An extremely fun read, impossible to put down. The vibes were perfect, I devoured it in 24 hours. Brigitte writes the most charming characters and following them is full of giggles. One of the few books to make me laugh out loud.

SQUEELING AND KICKING MY FEET.

“I’d rather you hate me than not think of me at all.” I am screaming, I went into this book pretty blind other than the title but I had been told there was some heavy world building. I did not feel that way at all I ate this book up. The chapter names had me on the floor, they are iconic, the forced proximity the tension the enemies to lovers I was hooked. This is no doubt going to be one of my top reads, I am so excited to see what comes next I have so many questions I cannot wait to see answered. The companion animals were incredible, I loved this aspect. I really enjoyed how it went from hating working together to something that came natural. I hope Osric gets more chances to ensure if anyone touches Adrienne they pay with their life in the next book. I need the next book to be announced immediately even if this is not out yet.
The way the spoke to each other, this was written incredibly I will be raving about this for a while.

From the very first page, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemies completely pulled me in — and let me just say: the foreword. If you know, you know. It sets the tone perfectly for what turns out to be a witty, engaging, and layered story.

One of the standout aspects of this book is the world-building. While it’s not immediately clear where or when the story is set, I actually appreciated that the author didn’t spoon-feed the setting. Instead, you’re gently immersed, and I found that I adjusted quickly to the vocabulary and terms unique to this universe. That said, the occasional lack of clarity — like no explanation of what a daguerreotype is (yes, I had to Google it, and yes, it’s real) — might throw some readers off. A small glossary might have helped.

The dialogue absolutely shines. The banter had me genuinely chuckling — the kind of humor that feels natural, not forced. One line in particular, on page 21, caught me off guard in the best way. And by the end of Chapter 1, I was fully invested in both the plot and the characters.

As I got further in, the author continued to surprise me. Chapter 3’s casual mention of a character being 200 years old made me laugh out loud — “Did she forget to die?” is a note I scribbled in the margins. These little moments of dry wit kept me turning the pages eagerly.

Throughout I did note a small critique: at times, the language can veer into the unnecessarily complex. For example, the use of “débrouillardise” might come across as pretentious when a simpler word like “resourcefulness” would have done the job just as well. It’s a minor hiccup in an otherwise smooth read, but worth noting. Personally I don’t like having to come out of a story multiple times to Google what words mean once I’m fully immersed.

Overall, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemies delivers a fantastic mix of humor, heart, and imagination. It’s a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet still manages to create a compelling world and lovable (if sometimes chaotic) characters. I’d absolutely recommend it — especially if you enjoy a bit of snark with your star-crossed rivalries.

I'm grateful for the chance to review The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy. The premise of this book is fantastic, and I was excited to dive in! As I read, I noticed that the story takes its time to unfold, which for me, meant that significant plot points or shifts in the characters' dynamic were quite delayed. This extended build-up, while creating anticipation, occasionally made the reading experience feel a bit drawn out. Additionally, there were instances where the narrative style was quite intricate, and I sometimes had to work to fully understand the flow of events. Ultimately, I was invested in seeing the conclusion.

Really enjoyed this one. Loads of humour sprinkled throughout which can be lacking in other books in the same genre.

Would have loved to see more Mrs Paterson and her dynamic with Mordaunt, I hope she continues to make her presence known in book 2!

Speaking of book 2 - I think it’s been set up very nicely & look forward to reading it

