Romance Recs

Enemies to Lovers

• Jordan Baughman • Season 1 • Episode 3

Share episode

Love the enemies to lovers trope? From Romantasy enemies to Contemporary rivals, we've got you covered! 

Send us a text

Support the show

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-3:

Welcome to romance Rex we're three book besties. Explore the world of romance novels, and encourage you to expand your TBR. Join us as we dive into the hottest releases and hidden gems of the genre. You can find us on Instagram and ticktock at romance, Rex pod. I am Jordan. And I am currently reading. How does it feel by Janina Riley? Really.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Hey guys, I'm Daphne and I am currently reading. Take a hint, Danny Brown.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Hi everyone, I'm Christina. And I'm currently reading Ruthless Creatures by J. T. Geisinger. So buckle up for some bookish banter.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

That's me snapping and clicking my seatbelt in.

Track 1:

Don't want a ticket! Gotta click it.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

How are we doing today, ladies? How are we doing?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Great! Woo!

Track 1:

we're feeling feisty.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I feel it. I feel it. We've had some issues getting this one started, But we are here.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

guy.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah, total genius. Peyton is Jordan's husband. He is our one man it department for the pod. So everyone, a round of applause for Peyton.

Track 1:

Snaps.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Peyton. Yeah.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yes

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Thank you, Peyton.

Track 1:

Well, there goes his ego. Love you, babe. So how are we doing on our reading journey this week? We just got off a weekend, a really nice sunny weekend. A

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Beautiful. Mine too.

Track 1:

do a deep pull from one of the books I'm actually requesting, or requesting this week. I request you read this book. No recommending. That's the word I wanted. So I'm just going to go ahead and start and you all can suck it. The quote this week. Is from the book of Asriel by Amber V. Nicole. You ready for this? It gets intense.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

it to us give it to us

Track 1:

I failed because I chose you over the book, over the world. I was selfish because of you. You crawled beneath my skin like some parasite. You have infected me and it has cost me the world. So now I have to prepare armies once more for war Diana.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Wow, can you not feel the Can't wait to hear who that's from

Track 1:

Yeah.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I do want to read that book though. Book of Ezreal has been on my list for a while and I'm especially excited because I'm pretty sure the author is going to be at Books, Gowns, and Crowns.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

yes. Oh my

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I think so.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

do a live podcast there?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh my gosh, where would we even set up? That would be so good if you guys want that try to make that happen

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

getting a

Track 1:

my hotel room.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh yeah

Track 1:

want to Come back to my hotel room after this?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Not creepy at all christina Is that what the kids are calling it these days I'm, pretty sure they are actually that's actually the guys but yeah, I do want to read that book So I

Track 1:

Well, I'll tell you more about it later because I'm going to talk about it today. yep. So let's put pause on that and who else has something good to talk about?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh, I got a quote. Me. I have a quote from a book that I will also be talking about later in the episode. And this is Tempt Our Fate by Kat Singleton. And this is actually not a quote from the actual story, but the dedication page. There are such gems in the dedication page. So here's this one by Miss Kat Singleton. To my babes that love to be called a good girl, but crave to be called a dirty slut. You're in good hands with Camden Hunter. I clutched my pearls y'all. I'm not even gonna lie, but Can have me in his hands at any promise.

Track 1:

of that book?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Tempt Our By Kat Singleton. Yep, go ahead and write that down.

Track 1:

thank you.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

You're all welcome. I

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

this book in another episode, Haunting Adeline. It's like a little chasing book for people that are into chasing.

Track 1:

Whoever that might be.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

feel like people are looking at me right now and pointing fingers at me.

Track 1:

No one's looking at you, but now they are.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Okay, well, here, this one goes out to a certain someone.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Unhinged, Christina. Unhinged!

Track 1:

Get it?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

I can put a collar around this pretty neck of yours instead. Then you wouldn't have the option to say no. You would just be my good little girl that does whatever your master says. Would you like that better, baby?

Track 1:

No, I don't think so. Thanks. Bye.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

yeah, I'm not down with the collar but I feel like the way you read that was very sweet and tender. It was definitely baby girl energy. I love that. I love the way you got all soft. This is really

Track 1:

we're getting really personal and we haven't even talked about what this episode is. So

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

back! I'm gonna

Track 1:

I'm going to re listen real quick before we all start burning alive. today we're talking enemies to lovers. So for this to count, the main characters had to have either wanted to kill and or maim each other in the beginning of the story. If it's fantasy, or we can go rivals to the point where they want to never see them again in their life and they want them to just F off, I think is a fair description for this. Cause when you go contemporary, I don't think it's fair unless we're talking mafia to off everybody

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I guess.

