Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “I Hate You, Fuller James” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

I Hate You, Fuller James

Kelly Anne Blount (Goodreads Author)

3.61 · Rating details · 803 ratings · 174 reviews

I hate you, Fuller James.

I hate your floppy hair and your lopsided grin and those laughing blue eyes that always seem to be laughing at me.

I hate that you’re the most popular guy in school and I’m still the girl who sneezed and spit out her retainer on someone at a middle school dance. It’s just such a cliché.

I hate that I’m being forced to tutor you in English and keep it ...more

Get A Copy

ebook, 279 pages

Published March 2nd 2020 by Entangled: Crush

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about I Hate You, Fuller James, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about I Hate You, Fuller James

Lists with This Book

Playing the Player by Lisa Brown Roberts

Ten Things Sloane Hates About Tru by Tera Lynn Childs

Entangled (Teen) Crush imprint

73 books — 76 voters

Lollipops

38 books — 6 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.61 ·

Rating details

· 803 ratings · 174 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of I Hate You, Fuller James

Feb 15, 2020 Danielle's rated it really liked it

I hate you, Fuller James is a classic tale. Boy meets girl. Girl has a difference of opinion with friend. One becomes popular and the others smart.

Wren’s future is already looking promising. All she has to do is survive the wicked tournaments of high school. When she’s asked to tutor the one person she hates more than anything she realises high school isn’t over yet. She isn’t really given a choice when it comes to Fuller.

Fuller James likes sports but isn’t academic. He needs to raise his grad ...more

flag 23 likes · Like · see review

May 22, 2020 Alaina rated it liked it

Shelves: may-2020, 2020-arcs, 2020-ng, fiction, romance, contemporary

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I Hate You, Fuller James was kind of cute. In it you will meet Fuller and Wren. The whole plot seemed like something you've probably already read or watched on TV. So, it wasn't that surprising with what happened within it. I mean, these two were kind of cute together and they had some cute scenes too.

I just.. I felt like things were kind of repetitive throughout the book which was annoying. Other than that, not ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2020 Susan's Reviews rated it really liked it

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this clean YA novel. It follows the usual "nerdy high schooler tutors playboy jock" trope, so there wasn't much new here. The thoughtless jock (Fuller James) redeems himself by falling in love with sweet nerd, Wren Carter.

There were a few cute scenes, but not much action. Lots of repetitive introspection, but I suspect that younger readers, wanting to have some clean fun, will ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Apr 12, 2020 mina rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: dnf

DNF@ 57%

This was published this year?! I thought it was published at least ten years ago.

It’s a very cliché book: jock makes fun of nerd, the nerd has to tutor the jock, (view spoiler) they get to know each other… things probably go to shit when the nerd finds out (I haven’t gotten to that part). Gossip Girl also made an appearance, but on Instagram because it’s a new age.

I got to half of the book, but I wasn’t interested in the characters and what’ll happen to ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2020 Stephanie rated it it was ok

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.

I was hoping something fun and cute would break me out of my reading rut, but unfortunately I Hate You, Fuller James didn’t end up being that fun or that cute.

The whole tutoring premise started out a little rough for me. The principal of the school straight up blackmails Wren into tutoring the star basketball player. He threatens her with not only multiple days of detention, but suspension because she was caught on video I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.

I was hoping something fun and cute would break me out of my reading rut, but unfortunately I Hate You, Fuller James didn’t end up being that fun or that cute.

The whole tutoring premise started out a little rough for me. The principal of the school straight up blackmails Wren into tutoring the star basketball player. He threatens her with not only multiple days of detention, but suspension because she was caught on video throwing food during a food fight in the cafeteria. The suspension would also mean she would miss out on a prestigious STEM camp. However, if she tutors Fuller, that will be her only punishment. And Fuller’s punishment will be…getting tutored. We later find out that someone else caught on camera throwing food only gets two days of lunch-time detention – which won’t interfere with his spot on the basketball team. So that was all ridiculous enough, but then the basketball coach, who is also Wren’s uncle, asks them both to keep the tutoring a secret. The reasoning is that if the rest of the team finds out their star player may not play in the first game if his grades don’t improve, the team will implode and they’ll never make it to State. That makes perfect sense, right?

So when Fuller is caught by one of his friends going to a the library with Wren for his first tutoring session, he covers for it by making a bet about how he’s hooking up with Wren and will trick her into being his girlfriend and then he’ll dump her. Of course, once he gets to know Wren he realizes she’s the most wonderful girl in all the world and tries to cover his tracks on the bet so she they can be together and she won’t get mad at him.

