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A review by eajohnston
Beautifully Broken by Laura Lee
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.