Track 1:

or serial killer. I mean,

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah, it's harder. It's harder to do enemies to lovers in contemporary, but it can be done. There are just some rules and guidelines for how it's achieved, at least to what we view a true enemies to lover Or recommendation.

Track 1:

of my three today will ride the line because it's contemporary, but I love it enough

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

With that being said, we all agree that there is one enemies to lovers story that it's just chef's kiss. It is the absolute best. It is the best of the best.

Track 1:

Mwah!

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Just delicious. It is so delicious. And that is. The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Brie, which is a part of her Mortal Fates series. Book in the series. However, there are two novellas before that. mean, it is just, you first of all, you have Read the two novellas before. I know some people aren't fans of novellas, but this really sets you up for the amount of tension and Anx that you're gonna get in the first book. So do not skip those and there's a lot of world building and storying That's gonna happen there So yeah, you want to know what's going on, but it is just so so good. This was my favorite read of 2023 I've been obsessed with this book and when I mentioned it to the girls, they all they both read it and I was just like Yes Join me here, where we can rave This book. And Jordan, you are already familiar with J. Brie, like you've pretty much read most of her Is my favorite, favorite series from her.

Track 1:

yeah, and I want to say you said the angst and I just want to clarify for people that hear angst and go, oh, that's too much. It's not like teenage angst. This is

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

No, not at all.

Track 1:

angst in result from war and centuries long prejudice. And it's not petty. There is nothing petty

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

it.

Track 1:

The characters are your elders. In the sexiest way possible. In the immortal way.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Right. Right. We've got Seelie and Unseelie Fae. We've got other races of fantasy people. We've got goblins. Ooh!

Track 1:

Goblins. Which, I never said ooh Goblins. before, but I would like to gobble up the goblins, please.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

And thank you. There's one goblin in particular. You guys have to read this book. It is so good. The main characters, Rook and Soren, are fated mates, and they have to navigate that with their own prejudices playing a part in how they decide to go through with accepting their fate, and you just see them enemies so hard. They're like the best enemies to ever enemy. So, I feel like,

Track 1:

The great thing about this world is they have the fates, which They at a certain age a lot of people go to The fate so it's like these basically seers where they go and they will tell you your fate So it's like the big major thing that will play out in your life. And if you do not Meet your fate and accept it Catastrophic things will happen to your continent, to your people, not just you. So by not accepting it, it's not just life or death. It is catastrophic.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Annihilation, yeah.

Track 1:

And so in this, we have an attempt at rejection and hopeful rejection. We have acceptance. We have We have, I will kind of go along with it. It's just this, it's a journey.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yes, and it's written so well. And the characters are, I think they're so well developed. and of course, they're,

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

main character.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

With she, Rook! She is my favorite FMC. That's my babe, that is my babe. One thing, one thing, I think we all hate is for sure and one thing I Hate is like a cowering female main character. I think a lot of people can relate that like I don't want my female main character to cower and lose herself and lose her voice and Lose things and I think through the entirety of or lose, right? I hope that does not

Track 1:

M., we're looking

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

rest of this year. Right, right. We are tired of our female main characters having to make themselves small to highlight the male main characters and Rook is absolutely not doing any of that. At all. And we love her for it. So yeah, that is our, I think, collectively.

Track 1:

She looks him in his eyes and basically says, Deal with it, asshole. That's essentially what she does. Is, you wanna belittle me? You want to downplay this?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Make it

Track 1:

Tough shit. Tough

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Right. She's I'm literally here so that we don't, you know, Send our continent into freaking oblivion, you know that you know, I'm

Track 1:

I don't like you

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

reason I mean you're right Yes, so there are true enemies. It's not like they're pining for each other in their inner monologues You know where they're like, oh, I hate him. Oh, but he's so hot. Absolutely not. They actually truly do hate each other. They do so That's our collective favorite enemies to lovers I just have not read anything that even comes close and I'm gonna say that hands down in all my years of reading I have To lovers like this and I think it's fantastic and book two comes out next month

Track 1:

April

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

for that. I know we're so close. We're so close. We are so close Yeah, for sure immediately

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Our group chat.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

you know

Track 1:

that's the weekend we should leave and we all just go and

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

And just read it

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

weekend?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I love that Make sure you follow in the instagram and our socials to see how our little reading vacation goes But yeah, and you guys agree right like i'm not lying this is the best enemies

Track 1:

No, it is. It is possibly my favorite book now. Like top number one. Beat out SJM. Beat out Rebecca Yaros. It's it's it. It's it for me. And, I would say that I'm nervous for the second one then, but I'm not nervous for the writing because I know J. Brie is so solid and so consistent that I'm just nervous to see what happens to my favorite characters. I'm not nervous about her writing a bad book. I'm not worried about a flame and shadow effect. I'm not worried about an iron flame effect.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Okay. So let's go first and talk about maybe some of our favorite enemies to lovers Rex, who may not come as close as mortal fate series, but are still great wrecks for people to jump into

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-5:

Definitely. So what do you have for Christina? Why don't you get us started?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Romeo by Huntington Parker S. and L. J. Shen.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Woohoo!

