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Make Me Hate You

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If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

Every sip of air is shallow and burning, because in the arms of my best friend’s brother, I’m the closest I’ve ever been to sin.

His eyes flick to my lips, and I remember the first time I tasted him, seven years ago before I left this town and vowed never to return. His hands grip my waist, and I remember the pain when he rejected me, when my entire world crashed down at his command. His jaw clenches, and my senses come alive with one stinging reminder.

I’m not his to kiss, and he’s not mine.

I tried to stay away from Tyler Wagner, putting an entire country between us. But when his sister’s wedding brings us back to the same town, to the same house, I can’t avoid him, no matter how hard I try.

He’s always there, his dark eyes bewitching, luring me into their depths. The memory of us pulls me under like a rip current, and when he flashes that smile, I lose my breath, along with my will, unable to escape his grip and find the surface.

Now, hours before our plus ones arrive for the wedding, I’m in his arms, begging him to make me hate him, knowing he never could.

If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

And I’ll take him down with me.

291 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2020

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About the author

Kandi Steiner is a #1 Amazon Bestselling Author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”

She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.

CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ TWITTER: twitter.com/kandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
www.kandisteiner.com/events

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,054 reviews
Profile Image for Drey.
167 reviews987 followers
July 29, 2021
4 Stars!

... An angsty goodie.

It's been almost a week since I've finished this book. And every time I got a break from my hectic life and tried to write a review for this one, I couldn't form a freaking sentence. I quit. I didn't know what to say. A day after, while I was taking a coffee break, literally, and planning to resume a chapter of the book I was currently reading, this book crossed my mind again. I had no idea what was so special about this book that I couldn't seem to move on. In fact, it was ordinary. While I was sitting and sipping my coffee at that time of the day, I relived everything that happened in this book from the very start to the finish. And guess what I found out? I could truly still remember everything that happened in this book so vividly. I realized that even though it was simple, it has a tremendous effect on me, leaving me at a loss for words and feeling it for days.

Note: This is a forbidden, second chance romance.

“This is me saying that I would set myself on fire to bring light to all of the dark places within you.”


Make Me Hate You is impossible to hate. Well, at least for me. There were times that I was so annoyed with the decisions Tyler and Jasmine were making. Found some of their actions questionable. And hated that they cheated on their significant others. But Kandi Steiner made it as real as possible that I couldn't help but understand their situations. I could see their remorse and guilt for following what their hearts was needing. It was inevitable. And I loved the fact that their love for each other was uncontrollable, the consequences be damned.

I know, cheating is a hard limit for many. I'm no exception. And I am not condoning cheating, ever. But if there's a chance that I can still convince you to give this a try, I'll do it. Unlike some of the books I've previously read, the cheating that happened in this one did not leave a sour taste in my mouth. In my opinion, the author somehow brought a good outcome out of the seemingly impossible to like situation. Leaving a both plausible and favourable effect on me after what the main characters had both done. And well, I am looking for a kind of love between two people that can move mountains, and I am sure I found one.

“Please, just make me hate you.” ... “Only if you make me hate you first.”


Overall, I loved the book. This love story is what I can say, hard-won. It contains Kandi-given angst and emotions that made the book hard to put down. Complex and compelling characters that realistically and beautifully portrays the complications of life and being in love. And captivating writing as always. Kandi Steiner is one of those authors that can make me hate her characters to the point that I want to throw my phone on the wall, but not ending the book without making me completely loving them first.

I recommend this to those who likes: Kandi Steiner, second chance, forbidden, best friend's brother, friends to lovers, emotional, angsty, and a happily ever after.

“This isn’t effortless love, but it is real love."


Trigger Warning: Vivid depiction of cheating.





Profile Image for Tears Of Venus.
133 reviews1,675 followers
January 20, 2021
“What are you saying, Tyler?”
“I’m saying that you are spectacular, Jasmine Olsen, and that I love you with everything that I am.”


Song : Girl Crush - Harry Styles’ Version

BEWARE : a lot of SPOILERS and ramblings coming your way.

First of all, let’s get this out of the way : I’m a world class hypocrite.



In one review, you might catch me ranting about how cheating is the devil and OW drama will be the reason why the world ends, while in the other, I’d be like,



This is one of the others.
AGAIN : SPOILERS
This book has cheating (the MCs cheated on their significant others with each other), major OW drama (in the last third especially) and



He was something between the boy I used to love and the man I’d never know, familiar and unreachable all at once.


⟼ The Story
This book is about Jasmine Olsen and Tyler Wagner.
Along with Tyler’s sister, Morgan, they’re best friends since the day Jasmine showed up at the siblings’ high school. On her 18th birthday, something big happened in Jasmine’s life, and because Morgan wasn’t home at the time, she ended up being comforted by Tyler. You know the drift, teenage angst, repressed feelings, moments of weakness and they sleep together.
We crossed every line that night — and I went from loving my best friend’s brother in secret to wanting nothing more than to love him out loud.

That night was the first time Jasmine ever felt accepted, loved and valued. Imagine her shock when the next morning, Tyler tells her it was a mistake never meant to happen and that they should never tell anyone and basically pretend it never happened. Heartbroken, Jasmine decides to move away from their town and start over in California.
Fast forward 7 years, and Jasmine is back for Morgan’s marriage. The moment she sees Tyler, all the hurt, the anger, the betrayal, the love, the longing comes rushing back. The only problem is that she has a loving amazing boyfriend and he has a stunning genuinely nice girlfriend.
“You’re hurting, and it’s killing me, and I don’t know how to fix it other than to pull you into me and try to shield you from whatever it is that’s bringing you pain.”
“It’s you who brings me pain. It’s you who is killing me. It’s you, and us,” I said, motioning between us. “It’s this thing that never was, but always is, that never will be and will never not be.”


⟼ The Writing
Kandi Steiner’s writing is nothing short of incredible to me. The way it captivates, ensnares and takes hold of my heart is scary. I read this book in one sitting
It felt like years of regret, like decades of longing, like centuries of wrong decisions and missed opportunities and fucked-up timing.

and felt the fluttering of a million wild butterflies in my entire body during every second of it.
How could we ever be together?
How could we ever be apart?

The longing in this book is described so deeply, so incredibly, so beautifully that you can’t help but feel it.
His arms trembled as I wrapped my hands around them, holding onto him, begging him not to pull away as much as I begged him to put distance between us because I knew we should — and I knew I couldn’t be the one to do it.

