Enemies to Lovers

Welcome to Bess’ Book Corner! 

This week we are featuring Boomer—the younger brother. 

This week we will be reviewing Twisted Hate by Ana Huang. This is book 3 of 4 out of the twisted series. 

Back in Washington DC, Josh Chen, a cocky and handsome soon-to-be the next hotshot doctor, and a womanizer. He can charm every girl in DC, except Jules Ambrose. After an amazing one-night stand with Jules, he proposes a situation to get her out of his system. Strictly situational with ground rules with rule 1 being, NO falling in love. 

Jules Ambrose is an outgoing, former party girl desperately trying to pass the bar exam. She does not need Josh Chen, her best friend's brother and the most annoying and handsome man in the world in her life. The more she gets to know Josh the more tolerable he becomes. Could her enemy be her salvation? When the demons of their pasts come to haunt them, will they be enough to save each other or leave in ruins?

I am not going to comment on Ana Huang’s writing. I am always impressed. The plot of the story was intriguing, to say the least. The idea of the emotion of hate is as strong as the emotion of love. At this point in the series, I have found what in each story is truly twisted. “I lied.” I have never thrown a book across the room before. I was so angry and my heart broke so hard. Everyone is twisted in their way. The faults in each of us can be twisted. The more I read Ana’s writing the more I understand why each is twisted. 

I loved the banter between Jules and Josh. It reminds me a lot of the banter between my husband and I. Josh Chen has dark demons. They stem from his father, Michael, and the betrayal of his best friend, Alex. There was an aspect that struck me about Josh. He is on his way to being a doctor and he saves lives. But he just as easily could take a life and he does admit this in the book. I think saving people in the ER was his way of proving to himself he is a good person; he is not his father. He struggles through the whole book trying to come to terms with the darkness within. 

Jules’ backstory surprised me. I thought she was this party girl with daddy issues. I did not see the mommy issues. The more I learned about Jules the more I came to like her. Josh was not in the right to tell Ava to stay away from Jules. However, Jules had a lot of growing up to do. The more she matured the more I liked her and understood her. She wanted the past in the past, however could not escape it when Max showed up. I hate that she feels she needs to keep everything so close to her. She does not trust easily and I wish she could just let it out. 

Overall, this was a book I cried a lot. The twists hit me like a train. The betrayal, the lies, the guilt, the shame, the secrets, and all that in the name of love. I finished this book within a week and itched to buy the next book. This was a great read. Enemies to lovers is the theme of this book and Ana does an amazing job of making you feel the enemy to lover. The spice: don't give this to your mother, it was pretty hot. 

Fun dog Fact: Dogs dream like people. 

You can tell Bess's dreams. She makes these quiet and subtle barks. Boomer on the other hand twitches mainly his paws. 

Please let me know your thoughts on this book if you have read it. 

 Also, add your book recommendations for me to review!