Top 10 enemies to lovers romance novels.
- spicybookconnisseu
- Mar 29, 2021
- 11 min read
My top 10 enemies to lovers romance recommendations.
Welcome to the Spicy Book Connoisseur! these are my top ten enemies to lovers romance novel recommendations. This list is straight up real world romance ( I'll have another list for fantasy). I have read and enjoyed each book and they range from cute fluffy couples to domineering a-hole bosses and the women struggling to tame them( a little...). Enjoy!
Number 1.
The Hating Game By Sally Thorne.
This book is great. Its funny, romantic, witty, stylish and has some seriously steamy moments, The story centres around the tumultuous office relationship between Lucy and Joshua Tempelmen.
Spending 50-60 hours a week with each other confined to the office their working relationship has turned into a game of constant one-up man ship that Joshua mostly wins. It doesn't help that the man is positively gorgeous and has never done anything but look down his nose at Lucy( literally because she's tiny). Needles to say things eventually unravel throughout the book and Lucy is forced to ask herself if hate is really the strongest emotion she feels for Joshua or is it something entirely different?
This book illustrates the very fine line between love and hate and I cannot recommend it enough! I binged the whole thing in a day.
You can find it here to purchase:
Number 2.
The Unhoneymooners. by Christina Lauren,
The Unhoneymooners is as unconventional at the title suggests. The story revolves around ever unlucky olive, her identical twin Ami, Ami's dirtbag fiancé and his brother Ethan, Olive's sworn enemy.
Blurb:
Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.
Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.
Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of... lucky.
I absolutely loved this book. Its more of a slow burn in my opinion but certainly does not lack fireworks, There is lots of tension between the characters, both sexual and well, plain old rage. Loved it.
9/10 .
you can purchase the book here:
Number 3
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata.
This ones an oldie but a goodie for me. Honestly I'd say I've read it about three times. Its definitely a slow burn but the build up leads to fireworks. Its more of an emotional read then some others on the list but the sexual tension is palpable between the two main characters.
Vanessa is a struggling graphic designer living in a crappy part of town and Aiden is a pro footballer at the top of his game in need of an assistant, or live in slave as Vanessa likes to think of herself. The story kicks off with Vanessa handing in her walking papers and Aiden trying to win her back, albeit in the strong silent way. Vanessa initially refuses to go back until Aiden reveals the real reason he needs her. He is a Canadian citizen and his visa is about to expire unless he marries an American and this is where Vanessa enters the picture. I don't want to give the whole story away so I'll leave it at that and give you the blurb below!
Blurb:
Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.
But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.
For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.
What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?
This was a long read but a great one. Misunderstandings, sexual tension, romance and a beautiful brooding leading man.
Rating ; 8/10
Buy it here:
Number 4.
Midnight Blue by L.J. Shen
So, we have your typical tattooed, sex on a stick, uncontrollable rocker Alex Winslow and the poor woman assigned to keep him on the straight and narrow Indigo Bellamy. This is an enemies to lovers, opposites attract book and the chemistry is on another level between these characters. They have a very rocky start, Indigo eventually becomes Alex's muse but Alex has his own demons and Indigo might not be able for the fight.
Blurb:
It should have been easy.
I needed the money. He needed a babysitter to keep him from snorting himself to death.
I was cherry-picked especially for him. Responsible. Optimistic. Warm. Innocent.
The worst part is that I should have known better.
Alex Winslow. British rock star. Serial heartbreaker. Casanova with whiskey eyes.
“Don’t get near the devil in a leather jacket. He’ll chew you up and spit you out.”
Guess what? I didn’t listen.
I signed the contract.
World tour. Three months. Four Continents. One hundred shows.
My name is Indigo Bellamy, and I sold my soul to a tattooed god.
Problem was, my soul wasn’t enough for Alex Winslow. He ended up taking my body, too.
Then he took my heart.
Then he took my all.
L.J. Shen strikes again with another sexy read. I really enjoyed this, it was the first Rockstar/enemies trope book I have come across. It grabs your attention and keeps it with the rocky relationship between the two.
Rating: 7/10
You can purchase it here:
Number 5
99 percent Mine by Sally Thorne.
Now I know this is the second book I've featured by Sally Thorne but I just had to! The sexual tension between the lead characters is off the scale in this book! Sally Thorne may be a new master of enemies to lovers and if you are a fan of the trope you have to read this.
The story centres around free spirited wild woman Darcy and her childhood friend/brothers friend Tom Valeska. When Darcys grandmother passes away she leaves her old house to Darcy, her brother and Tom who decide to fix it up and sell it. Jamie, Darcys brother recruits Tom who is now a builder to come and fix up the place which leaves Darcy and Tom in very close quarters with old feelings trying to root there way back to the surface.
Blurb:
Crush: a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…
Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. She’s travelled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcy’s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcy’s best efforts, Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. That’s the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age twenty—ever since, she’s had to learn to settle for good enough.
When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, they’re left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property. Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run, she finds a familiar face on her porch: house-flipper extraordinaire Tom’s arrived, he’s bearing power tools, and he’s single for the first time in almost a decade.
Suddenly Darcy’s considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesn’t ruin the cottage’s inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome. She’s definitely not staying because of her new business partner’s tight t-shirts, or that perfect face that's inspiring her to pick up her camera again. Soon sparks are flying—and it’s not the faulty wiring. It turns out one percent of Tom’s heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore. This time around, she’s switching things up. She’s going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers
This was a witty, tension filled, steamy read which I thoroughly enjoyed!
Rating: 7/10
You can purchase it here:
Number 6.
Anything you can do by R,S, Grey.
