• Ameriie: Ameriie is the curator of the anthology. She’s a booktuber (Books Beauty Ameriie), a Grammy award nominated singer, an aspiring novelist (represented by Joanna Volpe), and an all-around beautiful person. 

• Renée Ahdieh: The Wrath & the Dawn and The Rose and the Dagger (bonus stories for the duology: The Moth and the Flame, The Crown and the Arrow), and more.

• Soman Chainani: The School for Good and Evil Series (The School for Good and Evil, A World without Princes, The Last Ever After, and the Ever Never Handbook). 

• Susan Dennard: Truthwitch, Something Strange and Deadly trilogy (A Dawn Most Wicked (prequel novella), Something Strange and Deadly, A Darkness Strange and Lovely, and Strange and Ever After).

• Sarah Enni: Sarah is the creator & host of the First Draft Podcast, and will be making her debut YA writing appearance in BYLTM. 

• Marissa Meyer: The Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Fairest, Winter (& bonus: Glitches, the Little Android, the Queen’s Army, Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky, The Princess and the Guard, and round-up Stars Above), Heartless (+ The Gatlon School for Vigilantes & participation in A Tyranny of Petticoats).

• Cindy Pon: Serpentine and Sacrifice, Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix (& Want).

• Victoria Schwab: This Savage Song, The Archived and the Unbound (bonus: Leave the Window Open),The Near Witch, adult works as V.E. Schwab (Vicious, A Darker Shade of Magic), and more.

• Samantha Shannon: The Bone Season series (The Bone Season, The Mime Order, The Song Rising, & more), The Priory of the Orange Tree.

• Adam Silvera: More Happy Than Not and History Is All You Left Me and They Both Die at the End.

• Andrew Smith: The Alex Crow, Grasshopper Jungle, Winger and Stand-off, 100 Sideways Miles, and more. 

• April Genevieve Tucholke: Wink, Poppy, Midnight, curator of Slasher Girls and Monster Boys, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea and Between the Spark and the Burn. 

• Nicola Yoon: Everything, Everything & The Sun Is Also a Star

You’d think that might be all the contributors to the anthology, but Because You Love to Hate Me is different from most anthologies. The above authors will be writing short stories based on villain-themed prompts provided by booktubers!

THE BOOKTUBERS INVOLVED: 

• Me! of The Lushables (booktube channel) & Christina Reads YA (book blog) 

• Benjamin of Benjaminoftomes

• Catriona of LittleBookOwl

• Christine of polandbananasBOOKS

• Jesse of JessetheReader

• Raeleen of padfootandprongs07

• Regan of PeruseProject

• Samantha of Thoughts on Tomes

• Sasha of abookutopia

• Sophia of thebookbasement

• Steph and Kat of Cuddlebuggery booktube channel & book blog

• Whitney of WhittyNovels

• Zoe of readbyzoe

All booktubers will be paired with one author. They will write an introduction to that author’s story, and we’ve all already provided prompts for our authors to use as inspiration. You'll find out later who is paired with whom, and which villains are being used :).

Let me rave about this anthology. Can I just say how much I love this sort of creative collaboration among readers and authors? We’ve seen it in the community for things like Litographs fanart T-shirts, extra content based on reader votes / input, paperback pages printed as appreciation for reviewers, etc., but this is first story collaboration that I know of, and I think that’s really neat.

So, not only is this anthology cool because of the creative collaboration, but it’s also cool because OF ALL THOSE AUTHORS. Renée Ahdieh? Gorgeous, sensual writing that can add really great layers to characters and here, to a villain we love to hate! Soman Chainani? The School for Good and Evil has a great atmospheric start, and Chainani has already switched up the moral good/evil sides—I’m sure his villain will be compelling. Susan Dennard? Everyone at the Truthwitch launch had mentioned how the villain was intriguing and complex, and Susan will create something equally, if not more, exciting for this anthology! Marissa Meyer has already written a book on the villain of the Lunar Chronicles (aka Fairest), so her villain will be equally compelling. Uh, did you not see me ramble on about my love for Serpentine? Cindy Pon creates wonderful, multi-layered characters, and I can’t wait to read the villain she will write! Victoria Schwab! Vicious! Blurring the lines between what’s right and wrong, and who’s the bad guy – sounds like a recipe for creating another great villain! Samantha Shannon’s Bone Season series is on my all-time favorites list, and of course I’m excited to read about her villain! Adam Silvera has already dealt with moral ambiguity in More Happy Than Not: how does a place like the Leteo Institute exist? With his character-centric focus, Adam will create a great villain too. Andrew Smith has been compared to Kurt Vonnegut, so duh, he’ll create an awesome work. April Genevieve Tucholke has gorgeous, atmospheric writing and River from Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was a fascinating, multi-layered morally ambiguous character, so hello awesome villain-to-be! Nicola Yoon created multi-layered characters in Everything, Everything and I’m excited to see where she’ll go next after such a powerhouse debut! Sarah Enni is making her YA fiction debut with the anthology, and that's really exciting too!

