Phenomenal. Undoubtedly my favourite read of the year so far.

This made me wheeze with laughter, giggle at the adorable parts, you could not catch me without a silly little grin on my face when I was reading this book. I think I might have even developed one (ONE) ab from laughing so much. The humour was just excellent; dry, witty, slightly formal. The vocabulary used was honestly incredible, I adored the way this was written.

The dynamic between the main characters was marvellous, they were actually true enemies, and I cannot wait to find out how this will continue to develop in the next book.

The plot was engaging too, and I love how all the secondary characters were also funny and well developed.

I will briefly mention that I wish the world building didn't rely on the glossary as much, as I feel like things weren't always described enough within the story - this is my only tiny criticism, which doesn't have any impact on my overall rating anyway, because everything else was so fantastically amazing, that this ended up not bothering me by the end anyway.

This was... a bit bland. World building was almost non-existent and the so called magic system... what? I couldn't get further than 20%. This part is a me issue but the vocabulary felt too hard to be British sounding and used lots of long words to emphasise it? I don't know. I'm struggling with a streak if DNFs so maybe I read this at the wrong time.

What a stunning debut from Bridgitte Knightley.

As the title suggests, ‘The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy’ is an enemies to lovers fantasy set in a diverse, rich, new magical world. The slow burn and comedic writing leaves you itching for more as the two main characters battle it out in a game of whit and sarcasm.

The world Knightley has created is not only original but full enough with out being too overbearing during the first book in a series. The magic system is interesting and the hierarchy of orders creates a great dynamic between different types of characters, but the world is not too far from our own. I don’t know if Brigitte herself is British, but the references to the UK (my favourite being ‘mind the gap’) allow you to feel somewhat connected to a world that only exists in her mind. The politics of the world are underpinned, but are not too overwhelming and are set up nicely for development in the sequel going forward.

Aurienne and Osric are two characters you can’t help but love. Having both of their POVs in this book is a huge factor in what makes them so lovable in my opinion. Osric’s inner monologue allows for great comedic moments, and Aurienne’s really shows the complexity of her character and her need to always do what is right. Both show the development of romantic feelings in a way that just makes you want to bash their heads together and tell them to “wake up!”

I’d recommend The Irresistible Urge to Fall for your Enemy to anyone who enjoys diving into new worlds, and loves a good slow burn romance (but not one that takes itself too seriously!)

I have a lot of thoughts about this book, so buckle up! First off, I did enjoy it. There were several aspects I wish had been expanded upon and I’m definitely going to be picking up book two, if only for the slow-burn romance.

I haven’t read any Dramione fan fiction and while it’s not necessary to enjoy this book (it’s supposedly not based on the original fanfic), I can definitely see the influence in both the characters and the world-building.

The world really intrigued me. I have a master’s degree in medieval history and Latin, and I’ve also studied Old English, so the historical and linguistic elements really appealed to me. I loved the concept of an alternate history where the Norman Conquest never happened, leaving kingdoms like the Danelaw and Wessex still in existence. I would love to see even more expansion in that area in the second book, the potential for rich world-building is huge.

That being said, the writing style felt inconsistent at times. The use of overly elaborate language could be jarring, especially when paired with some of the more juvenile humor (seriously, how many genitalia and toilet jokes does one book need?). It created a strange tonal dissonance that made it hard to stay fully immersed.

The magic system was a standout. I found the concept of seith, magic tied to the body, really unique and well-executed. While other elements like tācn and dēofol (which seem to have been inspired by Patronuses) added interesting depth. I also enjoyed learning about the different magical orders and the glimpses we got of some of others.

As for the romance, Osric and Aurienne’s relationship is a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic, with the slowest of slow burns. There’s a lot of banter (perhaps a bit too much at times) but I loved their interactions and there were several genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. By the end, I was fully invested in Osric’s yearning and didn’t want the story to end.

Which brings me to my biggest gripe: pacing. It took me a long time to really get into the book. For much of it, it felt like not much was happening, yet there was also an overwhelming amount of information being thrown at the reader. It wasn’t until about the 80% mark that I truly felt hooked and then it ended just as it was getting good! I think I would benefit from a reread understanding the characters and world more now.

Overall, there’s a lot I enjoyed about this book and I’m definitely looking forward to picking up the sequel. It feels like book one was laying the groundwork for something bigger, I’m excited to see where the story goes from here.

If verbal sparring were a sport, Osric Mordaunt and Aurienne Fairhrim would have Olympic gold. This book is enemies-to-lovers perfection: sharp, hilarious, and crackling with chemistry. Their banter is savage, smart, and so good it made me laugh out loud!

