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Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'
The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
37 reviews
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
This did not work for me. I hate to rate a debut author low, but I actually did not enjoy my time reading this book.
The worldbuilding was confusing - set in a 'different world' (the map is clearly the UK), but then there were references to real historical things/people (ex: daguerrotypes) that didn't align with our historical timeline. So I wish they had either gone full high fantasy or kept things more historically accurate. The magic system isn't explained well, so I was honestly confused about it the entire book. Like what does Osric use his magic for when it's not broken? I was texting my friend who'd read it to ask questions (she didn't know either). The plot was slow and honestly I was quite bored for most of the book. Also I'm sorry but Aurienne is dull and every time we were in her pov I was uninterested. But the worst part was the humor. Crude/potty jokes are just not my personal taste and that was all we got. No good banter. And then the book ends in the most abrupt way that's so jarring.
Honestly I don't even know if I'll read the sequel.
The worldbuilding was confusing - set in a 'different world' (the map is clearly the UK), but then there were references to real historical things/people (ex: daguerrotypes) that didn't align with our historical timeline. So I wish they had either gone full high fantasy or kept things more historically accurate. The magic system isn't explained well, so I was honestly confused about it the entire book. Like what does Osric use his magic for when it's not broken? I was texting my friend who'd read it to ask questions (she didn't know either). The plot was slow and honestly I was quite bored for most of the book. Also I'm sorry but Aurienne is dull and every time we were in her pov I was uninterested. But the worst part was the humor. Crude/potty jokes are just not my personal taste and that was all we got. No good banter. And then the book ends in the most abrupt way that's so jarring.
Honestly I don't even know if I'll read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book and honestly struggled to pick a rating. I did not think I would like it due to the third person narrative, following both characters. There is a certain amount of distance that you feel from the characters and in a way that does not immerse you into the story completely. Although the characters had a lot of development throughout the book, they did not seem to have a lot of depth.
With all that being said I found this book quite entertaining, and very humerous in a dry kind of way. From the way the characters spoke, to the thoughts/descriptions, and even the title names. This book was littered with comedy throughout and I was often giggling.
I did enjoy this book more than I expected to. Without giving spoilers I will say that I was frustrated by the ending of the book. It felt like the ending came up very randomly and there was so much unresolved. The main story is about the FMC healing the MMC, but that feels like it gets thrown out at the end and the mystery subplot suddenly takes over the entire story.
This was a true enemies to lovers. Not a "the FMC misunderstands the MMC and he is actually a good guy and the whole enemy thing was not even real." No. This is a legit enemies to lovers where they hate each other and put up with each other due to what they need from the other. I really enjoyed how this was different from the enemies to lovers trope of so many romantasy books.
This book is 70% dialogue so I was expecting it to be a quick read, but I ended up reading it in my average time (3 days).
Although I did find the ending frustrating, I will be reading the second when it relases.
With all that being said I found this book quite entertaining, and very humerous in a dry kind of way. From the way the characters spoke, to the thoughts/descriptions, and even the title names. This book was littered with comedy throughout and I was often giggling.
I did enjoy this book more than I expected to. Without giving spoilers I will say that I was frustrated by the ending of the book. It felt like the ending came up very randomly and there was so much unresolved. The main story is about the FMC healing the MMC, but that feels like it gets thrown out at the end and the mystery subplot suddenly takes over the entire story.
This was a true enemies to lovers. Not a "the FMC misunderstands the MMC and he is actually a good guy and the whole enemy thing was not even real." No. This is a legit enemies to lovers where they hate each other and put up with each other due to what they need from the other. I really enjoyed how this was different from the enemies to lovers trope of so many romantasy books.
This book is 70% dialogue so I was expecting it to be a quick read, but I ended up reading it in my average time (3 days).
Although I did find the ending frustrating, I will be reading the second when it relases.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Sexual content
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first half was very slow, but the second half was much better paced and the story really started to come together. I enjoyed the shades of grey in (most of) the characters.
The ending is one of those big cliffhangers that people seem to think is needed for series - I really wish there was a little more resolution to feel like it was a satisfying ending. I will probably pick up Book 2, but I hope the pacing is more balanced.
