Defying Expectations

Pride Parlor #1

by D.C. Emerson

Well, Aspen had done it. With their best friend Noah by their side, they came out as nonbinary, weathered the resulting divorce, and got their first drastic haircut. They’re ready to start their new life… there’s just one problem. They want Noah to be a big part of that life, and not just as a friend.

Noah survived growing up under his parents suffocating expectations, came out in college and moved far away to start a new life, but there are some things he can’t run away from. When Aspen admits they have feelings for Noah, he has to come face to face with a truth he’s been avoiding for a long time: he’s not sure romantic relationships, the kind everyone seems to expect from him, are actually what he wants.

So, he has a proposition. A six month trial relationship in which Aspen gets to explore nonheteronormative, polyamorous relationships, and all they entail, while Noah tries to figure out exactly what he’s doing with his life.

Follow Aspen and Noah as they meet Rachel, a recently out bi woman also trying to figure out her life, and Charlie, the harried owner of a failing dog shelter.

Defying Expectations is a LGBTQ+ polyamorous contemporary romance with several pairings including MX/MXF/MXM with trans masc and nonbinary rep.

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 14, 2026

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

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book

exciting to learn more about polyamorie, transgender and aromantic, amazing to learn how I can hopefully be a better ally.

great aromantic, asexual and neurodivergent rep.

I love how they talk about consent, boundaries and preferences

First came into contact with this author through "redefening happiness" and fell in love with that book and Aspen and Noah, after reading this one I think dc emerson might be my new favourite author

These characters falling in love makes me feel like maybe I can find a romantic/ platonic partner one day as well.
This book made me feel less alone

"If you have feelings for Noah, whether they be romantic, sexual, or platonic, you will not ruin anything by telling him.” Blair, chapter 1

Charlie: autism
Aspen: adhd


arc review

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about how three beautiful souls come together, how they respect each other, and find a path together in their love for one another.

Review of advance copy recieved from Author