I Hated You First (The Sworn to Loathe You Series)

Sworn to Loathe You #1

by Rachel John

Sometimes love is war. Clay... My best friend has held a grudge against his half-sister, Lauren, forever. It's unjustified and ridiculous, but I have to take his side. Also ridiculous? How bad I have it for her. My Lauren radar goes off the second she steps in the building. Did I mention we work together and her dad's the boss? Yeah, she's so off-limits I might as well start running now and never come back. Except, her family is like family to me. So, I'll do whatever it takes to stick around, even if she hates my guts. Lauren... I date guys nothing like Clay on purpose. I will not let my old crush on him get the best of me. It's going on the list of things I've outgrown and will deny ever having, like the Justin Bieber poster I used to keep on the back of my door. It doesn't matter that I've caught Clay looking at me like he's a jewel thief and I'm a precious gem encased in glass. He'd never choose me over my brother, or his job, or his enjoyment in teasing me. Avoiding Clay is easy, until the day I realize my dad's asked for Clay's help in checking up on my dates. No stinking way.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook, Clean Romance, Chick Lit

1 pages, Audio CD

Published March 21, 2023

About the author

Rachel John is the author of books filled with awkward humor and sigh-inducing romance. When not burning dinner or chasing kids, Rachel can be found working on family history, writing, reading, or putting off writing by staring at Facebook. She lives in Arizona with her husband, four crazy kids, and her desert tortoise.

Reviews

[nikki ౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok quick read.. at the beginning. I actually liked both Clay and Lauren. Their relationship was complicated from the very first moment, but the tension was there and I sensed it the same as others around them did. I personally wouldn’t really say this was enemies-to-lovers, more like close people bickering all the time but really caring about each other. What I didn’t like is how they relationship was rushed. It felt like the first part was a slow burn and then we never really got enough of them two together.

I also found myself to be annoyed about the situation with Lauren’s dad. His overprotectiveness was at times getting ridiculous and I found myself rolling my eyes way too many times. And because of that the plot was very predictable.. Anyway, I just wish the second half was as good as the first one because then the rating would be so much different.

[Elisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

tropes: enemies to lovers, brother's best friend, mutual pining

when you say this is a 'enemies to lovers' I want banter!
this was a clean romance but since it had great banter, and it had the 'i want you but we can't be together, so I'm gonna pretend I hate you', I didn't care that about the sexy moments.

if you want something fast and cute, this book might be for you :)

[Sofi (sofi.bookshelf) 🩷✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐️

En este libro se mezclan varios clichés que me gustan. Tales como; rivals to lovers, my brother’s best friend, compañeros de oficina, he falls first, entre otros.

Es una buena historia para pasar el rato y divertirte. La autora supo meter una trama adictiva y con sentido en las 207 páginas que tiene este libro.

Yo lo escuché en audiolibro mientras ordenaba mi librero y siento que es una historia perfecta para tenerla de fondo mientras haces algo porque no te marca ni necesita que le prestes atención 24/7.

Me gusta mucho que en este libro el protagonista masculino espante a los novios de ella porque la quiere para él. No sé porqué eso me gusta tanto cuando aparece en los libros. Puede que sea mi tóxica interior deseando hacer lo mismo JAJA.

No hay mucho más que pueda mencionar, ya que en si considero que es una historia plana. No quiero analizarla más de lo que considero que debería puesto que es un libro para entretenerte, no para cambiarte la vida.

¿Lo recomiendo? Siii, es un romcom que sabe mezclar los clichés que todos amamos.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute! Admittedly, brother's best friend is not my favourite romance trope—but with the tension of Lauren and Clay also being coworkers, I really enjoyed the added conflict to their forbidden relationship. Both working for Sun Valley Heavy Equipment Rental (owned by Lauren's family), it was great to see a heroine excel in a male-dominated environment.

Completely overbearing and hotheaded, the Harwoods were a fun bunch. Clay often being the glue keeping all members collected, I really loved the element of found family. And I'm a sucker for secretive pining between characters! After seven years of denial, the subtle touches, teasing torment, and truck comparisons (ha!) between Lauren and Clay were precious.

Knowing their relationship would cause a lot of chaos to pursue, it's filled with sweet moments of hidden meetups. This was super fast paced and overall a joy to read!

[claudiagideons · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
“for her every other guy was gray and fuzzy, and clay was in vibrant color”
this was a quick, cute and easy read. nothing more and nothing less.

[abby myles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ because I’m a sucker for a brother’s best friend, workplace romance that’s secret and forbidden.
We got a lot of build up and tension leading into them not teasing each other all the time but then jumped real quick into relationship and talking about marriage that it just felt like something was missing.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. This was so much fun.

