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Katerina's Reviews > The Hating Game
The Hating Game
by
by
Heartwarming (adj.):
Causing pleasant feelings of happiness (and silly, stupid tears you can't stop).
By all means, it was not a sad book. On the contrary, The Hating Game was a funny, sweet, adorable, intoxicating office romance about two sworn enemies that fell in love. And I'm crying because it filled me with so much joy, and hope and love my body can barely contain!
Josh is Lucy's nemesis. They work together while they plot each other's murder. They play juvenile games, they keep filing complaints to Human Resources, and they make each other miserable. Their competition is tough, and with a promotion on the horizon things escalate quickly. But after one mind-blowing elevator kiss, and some unexpected kindness from Josh, Lucy starts to wonder whether beneath his cold and cruel behavior exists a Nice Guy after all, with the potential to break her heart.
The line between love and hate was never so blurry.
Dear Sally Thorne, I'm yours.
I can't get rid of this ridiculously wide grin on my face, I'm one step from looking like Joker. And then I remember all those moving and sweet moments and I start crying, and people wonder who murdered my cat. I don't have a cat.
Josh and Lucy's story tugged at my heartstrings in an unexpected way. They were two characters beautifully crafted, with their flaws and insecurities. Lucy was always sociable and charming, she wanted people to like her but in the end, she was lonely. Josh was a clinical asshole that made everyone tremble, and tiny Lucy was the only one that stood up to him. Little did she know how shy and caring he was.
Hilarious banters, crackling tension, tenderness and passion, The Hating Game has everything you could ask for from a romance novel. Every single touch spoke straight to my heart, and made my blood warm and my head dizzy! There were times I forgot how to breathe, and times I couldn't help but sigh. Josh is such a dreamy guy, yummilicious and sexy and so, so swoonworthy!
While I would have liked a few chapters from Josh's POV, I enjoyed Lucy's narrative so much! She was such a sweet and funny and adorable person, and you could understand her reservations and her fears!
I'm so in love.
If this sappy review didn't convince you to read this little gem, please do check Arianna's review! ❤︎
Causing pleasant feelings of happiness (and silly, stupid tears you can't stop).
By all means, it was not a sad book. On the contrary, The Hating Game was a funny, sweet, adorable, intoxicating office romance about two sworn enemies that fell in love. And I'm crying because it filled me with so much joy, and hope and love my body can barely contain!
“Both love and hate are mirror versions of the same game-and you have to win. Why? Your heart and your ego.”
Josh is Lucy's nemesis. They work together while they plot each other's murder. They play juvenile games, they keep filing complaints to Human Resources, and they make each other miserable. Their competition is tough, and with a promotion on the horizon things escalate quickly. But after one mind-blowing elevator kiss, and some unexpected kindness from Josh, Lucy starts to wonder whether beneath his cold and cruel behavior exists a Nice Guy after all, with the potential to break her heart.
The line between love and hate was never so blurry.
“No one can kiss me like you do.”
Dear Sally Thorne, I'm yours.
I can't get rid of this ridiculously wide grin on my face, I'm one step from looking like Joker. And then I remember all those moving and sweet moments and I start crying, and people wonder who murdered my cat. I don't have a cat.
Josh and Lucy's story tugged at my heartstrings in an unexpected way. They were two characters beautifully crafted, with their flaws and insecurities. Lucy was always sociable and charming, she wanted people to like her but in the end, she was lonely. Josh was a clinical asshole that made everyone tremble, and tiny Lucy was the only one that stood up to him. Little did she know how shy and caring he was.
“Shortcake.”
“Stop calling me Shortcake.”
“Watching you pretend to hate that nickname is the best part of my day.”
Hilarious banters, crackling tension, tenderness and passion, The Hating Game has everything you could ask for from a romance novel. Every single touch spoke straight to my heart, and made my blood warm and my head dizzy! There were times I forgot how to breathe, and times I couldn't help but sigh. Josh is such a dreamy guy, yummilicious and sexy and so, so swoonworthy!
While I would have liked a few chapters from Josh's POV, I enjoyed Lucy's narrative so much! She was such a sweet and funny and adorable person, and you could understand her reservations and her fears!
I'm so in love.
“What are you imagining? Your expression is filthy.”
“Strangling you. Bare hands.”
“So that’s your kink.”
“Only where you’re concerned.”
If this sappy review didn't convince you to read this little gem, please do check Arianna's review! ❤︎
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Quotes Katerina Liked
“It's a corporate truth universally acknowledged that workers would rather eat rat skeletons than participate in group activities.”
― The Hating Game
― The Hating Game
“What are you imagining? Your expression is filthy.”
“Strangling you. Bare hands.” I can barely get the words out. I’m huskier than a phone-sex operator after a double shift.
“So that’s your kink.” His eyes are going dark.
“Only where you’re concerned.”
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.
It is wonderful.”
― The Hating Game
“Strangling you. Bare hands.” I can barely get the words out. I’m huskier than a phone-sex operator after a double shift.
“So that’s your kink.” His eyes are going dark.
“Only where you’re concerned.”
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.
It is wonderful.”
― The Hating Game
“I have a theory. Hating someone feels disturbingly similar to being in love with them. I've had a lot of time to compare love and hate, and these are my observations.
Love and hate are visceral. Your stomach twists at the thought of that person. The heart in your chest beats heavy and bright, nearly visible through your flesh and clothes. Your appetite and sleep are schredded. Every interaction spikes your blood with adrenaline, and you're in the brink of fight or flight. Your body is barely under your control. You're consumed, and it scares you.