The banter, the story - it was hilarious. This was a damn good book. I haven't read the Dramoine fanfiction yet, and I don't know if I ever will, but you can bet this is about Draco and Hermoine, but in a very different way. It's a whole new universe. The magic system? Chef’s kiss. The worldbuilding? Fantastic. It was a wonderful read, but also with a hint of darkness.... A big hint of darkness. But I liked it. It was really good and this book deserves all the hype it gets.
To be honest, it took me a bit to get into the story, I was literally fighting a reading slump at this time, but I'm glad I pushed through. The story between Aurienne and Osric was a rollercoaster. Their banter, which mostly ended in a verbal fight scene and then back to dead silence and yet determination to achieve their goals was great.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I'll keep this short. But let me tell you one last thing, the slow burn has been slower than slow, which can be quite frustrating at times, but it's worth it.
The release date is coming up and it will be in stores on July 8.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Little, Brown Books Group and Brigitte Knightley for sending me an e-arc.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is exactly what it says on the tin—a glorious mess of tension, banter, mutual hatred that slowly turns into something much more blush-worthy, and literally laugh-out-loud funny. If you're a sucker for enemies-to-lovers drama you're in for a treat.

The main characters? A walking disaster duo. One’s emotionally constipated, the other’s a hire-for-crime murderer. They argue like it's their job, flirt like it's a crime, and fall for each other in the most wonderfully frustrating slow-burn way possible.

The banter is chef’s kiss. Sharp, funny, occasionally unhinged. At one point, I highlighted so many lines I gave up and just bookmarked the whole chapter. Is it realistic that two people who supposedly hate each other have this much sizzling tension? No. Do I care? Also no.

In short: it's chaotic, romantic, a little bit unhinged, and an absolute blast. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for sharp insults, soft feelings, and the emotional equivalent of screaming "just kiss already!" for 300 pages.

DNF 19%

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is going to be a great read for fans of comedy enemies-to-lovers romantasy - but it is fairly light on the fantasy part. I feel like the author had a good idea for the world this was set in, but it was not explained or explored particularly well. I was not drawn in by the plot, world-building or the characters. The writing was solid enough, but this alone was not enough to keep me engaged.

This is not my usual sort of genre but I thought I would give it a go.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7620708525 (will also review on Amazon once book is eligible)

Although it started life as fanfiction, Knightley's The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy, part one of the Dearly Beloathed duology, has done what few fan-fic-to-trad-fic works has managed: it has become a well written book in its own right.

One of the issues with fanfiction which becomes published fiction is that fanfic relies on the shorthand of knowing the world, the characters, the relationships and dynamics which already exist, and any other detail the author doesn't want to explain. When the work is then transitioned into becoming its own thing, the author, suddenly, has failed to world-build, to character-build, to answer questions. The familiar is gone, and what remains is pockmarked and moth eaten, made holey by its severing of association with the source material. Brigitte Knightley does not have this problem. She has neatly, and with great attention to detail, filled in those blanks. Her world is soundly built, detailed, sprawling, and unique. Her characters have depth, motivation, and other relationships. Her magic system, politics, and social mores are consistent and easily understood. If I didn't know that this had once been fanfic, I wouldn't know.

Osric Mordaunt is going to die. Not in a philosophical 'our time will come' kind of way either, in an 'imminent possibility of execution' kinda way. He's unwell, his magic failing, and if his order finds out, it's curtains for this handsome, slightly dramatic, young assassin. Cue Aurienne Fairhrim, she is the healer of a generation, a marvellous, miracle-working scientist, whose expertise, and past fascination with the old magics of their nation, might just save his life. That is, if they don't kill each other first. Forced together, through no small amount of coin and meddling on Osric's part, the two race against time to save him from the consequences of his nature, all the while contending with the power and politics that separates them, and a growing closeness they can't deny. But there is more than Osric's life on the line. A pandemic rages, politicians and nobles seem unwilling to help, murky deals are struck which put them both in danger. Something is building, and this unlikely pair might be the only ones who can do something about it.

TIUTFFYE is a unique blend of science-y forced proximity, humorous exchanges, budding romance, lewd jokes, and moral quandary. It has some similarity in vibe, plot, or humour with Cursed Under London, Sorcery and Small Magics, and Assistant to the Villain, but ultimately it is entirely its own. An ideal read for those who love banter, slow-burn, and enemies-to-reluctant-allies-to-maybe-something-more. Laugh out loud funny, with moments of tension and the hint of feet-kicking romance to come, this is an all round great read.

