How to Win Your Workplace Rival’s Heart: Divine Rivals-Inspired Tips That Actually Work… Maybe

Forget dating apps—nothing sparks romance like a magical typewriter, a war-torn battlefield, and your arch-nemesis side-eyeing you in the office. It’s true in fantasy, and maybe, just maybe, it’s true in real life too—as long as you’re willing to get a little creative… and sarcastic.

If you’re a fan of tangled love stories, simmering tension, and poetic prose that makes your heart flutter, then Rebecca Ross’s young adult fantasy romance, Divine Rivals, is your new obsession. Released on April 4, 2023, this book blends enemies-to-lovers magic with a world at war, giving us one of the most compelling romances in modern fantastical fiction (source). For those who can’t get enough of destined magic in romance, check out our deep dive into fated mates fantasy romance here.

In the spirit of Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt—two rival journalists who accidentally fall in love via enchanted letters—we’ve compiled the most reliable (questionable) and completely realistic (they’re not) steps to winning over your workplace rival’s heart. Follow these five ‘foolproof’ steps to turn your office nemesis into your poetic pen pal. Results may vary. But hey, if the gods are on your side, you never know.

Step 1: Secure a Magical Typewriter (Because Regular Texts Are So Last Season)

Let’s start with the obvious.

In Divine Rivals, Iris inherits a magical typewriter from her grandmother. Whenever she types a letter and slips it under her wardrobe, the typewriter inexplicably sends the message to someone—namely, her newspaper rival Roman Kitt (source). At first, she believes she’s writing to her brother, who’s disappeared into the heart of a divine war. But nope—her secret letters are landing directly in the hands of the one guy who knows how to rile her up while stealing her potential job promotion.

The result? A series of honest, heartfelt exchanges that no one sees coming.

How do you get yourself a magical typewriter? Well, spooky antique stores rarely carry enchanted ones these days, so you may have to get crafty. Try bedazzling your keyboard with glitter stickers or whispering sweet nothings to your Google Docs. Will it work? Probably not. But will it make you laugh while drafting your next email? Absolutely.

Pro tip: If your heartfelt messages end up in HR’s inbox instead of your crush’s, you might be using the wrong portal. Double-check your recipient before hitting Send—unless you want to explain why your email just compared their hair to moonlight filtering through war smoke.
For more enchanting inspiration on destined romance, you might also enjoy reading about fated mates fantasy romance.

Step 2: Accidentally Send Them Love Letters Instead of Angry Emails

We’ve all been there. You write up a fiery paragraph venting about the coworker who took your parking spot again, and then… oops. Wrong recipient.

In Divine Rivals, that “oops” is the whole plot. Roman unknowingly receives Iris’s letters and writes back anonymously, revealing more pieces of himself with each exchange. Their bond deepens through honest words typed from opposite worlds—even while in person, they continue their professional snark-fest at the newspaper (source).

Instead of vengeance emails, try channeling your inner Iris. Write from the heart. Say what really matters. Even if you start with an “I hate how perfect your bylines are,” you might end up realizing there’s depth underneath the rivalry. Or you might just find new ways to sass each other with flair. Either way, it’s a win.

Mock advice: Start each paragraph with classic romantic one-liners. Compare their eyes to a storm brewing at sunset. Or their laugh to a dagger dipped in honey. Will they be confused? Yes. Will they be intrigued? Absolutely.

Bonus challenge: Try using metaphors even Shakespeare wouldn’t recognize. Think: “Your Excel mastery is like a rose trapped between fire and frost.” Don’t ask why. Just roll with it.

If you’re prone to sending the wrong message (or wrong recipient), you might also appreciate our survival guide on dodging disastrous deals—check out How NOT to Make a Deal with a Wicked Prince: A Survival Guide.

Step 3: Bond Over Shared Trauma (War Optional, But Highly Effective)

When Iris and Roman end up together at the warfront, things get real. Fast.

The gods in Divine Rivals—specifically, Enva (Skyward goddess) and Dacre (Underling god)—are battling for control using humans as pawns. Iris, desperate to find her brother, volunteers as a war correspondent, and Roman, with feelings he hasn’t yet admitted, follows her. Their bond grows as chaos unfolds around them, and their emotional vulnerability becomes undeniable (source).

