You know the story: two bitter rivals can’t stand each other one day—and the next day they’re in love (or at least in deep physical attraction). And I have to confess, it’s a story I don’t buy into.
So why do I love the enemies to love trope, then?
I’ll confess that I didn’t used to, exactly because of stories where the line between hate and love is crossed for no apparent reason aside from physical attraction. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t see being attracted to someone you can’t stand (able to admit they’re physically attractive, maybe, but not attracted to them—I think there’s a difference).
But I’ve come to realize that when an enemies to love story is allowed to play out and develop naturally, it can be one of the most rewarding journeys in romance. You get to watch a relationship develop from (often mistaken) first impressions to a grudging acceptance to friendship and eventually to love, with both characters changing and growing along the way.
I guess that’s why several of my books have at least a taste of the enemies to love trope:
In Not Until You, Nate’s dad has sent him to Hope Springs to shut down Violet’s antique store. But as he gets to know Violet, he has to decide between proving himself to his dad and helping Violet save her store.
In Not Until Christmas Morning, Leah assumes Austin is an intruder when she finds him in her neighbor’s house. But Austin’s connection with her foster son eases them into a friendship.
In Not Until This Day, Tyler judges Isabel for sleeping in her car and then accuses her of stealing from his family’s store. But surviving a storm together leads them to see each other in a new way.
In Not Until Someday, Grace shoots Levi down when he tries to give her his number on their first meeting. But when he shows up to help her remodel her grandfather’s house into a bed and breakfast, she has to learn to work with him.
And in my newest release, Not Until Now, Kayla has to convince Cam to take care of the niece he didn’t know he had after his estranged sister is in a car accident. When they first meet, neither of them can really stand the other. She thinks he’s shirking his responsibilities. He thinks she’s meddling in his business. But as they work together to do what’s best for his niece, they find their relationship changing over time.
And I think maybe that’s the key ingredient—over time. For me, the transformation in an enemies to love story has to take place over time. It doesn’t have to be years or even months, but it can’t be instantaneous either. There needs to be a reason for it—a chance for the characters to get to know each other and, as they do so, to realize that, far from being the enemies they thought they were, they’re actually a perfect match.
What about you? Do you enjoy enemies to love stories? Any favorites? Know anyone in real life who married someone they didn’t like at first?
Giveaway: One reader who comments by March 16 will be chosen at random to win a $5 Amazon.com gift card (international winners without an Amazon.com account will receive their choice of one of my ebooks in lieu of a gift card).
“My heart went pitter patter.… A sweet story about forgiveness, redemption and letting go of what you think is the plan for your life.”
They both know what they want. And it’s not each other . . .
Kayla has worked hard to regain her independence after her spinal cord injury, and she isn’t willing to give up that independence for anyone. Which is why she is willfully single, with no intention of dating, marrying, or starting a family—ever. But when she witnesses an accident in Hope Springs, she finds herself drawn inextricably into the life of the young girl whose mother is now in a coma—and the uncle she has to convince to take care of the girl.
On the verge of the perfect life, Cam doesn’t owe his estranged sister anything. So he doesn’t appreciate the call informing him that he needs to care for the niece he didn’t even know he had. And yet, somehow he can’t say no to the woman on the other end of the phone. He soon finds himself on a plane for Hope Springs. He’ll go there, make alternate arrangements for the girl, and get back to his real, nearly perfect life.
But as Cam gets to know his niece—and Kayla—he starts to question what the perfect life really means. And as Kayla experiences the pull of family, she wonders whether being independent really means closing yourself off to others. Can they both let go of what they thought they wanted and let God give them the love they truly need?
Get Not Until Now for the special launch price of 99¢!
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
I do enjoy enemies to love stories. The spark is there for all to see. I have never heard of it happening in real life.
I guess I’ve known people who didn’t really like each other on first impression but eventually fell in love in real life, but no one who was true enemies or rivals. I’m sure it happens though (at least, I hope it does)!
I too enjoy the enemies to lovers trope . The buildup up of the emotions gets me every time. Thank you kindly.
Yes! That slow buildup of emotion is the best!
I occasionally enjoy the enemies to love trope, although there are times I find myself thinking oh that shrewish woman, or irritating alpha male can’t have changed that much in 2 chapters. Some authors do a really good job with this genre a d others I know to not waste my time or money.
I agree, the change can’t happen too quickly–that’s just not believable. But I love when an author can show the slow change in feelings.
I enjoy enemies to lovers books and I do know someone who married her enemy to lover. Unfortunately they are no longer together.
I’m sorry to hear they’re no longer together. But it’s interesting to know that real-life enemies have gotten married. I always wonder how often that really happens!
I find it interesting for something different instead of the same old troupe that is predictable.
True! I definitely prefer my stories to be a bit unpredictable (aside from the happily ever after!). :)
The enemies-to-more trope is not my favorite. Most of the ones I’ve read have the main characters “hating” each other to kissing each other in the space of two days to a week. That’s just so unrealistic and makes me annoyed.
Oh, I agree with you that the change from hating to kissing can happen too fast! Those kinds of stories were what made me think I didn’t like the trope. But when the change happens gradually–and often with the characters fighting their feelings–that I love.
I do enjoy the troupe as long as the over time is a good one, lol!
So true! The development of their relationship over time has to be compelling for me to keep reading. :)
I do like the enemies to lovers trope, but I’m like you, it has to take place over time, not right from the start. Some of the ones I like are yours, and Dee Henderson’s The Negotiator is another. I’m sure there are more, but these are the first ones I thought of!
Aww, thank you, Trudy! And now I’m adding Dee Henderson’s book to my TBR. :)
I think is is so fun to read enemies to lovers. It also shows their gradual love story
Yes! I admit that gradual love stories are my favorite–I think because I love the suspense of figuring out how this couple is going to go from not even liking each other to falling in love.
Hello I like the troupe enemies to lovers like everyone else it takes a period of time! For their Love to grow .Thank you for the post today!
Yes, time is key! It’s so sweet to watch love grow slowly.
I am looking forward to reading this one! I love the enemies to lovers trope!
Thanks, Abigail! I hope you enjoy it!
I enjoy this trope too and agree with you about the relationship needing to develop over time. I think I enjoy it because the characters usually dislike each other due to perceptions they have, not realities of who the person is, so as they see who the person really is they see them with new eyes.
Very true! I love seeing their perceptions of each other change. And sometimes the characters themselves need to go through a pretty drastic change too, which is always rewarding to watch.
Valerie,
I love that trope, but it has to be done so the reader can accept that they have found that what made them enemies no longer matters, that love matters more.
So true! It all comes down to their love truly being believable, which can be hard to do when they start out as enemies–but so rewarding when it’s done well!
Enemies to friends is one of those troupes in a story that I’m kind of on the fence about. I’ve read unbelievable ones where all of a sudden they go from hating each other to falling completely in love and there have been others where they work out their differences in a realistic way. I’m sorry, you can’t base a relationship strictly on physical attraction, there has to be a much deeper connection! UGH, another story pet peeve of mine, lol!
I also think it all depends on how the author writes the story, I’m sure it’s a balancing act with this type of troupe.
I agree with you– a relationship absolutely has to be based on more than physical attraction. That’s why I find it unrealistic when characters who hate each other just can’t resist a relationship because they’re attracted to each other. That doesn’t make sense to me. But I do love when they work out their differences in a realistic way and learn to love each other over time.
:) yep, I didn’t like my husband’s name when we met…he reminded me of someone not very pleasant.
These stories can be fun!
Lol! Glad you gave him a chance! :)
Enemies-to-more is not my favorite trope, but it does work sometimes. My favorite is my absolute favorite novel ever — Pride and Prejudice. It helps that the hero realizes early on that his initial impression was incorrect, and he falls for her pretty fast. But she takes months before her feelings change. I feel like that is necessary, for at least one of the couple to take more time. I do know of one couple who were engaged at the time and said they didn’t like each other when they first met.
Oh yes, Pride and Prejudice is a classic enemies to more! And I think you’re right that at least one of the pair has to take longer to change their mind about the other. Fun to know that it happens in real life too. :)
I’m not a huge fan of that trope but maybe I need to try another book or two because I can’t think of any books that I’ve read in that trope. I never seem to make it through those Hallmark movies though.
I think it’s a tricky balance that might be harder to strike in movies with their limited time frame. I can’t think of a movie I’ve seen with that trope that I’ve loved either.
Yes, I like the trope Enemies to Lovers. I find it very interesting finding out why they can’t stand each other and then I love to read what actually got them to start liking each other and then fall in love. Your book sounds like a Great read and your book cover is Beautiful! I don’t know anyone that has gone through this. Thank you for the chance. Have a Great week and stay safe.
Thanks so much! And I agree–I always love to watch how the characters’ opinions of each other start to change.
I cannot think of anyone that I know that has fallen in love with an enemy. It is not one of my favorite troupes . I am not remembering any book that I have read in this genre. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
Thanks, Debra! It doesn’t seem to be terribly common in real life. :)
Enemies to love is one of my favorite tropes.
Yay! Glad to heart that, Denise!
I don’t remember anyone who were enemies who ended up lovers right now. But I might know people.
True–we don’t always know everyone’s backstory in real life. Could be couples we know who started out as enemies and we never even realized it. :)
Perhaps an interesting light to shed on this type of story is that the opposite of love is not hatred, it is indifference. To be enemies is still an impassioned response. Just a simple change in perspective can redirect all that energy from con to pro. I do agree that the shift is unrealistic if it is instantaneous. I must say that I have enjoyed all the transitions you have created in your Hope Springs stories. Jerod is probably the only one that I had trouble identifying with.
