Cannonball legend Malin gave me a copy of this mumbles ago and despite the rave reviews, I never started it because contemporary romance is not my bag. Nothing pulls me out of the escapist fun of a great romance novel like characters dealing with broken cars, work stress, and bills.
Unless that great romance novel is The Hating Game.
Summary from Goodreads:
Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.
This book has been reviewed here so many times I almost didn’t bother writing a review except to toss my vote with a 5-heart-eyes rating. It has two flawed but lovable protagonists with plausible hurdles to the HEA. It’s clever and funny. But the real key here is spectacular smolder.
“Lucy,” is all he can seem to say. “Lucy. How am I going to walk away from tonight? Seriously. How?”
I get goosebumps. I’m wondering the same thing. I let my head drop to one side, and we kiss.
I’m hoarse and breathless. “I’m gonna die tonight. Please take your pants off.”
“I want that embroidered on a pillow.”
There is no insta-love. There is no detailed erotica. But there is loads of witty banter, humor, and exceptional smolder.
If you appreciate a great smolder-filled romance (and I hope you do), The Hating Game is for you.
Thank you Malin!