For us mere mortals without divine warfare unfolding in the background, there are still plenty of opportunities to bond under pressure. Try:

• Planning the company holiday party with a broken budget
• Surviving an all-day strategy meeting with no AC
• Navigating the fallout of a last-minute pitch gone wrong

Because nothing says “romance” like realizing the only person who understands your suffering is the one holding the same poorly laminated handout. Eye contact across chaos? It’s basically magic.

For more tales of love amidst chaos and epic romance, take a look at Crescent City: A Fantasy World of Magic, Romance, and Mystery.

Joke alert: If you both survive a weekend team retreat with trust falls and group yoga, just elope already.

Step 4: Chase Them to the Front Lines of a War (Dramatic Effect Guaranteed)

It doesn’t get more romantic than rushing into danger for love. Roman does exactly that—leaving behind wealth, comfort, and job security to follow Iris into a battlefield literally overseen by feuding deities (source).

Chivalrous? Absolutely. Slightly unhinged? Also yes. But that’s what makes epic love epic.

Realistically, you probably shouldn’t follow your rival out of town during their PTO without checking in first. But if you happen to show up at their favorite coffee shop or spin class “coincidentally,” we won’t judge.

Playful disclaimer: Please don’t actually stalk your crush. But if you do, bring snacks and a first-aid kit. You never know what kind of metaphysical battle the gym locker room will hold.

And if you’re curious about discovering your own unpredictable, magical alter ego as you dive into such wild romance, take a moment to try our quiz: Which Quicksilver Book Character Are You?

Step 5: Reveal Your Secret Identity at the Most Inconvenient Time Possible

Roman’s love confession doesn’t happen over wine and candles. Nope. He drops his emotional truth bomb when everything is falling apart. Because why make things easy when you can make them memorable?

By that point in Divine Rivals, emotions are running high, and there’s no turning back. Roman reveals that he’s the anonymous correspondent Iris has been pouring her soul out to, and it’s a moment rich with intensity, confusion, and—eventually—acceptance (source).

So what can you learn from this?

Timing is everything… but also, it’s not. Sometimes the best moment is the worst moment, because that’s when you get real. So if you plan to make a grand reveal, try doing it:

• Mid-coffee spill
• While the office printer is on fire (literally or figuratively)
• On the company Slack channel—by accident, of course

Quote idea for max impact: “Surprise! I’m the person who’s been calling your voice a melody in my journal for weeks. Also, I think I jammed the stapler. Sorry.”

Conclusion: Embrace the Chaos, but Maybe Skip the Divine War

At the end of the day, Divine Rivals gives us more than just a love story. It shows us the messy, beautiful, courageous truth of vulnerability. It reminds us that the people we think are our rivals might just be the ones who understand us best—if we’re willing to take the first step.

From magical typewriters to anonymous letters, from sarcastic banter to emotional reveals, Iris and Roman’s romance thrives because they let down their guards. And while we can’t all hop into a fantasy world where gods fight overhead, we can take a page (or five) from Rebecca Ross’s masterclass in romantic tension.

So whether you’re finding poetry in email threads or silently suffering next to the coworker who definitely knows how to press your buttons, remember: if all else fails, a magical wardrobe and a divine war might just give your love life the spark it needs. But until then…

For more spellbinding takes on destined romance, don’t forget to check out our feature on fated mates fantasy romance.

Happy rival-wooing—and may your typewriter never jam at the wrong moment.

Tag a fellow Divine Rivals fan who needs this sage advice—or a therapist.

Interactive Prompt: Which step would you attempt IRL? Share your terrible ideas in the comments!

Hashtags: #EnemiesToEmergencyContacts #RomanKittApproved #DivineRivals #FantasyRomanceFeels

Bonus Meme Idea: Distracted Boyfriend Meme — “Me forgetting my actual job to write letters to my rival.”

If you’re just diving into romantasy or looking for something truly magical to spark your imagination (and maybe your dating life), Divine Rivals is a glowing recommendation. With lyrical prose and a warm but blistering romantic center, it’s won hearts across the world—and even claimed a 2023 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (source).

Rebecca Ross shows us that in a world echoing with war, words can still build bridges—even between the most unlikely of rivals. So go ahead: write that letter. You never know where (or to whom) it might end up.