And I felt it.
He and I, we weren’t just here and now. We were the past, the present, the future. We were other worlds and other universes, too.

I felt it to the marrow of my bones, to the bottom of my heart and to the deepest parts of my soul.
“I just want to hate you. Please,” I begged, fisting my hands in his shirt to hold him closer but still trying to shove him away. “Please, just make me hate you.”
“Only if you make me hate you first.”

Basically, I need all of her books ASAP.
I saw what once was, what maybe could have been, and more than anything, what never was.


⟼ The Characters
I rooted for them, even when they cheated on their SO’s. I have no idea how or why and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it.
I fell to my knees, letting out a guttural cry at the devastating pain of losing him again.
As if I’d ever really had him, at all.

Because as someone who’s been cheated on, I didn’t expect that at all LOL. But I’m chalking it up to the magic of the writing.



Was I disappointed that they couldn’t keep their hands off each other? Yes.
Could they have handled the situation better? 1000x yes.
For context, they slept with each other once, and before being able to figure out things (should’ve thought about that before doing the nasty, tbh), Tyler’s gf showed up.
I love you.
I need you.
Please, be with me. Choose me. Fuck everyone else.
I don’t care who we hurt.
I don’t care as long as it’s us in the end.

But I respect Jasmine for at least owning up to her fuck up, being honest with Jacob (her bf) and ending things with him. Her break up with him actually made me shed a few tears.
“And I want you to be happy.”
Jacob nodded, his eyes cast downward. “Just not with you, right?”

He is such an amazing character that didn’t deserve to have his heart broken. I really felt for him, he deserves all the happiness in the world. 💘



Tyler’s gf was also super sweet and didn’t deserve to be betrayed like that, especially since Tyler stayed with her and didn’t tell her what happened until the end.



Also, Tyler’s grovel was weak, as Jasmine took him back the second he came for her.



But one thing is for sure
We were shackled to each other like prisoners, but if someone handed one of us the key, we’d hide it and pretend we never had any other option.

Tyler and Jasmine could never let each other go
Perhaps it was a lifetime, and we would always be destined to watch each other from that distance — close enough to feel, yet never close enough to touch.

even if it took them an eternity to hold on to each other.
“Because I miss you. Because I have missed you, ever since the day you left. Because it kills me to be around you and not touch you, laugh with you, to not be engulfed with everything that you are.”

“You are my weakness, Jaz,” he husked. “You always have been.”

They broke hearts, they hurt people, they made bad decisions and even worse actions, but they got their happy ending.
“So, what now?”
Tyler grinned, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “I was thinking we could spend the rest of our lives making up for lost time.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. What do you think about that?”
“I think the rest of our lives won’t even be enough.”
At that, Tyler kissed me, slow and soft and sure, and then he whispered, “Then let’s stay together forever after that, too.”

My questions are : where does right ends and wrong begins? And what happens when right feels wrong and wrong feels right?

⟼ Story Time
Because apparently this review is not long enough, I wanna tell y’all a story. My dad’s friend was married to a woman (let’s call her A) a little older than him. She supported him financially when he was just a student, she stood by him through thick and thin and they had a son together. One day, A learned that a girl (about 18 years old, let’s call her B) from her hometown lost her family and she decides to open her home to her, pay for her education, provide for her and help her through life. Apparently the guy and B fell in love and dated right under his wife’s nose for 10 years (10 YEARS) before B gave him an ultimatum and told him that she wants marriage, kids and the whole shebang. Now is when I ask my white friends to take a deep breath bc I’m about to blow your minds LOL. Where I’m originally from, polygamy exists and a lot of people partake in it (personally, NEVER). Anyway, after the ultimatum, my dad’s friend decides to take B as his second wife, because according to him, he cannot divorce A since he owes her everything (not sure how that makes sense but oh well). A of course and naturally felt completely betrayed by her husband and the girl who she cared for, welcomed in her house and in her life and did nothing but good to. Today, he’s still married to both (altho A and B are not on speaking terms and A makes a point to ignore the existence of B and lemme tell you this one time there was this big gathering and B walked in and actually had the audacity to offer her hand to shake A’s. A, in a total badass move, pretended B wasn’t there and didn’t even look at her, continuing her conversation as if nothing happened. y’all, the gossip mill that day LOL) but he’s not in love with A. He only has eyes for B and they have 4 kids together (they’ve been married for 13 years so basically together for 23 years). Hearing the story, you’ll think B is a completely irredeemable bitch for what she’s done to A and that the guy is trash, right? And you wouldn’t be wrong. I agree 100%. But see, there are moments when that man looks at B like she is the only thing that exists in the world, and she talks about him with the biggest smile on her face and shining eyes. There are moments when in the living room with dad, he chooses the seat with a clear view of her in the other room, and he’d be in deep conversation when suddenly he’d hear her laugh, and he’d steal a look at her. A look so full of emotions that you’re guaranteed to catch on fire if you happened to be in the between them at that moment. They were the first couple I’ve ever seen so completely in love with each other that for the first time, at age 16, I believed that love exists. Imagine my shock when I got the full story later on. I guess what I’m trying to say is, how far is too far? How wrong is too wrong? What shade of grey is acceptable when clearly the world is not only black and white? Is it worth it? Does the end justify the means? Should we abandon all notion of right and wrong for our love? My brain says no and on most days, my heart agrees. But sometimes, I wonder.

I’d love to hear what y’all think of this subject, or feel free to simply ignore my ramblings (the much wiser decision LOL)

Now, I’ll leave you with some quotes that I loved.
I knew I needed to let you go.” He shook his head. “But fuck, I never learned how to. You’re impossible to forget, Jasmine. Impossible to get over.”
“Me?” I pointed a finger into my chest. “Try getting over you.”

they had their cute moments
Healthy relationships were weird.

