The Hating Game: A Novel

Product Information

He could be such an asshole and mean to Lucy, but at the same time he could also be kind, caring, compassionate and thoughtful *like the lemonade, sobs*. If you follow me on Twitter or have read other reviews by me, you might know that I am not a fan of the short and petite heroine thing. Of course, anyone can like what they like but it genuinely astounds me that everyone seems so in love with Josh/their relationship when it seems so obviously toxic.

Part of me wants to be shocked that “love” stories like this are still getting published, but I’m too realistic for that. A witty writing voice combines with spot-on timing to make sure this novel is difficult to put down! Plus she says it in a way that also disrespects sex workers, like it's bad they will assume she is a hooker? Outwardly, Joshua is quiet, cynical and subdued, Lucy is bright and friendly but when you get to see their homes, it is Lucy whose home is dull and colourless unlike the vibrancy and prettiness of Joshua’s home (and I just melted at what was at the core of the prettiness of his home). Lucy is conceited, Lucy is mean to people who don not adhere to her aesthetic sensibilities (including juvenile fat-shaming of the co-CEO which coloured her as narrow-minded and mean yet unable to see the faults in her own attitudes to people).I’m pretty sure we’ve realized how that sets girls up for complicated relationships with attraction at best and abusive and violent relationships at worst. I can’t stand it when fiction pits women against each other, but this was one of the worst cases of that same trope reversed– and displaying it with men instead of women didn’t make me feel any better about it. Delighted by the ins and outs of the publishing world, delighted with the dialogue between them, delighted by the wit that Lucy demonstrates in her inner monologues. Neither her nor Josh seem to be genuinely invested in their careers, instead choosing to spend their time playing ‘games’. I experienced my first ever ‘close the book to giggle and kick your feet in the air while screaming’ moment reading this book.

Both his eyebrows ratchet up, and he opens his mouth as his eyes go completely black, but he does not seem to be able to say a word.Some scenes were too quick or seemed to happen too fast (their first kiss), while others seriously dragged on and on (her illness). It’s a good thing that Thorne told us because judging by her actions in her job you wouldn’t think so. I truly expected something else when I started this book, not all of these problematic quotes and words. I understand that this is a romance novel but I became so invested in the characters that I’d have liked to know a little bit more about their ending in relation to their future prospects. 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.