I really enjoyed Dear Enemy. It was full of romance, drama, heart, and of course: enemies-to-lovers! This is the story of Macon Saint and Delilah Baker. Childhood freindimies, each with their own amount of baggage. Kristen Callihan pulls out this emotional story through a slow burn.

Delilah is witty and sensible. She has a huge heart. I loved her "grandma's remedies" that she often quoted. She is sensible and sensitive. Macon Saint is anything but a saint. Handsome, confident and self-assured. Sometimes a bully.

"Mamma used to say the brain can lie to you, but the heart always knows the truth."

Thrown together through circumstance, Malcolm and Delilah realize that they each had insecurities and circumstances that shaped their lives into adulthood. The story was beautifully unwrapped as each layer of their past fell like a tree shedding its leaves in the fall. If you are looking for a book that will fill you up then Dear Enemy is for you!

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan a five-star read that you wouldn’t want to be enemies with. This one was a strange one for me I loved it then it was just okay then I loved it again. Its been a distracting day so it could have just been me that wasn’t focused on the middle as the rest was so great. I adored Delilah and she just warmed me no end, I was so pushing for her happiness and Macon Saint well he grew on me, the beautiful Devil that he is. I did struggle with Delilah at a couple of points mainly about her relationship with her mother, but overall, it honest. I will admit that Sam pushed everyone of my buttons, she just made me want to swing for something. This is one that you will love when you read it. Don’t miss this great story.

3.5 stars

CW: stalking, car accident, off-page parental abuse of minor (not sexual); dieting; off-page parental death, toxic family members, bullying

Longer RTC near release date

Dear Enemy is, as you might have guessed, an enemies to lovers romance between childhood rivals. Delilah and Macon grew up together, and Macon was childhood sweethearts with Delilah’s sister, Sam. Years later, Macon is a famous movie star, and when Sam steals a priceless piece of jewelry from Macon, he calls in Delilah to work off Sam’s debt as his assistant. As the two get to know each other again, they reopen old wounds from the past and realize that maybe their mutual hatred was really mutual fascination. But when Sam returns, Delilah has to decide if she can let go of the past so that she and Macon can make a future together.
The ending is what really sold this book for me, as Macon’s motivations and past feelings come into light. Also, if you enjoy reading about good food, this is the book for you. I was so hungry reading about Delilah’s cooking!

4.9 Stars

Delilah and Macon.

They met when they were eleven years old.

Delilah wanted to be friends. Macon did the verbal 'pulling-the-little-girls-hair' thing and they've been enemies ever since. But they're still always in each other's presence, because Macon and Deliah's sister Sam have been a 'thing' since that very first day. On and off again all through school.

Now, ten years after highschool, Delilah is a busy catering chef in Los Angeles. Sister Sam is still a flighty good-for-not-much party & con girl. And Macon. He's a Hollywood Star.

Delilah and Macon haven't spoken (read: fought) since prom.

But now Delilah has to work for Macon as his personal chef and assistant, to pay for the expensive watch Sam stole from him.

Let the fun times begin ....

Because we all know that those years of hate were not really hate ...

What will happen with Delilah & Macon??
Will there be a Happy End??
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺

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Aww - that was adorable!!

But first, I have to complain about the cover - and the title!
I'm not in love with either! When you look at the cover - quickly - you don't even see the people on it. You just see ENEMY and think, okay - Kristin wrote a thriller - or a romantic suspense thingy maybe if we're lucky. Which would totally be okay - I love reading thrillers and suspense romances .... But it's none of those things!!! It's a beautiful and fun and adorable and slightly heartbreaking enemies to lovers romance! The cover should be changed! And the title - I know it used to be different - Kristen said something about it on FB, but it got changed. Dear Enemy sounds as if a stalker or killer writes letters to the hero or heroine. As a potential reader in a bookstore? I would not buy this book. I'm afraid people will buy it as a thriller and then rate it only 1-Star on amazon because they're mad that it was just a sweet romance!
There are letters in here - not until the very end really, but still - we have letters. But still the Dear Enemy beginning doesn't happen. I like the paper background of the cover and the couple is perfect. But the colors and title make it so sinister and scary.
I wish I could say DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER ... but I'm really afraid that people will do so.

OK - rant over!

The story was beautiful!