These two truly can’t stand each other—until suddenly they kind of can, and then you’re screaming into your pillow because it’s so good. The insults fly, the tension builds, and before you know it, you're totally invested in their love-hate chaos.

Equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly heartfelt, this book is a masterclass in romantic tension. Oscric and Aurienne are a mess in the best possible way—and I adored every page of it.

Thank you to Little, Brown Group UK and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I’ve been anticipating this book since it was first announced, and I feel incredibly lucky to have read it early. From the marketing, I was expecting a darker romantasy tale centered on a healer and an assassin. But to my surprise, and delight, this book leans far more into witty banter and heart than grim grit, it’s genuinely funny and unexpectedly lighthearted at times.

The story follows Aurienne, a principled and overworked healer, and Osric, a sharp-tongued assassin losing his magic. Their dynamic is fascinating, not quite enemies-to-lovers, more like antagonists to reluctant allies, with slow-burn romantic tension brewing beneath the surface. She agrees to help heal him in exchange for financial support for her cause, but neither expects the other to challenge their worldviews so deeply.

Aurienne and Osric are philosophical opposites, she preserves life at all costs, while he deals in death. I loved how their beliefs remain in conflict throughout the book, even as they slowly grow to respect, understand, and care for each other. Osric is forced to reevaluate the value of life and loyalty, Aurienne learns the importance of self-worth and boundaries. Their development, both as individuals and as a pair, was really compelling to follow.

That said, there were a few points where the book didn’t fully hit the mark for me. The worldbuilding felt a bit underdeveloped, particularly around the magic system and the multiple “orders” introduced early on. Some of the setting and language choices, mixes of French and English, mentions of places such as Strathclyde (which is in Scotland), made it a bit difficult to place the world geographically or culturally. The characters’ backstories also felt a little thin in places, which I expect because of the author’s background in fanfiction, where source material already exists. But given that this is a first in a duology, I’m hopeful we’ll get more depth in the next book.

Despite those small ticks, this book was a joy to read. The dialogue is filled with British-style humour, which won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for me, it worked brilliantly and made the characters’ dynamic even more entertaining. I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys witty, character-driven romantasy with a slow-burn relationship at its core.

This book was my exam-season saviour, engaging, funny, and exactly what I needed to escape the stress.

4/5

I was really excited for this as my first ARC and I REALLY wanted to love it but I’m just not sure it was my cup of tea. I didn’t dislike it but I felt like the storyline was a bit slow for me and I wanted higher stakes, or maybe a cliffhanger ending. I kept waiting for a twist or something to go really wrong but that didn’t really happen and it left me wanting more.

I liked the banter between the characters and the humour in the book (shout out to some of the pub names such as the Randy Unicorn or the Moist Oyster, which were very unserious), but at the same time I didn’t really buy Osric and Aurienne’s romance. Maybe it was just too slow a burn for me? Or maybe I just didn’t fancy the MMC enough myself…

I liked the writing style and will probably still read the sequel but unfortunately only 3 stars from me!

The Irresistible Urge To Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley ✨❤️‍🩹🗡️

I was never a Dramione stan BUT I think I finally get it now 😅

This book is so fun, the world is magical and enchanting, the humour is a little dry but also very witty (the best combination imo) and the tension between the two MCs is sizzling (albeit slowly)!!

Aurienne is honestly so funny. she is so capable, sassy, fearless and lacks a certain tolerance for nonsense which I adore.
Osric is also extremely funny, usually at the expense of the healer but I do love the way he ruffles her feathers. His vibes are screaming “touch her and die” and I’m HERE for it.
I also love love love the contrast between the healer and the assassin, it’s really clever!!

I do feel like the writing was a little dense at times and that the story occasionally lost momentum BUT i still really enjoyed it & I’m thoroughly looking forward to the next one!!

This book comes out on the 8th of July 2025 😍⭐️

⭐️ 3.5/5
🌶️ 1.5/5

Thank you NetGalley & little brown group UK for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is an absolute delight. I found myself laughing out loud more times than I can count—a rare and welcome experience. The humor leans toward the silly and lighthearted, and it worked beautifully for me.

What truly stood out was the banter—witty, fast-paced, and thoroughly entertaining. Not only between the romantic leads but throughout the ensemble cast, the dialogue felt authentic and sharp. I found myself genuinely inspired by the conversations, and I can see myself revisiting them for writing inspiration.

The romantic tension was handled well, integrated seamlessly into the story without overpowering the plot. While the ending felt a bit sudden—perhaps due to a decision to split one larger story into two parts—I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel and fully expect it to deliver just as much joy.

