A review by capesandcovers
In the Case of Heartbreak, by Courtney Kae
5.0
In the Case of Heartbreak is the follow up to Kae's debut, In the Event of Love, but it can be read as a standalone if you don't mind some spoilers for the characters from book one. That being said, I recommend reading both because it lets you get to know all of the characters better, and it's such a fun winter romance!
In the Event of Heartbreak is one of my new favorite books, because it's just SO romantic. I had loved getting to know Ben and Adam in book one, and I was excited to read their story, but I didn't think I was going to fall in love with it the way I did. Kae is an expert at crafting characters that are instantly lovable, and not just her main characters. Everyone besides the antagonists are characters I'd happily read about. Especially G-ma, I adore that woman. You know the Taylor Swift song, The Last Great American Dynasty? G-ma is like a modern version of Rebecca in the song, but a group of drag queen friends and a flask of STRONG liquor down her bra. If she was a real person I'd be asking her to adopt me as her grandkid.
Speaking of grandkids, I loved watching Ben interact with his mom, G-ma and the rest of their family. They're such a cute family, and watching how they happily accepted Adam into their midsts was adorable. And Adam? Adam was so fucking dreamy and romantic, I could cry. Don't get me wrong, he has his own personal issues to deal with, but he was so, so, so supportive and loving towards Ben. Also, the man has a way with words, the confession scene felt like a modern twist on an Austen confession in the best way. It's one of my favorite scenes ever, I was literally making squealing/choking sounds while I read it. He plays guitar and has a man bun too, if you're into that.
And Ben, I love him so much. He's a little cinnamon roll who just needs to be loved and protected (sorry, that was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Cinnamon rolls, get it?). Anyway, bad jokes aside, Ben was such a complex character, and the anxiety and depression he experienced was written in such a relatable way. Sometimes reading about heavy topics like the ones I've mentioned (along with parental abuse) can be a lot to take in, but I feel that Kae did an excellent job balancing them out with levity and romance. It still very much felt like a romance and the humor was excellent
In the Event of Heartbreak is one of my new favorite books, because it's just SO romantic. I had loved getting to know Ben and Adam in book one, and I was excited to read their story, but I didn't think I was going to fall in love with it the way I did. Kae is an expert at crafting characters that are instantly lovable, and not just her main characters. Everyone besides the antagonists are characters I'd happily read about. Especially G-ma, I adore that woman. You know the Taylor Swift song, The Last Great American Dynasty? G-ma is like a modern version of Rebecca in the song, but a group of drag queen friends and a flask of STRONG liquor down her bra. If she was a real person I'd be asking her to adopt me as her grandkid.
Speaking of grandkids, I loved watching Ben interact with his mom, G-ma and the rest of their family. They're such a cute family, and watching how they happily accepted Adam into their midsts was adorable. And Adam? Adam was so fucking dreamy and romantic, I could cry. Don't get me wrong, he has his own personal issues to deal with, but he was so, so, so supportive and loving towards Ben. Also, the man has a way with words, the confession scene felt like a modern twist on an Austen confession in the best way. It's one of my favorite scenes ever, I was literally making squealing/choking sounds while I read it. He plays guitar and has a man bun too, if you're into that.
And Ben, I love him so much. He's a little cinnamon roll who just needs to be loved and protected (sorry, that was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Cinnamon rolls, get it?). Anyway, bad jokes aside, Ben was such a complex character, and the anxiety and depression he experienced was written in such a relatable way. Sometimes reading about heavy topics like the ones I've mentioned (along with parental abuse) can be a lot to take in, but I feel that Kae did an excellent job balancing them out with levity and romance. It still very much felt like a romance and the humor was excellent