"In the Case of Heartbreak" is the second in a series, but follows the point of view of a different character and works as a stand-alone. I never read the first book, but I was absolutely sold on the premise of a romance between a cinnamon roll baker (literally, he is a baker who is famous for his cinnamon roll recipe) and his childhood best friend.

Unfortunately, I didn't love this book as much as I hoped I would. I wasn't fully vibing with the writing, I think, and found the pacing a bit off. The love interest didn't start to feel fleshed out until a third of the way into the book, and then the romance seemed to happen very suddenly. I also found the writing to be overly descriptive for my taste and I was skipping over full paragraphs that detailed the setting or reiterated emotions/motivations that were already explained. And while I loved the level of communication between Adam and Ben, I couldn't help but think: "Why didn't y'all communicate sooner?"

That being said, I thought the conflict and themes were strong. I liked how it explored parental relationships and the lasting effects of trauma. And the story felt unique, even while featuring familiar tropes. There is a cast of interesting characters (G-ma is an icon, in particular) and I was invested in seeing how everything turned out. I also loved how queernormative the world was, even though it was a contemporary novel.

While this book wasn't totally for me, I would recommend it for those after a cozy yet heartfelt queer story.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley and kensington books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts <3

in the event of love follows ben parrish, a small town cafe owner with a cinnamon roll recipe that has rocketed him to the top of a baking competition. when the baking competition producers for ben and his long time crush adam into sharing their feelings on live tv, things don’t go quite as expected. ben packs up his car and drives down the coast to spend two weeks at his g-ma’s side for her extravagant birthday celebrations. he’s going to nurse his broken heart and get everything together for the show in the seaside town of maywell bay; except, the world has other plans because adam is the guitarist for the band his g-ma hired for the parties. two weeks of close quarters in the beachside cottage they are both staying in quickly lead to confessions. but will their confessions stand when the two weeks are up?

courtney kae writes the sweetest most swoon worthy heroes and the most honest anxiety rep in her mcs. i loved the soft nature of ben and adam’s friends to lovers romance. adam was constantly reminding ben how much he is loved. i truly believe that they were meant to be together after all the pining and waiting for each other these two went through. courtney kae constantly wows me with her small towns and how magical they sound. and like everyone said, you deserve every good and wonderful thing <3

Okay, well this was precious

The MC characters are mega cinnamon rolls and I really appreciated that this book tackled some really important topics, like complicated parental relationships, the development of self-compassion, and the struggle to find our place. I love Courtney Kae and was so glad I got to read the next installment in her Fern Fall series.

But overall, the book didn't quite work for me in a few ways. I felt like even though there was conflict in the book, the way the characters thought and talked with each other already felt emotionally mature -- exaggeratedly so. Like, in an over-the-top way? Not that that wasn't great to read (and refreshing!), but I just wanted to see more of a growth arc in the characters. It didn't feel very...real or believable to be that well-adjusted from the start. HA. (But maybe that's just me.)

Also, Ben and Adam's relationship just felt kind of like, sudden? Ben was pining over Adam for so long, then the friend-zone interview happened, then soon Adam reveals he's been in love with Adam all along? I don't know. It just wasn't quite believable for me. I need more buildup at the outset.

This book is fun to read and very sweet, but I do wish it was more developed in a few ways.

A thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. IN THE CASE OF HEARTBREAK is out 7/25!

This book overall was sweet and a light hearted easy read! In the beginning things felt slow and disconnected however, once Adam and Ben started seeing each other and trusting each other, there was a shift in the book.

I love how we see so much healthy communication between the two with boundaries and insecurities in the relationship. Adam and Ben went through similar childhood traumas but what is so interesting to read is how it impacting them so differently.

Like I said, the book was sort of middle of the road. The couple was adorable and I couldn’t stop cheering for them. On the other side though, it felt slow in some cases and I wish we got more with the conflict of Ben and his father.

4.5 out of 5 Stars. I absolutely loved “In the Event of Love” and was so excited when Courtney announced book 2 about Ben and Adam, even though I prefer sapphic romance (just me being a big ol’ lesbian you know 😜). But after meeting Ben and Adam in the first Fern Falls book and seeing the chemistry between them I really wanted to see them get their HEA. This one only starts and ends in Fern Falls and is predominately set in Maywell Bay, CA.

The story is told from Ben’s point of view so we get a lot more of Ben’s story than we do of Adam’s, but we do learn more about his back story, too. This book was lighthearted and fun at times and emotionally intense at other times. There is a lot of mental health rep in this book and I loved how Courtney handled those parts. Ben has a history of family trauma, parental abandonment, emotional abuse/manipulation, and more. And while he still has a long way to go, I love how Courtney highlights his progress and the fact that healing is a journey. And that triggers happen. I’m nearly 10 years out of an emotionally abusive relationship with a partner and I can tell you…healing takes time and is anything but linear. And when you’ve been through something like that, it’s hard to feel worthy of love. To accept love. To let people in.

