This was so much better than The Hating Game that I actually do not understand how people feel otherwise. Whereas The Hating Game (or at least the narration) was ludicrous in terms of plot and absurd interactions between the characters, this felt so much more reasonable and believable. I always love a pining hero, and Darcy’s edginess added lots to their spark. I liked the construction setting and the brother’s best friend dynamic, and while there were plenty of dropped plot lines (Darcy’s Jane Austen fandom? The fight between Jamie and Darcy? Tom’s fiancé’s whole backstory? Vince?), I thought the overall story was fun and sexy, though it did read like fanfiction for much of it.


This pairs nicely with That Impossible Brightness, with the escapism and hiding away, as well as all the construction vibes in Tessa Bailey’s Fix Her Up series. I definitely want to read Jamie and Truly’s story (and I loved that setup), which is shocking given how utterly underwhelmed I was by Thorne’s debut.