The ending is one of those big cliffhangers that people seem to think is needed for series - I really wish there was a little more resolution to feel like it was a satisfying ending. I will probably pick up Book 2, but I hope the pacing is more balanced.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Violence
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Throughout this book I kept thinking, "Oh, so THIS is what banter is supposed to look like". The dialogue is the best part of this book, what really kept me reading. It's smart and witty without being cringey. The main characters are fun to follow. I was so glad to see that Aurienne's character is smart and disciplined without being boring; in turn Osric is morally grey but still likable.
I thought the setting of alternate London worked really well and made the world-building make sense. The plot dipped a bit in the middle, but the ending made up for it tenfold. I'm usually not a huge fan of cliffhanger endings, but this one felt natural for the story and made me excited to read the next one.
I thought the setting of alternate London worked really well and made the world-building make sense. The plot dipped a bit in the middle, but the ending made up for it tenfold. I'm usually not a huge fan of cliffhanger endings, but this one felt natural for the story and made me excited to read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Gore
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What you should know going into this book is that it isn't Objectively Good, but it does know what it is, and that's what makes it good.
This book has no pretenses. It isn't setting up an epic fantasy arc. It doesn't claim to be the next ACOTAR or Fourth Wing. This book knows its destiny is to be a romp of devilry and charm. It's irreverent, it's delightful caricature, it's pure fluff for when you just want an easy read with a healthy dose of mostly well-executed banter.
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy has a dark humor to it that belies its lightheartedness, which is what I think worked so well for me. You'll either enjoy it or you'll hate it, but either way, you'll finish and immediately look up when the sequel releases.(Allegedly July 2026.)
This book has no pretenses. It isn't setting up an epic fantasy arc. It doesn't claim to be the next ACOTAR or Fourth Wing. This book knows its destiny is to be a romp of devilry and charm. It's irreverent, it's delightful caricature, it's pure fluff for when you just want an easy read with a healthy dose of mostly well-executed banter.
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy has a dark humor to it that belies its lightheartedness, which is what I think worked so well for me. You'll either enjoy it or you'll hate it, but either way, you'll finish and immediately look up when the sequel releases.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Murder, Classism
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.0⭐️
Fairhrim pressed fingers to her temples. "Mordaunt."
(She said his name like it was a swear word and he rather liked it.)
VIBES
💕 Slow burn
💕 Enemies to allies
💕 Whimsical + absurd worldbuilding
💕 Highbrow, tongue-in-cheek humour
💕 Sass + bickering + banter
💕 UST (heavy on the U)
💕 Assassin (flirt) × healer (oblivious)
💕 Magical quest plot
💕 Mystery plot
💬 Dual POV
💬 Third-person, past tense
💕 Enemies to allies
💕 Whimsical + absurd worldbuilding
💕 Highbrow, tongue-in-cheek humour
💕 Sass + bickering + banter
💕 UST (heavy on the U)
💕 Assassin (flirt) × healer (oblivious)
💕 Magical quest plot
💕 Mystery plot
💬 Dual POV
💬 Third-person, past tense
THOUGHTS (spoiler-lite™)
This was a very, very, very high four-star read for me. It actually pains me a little not to just round up because the vibes were immaculate, but there were small issues that hindered my enjoyment while reading. And besides, I need some wiggle room to give book #2 a higher rating.
Note: I pull a few Mortifying Ordeal comparisons here. I am aware that Irresistible Urge is not a rewrite, but they are still written by the same author, so I think my points are justified.
The Writing:
When Knightley announced that she was getting published, this is the reason I knew I'd buy it, whatever it was. The specific brand of writing in Mortifying Ordeal is light-hearted in tone and filled with quippy narration, has richness and emotional depth, and is academic without being pretentious. I certainly found Irresistible Urge hit most of these same beats, but the humour did rely a little too much on vulgarity and the prose got a little too flashy (read: unnecessary use of synonyms and French) for my tastes.
The other noteworthy part of this Specific Brand of writing is the capitalisation, which Knightley uses to emphasise phrases that are Not Proper Nouns so that they read like proper nouns. I actually love this—in fact, I use the trademark emoji much to the same effect—but I did find it got more frequent and less sensical further in the novel.
Note: I pull a few Mortifying Ordeal comparisons here. I am aware that Irresistible Urge is not a rewrite, but they are still written by the same author, so I think my points are justified.
