WSJ bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with an all-new, enemies-to-lovers second chance romance between the football hottie and the feisty nerd girl he can’t forget. I want you . . . even when I hate you. Blaze Townsend: I hate you.Charisma Rossi: I hate you more. She’s been expecting this ever since their latest showdown. She had good reason. Hottest guy she’s ever seen.Former fling.… had good reason.
Hottest guy she’s ever seen.
Former fling.
Dumped her in front of all her friends.
At her own party.
So no, she’s not about to forgive and forget just because he sits next to her in class. He thinks all he has to do is turn on those baby blues, and she’ll melt right back into his arms. Please. She’d be crazy to let this cocky player affect her again. (Tell that to her body.)
Charisma Rossi.
Brainy girl with a dash of bad.
The one who got under his skin.
The one he cut loose.
Blaze knows she’s the riskiest prospect at Waylon University, but none of the interchangeable girls he hooks up with have ever made him feel the way she did. There’s absolutely no way he can have the girl and the game.
So why can’t he stop trying to win her back?
Can this wide receiver score the girl or will he make the biggest fumble of his life?
*Steamy and flirty with all the emotional feels, I Hate You is a new adult standalone romance.
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This book tore me apart!! Oh, how my heart hurt for both Blaza and Charisma. This book is full of angst but also had it’s moments of levity that had me cracking up!
It’s been 6 months since Blaze broke up with Charisma in a huge way in front of everyone at the Homecoming Party. Sure, where they really dating? Not really but it doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt just as much.
All Charisma can hear in her head is that she just was his type. But she thought they were getting along great! They laughed, had so much fun together and their chemistry was through the roof… until he took her down in a blaze in front of everyone.
Tired of the whispers, Charisma decides enough of this hiding… but then she gets Blaze in on her classes and all her resolve starts to fade. They still have this flaming hot chemistry between the two of them. But she just doesn’t think she can get over the hurt he caused. Can she?
Blaze decided he needed to focus on the only thing that has even been there for him… football. He’s a senior and this is his last chance to get recognized by the scouts. But then Charisma shows back up in his life and its a temptation he’s finding harder and harder to resist. Can he have football and the only woman who showed she liked him for him in his life?
If you haven’t read this series of standalone books (sports romance – YES PLEASE) you need to pick them up RIGHT AWAY! One of my favorite series from Ilsa!
Ilsa Madden Mills has written a other great story. Absolutely love how the focus is a bit more centered on the male lead, Blaze, his emotional self, and the internal conflict he faces. It gives the reader a refreshing perspective on a familiar trope. Madden’s characters are well developed and fun. They play well off of one another and have this angsty, lusty, hilarious dynamic. Great read.
GOD DAMN.. The heat, the push, and pull, the angst… All of it was addictive as hell!
Going into this book, I knew I would love it, and I wasn’t proven wrong. Once again Ilsa smashes it out of the park and delivers a romance with ALL THE FEELS… And when I say ALL of them. I mean it. It was full of heat, angst, swoony moments and of course two characters you cannot help but fall in love with.
This author knows how to write a college romance. It was perfect. This gives the phrase ”A fine line between love and hates” new meaning.
After Blaze dumped Charisma at her own party, in front of everyone, basically… Dick move on his part but damn did it make one hell of a plot. To say Charisma hated Blaze is an understatement. She swore off college jocks and as much as Blaze tried to stay away from the girl he hurt, within a few months of the break-up, he found himself drawn to her all over again. He knows he should stay away. He has already hurt her once, but it doesn’t stop him from lusting after this woman once again. But will she give him the time of day again after the bullshit he pulled at her party, which left her humiliated beyond belief? Or will she give him another chance, a chance he could turn around do it all over again? These two were angsty, heat, and goodness all rolled into one. The witty banter, flirting, overall connection these two had was pulsating and could be felt as I read. The push and pull were enough to send me crazy and it just about it. But god damn I love it when a book can twist you up inside. Part of me wanted to hate Blaze, I mean what he did was a dick move… But I was completely smitten with the A-hole.
