10,000 Things I Hate About You

Lili Valente

Mar 2022 · Self Taught Ninja

About this ebook

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman newly turned eighteen, with a few grotesquely cheap beers in her belly, will want to pounce on her best friend’s older brother.

Okay, so maybe that isn’t a “universal truth,” but it’s my truth.

I’ve had a crush on Derrick Olsen since I needed help tying my shoes. And yes, I was nearly ten by the time I finally mastered the skill—why are laces still a thing when Velcro is so awesome?—but still… 

I could stare at the man for hours.

Meanwhile, he barely knows I’m alive. Or at least, that’s the way it’s been before. But tonight, with a spring moon overhead and bonfire flames dancing across the sexy planes of Derrick’s face, I sense things could change between us.

If I’m brave enough to make them change…

I can do that. I can come on to my best friend’s older brother. What’s the worst thing that can happen? He turns me down in a fashion so horrifically embarrassing that I decide to hate him forever, and he happily agrees to return the favor? I mean, yeah, I guess that’s a possibility.

But the odds of that are slim to none…right?

Ratings and reviews

This is a prequel novella teaser to the V Card Diaries series. We get to see the legendary bonfire event where Harlow is turned down epically when she asks Derrick, her best friend, Evie’s brother to be her first. We hear about their animosity and this incident in Scored (Evie’s story) and Screwed (Harlow and Derrick’s story). It was great to read the full story. As long as you understand that this is not a HEA but just a prequel, you’ll enjoy the story. Despite being short, the novella was well written and engaging and it gave me all the feels - I was snort laughing one moment and my heart hurt the next.

This book is a sweet little introduction to 18-year-old Harlow and the man she is crushing on. Not only is Derrick the older man, but he is also her best friend’s brother which firmly puts him in the “off-limits” category. But after a couple of drinks and a lot of courage Harlow decides to make a move for Derrick only to be rejected. This novella sets up their story in Screwed.

It was nice to read the backstory of Harlow & Derrick...Lili Valente is one of my top #oneclick authors and this story was no exception.