I Hate You: an enemies-to-lovers standalone

Well, I'm doing this completely ass backwards. I started with the first in the series, I Dare You but then the author had the first chapter of the 2nd book at the back and of course I read it which led to my instant gratification kicking in and I jumped to #2 without reviewing #1. Then of course, I get to the end of the 2nd book and there's the first chapter of the 3rd and, once again - no self control, so I'm off to the races reading that one.Thus why I'm reviewing the third in the series first. Let me just say, while this isn't my usual go to, I really enjoyed these books. I loved the fact that even though they still follow somewhat the formula of the hot star football players and the college students that worship them, they were each very different characters and they had back stories to contend with outside their relationships with the heroines they fall for.Blaze is the hot footballer in this story and a character I fell in love with. I desperately wanted to tell him he was worthy. And Charisma is pretty kick ass too though so the book was a win for me.These characters were already featured heavily in the previous book where they were involved with each other but this one kicks off with Blaze having dumped Charisma in front of practically everyone at the biggest party on campus after the big Homecoming game. She hates him for the public humiliation and the Jekyll and Hyde whiplash but secretly she's hurting like nobody's business. She's also confused as hell with no idea why it went from Go to Stop in 60 seconds flat.Blaze meanwhile, appears at the beginning, to have completely moved on without a look back and partially that's because he's so damn good at putting on his public face. But one never gets the chance to hate him because his reasons for the huge mistakes he make come from such a heartbreaking background, such low self-esteem and such a desperate need at his one and only shot to prove to himself that he counts somewhere in life and that somewhere - the only place he's ever been able to rely on is football and a shot at the NFL.These two were perfection for each other. They both have deep seated issues from growing up in putting themselves out there or believing that love is something that actually exists. That someone will stick around for you, that someone will mean what they say and follow through with action. I swear the walls these two both have constructed are equal to the Great Wall of China. But no matter their scars and no matter how bad the break up, the fact is that these two can try and shake it off all they want but their feelings for each other run deep.Charisma was a tough cookie with a helluva of personality. And Blaze was her ideal match. Watching the push and pull of these two and reading from their POV's had me wanting to shake both of them hard and tell them to try putting themselves out there. The love is there but the road to the two of them finding it was fraught with misunderstanding, lost moments and fear of rejection. But when they finally put it together, it is so worthwhile! This wasn't your average football player looking to gain the world, this was a gem of a man looking for the one thing he never had."I'm never going to betray you. My feelings for you…are beyond anything else. I’m not that man. I want a happy ending, Charm. That’s who I am. I’m the guy in Say Anything who begs the girl to take a chance. I’m here."I totally enjoyed this journey, adored the references to Say Anything and on an added note, I got to spend more time with Vampire Bill - damn, I love that foul talking bird!****4 stars for taking chances, finding your own family in this world and being brave enough to love!

This is one of the best emotional happy sad book that had kept me reading until late in the evening. I read all of her books and I look forward to reading the next. Don’t plan on getting anything done when you start reading her books,

Ilsa doesn't disappoint in this book. I really enjoyed the book. I mean this stuff hardly ever happens in real life but I enjoy reading about it. I would definitely recommend.

Welcome back to Waylon University! Where the football players are hot and some of the best in the country and the women are well educated, beautiful and quirky and tend to fall for these hot men. How can oil and water mix?I Hate You was so much more than I thought it would be. I thought it would be another hot football player that needed to be tamed by a quirky woman that is harder to get than the average football groupie. I got this. But SO MUCH MORE.Blaze and Charisma have been waiting patiently for their story and I was curious where it would go. What was their backstory? What drew them to one another and would their story be believable??Blaze and Charisma's story started their freshman year. But with each of them playing by their own rules, life, football and college took the forefront. And here is where our "enemies to lovers" romance took hold.The banter, the character development, the friendship and the support these two had not only for each other but for their friends/teammates and family was what made their story special.Blaze has a background that isn't so pretty and for that reason, he thinks the only person that he has is himself. HE's the only one that can get himself to his goals. No one else will do that for him. Then we have Charisma who comes from a great background, but there's a little wobble to her past too. For that reason she sets rules for herself in any relationship she may have. Her rules. Her way. Then no one can get hurt. But what happens when Blaze upends her rules?"He's everything I never knew I wanted. He's perfection wrapped in a dark, deep lake, and I ache to swim in those waters, to discover his secrets and let him delve into mine."To watch these two open up to each other and share parts of one another while still holding on to that "hate" they have, it's a special journey to be a part of. Blaze has such a sentimental heart, but no one will ever know that because he doesn't let anyone get that close. He definitely has a facade that he lets people see, but that is NOT him. He holds his cards close and it will take a strong person to break those walls down. Charisma also holds her cards close, but she has a heart that wants to care (I mean, look at the way she cares for Vampire Bill). She protects herself with her spit and fire. She's smart, beautiful and talented but also knows how to hold everyone at arms length. How will these two even get through when they are battling things inside that allows no one to get "really" close?IF you want a New Adult romance but with a touching backstory that grows in a very poetic way, I think you've hit the nail on the head. Fun banter, great characters and friendships that are strong. I was pleasantly surprised with the depth of the story and their journey they had to take to get to their HEA. It was beautiful, fun and satisfying. I'm really loving this college football world Ilsa has created!

