A Game of Tentative Hatred

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

Every game you’ve ever played has been to engage with him. Talk to him. Feel his eyes on you. To try to make him notice you.

When I first saw this book in one of my local bookstores, I was immediately attracted to the following things:

1. The cute cover
2. The unique title
3. The protagonist who also happened to be named Josh (#Biased)

However, the price kept on pushing me away. I did not want to pay 15 dollars for a paperback. I was finally persuaded to read The Hating Game after I watched Sophia’s review on BookTube. She compared the novel to the popular works of Stephanie Perkins and Rainbow Rowell, so I wanted to validate such generous praise. Little did I know that I would be savoring this book like candy.

From the get-go, I want to emphasize that The Hating Game is not the best contemporary novel out there. In fact, it’s full of cliches that normally render me jaded. You don’t even have to read the entire book to know how it ends. Plot-wise, I’m sorry to say that this book is downright predictable.

So what makes The Hating Game special and worthwhile? It’s the characters. The hilarious, adorable, and “shippable” Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman. If you’re fond of sarcastic, witty, and well-developed characters, then this OTP will brighten your day. Lucy has a tendency to be pathetic and annoying, but her playful and intuitive personality will eventually grow on you. As for Josh, I somehow understand why female readers claim him as their fictional boyfriend. He’s practically described to be the epitome of masculine perfection, so good luck finding your own Doctor Josh in real life.

In the end, I assure you that my 15 dollars did not go to waste. Lucy and Josh’s story isn’t that original, but it will fill you to the brim with happy feels. Given this book’s giggle-inducing content, I suggest reading it in private. Otherwise, you might suffer in humiliation as people question your sanity.