A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Dec. 18, 2024
Looking for the perfect enemies-to-lovers tale? We've got your fix with dozens of books serving up delicious romantic tension—fresh and hot!
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They hate each other. They love each other. They want to throttle each other … and make out? The best enemies-to-lovers books provide intrinsic tension within the interactions between the main characters, and readers can’t get enough. It’s one of the most beloved themes of romance novels. The trope (and its close associate, rivals to lovers) gives readers plenty of time to spend with the characters during the slow burn of a romance. And it sets up countless situations in which a nemesis can evolve into a strong and healthy partner.
Enemies-to-lovers books have been thrilling audiences for centuries and are counted as some of the best books of all time. Really! For proof, look to some of the most memorable pairings in literary history: Benedick and Beatrice from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice all find love through the enemies-to-lovers trope.
Need somewhere to start? As a librarian with nearly a decade of experience, believe me when I say I’ve got you covered. I’ve also brought in some reinforcements: You’ll find personal recommendations from three people who run romance bookstores, romance authors and Reader’s Digest editors. Read on for books that provide maximum tension between lovers who begin as enemies. Whether you’re hunting for classic novels or BookTok favorites (it’s not just Colleen Hoover books over there!), there’s something for everyone.
Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.
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For fans of: Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake
Some enemies-to-lovers books take the term enemies lightly, offering up a clash based on a childhood slight or minor miscommunication. Not so with This Is How You Lose the Time War! Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar’s bestselling, award-winning 2020 novel pits two rival agents against each other in a war for the future of humanity. It may sound like the setup for a sci-fi thriller, but at its core, the book is a layered sapphic romance.
“This Is How You Lose the Time War is a strange, beautiful, perfect little book. This is an excellent pick for readers who like their prose as swoony as their plot,” says Becca Title, owner of Meet Cute Romance Bookshop in San Diego. “Mortal enemies twist into lovers as they send letters across time and space (with death promised if their correspondence is discovered). I devoured it, but I wanted to savor it. Time to read it again!”
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For fans of:Â The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
In addition to being a huge name in the romance world, Jasmine Guillory is the author of not one but two of the best enemies-to-lovers books ever written. So once you’ve finished the feel-good book that is The Wedding Date, scoop up the 2019 follow-up, The Wedding Party.
The only thing that Maddie and Theo have in common—other than their dislike for each other—is their adoration of mutual best friend and soon-to-be bride Alexa. With the wedding fast approaching, and a mistaken but feeling-provoking kiss between them, they’re forced to spend more time with each other than ever. And, well, let’s just say it leads to them sneaking off when no one is looking.
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For fans of: Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
Meet Molly and Jude: The love interests in Meredith Schorr’s 2023 novel could’ve been friends if they weren’t so busy hating each other. In fact, they should’ve been friends. Their families are close enough, after all. As they work together to plan a party for their parents, they just may reach friendship status—or more.
“I love Meredith Schorr’s Someone Just Like You for the fantastic New York City vibes, sizzling tension between our two main characters and the very real pressures of family and career,” says Sierra Godfrey, author of the contemporary romance The Second Chance Hotel and forthcoming romantic thriller book The Enigma Challenge (written as S.C. Godfrey). “Whether the characters are hatching hilarious plots or dating people who look suspiciously like each other, this charmer is chock-full of the best kind of banter while giving the satisfying feels that make hating your true love deliciously fun. Witty, charming and swoony in the best way.”
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For fans of: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
It’s hard to imagine a world in which this absolute classic did not exist, and luckily, we don’t have to. In case you’ve neither read Pride and Prejudice nor heard about it, here’s what you can expect: Elizabeth Bennet is one of five daughters to a mother eager to marry them off. But the arrival of potential suitor Mr. Darcy is less than welcome to Elizabeth, who quickly finds herself with a sour impression of the man.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man, in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” … right? Well, Mr. Darcy sure has a funny way of showing it. It’s going to take time and evolution to change Elizabeth’s mind about him.
There is a reason the story of this 1813 couple has stood the test of time: It’s hands down one of the best enemies-to-lovers books ever written and the inspiration for many a modern retelling. And don’t be fooled into thinking it’s just a book for women; Pride and Prejudice is worth a read by everyone.
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For fans of: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
If you can’t get enough of Pride and Prejudice‘s marriage-mart drama or affairs of the ton, pick up Emma R. Alban’s 2024 novel, You’re the Problem, It’s You. A second-born son who wants to make a name for himself clashes with—and crushes on—a young lord whose recently inherited viscountcy is almost as intimidating as getting over his public awkwardness. The “enemies” element is fairly light, but it’ll still hit the spot while delivering a historical rom-com made for modern readers.
