10 Must-Read Enemies‑to‑Lovers Romances of 2025
If you’re a sucker for sizzling tension, witty banter, and that slow-burn spark that just won’t quit — you’re in the right place. Enemies to Lovers is one of romance’s most addictive tropes, and we’ve rounded up 10 unforgettable must-reads that nail it. Ready to fall hard for the one they were never supposed to love? Let’s go.
1. Overruled by Lana Ferguson
In this razor‑sharp legal romance, two divorce lawyers face off in court—and gradually pull apart each other’s defenses, both professionally and emotionally. Sparks & strategy collide in slow‑burn perfection.
A USA Today Bestseller
Two divorce lawyers determined to share only beds but not hearts discover that love is something that can’t be overruled in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Game Changer.
Danica Pierce has one great love in her life: work. As one of the top divorce lawyers in Austin, Danica lets her caseload keep her warm at night and has no problem being married to her job, not when love only ends in hurt. When the biggest case of her career gives her a shot at making partner, it seems like nothing could possibly stand in her way…except for her infuriating secret: she’s sleeping with the enemy.
Ezra Hart is known for charming his way in and out of a courtroom. In the matter of winning Danica Pierce’s heart, however, he’s been far less successful. With her verdict to keep things purely physical with no chance of appeal, Ezra struggles to show Danica he’s more than the insufferable playboy she’s pegged him to be—especially since they find themselves on opposing sides of Danica’s most important case to date.
While Dani and Ezra battle it out in the courtroom, the real trial is the one happening between them. When Dani realizes that everything she knows of Ezra might be hearsay—and that she’s not the only one with emotional baggage—she must choose between her fear of trusting again and the feelings blossoming between her and the man she thought was her worst enemy.
2. Girl Gone Nova by Pauline Baird Jones
Space‑opera sci‑fi with wit and warp speed chemistry. A clash of space-station rivals turns into an unforgettable enemies‑to‑lovers romance. A must-read for fans of smart, snarky sci‑fi romance.
Awards? Oh yeah—this one’s a winner. Literally.
Delilah Oliver Clementyne—“Doc” to the unlucky few who know better than to cross her—is the covert genius you call when the mission is insane, the odds are impossible, and the galaxy’s at stake. This time? She’s flung into another galaxy to unravel a mess of time travelers, war-hungry aliens, and—oh yeah—a certain irritating galactic leader who makes her want to punch things. (And maybe kiss them. Which is worse.)
Helfron Giddioni is feared, famous, and exactly the kind of trouble Doc avoids. Until he starts not avoiding her. When the galaxy edges toward all-out war, the two of them must work together to save the past, fix the present, and avoid a future where hearts get broken—and universes explode.
She’s the galaxy’s most dangerous woman. He’s the man half the stars love to hate. Time’s ticking. Sparks are flying. And love? Totally not part of the plan.
If you like clever banter, explosive action, slow-burn snark, and a love story that could bend space and time (literally), dive into this award-winning adventure in the Project Enterprise universe!
3. The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
Assassin meets healer during a deadly plague outbreak. They’re sworn enemies—but hate soon gives way to desire in this electrifying romantasy.
When Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, falls ill, he realizes he needs the expertise of a very specific healer. As fate would have it, that healer belongs to an enemy faction, the Haelan Order.
Aurienne Fairhrim and her fellow Haelan are inundated by sick children suffering from an outbreak of a long-forgotten Pox. Unable to get the funding needed to launch an immunization program, the Haelan Order is desperate for money – so desperate that when Osric breaks into their headquarters to bribe Aurienne to heal him, she is forced to accept.
As Osric and Aurienne work together to solve not only his illness but the mysterious reoccurrence of the Pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction which only fuels the tension between them.
4. Hounds of Hell MC: Hero by Jamie Targaet
MC enforcer put in charge of protecting a reluctant heiress—sparks fly, loyalties shift, and desire becomes obsession. Tough biker meets defiant heroine in explosive fashion.
