And when we do, the consensus seems to be that many of us like them, enjoy them immensely even. But I’m pretty sure we’ve never had such a positive response to a romance novel that we had to one of 2016’s Boozy Book Club picks, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.
It’s closing in on the end of 2016, and there are a lot of wonderful BEST BOOKS OF lists out there. I try to package a little “end of …” book list every December here for That’s Normal. But this year, I decided we just needed to go ahead and crown The Hating Game our BEST BOOK OF 2016 and don’t you forget it.
Best Boozy Book Club Pick Ever
I’ve been around book clubs a long time. Depending on how many members you have and how savvy they are and what they think they are in for, you very rarely get a book that everyone likes. Life just doesn’t work that way. No book club moderator is EVER that lucky.
Well. Enter Sally Thorne’s perfect banter writing and sweet sweet sexual tension.
“If you buttoned it any higher, we wouldn’t see your face,” Joshua says to his computer screen as he logs off.
“Perhaps you could tell your boss to look at my face occasionally.” I also log off.
“He’s probably trying to see your circuit board. Or wondering what kind of fuel you run on.”
I shrug into my coat. “Just fueled by my hate for you.”
Josh’s mouth twitches once, and I nearly had him there. I watch him roll down a neutral expression. “If it bothers you, you should speak to him. Stand up for yourself. So, painting your nails tonight, desperately alone?”
Lucky guess on his part? “Yes. masturbating and crying into your pillow tonight, Doctor Josh?”
He looks at the top button of my shirt. “Yes. And don’t call me that.”
It’s SOOOOOOOOOO good.
But don’t take my word for it. Here are just some of the comments from our Boozy Book Club members and readers.
You guys loved it. You really really loved it.
Best Book of 2016 Because
What really make a book the “BEST OF ___” … for me, it’s the impression it made. When I think back on my reading activity this year, there are a couple of stand outs. The last book in a favorite trilogy. The really long epic thriller from an author that’s well-known but I had never read. That one really great graphic novel. I’ve read almost 100 books this year, and those are the only ones that stand out as great reading experiences this year. Those, and of course The Hating Game.
Which is odd because, over the years I can guarantee you that the majority of my favorite reading experiences have not included easy-read contemporary romances. Epic adventure novels, yes. Long historical romances? Sure. Fantasy tomes? Absolutely. Surprising young adult trilogies? Of course. Shocking erotica? You bet. But rarely the stand alone contemp romance. It just doesn’t normally matter so much. At the very least, they aren’t usually indelible. This one is.
It was an experience. It was the only book that had me up until 5am, and I read some doozies this year. It was the only book I read that forced me to re-read it immediately. It will forever define for me how good romance should make me feel.
And that was really, really well read.
Best Book to Blab About
During the month of August, when we were reading The Hating Game, we had more twitter interactions for Boozy Book Club than we have EVER.HAD.
You guys talked and talked and talked about Lucy and Josh for a couple of weeks. It was an excellent month. It was SO.MUCH.FUN! Because reading and fangirling and loving a book with your online book best friends is the best feeling ever, but also having a sweet, smart and well-deserving author to send you kisses and strawberry heart emoji?? THAT MAKES IT EVEN SWEETER.
Thank you, Sally Thorne for giving us Josh and Lucy and for the funnest book reading experience this year!
If you missed all the reasons we loved The Hating Game, you can watch our Live Hangout right here!
And if FOR SOME REASON you never read The Hating Game with us, put it on your Christmas list or just download it immediately. It is everything.
