For those of us who binge-watched Bridgerton Season 2 and read The Viscount Who Loved Me in a weekend, there is nothing better than a couple that starts out as enemies and ends up as lovers.
To cure your book hangover after Anthony and Kate’s epic romance, I’ve got more historical romances with hate-to-love plots.
These twelve historical romance novels all build their angst around that premise. The hero and heroine start out with a deep resentment towards each other, which of course is only masking a relentless attraction. If that is your favorite historical romance trope, check these books out NOW!
Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase
The enemies and lovers: Sophy and Harry
The plot: Sophy runs an ambitious modiste’s shop. Her business model is to sneak into society balls and print the hot gossip along with descriptions of dresses made by her shop. However, some of those dresses have been involved in scandal, meaning business is drying up. And Harry is only getting in the way. But when his sister goes missing, they must work together to find her.
Born to be Wilde by Eloisa James
The enemies and lovers: Lavinia and Parth
The plot: Lavinia is in desperate need of money, so she goes to work trying to find a husband who will take her. When she proposes to her old childhood nemesis Parth, he laughs in her face. Then he follows her around London, upset that she is considering marrying someone else. As they learn more about each other, they realize why they have so much animosity, and it turns into something else entirely.
A Delicate Deception by Cat Sebastian
The enemies and lovers: Amelia and Sydney
The plot: The enemies-to-lovers aesthetic here is more Darcy and Elizabeth than sworn enemies from birth. When Sydney interrupts Amelia’s daily walks, she is irritated and picks arguments with him. But then he proves himself good company, and she is more than willing to get to know him.
The Dragon and the Pearl by Jeannie Lin
The enemies and lovers: Ling Suyin and Li Tao
The plot: Ling Suyin lives a quiet life as the former courtesan of the empire. Until the famous warrior Li Tao kidnaps her to his castle. She is sure he plans to kill her, while Li Tao is more focused on figuring out who anonymously warned him she was in danger. In close quarters, they learn more about each other and get physical.
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
The enemies and lovers: Maddie and Logan
The plot: Years ago, Maddie’s family tried to force her into a Season, so she invented an imaginary Scottish soldier as her fiance. She even wrote letters to him. Now she is an independent woman living in a castle in Scotland, having “killed off” her fiance. Except he shows up, kilt and all, to claim their marriage. At first, neither trusts the other. Maddie is convinced he is using her, while Logan can’t forgive her for casting him off. They do marry, however, and in that close proximity, their suspicion turns into a much more entertaining emotion.
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Choose your favorite first sentences for a personalized book recommendation.
A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews
The enemies and lovers: Laura and Alex
The plot: Alex is on his way to woo an heiress when he spots Laura drowning in a pond. Except she isn’t drowning; she was happily submerged underwater. Thus, their relationship begins with a whole lot of resentment, which only deepens when it turns out that Alex is wooing Laura’s best friend. However, they just can’t help being drawn to each other. Note: this is a closed door romance!
Mischief by Amanda Quick
The enemies and lovers: Imogen and Matthias
The plot: Imogen summons Matthias to help her plot revenge on her friend’s death, by way of antiquities. As an expert in Zamarian treasures, Matthias thinks Imogen is pretty crazy, and he is threatened by her own expertise in the culture. He agrees to help because he owes her uncle, but he does so grudgingly. Until somehow, that grudge turns into very fiery lust…
A Dangerous Kind of Lady by Mia Vincy
The enemies and lovers: Arabella and Guy
The plot: Their parents have been planning for them to marry since they were young. As a result, they have always hated each other. Once his father dies,Guy ends the engagement, thinking he is doing them both a favor. But Arabella’s parents have given her an ultimatum: marry or get thrown out to the streets. Backed into a corner, she agrees to marry the one man most likely to drive Guy crazy. And that is just the beginning of the games between these two childhood nemeses.
An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
The enemies and lovers: Malcolm and Elle
The plot: Talk about enemies. Malcolm - in disguise - shows up as a Confederate soldier, in the Southern house where Elle - in disguise - serves as a mute slave. In truth, they are both fighting for the Union, but Elle still doesn’t trust Malcolm. Still, they work together to gather key intelligence, and they can’t deny their growing attraction as they do so.
Duke of My Heart by Kelly Bowen
The enemies and lovers: Ivory and Max
The plot: Ivory solves scandals. When she is called to the duke’s house to solve the scandal of an earl being found dead - stark naked - in the duke’s little sister’s bed, Ivory figures it is a night like any other. But then the duke shows up and insists she stop her work. From there, Ivory and Max are at each other’s throats, each fighting to solve the problem themselves. When they finally start working together, they realize there is a lot to admire about each other.
About a Rogue by Caroline Linden
The enemies and lovers: Max and Bianca
The plot: Max is determined to marry into a successful business family, and he decides the Tate family pottery will do. The eldest daughter agrees to marry him, but on the wedding day, she disappears - and the Tate father offers his younger daughter, Bianca, instead. Max and Bianca both agree because they want control of the business. While Max keeps an open mind, Bianca hates him and all he stands for, no matter that he is kind and supportive and oh, so handsome.
Bonus: My Enemies-to-Lovers Regency Romance
The Viscount Without Virtue by Katherine Grant
The enemies and lovers: Max and Ellen
The plot: Max Hainsworth sneaks into Northfield Hall in disguise as a carpenter’s assistant so that he can write an expose on Ellen’s father. Since she is actually a carpenter, she can tell he has no clue what he is doing, but she lets him stay so she can flirt with him. Until she discovers he is there to humiliate her family. Then she has to decide whether to throw him out or play along.