Jade — I came back to town because my grandmother passed away and she was the only family I had left. Grams never wanted me involved with the MCs, but I always knew my father was a member. That was all I knew about him. Now he’s the president of Hounds of Hell MC. Or, as it turns out, he could also be the president of their rival MC, the Cottonmouths. Hounds of Hell MC sent one of their men, Hero, to keep me safe until my parentage gets figured out. No one is telling me why that’s necessary. I should go back to Providence. But I’m done with grad school, and there’s really nothing for me back there. And Hero is one beefy, gorgeous temptation of a biker. Part of me wants to stay here, in the home where I grew up. Part of me just wants him.
Hero — When my prez gave me the babysitting assignment to keep an eye on the daughter he’s never known, I resented it. Until I got a look at her. Choosing me to protect her was the right call. The Cottonmouths took her from me once. No one is taking her away from me again — no matter who has to die. I don’t care who her father is. Jade is mine.
5. The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch
Two rival wizard professors weekly battle for the same research grant… until forced collaboration ignites a forbidden attraction neither can deny.
Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom where rival grad student wizards are forced to work together without killing—or falling for—each other.
Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.
Sebastian Walsh: Evocation Department. Human. The first of his family to pick college over the military.
Elethior Tourael: Conjuration Department. Half-elf. Pretentious asshole. The latest legacy Tourael at Lesiara U.
Both: Mageus Research Grant finalists.
Sebastian refuses to let anyone snatch this away, least of all a snob riding on old money. But what’s worse than a nemesis stealing your grant? You could both get it. Under the condition you work together.
Sebastian is in hell. Thio’s broody. Takes up their shared lab space with his projects . . . and biceps. Brings treats for Sebastian’s familiar . . .
. . . and is nothing like Sebastian thought.
When Sebastian’s past with the Touraels forces him to choose his research or Thio, the decision should be simple. But while working with his rival is volatile . . . falling for his rival might blow up Sebastian’s future.
6. Forever Askole by Gail Koger
A psychic witch accidentally destroys a warlord’s ship—and he insists she becomes his mate. Space-set, slow-burn, utterly hilarious, and deeply sensual.
My name is Ella McAllister, I’m a psychic witch and a healer. My life is kinda nuts. Not only do I have the Coletti hunters chasing me, but now I also have a very determined Askole High Commander after me. Why? I shot his ship down and it crashed, and it blew up. Yep, itty-bitty pieces everywhere. My bad, but his ship was a dead ringer for a Rodan Marauder, and it was my civic duty to blow the enemy spacecraft out of the sky. Wasn’t it? Any hoo, I healed his owies and boogied.
I thought that was the end of it, but oh no. For some unknown reason, Sariel, the Askole High Commander, decided I would make him the perfect mate. As if. I think the blow to his head made him completely bonkers.
Sariel informed me the mating dance had begun and there was nothing I could do to stop it. The idiot had obviously never dealt with a witch before. I didn’t have the time to play games with him, so I did a little abracadabra alakazam and ran.
Sigh. The persistent Askole found me. Now I have a decision to make. Keep running or surrender to the High Commander. He is a damn good kisser.
Would the mating dance bring two lonely souls together? Who knew?
7. Our Vicious Oaths by N. E. Davenport (Available 10/28)
High‑stakes power games between royals turn volatile when betrayal becomes irresistible temptation. Dark fantasy with political intrigue and forbidden love.
“An instant romantasy classic!” — Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author
Enter a new world of romantic fantasy from award-winning author N.E. Davenport—a journey of powerful magic, enemies-to-lovers, and political intrigue—as a warrior-princess and a vengeful king from rival fae courts form a fierce alliance to take down a merciless despot.
Princess of the Aether Dominion, Kadeesha wants nothing to do with fae politics. She is a warrior, first and foremost, and believes her greatest strength is leading her squadron of elite winged serpent flyers to protect her homeland. But bound since infancy to be betrothed to the Hyperion High King, ruler of all Dominions, she has no choice but to do what men have chosen for her.
Repulsed by the idea, she decides to spend one last night of freedom—in the arms of a dangerous stranger who takes her to sexual heights she’s never experienced before…but who is only using Kadeesha to set a trap for the High King.
For the High King and the kings of his six Dominions were responsible for the decimation of the Apollyon Court, and its new king, Malachi, wants his pounds of flesh.
