The premise of this book was so intriguing. Two co- workers who hate each other so much that they've actually made a game of it. Well, actually, they've made a thousand little games of it, and you can feel the contempt dripping off each of them. The Mirror Game, The Pen Game, etc. Lucy and Joshua (whose name I feel Lucy pronounces like Rachel Green pronounces Joshua in that season of Friends, with elitist contempt) both work as executive assistants for diametrically opposed bosses at a publishing house. When a promotion comes up she must win it or otherwise she'll work for her worst enemy.

Except what if he isn't her worst enemy? And what if they don't actually hate each other at all?

I was delighted by this book. Delighted by the ins and outs of the publishing world, delighted with the dialogue between them, delighted by the wit that Lucy demonstrates in her inner monologues. Just flat out delighted. I have not enjoyed a workplace romance this much since the early seasons of Jim and Pam on the American version of THE OFFICE. The characters are vibrant and believable and I am anxious to read more from Ms. Thorne as soon as she can write it.

I would absolutely recommend THE HATING GAME to anyone who is looking for sparkling dialogue spoken by witty characters who seem completely lived in and real. You will fall for these characters, I'm sure of it, and I hope you deeply enjoy them as much as I did.