From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Callihan comes a smart, emotional contemporary romance about finding love with the most unlikely of people.As kids, they hated each other. Macon Saint was beautiful, but despite his name, Delilah knew he was the devil. That he dated her slightly evil sister, Samantha, was no picnic either. When they broke up, it was a dream come true: Delilah never … come true: Delilah never had to see him again.
Ten years later, her old enemy sends a text.
Delilah’s sister has stolen a valuable heirloom from Macon, now a rising Hollywood star, and he intends to collect his due. One problem: Sam has skipped town.
Sparks still sizzle between Macon and Delilah, only this heat feels alarmingly like unwanted attraction. But Delilah is desperate to keep her weak-hearted mother from learning of her sister’s theft. So she proposes a deal: she’ll pay off the debt by being Macon’s personal chef and assistant.
It’s a recipe for disaster, but Macon can’t stop himself from accepting. Even though Delilah clearly hates him, there’s something about her that feels like home. Besides, they’re no longer kids, and what once was a bitter rivalry has the potential to be something sweeter. Something like forever.
more
Loved it
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads giveaways, I was not required to give a favorable review. I wasn’t so sure about the story when I first started reading but then you see how each of the characters come together. One sister Sam, has caused some trouble for both Macon and her sister Delilah since they were kids. But Macon and Delilah have to find their way from enemies to more.
I usually don’t enjoy enemies to lovers books, so I’m not sure why I decided to read this one. Probably because I really loved Callihan’s Idol and Managed. I listened to the audiobook for this one, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were very well drawn, and you could believe the scenario. I would recommend.
When you grew up in the presence of two beautiful people, it was hard to convince yourself that you’re worth much too. Especially if one of them made your childhood and teenager life a ‘hell’. That was the reality for Delilah, from the first meeting with her neighbour’s son Macon Saint, there was a connection between them, sadly not a good one but one of negative banter and mean glances. And the fact that her sister Samantha (Sam) and Macon became good friends and later even a couple, made that Delilah saw Macon more then she wanted to. But luckily, she and her family moved away when she was 18 years old and that was the last time that she saw Macon. But now ten years later, out of nowhere, he’s texting her!! The last thing that Delilah wanted was to relive the past or meet Macon but she doesn’t have a choice. Her sister Sam stole something precious of him and then disappeared. So now it was up to Delilah to make this right, so she doesn’t have another choice then to meet him and convince him not to put charges against her sister. Will it be different this time? Now, that they both are older and wiser? There is definitely something different about their banter and glances now, they are now more sexual and hotter than when they were teenagers.
Secrets and feelings are revealed and Delilah will discover that every memory has two sides of a story. But will she be able to let go of the past and build a future with Macon? Or is the past and her hurt too strong for that?
To be complete honest, the first (and the second) time that I read the blurb of this book, I found it difficult to decide if the story would be a dark-enemy-bully story or a lighter version of that. So I was very hesitant to read it, although I had enjoyed Kristen Callihan’s books in the past.
But then I was lucky enough to receive a copy (through Netgalley) of the book ‘Make it sweet’, the writer newest book and after reading and loving that book, I got curious about this book. Because although it isn’t official a series, the two books are in some way connected to each other. The main male character (Macon Saint) in this story act in the same Hollywood TV-series as the female main character from ‘Make it sweet’. Macon and Delilah (from this story) even get married in ‘Make it sweet’ so that got me very intrigued about Macon and Delilah’s story.
To my delight and surprise ‘Dear enemy’ was lighter and funnier then I expected but it was also emotional at times. To me, it was the ‘perfect’ enemy to lovers story. Where the characters are now adults and also act like ones when they remember and talk about their past and the mistakes they made then.
The story was in the present time and the past was slowly revealed in little bits . The pace of the story was fluent and I liked the alternation between the present and the past. It gave a good inside into their feelings and made you understand what had happened in the past and because we got both POV’s in the story, we got to know why both reacted the way they did. I appreciated the fact that both of them acknowledge their mistakes and realized that both had changed since then. I really loved how they slowly grew closer during the story and opened up to each other. Because in the end they were both lonely people, looking for someone to love and understand them. Both loved their work and gave it their all but work can only do so much, it can’t love you or hold you when you need a hug. Both character were really fascinating and wonderful. They were both intelligent, loyal to the people they cared for. The banter between them were fascinating and entertaining. The story managed to surprise me a few times and as a reader I love that!
I’m very happy that I decided to read ‘Dear enemy’ because I loved it just as much as ‘Make it sweet’ and I really hope that the writer Kristen Callihan will write another story in this wonderful world.
