Reviews with content warning for Vomit - The Hating Game

Temporarily, I've lowered the rating from my original 4 stars to 3.75, because unfortunately, upon re-reading it, I haven't enjoyed it the same way anymore? But I'm not sure what I do want to rate it, but 3.75 stars sounds reasonable, so it'll stay this way for now.

Anyways, the reasons why I didn't have quite the same joy reading this book that I had back in 2018 were:
1. I didn't really like the characters. Josh was mean (I know it was said that he was actually just ~shy~, but personally, that doesn't really excuse treating other people like shit and making them scared to come to work and talk to you) and oftentimes just ignored what Lucy wanted, and his jealousy really got on my freaking nerves. Like, the way he acted around Danny drove me insane. And Lucy's horniness made me honestly just exhausted. I'm a sex-indifferent asexual, so I'm usually completely fine with people being horny (even if I can't fathom feeling that way myself), but her attitude reminded me of that time period in my life when I thought I was sex-repulsed, and overly horny people made me want to bash my head in with a tire iron. Go to horny jail, Lucy.
2. I didn't enjoy the romance as much as I thought I would. I didn't like the way both Lucy and Josh treated Danny and used him, and especially the beginning of the relationship just ... didn't sit right with me. Josh didn't apologise for his shitty behaviour until literally the end, and while I'm glad they got that out of the way, I wished that happened sooner. Lucy basically just let Josh treat her kind of badly (he wasn't abusive per se, but very dismissive and cruel at times) and accepted it because of her own feelings or him. In turn, she objectified the crap out of Josh, even after she learnt that a lot of his exes were only with him because of his looks and didn't actually like his personality.
3. Lucy, for some reason, seemed to come to the same conclusions several times? Like, there were two separate times when she realised that Josh didn't actually hate her. I found that a bit annoying and repetitive. It stalled the plot sometimes, which always confused me, because I thought we'd already been over that at that point.
4. Speaking of repetitiveness, the way Thorne hammered home that Lucy and Josh were obsessed with each other's eyes was way too much.
5. The book was focusing a lot on masculinity, and calling things masculine that weren't actually inherently so, and using feminine as an almost negative descriptor? Coming from Lucy, it was just weird. If it came from Josh, I'd just assume he had a fragile masculinity and was afraid to be seen as anything but, but since everything was in Lucy's POV, it was just ... weird.
6. The hetero- and allonormativity of it all made me tired. Like, no, Thorne, not every single woman who has and will ever meet Josh will want to climb him like a tree. And no, just because two people had dated for a year doesn't automatically mean they'd had sex. And why do straight people always act like cavemen the moment their crush or significant other has someone from the opposite sex obviously fawning over them?
7. I know Mr. Bexley wasn't exactly the best person, but you can talk about what a useless CEO he is without constantly making fun of his weight and that he likes to eat. Like, maybe concentrate on how creepy and gross he was for constantly looking down Lucy's shirt, which was the way bigger issue in my opinion.

What I did enjoy, however, was Thorne's writing. It felt really out of control, and she phrased things in a way that both fit Lucy's personality perfectly and sometimes made me laugh incredulously, just because they gave me really funny visuals. I also didn't mind the smut (though I would've preferred a bit more of it if it meant I got a bit less of horny Lucy). There were definitely a lot of funny scenes that made me crack up, though I think it wasn't quite as many as on my first read.

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dxtluv's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.5

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readerette's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Fun, predictable, will-they/won't-they, office romance romp. At times the story leaned too far into the trope of a "little lady" wanting to be protected by a "big, strapping man" for my personal taste, but it wasn't egregious enough for me to want to stop reading. The pacing and writing was good, though there were a few little comments dropped in that I found distasteful for a book written in the 2010s, that also seemed out of character (and therefore unnecessary). The chemistry between the two romantic interests is cute, if a little overdramatic at times (it is a romance novel, after all).

If you're not in the mood for a romance where you'll find yourself thinking "just TALK to one another, you dopes," don't read this one. Otherwise, The Hating Game is an easy recommendation from my perspective.

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jessicaoreads67's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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herbooksgalore's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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fiwwa's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

"I stare because I like looking at you. You're interesting to look at."

I got low expectations for this book because booktok says it's overrated but when I see Joshua Templeman, let me breathe for a sec. My, my, my, Joshua Templeman. Where should I begin?

This man makes me doubt that my love language is words of affirmation anymore. I couldn't care less about what my love language is, I love everything (nice things and respectful things) that Josh did, do, and will do. Yes, he's mean. Very mean. He's the complete opposite of the nickname Mr. Nice Guy. But I know my body will fall when he says those sweet things and take care of me when I sick and not even disgusted and

paint his bedroom like my eye color? (not mine, brown is a bad color for bedroom)

. Nevertheless, as much as I love this man, something feels missing but I'm still trying to figure out why,

Moving on, Lucinda Hutton. The Shortcake. Not gonna lie, I kinda hate that nickname. It makes her sounds... childish? Very small? (I mean I know she is, but not sure it's a good thing) Well the name reminds me a lot of Strawberry Shortcake and it makes me sing the soundtrack every time Josh calls her that. I love how determined Lucy is with her job

I wonder how things are going on between her and Julie

. And how brave she is?? Damn, that man is surely afraid of her to death. And I don't mean to hate what she likes, but what is it with her and the Smurfettes? Does it have anything to do with her and Josh or just a very weird hoby?

Plot wise, it's pretty cliché. Workplace romance, enemies because they're competing to become the new boss, the guy everyone hates and the girl everyone loves, wedding vacation getaway, blah blah blah and secretly in love. It feels so fast to me I even forgot already when did they confess their love and everything. I need more of Josh and Lucy after the Monday though we know what happened but DETAILS PLEASE.

Overall it's a worthy one for a light romcom read!

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acelodie's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book has been highly recommended to me by everyone who enjoys romances. Upon reading it, I completely see why.

The chemistry is great, the writing is harp and funny, the plot is engaging, and the ending is satisfying.

My biggest criticism is that Lucy does some very weird things, and I legitimately can't understand why Josh is charmed by them.

Like someone obsessively going through my apartment and taking my things doesn't seem charming to me, even if I was in love with them. What's the appeal?

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