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

She actually just wrote a sequel to called My Dark Desire. I just read. Woo! But anywho, My Dark Romeo is a story about a forced marriage between Dallas Townsend and Romeo Costa. Dallas is an heiress who is engaged to marry Madison to fulfill her family's wishes, and Romeo is the COO of his family's defense industry business, and he has to marry to take over his father's CEO position. Uh, Dallas meets Romeo at a debutante ball, where he tricks her into marrying him. There is so much fun banter between these characters. And my favorite is a 700, 000 shopping spree on their honeymoon just to piss off the new husband. And actually this weekend I was in Seattle and I was at like the Hermes store. Or I was just walking by it and I was like this is where Dallas shops. That's all I could think of. There is an age gap, 11 years, like mine and my husband's. That's why I love it, but know. Also, the main character loves food about as much as I do.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah.

Track 1:

as possible as me, I mean, but

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Right. She is me, but, you know, I'm just saying.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

I wish I had the money. If only I had Dallas's bank account, but This is a standalone book, but like I said, there is a spin off about his friends. The second one, My Dark Desire, is about his friend who is a works for Wall Street, basically. And then there's a third one who's about the son of a hotel company. know,

Track 1:

So a Trump?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Company, almost.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

He's actually a duke. The Ollie Von Bismarck. That's the third friend. He's

Track 1:

Von, I'm sorry von Bismarck?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Von Bismarck is his name.

Track 1:

Holy douche twaffle

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

also own a think? I don't know.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah, so he's a duke. But they also own Whatever the best hotel

Track 1:

super humble

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

he All. He is

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

the lot of them.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah, the entire friend group. Bunch of billionaires.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

in the second book, my favorite line was, she's We hate the rich, this is why we want to eat them.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah, oh yeah, I love that. I love that she said that to the billionaire.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Dallas was supposed to marry Madison. They've been grown up together and been friends their whole life. She doesn't really love him, but she cares for him, you know, as a friend. And she's just doing it to fulfill her dad's wishes. Cause her dad and his dad are friends.

Track 1:

that's why you get married

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Yeah,

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

For sure.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

in the rich world, I don't know.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Mm

Track 1:

Daddy issues.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

His dad and Madison's dad, they're like rivals in the industry. So specifically to piss off Madison, that's the whole reason he goes after Dallas reputation and puts her in like a compromising position at the debutante ball to make it like, so either you marry me or no one else will marry you. Kind of those Southern Belles. Cause she's a, like a Southern Belle and you know, they hold Be this super important thing,

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

yeah. It's actually kind of sick because essentially they're like, Selling their daughter's virginities like at the base of the debutante ball. That's what they're doing Like look at my prime little flower.

Track 1:

yeah, that's like real life. That still happens. That's crazy to me

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Right. Exactly. And that's the trope that this is like they're You know if someone's touched her she is now no one's gonna want her and so that's why romeo ends up doing that To force her hand which I would hate him too. Like how dare you put me in this compromising position? When I only came to this party for the snacks

Track 1:

What is this Bridgerton?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Very yeah, honestly, it's modern day bridgerton. Yep. It does And

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

all my suggestion. And my next one!

Track 1:

Well, what's your next one Christina? What's?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

This is a YA book, Kingdom of the Wicked. By Carrie Maniscalco. That wrong. This book is about Emilia and her twin Vittoria, who are witches that secretly live among humans in 19th century Italy. Uh, one night, Vittoria goes missing at a dinner service at her family's renowned Sicilian restaurant, and Emilia soon finds the body of her twin desecrated beyond belief. And so she's really devastated, and she sets out to find her sister's killer and seek vengeance. And that means she might even have to use dark magic, which is forbidden amongst witches because it can attract princes of hell. But Emilia meets

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

that's bad, right

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

princes of

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

That's bad, not to attract the enemy. Okay, just check it. Just check it, making sure we're on the same page here. We don't summon the Princess of Hell. Got it, clear.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Well, not supposed to, but she does summon one, Wrath who she's been warned against since she was a child not to work with, but Wrath claims he can help Emilia solve the murder. Decides to take his help and she things proceed from there.

Track 1:

he'll help her. He

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I literally thought you were gonna say Yeah, that she's gonna take his help and take something else too. I literally thought that's where you were going and I was Yeah, she'll

Track 1:

it all. No, the first one, so I read the first one, and I did not continue, and the first one has nothing. It's I'm like, where's

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Not spicy at all.

Track 1:

No, what's his dick look like? I don't know. It's not just I didn't hear anything about it. I don't know.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

DNF.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

gets hotter and you go to find out more about

Track 1:

Oh, does it?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

princes of

Track 1:

When does it heat up? Does it heat up? It heats up.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Is it, yeah, is it hot? Is it steamy or is it like spicy?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

It's spicy. I wouldn't say it's super steamy. I mean, I don't,

Track 1:

I think it

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I don't want

Track 1:

then spicy.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

steamy not spicy. That's what I meant, yeah.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh, so it's steamy.

Track 1:

Steamy opens up your pores, spicy makes you sweat

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Sets you on fire.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

I know. Sorry, yeah, I think it, it's been about a year since I last read the, these books. Cause they came out, the last one came out, 2022, I think? So maybe that was when I read it last, end of 2022. So it's been a while, but I've really loved it. And then there's a spinoff now with Lust, who's definitely more, Up then wrath.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Our interests are piqued. There's no way for you to have steamy lust. That's gonna be a spicy book. Jordan and I are panting for lust. Yeah. Well, we might have to give series a little look.

Track 1:

I'll give it another

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Adds to list. Right.

Track 1:

Yeah, let's do it.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

All right, so I mean I think okay cool. Yeah, I was just about to say if you have another one.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Okay, this one is just a Rivals to Lovers, so it's literally called Divine Rivals. By

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh, yeah, okay.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Another YA book, but it's really it's really cute, yes. Perfect for I think, teens, young adults, literally anyone, but definitely if you wanted something like to co read with your teen or with a friend who isn't into spice, then maybe they would really like this one. Divine Rivals takes place in a fantasy world, but it has like World War One vibes. The gods are at war in this book. Iris Winnow. and Roman Kitt are the two main characters. Iris's brother has gone off to war, but has not been heard from since he left, even though he promised to write. Uh, Iris's mother turned to drinking after his departure, and she lost her job from her drinking. So to support her and her mother, Iris had to drop out of school and go to work at the local newspaper. She's working at the Oath Gazette, and she's competing for a columnist position against Roman. So they're both kind of hate each other because there's only one spot, and only one of them can get it. So they both end up going to report on the war at the front, and they use magical typewriters to become closer than expected. Yeah, it's a duology, and both books have been released. It's YA, so it is fade to black, but it is a super cute story, and I love a lot of the historical vibes. I love how they get a lot of the Like what happens in war, right? I think they got that really right, and I don't know I just love the cute little magical elements and all the fun little banter between them

Track 1:

I love that you referenced that you say that they got war right. I love how they got it right without being too unnecessarily detailed. Does that make sense?

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Yeah,

Track 1:

like she used just the right amount of detail

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Mm hmm

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Yeah.

Track 1:

to keep it interesting and true to the events without playing up too much to the trauma to monopolize on it.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Mm hmm,

Track 1:

really, a key balance that she did there.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

right.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

accurate in saying, you know, right after a battle, no one's gonna go to a war tent and have sex. instead, they're just, like, glad they're alive. I liked that element. That's true war.

Track 1:

Yep. Looking at you SJM again

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I Was just about to say looking at some of some authors we know.

Track 1:

and love, but

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

but still Yeah, very questionable Yeah, I really enjoyed reading Divine Rivals, that was nice. It was very cute, like

Track 1:

I loved their

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

very different.

Track 1:

I mean, it was like, it felt genuine.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah. You could see The growth, or the change. It was like Them just trying to connect with each other, and then just seeing it escalate, and things Progressing. It was nice to watch them fall in love, essentially.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Yeah. It's sweet.

Track 1:

That was a good one. Cause they were rivals. They were definitely, it was like a process when they found out who they were talking to and

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Mhm. Yeah.

Track 1:

Good

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Okay, we'll accept that. Yeah.

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Okay.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

What about you, Jordan? You want to hit us with what you got?

Track 1:

All right.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Crack snuckles.

Track 1:

Here we go. Here we go. My first enemies to lovers is the book that I quoted at the top of this episode. It is the book of Asriel by Amber V. Nicole. It is gods and monsters series. Book one. There are two out right now. I believe she said there will be, I think at least five, which I can't imagine right now because they are big. Big beefy books and like I mean like a lot happens in them. I'm excited though So this is about the female main character. Is your morally dark gray to black character She is seems It's irredeemable, quite honestly. She was born a human. A thousand years ago, Diana gave up her life in the deserts of Eorrea to save her dying sister. She called upon anyone who would listen, not expecting a monster far worse than any nightmare to answer. Now she does what Caden asks, even if that means securing an ancient relic from the very creatures that hunt her. And the creatures that hunt her are essentially like It's like this book's version of angels from other worlds. So this is like a multi world and multi universe,

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Ooh. Multiverse.

