Track 30: Enemies to Lovers
Welcome to episode thirty of the Mixtape Book Club Podcast.
In this episode, Ellen and Mal welcome author allmystars to discuss fics with the fan-favourite trope: enemies to lovers. Fics include allmystars’s This Cursed Sanctum, The Galaxy’s Most Wanted by saltnhalo, (don’t) stop texting me by feelthe_beat, and Such A Sweet Surprise by lefurlong, among others.
This episode now has a transcript available!
You can find our Mixtape Book Club Ao3 collection here, containing the stories we’ve discussed on the podcast so far.
As always, Mixtape Book Club contains swearing and discussion of adult topics. Please listen at your own discretion, with attention paid to any little ears that might be nearby!
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Our Guest – allmystars
Jess (or allmystars) writes Destiel stories on AO3 under allmystars.
Another fic of Jess’s we’ve mentioned in this episode:
- Prince of My Heart (306,623 words (WIP), E)
A More Profound Con
Thank you to everyone who joined us for A More Profound Con on March 12! People who registered can email the con organisers to get access to a recording. The con will be held again, bigger and more varied, on November 5-6, 2022. Keep an eye on the con’s website (https://amoreprofoundcon.org/2022/) and social media for more information.
Mixtape Ko-fi
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Featured fics (timestamps in brackets)
This Cursed Sanctum by allmystars (51:49)
Published for DCBB 2021, 44k words, E
Art by vorador
164 years after the expulsion of the angels from the Seraphim Garden, Dean Winchester has made it his personal mission to destroy every last one of them in any way he can, starting by evacuating the most fragile of their future followers.
The children.
But when a mission goes wrong and Sammy is kidnapped, Dean finds himself at the gates of the legend garden, then inside its walls, once said to kill anyone who comes near enough to know where they are.
As Dean comes to explore his new prison, and gets to know the Angel keeper, he finds that maybe not all angels are quite so wicked.
Will Dean find his way out if this cursed sanctum? Or will it kill him before he gets the chance?
Maybe he’ll discover it’s not so cursed at all?
The Galaxy’s Most Wanted by saltnhalo (10:05)
Published 2018, 10k words, E
Dean had been the one always up to mischief, running around with his father’s broken laser pistol and constantly getting into places he shouldn’t have been. Sam, in comparison, always seemed to be the smart, studious one – until he reprogrammed the AI in their neighbours’ house to play ‘Happy Birthday’ at the loudest possible volume while keeping all the doors and windows firmly locked. It had taken two experts seven hours to undo the coding that Sam had managed to integrate into the house’s programming.
So, yes. They had been exceptional even from the beginning. And when John Winchester crossed one too many people, his sons inherited his beloved ship, and took to the cosmos doing what they knew best: stealing.
And they were damn good at it too. Almost unrivalled, across their own galaxy and even those neighbouring.
Almost.
(don’t) stop texting me by feelthe_beat (30:20)
Published 2021, 96k words, E
Castiel Novak is relatively happy living his solitary life as a Starbucks Barista. He lives alone with a cat named Hamburger, and he has one (1) emotional support friend, Gabriel.
Unfortunately, he is plagued by the fact that some guy (see: a random hot dude named ‘Dean’) is giving out Castiel’s phone number as his own. And he’s been doing it for months.
So, of course, when Castiel’s at work and a hot stranger gives him his own phone number for the Starbucks Rewards Program… well… it doesn’t go well.
Such A Sweet Surprise by lefurlong (18:30)
Published 2022, 17k words, M
“The ten-course menu starts off as an immensely promising and curiously understated list. There are hardly any details to the ingredients, leaving one to wonder what Head Chef Winchester is up to.
Not much, as it turns out.”
“What!” Dean’s shout echoes through the kitchen. It’s deadly silent; no one speaks. No one responds to him, that’s for sure, because he’d probably lodge his favorite knife in someone’s eyeball.
He’ll show Novak. He’s going to personally invite the guy back for another round. And this time, Dean’s not going to screw up a single dish.
It is so on.
Other Enemies to Lovers Fics (1:11:40)
Thanks to all our friends in PB Discord for being so generous with recommendations!
- How to re-gift fruitcake and other tips for surviving the holidays by museaway (4663, T)
- Tennessee Whiskey by Trenchcoatbaby (21,056, E) – Rockstar au
- Pies and Prejudice by linoresearch (97,327, E) – Cooking show P&P au
- Breathing Into You by Casblackfeathers (110,300, E) – Mermaid au
- Dean Winchester and the Goddamn Kill-Steal by bendingsignpost (6992, E) – Monster hunters
- True As It Can Be by whelvenwings (71,952, E) – Beauty and the Beast retelling. Listen to our Track 16: Fairytales to hear us chat to whelvenwings about this fic.
- watch you rise (watch you fall) by mslilylashes (21,000, Not rated) – wrestling au
- Cabin Fever by Dangerousnotbroken (35,102, E) – Both in the one cabin
- Proof of Love by VioletHaze (60,189, E) – Bakery
- Stand By Me by whelvenwings (31,252,E ) – Zombie apocalypse
- A Place Where Nothing Moves by imogenbynight (49,085, E) – Vet Cas, boat mechanic Dean
- Partnered by K_K_TiBal (28,112, T) – Detectives and fake marriage
- “Come.” I looked, and behold, a white horse… by Nachsie (6485, E) – Horsemen of the Apocalypse
- Those Who Favor Fire by dothraki_shieldmaiden & FriendofCarlotta (221,849, E) – Alternate canon seasons 1 and 2
- Crashing In by followyourenergy (77,352, E) – kid fic modern au
- one million fires burning by dothraki_shieldmaiden (248,986, E) – high school au
- Bitch Better Have My Money series by Duckyboos (254,191, E) – Mafia murder husbands
- The Farm by raths_kitten (53,993, E) – cultists and FBI
- Your Enemies Closer by angvlicmish (173,869, E) – college au
- A Destiel Snowed Inn Christmas by darkwings17 (34,459, T) – Only one bed, holiday angst/fluff
- For the Sake Of by lizaStyx (19,245, E) – Mpreg neighbours au
- Shatter Me by Saucy (27,672, M) – Librarian Dean, Mechanic Cas
- Scars by lemonsorbae (147,565, E) – Punk Dean turns Cas’ life upside down
- You Get What You Need by ghost_gang (54,364, E) – Soul mark au
Other links
- Love Destiel? Join the community of readers and writers at the Profound Bond Discord server. We have a Mixtape Book Club channel there!
- Our RedBubble shop is here. Any profits will go directly to Random Acts.
What’s your favorite enemies to lovers fic? Please let us know, we’d love to hear from you!
Our intro music is “Angel with a Shotgun” by The Cab, arranged by Ellen.