Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Parks Review on Njkinny's Blog

Loathe at First Sight | Suzanne Park | ARC Book Review

August 18, 2020December 28, 2021 Njkinny 1 Comment 3 stars, ARC Book Review, chick lit, contemporary romance, strong heroine

Happy release day to Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park! This is the latest book release of 2020 from the author and I was very fortunate to receive an ARC to read. A spunky game designer heroine and her nemesis in office make up the story in this book that is set in the backdrop of Online gaming industry. Read Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park book review, blurb, publication history and buy links in this post below.

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park review, blurb, publication history and buy links on Njkinny's Blog.

About Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park:

No. of Pages: 368

Publication Date: 18th August 2020 by Avon

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Feminism, Chick Lit

Blurb:

Melody Joo is thrilled to land her dream job as a video game producer, but her new position comes with challenges: an insufferable CEO; sexist male coworkers; and an infuriating—yet distractingly handsome—intern, Nolan MacKenzie, aka “the guy who got hired because his uncle is the boss.”

Just when Melody thinks she’s made the worst career move of her life, her luck changes. While joking with a friend, she creates a mobile game that has male strippers fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Suddenly Melody’s “joke” is her studio’s most high-profile project—and Melody’s running the show.

When Nolan is assigned to Melody’s team, she’s sure he’ll be useless. But as they grow closer, she realizes he’s smart and sexy, which makes Melody want to forget he’s her intern. As their attraction deepens, she knows it’s time to pump the brakes, even with her Korean parents breathing down her neck to hurry up and find a man.

With her project about to launch, Melody suddenly faces a slew of complications, including a devastating trolling scandal. Could the man she’s falling hard for help her play the game to win—in work and in love?

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park Book Summary:

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park takes the readers to the world of Online Gaming. Melody Joo is new at Seventeen Studios and determined to make a name for herself as a video game producer. Faced with nepotism, racism, workplace harassment, misogynistic coworkers and vicious trolls, Melody’s work life is challenging to say it politely. Coupled with a new genius job partner who also happens to be the boss’ nephew and dramatic parents who think her life is getting wasted because she isn’t married yet, what is a girl to do?

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park Book Review

Things I Liked:

The cartoonish and colourful cover coupled with the blurb and the way this book is promoted, I was under the impression that this book was a feel good enemies-to-lovers, office romance with workplace comedy thrown in. However, Loathe at First Sight is none of these things. The first half and then some is spent in creating a mental image of a workplace where gender discrimination, misogyny, racism, nepotism and harassment veiled as jokes is commonplace and accepted. Suzanne Park’s research into the online gaming industry shows in her world building and while I was horrified at the treatment meted out to women game designers like Melody, I rejoiced Melody’s strong push-back and her fight-back attitude. At one place, she even questions how somethings were still here after the #metoo era?

The book is professionally edited and I loved the smooth reading experience without any errors.

Things that could be better:

The romance takes a back seat and there is no loathing involved. The protagonists didn’t even have hate between them. Apart from a minor argument, they seem to like each other from the get go. Apart from Melody, all other characters including the hero are all one-dimensional with no depth to their characters. Their behaviour is set. All the male coworkers are either Asian (discriminated) or misogynistic cutouts with similar behaviour.

The heroine’s friends are also just there to support her with no depth or opinions of their own. I did like one sub-story but overall, the character development is the weak point of this book.

Then there are the coincidences. I am a hopeless romantic and believe in coincidences in life; even going so far as to allow multiple coincidences in books but what I could not make myself believe was the situation of the coincidences in this book. In a big city accidentally coming across every key player at one place is minimal and this happening more than once is impossible. Yet this happens here!

Conclusion:

All in all, I give Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park 3 out of 5 stars because I didn’t find anything humourous, funny and feel good in this story. The romance also got overshadowed by the weighty issues brought to the front by the author and because I think this book is mis-marketed as a rom-com. However, this book gives a frank, honest and eye-opening view into the Online Gaming Industry where discrimination, harassment and nepotism is rampant and quietly accepted as normal. People knowingly and unknowingly are helping the perpetrators get away with harassing their coworkers and this needs to stop. Melody is like a breath of fresh air in this stifling scenario and gives strength to all the women working in such places.

Read this book for a strong and gutsy heroine, and behind-the-scenes look into the gaming industry.

Buying Links:

AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM

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Loathe at First Sight | Suzanne Park | ARC Book Review