Everybody was raving about it but this has to be my biggest disappointment of the year so far.

To be fair, it’s probably only written for dramione fans.

In my opinion, The urge to fall for your enemy wanted to be funny and failed dramatically. The dialogues are cringy and the penis jokes superfluous.
On the other hand, the world building is lacking and the characters particularly bland.

It might just be a case of it’s not you it’s me case but I disliked every aspect of it.

Oh. My. God. That slowburn was absolutely DELICIOUS! Good slow burn is so hard to do. You have to maintain the tension but giving in too soon can ruin it all. You also can't be too slow or not have the tension, otherwise it gets boring. Brigette Knightley manages it perfectly. The tension is there from the first interaction, and builds oh so slowly. It's tantalizing! The world felt a little confusing at first, but you learn a lot throughout the story and it makes more sense as you go along. The magic system was cool and I liked the way each person had their own 'cost'.
The characters were so cool. Osric is such a force and I love how sassy he is. Very Dorian a la TOG. Aurienne is a badass. She works herself so hard and cares so much. She hides it behind her prickly exterior, but I can't wait to see more of her heart in the next book.
Overall, one of my favorites of the year so far. I am so excited and can't wait to find a beautiful copy to buy.
Thank you so much Berkley, Ace, and Netgalley for the ARC.

From the start something about the story and the voice felt so nostalgic. It has a lot of elements that makes fanfic so addictive with A+ banter and so. much. pining. This consistent denial of how they feel despite how they slowly became closer to one another was ADDICTIVE! The writing is so skillfully done. It is poetic when it needs to be and hysterically funny just when you want it most. Overall, this was a fun and unputdownable read

Infinite thanks to Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy!!

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy was one of my MOST anticipated reads for 2025 and it did not disappoint.
This published work is not the reworked fanfic from AO3, HOWEVER, Brigitte kept the dramione fans fed with the Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the work. 💖🕶️💍🐈‍⬛
TIUTFFYE follows Aurienne Fairhhrim (woman in STEM) and Osric Mordaunt (assassin-for-hire), sworn enemies by their respective Orders. The two strike a deal by way of money, lots of it, and a firm nudging from Aurienne’s superior. The forementioned money is intended to fund pox vaccinations in exchange for Aurienne’s expertise in healing Seith degeneration (part of their corporal magic system) in Osric. As you can guess much forced proximity ensues. Similarly to DMATMOOBIL, the pairing follow the moon cycles hoping there is some truth in the old ways that may perhaps heal Osric. All the while, trouble is brewing from another Tīendom as suspicions arise around the pox research and the mysterious donation to the cause.

Enter with caution: serious slow burn and enemies to slightly less enemies inside.

Do not be confused—this is not a romantasy, but moreso a STEM romcom within a fantasy setting. The banter and humor is top notch and scratched the most delicious itch in my brain. The best way I can describe the vibes and humor is an amalgamation of The Princess Bride, Monty Python & A Knight’s Tale. LOTS of cheeky, naughty jokes as well!

I absolutely devoured this book. I felt like it was written for me. A lil nurse who loves a good slow burn enemies to lovers with the absolute perfect balance of humor, banter and plot.

All that to say I had no idea it was based off a popular fanfic. I love it even more now.

This book is everything I want romantasy to be. The gaslamp fantasy world was really cool—I would have loved to just spend more time in it!— and the characters were so distinct and sharp-witted. The enemies-to-lovers plot was ACTUALLY enemies-to-lovers and ACTUALLY deliciously slowburn. There's equal focus on the larger plots and the emotional journey for the characters, instead of the genre's tendency to focus on one over the other. And the book itself is really funny! I snickered out loud multiple times while reading, and that really makes this book stick out from the rest. The writing style is going to stick with me for a very long time, and I think it will do the same to everyone else who reads this. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Well written with interesting world building in an alternate history Britain, this slow burn enemies to lovers novel has an interesting and novel magic system and relatable characters. The author plays with the well worn trope in a tongue in cheek manner. I am breathlessly waiting for the next installment.

Unfortunately, this book fell a bit flat for me. I think due to the origins of this story, aka a fan fiction, it was undeveloped overall. There was no prior magic system that I could use to form my understanding as it had to become it's own original work separate from Harry Potter. I appreciated having the world-building explained to me but I would have preferred that that happen over the course of the story rather than on a separate explanation page.

