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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.
linzreadz13's review against another edition
5.0
Laura Lee always leaves me reeling after finishing her books. Breaking Beautiful was no exception. I love that she takes a lot of hard topics and writes them in the most beautiful way and makes you connect to the characters, and the world, in ways you never imagined.
I have only ever read one other book about a teacher/student romance and it was not the focus of the storyline. I must admit, I was a little nervous going in. However, nervous in every good way possible. I trust Laura and her writing and was prepared with tissues, wine, and chocolate before diving in.
Kat and Gavin meet under tricky circumstances. It’s Kat’s birthday and she had suffered through far too much for her age. The character development was fantastic. I never felt like I didn’t get enough. I would also like to mention Gavin is added to my always growing book boyfriend list.
This is the type of story that hangs with you. It stays in the forefront of your mind and won’t let you go. The world and especially the characters will completely suck you in and leave you reeling for a long time after.
Grateful to have received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Few of My Favorite Quotes
“Someone who can comfort me when I have nightmares. Someone who can help me glue all the broken pieces back together.”
“I love you. I think I was born to love you.”
“I knew those women couldn’t hold a candle to you.”
I have only ever read one other book about a teacher/student romance and it was not the focus of the storyline. I must admit, I was a little nervous going in. However, nervous in every good way possible. I trust Laura and her writing and was prepared with tissues, wine, and chocolate before diving in.
Kat and Gavin meet under tricky circumstances. It’s Kat’s birthday and she had suffered through far too much for her age. The character development was fantastic. I never felt like I didn’t get enough. I would also like to mention Gavin is added to my always growing book boyfriend list.
This is the type of story that hangs with you. It stays in the forefront of your mind and won’t let you go. The world and especially the characters will completely suck you in and leave you reeling for a long time after.
Grateful to have received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Few of My Favorite Quotes
“Someone who can comfort me when I have nightmares. Someone who can help me glue all the broken pieces back together.”
“I love you. I think I was born to love you.”
“I knew those women couldn’t hold a candle to you.”
mgenneken's review against another edition
4.0
So, this storyline has been done before in one shape or another so going in I expected it to be "just another" forbidden romance story. It really isn't. Don't let that topic fool you into thinking thats all this is about. I connected with Kat. Loved her friend Dylan. I struggled with Gavin at times. Not in an angsty way...more in an annoyed way. The first half of the book was good then it slowed down but kicked in high gear around 75%. The story was well written and I feel like I discovered a new author to ass to my go-to list
viktoriya's review
5.0
This book surprised me. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. It wasn't perfect and there was some issues and cliches that I wasn't entirely happy about. Nevertheless, I found it enjoyable and was invested in their relationship. My main issue with the story was that the only way Kat could "fix her broken self" was by finding a man.
betsysbooknook's review
4.0
Make sure to check trigger warnings!
TW: rape(not in the main couple), drug usage, overdose
I love a good, consensual teacher student relationship! Especially when the student is of age the entire time! Kat and Gavin are hot right from the start when they meet at a bar on Kay’s 18th birthday! The steamy scenes are definitely hot but Kat is a lot broken by her past so, naturally, they don’t get together right away.
Laura Lee does a great job of keeping the reader interested in Kay’s backstory by giving snippets of what’s happened to her throughout the story.
About 80% through the story, when you think everything is too good to be true, it is. Cue the misunderstanding that will break your heart along with Gavin and Kat’s. But don’t worry! The HEA still happens and it’s a truly enjoyable ending!
I definitely recommend this book!
TW: rape(not in the main couple), drug usage, overdose
I love a good, consensual teacher student relationship! Especially when the student is of age the entire time! Kat and Gavin are hot right from the start when they meet at a bar on Kay’s 18th birthday! The steamy scenes are definitely hot but Kat is a lot broken by her past so, naturally, they don’t get together right away.
Laura Lee does a great job of keeping the reader interested in Kay’s backstory by giving snippets of what’s happened to her throughout the story.
About 80% through the story, when you think everything is too good to be true, it is. Cue the misunderstanding that will break your heart along with Gavin and Kat’s. But don’t worry! The HEA still happens and it’s a truly enjoyable ending!
