Ben runs his family café and bakes his famous cinnamon rolls daily. He’s entered a reality tv competition to showcase them.
Plans start to fall apart when Ben’s rejected by his long-time crush, Adam, on live tv. He also gets some trouble coming from his father (who abandoned him as a child).
Ben takes off for 2 weeks to Maywell Bay, to see his Grandma for her 80th birthday bash. Of course, Adam is there (as a musician in the band for the party).
Most of the story takes place at Grandma’s, as Ben and Adam figure out their feelings for one another, and Ben figures out one family issue at a time.
Book Review:
In the Case of Heartbreak
Series: Yes (book 2 in Fern Falls)
Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 4/5
Spice: 2/5
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A really sweet read with a beautiful small town community!
I enjoyed this book, but I wouldn’t really call it a romance. While there was a romantic element as part of the story, it was more about Ben’s journey with his family and past trauma. The romance part was really sweet – seeing Adam and Ben come together, and how much they appreciated the little things they dreamed of doing with one another.
I would love to live in a place like Fern Falls! While I am a straight cis white woman, I appreciate the openness and diversity in this town, and how it’s not a “thing.” Everyone is accepted for who they are, no matter their identity.
I could relate a lot to Ben in his anxiety and insecurities. I was laughing a lot and saying – that’s totally me – often.
What you’ll find in In the Case of Heartbreak:
⭐️ LGBTQ+ romance (mm)
⭐️ Childhood friends to lovers
⭐️ Longtime crush
⭐️ Forced proximity
⭐️ Cinnamon rolls & cinnamon roll heros
⭐️ Mental health rep (anxiety)
⭐️ Sex positive Grandma (G-ma)
⭐️ Found family
⭐️ Small town
⭐️ Disability rep
⭐️ Single POV/first person
*make sure to check trigger warnings!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.