Funny, sweet, a little sad and moving.

I LOVED it!

Macon and Delilah are just amazing!
They fought and argued and insulted each other ever since they met.
And nothing much has changed - even though he's her boss now. Soo adorable!

Both are a bit or a lot broken inside for various reasons from their past. They are soo perfect for each other really, but they think they have to hate each other. I loved seeing them slowly fall for each other. Fighting for their happily ever after. I even cried a little here and there.

I loved security guy North. I loved Macon's amazing house in Malibu - I want to move in asap! And I want to eat all the amazing things Delilah was cooking and baking!

It was a really beautiful enemies to lovers romance with some Hollywoody and some other interesting things thrown in. I loved it.

I could've maybe been a tiny little bit shorter. And I felt that the tiny 'fight'/ 'lie thing' towards the end wasn't really needed ... But I still loved every word of this story!

I wouldn't mind seeing this on Netflix one day soon!

► DEAR ENEMY was such a beautiful and adorable and funny enemies to lovers Hollywood romance. Run to your nearest amazon for your own Macon - he'll be sold out in no time! ☺

This was a good enemies to lovers but at times the banter felt a bit teenager-ish. There was too much time spent on rehashing the past which got too redundant. It borders on bully romance.

Dear Enemy, Kristen Callihan

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance

I love Kristen's VIP series, have re read those several times and they still make me laugh – and cry....but her other books just don't quite live up to those for me. This one was the same, it was good, great banter, Kristen excels at that, which had me giggling like a loon every now and then, but somehow it didn't have the VIP magic.
I never like it when a guy dates a sister – or vice versa, and her its an integral part of the story but I just didn't – even when everything came out – understand just why Macon ever dated the horrible Samantha.

Delilah coming to work for Macon was...a little contrived in terms of real life, but this is fiction so jut go with it. In reality would a chef/PA really be worth all that money? She might be the greatest chef- but is untried as a PA. Somehow though if you can suspend belief, and just accept it has happened it makes for a great story.
The characters are good, I love an evil, selfish character like Samantha, loved Macon in his early unpleasant days, that means when we learn his history it puts a different slant on what seemed like pure vicious nastiness.
I loved the way it finally came together, how Delilah was such an open, natural lady, always ready to help anyone, with a humorous quip at the ready for when its needed and yet also has a very serious side under that humour.
Its a great read, I'm just spoiled by VIP. Maybe its time for yet another re-read of those, Sunshine and Chatty-girl's ( aka Gabriel and Sophie) story is the best IMO!

Stars: Four, a great read, just suspend belief in the reality of certain plots and go with it. Its worth it.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

What a ride to dive into! MY GOSH! Kristen Callihan never disappoints and this was a novel filled with so much more than what I was anticipating. The passion between Macon and Delilah is one that builds up through every page that you turn. You do not want to miss out on the emotional rollercoaster of a romance novel that will have you craving for more!

I kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I'm a fan of Kristen Callihan I wasn't really a fan of this book. The whole "dating her sister" thing wasn't a big deal, but I wasn't convinced of the Hero's love for the Heroine. I just didn't see the connection and how they even knew each other all that well. Maybe this one was just a case of "it's not you, it's me" because I normally enjoy works by this author.

3.5 stars.

The whole dating the sister thing is a bit taboo. I don't mind taboo, but I kind of hated Macon from the go. And for good reason. Although as the story goes he sheds his layers and you learn where his defensiveness comes from. Delilah is perfect from the start. She's super smart and witty. She's a nerd, but in the best way. She may not be gorgeous like her sister, but she's pretty and has a way with words.

There's always been chemistry with words between Macon and Delilah, now Delilah's sister owes Macon and Delilah shows up once again to save her. That chemistry of words turns into more.
I have to say this story broke my heart. Bullying breaks my heart. And I'm not sure I would have been as forgiving as Delilah.

All in all I really enjoyed it and it was a great spin on enemies to lovers!

I am so happy I was able to read this absolutely luscious slow-burner by the pool in Vegas. Whew. Definitely yelling at my Kindle to get these two to K-I-S-S for a very long time, but the sheer chemistry between Macon and Delilah was palpable on every page. I also really really didn't like Macon at first, and the story bordered *this close* to being a bully romance, which is not usually something I enjoy reading, but Callihan had my trust and brought it home in the end.

