Publishers and publishing · Man-woman relationships · Competition (Psychology)
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2016379 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 3.7 (27)
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What is The Hating Game about?
For Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, executive assistants to the CEOs of newly merged Bexley-Gamin Publishing, it's hate-at-first-sight. So begins a series of daily passive-aggressive maneuvers, including 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, and both their bosses put their names up for the promotion. Then, the high-stakes games begin! After another 60-hour work week, Lucy logs off her computer and hops on the elevator to head home, as does Joshua. When Joshua hits the emergency button and stops the ride, Lucy is certain her nemesis is going to kill her. Instead, he plants a kiss on her, and Lucy begins to wonder if she really does hate Joshua after all, or if this is yet another game. --
A glimpse inside
The Fine Line Between Love and Hate
At its core, The Hating Game investigates how intense emotions—whether positive or negative—can blur together. Lucy and Joshua’s rivalry is so charged that it often feels indistinguishable from attraction. Their constant games and bickering create a dynamic where antagonism masks vulnerability and longing. Thorne uses their interactions to explore how people sometimes hide true feelings behind bravado, and how mutual respect can emerge from even the fiercest competition.
Workplace Competition as a Catalyst
The merger of two publishing houses and the subsequent competition for a coveted promotion sets the stage for Lucy and Joshua’s escalating rivalry. The corporate environment isn’t just a backdrop; it actively shapes their relationship, forcing both characters to confront their ambitions, insecurities, and ethical boundaries. The professional stakes heighten the emotional ones, making every interaction layered with subtext and consequence.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 3.7 / 5
27 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1The Fine Line Between Love and Hate
- 2Workplace Competition as a Catalyst
- 3Character Growth Through Vulnerability
- 4The Power of Banter and Playfulness
- 5Subverting Romance Tropes
Popular quotes from The Hating Game
“It’s a corporate truth universally acknowledged that workers would rather eat rat skeletons than participate in group activities in the break room.”
“I have a theory. Hating someone feels disturbingly similar to being in love with them.”
Frequently asked
For Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, executive assistants to the CEOs of newly merged Bexley-Gamin Publishing, it's hate-at-first-sight. So begins a series of daily passive-aggressive maneuvers, including 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, and both