A Deep Dive into the 'Enemies To Lovers' Trope 

hahaha i love that

Preach!

Yeah it's unrealistic but Soo entertaining 😂

I love enemies to lovers only in books too. In real life though friends to lovers would be the best

@@danarodz3275 it's entertaining because it's unrealistic (at least for me)

I dislike it so much I just refuse to accept it as a part of the trope. At least whenever I find that in stories most people criticize it and it isn’t generally well received.

I agree with that. That’s was my biggest problem with the cruel prince books with Cardan and Jude

@@fifij6262 BRO I AM READING IT RN and its irking me so much. I cannot stand it. The plot is amazing but holy shit the way I hate cardan rn

*After enters the chat*

@@sugassugar8036 Same, I love the plot but I hate that ‘romance’ between Jude and Carson so much, it’s just not it

excellent

Drop your recommandations

@@farreldjougo6122 Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar from six of crows. It's funny how accurate the above description is regarding Helnik.

@@farreldjougo6122 A Captive Prince.

@@farreldjougo6122 Red, White and Royal Blue. The main two characters are The first son of the US(Alex) and the other is a prince of England(Henry) and they get caught in an international scandal where Alex and Henry knock over the cake at a royal wedding while fighting and so everyone thinks they hate each other (which they do), and their PR teams decide to be all like ‘they’re actually really good friends. They were just doing a reunion handshake’. It’s amazing and the ultimate comfort book.

So true

speaking as someone who loves best friends to lovers, it's kinda annoying when people make it seem like the enemy's the only person who's seen the character at their worst, it's like they're forgetting the other characters/sidekicks who were with the character when it all began

Whoaaa

TRUE!

@@lia.g9796 that only applies if the best friend predates the enemy, which is actually not always the case, AND also only applies if the MC isn't the type to keep their true worstest-worst even from their closest friends. Plus, some people really like the idea of having a best friend outside of their love-interest. A best friend who can still be there for the MC even through romantic ups or downs that might complicate that if their best friend IS their love-interest? I personally have totally different, equally-tender places in my heart for both tropes. ^-^

I love your username!

Calling back to the video on friends to enemies to lovers, we were ROBBED of meaningful development in the friends to enemies/rivals to best friends that should have been the heart of the Inheritance Cycle (Eragon)...

Yes!! And found family is pretty amazing too

recs for this? bc YEAH

and rivals to best friends to lovers? top tier

I agree, they are not really enemies, their dislike is based on misunderstandings

This is how I feel about Drarry. Obviously, Draco didn't murder anyone's family so it's not as extreme, but I just can't see Harry getting over Draco's sins so easily. Talented authors who take the time to write a story where Draco has a change of heart and works to make ammends can make me believe the romance, but there has to be some serious redemption before I can believe Harry would look at him in that light.

Where does the winter soldier fall then?

Children of Blood and bone did this terribly

Children of Blood and bone did this terribly

i’ve always hated when people said “they’re just mean to you because they like you” like that makes it better? just because someone likes you doesn’t mean you have to forgive them for doing awful things to you

I think that’s a difficult thing tho because we shouldn’t forget that enemies behave the way they behave because well...THEY ARE ENEMIES. In war they Are forced by their side to destroy the other, their love can be a „revolutionary“ thing to Rebell against the war or rivalry between two sides. Now what you describe is often found in modern setting but even here it depends in my opinion on the circumstances, as I feel that woman are acting mean as well which is then never pointed out by the plot.

@@annabella5882 yes it can definitely be more complex than that, but my example with the hating game is (MILD SPOILER ALERT) that by the end of the book, Josh says that he made the conscious decision to be mean to Lucy when they first met, which started this while "enemies" thing, and that just doesn't sit well with me...