What made it work the most for me was the close proximity of having Delilah living in Macon's home, being his personal chef, all up in his intimate space(s). These two have a whole passel of baggage to sort through and I enjoyed watching them clean up their mess, especially in the bathtub *waggles eyebrows*

I also enjoyed reading about Delilah's complicated relationship with her sister, but I did find the bits after the dark moment to be a bit rushed and over jammed with plot wrap up. Just get back to the tub you dirty kids!

Bonus points for Macon playing a Khal Drogo type figure (armor and all) on his TV show and for body guard North who I hope will someday have his own book! I also appreciated the work to show Macon's restricted diet and how he had to work very very hard to have a body the show wanted him to have.

CW bullying, fatphobic comments, diet culture (Macon is on a diet because he needs to keep his eight-pack), stalking, parental death (off page), gas lighting, lying.

Thank you for the ARC Netgalley!

HOLY MOLY!! Dear Enemy is currently my favorite read of 2020 Kristen Callahan blew me away with this book. The characters are strong willed yet compliment each other so well. I was obsessed with knowing the back story as well as finding out what was going to happen with the mystery at hand! AMAZING chemistry! LOVE LOVE LOVED DEAR ENEMY! A must read for 2020!

This is a new standalon story from this author who I absolute love so I couldnt wait to read it. Its an enemy story and it really has a lot of hate in the story. So be ready for that. However once the hate settles and the chemistry starts happening I absolutely was hooked and loved it.

Many years before Delilah and Macon and her sister, Sam were neighbors and attended the same school. But Dee and Macon HATED each other and did some awful stuff to each other. Sam and Macon became best friends and so Dee was stuck with Macon for YEARS. But in high school Sam and Macon have a HUGE falling out as they are now boyfriend/girlfriend and so Dee and Macon don't see each other again.

Until Dee gets a text from Macon that Sam stole his watch. Macon is now a big time star in Hollywood and Dee is a chef whose about to go travel the world. But the watch is gone, as is Sam and Macon demands Dee show up with the watch,.

But Sam is missing and Dee makes a deal with Macon to work for him in place of the watch and so starts the deal with two friendenemies.

My only issue with this story is that Macon and Sam dated and I HATE sibling exes romances. HATE them so much so I was not happy when I realised that was an issue in this book. But the fact that Sam was such a horrible character to Dee and Macon made it not as bad. Because it had been ten years before and Sam and Dee are not close sisters at all.

Beyond the sibling aspect I absolutely loved this story and all the side characters, aside from Sam.

Dear Enemy was an ok read. I’ve loved this author’s work in the past and I will continue to pick it up. That being said, this one sadly didn’t hit me in the feels like some of the others have. While it was extremely well written and the story overall was good, the pacing just didn’t work for me. I can do slow burn, but this felt a bit draggy at times, which made it hard for me to connect to the characters and their story. There is also a stalker sub-plot that sort of fizzled out too simply. I think it truly added something to the story at first, and then it was essentially nothing.

It’s slow burn, childhood enemies to adult lovers, and there is a bit of taboo with the hero being the heroine’s sister’s ex. If those tropes sound good to you, then I’d give this one a try.

DEAR ENEMY had some of my most favourite tropes all wrapped up in banter and jibes – second chances, hate-to-more and slow burn. It did however, have a trope I’m not keen on, stepping into a relationship with someone who’s been with a friend/family member. That said, I could cope with it because of the circumstances but I think that might alienate some readers. After a difficult to navigate prologue, this book took off well for me.

What was so delicious about this contemporary romance? It was the vulnerability of Macon stepping into feelings unknown but taking a deep breath and getting on with it. Meanwhile, his life was fun-laden barbs, and forced proximity with the heroine, Delilah. Add into that some chef-ing and food which always seems to make for a good story in my book.

"She’s all twitchy now, eyeing me like a feral barn cat as if I might try to lash out and catch her."

The banter between these two was pretty entertaining and the chemistry was swoonish. I enjoyed the semi-hate especially as it seems to turn before it got irritating. Delilah was hard to win over and the annoying sister was…very annoying. The sister element was something I didn’t settle with but the circumstances were just about palatable.

