Book Recs: Enemies to Lovers (II)

Waaaay back when this blog was just a baby blog, I did a rec list of enemies to lovers (or otherwise hate to love) and that rec list has been probably one of the most viewed of all time. But then I went back and looked at it the other day, and was like… this is quite basic.

And hence the idea for a second part was born.

Before we begin, however, I would like to say yes I am aware that enemies to lovers and hate to love are not synonymous. No, I don’t really care, but if you want to be specific, this is more of a hate to love list.

The Dark Tide

Alicia Jasinska
Goodreads
Rep: bi mc, lesbian mc
CWs: magic involving self harm, drowning

Why Should I Read It?

Anna would probably murder me in my sleep if I didn’t include this book and to be honest? They would be right to. This is a book where the characters are truly enemies — one is a witch who, every year, takes a boy from the other’s town as sacrifice. But that’s what makes their eventual falling in love all the sweeter.

Amelia Westlake

Erin Gough
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mcs

Why Should I Read It?

There’s no trope I enjoy more than two people who hate each other who are forced to work together towards a common cause. Like, hate to love is good and all for the tension, but it’s made immeasurably better if you sprinkle in some forced proximity. And that’s exactly what makes this book so wonderful.

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting

K. J. Charles
Goodreads
Rep: gay mcs
CWs: child abuse, implied domestic abuse

Why Should I Read It?

I read this book late last night and it’s all I’ve been thinking about ever since. It is, for me, the best yet of K. J. Charles’ works. It’s about a fortune hunter, and the uncle of the girl that he’s pursuing. And honestly? Words cannot express just how much I loved reading this.

We Set the Dark on Fire

Tehlor Kay Mejia
Goodreads
Rep: Latina sapphic mcs

Why Should I Read It?

If you haven’t read this book already, what the hell have you been doing? It’s set in a world where men each have two wives, picked from finishing schools. There’s rivals to lovers! The softest romance! Everything you might ever want and need!

Down Comes the Night

Allison Saft
Goodreads
Rep: bi mc, lesbian side character

Why Should I Read It?

This one’s not out for another week, but since it’s only a week’s time, I figured I could put it on here. Imagine you’re stuck in a mysterious gothic-esque mansion, summoned secretively to care for an unknown patient. And that patient just so happens to be your worst enemy and the scourge of your country. The set up alone is just… *chef’s kiss*

Work for It

Talia Hibbert
Goodreads
Rep: Black gay mc with anxiety & depression, bi mc
CWs: mentions of outing, blackmail, mentions of revenge porn, homophobic parents, past suicide

Why Should I Read It?

I’ve read this book three times already and each time I’ve loved it even more. Okay, so it’s not so much hate to love as they get off on the wrong foot and maybe aren’t so keen on each other to start off with, but it’s my rec list, so I’m counting it. Also if you want a glorious slowburn of building friendship and mutual respect, this is the book for you.

This is How You Lose the Time War

Amal el-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
Goodreads
Rep: sapphic mcs
CWs: gore

Why Should I Read It?

You didn’t think I’d forget about this one, right? This is another one I’ve read multiple times (four at last count. Probably due another reread to be honest) and it just gets better with each one. It’s full of hunger and yearning and every time I read it, there are points I have to set it down to just breathe.

Night Tide

Anna Burke
Goodreads
Rep: bi mc, bi mc with MS
CWs: internalised ableism

Why Should I Read It?

There’s hate sex in this and if that isn’t enough to convince you to read it, then I don’t know what will! Actually, I’m kidding, you can see here what other reasons I gave, but suffice to say: if you don’t read this soon, we cannot be friends.

Kissing Ezra Holtz

Brianna R. Shrum
Goodreads
Rep: Jewish bi mc

Why Should I Read It?

I binged this book in a couple of hours and a single sitting and stayed up way past my bedtime to do so, which should tell you just how good it was. We’re talking rivals having to work together on a psychology project about falling in love, who just so happen to fall in love themselves at the same time. Life imitates art work, I guess?

A Matter of Disagreement

E. E. Ottoman
Goodreads
Rep: trans gay mc, gay mc

Why Should I Read It?

Let’s be real, if you’ve encountered academia at any point, you’ll probably know that rivals don’t really exist in it. Nemeses, however… Which this novella wholly recognises, and then goes to turn it into a very sweet love story. Basically perfect if you want to sit and soak up the serotonin for a couple of hours.

What would you rec?

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