Brigitte. Ma'am. 
Excuse me while I scream into my pillow until 1. I can get the physical copy of this in my hands, and 2. Have book 2 here also please and thank you.   
This is the kind of story I want to re-read a thousand times over and the most fun I have had reading a book in a long time. Brigitte's writing is so distinctive with her play on words and dry, crude humour which brings her characters to life - This was quirky and whimsical and witty and dark and FUNNY. As in cackling out loud every 5 minutes to the point my husband may legitimately think I've finally lost my mind now kind of funny. 

And when I say I want a 'slow burn' it's this. THISSSSS is what I mean (authors take note please) I want to be burned by the slow burn, I want it to be excruciatingly infuriating where I am YELLING at the pages to just KISS already and THIS. IS. IT. This is how you do yearning. This is how you do longing. The 'I hate you but we need to work together' forced proximity with the side glances and Mr Darcy-esque hand flexes and sprinkled in there are the adorable "I don't like them that's ridiculous" while they drool and stumble over their words. And the banter - THE BANTER. You guys I was kicking and giggling and squealing like a child on Christmas morning the entire book. I LOVE seeing characters - ever. so. slowly. - fall in love because they BELONG together. Through all the differences, the outside world prying them apart, and their own idiotic selves not seeing what is right in front of them - they are PERFECT for one another.

The plot/storyline itself was so well done - I did not realise this was going to be a duology but the pacing and twists and turns had me glued to the pages I really had to force myself to slow down reading and take it all in so I don't miss anything. The worldbuilding is fun and quirky with a blend of real world and new magical fantasticalness where Brigitte's fun word play and sense of humour really shines!  

For my fellow OG DMATMOOBIL  lovers - I am a HUGE Dramione fan and will forever be obsessed with Brigitte's writing, especially DMATMOOBIL, but please don't go into this book thinking it will be the same story. It is most definitely it's own book, new characters new world new magic BUT the essence of our favourite version of Dramione is still there!

I am a HUGE fan of Bridgitte Knightly. I have a hand-bound copy of her Dramione fanfic on my shelf. So, when I received this ARC, I screamed the whole damn house down.

This book is about Osric and Aurienne, an assassin and a healer (natural enemies of course) and their (mis)adventures to try and find a magical miracle cure. It’s fun, hilarious, quirky, campy, with a deliciously slow burn.

AND I SERIOUSLY CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I ADORED THIS BOOK!!! This was a breath of fresh air amongst an endless sea of brainless, vapid romantasies. Bridgitte has such a strong and unique voice, I could spot her writing from a mile away - it’s witty and sharp, full of puns, playful vocabulary, dry humour and crude humour. It’s hard for a book to make me laugh out loud, but this had me cackling and snorting with every page! You could tell Bridgitte was having the time of her life writing this. I can just see her maniacally cackling as she typed away lol.

This definitely more of a magical rom-com than a steamy romantasy. We get to watch these two idiots (in their own ways) very slowly fall in love (emphasis on slow, Bridgitte is the queen of a good old-fashioned slow burn, it hurts so good) and I’m not joking when I say I don’t even need a plot - just give me Osric and Aurienne in countless hilarious scenarios until the end of time, and I will enjoy every single bit of it. There is a fun plot in this book, of course, and some nice world-building too - just the right amount for its genre, very easy to digest. But again, this book is about the characters. The banter. The hilarious insults they throw each other. Their chemistry. The slow progression from enemies to ‘damn we actually have a lot in common and I’m starting to respect you and notice how pretty you are but I would never admit it, not yet...’

It’s so refreshing to have two characters fall in love because they are so perfect for one another, instead of just falling in love because they happen to be the main characters in a romantasy (like everything I’ve read). For my DMATMOOBIL girlies, you will ADORE this book. I just know it. And to all the new readers, I really hope you give it a go because it’s like reading about Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from Tangled but as a STEM girlie and an assassin on steroids, and doesn’t that sound fun??!

I thought this book was quite funny and the premise was really interesting, but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it and it kept losing my attention, it really lost me around half way through. I also had trouble with the romance and the lack of development? I guess you could say.

