378 reviews for:

What We Broke

Marley Valentine

4.25 AVERAGE

phedre's review

4.0

dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

I liked the story and I really felt bad for the characters in some spots, but this overall felt kind of flat.  I never connected with the characters.  I think starting out at the worst day of their lives, then going back and forth from past to present is what did it.  I had no emotional connection to them to make my heart truly break for them.  And I felt the ending was kind of rushed.  The resolution was too fast.  There were some bright spots in this, though, and that's why my rating isn't lower.  I definitely recommend listening to the audio, the narrators do a great job.

aconran48's review

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad

kimmyp's review

2.0

---

I didn’t really like this book. I didn’t like the characters and their actions. I don’t like people who completely fall apart for over a year. And I didn’t really see how or why Jesse was so committed to Leo from the first night. It didn’t feel real. The interactions between all 4 main characters didn’t feel realistic. I lost interest about half way through and pushed through to the end, but I would have been just fine DNF’ing it. 

alilbookedtoday's review

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

bookishlatinajenn's review

5.0

---

Marley Valentine strikes again with What We Broke, a poignant, gut-wrenching, and beautifully crafted marriage-in-crisis romance that left me utterly destroyed—in the best way.

From the heart-shattering prologue to the final heartfelt vows, this story had me crying (yes, snot sobbing) on my commute. Narrated by the legendary duo Joe Arden and Teddy Hamilton (the man himself!), the audiobook breathes life into Jesse and Leo’s heartbreaking yet hopeful journey.

Tropes galore—marriage in crisis, hurt/comfort, second chance, and found family—blend seamlessly into a narrative about love, loss, and redemption. Leo’s raw grief and Jesse’s unwavering determination to save their fractured love were both devastating and inspiring. And that quote?

“You’re mine,” he says with such finality. “You’re my worry, my heartache, my burden. Whatever you think you are, whatever season it is for us, you’re fucking mine, Leo.” Goosebumps. Jesse's determination here just hits me right in my FEELS!

Valentine captures the highs of passion and the lows of despair with masterful dual timelines. This is more than a romance; it’s a testament to enduring love, even through life’s darkest storms.

redondufoe's review

4.0

emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

clairelouisah's review against another edition

4.25

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

floppyarticle's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

janetjaramillo's review

5.0

---

Great quick sad book.

I loved the different POV of grief, which manifest different on everyone. The therapy scenes a++

Jessie is a dream. Only thing I wish we got more of was Leo’s backstory. I loved how it was wrapped up. It’s a quick emotional rollercoaster.

Love the Zara Jessie relationship.

mistehkins's review

4.0

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced