DNF at 5% (or something like that) - I made it through half of a chapter and I just couldn't do it with the writing style. I may try again at some point but my brain really wasn't liking it and that is absolutely a me thing. I'm glad so many people are loving it though!!

I've heard a lot about Brigitte Knightley's Dramione fanfic over the years, but this was my first foray into reading her work, and I'm an instant fan. This book is so clever, I laughed out loud often. It is a very, very slow burn, but I just know we're going to get an incredible payoff by the time this story is finished.

It seems like a lot of the criticism of this book is coming from people who've read her fanfiction, and I think that's a bit of an unfair comparison. The world building here is a little lacking, albeit interesting, but creating a whole world from scratch is much different than building on characters that people have spent decades with. And while I want an understandable world and magic system, I'm here for the banter and hijinks, and this story certainly provides both. I'm eagerly waiting for the sequel!

WHERE IS THE SECOND BOOK I NEED IT NOW!!!! This was such an entertaining and hilarious banter filled piece of joy with a nice mystery and crazy cliff hanger at the end. I’m so into it. We really learn about Aurienne and Osric for most of this book, their likes and dislikes and watch them grow comfortable with each other. With witty banter these two grow close and without meaning to the feels start feeling. I really loved this and wish I could read the second book now to see what unfolds. There’s not a lot of spice but honestly I don’t mind because it feels like a build up to book two which we now have to wait for 🙃!! This is great if you love some mystery and hilarious banter and a slow burn falling in love.

I really enjoyed this. You can definitely feel the influence of the fic it was inspired by, but it stands on its own. I liked that it was not a beat for beat rewrite. The original elements were fresh and well done and the characters felt like their inspiration characters, but still unique. I do think some of the wit was lost a bit and this book tried too hard to be clever, but overall it had some great moments and l'm excited to see where it goes in the sequel.

Unfortunately I have decided I cannot read this book in good conscience due to the source material used for the original fan fiction this novel is based off of. JKR is profiting off of materials using her IP and I am standing with the trans community in not giving her more attention, clout or money. I wish this book had not been marketed as dramione and changed even more to dissociate the story from the source material.

I think I’m finding that books that were originally fanfiction that I am familiar with are just not for me. It was so hard for me to think of the characters as being original because they felt so much like the Harry Potter characters they’re based upon. I also felt like because it came from a fanfic, the world building was weak and I often felt like I had been dropped into a world that I knew nothing about. Really wanted to like this one but I just did not.

This was so cute and fun. I didn’t read the original fanfic this story was based on, but I loved the slow burn. The banter and the build up were great. I look forward to the next one.

Thank you Ace Books, Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC!!

I had so much fun reading this one!! I think this book will really appeal to romantasy lovers, especially ones who love the comedy aspect in typical rom com books!

I loved the writing style & humor in this book. the witty banter between aurienne & osric was everything!! and when I say their relationship is a slow burn, i mean sloooooooow burn!!! but the tension & chemistry between them the entire time is A+!!!

While this was an enjoyable fantasy romance, I did unfortunately find myself wanting more from this.
The characters seemed to lack depth and backstory. Were they funny? Absolutely. Did the two main characters have great banter. Yes! But I was left feeling like I didn't really know their personalities all that well.
The setting felt the same for me. It lacked description and I found myself having a hard time imagining things, even what the time period was. Sometimes it felt modern, others it felt set back in time.
For such a long character driven story, I just wished we would have had more fleshed out characters that were easy to fall in love with.
This is a SLOW BURN. I'm talking next to nothing happens in this first book. I am not complaining, merely stating a fact. I loved the tension.
I do thing that we have more of a plot being built and I am interested to see where the second book takes us.

It was just okay. I feel like I’ve read this story 100 times before. I had to push myself through it. I did not hate it, it was just meh for me. I think I may try to give it a re-read in a few months and see if it was just not my reading mood right now.

