side causing it all to come crumbling down.
Now she’s back in her hometown of Adelaide Springs, Colorado, in a last-ditch attempt to convince viewers she’s not the mean girl they think she is where she meets Sebastian Sudworth who is assigned to chauffeur her around town. She's sure he can see right through her carefully cultivated, sunny persona. But is determined to do what it takes to maintain her image and save her career.
I had a hard time caring about anyone in the first half of the book. Brynn was pretty annoying and Sebastian was pretty off putting. Somehow, with all that, the second half was sweet and I found myself rooting for both of them in the end.
The narrator, Talon David, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, and with what expression/intension.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley, and author Bethany Turner for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other is out September 5, 2023.
This contemporary romance tells the story of Brynn Cornell, cohost of the popular morning show Sunup. She's America's Ray of Sunshine—until she makes a huge on-air mistake exposing her snarky side causing it all to come crumbling down.
Now she’s back in her hometown of Adelaide Springs, Colorado, in a last-ditch attempt to convince viewers she’s not the mean girl they think she is where she meets Sebastian Sudworth who is assigned to chauffeur her around town. She's sure he can see right through her carefully cultivated, sunny persona. But is determined to do what it takes to maintain her image and save her career.
I had a hard time caring about anyone in the first half of the book. Brynn was pretty annoying and Sebastian was pretty off putting. Somehow, with all that, the second half was sweet and I found myself rooting for both of them in the end.
The narrator, Talon David, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, and with what expression/intension.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley, and author Bethany Turner for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other is out September 5, 2023.
For this and all my book reviews and commentary, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com and subscribe to my blog.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Books for the complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I absolutely loved the beginning of the book, as I have a history in TV news and morning shows. While I was fortunate enough to not have too many divas to work with at the local level, Brynn did remind me of one or two who only saw our city as a steppingstone to bigger jobs in bigger TV markets. She’s not very likable, and for the sake of the book, she has to be that way for this to work.
While Brynn’s story is told from the first person, Sebastian’s was told from the third person POV, which made it harder to get to know him. The other problem I had with the Sebastian chapters was that there was so much superfluous stuff in there I found myself skimming through those chapters, wanting to find out more about his mysterious past and getting through the fluff.
The enemies-to-lovers trope makes sense, as Brynn bashes her old hometown on national TV and returns to the village to make amends. Sebastian found this little town to get away from the limelight and doesn’t want Brynn to make a spectacle of the tiny town or its people. They clash from the start.
I also loved all the pop culture references Brynn came up with in her internal dialogue. I don't know if the author was trying for Gilmore Girls-like vibes, but I got that a little while reading the book.
Overall, I thought this was a cute romance if you can stand Brynn long enough to get to her redemption. Both she and Sebastian have trauma in their past lives that they need to reconcile with and get past in order to have a relationship, and there’s a healthy growth between the characters and within themselves. While I don’t think this is a 5-star book, it’s a solid 4. Recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Books for the complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I absolutely loved the beginning of the book, as I have a history in TV news and morning shows. While I was fortunate enough to not have too many divas to work with at the local level, Brynn did remind me of one or two who only saw our city as a steppingstone to bigger jobs in bigger TV markets. She’s not very likable, and for the sake of the book, she has to be that way for this to work.
While Brynn’s story is told from the first person, Sebastian’s was told from the third person POV, which made it harder to get to know him. The other problem I had with the Sebastian chapters was that there was so much superfluous stuff in there I found myself skimming through those chapters, wanting to find out more about his mysterious past and getting through the fluff.
The enemies-to-lovers trope makes sense, as Brynn bashes her old hometown on national TV and returns to the village to make amends. Sebastian found this little town to get away from the limelight and doesn’t want Brynn to make a spectacle of the tiny town or its people. They clash from the start.
I also loved all the pop culture references Brynn came up with in her internal dialogue. I don't know if the author was trying for Gilmore Girls-like vibes, but I got that a little while reading the book.
Overall, I thought this was a cute romance if you can stand Brynn long enough to get to her redemption. Both she and Sebastian have trauma in their past lives that they need to reconcile with and get past in order to have a relationship, and there’s a healthy growth between the characters and within themselves. While I don’t think this is a 5-star book, it’s a solid 4. Recommend!
I'm incredibly biased in this review because of how much I adore the author!! This year will be her 2nd annual book tour stop at our store and she is an absolute joy to work with. I of course jumped to get my hands on it before the release. Thank you to Netgalley & Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for an audiobook ARC of this clean rom-com. All opinions are my own and I am not paid for reviews.
You know that feeling you get when you're watching the Hallmark Christmas movies? There's just something about the Big City Girl going back to her Small Town and finding romance with the rugged handyman (or insert any super important small town member). If you giggle and swing your feet at that feeling, this book is for you!
Brynn is your famous Big City Girl who was the pride of her Small Town that she vowed to never return to. Except she's one of the hosts of the very popular national morning show and accidentally says how glad she is she left because they're a bunch of backwoods dummies who celebrate a really silly festival on a live feed. She's forced to go to her Small Town and grovel to the townspeople she grew up and apart with (while ensuring to film every charming bit as to get back in with the good graces of the American populace).
