Should i start dating a friend

The first kiss my boyfriend and I shared as friends-who-now-know-they-like-each-other was nothing short of terrifying. I pulled him into what I thought would be a sweeping, spark-filled smooch and he just stood there, hardly moving. The rest of the date was even more catastrophic. We nervously drank too much and watched Sweet Home Alabama on his bed without looking at each other. I was convinced we had no chemistry and that I ruined a perfectly-great friendship. All to say: I have been there.

Sometimes, the line between friendship and romance is a little blurry. You spend a lot of time together, you care about each other — but is it actually a good idea to date a friend? On the one hand, you could ruin the friendship, but on the other hand, you already have a strong foundation for something more. And sometimes, that's a great thing.

Dating a friend is widely recognized to be a pursuit fraught with potential complications. I learned this lesson the hard way when I started dating a friend in high school. Not only were we good friends, but our families were also extremely close and had been for years. When we broke up nine months later, all the usual post-breakup awkwardness and bitterness were multiplied tenfold by the fact that we were forced to hang out whenever our families got together, which was often. On the flip side, when we rekindled the flame after college, our friendship and the friendship between our families became one of the best parts about our more-than-friendship.

Sometimes friendships turn into romantic relationships — and bonding as pals before becoming a couple can come with many perks. You probably already know their hobbies, likes, and dislikes. Masini said there is sometimes less of a risk involved when you become friends with someone before you date them. She said this is the case because you already know a lot about this person before committing to them including what their life is like on a daily basis, their job, their family, and their interests.