{"id":29764,"date":"2022-12-30T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/?p=29764"},"modified":"2022-12-29T22:22:19","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T02:22:19","slug":"review-the-valentines-hate-by-sidney-halston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2022\/12\/30\/review-the-valentines-hate-by-sidney-halston\/","title":{"rendered":"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Valentine&#8217;s Hate by Sidney Halston"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-29764\" data-postid=\"29764\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-29764 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    \t\t\t<!-- module_row -->\n\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_2vax459 tb_first tf_w tf_clearfix\">\n\t    \t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top gutter-narrow tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t            <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-1 tb_lm73459 first\">\n                                                        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n                        <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_3asp459 rounded drop-shadow customBorderRad_top image-center auto_fullwidth tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-valentines-hate-sidney-halston.jpg?resize=332%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-29765\" title=\"the-valentines-hate-sidney-halston\" alt=\"the-valentines-hate-sidney-halston\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-valentines-hate-sidney-halston.jpg?w=332&amp;ssl=1 332w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-valentines-hate-sidney-halston.jpg?resize=199%2C300&amp;ssl=1 199w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-valentines-hate-sidney-halston.jpg?resize=400%2C602&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 332px) 100vw, 332px\" \/>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_u8gk459 customBorderRad_bottom repeat \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Cupid only strikes once. At least that\u2019s what Lissette Alonso believes. Ever since the Most Disastrous Valentine\u2019s Day of All Time\u2122 she has hated all things V-day. But Lizzie\u2019s best friend is having pre-nuptial festivities for a week leading up to her February 14<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0wedding and Lissette is taking her maid of honor duties seriously, maybe too seriously. Of course of course of course who is the first person she runs into on the way to the wedding? None other than her childhood nemesis, Brian Anderson, the reason for all of her Valentine\u2019s Day hatred.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Brian knows he messed up with Lizzie but give him a break, he was just a kid who was trying to look cool and Lizzie regularly pushed all of his buttons\u2014both in school and out of it. He\u2019s always been gruff and grumpy, but these days, Brian is much better off with his writing; fictional characters never talk back. Unlike Lizzie who\u00a0always has something to say.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Suddenly the two are back under the same roof and bickering like old times, except that Brian has bigger problems than dealing with Lizzie\u2019s verbal sparring. Someone Brian is desperate to avoid shows up and somehow Lizzie gets roped into pretending to be dating him. And, suddenly, the simmering anger has blossomed into something extra spicy\u2026<\/span><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-2 tb_qfde459 last\">\n                                                        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n                        <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_s2h4459  repeat \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-16467 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/3_5-hearts-1.jpg?resize=146%2C44&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"146\" height=\"44\" \/><\/p><hr \/><p><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> Dec 27, 2022<br \/><strong>Heat Level:<\/strong> Hot<br \/><strong>Publisher:<\/strong>\u00a0HarperCollins<br \/><strong>Imprint:<\/strong>\u00a0Avon Books<br \/><strong>Price:<\/strong> $10.99<\/p><hr \/><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Lizzie<\/strong> and<strong> Brian<\/strong> have been at war since they first met in elementary school. Brian has always embarrassed Lizzie on Valentine\u2019s Day so much that she hates the holiday. Lizzie is forced to face Brian again when they are stuck going to the same place. She is there for her friend\u2019s wedding, and he is doing a book tour for a series he created. He needs her help, and she could use his. They agree even if they both think it could lead to another showdown.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">I love the start of the story. Lizzie had good reason to dislike Brian in their younger days. He just seems to always be there for all of the embarrassing moments in her life, which happened on Valentine\u2019s Day. From the moment they met in 2nd grade, they had become enemies. The background gave a good idea of why Lizzie would be hesitant around him.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">The premise and ploy of the \u201csuper fans\u201d are very shaky. It gets them together to play along as lovers, but it is unrealistic. I also didn\u2019t care for the fan part of the story. I push Brian\u2019s career stuff out of my mind.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">They have an instant connection which they use to become enemies with benefits. I liked the premise, but they couldn\u2019t stay mad at each other long. This is not my first read by Ms. Halston, so I knew they would find themselves entangled quickly.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">Here is what bugged me the most about the story. Brian and Lizzie seem to be in such a good space. Readers get this chance to connect with them on an adult level as lovers and bam, a silly misunderstanding occurs. We are right back at the beginning of the book, where they are like children. The small misunderstanding does not call for the big blowout. I wanted them to behave like adults. I think it would have shown character development. Unfortunately, it did not add value to the story.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">The last thing is that the author kind of left it open. I don\u2019t particularly like that. She didn\u2019t have to include an epilogue, but the way it leaves it kind of open. I wonder, will there be another book, or is this a part of a series?<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">Overall, this is a relatively fast-paced read for people who like a light-hearted and steamy rom-com.