AMEN LOL
I said yes with every single piece of me.
I said yes with my hands in his hair, with my lips warm against his, with my heart and soul that had been plucked out of me years ago and given to him, wrapped in a little gold bow. I said yes with a promise to never let anything stand between us again. I said yes with fear behind me, beneath me, unable to touch me again. I said yes with an ache that seared as much as it filled, that broke as much as it mended, that told me more than anything that there was no other option but this one.
I was his.
And he was mine.

the sheer beauty of this
“I also discovered today that I am a terrible person,” I whispered into the microphone. “I guess we all are, aren’t we? At least, when we really break ourselves down to the molecular level. When we push aside all the sunshine and bullshit, and look good and hard at who we are, at the decisions we make, at the things we feel — things we would never say out loud or confess to anyone else. Maybe, at the core of every human being, there’s a dark, hidden world. Maybe it’s not what we do for a living or our hobbies or our background or our family that makes us who we are, but rather what exists in that dark little world that no one sees. And we can’t ever show it to anyone — not to our best friend or our family or our significant other — because we know in our gut that if anyone ever saw what truly existed there, they’d run. They’d run and curse us and scream at us to stay far, far away.”

I mean…
I held onto him like he was all I needed, all that mattered, and we spiraled together into the darkness we’d created.
Our own little personal hell.

sigh.
“No,” he commanded. “Don’t get shy on me now, Jazzy. I want to see you. Open those legs for me.”

a little sexy time never hurt nobody
*thinks of Jacob & Azra (the broken hearted SO's)*
forget what i said
Profile Image for Christy.
4,077 reviews34.5k followers
June 24, 2020
4 stars

2724ECD0_9936_4BA4_8F01_83D972B5159A_IMG_7369

Kandi Steiner sure knows how to bring the angst. This romance is well written, passionate, and intense. I felt the struggle Jasmine felt and it was an emotional and compelling read I didn't want to put down.
Any time we were together, it was trouble. He was doing the right thing. And yet all I yearned to do was the wrong one.

Jasmine and Tyler were the best of friends, along with Tyler's sister Morgan. Then they fell into each other and it changed everything for them. Jasmine moved across the country and has kept her distance from Tyler. It's safer for her well being that way. Now, seven years later, her best friend Morgan is getting married. She's the maid of honor and Tyler is the best man.

You can feel the pull between Tyler and Jasmine. Even though they try to deny their feelings for each other, you can tell they're still real, raw, and ready to come to life at any time. Things are complicated, though. Not only does Jasmine live across the country, she's got a serious boyfriend whom she loves. Tyler is with someone as well. Ahhhh I was so stressed!

There was so much I loved about this book. So much. Even though at the start I wasn't convinced these two were meant to be, with time, it was proven that they were. They belonged together and I couldn't wait to see if/how it would all work out and the journey wasn't always easy but I knew deep down it would be worth it.

Make Me Hate You was an angsty second chance/best friend's brother romance that kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm always a sucker for Steiner's writing and she crafted a captivating slow burn romance that had me torn and all in my feelings. If you're looking for a stand-alone romance that's intense, sexy, and addictive, pick this one up!
Profile Image for Kandi Steiner.
Author 63 books12k followers
Read
June 25, 2020
NOW LIVE!
Read in Kindle Unlimited today!



Make Me Hate You is an angsty, stand-alone, best friend's brother summer romance.

There's a fine line between love and hate. When Jasmine and Tyler are forced to sleep in the same house, they'll find out just how thin it is...

★★★★★ "This is a return to the Kandi Steiner of 2016 who brought us Weightless and A Love Letter to Whiskey. Prepare for the burn." -- Author Sarah E. Green

★★★★★ "Nobody can stir up frustration, angst, and emotion quite like Kandi Steiner." -- Author Kristen Granata

★★★★★ "While I know it's only halfway through the year, mark my words: Make Me Hate You will be my favorite read of 2020." -- Author Dee Lagasse

★★★★★ "Make Me Hate You is Kandi Steiner at her best!" -- Kelly Hulsey, Goodreads

★★★★★ "Stories always feel like a bit of a journey to me. Their story was like a steady climb to the top of a mountain and then when you reach the peak, you're free falling straight into every emotion you can possibly think of. It was equally satisfying and frustrating, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Get ready for the impact." -- Sasha Erramouspe, Goodreads

★★★★★ "Get ready to have your heart pulverized and stitched back together." -- Kelsey Buriedinabook Lehman, Goodreads

★ READ NOW (available in Kindle Unlimited!) ➔ amzn.to/2yBc1qY

And now, a sneak peek inside!

Seven miles and an hour later, and all the anxiety I’d felt the night before was completely gone.
At least, until I rounded the foyer into the kitchen and saw I wasn’t the only one up early on Sunday morning.

Tyler sat at the kitchen island, still in his navy blue sweat pants and simple white t-shirt, with one foot planted on the ground and the other hooked casually on the lower bar of his stool. His hair was an absolute disaster, the boyish waves sticking up this way and that. He had both hands wrapped around a mug of hot tea, his eyes focused on the iPad he had propped up in front of him, and BlueTooth headphones in his ears.

At first, he didn’t notice me, and I slowed my steps, standing silently at the entry of the kitchen and watching him. I’d done everything I could last night to avoid his gaze, to not look at him, and now that I had a stolen moment to observe, I found my chest tightening again, my mouth dry and sticky.
His brown eyes were hidden beneath bent brows, expression serious as he watched whatever was on the screen. Small lines creased the edges of his eyes — lines that weren’t there when we were kids. He’d grown into a man somehow, overnight, it seemed. Then again, it had been years.

I’d seen him on social media, watched from afar as his YouTube channel took off. I’d seen pictures of him on Instagram — traveling through Europe, hiking in Australia, swimming in hot pools in Iceland. I didn’t follow him, of course, but his profile was public, which allowed me to flip through picture after picture on the nights when I was a pathetic mess.

But, pictures and videos didn’t do justice to the actual man who sat studiously at that kitchen island.
He was something between the boy I used to love and the man I’d never know, familiar and unreachable all at once.

Tyler shook his head at something, letting out a frustrated sigh and kicking back the bar stool a little before taking a sip of his tea. His eyes flicked to me then, back to the screen, and then, he did a double take, this time fixing his gaze on me and leaving it there.

Something changed in his eyes when he looked at me, like a shadow passed over them and held him captive. I was dressed in jogger shorts and a modest tank top, but from the way he watched me, I might as well have been completely naked.

That’s what his gaze did to me, what it always had done.

It stripped me bare.



Make Me Hate You is a best friend's brother romance that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Are you ready?
Profile Image for mel ☽.
369 reviews10.4k followers
July 14, 2020
˗ˏˋ 3.25 stars ˎˊ˗

you know what, im just thankful this isn't as angsty as a love letter to whiskey because i don't think i can handle angsty books back to back as my stress levels are like 📈📈

tropes
↳ best friend's brother, forbidden (cuz duh they're with other people), second chance (they were separated for 7 years??), friends to lovers with a dash of hate to love, childhood bffs, found family trope, the whole setting being at a wedding, and uhhh... cheating.


honestly, this book reminds me of a 2000s rom com movie but i can't for the life of me remember the movie ughhh.

plot
Jasmine (h) and Tyler (H) have been best friends since they were in highschool. one night before Jasmine's high school graduation, her mother left her and she sought solace to her best friend aka Tyler's sister, Morgan but found Tyler instead and they slept together. next day, Tyler ignores and tells her it was mistake.

heartbroken, Jasmine leaves and doesn't come back till years later as she was invited to Morgan's and thus ensues the drama between the two.


this was actually really cute and i liked the writing because it conveyed how much the MCs longed for one another which created a lot of tension. buuut of course, some may be a little iffy with this one because for the better part of the book,

spoiler: the MCs are in a relationship with other people so obviously they cheated on their significant others with each other.


even though this is the case, the OW/OM barely shows up for the most part. well, except for the third act where the OW shows up. i actually felt really bad for these OW/OM because they were actually so nice and they genuinely loved the MCs so i resented them a little bit. i don't know.. sometimes i liked the characters but their actions (them cheating on their significant others) and how careless and remorseless they seem sometimes ANNOYED me, like i actually hated them at some point.

i thought this was just ok tho. i guess i felt a little unsatisfied or just wanted more with the characters and more time where i spend reading Jasmine and Tyler as a couple. also, the grovelling was weak af. sorry, but even Tyler was like oh that's it?? i thought you were gonna make me work harder for it oh wellll.

again, im just thankful there were no stupid af drama where they don't get together for 13 years.
Profile Image for Shabby  -BookBistroBlog.
1,582 reviews854 followers
June 22, 2020
Kandi has made a name for herself in soulful romance Genre with her trademark angsty, poignant stories and soft sentimental quotient. She excels in soul connections, exploring them with gut twisting heartbreak and teary eyed smiles.
“What do you do when you find out something you always assumed to be true is completely and utterly false?”

description

This one is a story of love held back and given a second chance with return of the wandering hollow heart of Jasmine Olsen. She is an abandoned child, who's thrown into the fray of life and through sheer hard work creates a name for herself
The piece of heart left behind of Taylor Wagner is part of a coterie of three that broke apart!
"The Wagner Kids — Plus One."

description

This sentimental journey traces back to its beginnings to right the wrongs and rectify the faults in the relationship. The taboo factor gives it an extra twist, putting the story on slow burner, simmering away to perfection. I always feel emotional after finishing a KS book. Her belief in love is strong in real life too, which sheds a rosy glow in her work. A dream book for her die hard fans and a beautiful start for the newbies, This standalone is definitely worth a read
4.5 stars for The Hot Money Guy #BookBistroBlogApproved
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Profile Image for Jessica .
2,232 reviews14.7k followers
June 23, 2020
Hmm where to start. I am one of Kandi's biggest fans, especially of her angsty books. When this book was being compared to A Love Letter to Whiskey, my first and still favorite book of hers, I was so excited. The emotional turmoil that book put me through was rough and I loved every second of it. That being said, I think that comparison wasn't really accurate and this book was more of a predictable angst (and I use the term angst very lightly) that didn't really leave me too emotional.

The prologue starts out with Jasmine and Tyler spending one night together as teenagers and then Jasmine leaving and not returning for seven years. I kind of wish that the prologue was actually the first couple of chapters of the book so that we could see the relationship between Jasmine and Tyler more. There was just a lot more telling than showing when it came to how close they were and I wanted more than that one scene to grasp the pull they had for each other back when they were teenagers that was still stronger than ever now as adults. I don't think I ever felt fully connected to them, specifically Tyler, because I didn't really get to know him that much.

Was there angst in this book? Some. Both Tyler and Jasmine are in relationships and are trying to deal with their unresolved feelings for one another. But that's pretty much where the angst ends. I didn't feel completely invested in Jasmine or Tyler or even Jasmine's best friend Morgan. I feel like we only got to know the surface level of the characters. The plot was pretty predictable and nothing shocked me. I was expecting Whiskey or even the What He Doesn't Know duet level of frustration and angst and unknown. I literally had no idea where the relationships were going in those books. In this one, nothing was shocking. It was just a sweet second chance romance between two people who happened to currently be dating.

While I have a lot to say about this book, I actually did really enjoy it. I did love the wedding as the backdrop for this book and how they were constantly forced to be around each other. If I didn't have the expectations set forth that this book would be gut-wrenching and emotionally draining, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more. It's a nice, sweet romance and the characters are just trying to figure out what they want and trying to understand the hurt they experienced in the past. So like I said, as a sweet, second chance romance where two characters are forced together for a wedding, this was adorable and I would recommend picking it up.
Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,118 reviews13.1k followers
June 26, 2020
3.5 STARS
It’s you who brings me pain. It’s you who is killing me. It’s you, and us,” I added, motioning between us. “It’s this thing that never was, but always is, that never will be and will never not be.”

I have a confession to make: *whispers* I'm a Kandi Steiner virgin *looks around for side eyes*

Clearly I've been living under a rock, okay? Quit judging me. I finally rectified my mistake so better late than never, right? RIGHT? But I digress. The second I read the blurb and heard whispers of angst, I was all over this book like a fly on poop. What? Bad analogy? OK, let's go with white on rice here then. Jeez. What I'm trying to say is this angst whore was all over it. A second chance romance with best friend's older brother and all of the feels? SIGN ME UP.

Jasmine and Tyler grew up together. And while Jaz was best friends with his sister, Tyler being just 11 months older became an escape for her and one of her closest friends as well. She longed for the sort of family her best friend had while dealing with the shambles of her own. Then one night of comfort and passion lead to the irreparable break of her and Tyler's friendship. Jasmine ran as far as she could from their town after graduating high school and hasn't turned back. Now, years later, she's back in town for her best friend's wedding and forced to deal with all of the things that were left unsaid between her and Tyler.

The chemistry and pull between her and Tyler is there the second they set eyes on one another again. But Jasmine has a wonderful boyfriend she's in love with and Tyler is dating someone as well. The pull between them is undeniable, but the chasm of all the things that were left unsaid is too wide.

