Enemies to Lovers

The Hating Game is often the gold standard when it comes to enemies-to-lovers romance. Lucy and Joshua are workplace rivals at a publishing company, constantly competing and bickering. The tension between them is so thick, it’s almost a third character in the book. But when they’re both up for the same promotion, things start to shift. As they try to one-up each other, they realize their "hate" might just be hiding a whole lot of attraction. With witty banter and red-hot chemistry, this book is a laugh-out-loud read that’s impossible to put down.

In The Unhoneymooners, Olive and Ethan are forced to pretend to be newlyweds after their siblings’ wedding takes a turn due to a food poisoning incident. Despite their mutual loathing, they’re stuck sharing a romantic Hawaiian honeymoon trip. The result? Some of the funniest, cringe-worthy, and steamy moments you can imagine. Christina Lauren delivers a story filled with humor, heart, and sizzling tension as Olive and Ethan slowly discover that maybe they don’t hate each other after all. Their snarky back-and-forths are the perfect setup for a fiery romance.

Beach Read tells the story of January and Gus, two authors who couldn’t be more different. January writes feel-good romance, while Gus writes serious literary fiction, and they’ve always seen each other as rivals. But when they find themselves living next door at their summer lake houses, a friendly writing competition turns into something much deeper. What starts as a playful rivalry grows into a heartfelt connection, with both characters learning to drop their defenses and let love in. Emily Henry’s writing is full of humor, vulnerability, and sweet romance.

Catalina needs a date for her sister’s wedding in Spain, and the only person willing to help her is her arrogant and insufferable co-worker, Aaron. Despite their constant bickering at the office, they agree to a fake dating arrangement. Of course, as these things go, pretending to be in love while actually despising each other creates the perfect storm for sparks to fly. This slow-burn romance is filled with hilarious moments, family drama, and enough steamy tension to make it hard to put down. Aaron’s slow charm and Catalina’s sass make this one of the standout enemies-to-lovers romances of recent years.

Twisted Hate is a sizzling enemies-to-lovers story packed with emotional intensity. Jules and Josh can’t stand each other, and they’ve been at each other’s throats for years. But when a night of reckless decisions brings them closer than they expected, they’re forced to navigate their complicated feelings. Ana Huang creates the perfect blend of banter, angst, and passion, as their hate-to-love journey becomes a tug-of-war of emotions. This book is part of the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone, and it’s perfect for readers who love a steamy, angsty love story.

While The Kiss Quotient focuses more on the fake dating trope, there’s a fun enemies-to-lovers vibe between Stella and Michael at the start. Stella, a successful yet socially awkward woman with Asperger’s, hires Michael, a charming escort, to teach her the ins and outs of dating. Their personalities clash, but as they spend more time together, they form a connection that’s far deeper than either expected. This sweet and sensual romance has a unique, heartwarming storyline and two characters you can’t help but root for.

In Arrogant Devil, Meredith runs away from her toxic marriage and takes a job at a ranch in Texas, only to find herself working for the grumpiest, most arrogant boss she’s ever met—Jack McNight. Jack sees her as a spoiled princess who won’t last a week, but Meredith is determined to prove him wrong. Their constant butting heads leads to some seriously swoon-worthy tension, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic is filled with humor and heart. R.S. Grey delivers a light and playful romance that will leave you smiling.

In Act Your Age, Eve Brown, the lovable, chaotic Eve Brown finds herself at odds with Jacob Wayne, a buttoned-up bed and breakfast owner who runs his life with military precision. When Eve accidentally crashes into Jacob’s life—literally, by hitting him with her car—he wants nothing to do with her. But their clashing personalities slowly give way to mutual attraction. With Hibbert’s signature humor and sharp wit, this enemies-to-lovers romance is both heartwarming and steamy, filled with moments that will make you laugh out loud.

In The Roommate, Clara moves across the country for her crush, only to end up living with a stranger named Josh, who she instantly clashes with. Josh turns out to be a very unexpected roommate, working in the adult entertainment industry—much to Clara’s horror. But as they begin to learn more about each other, their differences create an undeniable attraction. Rosie Danan’s novel is funny, fresh, and full of heart. This is a steamy and fun take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, with a surprising amount of depth and emotional warmth.

The Simple Wild follows Calla, a city girl who travels to the Alaskan wilderness to reconnect with her estranged father. There, she meets Jonah, a rough-around-the-edges pilot who has no patience for her city ways. The two instantly clash, but as Calla adjusts to life in Alaska, she and Jonah start to see each other in a new light. Their slow-burning romance is set against a stunning backdrop, and K.A. Tucker blends humor, emotion, and breathtaking scenery into a story about love, family, and finding home in unexpected places.

