The Book:
I Hate You More by Lucy Gilmore
Published November 2nd 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date read: January 31, 2022
The Characters:
Ruby
Spencer
Buy it on Bookshop.org | Amazon
The Plot (from Goodreads):
Discover what makes Lucy Gilmore an instant fan favorite with this unforgettably funny enemies-to-lovers romcom starring:
• a grumpy dog show judge
• a determined former beauty queen
• and a Golden Retriever more interested in stealing bacon than winning Best in Show.
Ruby Taylor gave up pageant life the day she turned eighteen and figured she’d never look back. But when an old friend begs her to show her beloved Golden Retriever at the upcoming Canine Classic, Ruby reluctantly straps on her heels and gets to work.
If only she knew exactly what the adorably lazy lump of a dog was getting her into.
If there’s one thing veterinarian Spencer Wilson knows in this world, it’s dogs. Human beings are an entirely different animal. Especially stubborn, gorgeous women clearly in way over their heads. As judge for the local dog show, Spencer advises Ruby to quit while she still can, but her old fervor for winning has returned―and she wants to show the stern, broody-eyed judge that she’s more than just a pretty face. In the end, she’ll show him who’s best in show.
The Review:
An enemies-to-lovers rom-com about a dog show? Say no more! There’s nothing I love more than doggie sidekicks (even the stubborn ones), and a dog show seemed like a fresh new setting that I was bound to enjoy.
Ruby had great banter with pretty much all the other characters. She was clever and snarky, and I really liked how she handled herself. Mrs. Orsen was my favorite side character–I adore interesting older women, and she and her nursing home friends were a hoot.
Caleb and Spencer’s relationship was comically dysfunctional. Their method of dividing the house is definitely something my brother and I would do if we lived together. Spencer reads romance novels for research a la The Bromance Book Club.
And I have to admit, after a slow start, this book got surprisingly hot! Beware, this isn’t just a cutesy closed-door rom-com. I can’t tell you how many cringe-worthy sex scenes I’ve read, but this one was actually steamy in a good way. (Although, I take umbrage with the number of times the author used the word “mons”. This is not a sexy term. I’m at a count of three. I told Pat and now he won’t stop whispering “mons” whenever we’re in the same room.) Other than “mons”, though, the sex scenes were great.
Audio Review: This rom-com was read by a cast of two, Alex Knox and Macy Sterling. I liked both the male and female narrators. Both did a good job of varying their voices for different characters, and their diction was clear and easy to understand. I thought Macy was the perfect fit for Ruby’s character with just the right amount of snark added to her inflections. I haven’t listened to anything else by either of these narrators, but I would be happy to listen to them again in the future. Top points to the audio production!
“Life is so much better when you live it on your own terms.”
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