Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

3.5⭐️ for me!
The slow burn romance was perfect, the banter was great, osrics character was funny and witty! I say romance it wasn’t heavy on the romance but more of the building of their relationship to each other.

Few things I didn’t enjoy, it’s a big a complex world and magic system that needed a bit more world building!

And I loved the banter and jokes, but I am British and it was very much British humour in places which may not land as well for others.

Recommend imagining a very posh British accent when reading!

A romping good read of a novel that I absolutely adored. From the very beginning it was clear that the world was well thought out, the magic system was fabulous (and with well considered consequences) and the banter between the main characters was second to none. I genuinely laughed out loud at several points and read way past my bedtime to get this finished. If you like your fantasies thoughtful and intriguing, your dialogue sharp enough to cut, and your romance combustibly slow burning then I wholeheartedly recommend you pick this up immediately. This is a very assured first novel from an author that I sincerely hope we see much more of.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

This book had me going through so many emotions.

I won't lie, the first chapter was hard to get through. I feel that it was purely because I was thrown headfirst into a world with hard to pronounce names, no explanations and I was just expected to know what everything meant and what everything was.

I do note that there is a glossary. Yes, I read it... and I admit, it went in one ear and out the other.

It was hard to read at times, and I think that was because it is very heavily dialogue based. It was definitely witty, sarcastic, dark humor dialogue and therefore, I loved it. However, I feel this is going to be an absolutely amazing audiobook and I will probably snap it up once released to see how it translates. I hope its dual audio!

Yet even though it is heavily dialogue based, towards the end of the book Brigitte Knightley gives us such poetic gorgeous descriptions, that made me almost feel robbed that she wasn't writing such scenes to us earlier.

There also isn't much world building, yet the world and the bigger plot at play sneaks up to you and I am so intrigued and cannot wait for book two to get into my hands!

I highly recommend everyone give this book a go, in whatever format you like and stick with it. Definitely is a hidden gem.

What to expect:
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Healer/Scientist X Assassin
- Slow Burn
- Forbidden Romance
- Constant witty banter!
- Murder and Mystery

I’m was so excited to read this book, and I love seeing fanfic writers get their own stories published! This book didn’t disappoint!

🗡️🩸🧪🕯️

I loved so many aspects of this book, it was perfectly faced and really easy to read. The element that absolutely outshines all else, is the witty banter between characters. And not just out fmc and mmc, but everyone, there was a strange nonchalant-ness while characters said some of the most outrageous things. It truly had me laughing aloud, which doesn’t happen often while reading 🤣

Plot:
Now let’s focus on the plot! I won’t say much on this, but was incredibly chaotic (in the best way) and we get to see the motivations of our fmc and mmc and how they are brought together from completely different worlds and must begrudgingly work together. There is a lot of murder, mystery and secrecy and i absolutely ate it up!

Characters and Romance:
The characters and the romance carried this story, I had such fun experiencing our fmc Aurienne and our mmc Osric step into each other’s worlds while having such conflicting morals and seeing how they dealt with that.

“Might we go anywhere without subtracting from the population?”🤣

Our two main characters constantly throw insults at eachother while simultaneously being paired perfectly and working well together. I’ll warn you all now, this is a slow burn romance, as we see our love interests get to know each other while also being the complete opposites.

Overall, I loved this book, i loved the character dynamics and chemistry, the humorous and chaotic dialogue, and all the while the seriousness of the plot that hangs over them. I cannot wait for book 2!


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this early copy.

everythingsophiereads

11m
𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑰𝑹𝑹𝑬𝑺𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑩𝑳𝑬 𝑼𝑹𝑮𝑬 𝑻𝑶 𝑭𝑨𝑳𝑳 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝒀𝑶𝑼𝑹 𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑴𝒀 💕✨

A literal JOY to read! I laughed, I felt a little bit emotional, I had to google what certain words meant but overall, I was rooting for the main characters SO HARD!

The story follows Osric and Aurienne, two young people in opposing magical Orders who end up having to work together to find a cure for the incurable ✨🧪 As a reader, I was pulled out of reality and swept into this hilarious tale of enemies to lovers that has so much heart, you won’t be able to put it down!

I’ve seen this one compared to the Emily Wilde series, but I also think there are some elements that are similar to Assistant to the Villain, with the whimsical fantasy vibes of it all 🫶📚

Thank you so much to @brigitteknightley @littlebrownbookgroup_uk and @netgalley for the e-arc! I was over the moon when I got the approval email 😭💫 I can’t wait to chat with others who have read this book and loved it as much as I did!

