I feel like we were so close with this one, but didn't quite reach the mark for me. I want to give this another try in the future, thank you for the chance to read.

Gah, I wanted to love this, knowing it was from a Dramonie fanfic getting traditionally published, I was hoping it would hold up. Unfortunately, there was no world-building, it's 100 pages too long, and I found a lot of the dialogue really cringey.

This book is an entertaining and fast-paced enemies to lovers. The banter is on point and the slow realization of attraction to one another is believable with the characters' personalities. My only complaint is that I didn't realize it was a duology when I picked it up and now have to wait for the next book.

Fantasy books like this are why I read. The magic, the battles, the betrayals, and the love story all came together beautifully. I laughed, I worried, and I rooted for the characters with everything I had. Such an addictive and HILARIOUS read.

Similarly to another repurposed fanfic, I could not find ANY worldbuilding in this book. Maybe if I'd read the original fic, i'd love it, but this was just NOT IT.

Publishers - please stop putting out books that need SEVERAL more rounds of edits!!

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for YOur Enemy is a silly raunchy story that I feel like anyone could enjoy. The characters are silly and relatable, though it does take a little while for me to find them likeable. That being said, the book is well wrote and interesting.

While I wasn’t sure if this story was for me, I learned in the end that it was. It opened my eyes to something that I may interested in reading more books like this in the future.

I’m not sure why but this book just didn’t hold my attention the way I expected it to. It was just very lackluster but I’m not sure if it’s because I read it after some fantastic 6 star reads? I actually put it down for a few months and recently picked it back up for that reason.

For all the hype about this being Dramione, I barely saw it in this brand new and strange world that Knightley has put together. The new sigils and not-houses were so interesting and the dynamic between the two was properly enemies though. I really look forward to part two!

When I first requested this book (immediately, the moment I saw it), I had no idea it was loosely based on Dramoine Harry Potter fanfiction. Honestly, if I had known, I might have hesitated—but I’m glad I didn’t, because I had so much fun with it.

To be clear, I stand firmly against JK Rowling, and some of the marketing made me uncomfortable. The Dramoine ship was never my thing, even during my peak Potterhead days—it’s a dynamic that comes with a lot of baggage. But the important thing is this: this book does not feel like Harry Potter. I actually think it’s a shame it was marketed that way, because it stands strong on its own. I could easily see it becoming a cult favorite if readers came to it without that association. The writing is quirky and sharp, often reminding me of The Princess Bride in both tone and humor.

The only real hiccup I had was with the worldbuilding. It felt like I had been dropped into a setting that had already been explained elsewhere. That would make sense if it were Potter-adjacent, but it isn’t. Once I found my footing, though, the world became intriguing in its own right.

I’d recommend this to anyone who loves the enemies-to-lovers trope, especially in a fantasy context. What really sets it apart is that the main characters aren’t just pretending to be enemies while secretly harboring crushes—they are truly at odds, which makes the eventual romance all the more satisfying. I’m excited to see what Brigitte Knightley does next, and I hope future marketing lets these stories stand without leaning on Harry Potter comparisons.

WHAT A UNIQUE ADVENTURE THIS WAS! I don't think I've read a story quite like this one before, but I did have fun with Brigitte's writing

3.75 ⭐️

Idk I have mixed feelings! I really loved the characters and the writing style. I adored the banter and the humor was so fun. But overall, I just didn’t feel connected to the story. I feel like we were kinda all over the place and we dragged at points that didn’t need so much attention. The ending was very abrupt so I don’t feel like this book ever hit a climax. I do still think I’ll read the next one though!

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy was such a fun read. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.
I enjoyed this new magical world that was blended with medical knowledge. The characters were fun and Osric's POV made me laugh so many times. This book has it all... political intrigue, humor, mystery, angsty romance, and magic. I definitely recommend this book to any fellow enjoyers of enemies to lovers trope in a fantasy setting. It wasn’t obnoxious, just fun. I enjoyed the pacing of the book as well.

The characters whose names I am probably pronouncing entirely wrong are so funny and their chemistry is so on brand for a science/stabby duo. The pacing was easy to read and relatable. The plot kept thickening and made me feel like I am going through a high-speed chase and my heart was racing. It's so critical to feel the relationship blossoming as you can read it.
The writing was so poetic at times, and I really felt like this was fae mixed with Star Wars mixed with the love hypothesis.

Perfect if you love:
Stem!!!!!! Science is Cool!
Assassins are stAbby
Forced Proximity
Who hurt you? I might hurt you and love you (enemies to lovers)
High interaction Slow burn
He falls first and harder
She saves him from falling on his heart
Laugh out Loud
Evisceration is a love language
Hypercompetent idiots

How is this a debut novel? This author invested years into book, and I adored it! Great cover art! The name of the novel and book 2 ahhhh! send it my way! Thank you so much to the author, the publisher Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for this arc!

I’m beginning my review by clarifying that I didn’t read Brigitte Knightley’s Draco and Hermione fan fiction story before reading this book. I didn’t even read the HP books, except for the first two, because once I saw the movies, I couldn’t read the books. Actually, when the books were first released, I was in my early teens and I was too obsessed with vampires, thanks to Anne Rice and the TV shows and movies, to care about HP at the time.

