The Boy I Once Hated

Love & Hate Duet, Book 1

By: Ivy Fox, C.R. Jane

Narrated by: Chloe Ryan, Alex Kydd

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

I've always heard there's a fine line between love and hate.

No one told me that line could destroy me.

Noah Fontaine. King of the school. My living nightmare. The object of my fantasies. My new stepbrother.

I did whatever it took to survive him. Every day he took more of me. I just didn't expect him to take my heart.

Because of the boy I once hated, I'd never be the same girl again.

©2023 C.R. Jane and Ivy Fox (P)2023 Podium Audio

The Boy I Once Hated

The Boy I Once Hated is the first book in the Love and Hate duet by C.R. Jane & Ivy Fox. This book is told from dual points of view by Noah and Skylar. This book starts out when both characters are 16 years old.

Noah and Skylar's lives are both changed with they find out their parents are seeing each other, and they are about to move in together. Noah is upset because his mother just passed away, and Skylar's mom was her nurse. Skylar is smart, quiet, and shy, and Noah wants to get under her skin. Her sister is outgoing and stands up for Skylar a lot. A lot of things happen due to Noah and his followers. Skylar is one tough cookie, but sometimes things can just get to be too much.

As the book goes on, Noah realizes he has feelings for Skylar and Skylar back. They start to see each other in secret. Now at 18, Skylar has an opportunity and Noah will do anything so she does it. Can Skylar forgive Noah for everything he has done in the past? Can Noah get past his father and new stepmother's relationship? I can't wait to see what happens next and how Skylar and Noah's relationship turns out.

Heartaching amazing

The taboo romance, the story line, the love hate relationship that holds you until it wrecks you and then you just have to go back for more. Beautifully written story. Noah and Sky are so relatable it almost feels like you personally know the story. Narration was amazing and spot on

The BEST Enemies to Lovers

Amazing narrators! Two of my favorites, actually. Although I wished it was duel narration instead of duet, it still worked.

This is one of my all time favorite enemies to lovers books. It has the spice too!

At the beginning of the book, Noah is at the side of his dying mom. It’s heartbreaking and she quickly dies after. Shortly after his mother’s death, Noah’s dad gets remarried to Skylar and Daisy’s mom, which uproots their family to live with Noah and his dad.

Noah is still grieving and broken when he meets his new family. Noah and Skylar are 16 years old at this point and Skylar’s older sister, Daisy, is one year older.

Skylar is the complete opposite of her sister Daisy. (Daisy is one of the best supporting characters that I’ve ever read!) Daisy brightens every room she walks into. She doesn’t care what others thinks and does what she wants. Skylar on the other hand prefers to be alone and doesn’t want attention. Skylar says, “My nose is always stuck in a book, or in my laptop writing a storm. To say I’m socially awkward is an understatement.” However, with that said, Skylar isn’t a doormat either.

Skylar and Daisy share a sisterly bond like no other. It’s beautiful to see how fiercely they love each other.

Noah immediately takes his pain out on Skylar because he (mistakenly) thinks her shyness makes her an easy target. Noah is the guy that every girl wants and who every boy wants to be. How Noah and his friends bully Skylar is heart wrenching. His hatred towards her is palpable.

However, Skylar is the only person that has ever stood up to Noah and challenges him at every turn, which intrigues him. Slowly, he secretly starts to like her and then that becomes more.

This story progresses at the perfect speed giving the author time to develop these characters so you see all aspects of their personalities.

The story ends when Noah and Skylar are 18 years old graduating from high school.

Noah has to make a decision that will either leave the couple resenting each other in the long run or destroying their relationship completely but letting Skylar pursue her dreams. Regardless, Noah keeps Skylar in the dark about their future. It ends on a cliffhanger.

One of my favorite quotes from Noah towards the end is, “you have all of my forevers.”

5 stars

I loved this book. The story. The pain. The characters.
I can’t wait for book 2

Great Love story! (Beginning)

The story starts out extremely slow but definitely worth it because it offers a compelling backstory into the lives of both main characters. I felt every emotion possible as I listened along! My heart melted one minute then shattered the next. Can’t wait to finish book II!

Had to take a breather because the angst was so real

This book. The anxiety, tension, adoration were palpable. I had to take multiple breaks because I was so overwhelmed by the emotions Sky and Noah were experiencing. Bravo!

So good

Can’t wait to jump to the next book, story and narration are top notch! Read this book in a day

Hmm never gets past the age of 18 ?

I really don’t get it, this book is a 15-18 year olds love affair. The story dosent really go anywhere. I was left frustrated and underwhelmed ..I guess the rest of it is in the next book? I did not enjoy this book for a price tag $ 20 + the story goes no where ends with nothing. I will go no further in this series and will be looking for a refund. Everything that happened could have taken place in the first or second chapters of a book

I’m not like other girls…

This is a pretty standard high school enemies to lovers where the girl is stereotypically quirky and awkward yet stunning and brilliant. The sister is fun and the MMC at least has a good reason for being so full of angst. However, one thing I HATED was the parents. They’re both awful parents but Noah’s dad just straight up did not give a shit about his kid, AT ALL. Which would be fine, but the author gives you the feeling that the dad is supposed come as a good guy. But he sucks. And Noah never gets that moment where he gets to tell off these two horrible people. It’s frustrating.