This is a breath of fresh air in the romantic fantasy genre. It has a unique magical system that is fascinating to learn about while still being light, fun and funny. I loved the dynamic between the characters, the banter and irritation towards one another had me giggling and kicking my feet.
It may take a little while to remember the different terminology but having the glossary was very helpful.

The epitome of slow burn enemies to lovers! The cast of characters are all ridiculously hilarious, particularly the male lead, Osric, who possesses a distinguished brand of dry, sometimes self-depreciating, yet often arrogant, sense of humour that was thoroughly enjoyable to read about. With an incredibly unique magic system, a glittery (yet not at all distracting) writing style, and spectacular character dynamics, I am very excited for book two!

THIS BOOK. This book wrecked me in the absolute best way. The delicious slow burn, the tension, the YEARNING. The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is the kind of slow burn that has you screaming into a pillow because the tension is that GOOD.

Osric, our charming yet deadly assassin and Aurienne, our studious healer who has zero patience for his nonsense, are forced to work together, and let me tell youuuu, the bickering, the longing, the accidental but absolutely not accidental touches had me screaming and crying and kicking my feet.

Also that endingggggggggg. I’m unwell please release the next one now please 🙏🏾.

Please, please, please go preorder this one now, trust me, you won’t regret it 😉.

I don't think I have laughed so much in a book before - this was absolutely freaking hilarious with the banter and I can't describe it any other way but as sophisticated potty humour.

This book is definitely my favourite book for the month but I might even count it as my favourite for the year, so far. The world building and magic system was really well done and the characters, especially Aurienne and Osric were an absolute delight. Their banter in particular was a real highlight of this book. It has the slowest of slow burns because it is hate at first sight but oh how the last line of the book made me swoon.

Part of me is disappointed that I got to read this book early because now I have to wait until July before I can hold a physical copy in my hands and read it again. Oh and wait even longer for the second book to come out.

I received an eARC (thank you Netgalley and Hachette) and because its the weekend, I have left an honest review

If you are looking for TRUE enemies to lovers, where they just plain old hate each other and are disgusted by the fact that they are in fact, super into each other...this is it. I had such a fun reading this story, from the snarky banter, the plotting and scheming to witnessing icy cold hearts melting for an unlikely person. I loved the twists and turns of this book and the moment where they danced in the rain...it was perfect. After so many pages of pure hatred, this was such a sweet moment for us to enjoy.
What to expect:
Enemies to Lover
Assassin vs Healer
Shadow Daddy
The best Banter
War Times and Political Corruption
Magic System

Thank you so much to Hachette and NetGalleyfor my EARC.

AO3 people, will eat this Dramione fanfic up. Did I eat this up?No, I did not. Everything’s there, but the writing and world building felt like a fanfic cliché, which this book technically is(a huge CLICHE). It’s very drawn out and probably could have been half of what it is and probably should have stayed on AO3. I legit got bored by 20% in and skimmed the rest. So all I can really say is this book is just really, really shit.
1

Thank you to Hachette and NetGalley! This was one of my anticipated reads this year, and it didn't disappoint in any way, shape or form! I expected nothing less from the writing in her fanfictions - and somehow this was better. To start, Audrienne and Osric were enemies. Not the "we kinda each other and we'll kiss about it", kind of enemies, but ACTUAL enemies. Coupled with the banter that had me highlighting whole pages and the breadcrumbs of their love that kept me scrambling for more, this book was everything anyone wanting a slow-burning, tension filled story could want. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat in one moment, then fully feeling for the characters the next. I love a bad bitch who knows exactly who she is and what she's worth FMC, and a (sorta) filthy rich bloodthirsty hilarious MMC, and that's what I got. I can't wait for the next one! I already want more.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy" by Brigitte Knightley is a fantastic debut that beautifully blends fantasy and romance. Knightley presents a well-researched and imaginative take on a world where magic exists, exploring what might have happened if England had repelled the French in 1066. While her rich and descriptive writing may feel a bit dense for newcomers, fans of her source material will appreciate the familiar nuances, including delightful Easter eggs sprinkled throughout.

