Enemies to Lovers Romance
Delight in the tension and passion of rivals turned lovers, complete with witty banter and sizzling chemistry.
The enemies-to-lovers trope has been captivating readers since the dawn of time (well, since “Pride and Prejudice,” Elizabeth, and Mr. Darcy hit the scene anyways). And while Jane Austen might have written the blueprint, a quick scroll on #BookTok will tell you this trope is still one of the most beloved today.
What is the enemies-to-lovers trope about?
The enemies-to-lovers trope centers around love interests who for some reason do not like each other. Whether they’re sworn enemies, workplace rivals, at odds over a misunderstanding, or just get under each other’s skin, these love interests don’t get along and please do not ask them to. By all reasonable logic, these two shouldn’t be a match but to their surprise (and readers’ delight!) they actually are perfect for each other.
These stories blur the line between love and hate for the love interests. Do they really hate each other or do they hate that they want each other? Is it really dislike fueling their arguments or are they just not used to being challenged?
There’s also just something undeniably sweet about the idea that someone can see all of your flaws and love you anyway. And who doesn’t love the idea of annoying someone into loving them? We’re all annoying! But finding someone who wants us, flaws, annoyances and all? That’s true love!
This trope stacks perfectly with other tropes like grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and second-chance romance (after all, some enemies-to-lovers arcs start as friends-to-lovers!). The trope also fits perfectly in nearly every genre from historical fiction (“Pride and Prejudice,” of course, and Kate and Anthony’s story in the Bridgerton series), contemporary romance (looking at you, “The Hating Game”), sports romance (“The Dixon Rule”) or fantasy romance (hello, “Fourth Wing”).
With the endless combinations, it’s no wonder this is a trope that stands the test of time!
What is it that makes the enemies-to-lovers romance trope so good?
The emotions. The heart wants what it wants and sometimes, it wants someone that our brains are not on board with. Romance novels with the enemies-to-lovers relationship are packed with the angsty feeling of self-loathing that comes when crushing on someone you can’t stand, tension and banter that starts from the very beginning, and off-the-charts spice (after all, that intense chemistry has to go somewhere). The chemistry is palpable in these stories and sometimes that chemistry manifests as annoyance (“Wings of Winter”), aloof indifference (“Love on the Brain”), or healthy competition (“Beach Read”). The raw, pure emotion in these stories makes them irresistible.
Real life and character development. Falling in love is vulnerable stuff and opening up to anyone (but especially an enemy who conceivably has a list of every one of your flaws memorized) is brave. These characters don’t trip and fall in love and their love story isn’t easy—they have to work for it! They open themselves up, forgive each other for past slights and mistakes, and lay all their cards on the table. These love interests fight for each other and show up for one another time and again, proving love doesn’t have to be perfect or easy to be real.
Misunderstood characters and misconceptions. A common theme found in many enemies-to-lovers romance books is misunderstanding. Maybe the love interests got off on the wrong foot at their first meeting because someone was having a bad day or maybe they’re blindly carrying on a family feud ( ahem, looking at you, Romeo and Juliet!). Perhaps that standoffish character isn’t a hater—they just don’t know how to communicate their feelings! Once we learn that backstory and figure out the misunderstanding, it’s hard to root against anyone.
Rivals-to-lovers
If enemies-to-lovers romance is a touch too intense for your taste, rivals-to-lovers might be your jam (after all, you can dislike someone without them being Public Enemy #1).
Rather than hatred or strong dislike, this trope is driven by feelings of rivalry, irritation, or annoyance with an insane amount of chemistry. These characters draw out the best (and worst!) in each other, but there’s not the same amount of hate. It’s just a simmering annoyance or dislike for one another—paired, of course, with enough chemistry to set a house on fire.
Usually the dislike or competition is stemming from a miscommunication or misinterpretation (see point #3 above about what makes this trope so good!), so there’s no real hate, just confusion and misunderstanding. Once all the confusion is ironed out, we’re on the fast track to happily ever after!
Some excellent rivals-to-lovers stories are “You, with a View” by Jessica Joyce, “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry, and “Red, White & Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston. These books all feature rivalry, competitive nature, and genuine annoyance but stop short of true hate or dislike. They’ve still got all the drama, irritations, and slow-burn tension of our favorite enemies-to-lovers stories, just without all the intense hatred. These characters like each other—they just don’t know it yet!
Trigger warnings and critiques
Let’s get one thing straight: the enemies-to-lovers trope is not an excuse to be terrible to someone in the name of love and romance. A good enemies-to-lovers story has dislike, annoyance, irritation, and a dash of self-loathing but there’s also respect and trust. As much as they might not like each other, the love interests ultimately respect each other as they head toward a romantic relationship. They feel safe to open up and be vulnerable, messy, and chaotic together.
What enemies-to-lovers isn’t is characters who are bullies, abusers, or just straight up mean. If you’re feeling like the characters in your enemies-to-lovers story don’t have any respect for each other or any redeeming qualities, it’s okay to DNF and try something new.
Not sure if this trope is for you? Try out one of these swoon-worthy tropes instead! When it comes to romance, there’s something for everyone, so keep trying until you find what you like.
Book recommendations
Wondering where to start with enemies-to-lovers? I have got you covered! Enemies-to-lovers fits so neatly into other genres and works so well with tons of tropes, so I’ve recommended a few options for everybody!
You can check out even more recommendations (and learn why we love them!) in our full list of the best enemies-to-lovers books and audiobooks.
Sports romance
Contemporary workplace romance
Fantasy romance
Second-chance romance
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