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readerette's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
linesiunderline's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Ah enemies to lovers… this is probably my favourite romance trope and I will recommend The Hating Game to anyone looking for a strong execution of this storyline.
What I liked:
• perfect steam level for me, the slow burn was very well done
• the sassy banter (always here for sassy banter)
• the writing felt fresh and sharp
• the elevator scene…
Howevers:
• exactly why did they hate each other THAT much? Not sure I really know (but also, not sure it really matters to me if it’s believable or not)
• the main characters were not developed enough to really take this one out of the 4⭐️ range for me
• instances of fatphobia / ableist language / problematic dialogue around shaming for appearance left me with a 🤨 feeling at several moments while reading
My motivation to push this to the top of the TBR was the movie, so now I’m all set to watch and compare.
What I liked:
• perfect steam level for me, the slow burn was very well done
• the sassy banter (always here for sassy banter)
• the writing felt fresh and sharp
• the elevator scene…
Howevers:
• exactly why did they hate each other THAT much? Not sure I really know (but also, not sure it really matters to me if it’s believable or not)
• the main characters were not developed enough to really take this one out of the 4⭐️ range for me
• instances of fatphobia / ableist language / problematic dialogue around shaming for appearance left me with a 🤨 feeling at several moments while reading
My motivation to push this to the top of the TBR was the movie, so now I’m all set to watch and compare.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexism
alainasanders's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Vomit, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
I did like the book but I do wish some things were different, almost every chapter she’s listing after him. There are also SO MANY mentions of ‘she’s small’ ‘she’s tiny’ ‘she’s so short’ that it felt like they almost were making her a damsel in distress at some points. Other than that it was cute, if you like workplace romances and enemies to lovers (even though they didn’t seem like enemies in the first place) I think you’d like it more.siob___'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexism
readwithde's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I was sorely disappointed by what many claim to be the pinnacle of enemies-to-lovers romance.
First, there is not a single minute where they seem to be true enemies. They annoy each other, play games like The Staring Game and other elementary school variations on flirting. They may both be guarded and competitive, but not enemies. Their early interactions walk the line of flirting and annoyance, and the backdrop of the office and co-workers make it work.
When Lucy gets sick, we see chemistry and connection between the two, especially as Josh does so much to care for her. His protectiveness and possessiveness is obvious, as well as his interest and jealousy. They really could have moved into a friends-with-benefits situation, or even a decision to just be friends, but they continue to ride the line between sexual tension and indecision.
Lucy stalks him, and at one point literally throws herself at him, constantly asking for kisses and sex. Then, when it is time for them to go away for his brother's wedding, she is nervous and upset about the possibility of sex. Which she then tries to have as soon as they arrive. Josh is just as hot and cold, claiming to need days and weeks for their "one time only" while waiting until the last minute and constantly putting her off.
There are so many red flags -- like him admitting women have used him for his body, then her bringing up his looks repeatedly. While some of these are marginally addressed, it is hard to believe Lucy is in love when she spends most of the book trying to learn about him. It just feels fake and unreal.
On top of all this, there is no plot climax, just a series of emotional speed bumps. The entire narrative spins around the promotion they are fighting for, but that is resolved in a few sentences at the very end of the book.Josh's plan doesn't even make sense -- he has all the time in the world to get her to love him without the promotion and HR between them.
The steamy scenes were excellent, but not enough to distract me from the narrative train wreck. Everything else worth reading was skipped over in the epilogue.
First, there is not a single minute where they seem to be true enemies. They annoy each other, play games like The Staring Game and other elementary school variations on flirting. They may both be guarded and competitive, but not enemies. Their early interactions walk the line of flirting and annoyance, and the backdrop of the office and co-workers make it work.
There are so many red flags -- like him admitting women have used him for his body, then her bringing up his looks repeatedly. While some of these are marginally addressed, it is hard to believe Lucy is in love when she spends most of the book trying to learn about him. It just feels fake and unreal.
On top of all this, there is no plot climax, just a series of emotional speed bumps. The entire narrative spins around the promotion they are fighting for, but that is resolved in a few sentences at the very end of the book.
The steamy scenes were excellent, but not enough to distract me from the narrative train wreck. Everything else worth reading was skipped over in the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Sexism, and Vomit
tiitu's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Ableism, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content, Ableism, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
readandfindout's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Style/writing: 2 stars
Themes: 3 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Themes: 3 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Body shaming
Moderate: Vomit, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Fatphobia and Sexual harassment
iiselin's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
If you have the UK version of this book, then you’ll see that it has the r-slur on page 358. Would not recommend, love interest is very creepy as well. Read ✨any other book✨ and it will be better than this. There are so many other enemies to lovers books out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Dementia, Eating disorder, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia, Sexism, and Vomit
harukaaraki's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
the language used in the novel is also kinda problematic
when explaining what the mc's 'love interests' desk looked like, it said
'it was a masculine version of mine, all blue'.
gendering colour and then the author says how his home is so feminine?
please this author is kinda shit.
and theres ableism, fatphobia.
and the characters are spoilt and such obnoxious characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexism, and Misogyny
cranereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
1.0
I'm kinda worried about this book being so popular since it's main focus is idolizing a toxic relationship. Lucy and Josh had some cute scenes midway through the book but their relationship overall was really problematic.
The book is very much just focused on their physical appearances. The amount of times it is mentioned how strong, tall and well-toned Josh is and how Lucy is short, adorable and basically a good-looking doll - it drove me crazy. They never feel like they are actually in love with the other person, but just physically attracted to one another.
The book also denigrates short and nice-behaving guys which I really don't get because I liked Danny.
I think the toxicity of their relationship really hit me when they first kissed.
They were both in the elevator together when Josh presses the stop button and he just packs her without her consent (Please note that at that point they were still in the "hating" phase and never made physical contact before as Lucy herself told us) and lifts her on the railing where he fixes her with his body. Lucy does the only rational thing in the entire book and tries to get away from him because she is convinced he is going to do her physical harm, but Josh prevents her tries to free herself and continues to pin her. When she stops for a minute because she is out of breath he leans in and kisses her altough she made it very clear that she is afraid and wants get away from him. I think this scene is a perfect example for book scenes that should have been in a thriller but are viewed as romantic because the guy is hot.
And because every toxic romance story has it: Josh is overly jealous of like every male around Lucy. Not just Danny who is actually into her but also his brother who is engaged. And this jealousy apparently gives him the "reasonable" excuse to be rude.
Also, the book is very much built on the sexist idea that there is a strong, manly guy who isn't very good with emotions and needs a empathetic, "strong" female to lead him. They actually even speak it out in the book through Josh's mother.
To complete this the book isn't even well-written. This shows on the first pages where the storyline of what happened before the actual plot starts is just narrated down in the most boring and plain way possible and continues through the story by Lucy's character who is supposed to be an adult but feels like a thirteen year old who discovered physical attraction for the first time in her life.
Overall, this book really disappointed me and I don't like the ideas it represents.
*I've read the german translation as an ebook from my local library.*
The book is very much just focused on their physical appearances. The amount of times it is mentioned how strong, tall and well-toned Josh is and how Lucy is short, adorable and basically a good-looking doll - it drove me crazy. They never feel like they are actually in love with the other person, but just physically attracted to one another.
The book also denigrates short and nice-behaving guys which I really don't get because I liked Danny.
I think the toxicity of their relationship really hit me when they first kissed.
And because every toxic romance story has it: Josh is overly jealous of like every male around Lucy. Not just Danny who is actually into her but also his brother who is engaged. And this jealousy apparently gives him the "reasonable" excuse to be rude.
Also, the book is very much built on the sexist idea that there is a strong, manly guy who isn't very good with emotions and needs a empathetic, "strong" female to lead him. They actually even speak it out in the book through Josh's mother.
To complete this the book isn't even well-written. This shows on the first pages where the storyline of what happened before the actual plot starts is just narrated down in the most boring and plain way possible and continues through the story by Lucy's character who is supposed to be an adult but feels like a thirteen year old who discovered physical attraction for the first time in her life.
Overall, this book really disappointed me and I don't like the ideas it represents.
*I've read the german translation as an ebook from my local library.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexism