Thank you Avon Books, Harper Collins and Suzanne Park for my e-arc
 
Melody Joo is a junior video game producer in Seventeen Studios. She wants a chance to prove herself, which wasn’t easy, especially on a man-dominated job. Along with that, her parents pressure her, especially her mom, to get married, which I find so accurate and hilarious. Then one day, she was assigned to lead a project that would make her supposed joke idea about a video game that has male strippers on a post-apocalyptic era into life. This is her chance to prove herself, but it wasn’t a piece of cake even then. She is exposed to sexism and also racism trying to demean her self-confidence and her overall existence. And that I find very relatable, I felt like as a woman we have to be twice as a bad-ass to make sure that these “boys” won’t mess with us. I enjoyed Suzanne’s writing style, the humor, sarcasm, and authenticity of all the emotions are fascinating. And I love the parents, especially the mom. I lmao over her comments. I even like her two friends although they could be a bit harsh at her, but hey, we all have friends that don’t sugarcoat, and we have like 60-50 kind of love and hate moments. The love story is cute, a bit awkward, but very pleasing. I love the whole heroine set up and hysterical plot. I highly recommend it.

I want to start by saying I was super excited to read this book. I love rom-coms, video games and a great enemies-to-lovers story, plus the blurb sounded enticing. So, you don't know how badly I want to be able to tell you I loved it but unfortunately I just didn't. To start I really felt that this book was very far from a romantic comedy. To me a rom-com is filled with humor, emotion, angst, longing, desire and a ton of feels. This book had lots of emotions but for the most part they had nothing to do with love or romance. If I am brutally honest, there are so many hateful antagonistic males in this book that it took me more than half of it to figure out who the actual romantic interest was!!! On top of that, this book just felt like work to read. It is not often that I think about not finishing a book but long before the halfway point I was sorely tempted. I could really feel for the Melody though but when you consider everything that was thrown at her, you would have had to been made of tone not to. As for the actual humor in this book a lot of it left me feeling uncomfortable. While reading I had no idea that the author was Korean-American. Does that make the the way Melody's parents were portrayed OK or not because I don't know how to feel about that. I'm not saying that there was nothing good here. I applaud the author for shining a spotlight on toxic work environments and misogyny. That being said, this book was so inundated with toxic attitudes, unfairness and outright hatred that this book was simply too much of a downer and I fear that important message gets lost under the sheer weight of this read. This is my candid, volitional review.

3.5--I think this is one of those reviews that was lost when the NetGalley servers went down, so I'll try to remember what I thought...

Overall, I liked this--Melody is a really strong character, even though Suzanne Park threw a lot of challenges her way (almost too many, honestly). It was satisfying to see her navigate a toxic work environment to come out strong on the other side. Unfortunately, I think the book has a marketing issue; the description makes it seem like the romance is the focal point, and honestly, the romance is somewhat lackluster and is not featured prominently. I would have enjoyed this more had it not been marketed as a "romance," per se.

I have to admit to bingeing Loathe at First Sight and read it in one sitting!

So, why you should read this book:
🕹Own-voices Korean-American rep!
🕹Compétant badass heroine
🕹Interesting look into the video game industry
🕹Power dynamics examined and done well

The heroine, Melody, suffered throughout the book from one of the most toxic workplaces ever, and with my barebones background knowledge of Gamergate, the video games industry treatment of women and anecdotes from a female cousin who actually is a AAA video game artist , I was in total awe of the author’s portrayal of this setting.

It wasn’t an easy read as the author really portrayed how (BIPOC) women have to always have a thick skin AND be ten steps ahead in such a white, male dominated space, but I enjoyed Melody’s resilience and progression throughout the story.

I can’t wait to see more from Suzanne!

Before I close off this review, I need to sound the klaxons and say, THIS IS NOT A ROMCOM! There are some comedic moments and there is a romantic element, but it most definitely sits more comfortably in Women’s Fic. I’ve seen this book being called a romcom in quite a few places and I just want to manage expectations so that the author doesn’t get dinged for it. Hell hath no fury like a thwarted romance reader! 😂

CW: Racism, toxic workplace, harassment, doxxing, sexism, misogyny, racial slurs against heroine, stalking

I was really excited by the premise of Loathe at First Sight. It’s easy to root for a heroine who is in a hostile environment, and enemies-to-lovers is a well-established trope, especially in the workplace. I liked a lot about the book, but the end was unsatisfying.

