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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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The Hating Game

The Hating Game is a 2016 contemporary romance novel by Australian author Sally Thorne.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Hating Game is a 2016 contemporary romance novel by Australian author Sally Thorne. It follows two executive assistants at a merged publishing company whose workplace rivalry turns into romance. The novel was later adapted into a 2021 film starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell.

Plot

The story follows Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, who share an office after a publishing-company merger and spend much of their time in mutual antagonism. Their rivalry intensifies when they compete for the same promotion.

Publication

The Hating Game was written by Sally Thorne and first published in 2016. It is a contemporary romance novel and became one of her best-known works.

Film adaptation

The novel was adapted into a film titled The Hating Game, released in 2021. The adaptation stars Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell.

Themes

The novel is known for its enemies-to-lovers dynamic, workplace setting, and romantic comedy tone. It focuses on competition, office politics, and changing perceptions between the two leads.

Key facts

  • The novel centres on Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, executive assistants at a publishing house.
  • The story uses an enemies-to-lovers premise, with workplace competition driving the plot.
  • A promotion opportunity increases tension between the two leads.
  • The book was published in 2016.
  • It was adapted into a feature film released in 2021.
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Canadian context

The novel and film are widely available to Canadian readers and viewers through major book and entertainment distribution channels, but it does not have a specific Canadian setting or Canadian-produced origin.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote The Hating Game?
It was written by Australian author Sally Thorne.
What is The Hating Game about?
It is about two executive assistants at a publishing company whose workplace rivalry develops into romance.
When was The Hating Game published?
It was published on August 9, 2016.
Was The Hating Game adapted into a film?
Yes. It was adapted into a 2021 film starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell.
What genre is The Hating Game?
It is a contemporary romance novel.

References

  1. Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Hating-Game-Novel-Sally-Thorne/dp/0062439596
    Supports: States the novel title, publication date, and that it was adapted into a movie starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell.
  2. Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/27213238-the-hating-game
    Supports: Describes the novel’s plot, including Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman working at a publishing company and competing at work.
  3. Sally Thorne Authorhttps://www.sallythorneauthor.com/the-hating-game
    Supports: Confirms the book title and notes its film adaptation starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell.
  4. Internet Archivehttps://archive.org/details/hatinggame0000thor_i6j8
    Supports: Provides bibliographic information for the novel and describes the central characters, workplace setting, and promotion conflict.