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staceeyt's review against another edition
1.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
"
I KNEW HE WOULD RUIN ME FROM THE MOMENT WE MET. Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most.
Through him, I learned to end my path of self-destruction. I no longer needed to numb the pain with mindless one-night-stands and drunken blackouts. He made me feel worthy. Treasured. Optimistic about my future.
Here I stand four years later, in a coffee shop a world away, still broken…but beautifully so. My scars no longer hold me back. Instead, they give me strength and enrich my appreciation for the good things in life. I have hopes and dreams…faith that anything is possible. I am no longer the lost little girl fighting for survival. I have direction. I have courage. I am not without possibility.
I’ll always have Gavin to thank for that—Mr. Cooper, I remind myself. That’s who he is to me now: just a former teacher. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I was eighteen when we first met. Legally, we did nothing wrong. Morally? Well, I guess that depends on how flexible your morals are.
My name is Kat and this is my story."
first of all, this book consisted mostly of all the tropes that I hate.
1- Instalove. The connection between the two characters happened instantly upon meeting. That is not how people fall in love in real life and it irritates me that books place so much emphasis on it.
2- 'Special boy'. Kat has been through a lot in her short life: her mum is a heroin addict and dies because of an OD, she was a victim of child abuse and rape, she became pregnant at 15 and lost the baby. Falling in love will not fix all problems, yet this book turns this vulnerable young girl into another victim of this stupid trope. I like Kat as a character and I admire her for being who she is after going through so much turmoil. It's just damn right annoying that the thing to 'breaks her' is having to break up with her boyfriend. No. It's stupid and very two-dimensional.
3- Love triangle. Kat's best friend, Dylan is also in love with her, which causes tension between the characters. Again, seen this so many times it's boring.
This book is also unnecessarily long. It didn't need to be 50 chapters long, nothing really happened. The plot was predictable and follows every other book of this nature, with the exception of containing explicit sex scenes.
2/5* simply because I have to damn right hate the book to give it a 1*
"
I KNEW HE WOULD RUIN ME FROM THE MOMENT WE MET. Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most.
Through him, I learned to end my path of self-destruction. I no longer needed to numb the pain with mindless one-night-stands and drunken blackouts. He made me feel worthy. Treasured. Optimistic about my future.
Here I stand four years later, in a coffee shop a world away, still broken…but beautifully so. My scars no longer hold me back. Instead, they give me strength and enrich my appreciation for the good things in life. I have hopes and dreams…faith that anything is possible. I am no longer the lost little girl fighting for survival. I have direction. I have courage. I am not without possibility.
I’ll always have Gavin to thank for that—Mr. Cooper, I remind myself. That’s who he is to me now: just a former teacher. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I was eighteen when we first met. Legally, we did nothing wrong. Morally? Well, I guess that depends on how flexible your morals are.
My name is Kat and this is my story."
first of all, this book consisted mostly of all the tropes that I hate.
1- Instalove. The connection between the two characters happened instantly upon meeting. That is not how people fall in love in real life and it irritates me that books place so much emphasis on it.
2- 'Special boy'. Kat has been through a lot in her short life: her mum is a heroin addict and dies because of an OD, she was a victim of child abuse and rape, she became pregnant at 15 and lost the baby. Falling in love will not fix all problems, yet this book turns this vulnerable young girl into another victim of this stupid trope. I like Kat as a character and I admire her for being who she is after going through so much turmoil. It's just damn right annoying that the thing to 'breaks her' is having to break up with her boyfriend. No. It's stupid and very two-dimensional.
3- Love triangle. Kat's best friend, Dylan is also in love with her, which causes tension between the characters. Again, seen this so many times it's boring.
This book is also unnecessarily long. It didn't need to be 50 chapters long, nothing really happened. The plot was predictable and follows every other book of this nature, with the exception of containing explicit sex scenes.
2/5* simply because I have to damn right hate the book to give it a 1*
bookswritingandmore's review against another edition
5.0
This book does a great job showing dealing with a taboo subject by reminding us that Kat was of age- 18- when these two met and that Gavin wasn't some old teacher, but a young, sexy man. Just when you think all the drama is there for Kat, Gavin gets his own troubles thrown into the mix. A devastating decision/conclusion is made and they are left broken. I loved how the author picked the story up years later and made broken--beautifully broken.
eajohnston's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of the most emotional books that I have read in 2021. And one of my favorites, definitely.
From the synopsis of the book, I went into it thinking that it was just a typical taboo relationship book, but it was so much more than that.
