I am incredibly conflicted by this book.
There were elements I enjoyed, but I think the writing style just wasn't for me and it was seriously lacking depth in both the characters and world building.

It's a very slow story; I wasn't really that interested in the plot until around 75% in. It definitely picked up, and my issues with the writing decreased as it progressed. I felt the writing was of a younger style(?) but the author would randomly include long words I have never heard of before. There were times when instead of writing out the characters conversation as it happened, she would just write what had been said. As in, 'Osric said blah, so Aurienne said blah'. I prefer to read the conversation actually happening.

I haven't seen a book use as many brackets as this one either (honestly, so many brackets). It felt excessively wordy at times too.

The romance was the slowest burn I've seen. And sadly not the good kind. I feel absolutely nothing for these characters, and so their romance fell flat. I think it had real potential but was poorly executed.

There is also very minimal world building. Literally none. You get a bit of a summary at the start which explains the basics of the magic system, the different orders. But besides that, its really not explored much. I understand there's different kingdoms and orders and thats pretty much it.

As I said before, the storyline really picks up in the last quarter. There was a good reveal at the end, but I feel it could have ended a bit better. I may pick up the 2nd book to find out what happens, but would also settle for a basic recap from someone else too.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of this book.

Warning: don't read this book with a full bladder. You will pee yourself laughing.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is the kind of book you don't read in public because how do you tell someone you’re laughing at the most ludicrous sort of humor all while being absolutely enchanted by the main character's banter and wit. I really don't have much to say on this book other than you need to add it to your tbr because between all the seriousness of the universe it is important to laugh.

It is refreshing to read a romantasy where you struggle to expect how one would go from enemy to lovers as they generally, to begin with, would gladly escort each other to the guillotine. By the end of this book, I was not only swooning but immensely satisfied with the lack of cliques you find in a typical romatasy novel.

Again, I really am at lost for words in this book. 10/10.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

This didn’t work for me on any level. I knew where the inspiration for this came from and was fine with it, because that wasn’t the problem with this book. This was based from fanfiction, and it read like fanfiction. Bad fanfiction. It was wordy, over written and pointless.

If you hope for some resolution by the end, don’t hold your breath because it ends mid scene and with absolutely nothing explained or resolved. 95% of this book is overwritten banter. There was no difference between the two main characters at all; you could put any sentence here and have me guess which one said it and I couldn’t guess it. It was also just randomly full of dick jokes and weird sexual humour that didn’t add to the tension between two of the flattest characters I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.

My only consolation with this book is I’m finally finished with it. No, I’m not going to be seeking out the sequel.

Thank you Hachette and Netgalley for the readers copy. Unfortunately I had to DNF this after a couple chapters. I didn't understand anything and did not have the brain faculties to even try. I'm not a Dramione girlie so the magic system/class dump at the beginning was going in one ear and right out the other. I will give it another try soon but for now I have to admit defeat and come back when I have the will to persevere through the worldbuilding.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Hachette for the E-ARC.

My favourite romantic comedy of the year. This book is brimming with joy, wonder, intrigue and the juiciest of romance. I was laughing at pages and on the next would find myself biting my nails in suspense. The pacing is immaculate, I loved that we never had to spend too long without either character. The dual perspective is a beautiful touch to be up to date with both characters thoughts, feelings and findings. Overall, an absolute delight I am very excited to sell.

Enemies-to-lovers at it’s ALL TIME BEST. The animosity sparked by a little meet-cute blackmail between Osric and Aurienne was delicious and gave their romance the best tension. The slow burn was buuurrrrning and I was so freaking feral for these two.

I have been eagerly awaiting The Irresistible Urge To Fall For Your Enemy since it was announced and couldn’t wait to dive in to the e-arc (via NetGalley)!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The writing style, the pace, the character names - not for me.

It wasn’t a bad book - it just wasn’t a book for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to review!

I had high hopes for this book being marketed as an enemies to lovers romantasy and had heard good things about the authors previous fanfic. I think the marketing is misleading, as from reading reviews it appears that this is not the popular fanfic reworked, but a new work.

I’ll start by saying that this book was not for me. It read as one big dialogue and lacked any world building, character development or cohesive plot progression. The attempts at humor fell short for me and there were far too many immature penis jokes.