The romance was the best part of the story, though extremely slow burn. Osric was funny, witty, and charming and his banter with Aurienne was so entertaining. The scenes where Aurienne is nursing Osric back to health after suffering a stab wound are so adorable, the fact that she hasn't accepted how much she cares about him really gets me. I enjoyed the characters together but the general plotline of the story was kinda boring in the beginning. It got repetitive with the consistent full-moon tests to try and heal Osric's condition. I wish that there was more explanation for the Old Ways magic system surrounding these scenes.

Generally, I feel like the romance was really endearing and seeing Osric grow to really adore his Means to an End was special. Despite how interesting the magic system could be, it fell short for me in its lack of development overall. I am hoping to see world-building a bit more flushed out in the second book in this duology. I'll definitely be reading and this was a solid debut!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prepublication with an ARC!

One of my most anticipated releases of 2025 WOOHOO!!

I feel like I have to start by clarifying that this is not Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love that was simply pulled for traditional publishing with names and places swapped. Brigitte Knightly wrote a completely new story and dmatmoobil is still on a03 for download because of this reason.

That being said, you can absolutely feel brushstrokes of that fic in The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy. Knightly’s humor remains incomparable. The characterization of Osric (and even Aurienne) definitely leans Dramione coded. There are even a few lines that might make your brain tingle in recognition. BUT this is a fresh story and it deserves to be treated as such. With that, let’s get into it. :)

Aurienne is a magical healer of the most upright principles. Osric is an assassin for hire, with ostensibly no morals to speak of. When Osric finds himself in need of medical care, Aurienne seems to be the only one capable of helping him. In the face of her abject refusal to heal him, Osric grasps for the only leverage left in his arsenal (after sincere attempts at seduction & kidnapping of course). That is, bribery in the form of “funding” for the deadly and mysterious Pox that’s sweeping the Tiendoms in which Osric and Aurienne’s enemy Orders live. Without any other options, Aurienne’s hand is forced into aiding a man who represents everything she despises….so fine I’ll say it: it’s ENEMIES TO LOVERS LADIES.

The humor/ banter in this story, is unlike anything I’ve read anywhere else. It’s incredibly smart and witty. The academic / STEM lean to it is probably why I’m seeing The Love Hypothesis comps. The humor is also frankly, utterly ridiculous and over the top. I can see how if one didn’t lean into it, it might be “too much” but luckily for me I was very entertained by the constant quips. At one point I worried that our two love interests were never going to have an actual conversation where they didn’t spew increasingly hilarious / immature / brilliant insults at each other, but eventually the banter does cool and genuine connection takes root. (if anyone thinks that’s a spoiler I urge you to consider that this is a romance)

On the romance note, we’ve got a slow burn on our hands and the worst thing about this story is that it ended because what do you mean?? I need the rest of it immediatelYY. Aurienne matches Osric bar for bar and in fact I believe total evisceration might just be her love language. Fortunately Osric’s receiving love language is being insulted. It’s sublime. I do actually wish this has just been one chonky standalone though, call me greedy but I know what isthisselfcare brings to the table.

All in all is a very strong 4 star to me. I love banter but I did find myself struggling to feel grounded in the actual story/ plot at times. In general some moments probably could have been toned down for over all comprehensibility.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Wow- I just turned the last page, and have no idea what to do with myself! This book completely pulled me in— sharp, immersive, and so well-crafted that I never wanted it to end. The chemistry between the main characters was undeniable, their push-and-pull dynamic impossible to resist. Every interaction crackled with humor, wit, and just the right amount of tension.

The world-building was rich, the magic system felt fresh, and the character development was flawless. The slow burn? Absolutely worth it, perfect even. Can't wait for book 2 (and the wait WILL be worth it). Watching them navigate challengers, their undeniable connection, and the "he falls first" trope made every moment even more satisfying. The crème de la resistance was definitely that our FMC was a STEM heroine.

The final stretch of the book flew by too fast — I wasn't ready to say goodbye! I'll really be counting down the days until I can get my hands on the physical copy of this book.

Enemies, Assassins, and Unresolved Sexual Tension—Oh My!

If you love your fantasy romance with a side of we-should-kill-each-other-but-let’s-make-out-instead, then The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley is about to be your next obsession. This book takes the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, throws in an assassin with a very inconvenient illness, a morally conflicted healer, and an increasingly dire medical mystery, and just lets them suffer. In the best way, of course.

