Review: Love to Hate You by Marina Adair

I received this book via the publisher 8th Note Press. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Love to Hate You by Marina Adair
Published by 8th Note Press on 2025-04-22
Length: 336 pages
Reviewing eARC from the publisher 8th Note Press
Rating:
Reading Challenges: #NGEW2025, 2025 New Release Challenge

A modern twist on You’ve Got Mail starring an indie bookstore owner looking for true love and a cynical CEO who may ruin everything, from New York Times bestselling author Marina Adair.

Summer Russo believes in the power of destiny and true love . . . which might be why she sank her entire life savings into reviving a nearly-bankrupt independent bookstore that specializes in romance novels and beach reads. But just as she starts to get the hang of the new business, a big-box bookstore moves in next door, run by the grumpy and arrogant Kingston, who seems determined to ruin her day (and her livelihood).

Wes Kingston is a cut-throat CEO who doesn’t believe in love — or failure. He runs his business the way he runs his life: alone. And he isn’t going to let a fiery femme fatale take him down. Especially when she is dead set on stopping the opening of his new bookstore.

At least Summer has her family's annual vacation in Mystic, CT to look forward to as a break from the standoff. But when she arrives at the beachside cabin, she realizes that her usual summer respite may not be so carefree after all. Her sister has brought along not only her boyfriend but his brother, who just happens to be the very same surly-but-infuriatingly-sexy bookstore mogul Summer thought she was getting away from.

The bookstore war is still on, and neither Summer nor Kingston will go down without a fight. But when one thing leads to another and fighting turns to foreplay, both find themselves stuck in a battle for the bookstore — and for their hearts.

This was a cute cupcake read. Easy, quick, and left a smile on my face. Love to Hate You by Marina Adair is about an independent bookstore owner falling for the owner of the box chain bookstore moving in across the street. Summer Russo bought her aunt’s bookstore a few years prior and has kept it going with grit, determination, and a lot of love. The store is niche, featuring romance books and hosting monthly bookclubs. She’s even added a coffee bar. But none of that matters with Wes Kingston and his retail giant of a bookstore moving in across the street. With weeks til opening, Summer has to come up with someway to save her store and the legacy that was passed on to her.

Summer is a fun character and reminds me a bit of myself. She’s hardworking, independent, and sometimes anxiety gets in the way of her plans. She understands what it means to fail, having watched her family go through it when her dad’s small business went bankrupt due to a large chain store moving in. Now, she’s facing the same thing and fighting to stay afloat. The one thing she looks forward to every year is summer on the beach with her family, which includes her twin sister. But this year, Autumn brings her boyfriend who brings his brother who happens to be Summer’s nemesis.

I loved Wes. He is a lot like Summer in that he is hardworking and determined to make his business succeed. For him, it is all about his brother. Their father left the business to them, putting Wes in charge as CEO on an interim basis. The catch is he has to grow the business within a year or control of the company goes to the board, leaving Wes and his brother out. Determined to see the business succeed, he isn’t really all that worried about the consequences to Summer. Now though, spending vacation on the beach with Summer and her family, he begins to question what he thought was the right thing to do.

This book moves at a fast pace. I loved the dual POV, flipping back and forth between Wes and Summer. I’m not sure I’d have fallen for Wes otherwise. Most of the book is set at the beach house on vacation. Summer and Wes are forced together over and over again as they watch their siblings fall in love. It’s laugh-out-loud funny at moments with some sweet and spicy mixed in.

Overall, I really enjoyed Love to Hate You. It would make a perfect weekend or vacation read. If you are a fan of the author, romantic comedy, or are just looking for a quick read, I highly recommend it.

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