While I enjoyed the premise of the book, it just didn't draw me in like I had hoped. I'll recommend it to others but for me it didn't quite hit the mark.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC of the book!

What a fool I was to assume this was an interconnected standalone duology…

But alas, that was a me thing and not this book’s fault.

Overall, this was a really cool world with a magic system that, for me, was really unique. Having the seith system be like a second nervous system in the body was fascinating, and as a writer myself, I’m kinda mad I didn’t think of it.

I love Osric. Can I have an IRL version, please? (Minus the murder, obviously)

His banter with Aurienne was *chef’s kiss* and I was heartbroken at the ending.

The biggest hurdle(s) for me was probably the writing style. It took me about 10-20% of the book before I really fell into the swing of it, but after that it was pretty consistent and smooth sailing. Adjacent to that is the diction. At the risk of sounding dumb, there were a lot of ‘big words’ that I didn’t know. Most of them were scientific/medical terms, and given that Aurienne is a healer/doctor that makes sense. There were the handful of times where there were just big words that when I looked them up were more complex synonyms for words I did know, but I digress.

Like I said, overall a pretty great read, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the sequel.

I feel very conflicted about this book. I want to be supportive of authors making the jump from fan-fiction to traditional publishing but I think this one could have used some more refinement. The writing felt clunky for much of the book, with overly flowery language (which often made aspects of the world building difficult to decipher), and so many crude jokes that felt too shoehorned in to be funny. For the first two-thirds of the book, the plot felt incredibly repetitive and I was entirely uninterested in the relationship between the two main characters. I do think the author seemed to hit their stride in the last 25% or so, once the characters started expressing a little more depth and some interesting plot developments were introduced, but then the ending came off as pretty abrupt. I would be open to reading more from this author, but ultimately this one fell a little flat for me.

I was so eager to read this after LOVING the AO3 version. There are still elements of the original, but quite a bit of changed details as well. Going into it, I was unaware that it was going to be a duology, so I was surprised when I came to the end and there was no resolution, but that was on me, not a fault of the book. I do think it will do well with fans of Divine Rivals or Powerless.

Review goes live July 16

I couldn't even finish the first chapter on this one. The dialogue wasn't good. And despite having a glossary at the front, none of the words in the first chapter were included (hopefully this gets fixed in the finished copy).

I know a lot of people have enjoyed this one, but it was a miss for me.

The irresistible urge to fall for your enemy

Delicious enemies to lovers who are forced into proximity so she can save his life. I thought I would be sad missing the OG fan fic version and I was pleasantly surprised to see this book stands on its own.

Brigitte’s signature voice was not lost. Comes across from page 1. Unlimited amount of witty banter with hilarious, sarcastic, and clever characters.

I appreciated the new world building. I wish we went more in depth. A lot assumption needs to made by the reader and a few aspects are confusing.

Did a great job separating itself from the original source material and establishing a world of its own! Fans of the fanfiction will really enjoy this version!

#SlowBurnAndIMeanSlowwwwwBurnnnnnn
#EnemiesToLovers

⭐️

Let me preface this by saying: I’m an OG Dramione reader. I’ve been around since the DMATMOOBIL days, and I loved that fanfic—completely devoured it. So I came into this with high hopes. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t deliver for me.

Honestly, it’s been a long time since a book frustrated me to the point of nearly DNFing. And if you know me, you know I don’t give up on books easily. But this one pushed me close.

Aurienne – Intelligent, cunning, healer, researcher
Osric – Morally grey, cocky, assassin

The bones were there for an epic story, but the execution left me wanting more—especially when it came to the characters. I never truly felt like I knew them. There wasn’t enough depth or development to pull me in, and without that emotional connection, I struggled to stay invested.

Considering this was originally a Draco/Hermione fic, I expected to at least catch glimpses of that dynamic—but these characters felt like strangers. And yes, I totally get that fanfics need to shift when they go mainstream, but in this case, it felt like all the magic and tension that made the original pairing work was lost in translation.

Now let’s talk about the language. I’m all for a rich vocabulary, but there’s a difference between poetic prose and pulling out the thesaurus for every other sentence. I found myself pausing to Google words more times than I’d like to admit. It pulled me out of the story and made it feel more like a vocabulary quiz than a fantasy novel.

World-building also felt a bit rushed. I would’ve loved more grounding early on—especially with the magic system. It felt like I was playing catch-up for most of the book, which kept me from fully immersing myself in the story.

And finally, the pacing. This could’ve easily been wrapped up in a single book. The ending dragged, clearly setting up for a sequel, but it didn’t feel earned or necessary.

⸻

In the end, this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I wanted to love it—tried to love it—but sometimes, even the strongest fanfic roots can’t save a story that loses its heart along the way.

I struggled with this book. The writing was difficult to understand, I was constantly confused and rereading passages. I also felt that the characters were flat. I liked the main plot of the book.

💘 The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy: A Sizzling Blend of Romance and Fantasy 💫

Prepare to be swept away by a spellbinding blend of fantasy and romance that will captivate your heart and ignite your imagination. This enchanting tale of enemies-to-lovers is both bewitching and beautifully written, offering a unique spin on the classic tropes I love

- 👫 Enemies-to-Lovers
- 🔥 Slow Burn Romance
- 🧙‍♀️ Fantasy Setting with Magic
- ⏰ Race Against Time
- 💔 Rekindling Past Flames
- 🏥 Healer and Assassin Dynamic
- 🤦‍♂️ Misunderstandings and Miscommunication
- 🎭 Warring Factions/Opposing Orders
- 💫 Tension and Chemistry
- 🌿 Morally Grey Characters

From the very first page, I was drawn into the richly imagined world Knightley creates, following the journey of Osric Mordaunt, a brooding assassin with a mysterious ailment, and Aurienne Fairhrim, a skilled healer from a rival faction. Their unlikely alliance teems with tension and chemistry as they grudgingly work together to solve both his illness and a dangerous epidemic sweeping their world.

