Admittedly I'm undecided about how to rate this one. I liked so much about it but found the beginning especially so hard to get into because of how little world building is used to ease the reader into the world.

Though I didn't find it hard to understand what was going on and where it was going on I think that was due to already knowing what the original story was based on. I also found some of the dialogue clunky and a little silly.

I still thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the story and am hopeful I'll be able to have some really fun conversations about this one. I think its a fun read and is paced well which made it enjoyable.

Maybe after I sit with it a little longer the negatives will dissipate and I'll come back and edit this!

Okay this was SO GOOD. This is dramione coded and I am obsessed. I am so proud and happy for this author and her traditionally published debut!
This was a fantastic read that I could not put down. Everything about it was magnificent.
If you’re wanting a SLOW BURN a REAL SLOW BURN. THIS. IS. IT! Run don’t walk to get this read!
Although there is not a ton of world building, it was still such a fun and pleasant read. Still a fascinating world it just isn’t super explored and detailed. But it’s enough to still follow and imagine!

I am forever obsessed with this and I will not be shutting up about it. I will be running to the stores to grab a copy, fingers crossed they have it in stock for me! Because this is a MUST HAVE for my shelf. Immediately!

It was a phenomenal read! I’ve been following Brigitte (the author) since she posted about her book deal on Instagram, so when I got the chance to read her book early, I devoured it. I finished it in less than twenty-four hours and lost sleep over it, which is the best compliment I could ever give. It was funny and romantic without losing its depth and heart. The characters, while stagnant developmentally for a large part of the book, had very strong voices and were distinctive compared to what I usually encounter when reading fantasy. The world was so fun that I wish we had spent more time in it. I thought the pacing was very well-managed, and I liked the plot outside the romance aspect, which was what drew me in the first place. I do think the book could’ve used a bigger ending, but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment I felt while reading it and the sweet taste it left in my mouth when I was done.
I can’t wait for book 2!

This is the slowest burn in the world and I am here for it!!!

I feel like this book might not be for everyone but it was 100% for me. I loved the writing, there were a lot of stylistic choices made by the author and I loved them and I feel like it made the reading experience really unique and entertaining. The Clever Banter was top tier and I was eating it up, and I also think there was a good balance of ridiculousness and earnestness and I think our two leads were well developed, but also I wanted more!!

Pacing was great for me, I was constantly engaged. I will say it did take me a bit to get used to the world, but I think there are enough context clues if you're confused about an aspect and also there was a glossary and...whatever the thing in the front of the book that explains things is called-- there was that too.

THE YEARNING! THE BANTER! THE TENSION! godddd this was such a good time and I can't wait to read the next book.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the ARC!

I was looking forward to this book so much. I loved it. The world building, the plot, the characters 😍. I love Osric and Aurienne and their relationship. I would 100% recommend this book to everyone that’ll listen.

This was delightful from start to finish! I loved both Aurienne and Osric and Brigitte Knightley's writing was hilarious. I can't wait for the next book!

This felt like a quick read! I really liked the unique magic system and I love books where one character is a healer. I know this is a dramione book but that part didn't stand out much to me, this story stands very well on its own!

Arc Reciew: 5 ⭐️
Ok, so like, LOVED IT.
The pub names and creative insults alone earn it 5 stars, but the visceral “I f!cking hate you” to “hold up… what if…” emotional journey was *chefs kiss*.
I literally can’t wait until the next booooook.
Thank you to Berkley/Ace for the Arc!

3.75 stars
No one is more surprised than I am by that rating. This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, I’m a Dramione girlie til I die. After reading this, I waited a few days to finish writing my review and choose a rating because I have been in a bit of a slump and I wanted to make sure it was the book and not me that was the issue. I should have expected from the title that this would be very unnecessarily wordy. Almost in the same vein as the Emily Wilde series, which I love. However, the prose of this one didn’t leave any space for actual emotions and felt very detached from the characters perspectives. I thought the narrative could’ve benefited from first person perspective because the dual POVs almost blended together at times. I also had an issue with the “humor”. This just wasn’t funny, which I’m fine with but it was trying so hard to be. Almost every joke was about private parts and it got so excessive that I was cringing. There were parts of this I loved, which is why I don’t feel like going any lower on a rating for now. The world is really cool and the healer trope is one of my favorites so I enjoyed the main plot. I think this will be a huge hit for anyone able to connect with it and maybe the slump just put a damper on my enjoyment and it’s actually perfect. We will never know. I am sad to be let down by something I was so excited for but maybe I’ll read the second book when it releases and my thoughts will change.

4.5 Stars! A deliciously sharp romantic fantasy with banter that slaps

I had so much fun with this one. The dynamic between Aurienne and Osric was so fun from the very first scene, with their dialogue absolutely carrying the story in the best way. If you love clever, fast-paced back-and-forth that feels like a verbal duel, this book delivers. Their chemistry doesn’t come from sweeping declarations but from their ability to outwit and irritate each other at every turn—and somehow, that’s exactly what makes their connection feel so inevitable.

Aurienne, a brilliant and morally upright healer, finds herself entangled with Osric, a charmingly infuriating assassin who is the literal opposite of everything she stands for. Their reluctant alliance is filled with tension, dry humor, and a growing closeness that neither of them wants to admit. The progression of their relationship felt natural and steady—it’s the kind of story that makes you grin when you realize how much the characters have come to care, even if they’re the last ones to admit it.

The world itself is intriguing, though I’ll admit I found myself wanting just a bit more depth in the setting and magic structure. But I also recognize that this story leans more into its character-driven moments than elaborate worldbuilding, and that worked well here.

The humor, however, is easily the standout. It’s not just funny—it’s smart, a little chaotic, and endlessly entertaining. Some of their conversations had me laughing out loud, and that’s not something I say often. If you’re here for romance that builds slowly and sarcasm that could slice steel, this one’s worth the read.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s rip off the bandaid and start with the bad first. This book unfortunately did not capture my attention like I thought it would. Our MMC is a dark assassin for hire who has a deadly magic-related injury and the FMC is a skilled healer/doctor who is ordered/payed to heal him. The first 30% feels like a repetition of the same healing scene with no progression of the relationship or significant character development. Their ethics and morals are like Fire and Water and there seems to be no redeeming quality to the MMC until MAYBE 50%. There are no hints that he may be a good person or be someone that the FMC would WANT to fall in love with. She herself doesn’t even want to heal him and states multiple times that the world would be better off if he was dead. It’s hard to call this a slow burn because there is no burn at all for the first 1/3 of the book.

Now the good, if I didn’t know this was a dramione fanfic going into it, I wouldn’t have realized. The magic system and characters set up a fantasy world that is unique and can stand alone from the HP franchise. Our MMC and FMC feel like adults in theirs 30s who are established experts in their fields rather than teenagers which is refreshing. Additionally, the world seems to have rich hidden lore that make me curious to learn more. Although repetitive, the banter and jabs between the MCs made me laugh a few times.

I am definitely in the minority but this book was not for me at all. It felt like a slog to get through as the characters were so insufferably flat and the world building was mediocre at best. The writing style felt off, as the humour felt weirdly incorporated.. I had to force myself to pick up the book because I really couldn’t care less as to what happened to our protagonists. A swing and a miss for me but I know it will find its audience.

As always, thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early!

I don't really know what else to say besides that I absolutely loved this book! This was the true meaning of the term slow burn, and I'm honestly desperate for more. Their disdain for each other in the beginning was hilarious and it was fun to see them ever-so-slowly start to warm up to one another. Even outside of the romance, this was just such a fun time and I enjoyed seeing the intricacies of both the healing magic from Aurienne's point of view and the politics of the order of assassins from Osric's. The mystery simmering in the background ended on an interesting note, and I'm very intrigued to see where this goes next. I think the story is about to be more political and more romantic (fingers crossed). I cannot wait until this comes out so I can put it on my shelf and I'm already excited for book two!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early.

Having read the original fanfiction, I was looking forward to diving back into this story and seeing how it had been changed. Unfortunately, I felt that the worldbuilding could have used a bit more attention, as at times it felt underdeveloped and underexplained. For example, it was never explained how or why the fantasy elements existed alongside the modern/real world and it’s real-world locations, like London or Strathclyde. It was almost like the book expected you as the reader to either suspend your belief or remember that the original fanfiction’s source material explained that dichotomy between fantasy and real world.

The romance and the banter kept me entertained, but often I felt that each time I began to sink into the story, the overly verbose descriptions pulled me out of it.

Ultimately, this story is a lighthearted fantasy to satisfy fans of enemies to lovers tropes, but it was simply not for me. And that’s okay.

-I see this as Mortifying's more serious and moodier fraternal twin. Bridgette's witty banter remains top-notch, and while I found myself highlighting nearly every page of Mortifying, here I was more of an observer of two loathers until about the 60% mark. Could not put it down!! Perhaps thats the point of it all though; the story hits you when you least expect it—ah, the beauty and artistry of a slow burn. LET THE ANGSTY YEARNING BEGIN; I’M READY FOR BOOK TWO!

-it was cool to see the little remnants of mortifying here and there as this is completely new story with similar vibes. I appreciated seeing certain aspects of the plot woven in.

-due to mortifying obviously not needing essentially any world building, -I would say world building and plot is where this one lacks. Overall I liked the idea of it and everything that was introduced, but it just needed more development. I'm in it for these two and their dialogue and that is OK. Enjoyed this one a bunch, just don't take it too serious. Def recommend reading the fic first for the *full* experience.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy was an absolute masterclass in slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers tension. Osric, the brooding assassin, and Aurienne, the fiercely determined healer, were the definition of opposites—not just in personality but in purpose. Their chemistry crackled with every begrudging alliance, every sharp-witted insult, and every stolen moment of unexpected understanding.
The world-building was rich and immersive, seamlessly blending political intrigue, magic, and a deadly mystery that kept the stakes high. The resurgence of the Pox added layers of urgency, forcing Osric and Aurienne into a partnership neither wanted but both needed. The slow build of their relationship—from reluctant allies to something deeper—was agonizingly delicious.
The author didn’t just deliver a romance; she delivered a journey of trust, sacrifice, and impossible choices. Every glance, every argument, and every moment of reluctant care was laced with so much tension I practically held my breath. And when the emotional payoff finally arrived? Absolutely worth it.
If you love intricate world-building, morally gray characters, and a romance that makes you ache, this book is unmissable.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun read. I hadn’t read much about the synopsis before starting but I was hooked from the start. This made me laugh and my only complaint was that it’s not a standalone and book two isn’t out yet bc one isn’t even officially out yet lol but yes loved this book

It was a quick easy ready . I do feel it lacked depth and a lot of things needed more explaining and expanding but the banter was cute. Don’t read expecting it to be like the fanfic.
I loved how Osric fell in love first and Aurienne didn’t make it easy. The constant banter always makes me Cheshire smile.

Thank you netgalley for the free e-arc

brigitte knightley brings such a refreshing writing style & incredible sense of humor to this book that just makes it so distinctly *readable* and easy to enjoy. I genuinely haven’t laughed out loud over a book like this in ages. this was a beautiful blend of rom-com, mystery & magical elements!

this story follows osric (assassin) and aurienne (healer) who are two magic-users from opposing orders as they are forced to set aside their differences for the sake of the world at large. CLASSIC. the tension of this slow-burn romance will quite literally have you on the edge of your seat ready to stage an intervention between these two stubborn idiots.

what to expect:
🩷 extremely reluctant enemies-to-lovers
🍴god-tier banter & humor
🩷 “unlikable” fmc (MY TYPE THROUGH & THROUGH)
🍴 unique animal companions with equally matched humor
🩷 a very fun & unique magic system

the only reason this wasn’t a full on five-stars from me is because I do think the world & magic system could’ve greatly benefited from some further fleshing out. there were a few moments where a certain character, order or aspect of the world would feel like it on the verge of having a bigger role to play; only for them to end up irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. but overall this absolutely had all of the makings to be The Perfect Story.

I do wish this series were set to be a trilogy instead of a duology; if only for the chance to flesh out and play around more in such an incredibly cool world with the two most adorably frustrating lead characters out there 🥹

thank you so much to the kind folks over at berkley publishing for the opportunity to read one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 early!! it’s been a major privilege 🫶🏻

I love the ship that this original fic is based on, BUT the world building in here was so lacking. I also really didnt' like the tone, but I think it would appeal to some readers.