I love the enemies to lovers troupe but i seriously hate the "i bully you bc i like you" troupe bc first off its downright toxic to romanticize being bullied/bullying and just cuz they bully you bc they like you doesn't make them any less of an asshole. Also the fact that a lot of impressionable young adults & teens are gonna be reading these books & think its some standard of romance scares me

@@talkingtoawall5123 I agree with that I don’t like this trope either especially what I’ve saw the female protagonist didn’t act much different from the man here. But I don’t think any teenage girl reading that is not able to comprehend that it’s just fiction and not real. We all know how to detect bullying and it’s to serious to put the blame on „girls can’t difference fiction from reality.“ I also think that’s more rival to lovers than enemies. Because enemies are perfect in settings of war, or arguments between families or companies and so on.

Pride and Prejudice is the OG enemies to lovers. It is by far the best one I've read.

@@n.j.1894 ain’t nobody topping Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth even though everyone is trying hard to be them.

@@leeanntan9030 ikr!! The best character development in the history of enemies to lovers

i love P&P as much as the next one but i don't think darcy and liz ever felt more than some animosity towards each other lol.

I'm sorry, but as great as Darcy and Elizabeth are, they are definitely NOT enemies to lovers and I think them being listed as such actually illustrates a thought I have that people kinda soften what an 'enemy' is to the point they are surprised when actual big conflict driven relationships are considered enemies to lovers

U have any recs? I m looking for such books

@@justarandomstranger2105 in The Owl House this is mane trope in s1 but is cartoon not a book😕

I was looking for this comment! Thank you for the validation 😅❤️

This! Yes! I say this every time whenever this trope is brought up. The slow burn of the relationship is a great way to develop both characters.

Yes! This is my favorite version of that trope. Realizing they were wrong about the person or that the person has changed and they becoming close to them as a friend and then falling in love with them and it completely shocking them

@Rokenrol Bro 2019 yes and no. first they are enemies and when they are become friends, its different; theres no burning hatred no more, they are over it already. but now they are friends in which they already know the worst part of each other (the enemies arc), in this friends arc they are getting know each other in postivie looks. enemies to friends to lovers are likely combined with mutual pining so.... there's fluff and angst and both and you'll be overwhelm by it.

Recs or it didn't happen

Yes! Because what would that say about the people who read a lot of horror and thrillers. Or love books about cults and serial killers. 😳

That's a thing a lot of people seem to fail to understand. Just because you like something in a book or story doesn't mean you think it would be ok irl, or that you would want it to happen to you.

Even stuff I actually want in real life I don’t always want in real life, eg. I’d love to travel the world in a van in like theory and dreams- but in real life I ain’t that bitch and would actively hate it probably. I’m on the ace spectrum and love reading angsty smut but it’s not for me in practice. Can’t imagine how little I’d read if I only read what I wanted in real like 😂

@@losermillie i also would love to travel the world in a van, but also aint that bitch 🤣🤣🤣 would also love to volunteer to help baby turtles, but in reality im scared of the rest of the animals where the turtels are. 🤣

yes this absolutely !!

This!! People have to remember that characters are not ment to be moral ideals, and just bc the person wrote them doesn't mean she thinks all that they're doing is great, you don't need to be a villain to do bad shit. It pisses me off even more when it's a story based in an ancient type of world, being historical or fantasy, and they want to put modern day morals and cultures on the characters and judge them on it, it's just peak stupidity

YEAH sometimes people will try to write overly “perfect” healthy relationships and it comes off as virtue signaling or just copping out of writing characters that actually have to talk through the flaws in their relationship

@@ziggy6191 I couldn't have put this better 🙂

I would love to write flawed relationships but I am too afraid that i will be framed for 'romanticising abuse'

Literally as a writer all you need to do is just...not excuse characters actions Im writing a couple that turns extremely toxic. But guess what? They break up and move on, and both of them end up apologizing. It's that easy!

That sounds amazing! Do you have any recommendations for this specific trope?

i remember reading a ff on ao3 with is exact premise and it was so cute:,)

I'm going to be honest, I usually go for fanfics with this premise. I don't know if I've read many books like this. Obviously The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, which you can read the fantranslation of online. Maybe Heaven Official's Blessing as well, but I haven't read that yet. It's basically a miscommunication trope, but with added angst 😁

@@AnanasAbanaan miscommunication is both the most infuriating and interesting tropes out there. if done right it can be really captivating and/or hilarious.