This book was ridiculous. There were a couple of cute moments here and there, but honestly Fuller just said so many gross things in the beginning of the book that I could never quite like him. Wren was really naive and emotional and very self-involved and I found her a little hard to like, as well. I kept hoping something big would happen later in the story that would make me love it, but it didn’t happen. Even the Big Romantic Gesture, which was based off of two movies I really enjoy, felt very lackluster to me.

Overall, I Hate You, Fuller James left me very underwhelmed. The initial premise with the tutoring didn’t work for me and Fuller’s behavior in the beginning of the book really kept me from rooting for him and Wren later in the story. However, I am definitely not in the target audience age range for this book, so those that are may find this much more enjoyable than I did.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 2 Stars ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Feb 29, 2020 Vanessa ♛Queen Alchemy ϟ Novel Nerd Faction♛ rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-new-release-challenge, reviewed, arc, 2020-contemporary-romance-challenge, contemporary, own-ebook-read, romance, 2020-reading-challenge, sports-romance, young-adult

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.

This was an adorable and fun story that I enjoyed very much. This is a story that will undoubtedly put a smile on your face.

The characters were very relatable. The author did a great job of showing their personalities through the writing. Both Wren and Fuller had a lot of depth. There was a lot more underneath the surface for each of them. They both also had great character ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Mar 17, 2020 TSN ☮ rated it did not like it

Shelves: did-not-finish, young-adult, arc, 2020

DNF 50%

I also hated Fuller James.

I have kind of a pet peeve, I can't stand stupid people! And Fuller James is not just a moron, he is STUPID.

Wren was supposed to hate/dislike Fuller James, but she must have been absent when backbone was delivered, since it appears that she have none whatsoever. I mean she was practically swooning after a single conversation, and I was getting whiplash from her alternately liking and disliking him.

The slut shaming of the ex-girlfriend(s) wasn't something I enjoye ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Feb 15, 2020 Sophie rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2020, 2020-releases, 2020-new-releases-challenge, 2020-contemporary-romance-challenge, 4-stars, arcs-read

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Ever since Wren was in middle school, she has been ostracised by most of her year, especially her ex best friend, Marissa, who dropped her as soon as the most popular boy in school, Fuller James, starts to go out with her. To make matters worse, Fuller also landed her with a hideous nickname, and now the only people at school to call her by her proper name are the teachers, and her two best fr I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Ever since Wren was in middle school, she has been ostracised by most of her year, especially her ex best friend, Marissa, who dropped her as soon as the most popular boy in school, Fuller James, starts to go out with her. To make matters worse, Fuller also landed her with a hideous nickname, and now the only people at school to call her by her proper name are the teachers, and her two best friends, Dae and Brandon. After Fuller launches a food fight in the cafeteria, and aggravates Wren enough to retaliate, she finds herself in the principal's office, basically being blackmailed into tutoring Fuller enough that he passes AP Literature, and isn't benched from the team. Neither really want to be seen with each other, but when some of Fuller's team mates see them together, Fuller ends up making a bet that he can get her to go out with him, and then he'll publicly dump her, in order to save his cool. The issue here, the more he spends with Wren, the more he actually realises that he is falling for her, and he needs to make sure she doesn't find out about the bet.

This book was so fun, and enjoyable. I flew through it one Saturday morning, and just found myself adoring the characters, especially Wren. She has dealt with so much, and with the added complication of sick relatives, she shoulders it all with what seems to be ease, but the more that she can talk about it, and Fuller is perfect for this, the more she comes into her true self, and I just love her! Fuller initially appears as a basic jock, but his family life has it's own difficulties, and very few people know the real him. Like with Wren, he can be open, and that shows him in the best possible light. I found their chemistry perfect, and knew they were made for each other.