“After bingeing Bridgerton Season Three, I was faced with two options: Go back and rewatch from the beginning or find some other story to scratch that itch,” says Tracey Neithercott, Reader’s Digest Books Editor. “So I picked up an early copy of Emma Alban’s You’re the Problem, It’s You. (To be clear, the Bridgerton rewatch isn’t entirely off the table.) This story is everything I was hoping for: a light and frothy enemies-to-lovers romance set in the Victorian era with a found-family trope to boot. After meeting Gwen and Beth in this book, I’m going back to Alban’s first, Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, to see their story unfold.”
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For fans of: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Published in 2024, How to End a Love Story is guaranteed to grab your heartstrings and pull hard. The Reese’s Book Club Pick follows Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard, two writers with a complicated history who end up working on the same TV show—the adaptation of Helen’s popular young adult novels—after over a decade of not seeing each other. She’s brilliant but closed off. He’s funny and charming. Together, they are a classic enemies-to-lovers tale: emotional, electrifying and definitely sexy. With the added crackle of secrets from their past popping up in their present, this is a must-read Hollywood romance from an author who knows what she’s talking about: She’s also a screenwriter and director.
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For fans of:Â The Marriage Game by Sara Desai
“The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel has long been one of my favorite enemies-to-lovers books out there—the title says it all!” says Kate Tamberelli, the co-author of The First Date Prophecy and The Road Trip Rewind. Biochemical engineer Liya is happily single, so when she realizes the dinner party her parents have invited her to is actually a setup to meet Jay, a man they’d love for her to marry, she immediately leaves. She’s certainly not expecting him to be the new lawyer hired to save her company, and he’s none too happy about seeing her after her disappearing act. But soon, late-night banter turns into something a little more romantic.
How about a book recommendation twofer? Patel’s 2024 novel is another must-read take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. “Her latest rom-com, The Design of Us, once again hits it out of the park with her signature fierce, witty—and, of course, super swoony—banter, along with some fabulous fake dating and the lush backdrop of a destination wedding in Hawaii,” Tamberelli says. “A more perfect summer beach read could not exist!”
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For fans of: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
If you count Book Lovers by Emily Henry as one of your all-time favorite enemies-to-lovers books, it’s time to pick up another bookish hate-to-love romance. Laura Hankin’s 2024 novel, One-Star Romance, is a take on every author’s nightmare: being forced to get chummy with someone who gave their book a very public, very terrible review. This fictionalized version of something that really happened to Hankin sees author Natalie forced together with the man who gave her book a one-star review—and unexpectedly falling for him. If you prefer romances of the slow-burn variety, this years-spanning story is for you.
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For fans of:Â The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Mia Sosa’s 2020 novel, The Worst Best Man, is a popular beach read, and for good reason. It’s pure delight. Wedding planner Lina is on the verge of landing a huge new hotel client, but to get the gig, she’ll need to work with the younger brother of the man who left her at the altar. Max is a marketing expert who’s joined forces with Lina despite her animosity toward him. (Not that she doesn’t have her reasons—after all, he was the one who told his brother to leave the relationship.) As the two work together, new feelings emerge. But they’ll have to work through Lina’s refusal to open herself up again and Max’s desire to stay far out of his brother’s shadow.
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For fans of: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Sarah Hogle’s hilarious novel may have landed in 2020 just as the world was shutting down, but this slice of joy continues to provide new readers with a spectacular romance to root for. Occupying the somewhat rare position of a romance novel in which the protagonists are already together, You Deserve Each Other follows Naomi and Nicholas, a couple perching on the edge of an engagement collapse—as long as the other ends it first. After all, the one who calls it quits has to foot the bill for the wedding. As the two duke it out, trying to make the other as miserable as possible, their facades slip, and they finally get to know each other as they truly are.
“You Deserve Each Other first drew me in with its concept: An enemies-to-lovers romance in which the pair is already together. But what makes this one of my favorites is Hogle’s humor,” says Neithercott. “It’s laugh-out-loud funny and such a delight to read. When the main character described her fiance’s ‘satanic ritual’ of laying his peeled banana on the table—without a plate or napkin—as he ate it, I knew I was going to love this book. But the story went ahead and charmed me even more than I’d imagined.”
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For fans of: The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa
Fans of reimagined classics will want to get their hands on one of the best rom-coms published in 2022, this BookTok favorite by Nisha Sharma. Dating Dr. Dil, a take on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, follows Kareena, who’s just learned that her father is selling their home. She’s doing her best to get engaged in a bid to convince her father to gift her the house. In her way is a public argument she had with a TV doctor, Prem Varna, aka a man who ditched her on their date.