Did someone say sexy doctor love hate romance? Yes? Great. This is exactly the book your looking for. An enemies to lovers, childhood rivalry, sexy doctor, small town romance all in one place. This was a fun read with two equally prickly lead characters.
Blurb:
Lucas Thatcher has always been my enemy.
It’s been a decade since I’ve seen him, but our years on opposite coasts were less of a lasting peace and more of a temporary cease-fire. Now that we’re both back in our small town, I know Lucas expects the same old war, but I’ve changed since high school—and from the looks of it, so has he.
The arrogant boy who was my teenage rival is now a chiselled doctor armed with intimidating good looks. He is Lucas Thatcher 2.0, the new and improved version I’ll be competing with in the workplace instead of the schoolyard.
I’m not worried; I’m a doctor now too, board-certified and sexy in a white coat. It almost feels like winning will be too easy—until Lucas unveils a tactic neither of us has ever used before: sexual warfare.
The day he pushes me up against the wall and presses his lips to mine, I can’t help but wonder if he’s filling me with passion or poison. Every fleeting touch is perfect torture. With every stolen kiss, my walls crumble a little more. After all this time, Lucas knows exactly how to strip me of my defences, but I’m in no hurry to surrender.
Knowing thy enemy has never felt so good.
This was a really nice read, nothing to heavy and had two thoroughly entertaining personalities with plenty of steamy scenes!
Rating: 8/10
Buy it here:
Number 7.
Vicious. (Sinners of Saint #1)
This is a Bully romance first and foremost which morphs into an office/bad boss romance. I love it. Its rough around the edges all out enemies to lovers and being honest, I read one and then I went off and read the whole damn series. Now, Vicious is by no means a literary masterpiece but its mean, dirty, sexy and exactly what you want in an enemies to lovers book.
Blurb:
Emilia
They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true. The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares. He is a brilliant lawyer. A skilled criminal. A beautiful liar. A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover.
Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him.
Vicious
She is a starving artist. Pretty and evasive like cherry blossom. Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down. She paid the price.
Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate. That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t. So she hates me. Big fucking deal. She better get used to me.
Steamy, tension filled bully romance perfect for late night reading..
Rating: 7/10
Buy it here:
Number 8.
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas.
Penelope Douglas is a master of steamy books which is why I had to add her to this list. Although this book is a y/a enemies to lovers it really hits all the right notes. Its steamy, angsty and has more then a few twists.
Blurb:
"We were perfect together. Until we met."
Misha
I can’t help but smile at the words in her letter. She misses me.
In fifth grade, my teacher set us up with pen pals from a different school. Thinking I was a girl, with a name like Misha, the other teacher paired me up with her student, Ryen. My teacher, believing Ryen was a boy like me, agreed.
It didn’t take long for us to figure out the mistake. And in no time at all, we were arguing about everything. The best take-out pizza. Android vs. iPhone. Whether or not Eminem is the greatest rapper ever…
And that was the start. For the next seven years, it was us.
Her letters are always on black paper with silver writing. Sometimes there’s one a week or three in a day, but I need them. She’s the only one who keeps me on track, talks me down, and accepts everything I am.
We only had three rules. No social media, no phone numbers, no pictures. We had a good thing going. Why ruin it?
Until I run across a photo of a girl online. Name’s Ryen, loves Gallo’s pizza, and worships her iPhone. What are the chances?
F*ck it. I need to meet her.
I just don’t expect to hate what I find.
Ryen
He hasn’t written in three months. Something’s wrong. Did he die? Get arrested? Knowing Misha, neither would be a stretch.
Without him around, I’m going crazy. I need to know someone is listening. It’s my own fault. I should've gotten his number or picture or something.
He could be gone forever.
Or right under my nose, and I wouldn’t even know it.
This was a page turner. Douglas knows how to write sexual tension and she did not fail to impress. this is an enemies to lovers tale of wanting something so wrong for you that it has to be right.
Rating: 8/10
Buy it here:
Number 9.
The Kiss Thief by L.J Shen.
Did someone say arranged marriage, mafia romance , enemies to lovers romance? no? well here it is anyway, please enjoy.
Blurb:
They say your first kiss should be earned.
Mine was stolen by a devil in a masquerade mask under the black Chicago sky.
They say the vows you take on your wedding day are sacred.
Mine were broken before we left church.
They say your heart only beats for one man.
Mine split and bled for two rivals who fought for it until the bitter end.
I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit.
Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage.
They say that all great love stories have a happy ending.
I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter.
One kiss.
Two men.
Three lives.
Entwined together.
And somewhere between these two men, I had to find my forever.
I Hadn't delved into the mafia romance trope before but i found this to be a really great mish mash of enemies to lovers/mafia romance. This is a sexy, steamy read, enjoy!
Rating: 7/10
Buy it here:
Number 10.
Bully by Penelope Douglas.
This is a real enemies to lovers/ Bully romance novel. I really felt the genuine distaste from each of the leads for one another along with a healthy dose of fear from our heroine. This is a y/a dark romance between bright blonde Tate and her brooding ex-childhood friend Jared. It's angsty, sexy and dark.
Blurb:
My name is Tate. He doesn't call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all. No, he'll barely even speak to me.
But he still won't leave me alone.
We were best friends once. Then he turned on me and made it his mission to ruin my life. I've been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to stay out of his way. I even went to France for a year, just to avoid him.
But I'm done hiding from him now, and there's no way in hell I'll allow him to ruin my senior year. He might not have changed, but I have. It's time to fight back.
I'm not going to let him bully me anymore.
Rating 8/10
Buy it here:
And that rounds up my current top 10 enemies to lovers romance novels! Honestly I could add many more but I decided to narrow it down a little but don't worry I'll be making more lists! If you have any suggestions/recommendations please leave them in the comments below!
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