The characters. The characters felt poorly put together and lacked any notable traits. I would have to agree with the reviews that say that this isn’t the reworked fanfic we were expecting, because there is almost nothing about them that feels reminiscent of Hermoinie or Draco. It’s a hard sell to push this as enemies to lovers when there’s nothing drawing them together or repelling them apart. Likewise, I can’t even say that this is a character driven plot as there’s no traits for them to develop as the story progresses.

There is a LOT of dialogue. But the ‘witty’ banter doesn’t hit when the characters are so flat and there are way too many childish jokes filling up said dialogue. Honestly my four year old is funnier and he hasn’t even started with the penis jokes yet (thank god). Also with the way some of the characters converse, it came across as if they were 70 years old with the language and tone that was used, rather than highly intellectual (which I think was the intention).

The magic system is complex but paradoxically poorly explained, so you will be forgiven if you never get a grasp on it. There are eight? various magical orders that specialise in different areas (assisination, healing…), but we are only introduced to two. There may have been more explained in the glossary, but to not even mention the others in the main text? There’s also no way of telling what time period we are in. And very little explained about the world in general apart from waystones and leylines. Maybe fae exist or did once exist? Who really knows.

The plot. There's not a bad plot to start with, it's just slow. But about 60% through the plot changes and the original task is abandoned to completely follow the new plot which was very disorientating.

Finally the book ends at quite an unimpressive point. No cliffhanger, and I’m not really sure where the second one will head after this. It ideally should have been all wrapped up in one book.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Hachette Australia for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts

As a fan of Brigitte’s other works, I knew this was absolutely going to EAT. And eat it did.

This is peak enemies to lovers, add in forced proximity and delicious banter, it hits the trifecta.

Don’t fret, this is a slow, SLOW burn. As in, they don’t even acknowledge some semblance of feelings to themselves until 80% in. And that last 20% is just as impeccable as you can imagine.

Osric, the man that you are. Assassin and unaliver extraordinaire, nothing can ever top you (but man I want to)

Aurienne is absolutely an FMC who just gets better as the book goes on.

Now I need to know when book 2 is out because DAMN.

Swipe for a Quick Review of ‘The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy’ by Brigitte Knightly✨

T.I.U.T.F.F.Y.E - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Wow! When I heard this book was releasing it quickly became one of my most anticipated reads for the year. For those out of the loop this is a new work which is a re-imagining of the popular fanfic ‘Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love’. I read the fic earlier in the year and really really enjoyed it- particularly the slow burn aspect and the banter.

With the story, I was curious as to how closely aligned the two stories were... whilst it has aspects that feel similar like the character dynamic, the perfect banter, the slow burn romance plot- it does feel really quite different. It’s a different world, a brand new magic system, new characters and l a plot that feels quite different. The plot and jokes are a bit more ‘explicit’. The writing style is also quite different with very distinct language choices (very old English) and it is dual POV.

Some things I really enjoyed:
💫 the characters and their romance
💫 I just found myself giggling out loud at many different times
💫 the slower burn romance

Some aspects I wish were a little different:
💫 initially the magic system is a little confusing. There’s a glossary at the beginning which was helpful to refer back to- it just makes it a bit overwhelming when it’s the first thing you read in the story. It does mean it takes a little while to get your head around it.
💫 I appreciate the stylistic choice of the older English vocabulary- however sometimes it was a lot. I had to look up quite a few words.

I really recommend this book and enjoyed my time reading it! I’ll definitely be reading book 2 when it comes out!

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy releases on 08/07/2025! Definitely add it to your TBR. Thank you so so much @hachetteaus @thebookishtype_hau For the gifted e-book via @netgalley (I edited the cover onto a different book for the photo). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I desperately wanted to love this book, it just fell short for me. I didn't read the fanfic that this book was based on but perhaps that would have increased my enjoyment? The story was well paced I just wanted a little more from it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC xoxox

(No spoilers)

This book completely stole my heart. It’s funny, sharp, and full of slowburn tension that aches in the best way. Osric is all charm and chaos while Aurienne’s quiet strength and dry wit made her unforgettable.

I already want to read it agaaiinnnn

Can't wait for everyone else to read this too!!

“An assassin must acquire the help of a healer to cure him from a fatal wound, while together investigating the return of a deadly pox. An enemies-to-lovers story set in a magical world with destructive secrets.”

