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kdafuq's review
4.0
First things first: “Thank you” to the author for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate it so much!
I will start with an overall review without spoilers and then continue to go into more detail further along. (Section will be marked)
3,5*
I really enjoyed this book!
The storyline is a pretty typical enemy to lover/bully romance and is the third book of the „Redwoods series“, however a standalone. It was my first book of the series and I had no issue whatsoever to follow the plot. If possible, I would still recommend reading in the correct order.
The book and the characters remind me of „Beautiful Disaster“. Even though Axel Thorn is definitely way more bad boy than all-time-favorite Travis Maddox. Axel is described to be looking pretty much like Travis and is also into underground fighting. The fact that this is so similar and the rest of the story is „nothing special“ already cost a star in my rating.
I want to point out the great writing style in this book! Rachel Leigh sure knows how to write! It took me exactly one day to read, which is always good evidence for me that I really enjoyed the story + writing!
He "heat" level was exactly right and equally well written! It didn't seem forced and fit the story very nicely.
I will most definitely read the other parts of the series and hope there are more coming in the future!
*** Spoilers start here ***
I was on an emotional rollercoaster with the characters and which side I would be on.
Reading the Prologue I totally was on Axel's side! This could be because I have experienced the loss of a parent also, and Harper could have been way more sensitive in my opinion. Later in the book, we find out that she didn‘t want to break up with him, which somewhat made the situation better. Still doesn't change the fact that she left him high and dry on the night of his mother's funeral ... Aside of the situation, I think Harper is a very likable and pretty relatable character. I can't really see why in other reviews she gets seen as annoying.
Axel however in the book was always just a biiiit to much. His reaction to his heart being broken was just too extreme. I get that he didn't want to have her around anymore and of course, a "bully" romance must contain a bully, but he was publicly humiliating her on a level. Same with the blackmailing. It was a tad unreal. I do like the character development though where he sees that his actions have been nothing but wrong and he's trying to make amends.
The whole "finding back to each other" was slightly fast-paced. They had a horrible relationship with each other and it took them like a week to fall in love again. On the other hand they never really stopped loving each other as well ...
Like said: really enjoyed the book! I Will read the others!
I will start with an overall review without spoilers and then continue to go into more detail further along. (Section will be marked)
3,5*
I really enjoyed this book!
The storyline is a pretty typical enemy to lover/bully romance and is the third book of the „Redwoods series“, however a standalone. It was my first book of the series and I had no issue whatsoever to follow the plot. If possible, I would still recommend reading in the correct order.
The book and the characters remind me of „Beautiful Disaster“. Even though Axel Thorn is definitely way more bad boy than all-time-favorite Travis Maddox. Axel is described to be looking pretty much like Travis and is also into underground fighting. The fact that this is so similar and the rest of the story is „nothing special“ already cost a star in my rating.
I want to point out the great writing style in this book! Rachel Leigh sure knows how to write! It took me exactly one day to read, which is always good evidence for me that I really enjoyed the story + writing!
He "heat" level was exactly right and equally well written! It didn't seem forced and fit the story very nicely.
I will most definitely read the other parts of the series and hope there are more coming in the future!
*** Spoilers start here ***
I was on an emotional rollercoaster with the characters and which side I would be on.
Reading the Prologue I totally was on Axel's side! This could be because I have experienced the loss of a parent also, and Harper could have been way more sensitive in my opinion. Later in the book, we find out that she didn‘t want to break up with him, which somewhat made the situation better. Still doesn't change the fact that she left him high and dry on the night of his mother's funeral ... Aside of the situation, I think Harper is a very likable and pretty relatable character. I can't really see why in other reviews she gets seen as annoying.
Axel however in the book was always just a biiiit to much. His reaction to his heart being broken was just too extreme. I get that he didn't want to have her around anymore and of course, a "bully" romance must contain a bully, but he was publicly humiliating her on a level. Same with the blackmailing. It was a tad unreal. I do like the character development though where he sees that his actions have been nothing but wrong and he's trying to make amends.
The whole "finding back to each other" was slightly fast-paced. They had a horrible relationship with each other and it took them like a week to fall in love again. On the other hand they never really stopped loving each other as well ...
