The Hating Game

“Hating someone feels disturbingly similar to being in love with them.”

The novel opens with Lucy’s thoughts about opposite emotions—hate and love. This foreshadows the fact that Lucy’s hatred of Joshua will turn into love by the novel’s end. It also sets up the theme that Opposites Attract.

“I should mention that the ultimate aim of all our games is to make the other smile, or cry. It’s something like that. I’ll know when I win.”

Lucy’s reveals that while she’s immersed in the games she plays with Joshua, she doesn’t actually know what they’re competing for. In the early part of the novel, Lucy speaks defensively, as she does here about her game playing. She reveals self-awareness about being immature.

“You’re chronically addicted to making people adore you.”

Joshua refers to Lucy’s primary character flaw. Her need for others to like her will change due to her relationship with Joshua. She learns to stand up for herself and Joshua by the end of the novel and is no longer so concerned with what she looks like to others.