Who Is The Main Character In This Modern Love Book?

In 'The Hating Game' by Sally Thorne, Lucy Hutton is the epitome of a sunshine-y, organized chaos heroine. She’s the kind of person who color-codes her sticky notes but forgets to eat lunch, and her rivalry-turned-love story with Joshua Templeman is pure serotonin. What I adore about Lucy is how she’s unapologetically emotional—she cries at commercials, names her plants, and wears bright red lipstick like armor. Her dynamic with Joshua crackles with tension, but it’s her quiet moments of insecurity about her height, career, and worthiness that make her feel real.

Lucy’s journey from seeing herself as 'just the nice girl' to someone who demands respect—both at work and in love—is incredibly satisfying. The book’s famous elevator scene where she finally snaps at Joshua lives rent-free in my head. Also, side note: her obsession with smudge-proof lipstick is a mood every makeup-wearer will understand.

If we’re talking modern love books, 'Beach Read' by Emily Henry’s January Andrews is a masterpiece of contradictions. She writes fluffy romance novels but is secretly drowning in cynicism after her father’s betrayal. Her voice is sharp, self-deprecating, and endlessly funny—like when she describes her writer’s block as 'a demonic possession.'

What makes January unforgettable is how she weaponizes optimism. Even when life kicks her, she clings to hope like a life raft, which makes her chemistry with Gus (her broody neighbor) so explosive. Their banter about literary snobbery vs. commercial writing is gold. January’s arc from 'love is a lie' to 'maybe happy endings exist, just not the ones I expected' hit me harder than I anticipated. Also, her habit of buying ugly mugs as souvenirs? Adorably specific.

I recently read 'The Love Hypothesis' by Ali Hazelwood, and the main character, Olive Smith, is such a relatable mess of a grad student. She's smart but awkward, fiercely independent yet secretly yearning for connection. Her fake-dating scheme with the intimidating professor Adam Carlsen starts as a hilarious disaster but slowly unravels into something tender. Olive's voice is so authentic—her internal monologue about academia, friendship, and self-doubt felt like listening to my own thoughts. The way she balances vulnerability with wit makes her stand out in a sea of cookie-cutter romance protagonists. Her growth from 'I don’t need anyone' to 'maybe love isn’t a weakness' is chef’s kiss.