Childhood Enemies to Lovers, A Shakespeare Retelling, 10 Things I Hate About You & an Iconic Paintball Scene
Better Hate Than Never
The Wilmot Sisters (Book 2)
Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Berkley
October 10, 2023
ebook, audiobook, paperback
399
Childhood enemies discover the fine line between love and loathing in this heartfelt reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.
Katerina Wilmot and Christopher Petruchio shared backyards as kids, but as adults they won’t even share the same hemisphere. That is, until Kate makes a rare visit home, and their fiery animosity rekindles into a raging inferno.
Despite their friends’ and families' pleas for peace, Christopher is unconvinced Kate would willingly douse the flames of their enmity. But when a drunken Kate confesses she’s only been hostile because she thought he hated her, Christopher vows to make peace with Kate once and for all. Tempting as it is to be swept away by her nemesis-turned-gentleman, Kate isn’t sure she can trust his charming good-guy act.
When Christopher’s persistence and Kate’s curiosity lead to an impassioned kiss, they realize “peace” is the last thing that will ever be possible between them. As desire gives way to deeper feelings, Kate and Christopher must decide if it’s truly better to hate than to never risk their hearts—or if they already gave them away long ago.
“I look at her and see a tumbleweed who’ll never stay in one safe place, a money-hating hellion who despises what I covet for its stability and power, a fierce, electrifying woman who could send me up in flames if I got too close.”
As if there was any doubt that Chloe Liese’s second book in the Wilmot Sisters series wouldn’t as phenomenal or better than the first, Liese went ahead and surpassed every single expectation I had. With keenly written characters, more than one nod to Shakespeare as well as 10 Things I Hate About You, Better Hate Than Never is engrossing with the tension so expertly expressed on the page between main characters Kate and Christopher.
Kate and Christopher are rivals, neighbors since childhood, full of animosity and ire, but yet so soft and squishy for each other. Better Hate Than Never should be dubbed a mutual grumpy/sunshine as both characters walk that fine line between love and hate in a way that had giggling like a besotted fangirl on more than one occasion. Freshly returned from overseas and between photography jobs due to an injury she told no one about, Kate is struggling to find a place for herself within her family. Whereas Christopher is struggling with Kate being back in his life, and the more time they spend together (whether inadvertent or not) it becomes increasingly more difficult for Christopher to convince himself (and those around him) that his disregard for Kate is based on hated—definitely not love.
“Okay. So, fine. Christopher isn’t a completely evil capitalist. But he’s still definitely a capitalist. With an amazing chest. Who tangos like a fucking god. And smells so damn good.”
Both main characters, Kate and Christopher, are neurospicy with ADHD and chronic migraines (respectively). Chloe Liese has handled their romance and the neurodivergence with such care and that is easily translated to how swept away I was in this story. Picking up almost immediately upon the ending of the first book in there series (Two Wrongs Make a Right), Better Hate Than Never delivers the modern day equivalent of The Taming of the Shrew. As any 90’s baby would know, if there’s a Shakespeare retelling of this beloved play, then surely 10 Things I Hate About You would be mentioned. Rest assured there plenty of references. Chloe Liese’s take on the iconic paintball scene delivers an emotional punch and I think improved upon the cinematic version. Kate and Christopher’s will they or won’t they tango reaches a crescendo during this scene, and I’ll openly admit it lives rent free in my head.
There is so much to love about Chloe Liese. Not only does she create characters that are so well-conceptualized that they easily come to life in my mind, but her writing seamlessly weaves emotion, action, as well as information in such a way that entire chunks of time effortlessly slip by me whenever I read any of her books. Between the romance, the characters that I loved who were flawed and wonderful, and one of the best grovel/wooing from a male character that I’ve read, Better Hate Than Never is a standout novel.
“How do you make things right with someone without making things good between you? How do you set a break without grafting yourselves together in the healing?”
Chloe Liese is easily a Hive favorite. Val and I were lucky enough to be able to interview her in Dallas over the summer at Book Bonanza. Bee sure to watch for when the full interview is available! Better Hate Than Never is surely going to be a favorite amongst readers as this story has it all. Kate and Christopher have a special place in my heart, and I highly recommend that you have your copy preordered so you’re ready for release day!
Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.