This is on Prime Reading, and it is a winner! Delilah and Macon follow the enemies to friends to lovers troupe to a T, and its wonderful! It did incite an urge to clarify butter, but my Southern roots occasionally demand I feed people. Happy Reading!
This book is FUN. It’s sexy and sometimes angsty and entertaining.
I loved the flashbacks to Delilah and Macon in high school. These two not only didn’t like each other, they could barely stand to be around each other. As Kristen Callihan will reveal, though, there is more to the story, as I’m sure you expect.
Now, ten years later, Delilah sacrifices herself on Macon’s altar to save her feckless sister Sam, who happens to be Mason’s ex-girlfriend from those high school days. You will not like Sam, who is the weakest character in the book. She isn’t on the page very often, but she haunts the story. When you do meet her, you want to know why she’s such a selfish brat. You can’t trust her, though, so you don’t know if her protests have any validity.
Back to Delilah and Macon: they are DELICIOUS. (Literally, in some cases. Delilah is a chef, and all the food talk in this book will make your stomach growl.) Their chemistry scorches the pages, even though Callihan gives you severe blue ovaries as you wait FOREVER for them to rock the headboard. Worth it, though. Oh, yes, it is. In fact, their first sexual interaction will make you tremble with need.
I enjoyed watching Macon and Delilah relinquish their control. Neither wants to appear weak, yet they both are. I liked how protective they are of each other, and I liked how they were willing to admit mistakes.
This is the book to pick if you want something largely light-hearted with some heat. You will adore Macon and Delilah.
This enemies to lovers romance is of the slow burn variety that I always enjoy.
The animosity between Delilah and Macon begins in adolescence and continues through adulthood. To be blunt, Macon is a grade A alphahole towards Delilah, but with her sharp tongue she is a formidable foe who gives as good as she gets. Sometimes this trope doesn’t work for me because the antihero is overly and unjustifiably cruel to the heroine. That isn’t the case here. Macon makes it easy to sympathize with him even though his behavior is wrong. In fact, he moved me.
At first glance, Macon and Delilah’s conflict seems cut and dry and the characters appear to be one dimensional. In Kristen Callihan’s capable hands, however, the depth of the characters and their hidden emotions are slowly revealed. Delilah’s annoying and consistently self-centered sister is the one exception.
The deal struck between Delilah and Macon feels unnecessary and unrealistic, but I was nonetheless extremely entertained.
I appreciate a well written enemies to lovers book, but add in that they were childhood enemies and that it was also a slow burn romance, count me in!
When Delilah, who is fiercely loyal to her family, steps up to pay off debt for her sister, she is brought back to all of her childhood emotions. Macon really did a number on her growing up and they’re either forced to work through those problems or have a tension filled home. Of course they went the route of the former. As they learn the true meanings of why one another did what they did growing up, things get clarified and you see the start of the fall. It’s such a graceful, sweet fall.
I love how Macon opens up to Delilah because he already knows she can see right through him, and Delilah learns that she needs to voice her feelings to Macon as well.
Two things bugged me though while reading, and that was that there were often uncommon words used in sentences or they were overused. I don’t mind looking up words on my Kindle dictionary and I usually tend to look passed these things, but they grated on me a bit. As well as the epilogue. I finished this book right before bed, and woke up in the middle of the night thinking, “oh I can finish this in the morning and see where the characters are at!” then I’d realize that I finished… While the epilogue was good, I felt like it was just another chapter. But they do have a happy ending.
Don’t let that deter you from reading the book though because it was overall a great book, those were just two things I personally could not get over, which could just be my current mood as well. I’d still recommend the book because everyone deserves to read how sweet Macon really is and how soulful Delilah is.
I am falling more and more in love with this authors books. This one took me to such a happy place. I felt every single emotion that Delilah went through from being a quirky teen, a sassy young woman to a girl falling for her nemesis. She had such dedication and loyalty for her family that sometime made her see Macon in the wrong light. He wasn’t always who he portrayed. He hid things well from most people, but Delilah saw through most of it. Their banter was quick and witty and their slow burn new relationship was a cherish to witness. Everyone else could see that this couple had something special brewing under the surface and once they got to spend time together again, they couldn’t deny it either. I loved seeing Macon’s vulnerability and how only Delilah could bring that out in him. His devotion to her was a treat and I could read more about them.
I’m wondering if the bestie gets a book, as I want to know more about North and who he falls for.
