Hurts to Love You

Heiress Eve Chandler has kept her distance from the wealthy and powerful Kane family, despite their close ties to her own. When circumstances force her to work with playboy Gabe Hunter at a wedding venue, she can no longer avoid confronting her long-held secret crush on him. Gabe views himself as an outsider among the elite social circles he frequents, having worked his way up from humble beginnings. His attraction to Eve challenges his assumptions about privilege and belonging, even as past family conflicts threaten their growing connection. The story explores class dynamics, family loyalty, and self-acceptance through the lens of a contemporary romance. Through Eve and Gabe's relationship, the narrative examines how childhood experiences shape adult relationships and the courage required to break free from limiting beliefs about oneself.

Reader reviews highlight the emotional depth and chemistry between the main characters Eve and Gabe. Many found Eve's personal growth journey compelling and appreciated the exploration of class differences in their relationship. Liked: - Strong consent and communication themes - Complex family dynamics - Resolution of series-long plotlines - Steamy romantic scenes - Representation of therapy and mental health Disliked: - Slower pacing compared to previous books in series - Some found Eve too hesitant/passive - Limited conflict between leads - Secondary characters overshadowing main romance Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (180+ ratings) "The emotional payoff was worth the slow build," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another reader on Amazon commented: "Eve's anxiety felt real but sometimes made scenes drag." Multiple reviews mentioned satisfaction with how the trilogy concluded, though some wanted more scenes with characters from previous books.

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang This contemporary romance follows a burned-out violinist who finds love with a motorcycle-riding caregiver while dealing with family expectations and personal growth.

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai A dating app CEO navigates trust issues and second chances when she reconnects with a former professional football player who ghosted her.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert A PhD student enters a fake relationship with a security guard after a viral video brings them together, leading to real feelings and mutual healing.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang A Vietnamese woman moves to America to pursue an arranged relationship with an autistic man who believes himself incapable of love.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey A former baseball player and his best friend's sister enter a fake relationship to rebuild his reputation and her professional credibility.

🔹 "Hurts to Love You" is the third and final book in Alisha Rai's Forbidden Hearts series, completing a trilogy that explores the complex relationships between two feuding families in upstate New York. 💘 Author Alisha Rai made history as the first South Asian author to win the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award, though not for this particular book. 🔹 The novel tackles themes of class differences and family expectations, particularly through its protagonist Eve Chandler, who secretly runs a successful app development business despite her wealthy family's disapproval. 💘 The book features a reverse age gap romance, with the heroine being younger and wealthier than the hero - a dynamic that was relatively uncommon in mainstream romance novels at the time of publication. 🔹 While writing the Forbidden Hearts series, Alisha Rai drew from her experience working in her family's restaurant business to create authentic details about the food service industry featured in the books.