The Writing:
When Knightley announced that she was getting published, this is the reason I knew I'd buy it, whatever it was. The specific brand of writing in Mortifying Ordeal is light-hearted in tone and filled with quippy narration, has richness and emotional depth, and is academic without being pretentious. I certainly found Irresistible Urge hit most of these same beats, but the humour did rely a little too much on vulgarity and the prose got a little too flashy (read: unnecessary use of synonyms and French) for my tastes.
The other noteworthy part of this Specific Brand of writing is the capitalisation, which Knightley uses to emphasise phrases that are Not Proper Nouns so that they read like proper nouns. I actually love this—in fact, I use the trademark emoji much to the same effect—but I did find it got more frequent and less sensical further in the novel.
Fairhrim had no business having Thighs of Interest.
Osric pondered Why That Could Be?
The Worldbuilding:
Much like Mortifying Ordeal, this book gave me whimsical and absurd Alice in Wonderland/Good Omens/Hitchhiker's Guide vibes! Chapter 6, especially, had me actually laughing with its critique crickets and nonsensical signposts. Although, while some scenes were a lot of fun, I did find there wasn't nearly as much whimsy here as I hoped for.
I think Knightley has done a great job at creating a whole new world for this story, though. The magical system was unique and interesting; the seith, costs, shadow-walking, and deofols especially stand out among other fantasy novels. I did find the setting a little ambiguous—Knightley’s review says it’s set in an ‘alternate UK,’ but that’s not explained in the book (unless you count the UK-shaped map at the start)—and I wanted a little more on-page explanation of the kingdoms and Orders, but I’m trusting that we’ll get more in the next book! I was never confused, I just wanted more.
The Plot:
There are two main plots here: (1) Fairhrim's quest to find 'between' or 'thin' places and times, where magic is stronger, in order to heal Mordaunt, and (2) unravelling the highly suspicious Platt's Pox outbreak. While I really enjoyed both plots, I did find the former to be not as whimsical or interesting as I expected (again, the bar was set high with Mortifying Ordeal's pagan lore and talking skulls), and the latter greatly overshadowed the former when it finally gained traction.
My biggest gripe, however, was that neither plot was concluded! While I was reading, I really loved that we had two plots to follow because I thought we'd get one wrapped up and one left on a cliffhanger for book #2! While this book ends at a natural turning point in the relationship (kind of), it ends really abruptly in terms of plot.
The Characters:
I really, really loved both Aurienne and Osric. She is uptight, virtuous, highly intelligent, and sharp as a tack. He is sarcastic, surprisingly caring for an assassin, and absolutely, unapologetically flirty. But... I do wonder how much of my love for them comes down to my love for their particular brand of wit, rather than any meaningful character building. We get glimpses of Aurienne with her family, and we learn about Osric's past, but we don't really get much more. While I loved the light-hearted nature of the story and humour, I was hoping for a little more depth and complexity from the main characters.
I also really liked a lot of the side characters, but again, I wish they felt a little more fleshed out or consequential. My favourite side characters, actually, were the deofols! They are whip smart and sassy just like their humans; a lot of the banter I highlighted was just the deofols antagonising the mains.
The Relationship:
This is where my expectations from Mortifying Ordeal were 100% met. Enemies-to-lovers can be so easy to mess up, but Knightly knows how to write truly ethically opposed main characters where their growing attraction forces them to reconsider their whole ethos! Osric and Aurienne graduate from disdain to (reluctant) respect, from repulsion to (denied) attraction. Eventually, Osric feels unadulterated admiration for Aurienne; after all, she is the only woman smart enough and stubborn enough to heal him, how could he not!
This really is the most delicious, excruciating, rewarding slow burn. It takes this whole book for Osric to realise he’s falling in love, and Aurienne is still firmly in denial by the end. Knightley really knows how to keep the ‘unresolved’ in Unresolved Sexual Tension.
Speaking of UST… there are a few moments of sexual and emotional chemistry that are completely denied by the mains; a lot of Osric peacocking in front of (and getting completely ignored by) Aurienne (because he’s always either feared or lusted after… how dare she be *gasp* unaffected?), a couple of solo steamy scenes when they literally can’t help themselves, and…
The Kiss:
Omg. That kiss was to fucking die for. I melted like the wicked witch of the west. I have never ever been so enraptured by a singular kiss before. It was so well written, it was so perfectly placed, it was so romantic and electric and we got both POV’s and I literally re-read it like 4 times because I just couldn’t move on from how beautiful it was. I cannot fucking wait for book #2. If Mortifying Ordeal is anything to go by, Knightley is going to serve.
