I’m really sad that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I was going to. It honestly fell so flat for me in the first 10-20% but I kept reading in the hopes that it would get better.

It didn’t.

The world building was virtually non-existent and what little there was relied heavily on the glossary to do the heavy lifting. I also found both MCs to be insufferable, and completely one dimensional.

Yes there was banter and this is a slow burn but there was just so much pretentious writing.

Overall, I’m sad to say this wasn’t for me.

4.5✩ What a unique, hilarious, banter filled book!

This story follows Aurienne Fairhrim, a healer of the Halean Order, who finds herself in an impossible predicament, she must heal Osric Mordaunt, an assassin from the enemy Fyren Order. The two despise each other, but when circumstances force them into a bargain, they have no choice but to tolerate one another. As they investigate a mysterious resurgence of a deadly pox, their begrudging cooperation turns into something neither of them expected.

This book was so much fun to read! The banter between Aurienne and Osric was top tier, keeping me thoroughly entertained. While the plot didn’t always feel high stakes, the chemistry and constant bickering between the leads more than made up for it. And just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story took a turn that had me hooked until the end.

If you a love slow burn, enemies to lovers book with a morally grey love interest and sizzling tension, this one is for you 😌

Rating - ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Spice - ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

What to expect?
➼ Enemies to lovers
➼ Animal companions
➼ Broody MMC
➼ Forced proximity
➼ SLOW burn romance

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Hachette ANZ for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an amazing read it had all the best parts of enemies to lovers done right. It didn’t have that fake, forced “we hate each other” vibe some books fall into. There was real animosity and solid reasons for it, and the banter between the two of them? On point. Watching them slowly fall for each other before they even realised it themselves was so well done.

The magic system and world building were also very cool. It felt unique compared to other romantasy books I’ve read. It didn’t seem like it was trying to tick every popular trope box. I would like to see the magic system and world building fleshed out a little more in the next book cause i’m very intrigued by it.

A lot of the book feels very unserious there’s a lot of joking and banter and it’s an easy read, Brigitte has done a really great job with this one, and I truly can’t wait for the next book.

✨ The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley eARC Review ✨

Thank you SO much to @hachette , @thebookishtype , and @netgalley for providing me with an eARC of @brigitte ‘s highly anticipated Dramoine book in exchange for an honest review!!! I’m extremely grateful to have received an early copy of this!!! 🥹💖

This was one of my most anticipated reads and WOW did it deliver! I was not ready for the absolute chaos, banter, and emotional destruction that awaited me 😭😂

Firstly, can we take a moment to appreciate the cover which is absolutely STUNNING!!! 🙌

Secondly, that first interaction between Osric and Aurienne left me wheezing.
And the chapter titles?? PERFECTION. I absolutely loved them like seriously…

‘Irresistible Bastard Meets Immovable Bitch’

‘Osric Gets on Fairhrim’s Last Nerve’

I am LIVING for this energy 🤣

This is peak enemies to lovers with a morally gray, unhinged assassin MMC who falls SO hard, and a badass healer/scientist FMC who has ZERO TIME for his nonsense. The bickering, the tension, the slow burn... I was cackling and kicking my feet the entire time 😂

Also the Deofols (animal familiars)?? So adorable and full of personality, I want one!!!

I love that this was dual POV because I really enjoyed reading Osrics internal thoughts!! Some moments had me genuinely crying with laughter (yes, that Bunghole scene and the fork in all the PR boxes finally makes sense 😂), though I will say the amount of crude jokes this book had sometimes tipped into ‘too much’ for me personally.

Also please anyone who has read this, the end of CH17 had me dyinggg 🤣

Overall, this was a wild, hilarious and fun romantasy and I want book 2 NOW please!! 🙈

Tropes:
✨ Dual POV
✨ Healer x Assassin
✨ Witty banter
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Slow burn
✨ Unhinged MMC
✨ He falls HARDER

Definitely recommend if you love morally gray chaos with feelings 💀✨

I was so excited to read this book!! My favourite trope is enemies-to-lovers, so as soon as I saw the title, I knew this would be right up my alley. Plus, I LOVE this cover.

This book is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romantacy. Osric, our MMC, is from the Fyren Order—an order of assassins—and Aurienne, our MFC, is from the Haelan Order—an order of scholar-healers. Naturally, the two orders are enemies, so when Osric and Aurienne are forced to work together, it’s much to their mutual disgust. The story is set in an alternate, fin-de-siècle UK in which the Norman Conquest of 1066 never happened. So there’s no “U” in “UK”—just ten petty kingdoms.

Our uptight, brilliant healer is the only one who can help our witty, sarcastic assassin out of his dire situation—and he’s the only one who can help the Haelan Order secure the funding to cure a deadly outbreak of a mysterious pox. Together, they embark on a journey of healing and investigation while trying not to hate each other more than they already do. It’s definitely a fine line between love and hate.

