Thank you Little Brown Books and Brigette Knightley for the e-ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️ INFINITY STARS!

I read DMATMOOBIL back in 2023 and it is a top 3 Dramione fic for me. I knew going into TIUTFFYE that it wasn’t a rewrite but a story inspired by the fic, and it was EVERYTHING I wanted.

The banter was immaculate, their wit and sass was amazing, the world building and detail were fantastic, the mystery was captivating, the YEARNING was top tier, and the little tidbits that called back to the fic were so special.

I was constantly grinning, and laughing out loud at some of the things Aurienne and Osric would say to one another. I absolutely LOVED that, even though he was an assassin, she was not afraid of him one bit. I also loved Osric's ego and confidence, nothing really shook him... until... (no spoilers!).

I also cried! Because of course I did.

I almost didn’t want to finish it because I knew I was going to be sad when it was over. I don’t know how I'm going to get through the wait until book 2, but I do know I will be thinking about Aurienne and Osric every day until then.

This was truly a special book, and I'm really excited to get my hands on a physical copy to reread so I can flip back and forth between the glossary and pronunciation guide, because I KNOW I was not saying those words right in my head.

All the love and flowers to Brigitte for this masterpiece!!

Thanks again to Little Brown Books for the opportunity to read this early :)

Things to know before starting this book, it's a slow burn, like s l o w burn, the banter is bantering & it's real enemies to lovers (eventually).
The premise is certainly interesting, he's an assassin who needs healing and she's the only person who can heal him, but she doesn't work with assassins. But through circumstances they end up working together, most of the banter comes from the tension between the two characters.
I did have to push through the first 15/20% as there's a lot to deal with, with a new to me magic system, world building etc but once I had a grip on it, it started to flow a bit better (I was having to flick back to the glossary at the front so much I ended up taking a picture of it for ease of reference).
I didn't know about the author's previous fanfic's and I was getting major HP vibes at points and I tried not to let this put me off, but ultimately it did taint my feelings towards the finished product.
I was hoping for some reward for pushing through and finishing the book, but there's some much left in the story that isn't resolved and is waiting for the next title in the series, and I'm not sure I'm that invested in the story to pick up the next book.
I can see it being very popular for some people, this one was just not up my street unfortunately.

Where to begin? You are immediately immersed in a fantasy world perfectly shaped and the glossary at the beginning is of essential help, so no one should be afraid of the series of words to familiarize their self with. It will all become clearer later.

Then I can say that I loved everything about this book. It is the perfect mix of romance, humor, and unexpected twists that kept me hooked from the start. It was so funny that I’m still laughing, because the dynamic between Aurienne and Osric was epic. Their banter is filled with intelligence and irony, and is made of haughty puns, dry comebacks and underlying attraction, that you can practically feel the sparks flying through the pages. I think this witty and caustic banter is absolutely the highlight of the book and I couldn’t get enough of it!

The chemistry between the two characters is in fact electric: what starts as pure animosity slowly transforms into something deeper, making their gradual fall for each other incredibly sweet and engaging. I sooo loved the way their relationship slowly changed—from deep hatred and total incompatibility, it gradually transformed first into tolerance, then respect, and finally into true attraction, leading to love. At least, from Osric’s side, as he’s the one who falls in love first and hard.

Osric and Aurienne are equally witty and funny, and even though they claim to be “opposites,” they are so similar that they are drawn to each other like magnets (even if they constantly wish they weren’t). They are effectively one the opposite of the other: he’s a Fyren, she’s a Haelen; he kills and she heals. Yet over the course of the story, they start to blend into each other for the better: she kills a villain, and he gets stubbed to the gut and kills a “a work colleague", one of his own, to protect her. Aurienne is by far one of my favorite FMCs, tough, competent, brave, and a woman of integrity, and I love the way Osric is, the villain MMC who hates everybody but her.

Their eventual connection feels both inevitable and utterly heartwarming. You barely even notice when they start working together instead of against each other… it happens so slowly and delicately. The pacing was simply PERFECT, and the way it ended is perfect too: with a big open question for the next book’s answers.

I think this gorgeous story balances humor with emotional depth, and what I loved most was exactly the perfect mix of light-hearted, snappy dialogue and moments of vulnerability that made these characters feel relatable and authentic. If you love enemies-to-lovers romances with sharp wit, genuine emotion, and unforgettable characters, you must read this book! I can’t wait for it to be released so I can get my paperback copy—let alone the sequel!! How will I survive until then???

Last but not least, I want to thank the author Brigitte Knightley and NetGalley for allowing me to read this masterpiece in advance in exchange for an honest review.

