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.
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This was such a good book, I couldn’t stop reading. First I really dislike bullying in books but It was the background of the couple. I guess knew the interactions when they were 11 were going to affect the future.
I loved the banter between Delilah and Macon.
I really enjoyed Dear Enemy. It was full of romance, drama, heart, and of course: enemies-to-lovers! This is the story of Macon Saint and Delilah Baker. Childhood freindimies, each with their own amount of baggage. Kristen Callihan pulls out this emotional story through a slow burn.
Delilah is witty and sensible. She has a huge heart. I loved her “grandma’s remedies” that she often quoted. She is sensible and sensitive. Macon Saint is anything but a saint. Handsome, confident and self-assured. Sometimes a bully.
“Mamma used to say the brain can lie to you, but the heart always knows the truth.”
Thrown together through circumstance, Malcolm and Delilah realize that they each had insecurities and circumstances that shaped their lives into adulthood. The story was beautifully unwrapped as each layer of their past fell like a tree shedding its leaves in the fall. If you are looking for a book that will fill you up then Dear Enemy is for you!
Enjoyable enemies-to-lovers stand-alone.
One of the best books I’ve read this year, I’m speechless! it was incredible, I had to read it in one sitting because the characters and the story were so raw, real and emotional! great book from Miss Callihan!
***2 Stars***
UGH…
I really, REALLY, wanted to like this book ~ and for all intents and purposes I should have ~ the books I’ve read by this author I’ve thoroughly enjoyed (The Friend Zone has been re read more times than I can count), I love an enemies to lovers trope AND the food ~ OMG the FOOD ~ BUT ~ yes, the dreaded “BUT” ~ it ended up being just an okay read for me.
Macon and Delilah ~ I honestly liked Delilah. She has a good heart ~ even if it gets her into situations it shouldn’t ~ and I loved her passion for cooking and making it her career. Macon. He isn’t a bad guy, but I just needed more from him. So to say their journey to their HEA didn’t work for me isn’t a surprise and it isn’t that I didn’t like them together, I just thought Delilah deserved so much more.
I know all too well that not every book by authors one loves will end up being fav’s, but it still hurts to have to put it out into the world that this one just didn’t do it for me. The pacing dragged for me and outside of Delilah the rest of the characters just didn’t do it for me. So, I’m figuring this is just a one off and am looking forward to diving into her next book.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
A steamy, angsty slow burn from Kristen Callihan!
Kristen Callihan wows with this steamy and compelling enemies-to-lovers standalone!
Fans of angsty, emotional romance will love Kristen Callihan’s latest release, Dear Enemy! It’s a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity plot!
HO-LEE chemistry.
Holy sensual, sparky, scintillating chemistry.
The chemistry between Delilah and Macon was so strong, I could feel it even when they were firmly in enemy camps. Their relationship is so skillfully written that the inner longing was evident even as the “banter” was decidedly antagonistic. As Ms. Callihan began peeling the layers back on these two, my heart started skipping beats, my breath started coming in excited little bursts, and I was lost to them completely.
So. much. delicious. chemistry.
All that said, it took me a bit to warm up to the story. Enemies to lovers is hit-or-miss for me – but that wasn’t really the issue here. I struggled with the whole set-up. It seemed a little…unrealistic to me. It unfolded very quickly and I had to tell my mind to settle down and go with the flow when it kept wanting to raise an eyebrow over how things were playing out. I’m so glad I stuck with it because the payoff was incredible. The second half of the book was stronger than the first half for me, but the whole package was some kind of incredible emotional experience.
