Conflict Mediation

Conflict Mediation: Not So Normative Spin-Off #1

by D.C. Emerson

James was doing just fine at work, minding his own business and avoiding Leon, his long-time nemesis, Leon. Unfortunately, upper management has other plans for them, and that’s how James finds himself spending a miserable evening at conflict mediation with Leon.

Leon has worked hard to get where he is today, and he doesn’t need his annoying coworker James ruining that for him. He’s ready to grit his teeth through conflict mediation if that means he gets to keep his job and go about his life.

Unfortunately, there must have been a mix-up in the office because James and Leon find themselves in a couples counseling session instead. Will they be able to get through the session with their jobs, and their grudges for each other, intact?

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Queer, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Short Stories

32 pages, ebook

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

D.C. is an avid board gamer and rock climber who lives on the East Coast of the United States but loves to travel to places near and far as often as they can.

D.C. has always identified as queer, but during the pandemic they came out as nonbinary (they/them pronouns) to family and friends. This book was part of that process, and they have loved exploring different genderqueer identities like their own through their writing, reading, research, and countless hours watching reels and videos on social media.

Their biggest hope in writing queer fiction is to provide at least one other person out there with characters and story lines that they can recognize themselves, or their friends and loved ones in.

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can*]

Read for free with Kindle Unlimited
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3.5 stars 🌟 🤩 ✨️
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Cute book (Leon and James felt like real people) and not over dramatic for no reason. It shows how easy it can be to get the wrong idea/impression of a person and that things can be more complicated than it appears.

Little funny part at the end 🤣 had me smiling and shaking my head.. one character in question I'm guessing had a similar reaction afterwards 😅 .

Wanted to hug them both and was proud of them for different reasons. Hope James' mom continues to be okay ! Excellent example of how our Healthcare system sucks... people shouldn't have to go into huge debt to get treatment.

It ended on a nice note and has me looking forward to the next one.

Also curious about the rest of Leon's tattoos 🤔.

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers)]

My favorite thing was that the conflict isn't really a miscommunication but something that actually happened and they talked through it and resolved it.

But whew! The author was able to give these two fleshed out back stories in just a few pages. And they're heavyyyy but definitely explain why James did what he did in the moment and why Leon was so mad at him for it.

In like 29 pages. That's skill.

Loved that they attended couples counseling by mistake though I figured that out way before they did.

This was too short to really be a romance but gives enough of a hint at it.

[Reading Rommance]

4.5/5. This was so cute! It's a short read, but it packs a lot in a small package. I adored James. He's a little up tight and a big rule follower. I can totally relate to that. I also loved Leon. He's pretty much the exact opposite and he has a grudge against James, which has spiraled into these two needing mediation. It's great to get both POVs and hear about their struggles as they share with each other. I love that the ending has such a hopeful, world of possibilities feel to it. I had such a fun time reading this short cutie.

Notes: novella, opposites attract, enemies to lovers, coworkers, trans rep, pan rep

[Grace]

Cute, but pre-relationship and too short for me personally to really care about either character. I also felt like the way the Jewish/Yiddish rep came off was really bizarre and the whole book just generally sort of felt like the author had a list of "not so normative" things they were trying to check off (which based on the summaries of the rest of the books continues to grow) for inclusion. Not particularly interested in continuing.

[Florence .]

this was a fun little novella! Rivals in the work’lace is a trope I absolutely adore and I loved the concept of them being in conflict mediation and I liked how we got to see both of their point of views and their misguided opinion of the other and how they came to be.

this was a really fun time and i’m excited to read more about these two.

[Chloe]

Conflict Mediation by D.C. Emerson

🩵 Enemy Co-workers
🩵 Forced Proximity
🩵 Bad Boy x Rule Follower
🩵 Trans, Gay & Pan Rep
🩵 Start of a Novella series

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice: N/A
Humour: 🤭.5
Intimacy: 🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺.5

Third person dual pov 👀

Content Warnings
On page: Therapy session.
Mentioned: homophobia, transphobia, death of a parent, a parent with cancer, abandonment, outing.

[Bethany Hall]

This was ADORABLE.

[Colleen (colleenreads40)]

Conflict Mediation is a short story that kicks of the Conflict Mediation series by D.C Emerson. The next book, Haunted Mediation, will be available in early October. Although this series is a spin-off of the author's Not So Normative series, it can be enjoyed on it's own. This short story is only two chapters long, and each character has their own chapter told from a third person point of view. You can expect coworkers to friends, a transgender main character, and a misunderstanding about what type of mediation they're attending.

Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading. This book contains references to homophobia, transphobia, the death of a parent, and a parent with cancer.

At only 35 pages, this was a quick but entertaining read that has left me looking forward to reading Haunted Mediation soon! James and Leon are co-workers at the same company. Unfortunately, the animosity between them has been growing and HR has mandated them to attend conflict mediation. A misunderstanding between their HR representative and the counsellor leaves them in a couples counselling session instead of conflict mediation, but things take a surprising turn when they realize they have more in common than they thought. I know the misunderstanding aspect of this story was slightly cliché, but I thought it totally worked for the storyline and allowed Leon and James a chance to truly get to know one another. I was laughing at the awkwardness they encountered in the counsellor's office. For such a short story, it managed to really dig into some of the emotions that were driving these two characters and allow them to get past the initial interaction that caused the animosity in the first place.

I really love the emotion and representation that Emerson packs into their work, and I can't wait to see what happens with James and Leon next!

[Curiosity]

I'm overjoyed I chose this short story to kickstart the 2025 Trans Rights readathon. D.C. Emerson is an author I've been curious about reading for some time now. I have had the pleasure of seeing their work on my timeline and have been curious about the fun premises they put their characters in. This short story was my first read from their catalog and it did not disappoint.

In all honesty, I was a tad apprehensive when I started. I wondered how an author could make me believe that two character would go from work nemesis to potential lovers in 34 pages. Plot twist, Emerson did it in less than 15 pages. A couple of pages in and I was shipping the two love interests and was hoping additional pages would suddenly materialize just so I would not have to say goodbye so soon.

The characters were lovable and relatable. James' struggle with feeling accept within his community while putting his own life on hold to care for a sick family member was touching. Leon's struggle with standing up for himself was sincere and relatable. Once the source of the conflict was finally revealed, I understood why Leon was so hostile towards his colleague, especially in the context of his upbringing. Watching them open up to one another and come to an understanding was comforting. Despite appearing to have completely opposing personalities and characterizations, James and Leon were still complementary. The source of their conflict made sense while also leaving room for reconciliation. Emerson masterfully incorporates elements of miscommunication, a trope I usually despise, to add the tension of the conflict.

Overall, this was a comforting short story I will be recommending as often as I can. I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author.

[Debbie Gale]

Short and sweet romance novella.

Notes: James is trans and pansexual. Leon is gay. The two are attending counseling to get along better at work.

[Gabs (gaybism)]

Cuuuuute

[Lorena]

absolutely loved it <3

[Molly Otto]

Fun

A fun short story of misunderstandings at work leading to a grudge. When James and Leon are sent to therapy to work past their issues to make the work environment better they learn the truth of one another. Neither character really knew the other and this allowed them to see the truth. A fun beginning of what could eventually lead to more.

[Frida]

4⭐️

Conflict Mediation by D.C. Emerson is everything I didn’t expect from a sub-50-page slice of life—and exactly what I needed. Normally, I like time to sink in, to peel back character layers, to catch the quiet glances and proper build-ups. But this one? This one just worked.

From page one, every word pulls its weight. There’s no fluff, no filler, just tight, witty, emotionally clever writing that feels intentional and alive. And somehow, in under 50 pages, I cared. Deeply.

Leon is the kind of character I fall for instantly—snarky, dorky, warm, and way too cool for his own good. James, in contrast, is straight-laced, anxious, full of repressed feelings and misread intentions. And it’s that tension—the push and pull of perception versus reality, of miscommunication and quiet assumptions—that gives this short story its emotional weight.

The conflict isn’t explosive, it’s human. It’s about how easy it is to misunderstand someone when we’re all carrying our own histories, our own filters. And how, when you stop long enough to actually see each other, something beautiful can flicker into being.

And then there’s the Mensch quote, which hit me harder than I expected:

“What does mensch mean? I always thought it was a good thing.”
“It is a good thing. My bubbe used to always call me her little mensch… It means someone of honor and integrity…”

I say this all the time(!!!)—be a mensch, be decent. And hearing it land here, in such a sincere, delicate moment? That alone would’ve earned a star!

