The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy

By: Brigitte Knightley

Narrated by: Heather Long, Thomas Judd

'As swoon-worthy and charming as it is funny and irreverent. Sign me up for everything Brigitte Knightley writes' Olivie Blake, bestselling author of The Atlas Six

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 them: 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 include:
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 duology:

'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

'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

'With the most wickedly delicious banter, Brigitte Knightley is sure to become your next favourite author. This had all the things I love most: 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

'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. This one is a rare delight' Isabel Ibañez, author of What the River Knows

Reader reviews:

'6 star read - no notes. I would sell my soul for half the characters in this book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'If I could give it 10 million stars I would' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'♾️⭐️ ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!! I'll be rereading shortly' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'If it were possible to give this more than 5 stars I would. Absolutely brilliant' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Jane Austen level yearning & prose, Ali hazelwood level humour. Simply no notes' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This was everything I wanted and hoped for and even more. Perfection has a name, and it is this book!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Ugh, this was PERFECT. How do I read another book after this? The banter, the wit, the romance, the plot! It's all amazing' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Nothing else will ever fill this void. I have legitimately never laughed so much reading a book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐©2026 Brigitte Knightley (P)2026 Little, Brown Book Group Limited

Absolutely delicious

This book series has everything. It made me laugh, cry, and squeal. I know a book is great when it makes me feel every single emotion possible. Plus it is written so cleverly! I really adored it.
5/5 Would laugh, cry, and accidentally squeal again.

Loved every second

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. It made me feel every single emotion. It’s so cleverly written, I enjoyed every second. My only wish is that it was in a duet style narration, not that it made a huge difference. 1000/10 for the book. I’ve not laughed, cried or swooned while reading a book in so long. 100% worth the credit

Best duology ever!

Banter, yearning, narrator- these books were perfect, I immediately started again- would definitely recommend to romantasy readers