The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy

Dearly Beloathed #2

by Brigitte Knightley

'Sworn enemies, dazzling magic and delicious romantic tension make this a witty, wonderful gem' Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

In this swoony, witty and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to instant Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy, the stakes are high, the love is forbidden and the slow burn turns steamy.

Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order's motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark -

Until they don't.

When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws the two of them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body - and his heart.

Aurienne's perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon - nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else.

Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tīendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order - an Order far nastier than either of them can handle.

As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war and love and hate trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.

Tropes
Forced collaboration
Forbidden love
Denied attraction
Majoring in Yearnalism
Semi-public s*x and other words not in the Bible
Rated E for E*ting Her Out

Praise for Dearly Beloathed

'Utterly unique, hilarious, swoony beyond my wildest dreams! This book is an instant classic and a true masterpiece, it took my breath away and made my heart explode' Ali Hazelwood

'Brilliant and wildly imaginative, with a delicious forbidden romance set in a fascinating fantasy world. Knightley is a remarkable talent, weaving together witty comedy, slow-burn longing, and heart-wrenchingly poetic imagery' Sarah Hawley, author of A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon

'Knightley is in a league of her own! For those craving an enemies-to-lovers fix, you will find it all here. This is an explosive duology that makes me believe in magic and all things impossible!' Danica Nava, author of Love is a War Song

'With the most wickedly delicious banter, Brigitte Knightley is sure to become your next favourite author. This had all the things I love a slow-burn romance that hurts so good, truly agonizing enemies-to-lovers, with a twisty mystery at its core' Julie Soto, author of Forget Me Not

'Brigitte Knightley is such a wonderfully talented writer with a unique voice and a real genius for banter' India Holton author of The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

'The slow burn romance of my dreams. Whip smart, creative, and brimming with banter and wit . . . both the hero and heroine had me laughing and shouting to just kiss already.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Fiction, Adult, Enemies To Lovers

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Brigitte writes what she wants to read: enemies-to-lovers romances that put the unresolved back in UST. Her debut novel, THE IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO FALL FOR YOUR ENEMY, is coming out July 2025 (Berkley / Orbit UK).

Instagram: @brigitteknightley
Newsletter signups: brigitteknightley.com

Author illustration by @gingerhuneybee.

Reviews

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ]

So apparently they are sending out ARCs. Please let me get one. PLEASE.

******************************************

We have a cover. I REPEAT: We have a cover!
Now all I have to do is wait 8 more months for the BOOK.

Googles How to time travel to the future.

******************************************

I AM SCREAMING.

I WANT THIS BOOK AND I WANT IT NOW. What? I have to wait an entire YEAR for this? F***you. (I'm sorry I'm sorry I don't mean that)

[Angie]

UPDATE: I have an ARC 😭

-

This cover has me FERAL!!! Their hands are touching??? I’m SCREAMING!!! 🤩

PS: If anyone from the publisher or PR team sees this, just know I would die for an ARC. 🙈💕

[DianaRose]

hoorayyy i've got the arc! now i just have to read book one...

--

excited to read this one(despite not reading book one yet 🫣) and the cover is absolutely gorgina!!

[Noi (in & out)]

October 31st: we got a cover!
---------
Jul 28: Love that this is going to be a duology

[Liana Gold]

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy was hilarious. I had a great time and I absolutely devoured the slow burn tension. It was romantic and swoony. They were true ENEMIES but when Osric bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never expected the lines to blur. Now it's time for them to turn into LOVERS.



Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Bridgitte Knightley for an early ARC.

Publication date: July 7, 2026

[y ੯‧̀͡⬮]

drew barrymore laughing smiling in the rain gif

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨🗡️ The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy 🗡️✨

💖💖 Osric & Aurienne Foreverrr 💖 💖

This. was. so. freaking. good.

It was magical, filled with dark whimsy and witty banter. Equal parts funny and poetic. They are both so over the top and ridiculous in the best way. Truly the antics in this book 😂😂😂

And the slow burn finally paid off. The spice was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and after finishing it, I’m giving it 6 stars. I’m so sad the duology is complete, but this was the perfect way to wrap it up. We truly need more duologies because this was perfection.