Melody Joo is a young woman in her mid-twenties, living in Seattle. She’s just made an exciting career jump from advertising to the gaming industry, and become a producer at Seventeen Studios. Almost immediately, she fears that this is a mistake. The environment is not what we would call hospitable; in her first week, Melody rarely sees a friendly face, with the exception of her colleague, Kat, one of the few women at her office. To add insult to injury, Melody is booted from her desk and shunted to a shared office to make room for an MBA intern – Nolan MacKenzie, who happens to be the nephew of the company’s CEO. Said CEO is Ian MacKenzie, a gaming titan with the manners and temperament of a feudal despot. Despite his handsome features, Nolan does not make a good first impression; he’s a well-connected, rich white guy who is taking advantage of nepotism. Then he goes and breaks Melody’s coffee mug, landing him firmly into asshole territory.

If plopping feet-first in a misogynistic and racist office culture isn’t enough, Melody mis-steps by making a joke where her boss can hear it, and then an off-hand remark to Kat turns into a giant, scary project. Melody has to face down the sexism of the gaming industry, her disagreeable co-workers, and the challenges of developing her first game. To her chagrin, Ian foists Nolan onto Melody’s team, and she is forced to slowly acknowledge how smart, kind, and funny he is. She can’t get involved with him, because she is technically his boss, and her officemate Asher is looking for any reason to get Melody in trouble.

When Melody becomes the target of a persistent harassment campaign, she has to decide if the career she could have in gaming is worth it. Coupled with this, she has to face constant obstacles from Ian, who doesn’t seem to want her game to be successful, despite being the one who greenlit the project. Her growing feelings for Nolan add to Melody’s internal conflict, and she is increasingly torn between her desire for success, and her need for emotional intimacy.

Melody is a relatable heroine. She’s a successful woman, but she still enjoys microwave meals and sitting around at home, and when she gets strong-armed into difficult situations, she finds her own way out. Melody’s parents are notable presences in the book, and they are as overbearing as they are amusing, but while they love and support Melody, they have the stereotypical ethnic family gripe of wishing she was married with babies. Melody’s work struggles are infuriating to read about, and you really feel for her.

Melody’s friends are a little underwritten; they seem to be stock-character best friends who get drinks and hang out. I really liked Jane, just because she’s strongly – even though not entirely positively – characterized. Candace, Melody’s other friend, is a publicist, and that’s pretty much it, and their boyfriends are similarly bland and unremarkable. Weak secondary characters distract from the strong parts of the narrative, which lie in the workplace conflict and Melody’s chemistry with Nolan. The romance does play second fiddle to Melody’s work challenges, but it’s still one of the best parts of the book.

Nolan is a great leading man – he expresses himself well and provides support for Melody when she needs it. His is a realistic portrayal of a young man who grew up with privilege and advantages, but is completely unaware of that fact. This doesn’t make him unlikable, but it does present an additional obstacle to a relationship with Melody, an obstacle I’m not sure is fully resolved.

Ian, Melody’s boss, is an antagonist it’s easy to hate without his being a cartoon villain. He’s just a regular bad guy, which only makes him more realistic. The secondary antagonists are also pretty well-written, easy to dislike without being ridiculous. I did, however, find the ending to be somewhat unsatisfying, in that it didn’t really live up to the compelling beginning, and it kind of fell flat, especially given that the stakes were so high earlier in the story. It also seemed as though big conflicts were only partially resolved, and the ends were tied up with just a few lines in the last chapter and the epilogue. Melody’s work life is such a vibrant, interesting place, partially because of the conflict she constantly deals with, and partially because her co-workers are fleshed-out characters. It makes her personal interactions with her friends seem dull by comparison.

In general, however, Loathe at First Sight is an enjoyable, fun read, with some really great moments. Melody is a strong point-of-view character, and her story is really interesting. The less polished parts of the book detracted from my enjoyment a little, but the book is still a fascinating introduction to the world of game creation and the culture that surrounds it, as well as a sweet, romantic story.