R.S. Grey strikes again with Not So Nice Guy, a hilarious and heartwarming take on best friends to lovers, but with an enemies-to-lovers vibe sprinkled throughout. Sam and Ian have been best friends for years, but when rumors start swirling around their “relationship,” everything changes. As they try to navigate these new waters, they clash and banter like true frenemies. The sizzling tension and funny moments between Sam and Ian make this a delightful romance with plenty of laughs. If you enjoy witty dialogue and slow-burn chemistry, this one is a must-read!

Carolina’s life is turned upside down when her fiancé leaves her at the altar, thanks to his best man, Max. Fast-forward to a few years later, and Lina has to work with Max on a big career-changing project. The sparks fly, but not in a good way at first, as the two have some major unresolved issues. But as they’re forced to spend time together, those heated arguments start to turn into something a lot more tempting. Mia Sosa balances humor, heart, and heat in this enemies-to-lovers romance that’s perfect for fans of playful banter and swoon-worthy moments.

Fix Her Up brings together a professional baseball player, Travis, and his best friend’s little sister, Georgie. Travis is a bit of a mess after his career takes a nosedive, while Georgie is trying to make a name for herself outside of being the “baby” of the family. What starts as an agreement to fake-date quickly turns into an intense enemies-to-lovers dynamic, filled with witty comebacks, undeniable chemistry, and emotional vulnerability. Tessa Bailey mixes humor with some seriously steamy moments, making this one of the hottest books on the list.

You Deserve Each Other is a unique twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope, where Naomi and Nicholas are engaged but secretly can’t stand each other anymore. Instead of calling off the wedding, they embark on a hilarious war of wills to get the other to break up first. What follows is a comedic battle full of pranks, misunderstandings, and slow-burn rediscovery of why they fell in love in the first place. Sarah Hogle creates a charming, funny, and surprisingly heartwarming story about learning to fight for the one you love, even when it feels like all is lost.

In The Enemy, June and Ryan have known each other for years, but they’ve never gotten along. When they’re forced to spend more time together because of a wedding, old grudges rise to the surface, but so does undeniable chemistry. June’s sarcastic wit clashes perfectly with Ryan’s calm, stoic nature, creating the ultimate slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. This story is full of heartwarming moments, a dash of humor, and just enough tension to keep you hooked from beginning to end. Sarah Adams delivers a delightful, feel-good romance that will leave you smiling.

In Battle Royal, two rival bakers, Sylvie and Dominic, are forced to work together on a royal wedding cake competition. Dominic is all about precision and tradition, while Sylvie is fun, colorful, and creative, making them complete opposites in every way. Their personalities clash spectacularly, but the mutual respect they develop over time creates a deep, slow-burn connection. Lucy Parker infuses this story with humor, sweetness, and plenty of delicious tension. With witty dialogue and a romantic plot that unfolds beautifully, Battle Royal is perfect for anyone who loves enemies who can’t help but fall for each other.

In Hating You, Jackson and Chloe are college rivals who’ve spent years trading insults and pranks. But when they’re forced to work together on a campus project, things take a turn, and they find themselves drawn to each other in ways neither expected. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is strong, filled with humorous moments, steamy scenes, and a relationship that’s as fun as it is fiery. Jennifer Sucevic creates a college romance full of tension, passion, and all the drama you’d expect from two people who love to hate each other.

The Love Hypothesis is a charming enemies-to-lovers romance set in the world of academia. Olive, a biology Ph.D. student, finds herself in a fake relationship with the grumpy and intimidating professor, Adam. Despite their fake dating arrangement, the chemistry between them is undeniable. As Olive and Adam navigate their complicated relationship, the tension builds and gives way to a heartwarming and steamy romance. Ali Hazelwood’s debut novel is smart, funny, and full of lovable characters, making it a standout in the genre.

This historical romance brings the enemies-to-lovers trope to Regency England. Lady Diana and Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham, have spent years sniping at each other, much to society’s amusement. But when they enter into a scandalous arrangement to critique each other’s bedroom skills, things take a surprisingly romantic turn. What starts as a battle of wits becomes something much deeper, with both characters struggling to keep their hearts out of the deal. Martha Waters delivers a lighthearted and swoon-worthy romance, packed with humor, charm, and plenty of sexual tension.

Vicious is a dark and intense enemies-to-lovers romance that centers on Emilia and Baron “Vicious” Spencer. Vicious is a ruthless and cold-hearted man who tormented Emilia in high school, but years later, when they cross paths again, the chemistry between them is undeniable. Their relationship is filled with tension, hatred, and passion, as they both try to navigate their complicated feelings. L.J. Shen’s writing is sharp, emotional, and deliciously steamy, making this a perfect read for fans of angsty and addictive romances.