The hype for this book, in my opinion, is a little over done. I will start by saying that I semi-enjoyed the characters; their banter, their intelligence, and even their emotional confusion was good. It was just everything else that didn’t quite stick.

Before the book even starts there are pages and pages of; Order explanations, magical terms, magical creatures etc. And if that wasn’t hard enough to care about, you are expected to just jump straight into a world with little-to-no world building, and then constantly having to go back and forth to the front to remember what Order/creature is what etc. It wasn’t immersive and honestly by the end, I had kind of forgotten about most of the world and even most of the magic.

As stated before, I like the characters and their banter but sometimes the humour just wasn’t it. I found throughout the book that there were too many dick related jokes and it became a dialogue skipping activity towards the end. There’s only so many of those jokes before it becomes tacky, and it definitely felt that way towards the end.

I know some people will absolutely love this book, but it did not capture my attention and it was sort of a struggle to finish. I will more than likely be skipping any subsequent sequels for this title.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Aus&NZ for a digital copy to review.

Phenomenal, give me 10 more of them right now.

We’re all familiar with enemies to lovers so it’s an absolute delight to experience those first time butterflies again with a refreshingly revived and original take on it.

Massive props to Knightley for such thorough world building without simply info dumping or having the characters spell everything out for us in dialogue. Yes, there are quite a few things to remember about this new world we’re being introduced to but it’s worth it.

The insults are so unhinged, I absolutely adore this grumpy x sunshine version.

Such a delight to read that I had my kindle glued to my face while walking my dog, heading to work, cooking. Should come with a warning that you’ll neglect your responsibilities to finish it.

I’d recommend anyone who loves Jane Austen (especially if your favourite is Emma), anyone who read Percy Jackson as a child and had their humour shaped by it, Carissa Broadbent lovers, and anyone who lusted after Tuxedo Mask in Sailor Moon.

I’ll be eagerly awaiting and praying for more.

Yours affectionately,
Pspsps

Aurienne Fairhrim, una sanadora brillante, estricta y moralmente recta, perteneciente a una Orden que prioriza el conocimiento y el bienestar. En el otro extremo tenemos a Osric Mordaunt, un asesino encantador y cínico, miembro de la temida Orden Fyren. Osric está muriendo de una extraña enfermedad mágica, y solo Aurienne puede ayudarlo... aunque eso implique trabajar con su enemigo.

Obligados a colaborar por circunstancias poco éticas (chantaje, amenazas y una jugosa donación), ambos deben dejar de lado su desprecio mutuo mientras investigan una peligrosa plaga mágica y, de paso, tratan de no sucumbir a la atracción evidente que nace entre ellos.



--



La sinopsis me pareció interesante, pero el desarrollo no me gustó. El worldbuilding es confuso y limitado: se nos presenta una gran cantidad de términos en un glosario inicial, pero el libro rara vez los desarrolla o contextualiza dentro de la historia. En cuanto al humor, me resultó bastante tonto; prácticamente se reduce a bromas sobre senos, penes y testículos... súper gracioso 🙄. Sinceramente, dudo continuar con la lectura.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

Holy mother of all things right in this world. This is by far the best book I have read in a heckin' long time and so much of it made me actually laugh out loud.

✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧

Plot
Everything about this entire world and the characters within it is just fabulous. This alternative UK split into mini kingdoms was so clever and I absolutely adored the various Orders, with each of their purposes being unique and interesting.
The way this story was fleshed out by the author felt so natural, with even the complex intricacies of the Orders being mostly shown from the eyes of the two lead characters and how they each experienced them. I felt that the pacing was spot on regardless of what mischief was being undertaken and the underlying plot creative with not a hole in sight. I even liked the little soul based creatures that had their own unique personalities and were filled with so much sass.

Characters
FMC
I adore this woman. She is prim and proper, dedicating herself entirely to her work and has absolutely no tolerance for nonsense. She remains herself throughout the entire book, despite what the MMC throws at her and I love it.

MMC
He is such a rascal. In my honest opinion, I am officially naming him the most perfect example of a morally grey character - he has a literal trail of bodies behind him, but also spends all his free time rescuing old and ugly dogs. Even though he attempts to convince the FMC and the reader that everything he does is entirely self serving, as the story goes on, this becomes harder and harder to believe.

