This Rec League is from Christy!
Sarah: Rivals to lovers without petty bickering. This is kind of a tall order because a lot of attempts at this trope rely on bickering, which can get tiresome.I’ve been in a reading slump of several “enemies to lovers” and I have DNF’ed the past 4 books in a row.
I have found this trope can be weighed down by too much bickering, immaturity (especially in a professional context!), conflict that could be resolved with a conversation, or a main character lying or omitting the truth. I find all of these to be tedious, and I jump ship.
I think about books that I have loved in this category such as Heated Rivalry, or The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. The conflict between the characters is more nuanced, and they have to navigate the complex context of their situation to come together and address the conditions that have pitted them against each other.
I’m wondering if people have recommendations for this trope that they would recommend? I’m looking for zero bickering!
I keep coming up with examples and then think, No, no, they were really unprofessional at work. Rachel Lynn Solomon writes this trope well. Today Tonight Tomorrow has two high school rivals teaming up for a senior night scavenger hunt of sorts
The Ex Talk as well.
Amanda, there’s a Christina Lauren that is tickling my brain but I can’t remember which. Maybe Unhoneymooners?
Amanda: I wouldn’t say they are rivals in that one.
Dating You Hating You has a workplace rivalry though! Two Hollywood talent agencies merge and the hero and heroine are rival agents.
Sarah: That’s the one I was thinking about.
What books would you recommend? Drop them in the comments!
I prefer the term antagonists-to-lovers because it implies there are good reasons for the MCs to occupy opposite positions. I think CD Reiss’s IRON CROWNE is a really great example of the antagonists-to-lovers trope: the hero is a property developer with a reputation for skirting environmental laws, the heroine is an environmental lawyer. Reiss (an extremely underrated writer, imho) writes smart, strong, self-aware characters—and there’s always a lot of heat between them.
Branded by Fire – Nalini Singh. Mercy and Riley are rivals who need to work together for the good of their packs. I like the story and the heat.
I liked Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin a lot. It involves two people that were friends once upon a time but had a wicked falling out (it was a high school thing, because teenagers) and now they’re both running for president of their homeowner’s association. Vibes happen, chemistry happens, and they also really like each other once they figure things out. Super snarky and funny.
End of Story by Kylie Scott. I don’t remember it having bickering or lack of communication. While I could be wrong, I remember it being a really emotionally mature book, which sounds like a good fit.
End of Story by Kylie Scott. I don’t remember it having bickering or lack of communication. While I could be wrong, I remember it being a really emotionally mature book, which sounds like a good fit.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne is an excellent example of the workplace rivals to lovers category.
Dating You Hating You by Christina Lauren is also really good. Julie James has a workplace rivals book, Practice Makes Perfect which I also recall really liking.
Kate Canterbary’s The Worst Guy and I Love You, I Hate You by Elizabeth Davis have protagonists who can actually be described as enemies at the start of the story. I love The Worst Guy and really liked I Love You, I Hate You.
Lucy Parker! Her “Headliners” has two rival news/morning show hosts who end up working together to soften the edges of that rivalry (it’s starting to look less fun and more mean to viewers). “Battle Royale” has two professional bakers with opposite styles competing to win the right to make a wedding cake for a member of the royal family. Both stories really sell the rivalry AND the initially-grudging respect both MCs have for each other, and the developing romances never feel forced.
I personally loved THE HATING GAME, but if that’s too much bickering/HR nightmarish for you (which, I get it!), try HER FAVORITE RIVAL by Sarah Mayberry. The characters are work rivals but manage to act professionally and communicate well while navigating a romance.
Beth O’Leary’s THE WAKE-UP CALL might work, though perhaps too much unprofessional work behavior?
I also thought of Loretta Chase’s MISS WONDERFUL, where the hero and heroine are at odds over a canal-building scheme.
The Prospects by KT Hoffman
Rivalry between baseball players
The Duke who Hates Christmas by Bianca Blythe
Historical with plenty of humor
Karma Girl by Jennifer Estep
Superhero romance with humor and secret identies
That time I got drunk and accidentally saved a demon
Just pure fun
Someone you can build a nest in – John Wiseell
This one is a bit out there and maybe not completely a romance depending on what you’re looking for but I keep thinking about it since I finished it.
I just finished HERE WE GO AGAIN by Alison Cochrun and I think it completely fits @Christy’s definition: “The conflict between the characters is more nuanced, and they have to navigate the complex context of their situation to come together and address the conditions that have pitted them against each other.” The MCs were best friends as teens, had a falling out over unresolved feelings for each other, and must join together as adults when a fellow teacher at the high school where they both work asks them to transport him on a cross-country trip via van to his chosen final resting place (he’s dying of cancer).
Sounds grim, I know, and there’s some bickering between the MCs, but it fits the characters and the context. All told, I thought it was a beautifully told story about love, friendship, resolving past trauma, and the incredible impact a teacher can have on their students’ lives.
I know there’s at least one of Julie James’ that does this, but I’m blanking in the name
Draco Malloy and The Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love by isthisselfcare on AO3 is my all time favorite enemies to lovers. I would call what they do more banter than bicker. It’s great.
The Wrong Guy by Kate Canterbary. Brilliant workplace situation.
10,000 Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase
Teach Me by Olivia Dade was one of my favorite reads of 2019. The teacher protagonists are placed in opposition by pedagogical politicking, yet manage to maintain their professionalism and find common ground. In fact, they are an premier example of full-fledged adults adulting like champions. The high school setting feels really authentic and free from cliche. I really loved stern, self-contained Rose and warm-hearted, reasonable Martin, and there was no bickering to be seen.
