The Hating Game by Sally Thorne is a contemporary adult romance, and guys, is it worth the freaking hype. This book is insanely adorable and I loved every bit of it.

Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
2) A person’s undoing
3) Joshua Templeman

Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.

Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth-shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.

Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

Despite the title of the book, I would not consider this a true enemies-to-lovers trope, and being someone who loves that trope, I’m glad I knew that before reading. It did not hinder my love for this book but if I had been expecting something different perhaps it could have. 

Lucy’s character is so freaking quirky I can say she is a true weirdo but, at least for me, in the most relatable way and had me laughing out loud at times. The girl freaking collects SMURFS. She also loves books and works in the publishing industry, along with her “nemesis” Josh, who I had some much fun vicariously flirting with throughout this book. 

This is book is so romantic, steamy, and re-readable. And bonus points for a main character whose development and growth give her the gall to speak her mind loudly and proudly in an uncomfortable situation to someone who needs to sit their ass down and shut up – this scene (and book) will having you CHEERING folks. 

5 stars!

Have you read this book? Are you in love with it too? Do you have any recommendations for something similar and just as good? Lemme know!