He deals in the dark, death and shadows, and is very good at what he does. She deals in the light, healing and helping those less fortunate. Luckily for readers, their worlds collide. He has an incurable condition and lots of money. She has the knowledge to help him and an order that needs funding to save children from a plague. Witty banter, great tension, as well as forces working against our at-odds couple, make for an engaging read. Looking forward to more yearning and burning in the next installment.

An assassin needs help healing his magic so bribes a healer. She is stuck up, he is prickly. There is a lot of banter and attraction between them.

So this book is based around a piece of fanfiction and is supposed to be Dramione coded. However, the world-building is minimal. There is magic but some have it, others have just a little. There is electricity and it takes place in the UK with real places named like London and Cardiff. But otherwise hard to recognize. There are a variety of orders, which I assume are like houses, but I was unsure about any of the others. There are variety of Queens.

There is heavy banter between the two main characters which can be amusing at times. However, because so little of the world is fleshed out I found it hard to concentrate on the banter. Additionally, this read like the author is obsessed with her thesaurus. I love learning new words and have a decent vocabulary but when there are three obscure words in a paragraph I have to wonder about those choices.

And despite my grumbles about there not being enough world-building, I found that this story just dragged. I wanted it to end.

Thank you to Ace, Berkley Publishing Group, and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

To all of my fellow Dramione readers, you are going to gobble this romantasy book so much. It’s perfect with its endless banter and tension. I will say that the romance between Osric and Haelan is a slow burn. Don’t expect romance between them real quick. Osric and Haelan truly don’t like each other very much, and it doesn’t get any better when Osric blackmails Haelan to treat him. Haelan prefers anyone else besides Osric, but it definitely sets up a perfect rivals/enemies-to-lovers romance story. I read it in one day!

I really loved this book although I think it could have been edited into a bit smoother narrative. It still at times felt like a series of connected stories rather than a consistent flow of one which meant there was repetitive information as well as a slower pace than I generally prefer. That said I cannot wait for the next book which I think is where the story will really start to shine. This book was a fun fantasy romp that I found delightful to read.

I appreciate how much the author and publisher did to distance this book from the original source material - if I wasn't aware of the fanfiction origins I don't know that I would have connected them, although I've heard that some of the PR materials leaned a bit into it, and generally I don't want to interact with HP anything since keeping it relevant means that said HP author will also still be relevant and continue earning money. But many works started as fanfic and I've even read the other traditionally published HP fanfics which were poorly done and handled in my opinion, so I'll say I don't hold that against this particular one since it truly does feel like it's own world, story, and characters - and values.

4.5 STARS ⭐

Let me just say I couldn't get enough of Osric and Aurienne's banter! Their back and forth bickering gave me life and I was thriving. Brigette did a phenomenal job 👏🏼.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy follows two completely opposite characters that have hated each other for centuries. They come from different factions.

Osric, is a trained assassin of the Fyren Order and he needs the help of a gifted and expert healer. He goes through great lengths to seek out Aurienne, who happens to be a part of his enemy faction, the Haelan Order.

Together they embark on a journey to help solve the illness that plagues him. Their hatred for each other soon turns into attraction and it's enviable, they fall for the other.

I absolutely adored this book. It was such a good slow burn. The ending, especially is going to leave you wanting more! I cannot wait for book two 🙌🏼.

This is honestly one of my favorite books I’ve ever read! The dry humor, the romance, and the super cool fantasy elements made this an automatic five star read for me. I usually don’t like a slow burn romance, but this was done so well, and it made me realize why people enjoy slowburn romances!

If you enjoy a quirky writing style with well-thought-out characters with lots of dire situations, offset by laugh out loud, funny moments, this is seriously the perfect book for you!

✨Stabby MMC
✨Righteous FMC
✨Bag of Onions
✨Death by Fork
✨It’s a tub of what?
✨Slowburn
✨Smooch already!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC of this! I seriously loved it so much 🥹🥹🥹🥹

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace, the author, and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

If you know my reading tastes at all, you know I'm a Dramione girly to my CORE. To say I had high hopes for this book would be an understatement, but I trusted Brigitte's incredibly capable hands, and I'm so glad I did. This is a MASTERPIECE. It's the slowest of slow burns, so if that bothers you, it may not be for you, but the banter? The humor? The intrigue? THE CHEMISTRY?? A work of art.

There are nods to Brigitte's fics and Dramione-coded vibes throughout, but it's a completely original work that stands on its own. There's no info dump of worldbuilding, so you essentially figure it out as you go -- which I enjoyed, but some people may dislike. I loved this book and eagerly await the rest of the series, but it may not be for everyone.

♾️ ⭐️ This is one of the wittiest, sharpest, and most deliciously antagonistic romances I’ve ever read. I'm giving this infinity stars and honestly, that still isn't enough


"Isn't forgetting you preferable to continuing to hate you?"
"I'd rather you hate me than not think of me at all."


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ fantasy romance
✨ healer x assassin
✨ hate at first sight
✨ mutual loathing
✨ enemies to (not quite) lovers
✨ forced proximity
✨ opposite attract
✨ the SLOWEST of slow burns
✨ he falls first and harder
✨ major denial of feelings
✨ “touch her and die”
✨ 1.5/5 spice
✨ the best banter ever!!!
✨ intellectual humor and overall fantastic writing
✨ magical adventures and shenanigans
✨ mystery
✨ cozy but also high stakes
✨ interesting magic and world
✨ first in a duology / open ending
✨ TW: graphic violence, torture, murder, medical content including fictional diseases affecting adults and children, and depictions of sick children in a hospital-like setting.


My Thoughts:

I AM IN LOVE!!!! Seriously, one of the best books I've ever read! I haven’t laughed this hard while reading in a long time. The banter?? Immaculate. The tension?! Juicy. The denial of attractions / feelings??? Olympic level.

I was already feral over the concept of a healer and an assassin (who absolutely hate each other) being forced to team up. But what blew me away was just how smart and funny this book is. It's like watching two hyper-competent prideful people try to out-snark, out-principle, and out-deny their way into falling in love.

Let’s talk about Osric (my favorite unhinged assassin 🥷). Osric is dramatic, sarcastic, self-assured to the point of delusion, and somehow still charming as hell. Basically, he's an irresistible bastard. His internal monologue had me crying on the floor laughing so hard. He’s 100% peacocking at all times, not because he likes Aurienne (sure lol), but because he’s just that guy - egotistical AF and flustered by how completely unimpressed she is. And it drives him crazy! He is chaos. I love him.

Opposite him is Aurienne 👩‍⚕️ - a morally rigid healer with absolutely no time for Osric's bullsh*t. She’s brilliant, prideful, deeply principled, and kind of a bitch (but, I'm into it). With her sharp tongue, cutting dry humor, and an unshakable sense of superiority, she meets every ounce of Osric’s nonsense with absolute disdain. She's so tightly wound “she could do a Kegel and snap your c*ck off,” and honestly? Pop off queen. Aurienne doesn't just resist Osric. No, she refuses to acknowledge his existence beyond what’s medically necessary. And yet, somehow, their dynamic is electric. Watching her barely tolerate his presence while he slowly spirals into emotional ruin is one of the great joys of this book. It's truly glorious. 😂

But underneath all the sarcasm and standoffishness, a little romance blooms. You might have to squint to see it at first, but little by little, it starts to show. This truly is an enemies-to-lovers story that doesn’t just flirt with hatred. It deep dives into it, and then emerges with feelings. Reluctantly. Osric begins to admire Aurienne for her intelligence, beauty, stubbornness and he genuinely has faith she’s the only one who can save his life. And somewhere along the way, his hate disappears and is replaced by something way more complicated (and totally unwanted). The moment he realizes he's already in love with her? Absolutely devastating (for him lol). And so perfect.

Meanwhile, Aurienne is still in full denial mode, holding onto her moral high ground and trying not to care. Osric wants her badly but will try and definitely fail to resist. That push and pull is exactly what’ll make the next book so much fun!!!! Watching them fight their feelings and slowly give in is going to be a wild ride. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK, LIKE, YESTERDAY!

