[Book] The Hating Game by Sally Thorne - #3 📚 Pick for Romance Lovers
#3 Place in Best Romance Books - Book Review
✨ Best Romance Books ✨
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
The Hating Game is a delightful, fun, and irresistibly hot romance about workplace rivals Lucy and Joshua falling for each other. Since so much has already been said about this book, I’ll jump straight into why I loved it.
Right from the first line— “I have a theory. Hating someone feels disturbingly similar to being in love with them.”—I was hooked. It perfectly sets the tone for the story.
The opening chapters do a fantastic job introducing Lucy and Joshua, their company, and the office dynamic shaped by the merger of Bexley and Gamin Publishing. With their desks facing each other, they engage in playful yet intense battles of wit, fueled even further when a promotion is announced—one that only one of them can win. The competitive tension shifts when Lucy starts having unexpected, steamy dreams about Joshua, adding another layer to their already charged relationship.
The setup had me completely invested. Who would get the promotion? Who would have to leave? And how would that impact their dynamic? The writing is sharp, witty, and endlessly entertaining, made even better by Lucy’s fresh and engaging narrative voice.
Lucy is charming, warm, and well-liked by everyone—except Joshua, and she can’t figure out why. Their rivalry starts as childish but quickly turns into something deeper. I loved seeing her stand up for herself and watching her perception of Joshua evolve as she gets to know him better. Her fear of losing someone close to her again felt real and relatable, and her Smurf obsession was just plain adorable.
But Josh? He stole the show for me. Grumpy, mysterious, and impossibly organized, he comes across as cold and difficult—but it’s clear early on that he fell for Lucy the moment he met her. As his layers peel back, his backstory makes him even more lovable.
The romance is spectacular. I’ve read workplace romances before, and they can be hit or miss, but this one absolutely nailed it. The hate-to-love dynamic here is executed to perfection, making every moment between Lucy and Josh electric. Their chemistry? Off-the-charts hot. The banter? Sharp, hilarious, and packed with tension. Every interaction had me grinning, swooning, or fanning myself. I even kept a list of all the “games” they played because I couldn’t get enough!
The book is a treasure trove of beloved tropes, all brilliantly executed. The family drama at the wedding serves as the perfect climax, offering deeper insight into Josh’s past and strengthening his bond with Lucy. It’s in this moment that she realizes she truly loves him, and it’s beautiful to watch unfold. The ending? Absolutely perfect.
Overall, The Hating Game is an addictive, sexy, and heartwarming workplace romance that I’d recommend to any fan of the genre.
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