There were little twists I didn’t see coming. There were emotional punches that left me feeling raw and aching. There were steamy scenes that literally set my heart to racing. There was a sweetness that I did not expect, and romantic, emotional depth that filled my heart to bursting. I expect nothing less than this sort of smartly written, masterfully told story from this author, and by the time I turned the last page, I wasn’t even close to letting Delilah and Macon go. Loved them. Loved this. And now I am left hoping that there may be more stories to be told in this world because I am all in! ~ 4.5 Stars
4.25 stars– DEAR ENEMY by Kristen Callihan is a contemporary, adult, erotic romance story line focusing on Hollywood actor Macon Saint, and chef Delilah Baker.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Delilah and Macon) DEAR ENEMY is an enemies to lovers story line that follows the building romance and relationship between Hollywood actor Macon Saint, and chef Delilah Baker. Delilah Baker has always been the third wheel especially when it involved her sister Samantha, and her childhood nemesis Macon Saint. A lifetime of humiliation inflicted by Macon Saint pushed Delilah one too many times and our heroine left without looking back. Fast forward to present day where an unexpected and accidental phone call found Delilah Baker facing down the man that has fuelled her anger and heart break for over twenty years. Enter Hollywood star Macon Saint, and the man with whom Delilah would fall in love. What ensues is the building friendship, relationship and romance between Delilah and Macon when Delilah finds herself the personal chef and assistant to the Hollywood star, and the potential fall-out as Delilah struggles with memories from the past.
Macon Saint has always had a secret crush on Delilah Baker, a crush manifested as perceived hatred, emotional abuse and heart breaking name calling but Macon’s relationship with her sister Samantha, was what hurt Delilah the most. When Delilah discovered to what extent Samantha was continuing to destroy Macon’s life, Delilah offers herself up for one year of servitude in payment for her sister’s sins. Delilah Baker gave as good as she got, and in this the spiteful barbs and condescending attitude were equally on par with Macon’s stabs on Delilah’s behalf but Macon kept secret the truth behind one devastating act of humiliation, a secret that was about to destroy Delilah’s heart.
The relationship between Macon and Delilah is an enemies to lovers romance wherein both must apologize and forgive for mistakes of the past. Delilah struggles with the memories of not so long ago, a struggle could potential threaten any future with Macon Saint. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense.
We are introduced to Delilah’s sister Samantha, and their mother Andie Baker, as well as Macon’s best friend and stunt double North West; his agent/publicist Karen, and Macon’s father George Saint. I am hoping the author has plans for North West.
DEAR ENEMY is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and heart break; a story of love and loss ; of hatred, anger, acceptance and hope. The premise is emotional; the characters are flirty, broken, sassy and tragic; the romance is intimate and sensual .
4.25-4.5 stars. This book was so good! Dear Enemy is the story of Macon and Delilah. They grew up as neighbors and enemies as children and teens. Both were cruel and hurt each other. Macon dated Delilah’s sister in high school, too. Now, years later, Macon is a famous movie actor living in Hollywood. Delilah is a chef, hoping to own her own restaurant someday. When her flighty sister, Sam, takes a job as Macon’s assistant and steals a priceless heirloom from him, Delilah must step in to save her from jail by taking over her job. Now she is working for her enemy. Only Macon doesn’t seem like her enemy any longer. He feels like coming home.
I loved this book. There is a great story and fantastic writing. Macon and Delilah go from enemies to friends to lovers, slow burn style. Their connection and chemistry was amazing. I liked them both a lot. I loved that they had matured since they were kids. They had both made mistakes and hurt each other in the past, but they soon found they were not enemies in the present. They were both two lonely people. No one else in their lives had ever truly seen them for who they were. I definitely felt they were soulmates. This book had fun banter, sweet, sexy and witty moments. I could have read about these two forever. I was happy that for once the hero was the one who had not had a satisfying sex life before the heroine. He was not a manwhore, was more of a loner, and had never truly loved or been loved before Delilah came back into his life. She was just what he needed, an vice versa, to be happy. Although, while I felt secure in their future together, I did want a more firm plan for the future, like an engagement.