I loved how this book was basically lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers. It was unique, that is for damn sure and the author kept me on my toes… Kept me wanting to know more about these two and as the book progressed the deeper we got into each character. Charisma was sassy, she was smart, and she didn’t much care for bullshit. Blaze was hot, he was confident and cocky and he knew he could use his looks to charm. But will Charisma fall for it all over again? Would she want to risk getting hurt again?
THESE TWO!! Gahhh…..I literally shouted at my kindle on multiple occasions…
The tension, the heat, the angst, the witty and cocky banter, the flirting… ALL OF IT… Drove me crazy but in all the best ways. My emotions were on were high strung and I just couldn’t put this down!
Once again, Ilsa has shown me why I have fallen so damn much in love with YA/NA…
5 Ansty Stars!
This is a book where you wish you could just jump into their world and give both main characters a big hug and never let go. I’m not sure I’d call it an enemies to lovers story (more people with a history together that left them both raw), but it was a heartwarming journey of two people learning to trust in love and to ultimately let go of the fears holding them back from it.
We first meet Charisma, a senior at Waylon University, who is still reeling from a humiliating and very public break up from her short time hook up, Blaze, the star football athlete who just helped his team win the national championship. Blaze, despite his close relationships with his teammates, is actually a loner. My heart bleeds for him because he professes that he does not know what love is given his past and yet he is SO desperate for it. Isn’t always the ones so desperate for and in need of love who are the ones that are too scared to trust it or accept it?! He may have been gun shy with Charisma time and time again but man he could slay me with his heartfelt words when he eventually opened up.
Like Blaze, Charisma is wrestling her own demons from her past that make her question love and keep her weary of it. Despite their fears, Blaze and Charisma find themselves in each other’s orbit again, and their dance around their feelings almost felt like torture at times. They were such a conflicting pair because they eventually opened up to each other, sharing things they’ve only shared with a bestie, and yet they still could not share their feelings for one another for the longest time- AHHHH! If I wasn’t expecting a happy ending, I would have been hitting one of them upside the head saying ‘why are you putting yourself through this?!’ but I’m glad that I wasn’t a friend giving them this advice because they deserved one another. It was actually this inner conflict that ultimately was the beauty of this story – watching these two overcome their inner demons to find and trust in love.
The only thing that gave me pause was that the hate between these two really came out at the beginning to the point where I even questioned how this could possibly turn around and if forgiveness was in store but it did and it was. And I’ll just say those fencing class scenes…hilarious! Plus, their chemistry together was just plain HOT.
“I fucked her until I couldn’t breath and my legs shook.
I fucked her until she called my name like a prayer.
I fucked her until she was all I could see.
Until she was all I wanted.
Until I thought I might scream from just the need to make her mine.”
You’ll love this story if you’re a sucker for the angst of two people, still finding their way in life, struggling to trust in love and fully put themselves out there to another.
I loved all the books in this series and this one delivers as well (and can be read as a stand alone). There’s just something about stories with star athletes and the unexpected girl who wins his heart that just gets me every time, but this one had me rooting for Blaze’s happy ending as much as Charisma’s!
I loved this!
Charisma was awesome! I love a heroine who I can connect to, and it definitely was possible to relate with and understand what Charisma felt.
This was a great story, and I would definitely read it again.
Heading into I Hate You, here’s what you need to know about Charisma Rossi and Blaze Townsend.
They shared a very brief fling.
They haven’t seen each other for the past three months – since Blaze broke up with her in front of her Sorority sisters and the other college students at the party.
Charisma’s still not over the break up or the way he did it. And despite her rules and her refusal to admit that she feels anything but hatred toward Blaze, she has unresolved feelings for him and can’t seem to get him out of her system.
Blaze’s past dictates everything about his present and future, and nowhere in those plans was there supposed to be a fiery smart mouth who would make him question why his goals didn’t include a woman he could love.
‘There’s a thin line between love and hate.’ It may seem like a cliche saying, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true and with respect to Charisma and Blaze, as much as their disdain for each other is externally exhibited, internally, what they feel for one another is as far away from hatred it can be, which complicates an already unsteady situation, keeping these two in a constant state of limbo and overwhelming emotions. And what that means for them in the end remains somewhere between wanting to hurt one another and act like they feel nothing but disdain to wanting to keep each other as close as they can be, taking a risk that they never thought they’d take, especially given the baggage that they both carry.
