Are you also a fan of the bickering yet budding relationship between the haughty and handsome Mr. Darcy and the very opinionated Elizabeth Bennet? Then surely the enemies to lovers trope is one of your favourites as a book lover.
This is a genre that is every bookworm’s guilty pleasure – from enemies to lovers. There have been a million books written in this category to date. You will find tales of by-birth foes, dramatic Shakespeare love stories and even some raw accounts of enemies that started dating later.
English literature epitomizes powerful emotional narratives, and this blog is about to take you on an electrifying voyage of whirlwind romance. So, lets explore the world of the juiciest romantic stories filled with hatred, squabbling, fighting, passion and at last love.
Thirty-Two Must-Read Intimate Enemies to Lovers Stories With Spice
We are here to take you on a glamorous trip where you will come across the best of all-time popular romance collections—the ones where a girl and a boy accidentally meet. At first, they resist each other but as they start to know one another, they fall head over heels.
There is always a predictable lovey-dovey twist that forces both individuals to end up together. However, the world does not seem to have enough of these budding romances, especially between opposites that eventually attract.
Readers want more of it, so here we are. We brought our dearest clients a list of thirty-two recommended novels. Hence, value our efforts, sit back and enjoy!
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
We shall begin with the topper of the list. It is a classic from 1813, and it is a winner because of its relatable plot and timelessness. Readers argue that the story covers all aspects of human nature exceptionally, and no one does it better than Austen. Pride and Prejudice is the OG of the enemies to lovers trope.
2. Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
On number two, we have this fun-to-read, light-hearted comedy script. Score wrote it from the perspective of Naomi, who is ready to move on in life. Knox, the male lead, thinks he will never fall for a girl like her. However, he becomes powerless as Cupid calls their name.
3. Ice Breaker by Hannah Grace
If you are a fan of burning tension between two characters before they realize that it is attraction, then this book is for you. Both Anastasia and Nate are college students who go through a rough ride of mixed emotions like love, jealousy, friendship and sacrifice.
4. Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin
This tale is of an unusual pair of a huntsman and a witch. The mind-twisting events will take you away into a distant land of imagination. A place where you will witness a married couple unaware of each other’s real identity. Oh! What a thriller.
5. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
What more could you ask for in a book when it is already filled with humour, spicy love and a feel-good plot? We guess nothing more makes a romance novel a bestseller than these elements. You have to read the hilarious banters of Ethan and Olive. They killed it.
6. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Ali is perfect at writing addictive and gentle aesthetic romance scripts. He fashions the turning events of the storyline and seamlessly manages semantics without any glitches. Thus, it is safe to say that he beats all the authors and book editing services.
7. Love Theoretically, again by Ali Hazelwood
It is the fictional account of two physicists who initially have a rocky encounter. Elsie thinks of Jack as an enemy standing between her dream job and her, but as the story unveils, her feelings change. The plot is somewhat quirky but also heartfelt.
8. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
Not far from the genre but a little deviant from the regular settings, this epic tale is set in Shanghai in 1926. It speaks of racism and colonialism but is inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This is more than just about love. It is about betrayal in love!
9. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
With an epic, unparalleled, nuanced love saga of Roman and Iris, Ross has created history. Hence, this hope-filled, gripping fantasy is a reader’s dream!
10. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
This is another typically hopeless romantic account where Liz and Wes are childhood sweethearts. However, the life of protagonist Liz takes a drastic turn as they meet again in high school.
11. Say You’ll Be My Jaan by Naina Kunar
Stay on high alert, all the wedding season fans! This novel by Kunar is coming for you with some high-voltage drama sandwiched between the leads – Meghna and Karthik.
12. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Moving on to the next script with the same level of brimming empathy and tension. However, the only difference is the lesson, which says that the seeds of love sometimes grow in the most surprising places.
13. All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi
Being the third part of the series – The Woven Kingdom, the book has many of the reader’s expectations attached. However, the exquisite romance and heart-stopping tension between the characters Alizeh and Cyrus satisfies the reader to the core.
14. A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
The story revolves around two teenagers, Linh and Bao. The narrative jumps to various themes like immigrants, racism and struggles as someone who is not too young but also not an adult. Amid this entire crisis, they managed to fall in love, and the tale is worth reading.
15. Another by Lynn Painter, Betting On You
This YA novel is all about Bailey, Charlie (progenies of faulty marriages) and their fake dating journey, but it will keep you tickling you. Therefore, don’t you worry! It is a 2000s rom-com with a balanced taste of irrationality and delightful humour.
16. Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey
The prose holds all the drama that readers want in a story. There are family banters, friends-turned-enemies, young love and rivalry. The plot settles between two library owners who are desperate to beat each other, but not for long.
17. When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
For a change, the protagonist of this mesmerizing but goofy short story is Millie – a female. She is particular about her life goals and is thus an inspiration for girls today. The unconventional appeal of her character and the chemistry he shares with Oliver is truly adorable.
