I Was Frustrated… and Then I Devoured It: My Twisted Hate Review

If chaos had a love language, it would look a lot like Twisted Hate by Ana Huang. This book doesn’t walk into the room politely. It kicks the door open, throws banter like confetti, and dares you not to feel something. And honestly? I felt everything.

Twisted Hate is a new adult romance novel and the third installment in the Twisted series. The series itself became a viral sensation on BookTok, the book community on TikTok, and is now one of the most frequently recommended romance series online. Originally self-published, its sales skyrocketed thanks to TikTok, eventually leading to a major publishing deal and a global readership of romance fans. This series is what propelled Ana Huang’s name into the spotlight, and several of her other books are now set to be adapted into a Netflix TV drama.

Twisted Hate itself is best known for its intense enemies-to-lovers trope, filled with emotional conflict and carrying a darker edge than typical romance stories.

Jules Ambrose and Josh Chen begin as sworn enemies, their constant bickering barely masking an undeniable attraction. Jules is focused on building her future as a lawyer, while Josh, a brilliant yet frustrating doctor, is exactly the kind of man she should avoid.

Their animosity runs deep. Josh sees Jules as a bad influence on his sister, while Jules is worn down by Josh’s controlling nature. But somewhere along the way, the tension between them shifts. What begins as irritation slowly evolves into something far more complicated, leading them into a no-strings, enemies-with-benefits arrangement meant to keep things simple and emotionless.

Of course, simplicity doesn’t last.

The idea of a purely physical relationship quickly begins to unravel. Because in reality, can intimacy ever exist without emotional attachment? Whether in real life or in romance stories, that line rarely holds. Sooner or later, feelings find their way in, quietly reshaping everything.

The story takes a sharp turn when Jules’s past resurfaces. Her ex-boyfriend, Max, blackmails her with a traumatic video, forcing her into impossible choices. In her desperation to protect herself, she betrays Josh.

When he discovers the truth, everything shatters.

Consumed by a sense of betrayal, Josh lashes out, hurting Jules in ways that cut deeper than any of their past arguments. What they built collapses completely, leaving both of them at their lowest point.

In the aftermath, distance forces reflection. Josh begins to confront his mistakes, while Jules slowly learns to open up about the pain she has long buried. Piece by piece, they find their way back to each other, choosing to rebuild rather than walk away. Because in the end, this is still a romance. And like most stories in the genre, it leads to a hard-earned happily ever after. The kind that doesn’t come easily, but feels all the more satisfying because of it.

Let’s get this out of the way: Josh and Jules are messy. Not “oops I forgot to text back” messy, but “we argue, we explode, and somehow end up tangled in bed five seconds later” messy. It can be frustrating. At times, it feels like every conflict circles back to physical tension instead of actual communication. Fight? Spice. Hurt? Spice. Emotional damage? You guessed it. But weirdly, that chaos becomes part of the book’s rhythm. Toxic? A little. Addictive? Absolutely.

What makes this story work is the electric enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The hatred between Josh and Jules is sharp, sarcastic, and weirdly playful. It never dips into cruelty for the sake of shock. Instead, it simmers. Their bickering feels real, like two people who get under each other’s skin because they see too much. And when that tension flips into something softer, it feels earned. You start rooting for them even when you’re shaking your head like, “please just TALK to each other.”

Jules easily steals the spotlight. She’s bold, funny, and refuses to be pushed around. There’s a bite to her personality that makes every scene brighter. Her past plays a big role in the story, though it leans into the classic miscommunication trope near the end. Not everyone will love that part, and honestly, it doesn’t add as much depth as it could have. Still, it gives context to her walls, even if you occasionally want to reach into the book and stage an intervention.

Now Josh… he’s complicated. There’s a moment, you’ll know it when you hit it, that makes everything crash. It’s shocking, uncomfortable, and honestly hard to forgive. For some readers, it’s the dealbreaker. For others, it’s what makes the story hit harder. You don’t have to agree with his choices to understand where they come from. That doesn’t excuse anything, but it adds layers to the emotional wreckage. Love him or hate him, he leaves an impression.

And the romance? Pure fireworks. The tension crackles like a live wire. The banter is top tier. Their connection feels chaotic but magnetic, like gravity decided to take a risk. There are soft moments tucked between the storms too. Quiet care, unexpected vulnerability, little glimpses of something real beneath all the noise. Those moments are what keep you hooked.

Despite all the drama, or maybe because of it, this book is wildly entertaining. It’s not just spice for the sake of it. There’s plot, emotion, and enough twists to keep you turning pages way past bedtime. You might feel frustrated. You might feel obsessed. You might even feel slightly concerned about how much you enjoyed the chaos. That’s part of the experience.

Is it perfect? No. Is it unforgettable? Very much yes.

If you love messy relationships, sharp banter, and emotional rollercoasters that don’t come with seatbelts, Twisted Hate will probably ruin your peace in the best way. And honestly, some stories are meant to do exactly that.