Osric Mordaunt is the kind of brooding, deadly love interest that makes you roll your eyes and swoon simultaneously—because yes, he’s a member of a ruthless assassin order, but he’s also not immune to disease or the healer who begrudgingly saves his life. And Aurienne? She’s sharp, determined, and so over this smug assassin breaking into her workspace and throwing money at her problems. Their chemistry? Absolutely combustible. The banter? Dripping with tension. The denial? Deliciously painful.

Knightley balances the slow-burn romance with a genuinely compelling plot—because on top of the whole assassin falling for the enemy healer thing, there’s also a mysterious outbreak of a long-forgotten Pox that maybe shouldn’t even exist anymore. The stakes are high, the pacing is tight, and every interaction between Osric and Aurienne makes you want to scream “just kiss already” while knowing that when they finally do, it’ll be so worth the wait.

If you love fantasy romance with sharp-tongued leads, reluctant alliances, and enough tension to power a small city, this is the book for you.

“Pspsps”

This book was amazing, as I expected from Brigitte. I loved the characters and relationship building, we love a snarky king. It was so interesting to learn this new magic system.

I’m a huge fan of the coworkers/forced proximity tropes/ETL, so this was right up my alley. The ending had me absolutely begging for more!

I do wish there was a bit more world building at the beginning. There is a glossary of terms, but I found myself having to back to the beginning a few times before it stuck.

So happy to receive an ARC copy of this book. I highly HIGHLY recommend. Brigitte is so great at writing pining, longing and humour filled banter. (And that cover art is gorgeous)

I've gone back and forth so many times on how I might even start to review this book, but I'm going to bite the bullet and give it a shot.

Okay. So, full disclosure, I am a huge fan of Brigitte Knightley's fanfic (it's my all-time, no contest fave, and I have read A LOT of fanfic), and I think that definitely had an impact on my reading experience and my feelings about this book. I was engrossed in the story, and liked both the main characters, and was eager to resume reading every time I was forced to put the book down, but upon reflection, I think I went into this book wanting to love it. Had I not had a predisposition to want to like this book, unfortunately, I don't think I would have been as invested.

Let's begin with the good. Our two leads were well-rounded and had compelling arcs (or at least, the seeds were sown for compelling arcs - more on that in a bit). I liked that they were proper enemies before you got the first faint hints of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Their banter was delicious to read, and I laughed out loud (literally ha) quite a few times. I thought the magic system was unique, and the world-building was interesting. The inclusion of the map did a lot to make the world feel more real.

And that's pretty much it? I liked this book, but I'm struggling to articulate why.

The areas that could have been improved, unfortunately, are much easier to pin down. The characters are heavily dramione-coded, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but might have contributed to my affinity for them. The supporting characters were largely flat. The magic system, which was interesting, needed to be far more fleshed out. In terms of the love story (because this is, after all, a romance) was EXTREMELY slow-burn. Kiss already, for the love of god. The amount of dick and ball jokes was... excessive. I love a dick and ball joke, but the ratio was definitely off here.

Despite the author saying this wasn't a reworking of their fanfic, there were some pretty strong similarities. That's not necessarily a bad thing (again, my ALL-TIME FAVE), but I was just surprised.

Overall, I think my review might have been tinged by the weirdly sudden ending. I knew this was the first part of a duology when I started reading, but I legit thought I was missing the second half of the book when I finished it (still not sure I wasn't lol - did I get a faulty ebook file??). If it was meant to end where it did, that was a bad choice. No mincing words here. Very little meaningful plot-wise happened in the book, and I'm disappointed that neither the plot nor the relationship any real forward momentum.

So yeah. An odd one to review. I will absolutely read book two, but I wish I loved this more. A 3.5, rounded up to a 4 star for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing a digital arc of this title for review purposes

Wow. What beautiful prose! This really is a slow burn to end all slow burns (just my cup of tea). The banter between Aurienne and Osric is delightful. A true enemies-to-lovers book is so rare to find nowadays, but Knightley succeeds here--she really makes us (and Aurienne and Osric!) work for it. The worldbuilding is easy to follow and the mystery subplot kept me on the edge of my seat. I am particularly obsessed with how the prose and descriptions of Aurienne and Osric's relationship mimic the ideas of between spaces and crossroads that Aurienne needs to heal Osric. I cannot wait to see how the second book plays out. Honestly I think my only critique is that I didn't realize this was a duology until the last quarter of the book! I'm very excited for the sequel and equally as excited to recommend this to my patrons. 10/10 well done.

