Book Review: Love to Hate You Marina Adair
💘 Grumpy Brit, Bookshop Wars & Banter That Belongs in a Rom-Com
A love story between a hopeless romantic and a grumpy Brit who’d rather debate floor displays than feelings? Yes, please. Love to Hate You is a sunshine-grump, slow-burn delight filled with flirtatious banter, secret softies, and one very kissable rival. If you love books with forced proximity, messy family dynamics, and meet-cutes in the romance aisle… add to cart.
🏷️ Tropes You'll Find:
Indie bookstore owner FMC x corporate bookstore CEO MMC 📚
Enemies to lovers (with chemistry that could melt a paperback)
Opposites attract, naturally
Forced proximity (they’re neighbors, rivals, and allergic to boundaries)
Sunshine x Grump
Small-town charm, big heart vibes
Found family undertones
Unapologetic hopeless romantic energy 💖
🌸 Blush Meter: 🔥🔥🔥/ 5
Low to mid 🌶️. It’s slow burn but there’s definite heat under the surface—a lot of sexual tension, some emotionally charged touches, and one or two scenes where the kiss was doing so much. But this one leans more swoon than sizzle.
🌟 TAK Girlie Rating: ★★★★☆
4 stars for a romcom that had me smiling, swooning, and yelling at fictional family members. I docked one star for an ending that zoomed out too fast, but otherwise? Certified cozy romantic chaos in all the best ways.
Let’s start with Summer Russo—yes, her name is Summer and yes, she’s sunshine incarnate. She’s the kind of FMC who believes in love at first sight, second chances, and third-act romantic declarations in the rain. She wears pink, talks in trope metaphors, and owns a romance bookstore. I mean, come on. If you’ve ever self-diagnosed as a walking Hallmark movie but with better dialogue? You’ll love her.
She’s a lover. A dreamer. A chronic people-pleaser who just wants everyone to be happy—even if it costs her everything.
And look, I love a strong, head-down, boss-girl heroine as much as the next reader. But I also think we don’t talk enough about how brave it is to be soft in a world that keeps trying to harden you. Summer loves big. She believes in soulmates. She literally spends her life savings to save the family bookshop. And while that’s adorable on page, it’s also so real. Her internal conflict—trying to chase her own dreams while constantly deferring to her twin sister’s sharper edges—hit hard. She’s not weak. She’s just wired for love, and I respected her for it.
Now let’s talk about our resident grump: Weston Kingston. British. Rich. Emotionally unavailable with a jawline that screams “yes, I do run a publishing empire and break hearts recreationally.” The guy’s allergic to feelings, flirts like it’s a competitive sport, and shows up in town ready to compete with Summer’s beloved bookshop with his chain store empire.
So yeah, it’s hate at first sight.
But underneath the CEO swagger? Wes is a lonely boy with a wounded heart and a complicated past. He’s not a jerk because he wants to be. He’s just never really had anyone show up for him without strings attached. The abandonment wounds run deep. His estranged father left scars. His self-worth’s tied up in success. And love? That’s always been just a risk he can’t afford.
And then comes Summer—who talks about tropes like they’re strategy and looks at him like he’s worth knowing. The way she slowly cracks him open, one flirtatious insult at a time? Ugh. Elite slow burn material.
Together, these two bicker like it’s their love language. That’s how good the tension is.
But what makes the story interesting isn’t just the banter. It’s the way they see each other. Summer sees the vulnerable parts of Wes no one else bothers to look for. And Wes? He’s the only person in her world who doesn't take advantage of her kindness. He pushes her to speak up. He stands up for her in ways her own family never does.
Speaking of which—let’s address the Autumn problem.
Summer’s twin sister is… a lot. Think “cool girl with a sharp tongue and a tendency to steamroll.” Their dynamic was frustrating to read at times—Autumn takes and takes, and rarely gives. I desperately wanted a full-circle moment where Summer finally stands her ground, and while the book hints at it, I would’ve loved a bigger emotional payoff. A late-night heart-to-heart. A family dinner explosion. Something to show that Summer’s journey toward self-worth includes asking for better from the people she loves.
Also? Justice for Summer’s dad. He’s the quiet, supportive parent and deserved more page time.
As for Wes, I did wish we got to dive a little deeper into his childhood. We got glimpses—his complicated relationship with his younger brother Randy, his grief about their fractured family—but I found myself wanting more. What was his relationship with his family like? What memories haunt him? What shaped him beyond business meetings and heartbreak? The groundwork was there, but the emotional arc could’ve been explored more.
Still, the chemistry? Off the charts. Their scenes together had the perfect blend of “I want to strangle you” and “I might kiss you senseless.” It’s flirty. Tense. Occasionally tender. And when the walls finally fall, you believe it. You root for them. And honestly? I kind of wish the book had an epilogue just to give us a few more moments of them happy and settled, post-drama. They earned that.
💌 Final Thoughts:
If you love romance books where the enemies are never truly enemies, the grump has a tragic backstory, and the sunshine girl refuses to dim her light for anyone? Love to Hate You delivers.
It’s a book about pushing back when the world tells you to shrink. About finding love in unlikely places. And about choosing to risk your heart, even when you’ve been taught it’s safer to stay guarded.
Also, let’s be real—it’s a story about book people falling in love inside a bookshop war. Is there anything more TAK Girlie than that? 🤭🥹
📚 For Fans Of:
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
The Enemy by Sarah Adams
Flirty-but-soft rom-coms with emotional depth
This is a new addition to book reviews 👆🏿
Until the next swoon-worthy story… happy reading and happy romancing! 💕
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T.A.K. Girlie 💋
