4.5/5

I feel like this is a book that won’t be for everyone, but will hit so well for some. It’s a very different story from Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being In Love, and yet it has the same energy. There were also nods to the fic and the Dramione fandom and I grinned like an idiot every time Osric’s signet ring was mentioned.

You know how forest fires can burn all winter underground and then flare up when the weather gets warm again? That’s what this book felt like. We got a small hint in the last quarter of what’s in store in book two and I am READY (and devastated I have to wait).

It’s sharp and funny (I lol’d multiple times) and I was smiling like an idiot for most of it.

I think fans of Long Live Evil and India Holton (and the OG fic of course) will really love this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and my friends at Orbit across the pond for the early read!

I don't think I have ever highlighted a book so much.

Firstly, the dedication was 10/10. Secondly, I was 60% in and I already knew this was going to be a 5 star read. I 100% pictured dramione whilst reading this and it added to the experience tenfold.

Knightley did a superb job at building a complex, unique magic system. I am obsessed with the way the companion animals were incorporated into the novel. The enemies to lovers trope was done flawlessly, the TENSION was unparalleled, the wit, banter and sass of our main characters done expertly. The language used in this book was eloquent and well-versed (I actually think I gained IQ reading it). It matched the setting and atmosphere of the book and really helped me immerse myself in the novel and its characters.

Please add this to your TBRs!

Tropes:

-Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Redemption Arc (kindof)
-Wit and Banter

Huge thankyou to Orbit and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

First of all thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for sending me an ARC copy of this most awaited book.
Enemies to lovers, check.
Slow burn, check.
Brilliant, funny and entertaining, check.
Everything I was expecting and more, a unique story with amazing characters. A must read for everyone who loves a bit of romantasy with a touch of sci fi. Truly fantastic

SECOND BOOK WHEN????

I don’t even know where to begin—I devoured this book like a starved gremlin. The banter? Chef’s kiss. The humor? Love it.. The references? Spot on. THE PUNS? Brigitte, I salute you. And, ironically, I even loved the cliffhanger (which is saying something because usually, they make me want to throw my Kindle into the void).

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room—I have not read the fanfic. I know, I know. But listen, I am slowly wading into the Dramione waters, and my dear friend (who has been on a year-long mission to convert me) is winning. At this point, resistance is futile. I might as well grab my AO3 survival kit and dive in, because I know once I start, there’s no going back.

This book? This is how you do enemies-to-lovers. It’s got the tension, the slow burn, the layered backstories, and the “I will deny my feelings until it physically pains me” energy that I crave. Thank you, Brigitte, for understanding the assignment.

Also, I would like to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for every name that belongs to a dog or a cat in this book.

If you came here expecting high fantasy and deep philosophical themes, turn back now. This book is pure fun, and if you don’t read it with that in mind, you’re doing it wrong. I personally had an absolute blast.

Now, BRB, because apparently I have joined the Dramione cult so now I will go and devour DMATMOOBIL.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC~

I knew I would be obsessed and I'm obSESSED.
Our main characters Aurienne and Osric hate eachother. But they need eachother, so they strike a deal.

The plot be plotting, friends. I was so invested in this story and the mystery, I neeeed to know what happens next.
The banter and inner monologues in this book had me laughing and kicking my feet the whole way through. Brigitte does a fantastic job with the humor and the wit our main characters possess and it just made me love them all the more.
The slow burn too? Delicious. if you're an enemies to lovers fan that is sick of the enemies getting together at the 50% mark, you neeeeed this book!

An absolutely delectable tale of hating and wanting. Of old magic and new mysteries. Light and dark, and in-between spaces. I loved it.

(thank you so much netgalley and little brown / orbit for the e-arc!)

The cover is beautiful and I was really looking forward to diving in but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. Everything pretty much fell flat. The language in the book was confusing and there wasn't anything to clarify that the object or word meant so you just end up skipping a lot. The banter fell a bit flat because there is no chemistry between the main characters. You only really see their interactions and not who they are as individuals and or was quite boring. Not really any romance to speak of

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint! I was hesitant how a Dramione fanfic could be turned to a mainstream published story and the banter that I love was present throughout this. I giggled so much when reading this and loved the magic system that Brigitte has created. I need Book 2 now!