The writing in this book is exceptional—truly beautiful. The humour is spot-on; I laughed out loud so many times while reading. The banter is PERFECT.

I also loved the worldbuilding. The map and details provided at the start help explain everything so clearly. I had a particular soft spot for the deofols (animal familiars), which are used for communication and counsel between characters. The story feels original and fresh, and the ending has me so excited for the next book in the duology!

Thank you so much, @NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of this amazing book.

Finally, an author who can actually pull off slow burn enemies to lovers with genuinely witty banter!

I'll admit I went into this book expecting another rushed romantasy trying to jump on the trend while the genre's booming but I was utterly blown away by how phenomenal this book was. The romance is a legitimate slow burn, the lovers start out as genuine enemies, the banter is better than anything I've read in years (I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times while reading) and there's an actual plot holding it all together. The fact that I have to wait for the second book to see how this story ends is going to kill me.

Aurienne is one of the best FMCs I've read in years; she's rigid, clever, flawed in such genuine and delightful ways and I loved the fact that she had a very distinct outlook on the world that didn't simply vanish the second a hot guy with questionable morals arrived in her life. Likewise, I adored Osric for lots of clever, well thought-out reasons ... but mostly because he's baby girl and a massive fucking pathetic loser for Aurienne. I love a deadly man who loves a woman who could crush him like a bug with a single look.

The romance is definitely the focus here but the plot was still intriguing and I'm going to be stressing about how it all pans out until the next book releases. Safe to say I'll be picking up anything and everything Knightley writes in the future.

Slow burn
Forced proximity
Enemies to lovers
Romantasy
Healer x assassin
Opposites attract

I’ll admit, I hadn’t read the fan fiction that this book is based on but I have read and loved other Dramione fics. I actually like seeing the similarities between the original work and traditionally published fanfics like this. I thought this book had a unique but easy to follow magic world. The two main characters are great and easily recognisable as the inspiration characters that we love. But the best parts of this book are the dry humour (this is a very funny book) and the LEGIT enemies to lovers slow burn. I am really excited for the influx of traditionally published fanfics we are getting soon (including this one).

Read this if you:

- are sick of books being advertised as enemies to lovers and slow burn but that aren’t
- are/were a fan of fanfics, especially Dramione lovers
- want to read fantasy/romantasy but are intimidated by heavy world building

Absolutely phenomenal!
I am gagged!
Did not even realise I was turning the last page until it was blank on the other side!
Where to even start?
I fell in love with absolutely everything this book had to offer. The world was intriguing, the orders and politics kept me engaged, the characters... Oh lawd the characters. I am so unbelievable obsessed with Aurienne and Osric's dynamic. The tension, the banter, the GIVING IN!!!! Sweet jesus, have mercy on me. All they did was kiss and I am hooked. I am sat. I am waiting (im)patiently for book 2.
The writing style was so fun to read, and I think it was a big part of why I liked the characters so much because the two went hand in hand together,

It’s been a long time since I read about actual enemies who are reluctantly falling in LIKE with each other (love is way too generous). The burn was so slow that it was barely even burning - THIS is the kind of romantasy I want 🤌

The duality of Aurienne and Osric’s bickering and bantering with their reluctant yearning was so freaking good. The MCs were so witty and sarcastic that it read like a macabre romcom with super dry humour. This was literally the book of my dreams, but I can also understand why other romantasy readers might not be into the writing style.

It’s more fantasy than romance with a bigger focus on the world’s politics and magic system. The MCs’ dedication to their respective magical Orders fuels all of the romantic angst - so I was absolutely fine with this. Yearning > smut and I will die on this hill.

The only thing I hated was that it ended JUST when I was getting the tummy flutters. But I lie, I can’t hate it because it was expected. This is the first in a duology so of course it ends with absolutely nothing resolved. I am officially heartsick and begging on my hands and knees for the next book.

—-

So very thankful to Hachette ANZ and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

—-

Tropes:
✨ Enemies to lovers (they’re barely even friends)
✨ Historical fiction and Celtic folklore
✨ Politics and secrets
✨ Magic and Orders
✨ Forbidden/unattainable love
✨ Opposites attract
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Touch her and you die
✨ Open door spice (honestly not really)

My my my wasn't this was a bit of fun!! The witty banter between our main characters was for me, pretty bloody great. I loved the dynamic between the FMC & MMC. They had 'chefs kiss' such distinct personalities, however, I found myself favouring Osric's chapters. Mostly because he came across more nuanced then Aur. At the beginning I didn't love her stuffy doctor vibe. The pacing I found pretty steady (if not a bit repetitive) and the book itself was incredibly easy to read although I do have a few negs.