The plot was a little predictable - of course that bet situation would come to bite Fuller at the worst time, and Marissa - the ex best friend, and ex girlfriend - isn't going to go down without a fight, she needs a bit of bitchiness. However, it was still a perfect YA contemporary read, and I'm so glad Entangled approved my request! ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2020 Emily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: pages-200-299, genre-romance, characters-w, year-2020, genre-contemporary, characters-c, humorous, genre-young-adult, athletes-basketball, nerd-geek

Wren Carter has been tormented by highschool basketball star Fuller James for years. In fact he was the reason she had a nickname that she hated and when his latest antics has her retaliating for a brief moment she finds herself having to tutor Fuller in their AP Literature class. Wren would rather do anything else then help the school Lothario but her options are limited and she can't refuse. Wren makes it clear to Fuller she wants nothing to do with him, add in the fact that they are supposed ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jul 01, 2020 Michelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: got-for-review, 2020-releases, review-on-blog, kindle

I Hate You, Fuller James is a standalone young adult contemporary romance by Kelly Anne Blount. I really enjoyed this book. It was exactly what I was looking for at the moment, which is a lighthearted fun romance that made me smile. I Hate You, Fuller James was filled with great characters and a heartwarming relationship. I think it is perfect for fans sweet romances reminiscent of early 2000s teen rom coms, which are pretty much my favorite feel good movies.

In I Hate You, Fuller James we meet o I Hate You, Fuller James is a standalone young adult contemporary romance by Kelly Anne Blount. I really enjoyed this book. It was exactly what I was looking for at the moment, which is a lighthearted fun romance that made me smile. I Hate You, Fuller James was filled with great characters and a heartwarming relationship. I think it is perfect for fans sweet romances reminiscent of early 2000s teen rom coms, which are pretty much my favorite feel good movies.

In I Hate You, Fuller James we meet out main characters Wren and Fuller. (obviously) I loved Wren, and I really, really loved that her Grandfather who has Alzheimer's was living with her family. That was an unexpected element of the story that I really loved. In fact, both Wren and Fuller's families play a decent size role in the plot of this book, which I really appreciated. I loved seeing happy family units represented in young adult high school contemporaries, because we don't get to witness that too often. Yes, each family had struggles, but they faced them together.

The plot of I Hate You, Fuller James had plenty of classic elements that I enjoy reading in YA romances like Tutoring, high school mean girls and bets, but the storyline did not feel overdone. Particularly with the bet aspect, it was a new take on the trope. Instead of a fake relationship trope- this book has a a fake bet trope. Wren is super smart, so when the star basketball player on her uncles high school basketball team is failing English, he enlists Wren to help tutor him in private. Not wanting to upset the team that Fuller might not be able to play, they have to keep the arrangement under wraps. Watching Wren progress from vehemently hating Fuller James to becoming friends with him was a wonderful progression that made me laugh, made me smile and just made me flat out happy.

If you can't get enough of young adult contemporary romances, then you will want to check out I Hate You, Fuller James. This is a well done spin with plenty of classic elements that left me smiling and satisfied. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more from Kelly Anne Blount. I think you will fall for Fuller James! ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2020 Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-books, from-publisher, advanced-reader

While this was a cute hate to love romance, I found that it was also about family and friendship. The side characters were easy to love. Well, most of them. Not everyone.

Wren had been picked on since 7th grade when her retainer flew out of her mouth at a dance. Her best friend, Marissa, turned on her and started dating the most popular guy at school, Fuller James. Wren had two best friends in high school, Dae and Brandon. I seriously wanted them as best friends, too. They were so caring and loya ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 12, 2020 Elaine rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, funny, contemporary, contemporary-romance, puzzles, netgalley, small-community, 2020, sports, adventure

This is a high school romance featuring Wren, who is quiet, caring, kind, clever and has been subject to teasing and bullying for years at school. The main perpetrator of it all is Fuller James, the star basketball player who seems to get away with anything, including leading many of the pranks and verbal assaults. It is after being hit in a food fight that Wren retaliates, though her aim isn’t great and hits his sidekick instead of Fuller. This, however, is used against her by the principal and ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 20, 2020 Samantha (WLABB) rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, 2020, arcs, ya, romance

Wren has hated Fuller James since he came between her and her best friend, AND bestowed that awful nickname on her - Wrentainer. She managed to hate him from afar for the past five years, but as a punishment for launching a handful of mashed potatoes at her nemesis, she was forced to tutor him. After spending time with the real Fuller James, she realized, that maybe, she didn't hate him at all.

• Pro: This book was exactly what I needed after being sick for a week. It was fun and cute, and I real ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 02, 2020 Katie Prouty rated it it was amazing

"When things get tough, you have two options. Pass the buck or stand up to the plate and go to bat for the person you love."

