Side Effects is out TODAY (!!!) and in honor of that, I wanted to write a quick post on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Because what is it about Rey and Kylo Ren, or Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, or Belle and The Beast, for that matter, that we find so addicting? We know we do. It’s why Bridgerton was one of NetFlix’s biggest original series launches of all time. The truth is, there is something ridiculously satisfying about watching two people who cannot stand the sight of one another finally, gloriously, discover that they’re meant for each another, after all.

Side Effects is my first enemies-to-lovers story. In my previous novels, I’ve written acquaintances to lovers (Ripple Effects), strangers to lovers (Sound Effects), and friends to lovers (Aftereffects). All have their unique challenges, but writing an enemies-to-lovers story requires especially meticulous care, which is probably why I worked my way up to it. These are stories that can’t be rushed. There must be a good slow burn with small, believable turns, each of which must feel distinct and satisfying. In a good enemies-to-lovers story there are lots of them. But here are some of my favorites (and some classic enemies-to-lovers moments you may recall):

The Claws-Out moment:

“How can you be so blasé about this?”
“Because I didn’t cause these problems, Miss Knope, your government did.”
― Parks and Recreation

The Claws Out moment has to happen very early on and be downright breathtaking. The more devastating the moment, the more satisfying their eventual love will be. Because these couples are not just starting from zero; we’re in deep negative territory here. Just getting to neutral is a big step. In Side Effects, Marcus accomplishes his Claws Out moment with a single word. Just one word. God, he’s a bastard! 😊

The Two Lizards-in-a-Box moment:

"She did have a terrible singing voice. He hated that he knew that, but he couldn’t resist glancing over his shoulder. Nina’s hood had fallen back, and the thick waves of her hair had escaped her collar.
Why do I keep doing that? He thought in a rush of frustration. It had happened aboard the ship, too.
He’d tell himself to ignore her, and the next thing he knew his eyes would be seeking her out."
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

This is my favorite of all moments, I have to say. It’s that moment when our couple finally reaches a very fragile neutrality. They don’t like each other; they certainly don’t trust each other. Maybe they feel stuck together – eyeing each other warily – but they know they have to cooperate in order to achieve some shared purpose. Nina and Matthias have some truly amazing Lizards-in-a-Box moments in Six of Crows. Here’s one more just for fun:

“It's not natural for women to fight."
"It's not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.”

The moment Something Changes:

Think: Ryan Reynolds in his bed of comforters on the floor in The Proposal singing “It Takes Two” to Sandra Bullock.

In reality, there are probably a number of small moments in a good enemies-to-lovers story that Change Everything. As a writer, capturing them is pure joy. It’s that first bit of trust, that first real smile, that first moment when one character comes to the defense of another. It’s the moment when one character recognizes the humanity in the other. Each and every one is rewarding and wonderful. In fact, don’t we usually need a trilogy to capture them all?

And, at last, Sweet Surrender:

“You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love—I love—I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.”
― Film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice

Need I even say more about this one! Deep sigh… The more hideous the beginning, the more satisfying this is. I loved giving Marcus his happily-ever-after because he truly deserved it and he needed it. As we all do, right?


Side Effects is out today!