I went into reading this eARC (thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK!) for The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy expecting a romance fantasy, and that's exactly what I got - and so much more! Brigitte Knightley has truly surpassed all expectations with the first installment of the Dearly Beloathed series.

First of all I have to commend Brigitte's setting of a world where everyone has magicks to some extent, and her intricate world-building - both, together, are simply outstanding. The terminology and lore is intriguing and addictive. It had me going back to the glossary and searching the web, wanting to know more.

Aurienne Fairhrim; a powerful healer and woman in STEM, and Osric Mordaunt, an assassin-for-hire, rich pretty boy and apparent art connoisseur are polar opposites; enemies who come from different Orders. As the reader you know their romantic relationship is inevitable and their introduction is something akin to Romeo and Juliet - if those two had been true enemies to begin with. The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is a true enemies to lovers, and it is a real slow burn. The tongue in cheek banter between the characters is top notch and I'm such a big fan of Brigitte's rom-com style of writing, which also manages to be gut wrenching in all the right places.

If like myself, you are a massive fan of the TRUE enemies to lovers trope and you love a slooow burn, then I HIGHLY recommend you pre-order this book.

It is truly a brilliant novel and I am so looking forward to part two!

4.25⭐️

Wow! What a story - this has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year (the ao3 girlies get it) and it didn’t disappoint.

A true enemies to lovers (which we don’t get often) with some fantastic banter and humour throughout. I simply adored our two main characters and the dual POV really made this story for me!

It took my a few chapters to get myself fully emerged into the world (more of a me issue that a writing style) but as the story developed I felt myself stepping back into that world more and easily each time.

Would recommend for anyone who loves, detailed world building, magic systems, enemies to lovers, banter and a heavy dose of sarcasm(I caught myself laughing out loud numerous times). These characters really do have my heart … already waiting for the next instalment!

Thank you NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group UK for this arc.
#netgalley #littlebrownbookgroup

THIS BOOK. This book wrecked me in the absolute best way. The delicious slow burn, the tension, the YEARNING. The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is the kind of slow burn that has you screaming into a pillow because the tension is that GOOD.

Osric, our charming yet deadly assassin and Aurienne, our studious healer who has zero patience for his nonsense, are forced to work together, and let me tell youuuu, the bickering, the longing, the accidental but absolutely not accidental touches had me screaming and crying and kicking my feet.

Also that endingggggggggg. I’m unwell please release the next one now please 🙏🏾.

Please, please, please go preorder this one now, trust me, you won’t regret it.

I finished this book and lobbed it across my room ( metaphorically of course, my kindle is precious).

What a titillatingly frustrating un-puttadowable work of genius. When I say I want some slow burn this is exactly what I mean and then some.

We have white haired bad boy shadow daddy assassin Osric, who is inconveniently dieing. He seeks out the best Haelen possible to search for cure- Enter prim and proper Aurienne who excels at what she does.
Aurienne refused to help the assassin (cause ya know he kills folk) but a large donation to the Haelan Order to fund an inoculation for pox ridden children changes her mind.
The only problem is Osric is incurable and Aurienne resorts to the old ways of healing in a slim attempt to save his life. Add in some mutual hatred, a dozen murders, some common thievery and a nation on the brink of war and who wouldn't fall in love?

I laughed out loud, I gasped and I got angry (cliffhanger much). But I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a very long time. It's also the most fun I have ever had with out of context quotes, some of my favourites being -

"Let's tit about. I Love titting about"

"Xanthe is over two hundred years old. ---"how"? Did she forget ro die?"

"That's what altruism got you: spiders in your arsehole"

Read this book you won't regret it!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for granting my feral requests to get an ARC! As a fan of Knightley’s DMATMOOBIL, The Irresistible Urge has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint!!

The Irresistible Urge is totally separate from DMATMOOBIL. It’s not a retelling, but a Romantasy Duet set in a fictitious version of Britain. There are similarities between the couple we all love to ship sure, but Osric and Aurienne are lovable in their own rights, keeping the charm and banter that Knightley is well known for.

It follows the POV of both FMC and MC as they’re reluctantly brought together and guys, the forced proximity is real!!

Both characters were lovable, formidable and well rounded and I feel like book one has really set us up for an action packed book two. The pacing was great, the plot was believable, and the world building was top tier and not too complicated to keep track of.

