The Hating Game

June 6, 2016
Since the day Lucy Hutton began sharing an office at her publishing company with Joshua Templeman, he’s been the bane of her existence. Every day is a constant parade of one-upmanship and mind games. Now there’s a huge promotion on the line, and they’re both up for it. Lucy knows she couldn’t keep working there if Joshua winds up becoming her boss, so she pours everything she has into a project to dazzle her superior—but at the same time, she’s suddenly gotten to know Joshua on a new level, and she’s realizing very quickly that the lines between attraction and hatred are not as clear as she thought. After they acknowledge the heat between them and begin to do something about it, Lucy’s paranoia sets in: is Joshua stringing her along in hopes that he’ll gain the upper hand and the promotion? The denouement feels slightly off, and though Lucy and Joshua initially have chemistry to spare, the resolution of their story is a little bit too neat. Still, Thorne is skilled at creating Hepburn-and-Tracy-esque banter and an appealing heroine.

April 15, 2016

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman sit across from each other working as executive assistants for their co-CEO bosses of the merged publishing house Bexley and Gamin. From the first, it seems they're not destined to be friends: Joshua is tall, intimidating, and wears the same colored shirts in the same sequence every week, whereas five-foot-tall Lucy is approachable, yet feisty with her flamethrower-red lipstick and varying ensembles. Their differences manifest themselves in nonverbal games including the Staring Game, the Mirror Game, and the HR Game. When a promotion possibility comes up, both Josh and Lucy would do anything to get it. Thorne pens a novel that is more than a game of one-upmanship between two coworkers. She slowly begins to unfurl their insecurities both inside and between themselves, fearlessly aiming at the heart of what makes Lucy and Joshua tick. As a result, a new game begins--one of sexual chemistry and frustration. VERDICT 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.--Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2016
Lucy Hutton absolutely detests her office mate Joshua Templeman. He's a pompous, self-important, obnoxious ass. But, she's got to admit, he is pretty cute.From the moment they meet, a result of the unwelcome corporate merger between their employers, Lucy and Joshua are at odds. Joshua is assistant to the CEO of what was once Bexley Publishing, a numbers-crunching, foosball-playing frat house-cum-business. Lucy is assistant to the CEO of the now-defunct Gamin Publishing, a Birkenstock-clad, free-flowing commune of literary purists. When the two companies begrudgingly become one, so does the executive suite. Thus begins this hate-at-first-sight romantic comedy. Lucy and Joshua's daily interactions include the staring game, the mirror game, and the HR game, each played with the intensity of the Hunger Games. Their mutual antipathy grows when a new executive position opens at Bexley-Gamin Publishing and both Lucy's and Joshua's bosses think their proteges would be the perfect choice. Here the high-stakes game begins. After yet another 60-hour work week, which now includes prepping for upcoming interviews, Lucy logs off of her computer (Password: IHATEJOSHUA4EV@) to head home, but not before her rival hops into the elevator with her. When Joshua hits the emergency button and stops the ride, Lucy is certain her nemesis is going to kill her. Instead, he plants a (completely consensual) kiss on her that awakens something she hadn't known existed. Debut novelist Thorne delivers something nearly impossible: an entirely predictable plot that is also completely fresh, original, and utterly charming. From the opening page, readers will know the outcome of Lucy and Joshua's relationship, but what happens in between is magic. From Lucy's hilarious inner dialogue to Joshua's sharp retorts, the chemistry between them is irresistibly adorable--and smokin' hot. A breezy tale perfect for a day at the beach, this one's a real winner.

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Starred review from March 1, 2016
Lucy always dreamed of working in publishing, but a merger has turned her dream job into a nightmare. Being forced to share an office is bad enough, but Lucy shares hers with Joshua, an unsmiling workaholic who actively dislikes her. The two spend many of their working hours finding ways to bait and harass each other, and when a new position opens up, they are placed in direct competitionwhich brings out some feelings that are not exactly competitive. Could all of the coldness and game playing be masking their true feelings? Thorne's debut reads like two different novels: the first half is a workplace comedy about two mismatched office mates, and the second half transforms into a romance between a mismatched couple. Joshua is reminiscent of Christian Grey, but without the money and the penchant for spankinghe is a tortured-soul type with serious daddy issues that prevent him from falling in love. Lucy's a plucky foil, dolled up in vintage-style dresses and her trademark Flamethrower Red lipstick, with a quirky backstory (she grew up on a strawberry farm and collects Smurfs). Some may be jarred by the transition to torrid make-out sessions in staff elevatorsand it's more steamy romance than chick-lit by the endbut readers who appreciate powerful-man-meets-ingenue romances will enjoy Lucy and Josh's chemistry.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)