I found some of the plot and world building lacking. This won't be a problem for some, however for me I just wish it felt more resolved. I love an intricate magic system and world building and this just didn't have it for me. Second, I think if you go into this story understanding that was propels the plot forward is the reason that out main characters are in each other's lives, then it's fine. However, overall not much happens. Also unsure if the magic system or fantasy elements really add much based on the above points?? Felt a bit free and loose or magic for the sake of magic. I also think maybe I wish this was a standalone book. Would have been nice to have this wrapped up in one because then maybe more would have happened. Honestly, interested to see how it all resolves.

Regardless...overall this book is still a lot of fun! Witty, clever and easy to read. It not going to push your limits of understanding but if you're looking for something as a palate cleanser or to get you out of a reading rut, this is one to give a go! Big thank you to Hachette Aus & NZ for the e-ARC.

This book was such a fun ride! It had just the right amount of plot without getting bogged down in world-building, and the balance between comedy and story was perfect.

The romance is the slowest of slow burns! I genuinely questioned if they were even going to get together because they really seemed to despise each other but the tension was delicious. The characters were so loveable (even with their flaws), and I found myself more and more excited to see the story unfold as I continued reading.

And the humor? Actually hilarious! I laughed out loud the entire way through this book. From weird one-liners to sharp, witty jokes, this book had some of the best comedy I’ve read in a long time, if not EVER!

I absolutely loved it. It felt like a brain break in the best way, and now I need the next one immediately. I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait for book two! 😮‍💨

DNF 20%

It took me 3 FUCKING DAYS to reach the 20% mark. This is as dry as unbuttered toast. Don’t @ me about the pacing and “it’s a slow burn!” because the pacing wasn’t the actual issue here (for me).

The writing style was completely whack. It felt like the author was trying way too hard to be clever and snarky and none of the jokes were landing for me. The world building was basically non-existent, instead relying on a looooooong glossary to do the heavy lifting. The constant need to refer back to the glossary for all the made up words drove me insane. Even after I got used to all the new terms and didn’t need to refer back to it, the over-use of all the made up words made this incredibly clunky and jarring to read.

That aside, both the main characters were so deeply unlikable that I did not give a fuck about what happened to either of them.

Womp womp.

Never have I laughed so hard over a bag of onions 🧅 but here we are …. 4.5🌟

If you are looking for the ultimate slow burn 🔥with witty banter that will have you cackling, this book is for you!

Healer Aurienne is blackmailed into helping heal Osric who is a deadly assassin. They are opposites in every sense of the matter, she heals, he kills, she has morals he is moral-less …. Or so they think!

‘Might we,’ asked Aurienne, ‘go anywhere without subtracting from the population?’ ‘Would you prefer,’ asked Osric, ‘that we add to it?’

A word of warning to help with expectations, at its core, this is a romantic comedy with low stakes set within a fantasy world. Don’t expect heavy world building or an explanation of the magic system. Go into this with the intension to kick your feet and giggle at the EXCELLENT banter!

>True enemies
>Forced proximity
>Witty banter
>Slow burn 🔥

‘One day it’ll be over and we can forget each other.’
‘You’re going to forget me?’
‘I hope so,’.
‘I’m heartbroken.’
‘You haven’t a heart, Besides, isn’t forgetting you preferable to continuing to hate you?’ 
‘I’d rather you hate me than not think of me at all.’ 🔥

———

‘What did you do?’
‘He fell…on the fork’
‘He fell on the fork, 20 times!?’
‘You’re utterly unhinged’
‘I’m perfectly hinged…you on the other hand, have got the survival instincts of a crumpet’

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC & Hachette for a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review

Coming from a reader of the fanfiction this was (I say now, VERY loosely) based on; I can't help but be disappointed. To begin with it was because of how dramtically different the plot was, which is obviously just a me issue and not something that would plague new readers; but, then it became an issue of I think leavning far too heavily on certain narrative/stylistic choice until they became exhausting, or Exhausting if you will. Having 'things' be 'Things' all the time does lose a bit off its comedic punch when it is every page and even good banter wears thin when it is basically all we're seeing in the interactions of the leads that we're supposed to read a developing attraction blooming between. This probably wasn't as much of a concern in the ff as the author was placing the story into a context where the lead characters have an established canonical history together to help move this along but I think when treating it as an original story in an original world it needed more fleshing out.
Similarly the constant just banter, banter, banter, I think did impair the flow and pacing. I think things (plot wise) definitely could've been moving at a faster clip and the book needn't be as long/could've had the next book merged into it.
I would read this author again because I really love DMATMOOBIL so I do believe there is good writing there but I don't think I will continue with this series as I was far to disengaged by the end.

