I was thinking about romcoms recently and some of my absolute faves are those based on the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope.
The hetero version: Boy meets girl. She thinks he’s impossible. He thinks she’s stuck up. Hilarity and, eventually, love ensue.
For this trope to work, however, those initial perceptions have to be just a little bit true – he is impossible, at least to start with, and she is a little stuck up – but both traits are about self-preservation. As the reader or audience, we see that each character’s exterior self is a defence mechanism.
And, as we’re familiar with the trope, we just know these characters will shed those prickly layers because they’ve met the other person.
Some of my favourite enemies-to-lovers romcom reads include:
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry
- Two to Tango by Laura Carter
- Not in a Billion Years by Camilla Isley
- Love Quest and The Love Proposal (also) by Camilla Isley
And, of course, the original enemies-to-lovers romcom, Pride and Prejudice is soooo good. No, Darcy, insulting Elizabeth is not how to get her to fall in love with you, you dolt.
Some of my favourite rom-com films also explore this trope and do it brilliantly.
- French Kiss (Kate and Luc)
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (Andie and Ben)
- Overboard (Annie/Joanna and Dean)
- 10 Things I Hate About You (Kat and Patrick)
- Sweet Home Alabama (Melanie and Jake – also a ‘lovers reunited’ story)
- Clueless (Cher and Josh)
- The Proposal (Margaret and Andrew – although he’s not impossible; he’s kinda terrific, actually)
Even Harry and Sally, the main characters in the friends-to-lovers film, When Harry Met Sally, start out as enemies. He’s arrogant. She’s snooty. They become friends, then lovers. But this film – the perfect romantic comedy and my favourite ever – leans heavily on the ‘enemies to lover’ trope.
Engaging with the other person brings out something special in each character. Sally sees Harry’s vulnerable side, getting at the root of his arrogance, and drawing out his better self. Harry appreciates something in Sally that no one else does, and she can be her truest, best self with him.
French Kiss explores the depths of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Yes, it is a light-hearted comedy, but when Kate and Luc are offered (very appealing) alternatives to each other (spoiler) they realise that they have fallen in love. Yep! The uptight American and the dodgy Frenchman. And (more spoilers) if that last shot of them kissing passionately in a vineyard doesn’t warm your romantic cockles, perhaps nothing will.
And yes, Andrew in The Proposal is an unwitting victim to Margaret’s arrogance and entitlement – so bending the trope slightly – but they are still at cross-purposes for much of the story. By pretending to be with Andrew, Margaret’s vulnerable side shines through, redeeming her and (spoiler) making Andrew fall madly in love with her.
I absolutely adore this trope, and have had so much fun writing it in both Match Me If You Can and Shout Out to My Ex.