The best love/hate romance books with a happy ending

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm a Spanish author, just an ordinary woman addicted to romance reading who one day felt like writing. I am mad about romance (especially those spiced with love/hate relationships) and I'm also a big fan of happy endings, that's why I love the good feelings that linger for a while after you finish reading a good romance. So one day, I dreamt of being able to provoke in others exactly the same feelings that all these lovely stories have awakened in me and thanks to a correct alignment of the planets now I have in Spain quite a lot of faithful readers who love my books. By the way, not to show off but... I'm the winner of the First Price HQÑ 2013 (Harlequin Ibérica digital contest).


I wrote...

Book cover of Skinny Legs

What is my book about?

What would you do if the boy who had picked on you in grammar school suddenly reentered your life as a dashing heartthrob in need of your help? Would you settle old scores or try to forgive and forget?

A Christmas short story with a romantic twist.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Ain't She Sweet?

Isabel Keats Why did I love this book?

I love books in which the two main characters hate each other's guts almost at first sight. It's absolutely hilarious, although the story has a surprising depth at the same time. Another thing that I love about this book is that it is a nod to other of my romance weaknesses: the regency period romance and, especially to Georgette Heyer, one of the greatest authors of all times in that literary genre. A fresh story perfect for all of you who, for some hours, want to leave the world behind. 

By Susan Elizabeth Phillips,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Ain't She Sweet? as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In high school Sugar Carey had reigned supreme. She alone had decided what or who was cool. Her spiral perm had been the perm against which all others were measured, and her opinion on which boys were acceptable to date the only one that counted. A beautiful, blonde - if not always benevolent - dictator, she had a reputation for being the wild child of Parrish, Mississippi, the girl most likely to set the world on fire, and leave a trail of destruction in her wake. When she left home she swore she'd never return. Only now, fifteen years and…


Book cover of Pride and Prejudice

Isabel Keats Why did I love this book?

I don't pretend to do a brainy study here about this wonderful book that most of you I'm sure have already read. I only want to say that I came across this book for the first time when I was very young and from then on I have always thought that the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet is the best love/hate story I have ever read. I love the misunderstandings, the way that, little by little, both of them change their opinion about each other until that first distaste at first sight changes quite surprisingly even for them both into wonderful deep feelings. 

By Jane Austen,

Why should I read it?

33 authors picked Pride and Prejudice as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One of BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World.

Jane Austen's best-loved novel is an unforgettable story about the inaccuracy of first impressions, the power of reason, and above all the strange dynamics of human relationships and emotions.

Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is illustrated by Hugh Thomson and features an afterword by author and critic, Henry Hitchings.

A tour de force of wit and sparkling dialogue, Pride and…


Book cover of The Hating Game

Isabel Keats Why did I love this book?

The female main character in Thorne's story is one of the funniest I have met to this day. Lucy's and Joshua's love/hate relationship is really original and full of sparkling games that will keep you laughing out loud. So if you are going through a bad time my advice is: try this book! I can assure you that this is the kind of romantic story that makes you smile even in the roughest of times.

By Sally Thorne,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked The Hating Game as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Debut author Sally Thorne bursts on the scene with a hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love. Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome. 2) A person's undoing 3) Joshua Templeman Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She's charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual. Trapped in a shared office together forty…


Book cover of Wallbanger

Isabel Keats Why did I love this book?

There are relationships that start badly, very badly. That is the case of the main character of this novel and her neighbor, whose active and noisy sex life does not let her sleep a wink at night. I think this is one of the least promising beginnings of a relationship in the history of romance novels beginning of a relationship, however...

If you want to read a fresh, funny comedy with a memorable love/hate relationship you can't miss this one!

By Alice Clayton,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wallbanger as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a Kitchen Aid mixer to die for, and no O (and we're not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O. Adding insult to O-less, she also has an oversexed neighbour with the loudest late-night wallbanging she's ever heard. Every moan, spank, and-was that a meow?-punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has-yep, you guessed…


Book cover of More Than Neighbors

Isabel Keats Why did I love this book?

As I'm sure you have already guessed this is one of my own few stories translated to English ;-D. I chose it to be part of this selection because one of the few things that Cat and Leo, the main characters, have in common is how absolutely different they are. And this, I think, is one of the strong points of the book; the fact that two people that are poles apart can fall madly in love with each other. The other is that More Than Neighbors is an easy feel-good read.

By Isabel Keats, Simon Bruni (translator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked More Than Neighbors as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Leopold Sinclair returned from a long overseas business trip, the last thing he expected to find was a sexy new tenant in the apartment next door. Catalina Stapleton, the beautiful, recently arrived neighbor, is the type of person who just can't help adopting every poor stray she comes across. After a brief exchange with her uptight and work-obsessed neighbor, she decides that Leopold is an unhappy man who needs to be saved from himself.

Yet soon, what started as her friendly project turns personal. After a red-hot kiss inflames their attraction, Leopold knows he must keep wild Cat at…


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Alpha Max

By Mark A. Rayner,

Book cover of Alpha Max

Mark A. Rayner Author Of Alpha Max

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Human shaped Pirate hearted Storytelling addict Creatively inclined

Mark's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

Maximilian Tundra is about to have an existential crisis of cosmic proportions.

When a physical duplicate of him appears in his living room, wearing a tight-fitting silver lamé unitard and speaking with an English accent, Max knows something bad is about to happen. Bad doesn’t cover it. Max discovers he’s the only human being who can prevent the end of the world, and not just on his planet! In the multiverse, infinite Earths will be destroyed.

Alpha Max

By Mark A. Rayner,

What is this book about?

★★★★★ "Funny, yet deep, this is definitely worth venturing into the multiverse for."

Amazing Stories says: "Snarky as Pratchet, insightful as Stephenson, as full of scathing social commentary as Swift or Voltaire, and weirdly reminiscent of LeGuin, Alpha Max is the only multiverse novel you need this month, or maybe ever."

Maximilian Tundra is about to have an existential crisis of cosmic proportions.

When a physical duplicate of him appears in his living room, wearing a tight-fitting silver lamé unitard and speaking with an English accent, Max knows something bad is about to happen. Bad doesn’t cover it. Max discovers…


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