Just yesterday I wrote a bad review (don’t worry, I wasn’t cruel) for a shallow, un-funny rom-com that was trying way too hard to get laughs. I said in the review that I like genuine humor and real-life, believable behavior and characters over all that contrived, silly crap that is flooding the rom-com market.
And then, bam! My next read was the perfect example of a rom-com done right!

This book was great!
The dead pan humor was LOL perfection.
The characters were super cool (and normal, thankfully).
The writing was engaging.
The chemistry and tension were high.
The flirting was just my kryptonite.
The conflict was legit.
The communication between the love interests was on point.

I loved it, and I can’t wait to see what else this author has written.

Also, this is the I-can’t-date-my-brothers-best-friend trope done right. TBH, I’ve always considered that obstacle to be the dumbest, most contrived romantic conflict ever. But this is the first time I’ve encountered where it’s totally believable, and I’m duly impressed.

I am shocked it has middling ratings on GR. I think the title might be the reason. They don’t start off as hard-core enemies. Which I actually really liked. But maybe some people felt misled. Anyway, it was def 5 stars for me!

Slow clap for Ms Rachel John. Well done! Loved this!


Content-

Language- no swears
Spice- clean. Some kisses.
Substance abuse- none
Violence- none
Cover- ok. As for the art, I like the dude but the girl is just ok.
POV- dual POV and I liked it!
Cliffhanger- no. The epilogue ties it with a bow while simultaneously setting up for the next book with a new romantic couple. Can’t wait!
Format- KU

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Necesitaba una lectura cómo está linda y divertida ♥️

Amé a Clay y Lauren 🥺😍 son tan lindos, sus bromas fueron lo más 🤣

Lauren nunca se ha llevado bien con su hermanastro Parker. Clay es el mejor amigo de Parker y debido a esto siempre ha mantenido su distancia con Lauren. Y pues su relación no es la más amistosa 🤣

Clay trabaja en la empresa de la familia de Lauren, que es como su familia también, son compañeros de trabajo y su convivencia es un poco "incómoda".

Clay ha estado enamorado de Lauren desde siempre y Lauren lo ha estado de Clay (ambos piensan que no son correspondidos) además ella piensa que de suceder algo con Clay él nunca la elegiría a ella (por la amistad que tiene con Parker) lo que lleva a Lauren a salir con chicos que son lo opuesto totalmente a cómo es Clay.

Hasta que Lauren está saliendo con un nuevo chico y se entera su padre y le pide que lo lleve a una comida familiar y por si fuera poco el papá de Lauren le pide ayuda a Clay para que controle y vigilé a este nuevo chico 🤭🤣

Y obviamente pues luego empezarán a cambiar las cosas entre ellos, iniciarán con simples coqueteos y más ... ✨

Fue una lectura que disfrute mucho, me divertí y amé a estos dos ✨💜

[PAULINA MIGUEL · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. The title is clickbait, it wasn’t really enemies to lovers. Absolutely no reason for the main characters to hate each other.
2. Overprotective father too exaggerated.
3. I didn’t buy into the romance for some reason. Nothing against the main characters they seemed genuine but meh.
4. Lauren and her brother didn’t have any serious issues at all. Only their immaturity.
5. I don’t understand why Lauren had to date (more like using) guys so “different” from Clay, it doesn’t prove any points.
6. Cringe worthy at times.

Anyway, not enough drama a bit bland and predictable. The story tries to sell you this dynamics tension and drama when it’s really nonexistent.

[noemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 the book wasn’t really enemies to lovers but i really liked it just wished there was more to the story it was really short.

[✧.* chels de haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this is just a few hours, it’s just a short and sweet enemies? - to lovers book. which is my favourite trope btw!!! loved it.

[Ana | SheSaidYestoBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

This was such a cute and fun read! It wasn’t your typical enemy to lovers, since the main characters secretly have a thing for each other. And personally I love when the hero is smitten and only has eyes for heroine. Clay was such a sweetheart. But you’ll still get all the sassy talk and teasing of the enemy to lovers trope. I’m still with a smile on my face.

[Georgina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3…

It was okay, but felt more like a YA novel rather than a love story about people in their twenties…
Overall it was a very basic easy read, but I found it a little too bland and it took me a while to finish it because of this.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my very favorite kind of book to read! I loved the enemies vibe throughout most of the book. And it was laugh out loud funny!

I loved that the reader gets to hear from both of the main characters. That is one of my very favorite things in books. It makes the plot more full and complete to hear both sides of the story.

Lauren and Clay’s relationship is very complicated. They have known each other for a really long time. Clay was Lauren’s brother, Parker’s, best friend. And as adults, the two of them work together in Lauren’s family business. This makes plenty of time for funny moments and mean moments between the two of them.