The conflicted feelings that both Charisma and Blaze feel throughout the course of the story is exactly how I felt reading I Hate You. I equal parts wanted to knock some sense into them over just how frustrating their thoughts and actions were and help them deal with the issues of their past, offering as much support as they needed to see what was right in front of both of them.
But I think that’s exactly what I was supposed to feel because that’s the reality of a situation like Charisma and Blaze find themselves in; it’s not a straight shot to happiness in life and/or love and the struggles are what illustrate one’s strengths and true wants and needs, so while I found it difficult to witness their lack of communication and the misunderstandings that plagued Charisma and Blaze finding their way back to each other, it felt almost necessary so that they could truly see that life doesn’t have to be one way or the other; it can be a mix of both, just like how someone can feel both love and hate for the same person, never fully committing to one or the other until it’s made clear just how much they would be giving up if they allowed negative thoughts to rule their life.
Ilsa Madden-Mills knows how to write angsty new adult romance, which is why even though I feel like the angst is going to put me over the edge, I hold on tight because I know that she’ll take me where she wants me to go by the time I reach the end…and that’s all a reader can ask for when it comes to the stories told and read.
4 Poison Apples
Madden-Mills scores again with another deep, heart-penetrating yet fun and sporty story that brings together the kind of angst that romance novel fans will swoon for!
Charisma is a woman that is full of spunk, with relevant struggles that so many women can relate to. She was a delight to uncover as the story progressed.
Football phenom Blaze was intense and brooding; he was also driven and willing to do whatever it took to be number one. After peeling off his layers, he soon became one of my favorite book boyfriends and a character I find myself thinking of long after the story has ended.
While both characters were fiercely guarded, they shared a constant pull toward one another. Full of searing heat, hate, lust and football – this is one story you won’t be able to hate!
As Always, Happy Reading!
“5/5 Beaming Brains!” – Lit-Up My Mind
Blaze is a football player and Charisma is a brainy nerd girl. The two had a couple of dates and sex. Blaze dumped her in front of her friends at her party. Charisma won’t forgive or forget and says she hates him but does she really hate him? Blaze regrets what happened when he broke up with Charisma. He doesn’t want her under his skin but is it too late? A sexy, sometimes heartbreaking good read.
If you love sports and romance this is the book. Blaze and Charisma bring some much angst and love to this story. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know and love them instantly. Blaze and Charisma dated earlier and things happened that caused Blaze to end the relationship. But Charisma is done feeling down and out, she is going to enjoy the rest of her senior year of college, she just wasn’t prepared for Blaze to literally blaze back into her life.
This couple has such an amazing banter and ease about their friendship that you are rooting for them to fix their issues. Then they do and it is truly beautiful story of letting one in their heart.
I knew damn well who you were from the get-go last fall, the girl who kissed me life I was air she had to breathe
Here is more of my review on my YouTube channel- https://youtu.be/CE4Vi_LZihM
Blaze and Charisma hate to love story was another 5 star for Ilsa Madden – Mills, I love the series so much! Their chemistry was off the charts and they couldn’t deny it any longer, their past and their family history made real obstacles they both needed to tackle in order to earn each other trust and love. This book had me reading it from page one until the end in one sitting, their emotions had me on edge and I just couldn’t put it down.
4.5 Stars
This was a one sitting read for me. I was in need of a good sports romance with football right around the corner.
Blaze didn’t’ have the best childhood and trying to make a good life for himself after college. When he meets Charisma there is instant attraction but she comes with a lot of baggage and rules. I loved these characters and all the secondary characters.
This was a fast paced read that pulled me in. If you like a good enemies to lovers/second chance sports romance I highly recommend this book.
*arc provided generously in exchange for an honest review* HOT. That is the first word that comes to mind when I think about this book. Tbh, this was my first Ilsa Madden-Mills read and I really think I’ve picked the best one! And if In case every book is like this one in the series, then boy… do I have a LOT of reading to do!
