I was a bit unsure of this book to begin with as there were a lot of medical terms that made the reading feel a bit cluncky in places for me. However once I settled into the story I really enjoyed it. I liked the dynamics of the 2 characters. The MFC is a healer who is taken on to help save the life of the MMC who is an assassin. The relationship between Osric and Fyren was fun. I liked the magic system that is in place. I look forward to reading book 2 in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brigitte Knightley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for this ARC

3.25⭐️

👻 book 1/? ongoing romantasy series
🍑 a little bit of open door spice
👻 dual POVs
🍑 haters to reluctant saviour to lovers
👻 assassin x healer
🍑 Women in STEM
👻 science and magic
🍑 slow burn

Firstly thank you so much @orbituk (the little brown book group UK) for this eARC!

~My Thoughts ~
This was such a fun read with a blend of STEM and magic that was so unlike anything I’ve ever read!

The magic and world was super unique and had aspects of things that are normal (like public transport) with a magical twist that I really enjoyed

The relationship between the MCs was so cute from the get go. It’s very ‘I don’t want to be near you but I need you oh wait I now have feelings’ which is just the best trope and was done well.

There were definitely a lot of ‘what the heck’ moments, not in a bad way just in a ‘did I really just read about the MCs discussing nipple clamps and ‘finishing’ in a bath? (no, it’s not in the way you’d expect / want 😆)

I also felt like there wasn’t much depth overall to the book? The relationship felt like it developed quickly and I wanted to know more about the MCs and their backstories but that being said, for a quick, lighthearted read I’m okay with this 🤭

Overall it was really fun! A bit bizarre with a fair few ‘what did I just read’ moments but I think it’s great for readers who want something lighthearted, magical mixed with science, a strong FMC and a very cheeky MMC.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy will be released on 8th July!

Osric is an assassin and member of the Fyren order, but when he discovers that his magic is failing, the only person who might possibly be able to help him is Aurienne, member of an enemy order - the Haelen. But how can Osric convince her to save him when he is her mortal enemy and the healing that he seeks is based on fairytales and nothing more? He tries to charm her, considers kidnapping when this fails, but ultimately only a large donation towards pox vaccine research to help impoverished children can sway her. Thus begin the adventures of Aurienne and Osric - full of acerbic banter, gratuitous murder and pining.

Osric (despite his awful name - Osric is the name of a troll or an orc surely?) is a lethal and wickedly charming character with a weakness for rescuing stray dogs. Aurienne is ruthlessly competent and fiercely upright but her moral fibre becomes increasingly frayed with exposure to Osric.

I loved DMATMOOBIL by the same author, and so I requested this book on NetGalley as soon as it was available. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this is an utterly different story, complete with a brand new world (possibly an excessive amount of terminology) and all new witty reparte - only the immaculate vibes remain. A delightful romp with an irresistible pair of enemies-to-lovers - I absolutely adored this and can't wait for the next book in the series.

More of a 4.5, this has some of the best banter I’ve ever read, it is genuinely hilarious. I loved their tension too, the relationship is flawlessly played out. The world building could do with a little more fleshing out, and I hate the ending, which isn't so much an ending, but a jump off for the obvious sequel that'll be coming

Sadly this didn't quite work for me. I actually really enjoyed the banter and I think people are going to fall in love with this. For me the problem was the lack of world building and character development. This has a fan fic style of writing which is fun, but fan fic relies on you already being familiar with the source material. Here we have an original world, but we don't know anything about it and what we do know is confusing. I think a lot more time should have been spent on that. The characters as well are cleary based on Draco and Hermon, which in and of itself is fine. But that's all there is to them. Just a shame really because the author does have talent.

I am so so sad but I could not get into this one and had to DNF at 30% because it was going to put me into a reading slump. I know it was based off fanfiction, but it felt too much like that style of writing still. I love a fun flirty enemies to lovers but I just wasn’t connecting to their relationship. It was too silly for me. I guess I am more of a dark dramione girl. I know some people will love this though and that’s great for them!

Brigitte Knightley’s The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy delivers exactly what the title promises: a classic enemies-to-lovers romance filled with tension, humor, and slow-burn longing. However, while the book has its entertaining moments, it falls short in several areas.

The story leans heavily into the "rival factions" trope, presenting a very black-and-white conflict with little nuance. While this setup creates plenty of opportunities for drama, it also makes the world feel simplistic, especially given the lack of solid worldbuilding. The setting feels more like a backdrop for the romance rather than a fully developed environment.

That being said, the pacing for the slow-burn romance is well done—there’s enough tension and build-up to keep readers engaged without dragging things out unnecessarily. The humor is also a strong point, bringing lightness to the story and making the interactions between the protagonists enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the characters themselves feel somewhat flat. While their banter is fun, they lack the complexity needed to make their dynamic truly compelling. Without deeper characterization, the romance and conflict don’t carry as much emotional weight as they could have.

Overall, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is an enjoyable, light read for fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope who don’t mind a more surface-level story. It has charm and wit but could have benefited from richer worldbuilding and more nuanced character development.

This was so good!!! 4.5 stars (or forks... iykyk!)

I found the magic system to be quite different and original, and I enjoyed the fact that there was a Cost associated with using their magic. The characters were fantastic, Osric and Aurienne were so well written and developed, and I really enjoyed how the author highlighted their differences but also their commonalities. The plot of the story was great and kept me interested, the pace was just right and I can't wait to see how it will get resolved in book 2.

The writing was absolutely superb - Brigitte Knightley has such a characteristic style filled with the best sarcasm and dark humour, and I can't tell you how many times I laughed and chuckled while reading this book. Along with the hilarious parts, there are some fantastically angsty moments that left me wanting so much more - this book has the most delicious slow burn romance ever, and I can't believe we have to wait for the rest of the story. I could not get enough of Osric, Aurienne, and their story, and I just want to go back and read the last few chapters over and over again until book 2 comes out.

Although I found the world building and magic system a little bit overcomplicated at the start, I ended up really loving it. I did appreciate having the glossary at the start of the book because I went back to it a few times and it definitely improved my reading experience. I liked the nods to the fanfic, but also really enjoyed that it was a different story.

I will be recommending this to everyone who wants a great true enemies to lovers slow burn romance!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Club, and Brigitte Knightley for the opportunity to read an eARC!

THE SQUEALS THAT LEFT MY MOUTH THE ENTIRE TIME!

Brigitte!! Come to the front of the class honey 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

10/10, didn’t disappoint me ONCE.

It’s a true slow burn ‘romantasy’ filled with the banter that our queen is KNOWN for.

I’m honestly confused at some of the feedback because this was glorious and delicious in every way, but fanfic girlies - please understand, this is NOT an original rework of THAT fic, it has elements yes, but Brig has stated from the get go, if that’s what you’re expecting, you’d be wrong.

So go into this with an open mind to not have that expectation, and the queen will deliver.

I am SO excited for book 2 and I am PRAYING yet again that I get an arc for it. Thank you so much Brigitte and Little Brown for the wonderful birthday present of this 💋

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC! I was really excited for this one as I was seeing rave reviews and hearing that it's a true slow burn romantasy.

I got to around 30% and realised that the quirky style and constant banter wasn't working for me, so I stopped there. I'm still going to rate this 4 stars as I think that what the author was going for was done well, it just turns out that wasn't for me and that's okay! The writing was excellent and the setting felt very vivid in my head.

I’m speechless by how much I LOVED this 😭🫶

Starting as Dramione fanfic it was a given I’d enjoy it, but it was STUNNING ✨

Beautiful prose effortlessly wound in with humour and witty banter. Slow burn enemies to lovers.

The rework was done amazingly well. The world building was easy enough to wrap your head around but substantial enough to have political intrigue and unique magic systems (and completely separate to Potter that you really wouldn’t know its origins).

NO NOTES. Perfection 🤌

And how dare Knightley leave me on that cliffy?! DESPERATE for book 2.

Thanks to Little Brown Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book that should have worked for me… but didn’t. And I’m still a bit annoyed about it.

The setup had everything I love: an assassin and a healer from opposing factions forced into an uneasy partnership, plenty of tension, and the promise of a slow-burn dynamic. But for a book that should have been right up my alley, I struggled so much to get through it.