Kat has had a rough life - growing up in and out of the foster care system, with a heroine addicted hooker mother. She has had to fend for herself her entire life and be the rock that only she leans on. Outside of her terrible life with her mother, she has had a worse time with her foster families. The thing I love most about this story is how we see Kat progress and grow up (even though she was already was more grown up than a normal 18 year old should be).
Gavin meets Kat one night when she is celebrating her "twenty-second" birthday at the bar and they immediately hit it off. Weeks later they come to find out that she is not only 18, but she is one of his students. Now this isn't one of the normal stories of a teacher falling in love with their students (gross). This is so, so much more than that.
Throughout the book, we see Kat struggling with her life. She gets an unconventional job to help pay for her house once her mother moves out. We see her deal with every kind of emotion possible. We also see the relationship between Kat and Gavin push and pull due to the circumstances. I really loved how their relationship was presented.
Something tragic happens in Kat's life and she finally has someone to depend on for the first time in her life. I love how she opens up and allows herself to let someone else take care of her for literally the first time in her life.
Then something happens that causes Kat and Gavin to break up - ugh. This I did not love, but the way it was handled was absolutely amazing.
Then we fast forward 4 years (which I actually thought would happen WAY sooner in the book based on the synopsis, but this doesn't start until approximately 85% of the way through the book). Gavin and Kat run into each other (I don't want to say anything else without giving it away). There is so much that I want to say, but I don't want to spoil anything.
I just absolutely adored this book. I loved both of the main characters and I really felt for Kat every step of the way in this book. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2021. This was my first read for Laura Lee, but it will most definitely not be my last.
From the synopsis of the book, I went into it thinking that it was just a typical taboo relationship book, but it was so much more than that.
Kat has had a rough life - growing up in and out of the foster care system, with a heroine addicted hooker mother. She has had to fend for herself her entire life and be the rock that only she leans on. Outside of her terrible life with her mother, she has had a worse time with her foster families. The thing I love most about this story is how we see Kat progress and grow up (even though she was already was more grown up than a normal 18 year old should be).
Gavin meets Kat one night when she is celebrating her "twenty-second" birthday at the bar and they immediately hit it off. Weeks later they come to find out that she is not only 18, but she is one of his students. Now this isn't one of the normal stories of a teacher falling in love with their students (gross). This is so, so much more than that.
Throughout the book, we see Kat struggling with her life. She gets an unconventional job to help pay for her house once her mother moves out. We see her deal with every kind of emotion possible. We also see the relationship between Kat and Gavin push and pull due to the circumstances. I really loved how their relationship was presented.
Something tragic happens in Kat's life and she finally has someone to depend on for the first time in her life. I love how she opens up and allows herself to let someone else take care of her for literally the first time in her life.
Then something happens that causes Kat and Gavin to break up - ugh. This I did not love, but the way it was handled was absolutely amazing.
Then we fast forward 4 years (which I actually thought would happen WAY sooner in the book based on the synopsis, but this doesn't start until approximately 85% of the way through the book). Gavin and Kat run into each other (I don't want to say anything else without giving it away). There is so much that I want to say, but I don't want to spoil anything.
I just absolutely adored this book. I loved both of the main characters and I really felt for Kat every step of the way in this book. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2021. This was my first read for Laura Lee, but it will most definitely not be my last.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
1.5
Just not for me. This one felt formulaic. Like, for new adult, it needed to check this box, then this one, then this one. I just didn't connect with Kat. I did find her twist of a struggling interesting, it just didn't feel like a new story. Gavin wasn't nearly as interesting as I'd hoped.
I wish I'd felt the heat of their connection or felt pulled into their drama, but this one just didn't work for me.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I wish I'd felt the heat of their connection or felt pulled into their drama, but this one just didn't work for me.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
bibliophile90's review against another edition
3.0
**ARC provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I don't read a lot of student/teacher romances but the blurb of this book intrigued me to give it a try. There were parts I really liked about this book and parts that didn't work for me. I will start with the things that blocked me from really enjoying this book. First of all I found the two main characters not a great match. Secondly, in my opinion they were not on the same level and that made it really difficult for me to connect with them. Also I did not feel a real connection between them either.
Kat is very promiscuous and uses sex to run away from her past and current problems. She doesn't do relationships. On her 18th birthday she meets Gavin who she feels an immediate attraction to. Gavin is a good guy but can't resist Kat's advances. Gavin's certain actions in this book did not fit his character. He is playing with fire and I didn't expect him to handle certain situations the way he did. Kat is broken, and feels like Gavin is the only person who can fix her. There were moments where Kat was very mature for her age but also moments where she acted her age. She had a very traumatic past and had to grow up fast. However she was confident and went after what she wanted. She doesn't play the victim role and wants to make something out of her life. I admired her strong personality. Did I agree with everything she did? No, but she also made some really mature decisions that I didn't expect her to make.
