It adds another layer of complexity since you start seeing that Joshua’s not just a dick: he’s pulling the infantile move where the boy likes a girl, so he pulls her hair on the playground. I liked how the author introduced an alternate love interest. Which means one of them would be the other’s boss (worst case scenario when you’re enemies 4 eva). Also, the author adds to the competitive, hate-filled relationship by placing her two MCs in competition with each other for the job of CFO (I think). And for someone like Lucy, who originally only wanted to be Joshua’s friend, it hurt reading that. Like he went from witty, bratty banter to downright mean. I understood that the whole enemies-to-lovers aspect of The Hating Game was the main so-called relationship hurdle, but there were times when Joshua just went way too far. If anyone made fun of my family that wasn’t a friend, I would so go off on them! However, I felt at times that Thorne went so far as to make Lucy a doormat in certain aspects–like when Joshua was dissing her family’s strawberry farm. She was this uber-nice, sweet, people-pleaser that strived to make other people feel better about themselves. Lucy was an excellent and fleshed out character. In this case, though, the heroine, Lucy, and hero, Joshua, just didn’t gel together their personalities were like night and day, which caused Joshua to be a dick to Lucy, and then the rest is history. That being said, I’m not usually a fan of enemies-to-lovers romances, I find often there’s a reason you don’t like someone, and you should just stick with that reason. The Hating Game was just OK for me, which is disappointing considering the many good reviews that it has. See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine.

Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away.

But, it never goes beyond the first date. – Lucy goes out on a date with OM, at the Hero’s insistence. (The Heroine only finds this out at the wedding she’s the Hero’s date.) But he makes it very clear he isn’t pining for her. – The Hero’s ex-girlfriend marries his brother.

The hating games