Anyway- here’s what I loved:
Charisma and Blaze! The characters were so amazing. I loved that they surpassed the stereotypes of a popular jock and a wild sorority girl! They each had so many layers to them! I loved that both had demons from their past giving a rise to their trust issues! In books sometimes, the trust issues remain unfounded but this one had a proper background.
I also loved their chemistry… and that’s putting it lightly! Unpopular opinion, but I thought that the fact that Blaze went back and forth on his need for Charisma was a very realistic and relatable character trait! It made me like him even more!
The only thing I wanted more was — them. I wanted to see them spend more time together as a couple. I wanted to see them more romantic! But obviously the epilogue made up for it all! I simply loved this book. And if anyone’s looking for a hot read based in college, please go get this book now!! #Bookstagrammer #nowavailable #amreading#booklove #booksofinstagram #bookblogger #bookstagram #IlsaMaddenMills #IHateYou #sportsromance #enemiestoloversromance #KindleUnlimited #IGfeature #socialbutterflypr @socialbutterfly_pr #Booklovers #readersofinstagram #romancereads #IGreads
I Hate You by Ilsa Madden-Mills has been one of those books that you just couldn’t put down once you’re in your reading zone. I loved it so much that I had to read it twice just to highlight the scenes that I loved on my e-reader.
This is not your typical college romance when the guy catches a girl’s eye and voila insta-love! Nope. I loved it precisely because both characters have their own inner demons to overcome. This enemies-to-lovers second chance romance is nothing like I’ve ever read before and it made me love it even more.
Charisma is a nerdy and sassy girl that screams strong and independent from a mile away. But little do you know, there is more to her that meets the eye. Blaze may seem like your typical college football hero. But even a jock can have his own hidden depths of character.
We see them hook up and kiss and make up. But what I love about this story is the buildup into an actual relationship. I loved the moment when Charisma and Blaze finally realized that they’re meant to be together despite their doubts and fears. A heartwarming HEA is what these characters both deserved and it’s truly wonderful to see it unfold in the pages of this book.
5 Stars!
Charisma Rossi is a graphic design major who attends Waylon University in Magnolia, Mississippi. She’s a feisty, outspoken girl from the Bronx who is part nerd/part bad girl. Almost three months ago she had a delicious fling with the hottest guy she’s ever seen, and then he dumped her at a party in front of her friends. She’s embarrassed, angry, and holding a major grudge, so when he shows up in her class she’s not thrilled. She has to prove to herself she’s over him, but she can’t help the way her body still reacts when he’s near. She hates him, but she still wants him.
Blaze Townsend is the star wide receiver for the Waylon Wildcats. He’s known as a smooth talking, cocky player who can have any girl he wants. He’s become a wildcat legend on the field, and is focused on making all his NFL dreams come true. He has to concentrate on football and the upcoming draft, but he can’t quit thinking about a hot girl that’s full of spirit and fire. Charisma got under his skin so bad, he had to cut her loose. No other girl has made him feel the way she does, and with his future on the line, all his attention has to be on the game. He’s always been devoted to football, but for the first time in his life could he want something more, something worth fighting for?
I loved I Hate You by Ilsa Madden-Mills. This whole series is fantastic! I’ve been looking forward to Blaze’s book, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s an enemy to lovers standalone sports romance with so much more emotion than I was expecting. It’s packed with inescapable desire, explosive chemistry, and hilarious banter. I couldn’t get enough of this sexy, alpha athlete with a heart of gold. There were so many layers to this beautiful man I was swooning hard! me some Blaze Townsend!!!
This book…. ugh. It was so much more than I expected it to be! It was beautiful! Blaze is just… perfection in a broken boy’s body. I wanted to hold him and hug him tight the whole entire time I read this book. It will be ok big guy. And Charm!!! I loved this chick. I loved her sassy mouth and her big Italian family that was all up in her business. This book threw me for a loop and I read it in one sitting, ignoring my family for the night! It gave me all the feels in such an amazing way. It broke my heart and it sewed it back up. The writing was phenomenal! This is going to be a book I reread over and over.
3.5 stars
“…on the surface, he appears carefree and loose, but below is a lake, still and deep.”
My second book by Ilsa Madden-Mills was a lovely distraction. After a book that totally broke me, I needed something to build me up again. And what a better start than with a cute enemies to lovers romance?
