A review by thatdecembergirl
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

4.0

Book community in Twitter (sorry but I could never and would never call the site as 'X') or TikTok or Instagram often talk about 'spicy' romance books, but mostly what they talk about is regular love story with one or two sex scenes that goes overly descriptive. Meanwhile, The Hating Game should be what they ask for. The Hating Game was (and probably still is) marketed as 'funny', and sometimes 'sexy', when in fact, this book bleeds horniness all over the page. This book should be the standard of 'spicy' romance novels. Just pure libido with a side dish of juvenile acts. And honestly, I don't trust people who trash this book on the reasons of it being immature or stupid because, newsflash baby, no matter how old you are, you could be acting immature or stupid when you fall in love. Imagine romancing someone who is always composed and oh-so-mature all the time, who doesn't let you know how much you affect them. Flat. Boring. Ugh.

The Hating Game was so, so close in getting a five-star review from me, but then it gave me the one ick I found unforgivable: the falling in love at the first sight cliche. No, I'm not even going to mark that as spoiler. Consider it content warning. You're welcome.

Oh God. That moment ruined this wonderfully horny tale for me. It would be VERY MUCH MORE believable if only the feelings Joshua Templeman has for Lucinda Hutton are something that is cultivated and grow with time, instead of instant infatuation triggered by one beaming smile he got from her when they met for the first time.

That being said, The Hating Games goes into the "Probably shit, but it's MY SHIT" selves. I love this story for its honest representation: that women crushing on someone can act like a total weirdo, or absolute lecher. Yes, we can absolutely be randy monsters.