Like said: really enjoyed the book! I Will read the others!
sweetpea77's review
5.0
Wow!! Just wow!! I started this book and fell for Axel!! Gotta love the bad boy, they draw you in and never let you go!! Holy smokes this story left me craving more I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough I had to know how Axel and Harper we’re going to turn out. They have a love hate relationship they were once each other’s everything but it shattered and they became enemies no matter what either did the other was too stubborn to budge an inch!! They’ve been this way for a year and fate seems to throw them into each other’s paths regardless of them trying their best to avoid each other. When they are around each other the tension is so thick it’s suffocating and they both chalk it up too their hate for each other nothing more nothing less..
❤️
Overall this book was amazing and well written honestly I didn’t want it to end and would have ate up all the words from the author if there had been more. Sadly all goods things come to an end and I’ll just have to be happy with what she wrote and try to recover from my book hangover. Definitely recommend this book to others. Love Axel and he’ll own a piece of my heart forever!
❤️
❤️
Overall this book was amazing and well written honestly I didn’t want it to end and would have ate up all the words from the author if there had been more. Sadly all goods things come to an end and I’ll just have to be happy with what she wrote and try to recover from my book hangover. Definitely recommend this book to others. Love Axel and he’ll own a piece of my heart forever!
❤️
stevienicole30's review
5.0
This is book three in Rache’s Redwood series, and it was worth the wait. This is Axel and Harper’s story, and it started out with a nasty broken heart. Axel certainly treats Harper like crap at first, but they are steamy together. Even though Axel absolutely hates Harper he can’t leave her alone. These two have one crazy magnetic pull, and Rachel does an amazing job describing it in words. Even though with all the hate Axel really grows so much within this book, and after his mother’s death sometimes we need that. Especially when you lose a parent at such a young age. I am giving this book five stars because Rachel Leigh really hooked me immediately, and normally with high school romances, and college romances at my age is hard to do. This definitely needs a spot on your good reads.
maureensbooks89's review
4.0
This book was definitely a roller coaster. Not only for it’s characters but also for me. I had so many mixed feelings while reading this book, but luckily the one feeling that I’m having now I finished the book is contentment.
In ‘Like Hate’ we meet Axel and Harper. Axel and Harper have a lot of history together. And throughout this book we slowly find out what happened between them, and what made them hate each other now. I must say that the first half of the book was kind of hard for me to read. Axel had so much hate inside of him, and he did so many horrible things.. I had trouble reading it. I just couldn’t think about this read as a romance, when one of the main characters was so filled with hate. But somehow, there was something about Axel and Harper that made me want to keep on reading.
Slowly on the hate that Axel felt became lesser and lesser. And in the end he and I both wondered if he ever really hated Harper. Didn’t he just hate himself? Harper’s character was definitely the girl next door type. She was just so kind and hardworking, and I often wondered how she could love Axel.
After the first half of the book I started to feel the romance between Axel and Harper more and more. And I found myself really rooting for Axel. There was something so sad about him, and I loved the Axel that we got to know in the end of the book.
There where also a view friends of Axel and Harper that made their appearances in this book. And I’ve got to say I got curious about them too.
Like I said before, I now feel contentment about this book. I hated the beginning, I enjoyed the middle and I loved the end. Kind of how the characters felt about each other.
In ‘Like Hate’ we meet Axel and Harper. Axel and Harper have a lot of history together. And throughout this book we slowly find out what happened between them, and what made them hate each other now. I must say that the first half of the book was kind of hard for me to read. Axel had so much hate inside of him, and he did so many horrible things.. I had trouble reading it. I just couldn’t think about this read as a romance, when one of the main characters was so filled with hate. But somehow, there was something about Axel and Harper that made me want to keep on reading.
Slowly on the hate that Axel felt became lesser and lesser. And in the end he and I both wondered if he ever really hated Harper. Didn’t he just hate himself? Harper’s character was definitely the girl next door type. She was just so kind and hardworking, and I often wondered how she could love Axel.
After the first half of the book I started to feel the romance between Axel and Harper more and more. And I found myself really rooting for Axel. There was something so sad about him, and I loved the Axel that we got to know in the end of the book.
There where also a view friends of Axel and Harper that made their appearances in this book. And I’ve got to say I got curious about them too.
Like I said before, I now feel contentment about this book. I hated the beginning, I enjoyed the middle and I loved the end. Kind of how the characters felt about each other.
aoifes_books's review
3.0
Read as a stand alone and not within the series, although the previous relationships between all the major characters are explained within. The story follows Axle and Harper, two ex's who have found themselves at the same college after a not-so-great break up. The book follows an enemies to lovers arc, and overall is a pretty good read. Enjoyable, easy reading.
