Title: The Hating Game
Author: Sally Thorne
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary romance, Chick Lit
First Publication: 2016
Language: English
Major Characters: Lucy Hutton, Joshua Templeman
Narrator: First person from Lucy’s Point of view
Book Summary: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
2) A person’s undoing
3) Joshua Templeman
Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company.
Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.
Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…
But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.
Book Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
The story of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne revolves around Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, two executive assistants forced together when rival publishing companies merge, making their respective bosses co-CEOs. They spend their days antagonizing each other and verbally sparring. It was too funny listening to their back and forth, passive aggressive banter. Right from the start, they had me completely hooked.
Books were, and always would be, something a little magic and something to respect.
As the story progresses, the attraction between the two becomes more undeniable. I mean, I always knew that it was there, but waiting for it to evolve in the story was killer. These two definitely had a love-hate relationship and I knew that they would be explosive when they finally got on the same page.
There’s not really much to go into regarding the plot here, as you pretty much get the details you need from the synopsis, but The Hating Game by Sally Thorne is just what it sounds like, a book all about two people concentrating on winning “The Hating Game“, a past time where they spend every free moment plotting on how to sabotage one another.
The trick is to find that one person who can give it back as good as they can take it.
Lucy and Joshua work together for a publishing house that consists of a merger between two very different CEOs, and as Lucy and Josh find themselves up for the same promotion, they are forced to declare all out war, and as the tension builds they discover that maybe they have been wrong about each other all along.
One of the strengths of this novel is the characterization of Lucy and Joshua. They are both flawed and complex individuals with their own fears and insecurities. Thorne gives the reader a deep understanding of their backstories and motivations, which makes their journey all the more compelling. Additionally, the dialogue between the two is witty and entertaining, adding to the overall enjoyment of the book.
The Hating Game was a juicy delight; the characters were larger than life and the plot was unique while maintaining a semblance of comfort and reliability. Overall, “The Hating Game” is a delightful rom-com that will leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy. Thorne’s writing is engaging, and her characters are well-developed and relatable. The book is a perfect escape for those looking for a light and enjoyable read.