Trans Rights Readathon continues to gift me with new voices and perspectives I might’ve missed otherwise, and I’m so grateful. D.C. Emerson—please, I am begging, give me more. I’m starving. This tiny novella proved that short stories can still carry the weight of full-hearted storytelling—and this one is all heart.

Smart, funny, emotionally resonant. Just… mensch-level storytelling. Loved it!

[The Bookish Chimera - Pauline]

“From the outside, his life seemed so simple and easy, with his tightly buttoned shirts and pristine office space, but maybe he’s misjudged him.”

I loved Conflict Mediation. Like others D.C. Emerson’s stories, it is a very humanizing one and a great empathy exercise –this short story maybe even more. I liked the therapy settings (how appeasing it was), and how radically different the characters seem to be from each other. They are antagonizing, drowning in their own prejudices. The story dismantles that, for the characters, but also for us. They have more common points than they have differences. I loved how the “short story format”, and its outcome, was used here, like an epiphany… because that’s the whole thing in the end, the ones we believe are the most different, are in the end the most similar to us.

[Natalie]

James & Leon
Rating: 3.7⭐

- Coworkers
- Rule Follower/Bad Boy
- Misunderstandings
- Conflict Mediation
- Trans Man MC

This is a quick read where two coworkers are sent to mediation due to their workplace confrontations. A mix-up with the appointment setup leads to these two finally talking through their misunderstandings. I would love to read more about these two after they leave their appointment!

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
- Homophobia
- Transphobia
- Death of a parent (past; off-page)
- Parent with cancer
- Parental abandonment (past; off-page)

[✶]

This short story about two coworkers who don’t like each other for *reasons* was really fun! I never read short stories because I tend to find them dull and without much essence but this one is actually amazingly written. The characters, James and Leon, are pretty well fleshed out and in this short amount of time I feel like I have a good understanding of who they are and what their dynamic is like.
I’m really impressed with how the author managed to create these characters with their backstories and their chemistry together, in just two chapters, and I’m excited for part 2!

[Taylor Priem]

3⭐️
This was actually really cute the whole thing was very intriguing and it was a good read.

I just needed a little bit more of their backstory but other than that it was good!!

I really liked their chemistry together and if it was longer I would so see them together and more in depth storyline would be so cool to see eventually!!!

[Jane (whatjanereads)]

This was so cute and funny.
Two coworkers who despise each other are forced into conflict mediation by their company.
When the mediator said something for the first time I immediately knew they landed into couples therapy by accident 🤣
This was such a cute start for a story, I wish it was a complete romance book!

[Theresa Derwin]

An adorable workplace enemies to friends story with lack of understanding and communication being key to helping the two talk.
great queer and trans characters.

[Luqueerbooks]

This is the first time I've read a book by D.C. Emerson, and I must say it was really sweet and touching. I'll definitely read the next one. This made me realize how often we are ignorant of others's lives and how often we misjudge them based on false assumptions.

[Otterly.Bookish.Larns]

I really enjoyed this short read and loved the idea of co workers going to a conflict mediation meeting, but by some mistake they’ve ended up in couples therapy. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

[Julie]

Somehow, for "Conflict Mediation" being such a short story, D.C. Emerson managed to get me mentally attached to the characters to the point where I desperately want to know how their story continues.

With trans rep, characters with a lot of emotional depth, and a setting that just spells out chaos, this makes for such a nice read when the current state of the world is getting a bit too much and you need a story with a conflict being solved with honesty and respect.

[Shawna]

3.5 stars - This was very short, so a lot of what we get is flashbacks to their past. While I would have loved a longer version with these characters, I still enjoyed the premise and the ending was a great little twist.

[Kitchen Sink Books]

James and Leon have already faced the hurdle of becoming friends rather than enemies, the scares of the haunted house and now they have a new challenge. Intimacy.

James’ mum is getting healthier every day and has found happiness dating two people which means James can spend a little more quality time with Leon and their new relationship may be tentative but is getting off to a strong start. That does however mean a new obstacle for James. Introducing Leon to his parts as well as his preferences. It means talking, explaining and perhaps dampening the mood. James is nervous but Leon’s quiet confidence could be just what he needs.

Leon couldn’t be happier with his and James’ growing relationship. He has no intention of pushing James, happy to go at his pace. It helps that James is patient and understanding since Leon has a diagnosis of anxiety and possible now one of ADHD too. The good thing is none of the discovery and work on it needs to be done alone. They both have things to share and when Leon makes a new friend, one who can help him understand James a little better, then things really start to look up for them both, and for their future.