I loved Lauren. And her family, they are all a bit dysfunctional. Her dad especially is crazy. I had to laugh when he basically asks Clay to check up on all of Lauren’s dates. Who does that?!

This book was so great! I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the romance and the humor. It’s one you should really read!

I was sent an e-copy of I Hated You First as a gift from author, Rachel John. All opinions are my own.

[victoria_tonks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I read practically everything Rachel John publishes, but this book is one of my top favourites. I loved the story and the characters - both the MCs and the whole family. It is also the first time ever I have found the you-can't-date-your-best-friend'sister scenario no only believable, but totally acceptable (and I can tell you it is one of the tropes I do find extremely annoying).

This is chick lit, true, but there is always quite a lof of depth and real feelings behind RJ's writing, which to me makes it stand out. And this book is also very funny. Well worth reading if you need some cheering up. And maybe even rereading in the future.

This book goes straight to my comfort-read shelf. I cannot wait for the next installment in what I hope will be an entire series.

Oh, and the book is clean (just some kissing).

MTA: An audiobook version this time around. The reading is not brilliant, but it is more than competent, so I was able to fully enjoy one of my favourite comfort reads.

[Sally Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely darling, fun story that's not-quite-enemies-to-lovers. I say "not quite" because there's some pining going on, SECRETLY. I loved this story. Super cute. Super fun. The family drama is awesome. The NUTCRACKER made me laugh so much. I love Rachel John's books - this one is no exception.

[Dani Boise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a ⭐⭐💫 for me, rounding down to 2 because while there were some moments that I thought were super sweet, there were also moments that took me out of the story. Let me explain that further down....

I'll start with: Lauren and Clay's story is cute and funny. The chapters are from 1st person POV, alternating between Lauren and Clay. I liked the insights into each of their feelings to the other. Definitely not a terrible read; it is well-written. It is short which is why I picked it up this weekend. Their bickering is cute in a "brothers best friend" or "we grew up together" kind of way-- as other reviews have stated I don't know if I'd go as far to call them "enemies" but I get the whole "choosing to side with my best friend" mindset of Clay's character, making it seem like he can't show his true feelings for his friend's little sister.

What I did not love is certain scenes with plot holes that took me out of the story.

***Little scene-specific Spoiler below***
A specific example (not the only example but the "worst" offender for me): Lauren is over to Clay's house. The book specifically states "she dropped her bag on the couch" before they go to the kitchen (it also states she got a phone call and after ending the call she put her phone back in the bag, which is still on the couch). Someone shows up ringing the doorbell. They have an idea of who it is so Clay indicates Lauren should go down the hallway to hide. Surprise, surprise (not) it is her brother. My first thought is "ohhhh, he's going to see her bag on the couch and know they're together." Welp, NO. Clay escapes to "go to the bathroom" and tells Lauren she should leave. She sneaks out his bedroom window. She then texts him (how'd she get her phone that was in her bag?) and then drives home (were her truck keys not in her bag that was on the couch?!) It could probably have been an exciting moment, with a little thrill of hoping not to be caught; but as I said before, it just took me out of the story because I had so many logistical questions about that situation. Like, could there have been a sentence thrown in saying she grabbed her bag while leaving the kitchen, on the way by the couch? Did she not have to walk back towards the living room/ near the couch and if so, howwww did she end up with all her things????
Might not be a big deal to some but for me it was too much. Again-- this is not the only time I had these thoughts like "but she just had her phone and now it's 'lost' somewhere?!"

[samantha ఌ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly don't know how to rate this. I don't hate it, but at the same time I felt nothing for this book. I thought I'd enjoy this because it had mutual pining, and I'm such a sucker for the trope. Especially when we get to see both sides. But this book... it didn't work for me.

The whole story itself was pretty boring and lackluster, the characters were bland and nothing really stood out to me. I didn't even feel the chemistry between Clay and Lauren. Nothing in this book had something to make me look forward to continue reading. The only reason why I even got through this book was because of the short chapters.

In the end, I'll settle for 2 stars. Because while I didn't enjoy this, I don't hate it enough to give it a 1 star.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

My views might be strongly influenced by the fact that I HATED the narrator of the audiobook.

[Mela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and fast reading, the banters were lovely too. But I didn't see the need for supposed hatred. They could have just teased themselves.

[2.5-3 stars]

[Joana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5⭐️

Neste livro conhecemos a Lauren e o Clay, o melhor amigo do seu irmão. Além disso, os dois trabalham juntos e não se suportam. No entanto, há uma linha muito ténue entre o amor e o ódio, não é verdade?


Não achei o livro nada de especial. Senti que faltou profundidade na história e nas personagens.
Este livro simplesmente não resultou comigo.

