Rivals-to-lovers rom-coms on my shelf

Rivals to lovers is having a moment, and honestly, it never really left. Here are my favorites, sorted by what they're fighting over.

Rival writers

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  Not in My Book by Katie Holt

  A romance writer and a literary fiction writer who can't stop arguing in workshop are forced to co-write a novel together. Their manuscript starts telling on them.

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  All I Want Is You by Falon BallardLucy rated it 4 stars

  Two rival romance authors, who also happen to be exes, get snowed in with one bed. Second chance meets rivals.

Rival businesses

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  Battle of the Bookstores by Ali BradyLucy rated it 4 stars

  A literary bookseller and a romance-only bookseller on the same Boston street compete to keep their jobs when the new owner merges their stores. Meanwhile, they're secretly falling for each other on an anonymous book forum.

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  Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon

  Annika's app helps couples make up. Hudson's app helps them break up. Now his company has moved in next door, and they're competing for the same investment. Rivals with a Vegas past.

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  The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

  Two public-radio coworkers who can't stand each other pretend to be exes for an on-air relationship show. Workplace rivals with a lot of heart.

Old enemies, new sparks

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  The Enemy by Sarah Adams

  High-school enemies June and Ryan reunite twelve years later at their best friends' wedding, both with revenge plans.

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  The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie GilmoreLucy rated it 5 stars

  Annie and Mac have been at odds for years, and nobody in Dream Harbor knows why. Then they're stuck together in a holiday wedding party.

Quick answers

What are the best rivals-to-lovers rom-coms?

Start with Not in My Book by Katie Holt or Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady, both about competing booklovers.

Are there workplace rivals-to-lovers books?

Yes: The Ex Talk (public radio), Make Up Break Up (rival apps), and Battle of the Bookstores (rival bookstores).

Is there a rivals-to-lovers romance set at a wedding?

The Enemy by Sarah Adams, where high-school enemies reunite at their best friends' wedding.

These are books I've actually read, with the star ratings from my own reading log. No sponsorships, no affiliate links, just my shelf. Ratings are on a five-star scale.

My own debut skips the rivalry and goes straight to instant chemistry: a wedding planner and the bride's very practical big brother who keep butting heads anyway. Sneak peeks go to my newsletter first.

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