Enemies-to-lovers books are the ultimate rollercoaster of emotions, where hostility between two characters transforms into heartfelt affection. These stories are beautiful, messy, and go against all odds, making for some excellent reading.  

If you want to add some tension and tender moments to your bookshelf, reach for these picks, vetted by the Quinn team. There's a thin line between love and hate, and the authors of these books walk it hard — so hard you won't be able to put these books down until you know how the story ends.  

Enemies-to-lovers romance novels  

The enemies-to-lovers literary trope offers a delicious slow burn and electric tension that transforms disdain into deep affection when two incompatible characters are thrown together. Whether you're looking for a beach read or something more profound, these sexy stories are perfect picks:  

1. The Rivals by Vi Keeland 

Weston Lockwood and Sophia Sterling are rival hotel heirs who find themselves suddenly stuck working together in this popular rom-com novel.  

When they're forced into close proximity for the sake of their businesses, their hate only fuels their sexual tension. Driven to beat each other by their families' feud and their own competitive natures, Weston and Sophia slowly become an item in this love story, which is so steamy it might as well be erotic literature.  

2. Bully by Penelope Douglas 

In this enemies-to-lovers novel, the first book in Douglas's Fall Away series, grumpy Jared turns on Tate, his former best friend. Jared makes Tate's life miserable, but when Tate returns after a year away in France, she refuses to put up with it anymore. What follows is a classic example of old feelings resurfacing as Tate and Jared slowly figure out what drove them apart in the first place.   

3. Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

If you’ve read “Crazy Rich Asians,” you’ll love “Sex and Vanity” from the same New York Times bestselling author. The story begins with a 19-year-old Lucie Churchill on vacation in Capri, where she meets — and immediately despises — 20-year-old George Zao. Her loathing soon turns into a sexual tryst, but the two go their separate ways by the end of the trip.

Cut to several years later when Lucie, newly engaged to a Texas billionaire, runs into George once again. His reappearance forces Lucie to look inward at herself and the state of her life while she makes sense of her conflicting attraction toward George.

4. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 

In “Red, White & Royal Blue,” the First Son of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz, is forced into a fake friendship with his British nemesis, Prince Henry. Their fake banter and staged truce quickly evolves into a secret and unexpected gay romance that threatens to derail the President's campaign (and Alex's life).  

Academic rivals-to-lovers books 

If you enjoy intellectual and competitive tension between characters, the academic rivals-to-lovers niche is for you. This concept allows authors to explore themes of intellectual ambition, rivalry, and the unexpected ways love can emerge from passion. Put these tales on hold at the library today: 

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 

In “A Discovery of Witches,” historian and witch Diana Bishop finds a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford's Bodleian Library. This catches the attention of geneticist Matthew Clairmont, a centuries-old vampire and rival of Diana's. 

While Diana and Matthew are both interested in the manuscript, witches and vampires are forbidden from interacting. Despite this, they begin to examine the manuscript, and their scholarly rivalry evolves into something much deeper — something that unites them against the world.   

2. Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon 

This contemporary romance novel concerns Rowan Roth and her academic nemesis, Neil McNair. At odds throughout high school, Rowan and Neil compete for the best grades, the title of valedictorian, student council nominations — anything to be the best.  

After Neil wins valedictorian, he and Rowan are pitted against each other in a senior class game that takes them across Seattle. During the game, they're forced to team up and end up confronting their misconceptions about each other (and falling in love) in the process.  

Enemies-to-lovers fantasy books  

The enemies-to-lovers concept takes on a magical dimension in fantasy literature. When set against the backdrop of intricate world-building and epic quests, this trope adds exciting depth to character relationships, challenging protagonists to reconcile their feelings with their desires and roles. In these stories, love often becomes the ultimate magic, bridging divides and altering destinies:  

1. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 

This #1 New York Times bestseller is the sequel to “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” It follows Feyre, who's struggling with her life as a High Fae after surviving Under the Mountain, a terrible place she never wanted to experience.  

Feyre also finds her world turned upside down when she discovers her future husband’s adversary, Rhysand, isn't who she thought he was. Feyre navigates the powerful politics of her magical world as she forms an alliance with Rhysand, with whom she soon falls passionately in love.  

2. Crier's War by Nina Varela 

This book by Nina Varela is set in the kingdom of Rabu, where immortal and artificial Automae have overthrown their human creators. It follows a young human servant girl named Ayla, who seeks vengeance for her family's death by infiltrating Sovereign House to kill Lady Crier, the Automae sovereign's daughter.  

Lady Crier, struggling with her sense of identity and finding out her father isn't who she thought he was, is drawn to Ayla, and Ayla feels the same way despite being at odds with her. What follows is a captivating romance between two girls — a robot and a human — and a fresh take on the enemies-to-lovers trope.  

3. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh 

“The Wrath and the Dawn” retells the classic tale Arabian Nights. It begins with the story’s protagonist, Shahrzad, volunteering to marry Khalid, the murderous Caliph of Khorasan. Khalid is known for murdering his brides by morning after each wedding, and he previously killed Shahrzad's best friend. For this, Shahrzad has made a vow of vengeance to kill the Caliph once she becomes his next wife.  

Night after night, Shahrzad weaves stories that captivate the Caliph, who surprisingly lets her live. As they spend more time together, she falls deeply in love with her haunted captor in a betrayal she never thought possible.   

YA enemies-to-lovers books  

The enemies-to-lovers trope has a special place in young adult literature. It's a fun blend of tension, misunderstanding, and romance that many teenagers find irresistible due to the "will they or won't they" nature of the stories. "I hate you so much I love you" is a vibe young minds can get behind, and these standout novels offer their own unique twist on the genre:  

1. She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen  

This novel is an LGBTQ book by bestselling author Kelly Quindlen. It follows high school basketball star Scottie Zajac, who finds herself in an unlikely fake relationship scheme with her nemesis, cheerleader Irene Abraham, to make Scottie's ex-girlfriend jealous. What starts as a plot for revenge after a toxic relationship becomes something much more genuine as Scottie and Irene navigate life, sex, and acceptance as queer girls in high school.  

2. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 

In this enemies-to-lovers novel, Lara Jean Covey's love life goes from imaginary to out of control with a single mail fiasco. After someone mysteriously sends out all the secret love letters she wrote to each of her crushes, Lara Jean soon finds out her current crush, Josh, isn't interested in her. To weather this rejection, she ends up in a fake relationship with Peter, one of the most popular boys at school. The goal? Make Josh and Peter's ex-girlfriend jealous, and shut down the rumors about Lara and her crushes. Initially at odds, Lara Jean and Peter eventually swoon for each other.  

3. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 

In Holly Black's popular YA novel “The Cruel Prince,” mortal Jude dreams of becoming a knight in the dark, enchanting world of Faerie. She desperately wants to earn her place at the Court, but cruel Prince Cardan and his torturous ways make it difficult.   

Jude's journey from a powerless mortal to a powerful player in the Court is fraught with betrayal, secrets, and an unexpected alliance with Prince Cardan. This dark romance is a violent delight — and slow-burning romance — that challenges the boundaries of love and hate as Jude works to save Faerie.  

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