BETTER HATE THAN NEVER BY CHLOE LIESE // spoiler-free book review: the feisty childhood enemies to lovers romance you didn’t know you needed in your life!!!

This one definitely *wasn’t* read some time ago,,, no idea what you’re talking about!

Here let me divert your attention to THESE

Moving on and into this scrumptious little book gem that I have been waiting a while to shove in your faces <3<3<3

Title: Better Hate Than Never
Series: Chloe Liese
Author: Chloe Liese
Page count: 336
Date published: 10 October 2023
Genre: Adult contemporary romance

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Synopsis:

Childhood enemies discover the fine line between love and loathing in this heartfelt reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Katerina Wilmot and Christopher Petruchio shared backyards as kids, but as adults they won’t even share the same hemisphere. That is, until Kate makes a rare visit home, and their fiery animosity rekindles into a raging inferno.

Despite their friends’ and families’ pleas for peace, Christopher is unconvinced Kate would willingly douse the flames of their enmity. But when a drunken Kate confesses she’s only been hostile because she thought he hated her, Christopher vows to make peace with Kate once and for all. Tempting as it is to be swept away by her nemesis-turned-gentleman, Kate isn’t sure she can trust his charming good-guy act.

When Christopher’s persistence and Kate’s curiosity lead to an impassioned kiss, they realize “peace” is the last thing that will ever be possible between them. As desire gives way to deeper feelings, Kate and Christopher must decide if it’s truly better to hate than to never risk their hearts—or if they already gave them away long ago.

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Big thanks to Berkeley for the eARC via Netgalley! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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STAR RATING: (4.5 out of 5 stars)

It’s Chloe Liese’s world and I’m just living in it.

No jokes, I do want to transport my entire body into a Chloe Liese romance novel because they’re like a giant hug of sunshine and happiness marshmallows,,,

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SHE DID IT AGAIN!!!! Gosh dang it I love this world and I am oh so happy to be back with the Wilmot sisters.

As always, the writing was absolutely impeccable and I aspire to have this talent. It was beautiful, decadent, magnificent, extravagant and about 100000 other adjectives. I literally felt like I was in autumnal New York standing next to these characters, that’s how vivid the writing is and I want to jump off a cliff it’s so good. That may sound dramatic but I’m nothing but truthful. It’s so beautiful I could cry <3<3<3

I mentioned the autumnal vibes right? Because those were IMMACULATE!!!!!! Every single page served pumpkin and cinnamon goodness and love that for her.

Also, yes Ms Chloe I picked up on allll the 10 Things I Hate About You references that were on like every page and I’m living for it. Not to mention all the Shakespeare references because those were CHEFS KISS

At this point, I don’t need to gush over all the stunning rep but I of course I shall. We got ADHD, chronic migraines AND demisexual rep!!!! Living for all of it and they all deserve hugs.

AND OMG JAMIE AND BEA HEY LOVE YOU BABIES!!!!!!!!!

And the romance? Stunning!!! Kate and Christopher have absolutely electric chemistry and I loved watching them FINALLY get together. KISS ALREADY YOU FOOLS. I will say, I don’t think they quite beat my other fave Liese couples but I did cry towards the end. Just a smidge. No need to worry. No need to fret. Just me loosing my mind over grief and romance. I’m not sensitive at allll *sniffles*

Gosh I love fesity childhood friends to lovers with silly nicknames. No I don’t wish I had one shush, what are you talking about? *cue nervous laughter*

Did I mention there’s no third act break up in this book? Because there’s not and there’s just another reason to love Chloe Liese,,,,

And lastly, I do indeed crave pasta right now now *smirks*

If I haven’t yet convinced you to read this series, I don’t know what else will. Just read for the most perfect autumnal read with the best banter, tender characters and perfect romance, thank me later xoxoxo

 

“Christopher doesn’t need a holiday tradition to be an asshole” Kate calls over her shoulder “He’s an asshole every day of the year”

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“If I got to do one thing for the rest of my life” I tell her, “it would be taking care of you, Kate”

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“Looking up at him, I’m breathless for a moment. His dark hair’s everywhere in the wind, the lamplight dancing down his thick brows and lashes, that strong nose and sensual mouth, the sharp line of his jaw. He’s so beautiful, it makes me ache”

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“She nods. “You feel like . . . one time, I was in Australia, and these winds came out of nowhere, so violent, I swore they were going to rip me off the earth and launch me right into space. I panicked, wrapped myself around a tree that was just as thick as my arms could reach, so steady and solid, and I clung to it until the wind died. That’s . . . you.” She smiles up at me, her touch gently sifting through my hair. “My tree in the storm.”

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“For so long I have prided myself on not needing others, loving people from a safe distance, through brief visits and playful care packages and entertaining emails. But beneath that pride, that fierce determination to be independent, is the desperate need for someone to grab me by the elbow and haul me into their arms and let me fall apart until I can put myself back together.”

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“Wordless, he pulls me closer, cradling my head, kissing me deep and slow. And for just a moment, that’s all the world is—the two of us, arms wrapped around each other, in a kitchen filled with memories—sad, beautiful, bittersweet—fading into the corners, making space for what’s to come.”

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“His forehead hits mine, his mouth a breath away from meeting my own. He says, his voice dark and quiet as midnight, “As if anyone could not want you.”

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“Should I tell you that I have missed you and ached for you for so long, Katerina Elizabeth Wilmot, that you define those words, and I have done everything I could to break inside me what drew me to you, but I’m not strong enough?”

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HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? OR THE FIRST IN THE SERIES? ANOTHER CHLOE LIESE? WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!