“We just happened, like all delicious mistakes do.”
The story and the characters are entertaining and easy to fall for. The heroine is smart and sassy however doubting love and her self-confidence in her appearance. The hero, coming from a troubled upbringing needs to prove himself and the world that he is somebody.
Without realising it, both enable the other to see the world from different angles, that the world is better than the hand life dealt them. And even though they would prefer to hate each other, they can’t deny their attraction and the good it brings into their life.
I love how the author spinned the story on us, how the characters and their relationship developed through the book and I love those many cute romantic scenes peppered all inbetween the chapters.
“This is me, This is my heart flying every time I see you.”
I Hate You is a lovely college second chance romance that wins you over right from the first chapter.
When I’m looking for new sports romances to read, I look for a few things: humor, great characters, romance, some steamy moments and a good balance between the romance and sport aspects in the book. I Hate You gave me all these things and more!
In this story we meet Charisma and Blaze. They had a fling for a little while, nothing serious, but it didn’t end on the best of terms. My favorite thing about these two characters is that they’re really genuine. Charisma and Blaze both felt real and that’s important to me in a story.
Charisma is a bit of a “nerdy” girl who is working hard to get her degree and make something of it. Blaze is a star football player who isn’t sure he’ll be making it to the NFL, so he really needs to make sure he earns his degree. Even though their fling ended badly, they can’t deny their chemistry. Both of them have insecurities they need to work through. Charisma doesn’t have the best history with guys and Blaze didn’t have an easy childhood.
Their insecurities definitely cause some difficulties and at times I wanted to smack the characters and tell them to wake up. I loved their connection and it was clear they were supposed to be together. I Hate You had me laughing out loud at times, but also hit me in the feels. Let’s just say Blaze definitely made the book boyfriend list!
One thing I love about this author is her ability to write characters that are so deep you can’t help but become invested in them and with ‘I Hate You’ that’s exactly what happens.
Charisma and Blaze had a fling for a few weeks but Blaze ended things in quite an embarrassing way in front of everyone and it’s been three months since they have seen each other.
Deciding to put her heartbreak behind her she heads out for the night, dressed to kill, knowing Blaze will see her. When their eyes connect again the deep routed feelings come back for both of them.
This book will test your patience with the angst, it’s unreal. I wanted to tear my hair out so many times.
Charisma is just a normal girl who had her heart broken, even though she tried not to be affected and had her rules, she still deeply cared. I felt for her so many times, her thoughts and fears were so real and she had insecurities we all go through. Taking a risk is a big step, but with Blaze’ looks and his flirting and caring side showing more and more, she has little power to stop him.
Blaze, after a hard upbringing and knowing he could only rely on himself to get anywhere in life, he didn’t need any distractions in the form of love, and tried to keep his feelings at bay. But when the heart wants what the heart wants it’s too powerful to stop it. I loved Blaze, he was romantic, caring and fully committed.
I love sports romance novels and this is up there as one of my top reads. It’s funny, sexy, will have you swooning and you will be so invested into their lives you will be routing for their happy ever after.
This book captured my attention from the moment I read the first word and I read !
It kept me reading and entangled among the pages until I realised it had ended ! Charisma. X Blaze stole my heart and the story was light and angsty, stormy and sexy as hell ! I loved the entanglement and the way the story flowed
All the characters kept me hooked and garnered my attention, and I loved the reference to preference characters and the involvement and sneak peaks into their lives !
But Charisma and Blaze oh how they worked and I’m pretty sure they have totally stolen my top spot in the crazy world of Ilsa madden mills characters !
Well worth a read !
5 Stars
Diz
4TLOReading
I didn’t really know what to expect from Blaze and Charisma, but oh boy Ilsa sure knows how to write them. She has honestly become one of my favorite authors and a must buy on anything she puts out. I love the slow anticipation she gave us with this story and how two people that have gone through life came together to overcome them. Blaze you frustrated me but I got so much feels when he talked about his childhood and wanting to belong. The ending was amazing and tied up these character nicely! Oh and Vampire Bill rocked this book, almost got tears when he wasn’t his old self towards the end.