I first discovered Eliah Greenwood on Instagram and read her Rules series, which I really liked. Then I discovered her book Dear Love, I Hate You (DLIHY) - book 1 of the Easton Boys series.
I loved DLIHY so much that I got it in paperback and didn't think Eliah could write anything that would top it. But boy was I wrong.
When I signed up to the ARC (advanced reader's copy) of Dear Heart, I Hate You (DHIHY) I didn't think I'd get it; however, I was lucky enough to receive it. I remember I looked at my kindle one evening and saw the book but it didn't really register at first - then I freaked out!
DLIHY was an amazing book but DHIHY was even better!
Below is my honest review of Dear Heart I Hate You by Eliah Greenwood - spoiler-free of course:
Dear Heart I Hate You by Eliah Greenwood
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Forced Proximity
High School Lovers
Summer Romance
Roomates
Boss's Son / Forbidden Romance
My Star Rating:
DHIHY is a new adult romance with mature themes that is the second book in the Easton Boys series and part one of a duet. It is set the summer before DLIHY and follows the two best friends of the DLIHY couple. Finn Richards and Diamond Mitchell.
I thought Xavier and Aveena were going to be my favourite Eliah couple, but Finn and Dia may have just taken their spot.
Dia needs some cash to pay for a new car after her brother (not a nuclear family) Jesse crashes it. She dog-sits/housesits for the summer, thinking she's going to be all alone with this adorable golden retriever in a big fancy house.
And she is...until the son of her employer is kicked out of basketball camp and comes home for the summer. The book follows Finn and Dia, who hate each other, being forced to live in the same house, trying not to kill each other and avoiding each other's secrets and the building of chemsitry between them.
Diamond Mitchell is this gorgeous woman, who has a fiery spirit. She lives life with her best friend, Aveena, and always tries to make the best out of a situation. Dia has not had an easy life but that doesn't stop her from going after what she wants. She is strong and sassy and is the only girl to get through to Finn and not fall for his charm and call him out on his egotistical, jerkish ways. I also loved the way she transformed over the course of the book into a woman who knew what she wanted - or didn't want - and wasn't afraid to go for it.
Finn Richards is the typical popular bad boy, who can flash a smile and have loads of girls just waiting to kiss him. However, that is not all he is. Finn portrays himself as this rich guy who has it all, when underneath he is struggling from the trauma of his childhood. This trauma has never left him and haunts him to a scary point. His best friends are there for him but the only person who actually gets through to him is Dia. He is a broken hero.
The dynamic between these two was just amazing! The way Eliah wrote their relationship with the angst, the emotion, the tension was just perfect. It's a contemporary romance that will make you feel all the feels - seriously, there are a few scenes where the sadness was tangible. I could feel Dia's pain and Finn's anguish. When they finally got together, their relationship was explosive.
The ending of this book literally killed me! Eliah wrote the book in a way that the cliff-hanger was emotional, painful, angsty, and teasing. I had tears in my eyes.
I cannot tell you how much I need time to hurry up for part 2 to be released - Eliah I NEED to find out what happens!
Honestly, DHIHY was so so good, I loved it! And not only do I want part 2, but I also want Theo's book because his character was a highlight of DHIHY and I want to know his story.
The Easton Boys series is definitely worth a read!
Thank you Eliah and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for this ARC!
Click my edit below to buy DHIHY on Amazon or KU:
Disclaimer: Edits are mine, images are not