<\/p><p><em>~ Samantha<\/em><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_h36e459 customBorderRad repeat \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QgVa0h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a><\/span><span class=\"s2\">\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apple.co\/3i0DRDP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">iBooks<\/span><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/the-valentines-hate-sidney-halston\/1141362625?ean=9780063286405\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">B&amp;N<\/span><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/the-valentine-s-hate-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">Kobo<\/span><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details\/Sidney_Halston_The_Valentine_s_Hate?id=W81sEAAAQBAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">Google Play<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n            \t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/row_inner -->\n\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/module_row -->\n\t<\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cupid only strikes once. At least that\u2019s what Lissette Alonso believes. Ever since the Most Disastrous Valentine\u2019s Day of All Time\u2122 she has hated all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,106,48,50],"tags":[148,183,216,217,419],"class_list":["post-29764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avon-books","category-harpercollins","category-reviews","category-samantha","tag-3-5-stars","tag-avon","tag-contemporary","tag-contemporary-romance","tag-rom-com"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Review \u2764\ufe0f The Valentine&#039;s Hate by Sidney Halston - Smitten by Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2022\/12\/30\/review-the-valentines-hate-by-sidney-halston\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Valentine&#039;s Hate by Sidney Halston - Smitten by Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cupid only strikes once. 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At least that\u2019s what Lissette Alonso believes. Ever since the Most Disastrous Valentine\u2019s Day of All Time\u2122 she has hated all things V-day. But Lizzie\u2019s best friend is having pre-nuptial festivities for a week leading up to her February 14<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0wedding and Lissette is taking her maid of honor duties seriously, maybe too seriously. Of course of course of course who is the first person she runs into on the way to the wedding? None other than her childhood nemesis, Brian Anderson, the reason for all of her Valentine\u2019s Day hatred.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brian knows he messed up with Lizzie but give him a break, he was just a kid who was trying to look cool and Lizzie regularly pushed all of his buttons\u2014both in school and out of it. He\u2019s always been gruff and grumpy, but these days, Brian is much better off with his writing; fictional characters never talk back. Unlike Lizzie who\u00a0always has something to say.\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Suddenly the two are back under the same roof and bickering like old times, except that Brian has bigger problems than dealing with Lizzie\u2019s verbal sparring. Someone Brian is desperate to avoid shows up and somehow Lizzie gets roped into pretending to be dating him. And, suddenly, the simmering anger has blossomed into something extra spicy\u2026<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/3_5-hearts-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"146\" height=\"44\" \/><\/p><hr \/><p><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> Dec 27, 2022<br \/><strong>Heat Level:<\/strong> Hot<br \/><strong>Publisher:<\/strong>\u00a0HarperCollins<br \/><strong>Imprint:<\/strong>\u00a0Avon Books<br \/><strong>Price:<\/strong> $10.99<\/p><hr \/><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Lizzie<\/strong> and<strong> Brian<\/strong> have been at war since they first met in elementary school. Brian has always embarrassed Lizzie on Valentine\u2019s Day so much that she hates the holiday. Lizzie is forced to face Brian again when they are stuck going to the same place. She is there for her friend\u2019s wedding, and he is doing a book tour for a series he created. He needs her help, and she could use his. They agree even if they both think it could lead to another showdown.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">I love the start of the story. Lizzie had good reason to dislike Brian in their younger days. He just seems to always be there for all of the embarrassing moments in her life, which happened on Valentine\u2019s Day. From the moment they met in 2nd grade, they had become enemies. The background gave a good idea of why Lizzie would be hesitant around him.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">The premise and ploy of the \u201csuper fans\u201d are very shaky. It gets them together to play along as lovers, but it is unrealistic. I also didn\u2019t care for the fan part of the story. I push Brian\u2019s career stuff out of my mind.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">They have an instant connection which they use to become enemies with benefits. I liked the premise, but they couldn\u2019t stay mad at each other long. This is not my first read by Ms. Halston, so I knew they would find themselves entangled quickly.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">Here is what bugged me the most about the story. Brian and Lizzie seem to be in such a good space. Readers get this chance to connect with them on an adult level as lovers and bam, a silly misunderstanding occurs. We are right back at the beginning of the book, where they are like children. The small misunderstanding does not call for the big blowout. I wanted them to behave like adults. I think it would have shown character development. Unfortunately, it did not add value to the story.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">The last thing is that the author kind of left it open. I don\u2019t particularly like that. She didn\u2019t have to include an epilogue, but the way it leaves it kind of open. I wonder, will there be another book, or is this a part of a series?<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">Overall, this is a relatively fast-paced read for people who like a light-hearted and steamy rom-com.<\/p><p><em>~ Samantha<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QgVa0h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apple.co\/3i0DRDP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iBooks<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/the-valentines-hate-sidney-halston\/1141362625?ean=9780063286405\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">B&amp;N<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/the-valentine-s-hate-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kobo<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details\/Sidney_Halston_The_Valentine_s_Hate?id=W81sEAAAQBAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Play<\/a><\/strong><\/p>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29764"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29770,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29764\/revisions\/29770"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}