As Sam had dated Macon in the past, it was a very immature, not serious, high school relationship. This had the potential to bother me, as sometimes in other books this trope hasn’t worked. But I wasn’t too bothered by it in this situation. Macon never really liked Sam, nor her him. Their relationship was something for them both to hide behind. Sam was not a good person and took advantage of her sister and hurt her, while pretending to be on her side. It was nothing compared to he and Delilah together.
I also loved the sense of history and nostalgia for their Southern childhood. And I really enjoyed the food aspect and the sense that Delilah’s cooking brought to mind shared memories and was a way of sharing love with those she cared about.
Overall, Dear Enemy was just really, really good! Definitely the best book I have read so far this year and will be in my top ten at year end. The writing is amazing. I loved Delilah and Macon and savored their journey to love. I look forward to whatever Ms. Callihan comes up with next!
Kristen Callihan brings the angst in this super emotional, steamy read.
Rated 3.5 Stars
Dear Enemy is funny, snarky and sexy. I enjoyed it especially the tension, sexual and otherwise between the main characters, Delilah and Macon. However, I struggled quite a bit while reading it. It has the elements I love in an enemies to lovers yet somehow it didn’t work for me. That said it’s still an enjoyable story.
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
As a fan of Kristen’s books I had high expectations going in. Enemies to lovers is a trope I love, but in order to enjoy it, I feel both protagonists need to be on level footing in some way. In this case I was slightly uncomfortable with the feud in their youth because I felt Delilah’s animosity was born from self preservation more than anything else.
In adulthood Delilah is a very successful chef and Macon an actor. They have not seen or heard from each other in Ten years but their worlds collide due to Delilah’s sister, Sam. Sam’s character was one I thought would be redeemable with the possibility or her having her own book, but like other plots running through the novel I felt she/it became a villain/device rather than being cohesive in the story building.
This was likely a case of “It’s not you, it’s me” as I was interested enough in wanting to see Delilah and Macron’s HEA, but I can’t say I was reverted in way that I normally am with Kristen’s novels.
3.5-4 ‘My little Hot Tater Tot’ Stars!
ARC provided by the the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I fell in love with Kristen Callihan’s writing ever since I read the first book in her Game On series. Imagine my excitement when I saw she was releasing a standalone novel with Montlake and I saw the ARC on my Kindle! I love how Kristen develops her characters and the relationships between them and the chemistry build between the couples. Dear Enemy is no exception to that!
So, Dear Enemy is Kristen’s new standalone romance and it’s an enemies to lovers story. Macon Saint and Delilah Baker are childhood enemies and that hatred started from the very first moment they laid eyes on each other. That got even worse when Macon started dating Delilah’s sister Sam. Things did not end well and ten years have passed. Macon is now a Hollywood star and Delilah a professional chef. Circumstances bring them back together and they have to spend a huge amount of time in the same space. Is it really hate what they feel or other hidden feelings are now in the mix?
“It’s killing you, isn’t it?” he says, way too pleased. “The thought of being subservient to me.”
“What was your first clue, Detective?”
His grin is all teeth and anticipation. “I’ll own you, Delilah. For one year, your ass will be mine.”
I am a massive fan of a good hate to love romance. I knew Kristen Callihan could write a good one and Dear Enemy was a good example of this romance trope. Is it not my favorite from this author but did I still enjoy it? Yes, of course! This novel also involves a good dose of slow burn and kind of second chance feels. I loved Macon and Delilah, their banter, the chemistry and the emotions. I loved how they become vulnerable after knowing the whole truth and how that is explained. When they leave the hate apart and the true nature of their relationship shows it’s so sweet and emotional and I really loved that.
I can’t let her go.
Something is waking up in me or settling back into place. I don’t know which, but everything in me wants to hold on to the sensation and soak it up.
The chemistry was mind-blowing when it finally burned and I just loved this couple together. I loved how Kristen took it to the next level with the whole truth about their past experiences and their true feelings. I do however know Kristen can develop that chemistry a whole lot more than she did here. In my opinion, the slow burn was a bit too long and I found myself disconnecting a bit from the story sometimes. Still, towards the end I was at the edge of my seat all over again and I really loved Macon and Delilah’s happy ending.