Minor loss of points for SPaG errors early on, but this is a galley so hopefully those will have been caught!

I look forward to the release, and I am keeping everything crossed that I can 1) pick up a beautiful edition of this from somewhere and 2) might just get approved for the second one!

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Woman in STEM meets fantasy world in this perfectly cozy, magical and whip-smart debut.

I fell head over heels for what felt like a rom com in a rich fantasy world. Think medical researcher/doctor, but her specialty is the bodily system that permits people to wield magic. How cool is that!! Pair that with a stubborn, cool (and hot!!) assassin who needs healing and is so desperate to impress her, two people who frustratingly don’t realise how perfect they are for each other, top-tier banter, and a simmering, melting slow burn, all told through enchanting and witty writing, and you’ve got the brilliant concoction that is this book. Hate to love at its finest!

I finished it because I don't usually leave books unfinished, but at times I wondered what I was reading, and that's a shame because I thought I would really get hooked, and there was a lot of hype... but it wasn't for me.

Look, I can't say it's a bad story because the characters are quite well-developed, the universe is more than interesting, and I think the story progressed very well, but I couldn't connect. I felt lost at many points, and since I kept putting it down for weeks and picking it up again, it made it worse.

It was entertaining, with lots of humor that I really enjoyed, and I think the author has potential. I'd like to read other works by her.

Thank you so much for Little Brown Book Group for the ARC I read through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love love love this, I love the idea of it being like Draco and Hermione based characters, I thought the MMC had great banter and it worked well with the FMC clinical personality. I liked the world building and the histories.

It’s dual point of view but this seemed to be a bit confusing at times as it seemed to read between 1st and 3rd person a bit.

It’s a slow slow burn which I really enjoyed, more impossible love than enemies to lovers.

The idea was great, the last few chapters making me want to read the rest of the series when it comes out. But the actual story lost its purpose a bit and it wasn’t a one more chapter till 2am read for me.

Yes it’s enjoyable, it’s a fun read, but it’s a slow read, I don’t mind a slow burn but the story was slow as well.
3 stars from me.

If you go into this book believeing its a dramione, don't. It's different, but that doesn't mean it's not worth reading. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading, loved the characters and the story. It was a good time.
The thing that threw me off and made it a bit harder to get into was the names. It felt like that typical overthought fantasy names timed twenty. But after I got used to it, it was fine.

Omg this was hilarious! I was grinning through basically the entire book.

Osric Mordaunt, is an assassin of the Fyren Order, who is sick and is in desperate need of some superior healing. That is were Aurienne Fairhrim, a scientist of the Haelen Order comes in. The banter between these two characters was on point. They are diametrically opposites in every way and it's so masterfully done!

The magic system is interesting and an integral part of the story, since it's both the reason behind Osric's deterioration but also a way of life depending on a choice the characters take. So, Osric chose death (assassin) and Aurienne chose life (healer) and that cannot make them anything but enemies.

Osric and Aurienne ends up in the most ridiculous scenarios that forces them to help each other out, and it's so hilarious. So many pearls are clutched along the way.

It's amazing how perception can change the enjoyment of a story. I haven't really read many comedy stories before, so I had a hard time getting into it, but I read it wrong so to speak. (Don't ask me why with a title like that.) I had to readjust my frame of mind before I got any enjoyment out of this work of art, but as soon as I changed my mind from reading it as a serious story to a comedy one it made my frown go upside down. And omg I'm so happy I did that instead of giving up because this books is a gem.

I recommend this to lovers of comedy, enemies-to-lovers, and slow burn romance.

4.5 stars

I had so much fun with this book. The humour had me giggling out loud in all kinds of inappropriate situations (most notably a kids soft play party) and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this absolutely glacial slow-burn (we're talking 90% people) develop, in a super realistic depiction of enemies to lovers.

