Series: None
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Source: Bought
All’s fair in love and work. The first standalone romance by New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Beautiful Bastard) is a sexy, compulsively readable romantic comedy that dives headlong into the thrill and doubt of modern love.
Despite the odds against them from an embarrassing meet-awkward at a mutual friend’s Halloween party, Carter and Evie immediately hit it off. Even the realization that they’re both high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood isn’t enough to squash the fire.
But when their two agencies merge—causing the pair to vie for the same position—all bets are off. What could have been a beautiful, blossoming romance turns into an all-out war of sabotage. Carter and Evie are both thirtysomething professionals—so why can’t they act like it?
Can Carter stop trying to please everyone and see how their mutual boss is really playing the game? Can Evie put aside her competitive nature long enough to figure out what she really wants in life? Can their actor clients just be something close to human? Whether these two Hollywood love/hatebirds get the storybook Hollywood ending or just a dramedy of epic proportions, you will get to enjoy Christina Lauren’s heartfelt, raucous, and hilarious romance style at its finest.
Find Dating You / Hating You online!
To be perfectly honest, I feel a little cheated here with the title. I've been on the lookout for another amazing hate-to-love romance after reading (and adoring) The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. This sounded like it might be perfect. However, there was a distinct lack of hating in this one. In fact, the main characters hit it off super well at first. The only thing that I guess could be called "hating" in this book is the bit of competition between Carter and Evie and the childish pranks. Despite this, I still enjoyed this book for the most part.
My biggest problem with this book was with the characters. I just . . . didn't click with them much at all. Or rather, I didn't feel them click with each other. Sure, they were nice and cute at times but I didn't feel the sizzle of chemistry between them like I wanted to. I feel like this may have been because of the lack of a hate-to-love romance like I had been expecting. Instead of the heated hating I expected, I got some childish pranks than I found annoying rather than endearing. They were set against each other to vie for a position at work and that's where all the pranking and "hating" started. I don't know, I just really didn't understand or feel the spark. Which makes me sad.
What I did like about Dating You / Hating You was how it dealt with sexism in the workplace! Evie has an absolute trash-heap for a boss -- he's disgusting and treats the female workers unfairly compared to their male coworkers. Evie, who's worked hard, been at the company longer, and is arguably the most successful agent there is constantly given menial tasks and passed over for opportunities just because she's a girl. It made me burn with rage and I loved that the author called it out so much in this book. A lot of the plot of the book (outside of the romance aspect) centered around this problem and I appreciated the attention it was given. While the story line moved slowly and predictably at times, I didn't mind too much because I liked how thoroughly these issues and obstacles were being explored.
Despite the romance not really capturing my interest, I still enjoyed Dating You / Hating You for the most part. It dealt with some important issues like sexism in the work place. I loved how unflinchingly the authors discussed this and I'd love to see more of this in the books I read! I'm a little let down this didn't fill the gaping hate-to-love hole left in me after The Hating Game, but I'm glad I read this one.
"I'm so tired of wanting to shove him into the wall and then shove my hand down his pants.”
Three Teapots
I love when authors take on sexism in the workplace... it is one of those things that makes me rage! Its too bad the romance didnt quite click though. Also, I so need to read The Hating Game since everyone seems to love it. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI love it, too! It's such an important issue to address. I hope you read and love The Hating Game -- it's definitely a worth it read!
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Teresa!
Hmmmm. I haven't read The Hating Game but given the choice between that one and this one, I'll read that one. This one sounded a tiny bit mediocre (in comparison) so I'll skip it. I will let you know when I read The Hating Game. :D Great review, Ashtyn!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week. =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I really can't wait to hear what you think about The Hating Game! I hope you get the chance to read it soon :) I would definitely take that one over this one.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!