Enjoyed reading from a point of view that I haven't before: a girl in the gaming industry who is trying to find her place within the industry and be recognized for her hard work and perseverance. I expected this to be a typical "meet cute" romance book, and was pleasantly surprised that romance was a secondary storyline. Yay for the inclusivity and also for the (very true) "inclusivity training" scenarios that really hit home with me!

Melody being in the gaming industry was cool and I could tell the author did their research or had experience with this, because her experiences were well fleshed out. The male lead didn't feel like anything special, and every other guy seemed to be a complete jerk. I would say this is less romance and more women's fiction, which is why it just wasn't my cup of tea. The title and the cover left me hoping for a good enemies-to-lovers romance, but that is not what this is. I'm sure readers that are looking to this type of book might love it.

This was such a good read!! I found myself not being able to put this one down!! I love that Melody works in a male-dominant field and makes herself known in it!! Definitely recommend this one!!

Loathe at First Sight is about a Korean American woman entering the male dominated gaming field. Being a woman in a male dominated field is hard but Melody Joo is also a woman of color, who has to do double the work with little to no resources to accomplish her job. While trying to navigate this new toxic landscape, Melody is also crushing on the new intern at the job but knows she must not act on it, since it will be another strike against her. This was a wonderful empowering woman centered novel that really highlighted the new ways harassment works in the new digital landscape. Melody is a resourceful person who gives as good as she gets when people try to harass and bring her down. I was disturbed by the level of harassment and bullying thrown Melody’s way but as a woman of color, I have felt my share of this in the subversive work environments of today. The author did a phenomenal job of just showing Melody as a human living her life, dealing with day to day issues, and not letting it destroy her. It is shocking to see that the comments, behavior, and attitude directed at her by her male coworkers was considered “normal”. I was equally touched and upset as I read the book. Loathe at First Sight is a great multicultural read of a woman in overcoming adversity. I highly recommend this read to everyone.This book was provided by the publisher from Netgalley in August 2020 for an honest review.

I did not know about my love of video games until my college boyfriend passed down a xbox 360 to me. It was like a whole new world was opened up for me. I loved solving the puzzles in Lara Croft, loved exploring the depths of the sea in BioShock and so many other wonderful places through video games. I was lucky that I was never criticized or talked down to about my love of video games. Some females are not so lucky. In Suzanne Park’s Loathe at First Sight, readers get a first hand look at the prejudice a lot of women face in their careers and even in their choice of hobbies.

Melody Choo is so frustrated with her company and other video game producers for primarily making video games for men with big boobed, scantily-clad women. Out of her frustration comes a video game pitch for male strippers surviving in the apocalypse with the help of fully dressed, ninja like women. Melody’s boss takes this idea and runs with it when he realizes he has nothing else to pitch to the higher ups. Melody is made one of the lead producers of the game only out of necessity since there was no one else to do it. On top of that, she has to deal with Nolan Fucking MacKenzie, who is only at the job because his uncle is the boss. However, as time goes on, Melody starts to realize that the loathe she is feeling for Nolan may be turning into something else.

My thoughts:
This book felt like a slow burn to me. However, it was still enough to keep readers engaged. The book is not necessarily a romance, which I thought going into it. It was more about women empowerment, which is great too, don’t get me wrong. A lot of great points were brought up throughout the book about prejudice, racism and sexism.

The real slow burn is the relationship between Nolan and Melody. The fire was there but it was like it was barely being stoked. I would definitely rate it as only about a PG relationship. Once again, maybe this was intentional to keep the point on the women empowerment issue.

My favorite characters in this book were probably Melody’s parents! They were hilarious with the way they spoke to Melody and their interactions at the all you can eat seafood buffet.

Thank you Suzanne Park, Avon and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley, and the publisher for the early copy!!

I enjoyed reading Loathe at First Sight. I loved the romance in it though it’s not the main focus of the book. The book is more about Melody Joo’s journey into the video game industry, which is predominately male. Melody faced a lot of sexism and misogyny while working on her game despite that she never backed down. She didn’t face it alone as she has a great group of friends.

The romance in the book was soft and cute. It’s not something I would describe in a hate-to-love romance but it is. The hate only happened in the first few parts of the book hence the title. The love interest was supportive of Melody. He was always there for her when she needed him. I loved what he did at the end. So happy that they got together at the end.

In this house, we stan Melody Joo and we will protect her at all costs!