@@imani7979 I think I like it so much because you get all that angst, but you KnoW they will end up together. In real life I'm all for extremely open communication, all cards on the table, but in fiction I love that moment of realization, the 'how did we both miss this, it's so obvious' moment. Bonus for friends running a betting pool, for 'pining for the person you're sleeping with' or 'didn't know they were roommates' subtropes.

(same hehe)

I Think that even if it is a overused trope, we don't have MANY GOOD BOOKS on this trope ... of all that I've read, only 3 I Liked the take on the trope.

Me too lol

@@simpingfor2d98 which ones?? Im looking for recommendations

@@annevh9315 You probably already know/read it, but here: "The Cruel Prince" (I think it works because of the fantasy environment, even if it's a little toxic (Like, they're REAL ENEMIES at first, and I like that) "To kill a kingdom", "pride and prejudice" (what a classic) and "The daughter of the Pirate king". I don't like enemies to lovers in the modern setting ( because its more like, rival to lover and always has a rom-com vibe, when I like angst and pain of faling in love with a enemy/bad, BAD, person XD. ( pride and prejudice being the exception) So I only have those (I said there were few, I read more fanfics about it)

HAHA

this is such a good point!

great comment, i think the same :)

Okay but I think a lot of people have proven to be dumb and lacking reading comprehension. And obviously fiction affects reality as much as reality affects fiction. Theres a reason why book burnings and banning happens and it's not because fiction doesnt affect reality and if you're gonna be a lit teacher you should know that

Why is it SO HARD to find other people with this opinion? Love this comment. I think it's so stupid that people take FICTION as FACT. They read a FAKE story and think, "Oh, so this is how it is in real life." Like, NO. LOOK IT UP PLEASE! It's not hard hun, we have super easy search engines, it's craaazy. I wish kids would be taught VERY clearly from a young age that you should never ever take advice from fiction without doing REAL research. I know, you'd think it wouldn't need to be taught but it's obvious that it does need to be. I mean, it's in the name "fiction"... why would you take it so seriously? (Also, sorry this came off as so aggressive, lmao. I do get it, to a degree. For example: You see a character solve a problem you relate to, so you think just maybe you should copy it. Just *please* do research first, to make sure it's the best option. I'm mad because I want the creators to have their freedom... BUT also because I think this is easily avoidable if explained to people as children. I don't want to see fiction hurting people in real life, that really does make me feel sad.)

@@TheNoobler the problem is that young people will always be effected by media made for them, so that media should recognize that effect and act accordingly. A 13 year old reading a book for thirteen year olds that normalizes abuse is going to think it’s ok to some extent if that’s all they see . It is simply naive or wishful thinking to assume anyone who is affected by fiction pushed onto them from a young age will not consciously or not internalize some of it. Obviously fiction for abuts can have whatever themes it wants in it because it’s for adults, but even then condoning abusive behaviours in books like Colleen Hoover does is still disgusting, as it literally seeks to persuade the reader certain things are okay when they are not. You can say “it’s just fiction” all you want, but so is propaganda, and commercials, and shows made for young kids that effects how they think for years to come.

@@TenderNoodle You say that as someone who wasn't taught otherwise, to be fair. I personally was (not trying to say I'm better btw, just talking from my perspective) and I never thought that fiction was something to copy or take advice from at a young age. Not saying everyone will listen if you teach them, but I will make an absolutely HUGE impact if we start teaching people to do real research before trusting fiction (also not saying 10 year olds will do research, but if parents were more open to questions in some cases, kids would ask more... which is a whole other issue). *Part* of the issue you mentioned of abuse being "normalized" to the kid absolutely has to do with adults not doing their damn job, teaching kids to be smart and safe, happy and healthy in any relationship. For sure, people will still trust fiction for whatever reason, but it can save so many people if we talk about it more with younger people. Cause if we're being real, whether you like creative freedom or not (I understand there is a limit to creative freedom, some things are too far), people will always make whatever they want. The *best* thing to do is prepare people. (Also I agree, I can't stand Colleen Hoover personally.)

thank you! i would love to make more!