This story is the third in the spin off series and it offers a slow-burn, a gradual development of a very special relationship. It is beautiful, calm and gentle. Sensitive matters are woven in to the story seamlessly and every reader will likely learn something along with Leon and James. A wonderful story, a fantastic series and a tender consideration of people's thoughts and feelings.

[Alexx (obscure.pages)]

This was so cute 😭 I got this for TRR 2026 but didn't have time to finish it before March ended. Well I read it now, had no expectations for what it could be, and I ended up having such a great time reading!

This was short, but it packed so much emotions and there was so much backstory into it. I liked the idea of knowing these two characters and their relationship via conflict mediation and counseling. I thought that was such a brilliant way of exploring the characters. And then of course, handling miscommunication/conflict 😆 It's a character-driven story and it was well done.

Also, loved the queer rep! Leon is gay, meanwhile James is trans and pan (hell yes pan rep!!) 🥹

Now I want to read the rest of the series!

[ Marking this book as part of my reading challenge: Read Queerly 2026.

Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Storygraph | Fable | Blog

[Jovie Robin]

First of all, a huge thank you to D.C. Emerson for the ARC of this book!

So, as soon as I started reading Conflict Mediation, I was immediately hooked. I kept wondering — why do they even need conflict mediation? What caused their disagreement? Then as the story went on, I realized, ahh, that’s why they needed it. What I really liked about this book is how they were able to openly express their misunderstandings and clear things up with each other. It made me happy to see that their issues were just the result of miscommunication.

We also got to learn more about their personal lives — like James, whose mother has cancer and whose father left them, and Leon, who struggled so hard just to be accepted by the people around him, especially by his own mother. I absolutely loved how things worked out between them in the end.

And I’ll never forget that hilarious moment when they realized it wasn’t actually conflict mediation but couple counseling! I laughed so hard at that part.

Overall, this was a solid 5-star read for me! I even said, “Wait, that’s it? Bitin!” — but then I remembered there’s Haunted Mediation, so I won’t be left hanging after all!

[Vayl]

Back in June, I read a book by D.C. Emerson for the first time. Since then, I have been wanting to read everything by them, and it has become one of the authors I recommend when someone asks me for trans, poli, aroace, or other forms of representation.

This time, I received a copy of Conflict Mediation, the first part of a series of novellas following two coworkers who hate each other, so I could review the next book. This series will follow some holidays as we see the progress in the protagonist's relationship and meet some amazing secondary characters.

The stories are relatively short (due to novella length, you know), but the relationship is still amazing, not rushed at all, and tackles some heavy topics to discuss.

There are books that, when I read them, I instantly think: this author is a therapist or knows about good therapy. This one was one of them. I usually don't like to read scenes with therapists in them cause they are always horribly done, but in here! I read everything, not once, saying, "this is bad," it was done humorously, in a good way.

It left me wanting to read more about them, to see what would happen next, so I did!

[Polycraftory]

This is such a fun novella! The idea of 2 people who hate each other having to go to conflict mediation because they can't get along at work and while their in that session catching feelings is so funny to me. So much comes out over this hour session and the 2 boys are so sweet!

The characters are very developed for how short this is. I feel like I know them both well by the end of this. I love the premise of this so much and I think it is such a good way to get to know both of the main characters as well as their dynamic with each other. I can't wait to read the next one in this series!

I received this novella in return for my honest review. Thank you!

Review by Nic @polycraftory on Instagram & Tumblr where I do book reviews and crafts with my polycule. If you are curious about my thoughts on more books, you can find me @businesswife on Storygraph or Nic Morrow on Netgalley. You can also find content warnings on my Storygraph review of this book. You can also find my reviews @polycraftory on Goodreads

[Kerstin]

This was such a short and sweet story about two coworkers who mistakenly take part in couples counseling because of some conflict they have at their job. James and Leon seem like complete opposites at first glance. When they first meet they wind up misjudging each other. Through their conflict mediation session, they begin to learn more about the other and open up a bit about why they seem to dislike each other. The story is first told from James’, and then Leon’s point of view, as the story continues and comes to a conclusion.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about James and Leon. The way their characters were developed through this story and both begin to open up to each other, eventually coming to a mutual understanding was so wholesome. I hope we get a continuation of their story and budding friendship!