If you're looking for a story that features a strong female character, Loathe at First Sight is the perfect read for you. Additional bonus? It is set in the corporate world behind the videos games!

Melody Joo, our Gamer Girl, left her old day job to pursue something new to her. She landed the job as a video game producer on Seventeen Studios, a game developer company. The downside? The gaming world, both within the company and outside in the world wide web, are filled with sexist, misogynist and racist people that spew remarks just for the hell of it.

Based on the title alone, you would expect that this book falls under the enemies-to-lovers trope (my favorite!) but as I read it, I realized that it's not. It's more like hate at first sight? So, take the title as it is.

Sit tight for I am about to discuss the characters and their relevance to the plot.

Spoiler alert, please proceed with caution.

The story revolves around Melody Joo, the Korean-American main character, as she starts a new career. Add in her traditional Korean parents breathing down her back about literally what Asians parents care about—health, weight, their child's love life or lack thereof and so on. From the start, it was obvious that Melody will be facing a lot of, how do I say this, uhm.. shit, on her new job. And oh boy, she did. Even I didn't expect the gravity of things that she will deal with.

Surrounded mostly with male coworkers and their blatant disrespect to the opposite sex, Melody jokingly pitched to a fellow female coworker about her parody video game idea that features male strippers fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Little did she know, their boss Ian MacKenzie a.k.a THE WORST, heard her and relayed it to the board. Melody was aware that it was just a move to make the company "diverse" and a way for Ian to pacify the higher ups. But as she works for it, she grew to love what she does and wanted to make it, finish it and succeed with it and prove everyone wrong.

And that's where the LI comes. To be honest, I was confused or may be wondering at first of whom really is the lead interest. I hate myself for even considering Ian (just during their first scene together) because I went in with the book knowing the title only. And then there was Asher. When Melody first met and described him, I know for sure that that man, this character, cannot be the LI. So here comes, Nolan MacKenzie, an intern who got Melody kicked out of her own office. For that reason alone, Melody hated him, add in the fact that his uncle is the CEO which everyone thought the reason why he got the position. After a fiasco with a coffee mug, Melody and Nolan met and started with so much animosity (mostly on Melody's side). Deep down, I know and was rooting for Nolan to be the LI because I am a sucker for soft boys. ha ha.

The story progress and so does their work relationship. The loathe they had for each other didn't last long. Nolan proved himself to be of great help to Melody and literally became her one call away. Surprisingly, it was not their hate for each other that stopped them from being together, it was the fact that Melody is technically Nolan's boss despite them being on the same age and Nolan being a MBA student thus, the internship.

As an avid romance reader who pursue that kilig feeling , I can say that this book has a very minimal romance element in it. Despite that, I still ended up loving it. There are several scenes that I truly adore and would swoon over if it happens to me in real life, I swear, it's the little moments.

It was evident throughout the book how much research the author did. As someone who has no idea about gaming, this book gave me a clear insight in how the world works. So, kudos to Suzanne Park for sparking my interest and introducing something new to me.

Loathe at First Sight is more than the romance book that I expected it to be. It's a story of strong female lead that I ended up admiring. A story of someone who woman up despite the challenges, despite the world questioning her and her abilities and I think that's something everyone should read and appreciate. As the famous quote goes, "the future is female."

Reading this synopsis and the the title, I expected this book to be more a enemies to lovers romance. I found that this book leaned towards more woman’s fiction and the romance was almost secondary.

I appreciate the writer’s message about sexism in a male dominated environment and loved how Melody thrived despite of it. I wished there was a little more hate and banter between Melody and Nolan and that it was a bigger part of the story.

4 stars for #OwnVoices Romantic Comedy

Loathe at First Sight was my first book by Suzanne Park and certainly will not be the last. Ms. Park is officially an auto-buy author for me now.

This story definitely has one of the best hate to love tropes out there when it comes to romance books but the story is so much more than that. I was so happy to read an #OwnVoices story about a Korean-American female, Melody Joo, who is a video game producer. I can honestly say I would never want to work at Melody's company...at least in the beginning of her story.

On a daily basis she deals with racism, sexism, forced to sit in failed sexual harassment training classes, and in executive meetings where even the HR and PR team members say some of the most cringeworthy statements about females. But this book truly brought attention to some tough workplace situations that we all have encountered at some point in our lives. Now a days many companies are revamping their diversity and inclusion initiatives, workplace harassment trainings, and we see how the office politics change for Melody during her time at Seventeen Studios. There's also a somewhat dark storyline that deals with internet bullying/harassing/ and death threats. Social media bullying is a real thing in the world right now and I appreciated the author's insight into this subject.

On a lighter note we also are introduced to Melody's parents who only have the goal of making sure she starts dating someone soon so she can get married and give them grandchildren. Dating is the last thing on Melody's mind as she's trying to meet a tight deadline producing a video game but then enters her intern Nolan and you can guess the rest. If you're looking for a new #OwnVoices romance book I highly suggest you pick up Loathe at First Sight. After you read this story get ready to turn on your game console and play some video games!

I did not fall in love with this novel; I liked it fine, but didn’t love it.
What I liked: I really loved how the author tackled sexism in the workplace. This is such a current topic in our society, and I think as the main character, Melody tackles this issue in an incredible fashion. She doesn’t give up, or let them win. She goes after what she wants and that is so admirable, especially in a field dominated by white males, I also really liked Nolan! I enjoyed that they had chemistry, but built a great friendship first. That can be rare in iOS these days.
What I didn’t love: the writing fell a little flat for me. It felt a bit jerky at times, and I think there were some storylines that weren’t fleshed out as much as I would have liked..

This book is NOT a romance, but there is a romantic element to the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes gaming, and loves a good underdog story.

I actually really enjoyed this! I will say don’t go into this book expecting it to be fully romance & a hate to love story because honestly I don’t think it is.
It’s more about a woman working in a field dominated by men & having to prove herself time and time again. It’s got a ton of misogyny in it and honestly horrible men but you will root for the main character, Melody to stick it to these men over and over.
It does have some romance in it but it’s not the forefront of the book at all, I think if you know that you’ll like the book much more.

I was really excited by the premise of Loathe at First Sight. It’s easy to root for a heroine who is in a hostile environment, and enemies-to-lovers is a well-established trope, especially in the workplace. I liked a lot about the book, but the end was unsatisfying.

Melody Joo is a young woman in her mid-twenties, living in Seattle. She’s just made an exciting career jump from advertising to the gaming industry, and become a producer at Seventeen Studios. Almost immediately, she fears that this is a mistake. The environment is not what we would call hospitable; in her first week, Melody rarely sees a friendly face, with the exception of her colleague, Kat, one of the few women at her office. To add insult to injury, Melody is booted from her desk and shunted to a shared office to make room for an MBA intern - Nolan MacKenzie, who happens to be the nephew of the company’s CEO. Said CEO is Ian MacKenzie, a gaming titan with the manners and temperament of a feudal despot. Despite his handsome features, Nolan does not make a good first impression; he’s a well-connected, rich white guy who is taking advantage of nepotism. Then he goes and breaks Melody’s coffee mug, landing him firmly into asshole territory.

If plopping feet-first in a misogynistic and racist office culture isn’t enough, Melody mis-steps by making a joke where her boss can hear it, and then an off-hand remark to Kat turns into a giant, scary project. Melody has to face down the sexism of the gaming industry, her disagreeable co-workers, and the challenges of developing her first game. To her chagrin, Ian foists Nolan onto Melody’s team, and she is forced to slowly acknowledge how smart, kind, and funny he is. She can’t get involved with him, because she is technically his boss, and her officemate Asher is looking for any reason to get Melody in trouble.

When Melody becomes the target of a persistent harassment campaign, she has to decide if the career she could have in gaming is worth it. Coupled with this, she has to face constant obstacles from Ian, who doesn’t seem to want her game to be successful, despite being the one who greenlit the project. Her growing feelings for Nolan add to Melody’s internal conflict, and she is increasingly torn between her desire for success, and her need for emotional intimacy.

Melody is a relatable heroine. She’s a successful woman, but she still enjoys microwave meals and sitting around at home, and when she gets strong-armed into difficult situations, she finds her own way out. Melody’s parents are notable presences in the book, and they are as overbearing as they are amusing, but while they love and support Melody, they have the stereotypical ethnic family gripe of wishing she was married with babies. Melody’s work struggles are infuriating to read about, and you really feel for her.