@@TheBookLeo I'd love one on either fake dating or friends to lovers; those are my favourite romance tropes

@@TheBookLeo please do the found family trope!

I think you should try the Throne of glass series or book the crescent city they are both by Sarah J. Mass. Good development

Have you read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin? You should, lots of work is placed into it, Jane is a master

And that is where (in my opinion) fanfic shines. Because of a lack of conventional publishing rules and procedures, writers can delve deep into the interesting parts of stories that may not make to print in traditional publishing. If I'm looking for a slow burn or an enemies to lovers story I only really go to fanfic to find it (of course if it pops up in a fiction book I won't mind, but I don't read them for those dynamics) simply because fanfics have the time and space to develop those relationships when traditionally published books often don't.

@@allbymyshelf4125 agreed. fanfic seriously has its low points but there are some really good amateur authors who put FANTASTIC slow burn content out onto the internet for free. i’d say it’s a guilty pleasure but tbh i’m not even ashamed anymore

I want an enemies to lovers where they don't bully each other, where they actually hate each other but slowly (very slowly, LIKE PLEASE, LET THE ENEMIES PART STAY LONGER) come to terms with the fact that, they're not all that bad, and then very slowly realize they actually might have feelings for them. And please, do not let the big drama moment where they fall apart be executed badly, i absolutely hate it so much when it's done badly, mostly filled with a nice good old angsty at first, then annoying the reader with stupid overused miscommunication, and then that dumb reconciliation that feels bland ASF

Yess!! Write enemies to lovers but also make your violent bad boy character realise where his aggression comes from and decide to work on it/go to therapy in order to become a better person for himself and a better partner for his spouse!

I would argue though that I have read stories with "healthy" relationships that as an adult I see as incredibly toxic. The guy being 'protective' is really just controlling, guy being jealous to show he cares is really also him being controlling and showing a lack of trust. A woman helping a guy to be better is just her trying to force a man into this idealized version of what she wants in a partner. In a lot of healthy romances, I see trends that tend to strongly reinforce ideas of traditional masculinity and femininity; the woman providing all the emotional support and the man providing physical protection or financial support, assertions of love through control. Even friends to lovers has that whole friend zone kind of implication; where men and women can't just be friends or if a guy just waits it out, eventually the girl will give in and settle on him. I just think our society is really bad at talking to children, teenagers, and even adults about relationships. People turn towards media and get horrible expectations about what a relationship should or shouldn't be like. I don't ever remember reading a romance where the couple has a realistic talk about the division of childcare and house cleaning. Women have lost the most during the pandemic because they had to take care of the children. People are getting divorced and fighting over the laundry. Seriously, one of the biggest issues people cite in divorce is doing the dishes. It is a huge issue that the burden of child care and house cleaning is still on women, that women had to leave the workforce by the millions during the pandemic and it will take years and years for them to catch up from it. Our standard of "healthy" being that the guy is simply not physically or emotionally abusive is really messed up. I don't believe YA creators have a higher burden here. I think if we want to place a burden on fiction writers to address problematic behavior then we need to see talk more about the division of unpaid labor in the house more than worrying about the enemies to lovers trope, but I wouldn't be too interested in a book like that so I vote for not putting that burden on writers and have a much larger social commentary on it starting in schools by making home economics mandatory for children so at the very least, our youth can enter into relationships and know how to do their own laundry.

@@jamiemayfield3151 i don't know who told you that those relationships you're describing are healthy i've watched videos criticising controlling and jealous behavior in stories

​@Jamie Mayfield but you admit to people being influenced by stories? So maybe there's a middle ground between the romanticising of the toxic things you've described as being expected bc of stories and writing a book that states there's a healthy division of unpaid labor. Bc I mean that would have to be shoe horned in bc no book naturally covers who does what in the household. Especially given how little stories even involve the characters living together.

