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hannahwhiteyy's review against another edition
funny
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? It's complicated
3.0
This book was really sweet, but I thought it was WAY too fast-paced and I didn’t fall in love with it. 3 stars for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Medical content
lisa_m's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
The Hating Game is probably one of the best known romance book and for most people possibly even the first book they think of when they hear "office romance" or "rivals to lovers". Still this book was nothing special in my opinion.
I absolutely enjoyed the story but it is by no means one of the best romance books ever like some people seem to think.
The plot and reasons for their mutual dislike was intriguing enough. What I liked most about this book were the 'office games'. The chemistry between the characters was also written really well.
Still the story felt a bit flat as did the characters. I didn't feel like I actually understood them outside of their mutual obsession with each other.
Also the female MC is so oblivious which is a trope I really dislike and also the main character is basically a handsome, talented, successful white guy who gets a bad backstory in order to explain away his shitty behaviour and she is portrayed as "the right/only woman who can handle him". She is very much the quirky nice girl next door and he is the misunderstood badboy (while not being bad at all, just a bit grumpy and rude).
I also thought it was kinda ridiculous that his main issue is 'being too hot' and that people only wanted to date him for his body, not his personality.. is someone going to tell him that he can actually work on that? I hate the narrative of guys who think there is absolutely nothing wrong with them and that the women are the ones "who just can't handle it"..
Edit: I changed the rating from 4 to 3.5 stars after a month of debating it. I think I felt bad about giving this book a 'bad' rating because it's so popular.
I absolutely enjoyed the story but it is by no means one of the best romance books ever like some people seem to think.
The plot and reasons for their mutual dislike was intriguing enough. What I liked most about this book were the 'office games'. The chemistry between the characters was also written really well.
Still the story felt a bit flat as did the characters. I didn't feel like I actually understood them outside of their mutual obsession with each other.
Also the female MC is so oblivious which is a trope I really dislike and also the main character is basically a handsome, talented, successful white guy who gets a bad backstory in order to explain away his shitty behaviour and she is portrayed as "the right/only woman who can handle him". She is very much the quirky nice girl next door and he is the misunderstood badboy (while not being bad at all, just a bit grumpy and rude).
I also thought it was kinda ridiculous that his main issue is 'being too hot' and that people only wanted to date him for his body, not his personality.. is someone going to tell him that he can actually work on that? I hate the narrative of guys who think there is absolutely nothing wrong with them and that the women are the ones "who just can't handle it"..
Edit: I changed the rating from 4 to 3.5 stars after a month of debating it. I think I felt bad about giving this book a 'bad' rating because it's so popular.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
things100's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
Amazing book I love Lucy and Josh 🥰. This was my second read and it was totally worth it. The way Josh called Luce shortcake a-door-a-ble 😍. One of my all time favorite office enemies to lovers. And those spicy scenes 🥵
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content and Misogyny
rensreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
i read this in one sitting (5hrs and 19mins according to libby). i loved that the spice was sprinkled in so soon, it kept me interested and invested in the will-they-wont-they feeling going on for the first half of the book.
oh man so many people said josh should’ve had a restraining order put against him for how creepy and stalkerish he was, but everyone absolutely failed to mentioned that lucy matched his energy tit for tat. they’re insane4insane in such a good way too lol
idk which book came out first but since it was the last book i finished reading, i kept comparing this to the spanish love deception. the fact both books are an office rivals to lovers story where theyget together after attending a wedding and mention their size difference so much while the woman is battling crippling loneliness on top of all that? that’s a little too on the nose. i will say though, the hating game did the spice scenes a lot better than the spanish love deception. definitely a 3🌶 rating from me, so pretty mild in general terms
i like that there was no third act breakup like every other rom com seems to have at the moment. i hate those with a passion. the plot was pretty good too. i liked lucy but she showed her obsessive tendencies by page 3 so josh isn’t the only weird one in their relationship and that should definitely be mentioned more. their banter was funny and natural and the flirting in the office? *chef’s kiss*
all in all, i’d rate this a 3.75 star rating (:
oh man so many people said josh should’ve had a restraining order put against him for how creepy and stalkerish he was, but everyone absolutely failed to mentioned that lucy matched his energy tit for tat. they’re insane4insane in such a good way too lol
idk which book came out first but since it was the last book i finished reading, i kept comparing this to the spanish love deception. the fact both books are an office rivals to lovers story where they
i like that there was no third act breakup like every other rom com seems to have at the moment. i hate those with a passion. the plot was pretty good too. i liked lucy but she showed her obsessive tendencies by page 3 so josh isn’t the only weird one in their relationship and that should definitely be mentioned more. their banter was funny and natural and the flirting in the office? *chef’s kiss*
all in all, i’d rate this a 3.75 star rating (:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
Minor: Toxic relationship
i’m merely tagging this with a minor toxic relationship because the main relationship are deranged4deranged so keep that in mind while reading!capybooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
As far as the enemies-to-lovers trope goes, The Hating Game takes the cake. There are so many things I love about this novel - the elevator scene in chapter 6, Josh looking after Lucy when she was ill, the flowers Josh sends Lucy (THE NOTE 😭🥺), Lucy standing up for Josh against his father. All brilliant scenes! One slight issue I had was I feel like ‘hate’ is too strong a word for this story. The characters say they hate each other, but do little to actually show that, although I do understand the whole idea is them saying they hate each other as opposed to admitting the feelings they both have. The Hating Game is a lighthearted, hilarious and feel-good novel, and I can’t wait to read it again soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, and Self harm
evicteline's review against another edition
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Medical content and Vomit
sharebear431's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol
writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
hannelone's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Emotional abuse
mommarex1221's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Perfect for stans of the (very) slow burn enemies to lovers trope. I spent the first 7 chapters disliking both characters and the rest of the book falling for them. Pretty damn fitting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Medical content, and Stalking