Admittedly, this wasn't as angsty as I was expecting considering the dynamic between the two of them. It's emotional, yes, but the angst that I was craving that would make me into an anxiety driven mess wasn't quite there.

I enjoyed the story and was rooting for Tyler and Jasmine. I loved that Tyler had this sweet and vulnerable side to him. It was refreshing and endearing. Jasmine also had a good head on her shoulders and I loved that she knew what had to be done the second she realized her feelings for Tyler were not as resolved as she thought they were. They still went on a merry-go-round of push and pulls, but I was so here for it. While I enjoyed the story, it didn't have as glued to the pages as I had hoped. I was invested, but I was also hoping for a little more oomph. Don't get me wrong, this definitely brought plenty of feels. I suppose this angst addict just wanted a little more HURT. God, I'm such a masochist. If you're looking for a second chance romance with an emotional punch, this will certainly deliver.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Profile Image for Syndi.
3,114 reviews909 followers
August 13, 2020
I am very disappointed with Make Me Hate You. I was expecting a lot of angst/drama. What I got is confusing characters and non existing plot.

Jasmine is selfish bitch. All through out the book, she whinned about how unfair Tyler left her. How she became so rude to everyone. She only want to take and take and take. I did not see any good thing from her character.

While Tyler is indifference. It seems he was just floating in a background. Not enough grovelling. There were not enough history on their friendship in the past. It made matter worst with no plot/ drama.

Overall what a disappointment.

2 stars
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,663 reviews3,270 followers
December 1, 2020
4 The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free, I Can't Hate You, It's 99 CENTS!!!
Kandi Steiner has taken me down that road... The one where I felt all types of emotions, many I really don't like to have...Like The Ugly Cry. She gets a pass though because, in the end, you will find true love.

Love can come easy for some, others not so much.
You may find your "true love" early in life, much too soon to be able to nurture it and protect it from others. You may be taken off your path, have obstacles put in your way, some of your own makings.

You may be confronted with decisions, impulses, and outcomes. Whether you make the "right choices or not", there is no rhyme or reason...only impulses and feelings. It is how you handle the results of these actions matter. Lessons to be learned and digested.

And when the time comes, when you truly fight for what your heart wants, are you able to do it...Take the responsibility for what you feel, own it fully...Those are just some of the questions and answers Kandi Steiner presents.

