What is enemies to lovers romance?

They start out hating each other — or at least pretending to. The tension builds until it's impossible to deny what's really there. Enemies to Lovers romance is one of the most searched-for tropes in the genre, loved for its unique emotional arc and satisfying payoffs.

Who are the best enemies to lovers romance authors?

Ali Hazelwood, Ana Huang, and L.J. Shen are among the most popular enemies-to-lovers authors. Their books deliver crackling tension that builds into undeniable chemistry.

What's the difference between enemies to lovers and rivals to lovers romance?

While both involve conflict, enemies-to-lovers features genuine animosity or hatred between characters, whereas rivals-to-lovers centers on competition -- they may respect each other but are driven to win. The emotional journey from hate to love is darker and more intense than rivalry turning to romance.

Best Enemies to Lovers Romance Books

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Sarah J. Maas

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Slow Burn

From Blood and Ash

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Forbidden Love Bodyguard Protector Secret Relationship

House of Earth and Blood

Sarah J. Maas

Slow Burn Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity

Fourth Wing

Rebecca Yarros

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Slow Burn

Iron Flame

Rebecca Yarros

Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn Forced Proximity

Onyx Storm

Rebecca Yarros

Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn Forced Proximity

Powerless

Lauren Roberts

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Competition

The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Carissa Broadbent

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Competition

Kingdom of the Wicked

Kerri Maniscalco

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Slow Burn

The Bridge Kingdom

Danielle L. Jensen

Enemies to Lovers Arranged Marriage Forbidden Love

Assistant to the Villain

Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Villain Antihero Workplace Romance Slow Burn

