70 Enemies-to-Lovers Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Enemies-to-lovers is one of the most popular and enduring tropes in YA fiction. It thrives on sharp banter, simmering tension, and the moment when rivalry flips into something deeper. For teen writers, it’s the perfect way to explore conflict, character growth, and the thin line between love and hate.
This collection offers 70 enemies-to-lovers writing prompts — from dramatic story hooks and witty opening lines to complex character sketches and atmospheric settings. Whether used in the classroom or by individual teen writers, these prompts spark creativity while showing why this trope remains so irresistible.
1. Plot Hooks
Great enemies-to-lovers stories start with high-stakes situations that force rivals to interact. These hooks throw characters together, sparking conflict — and the possibility of connection.
Write about two rivals forced to work together on a dangerous mission.
Write about a debate champion and their opponent who keep being paired together.
Write about a witch and a hunter who need each other to survive.
Write about two political heirs from feuding families.
Write about a hero and a villain trapped in the same room overnight.
Write about neighbors who constantly feud until a crisis hits their street.
Write about rival athletes who discover they share the same dream.
Write about a student and a teacher’s favorite who secretly admire each other’s drive.
Write about an arranged marriage between sworn enemies.
Write about a hacker and detective forced into an uneasy alliance.
2. Title Ideas
Sometimes the title is the spark that inspires the story. These enemies-to-lovers titles capture tension, rivalry, and the promise of something more.
Bitter Until the End
Hearts in Ashes
Rivalry & Ruin
The Last Word
Love in Disguise
Until We Break
Blades and Roses
No One Else but You
Better Enemies, Worse Lovers
The Fire Between Us
3. Opening Lines
Opening lines set the tone, and in enemies-to-lovers, they’re often laced with sarcasm, anger, or disbelief. These prompts give teen writers a way to dive straight into the tension.
“I would have rather kissed a snake — but there he was, grinning at me.”
“We’d been rivals since the first day of school, and nothing had changed… until now.”
“The problem with hating her was that she was impossible to ignore.”
“I’d sworn I’d never speak to him again, but fate had other plans.”
“She was the reason I failed — and the reason I couldn’t stop trying.”
“Our feud was legendary. Our chemistry, unfortunately, was worse.”
“He called me his enemy. I wondered what he’d call me if he knew the truth.”
“She smirked, and I remembered exactly why I hated her — and why I couldn’t look away.”
“We both reached for the same book, and everything spiraled from there.”
“I thought I’d win just to spite him. Falling for him wasn’t in the plan.”
4. Closing Lines
The ending of an enemies-to-lovers story often mirrors the beginning — but with tension transformed into resolution. These closing line prompts let writers explore reconciliations, unexpected twists, and tentative peace.
“I guess we’d always fight — but now we’d fight together.”
“Her hand slipped into mine, and somehow, that was the truce we’d needed all along.”
“Enemies once, lovers now — and something told me the story was only beginning.”
“The war was over. The battle between us never really was.”
“He smiled, and it felt like losing and winning at the same time.”
“We would still argue — but maybe that was the language of our love.”
“I hated her. I loved her. Maybe the two were always the same.”
“The rivalry was over. What came next was far more terrifying.”
“I kissed him just to shut him up — and he finally stopped talking.”
“The last word belonged to her. And so did I.”
5. Character Ideas
The heart of this trope lies in the characters. Each one must be strong enough to clash — and vulnerable enough to change. These character ideas give students rival dynamics that can transform into romance.
The debate champion and their relentless rival.
The brooding prince and the sharp-tongued thief.
The perfectionist student and the class clown.
The knight sworn to kill the sorceress who saved his life.
The two athletes always fighting for first place.
The hacker and the cop chasing them.
The childhood friends turned bitter enemies.
The rival heirs bound by a cursed truce.
The teacher’s pet and the rebellious slacker.
The villain’s apprentice and the hero’s protégé.
6. Setting Ideas
Enemies-to-lovers needs backdrops that heighten tension — whether through forced proximity, rivalry, or danger. These settings make conflict feel inevitable and romance surprising.
A crumbling castle where rivals must hide from an invading army.
A bustling school hallway where feuds play out daily.
A dark forest where enemies are forced to travel together.
A futuristic arena where rivals battle for survival.
A dusty library where they argue over every book.
A festival where sworn enemies are paired for every contest.
A spaceship where two enemies are the only crew left alive.
A storm-lashed island where survival depends on cooperation.
A royal court full of spies and whispered betrayals.
A small town where everyone knows they’re rivals — and watches as things change.
7. Picture Prompt Ideas
A single striking image can capture the tension between love and hate. These picture prompts are designed to spark visual inspiration and set the tone for stories built on rivalry and chemistry.
Final Thoughts
Enemies-to-lovers is a trope that’s never going out of style. It gives writers the chance to explore rivalry, banter, and the fine line between love and hate. These 70 prompts provide story starters, characters, settings, and visual sparks to help teen writers dive into one of fiction’s most beloved arcs.
If you’d like more daily inspiration, don’t forget to check out our Daily Writing Prompts, where each month brings a new theme full of creative starters and teacher-ready slides.
