A review by betweentheshelves
They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody

emotional funny 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

5.0

Did I stay up way too late finishing this book last night because I just couldn't put it down? Yes, yes I did. Though that's partly my fault for also starting it so late into the night. What really gripped me about this book was the characters and the overall emotional depth. It's just so well done. Dylan and Jonah are archenemies at the beginning of the book, but as they both get to know each other, they realize there is a lot more to each of them than meets the eye. 

I do want to mention that this book is also falling prey to a trend I've been seeing in queer YA in the last year or so in that it's being marketed as a fluffly, cute romance (even down to the cover design), but it's not really that? Yes, you have fake dating and some of the classic fake dating tropes, but both Jonah and Dylan are dealing with some very real trauma, which leads to some really emotional moments in the book. These are all mentioned in the content warnings at the very beginning of the book, but if you go in expecting cute fluffy romance, this isn't what you're going to get.

But I digress! The marketing has nothing to do with the actual writing of the book, which in my opinion, is really well done. As someone who generally reads books for character, I was so invested in both Dylan and Jonah. I read something somewhere that Amanda Woody was influenced by Red, White, and Royal Blue when writing this, and I can truly see this book as a pretty good read-a-like for that, as least in character chemistry. Just not in overall story plotline.

All in all, if you're looking for an emotional, heartfelt queer romance to read this Pride Month, definitely pick this one up!
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