romance |

Enemies to lovers novels are like marmite – either you love them or you hate them. A lot of people find them super cheesy and unrealistic, but for me, I am an absolute sucker for them. And this, my friends, is perhaps my favourite enemies to lovers story that I have ever read. A bold statement, but true.

I posted about this book on my Instagram back in 2021 as it was my number one book that I read in 2020, and four years later it still sits firmly in my top 10 books of all time. There are very few books which I devour so quickly, or capture my attention so much that I can’t put them down, but this folks and friends, was one of them. I loved everything about it. It was beautifully witty, hilarious, and I found myself physically laughing from cover to cover.

One of the things that I liked most about this book is that it’s written in the first person, from the point of view of the main protagonist, Lucy, which really connects the reader with the character. The way she describes her love/hate relationship with Joshua is so real and expertly crafted that you become so immersed in their love story that it becomes entirely possible to forget that these two human beings only exist on paper. From the very minute you begin reading you are begging, pleading, and yearning for these two characters to realise their love for one another.

Though, I will admit that this novel is a slow burn. Like… a really slow burn to the point where you’re physically itching with anticipation. But the payoff is so good and makes it all worth it. The love/hate relationship/game between Lucy and Josh is one of those romantic archetypes which we love to see but don’t dare admit, and something which can be incredibly difficult for writers to achieve successfully – but Sally Thorne executes it perfectly.

But, perhaps my favourite thing about this book is that it never actually states where the story is taking place. When I started reading I assumed that it was New York City because it had that particular feel, but in actual fact the location is never stated. I think that is what makes this story so wonderful because ultimately it could be set in any city, in any corner of the world; and it is down to the reader to use their imagination about where that might be – perhaps someone near them!

I think it is very rare to have nothing bad to say about a book – not even a small criticism – but personally, with my preferences, I am struggling to find things that I didn’t like. I don’t think I will ever be able to find the right amount of words to be able to describe how much I loved this book, but I think about it often.

Note: Yes, I have also seen the movie; yes, I loved it; but no, I have yet to write a post about it. I’m thinking about writing a book vs film comparison when I get the time, but I think I need to rewatch the film again before I do so!

Favourite Quotes:

✨ ‘Books were, and always would be, something a little magic, and something to respect.’

✨ ‘Watching you pretend to hate the nickname is the best part of my day.’

✨ ‘I have a theory. Hating someone feels disturbingly similar to being in love with them. I’ve had a lot of time to compare love and hate, and these are my observations. Love and hate are visceral. Your stomach twists at the thought of that person. The heart in your chest beats heavy and bright, nearly visible through your flesh and clothes. Your appetite and sleep are shredded. Every interaction spikes your blood with adrenaline and you’re in the brink of fight or flight. Your body is barely under your control. You’re consumed and it scares you. Both love and hate are mirror versions of the same game – and you have to win. Why? Your heart and your ego. Trust me, I should know.’

✨ ‘I want to know what’s going on in your brain. I want to juice your head like a lemon.’

✨ ‘All I want to do is kiss you until I fall asleep. I want to slide in between your sheets, and find out what goes on inside your head and underneath your clothes. I want to make a fool of myself over you.’

✨ ‘I love strawberries. I’m so lovesick, I eat them constantly. Can I nickname you Shortcake? It’ll be a dead giveaway that I love you’

✨ ‘Maybe the only way to truly unite people is through battle and pain. Confrontation and competition. Maybe surviving something is the point.’

✨ ‘Brute, raw masculinity contrasted with gentleness is the most attractive thing on earth.’

✨ ‘You look like a hot virginal dork who’s been defiled in the backseat of my car.’

✨ ‘You love him. You love him. You always have. More than you’ve ever hated him. Every day, staring at this man, knowing every color and expression and nuance. Every game you’ve ever played has been to engage with him. Talk to him. Feel his eyes on you. To try to make him notice you.’

✨ ‘I always thought you’d live underground somewhere, near the earth’s core.’ / ‘Uncle Satan didn’t have any apartments available in my price range.’

I know that for most of us, writing can often feel like a chore. It can feel like we have to have to sit down and write something otherwise we cannot call ourselves writers. Or, we think that we have somehow failed if we write nothing at all, or have not achieved the amount we had wished to write in a given period of time.

But, as most writers know, and I’m sure you are aware if you’re reading this, that sometimes we just lack inspiration. The metaphorical land where all of our inspiration lives has run out of food and water and is just sitting barren in our minds.

Or perhaps, we have inspiration for something – an idea for a script or a book that we desperately want and feel the need to write, but we have no direction as to where it is going to go, or how we are physically going to craft it into something readable.

If you are sitting there reading this, and you’re struggling with one or all of these problems, fear not. I have gathered together the following questions, to hopefully ignite the spark of inspiration once again, to turn those writing dreams into realities.

(These questions should be used as a foundation to build the world that you’re trying to create, and understand what it is that you’re hoping to achieve by writing a particular piece.)

All ideas are only as good as the characters that drive them, and all good ideas need to be dramatic.

What is the story?
What is the central dramatic action in your idea?
Do you have a compelling enough journey for the audience and character to go on?
If it’s a series or a serial, do you have enough story/stories to keep it going over a number of episodes or weeks?

Creating a coherent world is crucial.

What are the rules of your story universe?
What do and don’t we need to know/see?

Less is often more. The writer needs to know all the rules and background, but the audience only needs enough to stay hooked without being confused.

What kind of story is it?
Are you using a recognisable genre, such as thriller or romantic comedy?
If you are inspired or influenced by an archetypal story of old, what is it that’s different about your idea?

You need to bring fresh perspectives to familiar tales, worlds, subjects and genres.

What is the tone and feel of the story?
Are they consistent and coherent? There is nothing more frustrating than a slasher movie that suddenly turns into a rom-com or vice versa.

Sometimes clashing genres can work if they’re handled intelligently.

And the emotional response you are trying to aim for is just as important.

What physical reaction are you looking for? Something so poignant it makes the audience cry? Something funny it makes their sides hurt from laughing too much?

You need to know why this idea now is important.

Is it something that keeps you up at night and has really got under your skin?
What is it about?
What is the theme?
What are you trying to explore?
What are you hoping to communicate?

Don’t write anything you don’t care about just to be expedient, because it will only ever be competent at best.

Is it an idea that will strike a real chord with an audience?
Who do you think will want to see it?

If you have a burning desire to write, then it’s more likely to grab our attention.

I hope that these questions have proved useful to you, and have allowed you to break through the brick wall that some call writer’s block. And I can’t wait to read your masterpiece!