The Hating Game

This is one of my favorite books ever! The dynamic in this novel is something that I love and this is the best I've ever seen it done. This author really allowed for a slow gradual build in the relationship between Lucy and Josh and I really appreciated that. The slow gradual build really allowed the hate to love trope to flourish (this is one of my favorite tropes). Both characters were so different from each other but relatable and that really enhanced the dynamic between them. The characters were very unlike what I expected and I think to a certain extent both characters contradict themselves in ways but it worked so well. Not to mention Josh literally looks like the guys, girls dream about! His personality really shines through about halfway through the book a well. I also really loved the family aspects of this novel. It shows many different sides to a nuclear, traditional family that most people don't discuss.

I am only a teenager but I loved reading from the perspective of two successful adults who had office jobs. I was never bored with the setting and I thought it really magnified the intensity of the hate in the beginning. It allowed a competitive streak to blossom between the two characters which made them hate each other.

Now to talk about my real favorite part. The banter between Josh and Lucy! Josh and Lucy's games/banter really made this book what it is. There are parts of this book where I was laughing out loud or my heart was melting. I am a very emotional reader so when a book can appeal to my emotions in that way, I tend to love them! I love how they would always threaten to report each other to HR or the passwords on their computers.

The writing style in this book was also fantastic because of how descriptive it is. I feel like there is a fine line with having beautifully descriptive writing and writing that is weighed down by too many words, and Sally Thorne found that balance. The way that the characters talked was also so unique to each character which I loved.

And lastly, one of the things I loved was how this novel twisted stereotypes on their heads. Sally Thorne took stereotypes and tropes of these characters and really changed them to be something unique. Josh I think defies the odds a lot of what a stereotypical cold, brooding, buff, tall guy would act like all the time. I think that adding a really surprising and interesting aspect to this novel.

All around I love this book so much and I will be re-reading this for sure in the near future because I already want to.