Sincere thanks to the author for this joyous read, and to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is so much fun from beginning to end! I laughed throughout and want to read it all over again.

I liked the premise of this book - an enemies to lovers opposites attract slow burn romantasy where a healer is forced to help an assassin. There was a charming irreverence to the characterisation at times, where the author pokes fun at their MCs' foibles, and some chemistry between the two. I enjoyed some of the banter between the characters, but the interminable dirty jokes and continual bickering got old pretty quickly.

I found that the worldbuilding was sketchy and the pacing was off - the middle was slow and the repeated trials of healing were just repetitive. The ending was the kind of abrupt stop where nothing is resolved and the second book in this duology probably should have been combined with the first.

Will I pick up the second book in the duology? Probably not. This wasn't really for me, but there is enough banter and irreverence that many will find it a fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley is a delightful, heartwarming rollercoaster of a read! Knightley’s writing is absolutely delightful. Her banter is so sharp and witty that I was literally giggling out loud and kicking my feet like a teenager. Seriously, this book is a breath of fresh air in the world of enemies-to-lovers.

The main characters, Osric and Aurienne, are such polar opposites. He's a deadly assassin, and she's this brilliant, moral scientist who despises everything he stands for. The way Knightley weaves their conflict, showing how they truly loathe each other yet can’t help but be drawn together, is just… *chef’s kiss*. And the slow burn? Oh boy, it's *so* slow (in the best possible way. We’re talking glacial pace burn here. But it makes the moments of tension and attraction feel all the more satisfying.

Now, the only downside (and it's a small one) is that I had no idea this book was part of a duet. So, it definitely feels unfinished. It’s like they cut the story in half, which left me wanting more immediately. I was hoping for the main arc to at least wrap up before setting up the sequel (with a continuation). But honestly, it’s a minor issue because the story itself is so much fun.

So yeah, I’m definitely on the Brigitte Knightley train now and can’t wait to dive into more of her work. If you like slow-burn enemies-to-lovers with witty dialogue and complex, irresistible characters, this one is a must-read. Just be prepared for the fact that you’ll be counting down the days until book two!

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley is an absolute gem—a sharp, witty, and emotionally charged enemies-to-lovers romance that delivers on every level.
It has sparkling dialogue, electric chemistry, and layered characters who just jump off the page. Knightley crafts a romance that’s both heart-poundingly intense and genuinely heartfelt. The tension is perfectly paced, the banter is addictive, and the emotional payoff is deeply satisfying. It’s a standout in the genre and a must-read for anyone who loves a smart, swoony love story with bite.

I was a big fan of this when it was a fanfiction so was excited to see this 💖



I loved how the story progressed and plot followed however it wasn't an easy jump into the story with all the terminology and lore.
However this was a great read, really funny and such a good slow burn

A 3,75 star ⭐️
Being big fan of the fanfiction of this book I was wondering how she would give a spin on this :)

I really enjoyed the storyline but the writing style wasnt really my cup of tea. The long difficult names and the less common words used made it wasnt as comfortable read as normal.

It had some fun in it but somehow I was hoping for more somehow..
It felt like There were somethings missing not sure how.

Still I think it wasnt bad at all but maybe my expectations were just to high for this release.

3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

First, I want to say finally a (recent) book that is sold as slowburn that I can actually say its a slowburn. Is so good to see their relationship building up slowly. Plus 0 attraction at the beginning, they really dont like each other and their attraction grows along with the romance. No "my body betrayed me" when they still supposedly still dislike each other. And no "I have loved you since the first day" when we as the reader didnt know and ruining a decent build up for absolutely no reason. Finally!
(I confess I rolled my eyes when I saw he has shadow powers, it really isnt the books fault but Im getting tired of it. But its not that present in the story and I like how it was used, so its fine)

The book and the writing is easy and fun to read, with low stakes and humor. Really enjoyed the tone of the story and I would have loved if the book was just them going around looking for the cure for his disease, it was turning into a confortable read and their dynamic was really fun. But the stakes do get higher at the end.

However, this book has the same issues a lot of books of fanfic authors going published has: the lack of worldbuilding and character work.
While reading fantasy, its normal to be confused at the beginning, but I kept reading and I was still getting lost so I had to read the glossary. I think glossary is something that should help you but you should not *need* it to read the story and unfortunately I did need it, and still had more questions about the world. But at least I could follow the story.

And about the characters, even if the last part of the story we start to know more about them, I still felt we didnt really know enough. And I think this is the main reason the romance didnt hit as hard as it should for me, because otherwise it has everything I usually like.

Its a bit frustating because I can *see* the potential this has to be something I would absolutely love. Overall I still had fun and I will definitely read the next one and will wait for anything else the writer writes. Like I said, I see a lot of potential here.