Melody’s friends are a little underwritten; they seem to be stock-character best friends who get drinks and hang out. I really liked Jane, just because she’s strongly - even though not entirely positively - characterized. Candace, Melody’s other friend, is a publicist, and that’s pretty much it, and their boyfriends are similarly bland and unremarkable. Weak secondary characters distract from the strong parts of the narrative, which lie in the workplace conflict and Melody’s chemistry with Nolan. The romance does play second fiddle to Melody’s work challenges, but it’s still one of the best parts of the book.

Nolan is a great leading man - he expresses himself well and provides support for Melody when she needs it. His is a realistic portrayal of a young man who grew up with privilege and advantages, but is completely unaware of that fact. This doesn’t make him unlikable, but it does present an additional obstacle to a relationship with Melody, an obstacle I’m not sure is fully resolved.

Ian, Melody’s boss, is an antagonist it’s easy to hate without his being a cartoon villain. He’s just a regular bad guy, which only makes him more realistic. The secondary antagonists are also pretty well-written, easy to dislike without being ridiculous. I did, however, find the ending to be somewhat unsatisfying, in that it didn’t really live up to the compelling beginning, and it kind of fell flat, especially given that the stakes were so high earlier in the story. It also seemed as though big conflicts were only partially resolved, and the ends were tied up with just a few lines in the last chapter and the epilogue. Melody’s work life is such a vibrant, interesting place, partially because of the conflict she constantly deals with, and partially because her co-workers are fleshed-out characters. It makes her personal interactions with her friends seem dull by comparison.

In general, however, Loathe at First Sight is an enjoyable, fun read, with some really great moments. Melody is a strong point-of-view character, and her story is really interesting. The less polished parts of the book detracted from my enjoyment a little, but the book is still a fascinating introduction to the world of game creation and the culture that surrounds it, as well as a sweet, romantic story.

~ Rachel Finston

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore
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More of a feminist workplace book. Barely any romance. And definitely not an enemies to lovers rom com. I kept confusing Asher and Nolan. I liked it more than her debut YA novel but felt like the marketing team pulled a bait and switch again. I enjoyed the scenes with Melody’s parents especially at the buffet the best.

Loathe at First Sight is set in an industry I have not typically seen many books written about. It gives us a glimpse of the gaming industry from the perspective of a female lead character who goes against classic stereotypes. Melody is an assertive Asian woman who is more soft than bone, likes food more than dieting, and is truly comfortable in her skin. She's funny. She's straight forward. She sticks up for herself when necessary. Being assertive can also have its downsides. Having to stick up for herself and having to push back when her abilities are called into question also means she doesn't typically ask for help nearly as much as she could or should. (Is there room for character growth? Yes, yes there is.) Melody is a likable main character and easily kept me entertained.

While the book is entertaining, where it might trip up readers is in the romance department. The title suggests this is an enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy but the romance actually takes a back seat. Additionally, it also never became a full-blown romance. Those expecting romance might be turned off by this aspect of the book.

Even though the romance is not central to the story, the book and Melody are compelling enough to read it to the end. To be honest, I forgot about the romance until I was more than half-way through the book. I was immersed in Melody's story, the story of a woman who is trying to navigate an industry that doesn't expect her to succeed. There is a push for diversity and inclusion but the existing culture--at least at the company she works in--doesn't take it seriously, refusing to embrace the need for change.

Melody's parents and her interactions with them are the highlights of the novel. Her parents are utilized as comedic relief and they hit the mark every time. It's certainly possible to see her parents as unpleasant and rude, but I was able to enjoy this largely because I saw Melody's mom as being nearly a reflection of my mom. I have to admit that it is a bit pleasing to see others share my frustration. Misery does love company...even if it's the company of a fictional character.

Overall, Loathe at First Sight is an enjoyable read. There was something every few pages that would just set me off and I would laugh despite myself. I enjoyed it so much, I purchased a physical copy.