I’m convinced the author picked thru my brain, cooked, served a seven course meal and said enjoy. Well I’m here to tell u i just dined at a six star restaurant peopleeeee

I had the best time reading this like genuinely and truly couldn’t get enough of it to the point I tried stretching it out for days bc I didn’t want it to enddd 😫

OSRIC THE MAN THAT U ARE 👑✨ he deserves all the ego boost bc he rlly is THAT man. The way the book started and with his pov took me outttt lmao his inner monologue AND dialogue is my favourite thing ever ever ever. I love love LOVE me a sarcastic clever witty man and that he IS. Gosh it’s like mmc heaven for me. The way he ticks all my boxes plsss 🙏 come kiss me Osric I’m free all day every day 💋

Aurienne is such a competent and strong fmc. I adored her love for her work and respect for her colleagues. You can feel the admiration and fascination she has for her work.

I was litch doubling over scrrreaming laffing the whole way thru 😭😭 the clap backs and insults were so peak you literally couldn’t hear me laughing bc I was OUT OF AIR dying from how long it had me laughing 😭🤚

It was HILARIOUS seeing her clutch her pearls everytime Osric would do smth that horrified her lmaoooo. The way they would roast each other every time they interacted pls I couldn’t stop the shocked bark of a laugh every time.

as a Brit it’s so hard to find authors who do banter and witty writing in a way that actually is my type or makes me laugh and so this was such a RARITY for me. Their humour is so mine and it genuinely drove me insane bc I was like when will I ever find this heaven againnnnn 🙏😫

I love that neither of them even start to think of each other as a romantic interest until very late in the book bc it made it that much more perfect for their characters.

Boiiii u haven’t seen or read a slowburn until you’ve met these two. I was litch burning with the urge to knock their heads in and be like KISS RIGHT NEOW.

Anyway, TRUST that this book will be the most fun engaging time ever especially if you love dry humour. I just knowwww imma need the physical copy to cherish on my shelf.


ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC! ♥︎

<b> An assassin with an illness only curable by ONE healer. A healer who refuses to cure assassins. What ever will they do?? (definitely not fall in love) </b>

<b> Meet Osric Mordaunt and Aurienne Fairhrim. Enemies at first sight. </b>

(Thank you Brigette Knightly and Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this book! It was one of my highly anticipated releases for this year so I am beyond grateful for having early access!!)

Here is the situation:

Osric Mordaunt has a serious problem. His power is decaying and as a shadow walking assassin-for-hire, his power is his lifeline. Without it, his superiors will have no choice but to cull him. Enter: Aurienne Fairhrim, a top notch, best-of-her-kind healer and the only person capable of helping him. There is just one little problem - healers DO NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES work with assassins. That is the rule, and Aurienne Fairhrim does NOT break the rules.

WHY should you read it??? Let me list the reasons:

1. This is a story that finds a way to be truly unique DESPITE the use of every trope you could ever want in a romantasy. It is a SLOW burn where HE falls first (enough said).
2. FMC in STEM!! the fact that we get a good look into Aurienne’s life as a healer and a researcher scratched the deepest itch in my STEM-girlie brain (not to mention that we got all of this in a <I> fantasy </i> story, A+).
3. Osric “that was a mistake” Mordaunt 👏🏼👏🏼 → aka: an assassin who is GOOD at his job (and also protective 👀)
4. an interesting sub-plot! we love when it is more than just the romance
5. DUAL POVs - nothing better than being in both character’s heads
6. enemies who actually hate each for more than one page

I could go on, put you get the point. If ANY of these elements appeal to you, you will LOVE this story!!

WHY didn’t I give it 5 stars??

→ This may come as a shock given everything I just said BUT I considered DNFing this book in the first 20%. Their “banter” and humor was too on the nose for me. I was in the trenches a little with them actually hating each other and found myself questioning whether I liked either of the characters. The epidemic + burnt out health workers was hitting a little too close to home. Overall I was on the verge of calling this book ‘not my style’ and putting it down. I am SO GLAD I kept reading. By the time I reached 50%, I was having the BEST time. Mordaunt + Fairhrim for life <3 Needless to say, this has now re-enforced my fear of DNFing books → (I still think there are some elements of it that are not for me and that’s where it loses a few point but that is totally personal preference.)

I thought this book overall was great fun. Some really likeable characters twined with building a world that I felt was in good line with a lot of fantasy reads. What I will say is.. if you ever want to read a slow burn romance, this is your book. It was SLOW but worth it in the end. Enemies to loves, forced proximity, forbidden love but also much more! I thought the characters were funny and their inner monologues and banter had me laughing out loud.