Yes! You just described so well how I feel about darklina! I never quite knew where my distaste for it came from because even tho I didn’t exactly like it in the books, I can acknowledge the tension between them and probably wouldn’t have minded them ending up together, if it would’ve been executed well. It’s much more the (hardcore) darklina fans (like you mentioned) that really made me dislike the ship , especially when I notice them complaining about how mal (and Nikolai) stans apparently constantly hate on them but when I go to the comments of a darklina pic, for example, I either see no mal stans whatsoever or the ones I do see make (most of the time) a pretty valid argument as to why they don’t like darklina and prefer malina and the darklina stans react sometimes pretty aggressively. Anyways I think Alina should’ve ended up alone with Genya, Zoya, Nikolai, etc. as her friends

i get what you mean, but Romeo and Juliet are THE definition of starcross lovers, they originated the term. they are not enemies, their families are, and that's why their love is forbidden and they are starcrossed; they were never enemies. i love the way you said it, though! hope you have a great day

@@marinar.785 I think it's a fairly valid point. There is a "forbidden" aspect to the enemies to lovers trope, and it varies in strength depending on the set up. Being enemies is basically the complete opposite of being lovers, so there's a sense that romance shouldn't be possible between two people who are "so called enemies." By definition, it's a bit of an oxymoron. The reason why Romeo and Juliet is the definition of "forbidden romance" is precisely because they're supposed to hate one another by default because of their families' fued. Starcrossed just means "ill-fated" or "doomed" due to bad luck or terrible circumstances. Not meant to be. A "we can't, and/or shouldn't have what we want" thing. Enemies to lovers is just a remix of that idea.

Its so sweet ^~^

I don't think it is... Like imagine having to live with the knowledge that a lot of people died because your significant other thought you were more important 🤔😬

The villain would sacrifice you to save their ass.

@@Eleni1002 hshshsh

That is an anti hero not a villain

No, they aren't. Love didn't exist between them, only lust.

@@MrJordwalk Yes, it existed. If only Bardugo was not such purity culture warrior and explored it

Enemies to lovers to enemies

@@MrJordwalk Just saying... lovers can be used in reference to either romantic-interests, OR 'naked-tango'-partners, or both. Please don't try to limit it for other people just because you have a particular preference for yourself. 🙂💜

@@RealVincent1989 literally no. That wasn’t her goal. Respect that. Your ship is trash and not even real. Even tho mal is annoying Alina was madly in love with him, she was never in love with the darkling. She was attracted. And he even sexually assaults Alina at some point and y’all pretend it didn’t happen. There’s nothing of “enemies to lovers” because there’s no love. Alina didn’t loved him. Abs the darkling didn’t love her. He never did. He only uses and abused woman. He did it with genya. He did it with zoya. And then Alina. Simple as that.

Matthias unlearnt his problematic behavior and it's hated by chunk of the fandom, as well as the ship with Nina. Yet people love and ship people who never really understood their wrongdoings and just decided to fall in lust/love. YA fandoms smh.

I've read countless enemies to lovers and never once have I read something that was oppressor vs oppressed or asshole vs victim. if you don't want to read those kinds of relationships, then don't read the books they're in.

@@sarcasticdrag0n603 dude we don't read them because we want to. How tf are we supposed to know it's that type of shitty ennemies to lovers if we don't read it? Should we put our hands on the cover, close our eyes and guess?

​@@sweetytweety1671 right? such bs amateur logic. the YA landscape is so rampant with them, especially with how many shitty books are being published these days, that it's all too easy to find a toxic romance if you're searching for enemies to lovers. goodreads reviews doesn't help either because all the top reviews are just ones swooning endless praise. plus, with the popularity of the trope it's like every YA author wants to get their hands on the market.

@@shar3859 Exactly! The number of times I got the wrong idea on what a book is about because of its blurb and reviews is crazy! I'm starting to develop trust issues lol but I guess this just shows how desperate they are to sell. Like you said there's so much shit getting published it's hard to make your work standout without resorting to these machinations.

But a real life health relationship always start as a friendship. Most people that start an romantic relationship without being friends usually break up after a few weeks. You first need to like your partner as a friend before liking they as a lover.