The slow burn was spot on and there’s just something about Kristen Callihan’s romances when she’s in the zone that gives me all the feels; this one did just that. DEAR ENEMY was a great entertaining read that I just wanted to get back to when I wasn’t reading. Just the thing for a weekend read.

I loved the concept of this story, but the execution fell short for me. I'm tempted to add a star to my rating because I think this author is a great writer, and there were several flashes of that brilliance in this one (I think Callihan writes *longing* and the quiet moments in a romance better than most), but I struggled with several aspects of the plot and some inconsistencies. The slow burn didn't bother me—I love me a delicious slow-burn romance!—but I felt the overall pacing did drag at certain points.

That said, I really appreciate how this author writes complex characters who make both good and bad decisions. They feel real, and I think this complicated enemies-to-lovers story will work for a lot of readers.

RATING: B- (3½ stars)

HO-LEE chemistry.

Holy sensual, sparky, scintillating chemistry.

The chemistry between Delilah and Macon was so strong, I could feel it even when they were firmly in enemy camps. Their relationship is so skillfully written that the inner longing was evident even as the "banter" was decidedly antagonistic. As Ms. Callihan began peeling the layers back on these two, my heart started skipping beats, my breath started coming in excited little bursts, and I was lost to them completely.

So. much. delicious. chemistry.

All that said, it took me a bit to warm up to the story. Enemies to lovers is hit-or-miss for me - but that wasn't really the issue here. I struggled with the whole set-up. It seemed a little...unrealistic to me. It unfolded very quickly and I had to tell my mind to settle down and go with the flow when it kept wanting to raise an eyebrow over how things were playing out. I'm so glad I stuck with it because the payoff was incredible. The second half of the book was stronger than the first half for me, but the whole package was some kind of incredible emotional experience.

There were little twists I didn't see coming. There were emotional punches that left me feeling raw and aching. There were steamy scenes that literally set my heart to racing. There was a sweetness that I did not expect, and romantic, emotional depth that filled my heart to bursting. I expect nothing less than this sort of smartly written, masterfully told story from this author, and by the time I turned the last page, I wasn't even close to letting Delilah and Macon go. Loved them. Loved this. And now I am left hoping that there may be more stories to be told in this world because I am all in!

Macon. Dear sweet Jesus, Macon and that bathtub scene. And all of it. The snark between him and Delilah, the scorching hot tension and release. Her loyalty and love for her family-and Macon. I just honestly loved pretty much everything about this book and these characters!

Kristen Callihan, I missed you!

I've always been hesitant to read these kind of 'boy pulls pigtails because he likes the girl' romances, but this isn't one of them (and they even mention the wrongness of that kind of mindset in the book). Macon didn't bully Delilah because he liked her; he bullied her because she saw through him, faults and all- and he was scared. And it's because of this that he is attracted to her. Still, that in no way excuses his behaviour, and Delilah definitely doesn't just forget about it as soon as she gets the hots for Macon. What I liked about this book is that their past isn't swept under the rug; it's still a sore spot for both of them, they still talk about it, they rehash old injuries and it causes some rifts in their relationship. But now they've realised that people can grow up, and they're finally able to actually communicate and, in turn, understand each other. I truly feel that they've understood each other, and all of this just made me think 'wow, what a mature book'.

I loved both the main and side characters- Delilah and Macon both had good support systems that made my heart feel full. I wouldn't have minded more North- I always love the 'best friend not knowing what to do when caught in the middle of hero and heroine'- but maybe he'll get his own book (wink wink, Kristen Callihan). Also, I love you, Mama Baker!!

I think a lot of people would agree with me when I say the banter between Delilah and Macon was the best part of this book. However, they had their sweet moments, where you can feel how much they adore and love each other :')

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC, provided in exchange for an honest review.

They lived next door to each other growing up. Macon, was hiding secrets and to hide them he was mean. Macon hung out with Sam, Delilah’s sister. As the years go by, Macon did not become nicer; in fact he hung out at their house and even dated Sam. Then, 10 years later, he calls Sam, except he gets Delilah. Sam has taken something important from him and he wants it back. A famous tv star, Macon is very careful about who he lets in, but to get to Sam, he needs to let Delilah in. Delilah offers her services until Sam comes back; during this time both Macon and Sam get to know each other. Will they survive or will they ultimately destroy anything they could have had? This was a fresh read for me!!! Absolutely loved it.