There were a lot of plot lines running through this book and at times it felt a bit like “A Series of Unfortunate Events” for poor Ben. But in my opinion, all those various plot lines added to the power of the mental health arc in his story and helped paint a picture of why Ben is the way he is.

It was definitely intense at times and I LOATHED Ben’s deadbeat dad, who just kept popping up and infuriating me more and more every time. But it’s interspersed with cheeky humor, bun puns, romance, and a very quirky, eccentric grandma (aka G-Ma) who I absolutely loved (but would also kind of hate to have as a grandma…😳🫣😂).

All in all I really enjoyed this book! I do recommend you read book one first, though.

Also…I’m now craving cinnamon rolls. 🤤

Thanks NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Courtney Kae for the ARC!

It makes me sad to say that i didnt like this book. Because i absolutely adore and love the author. But this book was just alll over the place for me. It was over the top with some things in the plot, especially the situation with Ben's father. It did kind of bother me that it wasnt in Fern Falls for majority of the book. I really love that small little town and i wish the author wouldve played into its charm more like she did in the other book. I found Ben and Adam's relationship to be confusing and there was so much miscommunication. Overall did not like the book but will still support the author.

I was really looking forward to this book; Ben was by far my favorite character from In the Event of Love. I loved the Queer representation and the inclusive and unwavering support of Fern Falls. Courtney has created such a safe place in the Fern Falls community for readers where acceptance is guaranteed, as it should be. Ben’s “G-Ma” was a standout character as well, fiery, and full of personality.

This story is single POV from Ben’s perspective and as much as I appreciate the trauma he has experienced and the risk of rejection in friends to lovers, the romance piece was somewhat frustrating. Adam shows a completely different side in this book, so different from his serial dater ways in book 1. Adam was very supportive of Ben, patient, and kind, understanding to a fault and emotionally mature. Despite Adam professing his intentions and love for Ben, Ben consistently questioned him. I found the 3rd act break up especially frustrating. I understand where Ben is coming from, since it is very close to his trauma, but Adam told him so many times what he wanted, and I really wanted Ben to believe him.

Overall, despite some of my frustrations with Ben, I still found this to be a sweet, funny and Hallmark inspired Queer love story. I am really hoping for a Whitney and Tanner story next!

Thank you to Kensington Books for an advanced copy of this title; all thoughts are my own.

In the Case of Heartbreak is the perfect quick summer read!

This book left me wanting even more than In the Event of Love did. The pacing was very fast, so there was never a place where I felt bored by either the plot or romance. However, the pacing did make it feel a tad bit rushed. There were things that I had really looked forward to, only to have it play out very quickly.

Courtney Kae is an excellent writer with an easy to read style. She immediately became one of my new favorites with In the Event of Love and this only made me love their work more. Ben and Adam were great characters, both separately and together. Ben, an anxiety ridden baker who feels the need to fix everything. Adam, a musician who feels the need to look out for his family. There are also some lovely returning characters like Whitney, Tanner, Morgan and Rachel, but also some amazing new faces.

This book was full of anxiety, angst, but most importantly love. Highly recommend to those who want a nice, summer romcom that tackles some serious topics. Check CWs!

Thank you so much to Courtney Kae for the advanced copy of the book!

Courtney is one of my favorite authors I have discovered in the last year and not only have I enjoyed their books but also their conversation. We have bonded over millennial things and also my constant championing their podcast with fellow author Falon Ballard. After loving the Hallmark-esque debut In The Event Of Love, when the opportunity came to review the 2nd book in this series, I knew I had to have it!

"And what does happiness mean to you?"
"Not being tethered to my fears."

With In the Event of Love, it took me a little to get into the setting and the characters but with this one I was fully invested right away. I am not sure if it was because I was already familiar with the characters or perhaps the way it was written was just different.

There were a few times that I found myself cackling with different dialogues that were happening. One of my favorite lines (that I even messaged Courtney about) came from Ben's internal monologue - I would have never let him sleep on my floor. I would have offered to share the bed. It's called manners. Also the G-Ma in this was hysterical! I hope I can be as cool as an 80 year old having a two week party to celebrate all things me.

The relationship that Ben has with his grandmother and his mother were both really just love him so much and were so worried for him! And I think we needed their sunshine in contrast to his horrible father. He just made everything sour. I don't want to go into too much detail as then you won't be surprised while reading.

"Darling."

Badam. Badam. Badam.
Yes I have been saying their relationship name in the tune of the Kylie Minogue's song Padam. But anyhow, I just absolutely ADORED Adam. He just was the sweetest of sweet book boyfriend who was so patient with Ben. I was very attracted to him and him being a musician was just an added bonus. I love how we had a build up of them expressing how he felt towards Ben. His love for Ben just was just so apparent and just made me swoony.

