Everyone Adores A Good Friends-To-Lovers Trope On TV, But Here’s How The Dynamic Can Really Play Out In Real Life
With the recent season of the insanely popular Netflix series “Bridgerton” focusing on the friends-to-lovers story of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, more people have been discussing this kind of relationship.
If you’ve ever fallen in love with someone who was your best friend first, you know the relationship comes with its own unique set of challenges.
Yes, it’s dreamy and romantic to be able to say you fell in love with your best friend. I mean, few people know us better than our best friends do. And while the transitional relationship can be quite complicated, it also holds the promise of a deep and fulfilling connection.
If you’ve watched the new season of Bridgerton or have been feeling a certain way about one of your best friends for a while now, here are some things you can expect when making a friends-to-lovers relationship a reality.
First, the key to understanding this relationship transition is communication. As terrifying as it may seem, you have to tell your friend how you feel. If your yearning for them has gone on for quite some time and they haven’t picked up on it, you should talk to them.
It is a risky thing to do, as there are two likely outcomes. The first is your friend doesn’t feel the same way, and your friendship becomes awkward for a while as you start to accept things and move on. The second is that they feel the same way as you and are open to starting a romantic relationship.
If the latter happens, I’d recommend dating your best friend the way you would a stranger. While you already know each other very well, a romantic relationship and a friendship have their differences, and you can make your romantic relationship feel more official by going on official dates.
Set up a first date and treat it as you would if you met someone for the first time. Show your friend how you behave in a romantic relationship, and don’t be afraid to get vulnerable.
Throughout your new romantic relationship, you should ensure you focus on romance as often as possible. This is because you want to enjoy all the “magical” parts of a romantic relationship; otherwise, it may feel like nothing has changed when you make things official.
Goran – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
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You should also be prepared for any and all reactions from your friends and family, especially if you and your new partner are in the same friend group. Some friends may be thrilled and saw this coming, others may be shocked and will need more time to process.
Remember to check in with your friends, especially if you value your relationship with them, and assure them they’re still important to you.
Finally, once you’ve entered a romantic relationship with someone who was once your friend, you may find that things aren’t working out the way you hoped they would.
Once again, communication is key, and you should talk out those feelings with your partner so you can, hopefully, end your romantic relationship amicably and remain friends.
It’s better to address your negative feelings as soon as possible than to let them linger and lose your partner and friend in a nasty breakup.
Again, transitions between friends-to-lovers are complex but can be quite beautiful. Just remember to keep your communication consistent and go with the flow.
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