On Kadeesha’s wedding day, Malachi and his special forces attack. Her father is killed, and Malachi wounds the High King, ultimately taking Kadeesha as hostage back to his land.
But she is no true hostage. The two form a pact: she will help lure the High King so Malachi can kill him once and for all, and he in turn will not harm Kadeesha or the Aether people. And as much as Kadeesha hates politics, she is now the Queen of her folk. Fae bonds are unbreakable…and so, perhaps, is the attraction Kadeesha and Malachi feel for each other. For even as they must publicly display their connection to provoke the High King’s jealousy, they struggle to resist the powerful allure between them in order to achieve their ultimate goals.
8. Her Secret by Tara Fox Hall
A vampire healer torn between two immortals—one she owes, one she desires. Betrayal, transformation, and forbidden longing collide in supernatural tension.
In a desperate effort to halt her transformation to vampire, and stop her longing for the sultry Devlin, Sarelle willingly takes a drug to kill her desire, even as Danial prepares for the introduction of their son Theoron at a Vampire Gathering on New Year’s Eve. Faced with Theo’s betrayal at the eleventh hour, Sarelle must either trust in Danial to save her, or join forces with Devlin, revealing her secret desire for him.
“This is another HIT for author Tara Fox Hall!!!….I dont like to give anything away in reviews just gotta say READ THIS SERIES!!!!” 5 stars Amazon
“The cover of this book seduced me and I jumped right into the series with Book # 6. Even if I didn’t read the other books, I got the drift of the story, and now I want to go back and read them all. I’m a new Sar addict. I love her character, not to mention Devlin and Danial, who are so-so scorching hot in their opposite, seductive, vampire ways. I finished this book in one sitting. I enjoyed Ms. Fox Hall’s writing style and will follow her work – both old and new – with interest.” Amazon
“I adore Miss Tara For Hall and her writing. but boy oh boy her cliff hangers KILL ME!! Please miss Hall hurry hurry on the next book I do not know how long I can hold on waiting. your words memorize me, captivate me, and take me away from the stress of every day life, the amazing imagery takes me to places I never knew existed. Thank you for writing and please do not ever quit!” Amazon
9. Leave Me Behind by K.M. Moronova
Wounded soldier vs icy CO in a military unit. Forced proximity and mutual mistrust explode into dangerous, forbidden passion.
Nell Gallows is the sole survivor of an elite dark forces squad, Riøt, after a detrimental attack two years ago. Unsurprisingly, she’s being put up as the top candidate for the special ops team: Malum. The squad that goes where no one else will or can. There’s only one problem: Malum blames their one casualty from the Patagonia mission on the Riøt squad.
So what is she to do when she finds herself on a plane to California and on her way to a sure death sentence? A one-night stand. At least, that’s all it was supposed to be—one last night to be free. Only, she finds out too late that the dark and mysterious man she solely wanted as a fling is not only her new comrade but also the one she dreaded meeting most—her immediate superior and untouchable devil in the field. Bones.
He’s hell on earth—cruel and unforgiving, but most of all, he hates her, and he makes sure she knows it. And yet, she finds herself unwilling to leave his side when he’s unable to get to the evac point when their mission goes awry.
She stays behind with the devil and the secrets he keeps. They only have one another to trust when no faith is left.
10. His Royal Matchmaker by Holly Rayner
A matchmaker who’s never known love meets a stoic European prince. His icy walls and her bold confidence turn this assignment into an irresistible love story.
Hollywood’s top matchmaker, Emily Neale, knows love. Or at least, she knows how to find it for everyone else. Her own romantic life? Non-existent. But when she’s invited to help a royal family across the Atlantic, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime; that is, until she meets her most difficult client yet.
Prince Hugo Bastien has always put duty before desire. Running a kingdom leaves little time for love, and the idea of letting a stranger meddle in his personal affairs seems absurd. Still, he agrees to his mother’s scheme, if only to prove that no matchmaker can break through his icy exterior.
But Emily isn’t like anyone Hugo’s ever met. She’s smart, bold, completely off-limits, and precisely the kind of woman he can’t stop thinking about.
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