You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ll start by saying that five or six years ago I probably would have given Broken Beyond Repair at least 4 stars. Thing is, I read a ton of queer romance and unless a story is truly unique and amazing, it just kinds of blends into the background with all the other mediocre romance I’ve read.
Broken Beyond Repair has solid writing and a bunch lovely messaging but ultimately, I was low key bored from the beginning and bored out of my mind by 70%. I really wanted to DNF at that point, not out of anything wrong with the story, I just wanted to be done. I stuck it out hoping that a spark would rekindle my interest and I’d feel entertained down the stretch. Unfortunately that never happened and I struggled not to skim the final 10%.
Aside from being bored, I had nitpicks here and there. Being 50+ myself, I loved getting a 50+ main character but wasn’t entirely thrilled with the representation. It was little things like Beatrice being offended that a physician suggested post menopausal women are susceptible to osteoporosis (this is fact and I have severe osteoporosis myself) and that she still had a killer bod with a toned and flat stomach (while it is suggested that she does her own stunts, she never once works out, thinks about working out and doesn’t do one bit of physical therapy while recovering so I’m super skeptical of how she manages to have such an unrealistic 50+ body), plus other details that presented an idealized, unrealistic portrayal of post menopausal life and physiology. I guess if an author is going to go there, I want to feel seen and represented in all my 50+ glory, especially given Banting makes a point of recognizing women in their 50’s and beyond start losing their box office appeal. Women are still fucking amazing, gorgeous, fit and fine past 50 even if our bodies change! Can we not acknowledge and embrace that without glossing over and erasing the very real changes that happen? *sigh*
The final blow to my enjoyment of the story happens after Sydney and Beatrice are finally together romantically. Beatrice continues to treat Sydney like a servant, repeatedly ordering her to get and take care of all the luggage, carry heavy bags, etc. I didn’t like that about Beatrice’s character even when Sydney was her PA, after they were together as a romantic couple, I loathed it. And I hated that Sydney accepted being treated like a servant without question or pushback.
All that said, it’s KU and as far as sapphic romance goes, I enjoyed this one more than most of the f/f I’ve read, plus as you can tell, some of my gripes are age specific and could easily be overlooked. I’m just a picky queer bitch, give it a chance and this one may be a home run for you.
3 grudging stars
Broken Beyond Repair has solid writing and a bunch lovely messaging but ultimately, I was low key bored from the beginning and bored out of my mind by 70%. I really wanted to DNF at that point, not out of anything wrong with the story, I just wanted to be done. I stuck it out hoping that a spark would rekindle my interest and I’d feel entertained down the stretch. Unfortunately that never happened and I struggled not to skim the final 10%.
Aside from being bored, I had nitpicks here and there. Being 50+ myself, I loved getting a 50+ main character but wasn’t entirely thrilled with the representation. It was little things like Beatrice being offended that a physician suggested post menopausal women are susceptible to osteoporosis (this is fact and I have severe osteoporosis myself) and that she still had a killer bod with a toned and flat stomach (while it is suggested that she does her own stunts, she never once works out, thinks about working out and doesn’t do one bit of physical therapy while recovering so I’m super skeptical of how she manages to have such an unrealistic 50+ body), plus other details that presented an idealized, unrealistic portrayal of post menopausal life and physiology. I guess if an author is going to go there, I want to feel seen and represented in all my 50+ glory, especially given Banting makes a point of recognizing women in their 50’s and beyond start losing their box office appeal. Women are still fucking amazing, gorgeous, fit and fine past 50 even if our bodies change! Can we not acknowledge and embrace that without glossing over and erasing the very real changes that happen? *sigh*
The final blow to my enjoyment of the story happens after Sydney and Beatrice are finally together romantically. Beatrice continues to treat Sydney like a servant, repeatedly ordering her to get and take care of all the luggage, carry heavy bags, etc. I didn’t like that about Beatrice’s character even when Sydney was her PA, after they were together as a romantic couple, I loathed it. And I hated that Sydney accepted being treated like a servant without question or pushback.
All that said, it’s KU and as far as sapphic romance goes, I enjoyed this one more than most of the f/f I’ve read, plus as you can tell, some of my gripes are age specific and could easily be overlooked. I’m just a picky queer bitch, give it a chance and this one may be a home run for you.
3 grudging stars
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loveable main characters (mostly), wonderful setting, interesting secondary characters. I really enjoyed spend time with these people.
Merged review:
Loveable main characters (mostly), wonderful setting, interesting secondary characters. I really enjoyed spend time with these people.
