Great read, it flowed for me, even had a touch of suspense in it. I usually don’t like these the ceo or the books because there isn’t much to them, but this one was different. Hard to explain but just read for yourself!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

This book had me feeling a range of emotions! From our first introduction to Liam "the Line Cutter", you wanted to hate him yourself. And Mia certainly makes her feelings known!

Turns out, they actually KNOW each other!

I really enjoyed the CEO I Hate and read it in almost one sitting. The characters were likeable, except Liam didn't grovel enough for my taste, and Ash was the star of the show.

I can't wait to read more about the Lockhart brothers!

This book definitely delivered on the romcom promise—some of the banter genuinely made me giggle. That said, a few moments did feel a bit over the top, especially early on when the “hate” dynamic between the main characters bordered on too much. Still, the story wrapped up with a satisfying ending, which made the bumps along the way feel worth it.

Let’s talk about Liam. He was a tough sell at first. For someone pushing 40, his decision-making often felt immature. But not all book boyfriends are perfect, and I appreciated that he was written as deeply flawed—human, even if frustrating. His arc was slow to win me over, but I was genuinely glad he got there. For once, I actually rooted for the third-act breakup. It needed to happen!!!!

As for the “forbidden” brother’s-best-friend angle, it didn’t feel particularly high-stakes or necessary in their situation, but it’s understandable; I just wasn’t sold on it. And their transition from hate-banter to romance happened a bit too quickly for me. That said, the timeline made sense overall, especially since their post-breakup reconciliation wasn’t immediate. Liam really had to earn it, and I respected that.

Mia, though, was the highlight. She’s smart, funny, kind, and held her ground in all the best ways. I especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes moments with her and her colleagues—it made the story feel grounded and fun. While Liam’s behavior wasn’t always charming, their dynamic slowly grew on me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!I

I think this promised to be the start of a great new series. The CEO I Hate is book one in the Lockheart Brothers series by Leslie North who is a new to me author.

If you like enermies to lovers or work place romances this is the book for you. Mia gets a job working for her brothers grumpy and very hot best friend Liam. She has been in love with him for years but he has always kept her firmly in the friend zone because of her brother Jake, despite his growing feelings for her. The pair start working closely together and cannot deny their attraction any longer.

I enjoyed the book and read it in one sitting, the characters are really likeable and I look forwards to learning more about them in furture books. There is plenty of humour and spice in the book. And Ash was a lovely addition. There are also various side stories going on it the book, Mia's successful comic book series, her brother Jakes rehabilitation and relationship struggles after an accident at work where he was a firefighter. Making me even more invested in the outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#CampNetGalley

Mia never planned to fall for Liam Lockhart a second time. He’s her brother’s best friend, a decade older, and the inspiration behind the villain in her wildly popular webcomic. After one unforgettable kiss ended in heartbreak, she turned that pain into art, and swore she was done with him for good. But when her brother gets injured, Mia is offered the writing job of her dreams at Liam’s streaming company. Now she’s stuck working side by side with the man who ghosted her, trying not to strangle him, or kiss him senseless. With stolen glances, late nights, and a stray dog only complicating things, staying professional is harder than it sounds. Kissing Liam again might be the worst decision she ever makes… or the one that changes everything.

3.75 stars

I want to start by thanking NetGalley and especially author Leslie North for the opportunity to read this ARC!

The book had such an easy, natural flow. Even though it felt a bit long at times, the story moved along beautifully. The writing was clear and precise—I always knew exactly where the plot was heading, which made the experience so enjoyable.

The characters were great, and I absolutely loved Mia. She was such a relatable character—fierce and strong, yet sensitive. I admired how she followed her dreams even when her parents weren't supportive. Liam was a very intense character, and I appreciated how the book took time to explain his behavior and background.

That said, the book was incredible and very enjoyable—I read it all in one day! Leslie, I hope you have an amazing career ahead because your writing and storytelling are truly impressive.

Very strongly written. Plot does not contain any holes and is a great read! The characters have such a strong relationship that makes it so easy for the readers to connect.

Mia has always had a crush on her brother’s best friend, Liam. Liam is intrigued by Mia, but stays away because of loyalty to her brother, who was in an accident and is now in a wheelchair and having a hard time coming to terms with his new life. There is too much chemistry to avoid, so they decide to see each other in private. As we all know, that comes with a whole new bag of problems, so watching the story evolve after that was such a fun read.

This book gave me similar vibes as The Hating Game, which is one of my favorite books of all time. The banter between Mia and Liam had me in knots waiting for the eventual kiss. Though it was an extremely slow burn romance, it was worth the wait. I really enjoyed everything about this book, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Tropes- workplace romance, secret dating, brother’s best friend.

Love and hate balance on a thin line that could be easily crossed. In THE CEO I HATE, Leslie North crafts a compelling romance blending irresistible tension with open vulnerability. Mia swears off kissing her brother's best friend, Liam Lockhart. A mistake she made two years ago. As a heartbroken writer, it was only sensible to turn him into a villain in her webcomic. In a twist of fate, after her brother's intervention, Liam offers her a position as a head writer in a hit show. Working together should be easy, but it becomes a challenge when trying not to devour each other.

The best part for me about this book was how it doesn't keep revolving around one thing. It's fast-paced. I didn't find it lacking in any area. This supposedly enemies-to-lovers romance is compelling and intriguing. Romance readers are sure to enjoy this familiar trope.

The CEO I Hate by Leslie North is a romcom with the enemies-to-lovers and brother's-bestfriend tropes. I love the romantic buildup and the character development. I look forward to reading the rest of the Lockhart brothers' series.
I got the complimentary copy of this book from Relay Publishing via Netgalley. This is my honest review

Amazing book loved the characters abd plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. Ii loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

A brother's best friend is getting together with the younger sister. This works, though, from the start when Mia is busting his chops for cutting in line at the coffee shop as if he is the only person. It just gets better from there, especially when you find out that he ghosted her two years ago after they kissed. It comes full circle, though, when she walks out on him. A good with excellent characters.

Mia and Liam are attracted to each other, but because she is his best friends younger sister, Liam keeps blowing hot and cold. But a twist of fate has Mia working with Liam and the close proximity makes ignoring the attraction that much more difficult for Liam.
This was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed the banter and the sizzle between Mia and Liam. It was fun watching the push and pull. Ash was a wonderful addition, nothing shows a grumpy persons soft side than a furry friend.
Overall a fun read !

5 stars without even thinking twice. It was easy to read and just flowed from start to finish. I really liked how Mia and Liam interacted, their energy together felt intense but also fun at the same time. There was drama, emotions, tension, and some really great banter between them. I smiled a lot while reading. Mia was such a strong and relatable character. She had passion and didn’t give up, even when things weren’t easy. Liam was grumpy and cold sometimes, but deep down you could tell he cared. Their connection grew slowly but in a way that felt very real to me. I also liked that the story had some emotional layers. It was definitely one of those stories I didn’t want to end. Everything came together so well, and I enjoyed every chapter. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

When Mia unexpectedly runs into Liam Lockhart, her brother’s best friend and the man who once kissed her only to push her away, old feelings resurface. Now working together, Mia is determined not to repeat the past, especially if it means risking her dream job. But when Liam kisses her again, resisting becomes far more complicated.
This is a fun and flirty romance that balances emotional tension with witty banter. There is plenty of banter between Mia and Liam, as well as a lot of chemistry. I found the story entertaining and enjoyed the relationship between Liam and Mia. As they navigate their feelings while also caring for Mia’s injured brother, she begins to feel overlooked, particularly in her budding relationship with Liam. This book delivers a steamy romance, with plenty of heartfelt moments. An enjoyable romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

brothers best friend
enemies to lovers
workplace romance
3rd act break up

All my favorite tropes in one book.

I really liked this book, I thought the characters were great, and it was a quick read. I did lose interest towards the end of the book and ended up skipping through to the end.

This book follows two people in the tv / writing industry. If you are really into that, then this is perfect for you. Those were the parts I skimmed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Relay for the arc.

If you’re looking for a quick office romance, this is just that. The book was not short but didn’t feel fleshed out. I don’t think we got time to really connect to them as a couple. I think when there’s a third act breakup, the readers should feel a little down because of how much they like the couple and I just couldn’t feel anything. It’s a cute not so palette cleanser since it’s not as short. I like that the brother didn’t act irrational the way they usually do in the brother’s best friend trope. Mia was cutesy, I think I just couldn’t feel the romance aspect from Liam. I also like that they actually fleshed out the brother’s story.

Thank you to Leslie North, Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really really loved this book!!! It was a quick and fun romance with a pace that kept you wanting to read more. Workplace Romance? Brother’s best friend? Enemies to lovers? Check check check!!

I really loved the two main characters together and their banter. It really kept me interested through the whole book. Mia is a badass and I loved the overall storyline, I feel like it had a great mix of romance and fiction that you don’t always get!

I am really excited to read the next books in this series, I think the premise of a brothers trilogy is always a hit for me!

4⭐️ 2🌶️ I really enjoyed this book and all the tension and top tier banter! One passionate kiss between Mia and Liam had Liam running for hills after realizing what he did with his BFFs little sister that is 10 years younger than he is.

The banter between Mia and Liam was so dang funny, the scene in the coffee shop and my cackling!! The tension is high between these two, but Liam is down bad and can’t stay away like he feels he should. Loved their journey to a HEA!

I really enjoyed the side characters in this story, crossing my fingers Jake and Gabrielle and their HEA. Lyle & Damion are the villains we love to hate!

Thank you NetGalley and Relay Publishing for this advanced copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.

4 🌟
Spice: open door
Format: ebook

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. (I did read on KU though so the author gets paid)

This was everything I thought it would be! I think a lot of friends would enjoy it. I love the TV show aspect, it was different and made me wish the show was real so I could watch. I really liked Mia & Liam together. I love a good brother's best friend book so it had me hooked by that alone. I am excited to read the other Lockhart brothers books. So many great side characters in this book too! Side characters can make or break a book for me. Ash is probably the best side character of all.