I loved this!! It was a nice twist on brothers best friend. I loved the dynamic of Liam and Mia. I enjoyed the banter and the denial. The brother was a good addition too and his story I would love to read. I enjoyed the spice and the relationship of the characters. Mia’s best friend was one of my favorite side characters.

Not the most fast paced book you’ll ever read, some parts were good, some parts were kind of cringe.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Fun, Spicy Quick Read!

The CEO I Hate by Leslie North is the perfect pick for when you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, steamy romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers on entertainment.

Mia and the CEO (a.k.a. her brother’s best friend!) have a relationship that starts with plenty of tension. The workplace setting, paired with the enemies-to-lovers vibe, kept me engaged—even if the “hate” to “love” transition felt a little too fast to be entirely believable. Still, I found myself grinning at their banter and enjoying the ride.

The characters were a highlight! I loved getting to know them, and their humor and spark made the story so much fun. On the flip side, there were moments where I wished for a bit more context—some interactions and phone calls lacked the detail I craved, which left me momentarily confused. But honestly? It didn’t take away from my enjoyment overall.

If you want a short, spicy, and entertaining read, this book hits the mark.

Thank you to Leslie North, Relay Publishing, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.25⭐️ Who doesn’t love a grumpy/sunshine, brother’s best friend, and a work place romance. This was a fun read with some hilarious scenes. Mia is a fun loving writer and Liam is a billionaire CEO of VeriTV. When he needs a writer for one of his shows, he ends up bringing Mia into the fold and things begin to heat up between the two. Overall I thought this was a great book for someone needing a quick read. Leslie North’s writing was easy to follow and the chemistry between her characters are great. Also we can’t forget about Ash the dog! He was a stand out and was always there in the perfect moments.

ARC Review - 4/5

thank you Netgalley for this opportunity :)

When I started this book, I didn’t even realize how fast I was reading it until I was already over 50% in. Maybe two hours had passed? Three? No idea. I flew through it.
⠀
The story was really interesting — we have a main character, Mia, who’s had a crush on the hero since she was a kid. He’s her brother’s best friend (yes please), and there’s also that workplace romance element, which I honestly enjoyed a lot.
⠀
Mia was great. Determined, focused, and she knew what she wanted. On the other hand, Liam… yeah, I had some issues with him. He was way too grumpy for me. Like, dude, chill. He wasn’t really willing to compromise, and that third-act breakup? If I were Mia, I don’t think I’d take him back so easily.
⠀
Still, I get where the author was going with it, and it worked within the story. Fiction, yes, but with real-life emotions. So I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.
⠀
Also — I’m super curious about Connor now. I definitely want to read his book next.
⠀
Overall: I liked it. This was my first time reading something by this author and it was a solid experience. Great pacing, good romance, and I really appreciated that there wasn’t a lot of drama around the brother/friend thing. Maturely handled. We love that.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 /5

This book is a quick and easy read that I could definitely finish in one go. When aspiring writer Mia Lockhart lands her dream job on a hit streaming show, she doesn’t expect to find herself working alongside Liam Carter — her brother’s best friend and the grumpy media exec she vowed never to get close to again. Between navigating professional boundaries and the feelings she swore she’d buried; Mia discovers that sometimes the line between love and hate is razor-thin.

The character building in this book is excellent and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. I also think the author has already laid the groundwork for developing other characters in the upcoming novels. The chemistry between the two main characters is strong and full of swoon-worthy moments. The way the author weaves in deeper themes through the side characters is highly commendable.

If you enjoy brother’s best friend, and workplace romance tropes with great character development, this is a book you’ll want to pick up.

A writer who hates the man in charge of one of her favorite shows. He doesn’t like her much either. At first.

Shockingly fast, she ends up as a lead writer for him, and shockingly fast, they start to appreciate each other. I wanted to see something more realistic about her working her way up to head writer status. More personal conflict.

In spite of that personal wish, I did find the research was great in writing for tv. I learned a few things from reading.

Chemistry between the two characters was good. They meshed.

This is the perfect airplane or beach read, it's light fizzy and fun. It has all the tropes you could possibly ask for, older brother friend, workplace romance and of course grumpy sunshine. I felt the characters were somewhat lacking in dimension, but as I said it is a good summer read and the bonus is that it is the beginning of a series. I will definitely be looking for the next one.
Many thanks for the advanced copy.

Oh my god this book was so good! I love a brothers best friend book and add in a bit of enemies and grumpiness and you've written my perfect romantic story, can't wait to read more in this series!

I love a good brother’s best friend romance. This book nailed it. Mia was a delight to get to know and I love the story that was weaved for her. Liam was an idiot, but he pulls it together. I can’t wait to get to know his brothers in the next books.

In this first book of the Lockhart Brothers we follow the oldest brother Liam and his love interest Mia who happens to be his best friends younger sister. We follow along with him being the grumpy ceo who is used to getting his way or at least fixing everything for everyone and Mia who is agent of chaos. There is a lot of big personalities in the side characters and it will be interesting to see what happens in the next two books with the side characters as well. I loved the journey and even one of the villians was slightly redeemed….for now. I look forward to book 2 and the next Lockhart Brother’s story. Thank you Netgalley, Relay Publishing & Leslie North for choosing me to be an arc reader for this book.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did — but it totally surprised me in the best way. If you love authors like Meghan Quinn or Sally Thorne, this one will be right up your alley. It’s a grumpy x sunshine, brother’s best friend, workplace romance with great banter, slow-burn tension, and just the right amount of spice.

Mia is an easy-to-love FMC — bubbly, witty, and full of heart. Liam is the grump we love to root for (not mean, just emotionally guarded). Their dynamic was the perfect mix of tension and charm, and I loved watching it all unfold. The breakup near the end felt earned, not forced, and I appreciated that the characters were given space to grow instead of instantly jumping back in.

Side characters added some nice depth, especially Mia’s brother, whose storyline was emotional without being heavy. And yes, the dog deserves his own mention — total highlight.

There were a few minor bumps — some transitions at the beginning felt a little confusing, and I wanted just a bit more emotional detail from the leads. But overall? This was exactly the kind of low-pressure, high-enjoyment romance I love to binge in one sitting.

A feel-good read with heat, heart, and humor — I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author.

The CEO I Hate by Leslie North is a fast-paced, feel-good romance that hooked me from page one. If you're into grumpy-sunshine tension, brother’s best friend drama, and the kind of workplace romance that sizzles with unresolved feelings—this one’s for you.

Mia is a relatable, determined heroine who's just trying to find joy in her writing career. Enter Liam Lockhart: her brother’s broody, emotionally walled-off best friend who once ghosted her… after that kiss. When Liam needs a head writer for his streaming platform’s hit show, Mia’s suddenly thrown into his world—cue the angst, banter, and undeniable chemistry.

Their dynamic is intense, fiery, and sometimes sweet. The café scene early on was a standout—funny, sharp, and full of foreshadowing. I loved how the emotional layers built over time, making their connection feel earned. And Ash was a delightful side character who added warmth to the story.

This book had me smiling often, especially during their sharp-witted exchanges. While Liam could be frustratingly guarded at times, you could tell he cared, and Mia’s strength and passion carried the story. It’s sexy, emotional, and full of heart.

That was such a fast fun read! Liam and Mia were super relatable and the conflict helped move the plot along. I even found myself kind of liking Lyle by the end which I wouldn’t have called at the 50% mark. Definitely will be picking up book two in the series!

Workplace romances are my jam and I've enjoyed a few from Leslie North. I've shared in the past that her CEO/Billionaire ones have a lighter quirky element than Annika Martin's (another author I like), so it made me smile that the name Annika was used randomly in this book. >> If that's a hint that the writer of this one is the same, please drop me a message ;) because I certainly find it impossible that 1 person writes under the Leslie North name.

This one, though, even had a moment that made me think of Louise Bay's An American in London where a coffee shop and barista played a role. BTW, I also typically like Bay's books, too.

Collectively, from North to Bay to Martin, all those books are fine ways to pass the time if you're looking to escape with something not too deep a read.