If there is one thing I know to be true, it’s that everything worth having in my life is worth fighting for.
And I will fight for Delilah.
Therefore, I am rating Dear Enemy with 3.5-4 STARS because it was a great standalone hate to love story and I am pretty sure people will like it if they have enjoyed Kristen’s work in the past. The couple was engaging, the banter too and I enjoyed how their relationship was taken to the next level. I would have loved to see a bit more of Macon and Delilah as a couple but I really loved this novel overall. I am so happy these two found their HEA together after all those years supposedly hating each other!
Enemies to lovers with a nice slow burn! 10/10 recommend!!!
This is a relatively new author for me but I wouldn’t hesitate to read them again and again. I enjoyed reading this story and found the storyline and characters were interesting and enjoyable to read about. Overall I really enjoyed this book alot and would love to read about the secondary characters as well.
4.5 Stars!
Delilah Baker’s family moves to the southern town of Shermont, North Carolina when she’s eleven years old. She quickly makes an enemy out of a boy named Macon Saint. He’s a popular jerk with the face of an angel, but an ugly personality. Through middle school and high school they hated each other and clashed at every turn. She often felt like she couldn’t escape him since he dated her sister Samantha. No one on earth has ever annoyed her so much, so when her sister and Macon finally break up she’s thrilled she won’t have to be tormented by him anymore.
Ten years later Delilah receives a text that has her trying to scramble to fix her sister’s problems. In the process she comes face to face with her childhood nemesis Macon Saint. It’s been ten years, and he’s all grown up and a famous actor living on the beach in Malibu. They make a deal that will help solve both their problems, but also put them in close proximity.
Delilah still holds a grudge and loathed Macon with a passion. She needed to try to keep the past in the past for their arrangement to work, but all the disappointment and hurt were still there. It was as if no time had passed the way they still bickered, and he knew just which buttons to push, but she’s no longer that shy, lonely, awkward girl. As they spend time together she wonders if the boy he once was and the man he is today are that different. He’s still arrogant, but she’s also seeing other sides of Macon. Soon she wonders if she ever really saw the real him all those years?
Macon has many regrets when it comes to Delilah, and after a decade isn’t surprised she still seems to be immune to his charms. She’s honest, direct, and genuine. What you see is what you get, and she’s always been able to see right through him. She slips past his defenses and makes him feel exposed. She’s the one person he’s never been able to ignore, who leaves him open and vulnerable in every way. She knows the real him, and they share an overwhelming connection that just keeps growing. They are complete opposites, but she feels like home and makes him feel alive again. He can no longer pretend that he doesn’t want her or care. Lines get blurred, and soon real feelings are involved as things turn complicated between them.
Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan is a sexy enemies to lovers romance packed with angst, emotion, and magnetic chemistry. I really loved this story and these characters, and couldn’t get enough of their fantastic banter!
They have known and hated each other since they were 11 years old. But when Delilah’s sister betrays Macon Saint in the worst possible way, it’s up to her to come to her sister’s rescue while being an assistant and chef to the person she can’t stand the most.
I absolutely LOVE enemies to lovers… and this one with the angst, the slow burn, the perfect banter hit the sweet spot for me for so many reasons. If I am being honest, I haven’t read for weeks… I just haven’t been in the mood as of late and this one checked all my boxes and provided that much-needed escape from real life… I was glued to my kindle, frantically turning the pages because I could not get enough of these characters, their story, their realizations of the truth and that bittersweet moment when it all connects and you can breathe that sigh of relief that all is right in the world. Callihan evoked all those emotions and feelings with her words and I will read anything she writes. A perfect rainy day, feel-good read… my heart is so happy <3
I really enjoyed this slow burn enemies to lovers storyline. Macon and Delilah’s banter was off the charts hilarious. Their chemistry was sizzling hot. I highly recommend this book.