The world-building is intense, and you get thrown in the deep end, but there is a glossary to help. Some of the vocabulary was a bit out there. I don't normally need the dictionary on my Kindle, but it was in frequent use with this one. Not necessarily a problem as I quite enjoy learning new words.

You are just starting to wonder if the monthly healing is going to be all there is to it when the wider plot really picks up, leading to some entertaining interactions and a bit of action. I'm excited to see how it all concludes in the final book of the Dearly Beloathed duology!

4.5⭐️

I loved this! It had me hooked from the start, even though it is definitely a slow burn and the plot pacing was slow, because the writing is quirky and witty, the magic system was interesting and I enjoyed the world building.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of this book to review.

A bit of a complicated one this one. A very interesting premise. Very much enemies and complete opposites. The characters were brilliant but it took a long time for me to get into it. I loved the idea of the price of magic. Worth a read.

Let me just say - I LOVED this book! I expected I'd like it, but I was so pleasantly surprised by it. I don't know if it's because it was right up my alley where the humour in it was concerned, or because it was very story driven rather than concerning itself with the inclusion of smut (it's a veeeeery slow burn), or because it felt like a TRUE enemies to (not quite) lovers, but I honestly adore this book so much.
This book is HILARIOUS, and normally I read fantasy/romantasy/epic fantasy/YA, and my chosen stories never really have much humour in them (in fact the last book I can really remember laughing at was ACOF&S), but this book may have converted me. I've never laughed so much while reading. The sarcastic, witty, snappy banter in it is absolutely delicious!
I know a lot of people seem to have commented on not liking the characters, but I really enjoyed them. The MMC is obviously my favourite, who doesn't love a sarcastic morally messed up Assassin 🙈

I know it can be a bit daunting and polarising when reviews are so mixed, but please don't let that put you off this book! I am so, so glad I got this ARC and so, so glad this book will be featured in an upcoming book box I have a subscription for because I absolutely adored it. It's been so unexpectedly lovely to read! And I absolutely cannot wait for a continuation of the story! Thank you so much for letting me enjoy this book before release 🖤

He has a degenerative incurable disease, and she’s the best healer around - the only issue, they’re sworn enemies of warring orders.

This had so many unique elements - I was intrigued by the idea that using their magic has a physical ‘cost’, like your hair falling out or your hands chapping. The more magic you use, the greater/more serious the effects. Loved the concept of the Deofol - unique familiar connected to the person, can be used to send messages etc. manifestation of their magic.

Every character in this had such a dry sense of humour - the sarcasm levels were high! Didn’t expect it to be as funny as it was, though defintely crossed the line of ‘childish’ humour on multiple occasions.

I really liked Aurienne, such a strong FMC as a woman in STEM - heavy on the science, hypothesis and data etc. she’s smart and her brain is her biggest weapon. Struggles with the warring conflict of her morals and healing Osric. Wants to help people and vaccinate against the Pox infecting the children.

Osric is a ‘bad guy’ - murderer for hire type, with a massive soft side (rescue dogs as evidence for this). I loved his sense of humour, and wasn’t surprised to see he had shadow powers.

This one took a lot of getting into! There’s a lot of complex vocabulary and the writing style is dense - I had to use the dictionary look up feature on my kindle a fair few times! This did initially detract from the story, as it’s hard to get engrossed when the author has complicated what they’re trying to say. But as I got into it, you could see the language was stylised to the time frame the author wanted to convey. It’s mean to be 19th century esque so the language is more archaic than what we’d see in a contemporary novel, for example. It fits the time period and really added to the scene being set.

Slow burn, enemies to lovers fantasy duology. He falls first and harder! I loved their banter. They heavily disliked each other at the start, however as the novel progressed the ice started to thaw and the tension grew.

Overall I really liked this book, it was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait for book 2! Especially when we were left on that cliffhanger.

ARC copy provided by Little Brown Book Group UK / Orbit & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review