Merged review:
Loveable main characters (mostly), wonderful setting, interesting secondary characters. I really enjoyed spend time with these people.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’d listened to this book on audiobook a couple years ago and really liked it (though not enough to write a review then) so scooped up the ebook when it was on sale recently, and I’m glad I did because I still really like this book.
It’s a celebrity ice queen age-gap romance, which are tropes I think are very fun when done well - and this book does it well. The age gap is a woman in her mid thirties with a woman in her early fifties, which are character ages and an age-gap I want to see more often in romance novels because I’m in my early thirties and am just not digging books with early twenties protagonists anymore and because I find older/post-menopausal women so hot. The character growth was great, the side characters were fun, the country estate setting was idyllic.
My only criticisms are that occasionally the writing felt a little stilted, sometimes a bit cliched (probably more noticeable because of the amount of sapphic romance I read), and a bit cheesy (usually fun still and it balanced out the more heavy themes). Also, one of characters used #hashtags when speaking sometimes which is very cringe but did feel true to her being an older gen x.
Overall, very enjoyable read!
It’s a celebrity ice queen age-gap romance, which are tropes I think are very fun when done well - and this book does it well. The age gap is a woman in her mid thirties with a woman in her early fifties, which are character ages and an age-gap I want to see more often in romance novels because I’m in my early thirties and am just not digging books with early twenties protagonists anymore and because I find older/post-menopausal women so hot. The character growth was great, the side characters were fun, the country estate setting was idyllic.
My only criticisms are that occasionally the writing felt a little stilted, sometimes a bit cliched (probably more noticeable because of the amount of sapphic romance I read), and a bit cheesy (usually fun still and it balanced out the more heavy themes). Also, one of characters used #hashtags when speaking sometimes which is very cringe but did feel true to her being an older gen x.
Overall, very enjoyable read!
I felt incredibly strong emotions for both main characters in this book; I did have to learn to love one of them, but the resilience for their passion and love for one another was heartwarming. Plus, the character development and understanding of their personalities was done very well. I was tearing up in the airport reading the ending.
Merged review:
I felt incredibly strong emotions for both main characters in this book; I did have to learn to love one of them, but the resilience for their passion and love for one another was heartwarming. Plus, the character development and understanding of their personalities was done very well. I was tearing up in the airport reading the ending.
Merged review:
I felt incredibly strong emotions for both main characters in this book; I did have to learn to love one of them, but the resilience for their passion and love for one another was heartwarming. Plus, the character development and understanding of their personalities was done very well. I was tearing up in the airport reading the ending.
Overall a very happy book, even though both Sydney and Beatrice have difficult and sad pasts. This book is all about coming to terms with your past, acknowledging it, and doing your best from the point at which you find yourself.
Sydney is such a good character, showing true love and devotion, where others would have given up. Beatrice wants to give up, but seeing Sydney’s example, and with encouragement from others, she finally realises that being with Sydney is what she really needs. One of the surprise best characters in this is Alex, his wisdom beyond his years is so enlightening. And the star of the show? Gertie, the VW Camper.
Merged review:
Overall a very happy book, even though both Sydney and Beatrice have difficult and sad pasts. This book is all about coming to terms with your past, acknowledging it, and doing your best from the point at which you find yourself.
Sydney is such a good character, showing true love and devotion, where others would have given up. Beatrice wants to give up, but seeing Sydney’s example, and with encouragement from others, she finally realises that being with Sydney is what she really needs. One of the surprise best characters in this is Alex, his wisdom beyond his years is so enlightening. And the star of the show? Gertie, the VW Camper.
Sydney is such a good character, showing true love and devotion, where others would have given up. Beatrice wants to give up, but seeing Sydney’s example, and with encouragement from others, she finally realises that being with Sydney is what she really needs. One of the surprise best characters in this is Alex, his wisdom beyond his years is so enlightening. And the star of the show? Gertie, the VW Camper.
Merged review:
Overall a very happy book, even though both Sydney and Beatrice have difficult and sad pasts. This book is all about coming to terms with your past, acknowledging it, and doing your best from the point at which you find yourself.
Sydney is such a good character, showing true love and devotion, where others would have given up. Beatrice wants to give up, but seeing Sydney’s example, and with encouragement from others, she finally realises that being with Sydney is what she really needs. One of the surprise best characters in this is Alex, his wisdom beyond his years is so enlightening. And the star of the show? Gertie, the VW Camper.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes