There’s nothing more satisfying than watching two people who are meant to be go from bickering and resenting one another to realizing that whoops, that feeling they have for that person they think they hate might actually be…attraction? It’s confusing, it’s angsty, and we can’t get enough of it! If you’re a big fan of this trope, whether the love interests are archenemies or merely rivals, then good news! We’ve rounded up some of the best new YA enemies to lovers books that you’ll want to devour!
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
Scottie is getting over a rough break up when she accidentally gets into a fender bender with Irene, an intimidating cheerleader. Their moms force them into a carpooling situation while Irene’s car is getting fixed, and Scottie isn’t happy…until she sees an opportunity to pretend to date Irene to make her ex jealous. It works, but not in the way that Scottie expects when she finds herself catching feelings for Irene!
Last Chance Books by Kelly Rodkey
This book brings all of the You’ve Got Mail vibes with Madeline, who is bent on taking over the family indie bookstore after she graduates from college. But the struggling store and Madeline’s heart are in trouble when a brand new chain bookstore opens up across the street, and she realizes that Jasper, her new crush, works there!
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Liz Buxbaum has been dreaming of her movie-perfect happily ever after, and she’s certain she’ll find it with Michael, a childhood crush who’s recently moved back to town. The only problem? He hasn’t noticed her. So Liz turns to Wes, her annoying next door neighbor who is friends with Michael to try and get her chance. But what happens when she starts falling for the boy she’s hated since they were kids?
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Liz can’t wait to get out of her small Midwestern town, but when she loses her scholarship the only thing stopping her is money. So she decides to do something unconventional: run for prom queen. The winner gets a scholarship, so it could solve all of Liz’s problems. But Liz isn’t exactly prom queen material, and when the cute new girl decides to run against her, Liz finds herself in trouble!
May the Best Man Win by ZR Ellor
After coming out in his senior year as trans, Jeremy isn’t going to let anything or anyone hold him back. He decides to run for homecoming king against his ex-boyfriend Lukas, the captain of the football team. Lukas is just barely keeping it together after two big losses, and now his ex is running against him for homecoming king? Lukas won’t have it. The two embark on an epic campaign that just might end with them admitting they still have feelings for each other.
Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan
Morgan is an athlete who has had to start at a new school her senior year thanks to homophobia at her last school. Ruby is a beauty queen with a passion for fixing up old cars. Their first meeting is not auspicious in the least, and they don’t seem to like each other at all…and yet they can’t help but feel drawn to one another as they realize there is so much more to discover beyond outward appearances.
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
Nishat has recently come out to her parents and it’s not going so well. So now is the perfect time to lose herself in her latest school assignment: Coming up with a business plan and then execute it. Nishat plans on using her art skills to launch her own henna business, but the last thing she expects is the cute new girl, Flávia, to launch a rival business. Now the two are in fierce competition, even as Nishat finds herself falling for Flávia.
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
Bao and Linh are two Vietnamese American teens who’ve always known of each other, but never really connected until they begin to fall for one another. The only problem? Their families are bitter rivals. Both own pho restaurants, and they’ve been competitors for as long they can remember. But the heart wants what it wants, and as Bad and Linh’s relationship deepens, they must confront the source of their families’ feud.
Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
Lizzie Bennet is recast as an aspiring lawyer with one shot at convincing her family she has what it takes. She decides to prove herself by taking on a murder case. One Mr. Bingley has been accused of murder, and Lizzie decides she’ll defend him…but Mr. Bingley already has legal representation in the haughty Mr. Darcy. The two find themselves going head to head in a race to find the murderer.
Made in Korea by Sarah Suk
Valerie has a nice small business at her school, selling Korean beauty products to her classmate. Wes is the new kid, and when his mom gives him Korean beauty products to help him make friends, he decides to sell them and turn a profit. Soon Valerie and Wes are running competing businesses, but their school is only big enough for business. But Valerie has bigger problems when she realizes she’s falling for Wes.
Today, Tonight, Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Rowan and Neil are high school rivals who’ve clashed all throughout school. Now it’s the last day of senior year, and Rowan has one last chance to show up Neil, who stole her title of valedictorian. They’re going to compete in a game that the seniors play every year, but when Rowan is forced to actually team up with Neil, she discovers there is more to her nemesis than she imagined.
What’s Not to Love by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Written by a real-life husband and wife duo, this book is about academic rivals who are sick of each other by the time senior year roles around. When their principal assigns them the task of planning a ten-year reunion for some alumni, they’re forced to work together through their differences…and soon find that perhaps they don’t really hate each other after all. Perhaps they can even fall in love.
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Moon has always felt like the ugly twin, and that doesn’t change when her sister hits social media stardom. Moon tags along for a summer spent on her sister’s tour bus, where she meets Santiago. They can’t stand each other from the minute they meet, but their summer is full of surprising twists and serendipitous moments that keep bringing them together. And pretty soon, Moon has to face the reality that Santiago might be one of the only people in the world who truly sees her.
A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen
Liza and her mom don’t always get along, but she loves baking and she agrees to help her mom out at the family bakery’s annual baking competition. But Liza is shocked to realize that this competition is rigged—it’s full of eligible young men her mom wants her to date. Liza decides to persevere, but she can’t help but be drawn toward James Wong, who is stoic and focused on winning. When their clashes lead to some serious chemistry, Liza finds herself torn between attraction and her mom’s expectations.
I Think I Love You by Auriane Desombre
Emma and Sophia are rival aspiring filmmakers who find themselves pitted against each other in a competition where the winner gets to head to LA for a popular film festival. But the last thing they expect is to start falling for one another…at least, they think that’s what’s happening.
Need more enemies to lovers romance? We’ve got you covered! While you’re at it, check out the best romantic movies based on books, and some great romances set in college.
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