The best thing I have to say about Loathe at First Sight is that it isn't very long. That isn't even damning with faint praise, I was just glad to finish. I had such high hopes - I love the enemies-to-lovers trope in romcoms, the cover is cute, and the video game background sounded so promising. But the actual novel was one of the biggest disappointments I've read in a while. For starters, the enemies-to-lovers romcom promised by the cover, title, and marketing copy? Barely present. Protagonist Melody and office crush Nolan are kind of enemy-ish for about five minutes (more like irritating co-worker, but I can work with that)... but then they get over that, and very quickly become perfectly amiable coworkers who are obviously attracted to one another. Okay, so much for that. But the romance takes a backseat, as the main plot is really focused on Melody's struggles at her new job, a video game company, where she's found herself thrown into a lead producer position on a title that was a joke idea in the first place and is given minimal support from the company, dealing with virulent misogyny in the office as well as a GamerGate-esque harassment campaign online, as news of the "feminist" (allegedly) (ohhh so allegedly) game leaks. Meanwhile, she's also stuck being maid of honor to a bridezilla friend, while her parents nag her to get a boyfriend already. All of which would be a perfectly fine plot, if it was what was promised, but...

However, in practice, even those plot elements are painfully, frustratingly mishandled. The theme of sexual harassment at work makes a weird background for...Melody actually lusting after her intern the whole time, and the so-called "feminism" is, across the board, superficial and hypocritical - for instance, Melody (rightly) tells off a co-worker for referring to adult women as "girls", while doing the same herself. That seems like a small example, but the book is rife with such tiny, trivial, incredibly frustrating details. There's a weird scene where Melody, who has more than once assured us that she's a size Medium, tries to fit into an XS t-shirt; a male coworker offers her his Large tee instead, saying something about how it's better than an S. She quickly assures him that actually this is an EXTRA small, and then, when she apologizes for the "weirdness" of mentioning that, he assures her that he has a wife and daughters, so he's used to that kind of thing. You know, that girly talk, about...T-shirt sizes.

And that wasn't even an example of her coworkers' sexism.

Melody is simply an unpleasant, cranky, entirely unlikeable heroine, whose "quirky" traits just make her sound immature and selfish. The maid-of-honor plotline, for instance, hinges entirely on the idea that Jane, the bride, is shallow, loves to throw money around, and is a total control freak bridezilla...but the examples of this we see are things like sampling cake flavors that sounded pretty good to me (but that, to Melody, sound gross - which she makes sure to tell Jane out loud. Jane then ends up getting a chocolate cake AS WELL because God forbid Melody and her five-year-old tastebuds go without cake at someone else's wedding), wanting an expensive wedding gown (although even there, if the point is to show how she throws money around, it fails weirdly - she tries on a dress that's nearly twice her budget, tells the saleswoman that's too much, and gets it discounted and is able to afford it. Great! She wasn't even rude to the saleswoman in accomplishing this! So... what's the issue here? Is it that she makes more money than Melody?), throwing an engagement party (excuse me, a "pre-rehearsal rehearsal dinner," as Melody insists on calling it, finding that weird) and then not even being annoyed when the other bridesmaid announces both a pregnancy and her own engagement at it, and having a schedule for her bachelorette party (schedule: pick up bridesmaid at this time, reservation at this time. That's it. Melody calls this level of planning "neurotic"). She is, admittedly, passive-aggressive to Melody about her weight a couple of times (suggests that they go on a diet together), but Melody is constantly acting disgusted by how big her officemate is, and mocking women with bigger bra sizes than her, so you know what, I don't have a lot of sympathy there.

Anyway, Justice for Jane, she sounds like a perfectly normal, albeit much richer than me, woman trying to have the wedding of her dreams even though she doesn't appear to have a single real friend. No justice for Melody, who is a detestable heroine who legitimately thinks that women had it better in "the olden days" of art, because artists back then CELEBRATED women in their paintings, in contrast to the trolls tweeting her death threats for daring to be a woman in the gaming industry. (Don't ask me what the one has to do with the other.) (And really don't ask me what Melody thinks the female artists "back then" were doing, her feminism hasn't reached that far.)

In case you can't tell, Loathe at First Sight left me seething, and the only reason I finished it is because I try to read every word of an ARC before writing a review. But it isn't just the badly pasted-on pseudo-feminism that irritated me, but the actual writing - there's a Chekhov's gun situation with a cat allergy that just...filled a scene and then went nowhere, for instance, and the whole thing felt stretched and padded with story lines and plot elements that didn't lead to anything. It just wasn't a good book, from start to finish.

Cute (if misleading) cover, though.

I received a copy of Loathe at First Sight from NetGalley and Avon Books in exchange for an honest review.