This was a solid debut and I can’t wait to see where the story goes! Now I just need an ARC of book two… I can be a beta reader???!!!

Irresistible Bastard Meets Immovable Bitch (aka as Chapter one).
Hermione and Draco fanfiction repackaged into a new world, new terms, and slightly different characters.

Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick. Osric needs someone to heal a seith degenerate disease (magic rot). He bribes her to help him and she haltingly accepts. Haelan and Fyren shadow-walking assassin - their Orders hate each other, they detest each other. They both need each other.

This was exceedingly slow burn. Like the romance is literally non-existent until the last 5%. Extremely enemies-to-lovers with quips, digs, constant argument. Fork-induced thoracic trauma shenanigans.

<b>’You - you killed someone while they were eating yoghurt?' asked Aurienne.
'Yes. It was good yoghurt, too!'
‘You ate the yoghurt?'
'After he was dead, yes. He'd hardly touched it. What? What's the matter?’
</b>
Aurienne is not arrogant she is The Best. Orin is not evil, he just has no morals and likes money.

This was fun, but it truly did read like I was reading fanfiction.
Capitalising things don’t always make them automatically funny. There was a lot of d jokes.

Outside the bantering and the wit exchange - which gave definite dramonie vibes, they felt so one-dimensional and there was little development or depth.

There was little side character development with the focus on the tension between the two. Similarly, the world building is promising with different orders and types of magic (seith) and seith users, however this mostly relies on the glossary and diagrams provided at the start of the book.

Physical arc (and fork lol) gifted by Orbit.

I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. Despite the enemies-to-lovers premise, I struggled to connect with the story. Osric, the main male character, was hard for me to picture as the tall, handsome figure on the cover. I kept imagining him as a small, round man, which he couldn't be further from.

The slow-burn romance and banter didn’t work for me either—The world-building was great, though, and I can see how others might enjoy the setting and detailed lore. But overall, I just wasn't able to get into the story.


Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC👊🏽🔥💫

Title: The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy
Author: Brigitte Knightley
Publication Date: July 15, 2025
Rating: 3/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is a romcom fantasy that follows Osric Mordaunt, a member of the Fyren Order of assassins, and Aurienne Fairhrim, a member of the Haelan Order of healers. Set in a unique world where the use of magic is determined by the Order you are in and is governed by what they call Seith. When Osric's seith is in dire need of healing, he blackmails Aurienne to help him find a cure even if she detests him and everything he stands for.

They are forced to work together as they attempt to heal Osric through a series of increasingly ridiculous situations, and the more time they spend together, the more they start to develop an irresistible attraction to each other. The rivalry of Osric and Aurienne as they come from opposing Orders adds tension to the slow burn romance which is an absolute delight.

The banter is phenomenal with plenty of dry humor and snark that I literally laughed aloud several times. Brigitte Knightley is unquestionably a master of ingenious storytelling. It's a fun and creative approach to romcom fantasy. One problem, though, is the use of excessively complex vocabulary, which made me pause and look up words, distracting me a little. If you're not a fan of overly complicated words and made-up terms, the author's writing style may be a little difficult to follow. All things considered, I would absolutely read the next installment of the series.

Readers who appreciate an engaging fantasy world and a fun enemies-to-lovers slow burn should definitely pick this one up.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for allowing me to read the e-ARC of this book. So thankful!

Let me just start with saying that romantasy isn't always a genre I turn to because I always find the books lacking something: it's either the yearning or the worldbuilding or the chemistry between love interests. Never fully hits.
UNTIL I read this book! My God, when I tell you that I couldn't put it down. Everything about it is 5⭐

It starts with introducing us to Osric, our murderously (literally) dashing and sarcastic MMC and his crucial dilemma that he needs help with. Enter our FMC, Aurienne, a rule-abiding, morally good healer, who also finds herself in a difficult situation.
By the rules of this world, the Orders they belong to don't usually associate with one another, but alas, here we are: they struck a deal to help each other with their predicament.

Thus we embark on a unique journey to uncommon places, getting a taste of the lore of the world and full of the funniest banter I've ever read. We even get drawn in to a mystery that we will know more about in the sequel (which cannot come soon enough!)
Along the way, we get to meet side characters that are equally as funny, and that add so much to the plot.

