Review: Dear Heart, I Hate You by J. Sterling

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Review

4 stars!

Dear Heart, I Hate You is the first book I have read by J. Sterling and I know it won’t be my last.

Jules is a workaholic and her job is the most important thing to her. She has no time for a serious boyfriend because she knows they won’t come first so you can imagine the shock when she meets a man in Boston who makes her feel things she hasn’t felt before.

I had no plans to change my relationship status anytime soon.
Then I met Cal.
And he fucking ruined everything.

Cal, like Jules, has a job that means everything and doesn’t have time for a relationship. He has a plan and rules. He has three years before he can make partner and finally figure out what he wants out of a relationship so until then, he doesn’t waste time on women he can’t commit to. The he meets Jules.

Cal and Jules hit it off immediately but Jules doesn’t want a one-night stand without the prospect of more and he can’t give her that because they live on separate sides of the country. So though they spend much of the weekend together, as it comes to an end, Jules flies back to California, and Cal stays in Boston. What happens when keeping in touch as friends leads to so much more?

I really enjoyed this story and way Jules and Cal got to know each other. They didn’t just jump into a physical relationship and it wasn’t love at first sight, though lust at first sight is a whole different story.

Suddenly, I didn’t want to leave.
Ever.
The idea of chaining myself to his body and throwing away the key crossed my mind.
Too soon? Probably, but I was rarely, if ever, this physically attracted toward another human being. It wasn’t like me to fall all over myself for some random guy I’d just locked eyes with.

Though neither were looking for love, sometimes love has other plans. Jules and Cal were fun characters who thought they knew what they wanted but found out what they were missing.

Jules was wonderful. Funny, sassy, and smart, she was instantly likeable. I admired her work ethic and loved that she went after what she wanted career wise. Cal was a gorgeous guy who knew what he wanted out of life. I loved his confidence and determination. I will be honest, there were times I wanted to scream at him, but overall I enjoyed his character.

Jules and Cal were great together. They were both ambitious and had goals that were important to them. I loved that they challenged each other and supported each other as well. They were funny, sweet, and I loved the way they made each other feel.

My heart was clearly meant to want. It was meant to feel. It was meant to do more than just keep me alive. Oh, how I have forgotten.

The awesome banter was easy and natural and put a smile on my face. The chemistry is scorching and I felt their immediate attraction even if they thought it couldn’t lead anywhere. Though they hide their feelings to protect their hearts, I knew their emotions were going to mess up their well-formed plan and just when you think things are going to work out, the story takes a turn that was frustrating and heartbreaking.

When your heart and mind joined forces and worked against you, it was a wonder how a person could function at all without falling apart. The two of them warding against each other was one thing, but having them team up on me was something else altogether.
It was brutal, to say the least.
Fuck you, heart.
Fuck you, mind.

Thankfully the angst didn’t last too long, and I loved that when the time came to fix things, all wasn’t forgiven right away. They didn’t just jump back into each other’s arms. Cal had to grovel and grovel he did, and I thought it was handled well and realistically. I loved that they talked it out and knew what they had to work on as a couple. Their commitment put a smile on my face and I loved the way this story ended. Overall, it was a fast-paced read and I couldn’t get enough.

*Note: The audio version of this book is fantastic. Both narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life.

 

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