I definitely recommend this book!
katielynnreads's review against another edition
3.0
I could not give this more than 3 stars and I’m not sure why. I felt like the relationship was very fast and maybe I’m just preferring more slow burn at the moment. I enjoyed the character development of the MC heroine and she did grow a lot from her past traumas.
jess_readsromance's review against another edition
4.0
God I really loved this one. The angst, the forbidden romance, the characters. The character development for Kat in this book is top tier development, she’s so grown up about her situation in life and the eventual event that happens. I loved the dynamic between Kat and Gavin. They had chemistry and excellent banter from the moment they met in that bar on her 18th birthday. Kat grew from strength to strength, partially thanks to Gavin being around to show her how things could be.
This trope (student/teacher) always gives me anxiety because I was waiting for the other shoe to drop
This trope (student/teacher) always gives me anxiety because I was waiting for the other shoe to drop
mrskmerc_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This book had a slow start but the plot of it was one I couldn’t predict. It had a taste of spice but the overall story line was better than I expected.
yanetsreadingcorner's review against another edition
5.0
(4.5 stars)
Age fake trope
Forbidden love
Teacher/Student trope.
Check trigger warnings
Beautifully Broken is Beautifully written.
I’ve read other student/teacher tropes and the way this story is written is unlike no other I’ve read.
Kat who sees herself as broken and has never felt truly loved completely, other than having her body loved, meets Gavin who has a troubled past as well. He’s able to truly see her like no other, see beyond her scars and her past. He gives her hope for the future and is so optimistic. 4 years pass and we can see the growth Kat has gone from when she was 18 years old. By now Gavin is just her former teacher. Will they be able to try again or was their love a one time thing? Read to find out.
Age fake trope
Forbidden love
Teacher/Student trope.
Check trigger warnings
Beautifully Broken is Beautifully written.
I’ve read other student/teacher tropes and the way this story is written is unlike no other I’ve read.
Kat who sees herself as broken and has never felt truly loved completely, other than having her body loved, meets Gavin who has a troubled past as well. He’s able to truly see her like no other, see beyond her scars and her past. He gives her hope for the future and is so optimistic. 4 years pass and we can see the growth Kat has gone from when she was 18 years old. By now Gavin is just her former teacher. Will they be able to try again or was their love a one time thing? Read to find out.
mamabookwyrm's review against another edition
4.0
The title of this book drew me in like a moth to the flames and then the blurb just called to me. I love reading student/teacher books; the naughtiness of it just makes me feel kind of giddy. But this is different than most. It was less naughty and more gut wrenching. There’s still the taboo but there is a whole other layer to the story.
Kat has built up a tough outer skin; she’s got this persona that she dons like a mask and an impenetrable wall that she doesn’t let anyone through. She’s fierce but underneath it all she’s scarred and she’s broken. Gavin has been able to break through it all. He’s sweet, caring and tender. And he’s joined the list of some of my favorite book boyfriends. On paper they don’t seem to work well. But oh, the chemistry between them is ignitable. They get in a room together and it just combusts.
This story is heavy with emotion and angst. Kat has a tragic backstory. I highly recommend reading with a box of tissues nearby. There were times when I smiled, times when I giggled, times when I fanned myself but oh did I cry. It was definitely darker then I was expecting when I read the blurb but not a dark romance by any means. Just be prepared for some topics that aren’t easy to swallow.
If you like stories of triumph over tragedy then pick this up. This is one that’ll stick with you.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
For more reviews, visit
Kat has built up a tough outer skin; she’s got this persona that she dons like a mask and an impenetrable wall that she doesn’t let anyone through. She’s fierce but underneath it all she’s scarred and she’s broken. Gavin has been able to break through it all. He’s sweet, caring and tender. And he’s joined the list of some of my favorite book boyfriends. On paper they don’t seem to work well. But oh, the chemistry between them is ignitable. They get in a room together and it just combusts.
This story is heavy with emotion and angst. Kat has a tragic backstory. I highly recommend reading with a box of tissues nearby. There were times when I smiled, times when I giggled, times when I fanned myself but oh did I cry. It was definitely darker then I was expecting when I read the blurb but not a dark romance by any means. Just be prepared for some topics that aren’t easy to swallow.
If you like stories of triumph over tragedy then pick this up. This is one that’ll stick with you.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
For more reviews, visit