18. The Book Shop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser
Who does not like a refresher amid all the cliché stories? Well, here is one for our readers – the dreamy account of Thea and Edwards. They first met quarreling for a bequeathed property of her late uncle, and soon, the angel of love cast a spell on them.
19. A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
They say the sound of love is that of beating hearts, and perhaps that is why this masterpiece by Cass is an emotional roller coaster ride. However, (warning: spoiler ahead) you should not read it if you cannot handle a sad ending.
20. When the Vibe is Right by Sarah Dass
If you are a believer in destiny, then stop right here! This magical narrative of Brandon and Tess is just the one for you. It helps the reader restore faith in ‘what belongs to you will be yours’.
21. Instruction for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
The book is based on a magical, extremely emotional and inspiring fictional saga. Hence, do not even think of reading it if you are a faint-hearted person. The exciting and interlaced events will keep the reader hooked for more!
22. My Mechanical Romance by Alexene F. Follmuth
The extraordinary author of this novel has maintained a great pace throughout the whole plot, which makes it a smooth read. Apart from this, the swoon-worthy couple Bel and Mateo are two opposites. One just does not care, and the other cares too much! You will adore reading how love makes its way through all the differences.
23. Second Chance Summer by Phillipa Ashley
Ashley’s romantic thriller has Lily stuck in the middle of two very tough choices – to go back or to move on? Her decision becomes even more difficult when she realizes she may lose Sam.
24. With or Without You by Eric Smith
In this legend, not only the leads but also the families cannot stand each other. Oh! What a spicy beginning to a love story led by captivating events. We love how they integrate a pool of themes – insecurities, trust, heartbreak, loneliness and self-discovery!
25. The Risk by Elle Kennedy
An extravagant portrayal of kinship and enmity in this manuscript shows that words are indeed the strongest weapons. Through the narrative of fake dating, this novel will teach you a lot about life. So, be quick and grab a copy.
26. Highly Suspicious & Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Witty author Talia has poured her whole heart into her work of art, and her strong characters speak for it. Celine and Bradley used to be in a relationship, but they probably burned out because they were a perfect ‘match!’ However, destiny is ready to give them a second chance, so go read what happens next.
27. The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
Numerous readers seem to be fascinated by the dark, crazy and momentous events of this unique love story. They argue that the passionate harmony between Nico and Elena was extremely addictive.
28. Everless by Sara Holland
Yet another fictitious and dramatic script that was successful in keeping the book lovers intrigued. All the credit goes to the birth of fanatic feelings amid the outlandish settings of an illusionary world. So, get your hands on it for a mystery with a splash of romance!
29. Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach
This modern-day fictional storyline defines feminism, racial discrimination and activism from an Asian-American perspective. It is far more than a fiery chemistry between Eliza and Len. A feel-happy script for people who can relate to the crisis.
30. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss
As the title suggests, the man and the woman meet at a botanist’s house who loves growing mistletoes. They are plants that grow on host trees; however, they are weirdly only in pairs. Therefore, buy the book to learn how the bud of their love grew further around this house.
31. Snapped by Alexa Martin
Quinton and Elliot both work for the Mustang business empire, but they do not seem to get on similar grounds. Their sarcastic communication exchanges are proof that they are total opposites, and well, opposites do attract at last!
32. A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen
There is nothing other than the baking love which brings the mother-daughter duo together. Liza is an aspiring baker who is also ready for marriage, so her mother arranged an unusual way for her to find the love of her life. You will not regret adding this eccentric tale to your reading list!
What do YA and NA mean in books?
YA stands for young adult fiction. At the same time, NA means new adult fiction. In addition, NA typically refers to ages 18 to 29.
What are the popular romantic books from the book publishers in UAE?
There are not many fictional, fantasy and romantic tales published by UAE book publishers. So, we did our research, and here are a few examples.
- A Bouquet of Fates by Sara Bady
- I loved a Narcissist by Hind Rashid Al Blooshi
- After a While by Ghaim
What is the most popular YA book genre?
They can be anything from contemporary fiction to science fiction, to historical fiction, and even fantasy or romance. But a guilty pleasure that most readers won’t admit is that they are secretly pinning after the enemies to lovers trope.
Why is the ‘Enemies to Lovers’ trope favourite amongst readers?
Such fictional accounts between two plot personalities hold a lot of drama and curiosity. We call it the will-they-won’t-they element, which convinces the reader to keep turning the pages.
Bringing to a Conclusion…
Now make your TBR list of the best enemies to lovers romances every romcom lover should read once or take inspiration on how to self publish a book. We enlightened you with the best possible romantic trope of books entertaining you with the squabbling relationship between Olive and Ethan, the college fake dating romance of Anastasia and Jake and the pinning of Joshua over Lucy, and many more stories filled with humor, banter, and spice, so decide whether you are team enemies or team lovers.