My favorite book of the year? I'm calling it now.

It is simply SPECTACULAR, and there's just no other word for it. Brigitte's writing style just sings to me and draws me in in a way nothing else can. Witty, absurd, tense, romantic- it works on so many levels. Sometimes I image that she sat at her computer typing this draft, laughing maniacally at the most ridiculous but engaging lines I have ever read. And I love her all the more for it.

The slow burn WORKS, the chemistry WORKS, the storyline WORKS and there's just something about seeing true loathing slowly make its way toward true love that makes me want to squeal, cry, and shout to the world that THIS!!! THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!!!!

Mordaunt is blatantly flawed, yet so damn charming. Aurienne is really her own worst enemy, arrogant yet struggling internally. (Imagine Draco and Hermione, but like, amped up a few notches). Together, they fuel a tension and a yearning and a chemistry that is so palpable it will make your heart race. The world building and magic system are fun to read, and the "race against" time aspect keeps you on edge, wondering how much time they truly have left to make things happen.

And if you're a fan of DMATMOOBIL, you'll enjoy the subtle easter eggs she throws in. <3

Read it for the:
-slow burn
-race against time
-enemies to lovers
-tension and yearning
-warring groups (Orders)
-mystery
-ridiculous, over-the-top, laugh-out-loud, witty, hilarious, engaging, poetic prose. (Bronte but modern, with a touch of the absurd).

Thank you Berkley, for the ARC!

This was not the book for me. I feel like you could really tell that this was originally a fanfiction. The world building was not really there and it left me confused on how things in this world worked for a pretty long time. Not for me.

Cute, unique, and bingeable! This book was such an easy read, and the idea of an assassin and healer called my name so hard. I cannot wait to see where this story goes in the next book!

My most anticipated book of the year, Brigitte Knightley's THE IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO FALL FOR YOUR ENEMY, far exceeded my expectations. I knew Knightley could write because I devoured her fan-fic Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love over the holidays. Brigitte Knightley's authorial voice is sharp and funny and piercingly beautiful when the plot calls for it, and she nailed the self-absorbed goofiness of her version of Draco Malfoy.

The cover art for Irresistible Urge makes the Dramione connection clear, but the book is not fan-fiction with the intellectual property filed off. It's a completely original romantasy that takes place in a very different magical United Kingdom from the world J.K. Rowling (boo hiss) created. And that's a good thing — I didn't want a Hogwarts retread, and it's such a joy to romp around the English countryside and learn a new magical system.

Knightley's authorial voice sings here, too. Osric Mordaunt and Aurienne Fairhrim are equally brilliant and stubborn hotties who eviscerate each other in pitch-perfect dialogue. Irresistible Urge delivers and then some on enemies-to-lovers tension, humor and longing. I look forward to shoving this book at anyone who asks me for a romantasy recommendation.

An early contender for my favorite book of 2025.

I was so excited to read this but it just wasn't the book for e. I didn't enjoyed the humor ( I found it cringe and uncomfortable), I didn't like the placing and the lack of world building. I didn't enjoyed the couple or the storyline either. I wish I liked this but like I said, it wasn't the right book for me.

This was a cute slow paced fantasy and not at all like what i was expecting. It’s a very slow burn and for a good part of the book I don’t know if i would classify it as heavy fantasy but there is magic and spells and stuff. This is a cozy read with a fmc that is a healer and into STEM research and medicine. I love that aspect so much and how brilliant the fmc was. The mmc is morally grey and technically the villain in the book because he’s a killer and he comes to the fmc to get help with his degenerative disease and see if she can help slow it down.

Right away i loved the banter, there’s that enemies to lovers aspect because of what the mmc does and the fmc is happy to not help him. The world-building isn’t much though, the lore is well explained so i was a bit confused about the mystery element and why people were being killed but i didn’t focus on that. The magic system and fantasy element is clunky. This is a really slow slow burn, there’s tension and banter and both characters get attracted to each other but don’t act on it for a long while. There isn’t much steam but it didn’t need it, the romance worked well and both characters were so cute. I liked the humor and snark it’s not a rom com but the quiet and dry humor worked for me. Thanks to Ace Books for this arc for an honest review.

"The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy," the first book in the Dearly Beloathed Duology by Brigitte Knightley, is a captivating contemporary romance that expertly blends humor, tension, and heartfelt moments. From the very first page, Knightley draws readers into a whirlwind of witty banter and undeniable chemistry between the protagonists, making it impossible to put the book down.

The story revolves around the complicated relationship between the two main characters, whose initial animosity gives way to unexpected feelings, creating a dynamic that is both engaging and relatable. Knightley’s sharp dialogue and well-crafted interactions bring the characters to life, allowing readers to feel the electric tension between them as they navigate their growing attraction amidst various misunderstandings and obstacles.

Knightley’s writing is vibrant and immersive, painting a vivid picture of the characters’ emotions and the settings they inhabit. The character development is impressive, with each individual facing their own struggles and growth, making their journey all the more poignant. The exploration of themes such as love, rivalry, and forgiveness adds depth to the narrative, inviting readers to root for the characters as they navigate their feelings.

