Sweetest Hate

Guys Next Door, Book 2

By: Baylin Crow

Narrated by: Iggy Toma

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.

Contains mature themes.

©2021 Baylin Crow (P)2022 Tantor

Mostly good

It’s a good story but the per portions are off for me. The hate part is longer than the sweet part. There’s very little relationship part and then boom the end. That being said it’s a pretty easy listen and I did enjoy the characters.
Great performance as well.

Don’t grind your molars, give it a listen!

After really not enjoying the first book in this series, I was more than pleasantly surprised at how much this title clicked for me.

Iggy Toma is in his element with the dark, brooding Arsen, but he also does a fine job with Kellen and the support characters.

While Crow falls into some very predictable romance novel elements - overly hyped descriptions of hair and eye color, or repetitive use of phrases like “I ground my molars”, she does create a compelling back story that gives Arsen depth that was completely missing in the first installment.

Never resorting to being syrupy, Crow digs deep in the hate part or enemies to lovers. While the Quinn/step brother story is left hanging a bit, Crow shows a controlled hand in creating a story she can actually conclude. Believe me, I hesitated pressing play after how much I disliked her earlier work.

She was focused and clear from the beginning, starting with a heartstring tugging prologue. While there are always little things you wish were done differently, I was impressed with this outing and highly recommend this book!

Such a sweet story!

I loved this story so much! Their happy ending had me sighing out loud many different times. Sweet story with just a little bit of angst.

The title says it all.

I'm really big on passion, and that's why I love the "hate" to romance trope. The one thing about most of these that is frustrating in most books is how quickly they progress from heated angry passion to the sappy parts. THIS book, however, did NOT disappoint! The passion starts quickly and does not subside! By the time you get to the sweetest HEA, you're breathless and tearing up! Iggy ALWAYS delivers with performance also! I don't even have to hear the sample when I see that name. You know who's who and none of the characters have a cringy voice. You don't wanna miss this one!

Made me cry

This was so well written. I was able to really relate to one of the main characters. I really connected with arson and the way his feelings about his broken family were portrayed.