Books › The Hating Game
The Hating Game
384 pages
A masterclass in crackling banter and the electric, agonizingly fun tension of the enemies-to-lovers trope.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting in a room where the air conditioning is broken but the sparks are flying anyway. It is a masterclass in the enemies-to-lovers dynamic, thriving on the claustrophobic, electric tension of a shared office space. The narrative is intensely observant, zooming in on the microscopic details of physical proximity—a twitching jaw, a specific shade of a shirt, the exact temperature of a glance. It moves at a brisk, addictive clip, propelled by razor-sharp banter and a deeply satisfying slow-burn that makes you savor every petty argument. Beneath the sarcastic, competitive exterior lies a surprisingly tender exploration of vulnerability and being truly seen. It is pure, swoony catnip for anyone who loves a battle of wits that inevitably surrenders to the heart.
- Mood
- electric
- claustrophobic
- crackling
- warm
- Tone
- wry
- playful
- sarcastic
- swoony
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the thin line between love and hate · workplace rivalry · hidden vulnerabilities · office politics · opposites attract
- The writing
- Sharp, dialogue-heavy, and intensely observant, capturing the microscopic details of physical proximity and unspoken tension.
- The arc
- Transitions from prickly, defensive hostility to a vulnerable, undeniable affection as emotional walls are slowly dismantled.
- Who it's for
- Romance fans who devour high-banter, slow-burn tension and deeply satisfying, character-driven enemies-to-lovers dynamics.
Content notes
- toxic workplace dynamics
- mild sexual content
About the book
For Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, executive assistants to the CEOs of newly merged Bexley-Gamin Publishing, it's hate-at-first-sight. So begins a series of daily passive-aggressive maneuvers, including the staring game, the mirror game, and the HR game, each played with the intensity of the Hunger Games. Their mutual antipathy grows when a new executive position opens at Bexley-Gamin, and both their bosses put their names up for the promotion. Then, the high-stakes games begin! After another 60-hour work week, Lucy logs off her computer and hops on the elevator to head home, as does Joshua. When Joshua hits the emergency button and stops the ride, Lucy is certain her nemesis is going to kill her. Instead, he plants a kiss on her, and Lucy begins to wonder if she really does hate Joshua after all, or if this is yet another game. --
Description from Open Library.
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