Brigitte Knightley's The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy that showcases her talent for witty banter and humor. The dynamic between the scholarly healer Aurienne Fairhrim and the gentleman assassin Osric Mordaunt is filled with sharp exchanges and clever dialogue, which I found genuinely entertaining.​

However, the novel's pacing felt excessively slow for my taste. The romance develops at a leisurely pace, and the plot only gains significant momentum in the final chapters. This structure may appeal to readers who enjoy a gradual, cozy unfolding of relationships and narratives.​

While the humor and character interactions are highlights, the overall lack of tension and slow progression made it challenging for me to stay engaged throughout. Nonetheless, fans of slow-burn romances and detailed character development may find this book aligns well with their preferences.

This book was so witty, fun and full of a slow chemistry. Our mmc is trying to beat an incurable diseases whilst our fmc is a healer which has got the magic touch. Reading the fanfic prior to this, I wasn't sure what story we would have but I'm glad to say it has it unique merits and I would say the final few chapters really hooked me

This is a super slow burn and more about their adventure and the rapport they develop. I'm excited for book 2 and I think a reread I would love 10x more! Thank to the publishers and netgalley for the arc

Aurienne is a healer, Osric is an assassin. In an unlikely turn of events he needs her to heal him from an unusual illness but due to the tension between their orders, they must do this secretly.

What transpires is a wonderfully witty, funny book with a true enemies to lovers trope. This is the exact kind of humour I enjoy. Dry and self deprecating. Genuinely, every page to me was a delight. Yes, there could have been some further development to the world and to the magic system (potentially stemming from the books starting point as a FanFic in a well established world). However, it’s clearly stated it’s an alternative timeline where the Normans never invade the British Isles and therefore it remains with the Celt influence - hence the wonderfully whimsical sounding places and names.

It’s been quite a while since I reached the end of a book was absolutely devastated that it was the final page. I need more of this and I need it QUICKLY.

A classic enemies to lovers! The pacing felt a little all or nothing and I didn’t realise it was a series until the end which felt unsatisfying, but there were some lines that made me laugh out loud and the role building was brilliant.

I struggle to find anything at all that I enjoyed about this book. The prose was overwrought and pretentious, the worldbuilding thin to non existent, the characters were cardboard cut outs, the plot was barely there and the humor mostly consisted of "Aren't genitals funny???" Unfortunately for this author, I am not five. I think this needed an editor who needed to take a scalpel to it because there were some interesting ideas underneath the absolute mess that was this book, such a shame it never bothered to explore them.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and i’m so sad to say it did not land for me. The fairytale/folk lore writing style along with the ‘coziness’ of the story left me feeling bored and uninterested. It was only after I reached 60/70% that I got somewhat interested and by that time I had debated dnfing the book multiple times. This is all to say for me personally this book did not work, however I can truly see how most people would absolutely love this book and I fear I am in the minority.

NF
Thank you to net galley and little brown for sending me the eARC in exchange for my honest review

I might have gone in with too high expectations, i loved the fanfic and obviously knew the storyline and the characters would be different but really struggled to keep picking this up. There was so much over complicated vocabulary which made it really overwhelming and took away being able to enjoy the story.

I reached over 40% in and still don’t feel any type of way for either of the main characters and still don’t really know where we are or what’s going on

Too many dick related jokes either which weren’t all that funny

So because of all of the above I cannot force myself to keep reading because life is too short to keep reading books you don’t enjoy!!

Okay, let’s talk about The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley—because WOW. This book had me giggling, kicking my feet, and screaming into my pillow like a total fangirl. If you’re into enemies-to-lovers with a side of slow-burn torture (the good kind), this one’s an absolute must-read.

Imagine this: A brilliant, morally upright healer (Aurienne) is forced to work with a smug, lethally charming assassin (Osric) who also happens to be her sworn enemy. The catch? He’s dying, and she’s the only one who can save him. Cue the tension, the banter, and the oh-my-god-just-kiss-already energy.

Aurienne is my new favorite heroine—sharp, stubborn, and unapologetically smart. She’s the kind of woman who’d rather dissect a disease than admit she might (maybe, possibly) find her nemesis attractive. And Osric? Oh boy. Picture a morally grey disaster with a PhD in killing and the ego to match. Their dynamic is pure gold: snarky insults, reluctant teamwork, and a slow-burn romance so delicious it hurts.