Okay, I didn’t mean to write a whole damn essay but here we are. Please take my criticisms with a grain of salt, because this book was genuinely very fun! I liked the plots and characters, I loved the humour and slow burn, and I 100% would recommend this to anyone after some light-hearted, intelligent fantasy.
1.0 🌶️
→ explicit
→ solo and secretive
→ once... each
Spicy Chapters:
4.0 🎙️
→ two narrators
→ not a duet
❌ Could've used a little more editing. I only listened a few chapters while I was driving, but I picked up on a few issues, e.g. a repeated line not cut from Osric's narrator, obvious re-recording of a side character's dialogue from Aurienne's narrator (the audio quality drops significantly during their lines).
FAVOURITE QUOTES
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.
_____
"I specified an aseptic environment," said Aurienne. [...]
"It's perfectly clean," said Mordaunt. "There hasn't been a cow here in months. Present company excepted."
So, he was a Fyren and an arsehole. What luck.
The barn wasn't perfectly clean, by the by. There was a heap of steaming excrement right in front of Aurienne, and it could talk.
_____
"Insult me again and I'll have your head."
"You'd be in possession of at least twice the amount of brains, then. [...] Perhaps I should let you. It would be the charitable thing."
_____
"What? What's the matter? Have you mistaken me for someone respectable?"
_____
Mordaunt was distraught and sulky. To be fair to him - not that he deserved fairness, but Aurienne could be generous - he was going to die.
_____
He was a Fine Specimen in the way an abscess might be a Fine Specimen; the best, most shapely, most beautiful abscess in the world still brimmed with foulness and ought to be incised and drained.
_____
"Did it make your skin smooth, at least?"
"As a baby's bum."
"Like your brain, then."
_____
They were eating in the kitchens. Well, Osric was eating. Mrs Parson was attempting to make apricot jam, but the stoned apricots kept disappearing before they could make their way into the pot.
_____
They came to a crossroads marked by two signposts. One pointed left and said, Over Here, and the other pointed right and said, Over There. [...] They came to another sign, which said, Ignore This One. The next said, Notice: Sign Not in Use. [...] Now they came to a sign that pointed up and said, Down.
"Really," said Osric.
They climbed up the Down.
Which upset him.
_____
Osric wished to take a moment to pause and appreciate the beauty - and so, of course, Fairhrim arrived with the gentleness of a small blizzard.
_____
"Got to keep things sporting," said Mordaunt. He pulled a bootlace free. "Besides, I don't want to dirty my knives. You stay here and clutch your pearls."
_____
Osric swept a hand through his hair. She ignored him. He flexed his abs. No reaction. He bit his lip. Disregarded. He made a deep guttural sound when she wiped cold hlutoform against him. She told him to act like a grown man. She was the Worst.
_____
"I'd rather you hate me than not think of me at all."
_____
How could he not admire her? He liked rare things. He cherished the exceptional.
_____
Osric did not want Fairhrim to be beautiful. He was susceptible to beauty. He was an Appreciator of beautiful things. He wanted to acquire them. He wanted them to be his.
_____
What was between them? An ebb and a flow, curiosity and guilt, today's fatal daydream and tomorrow's scars.
_____
He hadn't paid attention. He had been stupid — gods, so stupid. He no longer owned his heart.
The thief was unconscious of her crime.
_____
✄------------------------------
PRE-RELEASE
Update #2: And we've got an excerpt!!
"You’re calm about all of this," said Osric.
"I’m trained to keep a cool head in times of crisis," said Fairhrim. "Though my subjects are usually haemorrhaging blood rather than absurdities."
_____
Update #1: We've got a cover!!And BIPOC Hermione rep!! (I know Knightley said Irresistible Urge is a new story, not a Mortifying Ordeal re-write, but let me have this.)
_____
2025 is THE YEAR for Dramione adaptations!!
Manacled (Alchemised) and The Auction (Rose in Chains) are (will be) pretty heavy reads, so it'll be a breath of fresh air to get DMATMOOBIL (i.e. the best fantasy romcom I've ever read) adapted around the same time.
Obviously, I have faith that these three authors will do justice to their own works and that these books will all be worth owning, but I will be buying copies regardless just to funnel them mymoney eternal gratitude for their AO3 offerings.
Update #1: We've got a cover!!