@@enzojose4001 yes and no. My husband, who I've been with for 12 years, was a stranger when we met. We didn't jump into romance straight away but we started flirting. We got to know each other and knew we'd make good friends but also made it clear we wanted to try for more. I was referring to long time friendships with no romantic undertones that lead to one party thinking they should be a couple simply because they want it without having indicated or tried to start that dynamic. People think it'll work cause they are friends

@@enzojose4001 she mainly talking about when there are two best friends but it’s a one sided love and they feel obligated for the other to return there feeling which I have the same problems I’ve noticed in a lot of books which have that trope that sometimes they feel like they feel entitled for there best friend to return the feeling and if they don’t it means they didnt deserve you or they make them the villain for not loving you back which makes no sense to me

@@enzojose4001 There is a difference between a friendly acquaintance and a friendship though. An acquaintance implies you get to know each other a little and see that you like each other and not just rush into being together because it was love at first sight. A friend however is someone you are close to, you can trust, you know a long time, and who you originally don't have romantic feelings for. So, friends to lovers is really weird to me. I would never date or have sex with a friend because it's another type of relationship altogether.

@@annap2523 Well, that is your choice and i respect. However, there is nothing toxic about friends to lovers and it make's no sense in compare it to enemies to lovers, that is actually abusive and toxic.

kind of like The Joker in The LEGO Batman Movie when he does everything simply because he wants Bruce's recognition

I like that as well, my favorites are Caroline and Klaus from tvd , and also darkling and alina. The villains both have a soft spot for the hero

Right?! Like how am I supposed to get behind this ship when the characters have been horrible to each other?

I totally feel the same way lol

this comment is everything T.T haha

i more like enemies to lovers where the “enemies” bit is more like annoying the fuck out of each other and being antagonistic but still recognizing where there are lines you shouldn’t cross (which then becomes part of the realization that maybe it isn’t hatred: this person respects the protag’s boundaries even through sarcastic or vitriolic comments, etc). so more like rivals to lovers with a heavy helping of witty banter instead of actual enemies. idk i like reading sarcastic annoying banter

have you ever considered putting the book down? you don't have to keep reading. if you don't like the enemies part of enemies to lovers then don't read it.

I think you could try 'These Violent Delights'...that is, if you haven't already read it, considering how hyped it is...oh, and I think 'Kingdom of the Wicked' loosely fits into this, although it's more like enemies-to-something/partners in crime-to-enemies and then its sequel 'Kingdom of the Cursed' will get in the lovers part..I swear, it's not as confusing as I made it out to be!

wow okay the perfect recommendation would be "You Deserve Each Other"-it totally fits with what you are looking for!!!Just look up the synopsis!

@@nyx4078 these violent deaths doesn't really have 'full' enemies to lovers since only one character hates the other.

I second 'you deserve each other' quite literally the entire premise, the growth of the characters really propels the story and makes it both believable how they fell out of and back in love, it's also so so funny, I think you'll love it !

I don't know if you would like it but the classic 'Persuasion' by Jane Austen is Lovers to Enemies To Lovers. It's like second chance romance, i guess?

@Aleah Cim I'm ace and greyromantic. My feelings for the trope depend on the way it's written. I like the intrigue sometimes but not when it's derrogatory for the characters. That said Darklina is not enemies to lovers.

^^^^this comment

This, I feel people shut down their brains and reject thinking of any connotation, and that bothers me. Maybe I enjoy overthinking what I like but still, I feel people that ignore and downplay problematic issues instead of addressing it reeks of bad media literacy, I enjoy rivals to lovers and a lot of media I like is problematic but recognizing something you like is flawed is part of the experience. I say this as an asexual that loves shipping and don't want romance, I enjoy my fantasies but also overthinking

It reminds me of Zutara (Zuko & Katara from ATLA) now ik Zuko had a redemption but like, just due to the trauma Katara went through as a child and her dislike for Zuko in general I don't think it's a healthy ship..but that"s just me

I agree

Ideally, a good romance should encompass strong friendship, no? I think it depends on how it's done, and admittedly, a lot of books miss the mark for me-there's not enough development. Romance where it's just physical attraction and angst isn't going to convince me that you're willing to risk your lives for each other.

