The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

5 Stars Sep 11, 2022

My review

5/5 stars

I'd put off reading this book for a while, because I didn't want to buy into all the hype around it, but after watching the Amazon Prime adaptation my curiosity got the better of me. Turns out the hype was deserved.

I actually found that having watched the movie first heightened my enjoyment of the book, as I was able to picture the characters very vividly in my head as I was reading; it immersed me in what was written more than I think I would have been otherwise.

The characters that I was able to visualise were very well-written. Lucy and Joshua both were the perfect mix of sass and vulnerability. Their chemistry was astronomical from the outset and made for very entertaining reading. The enemies-to-lovers trope is popular and can easily be overdone, but this was a near perfect example of how to write it exceptionally.

There was a strong mix of romance and angst to contend with throughout the book, the dynamics of which kept my interest fresh as I read through the story and prevented things from turning stale or feeling drawn out. Added to this was the tension with Joshua's family; it added a depth to their romance that made things feel really fleshed out and real.

I could go on about a few other aspects of the book, but I'd be here for a while, so short version is I loved it.

Book blurb

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman sit across from each other every day . . . and they hate each other.

Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. HATE. Lucy can't understand Joshua's joyless, uptight approach to his job and refusal to smile. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy's overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and desire to be liked.

Now they're up for the same promotion and Lucy, usually a determined people-pleaser, has had enough: it's time to take him down. But as the tension between Lucy and Joshua reaches its boiling point, it's clear that the real battle has only just begun . . .