Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

57 reviews

pink_peony's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

1.75

So… the thing about this book was that I really liked the beginning. I was expecting an enemies to lovers story… and I feel like it almost delivered on that, but eventually didn’t.

First of all, I really liked how unique the two main characters seemed at the beginning, and their pettiness and banter was funny and enjoyable. But then suddenly still pretty early in the book everything changes. Suddenly they found each other attractive? And then suddenly I found myself not liking their relationship. It’s all physical, there wasn’t much connection at all, and I’m starting to feel like that’s a lot of romance books now. Not so much based on a deep connection but only on physical attraction, which is necessary, but cannot be the only thing. There’s a difference between love vs lust, and a lot of romance books seem to mix them up. Their whole relationship was not enjoyable to me and did not even feel like an enemies to lovers. That ended pretty quickly pretty early in the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse

mattiedancer's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

Writing: 3.75⭐️/5 

Serviceably written, with some very fun sections! 

Characters: 4⭐️/5

I mean, I might just be in love with Joshua, but I thought the characters we focus on were both fun and fresh in their development. I loved their quirks and personalities, and I loved getting to know both of them. However, the side characters definitely lacked some depth and, despite the fact that I love the main characters, I would have loved to see the development of side characters even just a touch more. 

Plot: 4⭐️/5 

A coworker who hates you, a merger that pushes you to work hard to save jobs, and a hot guy you have to stare at all day. Throw in a momentary illness, a wedding in which one of you needs a date, and a very hot scene in an elevator, and you have a captivating story. Sure, the paintball section drug on way too long in my opinion. Sure, the wedding section could have been condensed to include all the spicy scenes and fewer tense moments. Sure, I could have gone without the misunderstanding tropes times a few times. Sure, the ending lacked a little something something. But, damn, I had fun.

Who Should Read This Book? 

• Fans of a fast slow burn (trust me, it makes sense)
• Fans of enemies to lovers
• Fans of there’s only one bed!
• Romance readers who are looking for a read with a bit more than just spice

Content Warnings? 

• Sexual content, vomit, illness, medical content, gaslighting, bullying, toxic family, toxic relationships, 

Post-Reading Rating:  4⭐️/5

Cute, I love them. 

Final Rating: 4⭐️/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Classism, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail

tiredtori's review

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Medical content, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Toxic relationship

psliz's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

1.0

thought it was okay but upon further inspection, it's terrible because its characters are horrible people

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Body shaming, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Ableism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Toxic relationship and Racial slurs

joensign's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia

Minor: Vomit

lizzye33's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Stalking

abbrillopezz's review against another edition

funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Fatphobia

gabrielaetcc's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Fatphobia

Minor: Alcohol

marionhoney's review

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.0

Finished over two days but the off-handed ableist, anti-fat and patriarchal gender role descriptions ruined the fun for me. Also some of the behaviour of the male lead felt like the early signs of coercive and controlling partners. Worries me to think younger readers might seeing this as romantic rather than on the highway to abuse.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Vomit, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Bullying

micaela_ru's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

Toxic, sexist trash that casually includes ableist and racist slurs, jokes about the deaths of sex workers, fatphobia, toxic masculinity, rape culture and nonconsensual acts played as sexy. DNF @ 20%. The MC is an entitled childish brat who has internalized sexism and possibly homophobia and transphobia. The love interest is embodies textbook toxic masculinity. Clearly I'm not the target audience here. I don't think feeling physically threatened by a man three-times a woman's size is playful or sexy. Not to mention the stalking. They also have no chemistry and the book is boring and childish. This is the crap that is popular?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Stalking, Ableism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content