The characters, storyline, world building, everything was so well blended with some of my favourite romantasy reads! We had the slowest burn of slow burn you ever did see, we had enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magic, forbidden love and so much more!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

** Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Book for gifting me this eARC!

As someone who has not read the Dramione fiction, I did not know what to expect. I have learned that this is NOT a re-write of it and is a totally different story as well as the 1st book of a duology! So no need to read the Dramione fanfic to read this book!

With that said, I found it challenging to get into the story initially. The plot lacked sufficient depth to keep me engaged, and the complex vocabulary made it difficult to follow. The unique magic system, while intriguing, also added to the confusion, despite the helpful glossary at the beginning. I found myself frequently referring back to it, which isn’t ideal when reading in a kindle. One aspect that I felt could have enhanced the book, especially in the beginning, was the world-building because other than the glossary, there really isn’t any.

This story follows Aurienne, who is a healer and Osric, who is an assassin for hire. Osric is in desperate need of a healer’s help and is ultimately, his only hope. It is one of the SLOWEST of burns, and true enemies. I loved seeing how their relationship slowly blossomed into something else. I devoured perhaps the last 20% of the book because of it!

The humor and banter were a bit too much for me but I still did enjoy it at times. The ending also was enough for me to want to read the second book.

Overall, it was a great read with a lot of potential for the next book to be even better!

“Don't look so grim. It's the monster you need tonight, not the man.” - Osric to Aurienne

I think this book started out great, I loved its dry humour and was intrigued by its characters. The slow burn was a real slow burn which I appreciate, but unfortunately I had a few smaller issues with this novel too. As often the case with romantasy it leans more heavily on romance, which I don’t necessarily mind, but the I found the world building a bit lacking in this case. It is very intriguing but feels more like a sketch.
The characters don’t feel super well rounded either and I would have liked a bit more substance there, but both are likeable and so much fun in their own completely different way. The author also seems very aware of all the tropes they’re using and is using them well.
I have to admit that I’m disappointed that nothing gets solved in this novel (which I don’t particularly like for a duology or series) but I had a great time reading it.

This book was so much fun! The sass and banter, the grumpy/grumpy trope, the unique magic system/world was so interesting to unravel. I loved the use of language and the really different way of describing/phrasing things.

Forced proximity
Healer x assassin
A true slow burn
Duel pov

So so much fun and definitely recommend for romantasy lovers

This book was SO much fun. The characters, storyline, world building, everything was so well blended with some of my favourite fantasy tropes! We had the slowest burn of slow burn you ever did see, we had enemies to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden love and so much more!

The dialogue was witty, funny and charming. The banter and inner monologues in this book had me laughing out loud and excited to see what came next.

Aurienne and Osric are both extremely likeable (albeit very grumpy and sarcastic) characters that will steal your heart. Not only do Osric and Aurienne come from opposing guilds, they represent everything the other despises and boy does this make it all so much more interesting!

Our no-nonsense healer and very confident assassin soon find themselves forced to work together and ardently denying their attraction which only fuels the tension between them.
Their wittiness and clever comebacks were hilarious and had me giggling. And the tension!! Well when I say this is slow burn, this is SLOW BURN and it is glorious!

I would love more context on the guilds and the conflict between them and the kingdoms and I’m hoping there will be more of this in the sequel. It’s a very character driven and trope heavy fantasy but boy does Brigitte make it work!

If you enjoy a romantasy with enemies to lovers, slow burn tension, magic, assassins and irreverent humour, you need this book! I can't wait for the next one!

I had a very nice time reading this book overall.
I dont think Ive read a book similar to this one
I do have to agree with the people that said this was too funfiction sometimes while reading. There are moments when it’s too much but if you can look further you will have a good read.
For me it was more of a cozy type of read, i got cozy vibe from this one even if the plot line is more about death or the medical field.
I liked the medical vibes, it gave some authenticity to the story.

I found myself laughing at some jokes, i guess they were really my kind of jokes. The problem with the characters tho, is that i didn’t find any connection in their romantic relationship. Maybe i will in the next one, since this is just the beginning of the story.
Not the best out there but also not the worst and i think a lot of people will love this.
3.5

Thank you to the publisher for the arc

Bridgette Knightley's The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy was an absolute treasure of a read! Set in an alternative magical Earth, the story follows Aurienne (healer) and Osric (rich assassin for hire) as they navigate their reluctant partnership to find a cure for a magic killing disease.