The side characters are just as fun—Xanthe (a chaotic 200-year-old icon), Leofric (unhinged but hilarious), and Parson (Osric’s long-suffering handler) add so much life to the story.

This is peak enemies-to-lovers. The banter? Flawless. The tension? Palpable. The moment Osric starts simping while still pretending he hates her? Chef’s kiss. Knightley nails the slow burn, making every glance, every accidental touch feel like a lightning strike. And when they finally—finally—start to crack? SWOON.

The magic system is fresh and intriguing, blending science and fantasy in a way that feels unique. The alternate-history UK setting—where the Norman Conquest never happened—adds a cool twist, though I’ll admit I spent half the book imagining Osric as Draco Malfoy with a murderous streak (no regrets).

This book is funny. Like, laugh-out-loud-in-public funny. Knightley’s wit is razor-sharp, whether it’s Osric’s dramatic inner monologues or Aurienne’s deadpan comebacks. The humor never feels forced—just effortlessly clever and perfectly timed.

The first half is heavy on banter and setup, but once the mystery kicks in (a deadly pox, political intrigue, and some very questionable choices), it’s impossible to put down. That cliffhanger? CRUEL. I need book two yesterday.

“I hate you (but actually I’d die for you)” energy
—then this book is your new obsession.

‘The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy’ HAD ME SWOONING and is one of my favorite reads this year! If you love slow burns and enemies-to-lovers, this book is PURE GOLD! The chemistry between Osric and Aurienne is ELECTRIC and had me giggling at every moment.

Osric is a gentleman assassin with a dark side (and oh, does he make my heart race), and Aurienne is this brilliant, morally good healer who, despite her disdain for him, can’t deny the *intense pull* between them. Their forced collaboration? Hshshsjsksk had my jaw on the floor I loved it🤩 They’re both so smart and competent but stubborn to a fault, which leads to adorable and hilarious moments moments of tension and humor.

The plot is *packed* with intrigue, mystery, and heart-racing moments, and I loved every second of it. The way their relationship evolves, from pure hatred to something so much deeper, is CEHFS KISS. It’s a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and hilarious banter, and I am OBSESSED with it.

If you’re into enemies-to-lovers, high-stakes adventures, and that slow-burn you NEED to read this book! Especially if your a Dramonie fan you will devour this. It’s a mastepriece and I can’t wait FOR BOOK 2 NOWWWW

This book was witty, funny and charming. I was giggling and kicking my feet one minute to laughing my head off the next. This story just made me so HAPPY. I was grinning from ear-to-ear, and I deliberately took my time to read this as I didn’t want it to end.

It’s a great blend of some of my favourite tropes and genres: romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, rom-com and forced proximity.

I loved the way this book was written - the dry and witty humour is constant, and it is soooo refreshing in comparison with other romantasy books!

I’m really looking forward to find out what happens next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley - Bridget and the wonderful publishers for a free ARC in return for an honest review!

3.7 stars I think!

This was one of my MOST anticipated reads of 2025 - I will start by saying there were times in this I laughed really hard, the story was easy to follow and by the end I was gripped by where the plot was going

I’m glad this is part of a series and I’m going to be chomping at the bit for book 2! That cliffhanger!

Positives:
Such funny writing
Interesting plot and characters are okay!
Great length for a book like this
Tension is delightful
Apparently I am slutty for the niche microtrope of ‘admits attraction when medicated and fatally ill’

Negatives:
The first couple of pages ASSULT you with new words and it was so so so difficult (for me) to get through the first couple of chapters without having to look at the glossary which took me out of the story
I wasn’t overly invested in either character - there wasn’t much behind them
The attraction towards the end became very tell don’t show - I wanted to know what is causing the change in feeling? We need more depth and thoughts behind it from suddenly going to ‘she had a nice ankle’ then ‘oh my heart isn’t mine anymore’

Overall this was an enjoyable read! I’m looking forward to book 2 already

So disappointed to DNF this at 47%. I've spent so much time going back and forth for a few months with this book but I'm just not enjoying it. I did at first but then it just became confusing.

There's zero world building, you're expected to know what everything is and what's going on from the get go. Unsure if half the words are made up for the book or real but it played havoc with my dyslexia. The random capitals on basic words was confusing.

Some of the humour worked, other times it felt like I was reading a bunch of five year olds throwing insults at each other or in their own heads. Like I say, confusing.

I didn't make it to any romance, only the bickering but there just wasn't any connection between the two main characters for me to even see any romance forming.

I really wanted to enjoy this but sadly not for me :(

I will say the cover is absolutely gorgeous though!

4.5⭐️
Thank you little brown books UK and NetGalley for this DRC in exchange for an honest review💞

I'm calling this book a "cosy-crude high stakes romantasy". I know so many people are gonna EAT this one up!!

This is the most fun l've had with a book in a while. The banter was BANTERING. The hate was palpable. And the world building was so immersive I really forgot I was reading.

Brigitte is so witty! The plethora of quirks and quips in this book had me audibly giggling and made the characters that much more charming. (The pub names are hilarious!)

There's so much to love about this book. The dynamic between Aurienne and Osric was so perfect and the pacing (despite the time skips) was really well done! This is also a true enemies to lovers which is so rare nowadays and the slow burn is utter perfection❤️‍🔥

I will admit I was a little confused for the first third of the book cause there's a LOT of terminology to retain and most times I just used context clues cause I couldn't get to the glossary very easily on the e-book. But I think this is one of those books where you just jump in the deep end and eventually you start to understand. The ending is also very abrupt, but I think a next book has been sent up really well.

Even though parts were confusing, the vibes were SO good that I didn't even mind. The writing is also unlike anything l've read which was REFRESHING. WE LOVE UNIQUE ROMANTASY👏🏼

I WILL be needing the second one ASAP cause this one set it up so perfectly.

4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy took me completely by surprise. It’s one of the few romantasy books I’ve genuinely enjoyed in the past year. The premise is strong—even though I haven’t read the Dramione fanfiction it was originally based on, this novel stands well on its own.
At the heart of the story are the protagonists, who are beautifully developed. Their banter is fantastic—engaging, natural, and never cringeworthy—which made it easy to get immersed in their dynamic. I also really enjoyed the humor. Additionally, I loved the thoughtful detail of naming all the scientific machines after female scientists.
The only thing that lowered my rating was the repetition—after a while, the characters started falling into the same patterns, repeating similar actions and dialogues over and over again, especially in the first 50% of the book. Perhaps the "cures" could have been handled with more variation, though I’m not sure what would have worked better. The second half of the book, instead, was more dynamic and had a mystery at its core.
I’ve seen some reviews criticizing the lack of worldbuilding, and I think that’s a fair point. However, I didn’t find it to be a major issue that hindered the plot in any significant way (since there is hardly any). The fantasy world is somewhat vague, and certain details can only be inferred from the glossary at the beginning. But if you take the time to read that, you’ll be well-prepared for an immersive experience.
This is by no means a perfect book, but overall, I was pleasantly surprised—perhaps romantasy hasn’t completely lost its charm after all.

Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, is in dire need of healing. Naturally – such is the grim comedy of fate – the only healer who can help is Aurienne Fairhrim, preeminent scientist, bastion of moral good, and member of an enemy Order.
Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick - so desperate that, when Osric bribes her to help him, she accepts, even if she detests him and everything he stands for. A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders, much to Aurienne's disgust. As Osric and Aurienne work together to heal his illness and investigate the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the heat between them.

The Irresistable Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is everything I expected... AND MORE. This book was so good, perfect, irresistable. I couldn't put it down because of the perfect combination of slow burn and enemies to lovers. Oh and healer x assassin? That's the cherry on top! These tropes work perfectly together in The Irresistable Urge to Fall For Your Enemy. The tension between Aurienne and Osric is phenomenal. The fact that they you FEEL they don't like each other from the beginning and it bursts in to some spicy romance? I AM HERE FOR IT!

This book was one of my high anticiptated reads of 2025 and it did not disappoint. It not only made me laugh out loud, but this book had me on the edge on my seat and I can't wait for the second book in this duology. I read it right now, especially after that brutal ending which leaves the reader desperate for the sequel (when?). I need like a hundred different special editions of this book for in my shelves!

You'll love The Irresistable Urge to Fall For Your Enemy if you love:
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
He falls first and harder
Fantasy

Huge thanks to NetGalley for sharing The Irresistable Urge to Fall For Your Enemy digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.