Hate to Love Trope Recommendations // come for the angst and leave w tears

I actually started working on this post at the beginning of Feb and was going to post it randomly but then realized that I might as well post it on Valentine’s Day because let’s be honest, this is the extent of my excitement for the day

But hey, you know some people I do love? my OTPs.

I’ll stop being pathetic one day, but today is not that day.

And you know one trope I love more than myself? Hate to love.

i love vicariously living through fiction

So here are a bunch of my favorite hate to love plot books in a variety of different genres,,,, you’re welcome.

Contemporary

❁ The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic ❁

Young Adult, M/M

I am unapologetic. HEAR ME OUT, THERE IS SLOW BURN GAY ROMANCE AND FOUND FAMILY AND AN ADDICTIVE PLOT AND JAPANESE MAFIA AND TRAGIC PASTS. People get hurt and there’s lots of angst and the heartbrEAKING DIALOGUE. According to a modern study, it’s not possible to not emerge as Top Quality Trash after reading these books, I’m soz I can’t disagree with Science.

❁ Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett ❁

Young Adult

This is your classic Childhood Best-friends turned Enemies are stranded in the middle of nowhere w lots of emotional baggage summer contemporary that you didn’t know you needed.

you’re welcome.

❁ The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata ❁

Adult

This is 0% Angst and 100% Comfort Reading material. I promise you, this entire book is FILLED WITH WHOLESOME CONTENT that’s going make you feel completely at peace. And it’s that comforting content + the drama of hate to love AND fake relationship so,,, y’all. Do I even need to be more convincing??

❁ The Hating Game by Sally Thorne ❁

The Hating Game is straight up of my faves and honestly,,, a legend in this genre bc to this date, you can still find me rereading this gem. It’s partially office romance + so cute & intense and also VERY comforting.

hilarious banter + highly entertaining plot + hate to love arc v well done + sizzling chemistry & romance = me, a very happy reader

Fantasy

❁ Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat ❁

Adult, m/m, tw: highly graphic content

enemies to lovers, more like enemies to reluctant allies to even more reluctant confidants to hopeless lovers to husbands don’t touch me

❁ The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski ❁

Young Adult

Same vibes as Captive Prince w court politics, enemy slaves and reluctant allies except more whimsical and slow burn and it will torture you but also has such a good wrap up, I’m dying.

also petition for Marie Rutkoski to write more books, i’m thirsty

❁ The Cruel Prince by Holly Black ❁

100% slytherin book + mc is a sword wielding ambitious character w intense shades of grey + every character is scheming something and no one is innocent + excellent court politics + plot twists that will BLOW YOUR MIND + the bloody romance, oh my (esp the sequel, I’m still recovering from that)

❁ Carry On by Rainbow Rowell ❁

Okay, there are those intense fantasy books and then there’s Carry On. This book is for those of you crazy Drarry shippers who just needed this in their lives. Simon and Baz need to be protected and I shall not consent to anything but wholesome content. This book is a fantasy that reads like a contemporary so it’s somehow even better.

❁ Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo ❁

do I even need to pitch this book anymore

Nina and Matthias’s arc in this book is Hardcore Enemies to Reluctant Allies to Tentative Friends to Even More Hate Fuelled Distrustful Enemies to Finally Lovers and listen, I am here for that

also can we talk about that collector’s edition cover, i bought it and i cannot stop LOOKING at it goddammit

Dystopian / Post Apocalyptic

❁ Angelfall by Susan Ee ❁

It makes me SO MAD that these books are so underrated. If I can convince people to read ONE book recommended by me, it would be this book (and trilogy). I don’t think anyone can dislike these books. It’s not even allowed.

there’s some beautiful chemistry between Penryn, my fave, and Raffe, my everything, and it’s gritty and dark and yes, it’s an Angel- Human romance and if you’re rolling your eyes right now, don’t because it’s nothing like you expect.

there’s hilarious, snarky banter + slow burn enemies to lovers forbidden romance + soft siblings rep that breaks my heart + it’s dark and so gritty, it FEELS like the end of the world + ACTION PACKED BECAUSE MY GIRL PENRYN CAN KICK ASS

❁ Evenfall by Sonny & Ais ❁

I didn’t know I needed Evenfall in my life until I read it.

Sin is a trained assassin, painted as a psycho killing machine (which he is but,,, it’s complicated) and Boyd is a civilian who’s so sad and tired that he’s disconnected himself from his own emotions; and he’s been assigned to become Sin’s partner in a bunch of deadly missions. They… hate each other but they’re perfect partners and it gets really angsty, y’all.

❁ Poison Princess by Kresley Cole ❁

It’s been a long time since I read this book and I can’t remember exactly what I thought of it except the plot is crazy interesting. I think it has an Apocalypse + mythology + tarot card intermix which I thought was really intriguing. From what I remember, the mc is the proper “princess” kinda character and the love interest is a rough n tough street gang guy.

Honourable Mentions

or the I Couldn’t Fit These In One Genre mentions

Starflight by Melissa Landers

I read this a long time ago but I still remember how much fun I had reading this book. It’s a standalone Sci-Fi, set in Space and has an amazing crew of rebels and thieves who are running from jackass authorities.
It follows Solara, an outcast of sorts, who is planning on escaping Earth but needs a spaceship to carry her. She reluctantly agrees to be the maid of Doran Spaulding, her childhood nemesis, if he gives her passage on his shuttle. 

it’s got banter + space pirates + found family of miscreants + did I mention space pirates

Sanctum by Sarah Fine

Granted this is a very short lived enemies to lovers, but it’s a great book and I want everyone to read it.

Sanctum is a paranormal fantasy of sorts about a girl named Lela who goes into the Suicide land, one of the sects of Hell, to rescue her best friend and forms an alliance with Malachi- one of the Shadowhunters- to help find her friend.

it’s unlike your typical YA paranormal fantasy; it’s really dark and gritty and doesn’t flinch from getting depressing (but not in a heavy way).

Nevermore by Kelly Kreagh

You think you’ve had enough of the “blonde cheerleader gets paired up w the goth outcast for a project and they fall in love” trope? well. Think again, because trust me, this book is nothing like it.

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like Nevermore. You think you know where the plot is heading and then suddenly it’s just a blast of lyrical poetry and ghosts and dreams. Reading this book is like experiencing a lucid dream.

I feel like I’ve been working on this post forever and oh god it’s finally complete, where is my reward pizza.

happy valentine’s, folks

---