Thank you Hachette Australia and New Zealand for providing this ARC for free via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is a low stakes fantasy romcom. I repeat 🚨A LOW STAKES FANTASY ROMCOM 🚨 It is character-driven and comedy-heavy. If you know this going in, I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy it (like I did) 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

The book was the slowest of slow burns, but one of the most entertaining. We were given genuine enemies to lovers with plenty (and I mean plenty) of blunt banter. I was blushing by the end and I am desperate for the next book!!! The tension has well and truly been built.

I will say, I was a little overwhelmed by the glossary at the beginning. There’s a lot of new, obscure information. However, Brigitte did well to incorporate the world building throughout the story. Looking back at the glossary now, it makes perfect sense. I was left wanting to know a bit more about the kingdoms, but I think we’ll learn more in the second book.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It’s a unique read that I’d recommend to anyone wanting a break from more intense fantasies. I gave it 4 stars!!

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is out on the 8th of July, 2025 🥄

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy may be the most memorable book I have read so far this year. I certainly found myself thinking about it during the day while I was reading, longing for evening when I could get home to read more, and I am still dwelling on it now. I loved the characters and their portrayal, I adored their acerbic banter and, most of all, I appreciated that it really was as 'enemies to lovers' story in the truest sense, as lately I've read books where the 'enemies' part has been tenuous at best. This was a really, really slow burn on the romance side, with not much happening until the final quarter of the book when the characters began to recognise their attraction to each other. (I'm in love with Osric too.) In terms of the rest of the plot, I found it interesting, and the world building on the whole was good. I read this as an ARC, but I have already decided to buy a copy for my shelf as soon as it releases, and I am hoping we won't be kept waiting too long for the sequel, as I am dying to know what happens next. The one note I would make is that there is some violence and sexual content, so it's for adults, not younger readers. I am giving it 5 stars.

“Onion Boy, the Eternal Optimist”

4.5 stars. Thank you to Hachette, NetGalley and Brigitte Knightley for the ARC.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is endlessly hilarious, a whirlwind of adventures travelling to and fro for cures and a slowwwwww burn romance.

I was highlighting so many funny quotes, there was never a chapter in this book where I wasn’t laughing. The banter is perfection, so much back and forth and the sarcasm is too good.

“What do you suppose he does with it when it’s not erect? - Drapes it round his neck, like a feather boa.” 🤣

“Might we, go anywhere without subtracting from the population? - Would you prefer, that we add to it?” 🙌🏼

Special mention to the critique crickets 🦗
Highly recommend adding this to your TBR!

A banter filled, slow burn for the ages.

For the year of the fanfics we are starting on a bang, 12 year old me is quaking in our boots at the fact we got to read and review this before it's release.

Lets firstly ignore everything else amazing I this book and talk humor. Not only are Osric and Arienne just hilarious when they are together but comedy seems to be Brigitte's superpower, every character had me CACKLING! Also this queen gave me a glossary - I never thought I'd say this but I LOVE A GLOSSARY. The romance was perfection, chef's kiss, could not have been better! Of course it took it's time but when it was burning it was HOT. Osric is my love sick man of course he falls first, it was addictive. And the KISS - crying throwing up loving it!

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers (OBVIOUSLY)
STEM Queens
Banter - seriously if the chapter headings aren't making you giggle the many insults thrown between our two love interests will.
This is OPPOSITES ATTRACT at its core.

As a Dramione lover, this really hit the spot. Full of that angsty banter that makes for a great enemies-to-lovers tale!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75/5 🌶️ 0.5/5

Tropes:
🗡️Enemies To Lovers
🧪Slowburn
🗡️Opposites Attract
🧪Forced Proximity
🗡️ He Falls First

Osric is suffering from an unknown illness that is slowly suppressing his magic and Aurienne is the healer he’s going to blackmail ( and potentially kidnap) into curing him.

The banter between the two main characters was witty and I really enjoyed the scenes where the back and forth ensued. The banter really enforced the enemies aspect and the dual pov really highlighted the internal struggle that was pushing the characters towards lovers.The Deofols stole every scene they were in and I thoroughly enjoyed their personalities and how they interacted with the main characters.

Overall I think more world building was needed to contextualise the magic system, wars and the overall state of the world they existed in. The world building suffered because the romance surpassed the fantasy aspect which is fine but when information was brought up regarding other characters and places I was left needing more context to understand how significant it was.

I also found the ending as feeling unfinished rather than it ending on a cliffhanger, almost like the book ended prematurely. It is important to note there will be another book in this series so this may have been the best position to end it in without having to draw it out too far.

I ultimately enjoyed this book a lot and cannot wait for the next one in the series and despite the aspects I didn’t enjoy, the banter and character progression really saved the day and I hope we get more world building in the next instalment so I can really immerse myself.

A big thank you to Brigitte Knightley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Orbit for the ARC, I can’t wait to read the next one ( I hope we get it soon 🤞🏻)