Yes, I am currently watching season two of Bridgerton. Do I love it? Absolutely!!
My favorite trope in a romance novel or show/movie is enemies-to-lovers.
You may wonder why.
It’s spicy and exciting! Going from hating your enemy to loving them is a very slow process indeed.
It’s full of passion and the slow burn is enough to keep you at the edge of your seat. When the hate in their eyes slowly turns to lingering looks and brief touches. It’s them talking to each other about anything and everything at all just to keep the conversation going, and hear the voice or see the lips of the person they are starting to love.
When the enemies begin to turn into lovers, they start to question the world around them. Their faith, their past, the way they live their life. Meeting that one person changes everything. It’s a beautiful moment in a person’s life when they stop and reevaluate everything they have ever known.
Right now, my favorite enemies to lovers show is:
Clearly, it’s Bridgerton at the moment. Simon and Daphne were destined to be together I felt it. Both were witty and yet opposites in every way. I loved when they created the courting lie. It was brilliant. They fought their attraction to each other. Their relationship was built on the foundation of pure friendship. Simon was desperate to be as far away from London and his past as possible. He hated his father and the thought of anything to do with his family name. Daphne was very loyal to her family. She did what she could to please everyone around her. She was eager to get married and have children; it’s what she wanted. A woman ready to start a family and a man that never wanted to have one are quite the pair. Even after they were married the dynamic duo struggled. It took both of them to make it work.
With Anthony and Kate, I’m not sure if they’ll end up together. Somehow, I have avoided seeing all the spoilers online (I really don’t know how). They’re different from Simon and Daphne. Both Anthony and Kate are duty-bound and loyal to their families. They do not follow their heart and instead pursue what they feel would be best for the people around them. They’re incredibly stubborn and must always have the last word. Anthony is set on marrying Edwina and making her his viscountess when clearly the one he wants is Kate. There are even fewer fleeting touches in this season than the last. It’s the eyes instead. It’s the way they watch each other when the other is in the room. The way they pay attention when the other is speaking. The sharpness in their voices. The scene in the library where they almost kissed had me at the edge of my seat. I almost don’t want to finish the season because of the angst this is all causing me.
My favorite enemies to lovers movie:
10 Things I Hate About You
Yes, it’s pretty cheesy and a little old. But it reminds me of the high school romance that I would have wanted for myself. I haven’t seen it in about two years but I remember Kat and Patrick pretty well. Kat didn’t want to be interested in Patrick, but she couldn’t help but fall for him. My favorite part of the movie is at the end when she reads out loud her poem, “10 Things I Hate About You,” and reveals that she still loves Patrick even after it’s revealed that he was only with her because of an arrangement with Joey. It’s an oldie but a goodie because of the complex plot that also focuses on Kat’s sister Bianca. She has to choose between Joey and Cameron. Maybe I’ll give it a rewatch sometime soon.
My favorite enemies to lovers book:
This is a tough one. I can read romance novels all day every day. So it’s hard for me to rank my favorite. I’ll go with the one I read most recently. Most specifically the series.
The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy has me in a chokehold. I promise. It’s that good. Think of King Midas but instead of him receiving the gold touch from a god it’s a woman named Auren who was born golden. Her skin is gold, her hair is gold, and everything that she touches turns to gold. She’s locked up in a golden cage by a king that rescued her from a young age. When she does manage to escape, she’s captured by her enemy. A ruthless commander for a king who has the ability to rot everything he touches everywhere he goes.
I won’t go too far into detail, but the series has passion, fairies, adventure, love and everything I need in a good enemies-to-lovers development. There are plot twists and shocking scenes. The third book ended on a cliffhanger, and the fourth comes out next month. I promise I will buy it the same day it’s published and spend some delightful time reading as Auren’s love for her enemy deepens.
I don’t want an enemies-to-lovers type of love for myself, but I want everything it contains. The desire, the lust, the passion and the true love that blossoms over time. I find to be the very best love of all.