Twisted Hate

Ana Huang

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Workplace Romance

King of Wrath

Ana Huang

Arranged Marriage Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity

Corrupt

Penelope Douglas

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Morally Gray

Punk 57

Penelope Douglas

Pen Pals to Lovers Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn

Bully

Penelope Douglas

Enemies to Lovers Childhood Sweethearts Grumpy Sunshine

Captive in the Dark

CJ Roberts

Kidnapping Captive Morally Gray Forced Proximity

Things We Left Behind

Lucy Score

Enemies to Lovers Rivals to Lovers Childhood Sweethearts

Book Lovers

Emily Henry

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Slow Burn

Beach Read

Emily Henry

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Bet or Dare

Love, Theoretically

Ali Hazelwood

Enemies to Lovers Fake Dating Slow Burn

Bride

Ali Hazelwood

Arranged Marriage Forced Proximity Enemies to Lovers

The Spanish Love Deception

Elena Armas

Workplace Romance Fake Dating Enemies to Lovers

The Hating Game

Sally Thorne

Enemies to Lovers Rivals to Lovers Workplace Romance

You Deserve Each Other

Sarah Hogle

Fake Relationship Bet or Dare Enemies to Lovers

Wildfire

Hannah Grace

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Grumpy Sunshine

Daydream

Hannah Grace

Hockey Grumpy Sunshine Bookworm

The Graham Effect

Elle Kennedy

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Age Gap

Better Than the Movies

Lynn Painter

Enemies to Lovers Neighbors to Lovers Grumpy Sunshine

The Fine Print

Lauren Asher

Workplace Romance Billionaire Grumpy Sunshine

Love Redesigned

Lauren Asher

Enemies to Lovers Rivals to Lovers Childhood Sweethearts

Mile High

Liz Tomforde

Hockey Grumpy Sunshine Celebrity Ordinary

Electric Idol

Katee Robert

Arranged Marriage Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love

The Viscount Who Loved Me

Julia Quinn

Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn Brother's Best Friend

A Rogue of One's Own

Evie Dunmore

Enemies to Lovers Opposites Attract Slow Burn

Bringing Down the Duke

Evie Dunmore

Forbidden Love Opposites Attract Enemies to Lovers

It Happened One Autumn

Lisa Kleypas

Enemies to Lovers Banter Grumpy Sunshine

The Duchess War

Courtney Milan

Wallflower Royalty Slow Burn

Sweetest Oblivion

Danielle Lori

Arranged Marriage Forbidden Love Alpha Male

The Maddest Obsession

Danielle Lori

Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn Forced Proximity

Ruthless People

J.J. McAvoy

Arranged Marriage Boss CEO Morally Gray

From Lukov with Love

Mariana Zapata

Slow Burn Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity

Red, White & Royal Blue

Casey McQuiston

Enemies to Lovers Secret Relationship Forced Proximity

Heated Rivalry

Rachel Reid

Enemies to Lovers Rivals to Lovers Secret Relationship

Conventionally Yours

Annabeth Albert

Enemies to Lovers Road Trip Forced Proximity

The Unhoneymooners

Christina Lauren

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Vacation Romance

Unfortunately Yours

Tessa Bailey

Enemies to Lovers Marriage of Convenience Grumpy Sunshine

Dear Enemy

Kristen Callihan

Enemies to Lovers Rivals to Lovers Neighbors to Lovers

The Favor

Suzanne Wright

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Grumpy Sunshine

A Discovery of Witches

Deborah Harkness

Forbidden Love Slow Burn Enemies to Lovers

Well Met

Jen DeLuca

Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn Forced Proximity

Throne of the Fallen

Kerri Maniscalco

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Slow Burn

Divine Rivals

Rebecca Ross

Enemies to Lovers Pen Pals to Lovers Forced Proximity

The Jasmine Throne

Tasha Suri

Enemies to Lovers Sapphic Forbidden Love

The Cruel Prince

Holly Black

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Slow Burn

A Fate of Wrath and Flame

K.A. Tucker

Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn Forbidden Love

The Ex Hex

Erin Sterling

Second Chance Enemies to Lovers Small Town

Love on the Brain

Ali Hazelwood

Enemies to Lovers Workplace Romance Forced Proximity

Lost and Lassoed

Lyla Sage

Cowboy Enemies to Lovers Small Town

A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch

Sarah Hawley

Enemies to Lovers Amnesia Slow Burn

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon

Sarah Hawley

Fake Dating Fake Relationship Forced Proximity

Slave to Sensation

Nalini Singh

Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn

Check & Mate

Ali Hazelwood

Rivals to Lovers Grumpy Sunshine Enemies to Lovers

Shatter Me

Tahereh Mafi

Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn

Once Upon a Broken Heart

Stephanie Garber

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Slow Burn

Reverie

Shain Rose

Mafia Enemies to Lovers Billionaire

Boss On Notice

Zoey Locke, Z.L. Arkadie

Boss Employee Enemies to Lovers Fake Dating

He's So Good: A San Francisco Love Story

Z.L. Arkadie

Boss Employee Enemies to Lovers Workplace Romance

Doctor Taylor

Sharon Woods

Boss Employee Enemies to Lovers Second Chance

Caught

Ada Stuart

Boss Employee Enemies to Lovers Workplace Romance

The Forgotten Wife

Christine M Butler, Christine Michelle

Forced Marriage Enemies to Lovers Second Chance

Bad Boy Romance: A Steamy Enemies to Lovers Second Chance Billionaire Romance (Romance Books)

JL Ryan

Enemies to Lovers Second Chance Reformed Bad Boy

Viking's Captive: A Steamy Enemies to Lovers Romance

Mariah Stone

Enemies to Lovers Viking Kidnapping Captive

Fireball

Lainey Davis

Rivals to Lovers Enemies to Lovers Second Chance

Gunnar

Nina Levine

MC / Biker Enemies to Lovers Second Chance

Wicked Warden: An Enemies to Lovers Motorcycle Club Romance Novel

Lynn Burke

MC / Biker Enemies to Lovers Age Gap

Ruthless

Zoey Parker

MC / Biker Enemies to Lovers Royalty Commoner

Open Doors: The Complete Series

Vinni George

Secret Identity Enemies to Lovers Friends to Lovers

Love and Mistletoe

Zara Keane

Vacation Romance Enemies to Lovers Detective

Fight

Sloane St. James

Firefighter Enemies to Lovers Strangers to Lovers

The Heartwood Sea

Elana Johnson

Beach / Coastal Enemies to Lovers Second Chance

Run and Hide

E M Raegan

Dystopian Enemies to Lovers Brooding Hero

Saving Jace

Rebecca Rivard

Fated Mates Werewolf / Shifter Enemies to Lovers

Bewitched by a Vampire: An Enemies-to-Lovers Fated Mates Vampire / Witch Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love

Possessed by a Dark Warrior: A Second Chance Fated Mates Dark Fae / Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love

Marked by an Assassin: A Second Chance Fated Mates Feline Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Enemies to Lovers Second Chance

Scorched by Darkness: An Enemies-to-Lovers Fated Mates Dark Elf / Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love

Masterson

Lisa Lang Blakeney

Taboo Enemies to Lovers Second Chance

Unforgettable Romance

Stefania Gil

Big City Enemies to Lovers Boss Employee

Second Start: Family

Patricia McLinn

Found Family Enemies to Lovers Second Chance

Roommate

Sarina Bowen

Roommates Enemies to Lovers Childhood Sweethearts

Unexpected Wishes ( Western Romance )

Molly Maco

Cowboy / Ranch Enemies to Lovers Second Chance