6 Enemies-To-Lovers Books That Will Make You A Fan Of The Trope, According To Reader Reviews
Enemies turning to lovers is a tale as old as time. From classics like Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" to the rise of Harlequin romances in the '60s — and from famous rom-com movies like "Sweet Home Alabama" to Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" — this is a story trope that never fails to woo us.
In fact, many modern tales revolve around the enemies-to-lovers trope despite skeptics wondering how this fairy-tale-ish plot can be successfully woven into contemporary romance stories. However, BookTokers, like one zealous reader who read 43 enemies-to-lovers books in 2023, know that, when done right, this twist can not only work really well but also achieve critical acclaim.
Interestingly, psychological thrillers have sashayed into the limelight recently, as evidenced by how many spots they hold on Amazon's Top Chart. This has left traditional love stories somewhat overshadowed, but there's still an undeniable charm in the familiarity of a classic love story that culminates in a happy ending. So, to help you fall in love with love stories again and again — and become a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope — we've put together a list of such books, each of them highly rated by readers (but more on that at the end of the article).
The Way I Hate Him by Meghan Quinn
If you're looking for a fun and easy-to-read book that has over 19,000 reviews and an average of 4.3 stars on Amazon, then "The Way I Hate Him" by Meghan Quinn is for you. Bestselling author Quinn has given us a story that has all the ingredients of a successful enemies-to-lovers book. Age gap? Check. Celebrity romance? Check. Small-town setting? Check. Steamy scenes? Double check. One fan even wrote in their review, "This captivating novel delivers on all the classic tropes I adore, including enemies-to-lovers, small-town charm, age-gap romance, and the allure of a rockstar lifestyle."
Hattie, reeling from her sister's death, faces academic struggles and returns home to find her family distant. Dumped by her boyfriend Matt, she plans to return stolen items to him, leading to unexpected complications with Matt's former boss, rockstar Hayes Farrow — her brother's nemesis. A rocky start leads to Hattie working for Hayes, and despite family tensions and Hayes' troubled past, their growing connection becomes a central theme, blending angst, humor, and heart in a captivating enemies-to-lovers story.
To put it in the words of another besotted reader, "Can we please give a round of applause to Meghan? You did it again. I loved this book so incredibly much...I honestly don't even know how to put into words how to review this book."
Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score
"Things We Hide from the Light" is book two in Lucy Score's BookTok-beloved "Knockemout" series. The #1 New York Times bestseller follows police chief Nash Morgan as he grapples with unwanted feelings when the bold and quick-witted Lina Solavita becomes his new neighbor. However, Lina's on a mission, and she has no intention of settling down. When Nash discovers Lina's hidden agenda, their already strained relationship takes a sharp turn toward heated animosity. Despite this, the undeniable sparks between them create a chaotic blend of love and hate — emotions that are hard to ignore.
This book already has a staggering 79,000 ratings on Amazon and over 300,000 on Goodreads, with an average rating of 4.4 and 4.1 stars, respectively. And if you're concerned that you'll need to read the series' first book before reading the second installment, worry not, as one happy reviewer has the answer: This book is "a delightful combination of romance, suspense, comedy, with some deeper themes thrown into the mix. This book follows the events from the first book, which features Knox and Naomi, but you don't have to have read that book to enjoy or be able to follow this one."
"Things We Hide from the Light" became the hot talk of BookTok, with one avid reader confessing, "Nash Morgan will be my future husband. I will be stealing him from Angelina." If this comment doesn't spike your curiosity, we're not sure what will!
When She Falls by Gabrielle Sands
Hailed as a "sexy, suspenseful, mafia romance series" by an ecstatic 5-star reviewer, "When She Falls" by Gabrielle Sands is a must-read if you're looking for an enemies-to-lovers book with a dark mafia underworld plot where everything is more than meets the eye — and danger lurks around every corner.
"Ras Sorrentino is the underboss of the most powerful clan in the Camorra. He's also chaos, and danger poured into a sleek Italian suit. The first time I met him, I thought he was there to kill me. The second time, I wanted to kill him," protagonist Gemma Gorzolo declares in the book's official synopsis. She reluctantly agrees to an arranged marriage with another New York don, aiming to unite their families and bring stability to the city amid a gang war. However, during her sister's wedding to another mafia don, she encounters the maddeningly charming Ras, a 30-year-old underboss she met months ago. Despite their strong romantic connection, Gemma's compelled to marry another man within weeks, leading to an unexpected journey of intrigue and potential conflict in New York's underworld.
Sexy, spicy, and emotional, this enemies-to-lovers story will definitely become a Kindle "offer you can't refuse," as one reviewer put it. With over 4,000 ratings on Amazon, over 6,000 ratings on Goodreads, and 4.4 and 4.1 stars, respectively, this love-hate mafia tale will make you fall in love with the trope repeatedly.
