A review by originalbooknerd
Enemies by Tijan

challenging emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

🧡𝓔𝓷𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓮𝓼 - 𝓐 𝓕𝓸𝓸𝓽𝓫𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓪𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓮 - 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🧡 

 

 Author: Tijan 

 

Couple: Dusty Phillips & Stone Reeves 

 

Tropes: football romance, forced proximity, “He helps her heal”, trauma bond, mental health rep, childhood crush,  second chance, enemies to lovers 

 

Review:  Enemies is hands down the book that got me hooked on Tijan and her plethora of angsty, witty and swoon worthy romances. Dusty and Stone had all of the ups and downs I have come to LOVE in Tijan’s books and while this book is one of her older releases and has mainly Dusty’s POV, you can still really feel the emotions and turmoil between both of them! Dusty is a FMC who captured my heart with her story of finding love in life again after the events that led her to Texas and Tijan truly provided the personal upheaval in her story arc to keep me hooked until the last word. 

 

Dusty Phillips is a girl who has been handed a lot of lemons in life but still somehow came out on the other side with a bright respect for her future. I loved how Tijan was able to capture the different aspects of her mental health through every twist, turn, upset and life event that she went through in this book and adored how Dusty found herself her own tribe of people who would always support her and stand by her side. Dusty’s story was not an easy read and the beginning of her journey made me want to shake her roommates and friends  since they were so oblivious to her. The introduction of Stone’s character and the hate-lust they shared added just the right amount of spark and also provided the much needed tension. 

 

Dusty and Stone were two blazing suns in this book who had their own struggles as they grew closer. The frenemies with benefits situation they began while Dusty was living with him was perhaps some of then best tension Tijan has written (in my opinion) and I appreciated how Tijan made Stone’s character one to NOT shy away from the ugly truths of life but also so commitment phobic that it posed a problem for Dusty as she began healing. 

 

Stone was a tough nut to crack in this book but was also such a softie for Dusty once he began to fall. The complicated past he had with her family and the fond memories he shared with her and her mother were a selling point in his arc since he had to overcome past lies his family told him. The way Tijan was able to intertwine their shared past with the bond Stone had with Dusty’s late mother was the single most heartwarming part in Stone’s book and the way he cared for Dusty (even when he was a jerk) showed his true feelings for her…even if he wanted to play oblivious. 

 

Enemies is a whirlwind book that is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good enemies to lovers or sports romance with lots of angst! Dusty and Stone keep a place in my bookish heart and will always be a go to re-read when trying to get out of a book slump. Tijan stays one of my all time favorite & #oneclick authors and I cannot wait to see what she does next! 

 

Rating: 100+, Dusty and Stone are an iconic Tijan couple who never fail to disappoint during the first read or any subsequent rereads!