Predictable and entirely cliche plot? Check.

Unrealistically adorable, feisty female main character loved by all? Check.

Brooding yet sensitive male main character with daddy issues? Check.

More drama than a soap opera? Check.

But, cute as heck and entirely swoon-worthy? Yes.

If you are expecting a poignant, thought-provoking novel with wonderfully written characters and a complex plot, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne may not be for you. Really, this genre is not something you should be reading. But if you come in with a very open mindset, the book comes out surprisingly well.

The two main characters, Joshua and Lucy, both work at the same publishing company, and they are both the executive assistants to the two CEOs. A match made in heaven right? No. The author makes it excessively clear that the two hate each other, a hate that is absurdly mind-consuming and intense.

      I hate Joshua Templemen… I type my password: IHATEJOSHUA4EV@.

      — Lucy from The Hating Game

This hate supposedly leads the two main characters to play games against each other. The staring game is where the first one to look away loses; the waiting game and smile game are just as self-explanatory. The whole concept comes off trivial and slightly childish, but it is tolerable and mildly amusing.

It is very clear that Lucy holds some sort of feeling for Joshua, especially because her dislike for him is repeated every other sentence.

But eventually, the two find out they are in competition with each other for a job promotion. Through a series of convenient circumstances, including meeting a second love interest and attending a wedding, the two eventually fall in love.

      When I kiss him, his exhalation is long, until he’s surely completely empty. I want to fill him back up. I don’t realize        it until a few minutes of dreamy, melting minutes have passed that I’ve been talking to him with my kiss. You                    matter. You’re important to me. This matters.

      — Lucy from The Hating Game

Despite that it was obvious it was coming, the way the author played out the romance was very cute. The chemistry between Joshua and Lucy was undeniable. And as the plot progresses, you can see Lucy developing, fighting, and eventually giving in to her feelings for Joshua.

Light, charming, but not particularly remarkable, The Hating Game is an excellent novel to read on a lazy Sunday afternoon.