Now, let's talk about spice. It's minimal but what we got was good! Ostic's solo scene!!!! Screaming! When I read, "He did not, in his defense, touch himself. Not immediately, anyways," my heart exploded, the sound that left my mouth was ungodly, and I proceeded to black out for the next page and a half. 🔥 I was levitating. My body wasn’t ready. Honestly, I blame Brigitte Knightley because she edged us the entire book, and by the time she threw us a single crumb of spice, my ovaries detonated.

And then that kiss!!! OMG! It was so emotionally loaded and intense I swear time stopped. I was holding my breath the whole time. Easily one of the most magical moments in the entire book. Fulfilling, electric, and once it was over, I wanted to cry because what do you mean we have to wait for book two for more?!?!?!

Okay, onto topics that are less romance related . . .

The plot itself? Super satisfying. While the romance is front and center, there’s also a really solid storyline that unfolds alongside it. Osric and Aurienne go on several quests: some to heal him, others tied to the mystery of the spreading pox, and a string of assassinations (mostly on Osric's end). Everything is connected, and the mystery slowly unravels in a way that keeps you guessing.

Some of my favorite moments:
🖕 Their hate at first sight meet-cute (the loathing had me hooked)
🌅 The lighthouse convergence (magical and so atmospheric)
🍻 The Bunghole spying operation (I need to see Aurienne's "Make It Bounce" top lol)
🩸 Osric shadow-walking at Wellesley’s castle (I gasped!)
💦 Osric being very not innocent in Aurienne’s bedroom while she’s asleep 😈
💋 The kiss (still not over it)

The world building. I, personally, didn't have any issues with it, and in fact enjoyed how it was done. You’re essentially thrown into the world without an info dump and you pick things up as you go. It’s immersive, occasionally a little confusing, but always intriguing. And as you dive deeper, you find a rich and layered world with political intrigue and unique magic. The Tacn, the magical orders, and the deofols (who have personalities and talk!!) are such cool elements! We’ve only just scratched the surface, so I can’t wait to find out more in the next book.

But just FYI, it's not immediately clear if this is an alternate version or time of our world or something else entirely. There are nods to the Julian calendar and real-world countries, but also magic, kingdoms, and ancient orders. Personally, I didn’t mind the ambiguity. It added to the intrigue and made it feel unique.

And finally, the writing. I think Brigitte Knightley is one of the most talented authors of our generation. I love how she weaves together such an intriguing story with sharp wit, emotional depth, and genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. Her prose is clever without being overly pretentious. And the dialogue? Unmatched. Every conversation is a game of verbal chess, and she writes with this effortless intelligence that perfectly mirrors her characters.

That said, the writing style might not be for everyone. This book doesn’t let you turn your brain off. The humor is sarcastic, dry, witty, deadpan, and unapologetically smart. It leans into wordplay and clever dialogue, which fits the characters perfectly. I personally had to look up a few words (and I’m not mad about it), but it never pulled me out of the story. If you’re not into that kind of humor or prefer lighter reads, this might feel dense. But if you get it? It’s hilarious. If you love smart, layered writing that makes you work a little and rewards you for it, you’re going to eat this up.

Overall, if you love enemies-to-lovers, rich banter, sarcastic humor, magic, and mystery, you need this book. Osric and Aurienne are absolute disasters in the most delightful way, and I am begging the book gods for the sequel ASAP.

This was so sweet!! I loved the TENSION!! And the setting. This was a really good first book and I cannot wait for more!

Read 👏🏻 this 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 banter 👏🏻 alone 👏🏻

My cheeks literally hurt from smiling through this entire book, I’ve never highlighted more passages in my life. Bridgette Knightley has a way of drawing you in and making you feel like you’re part of one continuous inside joke. Beyond an achingly swoon-worthy slow burn romance, every side quest, every character feels so alive—every line feels intentional and keeps the story driving forward. I couldn’t put this one down!

Whether you loved DMATMOOBIL or haven’t read it, you’re in for a real treat!