Track 1:

like it is kind of like a multiverse with greater beings that kind of keep the peace almost. So She is our female main character. And our male main character is considered the technical good guy, but he has done the most. Bad deeds in the name of good in the past, right? So in the old world his name was Sam Kiel. In this world when he comes to this world because of the chaos that Diana is ensuing via Caden, he goes by Liam because he's trying to remake himself because he doesn't like who he used to be.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yes, we love a re

Track 1:

is known, yeah, he is known as a myth throughout worlds as the World Ender. So he enters a room and they're like, oh my god, it's the World Ender to his enemies. A sa he's a savior and a king to those loyal to him. So after the gods war, he locked himself away, hiding from the world, and the cosmos, essentially, centuries. He has been Away by himself on what it was left of his planet after he ended his own world to save the greater cosmos, basically he denied his crown and his responsibilities, leaving the very ones who needed him most to deal with the fallout of the death of their home world. Now an attack on those he holds dear sends him back to the one realm he never wished to visit again and into the sights of an enemy he thought imprisoned eons. a go, but through a twist of fate. Diana is technically the type of creature that he fought in the gods war that he thought he nixed off because all they did was cause death and destruction. But she is technically a type of that creature. So because of a twist of fate, they're trying to use each other to get this one relic. so they have to team up, but they are mortal enemies. Working together through common good. Let's become friends. Let's become, oh, I definitely want to fuck you. Oh weird, I want to fuck you, too. To, I'm starting to trust you. Well, I'm gonna kiss this one person to see what you'll do. Oh, fuck you. I'm gonna kill everyone around that just saw that because screw you. To, The world ending because something happens. So now they're going to be enemies again, but one person thinks they're enemies. The other person's trying to get them back. It's like this constant roller

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

It's giving Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I love it. Yeah, love I love that. It's giving but dark. Yeah, I've been wanting to read that for a while. I just I think I've been intimidated by the sheer size. That's your size of the books have just been off putting right? And then it's like a two minute read. I don't even know how many pages the thing is.

Track 1:

Yeah.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Jordan, what else you have for us, if anything else. Yeah.

Track 1:

book is A Forbidden Fate by Kaven Hierning. She's on socials and she's fucking hilarious and amazing.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Absolutely. Very hilarious.

Track 1:

I was like, I love her. I love her content. Why won't I love her book? And it was delightful. I think that's the way I can describe it. It was delightful. it is a series that. is incomplete. Keep that in mind, another incomplete series. I'm just going to read the description,

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Lay it on us.

Track 1:

Oh, I'll definitely lay it on you and give it to you. So, a centuries long war, an enchanted wood, and a curse. Oh my. Idalia leaves her castle to marry the new king of the deep. Certain that this union will be the final step in saving her kingdom. She must first travel through the Florian Wood, a mysterious place shrouded in legend and myth. Things go awry when the princess is captured by a band of thieves, and they soon discover that the stories of the wood weren't just stories after all. To make matters worse, she is stranded in this nightmare with Her rival, and I would argue it is her enemy, not just her rival, a shameless bandit who likes to talk and drink too much. Despite the dangers of the wood, there is a threat far greater to both of them, each other. Apart from their warring lands, they have also been cursed by the gods. Literally, a god came down when they were young and said they may never touch, or they will die, and their entire kingdoms. So it is their entire

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

just so

Track 1:

And they will die

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

That is wild.

Track 1:

are punishing their kingdoms. It wasn't just about them like they were young, they were kids. The acts of the parents. So it's you know, the sins of your parents kind of a thing.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Right, right.

Track 1:

But of course they're both sexy and they both are into each other and they wanna touch.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Right I'm so confused about how this happens with them. Because it's spicy, right?

Track 1:

Yeah, it gets spicy. I mean, they find a way around. How do I describe this? They find release.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

All right, say no more. I'm gonna have to add it to my TBR. But I think that alone, me thinking about how these people cannot touch and yet the book gets spicy. I just, I'd like to research the creativity that is used to such results for research, for science.

Track 1:

And the second book is out, but I have not read it yet because when it came out, the first thing I heard was, Oh my God, this cliffhanger

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

that'll slow me down.

Track 1:

I have not been emotionally prepared for a cliffhanger. If a cliffhanger comes and I'm not expecting it, then that's one thing. But if I know it's going to be really bad, I'm like, right now they're on an adventure. I left the first one there on an adventure. There's still hope in their heart. I don't know if I can,

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Handle a big cliffhanger like that.

Track 1:

but I bought it and it's downloaded on my Kindle for whenever I feel emotionally prepared. So I'm really excited. The characters are great. Love the characters. The story is intriguing. I've never read a book where the main characters can't be together to this extent, so they're together, but not, and there's really no, End in sight. so my last one is a bit of a stretch. I acknowledge it's more of a rivals, punk 57 by Penelope Douglas or Penn Douglas. They are one of my favorite authors. The whole tagline of this book is we were perfect together until we met.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Crazy.

