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A review by _isabel_
At First Spite by Olivia Dade
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
4.5
"At First Spite" was absolutely LOVELY. Sweet, romantic and funny, but also a punch to the gut in book form, a rollercoaster ride of emotions and complicated, contradictory feelings: I literally spent a few chapters near the middle just weeping out of sheer relatableness.
I immediately preordered this book the second I saw the gorgeous cover, and the absolutely fascinating blurb, despite not reading MF much these days. I admit, I might have been expecting something different based on those alone: more spite, more pettiness, more enemies-to-lovers and in general, for the book to have more of a I-hate-you-but-I'm-crazy-about-you vibe.
BUT, after starting this, I realized I didn't need any of that, and that Olivia Dade had written something more complicated, and more human, than a straightforward hate-to-love dynamic: misunderstandings, assumptions, fear, anxiety, misguided love and protection, every single contradictory emotion you can think of, colour Athena and Matthew's dynamic from the very start, and the reader feels the whole range of it from start to finish, screaming, weeping, sighing and swooning alongside them. They've never really hated each other, but both of them feel that very human desire to defend their squishy core, and their beloved lot, from each other, even at the cost of being mean and petty and rude.
The initial dislike evolves though, because both Athena and Matthew are marvellous, selfless, interesting human beings, and FANTASTIC protagonists, and they inevitably become friends, and then, despite it all, something more.
And let me tell you! What an explosive, interesting, chemistry-fueled, teeth-rottingly sweet, panty-melting,
swoon-inducing romantic dynamic they had. They made the best couple ever.
< “Athena, sweetheart . . .” Boosting herself to her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his chin. “Yes?” How would a man of vast experience say this? “Lift your skirt,” he said, low and quiet. “Please.” >
I loved them both individually too, so damned much. I've had the best of luck recently with relatable protagonists, and Athena with her mental health struggles, the lack of self-worth and her job-related issues, and Matthew with his anxieties, his loneliness and the terror of losing the people he loves, were both profoundly relatable protagonists: I literally spent entire chapters weeping because I felt SEEN. So I must applaud Olivia Dade for the way she managed to handle such complex, REAL protagonists, and the complex, REAL dynamic they had.
Some of the writing at times was a smidge too flowery for my tastes, and third-act breakups are my Villain Origin Story™, but groveling always makes me a happy gal, so all in all, they didn't spoil my enjoyment. I adored this novel so much; I want to find a Matthew (where do I find a Matthew? *stomps feet*); I adored all side characters to BITS (small town romances and the close-knit community vibes give me SO much joy). I can't wait to discover the next protagonists of this series, but in the meantime I might have to read more of Olivia Dade's backlist.
CWs/TWs: depression, grief/death of a family member.
I immediately preordered this book the second I saw the gorgeous cover, and the absolutely fascinating blurb, despite not reading MF much these days. I admit, I might have been expecting something different based on those alone: more spite, more pettiness, more enemies-to-lovers and in general, for the book to have more of a I-hate-you-but-I'm-crazy-about-you vibe.
BUT, after starting this, I realized I didn't need any of that, and that Olivia Dade had written something more complicated, and more human, than a straightforward hate-to-love dynamic: misunderstandings, assumptions, fear, anxiety, misguided love and protection, every single contradictory emotion you can think of, colour Athena and Matthew's dynamic from the very start, and the reader feels the whole range of it from start to finish, screaming, weeping, sighing and swooning alongside them. They've never really hated each other, but both of them feel that very human desire to defend their squishy core, and their beloved lot, from each other, even at the cost of being mean and petty and rude.
The initial dislike evolves though, because both Athena and Matthew are marvellous, selfless, interesting human beings, and FANTASTIC protagonists, and they inevitably become friends, and then, despite it all, something more.
And let me tell you! What an explosive, interesting, chemistry-fueled, teeth-rottingly sweet, panty-melting,
swoon-inducing romantic dynamic they had. They made the best couple ever.
< “Athena, sweetheart . . .” Boosting herself to her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his chin. “Yes?” How would a man of vast experience say this? “Lift your skirt,” he said, low and quiet. “Please.” >
I loved them both individually too, so damned much. I've had the best of luck recently with relatable protagonists, and Athena with her mental health struggles, the lack of self-worth and her job-related issues, and Matthew with his anxieties, his loneliness and the terror of losing the people he loves, were both profoundly relatable protagonists: I literally spent entire chapters weeping because I felt SEEN. So I must applaud Olivia Dade for the way she managed to handle such complex, REAL protagonists, and the complex, REAL dynamic they had.
Some of the writing at times was a smidge too flowery for my tastes, and third-act breakups are my Villain Origin Story™, but groveling always makes me a happy gal, so all in all, they didn't spoil my enjoyment. I adored this novel so much; I want to find a Matthew (where do I find a Matthew? *stomps feet*); I adored all side characters to BITS (small town romances and the close-knit community vibes give me SO much joy). I can't wait to discover the next protagonists of this series, but in the meantime I might have to read more of Olivia Dade's backlist.
CWs/TWs: depression, grief/death of a family member.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Child death