There’s something timelessly irresistible about enemies to lovers romance. That delicious tension when two people who seem to hate each other can’t help but be drawn together, the electric chemistry hidden beneath sharp words and challenging glares, and that magical moment when all that passion transforms into love… it never gets old!
While we’re always excited about the newest releases, some of the most satisfying enemies to lovers stories are those beloved books that have been winning hearts for years. These are the novels that readers return to again and again, the ones that set the standard for the trope, and the stories that prove great romance is truly timeless.
Whether you’re new to enemies to lovers romance books or looking to revisit some fan favorites, my collection features some of the most cherished books in the genre. From office rivals and childhood nemeses to fake relationships gone real, these stories deliver all the emotional intensity, witty banter, and swoon-worthy romance that make enemies to lovers one of the most popular tropes in romance novels.
Prepare to fall in love (all over again) with these unforgettable stories of hate turned to love!
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Love on the Brain has a wonderful, satisfying Rom-Com atmosphere! It will give you all the warm and fuzzies, as it’s (mostly) light and happy, but there’s also a little bit of science-y intrigue and SO. MUCH. PINING! Enemies to Lovers that is really unrequited love? Yes, please! Marie and Levi’s second chance romance in the NASA setting is absolutely perfect.
The Layover by Lacie Waldon
The Layover is such a delightful Enemies to Lovers Romance! Ava is going on her last trip as a flight attendant. Unfortunately, her co-worker on this special flight is Jack, her nemesis. And to make things worse, they have an unplanned layover together! This book feels like you are taking a trip to the beach – pure escapist fun.
Two Houses by Suleena Bibra
Two Houses was a surprise hit for me and was one of my favorite Enemies to Lovers books! It made me laugh out loud a lot, and the two main characters have a very believable rivalry going (with some hits under the belt). I also loved that this Romance is set in the world of art auctions. That was super interesting, and it was so nice how Priya and Gavin both appreciated art and history.
Set On You by Amy Lea
Crystal meets Scott in the gym and hates him. He seems to be set on breaking every rule, and she just can’t stand it! (Totally feeling it, Crystal!) Nevertheless, the two can’t stay away from each other. But then Crystal finds out that he is in a serious relationship! That sure ignites the animosity again. Set On You is one of the most entertaining Enemies to Lovers Romance books!
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse has all the big feelings we are looking for in Enemies to Lovers books! Kamilah has given up a lot to help out her family. And Liam is a total grump. The two just don’t get along anymore, even though they were childhood friends. This is such a wonderful, captivating Romantic Comedy with amazing character development!
Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra
Ooh, did I adore Ben and Beatriz! My heart broke so much for Beatriz, who carries a lot of trauma with her. And I loved getting to know Ben with her, the immensely rich white cishet dude who queer dark-skinned Beatriz hates with a burning passion. There are a lot of sex, drama, and rich people problems here. But there’s also a beautiful romance and an ending that warmed my heart and that I loved so much for these two people whom I grew to care about so very much throughout the book.
So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park
So We Meet Again is such a fun Enemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy! Jess lost her high-profile Wallstreet job she was so proud of and moved back home, where she resurrects her old YouTube cooking channel that she started in college. She also keeps running into Daniel, the guy who used to be her rival in school. But since they are both back home, they try to behave like adults and build a friendship.
Stirring Up Love by Chandra Blumberg
How could you resist this tasty culinary small-town Romance? Simone is a chef who returns to her hometown to take over her grandfather’s barbecue restaurant. There she meets Finn, who is trying to sell his own barbecue sauce. The two turn into rivals at their local farmer’s market. But this only gets worse when they compete for a start-up budget on reality TV.
Hate Notes by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
Hate Notes is a classic Enemies to Lovers story with a twist that broke my heart and was incredibly beautiful! Reed is the all-out-jerk alpha we’ve come to love and hate (yes, love and hate, you know it’s true). Charlotte is a down-on-her-luck heroine who believes that, deep down, Reed is an entirely different man than the facade he shows her and the world.
Intention by Ava Harrison
Madeline is the CEO of her friend’s fashion label. Things for them are absolutely wonderful until the day their company is taken over by a new investor. Nathaniel is your typical cocky British billionaire. And Madeline instantly hates everything about him. The two banter like mad until events take an entirely different direction. This is one of the Enemies to Lovers books that moved me deeply. Madeline has to deal with serious health struggles, and seeing Nathaniel change and grow to become the partner she needs hit me in a particularly soft spot. So good to see disability representation in Romance novels!
Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones
The banter in Getting Schooled completely cracked me up! I loved that Jason isn’t your usual flawless Romance hero. And Reese is my favorite kind of heroine: Smart and thoughtful, but also a little bit of a weirdo and with an utterly unexpected streak (you’ll see when you get there). The chemistry between Reese and Jason sure is off the charts! While this Enemies to Lovers Romance novel has a happy ending, their story continues in the second and third books of The Wright Brothers series (which you won’t regret reading!).