The world building is close enough to present day to be easily understood whilst also being interacted with in a way that makes it easy to picture the world.
Aurienne and Osric are true enemies to (eventual) lovers.

Osric and Aurienne are both well rounded and written with depth, we don't fully delve into both of their backgrounds in this book. The both have full and functional lives before meeting each other and are genuinely inconvenienced in the beginning by their need to work together. This leads for lots of wonderfully witty insults being traded and quite a few giggles at the entertaining animosity between them. They're both interesting; flawed; skilled and full of fiery banter - creating protagonists that feel alive and genuine. Each development a d twist of their relationship is well paced, keeping the reader engaged throughout.

The dialogue is sparkling, the world vivid and the themes of forgiveness; morality and the courage to embrace romance are done so well, it's disappointing when the book ends.

For anyone who loves smart, passionate and deeply satisfying romances full of witty banter, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is an unmissable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for this ARC copy to review.

I requested the eARC of this book purely based on the cover and synopsis, I hadn’t read any of Knightley’s fanfic and honestly had no idea what to expect but wow! I absolutely fell in love with it.

From the very start, the world-building and magic system were super easy to follow. While the book opens with a glossary (which, admittedly, I skimmed as it felt like a huge info dump), I found the story itself explained the necessary details really organically. The narrative throws us into a compelling enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Aurienne, a dedicated healer, and Osric, a member of a notorious and violent Order. When Osric seeks out Aurienne for help with a magical illness, she’s immediately conflicted as her Order has sworn not to heal members of his due to their opposing ways of life; one heals and one kills. But coin talks, and soon enough the two are locked into a tense, reluctant alliance. The banter is absolutely top-tier: dry, sharp, and dripping with sarcasm. As a Brit, I found the humour incredibly on point and so satisfying to read.

The characterisation is another major strength here as both Aurienne and Mordaunt have rich, layered personalities that clash and spark beautifully. Their relationship simmers with tension, and the slow build was genuinely addicting. Knightley does a brilliant job of crafting two people who should hate each other but are drawn together in a way that feels both inevitable and believable. There’s a fantastic sense of push and pull throughout, and I loved how their relationship development mirrored the unraveling of Osric’s illness and Aurienne’s beliefs. It’s equal parts swoony and emotionally engaging, with real stakes.

I’m seriously counting down the days for the next book! I need to know if Osric can be healed, and whether their connection finally turns into something more. This was a total standout read for me!

Let me start by saying I’ve never been a reader of (or shipper of) Dramione and the links to it were neither off-putting or that explicit. You could tell, it had elements of Dramione but it didn’t feel like straight out fanfic.

I mostly enjoyed this book but I do have a few points which made me enjoy it less.
Firstly, the banter is excellent and for the most part o found the writing really enjoyable. I did feel like the author used unnecessarily flowery language at points, there were points when I had to look up words and it seemed a simpler word would have worked better and not removed me from the story.
Secondly, the world building seemed a little confused and incomplete. At points there were clear Harry Potter crossovers, but it was by no means a like for like replica. It was too complex at points and it also felt like it lacked a firm foundation from which you can build. Maybe that’s because this came from fan fiction, so the world hasn’t come entirely from the authors head, but I feel like I have somewhat of a grasp on the places, times and magic system but it’s by no means complete or consistent.
Thirdly, and probably my biggest peeve with the book is that literally nothing is resolved in this book. I get that it’s part of a duo-logy but I feel like to make this a book in itself at least one of the plot points needed to be wrapped up.

That being said, I will probably read the sequel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!
In ‘The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy’ Aurienne is a healer sworn to do no harm and Osric is an assassin with no conscience, until a degenerative curse forces him to seek her help. As the story progresses their dynamic changes from reluctant animosity into something far more complicated.
This is truly one of the slowest of slow burns I have ever read but that’s what made it soooo good! The banter is HILARIOUS (I really wasn’t expecting this book to be as funny as it was) the tension and build of the relationship is so fun to read and the general plot was very interesting too.
There are a lot of new words (deofol,seith,etc) so I was a little worried at first but I found it very easy to pick up all the meanings of everything quickly.
I am SO upset I will have to wait so long for book two, I need it right now

Oh how I loved this book!!!