Knightley's writing style is a delightful blend of wit and intensity, capturing the dynamic between our two protagonists in a way that’s both humorous and heart-stirring. Osric and Aurienne's banter is sheer gold, peppered with moments of genuine vulnerability that deepen their connection. Every exchange crackles with an electric undercurrent of attraction that paints a vivid picture of their evolving relationship.

While the narrative does commence abruptly, with complex world-building elements that may initially overwhelm, patient readers will find intrigue around every corner. The Orders, magical lore, and deofols introduce fascinating layers to the story. I admit, the world-building could benefit from a more gradual exposition, but these elements hint at vast potential and I am keen to explore more in the series.

The pace of this romantasy is a slow burn, with romance blooming amidst a backdrop of intrigue and danger. This deliberate unraveling of their emotions, layered with the urgency of their quest, makes their eventual understanding and bond deeply satisfying.

Although the ending leaves us eager for more, this marks only the beginning of the duology, setting the stage for the next installment where I hope to delve deeper into both the magical universe and the heart of this captivating romance.

In a whirlwind of sharp dialogues and tender moments, Knightley delivers a story that is both a cozy escape and a thrilling ride. With its endearing characters and humorous undertones, *The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy* promises a whimsical journey for fans of romantic fantasy.

If you're ready to be enchanted by a tale of love and magic, is a must-read that will leave you pining for the sequel and swooning over this charming, reluctant duo. 🌟

I mostly enjoyed this book, but I did have one complaint which was that the magic system felt a little hard to comprehend for a book that felt like it should have been a bit lighter of a read. Other than that, I enjoyed the humor and Brigitte's writing style. I look forward to reading more of their books in the future.

I wasn’t a fan of this one. The romance wasn’t there for me and I fear this wasn’t my cup of tea. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

"The more I think about this book the more I love it! The characters are incredible, the magic system complex and detailed, and I'm convinced that *no one* can write a slow burn the way Birgitte Knightley can. Will be waiting (not at all) patiently until I can hit the preorder button for book 2!!"

Looking for a book that paints broadly with it's fantasy brush as well as building a romantic relationship brick by brick, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley is the one for you. Healer Aurienne is forced to treat her enemy, assassin Osric, despite their opposing magical orders and ethics—she values healing while he focuses on profit through killing. Their relationship isn't a typical romance; both are highly skilled and confident to the point of arrogance, sharing a similar sense of humor and mutual frustration over their forced collaboration. Taking two people who seem to be so far apart in who they are become magnetically attached is a thrill. Cannot wait for book two in this duology!

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy completely delivered on everything I want in an enemies-to-lovers romance. This book had me hooked from the first tense interaction to the final, aching page—and now I’m in emotional chaos waiting for the second part of the duology.

It’s got all the tropes I live for:

Enemies to lovers (like, actual enemies)

High-interaction, slow-burn perfection

Hypercompetent idiots who could take over or heal the world if they stopped bickering for two seconds

He falls first and harder (always superior)

Evisceration as a love language (10/10, no notes)

The slow burn is painfully good in the best way. Every glance, every argument, every soft moment beneath all the prickly edges is charged with tension. And then there’s that moment where she takes care of him, while not hating herself for doing so? I’m unwell.

The plot is angsty, layered with real stakes and sharp emotional beats, and the political element adds a whole extra level of intrigue and urgency. It’s not just about whether they’ll fall in love—it’s about how much they’ll have to lose when they do.

Now let’s talk about the humor. It’s sharp and a bit crude at times, and definitely not going to be for everyone… but for me? It was hilarious. I laughed out loud more times than I can count. The banter is elite, the snark is next-level, and the comedic timing somehow lands even during the angst. That’s talent. The critique crickets and their "familiars" so funny.

Honestly, I adored this book. If you love slow burns with serious tension, enemies-to-lovers that go all in, and characters who could cut each other down or save the world together (depending on the day), you need to pick this up. And then scream with me about how badly we need book two.

One thing I do want to point out is that this is not a revised version of DMATMOOFIL.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and ACE Publishing for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am so happy to have had the opportunity to read this because Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Falling in Love is one of my favorite fics, even books, of all time. I understand this was not a direct reworking of that fan fiction and that it was indeed a new story altogether with perhaps some dramione Inspo. This however missed the mark for me, as I don't think the author knows how to create her own world and magic system and is rather more comfortable writing within someone else's wheelhouse. This was very disappointing to me. I did not feel like the banter was the same energy as the fan fiction she is well known for, it was too much for me and a lot of crude jokes and references.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not the biggest fantasy reader, but was a fan of this fanfiction. I felt that Knightley translated her world incredibly well. There's been a few adaptions of fanfics that felt flat when translated into its own world. Osric and Aurienne were done as a slow burn, but it felt true to title. Osric IS an enemy, and seeing them slowly fall in love, was refreshing because it wasn't a sudden fix. No. It was believable.

4/5!

A fun read! I liked the concept of the sieth and the channels of magic being almost a physical manifestation in ones body, a unique take!

I binged this and finished it at 3am. The talent that bridgitte has is unmatched. This was arguably better than DMATMOOBIL!! I will never recover from this. I cannot believe I have to wait for book 2, the ending of this was so delicious!!! I love that Osric is a total simp. He is also so hot. He is, as expected, living rent free in my head

Whewwwwww a slow burn for sure, but your girl is locked IN.
The super cool world created here is expertly crafted, and I loved how we learn more and interesting details as we go.
I really loved this one - I only want a little more payoff from the romance. But alas, book 2, care we go!!!!