If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

Every sip of air is shallow and burning, because in the arms of my best friend’s brother, I’m the closest I’ve ever been to sin.

His eyes flick to my lips, and I remember the first time I tasted him, seven years ago before I left this town and vowed never to return. His hands grip my waist, and I remember the pain when he rejected me, when my entire world crashed down at his command. His jaw clenches, and my senses come alive with one stinging reminder.

I’m not his to kiss, and he’s not mine.

I tried to stay away from Tyler Wagner, putting an entire country between us. But when his sister’s wedding brings us back to the same town, to the same house, I can’t avoid him, no matter how hard I try.

He’s always there, his dark eyes bewitching, luring me into their depths. The memory of us pulls me under like a rip current, and when he flashes that smile, I lose my breath, along with my will, unable to escape his grip and find the surface.

Now, hours before our plus ones arrive for the wedding, I’m in his arms, begging him to make me hate him, knowing he never could.

If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

And I’ll take him down with me. -

Review

I hadn’t read a Kandi Steiner book in so long. I forgot how good she is at emotion and angst. Make Me Hate You is an angsty second chance romance/forbidden romance book. Each page is gripping, and despite the main characters not always making smart decisions, the book always feels real.

The characters have wants, needs, and are yearning to feel loved—to be together. They were best friends. Did basically everything together. And unfortunately, despite having this wonderful friendship Jasmine and Tyler end up messing it up the first time. He says something hurtful, and she ends up leaving the state.

And now seven years later, they are forced to be in the same place with each other because his sister- Jasmine’s best friend- is getting married. They haven’t spoken to each other since that night and now have their own respective relationships and careers. They are older, but somewhat still those teenagers they once were.

There’s a lot of unresolved issues and unspoken words and anger. It’s a lot of emotions going on between them, and Kandi does a great job of keeping you hooked on their story. It’s the writing. It’s one of the best. She has a wonderful way with words and knows how to capture a feeling in a few words that makes a powerful punch.

The connection and history between Jasmine and Tyler leaped off the page, and it was impossible not to want these two people to be together. There was this intense passion between them.

Final Thoughts

Make Me Hate You is a captivating story featuring a roller coaster of emotions about longing and love.

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