I would've loved this book better if I felt a better connection with and between the characters. That was my biggest hurdle in this book. I was just not fully absorbed into the book. I did like the writing and it was easy to read. It had a great flow and I liked the things that happened in this book. I would recommend this book to people who love taboo: student/teacher romances.
I don't read a lot of student/teacher romances but the blurb of this book intrigued me to give it a try. There were parts I really liked about this book and parts that didn't work for me. I will start with the things that blocked me from really enjoying this book. First of all I found the two main characters not a great match. Secondly, in my opinion they were not on the same level and that made it really difficult for me to connect with them. Also I did not feel a real connection between them either.
Kat is very promiscuous and uses sex to run away from her past and current problems. She doesn't do relationships. On her 18th birthday she meets Gavin who she feels an immediate attraction to. Gavin is a good guy but can't resist Kat's advances. Gavin's certain actions in this book did not fit his character. He is playing with fire and I didn't expect him to handle certain situations the way he did. Kat is broken, and feels like Gavin is the only person who can fix her. There were moments where Kat was very mature for her age but also moments where she acted her age. She had a very traumatic past and had to grow up fast. However she was confident and went after what she wanted. She doesn't play the victim role and wants to make something out of her life. I admired her strong personality. Did I agree with everything she did? No, but she also made some really mature decisions that I didn't expect her to make.
I would've loved this book better if I felt a better connection with and between the characters. That was my biggest hurdle in this book. I was just not fully absorbed into the book. I did like the writing and it was easy to read. It had a great flow and I liked the things that happened in this book. I would recommend this book to people who love taboo: student/teacher romances.
bookladysreviews's review against another edition
4.0
*I received the book from the publisher through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
First thing you should probably know about me before you read this review, is that I'm a sucker for student/teacher romance novels. And since I haven't read one in ages, I was so ready for Beautifully Broken. Well, I'd thought I was anyway...
Let me start by saying that, the story was absolutely heartbreaking. Which is something you can probably tell. It definitely intrigued me and I knew I wanted to read this, just by taking a look at the synopsis. And every single chapter was just another jab to my poor heart who was broken so many times throughout the book, I actually lost count.
Kat, our main character, is a very tormented soul who's been through some very horrid things in her life. My heart hurt for her and my mind could not handle even thinking about what she must have endured. I was utterly and completely devastated when the revelations started sneaking up on me, because I was so not ready for them. The author just kept throwing all these horrible things Kat survived in my face, chapter after chapter. And when I'd thought that, it couldn't actually get any worse...Well, guess what?! It DID!
But I really admired her strength and the fact that she survived without giving up. She's such an emotionally strong character, which is something you don't see very often in New Adult novels. Granted, she used sex to cope and was obviously falling apart under the surface but, really, what did you expect? I also felt so much anger at the people that just felt like ruining her life and the fact that she went through all those horrible things alone frustrated me ever more. I was a ball of fire and anger while reading this book, ready to explode and destroy everything around me. Well, I'm kind of exaggerating here but, I really wish I had some of those people around me so that I could give them a piece of my mind.
Kat had no one to confide in and of course, no one she could turn to for help. The person that was supposed to love her unconditionally and protect her from every single harmful thing that came her way, was never there for her. And *drum roll* here's where Gavin comes in. Who, by the way, I fell in love with. Maybe, slightly more than Kat. You cannot possibly doubt the chemistry they had from the very beginning of the book and of course, you cannot help but fall in love with the thought of them as a couple. They found themselves in each other and all that romantic stuff, which I'm totally up for and love reading about. Even though they can be totally cliche sometimes. Yes, I am a hopeless romantic indeed.
Moving on, the writing was great and the flow of the story was something I enjoyed very much as well. I kind of didn't agree with the ending, it was completely unpredictable and definitely caught me off guard but, not in the way that I had expected. Well, I knew it was going to be unpredictable but it felt very rushed and abrupt.
The character development is something that I also found quite satisfying because truth be told, if there's no character development, there's also no progress when it comes to the plot in general. I feel like it makes the reader so much more invested in the characters themselves and the story so much more interesting to read. Plus, for me at least, character development equals connecting with the characters.
Last but not least, I want to talk about why I gave this book a four star rating. Rating has never been the most important thing for me when it comes to books and reading, but I think that it can definitely help and it - partly - represents my thoughts and opinions on a story. In a very non specific way.