Believing in yourself is tough when you have no one that tells you to believe in yourself because they believe in you!! Takes a while to grow & mature enough to take a chance on love. See what happens w/Blaze & Charm!

This story is a good example of complicated characters. Both of them are broken in different yet similar ways. It’s a fairly quick read and full of passion and love even through the complications.

This book gives you all the feels. One moment you are laughing because of the banter between Blaze and Charm and then you are crying at all the heartfelt moments and all the heart crushing one’s. Definitely a book to re read over and over !

This was a wonderful addition to the hook up series and I loved Charisma and Blaze’s book from the first page to the last I was in the moment with them.Charisma Rossi has been studying at Waylon University originally from the Bronx, she is not used to not speaking her mind but after a very public break up with the star wide receiver of the Waylon Wildcats last fall she has lost her mojo, but this semester her last semester she is determined that she going to make the most of her time left at university and she is not about to let Blaze Townsend ruin anything anymore. But one look at him and she knows that everything she has been telling herself has been lies, he still affects her body in a way that she has never felt before wanting to break all her rules. Trying to convince herself that she hates him but willing to try to be friends but can she truly hide the way she feels or will she give into the love she really feels?Blaze Townsend the star wide receiver for the Waylon wildcats and all round ladies man wasn’t prepared for sassy and smart Charisma Rossi but she stomped into his life and all of a sudden his thoughts were consumed by the woman when he should have been focused solely on his football career, deciding to end things it’s not long before he realises his mistake but now she hates him, can he show her that they can be something special or is he destined to be what everyone has always made him think nothing to anyone?I really do love this series and enjoy this writers work, this book had everything I look for in a sports romance and these two characters had a lot of depth and issues with themselves to work through together and apart. Highly recommended read and hoping the next book isn’t too far away.

This is a lovely story about two people whose lives have been affected by their parents problems. Neither of them can trust love and when they meet Charisma has sex with the handsome wide receiver Blaze and then tells him to leave. She has rules to keep her safe, she doesnt allow kissing and they are not allowed to stay over once the deed is done. Blaze is one cocky handsome athlete, he has the girls flocking to be in his bed but after sleeping with Charisma several times he has to dump her because she stirs something in him only when he does it he humiliates her. Charisma feels her heart breaking. He deliberately makes sure she sees him with someone else and it hurts but he still wants her. Its got some funny one liners in that make you laugh and also some really sentimental ones that are really lovely. great read for a college story.

This book was a revelation in emotions and is summed up in an iconic line from the film '10 things I hate about you' - "But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all! " Charisma Rossi spent a glorious 3 weeks with Blaze Townsend before it ended abruptly, in public. Trying to make herself hate him doesn't seem to work and when they end up sat together in a class, emotions take over. Can they move on from the past? Can they be honest and open up more? What does the future hold for them? Ilsa gives you a read that is emotional with characters you fall in love with! So much more than 5 stars and a new one click author for me

I really enjoyed Blaze and Charisma’s story.More than just a college football story. Both characters have to learn to overcome their anxieties in order to see each other properly and realise that their future could be amazing together.All it takes is faith, trust and Love.... have they got the courage to take that leap of faith together?Really worth a read and great to catch up with the other characters in this series.... looking forward to reading Dillon’s story.... she will need to be pretty amazing to put a stop to his philandering ways!!! 😁😉

I Hate You was so good, and so unexpected, I didn’t expect this story to be so full of emotion. It was the perfect enemies to lovers story.Blaze hasn’t had an easy life, and all he’s every cared about is football, until Charisma, being with her makes him want more out of life, something that throws him. Charisma doesn’t think love is for her, she’s seen how it’s broken the people around her.Both Blaze & Charisma have plenty of insecurities and doubts, about themselves. But together their chemistry is off the charts hot, when they finally get their HEA, it will definitely leave you with a smile on your face.