The Hating Game in Aussie Readers

Sep 21, 2017 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-own, favorites, bought-by-me, signed-copies, read-in-2017

Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

The Hating Game is Sally Thorne’s debut novel and is a sensational tale perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Alice Clayton. Sharp, fun and deliciously written, The Hating Game will have you absolutely falling in love with its two main characters and addicted to the thrilling chemistry they share!

Lucy Hutton hates Joshua Templeman; hates him with a passion. And the feeling’s mutual. Lucy and Josh can’t be in the same room with e Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

The Hating Game is Sally Thorne’s debut novel and is a sensational tale perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Alice Clayton. Sharp, fun and deliciously written, The Hating Game will have you absolutely falling in love with its two main characters and addicted to the thrilling chemistry they share!

Lucy Hutton hates Joshua Templeman; hates him with a passion. And the feeling’s mutual. Lucy and Josh can’t be in the same room with each other without snapping and snarling and practically biting each other’s head off….and considering they work at the same company, desks directly across from each other as the assistants to two different publishing CEO’s it makes for a lot of fiery days at the office. Passive aggressive doesn’t come close to describing Lucy and Josh’s relationship, and when they’re both nominated for the same promotion, the game is on. Lucy can’t understand Josh’s surly, uptight approach to everything and Josh is clearly confused by Lucy’s bright clothes, overly nice attitude and ability meet every one of his quips with an even better one of her own. There’s a fine line between love and hate and Lucy is determined to beat Josh for her dream job, but as she gets to know him in a way she wasn’t expecting, Lucy is about to realise that just maybe she doesn’t hate Josh as much as she thinks she does…..

Having just completely devoured, The Hating Game, I have no qualms in saying it’s definitely become one of my all-time favourite books. Bewitching and charming from beginning to end, The Hating Game is a beyond brilliant debut that is wonderfully well written, features likable characters and chemistry that is to die for with banter that will have you grinning from ear to ear.

Author Sally Thorne fills The Hating Game with some seriously sassy and sharp dialogue, most of which comes from Lucy’s mouth or from that of her “nemesis” Josh, making for some highly entertaining and smile inducing reading. The Hating Game introduces readers to main character Lucinda “Lucy” Hutton who is a genuine gem to follow. Lucy is a sharp, independent and capable woman who is woefully likable and down to earth. Lucy’s just a riot if I’m honest. I completely love this girl.

And Josh! What a surprise of a man! From his surly attitude and stickler for order in the beginning of the novel, Josh shows his true self as the story progresses and I only found myself adoring him more with the turn of each page. The depth of his feelings for Lucy were heart-warming, and it was fabulous to see him act determined yet so at ease as he sets out to win Lucy’s affections.

I’m so very in love with Lucy and Josh and the romance they share. Thorne writes them so beautifully, and I felt every electrically charged moment between them; from the witty banter they frequently engage in to the sizzling kisses and smouldering touches, to the whole heartedly endearing moments within the story where they look after or stand up for one another---it’s so perfect. I truly did believe I was watching two people fall in love; two individuals who had been focal points in each other’s lives for some time but who were only just (especially in Lucy’s case) beginning to realise how they really felt about the other. There was no one who could give as good as they get but these two and they truly were perfect for each other.

Simply charming, The Hating Game has a fabulous tone and pace. The story is so fun and flirty and features a romance that is just to die for. A solid debut, The Hating Game guarantees Sally Thorne is one to watch! ...more

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Nov 05, 2016 Joy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: requested-review, contemporary, recommended, favourite, romance, chick-lit, 2016-goodreads-challenge, australian

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

As many of you know, I have not had a great reading year. But despite the struggles I've had when it came to finding time — and the will — to read, I have managed to find a few gems. 2016 was a year where I focused less on trying to keep up with all the new releases and picked up books that truly made me sit up and go *grabby hands*.

The Hating Game was one of them, and oh boy, did I have a blast!

Debut Aussie author, Sally Thorne, has brought some new life into

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

As many of you know, I have not had a great reading year. But despite the struggles I've had when it came to finding time — and the will — to read, I have managed to find a few gems. 2016 was a year where I focused less on trying to keep up with all the new releases and picked up books that truly made me sit up and go *grabby hands*.

The Hating Game was one of them, and oh boy, did I have a blast!

Debut Aussie author, Sally Thorne, has brought some new life into the whole 'enemies turned lovers' genre, and I actually forgot how much I actually love this cliche until I met Lucy and Josh.

Perky, happy and colourful, Lucy Hutton is everything that Joshua Templeman is not. Thrown together when their two publishing houses merged, they now sit opposite each other in a secluded office, each working for one-half of the merged publishing house's two bosses. Josh with his strict ironed shirts routine and predictable mannerisms that make him less than approachable, has become Lucy's nemesis in the office, and they've both made it a game to ensure they one-up each other. Then comes the opportunity that neither could resist...let the Hating Game begin ;)

I never expected to love this book so much, but it was like a blast from the past to the days I read on FictionPress. Like I said before, I'd forgotten just how much I love this cliched genre of books, but the dynamic of the two characters just made me fill up with sunshine and rainbows inside. LUCY AND JOSH WAS SO DARN ADORABLE.

Ahem.

Their dynamic and banter was enjoyable to read, and their chemistry was just off the charts. To everyone that's read this book: That elevator scene...phwoar am I right? *fans self*

While The Hating Game is a contemporary romance novel, there is depth to both Lucy and Josh. They're not another cardboard cutout like you tend to see in rom-com movies these days. Thorne has put in the effort to bring them to life, with deep backstories to each of the characters. It was heartbreaking to see Josh's family dynamic and the way his dad treated him because he dropped out of medical school. Lucy to him, was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise boring existence.

And like I said before, Lucy and Josh's chemistry is off the charts. I found myself smiling way too much and even squealing at times because they are just so right for each other. And when I finished the book, I found myself wanting to dive in from the beginning again — this RARELY happens (maybe since I mainly read fantasy).

My small nit-picky thoughts were that I wished Thorne had set the story in Australia. Granted you can't really tell which city the book is set in, but it would have been nice to read about places that us Aussies could recognise. Also, Lucy and her lust got a little weird at times, especially when she started hanging off (literally) Josh like a Koala. I got a bit embarrassed for her at times with the way she acted!

But other than those two points, if you're looking for a wonderful and heartwarming story about two nemeses finding love, then you need to check out The Hating Game. All these 4/5 star reviews aren't wrong. Lucy + Josh = 4eva <3

Thank you to Hachette Australia for providing an eBook copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Nov 26, 2016 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, romantic-elements, read-in-2016

OMG, I can't believe I cried reading this. I laughed. I got warm and fuzzy. I lapped up the UST. This was very unputdownable. (And I realise the irony of taking two months to read this, but for the rare moments when I could read, I could not stop!)

I'm a sucker for the 'hate-to-love' trope, and this was done to tangy, sophisticated perfection. ...more

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Aug 28, 2018 Jaime West rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites, contemporary-romance

Again, I Loved it!!
Oh I have read this book too many times to NOT write a review.
I love this trope and I just love that Lucy gives Josh just as good as she gets.. this wouldn't be so great if she was meek and mild and that's exactly why Josh loves her. Cause she puts up with him warts and all.
Josh is actually lovely, and so contained as a character, its nice when the author starts to unravel him a little and you see the cracks and realise he isn't just some snarky robot. I really enjoy the ban ...more

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