Track 1:

they're, in neighboring towns. They're like half an hour apart by county roads. Misha goes to this hoity toity, fancy ass high school and Ryan goes to the public school in her town, so Misha and Ryan have been writing physical letters back and forth since fifth grade. They are now senior year of high school, getting ready to graduate last six months of the year. And they are best friends who have never met. They've never seen each other's socials. They've never texted or called each other, but they're best friends. Of course, they're secretly in love with each other because of course they are. But they were each other's sanctuary through all of their family ups and downs through growing up through awkward phases through You know discovering boys and girls they like confided in each other Everything but they always were like we don't want to meet because we don't want to ruin this friendship Like what if like secretly they both were thinking what if we meet and it doesn't live up to the reality they both have decided that like separately I want to meet them after high school, once all this high school BS is over. I want to find a way to be together, right? But something big happens in Misha's life to the point where he pulls back and he doesn't answer for a while because he is in such shock and depression, he's already got all his credits. And he transfers over to her school for a different reason other than seeing her, but

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh, God.

Track 1:

And you don't find out why he really went there until the very end of the book. So I won't give that away, but it is important. When he gets there, he finds out she is not who she led him to believe. Misha is this, yeah, while Misha is. This punk rocker, but from a rich family. He just misunderstood in his own world. She led him to believe that she was equally emo and

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

No.

Track 1:

when really she is the number one, it popular girl, head cheerleader in her

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh, my

Track 1:

And she's a mean girl, but she's written to Misha this whole time, like who she truly is. But based on her family and friends, she just said. Acts how she thinks she needs to act at school, which I think is true for a lot of teenagers, whether they get out of it after high school or not, that's a different issue. He is until a lot later, like a lot later in the book. And he definitely tries to get his own payback in, in his own roundabout way, while being this other person, because he takes on a different name.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Who she is, but she doesn't know who

Track 1:

I mean, they do it while she thinks he's someone else, calling him a different

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh my

Track 1:

it goes all the way, but then at the same time, in the back of her mind, she's I feel so torn because I know I love Misha, I'm starting to really like this guy who I'm doing.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Oh man

Track 1:

That's why it's, I'm calling it arrivals to lovers because they go to rivals really quickly and she doesn't like him because he's, This punk loser in the school. And so they go head to head and they are rivals in high school there's a lot of animosity there. There's a lot of dark feelings towards each other.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

That's I feel like of all the things I've heard, this seems the most tame.

Track 1:

It is. It was actually my, I think Punk 57 was my first Penelope Douglas. yeah, but enough about me. Dev, please tell us what do you have for us?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Okay, I have three Rex. I'm gonna do my contemporary first, which is also the dedication page I read earlier in the episode. It's by Kat Singleton, and this is such a cute and funny Enemies to lovers story. It follows Camden and Pippa and they just have a horrible meet cute I'm not maybe I can't even call it a meet cute because in the two to three two of the three First impressions they have of each other is them spilling food on each other. And it is just so outrageous. But basically, after having terrible run ins, Camden buys a gallery space next door to Pippa's bakery. Trouble ensues. They can't stand each other until they can. It is very spicy. It is on Kindle Unlimited. I think my favorite thing about this story is that, The entire time like I think they're enemies at least to half the book. They just cannot get along They're very different people's like she's a baker. She's an artist in her craft. She's like a family person She lives on a ranch or at least her family has like a ranch Kind of thing so she's that down to earth girl and camden is like new york city streets an a Prodigy. His parents were two of the two major artists in their time. He's expected to have and do all these great things in the art world, and they could not be any more different. But Camden eventually starts falling for Pippa, and it's just, it is so perfect. It is so perfect to watch him crumble, literally his knees.

Track 1:

she's a real person and he's been living in a daydream?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah, no, absolutely that yeah, that's what it is She makes a bet with him for either for him to give up the gallery space And that's another reason why she hates him is because she wanted that space to extend her cafe bakery And he comes in and just buys it up and also wants to buy up other things in their cute little Main street town, you know with where everyone's on one blog It is so cliche hallmark if this was turned into a movie today i'd watch it I'm, I know it would me in the field. It's funny. They have great banter but also Camden has a dirty mouth and pippa the good girl who drives a pink car and has a pink bakery. Um, She likes being called a little slut if you know what i'm saying. She loves it. She loves when he like Degrades her a bit. That's her thing. But I thought it was so cute. I think I thought it was done very well So i'm gonna definitely give them my enemies to lovers stamp of approval Because it wasn't like needless pining the entire time they met and then they just kind of got on with it They truly did not like each other.