The crafting was there, the heart was there and my Kleenex Box was empty early on.

~~~~~ before Reading ~~~~~
I love Kandi Steiner and because of that...
I am Pulling Up My Big Girl Panties...
And will Deal with All the Angst She Throws at Me...
Wish Me Well...I Am Going In...

❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️
When Kandi Steiner...
Puts her Mind to Work...
Any Number of Things Can Happen...

She Could Write a Rom/Com...
Or a Brother Series...

Or She Could Go Back To Her Roots...
Something as Powerful As...
𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 and 𝗔 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘆...

Starting Something New is Hard...
But She has Fought Her Way Through...
She is Bringing Us...
A Gripping, Angsty, Emotional Stand-Alone...

Rumor Has It Being...
A Best Friend's Brother, Second-Chance Romance...
All I Know Is...
Kandi Steiner, You Can't...


Make Me Hate You-June 25, 2020

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Profile Image for Book Maniac Forever.
943 reviews379 followers
June 25, 2020

⭐️ 5 "You Are Spectacular" Stars ⭐️
Every single time Kandi Steiner releases a new book, I jump on the occasion to lose myself in her stunning prose and turbulent emotion she delivers with her writing. Her stories always achieve to steal my breath by their intensity! Her angsty romances are my favorites, needless to say I was ecstatic about Make Me Hate You!

Gah… this book! It was everything I wanted! This epic forbidden love story with the perfect dosage of heartbreak, passion, sweetness had me enraptured completely. I got chills every single time Jasmine and Tyler were interacting. I could feel the love and hurt between those two so clearly. My heart was quivering from the pure beauty radiating from them together, but also the anguish of their complicated love! I shed a lot of tears while my heart was in a vise from the agony of their situation, but also their stolen moments filled with pure bliss had me fanning myself from their seductiveness. Make Me Hate You was truly a journey of ups and downs that I was so invested in.

I’ll cut this review short, because I don’t want to reveal to much of the plot line and just want to let you experience the feels for yourself! Kandi Steiner once again proved why she’s one of my favorite authors with this exquisite romance that tear my heart apart, but also had me hooked and hopeful fro a happily ever after.

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **
Profile Image for Jenny Lovez Bookz.
531 reviews129 followers
September 6, 2021
I loved this!! The angst, the emotions! Kandi Steiner is one of the best when it comes to this writing style. Not only did I feel all the emotions and heartache, but I didn't want to stop reading this! I literally devoured this book. Her writing style and her words flow so beautifully. This story gave me Love Letter to Whiskey vibes (one of my all time favorites) but a little less gut wrenching. Two people meant to be together with wrong timing, probably my all time favorite types of stories.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
415 reviews47 followers
June 26, 2020
I ended up giving this a try because I typically do like Kandi's books (not the recent ones), but this was just a mess of a story. It follows Jasmine and Tyler, who had a one night stand as teenagers following a traumatic event in the heroines life, the next day the hero tells her it was a mistake and she leaves town for seven years. She comes back for her best friends wedding which is also Tyler's sister. They both have significant others hence the "plus 1" in blurb.


The cheating was completely unnecessary to me, which is why it didnt work for me. I am a hypocrite I can take cheating if the hero and heroine do it with each other, but it has to be framed right. This wasnt, they both had their SO coming to the wedding, they could have easily broke up with them and then gotten together....or they could have stopped themselves from having sex, and that could have happened after he went for her at the end. It just seemed shoehorned in to cause angst. I hate angst that feels manufactured. I did like that the heroine immediately owned up to her part and broke up with her boyfriend (who I honestly felt was superior to the weak ass hero).

The hero however stayed with his SO and doted on her knowing what he had done, and knowing it hurt the heroine. Yes she had told him they shouldnt be together bc it would hurt too many people, but on top of everything else the hero let slide it just made him a coward in my book. He let everything just happen to him or listened to people, he never fought for her. Even at the end when he comes for her he just asks her to come back to where HE lives. She had poured her heart out to him, and he just let her go with her thinking he wanted the OW over her. Until he came for her at the end it just felt she was always the one pursuing him, and I dont like that dynamic. He could have said something, anything! He was just like this black hole in the book, you didnt know what he was thinking, feeling etc we dont even know how he felt about his GF or his feelings about what happened in the past. I get it it was a book about the heroine, but this kind of story just seemed to need his POV to fully flesh it out.

Also, it was just kind of boring, the epilogue was cute, meh

Eta: one other thing I didnt like was the hero called his girlfriend "beautiful" as a pet name and he then called the heroine the same pet name after sex, annoyed me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for NMmomof4.
1,586 reviews4,238 followers
November 23, 2022
3 Stars

Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The H's sister/h's best friend and her parents. The h's aunt.

The Not-So-Good: The main characters. I honestly didn't find either of the mc's all that relatable or even all that likable 🤷🏻‍♀️

The Bad: The ending. This was yet another book where the big conflict was resolved super quick and then we are thrown into a HEA. I got zero time (other than in the epilogue) with them as an actual couple. I hate that!

Overall: This was underwhelming. I was in the mood for some angst and I thought for sure this author would serve it to me. Sadly, it was a flop. I didn't really like either mc and I never really felt like my emotions were involved when reading this. I'm going with a middle of the road rating because while I didn't love it -- I didn't hate it either.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jasmine and Tyler's story. Jasmine has been best friends with Tyler's younger sister since high school, but her friendship with Tyler always was a little bit more than friends. When they cross the line and Tyler hurts Jasmine, she leaves town after graduation and doesn't ever want to return. Only she does return to be the maid of honor in Tyler's sister's whirlwind wedding. Secrets get revealed and lines get crossed again...and they get a HEA ending.

Point Of View (POV): This was told in Jasmine's POV (epilogue in Tyler's).

Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well (until the ending).

Instalove:No, they loved each other before the story starts.

H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Tyler. He was just alright. While I appreciated how he cared for the h, he was a little too passive for my liking.

h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Jasmine. She was just alright too. I was annoyed with her hot and cold tbh.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes

Heat level: Mild. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not very many scenes and not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: Yes

Separation: Yes, but no since they aren't technically "together"

Possible Triggers: Yes

Closure: This ends with a HEA but it was one of those that ends right after the conflict is resolved and we get no time with them as an actual couple.

Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
Profile Image for Athena Que Será, Será.
168 reviews20 followers
May 23, 2022
The MCs separate because the H's sister was a spoiled brat. She discouraged the H from being with the h (who was supposedly her best friend)! I felt everyone coddled the H's sister and she always had her way (more like her way or the highway). The entire book was hers in fact, her wedding, and the book did little justice to the MCs. And to top it all, both MCs cheat on their respective partners by sleeping with each other. The H was no alpha and not possessive. He was weak in such a manner that everything had to go through his sister. I don't like men who has to take opinions from others in their personal matter.
July 11, 2020
It’s with good reason why Kandi Steiner is known as the Angst Queen. She has this ability to hook you with every story and gets you invested in the characters, but at the same time only to rip your heart out. And it’s no surprise she had me catching my breath and on the edge of my seat not knowing which way this story would go, and hoping my heart wouldn’t get too bruised.

Jasmine and Tyler had my emotions turned every which way. These two had my head rolling and gripping my hair for dear life. There were times I wanted to shake them both. They had me so frustrated—I just wanted them to figure things out. There’s so much history between them and even after 7 years of not seeing each other the chemistry is still there. There’s no mistaking the deep connection Jasmine and Tyler share. I hurt for both of them and all the years they lost, but they needed to go through what they went through in order to finally put to bed the past and move on. Watching them connect again filled my heart with happiness. They both grew a lot throughout the book, especially Jasmine. She was honest with herself and put herself and her feelings first and did what was right for her. Jasmine and Tyler’s story is an emotional rollercoaster ride, every dip and bump along the way is worth it, because in the end it just made them and their love stronger.