I really wanted to shake Ben so many times and one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to romances is when one character self sabotages things in their life. I understood why he thought the way that he thought and trauma just will always be there lurking in your brain but as a reader it was so frustrating., Ben needed to go through what he went through in order to get to the other side and I'm sure even after he was good, he still will have his moments. Even with the self sabotaging I was so proud of him and how hard he was working through all his issues.

One thing I loved about the couple is that they were really honest with one another. There were a few items I thought was going to be dragged out until the 3rd act break up but it ended up being discussed earlier. I really hope that Ben's character continues to ask for help. He takes on a lot and waits until it reaches eruption before he brings in other resources.

One thing I appreciate that Courtney has done in her writing is the positive dialogue with seeing a therapist & different representations throughout the book.

If you are a fan of friends to lovers, small town romance, cinnamon rolls (the food and book boyfriend) with a side of family drama this one's for you!

PS - Did you catch Easter eggs in the book?!

4.75

In the Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae comes out on 7/25/23 and after how much I absolutely adored In the Event of Love this past winter you know I was running to request this arc & squealed with glee when I wasn’t denied 😂

Here’s what you need to know:
✅ Friends to lovers
✅ MM romance
✅ All the rep & childhood trauma unpacking
✅ Baking reality tv show AND rockstar romance
✅ A quirky and hilarious G-ma
✅ Great chemistry

I really enjoyed the relationship between Adam and Ben! I also liked that this book took us out of Fern Falls for a good chunk of the story, while still giving us cameos of everyone we loved in book one!

However, parts of this story really felt forced and clunky to me. I don’t think I would have made it past 20% if it wasn’t an arc. While it absolutely did get better after the first act, the way Ben’s childhood trauma was discussed in the beginning just felt very awkward and sort of affected the pace of the read overall.

All in all, I’m glad I read this and I’m grateful for the arc from @netgalley but I didn’t love it nearly as much as In the Event of Love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#bookstagram #netgalley

*4.5

The love that Adam and Ben have is so real and palpable. Adam cares so much for Ben and only wants the best for him. He's always there to help him when he needs it and it was so sweet. Ben was dealing with so much and I love how Courtney Kae presented it. This book is just so good.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I could not put this book down because it was so insanely good!! Having a history with baking I knew I had to read this book and I was not disappointed! Adam is literally the perfect man and one of if not my favourite book character of all time.

My favourite thing about this book was that the obstacle the main couple faced was not one of them lying to the other (a storyline often used in romance books). It was so incredibly different to every other romance book I’ve ever read (in the best way possible).

The spice in this book gradually builds before going full throttle and it is, in my opinion, some of the best written spice I’ve ever read. Also I loved the little Charm Offensive reference!!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
In the Case of Heartbreak is the second book in Courtney Kae’s Fern Falls series. It can be read as a standalone, although there are some nuances that you will pick up on more if you’ve read the first. The small-town setting is one of this book’s biggest strengths, and it shares that in common with its predecessor, with the contrast being this one is set in summer, while that one is set during winter/the holiday season.
The character work here is what won me over, especially with the protagonist, Ben. His journey as he reckons with his anxiety spoke to me deeply, and while some of the issues he deals with are very different, I could not help but root for him to find balance and happiness in his life. And while there are some negative influences, particularly his toxic relationship with his father, I appreciate the care with which this relationship was handled, while also counteracting it with other influences who form a positive found-family unit.
Adam is also a fairly solid love interest. While I didn’t care much for the first book’s romance arc, I love how the romance here emphasized support and healing. Their development from friends to lovers and navigating all the hurdles their relationship came with was beautiful.
This book is a warm hug and metaphorical serving of cinnamon rolls (that will have you craving them too!), providing escapism and hope for the LGBTQ+ community. I recommend it to queer readers or anyone looking for a light, fluffy, and inclusive contemporary romance.

I’m so excited to share my review for In The Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae today! Thank you so much to the lovely Courtney for my advanced e-arc & for having me on your street team!

I have been so excited for this book! I loved Ben & Adam from ‘In The Event of Love’ and it was so much fun to return to Fern Falls!

I love Courtney’s writing style, it is so enjoyable! I’ve devoured both books so far and will devour any future ones too! 😂 The way that heavy topics such an complicated family dynamics are handled so delicately and with such care is amazing too! You can’t help but fall in love and really root for these characters! Although, I have to admit G-Ma is my absolute favourite! She was amazing and so funny, plus not going to lie. I kind of want to try her heartbreak tea 😂 I feel like everyone needs someone like G-Ma in their life!

The chemistry between Ben & Adam was amazing and I loved the theme of healing as well as giving and accepting love throughout!

In The Case of Heartbreak is a fun and swoony story that is perfect to add to your summer TBR!