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: DMATMOOBIL was my first Dramione fanfiction I ever read, and it sucked me into the most amazing universe. This book, while similar to the fanfic, feels completely new, and it's its own entity (which is the whole point!), and I am absolutely in love. I was slightly confused about the magic system at first, but the more I read, the more it explained everything. My only issue is that it ended 😭 this easily could've been one long book, and I would've loved every bit of it. But alas, i have to wait an ungodly amount of time for the next one 😭 I'm beyond jealous of those who got the physical ARCs because I know I'll never even be in the same room with it. But I am so lucky to have been able to read it, and I can't thank the publishers @penguinrandomhouse enough for this HUGE honor.

This book was unreadable. The prose is so painfully overwraught I had a hard time understanding what was going on. It read like the author had a thesaurus open in a second window and would just substitute any multisyllabic synonym they could find.
The magic system was made even more complicated by the fact that nothing was easily or clearly explained.

I would give this book zero stars, if possible.

4.5*

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy was delightfully ridiculous and hilariously vulgar, with impeccable banter and a slow burn to end all slow burns (I mean it, it's SLOW!). A true enemies-to-lovers story where the characters actually despised each other and were not afraid to say so.

The humor was absolutely bonkers, and though I don't know that it will be everyone's taste, it had me cackling throughout the entire story! I don't remember the last time a book made me laugh so much.

Aurienne and Osric both had some of the wittiest one-liners and comebacks. Aurienne's wit was dry as hell, which I adored! Osric was just so full of himself, and I loved him to pieces.

The world felt well-realized, and was easy to picture. The plot kept a good pace and had me intrigued. The characters were without a doubt why this book was such a fun romp of story that I genuinely could not put down!

The writing was so good too. Between the vulgarity (truly, some it of had me screaming "HA! WTF!") and the dry wit, there were some genuinely beautiful moments and quotes. Going through all my highlights will be an adventure to say the least.. One second you'll be reading something outrageously funny, then you'll get hit with such a beautiful sentence or scene!!

i’m just gonna sit here, upset about how long i need to wait for the next book!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced e-book reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley was A LOT funnier that I thought is was going to be. Each chapter has its own title in which I laughed out loud before reading what was going to happen. The haters to lovers relationship between Aurienne and Osric is funny, a slow burn, and slightly tragically forbidden. The spice level is fairly mild compared to other books in this same genre but it was still enjoyable! I really appreciated the dual perspectives in the book as well as the medical type world it is set in. Looking forward to reading the next book!

A magical enemies to lover slow burn masterpiece.

What dreams are made of.

I laughed OUT LOUD (which is so rare) over a dozen times.

WHEN DO I GET MORE?!

Ok but really, it was so good. I will say it did take me a second to get into the book as it’s written different than a lot of fantasy that I have read recently. But I’m obsessed with the magic system and the chemistry. Excellent 💗

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

I was lucky enough to read this author’s works before (although it isn’t a true “rewrite” of a certain story, there are some glimmers that carry over), and I was so curious to see the shift to traditional publishing. When I say I’ve been READY for this, I mean it! I preordered as soon as possible, and let out a (quite horrible) shriek when I got approved for the ARC.

Let me put any concerns to rest: this was a work of ART.

The world building was phenomenal. I was drawn in by the magic system, the different Orders and their abilities, and just the world itself. I never felt like the lore was being “dumped” on me as a reader — which I know is sometimes unavoidable in fantasy novels but I tend to personally hate. Everything unfolded easily and left me wanting more; from learning more about the Tiendoms (kingdoms) themselves, to the dynamic between Aurienne and Osric (AHHHHH).

If you live for a good enemies-to-lovers slow burn that actually burns slow instead of one that has the aforementioned enemies becoming lovers a few chapters in, you MUST read The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy. If you live for witty writing and snarky characters, beautiful imagery and clever magic, you will absolutely love this. You want twists? Brigitte Knightley delivers. You want a book that leaves you desperate for the sequel as soon as you finish the last page? THIS IS IT.

I could not recommend this book any harder.