The Rest
Her colleagues - are perfect. I especially liked her boss, who essentially bullied her into working with him and provided a great comparison to her stoic self.
His colleagues - were so horribly evil.
The deofols - sass. All sass.

The Chemistry
Heck. The chemistry between these two is really satisfying. Even at the start when they both really didn't like each other, I enjoyed the way that they interacted, with each one becoming funnier and more clever. I especially enjoyed how frustrated he got when she didn't show any interest in his 'anatomy' during their appointments - even more so when he realised that he wanted her interest.

The Good
EVERYTHING.

The Bad & The Ugly
There is not a single Bad or ugly thing anywhere near this book. The only potential ugliness is how long I'm gonna need to wait for the next one.

The Wrap Up
Clever world building, sassy characters and a mysterious underlying plot? I was hooked from the first page and I cannot wait for the second book.

The biggest thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand for giving me a chance to read this ahead of release.

This book was one of my most anticipated books for this year! But I have a lot of thoughts because I while I loved this book, I really wanted more from it. The glossary at the beginning was helpful, but overwhelming and having to refer back to it when new orders were introduced became tiresome and made me want more world building and a slower introduction of how this system came to be & the history of the world. It felt like I had been dumped into a series but in the middle of the second book.
Despite this, the way the story was written was insanely beautiful, it was dialogue heavy which I personally love because it gives you such an intimate feel for how the characters interact and feel for each other. It made the book feel incredibly fast paced and moved the story along quite quickly, which was my second gripe. It seems to just jump from event to event a bit too fast and no details about the world or characters lives in between so it lacked a little depth.
Overall, I did love this book and the characters, the romance was STUNNING! I live to yearn and I definitely yearned in this. It's true enemies to lovers and I ate every little bit up. I cannot wait for the next one to see where it goes and to learn more about the world as a whole.
I would say it was one of the best romantasy books I've read this year so far.

I have never laughed out loud, while reading a book, so many times in my entire life. The irresistible urge to fall for your enemy is everything I hoped it would be. The world building is a little it lacking and I found myself having to flick between the glossary and the page I was reading to wrap my head around what was happening. There is a lot of information on the world but it doesn't quite come together, at least for me. My issue with the world building aside the banter in this book was truly a thing to behold. Absolute perfection. The slow burn you ask? The slowest of burns, like trying to light a match that won't catch. It's angsty and yearning and I can't wait to see where Osric and Aurienne go next in their story. I will be waiting with bated breath because honestly, these two oblivious idiots have my whole heart. Brigitte Knightley is a rare talent. 100/5 stars

An absolutely stunning amalgamation of comedy, adventure, yearning romance, and the most unhinged insults you will ever read.
I absolutely adored this book, beginning to end.
Faihrim and Osric are truly the best enemies / idiots in love and I cannot wait to see their journey continue.
If I had a dollar for every time I laughed out loud and work my sleeping husband, I’d have at least $10. If I had a dollar for every time I giggled in public … I’d be rich.
For lovers of Jane Austen, Terry Pratchett, Rebecca Ross … and more. (Ok it’s me, I’m describing me!)
This is a 2025 must read!!

Brigitte Knightleys debut novel ‘The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy’ is charming, humorous and swoon worthy. Following two main characters in dual POV, there’s the uptight, morally strong, and independent Aurienne Fairhrim, the Haelan (healer) and Osric Mordaunt, the cheeky, morally grey and in need of healing Fyren (assassin). We have the pleasure of following these two through ridiculous forays in pursuit of a cure for Osric’s degenerative disorder, following as they navigate a relationship that slowly blooms from mutual hatred to something more (as much as they may like to deny it). I thoroughly enjoyed this book, finding Knightleys writing style extremely unique and profound and beautiful without feeling at all pretentious. The dry humour sprinkled generously throughout the book made for a lighthearted environment even in the most tense scenes. Whilst it definitely feels more like a rom com set in a fantasy world than a classic romantic fantasy, Knightley manages to pull it off without the world and magic system feeling underbaked or disregarded. The romance plot is also paced really well, so if your a fan of yearning and a slow burn with appropriate pay off you’ll love this. If you’re looking for a cosy fantasy world with loveable but flawed main characters and stakes that don’t feel overwhelmingly high, i highly recommend picking this book up! My one note would be that the story is not wrapped up within this book so just be aware that Ostic and Auriennes story is not yet over.