Fuller freaking James, captain of the basketball team and idiot responsible for Wren Carter's hideous nickname, "Wrentainer". The king of Magnolia High. Ugh, he looks like he's just stepped off the pages of an Abercrombie and Fitch catalog. Fuller James makes Wren's blood boil! Well, he's failing AP Lit and will be benched if he can't pull his grade up. Wren is asked (for ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2020 Natalie rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, read-in-2020

I wanted more hate from the hate to love trope, but it was overall a cute read. It got pretty cheesy at times though. And what was with Fuller saying “holy buckets” when he was surprised by something? It made him sound like an 80 year old man instead of a teenager. I also wasn’t a fan of all the name dropping and pop culture references (except The Princess Bride because it’s just the best).

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2020 Dani (Dani Reviews Things & Love in a time of Feminism) rated it really liked it

Shelves: relatable-mc, contemporary, arc, silly-teenagers, swoon, young-adult, jocks, kindle-copy, netgalley, blog-tour

Oh wow, it’s been a while since I read an innocent YA romance. I’ve been on an adult romance kick recently, and I’d almost forgotten what it was like to go back to my “roots”, shall we say. And I Hate You, Fuller James was a good one to read for that sweetness. Just look at that cover!

This is some light, tropey goodness. And I say that in an affectionate way. I love tropes. I seek out certain tropes when I’m in particular moods, so please don’t get all snobby about the fact that this book has th Oh wow, it’s been a while since I read an innocent YA romance. I’ve been on an adult romance kick recently, and I’d almost forgotten what it was like to go back to my “roots”, shall we say. And I Hate You, Fuller James was a good one to read for that sweetness. Just look at that cover!

This is some light, tropey goodness. And I say that in an affectionate way. I love tropes. I seek out certain tropes when I’m in particular moods, so please don’t get all snobby about the fact that this book has them. Here’s what you have in store for you when it comes to the romance between Wren and Fuller:

1) Hate-to-love (one of my faves!)
2) The nerd and the jock, with the accompanying tutoring storyline
3) A bet gone wrong

The past week has been pretty tough for me, with car (and therefore money) troubles, work stress, and my mental health doing its best to keep afloat. I had to put down a couple of books for a while because they were too intense. But I Hate You, Fuller James swooped in and saved the day. It was just predictable and innocent enough to not give me heart palpitations, but I was still engaged in the story, nervous about the angst (again, in a good way), and delighted by the slightly hotter scenes. (Not too hot, mind you, just some good, old makeout scenes. You know, in case you’re worried.) I squeed internally whenever Wren or Fuller stole a quick kiss. Ugh. So cute.

Bonus points go to Hudson, who was beyond adorable. Seriously, this kid! It was great to see his condition repped in a book, and I loved his obsession with Deadpool. Dude, I get it.

Not everything was up my alley though. I found it a bit annoying that Wren was too good at everything. It didn’t seem possible, what with her extracurriculars plus helping to care for her grandfather (and give up sleep). I was really good at school, too, but my teachers never handed out 100 percents on essays. There was always something. Maybe I’m just envious?

And then, to really drive the point home about how wonderful and perfect Wren was, she had to have the nasty former best friend turned popular girl/nemesis. I’m tired of the Mean Girl stereotype, and it got a little boring having to read all the comparisons both Wren and Fuller made between the two girls.

But you know what? I still ate this up. It was just the kind of thing I needed to calm my frazzled mind, something light and sweet with a little bit of sour thrown in.

Much like Nerds.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2020 Lenore Kosinski rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, review-quoted

https://celebrityreaders.com/2020/02/...

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4 stars — I love these Crush line of books, I always gravitate towards them when I’m looking for something fairly light and easy to read. Which is not to say they never dip a toe into tough topics, just that it’s not usually the central theme. And that’s exactly what I was looking for, and exactly what I got.

I will admit, I kind of forgot about the blurb to this https://celebrityreaders.com/2020/02/...

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4 stars — I love these Crush line of books, I always gravitate towards them when I’m looking for something fairly light and easy to read. Which is not to say they never dip a toe into tough topics, just that it’s not usually the central theme. And that’s exactly what I was looking for, and exactly what I got.

I will admit, I kind of forgot about the blurb to this story before diving in, but now it makes sense why I kept thinking of the movie 10 Things I Hate About You while reading it. The story was very cliché and predictable in some ways, but that’s what I was in the mood for this time, so it worked out well for me. Honestly, it might have been an even higher rating, but there were some bits that just felt too easy or something…I just wanted something more.