Now, with that out of the way, I could see the similarities of The Irresistible Urge of Falling for Your Enemy to HP, but it wasn’t like it at all, if that makes sense. My primary reason for reading this book was that it had an Enemies to Lovers storyline, and that is one trope I will never pass up, plus the cover drew me into reading. I also enjoy finding new authors to read, and Brigitte Knightley is a new author to me.

A little bit about the story before going into what I liked and didn’t like. The MMC, Osric Mordaunt, needs help after becoming ill, and he needs a healer asap. The only one who can help him is Aurienne Fairhrim, but the issue is that neither one trusts the other, especially since Osric is an assassin who unalives people for a living. The more time they spend together trying to figure out a cure for Osric, the more feelings get involved, even though they are trying not to fall for one another.

Now, my thoughts about this book and what I liked and didn’t like. The book is marketed as a Romantasy, but while reading, it reminded me of a Steampunk Romance, which I didn’t mind. I loved getting to know the characters, especially since they hate each other at first and are opposites. Their constant back-and-forth banter was entertaining, and it definitely stuck with the Enemies to Lovers storyline. The romance develops slowly, but the back-and-forth banter kept me engaged. Just don’t expect anything between Aurienne and Osric until the very end.

The main issue I had while starting this book is that I felt I should know what was going on already, since it seemed the world-building was already established. It left me confused at times, and there were times I had to step away from the book and pick it back up. The pacing also seemed off a times, especially when it came to the characters trying to figure out the cure and other issues coming to the surface, like who actually was the antagonist in the book.

Despite these issues, I give the book 3 stars, and due to the ending, I’m still interested in the next installment. I’m too invested in the characters and finding out what happens next to not read it.

This book is written in British English, so some slang and phrasing are much different from American English, which can be confusing, and you may need an expert to help you. I’ve read books from UK authors before, but there are times I need the expert in my house to help me decipher certain things. My expert is my husband, who was born in Scotland and still watches UK TV shows.

Single/Dual POV: Dual POV

Would I recommend this book? If you enjoyed Brigitte’s fan fiction story, or if you like Romantasy or Steampunk Romance with Enemies to Lovers and Forbidden Romance tropes, this book may be something you enjoy reading.

Audiobook Recommendation: I ended up borrowing the audiobook from Libby and enjoyed the narrators, Heather Long and Thomas Judd, for this book. If you enjoy listening to your books, then I recommend the audiobook for this book.

What to Expect:
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Slow Burn
✔️He Falls First And Harder
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Healer vs. Assassin

I have to admit, this book was hard to get into at first. I wasn't sure if it wanted to be taken seriously or if it was a comedy. Once I let myself to just go along for the ride I was able to appreciate it more. If you are looking for a VERY slow burn Hermoine and Draco fanfiction then this one's for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC.

this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it was not a disappointment!! i enjoyed this whole story and could not put it down!!

I loved this book!! The plot is interesting and it really kept me reading. The characters are flawless. I mean, Osric is hilarious in his completely unhinged self worth! Aurienne is brilliant and so not turned on by his "charms". These two are the quintessential opposites attract, enemies to lovers story. There is the suspense of the illness hanging over Osric's head-can they figure out a cure in time? The romance is super slow burn, but it works in this story. Its so hot to see Osric fall for her and want to burn the world down for her! I just loved everything about this book!

Rating: 4.5⭐️ | Spice: 1.5🌶️ | Audio: 5🎙️
What to Expect:
Fantasy with Romantic Tension
Enemies to Lovers
Assassin x Healer
Shadow Zaddy x Ice Queen
Touch Her and
He Falls First and Hard
Opposites Attract

Thank you so much @prhaudio for this gifted audiobook and @acebookpub for the free book!

“It hadn’t been love at first sight, but at last sight.”

Review Title & Vibes:
{YOU CANNOT RESIST} this was the slowwwest burn flooded with whip smart/ dry humor. I love the diametrically opposed natures of Osric and Aurienne. Assassin for hire, shadow-walking aristocrat vs the upright by-the-book healer extraordinaire. I was entranced by the plot from the very first chapter. The world building was fascinating-blending European locales with fantasy and magic.

Be aware - this one ends on a cliffy, and I’m already frothing at the mouth to find out the conclusion/resolution.

This reads more like a true fantasy with an underlying element of slow burn tension.

Things I Loved:
-The spirit animals - means of communication and comedy.
-The plot, subplot, and sub-subplot - honestly every chapter held me captive with twists and turns.
-The barbed banter and denied chemistry.
-The pet names - the actual names of pets was hilarious.

Audio Notes:
{dual} fantastic performance. The pacing and accents were perfection. Each character voice was distinct and crisp. It was wonderfully cast for the prim and proper Aurienne and smug haughtiness of Osrid.

Recommended to...  
Fantasy readers who live for the slow burn and dramione fanfic lovers.

Narrated by #heatherlong @tjudderman
Produced by @prhaudio

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy was such a fun and quirky read! I pretty much devoured it in a day—it has that addictive, can’t-put-it-down vibe. I loved the banter and tension between Osric and Aurienne, and the whole “healer forced to help her assassin enemy” setup was so entertaining. The mix of reluctant allies + undeniable attraction made for a really enjoyable dynamic.

If I’m being picky, I do wish the worldbuilding and magic system had been fleshed out more—it felt like there was so much potential there that we only skimmed the surface of. But honestly, it didn’t take away from how much fun I had with the story.

If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced, swoony, and a little mischievous, this is a great pick!