Oh and I have to mention: I feel like the people who liked evajacks will really enjoy this.

OMGGGGG I NEED BOOK 2 IMMEDIATELY!!!

This was such a funny, brilliant book!!

The writing was impeccable- there’s just such love for languages and poetry in this book, and I learned some new words too!! Just such masterful storytelling!

This is the slowest of slow burns - but there was enough to distract me from the fact that they hadn’t really gotten together at the end of the book. But he has definitely fallen for her 😂 for a book with no explicit spicy scenes, there’s a lot of innuendo and raunchy writing 😂

Right off the bat, I want to say that though I have read the "original" version of this, this review is not going to contain references or comparisons -- which is not a dig to anyone who chooses to do so; I am instead reviewing this based on it's own merits and content. Additionally, I want it clear that I do not support or engage with this particular fandom outside of safe fanfiction spaces. #TransRightsAreHumanRights

So with that (probably unnecessary) intro aside..

If you're looking for an enemies to more romance set in a fantasy world that's sorta like ours but not at all, heavy on the banter, that's irreverent and also not, you should definitely give this a go.

As for what that world looks like, I'll admit this might've been the hardest part for me to really keep track of, maybe on reread before book two I'll have a better grasp. I would say it's a little light on details though as this is very much a character-driven build of a story. And by build I also mean slowbuild, slow burn, slow evolution of the main characters' dynamic, of their understanding of each other, their acceptance despite everything that would otherwise prevent acceptance and that, well, that was perfection.

Having said that, the strongest part of said worldbuilding was the magic system. And the limits to said magic systems? And then the individualized manifestation of those limits? Brilliant.

I'll admit this may feel like a strange read to some because it has a somewhat cheeky, doesn't take itself too seriously, feel -- particularly with the tone of both characters, different though they are -- but then it will throw you into a dark scene featuring plague ridden children or a mass of murdered bodies or moments of torture. But I was vibing, along for the ride, glad it wasn't too much of one or the other. My one bit of commentary, aside from the worldbuilding (which, again, maybe it was just me) was one of Osric's buddies. His character was definitely supposed to be a bit of comedic nonsense but truthfully this is where it went a bit OTT for me and I was glad we didn't see much more of him. And hopefully he won't play a big part in book two.

Which! Can I say? Not leaving on a cliffhanger was so refreshing. The ending still leaves you wanting more, both in the development of the notyetaromance and also in the plot, but it didn't leave you cursing at the sky or throwing your device across the room. It was a lovely, and rather gentle, moment, full of discovery and realization.

I'm really keen to see where we go from here when it comes to the plot but mostly, mainly!, all the emotional realizations and panic-flavoured romance-specific epiphanies still to come.

Thank your for providing me with this eARC.
Unfortunately, I had to dnf this one. I managed to read 41%. My normal threshold for dnf-ing a book is 33% but I gave this one another chance, in case it gets better. It didn't, at all.
I hated every second of it.
Why? For many reasons but mainly: This book thinks it's funny. It's not. I have never found a book this annoying. The puns and attempts at witt that are crammed into every corner clash so horribly with the old-timey speech of the dialogue it destroys any atmosphere or coherent worldbuilding this book might have had (and there wasn't much to beginn with).
The chracters are flat and unlikeable, and even 40% in show no sign of improving even a little.
Magic concepts are not well defined and just cramed in because they are cool, not because they make sense.
It's just a mess all over.
The content warnings of the book (which was a positive, thanks for including them) speak of 'brief sexual content'. Which is fine for me, I can skip brief sex scenes. What I could not skip, were the constant sexual references and attempted jokes. They were not funny, I found them disgusting. Although I do have to give the book credit, for the most part the way characters speak to each other is without constant unconsensual sexual innuendo (one of my biggest gripes with Romantasy).

In short: I hated this book so much, if it was FanFiction (and the writing is very reminicent of that style), I would not have continued to chapter two. And FanFiction is free and my standards are lowe as for a published novel.

Having read the author’s previous work this book was among my most anticipated releases this year and I wasn’t disappointed!

It absolutely flew by, it was such an easy read. It’s lighthearted and quirky, the author has created a really unique world and I had so much fun spending time in it.

I loved both of the main characters. Osric was very endearing, the perfect combination of cocky with a hint of pathetic, and I was happy to forgive him for casually murdering everyone as long as he was rescuing their dogs. Aurienne’s dry humour was a highlight. I really enjoyed their bickering and how gradually they went from hating each other to begrudging attraction. By the end I was completely invested in their romance and I’m very much looking forward to book two!