Title: Broken Like Me
Author: Kaitie Howie
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
Rose is hiding—from her past, from her own mind, from the world she knows promises no happy endings as she works to make a better life for her newborn daughter. Josh is trying—to make ends meet, to protect his only family from the fears that haunt them both, to keep the darkness from winning while he makes his way through the hurdles life keeps coming. When Rose and her daughter move into the building Josh and his best friends live in, it becomes clear they’re meant to be a part of each other’s lives—trauma knows trauma, and weary hearts and broken souls grow together. But beyond their newfound friendship, the universe has more in store for Rose and Josh, from falling in love and the baby’s first words to a horrifying court trial. And when their pasts come back to haunt them, each other is all they have while they face their darkest fears.
My Review:
In a dark world that guarantees no happy endings, can Rose and Josh overcome insurmountable odds to find love and family? Rose is in hiding, running from a world that wants her gone when she meets Josh. She sees anguish in his soul and a connection is formed. Like two little birds in a coal mine, Rose and Josh find a bit of sunshine in the darkness. It’s short-lived, though, as both of their pasts return to haunt them. Can they survive what’s to come, no matter the costs? Can they combine their strengths to weather the storm and overcome their worst fears?
Broken Like Me is a beautifully disturbing snapshot into our society today. There are millions of fractured souls living amongst our population. Would you recognize them if you saw them walking past you? We all have demons to fight and in Broken Like Me, we see life through very different viewpoints than our own. The plot is woven with descriptive narration, deep POV, high stakes, dramatic tension, and a strong message of hope. The author has written a poignant story of what it means to live life one day at a time. Brilliantly written, Broken Like Me will tear your heart out one minute, then uplift it the next. If you’re looking for a touching piece of new adult fiction, you’ll want to read Broken Like Me. A book that will appeal to everyone. Highly recommend!
TW: Domestic violence, child abuse, rape, psychological abuse
My Rating: 5 stars
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Author Biography:
Kaitie Howie grew up in a small town in Florida, and is an avid reader of anything but nonfiction. Holding a degree in psychology, she frequently goes on tangents about the intersection of psychology and fiction writing, and is a big believer in fiction reading as the number one way to learn about humanity. While attending Duke University, she served on the summer reading selection committee for incoming first-year students for several years. She has a history of arguing the morals (and lack thereof) of fictional characters at parties, and lives for pop culture trivia. Kaitie currently teaches middle school social studies, and when not scrolling TikTok or consuming fanfic she spends most of her free time reading or writing, curled up with coffee and her cat. Broken Like Me is her debut novel. You can find her at http://www.kaitiehowie.com or on Goodreads, Twitter (@kaitiehowie), or Instagram (@kaitiehowiewrites).
Reviewed by: Mrs. N