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

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published 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 •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ (semi hiatus till 2027)]

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 2: I’ve started reading and omg I missed Aurienne and Osric so much 💕

Let the denial begin!!

-


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. 🙈💕

[Liana Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

INFINITY STARS!!!!!!

FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW AFTER MY TRIP


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

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love towards Osric and Aurienne knows no bounds, this duology has such a special place in my heart, I'm both happy and sad it ended, it was pure perfection!!

Aurienne's and Osric's adventure to heal his seith rot under the full moons, their feelings towards each fighting their way out and the impossibility of them, the conspiracy behind the disease affecting the children and a deadly order made this book an unforgettable journey.

Osric might be one of my favourite characters ever, he loved so selflessly. He was an assassin, yet he saved so many lives. The changes Aurienne inspired, everything he did, he did it for her. He gave so much just to make sure she would be okay.
Aurienne closed her heart off, but the way Osric slowly crawled in there was such a delight. She finally saw him as more than his order and it made all the difference. What she did for him did too. 

Their progression was honesty perfect, an emotional slow burn, full of banter, yearning, push and pull and some heat. The torment, the inn, the lake, the libraries, the help, the watch, the storm, the opera, the island, the signet ring, the protectivness, the hurt, the deofols, the healing and the love against all odds.. It was an amazing ride and I loved every second of it. Their story wasn't easygoing, it was full of brokenness and regret, but they were always a different side of the same coin and with a love that could conquer the impossible, if only they dared to try.

The pace of the story was to my liking. Aside from some wonderful moments between them, we also got some secrets, laughter, abandoned asylums, danger, murder, unlikely allies, brave warriors, battles, tearful moments and above all else, happiness.
It was such a great conclusion to the story.

I hope we come back to this world again, I still have some questions and I would love to see everyone again. I'm also very curious about Tristane.

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC.*

.·:*¨ ¨*:·.

OMG my wish actually got granted!!!
I can't believe it, this the first time it happened. I'm so happy, especially since this is one of my most anticipated releases.

[⋆.˚dak ☾ .⭒˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟 ”𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.”

a 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 duology 👏🏻💟

from the witty banter, to the interesting world, to the amazing plot that had me glued to this book, i loved every moment in this. i am soo obsessed and soo sad it’s over 🤧

🦢 • . ݁₊ ⊹ 𝘈𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦 & 𝘖𝘴𝘳𝘪𝘤 ⊹ ₊ ݁. • 🐺

my loves!! 💜 i ate up how down bad 𝘖𝘴𝘳𝘪𝘤 was for 𝘈𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦 and how she is just playing into it hehe. the tension + yearning it created ugh!! the whole build up of their relationship was just everything truly.

⋆.˚ㅤꨄ︎ 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 ☽˚.⋆

Two words: 𝙾𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 🥵

i genuinely have nothing else to say. i laughed, i cried. pure perfection. no notes. 10/10.

that epilogue 💖✨

“𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.“

[jagodasbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

a man who yearns is a man who earns

[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

[gabbie [semi-ia, new job]]

I've been wanting to read this FOR SOOO LOONGGG and they approve my NetGalley wish literal days before the books comes out HAHAH 😔 anyway I'm SO EXCITEEEEEDDD AHHH I GOT THE ARC 💃🏻💃🏻

[y ੯‧̀͡⬮]

drew barrymore laughing smiling in the rain gif

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Assassin DESPERATELY IN LOVE. His healer TEMPTED endlessly. Their mischievous BANTER & forbidden SPICE 💜✨ I’ll sign up for 20 more books of this!

Another instalment of Osric being DOWN SO BAD he can’t stand himself. It was an absolute pleasure watching an arrogant man come down with a desperate case of ’I-love-her-and-I-know-she-is-too-good-for-me-but-I can’t-help-msyelf’ 💜 This book really focused on the TORTUOUS forbidden love as the two realize their attraction but have to sneak around. That scene with him under HER DRESS while she’s out with another man *yup he can get it*

“He was looking well bred, well endowed and fiendishly expensive.”

COMEDIC POETRY! The way this author writes in a unique blend of sarcasm and absurdity but phrased so eloquently it throws you for a loop ✨what a masterpiece ✨ The banter was just perfection but I was living for Osric’s POVs and his dramatics. Osric, you would have loved Ru Paul!

Favorite moment: when they pretend to be wife/husband at a hotel & he can’t stop calling her “wife”

High stakes! I didn’t expect this second book to be so intense and fast paced. I loved the plot developments and was completely surprised by the slightly open-ended conclusion 🌱🌳 It was giving the Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries! I really hope this story continues or has a spinoff.

[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.

[Isabelle]

Foaming at the mouth for more of these ridiculous love-birds 😍

[niki ౨ৎ]

౨ৎꨄ︎ pre-read: i already started this and i’m loving this and them!!!! don’t want to say goodbye to them at all…

[BookishByTammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
This was delightful, everything i wanted it to be!
The author somehow managed to keep the yearning that we love while introducing intimate scenes as well.
Osric aka Mr Hungwell is hilarious and pathetically down bad as ever and Aurienne is letting her walls down.
Their banter never fails to make me laugh.