I think every author who writes mm hockey romance has at least one book that fits this. Two that I like (even though they are second to Heated Rivalry of course!):
Breakaway – Avon Gale
Game Misconduct – Ari Baran
Also Keira Andrews has written several ice skater mm romances that fit this, though I think they might be more accurately characterized as enemies to lovers rather than rivals to lovers (or maybe both). They’re pretty good (my ratings are 3 to 4 stars) though I think I like the hockey versions of this trope better.
Alexis Hall’s Winner Bakes All series also fits this. I think the reaction among the Bitchery has been mixed on that series, but one thing you can always count on from Hall is that the banter is never nasty or immature.
@Algae429 – I came here to recommend PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, which I read in one sitting and which made Julie James an autobuy for me. Maybe that’s the one you’re thinking of? Two rival attorneys both vying for the same promotion?
Sexy as Sin by Rosalind James challenges high-powered international developer Brett Hunter to win over an up-and-coming chef Willow Sanderson. She’s a local produce, sustainable agriculture and all things natural Kiwi. She’s also a surfer and they meet when, despite a lifelong phobia of water, Brett pulls her out of the ocean after Willow is nearly drowned pulling child to safety after a shark attack. I enjoyed the determined wooing and reluctant thawing between the two of them. Willow is convinced they are antagonists, but Brett is committed to proving her wrong.
I second the two Lucy Parker books – Battle Royale and Headliners!
I was also thinking of The Last Word by Katy Birchall, but I wouldn’t say that has *zero* petty bickering…
With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson was a really lovely workplace rivalry romance that did not rely on bickering or unprofessionalism.
Breeze Spells and Bridgrooms by Sarah Wallace and S.O. Callahan fits this. Two gay men, alternate history London, and accidental fake engagement — I couldn’t put it down!
Since I can’t edit: I missed the zero bickering at first — the book I mentioned does have some in the beginning when they still think they hate each other, but it decreases dramatically as you go through.
Sarah Mayberry has a couple–Her Favorite Rival, Can’t Get Enough–I honestly cannot recall how much bickering there is, but I don’t recall them being heavy on that. Ms Mayberry writes so well–I do want to reread these now, LOL.
I have read Keira Andrews’ Kiss and Cry, which @squee me mentioned, and I did enjoy that m/m rival figure skaters story.
Beth Bolden’s The Rivalry, m/m football, about two quarterbacks, one at the top of his game, the other a rising star.
On a Roll, also by Beth Bolden, is a m/m story about food-truck owners. The whole series is a favorite of mine.
Annabeth Albert’s Wrapped Together in her Portland Heat series is about two shop owners.
Jeannie Chin’s The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane is a bit of a rivals to lovers in that the two main characters head businesses that are competing for resources… A really lovely story.
Jonny Garza Villa’s Canto Contigo, about singers competing for the lead in a mariachi group.
Erin Nicholas’s Turned Up, about two doctors in a small town in Nebraska. Loved this one!
Also, her Getting Over It–the two main characters have been at odds but also really not 🙂
Jeannie Lin’s The Sword Dancer?
And I think most of Joanna Bourne’s Spymasters series has that tension, but especially Adrian Hawkhurst and Justine DeCabrillac’s The Black Hawk (although their story begins in the earlier books).
Ugh, I hate doing this every time, but the mileage is really going to vary on Practice Makes Perfect. I actually hated it so much I have never read another Julie James.
I’m too lazy to go and look up the spoiler html (could we add that to the tags and attributes section?) but here’s some vague reasons: the escalations are *not* proportionate to each other; the kind of law they do is *not* socially progressive (and I don’t mean in a neutral way like estate planning); and so the happy ending feels extremely emblematic of the worst impulses of white feminism.
I really liked the Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary
Oh my goodness – a huge thank you to everyone! I was so excited to see my request on the Rec League and now I’m so excited to get reading!
A few more recommendations:
The Fall That Saved Us by Tamara Jerée
Moody, sexy Sapphic urban fantasy romance between an ex-demon hunter and the demon who was sent to seduce and destroy her but ends up helping her heal. There’s a lot of cozy comfort in this book but be warned that the dark parts are pretty dark.
Let Love Rule by Frances M. Thompson
M/F bi4bi work rivals / opposites attract romance. There may be a little bickering at the beginning – I don’t remember. But I do remember that this is my favorite type of romance – Emotionally satisfying, relatively low conflict – and the protagonists help each other sort out their families.
And another hockey mm.
Unrivaled (Hockey Ever After #3) by Morgan James and Ashlyn Kane
4 stars – Tropey, emotionally satisfying rivals to lovers mm hockey romance. This doesn’t break any new ground but it’s fun and engaging. It’s pretty stand alone.
Riley Hart also has a couple good sports mm rivals to lovers.
If you like scifi, The Darkness Outside us fits this rec league. I loved the book but be for-warned that the blurb makes it sound lighter and more YA than it is (which meant it ended up being exactly my jam). There’s a second book coming out in October but don’t fret if you don’t like cliffhangers! The first book does wrap up the story, though I can see plenty of options for subsequent books.
I don’t have anything new to add but wanted to add votes on various other suggestions:
– I strongly agree with @omphale’s dissenting opinion of the Julie James. The hero’s behavior, especially, crossed all kinds of lines for me, and when you find out the real reason for the feud, it’s incredibly juvenile.
– Sarah Mayberry is fabulous. I haven’t reread her books for a while, but now, like @flchen1, I kind of want to. From what I remember, her professional rivals always acted like adults.
Love the Sarah Mayberry mention, my fave is Her Worst Best Mistake. Best Friend and ex-fiance. It is such a satisfying story.
Yes! I was here to mention The WakeUp Call by Beth O’Leary too. Loved it! And i’m a hating game girlie but they are super immature at times.