I absolutely loved this book. I’ve read many enemies to lovers books and I did see the twist coming almost from the beginning. But, the beauty of this writing sucked me in and wouldn’t let me out until they’d reached their Happily Ever After. This is a wonderful 5 star book. Personally, I would love to watch Macon’s movies and eat Delilah’s food! Great book.
Great story of how a misunderstanding can affect people’s lives and how they overcome it. Loved Macon and Delilah.
Dear Enemy is my first Kristen Callihan book. I loved everything about it, especially Delilah and Macon. I loved learning the history of their feud and all the things that made them who they were as adults. Loved the steamy scenes, too, and the writing was so well done. Can’t wait to read another!
Some people are just bad…
****4.5 Stars****
When I started Dear Enemy I didn’t see much hope for Delilah and Macon. Their obstacles seemed insurmountable. The devastation and hurt I felt for Delilah and the teenage bullying she was put through just didn’t seem like it could be forgivable. I had my target, or should I say targets, for the baddies but I knew that Delilah and her perpetrators were teenagers and I knew a lot could change from teenage angst to adulthood. The hardest part for me to come to terms with though, was that one of her perpetrators was the one person she kept forgiving…her sister.
Now, I can tell you straight, that if my sisters did what that selfish, egotistical spoilt brat, Sam did, I would not hesitate in seeing her get her just deserts. There is NO WAY I would be covering for her or making up for her bad deeds. Yes, I get that Delilah was trying to protect her Mama BUT her Mama must take a little bit of the blame for enabling such an absolute COW!!
If you haven’t got the message yet…I HATE SAM!! I will never understand why families enable their loved ones to keep them being inconsiderate, selfish, and even CRIMINALS!! I just didn’t understand why Delilah covered for her and made excuses for her bad behaviour. SHE STOLE!! Then, we find out that that wasn’t even the worst of it. I HATE SAM!!!
There was a little part of me that hoped that Macon wasn’t as bad as what he seemed. I did not like the way he treated Delilah when they were kids. It’s just that, as a parent, I know that there are sometimes underlying reasons for kids to act out. Macon had a lot of reasons to act out. Geez, my gut was swirling, and my heart was breaking for the poor kid. To go his whole life unprotected from the monster who was supposed to be his protector, is just something I struggle with. Some days I wish that every parent had to go through a five year check-in to prove they are good parents.
So, Dear Enemy had a lot of emotional ups and downs. Overall, I really enjoyed the journey and didn’t mind pushing through some of the downs because the ups were so good. I did have a problem with the Epilogue, though. First, we have Delilah again putting her dreams on hold to follow Macon for his work. Yes, I do believe that a relationship is all about ‘give and take’ but Delilah has given a lot. But, then again, I like that they didn’t want to be apart. (You just can’t please me sometimes. ) Secondly, I had moved past all of the hurt Delilah dealt with and was ready to move on to their happy ever after together. Why would I want to revisit her memories again? I didn’t get closure knowing more of what Macon put her through. I WANTED TO MOVE ON and forget that he was ever her… Dear Enemy. I want my Epilogues to be all hearts and flowers, I was just a little disappointed.
Kristen Callihan has treated us to an emotional, sexy and at times humorous story. I love the way the author describes her characters warts and all, then gives you the reasons why they have some of those warts. The characters were original, and I loved getting to know them better. The storyline kept my attention from start to finish and I was sad when it came to an end. I want more from these characters and I would love to read stories about Macon’s friends, North and Ronan.
I highly recommend giving Dear Enemy a try.
OOOOH…Amazon has Dear Enemy for less that a dollar…BARGAIN!!!
3.5 Stars!
Kristen Callahan’s Dear Enemy, is a love story about a relationship years in the making. A slow burn romance full of emotion and longing, where the characters realize that what you see on the outside is not always the truth and sometimes it’s worth digging deeper to truly get to know someone.
Macon and Delilah met when they were eleven years old and immediately decided that they HATED each other. To make matters worse, Macon was high school sweethearts with Delilah’s younger sister Sam. Growing up as their third wheel and the butt of a number of their jokes Delilah was more than ready to leave him behind at the end of high school. They find themselves meeting again ten years later having to face the emotions they fought and ignored many years ago.
Macon is an introvert who finds himself in the most public of occupations as a famous actor. He grew up in a troubled home and came to the realization early on that he would rather pretend to be what people think he is than show them who he really is. Underneath his tough exterior, Macon is vulnerable and hurting. Delilah is his complete opposite. You see what you get with her and Macon has always wished to be more like her in this way. Delilah is one of the few people to stand her ground with him and see past his façade. She challenges him in ways that turn him on and liven up his life. Together Macon and Delilah are finally ready to acknowledge that what they felt so many years wasn’t hate at all and that there is more than lust in the sparks that are flying between them now.
