Dickens & Rumi
Cover of I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU

book

I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin

Is I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

A tale of two best friends documented through texts and emails. (Ages 14 to 17)

Ages 15+Source checked

Why this age? Best suited to older teens because of frequent strong language, sexual discussion, dating, substance use, mental-health themes and emotionally complex friendship conflict. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 15+
Strongest cautionsRomance 4/5 · Strong language 4/5 · Alcohol or drugs 3/5
Strongest positivesKindness & empathy 3/5 · Positive messages 3/5
Recommendation2.5/5

Kindness & empathy; strongest caution: romance.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Best suited to older teens because of frequent strong language, sexual discussion, dating, substance use, mental-health themes and emotionally complex friendship conflict. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Kindness & empathy; strongest caution: romance.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 15+Main watch-out: Romance 4/5
Recommendation 2.5/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
14Scored categories
14Evidence notes
1Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 22, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth14 scored categories14 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age15+

Strongest cautions

  • Romance4/5
  • Strong language4/5
  • Alcohol or drugs3/5

Strongest positives

  • Kindness & empathy3/5
  • Positive messages3/5
  • Courage & resilience2/5

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What should you do next?

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Similar fitCompare another titleTHE WAY I USED TO BECompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional passing mention of commercial brands standard in modern life.

Strong language4/5
Why this rating?

Strong and frequent profanity is consistent with the book's candid young-adult voice and title.

LGBTQIA characters2/5
Why this rating?

LGBTQIA themes are present and explored through the characters' experiences.

Romance4/5
Why this rating?

Dating, crushes, relationships and friendship tensions are prominent as the characters navigate college and adulthood.

Sexual content & nudity3/5
Why this rating?

Contains candid discussions about sex and sexual experiences.

Alcohol or drugs3/5
Why this rating?

Depicts college students drinking alcohol and experimenting with substances.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Frightening scenes · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

The characters show emotional courage in confronting change, independence, identity and difficult relationship choices.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Its message-based format and distinct voices encourage reflection on communication, but inventive problem-solving is not the main focus.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Features diverse perspectives on identity and mental health.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Offers insight into the social and emotional realities of the college experience.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Loyalty, empathy and support are important, though characters sometimes hurt each other through jealousy or harsh words.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

It emphasizes honest communication, self-knowledge, accountability and maintaining care through conflict and change.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters are flawed and realistic, representing messy but relatable growth.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. Where did a character show kindness or empathy, and what changed because of it?
  2. How did relationships or romance affect the characters’ choices?
  3. Which choice in I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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