Ok, I didn’t intend on this being about a whole lotta love, but I couldn’t help it. For me, the best rivalries often end in romance! Let’s just get into the list, shall we?
Nimona– I love the rivalry in this- it’s so much fun!! Yes, this may seem like a typical villain vs hero story- but appearances can be deceiving 😉
Renegades– the whole dynamic of the heroes vs villains is perfect!! Throw in a forbidden romance and this series is the bomb!
Carry On– a parody of Harry Potter that focuses more on what’s really going on between Draco and Harry 😉
Cruel Prince– I almost love Cardan vs Jude MORE than Cardan with Jude. Their snarky chemistry worked so well in book 1! I think they enjoyed being rivals!
Game of Thrones– specifically the Starks vs the Lannisters. For me, this straightforward I-want-to-destroy-your-house-and-family rivalry is what made the series spectacular at the start. Of course, as the series goes on, we see that there’s a deeper divisions and more important conflicts, but they almost pale in comparison when I think of the original rivalry of the series.
This is How You Lose the Time War– I just loved the concept of this: two people on opposite sides of a time war fall in love. Swift and beautifully written, this book is full of contrasting emotions.
Night Circus– these characters are destined to fight to the death… so they really shouldn’t develop any feelings for each other…
Hating Game– sometimes office competition can be sexy 😉
Tweet Cute– some rivalries are just completely cheesy- and this book certainly brings the BIG CHEESE factor! Cute and fun, this rivalry roasts all the competition.
Beach Read– the main reason I’m putting this on the list is not for rivals-to-lovers conflict, but for the classic conversation about contemporary romance vs literary fiction! I love that a central theme of the book is these two genres duking it out! Let the battle commence and may the best books win, I say!
East of Eden– playing out the themes of Abel vs Cain from generation to generation, this story isn’t just about rivalry, but also about family ties and difficult relationships.
And that’s all for now! Are you a fan of any of these? What are your favourite fictional rivalries? Let me know in the comments!
the orang-utan librarian 