Courting Korie

Unexpected Love #5

by Kim Breyon

Falling in love with your best friend? 1/10. Do not recommend.

Too bad my heart didn’t get the memo.

Every date I’ve been on this year has felt like a job interview I didn’t prepare for. Cold, boring, and the cause of devastatingly low self-esteem.

Korie—my gender-fluid best friend—knows more about me than anyone. When my sister jokingly says they should date me to give me pointers, we both laugh. It’s too ridiculous to even consider. Except, that’s exactly what happens.

We think it’ll be funny. Something we can laugh about later. But somewhere between holding their hand and sharing food across a dinner table, I realize something terrifying: they’re my ideal partner.

How have I never seen it before?

Caring for them has never been hard. Pretending it doesn’t wreck me when we kiss goodnight is another story. I’m suddenly aching for them in ways I never have before, and worse? Korie doesn’t date. Ever.

The whole point of this was to keep it fake. To practice being real without changing our friendship. So how do I convince my heart to play along—when admitting the truth could cost me my best friend?

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2026

About the author

I am an Idaho native who grew up dreaming about traveling the world and writing stories. As a child, I would often spend my spare time curled up with my favorite blanket and a notebook, writing another fairy tale. I never would have guessed those fairy tales would one day grow into gay romances, but that is where my heart led me and I am so glad it did. I write about love because I believe it can happen to anyone, with anyone. I also believe dreams never expire, redemption is possible, and true forgiveness can heal us in ways we never expect. I know firsthand how messy life can get, but as any artist will tell you, a little mess is needed to create something beautiful. That’s why I write, to help others see that anything can be beautiful. You can often find me with a mug of coffee in one hand and a dog toy in the other. There is never a day that goes by without my sweet boy insisting on a game - or twenty - of fetch.

Reviews

[Izzy]

I'm sorry but I really dislike fake dating. When they have to argue so much to even agree to this, it's worse.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

Are we playing with something real, or are we just playing? Because if so, we’re playing with fire.

Close friends become so much more thanks to a fake date.
And there was no pining for years or unrequited love. It was both of them feeling these new feelings together, uncertain what to do with them, both scared to cross that line.

“You’re on time and you brought me flowers? I think that earns you ten points.” His immediate oh-shit expression almost makes me laugh. “There’s a point system?”

A lovely romance, full of cute dates — picnic and a play, romantic dinners, kisses atop a Ferris wheel — lots of fluff and sweetness and great genderfluid/non-binary rep.

“It was always you, Korie.” His voice cracks, and he pauses, blinking hard as if fighting tears.
“It’s always been you.”

The third-act ‘break’ and the reason for it didn’t exactly make sense to me for their story, but it did need that touch of drama in an otherwise pretty uneventful plot. Even if my enjoyment faltered towards the end there, I still enjoyed this author’s writing, the characters and the sweetness of this heartwarming romance.

I jumped so easily from date to date, wondering why they never worked. When really, I just needed to look at the person who had been there all along.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Genderfluid MC
- Friends to lovers
- Fake dating/dating lessons
- Top/bottom
- Lingerie
- 69

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review

🌕🌕🌗

Probably because I came from a dopamine filled book, and a very well portrayed character with health issues, I guess I expected this one to be at least as good, but… I was disappointed. Korie is extremely well portrayed, beautiful enby representation here for sure, and it is very well done, showing the amount of careful research that has gone into making Korie unique, special, and beautiful in their own way. Which leaves Holden kind of less fleshed out, or maybe feels more like a superficial character that happens to end up with Korie out of convenience, and not because he truly loves them. I know, that is not what is meant to be, but it feels like it. For example, when he says this “he’s realized he’s just one of many who have caught my attention”. It felt odd. Holden is setting the bar so low, that ending up with Korie is more of a surprise than anything else. He puts so little effort, like he couldn’t care less, and it seeps into my view of him so much, than when he ends up with Korie, I feel like he should have worked harder, he should have tried more, and Korie is his “participation trohpy” more than a life-partner. Yes, it gets better over time, but that feeling permeated the whole book for me, and I struggled seeing Holden as worthy of Korie. Yes, realizing he is in love with his best friend takes him some time, but… I don’t know. It felt like a worn out trope, like the author only had enough greatness for one character, and them being amazing was enought to cover everyone else’s shortcomings. But the non-binary representation is beautiful, and just for that, is worth a read.

(I received an ARC and this is my voluntary review)

[Raven and Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just got a brief glimpse of Korie in Vincent’s book. This is their story of learning to trust and realizing your best friend is your forever person. Holden jumps into everything with gusto, always two steps ahead, rushing through to the goal. The only problem is when you are rushing someone else, it has the potential to backfire spectacularly. Korie and Holden are absolutely perfect together - they just need time to get on the same page at the same time. And Korie has to lean to believe that Holden actually sees them for all of who they are and always has.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't quite click with this book, unlike the earlier installments. I can't quite explain why.

It is a story that gets better as it progresses, but with the earlier parts, I felt that the story required no effort from beginning to end. And with this one, it seemed to flow less smoothly.

💞Thank you to the Author and GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC💖

[K-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

Korie was an absolute beautiful representation of an enby character. I felt so close and connected to their emotions. They adored Holden so I appreciated that this was one of those romances where the character I was most attached to go his romantic happy ending. I think I needed more from Holden myself though.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville]

DNF @ 63% - There's not enough going on in this book to catch my interest.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series but this book just fell a bit flat for me. Well written but it just didn't grab and keep my interest as well as others had. Still a good read, just wasn't a wow for me.

[Adoraboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a interesting read!!!!