Both love and hate are mirror versions of the same game - and you háve to win. Why? Your heart and your ego. Trust me, I should know.”
― The Hating Game
Love and hate are visceral. Your stomach twists at the thought of that person. The heart in your chest beats heavy and bright, nearly visible through your flesh and clothes. Your appetite and sleep are schredded. Every interaction spikes your blood with adrenaline, and you're in the brink of fight or flight. Your body is barely under your control. You're consumed, and it scares you.
Both love and hate are mirror versions of the same game - and you háve to win. Why? Your heart and your ego. Trust me, I should know.”
― The Hating Game
“How You Doing, Little Lucy?” His bright tone and mild expression indicates we’re playing a game we almost never play. It’s a game called How You Doing? and it basically starts off like we don’t hate each other. We act like normal colleagues who don’t want to swirl their hands in each other’s blood. It’s disturbing.
“Great, thanks, Big Josh. How You Doing?”
“Super. Gonna go get coffee. Can I get you some tea?” He has his heavy black mug in his hand. I hate his mug.
I look down; my hand is already holding my red polka-dot mug. He’d spit in anything he made me. Does he think I’m crazy? “I think I’ll join you.”
We march purposefully toward the kitchen with identical footfalls, left, right, left, right, like prosecutors walking toward the camera in the opening credits of Law & Order. It requires me to almost double my stride. Colleagues break off conversations and look at us with speculative expressions. Joshua and I look at each other and bare our teeth. Time to act civil. Like executives.
“Ah-ha-ha,” we say to each other genially at some pretend joke. “Ah-ha-ha.”
We sweep around a corner. Annabelle turns from the photocopier and almost drops her papers. “What’s happening?”
Joshua and I nod at her and continue striding, unified in our endless game of one-upmanship. My short striped dress flaps from the g-force.
“Mommy and Daddy love you very much, kids,” Joshua says quietly so only I can hear him. To the casual onlooker he is politely chatting. A few meerkat heads have popped up over cubicle walls. It seems we’re the stuff of legend. “Sometimes we get excited and argue. But don’t be scared. Even when we’re arguing, it’s not your fault.”
“It’s just grown-up stuff,” I softly explain to the apprehensive faces we pass. “Sometimes Daddy sleeps on the couch, but it’s okay. We still love you.”
― The Hating Game
“Great, thanks, Big Josh. How You Doing?”
“Super. Gonna go get coffee. Can I get you some tea?” He has his heavy black mug in his hand. I hate his mug.
I look down; my hand is already holding my red polka-dot mug. He’d spit in anything he made me. Does he think I’m crazy? “I think I’ll join you.”
We march purposefully toward the kitchen with identical footfalls, left, right, left, right, like prosecutors walking toward the camera in the opening credits of Law & Order. It requires me to almost double my stride. Colleagues break off conversations and look at us with speculative expressions. Joshua and I look at each other and bare our teeth. Time to act civil. Like executives.
“Ah-ha-ha,” we say to each other genially at some pretend joke. “Ah-ha-ha.”
We sweep around a corner. Annabelle turns from the photocopier and almost drops her papers. “What’s happening?”
Joshua and I nod at her and continue striding, unified in our endless game of one-upmanship. My short striped dress flaps from the g-force.
“Mommy and Daddy love you very much, kids,” Joshua says quietly so only I can hear him. To the casual onlooker he is politely chatting. A few meerkat heads have popped up over cubicle walls. It seems we’re the stuff of legend. “Sometimes we get excited and argue. But don’t be scared. Even when we’re arguing, it’s not your fault.”
“It’s just grown-up stuff,” I softly explain to the apprehensive faces we pass. “Sometimes Daddy sleeps on the couch, but it’s okay. We still love you.”
― The Hating Game
“All I want to do is kiss you until I fall asleep. I want to slide in between your sheets, and find out what goes on inside your head, and underneath your clothes. I want to make a fool of myself over you.”
― The Hating Game
― The Hating Game
“I love him so much it's like a thread piercing me. Punching holes. Dragging through. Stitching love into me. I'll never be able to untangle myself from this feeling. The color of love is surely this robin's-egg blue.”
― The Hating Game
― The Hating Game
Reading Progress
September 20, 2016
–
Started Reading
September 21, 2016
– Shelved
September 21, 2016
– Shelved as:
contemporary-romance
September 21, 2016
–
Finished Reading
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LOL this review is great! I felt the same way
Pinky wrote: "LOL this review is great! I felt the same way"Thank you, Pinky!! <3
Wow! Awesome review! And I felt the same way.
Mary wrote: "Wow! Awesome review! And I felt the same way."Thank you, Mary! This book is such a gem! <3
Great review! I absolutely loved this book and couldn't understand a few reviews that were nasty and hate filled. I LOVED the chemistry, humor, and interaction between Josh and Lucy. There are so many layers to these two and their relationship if someone bothers to look below surface level. I love how Thorne does not rush through romantic moments or any part of the book really. I'm so sad I finished the book! Reviewers that hated this book I think are kind of man bashes. ..they seem bitter. What's wrong with a guy being protective of the woman he loves? It's freaking hot in my opinion. The best compliment I have for this book is that they don't feel like characters from a book, they feel like I known them as friends. (It doesn't hurt how the author keeps describing how TALL and fit Josh is either. 😁) Even better, Josh is FUNNY and really is a nice guy when he allows others to see it. He is my book "man crush". Well Done Sally Thorne, I cannot wait for your next book in January 2021!!!
You're so sweet, Sky, thank you!!^^