_____
2025 is THE YEAR for Dramione adaptations!!
Manacled (Alchemised) and The Auction (Rose in Chains) are (will be) pretty heavy reads, so it'll be a breath of fresh air to get DMATMOOBIL (i.e. the best fantasy romcom I've ever read) adapted around the same time.
Obviously, I have faith that these three authors will do justice to their own works and that these books will all be worth owning, but I will be buying copies regardless just to funnel them my
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Genuinely — wow. I loved every second of this one. From reading Bridgitte’s fan fic, I went into this with high expectations, and all of them were met! But you don’t have to know her previous work to fall in love with Knightley. Knightley has such a strong authorial voice that constantly shines through her work. She is brilliantly witty in the truest sense of the word and never misses with her comedic timing and well-placed tension. Reading her work feels like a love letter to The Princess Bride and Jane Austen. It’s fun, you audibly laugh out loud, the banter is infectious, and you feel instantly enamored by her characters. It’s the romcom we have absolutely deserved but never get any more. But yearn no longer, my friends!
Going into this, I knew the main characters were both on their high horses with grandiose ideas about themselves. And, to be fair, I simply love clueless, overly-confident, idiots. It’s a trope I eat up again and again. And if you can make me love a character despite all their faults, you’ve locked me in for a glowing 5 stars.
The worldbuilding is simple enough that it’s easy to follow but fleshed out enough that it stands on its own. I think we’ll get even more in the second part, which I already am desperate to get my hands on. The writing style is so fun and full of smart, sharp humor that carries the tone through the whole book. And as the characters begin to change, the tone slowly (begrudgingly-on-purpose) morphs with them. The pacing is well done and never lags or speeds. This is probably the best and truest example to date I’ve read that can genuinely be crowned enemies to lovers, as so often there isn’t enough loathing to claim that title. But Irresistible Urge truly can.
If you can grab the audiobook, I’d highly recommend it, as the VAs do such an excellent job narrating that dry humor with believable delivery.
I’m sure there’s much more I could prattle on about, but honestly this book is just FUN. And we deserve fun books that can also teach us humility and empathy.
Going into this, I knew the main characters were both on their high horses with grandiose ideas about themselves. And, to be fair, I simply love clueless, overly-confident, idiots. It’s a trope I eat up again and again. And if you can make me love a character despite all their faults, you’ve locked me in for a glowing 5 stars.
The worldbuilding is simple enough that it’s easy to follow but fleshed out enough that it stands on its own. I think we’ll get even more in the second part, which I already am desperate to get my hands on. The writing style is so fun and full of smart, sharp humor that carries the tone through the whole book. And as the characters begin to change, the tone slowly (begrudgingly-on-purpose) morphs with them. The pacing is well done and never lags or speeds. This is probably the best and truest example to date I’ve read that can genuinely be crowned enemies to lovers, as so often there isn’t enough loathing to claim that title. But Irresistible Urge truly can.
If you can grab the audiobook, I’d highly recommend it, as the VAs do such an excellent job narrating that dry humor with believable delivery.
I’m sure there’s much more I could prattle on about, but honestly this book is just FUN. And we deserve fun books that can also teach us humility and empathy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK/Orbit for this eARC
It took me a while to get into the humour of this book, at first I found it a little bit silly, but as soon as I started to get used to the rhythm and flow I couldn’t put it down. Osric and Aurienne are textbook enemies to lovers with the chemistry practically steaming off the page, I ended up loving them both and rooting for their relationship to go somewhere. The worldbuilding is interesting, dark, almost steampunk or gothic in the way it’s portrayed and quite different to anything I’ve read before. I loved the snappy sidekick characters and laughed out loud a few times at their antics. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the world and that ending?!?! - I will be picking up the sequel the moment it’s released.
It took me a while to get into the humour of this book, at first I found it a little bit silly, but as soon as I started to get used to the rhythm and flow I couldn’t put it down. Osric and Aurienne are textbook enemies to lovers with the chemistry practically steaming off the page, I ended up loving them both and rooting for their relationship to go somewhere. The worldbuilding is interesting, dark, almost steampunk or gothic in the way it’s portrayed and quite different to anything I’ve read before. I loved the snappy sidekick characters and laughed out loud a few times at their antics. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the world and that ending?!?! - I will be picking up the sequel the moment it’s released.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death, Sexual content