Make Me Hate You was angst galore. Your heart will rapidly pitter-patter with anticipation of what’ll happen next. It’s emotional and will have your feelings on overdrive. It’s filled with sweet and tender moments that’ll have you swooning. Kandi did an exceptional job giving us what we’ve come to know and love from her. This book was the ultimate *chef’s kiss*

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book*
Profile Image for Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf).
422 reviews230 followers
November 21, 2023
"How could we ever be together? How could we ever be apart?"
I pride myself on having no triggers. There are a few things I dislike, though, and cheating is one of them. Do I avoid books with it? Yes. Was I aware this one had it? I wasn’t. I’m not going to lie—it bothered me at first, but then I kind of went with it.

Trust me, if you knew me in real life, you’d know just how weird that is.

"I lost myself inside that moment, inside that room, inside that night with Tyler. But of course, that was because I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring."
Jasmine had a rough childhood. When her mom breaks her heart yet again, she seeks comfort at her best friend’s house, but she’s not there. Her brother is. And he’s there for her, he supports her and cares for her, and they end up sleeping together.
She’s always wanted it, and she thinks maybe she can have it now. Maybe they can be a thing.

Until he breaks her heart the following day.
"He was something between the boy I used to love and the man I’d never know, familiar and unreachable all at once."
She left town, and her life is nothing like she planned. She swore she wouldn’t come back, but now Morgan, her best friend, is getting married, and Jaz is the maid of honor. And she knows she’ll have to face Tyler again.
She has a boyfriend and a life in another state now, though. She’s successful and not the same girl she used to be. But seeing him again brings back everything—the good and the bad.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Where have I heard those excuses before?"
Back then, the three of them were thick. They were almost family. What happened between them ruined that, and part of Jaz wants to understand why, even though the other part wants to forget about it.
But how can she when he still knows how to push her buttons and annoy her but also still knows her like no one else? When he still looks at her as if he remembers everything? And when she does too?

"When I hit the end of it, Tyler murmured something behind me, something I couldn’t quite make out against the breeze and the soft chirps of insects surrounding us. Something that sounded a lot like It hurts me, too."
Things come to light—Jaz finds out why he did what he did and realizes it’s all been a huge waste of time. They could have been together. Maybe they can now? But she’s still hurt, and so is he.

To be honest, I wanted her to be mad at the person who caused this and I was disappointed that she wasn't.

This push and pull between them—the love they have for each other and the fear of hurting again—really got to me. The fact that you only have her POV drove me up the wall—I desperately wanted to know what he was feeling and why he was acting the way he was.

"Because I miss you. Because I have missed you, ever since the day you left. Because it kills me to be around you and not touch you, laugh with you, to not be engulfed with everything that you are."
Both Jaz and Tyler seem put-together and fine, but they’re anything but. There’s something missing in their lives. They’re lost without each other, and it’s time they realize that.
They’re tortured and being so close again is not helping matters.

"I would have run to you. I would have pulled you into me. And I would have never let you go."
So… it happens. Like I said, there’s cheating. It might have made it easier if their partners were assholes, but they’re not. But, like I said, it didn’t bother me as much as it (probably) should—especially since I’ve been on the other side of it.
It’s a really simple story and not as steamy as other Kandi books I’ve read recently, and, if you think they were tortured before, once something actually happens between them, it’s even worse.

"It’s you who brings me pain. It’s you who is killing me. It’s you, and us. It’s this thing that never was, but always is, that never will be and will never not be."
There’s so much hurt between them that it broke me at times. These two people have been in love for years while trying to convince themselves that they weren’t for each other’s sake. For the sake of others. For all the wrong reasons.

"Please, just make me hate you."
"Only if you make me hate you first."

There was a point where I wanted to hate Tyler, and that’s when I understood why Kandi didn’t give us his POV. We needed to be left in the dark. We needed to wonder. Yes, it amps the angst, but it also amps the love. It makes it all so much more meaningful, and it makes their happiness memorable.
Also… the epilogue is finally in his POV, and I love him!

"He and I, we weren’t just here and now. We were the past, the present, the future. We were other worlds and other universes, too."
Tyler and Jaz were stuck between the all-encompassing love they have for each other and wanting not to ever have met at all. Between the love they feel and the hatred they wish they felt, because it would be so much easier. Their love hurts. But their HEA heals.
Profile Image for Sentranced Jem.
1,134 reviews602 followers
July 2, 2020
Possible trigger for some.

Going into a kandi Steiner book, I knew I was in for a angsty emotional ride. Like always, she delivered.
Make Me Hate You is a second chance at love. It's not perfect but it draws you in and captures your attention..

This book is fast paced. It is passionate and frustrating. It is emotional and puzzling because it make you question the emotions that are taking over your logical side.
Make Me Hate You was a roller coaster ride of emotions yet it was also sweet and romantic.

I really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Z - literaryeffect.
273 reviews159 followers
July 12, 2020
When I started reading this book and found out they had significant others, I reread the blurb and realized it could go either of the two ways: they both end up cheating on their current boyfriend/girlfriend OR they break-up with them so they could be with each other.

Jasmine and Tyler would have these moments together because they were trying to repair their friendship but ultimately they realized they couldn’t just be friends because they still had feelings for each other. Even then, I wasn’t able to enjoy the book as much because the possibility of the MCs cheating was stuck in the back of my mind. But I kept going to see how it would pan out.

When Jasmine realized she couldn’t just be friends with Tyler, she made the decision to break up with her boyfriend, knowing it wasn’t fair to him, but she ended up cheating on him before that even happened. All this even after Jasmine said in the first few chapters that she loves her current boyfriend. I’m disappointed.

Besides that, there isn’t really anything else that’s memorable for me?

I’ve always liked Kandi Steiner’s writing. I love her Becker Brothers series. This story is just not for me because of the cheating trope.

TL;DR: Both MCs act on their feelings for each other and end up cheating on their current relationships. If that’s fine with you, continue with the book. If not, you might want to pass.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kara (Rotella Reads).
910 reviews50 followers
June 26, 2020
Pains me to say this but this book fell completely short for me as a reader.

The lack of communication between the H and h when they were teens was justifiable. However, 7 years later, they were still stuck in a holding pattern of poor communication and assumptions. I felt like the couple was never going to get their act together. This book was an extremely slow burn, which would have worked if anything else was going on in the story line. The plot was kind of boring, maybe due to the time line being such a short duration. Two weeks wasn't much time for anything to happen after 7 years apart. I felt like Bridezilla (Tyler's sister / Jasmine's BFF) was the center of the entire story.

This book committed my 'cardinal sin' of romance stories, which held it to a solid 3 star for me all the way to the end. I cannot do cheating. Especially when BOTH characters were in committed, loving relationships with people who were described as nothing short of amazing and perfect for them. I just couldn't justify it, no matter how hot the chemistry was between Tyler and Jasmine. Again, adding to their lack of communication problems.

I loved parts of the book, don't get me wrong. I thought the history of the heroine was so powerful. I praised her growth and maturity as a woman, striving to never make the mistakes her mother made. I adored Tyler's family and their willingness to treat Jasmine as one of their own. I loved Jasmine's Aunt and the security and love she provided Jasmine throughout her toughest days. Pretty much all the side characters were amazing in their own unique ways. I thought the ending of the story was wonderfully charming and sweet. I loved that they finally got their HEA, even though it took forever and a day to happen. It was a quick read with highs and lows.