[Pixie Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

My full review can be read here: bit.ly/3wlHveg

“Well, yeah. But where do you see the two of us in a year?” I inched closer to Clay, which added to his nervousness about where I was going with this.

“The two of us?” Clay’s voice cracked a little, making me want to dig harder.

“Yeah, the two of us.”

“I see us happy. Don’t you?”

I smiled. “I do.”

This review was supposed to be done foreverrrrrr ago, but...LIFE. Sighs. Anyway, I really enjoyed the book!! (My 100+ highlights are proof of that lollll)

​It was cute, funny, and I loveddddd all the tropes! 😍😍

As far as content goes: No language. Suggestive material/innuendos. Clay and Lauren's secret relationship is obviously part of the plot. Lauren's dad and brother were...a lot at times lol, but they meant well for the most part. Clay was raised by his grandparents because his mother died from leukemia when he was a baby, and he never knew who his father was. I honestly can't think of anything else. I would describe the book as a mild "PG-13 romance movie."

*A quick note for my fellow epilogue-lovers: the book has one, but it was partially to set up for Jenny's book.*
​

Time to share some IMPORTANT points!

1: Dudeeeeee, their flirting is so cute!!

2: Okay, but Denver is actually a decent guy

3: Special spot

4: The cookiesssss

5: I want to slap Parker

6: “Crying and cramps”

7: Her comforter

8: “Are we friends?”

9: THAT FIRST KISS

10: I liked how casual but sweet it was when he watching her get ready for the day

11: BOYFRIEND MATERIAL

12: Alllllll the kisses

13: The Scrabble game!

14: “Now go to bed, sweetheart”

15: I can’t with this Noble guy lollll

16: I want Parker to have his own book SO bad

17: YOU TELL THEM, LAUREN

18: “You don’t hate me?”

19: Gahhhh, they’re adorable.

20: And the last lunch date? Sooooo cute


Y'all, Clay was charming beyond words (definitely boyfriend material). Lauren was perfectly sassy, and I related to her overthinking sooooo much. I’m glad they tried to eventually have open communication between them...even when it was hard. And I liked how the family business added another layer of conflict for their relationship.

Also, I can’t wait to read Jenny’s book (Carpool Crush)! And the novella featuring Melissa and Chase’s story (Worst Neighbor Ever)! And again, I reallyyyy hope Parker gets his own book as well...because SWOON.
​
If you love romcoms with great flirty banter and crazy family antics, definitely add this one to your TBR!! 👏👏

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Sweet and short read.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clay and Lauren have an interesting relationship. He's her brother's best friend and therefore, basically her brother, which leads to intense competition and "hatred." Isn't it said that the closest emotion to hatred it love? That's definitely the case in this story. The undercurrent of a long-time attraction sneaks its way in at times and the pressure eventually gives way to a hidden/forbidden romance.

Clay is a solid, hardworking character and he's a good balance for his volatile friend, Parker. I like that they all work at the family business. Lauren is used to strong arming her way through life and it's easy to see that intrigue is masked through the hatred.

Enemies to love is a fun trope, especially when the characters aren't vicious and these two were great.

Content: mild romance

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced ebook copy of this book. This was a sweet, quick read, rom-com that was very hard to put down! I liked how they were “enemies” but it was never anything horrible. It was clear that they had and always would be friends. I loved how Clay kept coming up with ways to be around Lauren. To try to build up their friendship. The double date was great! I was also so glad when Clay started to understand his grandparents more and was able to finally get close to them and get some good advice. Overall this was a very enjoyable read with a good writing style. I’m looking forward to Jenny’s story! I’d love to get one for Parker too! A love story is just what he needs 😉.

[Ellie Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

⭐️⭐️

[JL Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Clay, he's stuck between a rock and a hard place. He's in love with his co-worker. Only she's not just a co-worker she's also his best friend's little sister. He works with them both, and their father who is also like a father to him. He treats her like a little sister and like he hates her to keep her at arm's length only when she starts dating, he realizes he has to make his move, or she might just end up with someone else.
Sweet frenemies to lovers romance. Clay and Lauren are so sweet together once they both realize they are meant to be.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the Harwood Family goes on this time with Lauren and Clay. Clay is Parker's best friend and Lauren is Parker's sister. This means that Clay's friend Parker's sister is off limits. This is such a cute story. It's sweet and clean, fast paced and lighthearted. A must read. I would recommend this to everyone who loves romance books.

[Mandi Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this sweet rom com. The banter was top notch, and the push-and-pull dynamic was great. I loved the peeks at the characters' vulnerabilities and their growth with each other and in other parts of their lives. This was my first Rachel John book, but I'll definitely be picking up others!

[Elaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

~2.5 stars~