*Spoilers from here*
Parts of the story seem unrealistic to me, such as the reaction level Axle had to everything really. His full on public humiliation, blackmail and trying to actively destroy the life of Harper was just... a lot. He was dealing with the trauma of losing his mother, and then getting broken up with the same night as her funeral, but overall I just can't find much sympathy for him. He is immature but he's also only meant to be 18 so that can be forgiven.
The time frame for them getting back together, finding each other again and realising they want to try to work it out, seems off to me. This would have been a great place to go back to friendship and slowly build from there. Going from not talking, to seeing each other a handful of times, to dating again, was just a bit much for me.
*Spoilers from here*
Parts of the story seem unrealistic to me, such as the reaction level Axle had to everything really. His full on public humiliation, blackmail and trying to actively destroy the life of Harper was just... a lot. He was dealing with the trauma of losing his mother, and then getting broken up with the same night as her funeral, but overall I just can't find much sympathy for him. He is immature but he's also only meant to be 18 so that can be forgiven.
The time frame for them getting back together, finding each other again and realising they want to try to work it out, seems off to me. This would have been a great place to go back to friendship and slowly build from there. Going from not talking, to seeing each other a handful of times, to dating again, was just a bit much for me.
shortandsweetreviewsbysam's review
4.0
Thank you to Tormented Book Tours and the author, Rachel Leigh, for providing a copy of Like Hate (Redwood High book 3) as a part of the series makeover tour. I have reviewed honestly.
Like Hate features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ New adult
○ Enemies to lovers
○ Second chance romance
○ Bully romance
○ Contemporary romance
○ College
○ Fight club
○ Opposites attract
My overall rating for Like Hate is…
4 Stars!
Who would have thought love and hate could work so beautifully together? I loved the fire and ice of Harper and Axel's personalities, so different and separate but when they meet its nothing short of catalysis; a beautiful disaster. I loved the character growth both our MCs gained as the story progressed and that hateful love they each projected was the icing on top of the cake. I also enjoyed the slight change in scenery this instalment had, though we still revisit Redwood throughout. The only thing that I can really fault about this book is that the steamy scenes are few compared to Leigh's other work.
Like Hate features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ New adult
○ Enemies to lovers
○ Second chance romance
○ Bully romance
○ Contemporary romance
○ College
○ Fight club
○ Opposites attract
My overall rating for Like Hate is…
4 Stars!
Who would have thought love and hate could work so beautifully together? I loved the fire and ice of Harper and Axel's personalities, so different and separate but when they meet its nothing short of catalysis; a beautiful disaster. I loved the character growth both our MCs gained as the story progressed and that hateful love they each projected was the icing on top of the cake. I also enjoyed the slight change in scenery this instalment had, though we still revisit Redwood throughout. The only thing that I can really fault about this book is that the steamy scenes are few compared to Leigh's other work.
chloek608's review
3.0
*I kindly received this book as a gift in exchange for an honest review*
I recommend this book if you like:
-New Adult
-College setting
-enemies to lovers trope
Harper and Axel had a relationship that went south. They were in the same friendship group growing up and this made things awkward. In fact, it turned into toxic hate between them. So you can imagine moving to College and having to live opposite one another, both being invited to the same parties. They can't seem to get away from one another, but does Axel really want to stay away?
This story was a quick read for me, filled with anticipation and slow progression. Do I wish Axel was more mature? Yes. Even so, I enjoyed following their imperfect lives.
I like the fact that the author skips forward in time near the end of the book so we can catch a glimpse of their lives and how they have changed.
I recommend this book if you like:
-New Adult
-College setting
-enemies to lovers trope
Harper and Axel had a relationship that went south. They were in the same friendship group growing up and this made things awkward. In fact, it turned into toxic hate between them. So you can imagine moving to College and having to live opposite one another, both being invited to the same parties. They can't seem to get away from one another, but does Axel really want to stay away?
This story was a quick read for me, filled with anticipation and slow progression. Do I wish Axel was more mature? Yes. Even so, I enjoyed following their imperfect lives.
I like the fact that the author skips forward in time near the end of the book so we can catch a glimpse of their lives and how they have changed.
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