Hate to Want You

Olivia Kane and Nicholas Chandler were childhood sweethearts whose families co-owned a successful grocery store empire. A devastating accident a decade ago tore their families apart, forcing Olivia and Nicholas to end their relationship. For the past ten years, Olivia and Nicholas have maintained a secret arrangement to meet just once per year, on her birthday. Olivia has built a career as a tattoo artist while traveling the world, while Nicholas remained home to run the family business. When Olivia returns to her hometown to help care for her mother, she and Nicholas must navigate their complex history in close proximity. Their renewed proximity forces them to confront long-buried family secrets and their own unresolved feelings. The novel explores themes of loyalty, inheritance, and the tension between family obligations and personal desires. Through its central romance, it examines how past trauma shapes present relationships and the possibility of healing generational wounds.

Most readers describe this as an emotional romance focused on complex family dynamics and second chances. Reviews frequently mention the strong chemistry between the leads and the depth of character development. Readers liked: - The exploration of mental health, including depression and anxiety - Diverse representation and cultural elements - The balance of steamy scenes with emotional depth - Complex family relationships and conflicts Common criticisms: - Plot pacing feels slow in the middle - Some found the backstory and family drama overcomplicated - Several readers wanted more resolution to family conflicts Ratings: Goodreads: 3.89/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) BookBub: 4.1/5 (400+ ratings) One reader noted: "The emotional complexity makes this more than just another romance." Another commented: "The family drama overwhelmed the love story at times."

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🔥 The novel launched Alisha Rai's "Forbidden Hearts" series, which explores the complex dynamics of a Romeo-and-Juliet-style family feud between the Kanes and the Chandlers. 💝 Author Alisha Rai was one of the first South Asian authors to hit the USA Today bestseller list in the contemporary romance genre. 📱 The book features a modern twist on the secret romance trope, with the main characters coordinating their annual one-night encounters via text message. 🎨 The protagonist, Livvy Kane, is a tattoo artist—a profession rarely featured in mainstream romance novels when the book was published in 2017. 🌟 "Hate to Want You" earned starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, with Publishers Weekly praising it as "deeply felt and passionate."