KaraHigh school sweethearts. What a load of bull.He might have been my first love, but it never meant I wanted to hear lyrics containing my name, love story, and *cringe* how I lost my virginity peddled out for the masses to digest.Seven years later, and I’m still being haunted by his photo in every magazine, his music on every radio station. I thought breakups meant that you never had to see the … thought breakups meant that you never had to see the person again. Especially when they ripped out your heart and made hamburger meat with it.
But when a chance encounter ends up going viral, I’m tied to him in a way I’ve always dreaded. And the last person on earth I’d want to spend an hour with, much less a lifetime, makes me an offer I can’t refuse. I might just be desperate enough to take it.
Dean
The girl in the song is real. And she’s made me a rich man.
I’ve been dedicating choruses to her for a decade, she’s the muse she never wanted to be. Off of our love, I’ve become famous … and a complete egomaniac.
When another one of my flings goes off the rails, and lands me in hot water with the media, my recording label is less than thrilled. And so comes the marching orders from my agent; devise a scheme to transform into a squeaky clean good guy.
Coming face to face with her is something I’ve only dreamed about. If not to win her back, then to at least apologize for the ways I’ve exploited her. Instead, I rope her into my madness, proposing a deal only a masochist would accept.
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4.5 Hearts
I have read many of Carrie’s books and I love that each one has a unique storyline. I just know that I will laugh, tear up, and get angry when I open one of her books. I definitely did with As Long As You Hate Me.
Seven years. It’s been seven years since Kara’s heart was broken by her high school sweetheart. Since that day, she has avoided everything Dean Jacobs. It’s not easy when he is splattered all over the Internet, magazines, T.V, and radio. She can’t look at him without thinking about the boy she loved. In the last seven years she has moved forward without him. It wasn’t easy but she went to medical school while he was in LA becoming famous as a musician. Apparently writing songs about their love. The only thing she can’t hate about him is that he hasn’t told the world who those lyrics were about. That was until now.
Dean knows Kara hates him. He understands it even but he never stopped caring about her. His lyrics were real. He never wanted to hurt her. She was his everything. That was why he stayed away but now, he needs her. His fame has caught him in a fucked up situation and she is the only one who can get him out of it. One year. That’s all he needs. He can give her everything she needs to start a life outside of her parent’s home and out of debt. He hopes she will help him but also listen to him. To show her that he has never stopped thinking about her. About their love. About it all.
Dean and Kara have their past. There were mistakes made. Now this is their chance to be real. But first, they have to open their minds, hearts, and souls. They have to listen to each other. It’s not easy. Kara is hot and cold. Dean is sometimes quite the asshole. Ugh. I am still thinking about one scene where I wanted to slap him. Anyway, can they be real in the fake land of Hollywood?
Overall…it’s another great book in Carrie’s collection. I very much enjoyed Dean and Kara’s story. The writing is heartfelt. I can tell Carrie loved her characters and wanted them to get it together. Their story is full of passion. In everything. The fights. The lust. The love. The hate.
Quotes:
“I haven’t known you for seven years. I don’t know who you are anymore, Dean.”
“She’s just so cold, Patty, I feel like I’m trying to coax a deadly snake into listening to me.” The warm breeze brushes past my face.
“No lyric, no spoken word, can ever compare to you like this.”
Second chance romance.
I loved this story! It’s exactly what I have come to expect from a Carrie Aarons book. Fun and sweet characters. Rich in details. A second-chance story that will pull you in and consume you until the last word. I just love second chance stories especially with high school sweethearts… how can you pass that up? Kara and Dean were so sweet together! So many promises and firsts together, just like those normal high school romances. They were so immersed into each other but life and dreams have a way of tearing people apart when the dreams aren’t aligned.
Dean’s dreams carried him to California to chase his hopes of big lights and big cities! Kara had, maybe what would be thought of as more “normal” dreams, as a college student. Dean’s made it big now and with his big lights and big cities he’s earned some big accusations! He has problems and goes back home to try and fix them or sidetrack his fans. I won’t go into those details because why would ya read the book if I told you all about it?
Kara and Dean’s reunion was… well it was full of everything you’d want in a second chance, rocker romance! As Long as You Hate Me was bursting with angst, drama, and it oozes with sexual tension. I loved the little memories sprinkled in, and those cute brief moments between two long lost loves finding their way back to each other. Dean is seriously swoonworthy! I love the male characters Aarons creates… they are so full of love for their women! This is one of Aarons’ best books to date! It flowed so perfectly that it was consumed within days.
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I will leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Oh I love a second chance romance and when it involves a bad boy rock star I cannot stop reading. Love Kara and Dean Couldn’t stop reading. Loved it
Kara and Dean are high school sweethearts, I love second chance romance the sweet beginning and how in love they are.
With the word Hate in the title, I wanted to know the whys. It’s not as devastating as you might think. I think things on both sides should have been discussed and they could have been avoided all this unnecessary drama.
I feel the both of them were hurting and didn’t want to admit it. Thankfully a second shot at their relationship could work if they can get over their past.
* ARC PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW *
3.5 stars
First love scorned and broken.
Second chance romance…not exactly!
A contractually bound agreement to be a fake fiancee…yeah.
But as we all know where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And these two are smoking…
High school sweethearts broken apart by a cruel world reunited by a wacky idea to save face. Not the most romantic reunion, but her reaction is perfect. I still feel the crack.
But playing pretend can often confuse or remind so…
As Long As You Hate Me is a fun feisty story. It will have you smirking at some points, fighting your violent tendencies at others, and even swooning at others Enjoy it…As Long As You Hate Me.
reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Rock star romance. Second chance romance. Contract fiance. This book has a bit of everything. I’ve not read anything by Carrie Aarons before, but I really enjoyed this book.
Kara and Dean are high school sweethearts that split after a misunderstanding blew their long distance relationship sky high. Dean’s rocker life style leaves him in a bit of a mess, and he comes up with a scheme to get him out of a tight spot that only Kara can help him with.
I love how, regardless of how angry Kara is, she still can’t leave Dean hanging in the wind when he really needs her help. Kara is a sweet girl, loyal to a fault, even when it might not be in her best interest. Dean is a bad boy with a tough past, who has only really had love from one person: Kara. After 7 years of avoiding each other, they are thrown into contact with each other, and boy are there fireworks! The chemistry in this book is off the charts.
The interactions between the main characters made me laugh, and the tragic backstory really made me empathize with Kara. It was an engaging story, and although there was a HEA, it left me wondering if there just might be more stories with Dean’s band mates?!?