With their conflict going viral, Prem and Kareena are in a bind. His image has taken a beating, and his goal of funding a community center is at risk. His only option? Date Kareena. Add in Indian culture and a cast of meddling aunties who think Prem would be good for Kareena—despite their opposing opinions on love—and you get one of the best enemies-to-lovers books of all time.
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For fans of: A Little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian
Tired of male-female rivalries and ready for a same-sex pairing? Go with Olivia Waite’s The Hellion’s Waltz. Sophie’s family is restarting in Carrisford, England, after losing their London piano shop to a con man. But since the swindle, she’s extra suspicious—and certain something is up with Madeline Crew. Silk weaver Madeline is seeking one big heist to fund the weavers’ union, but that’ll be hard to do with Sophie sticking her nose into Madeline’s operations. The only option is for Maddie to seduce Sophie and convince her to support the heist, despite Sophie’s misgivings. Plenty of LGBTQ+ books with stellar romances await you, and this 2021 release is a must for your to-be-read list.
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For fans of: Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Beverly Jenkins is the queen of romantic historical fiction books, and this slow-burn novel from 2007 is just one example of why. In Wild Sweet Love, Teresa is working as a cook for an elite Philadelphia family, leaving her train-robbing days in the past. Madison, her boss’s stuck-up son, is determined to keep a close eye on her—after all, he’s seen too many women take advantage of his mother’s generosity. That’s absolutely the only reason he can’t stop thinking about her. The fact that she’s always on his mind certainly doesn’t mean he likes her…
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For fans of: The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
Here’s another pick for classics fans, this time for those who want the drama of Romeo and Juliet with much less tragedy. Ramón and Julieta are heirs to a family feud, brought about by a stolen taco recipe. After an unexpected (and anonymous) kiss on Dia de los Muertos, the two realize that he’s the new landlord of Julieta’s taqueria. A 2022 release from Latina author Alana Quintana Albertson, Ramón and Julieta is a great pick not only for Hispanic Heritage Month but all year long.
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For fans of: West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras
Published in 2022, After Hours on Milagro Street is a Latinx romance and family-centric gem. The story follows Alejandra Torres, who is working to turn her grandmother’s bar into a thriving business. Unfortunately, Jeremiah Post, a professor whose apartment shares a wall with Alex’s, is standing in her way. He’s got the adoration of her lively family, and he’s concerned that Alex’s plan is not in their best interest. But an outside threat to the bar will bring the two together—and maybe give rise to new emotions for both.
“This is a small-town romance with a lot of family interactions. And maybe a ghost,” says Carley Morton, owner of Under the Cover Romance Bookshop in Kansas City, Missouri. “I really enjoyed the mystery aspects, trying to understand what is going on in that town. High-level enemies-to-lovers energy in this one.”
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For fans of: The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn
A Duke by Default, Alyssa Cole’s 2018 entry into her Reluctant Royals book series is a perfect pick for fans of Outlander looking for a more modern Scottish hero to fall for. Here’s the gist: Portia is leaving New York City behind in favor of Scotland, where she has an internship with a sword maker. But Tavish isn’t interested in having an American socialite tell him how to run his armory, especially considering how aggravating she is. And when she discovers he’s the secret son of a duke, she makes it her mission to smooth out his rough edges. The two clash like finely sharpened swords.
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For fans of: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Kavya’s summer isn’t going according to plan: She and her boyfriend broke up (in front of her nemesis, no less!), and her party princess job cast her as Ariel instead of her beloved Belle. Plus, the guy playing Eric is none other than her sworn enemy. Published in 2022, Beauty and the Besharam is a charming, heartfelt YA rom-com that combines a dose of rivalry with a romance that’ll make any day brighter.
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For fans of:
Adriana Herrera’s 2022 historical romance, A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, debuted to acclaim from critics and readers alike. Then again, what’s not to love about a woman of color making her mark as an entrepreneur, a marriage of convenience and an international setting that comes alive? Luz has traveled from Santo Domingo to Paris, one of many merchants at the 1889 Exposition Universelle. She’s there to expand her family’s rum business, though trying to convince people to do business with a woman of color is tougher than she anticipated. James Sinclair, Earl of Darnick, has a passion for his whiskey brand, and he seems willing to help her. But her rule upon coming to Paris was to avoid falling in love.
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For fans of: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
In her 2022 novel, India Holton blends historical romance with the best parts of fantasy fiction to craft a wonderfully magical story. The League of Gentlewomen Witches follows a witch and a pirate with smoldering chemistry and pickpocket hands. Charlotte is part of the League of Gentlewomen Witches, a secret organization of women who use magic to make the world prim and proper. Alex is a decidedly disrespectable pirate who wants the recently discovered amulet of Black Beryl. Despite their clashing views, they decide to team up and steal the amulet before anyone else can.
