Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

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.

Oh this is sooo good… This book really proved that the more you hate, the more you love.. Oh yeah!

Joshua Templeman sits across Lucy Hutton’s desk every single day ever since the Bexley-Gamin merger took place. And every single day, they play a game. The Hating Game… There’s also the Staring game, the How You Doing Game, the You’re Just So game, and my personal favorite, the Or Something Game.. It’s delicious. Don’t ask.

While Joshua is silent and brooding, Lucy mentally murders him in her mind. They’re exact opposites, Lucy’s so nice upfront, never says no, wears Flamethrower lipstick and collects Smurfs. (I like her already!) In short, everybody loves Lucy.

Josh, on the other hand, scowls, frowns, narrows his eyes, jots down on his planner with his pencil, he’s full of temper and annoys his co-worker so much. Everybody’s afraid of Joshua. Except Lucy.

And then, that announcement about a new COO position in the company happens. Lucy and Joshua are the front-runners, of course, and it’s taking all their efforts and time to prove which one deserves the spot. Both are intense, electrifying, indulging, magnificent.

Until that one fateful afternoon, in the elevator, Lucy and Josh, all alone, kissing the hell out of each other. Dayum!

I’d like to go on and on… but I don’t wanna spoil you the good treats. Oh my, I think I love everything in this book. Joshua Templeman, he’s my number one.. his robin’s egg-blue shirts and room and tin of mints, included. I love Lucy Hutton, too. Okay, she’s my number one on the list actually, because …. man, she’s one feisty lioness and I cower like a cub when she talked to Josh father. Wow! That part was my favorite in the book. Lucy’s mouth was like a weapon ready to attack all the villains she could see. Oh she is Lara Croft alright!

Second favorite – when Lucy’s sick and Josh sees her in all her vomiting glory. Yowzers!

I love their office banter, their cajoles, their flaws, their paintball protective stunts, their family issues, their business suits, their weekend escapade. I love their strawberries, their roses, their cakes, their hotel room, everything!

Heck I love their hate-me-all-you-want-but-i-know-you-love-me kind of game.  I love their slow-burn romance, it’s so ridiculously sweet, I think I’m gonna die of diabetes.

If there’s one thing or subject I love in a book, it’s the enemies turned to friends to lovers kind of story. That theme always gets me. I feel vulnerable inside and joyful and in-love and fantastic all at once. It’s ridiculous!

Sally Thorne, I can’t believe this is just your first book! You write so darn well, you have captivated me from head to toe and now I can’t help but face outside the window. You are now my newest favorite author. There, I said it.

Okay now, I think I’m gonna need more days.. weeks… months… to process this wonderful book that’s invading my mind.  This is my first 5 star book of 2017 and it’s making me weepy..  Josh Templeman,  you annoyingly gorgeous brute….  I’m gonna get you from Little Lucy… Mark my word!