The Broken Protector by Nicole Snow
"The Broken Protector" by Nicole Snow is a beautifully written enemies-to-lovers romance that has a bit of a suspenseful kick to it — and it won't fail to please mystery enthusiasts and romance aficionados alike. Delilah Clarendon, seeking a fresh start from a stalking ex-boyfriend in New York City, lands her dream K-4 teaching job in a small North Carolina town. Excitement turns to shock when she discovers a dead woman in her new home, triggering an unexpected police investigation led by hot lieutenant Lucas Graves. As the quiet town is rattled by the discovery, Delilah finds herself in the middle of the investigation, and Lucas finds himself caught up in the mystery involving two intriguing women — one alive and one dead.
And if you think that the book follows the soapy plot of a small-town cop investigating a crime and falling in love in the process, you'd better think again because this is not your average cliché romance book. "This book was so unexpected. I was expecting the overprotective cop romance, but this was so much more. It was intense and scary. With many triggers such as kidnapping, murder, serial killers, and stalkers," said a riveted Amazon reviewer who gave the book 5 stars.
With over 7,000 ratings on Amazon and an average of 4.3 stars, "The Broken Protector" will definitely have you hooked on this genre. Plus, with so many twists and turns, it surely becomes an easy segue from mystery thrillers to romantic books.
Enemies to Lovers by Portia MacIntosh
It was only appropriate to include a book titled "Enemies to Lovers" in our enemies-to-lovers list, especially since the book has received an average rating of 4.1 stars on Amazon. Bestselling author Portia MacIntosh gives us a delightful, summery book that is "hilarious," according to readers. So, if you're looking for a lighter, funnier version of the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, then this book should certainly rise to the occasion.
As fierce competitors in the world of showbiz reporting, Lara and Sonny are perpetually engaged in a battle for supremacy. However, their professional rivalry takes an unexpected turn when their editors force them to collaborate and go incognito at an exclusive celebrity retreat. The catch? They must pose as a couple undergoing therapy to seamlessly blend in. Could this tropical island escape be a nightmare in the making? And can a week of working together under the sun spark something other than fake romance?
Less than a month after its publication on January 24, 2024, the book has already measured more than 400 reviews. "Found this book on Kindle Unlimited and decided to take a chance. It kept me chuckling out loud at the antics of the characters. Even the secondary characters were highly relatable," wrote one satisfied reviewer. Meanwhile, another wrote, "Once Lara and Sonny got on the plane for their assignment, I was hooked. Hilarious interactions, an evil therapist, crazy tests, and, of course, happily ever after."
Tell Me to Stop by Charlotte Byrd
No list of enemies-to-lovers books would be complete without a billionaire in the equation, which is why we've selected "Tell Me to Stop" by Charlotte Byrd. Money makes the world go around, but can money buy love? If there's one thing that the movie "Indecent Proposal" has taught us, it's that there's a price for everything. But not for Olive. Even though she's forced to pay off her debt to a man she doesn't even know, she swears that he can't buy her.
Ultimately, if you're looking for a steamy book that will get your heart racing, then this will certainly do. This book from Charlotte Byrd, a bestselling author of over 1.5 million books, has more than 17,000 reviews and an average rating of 4 stars on Amazon. Readers hail the book as "addictive and impossible to put down," and with comments like "decadent, delicious, & dangerously addictive," the book emerges as a must-read, promising an irresistible combination of passion, intrigue, and sheer excitement. But be warned! This book is part one of a three-part series, so if you're looking for a standalone book, this may not be for you. As reviewers say, once you finish this one, you will hurry on to buy the second just to find out what happens next.
How we selected the books on our list
Before making our list, we scoured BookTok to uncover what fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope are actually reading, and we picked books that appeared in several videos to create our initial list. We then took to Amazon to check the star rating of each book — anything with less than 4 stars was removed from the list.
Obviously, the enemies-to-lovers trope is a general umbrella, and not every book that falls under it reads the same (think comedy books, action books, and even thrillers that touch on the love-hate trope). So, we sorted the remaining books from the primary list under different sub-genres. We wanted our final enemies-to-lovers trope list to include sub-genres like romcom, mystery, crime, suspense, and action stories. We made sure to pick one from each category to cater to different reader preferences, sexy mafia boss and cheeky hot billionaire included.
All the selected books have earned an average rating of 4 stars or higher, and most are either bestsellers or written by bestselling authors. Ultimately, we aimed to offer a diverse collection that would appeal to a wide range of readers within the enemies-to-lovers theme. And since our goal was to make you a fan of the trope, we carefully curated our list to ensure that at least one book would pique your interest enough to start reading it.