Random Book Of Randomness

PT2: This Love Interest Character has a Nice Guy Complex

Part 2 of my the Hating Game Rant.

Sighs.

If you don't want to read this long rant, then see this review. I agree with most points from here.

Let's talk about the good things from The Hating Game.

1. The descriptions were actually pretty good. Unfortunately 25% of the descriptions were Josh's abs, but you know.

2. The book had some good banter between Lucy and Josh.

3. The book was kind of funny. Unfortunately I'm not sure if that was intentional or not.

4. Some scenes were actually cute. Like where Josh took care of Lucy when she was sick, and when Lucy defended Josh against his father.

Now let's discuss the story in more detail.

The Writing:

The best part of the book, easily. The writing was accessible and I didn't really see any prose problems. The author did have a strong, distinct voice.

I found some metaphors and phrases in this story very irreverant, though. (eg, 'Josh should have been... a hunchback.' It feels like you're trying to say hunchbacks are ugly. And Lucy describing her lipstick as 'slit wrist red'- just why? Also Lucy describing the love interest's eyes as 'serial killer eyes'...)

The descriptions were good. Overall, writing quality was there... it's just the story.

The Plot:

The plot was simple and not overcomplicated, which is good for a light romance. I thought the pacing in the book was good. However I didn't like the content of the story for several reasons (MILD SPOILERS: sexual harrassment not addressed properly, romanticization of some unhealthy stuff, unnecessary smut and the hypersexual tone of the story, stupid misunderstandings). 

Some subplots weren't tied at the end at all. I didn't like the resolution of the book. We didn't even see Lucy fighting for the job until the end. 

Characters:

The main characters, Josh and Lucy, did have strong voices, however in some parts of the book it was confusing who was speaking. 

Lucy was 50% like a Wattpad protagonist. She was different in the sense she liked makeup and being pretty, and wasn't 'innocent goody two shoes' like most bad boy protagonists. However, she was quite dormant for a lot of the story. It felt like Josh pushed her around and she was pretty helpless about it. I think Josh should have been the MC- 

*flashbacks to some of the weird stuff Josh says*

- or maybe not.

And Josh. Oh my god. He was literally a Wattpad Bad Boy, but older, so some stuff felt ok (like Josh's abs.. ugh so sorry to mention this guys but why do fifteen year olds in bad boy books need abs? At least an adult having it is a little more realistic. 

Oh my gosh I'm really defending this book the hell-)

Josh had a traGic pASt, a tAll prEttY gIrl WHo HuRT hiM, AbUSivE dAd. He didn't have a motorbike and didn't smoke, so um, yay. 

He also has a grudge against nice guys. The reason ( SPOILERS, skip to next paragraph. His ex married his brother, who was a nice guy. This seems really stupid for many reasons. Firstly, how much does your brother have to hate you to marry your ex? Secondly, your brother is not a nice guy if he did this to you. Thirdly, why the hell are you so hurt she left you, Josh? You're creepy as heck).