Track 1:

I

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

My next rec is actually yeah. No, I really enjoyed I mean

Track 1:

I love when they deviate from the good girl. I'm gonna be honest, I'm over the good girl thing.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah, me too. I think that's why I liked it. Yeah I really enjoyed it and she had her brother. So this

Track 1:

Oh, I almost, I've been kicking my feet. My green light almost went down again.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

So this is actually book two in this series, it's the Sutton Mountain series and the first book follows her Pippa's brother Yeah, and so you get to see like her relationship with her brother and her family and she's very sweet and loving She is a good girl, but then she has this side to her where it's no, this is her side She's like a boss. Quite literally she owns her own bakery But you know She's like she takes charge and she makes no apologies and I love that

Track 1:

because you hold it in so long,

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

it has to blow up and then when You find the right

Track 1:

it go somewhere. You gotta let it go

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Right and sometimes you need the right person to kind of push So yeah, great read, definitely suggest it. Start with book one, you'll be introduced to Pippa and then her story will make more sense. You also technically meet Camden in book one. They have a run in, one of their first bad impressions happens in book one, but literally I thought nothing of it. And then I read her book and I'm like, ah! Oh! Isn't that cute? So yeah, read that. Cat Singleton, Tempt Our Fate. My next book is actually by Scarlet St. Clair and it is King of Battle and Blood and I know there's such mixed feelings about this series, but I Loved it. I love the story of Adrian and Isolde. Yeah, it was just, I don't know. I really enjoyed it, but I am gonna give them the Enemy's Celebrity Stamp of Approval just because they are technically not supposed to be together. They are not meant to be together. Them being together is kind of like what their two kingdoms follow. He's a vampire. She's a human. They don't want to be together. The humans hate the vampires. The vampires could care less about the humans, but anyway. And to Stave off war I guess to keep their people from fighting and killing each other needlessly Her father sells her right off says, all right, we'll have her you know and keep her and then leave us alone

Track 1:

didn't he ask for her? It wasn't his idea.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yes, that is true. So Adrian Leanne, He lays the

Track 1:

alone if you give me

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

if you give me her and that is only because they chant they stumble upon each other Like the night or so before and something happens between them that forces adrian to ask for her and to kind of make it like to force her father's hand But I will not give that away because I feel like that is like a key to the story So something does happen which is why adrian specifically asked for her in this deal to stop the war and all the mindless killing however When her kingdom agrees Her sole mission now is to kill him. It's like You're gonna be his wife Kill him in his sleep. Let's get it over with you kill the vampire king. We're all free We can just end this nonsense and you can come home. And so like a good little wife She does she tries to kill him and he pretty much tells her that if you try to kill me on their honeymoon Yeah, he's if you try to kill me again I'm going to raise you as the undead which is quite literally her worst nightmare. She Does not want to be a vampire. And so she has to, you know, stop trying to kill him. Unfortunately, boo tomato. But, anyway, they, you know, they're a community at war, so there's a lot of that happening in the background, but they kinda start falling for each other eventually. It takes a little while for them to warm up to each other, but I think a lot of her first impressions about who the Vampire King was were kinda put to the side once she saw him. With his people and his people love him so that had to shift her around But of course, that means her family back at home is pissed a lot of things happen There are so many secrets and twists in this book. That I kind of could see coming I guess but it was still done really well and there is a book too, which is queen of myth and monsters and Yeah, it just pushes. They're officially in love and all that in book two. So it's really nice to see their relationship progress and who is all turns into as part of being a part of this new kingdom that she is the queen of so yeah, that's And also, I just love me a vampire story

Track 1:

Yeah. Suck my blood. Suck my blood

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

right and to be fair I've tried to read Scarlett St. Clair's other series, the Persephone and Hades one, and I could, I hated Persephone, and so I DNF'd that entire series because I couldn't get through half of the first book. I'll try again later at some point, but like, when I found this after trying to read Persephone and Hades, I was like, okay, cool okay. I This author, I just had to find what was for me. And so I suggest that for you guys, dear listeners, find what is for you. Okay Don't discount that entire author because they may have something else in their collection that you will enjoy so just a little homework and check that out. And then my final recommendation is a court this cruel and lovely which is a series of books I think there are four of them out right now. So we have Prisca is fleeing her village after her power is discovered. She lives in a town a little village where certain gifts cannot, like, they can't stand. Certain people cannot have certain types of gifts. Unfortunately, she has a type of gift that she should quite literally be killed for. So she escapes. Her mom is helping her escape. And she, is fighting for her life. She's getting through all these situations. She ends up falling off of a cliff, or To be fair her mother pushes her off the cliff

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Oh

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Yeah, it's kind But to save her life to save her life so that she's not killed By these people I mean She could have died. No. No, she's she's she lives. She pushes her off her cliff off of a cliff into water So it's probably a rough fall.

