Everyone in our small town thinks my best friend and I belong together. We’re both determined they’re wrong.
When Hollywood comes to town and suddenly everyone is paying attention to my dating life, Gabe is right there beside me, pretending not to care who I date and acting like the night we kissed meant nothing to him.
The problem is, the more time I spend with Gabe, the more I start to wonder if everyone else is right. Maybe the perfect man isn’t someone new. Maybe he’s been there all along.
But if we cross that line, we could lose everything. And losing my best friend would be worse than never falling in love at all.
- Best friends to lovers
- Slow burn romance
- Mutual pining
- Small-town romance
- Found family
- Meddling townspeople
- Protective hero
- Sisters series
- Sweet / closed-door romance
- Happily ever after
Previously published as Faking It with My Best Friend in 2022, this new edition includes an extended bonus epilogue for 2026.
Reader’s LOVE Kissing My Best Friend:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Pure swoony fun!” – Amazon reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “If you like witty dialogue, characters who feel like real people, and small town charm, then you’ll adore Faking it with My Best Friend!” – Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I just want to start out my review… by declaring that I will be reading this book again. Kate did a wonderful job of combining humor, crazy small-town neighbors, family—both real and found, friendship, and swoony kisses with some of the harder aspects of life. It was beautifully done.” – Instagram reviewer, books_to_reread
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I absolutely loved the story of Ryn and Gabe, SO stinking sweet and romantic.” – Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I was so hooked that I read it straight through in one sitting.” – Amazon reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Wow. Best friends forever. Honesty is all he ever asked for. Ryn would do anything for Gabe even if he doesn’t realize it. Will the secret come between them? Emotional, funny, loving, caring swoony read. Sometimes big gestures don’t need to be all that big. Loved it!❤️” – Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Oh gosh! Ryn is all snark and sass, and I absolutely adore that about her. Gabe is everything noble and trustworthy. (And perfect book boyfriend material.) .” – Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I believe that a friendship is a great base for a relationship. I love that trope, friends-to-lovers, and this is a great example of that trope! Highly rec.” – Amazon reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “This is a well written book that kept me intrigued throughout…There is also a lot of depth to the characters which allows the reader to know what drives their thoughts and behaviors.” – Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A heartwarming and humourous sweet romance that will leave you smiling.” – Amazon reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A lovely, funny, emotional book.” – Amazon reviewer
Titles in the Sisters & Sweethearts series:
Each title in the series can be read as a standalone as each book is about one of the three Cole sisters, Harper, Ryn, and Marlowe. If you want to read them in order, here it is:
Book 1: Kissing My Fake Boyfriend
Book 2: Kissing My Best Friend
Book 3: Kissing the Enemy Next Door
Box Set: Sisters and Sweethearts: Small Town Romantic Comedy Box Set
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Kissing My Best Friend
What is Kissing my Best Friend about?
Faking It with My Best Friend is a charming small-town romcom featuring Ryn Cole and her lifelong best friend, Gabe Hartmann. Everyone in Hunter’s Creek thinks they’re already a couple—except them. But when a Hollywood hunk turns Ryn’s head and a meddling town committee stirs the pot, Ryn starts to wonder: could Gabe be more than just her best friend?
Who are the main characters in Kissing my Best Friend?
- Ryn Cole – the middle sister in the Cole family, full of sass, smarts, and small-town loyalty.
- Gabe Hartmann – her flannel-wearing, ruggedly handsome best friend since childhood. He’s loyal, dependable… and maybe just a little bit in love with her?
What tropes does this book feature?
This book is a warm hug for trope lovers:
- Best friends to lovers
- Small-town romance
- Secret crush
- Hollywood distraction
- Meddling matchmakers
- Slow-burn chemistry
- “We’re just friends… right?”
Is Kissing my Best Friend part of a series?
Yes! It’s book 2 in the Sisters & Sweethearts series, which follows the romantic journeys of the three Cole sisters in Hunter’s Creek, Washington. Each book is a standalone, but reading the series in order gives you the full sisterly scoop.
Do I need to read the other books first?
Nope! Each book stands alone with its own story and HEA. You can jump into Ryn and Gabe’s story without having read Faking It with the Grump—but if you enjoy cozy small-town series with recurring characters, you’ll want to read them all.
Is this a closed-door romance?
Yes! Like all of Kate O’Keeffe’s romcoms, Faking It with My Best Friend is a clean, closed-door romance. Expect flirty fun, swoony kisses, and heart-melting feels—without the steam.
Where is the book set?
The story takes place in Hunter’s Creek, a fictional small town in Washington State known for its gossip network, community spirit, and the ever-watchful Hunter’s Creek Ladies Committee.
Is there a happy ending?
Absolutely! You’ll get all the satisfying romantic payoff you crave in a romcom—with laughs, love, and a happily ever after for Ryn and Gabe.
Is Kissing my Best Friend available in Kindle Unlimited?
Yes! You can read the ebook for free with your Kindle Unlimited subscription, or purchase it on Amazon. It’s also available in paperback.
Who would enjoy this book?
If you love:
- Sweet, clean romance
- Best friends falling in love
- Small-town meddling and family feels
- Hollywood vs. hometown tension
—then Faking It with My Best Friend is a perfect fit for your TBR list
Where can I read Kissing my Best Friend?
You can grab the ebook on Amazon and it’s on Kindle Unlimited, too. The paperback is available at all online retailers, and the audiobook is available wherever you get your audiobbok,s including libraries.
What did Kissing my Best Friend used to be called?
Kissing my Best Friend was first published as Faking it with my Best Friend.