I was convinced at the beginning that Fuller James was irredeemable. Honestly. I’m not a forgiving person, and he was a total cocky dbag at the beginning of this book. I don’t know how Ms. Blount did it, but I did come to feel for him as the book went on. He made stupid decisions, sure, but I mostly believed in his turnaround and his feelings. Even though some parts felt easy, for some reason I really felt like he was fed up with his life and finally at a point where he could see how much more he could get if he rearranged his priorities. And you guys, he was fabulous with his brother Hudson. I really felt the way he loved him, but they still had a teasing brother relationship as well…

Wren was easier for me to like, even if she was so entrenched in her hate at the beginning of this story that she came across a bit reverse stuck up (nerdy stuck up). And sometimes I felt her softening towards Fuller to be a bit easy too…but I don’t know, I guess I wanted to buy in, so I just did, you know? I loved her relationship with her Gramps, and that she had a good relationship with her parents too. I LOVED her best friendships with Dae and Brandon, they really helped us see more of who she was.

And the two of them together were really adorable…I just fell in love with them as they opened up and connected about Hudson and Gramps. It was the perfect catalyst to propel their relationship into something more real, and for me to give them both a chance. And then they were just cute together for other reasons — the kind of crush romance that just has you feeling all of the butterflies.

I’ve already mentioned secondary characters, but they were truly solid in this one. I’m still a bit reserved on Marc and TyShaun, but I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I was only meh on the grand gesture at the end. It felt…I don’t know. I wanted something else, but I don’t know what. I did appreciate how Fuller put himself out there and didn’t pull any punches though.

All in all, if you’re looking for a cute predictable YA romance, and you’re a fan of those 90s teen movies, you can’t really go wrong with this one. It gave me everything I was looking for: smiles, tummy tingles, and some genuine emotion. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 20, 2020 Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-reads

4.5 stars

Dear Fuller James,

As you know, you are one of the lead characters in Kelly Anne Blount’s I Hate You, Fuller James. I read the blurb for your story and I thought, “Yeah. This is something I can really get into.” I then saw the cover for the book. My first reaction was, “I like it. I might even love it. I just don’t understand it.” But more on that later.

You, Fuller James, are why some people don’t like high school. You torment them for your own sick pleasure. Well, I guess the joke is no ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2020 Shirley Cuypers rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-beta, 2020, ebooks

Original review

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Entangled: Crush!

I Hate You, Fuller James is a standalone Contemporary Romance about Wren and Fuller.

I Hate You, Fuller James is the first book I’ve read by Kelly Anne Blount and won’t be the last one! I really liked this book, and it was hard to put this one down. I just wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters. This book was just so cute!

I really like that Wren isn’t just a smart ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2020 Rebecca rated it it was ok

fuller and wren are great kids, their families are so nice (love you, hudson baby) and their chemistry was so great. but then there was fuller's very stupid decision, his inability to fix that decision MANY, MANY TIMES, wren's (view spoiler) attitude afterwards and the whole (view spoiler) just drives me insane with embarrassment. i had a blast until the climax/unraveling part of ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2020 Alexis (The Book Democracy) rated it it was ok

Shelves: arc, contemporary, romance, worst-reads

I did not enjoy this book. While I thought the premise sounded right up my alley but it fell extremely flat. I did not like the administrators in the school, it felt very unrealistic. I will admit I did enjoy the family aspects, the families felt legitimate and genuine. I didn't like the fact that we had a mean girl just to move the plot along. I also was not a fan of the romance. It just felt like people were too easily forgiven for being a bully in the past. It just fell very flat and very dis ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 29, 2020 T.H. Hernandez rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, romance, young-adult, sports, contemporary, books-i-need-to-read, cant-wait-to-read, nerds-i-love, authors-i-love, read-in-2020

