40 pages • 1 hour read
Sally ThorneThe Hating Game
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
The enemies-to-lovers trope can be found in many romances. What is the appeal of this trope? How does it work in terms of plot and tension?
How does Joshua and Lucy’s game playing interfere with their ability to get to know each other? In what ways do they use game playing to get closer?
Lucy comments regularly about Joshua’s looks, which sometimes bothers him. How does Thorne develop the theme of Appearances Can Mask the Truth throughout the novel?
The Hating Game seems to suggest that Opposites Attract for good reason. Do you agree? What other novels or films use the trope, and with what similarities or differences?
How does Thorne subvert stereotypes, such as those about nice guys and bad boys?
Lucy is suspicious of Joshua’s intentions throughout much of the novel, and she’s easily spooked into mistrust. What do you make of this? Does it work for her interests or against them?
Why do you think the author doesn’t let Josh and Lucy have sex until the final act of the novel? How does it impact narrative tension, and how does them having sex affect what comes after? How else does Thorne sustain tension in the novel?
Joshua tells Lucy she needs other people to adore her, and as a result she gets walked on. What happens between them throughout the novel that leads to her transformation?
Humor abounds in The Hating Game, particularly when Lucy makes fun of herself. How does this impact the reading experience and make Lucy more or less likeable and relatable?
First person narration can make it difficult for the reader to rely on the protagonist’s portrayal of herself and the situation. How does Thorne use this perspective to see around Lucy? In other words, where is the author winking at the reader about Lucy’s possibly flawed understanding of herself and her relationship with Josh?