Even though Beautifully Broken was a very moving and heartbreaking read but, as I've said above, I found it to be a bit rushed. Also, the ending was very abrupt in my opinion and I would've liked it a lot better if some things didn't leave me hanging and without real closure. It definitely looks like the readers get their closure in the last couple of chapters of the book but, unfortunately, that was not the case for me. I just felt like some events weren't explained thoroughly or answer the questions I had in my mind and I expected to be answered while reading the book.
Overall though, if you love NA forbidden romances, I would definitely recommend this one. It was a very quick and enjoyable read that won't disappoint!
First thing you should probably know about me before you read this review, is that I'm a sucker for student/teacher romance novels. And since I haven't read one in ages, I was so ready for Beautifully Broken. Well, I'd thought I was anyway...
Let me start by saying that, the story was absolutely heartbreaking. Which is something you can probably tell. It definitely intrigued me and I knew I wanted to read this, just by taking a look at the synopsis. And every single chapter was just another jab to my poor heart who was broken so many times throughout the book, I actually lost count.
Kat, our main character, is a very tormented soul who's been through some very horrid things in her life. My heart hurt for her and my mind could not handle even thinking about what she must have endured. I was utterly and completely devastated when the revelations started sneaking up on me, because I was so not ready for them. The author just kept throwing all these horrible things Kat survived in my face, chapter after chapter. And when I'd thought that, it couldn't actually get any worse...Well, guess what?! It DID!
But I really admired her strength and the fact that she survived without giving up. She's such an emotionally strong character, which is something you don't see very often in New Adult novels. Granted, she used sex to cope and was obviously falling apart under the surface but, really, what did you expect? I also felt so much anger at the people that just felt like ruining her life and the fact that she went through all those horrible things alone frustrated me ever more. I was a ball of fire and anger while reading this book, ready to explode and destroy everything around me. Well, I'm kind of exaggerating here but, I really wish I had some of those people around me so that I could give them a piece of my mind.
Kat had no one to confide in and of course, no one she could turn to for help. The person that was supposed to love her unconditionally and protect her from every single harmful thing that came her way, was never there for her. And *drum roll* here's where Gavin comes in. Who, by the way, I fell in love with. Maybe, slightly more than Kat. You cannot possibly doubt the chemistry they had from the very beginning of the book and of course, you cannot help but fall in love with the thought of them as a couple. They found themselves in each other and all that romantic stuff, which I'm totally up for and love reading about. Even though they can be totally cliche sometimes. Yes, I am a hopeless romantic indeed.
Moving on, the writing was great and the flow of the story was something I enjoyed very much as well. I kind of didn't agree with the ending, it was completely unpredictable and definitely caught me off guard but, not in the way that I had expected. Well, I knew it was going to be unpredictable but it felt very rushed and abrupt.
The character development is something that I also found quite satisfying because truth be told, if there's no character development, there's also no progress when it comes to the plot in general. I feel like it makes the reader so much more invested in the characters themselves and the story so much more interesting to read. Plus, for me at least, character development equals connecting with the characters.
Last but not least, I want to talk about why I gave this book a four star rating. Rating has never been the most important thing for me when it comes to books and reading, but I think that it can definitely help and it - partly - represents my thoughts and opinions on a story. In a very non specific way.
Even though Beautifully Broken was a very moving and heartbreaking read but, as I've said above, I found it to be a bit rushed. Also, the ending was very abrupt in my opinion and I would've liked it a lot better if some things didn't leave me hanging and without real closure. It definitely looks like the readers get their closure in the last couple of chapters of the book but, unfortunately, that was not the case for me. I just felt like some events weren't explained thoroughly or answer the questions I had in my mind and I expected to be answered while reading the book.
Overall though, if you love NA forbidden romances, I would definitely recommend this one. It was a very quick and enjoyable read that won't disappoint!
nasaje's review against another edition
4.0
This isn't your usual student-teacher book - I mean, it has that aspect, but what is really in focus is how to deal with the cards you're dealt in life. Captivating story that dragged me through all my emotions.
bridgit's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review on NetGalley. Thank you for letting me read it!
Well, I'm in trouble when it comes to rating this book. I decided to give 4 stars because all in all, I liked the story, even though I rolled my eyes at some points.
When I read a non-fantasy book, I expect it to be realistic. And honestly, it wasn't exactly. Kat lives in a small town, where everyone knows everyone. In a place like that, everyone is aware if someone new moves in town. And everyone knows if a new teacher comes to school. Still, Kat doesn't have any idea about the new guy when she meets Gavin for the first time. And then during the story, no one notices the scandalous troublemaker's car in front of one of her teachers house. They show up public places together - and never get caught. They interlace their little fingers IN SCHOOL, where anyone could've seen them from the class. Even for a second, but still. Seriously, they were practically screaming for getting caught.