Overall, "The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy" is a delightful start to the Dearly Beloathed Duology that showcases Brigitte Knightley’s exceptional storytelling talent. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a romantic comedy filled with charm, wit, and ultimately, heart. A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This is so close to being good! I love this author and how she writes, and I love how unique it feels. Unfortunately this book got bogged down by too many made up fantasy words. By trying so hard to distant itself from the original fanfic, it ends up distancing itself from anything familiar. Not every magical fantasy word needs to be redone. I think I would really struggle recommending this book to others just due to the fact that the first few chapters might as well be in a new language. I also found the anus references to be a bit overdone. A few crass jokes here and there are humorous, but this amount was just tiring. This should’ve been edited better and then done all in one book. Not every story needs multiple books.

I loveeeee Brigitte banter and their relationship but I reallyyyy struggled with the world building. I was confused for a good while and I’m not a super seasoned fantasy reader so that could be on me. I will absolutely still read book 2 when that comes and after I understood the world, I had a much better time but it took me… longer than most fantasy books I read.

I sadly am dnfing this one 35% in. It’s my most anticipated 2025 release but there’s zero world building so I’m confused and can barely keep up with the magic system and orders etc. It took away from the good banter and chemistry between the characters.
Perhaps i will give it another shot later on but for now i lost all interest in picking it up to finish.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I’m excited to see where the second half of the duology takes us. It took me a bit of time to orient myself into the world and understand the magic system and some of the terms (both magical and medical). But I think the pay off was worth it. The story line is interesting and kept me engaged and excited to keep reading the entire time. The character growth in our “morally gray villain” has been slow so far, but it is definitely there and I’m rooting for him! This is definitely a slow burn romance, but I’m here for it!

LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

I'm for sure going to be in the minority here, but I just wasn't a fan. The first 3/4 of the book felt so slow and repetitive (and overwhelming at times with the jargon). When I wasn't reading it, I had no desire to pick it back up. There were way too many conversations and circumstances that involved balls and other intimate parts and, for me, it stopped being funny after chapter 5.

I appreciated the characterization of our FMC and MMC and their very distinct voices, but that was really all I enjoyed for a great portion of the book. The enemies dynamic was meant to give us tension as the attraction grew, but I felt more like there was momentary attraction between them due to circumstance rather than actual interest (or denial thereof, for that matter). So when we finally got to the last quarter and the dynamic began to change, it felt forced and sudden more than organic.

That last quarter was also really the only part I genuinely enjoyed. We saw action, we saw stakes, and the pacing greatly improved compared to the incredibly slow pace of the rest of the book. It brought the rating up from where it was sitting for me at about 2.5 stars to 3. I was, however, jarred by the abrupt ending. I think I would have liked a short epilogue of some kind to soften the blow a bit.

I won't say that reading the sequel is off the table for me, but I don't know that I'll rush to read it either when it comes out.

I loved this book from start to finish. The language kept me on my toes, the banter yielded true laugh out loud moments, and the gravity of the plot line kept it compelling so that it ended up being the kind of read I devour, much to the chagrin of my household having to navigate around my laser focus and my ever growing TBR which would also like some attention.

I do not read a lot of romantasy but this one is so good! Full review to come soon though!! Thank you Berkley for the early gifted copy.

Osric Mordaunt finds himself in desperate need of a healer. Aurienne Fairhrim is tasked with helping him. He is an assassin, she is a healer, and they are members of enemy Orders. They are diametrically opposed in every way, yet have to learn to work together.

🖤Enemies to lovers
🖤Slowww burn
🖤Hypercompetent idiots
🖤Shadow daddy vs ice queen
🖤Magical animal companions
🖤Really unique magic system
🖤Women in STEM
🖤Touch her and die
🖤Banter for days
🖤Dry witty humor
🖤Mystery solving

Reading this book was an absolute delight. It's witty and funny and clever, and I couldn't get enough. Brigitte Knightley has such a way with words and with crafting characters that I can read about endlessly. I enjoyed every single interaction between the two main characters, who start out despising each other. They slowly become more friendly, and this transition is done seamlessly and feels earned, which I feel very few "enemies to lovers" books manage to do successfully. I am so invested in this story, and can't wait to get more of!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really loved this iteration of this story. I could see the threads of what I already loved in the fanfic along with the new magic system that was interesting and fit the story. Of COURSE the enemies to lovers was delish.

Everything about this was perfect. No notes. The banter, the wit, the characterization. I would say my heart is full but it's not because I need more. Give me the sequel NOW.

5⭐️

**my eternal gratitude to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, and the one and only Brigitte Knightley - you are single handedly doing the Lord's Work™**

I know a lot of people have been raving about this book, but this really is a great book! I can see this blowing up MASSIVELY once this is released. The tension, banter, and chemistry were HOT!

I was really excited for this book, I love an enemies to lovers storyline. The healer and assassin route was fun in theory BUT I was really disappointed in this. I never felt the pull to pick it up. It makes sense being a fanfic turned mainstream publish, because the world building was only about 20% of the way there. I also HATED the pacing. The ending is so so abrupt, that I legitimately thought it was a misprint. With all that said, it wasn't the worst thing I've read and I could be tempted to try again with a second book in the series.