Rivals to Lovers
Two competitors locked in an ongoing rivalry — athletic, academic, professional, or magical — gradually realize their obsession with beating each other has curdled into something much softer. Unlike enemies, rivals usually respect each other from the start.
What is Rivals to Lovers in fanfiction?
Two competitors locked in an ongoing rivalry — athletic, academic, professional, or magical — gradually realize their obsession with beating each other has curdled into something much softer. Unlike enemies, rivals usually respect each other from the start. With over 45,000 works on Archive of Our Own, Rivals to Lovers is one of the most beloved tropes in fanfiction.
Why readers love Rivals to Lovers
Rivalry is already intimacy: nobody studies you as closely as the person trying to defeat you, and readers love watching that scrutiny turn tender.
Examples of Rivals to Lovers
Volleyball captains from opposing schools exchanging heated trash talk that reads suspiciously like flirting, or top students fighting for first place who know each other's habits better than their own friends do.
Best Rivals to Lovers Fanfics
The highest-rated Rivals to Lovers stories across all fandoms on AO3.
Shut Up and Dance With Me
Completeby WittyyName
Lance and his friends have been regulars at the Altea Dance Studio for years. Not just for classes, but to hang out, practice, and spend time with good people who love dancing. Every year, they audition to be one of the few representing Altea at the regional dance competition. Lance always auditions
Select All
Completeby Regolith (metonym)
Anyway, Shane didn't remember exactly what was in the folder ... But he knew they were all good shots of him. He hastily clicked open the folder, his eyes barely glancing through the dozen or so shots there, vaguely registering a picture with a sunset background from his condo balcony, something of
Vodka Cranberry
Completeby kooksie
“I need to sleep,” Ilya murmurs next to him on the bed, his voice distant. “Yeah, me too,” Shane rushes to agree. His fingers drum against his glass of vodka and he chugs the rest in one go. “I should, uh…” He moves to stand up off the bed, the soiled towel dropping from his stomach, and his knees b
Then there's the landing
Completeby Sharleena
The thing about Figure Skating is that it's the most brutal sport disguised as something incredibly beautiful to look at, something elegant and frail.Just like Kim Taehyung.
International playboy (don't answer)
Completeby blt_prf
oHI FUCHKED UPI FUUCKED UPYOUR'E NOT NAMJOON yeahwhat I've been trying to tell youorthe one in which Jimin accidentally texts the guy he has a crush on *available to read in multiple languages, check notes
don't leave me high (don't leave me dry)
Completeby emonlispenardstreet
hollyadmirals24: Male seeking help improving at oral sex. Clean, ready to learn and willing to host. M only. Strictly platonic. Message for details. or: shane and ilya are hockey players for the mcgill marauders. after a disastrous night with rose, shane puts a drunken ad on craigslist asking fo
baby, not baby
Completeby SpaceWaffleHouse
The knock at his door comes about five minutes after Shane gets home, three minutes after Shane pees on the stupid sticks, one minute after Shane looks at the fucking pink plus signs, and about thirty seconds after tears spring to his eyes. Shane Hollander, professional hockey player and captain of
Costumed Identities
Completeby Trashness
Lance and Keith are rival cosplayers, who only know each other by their online usernames. They are fiercely competitive, but are also desperately attracted to each other. You'd think they would just get together already, but there's a couple of problems:1. Keith crossplays, so Lance has absolutely n
Apogee
Completeby OpalApparition
Shane Hollander is the youngest Commander in ISS history; straight-backed, closeted, and so tightly on his own leash that seven months in orbit with Ilya Rozanov have not produced a single crack in his composure. Ilya Rozanov is the Russian cosmonaut who should have had his job, won’t stop bouncing
With or Without You
Completeby a1phab3ts0up
“Is it your wedding day?”Shane sputters. “Sorry?”“The tuxedo,” she points out. “You look like you just got married.”“Oh,” Shane says dumbly, glancing down at his rumpled suit. “No,” he adds.-Or the one where that one night in Vegas gets a little out of hand for Ilya and Shane and a marriage by accid
and so my heart beats wildly
Completeby lily_winterwood
“You know, you’re the one to beat this year,” Jiang Cheng offers helpfully, having seen the glare from right next to him. “Hanguang-jun’s been through juniors with the rest of us, he knows all of our tics. You’re an unknown variable, since he’s never competed against you before.”“Thanks,” says Wei W
So Lily is just a buddy?
Completeby avid_reader64
Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov never hooked up at the CCM commercial. Now it's 2017. Yuna Hollander is concerned that Shane doesn't have many friends, so she signs him up on a buddy network website.Shane gets paired with someone else looking for a 'buddy', not knowing that it's his on-ice rival, I
typing…
Completeby shaneverse
+1 (617) 555-9214 [image blurred] thinking about u +1 (857) 555-4473 i’m guessing this wasn’t meant for me +1 (617) 555-9214 fuck.or: Shane Hollander receives a thirst trap from an unknown number - and absolutely should not reply, especially considering how much he and Ilya Rozanov can’t stand each
loving too late in the night
by Jazzfordshire
"And you are?" Lena says, holding her hand out to shake. Kara takes it, and puts in every effort not to crush it in her nervousness. Lena's hand is dry and cold where Kara's is uncomfortably hot."Kara Danvers," Kara says, putting on her best smile. "Reporter. It's great to meet you, I think we reall
Mr. Answer Man
Completeby BigPlushShark
In room 1410, Ilya Rozanov is ready to walk out the door after successfully getting his 19 year old hockey rival into bed. He knew how to make this moment happen and he knows what they have to be to each other now that it's over. But as he turns the doorknob to leave, he's stopped with questions he
Here, After
Completeby BlckOnyx
Ilya opened one of his messages. Have you seen the news? Ilya, call me. Now. Please tell me you already fucking know. Jesus Christ, man. That was it. No context. No explanation. Just panic wrapped in vague bullshit. His jaw locked. “Are you fucking serious right now,” he muttered, thumb scrolling ha
Yeah, My Boyfriend's Pretty Cool (But Not as Cool as Me)
Completeby paintmegrey
James and Regulus are nominated for the same award. The media starts calling them rivals.In truth, James is honest to god so hot for Regulus, but he just loves stirring up the Media. Chaos ensues.
black hole fantasy
by hertzbenign
"What if I help you?" Grace blurts out desperately, sweating even in the coolness of his house as his words finally manage to stop Adrian from storming out. "What?" Adrian says after a tense moment. "I can prove it to everyone," Grace says, his heart in his throat. "I'll - I'll make you and Rocky th
Persephone
Completeby sunflowerb
She was meant to be the price for peace; her life in exchange for the mysterious Dragon Master's mercy.Her captor wasn't supposed to be a ghost from her past, and she wasn't supposed to become his ally...or his lover. And when news spreads of a blonde-haired girl at the Dragon Master's side, there w
In the Dark
Completeby Jane_Harl0w
It's their senior year. Izuku, Katsuki and Shoto are allowed on what was supposed to be a short, easy mission—all by themselves. But when things take a turn, Izuku is kidnapped and there's nothing the others can do but wait to save him. When he finally returns, his relationship with Katsuki starts t
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many Rivals to Lovers fics are on AO3?
There are over 45,000 works tagged with Rivals to Lovers on Archive of Our Own.
What fandoms have the most Rivals to Lovers stories?
Popular fandoms for Rivals to Lovers include Harry Potter, My Hero Academia, Haikyuu.
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