Choosing Ex Over Best Friends Valentines Day Party: AITA?

AITA for skipping my best friend's Valentine's Day party for my ex without a word? Emotions clash as I navigate a tough breakup and friendship expectations.

Maryjane

Published in Interesting
8 Jan 2026

Choosing Ex Over Best Friends Valentines Day Party: AITA?

In today’s thread, we delve into the complexities of friendship, emotional turmoil, and the often-painful decisions we make during tumultuous times. A Reddit user shares a heartfelt story about her best friend, Sarah, who organized a surprise Valentine's Day party in an effort to lift her spirits amidst a difficult breakup and work stress.

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The effort Sarah put into the celebration was immense, complete with decorations, catering, and even a DJ, all intended to create a joyful environment for her friend. However, when the day arrived, the poster found herself entangled in an unexpected emotional conversation with her ex.

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Caught up in the moment, she lost track of time and ultimately decided to skip the party altogether, leaving Sarah feeling hurt and abandoned. This led to a confrontation where Sarah expressed her disappointment, questioning the strength of their friendship and the lack of communication from her best friend.

As the Reddit community weighs in, opinions are divided. Some readers empathize with the poster’s emotional struggle, while others emphasize the importance of communication and appreciation for Sarah's efforts.

Join the discussion to share your thoughts: was it justifiable for her to miss the party, or did she let down a friend who truly cared?

Original Post

So I'm a 29-year-old woman, and my best friend, let's call her Sarah, planned this huge surprise Valentine's Day party for our friend group. She put so much effort into decorations, catering, and even hired a DJ.

Sarah knows I've been going through a tough time lately, dealing with a breakup and work stress. However, on the day of the party, I got a call from my ex, and we ended up having an emotional conversation where he expressed regret over our breakup.

I lost track of time, and before I knew it, the party was well underway. Feeling overwhelmed with emotions, I decided to skip the party and meet my ex to talk things through.

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I missed Sarah's calls and texts during this time. The next day, Sarah confronted me, hurt and upset that I ditched the party without a word.

She felt like I prioritized my ex over her efforts to make me feel better on Valentine's Day. She questioned our friendship and said she expected better from me.

I explained what happened, but she felt that I should have at least sent a message explaining. So, Reddit, AITA for missing my best friend's surprise party for my ex, or was it justifiable given the circumstances?

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