The relationship between Osric and Aurienne is both captivating and relatable, making their journey feel personal. Instead of ending on a dramatic cliffhanger, the story wraps up with a subtle suggestion of what’s to come, leaving our characters at a crossroads that perfectly balances their connection. The recurring theme of the moments between dreams and reality adds depth to their story, and I can't wait to see where Knightley takes us next!

this was a masterful debut. i find it genuinely hard to believe that Brigitte Knightley has the same 26 letters to work with as i do, because she writes like she was born to do it. the language she uses in her prose had me believing everything i was reading. i believed the folk-stories she referenced in the way i believe in the fact there's a sky above me right now. i believed that her well developed, hilarious characters were falling in love. the time that i took reading this was purposefully dragged out on my behalf because i didn't want to stop reading it. i already knew Brigitte was a force to be reckoned with from her fandom writing, but she's cemented herself in every bookstore and every library for as long as she continues to write with The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy. no notes.

God, I wanted this book to be god-tier for me SO badly. I was so excited for this book. I loved DMATMOOBIL, it was my first ever fic and it is glorious.
But something was lost in the transition from a fanfic space, to a trad published space. A spark was lost.
What made DMATMOOBIL so incredible was the banter, the pacing, the hilarity, and the outrageousness. This book feels reigned in. It feels like it had to be written for “proper” reading adults. And it suffers for that.
The book isn’t overly long, but it feels like it is. It is drawn out, the slowest of slow burn and while Dramione coded it feels a little too stiff.
I love the premise of the book, but the balance is off between osris’ illness and the pox. The supporting cast are great, but we don’t get enough of them, let alone the Deofol’s.
I also question the need for a series. Is it going to draw things out that don’t need to be drawn out? Could we not have had a 509/600 page standalone that cut out some of the unnecessary guff?
I guess only time will tell.
Don’t get me wrong, this is still a wonderful book, I guess it just fell a little flat of my admittedly mighty expectations.

ARC review time!!
As some of you know, I just about pee'd myself when I got the ARC for this book because Brigitte Knightley went and made me fall in love her as a Dramione fanfic author (well, that and my pelvic floor isn't what it used to be after having kids), but this is her debut novel as a published author!

I came into this one straight off the back of a super heavy dark romantasy so getting into the light, British Banter took me a couple of chapters and it was so worth it!

We have:
☠️ STEM Romance
☠️ Enemies to Lovers
☠️ Witty, hilarious Banter
☠️ 'I don't know if I love you or hate you' vibes
☠️ Magic and Assassins
☠️ A-hole MMC I wanted to kick in the teeth, but he's too pretty and says funny things so maybe I want to have his babies 🤷‍♀️

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD add this to your tbr when it releases on July 8th.
Pre-orders are also up on my website!
www.witchybooks.com.au

Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of this book!

As someone who doesn't generally enjoy most romantasies, this was such a joy to read and a breath of fresh air. Knightley has a way of writing that is truly so engaging, and a sense of humour that is a wonderful undercurrent to the story overall.

The magic system was fascinating to explore, and I love the merges with science as well. The main characters, Aurienne and Osric, both had very distinctive personalities and voices throughout their POVs. I feel like in many books we're more told rather than shown the developing sexual tension between two characters, but the growing bond between the pair felt natural and left me desperate for more of them!

This story swept me off my feet, and is so incredibly special that I just know it’s going to be massive. I heard about this book through some people I follow who are a fan of Knightley’s fanfics but I’ve never read any of her work so I didn’t know I was in for an insanely delicious enemies to lovers work of ART.

We’ve got our MMC Osric, a slightly vain, sassy, and perpetually unserious assassin and FMC Aurienne, a talented healer whose Order and morals are by nature, completely opposed to Osric’s. Both characters are extremely competent and therefore arrogant, and are constantly at odds with one another, creating the most entertaining dynamic as they are forced reluctantly work together after he bribes her to heal him from a mysterious illness.

