Reviewed by True
TITLE: Sweetest Hate
SERIES: Guys Next Door #2
AUTHOR: Baylin Crow
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 216 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2021
BLURB:
Kellan—Messing around with Arsen is like playing with fire and I can’t help but crave the burn.
The day I met my best friend’s new stepbrother I fell into hate with the moody jerk. The feeling is mutual. I loathe him and unfortunately want him in equal measures. At least he seems to be suffering the same undeniable pull. He infuriates me. He’s crawled under my skin.
Arsen has the ability to ruin me for anyone else, and I want to let him.
A mix-up during a trip to the lake puts us in an inconvenient situation where we end up sharing a room. Worse, once we get home, I’m left unable to escape him. He’s right next door and impossible to ignore.
As we spend time together, I’m forced to realize there’s so much more to him than I expected. I thought I had feelings for my best friend, but Arsen has me questioning everything I know about love.
It’s the sweetest hate, or maybe it’s something else entirely.
Sweetest Hate is the second book in the Guys Next Door series and can be read as a standalone. It’s about two guys who may not hate each other as much as they thought. Maybe it’s the opposite. Maybe they can teach each other exactly how to love.
REVIEW:
Love and hate are both strong emotions, sometimes the line between them is thin, very thin.
Meeting his stepmother and stepbrother isn’t something Arsen wants to do but has to.
Arsen’s cold and unreachable father has found a second wife, yah, and ugh. The man wasn’t there for him when he needed him.
At first sight his stepbrother Quinn is kind until they are together and Arsen’s eyes fall on Kellan, Quinn’s best friend. The message is clear, Kellan is forbidden fruit.
Quinn quickly tells Kellan what an asshole Arsen is.
There is a mix-up when Quinn and Arsen both are staying at Arsen’s dad’s luxurious cabin with their friends.
Arsen wants to conquer Kellan, the attraction between them is strong. Kellan hates Arsen already. Little does he know, the arrogant, moody guy with his dirty mouth, listens, he absorbs everything Kellan tells.
It was a strongly and clearly written narrative, well outlined, full of tension. I loved the enemies to lovers part.
I would have loved to see the openness and vulnerability earlier in the story. Those moments made me cry, Arsen with his big mouth was hiding so much beauty, it hurt to know. The characters are well pictured, the development slightly.
The story was almost mainly focused on Arsen and Kellan, with some attractive sexy encounters. There were friends in the picture but more in the background. The plot is not complicated but quite forceful, I loved that.
RATING: 
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