Overall, I have nothing but admiration for this book:
- the writing style is amazing, the way it smoothly switches from the humorous interactions to the more somber development of the plot
- the magic system - the deofols (they way they embodied their wielder's personality), each character's very specific power
- the YEARNING left me smitten: how they slowly start getting attracted to each other without the implications of lust, but rather having a glimpse at the person underneath the harsh exterior. Reading their monologues when thinking about each other left me infatuated
- the ending was perfectly done: not too blunt, but rather perfectly wrapped up, leaving you looking forward to what comes next.

I fell absolutely head over heels for this book!

The prose was artful and playful. I loved the use of language and the puns. I laughed out loud at least every chapter, a real rarity for me. The way British culture, folklore, naming traditions and humor are woven into the story is a real love letter to the setting and a joy to read. While British readers will perhaps appreciate these aspects on a deeper level, they certainly shouldn’t dampen the enjoyment of any readers unfamiliar with these aspects of British culture.

The characters were compelling, flawed enough to be immensely likable and felt like real, three dimensional people. The magic system was unique and interesting, it was put to good use throughout the story and has enough limitations to prevent it destroying any conflict within the narrative. Like many fantasy worlds, it takes a chapter or two to grasp the mechanics of the system, but the explanatory pages at the start of the book are immensely helpful in this respect.

The plot was well thought out and left plenty of intrigue for the second volume of this duology. I thought the pacing was good and the tension was sustained throughout, whilst still leaving enough breathing space for readers to learn about the characters in different situations and become invested in them.

The characters were lovable, intelligent and the romance made me swoon.

I’ve pre ordered my copy and will be gifting this to friends who enjoy romantasy and comedy.

Okay, but can we just take a moment?? Because The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy was everything I wanted and more. Like, real slow burn enemies to lovers, none of that “I hate him but he’s hot” by chapter two nonsense. No, these two genuinely hate each other and make it their whole personality—until, well… you know. 👀

I still can’t believe I got an ARC of this book. I’m double-locking my doors because this is a treasure. The banter?? Hilarious. I was legit laughing out loud at their constant snark. And the slowest burn ever—these two don’t just fall into each other’s arms. It’s painful in the best way watching them fight their feelings. Their chemistry is insane, and I kept wanting to shake them, but also? Never wanted them to stop arguing because it was that good.

Now, this is definitely a fantasy book first, romance second. The romance is maybe 5% of the story, but the tension? 1000%. And the world-building? Chef’s kiss. It throws you right in with no hand-holding, and yeah, it took me a bit to catch on, but once I did? I was hooked. There’s mystery, adventure, and so much depth to the magic system, and it all just works.

Osric is a disaster, but he’s so funny I couldn’t hate him. Aurienne? An icon. A queen. She takes zero of his nonsense, and the way they constantly challenge each other?? Perfection. They’re supposedly opposites—he’s an assassin, she’s a healer—but they’re actually so similar that their clashes are even more intense. And watching them gradually rub off on each other? Ugh, so satisfying.

AND THAT ENDING. Brutal. Perfect. I need book two immediately.

If you love: Actual enemies-to-lovers, not just vibes\ Witty, sharp prose\ Fantasy that doesn’t take a backseat to romance\ Characters who are hot, competent, and dumb about their feelings

Then read this book immediately. Seriously. I’ll be screaming about it until Dearly Beloathed #2 is in my hands.

Massive thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC—I feel truly blessed to have gotten my hands on it!

I had SO MUCH FUN reading this book and I’m so so excited to see where it goes
The banter was fantastic without flipping into cringey

I loved that they are actual enemies and they don’t just slightly dislike each other from a stupid misunderstanding and there’s actual real reasons for the hatred

I adore Xanthe and her letter writing skills

My only slight complaint is that I think more things should have been in the glossary or if not, more explanations throughout the text but I think I got it all on vibes alone

“On the verge and only ever on the verge. An almost. He was what he was; she was what she was.”

This was SO good!! It had so much tension throughout. I loved the specific contrast of Haelen versus Fyren, healer versus assassin. It is written in such a unique style, and a lot of the language was really flowery and pretty which I enjoyed. Definitely recommend reading this as soon as it’s out if this genre is one you enjoy! As a side-note, this also had very good side characters that I would love to see more of.

🦢I received an ARC of this book and am leaving an honest review voluntarily🦢