There is a deep understanding in a love where two people have known each other for years. Kristen Callahan did a great job at creating a backstory and chemistry between these two. At first I thought I would be conflicted with Macon haven’t dated Delilah’s sister, but its evident from early on that Delilah has always been the one. Delilah placed a mark in Macon’s heart when they first meet and she stayed with him until it was the right time for the two to let each other know how they truly feel.
This book was beyond romantic and I can’t wait to reach more of Kristen Callahan’s work!
This book was absolutely everything I’ve ever wanted in a romance and more. I devoured this story. I truly feel like I connected with this story about Macon and Delilah “ Tot” who asks him a massive favour in order to save her sister from going to jail.
From their first encounter as children, HATE is the word that fit perfectly to describe their relationship. However, where there’s hate… there’s love… isn’t it.
The entire book slowly builds you up and keeps you hanging and just makes you feeeeeeel! I felt everything. The words, olala the words and the secrets.
Delilah aka “Tot” and Macon’s relationship was consuming, addictive and explosive. The banter, the conversation , the texts and the sparks!!!!!
“But you and that boy…” She smiles faintly.
“ Showers of sparks. You light each other up.”
The way they met again years later because of Delilah’s sister made the reader feel that it was meant to be!
Macon is an amazing character, he is soulful and sexy and his deep and his love for Tot is so passionate.
Dear Enemy is a skillfully written and thoroughly entertaining novel .
When I first picked up this book I was a bit nervous. I wasn’t sure about the H having a past relationship with the h sister. I HATE books with love triangles–just not my cup of tea. HOWEVER, to those of you who are like me, do NOT let this detour you from this book. There is NO love triangle–the past relationship the H had with the h sister was insignificant.
I loved how the author gave the H and the h so much depth–I felt like they were both onions –with each page you peeled back another layer and got to know these characters so much more. The book had some super funny dialogue and I honestly enjoyed every minute of it!!!
The enemies to lovers trope can easily fall flat when not done right. Its disappointing if the relationship progression is too fast or one party hasn’t grown enough or made appropriate amends. That was so NOT the case with this book. Callihan moves the relationship forward at a believable pace and the characters are just wonderful. Gotta admit this may be one I reread down the line.
I love Kristen Callihan’s style of writing and am glad to get my hands on her new book. ‘Dear Enemy’, as the book name suggests, has a hate-to-love storyline and is also a slow-burn. It’s an amazingly entertaining, fun, and fantastic journey to go on with Macon and Delilah. Their chemistry, banter, emotions, sexy times and romance just keep you flipping the pages right till the very end. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read more by this author. Happy reading everyone!!
Dear Enemy is an emotional enemies to lovers romance. It is a bittersweet story with characters that take a while to warm up to, as they learn words and actions can affect someone, even if you don’t mean to be hurtful. While I enjoyed the story, I didn’t always like the way the characters treated each other. They reacted before thinking and their actions had consequences.
The two main characters, Macon and Delilah have known each other since they were children and they have always argued and taunted each other. Now, ten years later, they meet again. They are both established in their careers and successful but still harbor doubts, fears and vulnerability from their childhood. As they spend time together, they realize they misunderstood each other years ago and they also find they have many similarities.
Even though Macon is a famous actor, he isn’t happy. He has many ghosts and hides his innermost feelings from everyone. Underneath his broody and gruff exterior, Macon is vulnerable and hurting. Looking at Macon’s handsome face, no one would guess the secrets he hides inside.
Delilah is forthright, what you see is what you get. She doesn’t play games and she is loyal and protective of those she loves. As Delilah slowly gets to know Macon, she realizes she never really knew him. This is a slow burn, emotional story full of tension and scorching looks between the characters.
A new book by Kristen Callihan? Yes, Please! This slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers story was all that I hoped for and more. Amazing characters, sexual tension, flashbacks to the past and stellar writing make Dear Enemy a must-read.
I adored Delilah. She’s outspoken and brash and perfectly imperfect. She says what she feels and doesn’t hold back. Her chemistry with Macon is scorching. The banter between these two is the perfect foreplay. They grew up hating each other and are brought back together by unusual circumstances. The hate-love is strong with these two and watching the sparks fly is a true delight! Callihan does an excellent job building Delilah and Macon’s story and I couldn’t love these two any more if I tried. There are plenty of secrets and readers should come to expect the unexpected as each one is revealed. Do yourself a favor and grab this one….it’s well worth the read! 4.5 stars
A great story that I can tell I will be rereading again and again!