“The trick is to find that one person who can give it back as good as they can take it.”
The Hating Game is a 2016 romance novel by Sally Thorne, and still one of the most iconic enemies-to-lovers books in the world. The story centres around the workplace rivalry between Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman. As executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company, they’re both happy using their passive-aggressive antics to show how much they cannot stand one another. And this rivalry is only brought closer to a boiling point when a promotion at work becomes available. But, as their tension blossoms into something more, Lucy and Joshua slowly discover that they might not hate each other as much as they first thought. Or maybe it’s all just another part of their long-running feud. If you love lighthearted romances and all things enemies-to-lovers, join us today at What We Reading for the best books like The Hating Game!
The Unhoneymooners (Unhoneymooners #1) – Christina Lauren
Kicking off our list of books like The Hating Game is Christina Lauren’s bestseller, The Unhoneymooners. Olive has always been unlucky in life. Her identical twin sister, Ami, is the total opposite. Ahead of her wedding, Ami is forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, the best man. However, just as she is preparing for 24 hours of wedding hell, the entire party gets food poisoning. The only people unaffected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.
The pair decide to put their mutual hatred for each other aside for the sake of a free holiday. But, after a surprise run-in with her new boss on the trip, Olive and Ethan are forced to pretend they are happy newlyweds soaking in the sun on their honeymoon. However, despite her initial fears, Olive soon finds that she doesn’t seem to mind playing pretend with Ethan. In fact, she’s quite enjoying it.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Unhoneymooners
Practice Makes Perfect – Julie James
Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are lawyers who know the meaning of objection all too well. A feminist to the bone, Payton has had to battle against the odds in a field dominated by men. Born privileged, wealthy and cocky, J.D. has fought hard to ignore her. In public, they’re perfectly polite. For eight years, they have kept a safe distance and viewed each other strictly as co-workers.
But, things are soon complicated when they’re asked to pair up on a major case. Though they are hesitant at first, they soon find themselves respectful of each other’s abilities. This level of respect soon flourishes into something far more passionate. However, when news breaks that only one of them can become a partner in the company, this hot connection turns into an all-out battle between the sexes.
Check Out These Forced Proximity Romance Books
Faker – Sarah Smith
Emmie Echavarre is a professional faker. She has to be. From nine to five, Monday to Friday, she has to show that she is as tough as the gruff, burly men that surround her at Nuts & Bolts, the power tool company she works for, a completely different persona to her true easy-going self. One thing she doesn’t have to fake is her disdain for her coworker, Tate Rasmussen.
Ever since she joined the company, Tate has been hostile to her. Her friendly greetings and repeated attempts to get to know him have been met with scowls and terse one-word responses. Yet, when Tate and Emmie are forced to work together on a charity construction project, things soon start to get heated. Another one of the best workplace enemies-to-lovers books like The Hating Game, Faker is the 2019 debut by Sarah Smith.
Walk Of Shame (Love Unexpectedly #4) – Lauren Layne
Pampered heiress Georgianna Watkins has a party-girl socialite sort of image to uphold. But all the days of shopping and clubbing are beginning to feel more hollow for Georgie than she would like to admit. What doesn’t feel hollow is the daily teasing she does out to her uptight, workaholic neighbour, Andrew Mulroney.
Celebrity divorce attorney Andrew doesn’t have much time for women, not least his spoiled tabloid princess neighbour. But, when one of the pair’s morning sparring sessions results in a kiss – a kiss that is caught on camera by the tabloids – all of Manhatten is left wondering whether the pair are a real couple or not. And nobody is more surprised than Andrew to learn that the answer just might be yes.
Kiss My Cupcake – Helena Hunting
Blaire Calloway has planned every Insta-worthy moment of her cupcake and cocktails shop launch down to the finest detail. What she didn’t plan on? Ronan Knight and his old-school sports bar next door opening on the very same day. He might be super swoony, but Blaire knows she has put in too much effort to have him ruin her big shot at success.
From axe-throwing to frosting contests, Blaire and Ronan are constantly attempting to one-up each other in their battles to win more customers. But, for every contest they engage in, their chemistry becomes that much more undeniable. And when an even bigger threat to business emerges, they call a temporary pause on their feud and instead opt to work together. One of the funniest romantic comedy books like The Hating Game, Kiss My Cupcake follows Blaire as she discovers whether it’s possible to have her cupcake and eat it too.
You Deserve Each Other (You Deserve Each Other #1) – Sarah Hogle
Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiance. Nicholas Rose holds the door open for her, remembers her favourite food, and comes from the sort of upstanding family that anyone would be proud to be a part of. They have never had a fight. They’re planning for their lavish wedding that is just three months away. And she is utterly, miserably sick of him.
Naomi wants out. The only problem? Whoever breaks things off will have to cough up the cost for the wedding. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas has also been faking his happiness, the pair go head-to-head in a war of pranks and sabotage. But, as the big day approaches, Naomi begins to find her determination wavering. Similar to The Hating Game, she’s beginning to feel like they’re being themselves and having fun with the last person in the world they would have expected: one another.
If I Never Met You – Mhairi McFarlane
When her partner of over a decade abruptly ends things, Laurie is left reeling. Not only do they work at the same law firm, but she has to see him every day. And when news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend does the rounds across the office floor, Laurie leaps at the opportunity of a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy presents.
Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love but needs a steady girlfriend to impress his bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumour mill something else to gossip about. The two embark on a fake relationship that astounds their friends and colleagues. But, in this workplace romance book similar to The Hating Game, the line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend can be a fine one.
Shipped – Angie Hockman
Another romance book like The Hating Game nominated in the Goodreads Choice Awards, Angie Hockman’s Shipped is what happens when The Unhoneymooners collides with Sally Thorne’s bestseller. Marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone for friends, family or potential suitors. But, when she is shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, her hard work appears to be paying off. The only problem? Her nemesis, Graeme Crawford-Collins, is also up for the promotion.
Although they have never met, their email spars have become the stuff of office legend. Their boss tasks them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the Galapagos. Which is how they both find themselves on a cruise to the islands together. But, when they do meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that Graeme is nothing like she expected. And, as they explore the islands together, she soon finds herself caught in the middle of liking and loathing her long-time rival.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
