Review: The Hate of Loving You

The Hate of Loving You by Maya Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I for one preach - write a review of the book you read, not the one you wanted.

Rest assured I am honored to be one of the chosen few who has advance read THOLY. From the early drafts of Falling trilogy, I knew this would be something special.

Not all love stories should be written formulaic, and follow some prescribed demands by readers. This is not how storytelling works. Unless authors choose to write formulaic and what the market demands - and that IS the definition of writing to market or what I would call a money grab.

Delivering a trilogy on a timeline that is real and raw with heartbreak isn’t what all readers will want. For this reader, it is a brilliant piece of writing to pull these emotions from our hearts.

Authors should write the characters and their story based on the story the author wants to tell. It is an honor to have these talented individuals share their words.

Love doesn't always happen in a minute, hour, day, week, or year. Maya Hughes tells the story the on the timeline for what the characters needed. This incredibly brave and not safe. This story arc, as I have repeated time and time, is brilliant, and breathtaking. It is not to be missed by readers who love complicated, chaotic feelings and not always easy.

Once a reader has read and can write a well thought out critical review of what did and didn’t work in the storytelling without lowering themselves to writing how the author failed them by not writing what the reader wanted, then write that review. Because readers need all reactions to weigh to choose a story, series or trilogy to read.

If you choose not to read, get angry because “how dare the author not write the story I demand.” welp, dear reader, based on a blurb, move on and be happy you are skipping it. Storytelling is not a craft that is based on readers demands. What you want is something written to market to sell. Guess what? This is not that.

For those of you waiting to binge on the trilogy but confused on if you should take a chance, based on early reviews written on THOLY blurb - wait for reviews from more individuals who have read the story. Read their opinions from each book before deciding.

As a reader and a fan of Maya Hughes other books, this is the very best of her writing in my opinion. It is purposeful and deep. Story progresses and doesn’t slow down in unnecessary secondary elements or as a distraction . All parts and themes have meaning and demonstrate purpose in the characters journey. In summary what I am willing to share is - this trilogy is not just how two broken people can love each other, but how they learn to love themselves.

I will update this review based on content closer to release.

PS: looking for spoilers, story details before ARCs are out? I am not the reviewer for you. Never have, never will be.



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