Release Blitz + Review: "Love the One You Hate" by R.S. Grey

I am delighted to participate in today's release blitz celebrating author R.S. Grey's latest standalone novel, "Love the One You Hate." I loved this book so much, just as I have so many of Ms. Grey's previous books. She has a gift for creating likeable, relatable characters and compelling stories, and this one was no exception. Main characters Maren Mitchell and Nicholas Hunt had a really fun, slow burn, enemies-to-lovers relationship dynamic that kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting for them to finally admit their true feelings for each other. I kept reading long past my bedtime because I just had to know what was going to happen next in this story! Overall, I highly recommend "Love the One You Hate" and can't wait to see what Ms. Grey will come up with next.

About "Love the One You Hate"

Nicholas Hunt is the man I hate.

For good reason.

His opinion of me is tainted by prejudice even before my arrival at his grandmother’s estate, and my first impression of him is just as abysmal.

His arrogance and icy demeanor make it clear that he’s the type of man who’s best handled at a distance.

Fortunately, space shouldn’t be an issue inside this Gilded Age mansion and its lush gardens. If I stick with the servants and he keeps to his sailboat and vintage Porsche, we should hardly cross paths at all. Unfortunately, at Rosethorn, I find that all roads eventually lead to Nicholas Hunt.

Sparks fly as we spar at the dinner table. Fighting words are flung in the shadows of the palatial halls.

We hang suspended in our hatred of one another, painfully oblivious to the heat and tension that build with every moment we’re left alone. We’re liable to kill one another, I think…right up until my eyes land on his lips and a new feeling grips hold of me: lust.

What’s worse?

He knows it.

They say you should keep your enemies close, but when Nicholas tightens his grip on my waist and draws me near, I’m not sure if it’s out of loathing or love.

One thing’s for sure—I intend to find out.

My Review

I adored "Love the One You Hate" by R.S. Grey, a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance featuring endearing, well-developed characters and a funny, heartwarming plot. The story was set in Newport, not the Hamptons, but even so, it reminded me a bit of "The Great Gatsby" (though with a much happier outcome for the main characters). The female lead character, Maren Mitchell, provided an outsider's perspective on the upper class world, and I very much enjoyed the descriptions of the beautiful Gilded Age mansions and Newport coast that were provided along the way.

Maren was a wonderful lead character: tough but vulnerable, kind, honest, and loyal. The reason that Cornelia hired her to work at the Rosethorn estate was a bit of a mystery at first, but it made for compelling reading as I tried to figure out if Cornelia had some kind of master plan in mind beyond a simple offer of employment. I really liked Maren, and I couldn't help but hope that good things would happen for her. The friendship she formed with Cornelia was really lovely, and it set them both on a path to a whole new life.

Cornelia's grandson and Maren's eventual love interest, Nicholas Hunt, seemed to be very cool and reserved at first, but it was easy to see how much he loved his grandmother. He always tried to look out for her, even when she thought she didn't need his help. Nicholas was deeply suspicious of Maren in the beginning, but she slowly won him over, which made perfect sense to me because they had a lot more in common than they realized.

Overall, "Love the One You Hate" was an excellent read, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I look forward to R.S. Grey's next book!

*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.