Review by New York Times Review
While purveyors of entertainment as diverse as Jane Austen, Iron Maiden and Martin Lawrence insist that there's a thin line between love and hate, few commit as fiercely to the concept as Thorne does in this debut novel. Events are narrated by Lucy, an executive assistant for a publishing house in a vague urban location. After a merger unites her hippy-dippy company with a hard-edge corporate competitor, Lucy is obliged to share a desk with her opposite in every sense: Joshua, a cold, number-crunching, fanatically organized M.B.A. Their mutual loathing, manifested as a game both seem inordinately attached to, is amped up when they're encouraged to compete for a promotion that will make one the boss of the other. The hoariness of the story might have been intolerable if Thorne didn't make Lucy so unexpectedly charming. Five feet tall and a total oddball, she carries the plot by being engagingly self-deprecating, quick-witted and funny. There's not even an infinitesimal flicker of doubt about where the story is headed, but along the way Thorne reveals an astute command of office politics and the often demeaning realities of workplace dynamics for women. The chemistry between Lucy and Joshua is also gratifying, with both seeming like fully conceived characters rather than passive stereotypes. If there's nothing new to discern here, it's at least a vibrant take on an old standard.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [October 23, 2016]
Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Lucy always dreamed of working in publishing, but a merger has turned her dream job into a nightmare. Being forced to share an office is bad enough, but Lucy shares hers with Joshua, an unsmiling workaholic who actively dislikes her. The two spend many of their working hours finding ways to bait and harass each other, and when a new position opens up, they are placed in direct competition which brings out some feelings that are not exactly competitive. Could all of the coldness and game playing be masking their true feelings? Thorne's debut reads like two different novels: the first half is a workplace comedy about two mismatched office mates, and the second half transforms into a romance between a mismatched couple. Joshua is reminiscent of Christian Grey, but without the money and the penchant for spanking he is a tortured-soul type with serious daddy issues that prevent him from falling in love. Lucy's a plucky foil, dolled up in vintage-style dresses and her trademark Flamethrower Red lipstick, with a quirky backstory (she grew up on a strawberry farm and collects Smurfs). Some may be jarred by the transition to torrid make-out sessions in staff elevators and it's more steamy romance than chick-lit by the end but readers who appreciate powerful-man-meets-ingenue romances will enjoy Lucy and Josh's chemistry.--Donohue, Nanette Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Since the day Lucy Hutton began sharing an office at her publishing company with Joshua Templeman, he's been the bane of her existence. Every day is a constant parade of one-upmanship and mind games. Now there's a huge promotion on the line, and they're both up for it. Lucy knows she couldn't keep working there if Joshua winds up becoming her boss, so she pours everything she has into a project to dazzle her superior-but at the same time, she's suddenly gotten to know Joshua on a new level, and she's realizing very quickly that the lines between attraction and hatred are not as clear as she thought. After they acknowledge the heat between them and begin to do something about it, Lucy's paranoia sets in: is Joshua stringing her along in hopes that he'll gain the upper hand and the promotion? The denouement feels slightly off, and though Lucy and Joshua initially have chemistry to spare, the resolution of their story is a little bit too neat. Still, Thorne is skilled at creating Hepburn-and-Tracy-esque banter and an appealing heroine. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Lucy Hutton and Joshua -Templeman sit across from each other working as executive assistants for their co-CEO bosses of the merged publishing house Bexley and Gamin. From the first, it seems they're not destined to be friends: Joshua is tall, intimidating, and wears the same colored shirts in the same sequence every week, whereas five-foot-tall Lucy is approachable, yet feisty with her flamethrower-red lipstick and varying ensembles. Their differences manifest themselves in nonverbal games including the Staring Game, the Mirror Game, and the HR Game. When a promotion possibility comes up, both Josh and Lucy would do anything to get it. Thorne pens a novel that is more than a game of one-upmanship between two coworkers. She slowly begins to unfurl their insecurities both inside and between themselves, fearlessly aiming at the heart of what makes Lucy and Joshua tick. As a result, a new game begins-one of sexual chemistry and frustration. -VERDICT Thorne is a strong writer and one to watch. Her debut will have readers rooting for both Lucy and Joshua in -whatever games they play.-Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
