But I Hate Him
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Aug 25, 2026
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
From New York Times and #1 Indies bestselling author Page Powars, a sizzling queer YA romcom about academic rivals who face off at the most competitive camp in the country.
Rory is academic royalty.
As the heir to the most successful tutoring company in the world, he can be nothing less than perfect if he wants to gain his parents’ approval. So it's simple. Rory studies harder than anyone else. He does not make mistakes. And he never loses.
Except to Luca Melendez. The infuriatingly good-looking hockey player who wins every academic competition without even trying.
When Rory has a very public meltdown, throwing a smoothie at Luca and shattering his own public image in the process – it feels like one more thing Luca ruined.
To salvage his reputation, Rory has his sights set on winning the most cutthroat academic camp in the country, BRAIN. There is nothing standing between Rory and the final medal.
Until, Luca Melendez shows up.
This means war and Rory has the perfect plan: Make Luca fall in love with him.
And then break Luca’s heart right before the final competition.
"I always have so much fun reading a Page Powars book, and But I Hate Him is every reason why: hilarious, smart, irreverent, voice-y, raucously boyish, and ridiculously charming." —Casey McQuiston, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this bumpy romance from Powars (And They Were Roommates), an ambitious teen's last-ditch effort to salvage his academic reputation is derailed when he learns that he's competing with his rival. Transgender New York City high schooler Rory, who reads as white, loses his cool after failing to defeat Long Island hockey player Luca, described as having tan skin, at yet another academic competition. When Rory tosses a smoothie at Luca, and a video of it goes viral, Rory's rep takes a nosedive. The only summer program that will accept him is BRAIN, an intense, rural Washington camp that pits groups of attendees against one another for a full-ride scholarship to any Ivy League school. To Rory's horror, Luca also arrives at BRAIN. As the campers navigate grueling academic pressure and let off steam via escalating pranks, Rory struggles to motivate his teammates. After they're targeted in a prank, Rory's plans for revenge—including seducing Luca to dump him and sabotage his test scores—brings the team together. But as Luca opens up about his scholarship needs, Rory begins to doubt his scheme and question his own parents' seemingly insurmountable future expectations. While the protagonists' chemistry is somewhat lacking, Rory's relationship with his parents—and their impact on his self-worth—rings true throughout this jam-packed outing. Ages 14–up.
