Kildare Library Service

Title: The Hating Game

Author: Sally Thorne

Genre: Romance, contemporary novel.

Review by: Chantelle, LCA Intern for Library HQ

Synopsis: Lucy Hutton, charmer, assistant and professional “Nice girl”, is waging war. She’s got the entire office on her side except tall, dark and charmless, Joshua Templeman. He’s been nothing but hostile since the moment they met. Now absolutely nothing seems more vital than their own personal ‘Hating Game’ which includes but is not limited to, ‘The Staring Game’, ‘The Mirror Game’, ‘The HR Game’. 

Lucy refuses to let Mr. Charmless beat her at anything. So when the two must battle for a position at their firm, it’s game on for them.

Review: The Hating Game features two characters who have tangoed in arbitrary office games for as long as memory serves. Lucy is tenacious when it comes to their office divertissement. It’s a matter of pride that she wins each and every round, regardless of whether or not it’s “Work Appropriate”. 

When it’s revealed that the two must battle to cement a permanent position at the firm or risk losing their job…Lucy and Joshua are prepped and ready. They’ve been unwittingly working toward this pinnacle moment everyday they walked into work and waged war. However along their way, they discover that a fascination with childish games isn’t the only thing they have in common. 

While the two statisticians still maneuver as if they’re dancing across a chess board in this no-holds-barred battle, slowly but surely they find they’re not exactly working to win the game as much as they are moving each piece to win each other. 

I would recommend The Hating Game for young adults and adults. The amusing progression from enemies to frenemies and on to so much more, is really well worth the read.

You can order a physical copy of this title by requesting it online from your local library and make an appointment to visit your local library and collect it when we notify you it has arrived.