Book Review – The Hating Game

The Hating Game is one of those books that left me with seriously mixed feelings. As someone who typically devours rom-coms, especially those with the enemies-to-lovers trope, I had high expectations going in. But this book… well, let’s just say it was a rollercoaster, and not always in a good way.

First, let’s talk about what works. The initial tension between Lucy and Josh is palpable, and their office dynamic creates some genuinely entertaining moments. The writing has a snappy quality that keeps the pages turning, and there are fleeting instances where their banter actually lands. Josh, when he’s not being frustratingly perfect, has moments of genuine vulnerability that make him somewhat endearing.

But here’s where things start to unravel. The “hate” part of this enemies-to-lovers romance feels paper-thin from the start. For example when we get only a quarter into the book, we’re already deep into lustful territory. Where’s the slow burn? Where’s the delicious tension that makes this trope so satisfying? Instead, we get an elevator scene that’s meant to be pivotal but feels more like a rushed checkpoint in a romance novel checklist.

Speaking of Lucy – oh boy. Her character is a fascinating study in contradictions, and not in a good way. She’s supposedly competent enough to be up for a major promotion, yet she spends an inordinate amount of time obsessing over Josh’s every movement, breath, and Post-it note color choice. Her inner monologue reads less like character development and more like a teenage diary entry.

And can we talk about the staring? Because there is SO. MUCH. STARING. If I had a dollar for every time these characters engaged in prolonged eye contact, I could buy several copies of this book (though why I’d want to is another question entirely). It’s like they’re trying to set a world record for “Most Intense Office Eye Contact While Pretending to Hate Each Other.”

Josh, our male lead, is cut from the same cloth as every other “perfect but troubled” romance hero – tall, handsome, brooding, with convenient daddy issues that explain away any actual character flaws. He’s possessive to the point of concerning during the paintball scene (seriously, shooting another guy for waving at Lucy?), yet this is played off as endearing rather than problematic.

The office setting, which should be a key element of the story, feels more like a convenient backdrop for their staring contests than an actual workplace. We get minimal insight into their actual jobs or the other characters who populate their world. The whole promotion plot thread, which drives much of the external conflict, fizzles out in a way that left me genuinely frustrated.

The romance itself has moments that could have been sweet if they weren’t buried under layers of manufactured drama and misunderstandings. Lucy’s constant self-doubt becomes exhausting rather than endearing, and Josh’s perfect responses to her every insecurity feel more like fantasy fulfillment than character development.

Now, I understand the appeal of escapist romance – believe me, I do. But even escapism needs internal logic and character consistency to work. The Hating Game seems to mistake intensity for chemistry and obsession for romance. The transition from “enemies” to lovers happens so quickly that the title itself feels like false advertising.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect is the wasted potential. The premise had everything going for it – workplace rivalry, forced proximity, competitive tension. But instead of exploring these elements in depth, we get surface-level conflict resolved by convenient plot devices and physical attraction.

This isn’t to say the book is without its entertaining moments. There are scenes that genuinely work, and if you’re in the mood for something light and aren’t too bothered by logic gaps or character consistency, you might find enough here to enjoy. But for readers hoping for a sophisticated enemies-to-lovers story with genuine emotional depth and satisfying character development, The Hating Game might leave you wanting more.

Ultimately, while The Hating Game has its moments of charm, it falls into too many romance novel pitfalls to be truly satisfying. It’s like ordering what sounds like an amazing dessert only to find it’s mostly sugar and food coloring – sweet enough in the moment, but not particularly memorable or fulfilling.