What didn't work for me:

- The writing style: I had to work so hard to follow what was happening. The language felt like it was trying to sound old-timey but ended up clunky, and the pacing was all over the place. And why was everything named in the most convoluted way possible?? I spent more time deciphering terminology than enjoying the story.

- The magic system & worldbuilding: I don’t mind being thrown into a complex world, but this one felt needlessly difficult to grasp. I’ve read high and epic fantasy and didn’t struggle this much! Basic things were explained in the most complicated way, and I was constantly feeling like I’d missed something.

- The secondary characters: I can’t name a single one. They were there, I suppose, but none of them stood out.

What I DID enjoy:

- The main characters - Osric and Aurienne - had a dynamic I liked. Their reluctant partnership, the inventive insults, and the slow shift in their relationship were fun.

- GORGEOUS cover art, just wow!

That’s… about it.

I think I just had sky-high expectations and got frustrated when I wasn’t having the best time. That said, I am hoping this was just debut novel growing pains. I wouldn’t really call this a romance (more of a very slow-burn friendship with a budding lust and attraction), but I actually appreciated that, and I do think it’ll pay off in the next book.

Despite my mixed feelings, the second half was more enjoyable, so if you push through the first, there is a glimmer of hope. And if nothing else, at least the swearing and insults were entertaining.

3.25/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4,25 stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.

What a fun ride! I absolutely loved the quick-witted, dry humor and the banter (and amazing chemistry) between our main characters. Their mutual loathing was incredibly fun to read and I laughed out loud so many times.

The book didn't focus a whole lot on world building or on delving deep into an intricate story, but I actually think it ends up working really well for it, because it's their scenes together that make it so good and entertaining. It skips over a lot of potential scenes where both main characters do their own thing, and instead it gives us what we want and makes sure we get as many interactions between them as possible. And I was very happy about that! The author knows what makes the story so fun and focuses on exactly that.

It was a bit confusing at times, even with the glossary. We are thrust straight into it all, and sometimes we will hear them use words or talk about things that aren't always fully explained. It could have been nice with a bit more info at times, but overall it wasn't a big issue and I still enjoyed myself immensely.

So if you're looking for an incredibly funny read with a true hate to love slow burn and perfect banter, look no further! I am already looking forward to the next installment.

If you have the irresistible urge for a low slow burn forbidden romance with banter in abundance, this romantasy debut will be the cure to what ails you.

“Hypercompetent idiots” isn’t a trope I’ve ever seen included in a book’s description but when I saw it on The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy, my smile at an interesting premise turned into a laugh and I immediately knew I was going to have to read it. Osric Morduant is a gentleman assassin, a member of the Fyren Order. His magic is also fading and he’s in desperate need of a healer. Aurienne is a Haelen, just who Osric needs in fact, and she is desperately working alongside her colleagues to heal an outbreak of sick children. Haelens don’t heal Fyren, so Osric needs to get Aurienne to help whether she likes it or not. What follows is two characters at loggerheads and who, oh so slowly, start to tolerate each other. Then become intrigued by each other. All while they search for a cure for Osric and investigate the source of the deadly pox outbreak.

Brigitte Knightley’s writing style is witty and reflects each character’s personality when we read from their point of view. There’s a huge helping of dry humoured banter throughout the book and the comedy of Osric’s bumbling preening falling flat with Aurienne made me smirk, even after we discovered Aurienne might just have a good poker face. This is definitely a romantasy book for readers looking for lots of longing and the slowest of burns but there are some romantic moments and a couple of scenes where the heat spikes. I loved the combination of magic and science and how the magic system and function is depicted. The integration of the different Orders sets the stage for this forbidden romance and also creates a unique wider world. Then we have the two different mysteries to solve, which offers plot twists galore with bodies and thefts along the way. I have the irresistible urge to know what happens next.

I LOVED this book. Having read the famous fanfiction by the author and loved it (though I believe she advises this is a not shot-for-shot rewrite with fandom references removed, there's still a lot in common with her original) I was not sure what to expect. But what I got was a thoroughly entertaining, punchy, fast-paced story that I can only describe as a delightful romp.

In a world where magic is embedded in everyone via a "seith" system similar to our nervous system, expert users can train and join and Order. Some of these Orders follow a light path, some a "dusken" or dark one. Aurienne is the brightest and best of the Order of healers, whilst Osric is a skilled member of the Order of assassins. Through some brilliant banter, Knightley skillfully shows us the requisite initial enmity and distrust that would define the initial relationship of these two from Orders that despise each other. They're then put through a wringer of desperate circumstances, reluctant bargains and constant danger. And out the other side - Aurienne and Osric are two people who are starting to think the other maybe isn't that bad, after all...

I loved Aurienne's practical approach to life and devotion to her craft of healing. Her lack of modesty was a delight to this reader (who thinks all women should claim credit where credit's due without blushes). And what can I say about Osric? His dashing good looks, swaggering charm and lethal talents as an assassin were slowly peeled away for us to glimpse the desperate, wounded boy underneath, of course the reader can forgive him a few murders.

With just the right balance of tension, a heaping helping of vulgar back-and-forth, rude and crude jokes, sarcasm and of course our characters' razor-sharp wit, his book is just plain FUN. I was absolutely feral for the arc of Aurienne and Osric's relationship by the end. Unfortunately, it's the first in a series so for a satisfying conclusion to either the plot or the relationship I will be waiting patiently (or not) for the next one.

⭐️⭐️ | A Slow Burn That Struggles to Ignite

This book had an interesting premise—an enemies-to-lovers romance between a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin—but it didn’t fully deliver. The world-building felt incomplete, with little explanation of the magic system or setting, making it hard to immerse in the story. Key details, like the Orders, were buried in the glossary rather than woven into the plot.

The writing style was overly complex at times, especially in the FMC’s chapters, which read more like a medical journal than a fantasy novel. Aurienne, despite being a healer, often came across as unnecessarily cruel. Meanwhile, the romance barely started until the 80% mark, and the ending felt unresolved.

I really wanted more from the plot—it had the potential to be something great, but the lack of depth in world-building made it fall flat. While the concept was intriguing, the execution left me wanting more clarity, connection.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this arc! This book is the traditionally published version of the fan fic 'Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love by isthisselfcare' who is the author of this book. I haven't read the fan fic yet, but this book is AMAZING which is why I gave it 4.75 stars and I cannot wait to read the fan fic version.

The two MC's were so interesting to read about, and their development was amazing. The way they interacted and communicated was so interesting, and the way the MMC described his feelings for her made my heart so full. I loved the other characters that popped up throughout the book, and the plot was pure perfection. You can definitely tell that the MMC and FMC were like Hermione and Draco with how they are described and how they act and I wish they were real people. I am definitely getting a physical copy of the book to re-read and annotate once it comes out officially.

Tropes:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow Burn

Oh, I’m really conflicted about this one. It started off so strong! The quirky writing style and the humor had me laughing out loud, which rarely happens when I read. I was immediately hooked.

But as I finished the book, I couldn’t help but feel that not much really happened. Despite the great start, the story seemed to lack depth, and the plot didn’t move forward as much as I had hoped. It was entertaining, no doubt, but not quite what I expected.

Okay, this book was so much fun! Assassin x healer? Yes! The magic system was super unique and fit perfectly into the story. And the bickering? Amazing. They were constantly getting on each other’s nerves with all the sarcasm and snark, and I loved every second of it.
It had real romcom vibes, but with action and tension to keep things exciting. The slow burn was frustrating in the best way.

The title already gave it away, but Brigitte Knightley wasn't playing when she said Enemies to Lovers. This is the exact adult, slow burn, filled with banter storyline I hope for when reading an enemies to lovers novel. I really felt the enemies part, it wasn't that; oh I don't like you but there's something about you... It was real animosity.
The chemistry between the two, however, is also impecable and women in STEM? Sign me up!
The world that is created here is amazing, I love it when authors can drag me into a story like this. I could almost see everything, being able to cause that is an amazing talent.
I cannot wait for the second book in this duology!

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Club UK for the ARC and trusting me to write my honest opinion about it.