Im going to miss these characters

[Rachel Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 🌶️3

- Enemies-to-lovers
- Rom-com
- Magic systems
- Forced proximity
- Morally grey MMC
- Slow-burn

TETOLYE is the second book in the Dearly Beloved Duology, and we return right where book one leaves off. Aurienne continues to attempt to heal Osric’s rot in exchange for the funds needed to combat a devastating pox epidemic. As the two work side by side to unravel both his condition and the sinister origins of the pox, their reluctant alliance slowly begins to shift into something far more complicated. The closer they get to the truth, the closer they grow to each other and, in the process, they both begin to heal in ways neither of them expected…

TETOLYE has all the charm and fun that made me fall in love with this series in the first place, it’s such a satisfying and magical conclusion! The narrative voice is witty and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny throughout. The banter between Aurienne and Osric is brilliant, their dynamic has a perfect mix of tension and chemistry - once again delivering a fivestar enemies-to-lovers romance!

The world-building and magic system continues to be one of my favourite parts of the series , I was completely pulled back into Aurienne and Osric’s world. All the different factions and magical elements are set out and evolved so well without becoming overly heavy. The mystery surrounding the pox kept the stakes high and intriguing and the plot was easily just as gripping in book two as it is in book one.

The spice levels also definitely go up a notch in the second book - the slow burn was definitely worth the wait 🔥!

It perfectly balances cosy fantasy vibes, humour, romance, and moments of deeper emotional connection. Perfect for anyone who loves fantasy rom-coms with good banter, morally grey MCs, and slow-burn tension.

I can’t wait to see what Brigitte Knightley writes next!

Thank you so much to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for the ARC - I was genuinely so excited to see this land in my inbox!

[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. Thank you Ace for publishing this, and for the early copy.

[julkahap · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love those wonderful idiots 😌💖
(ale chyba pierwszy tom podobał mi się trochę bardziej)

[ClaudiaTalksFilm · Rating 5 out of 5]

as if this would be anything but 5 stars if I could give it more I would it’s everything I wanted and more adore it so incredibly much osric marry me

[sonia]

THE COVER THE COVER THE COVER THE COVER

[Jono Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely reframed how I feel about the first one. On its own it's great, but as the back half of a larger story, it's phenomenal. Knightley delivers a masterclass in slow-burn romance. It might genuinely be one of the slowest burns I've ever read, but the payoff is more than worth it.

The writing is whimsical, the banter is top tier, and the chemistry between Aurienne and Osric carries every page. Together they are such fully realized characters that you eventually forget the source material that inspired them. That's a testament to just how strong Knightley's character work is.

The first book asked for a lot of patience, and this one rewards every bit of it. Once the full story comes into focus, my complaints about the pacing and abrupt ending of the first book almost completely disappear. This is one of the best duologies I’ve read in a long time. Despite its source material, this never feels derivative. In a sea of romantasy that often feels repetitive, Knightley has a voice that feels both inspired and distinctly her own.

What a read. I genuinely didn't want to put it down.

[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!

[Dab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it when wishes come true

RTC

—-

I got the ARC! Little, Brown Book Group UK has granted my wish, thank you, thank you, thank you! 🥹💗🎉💃

——-

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

[bodeasbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

Pierwszy tom dostał ode mnie 5⭐️ - kupił mnie przede wszystkim humorem i bohaterami, którzy uparcie nie chcieli przyznać się do własnych uczuć. No i oczywiście PRAWDZIWYM enemies to lovers -i nie mam tu na myśli często spotykanego raczej „hate to love”, tylko bohaterów, którzy z założenia naprawdę są po przeciwnych stronach. Jak dla mnie to jedno z lepszych wykonań tego motywu! 🙌🏻

Drugi tom to świetne domknięcie całej dylogii. Tym razem autorka postawiła mocniej na romans i emocje, przez co muszę przyznać, że trochę zabrakło mi tych wszystkich przepychanek słownych i zaprzeczania własnym uczuciom, które tak uwielbiałam w pierwszej części. Z drugiej strony wiedziałam, że taka jest naturalna kolej rzeczy w tym wątku, więc byłam na to przygotowana 😅

Rozwój Aurienne i Osrica jest genialny - bohaterowie stopniowo uświadamiają sobie, że świat nie jest czarno-biały, a granice między dobrem i złem często się zacierają. Osric… dosłownie nosi serce na dłoni, a jednocześnie ma o sobie tak niskie mniemanie, że momentami było mi aż przykro 🥺

W tej części worldbuilding schodzi trochę na dalszy plan, ale zupełnie mi to nie przeszkadzało, bo bohaterowie zdecydowanie to nadrabiają. Zwłaszcza ci drugoplanowi!

Bardzo polubiłam też pióro autorki, zwłaszcza, że nie słodzi, gdy opisuje emocje i bardziej romantyczne momenty. Jestem fanką i na pewno sięgnę po kolejne książki.

Wiem, że pierwszy tom mocno podzielił bookstagram i był typowym przypadkiem love or hate. Jeśli jednak, tak jak ja, pokochaliście tę historię, to jestem przekonana, że drugi tom również was nie zawiedzie! 💜

[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 need 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.

But overall, I really did like this book. If you liked the first one you will like this book. If you’re hoping it’s going to be more like the ff, you might be disappointed. I think I would read this again, one after the other.

[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

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zdecydowanie mniej głupkowata niż pierwszy tom, a bardziej romansowa - bawiłam się świetnie 😁

[lola ୨ৎ]

— release day : OHMYGOD WHEN CAN I READ THIS 🫡🫡🫡 PLEASE ???


੭﹕ pre-release: pleaseeeeee just make out and make loveeeee ( okay im sorry but it had to be said haha ) already 🥹 also this should have the "who did this to you" trope 😫 ? like imagine that omgg 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

[Haley Hylton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A MAN DOWN BAD EATS EVERY TIME