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A review by dobbsthedog
The Hate Project by Kris Ripper
5.0
Reread March 2023 rating upgraded to 5 stars
I don’t know why, but this book just REALLY worked for me this time. I don’t know if it’s because I could relate with Oscar in some aspects of his anxiety, or if I’m just in a different headspace, idk? I really liked this one on this read.
Something else I really liked, and I think it’s something that I’m seeing from authors who write all sorts of romances, is that sex doesn’t have to be penetrative to be sex. Or, I guess blowjobs are penetrative… but I really appreciate that in this book sex is getting off with another person, whatever that may look like.
Also, I’ve recently joined Ripper’s Patreon and there was a fantastic little Jack/Oscar story that takes place 2 years after the book, and it is kind of perfect. Tentacles, baby!🐙
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3.5 stars
Of the three books in the series, I liked this one the least, though I still liked it! I think the reason I didn't like it as much was because the characters, Oscar and Jack, aren't as likeable as the characters in the other two books, except that's the whole point. They are both assholes. They are constantly fighting and are snarky with each other, and it is THE BEST. Like, they are even snarky and low-key mean when they're having sex, which I feel like shouldn't work, except that it totally does.
Despite all the snarky fighting, I really liked that the sex didn't come across as hate sex, which I don't think it was at all, but I could see how it could have easily gone there. That is something that I just don't understand, so I'm glad that's not what happened.
I also really liked how Jack was understanding of Oscar's anxiety. He was quite blunt about it, just asking what he needed to know, and I liked that, that he wasn't tiptoeing around or being weird, it's just a part of Oscar that he's getting to know.
I also LOVED the author's note at the very beginning, where it mentions that the book contains depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, that it's not a quirky plot point, it's just how the character is and that he still has anxiety at the end of the book and that anxiety and depression can totally be part of a HEA. I think that somewhat relates to what I said above; Jack just takes Oscar as he is, with his anxiety, he doesn't try to fix it or anything, and at the same time Jack isn't portrayed as being a "cure" to Oscar's anxiety. Ugh, just give me all that realistic mental health rep, please!
I don’t know why, but this book just REALLY worked for me this time. I don’t know if it’s because I could relate with Oscar in some aspects of his anxiety, or if I’m just in a different headspace, idk? I really liked this one on this read.
Something else I really liked, and I think it’s something that I’m seeing from authors who write all sorts of romances, is that sex doesn’t have to be penetrative to be sex. Or, I guess blowjobs are penetrative… but I really appreciate that in this book sex is getting off with another person, whatever that may look like.
Also, I’ve recently joined Ripper’s Patreon and there was a fantastic little Jack/Oscar story that takes place 2 years after the book, and it is kind of perfect. Tentacles, baby!🐙
_____
3.5 stars
Of the three books in the series, I liked this one the least, though I still liked it! I think the reason I didn't like it as much was because the characters, Oscar and Jack, aren't as likeable as the characters in the other two books, except that's the whole point. They are both assholes. They are constantly fighting and are snarky with each other, and it is THE BEST. Like, they are even snarky and low-key mean when they're having sex, which I feel like shouldn't work, except that it totally does.
Despite all the snarky fighting, I really liked that the sex didn't come across as hate sex, which I don't think it was at all, but I could see how it could have easily gone there. That is something that I just don't understand, so I'm glad that's not what happened.
I also really liked how Jack was understanding of Oscar's anxiety. He was quite blunt about it, just asking what he needed to know, and I liked that, that he wasn't tiptoeing around or being weird, it's just a part of Oscar that he's getting to know.
I also LOVED the author's note at the very beginning, where it mentions that the book contains depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, that it's not a quirky plot point, it's just how the character is and that he still has anxiety at the end of the book and that anxiety and depression can totally be part of a HEA. I think that somewhat relates to what I said above; Jack just takes Oscar as he is, with his anxiety, he doesn't try to fix it or anything, and at the same time Jack isn't portrayed as being a "cure" to Oscar's anxiety. Ugh, just give me all that realistic mental health rep, please!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders