Reviews with content warning for Body shaming - The Hating Game

Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

47 reviews

lizzie_b99's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

3.5

This was very cute in a "this is behaviour I'd never accept in real life but it's cute in fiction" sort of way. IRL I'd never accept a partner who quite literally reported me to HR multiple times, but I chose to suspend my disbelief.
I didn't love that

Josh says excessive compliments on his body make him uncomfortable, but Lucy continues to compliment his body anyway. Yes, she does compliment other aspects of him, but I think her body commentary was excessive.

Also, a lot of the description for Mr Bexley, who we're clearly meant to not like for various reasons, focuses on his size. The fatphobia was really unnecessary and over the top.

I would have liked there to be more closure or retribution for Mr Bexley and his harassing behaviour. By the end of the novel, we're supposed to assume that Lucy will get the COO job, and since Josh has left she won't have that buffer with Mr Bexley. Has he ever been reported to HR? will his behaviour ever be addressed? I would have liked some closure on this plotline. I also was disturbed by Josh's lack of intervention with Bexley's behaviour. He could have stood up to him more, but he chooses not to. I didn't love that he chooses not to use his privilege to protect her

. I did find this novel to be cute and a good palette cleanser. A good pick if you love romance novels and want a no-think type book.

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crazyylizard's review against another edition

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Reading about privileged people bullying is not romantic. Add in an ax murderer and this could be a good book, but I know the goal of this book is for the two jerks fall in love. Pass.

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sydneylmeyer7's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

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mashley512's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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mishaps's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

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ericaqu's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

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britwalsh16's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I made the mistake of watching the movie first. I usually like to read the book before watching the movie, but I really wanted to watch the movie & I kept putting the book off. & then the movie really made me want to read the book.
I really loved the book! The chemistry between Lucy & Josh is amazing! I really wish I didn’t know when certain scenes were coming, or what was gonna happen before I started to read it. But that’s the price i paid for watching the movie.

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psliz's review against another edition

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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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ireadtoescape_'s review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

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

1.5

Lucinda is so problematic! Lol.
The fact that whenever she describes Bexley’s incompetence, she speaks about him being fat and never actually mentions what really makes him incompetent. All the creepy sexual harrassy stuff? Nah. He *is* fat though and apparently that’s all that makes him terrible. She references him as such multiple times ☹️

This was made worse for me with how very often she spoke about just how small and teeny tiny she is. 💀 This book came out in 2016, right!!?? 👀👀 Sally, you ought’a know better, boo! 5 foot nothing hahahahaha 😶

There are a number of weird references that made me cringe when she said them. Comparing your somewhat messy apartment to a slum in Kolkata is so racist! 😷 What do you mean?!! I struggled to read past that. I also noticed the use of the “old” spelling of Kolkata in the book 👀👀. The name was corrected to right spelling in 2001…!

Not long after that there was a problematic reference to albinism to describe someone Lucy hated. 🫤 I hat to re read that because I honestly couldn’t believe it.

Then there were just a bunch of obtuse comments relating to mental health that seemingly messed with this lily-white world of Lucy and Josh.

Lol. What’s with the hate on blondes? 😂😂 Sending love to all the blondes tall and brown-eyed🫶🏾

Also, the ridicule of short men?? So unnecessary. Just to emphasise how big big Josh is all big and big. Urgh. Because it’s not like we had any idea how big and perfect he is.

The writing was also so sporadic. Parts of it just threw me off but I honestly didn’t care enough to try and understand it or keep track. Josh’s pining was cute until it got a bit creepy and controlly. The creepy blue-eyed fetishisation wall paint business??? Girl, run!!

Sally, girl… 👀👀👀

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joensign's review against another edition

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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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