From USA Today, BookTok, and #1 Amazon bestselling author Kandi Steiner comes an angsty and emotional stand-alone romance about first love, buried pain, and the one person you can never quite let go of, featuring bonus content exclusive to this print edition.
How can you hate someone who still owns your heart?
Jasmine Olsen hasn’t been home in seven years for a very good reason. Some memories cut too deep, and sometimes running is the only way to survive. But when her best friend’s wedding brings her back to the small town she desperately tried to escape, she finally comes face to face with… him.
Tyler Wagner. The boy who broke her heart. The man she never quite forgot. And, unfortunately, her best friend’s brother. Charismatic, confident, and unyielding, Tyler is everything Jasmine can’t afford to want. And now, as the wedding fast approaches, he’s everywhere—testing boundaries they never defined, stirring feelings they both pretended were long buried.
With every stolen glance, his golden eyes lure her into their depths. Unable to escape his pull, the memory of them tightens like a rip current, dragging her under. And when he flashes her that smile, she loses her breath along with the last of her restraint.
She wants to hate him. She needs to hate him.
But if he kisses her again, she’ll drown.
And this time, she’ll take him down with her.
How can you hate someone who still owns your heart?
Jasmine Olsen hasn’t been home in seven years for a very good reason. Some memories cut too deep, and sometimes running is the only way to survive. But when her best friend’s wedding brings her back to the small town she desperately tried to escape, she finally comes face to face with… him.
Tyler Wagner. The boy who broke her heart. The man she never quite forgot. And, unfortunately, her best friend’s brother. Charismatic, confident, and unyielding, Tyler is everything Jasmine can’t afford to want. And now, as the wedding fast approaches, he’s everywhere—testing boundaries they never defined, stirring feelings they both pretended were long buried.
With every stolen glance, his golden eyes lure her into their depths. Unable to escape his pull, the memory of them tightens like a rip current, dragging her under. And when he flashes her that smile, she loses her breath along with the last of her restraint.
She wants to hate him. She needs to hate him.
But if he kisses her again, she’ll drown.
And this time, she’ll take him down with her.
Title: Make Me Hate You
Author: Kandi Steiner
Publisher:
Expected Publication Date: October 6, 2026
Previously Publisher: August 6, 2020
Review:
Thank you to Keeperton Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I will admit, I picked this up strictly for the fact that it's Steiner and I really enjoyed Love Overboard so much. I didn't read the blurb, though when I went back to read it I see that it is just an excerpt from part of the book. I didn't know the tropes going into this, except that it was romance. Had I known, I would not have picked it up because I despise cheating. For me, there is never a right reason to do it. Whether it be physical or emotional, nope, I just don't agree with it. I also didn't realize this book was previously released in 2020 and is on NetGalley because it's getting a new cover and publisher picking it up for October 2026. My bad for not paying attention to that tide bit. But since I didn't know, into the story I dove.
NetGalley also doesn't list the narrator for the book. I'm not extremely picky about narrators as long as they pull me into the story and make me want to push forward to find out what happens. Since the narrator's name wasn't listed, I hunted around to find who it was and saw it was Holly Warren. I have listened to a few books narrated by her and figured I would enjoy her voice. I liked her voice for the FMC well enough, but when she voiced the other characters I was unimpressed. The accents really threw me off and just didn't seem realistic, though I know the Boston accent so I understand where the narrator was going with what she was doing. I really didn't think the accents gave anything to the story at all. Overall the narration just wasn't for me and kind of ruined even the hint of me potentially liking this book.
I know many authors who get publishing deals will have their previous books reworked and republished under that publisher. I am assuming that is what is happening with this book. But, I expect those books to be combed through and fixed up so they are better than what was previously published. I can honestly say this one didn't strike me that way at all. And if it was re-edited, then shame on the publisher because it really just wasn't good. There was so much telling in this story. The back story was super short and did not solidify the past relationship between the FMC and MMC. Flashbacks definitely would have worked well in this story but it was not done that way leaving us to only imagine why the FMC and MMC could possibly have any history at all.
I hated the MMC the entire time. He was just mean. I get the angst that was trying to be portrayed but it just did not work for me at all. And the FMC allows it to happen. Both characters are quite selfish and immature for their ages. I wasn't invested in them getting together mostly because I had no real background to understand the angst that was trying to be portrayed.
I ended up switching to the print version in the hopes it was the audio that was keeping me from enjoying this book, but that wasn't it at all. I just didn't care about the story, I disliked all the characters, and I just wanted it to end so I skimmed from the middle on. It's really a shame more wasn't done to spruce this book up because I can see the bones of a good story despite the fact that I don't like the cheating trope. A trope like this requires a huge redemption arc for me, and maybe some villainy on the parts of the people being cheated on, and it just didn't happen. I had a hard time believing the main characters had such a connection as teens that they would fight for what they might have as adults.
Overall this one just wasn't for me, though I see it has some great reviews so I do hope others like it more than me.
Author:
Kandi Steiner is a USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events
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