An enemies-to-lovers story is downright addicting, isn’t it? The quick comebacks, the stolen glances, and that electrifying “I shouldn’t want you, but I really, really do” energy that makes you tingle through the page.

In fantasy, this trope isn’t just effective—it’s practically magic. The high stakes, sweeping worlds, and magical conflicts take the slow burn and turn it into a full-blown blaze. And the best part? Readers root for a couple who seem impossible until they’re not.

So, let’s walk through how to make your version of enemies to lovers simmer so much that your readers can practically feel the heat radiating off the page.

The Art of Tension—and Why It Matters in Enemies-to-Lovers

The heartbeat of this trope is tension. Without it, your characters’ shift from hate to love will feel more like a scene skip than a transformation. The sweet spot is in that delicious middle ground, where characters are torn between desire and denial, trading barbs one moment and locking eyes the next.

In fantasy, this tension doesn’t just live in their hearts—it’s tangled in politics, magic, or danger that can tear them apart instantly. When you get it right, your romance becomes the driver that keeps readers flipping every page.

Writing the Best Enemies-to-Lovers: Your Ultimate Guide

Writing enemies to lovers is tricky business when you’re going for that intense, simmering tension that makes readers squirm in the best way. But don’t panic. All you really need to do is keep five key things in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to creating an arc that has your readers grinning, gasping, and maybe throwing the book across the room (in a good way).

​​1: Build Strong, Believable Conflict

If the “enemies” label feels flimsy, the whole arc collapses. Your characters need a conflict that digs deep—we’re talking ideological differences, conflicting goals, or betrayals that cut to the bone.

Take Aaron and Juliette from the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. The stakes between them are so high that even brushing skin could mean death. Their choices aren’t simply about feelings; they’re about survival, the collapse of empires, and the balance of power in their world. Every moment they’re together feels like stepping onto a battlefield, where the cost of a wrong move could be catastrophic. When the conflict runs this deep, every look, every breath, carries the weight of worlds.

2: Layer the Attraction Slowly

Think of slow burn as building a fire; you don’t dump gasoline and light a match—you nurture the spark. Let attraction start with grudging admiration: noticing how an enemy fights with precision or realizing they’re clever in an infuriatingly impressive way.

These aren’t “love at first sight” moments; they’re subtle, creeping shifts that catch both the characters and the reader off guard. Each small beat, shared laugh, and moment of unanticipated trust adds another layer to their relationship, making the eventual payoff all the more satisfying.

3: Use Banter and Wit as Weapons

Banter isn’t just dialogue—it’s emotional sparring. It’s where insults hide attraction, and characters can test boundaries without breaking them.

Nina and Matthias from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse (the books, not the Netflix series) are the best example of this. At first, their words are dripping with judgment, but there’s a spark beneath every jab. Over time, their exchanges evolve into playful teasing, carrying the weight of shared experiences and unspoken affection. So, here’s the most important thing to remember if you want to write chemistry that jumps off the page: use banter to chart the shift from animosity to intimacy, letting it mirror the emotional journey.

4: Show Vulnerability at Key Moments

You can’t have a good enemies-to-lovers story without showing vulnerability. Period. Nothing transforms a relationship faster than seeing someone at their most unguarded. Vulnerability is powerful because it shatters the image of the “enemy” and reveals the human underneath.

In Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince, Carden and Jude are the perfect example of this. They despise each other, dream about each other’s downfall, and would gladly twist the knife—until those rare moments when all the armor falls away. Sometimes, it’s Carden wounded and gasping, Jude holding the power to end him but not doing it, and then there is Jude cornered, expecting cruelty, and finding unexpected gentleness instead. These moments are the key points of your enemies-to-lovers arc. Sprinkle vulnerability into your narrative sparingly, but when you do, make those moments emotional earthquakes.

5: Keep the Tension Alive Until the Payoff

Last but not least, the magic of enemies to lovers is waiting. If you rush to the resolution, you lose the delicious agony of “will they or won’t they?”

Keep the roadblocks in play and let old grudges simmer under the surface even as attraction grows. That first kiss? It should feel like the dam just burst and the whole river’s coming through. But here’s the thing—even after that moment, don’t wipe the slate clean. Let some of that sharp-edged history linger, giving every soft touch or stolen moment a dangerous undercurrent because this is precisely what keeps the romance electric.

Why Tension Matters Most in Fantasy Enemies-to-Lovers

Enemies to lovers often shines brightest in fantasy because the reasons for being enemies are bigger, deeper, and more impossible to ignore. We’re talking about prophecies that demand they destroy each other, kingdoms that will fall if they unite, and curses that make their every touch dangerous. These aren’t petty disagreements; they’re life-or-death stakes baked into the bones of the story. And when those stakes are defied—that’s when the tension skyrockets.

The worldbuilding in fantasy gives you a playground full of magic, danger, and impossible choices. As a fantasy writer, enemies to lovers can be your most powerful arc because every heartbeat, every glance, every near miss feels like it could change the fate of the world.

What If I Can’t Make It Work?

Maybe you’re thinking, “What if my enemies hate each other too much to ever be believable?” Or, “What if their past is so ugly there’s no coming back from it?” Or even, “What if they’re so ruthless that love would feel out of character?”

All of these doubts are normal. Writing a good enemies-to-lovers story is a nuanced process, and it’s okay to get a little help shaping it. With the right pacing, stakes, and emotional beats, even the fiercest rivals can become the most compelling couples.That’s where I come in. At Once Upon a Manuscript, I help fantasy and romance authors get past those doubts with editing services tailored exactly to what your story needs. So what are you waiting for? Let’s make your slow burn unforgettable.