Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy: Book 1 of the Dearly Beloathed Duology | 
so-soThis feels like reading fanfic, for the very good reason that it was. The serial numbers have been filed off, but the overall feel is very much still there. That's not a criticism per se, just a fact.
There is some fun dialogue, some fun scenes, but oh my goodness they're both unbearable and the romantic scenes are pure (and awful) purple prose. I enjoyed myself but also had SO many objections.
But hey, this was my #BookSpin.
Oh, well, both of these people are fucking unbearable, aren't they? Sheesh.
“It was hard, being perfect in an imperfect world, but Aurienne managed. If she had a flaw, it was that she was the Best, and she knew she was the Best. Some called it arrogance. She called it competence untainted by performative humility. But if she was the Best - as brilliant as she was beautiful, a researcher unparalleled...“
It goes on. What in the everloving hell.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was aggressively hilarious and perhaps the best example of dry, rude British humor I‘ve ever read.
Knightley had me looking up vocab words, laughing often, and slowly falling in love with these characters.
For something that started as Hermione/Draco fanfic, this still felt like a realized world, unique magic system, and fully new characters.
I cannot wait for book 2 😍
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What do you MEAN I have to wait a full year for the next book?? This book reminded me of “The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy” (another of my favorites) and between that, the fantastic world-building, the humor/wit, and the superb slow-burn enemies to lovers romance, I absolutely LOVED this book and am anxiously awaiting the conclusion to this duology. Give it all the stars ⭐️
This is a great start, honestly! 🤣😂
pickThis was a low pick for me. I didn‘t realize it was a series! It didn‘t end and now I have to read the next book for hopefully a resolution to the story. This is a real SLOW burn. So slow, they kissed once at the end of the book but still “hate” each other.
pickI‘m not the biggest fan of #romantasy, as much seems to fall in line with a pretty standard formula with a ton of plot holes. But this one I found to be charming and beautifully written. Knightley sets up a magic system with limits, and the value systems that come with each character‘s particular caste of magic within the world are the real cause of their early enmity, rather than the pervasive “you or your family done me wrong” trope.
pickThis was quite fun, and thankfully does not read in a way that forces you to actively consider the inspiration. I especially enjoyed the sassy deofols, and the dark humor throughout.
so-soToo slow of a burn for me, but the writing is clever and the banter is funny!
My Illunicrate edition of 'The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy' arrived, and I think it might just be the prettiest book ever! 🩷🩷🩷 #illumicrate
I ran a book painting program for the library teens earlier this week! I painted this one along with them and I think it came out really nice! 🩷🖤🩷🖤
Ready for some reading at the pool! #allurial
Anyway, I need to cogitate on what rating I want to give this. I sometimes struggle with balancing “did I have fun“ vs “did I think it was good quality?“.
I do wish people would stop assuming that everyone can identify Harry Potter fanfic at a hundred paces, though. I read the first couple of books, saw the first... three movies, maybe, and never read HP fanfic. 2w
@Puddlejumper I knew Dramione was a thing, but you'd have to work hard to get me to see it, y'know? Which might be part of why this didn't work for me. 2w