A review by shuelace
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

lighthearted medium-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? Yes

2.25

This book. This book. I hate to love it, so, so much because it's definitely NOT perfect. It's a whole lot of bad things and YET, I got butterflies at times? What does this say about me? I DNF'd about 25% into the book after the bratty behaviour and childish games they played with one another. The plot was slow but then took an aggressively fast turn. I don't know why this is considered a slow burn (lol), perhaps because one of the character's kept their feelings a secret for so long? But I forced myself myself to continue and finished it in a day.

The character's engage in weird, obsessive (and stalker-y, and intrusive) behaviour towards/with each other, it's a little too territorial, involves way too much objectification to the point of discomfort from the receiving character (like literally is Josh anything more tho), it's too immature at times, a little too much "oh no I completely misunderstood and now I HATE YOU and as a reader you're frustrated as hell but not is a good way", and a little tamer on the spice train than it's hyped to have had (ha).
Some of the plot points were were formulaic, it frustrated me. In spite of communicating his feelings, Josh shows Lucy he loves her by picking on her like an 8 year-old boy. Which goes to show that finally when this mature girl decides decides show his feelings, the couple's "initiating" is unrealistic. But even if he was being a brat, Lucy not even CONSIDERING that Josh had feelings for her? Wat? There are so many obvious signs.
 

Did I absolutely love the banter? Yes. The quick retorts were 🤌, though it was difficult to track the dialogue towards the end of the book and who was saying what. I enjoyed the character's commitment to one another even if it frustrated me to no end how immature and noncommunicative they both were at times. Aka being spiteful, rude, and insulting to one another and at times, crossing the line beyond civility.
But did I enjoy Josh's (obvious) secret pining? Yes 🥺. I enjoyed his sweet and tender behaviour towards her once they were together. 

I give him a lot more credit for character development as he clearly had more complexity and character growth than Lucy had at all. Her plot focuses basically on her needing saving? Am I simplifying it? Maybe. Josh then confesses he's been objectiified and used in the past for just his body and Lucy immediately...does the same thing? She does a half assed job on showing him and telling him otherwise. 

Also, why does he keep saying "your freakouts" to Lucy? You mean her rationality trying to understand what's happening in your relationship and your sudden change of behaviour? Is she just supposed to forgive you based on some very unclear motives and barely communicated intentions? Are you saying she's not allowed to have anxious feelings or caution around her heart? And she's just trying to process everything? Does Josh think she suddenly TRUSTS him and can confide deep, dark things to him even though he's clearly broken her trust many times? WHAT. 

Finally, one last frustration. WHY is the trope of big strong man and smol little woman so, so prevalent in current population romance fiction? Like, I get it on a surface level that this could be a steamy idea to some but the fact that it's mentioned ENDLESSLY. we GET it. Lucy is SO SMALL. Josh is RIPPED AND HAS ENDLESS PENT UP SEXUAL ENERGY TO WORKOUT. omg. There's probably so much more to say but THESE ARE MY CURRENT FRUSTRATIONS.
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