Okay, but like, a good romance should be stronger than only friendship, because it already includes the friendship within it. People often see friendships and romantic relationships like different things, but keep in mind that it's impossible for any romantic relationship to survive long if there isn't a solid friendship foundation.

@@Carol-ec5he True that, but I'd still personally get invested more in a friendship than a romance. Here's why. I just don't see anything compelling in being all mushy over one another. At least... not in literature. But friendships... those I can understand!

That's one of the reasons I liked the Abhorsen series from Garth Nix so much when I was younger. The romantic aspect was very small, but it still made sense.

anastasia!!

Lol yesss

Colin O'donoghue is a gem

💖💖

I always hated that ship but only because how they had her act in season 5 and they made the whole Emma going dark about Hook. It annoyed me because I’m like , I get that they are a couple but can this storyline just focus on Emma please?

@@nykerianash1590 ahaha fair enough. Tbh I stopped watching by season 5 so I still love them

thank you so much :D

I fell out of love with it, I still like it but is not my favorite anymore (mostly due to oversaturation and overating)

Have you seen something about it like a comment of the author of the first version of the farytale or is this your personal thought?

I disagree. I know that it’s popular to conflate Beauty and the Beast to Hades and Persephone, but the *actual* myth that batb draws from is Cupid and Psyche. Hades and Persephone (in the original) doesn’t actually…have much Hades and Persephone in it, it’s about Demeter more

Chef's kiss to that series 👌

Yep, and brings up a lot of the issues discussed with enemies to lovers situations

The best imo after that I just hate most books that fall into this trope because they just don't hit as good.

Same 😂

Carry On has that trope with the two male leads

i wanted to read the captive prince but heard there was r4pe, and it was abusive. biggest ick

Yeah, I feel every instance of a trope is case by case scenario that depends entirely on the abilities of the writer to pull it off

After was also Real Person Fanfiction at first.

that book was utterly awful even tho i enjoy the trope.

I love the enemies to lovers trope but I couldn't bring myself to like that ship because there was no reason for Cardan to hate Jude like that (which is why I prefer the Romeo and Juliet type of enemies to lovers trope) and it was more bullying than enemies because he overpowered her by a lot. For enemies to lovers to work there needs to be a good VALID reason for the hate or it won't work and it will feel forced or sometimes cross the line towards bullying/abuse.

@@kaitlynkenney7740 I agree, I wasn’t a huge fan of their relationship in the first book tbh, but it got much better in the sequels. I also liked how in (I think it was one of the novellas near the start) cardan acknowledged that he was part of the reason of why Jude was so cold and spiteful with others

@@roxanarahgoshay Actually, there was a VERY good reason for Cardan to hate Jude like that. It is the same basic plot foundation as Pride and Prejudice: this is a society where people of different classes (in this case, human and fae) ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE EQUAL. You have to COMPLETELY set aside modern preconceptions that equality and human rights are just a given, THAT IS NOT THE WORLD CARDAN AND JUDE LIVE IN. They start to build it, later, but Cardan's hatred of Jude is based on fear and horror that the person who he is supposed to take for granted is less than him, is actually someone he admires. Jude attacks his entire conception of reality just by being Jude, of course he's threatened by her! And she is threatened by him even without him being cruel merely because he is a representative of the society that oppresses her due solely to his birth. It's both of them realizing and overcoming their prejudices about each other and building a new culture of equality in their kingdom that makes it such a compelling read and romance.

@@cmm5542 then it should’ve been written better to make that more obvious. Like tender moments when they’re alone or smth- showing (from Jude’s perspective) that cardan isn’t an absolute monster

thank you! i would love to do more!

hope you have a great weekend!

There is also Wicked Saints by Emily A Duncan. The heroin is the world's last cleric, and she can speak to her entire pantheon of gods, while the villain is a powerful blood mage who is against everything the gods stand for. Also, their respective countries have been at war for the last hundred years.

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge! A twisted version of beauty and the beast 😁