BUT YOU KNOW WHO I’M MOST EXCITED FOR? Ameriie. I’ve been Ameriie’s critique partner for about three and a half years now, and all of her work is fantastic! Great writing and characterization, fast-paced, multi-layered plots, thematic works with story at the forefront, and I can heap on so, so much more praise. She's definitely an upcoming author to watch :), and I can't wait to see what see comes up with too.

ARE YOU AS EXCITED FOR BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO HATE ME AS I AM? I hope so!

Title: Samantha Posey Love Unfolded
Author: Shantee' A. Parks
Publisher: Amazon Digital Service
Series: Samantha Posey Love Series # 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Samantha Posey: Love Unfolded" by Shantee' A. Parks

My Thoughts...

I will say this was one read that kept me shaking my head because it seems to go on and on and then at the end we find it is a cliffhanger... the reader will have to get book 2 to get the remainder of Samantha and Jacob's story. I will say that this author really knows how to write some erotic sex scenes that will be in most of the chapters. I will say this was uniquely done and left me saying wow! Be ready for a story of 'love, lies, betrayal, mystery and yes even murder, loss of action, suspense and romance.'

I will say this novel has some very interesting characters especially the secondary ones [Nicki, Adam & Todd] that I found rather defined and well portrayed in this story line. The hero and heroine both at times will work ones last nerve with all of their bantering back and forth. This was definitely not one of those predictable stories because there is so many twist and turns but one thing is for sure and that is their love making! Will Samantha and Jacob have their HEA when it is all said and done? Will they be able to get pass this 'invisible bond' that they seem to have for each other? Well no matter what the odds or conflict that comes to Samantha and Jacob it seems certain their loves seems to conquer all....or will it? To get these answers and so much more you will have to pick up 'Samantha Posey Love Series Book 2' to get the rest of the story.

Title: Blood Defense
Author: Marcia Clark
Series: Samantha Brinkman # 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Blood Defense" by Marcia Clark

My Thoughts.....

I found "Blood Defense" was one good mystery, suspense, surprises, crime and thriller read all round up into one good long fast moving read. Be ready for a lots of twist and turn that will definitely keep your attention to he end. The main character [Samantha] along with several other supporting ones[Michele & and Alex] and a few complex ones were well developed, defined, portrayed and believable all helping to give the reader quite a attention grabber read. I will say that this was definitely one of those reads where I thought wow is this what was it like in a day in the life of this lawyer. When you think you have it all figured out there will be many more surprises just around the corner for this lawyer and her team. If you are looking for a good mystery that flows so well with all of its twist I would suggest you pick up this well written novel to see for yourself how well this author brings it all out to the readers. That ending of this story was quite one that I didn't see coming only leaving me to say wow! So, if you like a mystery with lots of surprises I would definitely recommend this one for you and I look forward to this authors next series.

Title: The Christmas Cottage/Ever After
Author: Samantha Chase
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"The Christmas Cottage/Ever After" by Samantha Chase

What I liked about this novel...

I enjoyed both of these novellas! It was quite a read as the Callahan's Family Cottage in Asheville, seemed to be quite a magical cabin for not only Lacey and Ean but will it be for Ava and Brian? These two love stories were both sweet romantic reads that will keep your attention all the way till the end. I love how this author was able to give the reader a good read with some very interesting characters.

The Christmas Cottage...featured Lacey and Ean...along with Ava...and Mason
then we move onto the next novella...
Ever After featuring Ava and Brian...along with Lacey and Ean

Both of these stories will put a smile on your face being so warm hearted. Be ready for both of these novellas will be about 'family, friendship and most of all life lessons.' A question I did ask...Will Ava grow up and not have it be all about her always wanting the 'total [perfect] package?' What was she really searching for? Now, I don't want to tell to much about these romantic stories but want the reader to pick this read up and see for yourself how well this author presents these two stories back to back adorable reads.

I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.