This was a quick, fun read. The plot was well paced for the most part, although there were parts of the romance which felt a little rushed. The characters were mostly well developed, I enjoyed the dynamic between Mia and Jake, but I felt like Liam’s character could have been better developed or had his motivations and behaviour explained a little better. That being said I’ll definitely be reading the next two books in this series, I’m intrigued by the Lockhart brothers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Relay Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enemies-to-lovers sparks, a broody CEO, and a sunshiney writer with something to prove—Leslie North delivers a fast-paced, chemistry-packed office romance that’s as smart as it is steamy.

Mia Carter is finally getting her shot. As the new head writer at a rising streaming company, she’s ready to prove herself in a cutthroat, male-dominated industry. But her new role comes with one massive complication: her boss is none other than Liam Lockhart—the CEO of the company, her brother’s best friend, and the man who kissed her years ago… then promptly vanished without a word.

From the very first scene, Mia and Liam’s dynamic sizzles with unresolved tension. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and their mutual stubbornness makes for a delicious slow burn. Leslie North does a fantastic job layering in both characters’ vulnerabilities beneath their tough exteriors. Mia is ambitious and driven, but also deeply loyal and protective of her creative vision. Liam is all polished control and simmering frustration, with just enough cracks in his armor to show that he’s more than just the company’s icy CEO.

What really stands out is the emotional arc. This isn’t just a story of workplace flirtation—it’s about two people learning how to trust again, how to confront their past mistakes, and how to build something real in a world that rewards keeping things professional and impersonal. The stakes are personal and professional, and every scene pushes the relationship—and the characters—forward in meaningful ways.

There’s also a delightful subplot involving a stray dog, which softens Liam’s edges and adds a heartwarming touch to the tension. And while the romance builds slowly, once it ignites, it really ignites. Expect toe-curling kisses, almost-confessions, and a few moments of “just one bed” proximity that will have you flipping pages into the night.

If you’re a fan of:

Enemies to lovers

Brother’s best friend tension

Workplace romance with real emotional stakes

A brooding hero softened by love and a dog

Smart, capable heroines who refuse to back down

Then The CEO I Hate will absolutely hit the spot. It’s a quick read with strong romantic payoff and just enough angst to keep things interesting without tipping into melodrama. A perfect pick for fans of Lucy Score, Lauren Layne, or anyone who loves a smart romance with heat, heart, and humor.

This wasn’t the most intriguing book I’ve read, but the story was okay overall. The pacing was a bit slow and not a ton happened, but I did manage to finish it without skipping any parts, so it held my attention enough to get through.

I really appreciated seeing the female main character stand up to bullies and find her voice, and the male lead was sweet, kind, and loyal - definitely a bright spot in the story. Their relationship had some heart, even if the plot itself felt a little underwhelming.

Not something I’d rave about, but not a bad read either. Solidly average.

It took me a bit to get into the story, but the second half was much better. The romance, though, lacked tension, especially for a brother’s best friend setup, Jake’s reaction felt too low-stakes. Some side plots, like family drama and the ex-professor, didn’t really go anywhere. I also wish Mia and Liam’s relationship had more early development, the breakup didn’t hit as hard, and the ending needed a bit more effort from Liam to feel earned.

It took me a bit to get into this one, but I ended up liking the second half a lot more than the first.

The behind-the-scenes look at TV production was super interesting, and I liked seeing Mia's creative side come through. That part felt fresh and fun.

I just wanted a bit more tension and build-up, especially with the whole office romance and brother’s best friend setup. SPOILER: Jake’s reaction to finding out felt way too chill—like, "It’s fine if you hook up with her, just don’t break her heart." It kind of took the drama out of it.

There were also a few things that got brought up but didn’t really go anywhere. Mia and Jake’s parents, the random creepy ex-professor, and Liam’s family (especially his mom) all felt like they could’ve added more to the story if they were fleshed out a bit more.

Mia and Liam’s relationship needed a little more development early on, too. When they broke up, I wasn’t heartbroken—I actually agreed with Mia. The ending was sweet, but I was hoping for a bit more grovel from Liam.

Thanks to Leslie North, Relay Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC!

"The CEO I Hate" by Leslie North
Rating: 3/5