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A review by theeditorreads
Hate Thy Neighbor by S.M. Soto
5.0
Synopsis:
Olivia Rene Hales is twenty-five and is moving into her own house, finally. Much to her parents' concern. One of whom is a psychologist, the other a sex therapist. You can imagine how it gets. After the recent break-up with her fiancé, she's looking forward to a new beginning. A fresh start which calls for her being independent.
Max is a husky who is the neighbor's dog. The neighbor – Roman Banks – is nothing but a twenty-six-year-old mechanic who is a boor to Olivia. But let's just say he's hella easy on the eyes. Their homes mirror each other and Olivia's olive branch does nothing to ease the biting tension between the neighbors. But what is it that set it off in the first place?
Review:
I completely dig an enemies-to-lovers romance, and I'd read anything and everything by [a:S.M. Soto|17164499|S.M. Soto|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1520657928p2/17164499.jpg] ever since I finished reading her Twin Lies Duet! While that was romantic suspense, this is a contemporary romance. Narrated in the first-person, from dual perspectives, the author linked her playlist for the book with the specific chapters.
Olivia is a veterinary assistant. Her sad excuse of an ex left her with a ton of insecurities which she wants to disprove of, and this new house in a new area with a new job seems to be the first step in that direction.
It was something unique, to be having a neighbouring house which is a mirror of her own. And for a neighbor that hot, which results in instant combustion. But not much good can be said about the neighbor, as it's a glare game from the get-go. However friendly Olivia attempts to be, he's just a jerk to her.
Even I was curious about his level of hatred for Olivia. When he is such a charmer to everyone else. I felt bad for Olivia who wasn't welcomed with open arms into the new community. Olivia and Roman were worse than a cat and mouse, looking at how he seemed to be constantly at her throat every moment. They were worse than kids, playing pranks on each other without compunction. And what interesting pranks they were!
It is quite a while before Roman gets his own voice and what a life he's had, he's still having. Trying to straighten up his own life as well as someone else's, after what he's been handed.
There's something that Olivia is hiding from Roman, and there's also her icky boss Travis always trying to make a pass at her despite her disinterest. There are so many stories behind every little incident in the book which will warm your heart. With the pranks and the invasive parents, this story drew out so many laughs from me. As intense as the author's last book was, this one was a complete laugh riot. Though it did have its share of tense situations. But their pranks, the jibes, the Tom-and-Jerry vibes, it all made Hate Thy Neighbor a story which I will always cherish.
The epilogue from three years later is so sweet. But the uncertainty hanging over them just about killed me. But also, not everything is always perfect and the author also alluded to the same in an extended epilogue, which is available separately.
P.S. The author has also published an extended epilogue, which is from the point-of-view of thirty-year-old Delilah, the youngest of Roman and Olivia's four children. S.M. Soto has kept it real, not magically making Olivia's condition go away. This epilogue will give you a beautiful closure, but it will move you to tears as well. It will also give you the satisfaction of a new beginning, and if you are anything like me (an insatiable and curious soul), you would want to read this epilogue. An epilogue which finds its continuation in [b:The Consequence of Hating You|53446199|The Consequence of Hating You|S.M. Soto|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595960382l/53446199._SY75_.jpg|83187666], the author's next book!
Luke Caldwell from [b:Scoring the Quarterback|36253701|Scoring the Quarterback (The San Diegan, #2)|S.M. Soto|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523298527l/36253701._SY75_.jpg|57903310] makes an appearance in this book.
The other books by the author that I have read and also recommend are:
Kiss Me with Lies
Bury Me with Lies
Thank you to Social Butterfly PR for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
Olivia Rene Hales is twenty-five and is moving into her own house, finally. Much to her parents' concern. One of whom is a psychologist, the other a sex therapist. You can imagine how it gets. After the recent break-up with her fiancé, she's looking forward to a new beginning. A fresh start which calls for her being independent.
Max is a husky who is the neighbor's dog. The neighbor – Roman Banks – is nothing but a twenty-six-year-old mechanic who is a boor to Olivia. But let's just say he's hella easy on the eyes. Their homes mirror each other and Olivia's olive branch does nothing to ease the biting tension between the neighbors. But what is it that set it off in the first place?
Review:
I completely dig an enemies-to-lovers romance, and I'd read anything and everything by [a:S.M. Soto|17164499|S.M. Soto|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1520657928p2/17164499.jpg] ever since I finished reading her Twin Lies Duet! While that was romantic suspense, this is a contemporary romance. Narrated in the first-person, from dual perspectives, the author linked her playlist for the book with the specific chapters.
Olivia is a veterinary assistant. Her sad excuse of an ex left her with a ton of insecurities which she wants to disprove of, and this new house in a new area with a new job seems to be the first step in that direction.
You know the saying, ‘love thy neighbor’? Well, I’m really starting to fucking hate thy neighbor.
It was something unique, to be having a neighbouring house which is a mirror of her own. And for a neighbor that hot, which results in instant combustion. But not much good can be said about the neighbor, as it's a glare game from the get-go. However friendly Olivia attempts to be, he's just a jerk to her.
It’s obvious the guy hates me, but I’ll never understand why.
Even I was curious about his level of hatred for Olivia. When he is such a charmer to everyone else. I felt bad for Olivia who wasn't welcomed with open arms into the new community. Olivia and Roman were worse than a cat and mouse, looking at how he seemed to be constantly at her throat every moment. They were worse than kids, playing pranks on each other without compunction. And what interesting pranks they were!
It is quite a while before Roman gets his own voice and what a life he's had, he's still having. Trying to straighten up his own life as well as someone else's, after what he's been handed.
Embrace your scars. They’re what make you beautiful. They’re what tell your story.
There's something that Olivia is hiding from Roman, and there's also her icky boss Travis always trying to make a pass at her despite her disinterest. There are so many stories behind every little incident in the book which will warm your heart. With the pranks and the invasive parents, this story drew out so many laughs from me. As intense as the author's last book was, this one was a complete laugh riot. Though it did have its share of tense situations. But their pranks, the jibes, the Tom-and-Jerry vibes, it all made Hate Thy Neighbor a story which I will always cherish.
The epilogue from three years later is so sweet. But the uncertainty hanging over them just about killed me. But also, not everything is always perfect and the author also alluded to the same in an extended epilogue, which is available separately.
P.S. The author has also published an extended epilogue, which is from the point-of-view of thirty-year-old Delilah, the youngest of Roman and Olivia's four children. S.M. Soto has kept it real, not magically making Olivia's condition go away. This epilogue will give you a beautiful closure, but it will move you to tears as well. It will also give you the satisfaction of a new beginning, and if you are anything like me (an insatiable and curious soul), you would want to read this epilogue. An epilogue which finds its continuation in [b:The Consequence of Hating You|53446199|The Consequence of Hating You|S.M. Soto|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595960382l/53446199._SY75_.jpg|83187666], the author's next book!
Luke Caldwell from [b:Scoring the Quarterback|36253701|Scoring the Quarterback (The San Diegan, #2)|S.M. Soto|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523298527l/36253701._SY75_.jpg|57903310] makes an appearance in this book.
The other books by the author that I have read and also recommend are:
Kiss Me with Lies
Bury Me with Lies
Thank you to Social Butterfly PR for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings