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The Hating Game: Summary in 5 Key Points

Name: The Hating Game
Author: Sally Thorne

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne — book cover — Edition and cover reference

Written by brefly editorial teamUpdated October 13, 2026

AI-assisted book brief. Verify important claims against the original book; this page does not claim personal reading or independent expert review.

✍️ Sally Thorne📅 2016📚 Romance📖 2 min brief

Scope: Premise and themes only; no ending or major revelation. Sequel premises may reveal earlier-book outcomes.

The brief

Lucy and Joshua work for the CEOs of newly merged publishing companies and share a tense office routine.

Their daily games of observation make the workplace feel like a private contest. This detail matters within the book's particular narrative and setting.

An opening for promotion gives their rivalry a concrete professional stake. This detail matters within the book's particular narrative and setting.

The office lets Thorne explore competition, assumptions, and communication between colleagues. This detail matters within the book's particular narrative and setting.

This adult romantic comedy contains workplace power dynamics and sexual content. This detail matters within the book's particular narrative and setting.

Key ideas worth keeping

notice how office games express unspoken assumptions

separate job competition from attraction

consider workplace hierarchy when reading the romance

Questions about this book

Where do Lucy and Joshua work?

They are assistants at a merged publishing company.

What changes their rivalry?

An opening for promotion increases the stakes.

Is this YA?

No; it is an adult contemporary romantic comedy.

Sources and scope

Original editorial orientation based on the cited work overview and reference edition. Theme takeaways are interpretation; this is not a chapter-by-chapter synopsis. Page counts vary by edition and are omitted.

Sources checked October 13, 2026.

Who should read the full book

Adult contemporary romance readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers banter and publishing settings.

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