However, as I have said elsewhere, Cam and Kayla’s love story (Not Until Now) is wonderful, engaging and very believable. There’s something about that cover that really gets me, too. :)
That’s a good point, Lincoln. In some ways, it’s probably easier to shift that impassioned response than to create a response where before there was only indifference. Honestly, I didn’t know how I was going to get Cam and Kayla from their initial dislike to the point where they not only liked each other but fell in love–I’m so glad it worked! And I’ll pass your compliment on the cover on to my very talented cover designer/husband! :)
I enjoy reading any trope with a happy ending. But, I can not think of any couple that were enemies then married in real life.
True! The happy ending is the most important part in any romance–and it’s fun to watch the journey to get there!
I totally agree that there needs to be a more of a reason than just physical attraction that causes the characters start to like each other and that the characters need time to grow and change. I can’t think of any books with that trope right now but I know I have seen a few Hallmark movies with it, although some handled it better than others.
Some movies (and books) definitely do a better job with the trope than others. But when it’s done right, it’s so sweet to watch the characters grow and change.
I occasionally like enemies to love romance.
Thank you for this post!
Thanks for reading, Marilene!
Like you, I enjoy enemies to more stories if they show a change over time. I don’t like the ones that make a quick change or even a slower change, but there really isn’t anything to base that change on. I like to see the development of the relationship happening.
I agree! No matter how long the change takes, it has to be based on something substantial.
I love this trope! But you’re totally right, it has to happen over time (aka, be believable). It’s all about getting to know each other (their true selves).
For sure! I love watching the character get to know each other’s true selves (and sometimes their own true selves, as well).
I am not a huge fan of that trope!
That’s fair enough! Not everyone is. :)
The first one that comes to mind is Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. The book I’m currently reading is also one where the two main characters don’t like each other. I wouldn’t say hate but due to a few assumptions and mix ups, they both really don’t like each other. Sometimes when you’re forced to work or spend time together with someone , you realize that you really had pegged them all wrong. I know that happened with me – my first impressions of a co-worker were not positive but we ended up becoming good friends (it was not a romantic relationship but I still thought we were too different to ever find something to talk about).
Yes, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, for sure! It’s great that you became friends with your co-worker even though you didn’t think it would be possible at first. A great example of what a little time getting to know someone can do. :)
I like them in books and movies but i have never seen it in real life. Just the opposite…lovers to enemies.
Sadly, the opposite does happen in real life. But I’m glad there are books and movies about enemies falling in love!
I like these stories when they are done right. Like many have said they have to be given the time to let their like, then love develop. When it does I think it can end up being one that is more apt to last where it truly builds from truth instead of initial attraction. I loved your new book! Even though Kayla came on overly strong and as stand-offish at first, if you read about her in Nate & Vi’s story you understood her more. I think the time she & Cam took and their mutual love that grew so quickly for each of them towards Ruby being the building block for the attraction that grew as they watched each other interact with her was what made their story work so well. Of course Cam’s relationship with Christ was another point that made them work in my eyes!
Thanks, Deb! I’m so glad you liked the way Kayla and Cam’s story developed from initial dislike into friendship and love. And I agree that the characters’ relationship to Christ is key!
It is not my favorite troupe.
That’s fair! I suppose that’s why there are so many different tropes–different readers like different types of stories. :)
Not quite the same thing, but I met my hubby on a blind date. I said afterwards that he was a nice guy, but not marriage material!
Lol! I love it! I guess he turned out to be marriage material after all. :)
Love and hate are alot alike and usually hate is only a defense to save face when there truly is an attraction.
That can certainly be the case sometimes. Both are strong emotions.
Enemies to lovers is not my favorite type of reading. I think it is over done. I can see having a misunderstanding of each other when you first met, but if you knew each other and did not like each other, I can’t see that changing.
I think you’re right that there’s a difference between people who have just met and gotten a bad first impression of each other and people who have disliked each other for a long time–though I suppose even then, it’s possible for that to change if they’re willing to get to know each other better. :)
I know enemies can fall in love. I had a woman in my Bible Study group who quoted me a lot and whose husband said “If I ever hear that name again, I am going to break something.” Since my daughter was babysitting and there right before they left, she heard it. I couldn’t stand him either – the know-it-all. I had my prayer partner agree with me as I asked God to cause me to love Gary Barkman the way He loves him. (You give God an inch and He will take a mile.) The night my unfaithful husband and I were separating I got a phone call from Gary’s wife “Can you come and pray with me? Gary just left and we’re getting a divorce.” I went after I was finished with my own situation and we prayed together. I’m not sure what happened after that but yesterday Gary and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary! :-)
Sounds like you are living proof that enemies can fall in love. Congratulations on your anniversary!
I hadn’t really thought about this trope happening in real life. Although I do love how realistic the turn around is in each of the books you mentioned. I wouldn’t say this is my favorite trope but I do enjoy a happy ending so I find myself reading it. Thanks for the opportunity.
I think that’s one of the great things about this trope–even though the characters don’t like each other at first, you know that happy ending is coming. And it’s fun to watch how it does!