Book Review: The Hating Game by Talli Roland

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy. After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £50,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end. Who will win The Hating Game?

I was very lucky to receive an ARC from the lovely Talli Roland, I really liked the sound of The Hating Game and I've very much enjoyed reading it.
Mattie Johns is not a particularly nice character and I think this is what gave the book quite an original edge. She gets slightly more likable as the book goes on but I wouldn't want to go for a drink with her.
I think Talli really explores the terrifying world of reality TV within the book. Mattie only gets involved because she is desperate for the money. Once she has signed the contract, there is no going back and it becomes clear very quickly that the program makers are only interested in rating figures rather than Mattie's well-being and happiness. I loved the cut-throat way that Talli portrayed the TV people as I really do think that is how they are. I had a lot of sympathy for Mattie on that instance as it is though she has stepped on a roller coaster that she has no way of getting off.
The actual idea behind the TV show is also very good, it makes the reader think about what they would do if confronted with ex-boyfriends who they were hoping never to see again.
The Hating Game is a highly original and witty  book. I really enjoyed the writing and I thought it was so relevant to current times where we are bombarded with reality TV shows.
The paperback version of the book is out on 3rd March 2001 but if you can't wait that long then you can get the Kindle version on Amazon for just £1.90, a complete bargain!