The Hating Game [Movie Tie-in]: A Novel

by Sally Thorne

Overview

Now a movie starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell, USA Today bestselling author Sally Thorne’s hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love.

Lucy Hutton has always believed that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone. Everyone except sarcastic, cynical, and intimidating Joshua Templeman. Her nemesis.

Josh is the dark and brooding to Lucy’s light and cheery, the crisp pressed suit to her retro outfits and bright red lipstick. And he gets under her skin like no one else can. Trapped in a shared office together five days a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, never-ending game of one-upmanship.

When a new executive position is announced, Josh and Lucy are top contenders for the promotion, but the idea of working for the other is so unthinkable that they strike a deal: whoever doesn’t get the job will walk away. The stakes have never been higher and as the competition heats up and the barriers between them begin to fall down, Lucy starts questioning just who her opponent truly is and whether this man she’s hated all this time is even the real Josh.

Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063240766
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	03/01/2022
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	231,182
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Sally Thorne is the USA Today-bestselling author of The Hating Game. She spends her days climbing into fictional worlds of her own creation. She lives in Canberra, Australia with her husband in a house filled with vintage toys, too many cushions, a haunted dollhouse and the world’s sweetest pug.

Editorial Reviews

‘Hating someone feels disturbingly similar to being in love,’ says Lucy Hutton, who can’t stand fellow executive assistant Joshua. There’s only one place this could go…but it’s good fun getting there.” — People

“Sally Thorne satisfies hearts longing for laughter in their love stories….Their battle of wits is tremendously fun—acerbic and sexy and filled with tension. The result is a wicked, witty romance that will capture readers’ hearts long before Joshua manages to capture Lucy’s.” — Sarah MacLean, Washington Post

“Five feet tall and a total oddball, [Lucy] carries the plot by being engagingly self-deprecating, quick-witted and funny. There’s not even an infinitesimal flicker of doubt about where the story is headed, but along the way Thorne reveals an astute command of office politics and the often demeaning realities of workplace dynamics for women. The chemistry between Lucy and Joshua is also gratifying, with both seeming like fully conceived characters rather than passive stereotypes. If there’s nothing new to discern here, it’s at least a vibrant take on an old standard.” — New York Times Book Review

“If you miss romantic comedies, the kind that were so funny, you would pay $15 to see them in the theater—plus the cost of popcorn and candy—this novel will make you very happy indeed...The rising tension and Thorne’s biting dialogue will make you wish for the romantic comedies of days gone by—or just more books like this one.” — NPR Books

“A breezy tale perfect for a day at the beach, this one’s a real winner.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A brilliant, biting, hilarious new voice. THE HATING GAME will take the rom-com world by storm. One of the best I’ve read, ever.” — Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

“Funny, smart, fresh, and thoroughly enjoyable from the first delicious page to the last. I highly recommend.” — Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author

“Thorne is a strong writer and one to watch. Her debut will have readers rooting for both Lucy and Joshua in whatever games they play.” — Library Journal

“An addictive, dazzling debut. The Hating Game is bursting at the seams with love (and hate) and heart.” — Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author

“Deliciously fun and super sexy, Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game stole my life for two days. I couldn’t put it down until Lucy and Josh’s all-consuming hateship changed into a tentative friendship and then a juicy, tender, adorable love.” — Meghan McCain

“Be prepared to play the Charming Game with Sally Thorne. The irrepressible Lucy and her starchy, growly counterpart Joshua will win you over from the opening page.” — Elizabeth Jane Howard, author of the Cazelet Chronicles

“Some of you might have traveled to the beach for the sole purpose of escaping the office, but we think this funny and romantic workplace comedy just might change your mind…. we know you’ll find their story entertaining and sexy.” — Bookish

“Romantic comedy is harder than it looks. …[The Hating Game's] sharp, sexy… candy-like in the best way…it’s a very good quality romantic comedy.” — NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour

“If your reading catnip includes dialogue that crackles, cranky heroes with hidden depths, and vivid, self-assured heroines who take exactly zero crap from said hero, find yourself a copy of this book immediately.” — Sarah Wendell, Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

From the Publisher

Five feet tall and a total oddball, [Lucy] carries the plot by being engagingly self-deprecating, quick-witted and funny. There’s not even an infinitesimal flicker of doubt about where the story is headed, but along the way Thorne reveals an astute command of office politics and the often demeaning realities of workplace dynamics for women. The chemistry between Lucy and Joshua is also gratifying, with both seeming like fully conceived characters rather than passive stereotypes. If there’s nothing new to discern here, it’s at least a vibrant take on an old standard.

New York Times Book Review

A brilliant, biting, hilarious new voice. THE HATING GAME will take the rom-com world by storm. One of the best I’ve read, ever.

Kristan Higgins

Sally Thorne satisfies hearts longing for laughter in their love stories….Their battle of wits is tremendously fun—acerbic and sexy and filled with tension. The result is a wicked, witty romance that will capture readers’ hearts long before Joshua manages to capture Lucy’s.

Sarah MacLean

‘Hating someone feels disturbingly similar to being in love,’ says Lucy Hutton, who can’t stand fellow executive assistant Joshua. There’s only one place this could go…but it’s good fun getting there.

People

Deliciously fun and super sexy, Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game stole my life for two days. I couldn’t put it down until Lucy and Josh’s all-consuming hateship changed into a tentative friendship and then a juicy, tender, adorable love.

Meghan McCain

If you miss romantic comedies, the kind that were so funny, you would pay $15 to see them in the theater—plus the cost of popcorn and candy—this novel will make you very happy indeed...The rising tension and Thorne’s biting dialogue will make you wish for the romantic comedies of days gone by—or just more books like this one.

NPR Books

An addictive, dazzling debut. The Hating Game is bursting at the seams with love (and hate) and heart.

Christina Lauren

Funny, smart, fresh, and thoroughly enjoyable from the first delicious page to the last. I highly recommend.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Romantic comedy is harder than it looks. …[The Hating Game's] sharp, sexy… candy-like in the best way…it’s a very good quality romantic comedy.

NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour

Be prepared to play the Charming Game with Sally Thorne. The irrepressible Lucy and her starchy, growly counterpart Joshua will win you over from the opening page.

Elizabeth Jane Howard

If your reading catnip includes dialogue that crackles, cranky heroes with hidden depths, and vivid, self-assured heroines who take exactly zero crap from said hero, find yourself a copy of this book immediately.

Sarah Wendell

Some of you might have traveled to the beach for the sole purpose of escaping the office, but we think this funny and romantic workplace comedy just might change your mind…. we know you’ll find their story entertaining and sexy.

Bookish