One of the things that make it appealing is the authenticity. In real life, many relationships start from friendship. So, when we read a best friends to lovers novel, it feels relatable. We can see how the characters' feelings morph and grow. Also, there's often a lot of humor and inside jokes in these novels because of the friendship element. This adds a light - hearted touch to the story, making it enjoyable to read. The characters can be themselves around each other from the start, and that naturalness is really attractive in a love story.
The familiarity. In a best friends to lovers novel, the characters already know each other well. They've shared secrets, joys, and sorrows. This deep connection gives the love story a solid foundation. It's like the love grows out of an already fertile ground of friendship.
It often involves a slow - burn. They don't just jump into love. In many novels like 'Well Met' by Jen DeLuca, the characters gradually realize their feelings over time. This slow realization of love while already having a friendship base makes for a very satisfying read. It's like watching a flower bloom slowly, and the anticipation builds up the tension in the story.
Character growth. The characters usually start off with certain flaws that contribute to their enmity. As the story progresses, they learn from each other and grow. In 'Pride and Prejudice', Elizabeth's prejudice and Darcy's pride are the initial stumbling blocks. But as they interact more, they both change and become better versions of themselves, which is very satisfying for readers.
These novels are appealing because they often have a sense of comfort. Since the characters are friends first, there's a level of trust. In 'Love and Other Words', the main characters' long - standing friendship made the transition to love feel more believable and it was easy to root for them. Also, the anticipation of that shift from friendship to love is exciting for readers.
The tension. In enemies to lovers stories, there is an initial animosity that creates a lot of tension. This tension keeps the readers or viewers on the edge of their seats. For example, in 'Pride and Prejudice', the cold exchanges between Elizabeth and Darcy are full of unspoken emotions. It's like a battle of wits at first. And when they finally come together, the payoff is great.
They're appealing because of the built - in history. The characters already know each other deeply, which adds a layer of authenticity. For example, in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty', Belly has known the boys her whole life, so when feelings change, it's not just a surface - level attraction.
The familiarity. In best friend to lovers romance novels, the characters already know each other well. They share inside jokes, memories, and a level of comfort that is really appealing. It's like they have a head start in the relationship.
The transformation is appealing. Seeing two people who dislike each other turn into lovers shows the power of change and growth. It gives hope that even the most difficult relationships can be mended.
The transformation from hatred to love is exciting. In historical settings, there are often strict social norms. So when two enemies break those barriers to be together, it's thrilling. For example, in 'Pride and Prejudice', Elizabeth and Darcy had to overcome class differences and their own pride and prejudice, which was against the social expectations of their time.
They're appealing because there's already a strong foundation of trust. In a normal relationship, building trust can take time, but in friends - to - lovers stories, it's already there. For example, in 'The Hating Game', Lucy and Josh were friends (sort of) before falling in love, so they knew they could rely on each other.
The transformation is appealing. It's like watching two people break down their walls. For example, in 'Pride and Prejudice', seeing Darcy go from being so aloof to being in love with Elizabeth is satisfying. Also, the tension between the characters adds excitement. Their arguments and disagreements create a spark that can be really engaging for readers.