Read If You Love
🗡️ Assassin MMC
🌿 Healer FMC
💖 Enemies to lovers
💫 Forbidden romance
🤝 Forced proximity
🕯️ Plague mystery

_ _ _ _

⭐Final Score: 6 Stars
📅 Pub Date: July 7, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No words could describe her, anyway, just as no words can capture the loveliness of sunlight on a petal.”

Feeling deeply unwell, over the best book I’ve ever read.

I spent an hour, sobbing, when I realized I was down to the last 40 pages, because I was so sad at the prospect of it being over. Days later and I’m still not over it. Will I ever read a book this good, again? Maybe, if Brigitte writes it.

I have described Brigitte’s writing as Pride & Prejudice with dick jokes and it has never been more true than in Exquisite Torment. She has out Austen-ed herself. I am in awe.

There is yearning, and there is Yearning. It’s masterful, how she gave us two diametrically opposed opposites in Osric & Aurienne, and so carefully, so patiently, brought them together. Here, the slow burn continues to patiently simmer, with incredible “just kidding I hate you” steps back & delicious payoff that will have you SCREAMING. I was barking, like Osric’s 8 dogs, over some of these scenes.

The symbolism and imagery in her writing, too, is insane. I have 10+ scenes I need art of. She paints these gorgeously vivid and thematic and meaningful descriptions of between-places and it’s all so stunningly visual it feels worthy of the Louvre.

The world is even richer and sharper, as is the theology and the magic and the politicking.

I adored every single plot beat. Some choices truly surprised me, in the best way.

The jokes, too, work even better. I laughed harder than I have in EONS. She is the funniest human.

Add to that (hyper specific trope edition):
- Retrievers who do not retrieve
- Crashing birthday parties
- Would shove in a lake—(murdery) and (affectionate)
- Petty thievery to be petty
- Botanicals not suitable for fleeing danger
- Oh how dare you, no, I think I hate you again
- I can fix him (no really I can’t)
- A laundromat’s worth of quashing
- Annual yearnings are way up
- She’s bisexual, he’s try-sexual
- Jewelry for her but actually for him
- Obsessed with her curls
- Inappropriate use of [redacted]
- Only one bed (in only one suite) ((in only one penthouse))
- My wife (disbelieving)
- Dinner at the opera

& you have, quite literally, the PERFECT book.

However many copies you have preordered of this one—double it.

The real Exquisite Torment is that perfectly satiated emptiness that comes, at the end, realizing you’ll never follow Osric & Aurienne for the first time again.

The easiest ♾️⭐️ ever.

[sonia]

THE COVER THE COVER THE COVER THE COVER

[fromthestudyof · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this even more than I thought I would

magic meets whimsy meets enemies to lovers meets man down bad meets fucking CUTE okay

I haven’t been in the reading mood for most of March & this duology single handedly revived me. It’s fast paced, fun, packed with banter and *most importantly* super lighthearted!!

I’ve been burnt out on romantasy for awhile bc everything just feels so dramatic (how many times can I read about the world ending or an evil monarch needing to be over thrown before I slip into melancholy?? the answer - not many!!)

rapid fire thoughts:
- so unique compared to other romantasy stories
- lighthearted & so easy to read
- similar whimsy style as the Antiquarians Object of Desire aka another 5 star read
- a dramatic man (affectionate)
- normally I don’t like when MMCs are super talkative but Osric is charm incarnate!!!!
- I could see this story playing in my head like a movie which is so rare for me

for the readers wanting more whimsy in their life!

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Proporcionado por BookUp
¿Qué obra maestra fue este libro? Maravilloso. De mis mejores lecturas del año (creo que va en top 1). Si no les gustó la primera parte, it’s ok, yo tampoco fui muy fan… pero este libro te da todo lo que te imaginas y más. Cuando hablo de enemies to lovers, This Is What I’m Talking about.

Lo acabo de terminar y tengo ganas de volverlo a leer…

[Azanta (azantareads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible, delightful, superb, stupendous, amazing, charming, emotional, wonderful, and just quite lovely. need 8 more Brigitte books in my life stat

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy was an absolute delight from start to finish. The story blended sharp wit, swoony romance and high stakes fantasy in a way that kept me completely hooked. Osric and Aurienne’s forbidden connection felt electric and their slow burn romance unfolded with just the right mix of tension, humor, and heart.
I loved watching the lines between enemy and ally blur as they were drawn closer together. Their banter was spot on and their emotional growth made the romance even more satisfying. The larger storyline with the mystery behind the spreading plague kept the plot moving and gave the book a good balance of romance and adventure. The writing style was a little hard to get into at times, so I didn't always think this was going to be a 5 star read, but the connection between the characters and that edge-of-my-seat feeling towards the end really convinced me of the full 5 stars rating.
This was a captivating and wonderfully romantic conclusion. I really hope this author writes more in the future, I'm excited to see what direction she goes in next!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Dab]

THE COVER! Can we just stop whatever we’re doing for a moment and look at their hands? 😍 Can’t wait!!!

