The Hate Project

by Kris Ripper

Overview

"This is a delight." —Publishers Weekly

This arrangement is either exactly what they need—or a total disaster

Oscar is a grouch.

That’s a well-established fact among his tight-knit friend group, and they love him anyway.

Jack is an ass.

Jack, who’s always ready with a sly insult, who can’t have a conversation without arguing, and who Oscar may or may not have hooked up with on a strict no-commitment, one-time-only basis. Even if it was extremely hot.

Together, they’re a bickering, combative mess.

When Oscar is fired (answering phones is not for the anxiety-ridden), he somehow ends up working for Jack. Maybe while cleaning out Jack’s grandmother’s house they can stop fighting long enough to turn a one-night stand into a frenemies-with-benefits situation.

The house is an archaeological dig of love and dysfunction, and while Oscar thought he was prepared, he wasn’t. It’s impossible to delve so deeply into someone’s past without coming to understand them at least a little, but Oscar has boundaries for a reason—even if sometimes Jack makes him want to break them all down.

After all, hating Jack is less of a risk than loving him…

Carina Adores is home to romantic love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.


The Love Study
Book 1: The Love Study
Book 2: The Hate Project
Book 3: The Life Revamp

Also by Kris Ripper:

Book Boyfriend

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781335509178
Publisher:	Carina Press
Publication date:	04/27/2021
Series:	The Love Study , #2
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	1,058,208
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that. www. krisripper.com
https://twitter.com/Kris_Ripper
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rippersirregulars/
https://www.instagram.com/krisripper/

Editorial Reviews

03/01/2021

Ripper returns to the circle of friends from The Love Study and ratchets up the heat in this amiable standalone romance between an anxious curmudgeon and his emotion-masking acquaintance. Grumpy 29-year-old Oscar hates his job answering customer service calls, but falls into a tailspin when he’s let go. His overeager friend Declan connects him with snarky 35-year-old financial analyst Jack, who needs massive help cleaning out the home of his hoarder grandparents. After a casual hookup, Jack offers Oscar a generous wage (and the promise of more no-strings-attached sex) for his assistance. Managing to keep his anxiety at bay some days more than others, Oscar delves into the project, carefully sorting cherished mementos from the junk and enjoying his playful sparring—and deliciously described hookups—with Jack. But Oscar’s messy, conflicted reaction to Jack kissing him in a nonsexual context shatters their excellent sex life, forcing both men to evaluate what they want. Ripper’s sensitive portrayal of Oscar’s anxiety blends nicely with the erotic charge to create a tender but still thrilling romance. This is a delight. Agent: Courtney Miller Callihan, Handspun Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"A tender but still thrilling romance. This is a delight" — Publishers Weekly

A "boldly sensual M/M love story that compassionately yet honestly incorporates issues such as mental health and body image into a romance that also proudly extols the values of inclusivity, family, and friendship.” —Booklist

“While The Hate Project depicts a lot of struggle, including a fair and realistic amount of backsliding, it also showcases lovely moments of hope, steadfastly suggesting that troubles can be overcome with loyal friends.” —BookPage

From the Publisher