Four Keys to Writing Enemies-to-Lovers Without Boring Your Reader

One of the most popular tropes in fiction these days is the enemies-to-lovers trope. Despite its popularity, enemies-to-lovers is one of the easiest tropes to ruin with predictable beats or rushed developments. When the hate feels petty or unjustified, the reader may get bored waiting for them to just get over it already and get to the resolution. 

By having the characters earn every step along the way, from enemies to lovers, a writer can ensure the stakes of the characters’ enmity are just as high as the stakes of their love. There are four keys to help keep the tension there as you develop your characters’ arcs: justified animosity, cracks in the armor, a slow reveal of vulnerability, and the tipping point.

Justified Animosity

Justified animosity is a believable, high-stakes reason for the couple’s hatred that is deeply rooted in their world or personal values. The conflict can’t just be petty–it needs to be more than a misunderstanding or something that could easily be solved in a few conversations. It should stem from opposing factions, incompatible worldviews (like in sci-fi or fantasy), or come from a direct violation of one character’s core belief. 

Examples of conflicts: career rivals, sports rivals, opposing sides of a conflict, rival families, rumors, situations outside their control, external circumstances, etc. 

It is essential to show the characters genuinely believe they must oppose the other person, even when finding them physically attractive. This helps build the tension as they wrestle with physical desire and moral disgust. 

The best way to demonstrate the conflict between the two characters is to use action or dialogue showing they are a genuine threat to each other’s goals, factions, or lives. An important note:  when writing enemies-to-lovers in the beginning, avoid making their conflict about outright cruelty or abuse. 

Developing Cracks in the Armor

The next phase of writing enemies-to-lovers is developing cracks in their armor. Introduce moments that complicate their internal hatred without resolving it. This is the slow burn where curiosity replaces animosity. 

There are a few different ways to go about this, but here are a few potential options: 

• Forced Proximity: Put the characters in a situation where they must rely on each other to survive (one of my personal favorites!). 
• Unexpected Competence: Show that the “enemy” is exceptionally good at something the protagonist values (fighting, strategy, loyalty, etc). Respect begins to chip away at the contempt. 
• Shared Burden: Create a brief moment where the cost of their conflict is shared, or where they work together on a neutral goal. 
• Involuntary Confinement: The characters could be trapped in a stalled elevator, locked in a room, or in a prison cell together, etc. 

The Slow Reveal of Vulnerability

Once you have given the characters cracks in their armor, the next step is the slow reveal of vulnerability. This is your chance to build emotional intimacy that justifies the coming romantic turn, focusing on their inner struggles rather than physical attraction. 

You can accomplish this through a private moment between the two characters. The vulnerability must be witnessed only by the enemy, such as catching the enemy breaking down after a loss, revealing a deep fear, etc. This vulnerable moment is the catalyst for the protagonist to change from judging the other to understanding them. The antagonist becomes human. 

One powerful way to show this is for one character to perform an unexpected act of mercy or protection for the other, despite the potential cost to themselves. This act is a declaration of shifting priorities. 

The Tipping Point (Or Narrative Pivot)

The tipping point of enemies-to-lovers is when the characters share a moment of no return, and the relationship status is permanently defined by action. One character must make a clear choice that clearly invalidates their former enmity. They choose the love interest over their duty, faction, or life. This decision will, of course, have massive consequences for the plot and the world. 

At this pivotal moment, the relationship changes from “will they/won’t they?” to “how will they survive now that they have chosen each other?” This is critical for avoiding boredom, as the external conflict should intensify. 

However you plan to end the narrative, whether happily ever after or happy for now, the payoff should be intense enough that your reader will close the book satisfied with the relationship’s progress. 

Contact J. Berry Editorial for Professional Enemies-to-Lovers Romance Editing

Writing a high-stakes, romantic enemies-to-lovers narrative can take some practice, but once you hit the right beats, your readers will swoon! 

If you need a professional eye on your enemies-to-lovers manuscript, contact me at J. Berry Editorial. I offer manuscript evaluations designed to help you understand what is working well in your story and what could be improved. If your manuscript is further along, I also offer developmental editing services that provide detailed feedback on key elements of your story, like characters, setting, story structure, dialogue, and more. 

Submit a request for a sample edit today, and let’s make your manuscript exceptionally swoon-worthy together!