Academic rivals who gamify their rivalry
I have such a book hangover from reading {Love, Off the Record by Samantha Markum) and I’m desperately looking for recs like it.
I LOVE when academics rivals have an established score they both keep track of, spoken or unspoken. Especially when it includes a mix of academic competition filled with sabotage, stubborn disagreements over meaningless things (the pettier the better), and a game of chicken when it comes to the unacknowledged tension between them.
I want their rivalry to be a mutually consuming obsession where they’re both trying just as hard and care just as much.
All the books I’ve read that had done this trope best are YA, but the level of spice doesn’t matter to me as long as their attraction is used as an extension of their game, not the primary driver of change in their relationship. I also don’t want them to become lovers until the last few chapters of the book.
Other books with this trope:
I’ve been obsessed with {What’s Not To Love by Emily Wilbberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka} for YEARS. The book hangover of all book hangovers.
{Winner Take All by Laurie Devore} most of what I remember about this book is that it’s insanely messy but their level of pettiness was very entertaining.
{What’s Not to Love by Sarah Hogle} isn’t rivals to lovers but their little prank war and their silly banter is adorable.