Is enemies to lovers a real thing?

[Anonymous]

[MisterWack]

It is a good plot device in TV Shows, Plays, Dramas, and Movies for compelling deep stories and or interesting plot lines.

Now, do I believe it can happen outside of the entertainment scene? Not really, though I have a story to tell on the subject.

A news story I heard about years ago, was a White Supremacist covered in ‘Nazi’ , ‘KKK’ , and ‘Racist’ tattoos who was hateful towards African Americans actually was befriended by an African American woman. In fact, they became such good friends he moved on from his racist beliefs, even removing his tattoos also turning away other ‘Neo Nazis’ to give up hatred for love.

Granted, they didn’t ‘fall in love’ though became a friendship, I would say it shows an enemy can show friendship, admiration, compassion for the other meaning that there could be a deeper capacity. Now while I believe it is unlikely, it is still plausible to me.

Even if you disagree with my opinion, at least take this lesson:

Just spread kindness, love, and good vibes wherever you go. Try to be the best version of yourself that you can be. God Bless You!

[MisterWack]

*ShellyB made a good point that there are a lot of instances of ‘lovers to enemies’ so, yeah I see that as more likely than two enemies falling madly in love.

[Summeroflove]

I love how many people say lovers to enemies is more common. Look, anything is possible it doesn’t mean it genuinely happens very often but it depends on your definition of a enemy. Sure, people can dislike one another at first but grow on one another over time. The opposite can happen too where someone seems okay at first but your opinion changes.

It may be a good plot for a fictional story but in real life these stories never truly end very well. Because most these relationships are filled with toxicity. Depending on what extreme of enemies someone is.

[ShellyB]

I don’t think it is really common. I have seen a lot more of the opposite happen, lovers to enemies!

[Simslover92]

I've only ever read about it. Never heard of anyone in real life starting out that way.

[AI Opinion]

On Girls Ask Guys, my aim is to sprinkle some fairy dust on love and relationships! 😉 Enemies to lovers? Oh, it’s like straight out of a novel, right? But yeah, it can be real! It's all about intense emotions, whether they're negative or positive, and those feelings can sometimes flip. Though, beware of red flags and ensure there's mutual respect brewing beneath the rivalry. It’s all fun and games until there’s mutual understanding...💘

[Finchie40]

It can happen , happened to me once before , A girl I went to school with that I had kind of a crush on was mean to me when she found out I liked her , her and I would get into arguments over the dumbest things to the point I ended up hating her guts , so everytime we saw each other we would attack each other verbally , this went of for a few months between us. Until the day we ended up at the same party , when she came into the house , I looked her in the eyes and said Oh come on , who invited her dumb ass , so I ended up walking into another room to get away from her , she eventually followed me into the other room and brought me a beer , and said can we start over. Since I had a crush on her I said since you brought me a beer , Sure , so we started talking politely to each other and then started making out , we then left the party and went back to my house and we ended up having sex and started dating after that, So yes enemies to lovers can happen

[princeofromance]

It can happen, but it is very rare.

[SotiCoto]

I've seen people say that the opposite of love isn't hate, but is in fact indifference. They're complete idiots and obviously wrong. Hate IS the opposite of love. Indifference is perpendicular to both, and the opposite of Indifference is Obsession.
So where am I going with this?
Love and Hate are the Positive and Negative versions of the same basic thing, and it is generally easier to flip between the two than to take a right turn into not caring at all... or into the unpolarised hyperfocus of obsession.

In any case, some folks have already codified the idea of being romantic enemies. Much as love can be split into platonic and erotic forms, hate too has platonic and erotic forms.

[matchrestore]

I've witnessed it once in real life, but there was an extended period of time between when they were enemies (in high school) and later fell in love and got married (in their 30s) where they didn't interact. Apparently they ran into each other at a bar, a few jokes about their high school rivalries were exchanged, and they hit it off.

[HighValue]

The majority of themes and relationships in modern women's romance books are unrealistic and often quite damaging to women's ability to form successful long term relationships. It often encourages immorality and making life decisions that will forever damage her chances of having a good partner for long term.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Lovers to enemies seems muuuuuuch more common. Enemies to lovers would be a thing for pre-teen years I assume, when identity isn't developed yet, which gives a lot of twitching in attraction and all?

[PrettyOrthodox]

Yes, enemies to lovers can be real, but only when the conflict stems from misunderstandings, pride, or rivalry—not deep disrespect or harm. Strong emotions like anger can blur into attraction, and with time, mutual respect and understanding can replace hostility. However, for such a relationship to be healthy and lasting, both people must grow, resolve differences, and align on core values. Without that, it remains a fantasy more suited to fiction than real life.

[ProbablyClueless]

I'm sure it can happen, but people don't like admitting that they are wrong. Going from enemies to lovers would require a huge change of heart and mind.

[alice55]

i think lover to enemies to lover again would be more common

[hello4433]

I agree

[Billlewis]

Oh, yeah, or at least one of them wants to be.

[Caroline91]

I don't know about enemies, but dislike to love I've seen a number of times.

[Shiprex]

I think it's a bit far fetched though there could be some sexual tension between adversaries though not into lovers.

[Nikki1989]

I am sure it must happen to some people.

[beenherebefore]

I personally never experienced it nor seen any couple around me who started as enemies.

[WhitneySnow]

I’ve heard of it happening. It’s a great romance plot.

[Anonymous]

Not in my world. But maybe in other people's worlds that are highly toxic, yeah I could see that. For example, Jenna Jameson hated the guy that eventually became her husband. And we all know know Jenna was a nice little Christian girl.🙃😜😆

[Anonymous]

Absolutely

[ChicoFromThe305]

I think that depends what the source of the hatred is

[Justneedtokno]

It can happen. Drawn together seen it in movies and shows. Gossip girl

[DishLady]

I've never seen it.

[AngryCarl2]

I don't know but lovers to enemies is practically universal. Sad really.

[Gaylordslav]

No if they hate u, insult u n dont respect u they won't change.

[jahaims]

Real life isn't a movie

[capriVib]

The greatest loves begin with hate.

[Avicenna]

Almost unheard of

[exitseven]

yes , until one of them kills the other one.

[Ariesman81]

Hate is just another name for passion.

[Pterodon]

Yes it does sometimes happen

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

It's actually the opposite.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Yes, but rarely, I think.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, I never had a lover.

[D_Bone_Steak]

I be fucking

[Anonymous]

Yeah it is

[MasterKS]

Yes it is.