I received an ARC of Make Me Hate You from the author in exchange for my honest thoughts on this book.
Profile Image for Martha Gutierrez .
8 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2020
Please don’t hate me
But i really did not like this one at all
H and h, both horrible people, i mean who cheats like that on someone they claim to “love”
The h is sooo fucked up over sleeping with H 7 years ago and he calling it a “mistake” that she moves to a diff town, goes to a different college than the one her bff and her had planned.
She “moves on” with her life, has a successful podcast and travels a lot, has the perfect boyfriend and is “enjoying” her life , but even then she is pinning for OM
ALL THE FUCKING TIME
The whole thing was a huge misunderstanding and could have been easily solved by them talking over the span of the 7 years they were apart, but nope, everything was so exaggerated IMO
The h has a bf of 7 months who she claims to loves and says he’s so perfect for her etc etc, but doesn’t hesitates twice when she cheats on him
The H has a “model” gf who arrives the morning after the H and h sleep together, and like a real coward the H says nothing and acts like a doting bf to her, he never apologizes to her, even when the h tells him he should be with his gf instead of her because she doesn’t ppl to hate her for breaking them up 🤦🏻‍♀️
At least the h was honest and upfront about it with OM, he handled it like such a great guy, i was happy she broke uo with him, OM deserved better
The H could have grow some pants and fight for the h, but all we have is “silently observing” type of H and a h that begs a lot, maybe it was just me who couldn’t connect with either one of them, idk.
I started this book with little info into the plot, and no reviews read, definitely last time i do it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nadine Booklover.
811 reviews116 followers
June 23, 2020
3.5 stars

I don't know where to begin. This is going a tough review to write because it's most likely an unpopular opinion. Whereas everyone seems to be raving about this book, I'm struggling here. I mean, I absolutely enjoyed reading it.

What I do love most about this book is Kandi Steiner's writing style. It's captivating and prose like beautiful. I adore her writing style.

However I had trouble catching all the feels. I couldn't really connect with Jaz and the way the story played out wasn't just something I could get into. I missed the angst as to me this story was quite predictable. Nevertheless it was easy to root for Jaz and Tyler because their chemistry was obvious.

Jasmine is a strong heroine and I really liked her development through this story, how she overcame her childhood traumas (how she worked on them). Tyler was sometimes a black-box to me. I wished he would have been a little more present in this book.

Overall I can say that Make Me Hate You is a lovely second chance slow burn romance that will totally make you swoon in typical Kandi Steiner kind of way.
Profile Image for Shades of Rebecca.
457 reviews63 followers
June 26, 2020
I was crying like a baby! This was so emotional! Kandi is such a talented writer, she always knows how to make a mess out of her readers. The story is full of hurt and pain. There's bad blood between them after Tyler rejected Jasmine years ago when she was vulnerable. They both grew up to be successful and matured since they have last seen each other. Now they have to see each other again for Tyler's sister's wedding. The setting of this story was wonderful - we got to see some flashbacks and it felt as if Kandi really took the readers into the characters' heads. I loved the characters so much! Tyler was such a great guy- And I love his sister, no kidding! Jasmine and Tyler are one of her best-written characters yet! I could read about them forever 😥.

Kandi's writing style is brilliant. I repeat myself when I say that I'll read everything and anything she will ever write and I hope she never stops. The story is written in a way that will make you emotional crying mess. This is an awesome five-star read!
Profile Image for Willow Winters.
Author 148 books17.4k followers
Read
June 26, 2020
New from Kandi Steiner!



Make Me Hate You is a brother's best friend summer romance that will have you on the edge of your seat. It's riddled with gripping, angsty, heart-clutching feels and a story you'll never forget. Are you ready for the ride?

What's inside?
👉 angst fest
👉 best friend's brother
👉 second-chance romance
👉 summer romance
👉 set in New England

Download now in Kindle Unlimited! amzn.to/2yBc1qY
Profile Image for • Lisa •.
556 reviews1,562 followers
June 19, 2020
As soon as I’d heard the whisper of a promise that Kandi was writing a stand-alone angsty romance my mind went into overdrive of how excited I would be to land my hands on such a book. Kandi is an author who has an obvious talent, you don’t have to get far into her books to realise that penmanship was written in the stars for her career. This book showcases her written word perfectly; the well thought out story line, emotion and ability to make hours spent in the book seem like minutes. If you are searching for a ‘second chance at love, we never thought we’d be together again’ romance then it would be criminal for you to miss out on this book. The characters, backdrop, secondary characters and history of this couple make for one special romance, one that will make you happy to pick up your kindle late into the night. I will say that whilst I was swept up in this story it didn’t quite deliver the level of angst I was hoping for, yes it had ‘those’ moments that make you anxiety ridden for the couple and it made me swoon and yearn for a happily ever after, but it wasn’t the heart crushing, soul destroying angst that I’ve read from this author before. However, this book is one not to be missed and has left me with that content feeling that only a good romance can leave you with. I’m more than convinced that this book will be winning hearts all over the romance reading community, enjoy.
Profile Image for Halle Reads.
777 reviews179 followers
June 24, 2020
2.5-3 Stars 🌟

Full review to come

Initial thoughts
When the story has a great atmospheric vibe and setting to it and alot of potential but ultimately falls a little flat. Didn't mind the story not really but the MC they are not my favourite and I did not feel their connection and half the time I didn't even like them. But I still kinda liked the book but also kinda didn't. Need to make sense of my jumbled up thoughts 🙈🙈🤷‍♀️ also personal preference but a book like this being a 2nd chance romance tackling really needed the dual POV instead of just the Heroines POV but that's my opinion.

Trigger & Content warning //

20200311-074229
Profile Image for Mahima.
468 reviews121 followers
December 28, 2020
** 2.75 stars **
An average read with a very ordinary storyline.
No doubt I've read this kind of stories before but I expected more from the writing style of the author. I've never read her stories before so that's why I thought it will have all the new plots and twists& turns.

◾I didn't like the characters very much. They didn't have any chemistry or spark between them.
◾Side characters weren't too helpful either because instead of making the story intersting they were mere 'presence of someone'
◾I think I already talked about the writing style which wasn't too impressive.

Thank God I've another chance to redeem if I want my year to end with an absolutely amazing novel.
July 18, 2020
4 ⭐'s

Kandi Steiner has become my go-to angst author and I do have to say that I was a little disappointed in the angst department. Don't get me wrong, the story is good and I couldn't put the book down but I wanted m-o-r-e!

Tyler and Jasmine meet when she starts going to his school. He immediately pulls her into his and his sister's lives. It's something that she was needing since her mother is in rehab and she's now living with her aunt.

Fast forward a few years and she finds out that her mother is leaving her for good for her new boyfriend in another town. She runs to Morgan's (Tyler's sister) but she's not there...Tyler is.

He hears her out and comforts her. They end up spending a very memorable night together but the next morning he can hardly look at her and three days later, he tells her it was a mistake. She's horrified.

When high school is finished, she moves to California and doesn't return for seven years - until Morgan is getting married. She's in a great relationship and believes she's strong enough, unfortunately, she's totally wrong.

Her and Tyler are like two magnets...they cannot stay away from each other and ultimately don't. But it's almost as if history is repeating itself and there's tons of drama.

I really loved Jasmine's relationship with Morgan and her parents and with her Aunt Laura. There were some really sweet moments. I even loved a lot of the memories they all shared of growing up together.

Jasmine was pretty amazing at the end, standing up for what she wanted. Thankfully, things do end well.

The epilogue was super sweet even if it was a bit cliche. There is also a bonus scene of that "memorable angsty scene" from Tyler's POV. I loved it!
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