The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome. 2) A person's undoing. 3) Joshua Templeman.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman sit across from each other every day . . . and they hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. HATE. Lucy can't understand Joshua's joyless, uptight approach to his job and refusal to smile. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy's overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and desire to be liked.

Now they're up for the same promotion and Lucy, usually a determined people-pleaser, has had enough: it's time to take him down. 

But as the tension between Lucy and Joshua reaches its boiling point, it's clear that the real battle has only just begun . . .

On a long train journey down from the middle of the UK to the bottom, I decided to start reading this book, and couldn't put it down. I ended up finishing it that night in my hotel room, not exploring outside, too eager to get to the end of the novel.

Written entirely from our heroine's point of view, the book quickly drops us into the story, smoothly flowing, leaving the reader eager to continue. We quickly begin cheering for our heroine, but, it is a rather quick turnabout attraction from both our main characters, leaving me a touch intrigued as to how mindsets were so quickly changed, but, the plot flows so well it's one of those questions asked at the conclusion, rather than during.

Ms. Thorne doesn't delve too deeply into what exactly caused the issue between our main characters, but the animosity is very quickly shown, and some might wonder if it's too antagonistic towards each other, but again, nothing too deeply noticed during. A few loose ends were still open at the end of the novel, but nothing too drastic. A few places could have been polished, but again, this story was simply too engaging to be noticed.

Overall, a fantastic, page-turning read! And, as a slight addition to the beauty of this book, it's now soon to become a major motion picture starring Lucy Hale and Robbie Amell.

Rating: 4/5

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

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Best Romantic Authors 2020 (so far!)

Happy Monday everyone! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I can't believe how quickly this year is going.

I've had a lot more time than I expected to have, and have been able to get through some of my book list. I've found some absolutely incredible authors who I hadn't heard of/read before (during my usual lifestyle, internet and bookstores sadly feature less than I'd like), and here are some of my new favourites:

1. Avery Flynn - Award-winning author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, her books are light and breezy, but heartfelt and intriguing, providing the perfect romance.

Personal favourites:

                          

2. R. S. Grey - I'll admit that I've absolutely shot through most of Ms. Grey's novels. A USA Today best-selling author with seven #1 best-selling romantic comedies, she absolutely hooks you in and keeps you reading. Highly, highly recommended.

Personal favourites:

                          

3. Mimi Jean Pamfiloff - Intriguing, quick-paced, and steamy romances that you'll fly through and want more, definitely one to watch!

Personal favourite:

                                                        

4. Cindi Madsen - I picked up one of her romance novels earlier in the year and got distracted, but tried again with one of her Young Adult romances and fell in love.

Personal favourite:

                                                         

5. Sally Thorne - I picked up The Hating Game on the train down to my new house, and I just couldn't stop reading. I actually got to the hotel (night before the move in) and just kept reading.

Personal favourite:

                                                        

When I find an author I like, I generally end up going through their entire works and just get stuck on them for days.

Which authors have you discovered recently?

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Top 6 Comedy Romance Novels

One of the things that I absolutely love about romance novels is how diverse the genre is. Do I want to read a romantic book written through text messages? Do I want to read a romance novel about a hockey player being set up by his mum on a dating site? Do I want to read a romance novel about two co-workers who hate each other? The answer is yes, and even better than that, there are books that fit those criteria perfectly!

I've read many romance novels but here are some of the ones that absolutely made me laugh out loud, and cause some awkward questions about what exactly I was reading. What are your favourite comedic romance novels?

1. The Hating Game - Sally Thorne

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman sit across from each other every day . . . and they hate each other.

Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. HATE. Lucy can't understand Joshua's joyless, uptight approach to his job and refusal to smile. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy's overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and desire to be liked.

Now they're up for the same promotion and Lucy, usually a determined people-pleaser, has had enough: it's time to take him down. But as the tension between Lucy and Joshua reaches its boiling point, it's clear that the real battle has only just begun . . .

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

2. The Unhoneymooners - Christina Lauren

Olive is always unlucky; her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. While she's about to marry her dream man, Olive is forced to play nice with her nemesis: the best man, Ethan.

Yet Olive's luck may be on the turn . . . When the entire wedding - except for Olive and Ethan - gets food poisoning, there's an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs. Putting their mutual hatred aside, Olive and Ethan head for paradise. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him spirals out of control.

Forced to play loving newlyweds, she and Ethan find themselves in closer proximity than they ever expected. Soon, Olive finds that maybe she doesn't mind pretending. In fact, she's beginning to feel kind of . . . lucky.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

3. Every Boy's Got One - Meg Cabot

Cartoonist Jane Harris is delighted by the prospect of her first-ever trip to Europe. But it's hate at first sight for Jane and Cal Langdon, and neither is too happy at the prospect of sharing a villa with one another for a week—not even in the beautiful and picturesque Marches countryside. But when Holly and Mark's wedding plans hit a major snag that only Jane and Cal can repair, the two find themselves having to put aside their mutual dislike for one another in order to get their best friends on the road to wedded bliss—and end up on a road themselves ... one neither of them ever expected.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

4. The Foxe & The Hound - R.S. Grey

When your life is a hot mess at twenty, it’s cute. At twenty-seven…well, not so much. It’s just that my lofty dreams—making it as a real estate agent, paying rent on time, showering daily—have stayed just that: dreams. Oh, and love? I’ve decided love might be a little ambitious for me at the moment. Instead, I’ve settled for the two guys who will never leave me: Ben & Jerry.

That is, until Dr. Adam Foxe takes up residence as the town’s new vet. With his strong jaw, easy confidence, and form-fitting scrubs, it’s not long before every housewife in Hamilton is dragging neglected tomcats in for weekly checkups. Like everyone else, I’m intrigued. Even after I spoil my chance at a good first impression, he still offers me a proposition I can’t refuse: play his girlfriend at a family function and he’ll hire me as his real estate agent. Welcome to love in the 21st century.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

5. Parental Guidance - Avery Flynn

It wasn't me. It was my team. But as almost co-captain I raised my hand to fix it. Never imagined they'd arrange a PR stunt to make me look like Mr. Right to someone my mom picks out on some new dating app. Then my salvation walks into the restaurant. Zara Ambrose. The five-foot-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches that I convinced to go on five dates with me for all the world to see.

She's got her own reasons for our set up--and her own rules. But somewhere between the couples' obstacle course, wrestling matches with her Great Dane, and fights over mashed potatoes, Zara went from means-to-an-end to something so much more. What happens when you start to fall for the one girl you can't have...on live TV?

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

6. Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot

'You're not Mia Thermopolis any more, honey,' Dad said. 'You're Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo. Princess of Genovia.'

A PRINCESS?? ME??? Yeah. Right.

One minute Mia's a totally normal Manhattan fourteen-year-old. Next minute she's heir to the throne of Genovia, being trailed by a bodyguard, taking princess lessons with her uncontrollable old grandmere, and having a makeover with someone called Paolo. Well, her dad can lecture her till he's royal blue in the face, but no way is Mia going to turn herself into a style-queen. And they think she's moving to Genovia? Er, hello?

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

What are your favourite romance novels that make you laugh out loud? Drop a comment and let us know!

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