My first novel by Kelly Anne Blount will not be my last. I must now devour everything she's ever written. The story is compelling, but it's the characters that really stand out to me. Too often, the story is really good, but I don't particularly like the characters, but I fell in love with both Wren and Fuller from the beginning, which is hard when one of said characters is a giant-ass douchebag. But Blount gives us a glimpse into his life and immediately softens our hearts. No matter what he's My first novel by Kelly Anne Blount will not be my last. I must now devour everything she's ever written. The story is compelling, but it's the characters that really stand out to me. Too often, the story is really good, but I don't particularly like the characters, but I fell in love with both Wren and Fuller from the beginning, which is hard when one of said characters is a giant-ass douchebag. But Blount gives us a glimpse into his life and immediately softens our hearts. No matter what he's done to Wren in the past, his devotion to his family makes him a hero everyone can root for. And anyone who has ever been bullied by the mean girls can immediately identify with Wren. Dumped by her best friend at a middle school dance after an unfortunately embarrassing situation that was only made worse by one Fuller James, Wren distrusts girls and has a small group of friends in high school. Both are the type of guy friends every woman deserves. Wren hates Fuller James so when she is caught on video engaging in a lunchtime food fight with him, both are hauled into the principal's office. Captain of the boys state-champion basketball team, Fuller may find his senior year riding the bench instead of being scouted by colleges. Wren is on a smooth track to class Valedictorian and the logical tutor for Fuller. Except she hates him. Loathes him. Would literally prefer to do ANYTHING other than spend one second with Fuller James.

It's clear from this opening scene that this is going to be an enemies to lovers story, but it's a delicious path they take to get there. Fuller comes to first appreciate Wren before realizing all those years of making her a punchline prevented him from seeing her inner beauty but the outer as well. Not only does she have legs for days, but eyes he could get lost in. Wren sees another side of Fuller when he stops by her house to pick up some notes. This is a side she can't fully grasp, but it forces her to realize there may be more to this this arrogant, cocky jerk than meets the eye. The more time they spend together, the more they both realized they've completely misjudged each other. If only Fuller hadn't made that stupid, regrettable bet.

Plot
Expertly plotted, most of the story follows a formula that isn't full of surprises, but the character's depth and breadth shine through in those moments when the inevitable unfolds. While the plot may not be original, the imaginary friends I made while reading this story react in original ways, bringing a deeper level of enjoyment to a lighthearted romance. The nod the author gives to some of the best romcoms ever, including Say Anything, only made this a tale nearer and dearer to my heart.

The Characters
Simply amazing. I have to remind myself they're not real, and that is the saddest part of this book. Fuller is fully-developed and has the most complete character arc, because frankly, he needs it more than he needs an A in AP Lit. His journey is both honest and organic as he realizes he's been far too shallow for too long. Wren is so relatable and though she has her own arc, it's not as significant as she transitions from the victim of bullying to someone who can hold her head high even through new humiliating events. The best part of the characterization is not only being able to see Wren and Fuller through the eyes of each other, since it's dual first-person point of view, but also in the eyes of their family members. Nothing humanizes someone more than seeing them among loved ones, who not only love them unconditionally, but absolutely won't take any of their crap.

Top Five Things I Loved About I HATE YOU FULLER JAMES
1. Fuller. He's perfectly imperfect, making him a flawed hero who's easy to love.

2. Wren. She's so complex and completely relatable. I love how she learns to stand up to her bullies.

3. Hudson. Fuller's younger brother is both hilarious and loyal. The interactions between Hudson and Fuller bring out the best of Fuller James.

4. Gramps. Wren's basketball loving grandfather is a breath of fresh air and helps show Wren's devotion to family in a way that would have been harder without him in it.

5. Angsty romance. Just enough angst without being over the top made this a total page-turner for me.

Bottom Line
A fun romance with amazing characters and a stellar supporting cast. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 05, 2020 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, 2020-release, 2020-read

3.5 stars

Ok first off, how perfect is this cover?! It is a beauty! Second, if that synopsis doesn’t give you 10 Things I Hate About You vibes (and you KNOW that is my FAVOURITE movie!!) then I don’t know what will!

This is your typical jock-gets-tutored-by-the-nerd-but-then-they-see-there-is-so-much-more-to-one-another-and-fall-in-love, but it is oh so sweet. Of course there is drama and heart break and make outs and so on and so forth, no spoilers here. I thought this story was so cute. It’s def 3.5 stars

Ok first off, how perfect is this cover?! It is a beauty! Second, if that synopsis doesn’t give you 10 Things I Hate About You vibes (and you KNOW that is my FAVOURITE movie!!) then I don’t know what will!

This is your typical jock-gets-tutored-by-the-nerd-but-then-they-see-there-is-so-much-more-to-one-another-and-fall-in-love, but it is oh so sweet. Of course there is drama and heart break and make outs and so on and so forth, no spoilers here. I thought this story was so cute. It’s definitely very fluffy and bubblegummy with a good dose of first love and heartbreak, jealousy and bullying of the “Mean Girls” sort, a misplaced bet and all the teen swoon you could want.