Hailey's pregnancy and the outcome... I've seen that coming from a mile.
I liked the character development in Kat's case, tho - and Dylan's, too.
What can I say... I don't know why but I'm a sucker for student-teacher romances, I've always been. So I quite like to read stories about the subject, and I liked this one, too.
Well, I'm in trouble when it comes to rating this book. I decided to give 4 stars because all in all, I liked the story, even though I rolled my eyes at some points.
When I read a non-fantasy book, I expect it to be realistic. And honestly, it wasn't exactly. Kat lives in a small town, where everyone knows everyone. In a place like that, everyone is aware if someone new moves in town. And everyone knows if a new teacher comes to school. Still, Kat doesn't have any idea about the new guy when she meets Gavin for the first time. And then during the story, no one notices the scandalous troublemaker's car in front of one of her teachers house. They show up public places together - and never get caught. They interlace their little fingers IN SCHOOL, where anyone could've seen them from the class. Even for a second, but still. Seriously, they were practically screaming for getting caught.
Hailey's pregnancy and the outcome... I've seen that coming from a mile.
I liked the character development in Kat's case, tho - and Dylan's, too.
What can I say... I don't know why but I'm a sucker for student-teacher romances, I've always been. So I quite like to read stories about the subject, and I liked this one, too.
bookaddictreviews's review against another edition
5.0
Forbidden, emotional, beautiful. Beautifully Broken hooked me from the start and took me through a journey of emotions from the first page.
Kat has not had an easy life, but despite everything around her she is still working hard at making a better life for herself. She’s experienced more than most people ever will and I love her determination, however, she is a broken woman who is just seeking love and someone to be on her side. Gavin comes from a rough background, but unlike Kat, he had a different upbringing, but his past has always stuck with him.
The moment Kat and Gavin met there was a connection. He pushed her beyond her normal limits and comfort zone and she craved it. Their chemistry was undeniable and even when they know they shouldn’t continue anything they couldn’t stay away. They were drawn for each other. I loved how they were there for each other, I loved that they could support each other, even if it may have broken their hearts in the process. Their story took me on an emotional rollercoaster and there were parts the just completely broke my heart and parts that were swoony.
If you’re looking for a forbidden student/teacher romance that will bring out so many emotions this is one to read.
Kat has not had an easy life, but despite everything around her she is still working hard at making a better life for herself. She’s experienced more than most people ever will and I love her determination, however, she is a broken woman who is just seeking love and someone to be on her side. Gavin comes from a rough background, but unlike Kat, he had a different upbringing, but his past has always stuck with him.
The moment Kat and Gavin met there was a connection. He pushed her beyond her normal limits and comfort zone and she craved it. Their chemistry was undeniable and even when they know they shouldn’t continue anything they couldn’t stay away. They were drawn for each other. I loved how they were there for each other, I loved that they could support each other, even if it may have broken their hearts in the process. Their story took me on an emotional rollercoaster and there were parts the just completely broke my heart and parts that were swoony.
If you’re looking for a forbidden student/teacher romance that will bring out so many emotions this is one to read.
babblingchatterreads's review against another edition
4.0
What a read! This was definitely a Beautifully Broken story that will grab you from the start. A journey of Katherine "Kat" Kennedy making the best of herself after having to live a life that has been constantly testing one to self-destruction. That all seem to change when a night of celebrating officially into adulthood comes in the form of Gavin Cooper.
Gavin and Kat has a push and pull relationship and that is all due to the secrets and the needs to lay low that Kat prefers to live under. She had to grow up sooner than others which makes her life experiences always questioning and testing her. Gavin is the one constant that is telling her that she is worthy of more for herself and is determine to have Kat see herself in a new light.
The feels and emotions come out strong especially when it comes to Kat. You cannot help but want more; however, the thought has you wondering if it is possible and how. Two people who are forbidden in the public eye but connected in a way that only they can understand one another. Get ready for your heart to ache and burn with the hopes of a second chance.
Gavin and Kat has a push and pull relationship and that is all due to the secrets and the needs to lay low that Kat prefers to live under. She had to grow up sooner than others which makes her life experiences always questioning and testing her. Gavin is the one constant that is telling her that she is worthy of more for herself and is determine to have Kat see herself in a new light.
The feels and emotions come out strong especially when it comes to Kat. You cannot help but want more; however, the thought has you wondering if it is possible and how. Two people who are forbidden in the public eye but connected in a way that only they can understand one another. Get ready for your heart to ache and burn with the hopes of a second chance.