I am a big fan of Courtney Kae’s debut novel In the Event of Love (Aug 2022) and was excited to return to the friend group in Fern Falls. In the world Kae creates there is love and acceptance for queer characters but that doesn’t mean there aren’t problems. Ben Parrish is anxiety ridden when he is at the center of attention. He is going to be part of a reality baking competition that could help his bakery. But a shaky start has his heading to his beloved grandmother’s beach compound for the next few weeks. He is there to help celebrate her 80th birthday. The extravaganza is huge and includes multiple events. Ben is also pining for his forever crush and best friend Adam Reed. (Adam’s sister had the romance in the previous book.) In addition his father is claiming on social media that he created the recipe for cinnamon rolls that is the trademark of Ben’s business and reason for his tv appearance. Ben is trying his best to navigate the various pressures in his life.

This is actual a very sweet book but it is weighed down by Ben’s trauma as a child and the impact on him. The relationship with Adam can be a model for consent and communication but it doesn’t really explain or show how they jump from point A to F. They literally have one date and some wooing. I understand they’ve known each other for years but I wanted more.

I don’t think it is intentional but it is bewildering to me that the protagonist Ben actually does nothing to resolve any of the drama that happens in the story. He stews about things, talks to his father unsuccessfully and seeks comfort from his therapist. But it is only the actions of others that brings changes. His grandmother meddles in his love life, Adam makes the first move, mother and grandmother resolve other issues. About the only thing that Ben does is reach out to asking for help from an event organizer.

I swooned in the first book set in Fern Falls. And I was very hopeful for sweet Adam. I’m glad he gets his HEA but I wish he got to be a hero in his story. The light moments come from the antics of outrageous G’ma. This can be a read as a stand alone even though both MCs are introduced in the previous book. I am still hoping for a return to Fern Falls and a romance for lovable Whitney. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

This book follows two background characters from Kae's previous book, In the Event of Love, and if you loved the first one, then I think you'll really like this book too. There are some very sweet romantic moments, and the whole book has a lovely summery vibe.

Unfortunately, for me, the miscommunication and the forced proximity set up felt a little too contrived, and the way Ben internalised everything without asking any for help as his problems grew and grew didn't make for a very enjoyable read. Especially when he finally did reach out, the problems were all immediately resolved without any input from him.

One thing I really did love about this book, though, was the sense of inclusion, and the wonderful little community Kae created for the characters in Fern Falls.

It's also lovely to see queer characters getting the 'hallmark movie' treatment, and if you like those kinds of stories, I think this will be perfect for you.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a heartwarming, fun and loving story between two people that have too many feelings and weren’t sure how to handle them. I truly enjoy the back story and how their relationship developed.

This was such a delight to read!!! It was such a great sequel to In the Event of Love. We got to know more about Ben and Adam and meet new characters like G-Ma while revisiting old favorites like Whitney, Tanner, Morgan and Rachel. Ben was truly relatable with his own struggles with anxiety and depression. I felt Courtney Kae showcased it very well and it was great to see Ben work through things. The scenes between him and Adam were also quite delightful!! I loved their relationship dynamic and seeing how things worked out for them. One thing I do wish more of is that we got some of Adam's pov especially regarding his feelings and how he's always felt about Ben.

Kae's writing style is lyrical and evocative, capturing the depth of emotions with delicate precision. The prose flows smoothly, immersing readers in a world of raw vulnerability and tender moments. The author's ability to express complex emotions with authenticity and grace adds depth to the narrative, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters' experiences.

The plot of the book is character-driven and focuses on the emotional journey of the protagonist. While there may not be dramatic twists or high-action sequences, the narrative's strength lies in its ability to capture the nuances of human emotions and the subtleties of personal growth. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for moments of introspection and self-reflection, as well as moments of hope and rediscovery.

Another cute summer queer read. Perfect for a day at the beach or an afternoon by the pool.

Poor Ben has no less than three personal crises going on at any given point in the story, but he thankfully by the end realizes that he can rely on his friends and family to help support him. Both boys deal with generational trauma from their parents that inform their relationships and both learn to overcome those fears to grow as people. Also G-ma is an absolute BAMF!

The story loses a few points for me because the romance between Ben and Adam feels very rushed. You start knowing the story believing Ben has been having a multi-year one sided crush, but apparently Adam felt the same but wasn't confident/brave/self-assured enough to realize his own feelings? I wish there had been a little more development into their friendship, especially from Adam's POV to make their relationship feel more authentic.

Ben and Adam's story was so heart felt and filled with all the emotions. ITCOHB is not just a journey of the romantic type; which it is but also a journey to discovering self love and overcoming years of doubt. Sometimes it's hard letting go of the preconceived notions you have of yourself and fully opening yourself up to the one person who can make you see clearly. These two both carried so much emotional baggage caused by those who should have been there for them and loved them unconditionally. Now they have the chance to find in each other all the things they deserve in life.

This book was such a fantastic read. Absolutely fell in love with these two and the crazy/loyal/loving band of characters that made me love this book even more.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

I love the way Courtney Kae writes such queer joy! I was fully invested in Ben and Adam's story ever since I read In the Event of Love last year, and this did not disappoint. Their books really feel like Hallmark movies and sometimes that is exactly what you need.

This book does deal with some more serious matters and I thought they were all handled with care.

Ben and Adam are both such cinnamon rolls and I loved them together so much.

I do wish I had just a little bit more of Adam's story and depth to his character.