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For fans of: I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang
Self-love takes center stage in Jesmeen Kaur Deo’s 2022 YA romance, TJ Powar Has Something to Prove. TJ Powar is letting herself be hairy. After a meme circulates that makes fun of her Sikh cousin Simram, who doesn’t remove her body hair, TJ decides to do the same to prove a point. But as she begins to doubt her resolve, she discovers that one of the only people who seems to want to prove her right is a frustratingly annoying boy from a rival debate team.
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For fans of: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
Lucy Parker has been a fan favorite for a while now, and 2019’s The Austen Playbook, inspired by none other than Jane Austen’s classic novel, is one of the best enemies-to-lovers romance books out there. Actress Freddy is taking part in a live TV event called the Austen Playbook, in which viewers choose how each scene turns out. But the critic who seems to have it out for her performances is now in charge of the estate where filming is taking place, and neither can fully concentrate while the other is lurking about.
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For fans of: Dirty Deeds by Stella Rhys
“Looking for a steamy forbidden-love story that will keep you hooked? Hate to Want You delivers a modern Romeo and Juliet plot with super-sizzling chemistry between its leads,” says Leah Koch, co-owner of The Ripped Bodice romance bookstore, which has locations in Brooklyn, New York, and Culver City, California. “It’s a captivating read that showcases the best of contemporary romance, making it a favorite among our readers.”
Published in 2017, this romance book series starter is a steamy enemies-to-lovers read. Livvy and Nicholas are from two rival families and had an arrangement to spend one night each year together. That is, until the night she didn’t show. Now she’s back in town, and Nicholas is trying to concentrate on the empire he’s running. But neither can quite forget the pleasure the other provided … or the past.
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For fans of: The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune
Want a guaranteed sweet romance? Pick up Eric Smith’s 2021 YA novel, You Can Go Your Own Way, which centers on two rivals forced to spend time together. The last place Adam and Whitney want to be is trapped in Adam’s late father’s pinball arcade during a huge snowstorm. But alas, that’s where they’ve found themselves. Adam is stressing over the tech mogul who hopes to turn the arcade into a gaming cafe. Whitney, the daughter of said tech mogul, is running social media for the gaming cafes and publicly trading barbs with the arcade’s social media accounts—and Adam. But when they’re confronted with a night alone, each begins to thaw toward the other.
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For fans of: Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan
Considering the mess that was 2020, you’d be forgiven for overlooking the release of some seriously great novels, like Adiba Jaigirdar’s The Henna Wars, which follows two teens with rival henna businesses. Nishat’s childhood friend, Flávia, has come back into her life, but she lands on Nishat’s bad side after entering a school competition with a henna business to rival Nishat’s. While reckoning with Flávia’s cultural appropriation, Nishat is dealing with her growing feelings for her old pal and working through family issues surrounding her own sexuality.
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For fans of: The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
The start of a bestselling young adult book series by the reigning queen of fae fiction, The Cruel Prince is one of the best enemies-to-lovers books in the fantasy genre. Jude has lived in the High Court of Faerie for a decade, ever since she and her sister were stolen away. Desperate for a place among the human-despising fae, she does her best to worm her way into court—and into the orbit of Prince Cardan, the youngest son of the High King—in the midst of a fae court civil war. Filled with political maneuvering, this 2018 book is for you if you like your characters to truly act like enemies while they fall in love.
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For fans of:Â Big Chicas Don’t Cry by Annette Chavez Macias
The Battle of the Mariachi Bands is coming up in San Antonio, and two houses are competing for the prize. Mariana Capuleta and her sisters are hoping to win and help with the financial strain on their parents. But Mariana’s deep attraction to Angelo Montero, son of her father’s arch nemesis, makes competing against the Montero clan extra complicated. And Angelo knows well enough that Mariana is off limits, but all he wants is to pursue her. Published in 2022, West Side Love Story is a must-read for fans of Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story.
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For fans of: Boyfriend Material by Alex Hall
With the success of the movie adaptation, now is the time to read (or reread) this bestselling 2019 novel. Red, White & Royal Blue pairs the son of the U.S. president with the prince of England for one of the best enemies-to-lovers books in recent years. After an altercation between Alex and Prince Henry goes viral, the White House and palace concoct a plan to mend the rift between the two, at least publicly. But the fake friendship spirals into a secret romance that could make waves on both sides of the Atlantic if it got out.
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For fans of: For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes
A 2016 release from a romance favorite, Hold Me has the double pleasure of being both one of the top enemies-to-lovers books and a secret-identity romance. Maria is an anonymous blogger, whose apocalypse blog is verging more and more into the mainstream consciousness. She’s been interacting with a commenter for 18 months and slowly falling for him. Unknown to her, that commenter is Jay, who works in a lab and is friends with Maria’s brother. And in real life? The two hate each other.
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