Enemies to Lovers: Which Books and Movies Did it Best
Well, I’m gonna preface this by saying I don’t think this is an all-encompassing list. These are just my personal favorites that will probably always hold a place in my heart ☺️. The best enemies to lovers books and movies, for me, not only give you strong romance, but also give the main characters unrivaled chemistry even when they hate each other. It’s the tension that starts building wayyyy before they even kiss.
So, without further ado, here is a list of the best (my favorite) enemies to lovers books and movies!
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Probably one of my favorite movies of all time, 10 Things I Hate About You is the epitome of enemies to lovers. Heath Ledger’s character, Patrick, is paid to date the infamous (but still beautiful and highly intelligent) Kat Stratford. What follows is a mixture of hilarity, heart, and a LOT of drama.
Brb while I go listen to the soundtrack on repeat 😂.
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
I just recently finished and reviewed Shield of Sparrows for my blog and absolutely loveddd it. This novel follows a girl who is forced to marry and move to another place where monsters are everywhere. Also, people are more than likely going to get eaten by said monsters. She obviously hates the man she was forced to marry, but, slowly, as she gets to know him, she finds less and less that she hates about him. A top tier enemies to lovers romantasy for all my book lovers.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
So, I’ll just go ahead and admit it: I was probably in love with Patrick Swayze the moment I saw this film. Dirty Dancing follows two people from very different walks of life who eventually fall in love with each other. While not 100% enemies, you definitely get the “I loathe you but I’m secretly pining for you” vibes until they get together. This is another one of my top favorite movies and definitely deserves its spot on this list.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Notice that I didn’t list A Court of Thorns and Roses because while there was a lot of enemies to lovers in that novel, A Court of Mist and Fury has it beat by milesssss. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the first book, but my recommendation is to read the first one, adore it, and then prepare yourself for the second one because it is leagues better than the first. If you want enemies to lovers, you love fantasy, you love romance, and you love reading, this is the novel for you.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
This is an easy addition to the list. These two characters are both scheming against each other to prove something to either their friends or their jobs. One needs to stay with the other for ten days to win. The other needs to get him to break up with her before ten days. This is a rom-com of my fellow rom-com lovers’ dreams. It’s funny, heartwarming, and will absolutely hit that need for an enemies to lovers trope.
The Selection by Kiera Cass
If you love dating shows and arranged marriages, this is the book for you! The Selection is in a dystopian future where the prince chooses a bunch of different girls who basically compete for the crown and their chance to marry him. It’s not as barbaric as it sounds and it’s really a sweet book. The main girl gets picked (and didn’t want to get picked because she’s in love with someone else), and ends up fighting for a crown she doesn’t want. Highly highly recommend!
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Sorry, y’all, most of my movies aren’t even from this century 😂, but you can tell which century I think has the best romantic movies!! When Harry Met Sally is no different and it the movie starts off with Harry and Sally going on a road trip together. The tension that builds is astronomical because not only are they bickering the whole time (and clearly trying to act like they don’t like each other), but it develops into a friendship that spans over decades. This will make you believe in a love worth fighting for!
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
If you haven’t heard of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, then you have obviously been living under a rock. This novel has an epic enemies to lovers romance between the two main characters whose families have torn each other apart. Not only that, but add dragons, an epic plot, and lots of battle scenes to the mix and this novel will grip you by the eyeballs and make you finish reading in one sitting.
Clueless (1995)
I wouldn’t exactly call this major enemies to lovers, but it is definitely a forbidden romance. This movie follows Cher as she navigates her last year of high school. Her ex-stepbrother (you read that right) is helping her father with business dealings and there is some MAJOR tension between the two.
This honestly ended up being so sweet and I 100% would recommend this to any romance lover. Not to mention it has a huge cult following as a movie anyway!
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
Probably the most intense enemies to lovers romance on this list, How to End a Love Story is about a woman who ends up working with the man who killed her sister (it was an accident by the way because her sister intentionally walked out in front of his car to attempt suicide). She can’t help but blame him, though, and thus begins the enemies to lovers romance that will definitely keep you entranced the whole entire time.
StarStruck (2010)
Y’all please don’t come for me for adding this movie to the list 😂. This is one of my most favorite guilty pleasures and I absolutely love the love-hate relationship these two have going the whole entire movie. Disney Channel movies really just get to me, you know?? Like, when I envision enemies to lovers, I envision these guys, so don’t judge me 😂.
Exodus by Kate Stewart
Another series that has the second book but not the first. Exodus follows up after the events of Flock and boy does this take enemies to lovers to new heights. I loved everything about this book. It will build you up, tear you to pieces, and then say, “here, let me help you bandage that” all in one novel. It’s basically BookTok legend, too, so there’s that.
If you want an enemies to lovers romance that will TEAR YOUR HEART OUT, you’re in the right place.