I loved the main character, Wren. After a bit of an embarrassing mishap in middle school she has been the centre of all of her classmates teasing and name-calling. Throughout the course of the book Wren finds herself standing up to her bullies and not letting them have that upper hand. I admire her strength and resilience and the fact that she carries on living her life in the cruel high school world where even her uncle, who is the coach of her proclaimed enemy, Fuller James, doesn’t even have her back.

There were a couple things that irked me, but that was probably on purpose. Books with bullying tend to do that, but I think this book does a good job of showing that those kind of actions are not appropriate and that even the most popular student can shut it down.

One thing that I didn’t love was that it felt like there was a bit of repetition and redundancy at times. Some moments things were explained right after they happened, thus having us readers reading it twice where it could have been something like, “I then explained to him what had happened”.

The ending fell a bit short for me in the same sense that I feel like it was explained too much. Everything was recapped EXACTLY and the excitement of what was happening really didn’t hit its mark. The story and the idea itself were very cute, but I feel there was some potential lost.

I definitely loved Fuller from the start in that way that you can tell there will be more from him. He’s a bit of a prankster and likes to cause trouble. He knows how to get away with things based on his social status and uses it to his advantage. But he’s also got hidden struggles with his family and is only seen for his basketball skills and nothing more.

Wren begins to see him for who he really is and if this isn’t the part of the story that always gets me, well, I was instantly in love with both of them. If you love a sweet and squishy contemporary YA, this is the book for you! ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 10, 2020 Tani Hanes rated it really liked it

Let me begin by saying that I'm definitely not the target audience for this book, as I'm a middle aged old lady who writes very smutty romances, and this was a lovely, sweet, extremely un-smutty high school romance! So, that said, I enjoyed this love story very much. It was a light, fast read that checked all the boxes and made me feel all the feels I was supposed to feel.
Wren is a pretty and smart girl who got stuck with an unfortunate nickname and on the wrong side of the popular crowd in midd Let me begin by saying that I'm definitely not the target audience for this book, as I'm a middle aged old lady who writes very smutty romances, and this was a lovely, sweet, extremely un-smutty high school romance! So, that said, I enjoyed this love story very much. It was a light, fast read that checked all the boxes and made me feel all the feels I was supposed to feel.
Wren is a pretty and smart girl who got stuck with an unfortunate nickname and on the wrong side of the popular crowd in middle school through no fault of her own, and can't quite figure out how to get out; nor can she figure out if she wants to, either. From where she stands, they seem like a mean and shallow bunch, especially her ex-best friend Marissa and her awful jock boyfriend, Fuller James. Through bad luck and some Very Mean Adults, she gets stuck tutoring Fuller so she can keep her spot at a prestigious Science camp and he can keep his spot on the championship basketball team.
What I liked:
The setting--It was very fully developed, very sweet and took me back to my own school days of walking home in the fall and going to sporting events, rushing to class and getting homework done.
The characters--They were also lovingly crafted, with time given to each one so dialogue tags became unnecessary after a while to know who was speaking.
The families--They were sweet and kind, wholesome and loving.
The plot--Like the movies that were referenced, I knew within a few pages that nothing horrible was going to happen, that I would be carried along to a happy ending.
What I didn't like ("didn't like" is too strong, so how about "liked a little less"?):
The dialogue--I was a teacher in a high school for fifteen years, in a very small, religious town similar to the one described, and the kids simply didn't talk like this. There was so much swearing, esp when they thought no adults were listening. The kids in this book said "Oh my gosh" and "Holy buckets," which I never heard in my classrooms. I do understand, though, that in the world Ms. Blount built, swearing would've been out of place. But to to me, the dialogue wasn't v realistic.
The sexy times--Again, not v realistic to me. In the real world, there would have been so much more. Again, however, these two did just meet, so I understand that they might not just jump right into bed. And in the world she built, only wholesome things could happen. This is definitely a PG-13 world.
The conflict resolution--It happened so fast, and so easily. I've been trying to avoid using the C(orny) word, because there's nothing wrong with taking an emotional bath, if that's what you were going for. Ms. Blount wasn't going for horrible levels of angst and terror and heartache. She wanted a lovely ride on a wonderful trope, and that's what she provided.
I would recommend this to any middle schooler who's looking for a fun read about what high school should be like. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2020 Suz Jay rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult

“He was the reason I’d given up on being friends with girls after Marissa, Courtney, and practically every other girl in my class started making fun of me. I couldn’t trust that my own gender wouldn’t throw me under the bus the next time a guy like Fuller James gave them the opportunity.”*

Wren can’t stand Fuller. Because of him, she got stuck with a stupid nickname. Because of him, lost her best friend. Because of him, she ended up in the principle’s office. Now, she’s forced to tutor him or she “He was the reason I’d given up on being friends with girls after Marissa, Courtney, and practically every other girl in my class started making fun of me. I couldn’t trust that my own gender wouldn’t throw me under the bus the next time a guy like Fuller James gave them the opportunity.”*

Wren can’t stand Fuller. Because of him, she got stuck with a stupid nickname. Because of him, lost her best friend. Because of him, she ended up in the principle’s office. Now, she’s forced to tutor him or she’ll be suspended. Spending quality time with him shows her a whole new side of Fuller, one that she might just fall in love with, but Fuller has a secret, one that will make Wren hate him more than she did in middle school.

The story is told in first person from both Wren and Fuller’s points of view. Both characters are nicely developed and fun. The secondary characters, particularly Wren’s friends, Dae and Brandon, and Fuller’s little brother Hudson are great. I loved the the triad’s strong friendship, and how the boys are always there for Wren, especially when her relationship with Fuller goes sideways. Hudson brings out Fuller’s soft side. Also of note is Wren’s close relationship with her grandfather, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Several pop culture references are woven into the narrative in significant ways, which on one hand date the book, but on the other hand speak to the character’s personalities. Personally, I like how they are integrated. Wren’s obsession with nerds candy is a bit on the nose, but feels like an inside joke, one the reader is in on, and plays well with the jock/nerd romance trope.

I am a fan of Entangled’s young adult lines. Crush constantly delivers category-length feel good contemporary romances, and this one is no exception.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2020 S.M. Harshell rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, 2020-challenge, sweet-love-story, 4-star, stand-alone, wicked-reads-review, young-adult

**I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.**

This is a new author to me and I have to say I absolutely loved this read. I don't read a ton of YA but this one pulled me in from the first page.

We've all seen the this premise before the nerdy girl forced to tutor the popular jock.

Wren is the over achiever of high school, assignments turned in early, going above and beyond for each class, and acing all her tests. She battles a lot of bullying from an incident in mid ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 10, 2020 Katherine Paschal rated it liked it

Shelves: contemp-romance, teen

**3.5 Stars**

I would best describe this story as the enemy to lovers theme meets the movie She's All That (I seriously kept having the quote from the movie "Am I a bet?" play through my mind the entire time I was reading) meets Gossip Girl with the anonymous gossip blog following their every move. We have the typical mean girl making the main character's life hell and the reformed bad boy who has a heart of gold under his cocky exterior. There was a lot of tropes smooshed into the book, making ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 10, 2020 Rachel rated it really liked it

3.5 ⭐️

Wrentainer. A stupid nickname that stuck since middle school. Given by none other than Fuller James. When Wren has to secretly tutor the most popular guy in school (yup, you guessed it- Fuller) in order for him to play the season’s opening game, she’s pleasantly surprised to see a different side to him. She actually likes him. But, what she later found out, he just made a bet with his friends... though, Fuller has real feelings for Wren, too.

After my CoHo read, I felt the need to squeeze ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2020 Meghan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library

This book was received as an ARC from Entangled Publishing, LLC - Entangled: Crush in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a treat to read. As I kept reading it, I could not help but be reminded of 10 Things I Hate About You with Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. Fuller James is described as your typical popular guy. Captain of the basketball team and struggling at school and then there is Wren, the smart nerdy girl in school t ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2020 Karen rated it really liked it

Good high school story

flag 1 like · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Young Adult

35 users

Contemporary

28 users

Romance

24 users

Sports > Sports

7 users

Young Adult > High School

7 users

Fiction

6 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Romance

6 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

5 users

Contemporary Romance > Sports Romance

4 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Contemporary

4 users

See top shelves…

About Kelly Anne Blount

Kelly Anne Blount

215 followers

USA Today Bestselling author and Wattpad Star Kelly Anne Blount has more than seventy-three-thousand followers on social media. Her Wattpad stories have been read more than twenty-million times. She’s contributed to Tap, Wattpad’s new app for chat-style stories, where her work has been “tapped” more than fifty-million times. She is a writer and reviewer for SpoilerTV, which has allowed her to deve ...more