This book features witty banter the likes of which I’ve never read before, and fleshed out characters that are actually enemies for a reason and whom I absolutely adore. The magic system in this book was well-thought-out and completely unique, with 8 distinct orders that wield magic (referred to as “seith”) in different ways, ranging from healers and engineers to trained assassins. This book was a great introduction into how this world works, but I can’t wait for it to hopefully be explored further in the next one.

Knightley has somehow struck the balance between writing a story that sounds so fancy and proper (I learned about 100 new words through the course of reading this book) and also being SO FREAKING FUNNY. It was insanely good at getting a chuckle out of me at literally every single page. The romance we get in this is sooooo yummy and a slow burn that I wish to devour it’s so good. It felt perfectly paced and left me wanting more so much so that I need the second book right now and the wait might actually kill me.

There are so many quotes I have highlighted that I’d love to share here but I think everyone deserves to read this book for the first time with absolutely nothing spoiled at all because it’s really that good.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy was a delight to read and I can’t wait for more people to find it and love it like I did.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

🦢Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand, Brigitte Knightley, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of "The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy" to review. 🐺

When first we meet moral stalwart, Aurienne, the talented healer has been forced into a grudging partnership with Osric, a deadly assassin from a rival order. The two clash constantly as they attempt to cure his illness and uncover the truth behind the deadly pox that is spreading through the population. Plenty of insult is added to injury, when the two realise that an unwelcome attraction is developing between them.

While the enemies-to-lovers trope absolutely tickles that part of the brain that delights in the idea of someone falling in love with your most feral self, the slow-burn in this book is also exquisitely done.

Now, when I tell you that it’s slow burn, I'm saying it standing on all ten toes. Trust. Despite this, the pace doesn't drag for a second thanks to the continuous stream of elite banter that flows between the pair.

While the chemistry between Aurienne and Osric could have easily hooked me for 400+ pages on its own, it sits against an intriguing fantasy plot and a magic system that is completely captivating in its own right.

Out on July 08, 2025, "The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy" is an unmatched five-star Comedic Romantasy not to be missed.

Why does it have to be over?!? This book did exactly what I hoped it would. It gave me the snarky, adventurous enemies to lovers (SLOW BURN) that I wanted. DMATMOOBIL is so close to my heart, it’s a book that made me kick my little feet so to read another book with beautiful prose, a great plot and strong characters was a delight. I feel the book could have kept going (just make it a big book!!!!) but I’m so ready for the second edition! I’m ready for a massive post book blues now

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is a excellent showcase of Brigitte Knightley's wit and mastery of prose. A true enemies-to-lovers story, this is a slow burn filled with many laugh out loud moments and moments of deep tenderness. Knightley weaves magic into every sentence with every word deliberately chosen for maximum impact. I eagerly await news of the second book (chomping at the bit, really)..despite the first still not yet published.

For the Dramione fans - this will not disappoint. You will find the same humour, brilliant turn of phrase and intriguing storyline that is the root of why we love Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love.

Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand for the opportunity to read the eARC via NetGalley.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I was not expecting this book to be so exceptionally funny or quick witted. It was vulgar, it was bloody, and the longest of slow burns. Despite not getting a super deep look into the thoughts, or motivations of the main characters due to the third person omniscient POV, they are fleshed out enough to care about, to want them to succeed (even when it comes to the killing). We learn bits and pieces about them slowly throughout the story, and I found them both incredibly intriguing.
There's not a whole lot of plot until closer to the end. It's really just a bunch of scenes of the two characters having to spend time together. But that was okay because that's what I wanted.
I feel it necessary to mention I never read this when it was in its fanfic form. I have in fact never read a Dramione fanfiction (I was a Jily reader myself). It did not feel like a fanfiction to me. The world was well developed, though a bit overwhelming. There was a lot of info about the Orders, and the kingdoms within this gaslamp fantasy alternate timeline Britain. I feel it would be easier with a physical book to flip back to the map and info at the start of the book, than it was in the ebook.
Unfortunately, loses that star for the extremely abrupt ending. It wasn't just a cliffhanger. It genuinely felt like this was a bigger book that has just been ruthlessly chopped in half.
Will I be reading the sequel whenever it comes out? Hell yes.