[Yennefer]

Just finished the first one, and yeah, bring it on! Need this ASAP so I can pick up after that ending.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank god I got an ARC, the slow burn was slow burning in book one fr.

Full review to come closer to publication!

[Maddi Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

(ARC) 5⭐️ Knightley’s writing style is my perfect cup of tea. A fantastic blend of cozy and epic. It balances sweet, funny moments with genuinely high-stakes situations so well.

I’ll be thinking about this duology for a long time, and I have no doubt it’s earned a spot on my reread list. If you loved book one, you won’t be disappointed…you’ll devour this just as quickly. And if you haven’t started the series yet, go fix that immediately.

[Tori Baz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Brigitte, Berkley, and NetGalley for an ARC of this INCREDIBLE book. This was the ultimate wrap up to an amazing story.

I LIVE for a Pride and Prejudice Declaration of Love and Brigitte is the best at it ♥️

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you edelweiss+ and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This second instalment takes off right from where we left off in book one.

I had some issues with book one, namely the world building that felt rather confusing at times. Things felt much more developed in book two.

The plot THICKENED a lot. I was very curious to see how the two major problems a the heart of the story were going to be resolved, and I was not disappointed.

Now, the romance. Look, I’m a person who loves yearning. And yearning I did see! Watching these two incredibly stubborn (but charming!) characters navigate their feelings for one another and their inner-turmoil over these feelings was … dare I say delightful.

Book one is definitely the appetizer to this full course meal.

I was so enjoyed this and can’t wait to see what Knightley crafts next.

[alysbookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going down as a favorite series for me - I absolutely love an enemies to lovers story, especially with some humor. Such a satisfying end, but I'll always want more!

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel was EVERYTHING I could have hoped for and more. The pining, the banter…perfection. And Osric, utterly, hopelessly in love and freaking tortured by it. This book was nothing short of divine.

The story retains the lightness and humor that made the first book so amazing, but also, simultaneously delivers moments that are genuinely heart wrenching. Brigitte’s writing is brilliant. This book is brilliant. And Osric has firmly secured his place as a new all time favorite. Ugh Osric 😭 the exquisitely tormented soul falling on love for the first time.

“She had become what he could never have, and so became his greatest torment.”

Beyond the romance, the mystery surrounding the Pox adds a a layer of suspense.The balance of humor, high stakes, forbidden romance, aching pining, simmering tension, and self discovery is fan-freaking-tastic. Both characters undergo significant transformations, Osric more willingly than Aurienne I will say, and I devoured every page.

I’m endlessly grateful to Berkeley Publishing Group (Ace) and NetGalley for granting me an ARC of this phenomenal book. Effing fantastic. I will be rereading immediately. And snatching up every special edition copy I can get my hands on. This duology will forever be on my favorites shelf💫

[clicktojointhemafia]

update- have y'all seen the cover??? og my god im going to DIE

book one fucked me side ways and i want it to happen again as soon as possible xxxx

[tayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy was highly anticipated for me, with expectations of the same spectacular romance and humor, and yet it still managed to leave me floored. A million stars.

As stakes heighten and tensions squeeze, we watch Aurienne and Osric solve the puzzle of the horrors happening around them, while simultaneously piecing together their feelings for one another. As they stand on opposite sides of life and death, Osric finds himself falling helplessly in love with Aurienne, and Aurienne gets to the bottom of what it means to be truly good. One of my favorite aspects of this installment is how Aurienne, amidst healing Osric, comes to the realization she needs healing herself- recognizing the fact that as she avoids love, as a method to avoid pain, she's removing the risk of joy as well. And what is life without joy? The humor was, as always, unmatched and painfully witty, and still somehow managed to not strip away the severity and the romance leaping off of the page. It was an absolute pleasure to witness as a reader, and this duology has been the fantasy rom-com of my dreams, bringing an entirely fresh voice to the genre. I was brought to laughter, and I was brought to tears.