I actually liked this book significantly MORE than the first in the series. The MCs were literally the most perfect and just SO gone for one another but had no idea how to tell the other so they danced around one another for YEARS-ugh I melted. Ben’s mental health struggles were insanely relatable and for those of us with similar issues, it was nice to see that Adam helped Ben manage his anxiety and make him feel safe, rather than try to change him. We all want a partner that sees the best in us, and Adam was absolutely Ben’s perfect partner.

I loved both Fern Falls and Maywell Bay, and the author’s description of both quirky towns really made me feel like I was there.

This story was emotional but fun. It was easy to get sucked into, and the characters were wonderfully written.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the author. All opinions are my own.

There’s a lot to enjoy here, and most of it comes down to how uplifting the story is. It’s very heartwarming and fluffy and creates the space for a great comfort read.

I also loved how fleshed out the setting was! Makes for a great romcom.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was so sweet. Sometimes you gotta read a sappy cute romance to feel alive. I didn’t read the first book in this series, and now I’d like to in order to know more about Rachel and Morgan.

This is one of those stories where if people talked nothing bad would have happened. Ben and Adam danced around each other for no reason and then it was fixed automatically once they finally spoke to each other like adults. That’s a running theme here. Adam doesn’t want to speak to anyone, things get ruined, Adam confesses, the day is saved. The formula is pretty straight forward. Adam and Ben were very cute together, so I didn’t mind all their miscommunication really. I really enjoyed G-Ma and Ben’s mom. They seemed like they were super supportive and ready to sacrifice anything, which is another reason it was weird Ben didn’t want to talk about his problems to them. If you want a straight forward romance where the plot gets a bit silly sometimes but there’s tons of joy and celebration, I highly recommend.

Courtney Kae’s In the Event of Heartbreak is as charming and addictive as the first book in the Fern Falls series was! Ben is an anxious small town baker carrying a lot of trauma about having been abandoned by his father and subjected to intense scrutiny, so he feels proud of himself for entering a baking recipe competition that involves showcasing his family cinnamon roll recipe. At least, until the man he has loved since childhood says he wants to be just friends when asked on live television for the show if he is Ben’s boyfriend. But don’t worry; Adam, who Kae describes as a “Captain Killian Jones lookalike,” yes please, is actually interested; things are just complicated because the two have been friends for so long. And things become even more tricky when Ben’s awful father tries to claim the recipe is his and poach Adam away for his musical skills. I absolutely adore that both Ben and Adam are working through trauma; people with trauma belong in romance!! And they communicate and value consent and a healthy relationship so beautifully. The whole book feels like a beautifully crafted, warm, safe, hug.

Thank you so much Kensington books at Courtney Kae for the eArc!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
👨🏼‍🤝‍👨🏻🍪☕🎸🏳️‍🌈

Oh my heart. This book. THIS BOOK.

I am in TEARS. Ben, pure cinnamon roll Ben. You've been so much and grown so much. The way Adam loves you wholeheartedly. 😭

Courtney Kae knows how to pull the heartstrings. This book is so raw. So beautiful . The declaration of love .he supportiveness of family. The self-healing and growing. This book will make you cry. This book will also most likely make you see yourself in Ben and it makes you want to protect him, like Adam does.

This is the first Achillean pairing book I have read, and I am absolutely glad it was In Case Of Heartbreak. It is a love story, yes, but it is also a self-love story and it couldn't be more perfect.

I loved the queer rep: Lots of bisexual characters and of course Adam who is Pansexual. I loved the interfering G-Ma. It made me laugh. I loved the aunties. I loved the baking scene. I loved everything.

Truly, this isn't a book you want to miss.

Thank you to Netgalley and Courtney Kae for the copy of the eArc. This review is left voluntarily..

I received an ARC from Netgalley-- I haven't read the previous book in the series, but it's been on my TBR forever. It looked like it could easily be a stand alone, and right after I requested it I did see other authors I enjoyed hyping the book up as well, so I was pretty excited to give this series a try.

This book is a single POV book, which I think works really well because (even though I love a dual POV falling in love romance) there is a lot going on in Ben's head that I think we get to sit with more. The events of the books are mostly happening to or because of Ben, so I didn't really miss having Adam's perspective-- we get it enough through his actions and dialogue. I think sticking with Ben and working through his trauma was definitely the right choice for this book.

Ultimately, this book was fun for me because it went in directions I just wouldn't take. It wasn't wholly unpredictable or anything, it just generally maintained a more wholesome, communicative vibe where I would normally expect angst angst angst disaster. It was also a fade to black/closed door book. Maybe I just read a lot of steamy, angsty books but it was a great change of pace and I would absolutely give Courtney Kae's other books a chance in the future.

If you like baked goods, kooky grandmas, wholesome love interests, and characters actually going to therapy, give this book a try!