Definitely my best 2025 book so far! Thank you chacha for this reco!
This is the story of Adrienne, a healer, and Osric – ah Osric!! - an assassin. She is strict, the best in her Order, she follows the rules; he is dangerous, classy, and responds basically only to himself. And they hate each other. But she is his only hope, and he has what she needs. So working together it is!!
The major highlight here is their relationship : she despises him, he loathed her, and their verbal exchanges are chef’s kiss!! Full of spicy and corrosive humour, sarcasms, I laughed from the beginning til the end! And when I say I laughed, I do not mean the usual mental smile or laugh, I do mean laughing out loud, getting confused looks from my family!!!
We are on a real enemies-to-lovers, with amazing banter, and a lot of funny situations! It turns out in a slow burn, but reaaaaaally slow, and the end was just perfect, with a beautiful touch of poetry 😊
The world building is great, especially with the use of travel stones! And we even have a nice plot getting more and more important in the story! I also appreciate a lot the deofols, a kind of familiars, with their own humor and sense of repartee!!

In conclusion, this book is a gem, bright, light and sparkling!
I think the publication date is planned for July, in vo. Thank you auteur, I am now waiting for book 2!

The irresistible urge to fall for your enemy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🩷 real enemies
🩷 healer FMC x assassin MMC
🩷 forced proximity
🩷 low stakes fantasy
🩷 dark rom com vibes

First things first, I've never read any of the fanfic work of the author so I entered this book with no expectations and with nothing to compare this story to, but I declare myself in love regardless!!!
Next time I ask for enemies to lovers, THIS is what I want!!!

The irresistible urge to fall for your enemy felt like the perfect romantic comedy mixed with darkish vibes and disgustingly great gore scenes. Both of the main characters are (apparently) opposite in almost every way, and saying that they hate each other is an understanding, they have big egos and no desire to concede, so once they are forced to work together to fulfill personal interests, the boundaries get slowly blurred. And speaking of "slowly" this is the slowest of slow burns so do not expect any remotely romantic till the 80% mark of the book at least. For me, this was just perfect: the tension, the banter, the playfulness of the dialogues, all made for the perfect read and even tho the chapters were quite long, I didn't felt them as such, and couldn't stop reading.

The magic system was also pretty good, not to complicated to understand yet engaging and fun. The story at the end is, at core, one of characters and even the worlbuilding attend to make those shine.

By the time the ending came, I was so hooked and I needed more pages. It was just so good!!! That final 30% rounded up the story perfectly and it all came together, not only in terms of romances but also of plot, creating enough of a cliffhanger to leave salivating over book 2. Is this to early to start doing campaign to get eARC for that one?👀🫣😏

Anyways, I definitely recommend this book, it was amazing, from star to finish and I just can't wait for release date to hype it up with everybody.

Arc review

I absolutely adored this book! The slow burn between Aurienne and Mordaunt is absolute perfection.. true beginning of enemies to lovers! I loved the original fic this was based on, but I actually love this story so much more. The world building and characters are amazing, and you get sucked into the story so easily. And Mordant??? I’m obsessed! The perfect morally grey character. Can’t wait to see how his character grows.. I cannot wait for the second book!

4.25 stars

This is the ultimate enemies to lovers book! I can't wait for book 2 already!

Fairhrimis the perfect FMC. Smart, kind and sharp. She is the perfect balance to Osric. He made me laugh out loud so many times and Fairhrimis sharp wit was perfection. She puts Elizabeth Bennett to shame.

The slow burn is so good and the author really leaves you hanging on for 'that moment' between the characters. It was so good watching them slowly fall in love and not realise it. 

The mystery behind the pox kept me hanging on and i know I've said it before, but I need book 2 now!!

I was a bit unsure at the beginning as you dive straight into the world and characters. Keep going as once the books gets going it's so good. It has some really laugh out loud moments. Particularly at the springs!

The side characters were well thought out and interesting.

Perfect if you love enemies to lovers & slow burn.

Ngl the first 20% at the beginning did not have me AT. ALL. The info dumping was too much for me and then jumping into the story with all these difficult names and terms eluded me and I was so confused when I didn’t even cross the step into the actual story.

What made it up was the banter and the dry humour, especially from Aurienne, it was fantastic and I loved how unapologetically blunt it was 🤣🤭

I started to really enjoy it at like 170 pages, the plot was amazing, banter so good and we finally have some romantic tension between these two (which is by the way delicious) but it inevitably comes to an end as soon is it gets good and the pace picks up, the book is finished 🥲

The main healing plot of the book hasn’t been concluded and it ends very abruptly, I know this is a duology but it lacks structure with the main plot being so important at the start but later replaced with a different one which leaves nothing closed up.

It was still a very enjoyable read and I will definitely continue with this series as I’m super anxious to know how it will end 🤩 also I love my girl Aurienne so I need more of her amazing attitude of no fs given 🤭