Overall though I would still suggest this one and can't wait for future work from Courtney!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This book, the sequel to In the Event of Love, is an Achillean romance between Ben and Adam who were introduced in the first book.
Ben is a baker appearing on a reality show when his estranged father publicly declares that Ben has stolen his family recipe for Bens signature cinnamon rolls. Ben believes he will never get to be in a relationship with Adam the musician he has loved for years. Broken-hearted by his fathers schemes, Ben flees to
family members in LA for distance and healing.
I am giving this book 3.5/5 stars. I enjoyed this book as a fluffy, sweet love story. It’s not super spicy and is a more fade to black spice story. While I did enjoy the first book more I enjoy when authors are willing to write a series that ventures out from just one particular gender dynamic for romances.
I will absolutely look for more books by this author!

Y'all know I love a queer romcom to pieces, but I just don't think I was the target audience for this one. While there certainly were some steamy scenes, the romance between Adam and Ben felt really rushed. Most of the time it felt like I was being told that Ben was a cinnamon roll or that Adam was sexy, rather than being shown it. Plus the plot made little to no sense and skimmed over the juicy bits. Why did Ben lie when he was younger? Why did the competition show drop him so fast? I feel like there were so many missed opportunities here for it to become something MORE.

*Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Adam & Ben!
If I could give them each five stars, I so would! Courtney Kae does it again with a tooth-rotting fluffy romance between friends! I appreciate the way she handled some of the heavier topics. I was so coxy, and romantic & just plain lovely. I enjoyed every moment with them and can't wait for more from Courtney Kae!

Rating: 2.5
I didn't really care about anything happening and the relationship could have happened immediately if Ben ever let Adam speak. Also, Ben's dad was one of the worst people I've ever had the displeasure of reading about.

Thanks to @netgalley @kensingtonbooks and @court_kae for the early look at In the Case of Heartbreak.

This was such a cozy, sweet romance between baker Ben and musician Adam. It had a lot of Schitts Creek feels in the best way. They had such a sweet relationship that made you root for them.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: small town, baking competition, friends to lovers, LGBTQ+ rep

Just as heartwarming and beautiful as the first book!

Ben has a lot going on. Just when his bakery is gaining national attention, he gets rejected by his lifelong crush Adam and Ben's toxic father re-enters his life. When he escapes to his grandmother's house for her birthday celebration, Adam is there too.

The mental health rep is just top notch in Kae's books, and Adam and Ben are so sweet!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Years worth of pining, miscommunication, all the insecurities, sexy baking and one meddling G-ma made this a perfect summer read. Not too heavy, not too light, but just right.

In the Case of Heartbreak is a tooth-achingly sweet queer romance that provides a nice little bit of escapism. The thing that I can’t get out of my head though, is what Courtney Kae says in the author’s note -
“In all my novels, I love to imagine a world that is kind to queer people, unquestioning, unchallenging. A place where we don’t need to explain, defend, or prove ourselves.”
I wish that I could have a dozen more novels that are written with this sentiment at their core.
The good: The characters are diverse and delightful – really a testament to the kinder world that Kae dreams of while writing. Kae also writes the most sappily sweet romance imaginable – if sappy books are not your thing, this will not be your thing. If they are? Then this will hit the spot. Our main character’s insecurities and anxieties are relatable, but unlike some other romance novels, it never seems like these make him unworthy of the love that he desperately wants.
The not as good: It did seem like some tropes were a little heavy-handed. At times, it felt like it was trying to be a little tongue-in-cheek, but just missed the mark on that. The reality show itself was a little hit and miss for me as well – it just didn’t feel as fully fleshed out as it could have been.
Overall: Sappy and delightful, and I’m swayed by how lovely the author’s philosophy in writing is.
3.5 stars - I liked it but could have liked it more.

The premise of this pulled me in. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as good to me as I thought it would be. There were a few things that threw the story off for me but I am glad I finished it.

Courtney Kae writes the absolute sweetest couples! Ben and Adam have my whole heart and I loved every second of watching them discover their love for one another. This is the perfect summer beach read, just make sure you have some cinnamon rolls on standby!

Generally I am generous with any queer romance, but the writing and plot in In the Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae was just so bad I have to just be brutally honest here. The writing, first and foremost, is so clunky. Kae stops to describe every single person's skin and hair color in the most awkward way possible, like we all go around thinking, "oh! there's my cousin with the umber skin and dark black pixie cut hair..." The descriptions of people and places were unbearable. The romance was also preposterous. Even though Adam and Ben had a few cute moments, their relationship came out of literal nowhere, unless I missed something in the previous book. But in a queer rom-com series like this one, most writers are pretty good about allowing them to be a one-off (see: Ashley Herring Blake's queer romcoms). And, ultimately, there wasn't even a real climax. The romantic leads never had a tortured parting (there was a parting, but it was weirdly unemotional, I think), and the other conflicts around Ben were resolved in a most ridiculous way. I'd be willing to check out another of their books, but this one has kind of already turned me off.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I loved book 1 - In the Event of Love, and I wish I reread it to see if the author left bread crumbs for Ben and Adam because it's been a minute so I cannot remember specifics! Still I enjoyed getting back to Fern Falls and these characters and reading the cutest friends to lovers story. Ben and Adam were just so sweet, but heads up it felt a little insta-love-ish to me. Normally I hate that but it worked here, and again I feel like I needed a book 1 reread so it wouldn't have felt insta-love. Also, I really enjoyed seeing therapy represented by seeing Ben in a session and then even implement what he learned in his life! Now I need one of Ben’s cinnamon rolls!!!