I have been inadvertently drawn to stories involving enemies to lovers since I was a kid and truthfully, I didn’t even realize that preference until recently. Growing up I loved stories such as Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and The Princess and the Frog, all featuring two characters who upon first meeting each other do not get along but end up falling in love as they spend more time together and get to know each other more intimately.
Something about enemies to lovers just draws me in and keeps me fully engaged in the plot of the story and wanting to uncover what happens next. Enemies to lovers often allows for great character development that hooks me as a reader and gets me thinking about a book nonstop.
Enemies to lovers has been a long-standing and widely loved book trope, being featured in the very popular classic, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen originally published in 1813. Enemies to lovers is also incredibly popular within young adult (YA) books.
Something that can turn readers away from enemies-to-lovers stories is how often they can be frustrating. Usually, the couple’s journey is not so simple as to be a direct line from hate to love. The journey often features a betrayal or secret that harms the trust the characters had built and sets the relationship back. While reading an enemies to lovers story I have often thought: “just be in love already or forgive them for harboring that secret already!” However, I am of the opinion that if a book can draw out such strong feelings while reading it, the book is successful in its goal of making you care about the characters and what’s going on. That frustration of wanting them to figure out their differences is what keeps me coming back to the story in hopes that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I am also a massive sucker for slow-burn romances. They have an excellent pay off that leaves me finishing the story feeling a sense of closure and fulfillment. Slow burn is a heavy aspect of enemies to lovers, where we witness the characters’ emotions change as they engage with one another and try to fight against that clear chemistry they have. Enemies to lovers features that perfect tension between characters. And when done successfully, you are left undeniably rooting for the two enemies to fall in love.
Here are some of my favorite YA books featuring the enemies to lovers trope for you to check out!
This book follows Jude Duarte, a human girl who grows up in Elfhame, the High Court of Faerie. While all she wants is to fit in, the fae despise mortals, leading them to act cruelly towards her, especially Prince Cardan. However, Jude refuses to allow her tormentors to win and ends up involved in political scheming that manages to win Prince Cardan the crown while she controls him in secrecy.
The enemies-to-lovers aspect of this book is very much a slow burn, with a lot of back and forth over the course of the trilogy. There is this clear chemistry and desire between Jude and Cardan, but they both do things that end up harming the other as they try to navigate ruling Elfhame and having power at such a young age.
When Kazi, a member of the Queen’s guard, is dispatched by Queen Lia to investigate treaty violations and locate a traitor in Hell’s Mouth, she ends up meeting Jase—the new leader of the Ballenger empire. Quickly, they end up being captured together and must learn to overcome their hatred for each other in order to survive. However, they are both keeping secrets and trust is a fragile thing.
Something I loved about this book is how Jase and Kazi being captured together created forced proximity. They had really no choice but to talk to each other and try to figure out a way to escape that allowed readers to see their relationship evolve over time, leaving me with very strong feelings towards their relationship.
If you have not already, definitely check out a book with an enemies-to-lovers trope and prepare to be entertained and mesmerized. I feel certain that it will remain a trope that surprises and excites me for all time!
Katelyn Burklow, Pine Reads Review Writer