The enemies-to-lovers genre in Manhwa is among the most popular romance tropes. The genre usually involves two characters who start with a deep-seated hatred toward each other or rivalry, creating a thrilling tension that slowly melts or transforms these characters’ emotions into a toxic relationship of hatred and love.
The tension and conflict emitted between the two characters create a fascinating narrative as the occurrence is generally rarer in real life. This transformation from enemies to romantic partners provides drama, humor, and sometimes a satisfying emotional journey for readers. The enemies-to-lovers genre is well-known for its often-absurd plots, character growth, and engagingworld-building in the Manhwa realm.
Updated on August 03, 2025, by Nahda Nabiilah:A unique element of the enemies-to-lovers trope in Manhwa is the way it challenges the typical romance dynamics within relationships. Sincethe characters often start off as rivalsor enemies, their confrontations are initially intense and filled with sharp banter, strategic maneuvers, and clashes of willpower. This rivalry allows for a more complex and layered romance that transforms the growing tension into a passionate romance. As both characters push each other’s boundaries, testing limits and growing as individuals. The slow burn of growing attraction amidst the ongoing conflict creates an irresistible emotional rollercoaster that keeps readers hooked to the growing affection.
MyAnimeList Rating
8.18
This Manhwa discusses heavy subjects such as anorexia, family abuse, trauma, and sexual harassment.
InHow to Win My Husband Over, Ruby and Iske’s relationship begins rocky and turbulent. Ruby, unsure how to act naturally, makes herself in awkward, cringy obedience, while Iske’s poor communication skills make him seem cold and distant. Despite genuinely caring for Ruby’s safety and well-being, his aloofness and her confusing and controlled behavior create a gulf between them, leading to mistrust and misunderstandings. In their first lifetime, these misunderstandings result in tragedy, with Iske killing Ruby and her family for betraying him and poisoning his sister.
In the second lifetime, however,Ruby’s soul is replaced by a girl from modern-day South Korea, who read about the worlds she’s fallen into from a novel. Now determined to escape her tragic fate that cruelly resembles her past life, Ruby sets out to win Iske’s trust and affection in the hope of securing his loyalty to escape her family and their schemes to throw the north into chaos.
7.32
Jooahn and Dojin, identified by an ordinary relationship between a boss and employer, find themselves facing an unexpected twist of fate when their souls swap during a work meeting inAn Hour of Romance. Terrified of what happened, the two decide to brush it off as a mere coincidence. However, when their souls swap again inexplicably, they decide it is time to unravel the mystery of this bizarre phenomenon.
As the days pass, they uncover that their souls will swap daily at an unexpected hour. To maintain the probability, they establish strict rules and regular meetings, but their contrasting personalities and objectives threaten to ruin such efforts. Can they set aside their differences and collaborate effectively, orwill their conflicting traits jeopardize their attempts to maintain a normal daily lifeas they try to uncover the reason behind this?
May 13, 2025 to Jul 20, 2025
7.76
InFor Better or For Worse,Lady DillonandMarquess Cedrichave rocky and heated arguments as their initial interactions are filled with tension and misunderstandings. When Cedric attempts to propose to Dillon’s sister, Dillon strongly opposes the idea, not out of jealousy or because of her past as a villainin the previous timeline, but to protect her sister, whom she knows is destined to die during childbirth after marrying him.
Despite their heated arguments and differences, Cedric feels compelled to follow his grandfather’s wish to marry someone from Dillon’s family, leading to them to agree to a marriage of convenience. As the story unfolds, their relationship takes an unexpected turn, filled with moments of growth, vulnerability, and shared experience. However, with Cedric’s intertwined fate with the original female lead of the novel, can they navigate the complexities of their situation and find a way to forge their own path together?
7.39
After she decides to take the deal,she meets Iseop again after 10 years, but he confesses that he dislikes her. His reason is that she was always better than him and trampled all over his ego even when he sacrificed his life to be TK’s true successor. Even though he never stated his reasons out loud, and she always finds a way to get on his nerves, why can’t he stop himself from thinking about her?
7.63
In a world of humans wielding special abilities, none could even come close to Officer Han Do-Ryeong’s power. His charm, kindness, and rare abilities make him stand out inVillain with a Crush. Rosa Park is equally gifted with strong and unique abilities but never learned to wield her powers properly. Her uncontrolled abilities became the tools that could bring her closer to Do-Ryeong, as she yearned to declare her affection and gratitude for him.
However, a series of misfortunes hindered her attempts at a successful love confession and transformed her intoSouth Korea’s notorious villain, Blackdog. This grave misunderstanding turned Do-Ryeong and Rosa into enemies, with Do-Ryeong wanting to capture Blackdog. Despite Rosa’s persistent efforts to fix Blackdog’s damaged image, each action only brought further misunderstandings, deepening the chasm between them.
May 19, 2025 to May 23, 2025
6.81
Yeonhee Bae grew up in a broken family and honed her skills of deception inTo Love Your Enemy. At 24, she decides to start anew and pursue the education she had to halt. On campus, she crosses paths with someone from her past, destroying the hope for a brighter future.
Determined to leave her old self behind, she tries to correct the misunderstanding between them. Will their shared history threaten their college journey, or will they overcome the misunderstandings and forge a new future?
7.44
When Lily Lee wakes up asthe cruel villainess in a fairytale, she decides to turn the little princess’s life around and free her from all the abuse of her previous stepmother inNot-Sew-Wicked Stepmom. Lily was always fond of cute, beautiful, and lovely things, and she happened to find her cute little Blanche embodies everything that she adores.
She’s fiercely protective of Blanche and is prepared to fight everyone to protect her, even from her dad, King Freidkins, whom she thinks might be too harsh on the young princess. Determined toensure Blanche’s happiness, Abigail finds herself entangled in a complex web of familial dynamics, where she has to “put up” with the King to enjoy her little angel’s company.
7.36
Erkin is a young pharmacist from the north who lost his parents after a lengthy war inThe Spark in Your Eyes. He believes their death is all because of the Sun’s Witch, who’s been blessed by the sun goddess, Karia, with the magical ability of light and heat. After making a name for himself in Mormeratta, he is requested by two suspicious persons to treat their master.
Thinking this will make it easier for him to endthe Witch of the Sun, he accepts the offer and moves to the castle. Inside the castle, no one knows nor has seen the master, making it easier for Hildegar to blend in with the rest of the staff and get closer to Erkin. As days pass, the two become friends, but will they remain as such when Erkin finds out his sworn enemy is none other than Hildegar, or will he find a way to overcome such hatred?
7.96
In everyone’s eyes, Chae-a Han and Yunsu Park are the spitting images of angels, but underneath those masks lies an ex-convict anda blood-sucking vampire. Armed with knowledge of Chae-a’s past, Yunsu blackmails her with a murder she didn’t commit to manipulate and entertain himself.
However, Chae-a Han is not someone who gives up easily, especially to Yunsu’s twisted games. Determined to break free from this torment, she tries every tactic to escape this living hell.As their games become more toxicby the day, they revel in each other’s misery and suffering, dancing on the edge of life and death. Yet, amidst the chaos, unexpected emotions begin to stir, leading to the formation of romantic feelings that neither can control nor admit.
