1 week ago
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Some say rom-coms are unrealistic, but one friends-to-lovers couple begs to differ.
Brooklyn Karasack and Sam Sextro were best friends and roommates before they became romantic partners in a heartfelt twist. A TikTok documenting Karasack's nerves about confessing her feelings for Sextro has gone viral in December to the tune of 1.5 million views.
Karasack, 27, spoke to Newsweek about how she garnered the courage to come clean and how it went.
"If you're seeing this video, then that means that I've told my best friend that I like him, and it went well," she said in the video.
Karasack told Newsweek that her and Sextro's story began in 2016 when they became fast friends. For years, their relationship was purely platonic.
"I always loved him," Karasack said. "But the way you love and care about a best friend or a brother." The two even became roommates, sharing an apartment for three years.
The dynamic shifted in May 2023 when Sextro confessed his feelings for Karasack. At the time, she didn't feel the same way, and the two remained best friends, navigating some initial awkwardness.
Karasack's perspective began to change after a toxic relationship and some deep self-reflection. She realized that Sextro was what she wanted in a relationship.
"I...went on a first date with someone, and while there, I was thinking I would rather be doing this with Sam," she said. "That is when I realized that if I had met him for the first time today or came across his profile on a dating app, I would definitely swipe right and inevitably have a lot of fun if we went on a date...I immediately had butterflies the next time I saw him!"
This has been in my drafts since march 17th, we started dating May 17th hehe. Love a good bestfriend to boyfriend trope?? Hahah shtinks it took me a sec to come to this realization, but I honestly was in an extremely toxic relationship after Sam told me he liked me and coming out the other side of that was so necessary for my own emotional development, and for realizing what I had right infront of me :) I love love hehe :)
♬ original sound - brooklynBut the realization didn't come without much consideration: "I wanted to make sure I was 100 percent sure about my feelings," Karasack said, explaining that she spent two months examining her emotions to ensure they weren't a "rebound" effect.
Finally, one night after attending a friend's event, Karasack couldn't hold back any longer. She told Sextro, "Do you remember the question you asked me last year? My answer has changed." His response? A kiss. Two weeks later, they officially started dating.
Adjusting their dynamic as a couple took some effort.
"We were very set in our routine," Karasack said. "But we very quickly fell into new habits and routines...everything felt natural and normal once they actually happened."
Now, Karasack encourages others to take the leap if they find themselves in love with a friend.
"Even if it ends in rejection, I think it's better to have an answer than always wondering 'what if,'" she said.
The couple's story has inspired thousands of viewers to embrace vulnerability and reflect on their friendships, proving that sometimes, love is right in front of you—you just need to see it.
