Book Review: The Art of Marrying Your Enemy

In “The Art of Marrying Your Enemy” by Alina Jacobs, you will find a chaotic, spicy enemies to lovers romance book that features explosive banter along with laugh-out-loud moments and second-hand blushing. The book gives off a vibe of retellings of childish revenge, rich and slow-burning chemistry, and surprisingly deep emotional resonance, all mixed together.

As someone who devoured the entire novel in one sitting, I was hooked from the first snarky line to the last steamy chapter. Alina Jacobs brings the ultimate “hate turned hot” trope to life in a wild, drama-filled marriage-of-convenience romance that’s perfect for adult rom-com lovers.

Be sure to read the first book (The Art of Awkward Affection) in the series for the full enemies-to-lovers journey from the start!

Author:- Alina Jacobs
Series:- The Richmond Brothers (Book 2)
Pages:- 454 Pages
Genre:- Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers, Second Chance, Forced Marriage
My Rating:- 4 Stars
Goodreads: 3.70 Sta

About The Art of Marrying Your Enemy

“The Art of Marrying Your Enemy” throws readers into the absurd (yet deliciously addictive) situation where two lifelong enemies are forced to get married to save a family fortune. Daisy Coleman, who was once humiliated by Aaron Richmond as a teen, is horrified to discover she has to tie the knot with her nemesis. The wedding is a disaster from the start: cake in his face, a kick to the family jewels, and a champagne bottle downed in a single breath.

Aaron’s retaliation begins a game of revenge, passion, and legal maneuvering, highlighted by a 530-page marriage contract demanding consummation. What starts as pure hate takes a sharp turn toward lust and unexpected emotional connection.

My Review: Enemies-to-Lovers at Its Peak

Let’s be honest, nothing beats the tension of two people who can’t stand each other but can’t keep their hands off one another. Jacobs nails this dynamic. Daisy and Aaron’s relationship is built on petty grudges and mutual stubbornness, but their back-and-forth banter is what gives this book its addictive energy. Every insult, every jab, and every accidental intimate moment is filled with crackling chemistry. Their dynamic is pure gold.

That Wedding Scene? Iconic.

The highlight for me? The absolute disaster that was the wedding day. Daisy chucking three tiers of wedding cake at Aaron, then kicking him in the groin and storming off with a bottle of champagne? I laughed out loud. That moment perfectly set the tone for the rest of this forced marriage romance novel: messy, hilarious, and over-the-top in the best way.

It’s not your typical romance that eases into the conflict. This one throws you straight into the fire and keeps fanning the flames.

Spicy, Sharp, and Just a Little Unhinged

This book is spicy. Unmistakable sexual tension permeates the narrative, starting with Daisy’s self-description as “dryer than my mom’s spelt muffins” and culminating in the marriage consummation clause. Let’s just say that the clause becomes very important.

The steamy scenes are written with boldness and humor; cringey or overdone, just the right amount of heat layered with biting wit and reluctant desire.

In my Alina Jacobs book review, I can say she blended humor and confident tone which made it easy to read and absorb. Her light-heartedness resonates even when facing difficult moments, and the pacing will have readers bingeing. That said, the novel doesn’t sacrifice emotional moments either. Jacobs gives us glimpses into Daisy’s hurt and Aaron’s complicated past, which adds dimension to the chaos.

Why 4 Stars and Not 5?

I would give this a 5-star rating like everyone else for the dialogue, spices, and pacing, but there were a few things keeping me from it. The most blatant one is the scarce exploration of Aaron’s toxic family dynamics. It introduced deeper emotional tension, but the lack of clear resolution made it feel like a dangling thread in an otherwise tight narrative. This subplot adds realism to the otherwise outrageous setup, and while it was compelling, it was also frustrating. At times, I found myself wishing for a bit more resolution or growth from that side of the story.

Also, some of the humor, while sharp and fun, bordered on repetitive in the middle chapters. Just a bit of trimming and more emotional layering would’ve elevated the story to perfection.

Final Thoughts

“The Art of Marrying Your Enemy” is an entertaining, laugh-out-loud, and steamy rom-com book that knows exactly what it’s doing. If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers stories with firecracker dialogue and forced proximity that sizzles, you’re going to eat this up.

For readers who enjoy The Hating Game or Marriage for One but want a little more spice and unfiltered chaos, Alina Jacobs delivers. I’d especially recommend this to adult romance readers who love stubborn characters, unhinged romantic tension, and some cake-throwing drama on the side.

So, have you read this fiery rom-com yet? What was your favorite moment: the wedding disaster or the spicy contract twist? Let’s talk in the comments!