Faker by Sarah Echavarre Smith
This workplace Romance is perfect if you’ve already read The Hating Game and are looking for a fresh take on the theme! Faker is set in a power tool company where Emmie has to constantly defend herself and her work in front of everyone. But her co-worker Tate is the worst in the bunch, never having a single nice word for her… This is one of the cutest Enemies to Lovers books out there!
Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely
A wedding planner and a divorce attorney? If that isn’t the perfect set-up for an Enemies to Lovers book, I don’t know what is! But to make it all the more heartwarming, he’s also a single dad (and a wonderful one at that). Never Have I Ever deals with some pretty serious topics, but it’s so warm and sweet and will give you all the feels.
The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel
It’s always promising when the hate is already part of the title. And The Trouble With Hating You does not disappoint at all! This Enemies to Lovers Romance has a very intriguing pace and concept, and some utterly beautiful romantic moments you don’t want to miss. Liya and Jay are both Indian-American and have to navigate their way between modern life and tradition. Liya is very determined to stay single, but Jay is making it quite difficult for her…
Ache for You by J.T. Geissinger
Ache for You is a Slow Burn Enemies to Lovers Romance set in Florence, Italy. Kimber has had nothing but bad luck and is now stuck in the beautiful city. Matteo is her kind-of-but-not-really stepbrother who wants to buy Kimber’s company. And she has to ask herself if he’s only playing her or if the sparks are real… All three stand-alone books in J.T. Geissinger’s Slow Burn series are great. But Matteo was my absolute favorite!
From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
From Lukov with Love has all the passion you’d expect in Enemies to Lovers Romance books while still giving you the slow burn we all love Mariana Zapata for. Ivan and Jasmine used to compete in figure skating but have to learn to work together. I adored Ivan, and Jasmine is a kickass, complex, modern heroine. This is a slow-burn Sports Romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat because it’s a deliciously intense story!
Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne
Enemies to Lovers books don’t always have to be angsty. Walk of Shame is an adorably fun book about a bubbly socialite and her neighbor, who’s annoyed by her. Georgie seems to have such a frivolous life, but actually has a lot more depth than she’s getting credit for. Her grumpy lawyer neighbor keeps telling himself that this is really not his type of woman. If you need a feel-good Romantic Comedy to unwind and giggle, Walk of Shame is the perfect choice!
Thirty Day Boyfriend by Whitney G.
If you need a quick Enemies to Lovers romance, Thirty Day Boyfriend is a must-read! This fast-paced fake relationship Office Romance honestly blew me away and manages to make a popular trope entirely its own. Emily just wants to get away from her job, but her boss really, really likes Emily and hires her for a special task: Playing his fiancée. And if you think she just gave in to his charm, I have to tell you, nope, no, she did not! She asked for an absolutely outrageous sum of money on top of the promise to let her out of her job afterward. Attagirl!
Captain by Lauren Rowe
Lauren Rowe is one of the very few authors who can actually pull off insta-love. Her characters have so ridiculously much chemistry, it’s absolutely believable that they see each other and know that’s the one! And they pull me right along with them! In Captain, this instant soul-deep attraction turns into a whole lot of hate between Tessa and Ryan when things take an unexpected turn. The Morgan Brothers series is one of my favorite Romance series because every single book is so much fun: Captivating, insanely hot, and with super likable characters! They’re all stand-alones, but you really just want to read them all.
Hold Me by Courtney Milan
Hold Me is not only a fantastic Enemies to Lovers book but also everything you could hope for in a story about finding love on the internet. Jay is a scientist. When he meets Maria, he assumes she’s just a beautiful woman with no brains. He has no idea that she is actually the brilliant mind behind his favorite blog and the person he has fallen in love with online. Maria takes no sh*t from Jay and gives as good as she gets. Hold Me is one of my all-time favorite Contemporary Romance novels!
Friends without Benefits by Penny Reid
Too many people are familiar with this fantasy: What if the boy who teased you in school really had a giant crush on you? That’s exactly what Friends without Benefits is about – and so much more. If you’re looking for a bully love story that is a little bit lighter and more of an adult romance than Punk 57, Penny Reid’s novel is your perfect choice!
Smut by Karina Halle
Don’t you just love your smut? I kind of assume that’s why you are here 😉 This book is smut about smut! More specifically, two students who can’t stand each other have to do a team project and end up writing erotica together. It’s incredibly entertaining and very sexy! Smut is witty and amusing, making some meta-level fun of the Romance genre (or rather, the Romance story template) while being smack in the middle of it itself!