The hating game

05.03.2021

I'm pretty sure this was another book that was recommended to me by the infamous booktok. Just by reading the title I knew it would be good and I just learnt that they'll be making a movie out of it so I absolutely can't wait for that. We all love some enemies to lovers plotline, and this might just be one of the best ones I've read.

Lucy Hutton is a complete workoholic who works as the executive assistant of the co-ceo of Bexley & Gamin. Her other main character trait is that she absolutely hate her collegue Joshua Templeton, the exutive assistant of the other co-ceo, whom she's forced to work with in the same office. She has hated him since her first day at work after the merger when she offered him a simple welcoming smile, and he ignored her and looked out the window. Joshua hates Lucy equally as much, so much so, that they have both complained multiple times to the HR, human ressources, multiple times. They have both memorised each others work and office habits and don't hold back on shaming or sneering at the other. The ceos later announce that there will be a new position available, which will be a almost as high as them rank. Each ceo wants their respective assistant to win, and as an innitiative, Lucy proposes a team building exercise, which Joshua counteracts with a different proposal, that gets accepted by the ceos. One day, after a snide remark from Joshua about setting new work clothes rules when he becomes her boss, Lucy decides to dress in a little black dress, lying that she has a date. Joshua pushes her on the subject and says that he'll conveniently be at the same place and time as her and her presumed date. In a frenzy, Lucy goes to one of her collegues, Danny who is leaving the firm soon to go on a date with her. Joshua insits on giving Lucy a ride to the bar, as her car is in the repair and unexpectedly kisses her in the elevator, saying it's one of the new games they're playing. Lucy is horrified and shocked so when they arrive she immediately jumps out of his car and goes to meet Danny. Joshua finds her in the bathroom to give her back her coat and feels remorsefull about doing that. On the team building trip with the collegues, which is paintball by the way, ending up in a team together, Lucy and Josh both protect each other from oncoming shooters. At the end of the day, Lucy ends up being sick and Joshua takes her home, where he stays the night and takes care of her. It seems that there is a slight possibility of them becoming friends. On Monday, Danny drives her to work and offers her daisies, while Josh is looking extremely jealous and they get in an argument. They go into a janitor's closet to talk through their issues and end up kissing again. Josh then insits that Lucy must go out with Danny and kiss him, to see if he is a better kisser than him. Lucy obliges and after her date goes to Josh's apartment, admitting the truth. He lets her come in, where she inspects his apartment and tells her that they cannot sleep together yet, despite her obvious desire to. The next day Josh doesn't go to work and the Lucy goes back to his apartment after work, where they eat and watch tv, before he sends her home. There is now some competition in the air, because the interviews about the new position are approaching. Lucy has promised to go with Josh to his brother's wedding at the end of the week, but right before that, he gets in a horrible argument with his boss, Mr.Baxeley. They drive to the wedding location and seem to be on good terms. At the wedding, which Lucy presumes Josh doesn't want to be because of his father, she finds out that he actually used to date the bride, or his brother's new wife and gets extremely angry, thinking he only wanted to show off in front of her, even attempting to leave. Josh explains that it is not the case and she agrees to stay. They sleep together that night and in the morning go to the family breakfast where Josh's father and him get in an argument and Lucy defends him furiously. WHen they go upstairs, they admit their feelings for each other. Driving back home, Lucy is scared that their short lived relationship will end, as the interviews are so soon, but Josh tells her that he's actuall quit and they can now work separetely but be together.

Star rating: Definitely a 5 stars in my book. The story was incredibly well written, I loved both of the characters so much and their chemistry even when they "hated" each other was immaculate. The perfect non fantasy enemies to lovers.