Track 1:

It's like a 50 50? Hmm.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

right. It's like I would um, she would rather Kill her? daughter in that way then leave her to What? these people will do to her. It's that kind of a situation

Track 1:

as a mom, isn't that now reading those things, isn't that just the most gut wrenching thing you've ever read?

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Gut wrenching. It was I was I get it I don't want my baby in your hands, but I have to also be the one to do this thing. Yeah, that was really hard to read. Prisca does survive the fall. Yay, Prisca! Go, girl. Barely. Child, she is hanging on by a thread as she goes down this little stream. But anyway, she is saved. There's like a band of mercenaries walk Walking by. No, they're on horses. Galloping Pie. One of them spots her and decides to help her. He helps her out the water. His magic is with water. So he saves her quite easily, dries her off. And she's staring at them looking, begging them. Please help me. Take me with you wherever you're going. You're mercenaries. You're strong and you can protect me. Let me come with you. I won't be a bother. She's giving them doe eyes. Please save me. You know, shaking at her little dress. And then And the leader, the one that stands out as the leader of their group, looks at her and is no. And literally takes everyone with him. They walk right off into the sunset and she's left to essentially die. He leaves her to die right there on the little embankment because she has no food. She has no weapon. She cannot protect herself. And she's terrified. Her mom just pushed her off the cliff. Come on. Uh, so yeah, later on, wouldn't you like to know who she runs into? The same mercenary group With the guy now. Yeah

Track 1:

No way. Never.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Actually be he ends up being the main character, the male main character of the story. His name is Lorien.

Track 1:

Up. No

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

And yeah, they have to, they make a deal essentially. I'm, I can't remember why he decides like the key thing that he'll, but they do make a deal because I think she ends up showing her magic. they all feel comfortable, so she shows them her magic, and they need her magic. they pretty much make a deal, we'll help you use your magic, we'll help train you, and then you help us with this one thing, we'll offer you protection, food, everything, you help us with this one thing, we'll go our separate ways. So they make that kind of deal, and that's how, you have the epic fantasy adventure that ensues. But they are quite literally enemies for a good portion of the book. Of course, until they're not, until they realize that they love each other, and all these things ensue. But, I really loved How much Prisca held on to her hate Laurien it was just She would not release it for a little bit and it was one of those situations where in her inner monologue She would admit to how attractive he was and how nice he was to look at or whatever But she was so pissed at it because all she would remind herself of is like he left you to die,

Track 1:

he didn't even know you, he left you. Oh,

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Right, right. I mean but to be fair, could you imagine you let one of your people save me? You And then you leave me behind? I'd be infuriated and but when Prisca ends up meeting up with them again She's already got two deaths under her belt. So at this point she is armed and ready to tango So yeah, by the time she meets up with the mercenary group again, she's already killed two people. So she's like I'm out here. She's literally survived trying her best to survive. I enjoyed it. I think that was a good enemies to love her mate They probably weren't enemies as long as the other books, but it's still good. And there are a couple books in that series So lots to check out if you want

Track 1:

love it.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

and I don't know if I said who it's by it's a court That's cruel and lovely. There are other books in the series, but it's by stacia stark, and I hope i'm pronouncing that right And stop one thing about I love about sassy is that she's very active in her emails Like if you respond to one of her newsletter emails, she writes you back I had a With her You

Track 1:

is this

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

About how much yeah, she's think I think she's indie. I'm pretty sure she's indie. Yeah I know they're always indie when they're so communicative with their following But yeah, I had a whole conversation with her about how much I hated what she did and she was like Oh, I guess I shouldn't tell you about it was very cute. It was a nice relationship a little whole thing we had, you know

Track 1:

Cute. So you're besties.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

we're, yeah, we are absolutely besties. We're invited to like family events at this point because she To my newsletter email. yeah.

Track 1:

She's like your son's godmother or something, like probably.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

She doesn't know it, but she is

christina_2_03-18-2024_204621:

Invite her to

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

I love it. Yeah. Don't worry. I'll get on it. Could you imagine? Okay. Let's file that away for the future. Good idea.

Track 1:

Write it down.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

That's smart. I think those are our recs for enemies to lovers again. We have tons more recommendations for you guys so make sure you're following our socials to see those but Yeah, thanks for listening to us ramble about our favorite enemies to lovers books If you're looking for more romance

Jordan:

recs, be sure to follow us on instagram And tiktok at romance rex pod you can find our favorite book reps from our episodes as well as some behind the scenes content Again, that's at romance rex pod. So make sure to give us a follow and we'll be back with another episode.

Track 1:

Thank you. Yay.

devonnie_2_03-18-2024_204620:

Bye guys