REVIEW: PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connoly

In PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connoly, Maddie Sanderson thought she had decades left of bantering with her older brother Josh and hearing his goofy, lovable voice on video chats from exotic locations. But at twenty-nine-years old he passes away after a battle with cancer. Adrift in grief, Maddie barely holds on through the funeral only to find out Josh–an award-winning adventurer–has tasked her with spreading his ashes in eight U.S. states he never got to visit. The kicker? She has to make these trips with her brother’s best friend and her former teenage crush, Dominic “Dom” Perry. The guy who crushed her heart and caused Maddie to move across the country to Seattle.

‘Can I do this? Be Dom’s friend? Can I set aside the mess of our past and start over? For Josh, I think I can do almost anything.’

All Maddie can think as she prepares for the first couple of trips is how Josh knew that she would go to the ends of the earth for him–even trek eight times with Dom across the country. Things are awkward at first with broody Mr. Responsible trying to create an itinerary and control everything. But Maddie has to admit Dom is a steadfast travel companion. And as they slowly warm up to each other, telling stories about Josh and taking in the sights he will unfortunately never see, the spark that always existed between them reignites, stronger than ever. Maddie gave her heart to Dom once before. She’s worried that if she lets him into her life and her heart again, this time it will be even worse if it doesn’t work out.

“And do you see me now?” I whisper, the sound more vulnerable than I ever thought I’d let myself be with Dominic Perry again.
He doesn’t hesitate on his answer.
“You’re all I see.”

If you’re looking for a novel that encompasses every emotion imaginable and that will take you not only across the United States but also through the ups and downs of a couple falling in love after losing an important person in their lives, then PS: I HATE YOU has got you covered. And then some.

‘Eight states with Dominic Perry at my side. Damn you, Josh Sanderson. Why must you torture me even from the afterlife?’

CW: View Spoiler »Grief, terminal illness (not detailed) & end of life decisions, child neglect, verbal & physical abuse, suicidal thoughts, miscarriage « Hide Spoiler

You simply have to enjoy a story that takes you on an emotional ride and leaves you smiling at the end. Author Lauren Connolly was on to something special when she created the slow burn romance that wreaked havoc on Maddie and Dom’s lives. Filled with moments that were laugh-out-loud funny as well as heart wrenching enough to bring tears to my eyes, PS: I HATE YOU was a unique road trip, friends to enemies to lovers book that I couldn’t get enough of.

Told from Maddie’s cute and quirky POV, I honestly wished I could hang out with her in real life–and not just to give her a hug over the loss of her beloved older brother Josh. She was a character who in all her introverted, workaholic, cheese-loving glory felt like she could leap off the pages at any moment. When Maddie was forced to go on trips to eight different states to spread Josh’s ashes per his wishes, accompanied by her former teenage crush, Josh’s best friend Dom, the fireworks definitely started. But Maddie and Dom had a very complicated history. (I won’t spoil what happened between them close to ten years ago) There wasn’t a whole lot of talking about what pushed them apart. So, the animosity that flared, while funny, took some time to overcome. Then things heated up. A lot. And it was so very sexy.

Connolly added in a whole host of secondary characters who played key roles in both Maddie’s and Dom’s lives that stood on their own as well. Dom was a good guy down to his core–with a filthy mouth to die for. But he took on a lot of responsibility very young, taking care of his twin brothers after they were born. They became a fun as well as poignant part of Maddie’s life a few times over the years and I just loved how they cared so deeply about her and their brother’s well-being. I think readers will love them. And Maddie’s friends Tula and Jeremy will make a big, positive impression, too.

QOTD: Have you taken a trip or visited somewhere local in memory of a loved one?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: December 3rd, 2024 | Berkley |

Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish, that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous 29-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at his funeral, she would have killed him for this.

Sure, Dom was Josh’s life-long best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a farewell trip that spans thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.

After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.