This book has some of the most excellent yearning I've ever read (which is truly saying something), with tender, magical writing to match. I was enticed with every single page. I cannot wait to see what Knightley writes next.

[Lizzie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy is the conclusion of the Dearly Beloathed duology by Brigitte Knightley. I really enjoyed the first book in the series and was so excited to get an ARC of this one!

Osric and Aurienne were forced into a working relationship in book one when Osric developed a deadly condition, Seith Rot, that would take away his magic. He bribed Aurienne, a magical healer member of the Haelen Order, to heal him in return for financial support to develop an immunization against a deadly disease.

The Haelen are the exact opposite of Osric's order of magical, shadow-walking assassins. Both Osric and Aurienne know that their attraction and connection cannot ever go anywhere - no matter how much they like (or even love) each other.

✅ M/F Romantasy
✅ Mainstream publication based on a Dramione fanfic
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Forced proximity
✅ Just one bed
✅ Spice

I really liked this one a lot! The writing was beautiful, the banter was fun, and even though the story was fairly predictable, I really enjoyed it. The only thing that could have made it better was if Tristane was the love interest instead of Osric 😉 - she was the real shadow daddy.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 - 4.5 stars

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy will be out July 7th, 2026!

Thank you so much to Brigitte Knightley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC through NetGalley! All opinions are my own :)

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhh my gosh y’all. THIS BOOK!!!!!!

Okay, so book one was fun but mostly just okay to me. Like a solid 4 stars but THIS BOOK! I am still just reeling from how incredible this was. This is one of the BEST book twos I have ever read. No joke.

The banter is some of the best of any book!!! The pining, the longing, the yearning. Ahhhhh! I could not keep myself from smiling, giggling, kicking my feet!! My stomach was doing somersaults and my heart fluttered constantly. The writing is clever and so beautiful and poetic. I could honestly go on and on. I am OBSESSED.

[Sarah]

I am frothing at the mouth. I need this, there's no way I can survive a year long wait without descending into Madness.

[Dulce Starizny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious. Exquisite. Hilarious beyond belief. This book is an absolute YES from start to finish.

[zoe]

i need this book so bad you don’t understand

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed this book (3.5 stars). Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Knightley does an amazing job with character chemistry and banter. The humour is one of my favourite aspects of this book. I often found myself laughing out loud. If you’re looking for fun, banter, and vibes this is for you.

This book, however, is a bit weak in worldbuilding and plot. The overall plot and conflict in the background of this story, simmering beneath the romance of Osric and Aurienne, I felt was weak and ultimately not the best match in tone to the rest of this book. Personally I would’ve preferred of the author leaned fully into the romcom, fun, frothy aspect of the story and swapped out the underlying worldly conflict with something else. The Dreor order and their plans did not feel fully fleshed out or as interesting. At times it felt shoehorned in to have some stakes for the Orders but ultimately it wasn’t necessary.

While there were a couple really strong scenes in this book, overall I thought that more attention could’ve been spent to creating more impactful scenes. This book would’ve benefited from some heavy editing—cutting the book into one solid story would’ve made it stronger for me. I don’t think this story was a duology nor did the book needed three epilogues. It was a fun ride but it felt a bit half baked and like an early draft where the writer is telling themselves the story before the editing portion is underway to tighten it into a novel.

[Grace Tomasweetie · Rating 5 out of 5]

& so we come to an end (maybe not?) of something that is so dear & precious to me. Gosh, everything about this series spoke to me & filled me with joy. The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy is the whipped cream & cherry on top of the Dearly Beloathed series, & is sure to satisfy lovers of the Irresistible Urge. The insanity that is continued in here???? The whimsy???? The voice???????? Unparalleled. Osric & Aurienne are WONDERS. TREASURES!!!! I love them & their story so much UGH. In all honesty, I do think this story is a bit slower than the first, but I literally don’t care at all just cause the world is so immersive & fun. I feel at a semi-loss for words just cause I feel so enamored & grateful. But truly one of my favorite series <3 I hope that we see more from this world & this author soon!!! I literally miss it already.

I am so honored that I had the chance to read both this book & the irresistible urge in their arc forms. Thank you so much to NetGalley & to Berkley for the eARC <3 I love you forever!!!



*BANGS FISTS ON THE FLOOR* RTC