That's made harder by one of the town's 4 city counsel members and most eligible bachelor in town, who just happens to see through to Brynn's Sugar Honey Ice Tea routine, setting them up for the classic hostile-to-lovers pipeline. Of course, Brynn learns to love her Small Town again and find her true self all while begrudgingly falling in love with the mysterious city counsel member, who just happens to have just as tragic past as a Anderson Cooper/Ronan Farrow-type investigative reporter which he ran from. They balance each other through a completely clean rom-com and with a fun supporting cast of characters.
At the heart of the story is a lost woman looking for forgiveness, but what I think Bethany does great here is that the townspeople aren't mad at her for what she said, they're mad she left without giving them a why or a goodbye. Brynn doesn't need forgiveness in this story. Brynn and Sebastian find out what the story is truly about, which is being welcomed in community.
Don't miss this feel-good romance and make sure it goes on your Fall into Winter TBR! It'll pair perfectly with your hot tea and cozy blankets as the temperatures begin to drop.
You know that feeling you get when you're watching the Hallmark Christmas movies? There's just something about the Big City Girl going back to her Small Town and finding romance with the rugged handyman (or insert any super important small town member). If you giggle and swing your feet at that feeling, this book is for you!
Brynn is your famous Big City Girl who was the pride of her Small Town that she vowed to never return to. Except she's one of the hosts of the very popular national morning show and accidentally says how glad she is she left because they're a bunch of backwoods dummies who celebrate a really silly festival on a live feed. She's forced to go to her Small Town and grovel to the townspeople she grew up and apart with (while ensuring to film every charming bit as to get back in with the good graces of the American populace).
That's made harder by one of the town's 4 city counsel members and most eligible bachelor in town, who just happens to see through to Brynn's Sugar Honey Ice Tea routine, setting them up for the classic hostile-to-lovers pipeline. Of course, Brynn learns to love her Small Town again and find her true self all while begrudgingly falling in love with the mysterious city counsel member, who just happens to have just as tragic past as a Anderson Cooper/Ronan Farrow-type investigative reporter which he ran from. They balance each other through a completely clean rom-com and with a fun supporting cast of characters.
At the heart of the story is a lost woman looking for forgiveness, but what I think Bethany does great here is that the townspeople aren't mad at her for what she said, they're mad she left without giving them a why or a goodbye. Brynn doesn't need forgiveness in this story. Brynn and Sebastian find out what the story is truly about, which is being welcomed in community.
Don't miss this feel-good romance and make sure it goes on your Fall into Winter TBR! It'll pair perfectly with your hot tea and cozy blankets as the temperatures begin to drop.
The premise of this book sounded nice: A daytime tv personality puts her foot in her mouth and has to go crawling back to her hometown and sparks fly with a guy there. Unfortunately, the romance did pretty much nothing for me. The insta love was a bit lame, in my opinion and Brynn just wasn’t a likable character for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for review.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for review.
4.25/5 stars
Bethany Turner always delivers funny, sweet romance. In this case, there’s Brynn, the co-host of a very popular morning show (think Today show), who is the golden girl until a technical mistake threatens to take it all away. As she is forced to return to her small Colorado hometown (to face bad memories that she ran from and friends that she deserted), she must come face-to-face with who and what she’s become and who she really is. Sebastian is a former high-profile Pulitzer-prize winning international reporter who disappeared from the scene six years before while at the top of his game. He has found solace/healing and anonymity in the small town of Adelaide Springs. When these two meet, it’s hate at first sight. As they begin to understand each other’s past ordeals, they find they have more in common than they thought.
As I said Turner’s humor is a big draw for me as well as her well-drawn, empathetic characters. She consistently delivers entertaining, fun and lovable stories. My only irritant in this one was Brynn’s initial personality traits. She was a bit whiny, bossy and self-absorbed. But I know this was necessary for the storyline to be able to fully realize her growth as her tv persona surrendered to her hometown’s pull. Sebastian is simply wonderful, period.
Another winner from Ms. Turner.
My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing the free early arc of Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other: A Love Story for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
Bethany Turner always delivers funny, sweet romance. In this case, there’s Brynn, the co-host of a very popular morning show (think Today show), who is the golden girl until a technical mistake threatens to take it all away. As she is forced to return to her small Colorado hometown (to face bad memories that she ran from and friends that she deserted), she must come face-to-face with who and what she’s become and who she really is. Sebastian is a former high-profile Pulitzer-prize winning international reporter who disappeared from the scene six years before while at the top of his game. He has found solace/healing and anonymity in the small town of Adelaide Springs. When these two meet, it’s hate at first sight. As they begin to understand each other’s past ordeals, they find they have more in common than they thought.
As I said Turner’s humor is a big draw for me as well as her well-drawn, empathetic characters. She consistently delivers entertaining, fun and lovable stories. My only irritant in this one was Brynn’s initial personality traits. She was a bit whiny, bossy and self-absorbed. But I know this was necessary for the storyline to be able to fully realize her growth as her tv persona surrendered to her hometown’s pull. Sebastian is simply wonderful, period.
Another winner from Ms. Turner.
My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing the free early arc of Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other: A Love Story for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
This was a super cute love story and i love that ending!! Oh that was adorable bravo to the author and the audio narrator did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. She did a great job with variations of characters, voices.
This was super cute! I loved the ending! That was adorable!