Better Hate Than Never

Liese’s charming second Wilmot Sisters romance (after Two Wrongs Make a Right) offers a loose contemporary riff on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Photographer Katerina “Kate” Wilmot marches to a different drummer, a side effect of her ADHD. Orphan Christopher Petruchio was unofficially adopted by the Wilmot family, his neighbors, after his parents’ death and has loved Kate from a distance since they were both children, but covers it up with snark and hostility. Their fights are legendary among the Wilmots—but when a drunken Kate confesses to Christopher that her animosity is rooted in deep insecurity and a genuine belief that he hates her, Christopher is left determined to fix their relationship and prove his love. Liese brings this unexpected couple to vibrant life, making a case for how their differences can work together beautifully. Shakespeare fans will enjoy the clever nods to the classic throughout, but readers won’t need to be familiar with the original to be swept away by this enemies-to-lovers tale. With a real depth of feeling and plenty of swoon-worthy moments, this keeps the series going strong. Agent: Samantha Fabien, Root Literary. (Oct.)