They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody
Published by Hodder & Stoughton

THE classic trope of a romance exploring the root of tension between two characters who seemingly hate each other can often be mishandled.

Amanda Woody’s fresh LGBT romantic comedy novel dodges that issue, crafting instead layered and lovable characters whose animosity toward one another is not only used as a source of romantic tension, but genuinely unpacked.

While the quick wit, bright American high school setting and fun and supportive cast of friends are a reason to pick this novel up, I found myself staying for its endlessly empathetic approach to real emotional and familial issues.

Dylan Ramirez has, since they were approximately 11, found Jonah Collins’ loud, boisterous nature annoying and perhaps even been a little jealous that everyone else seems to think it makes him the life of any party.

Jonah, however, has equally unpleasant views of Dylan, thinking him spoiled and arrogant for his obvious wealth and supposed “perfection”.

However, as they share best friends, they’ve had to simply deal with each other, and with these mutual friends’ insistences that, as the two only openly bisexual boys in their class, their rivalry is a signal of a deeper chemistry.

These suggestions become harder to ignore when, by sheer accident and drunken misfortune, they end up staying in the same bed.

Struggling to convince anyone that nothing happened, the two formulate a begrudging plan together, to pretend to date and stage a dramatic fight and breakup to prove once and for all just how incompatible they are.

As Jonah and Dylan begin their scheme, they’re forced to get to know each other to make it more convincing, but when this goes beyond the surface of favourite foods and interests, they find they have more in common than they think.

Dylan’s perfect home hides his lingering emotional scars from previous abuse and family issues.

Meanwhile, Jonah, who shoulders the weight of caring financially and emotionally for his sisters with minimal income and a barely present father, attempts to hide his own issues.

As the truth begins to pour out, the line between what is real and fake in their relationship blurs.

They Hate Each Other managed to have me laughing and crying in turns. It is a romance for teenagers with all of those expected giddy and heart fluttering moments, but with equally vital representation of larger issues.

While Jonah and Dylan “hated” and misunderstood each other at the beginning, the progression of their relationship to a more playful rivalry, then a supportive friendship, slowly developing into a romance, is testament to the truth of many relationships.

When they become more, one can realise that no-one’s life is perfect, and in fact, that person you thought had everything together, may be just as in need of a deeper connection as you.