My brother’s best friend. The bad boy next door. My sworn enemy… Now he’s back to claim what’s his.For most of my life, Ben Hayes was the gorgeous bad boy musician next door. My brother’s heart throb best friend. Then, he was my boyfriend for six of the happiest years of my life. Until he dumped me on social media in front of millions of people, officially cementing his role as my worst enemy.… cementing his role as my worst enemy.
Three years later, Ben returns to our small beach town with an ego the size of California, a drinking problem, a movie deal that’s about to fall through, and a secret that only he and his dying father know.
I’m not the same pathetic girl I was when he broke my heart. I’m stronger now. I won’t let him break me again.
But it’s hard to resist those ocean-blue eyes, that sculpted, tattooed body, that smooth voice, that enormous… Well, you get the picture.
Every time he makes me laugh or swoon, my defenses fracture. The walls around my heart are crumbling fast. And Ben’s wrecking ball of a secret is about to deliver the final blow.
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Break is about first loves, choices, and consequences. Ben Hayes is a gorgeous, movie star, model, and songwriter. Charley Winters is a photographer. She never thought a guy like Ben would notice her until he did. But then he did the unthinkable and humiliated her on social media.
Instead of deactivating all her social media accounts she binged for two days obsessing over Ben’s Instagram posts. Ben’s a social media influencer, he has no privacy, cameras follow him day and night stirring up attention of paparazzi.
When Ben and Charley were first together her stomach would be knots every
time they were out in public. She felt like everyone was looking at them, judging her as unworthy. The insecure voice in her brain, the one that sometimes told her she’s not good enough for Ben, began shouting warnings. Because Charley has many insecurities she allowed her biggest fear to create doubts.
Then the unthinkable happens when Ben breaks up with Charley on social media where millions of people follow. He not only humiliated her, he broke her heart.
I can’t help comparing every book I read by Cassia Leo to the Shattered Hearts series. That series was some of her best work. Her writing voice and style was stellar compared to this one. Everything she’s written falls short for me. I find myself skim reading. I normally enjoy a good enemy-to-lovers book, but this one isn’t grabbing my attention the way I had hoped.
Cassia Leo is a best selling author with the Shattered Hearts series being her most popular series.
Break had a few repetitive scenes where it seems the entire premise is based on a secret. How many times is Cassia going to mention the lucky scarf? The dialogue is not measuring up to what I expect from Cassia.
Break is told in both Ben and Charley’s point of view with the timeline alternating between the past and the present. Cassia included a vast array of sub genres in Break. What began as an enemy-to-lovers quickly became about alcoholism, drug use, cancer, #metoo movement, and celebrity status.
Some of the dialogue was cheesy and corny. Ex. Talking about Alberto farts and Lego Fire Walk. This book just didn’t work for me.
Not what I was expecting but very pertinent to the times. Anything in this in this could translate into real life. Even knowing that I found it hard to connect to Ben. His secrets are many and he has traumas, but he seems to good to be true. Everything seems too easy for him, although you learn it is exactly the opposite. His problems are glossed over and suddenly, all better?! Charlotte is a good character. Childhood sweetheart to golden boy musician/actor in Hollywood; done wrong in the most humiliating public way.
The family component to the story runs strong with both Ben’s dad and Charly’s brother. Friendships also run strong. This makes the story better.
The last couple chapters are the best part of the book, with both standing up to fight and for going after what they want.
A book that tackles some deep topics and social issues that may bother some. It’s not a feel good read and brings up some tough scenarios. Good story and strong characters.
Great storyline with heartache and a deep love.
I really really enjoyed the topic of conversation it presented. It was awesome reading it.
Another emotionally charged romantic journey between two people you will be rooting for the whole way. Ben and Charley are two relatable and souls you can help wanting to discover more about to understand how they got to the present and what they will be like in the future.
Charley and Ben were happy and in love. Everything was perfect. He was the faithful rockstar and she was finishing her degree. Until the day he broke up with her on social media, humiliating her.
Three years later, Ben is back to his hometown and has to face Charley and what he did to her. But why did he do it? Will Charley forgive him? Will she give him a second chance?
I loved Break! This book is amazing! Charley and Ben’s story is very emotional and took me in a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I laughed, cried and screamed. I loved every page of their story and all the mystery around Ben kept me on my toes.
I really enjoyed the dual POV and the flashback chapters.
Charley is a sweet and kind young woman. When Ben broke her heart, her whole world fell apart and she’s still trying to move on three years later. She just wants an explanation to his actions. I loved that even though she had her heart broken, she can still love those around her and wear her heart on her sleeve.
Ben is a troubled rockstar. He’s been through a lot and has done a lot he regrets. Now all he wants is to win Charley back. I really wanted to hate him, but after knowing what happened to him, I became his number one fan. He’s a very sweet guy, with a huge heart, just trying to fix his wrongs and help the ones he loves and cares about.
Once again, Cassia Leo gives us an amazing book, with an incredible and captivating story and the most perfectly damaged characters. Once you start reading Break, you won’t stop until you reached “The End” and you’ll still want more! Well done!
I love everything from Cassia Leo and this one was mo different. It was an emotional rollercoaster that I didn’t want to end. Ben and Charley had a great connection and the love was real until something tore them apart, can they make it back to each other? This book is a real page turner that you don’t want to miss.
4.5 Stars!!!
This book was easy to read and at the same time there is serious subject matter. It’s very current.
Charley and Ben are both good people and therefore likable. I was definitely rooting for a happy ending.
Charley didn’t have those moments so many heroines have when I want to scream at them. I could relate to how she handled things.
There are cute, quirky interactions that were refreshing also.
Despite being famous Ben isn’t egotistical or any of the stereotypes.
There are some secrets that come to light.
Not very angsty (I’m good with that, I don’t want all books to be full of angst) there’s romance, heartbreak, second chance and some doubt and suspicions.
The secondary characters are present but don’t take over the main characters story. They add just enough color and heart to make it really entertaining and tug at your heart.
It has its moments that made me feel sad, angry and giddy. I really felt the full range of emotions with/for the characters.
A very enjoyable and beautiful story.
Cassia is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint me with this book either!!
I love the quick wit of the characters, I laughed, almost cried and even got a little angry at times!
The characters ar likable and the plot is enjoyable.
What can I say, Cassia Leo has done it again! Another heart wrenching beautiful love story that will leave you completely in a state of aww when you’re done reading.
Charlie and Ben ~ together they were explosive, they were magnetic and their love was so powerful. I love me a hero that will do ANYTHING for the one he loves and he loved Charlie fiercely.
I was completely hooked and captivated with this storyline. I loved everything about this book and I keep getting sucked in more and more from Cassia Leo!!
Charley and Ben have been sweethearts since they were fourteen years old. They lived next door to each other and planned to live together forever. However, Ben is now a rock star, moving soon into movies. In spite of the distance and his frequent touring, they managed to keep their love alive. Their frequent phrase was: “I love us”, meaning their fidelity to each other. It’s even tattooed into their inner forearms. However, suddenly and in spectacular fashion, Ben dumped Charley via an Instagram post, showing his new girlfriend, his new movie co-star.
Fast forward three years, Charley has tried to move on but it’s difficult. Ben’s betrayal cut too deep and she still had trouble sorting through the hurt. Suddenly, Ben arrives on the scene. His father is dying from lung cancer and he has come to make amends for the hurt he inflicted on those he loves. His action made him lose his best friend, Mason, Charley’s brother, and his father cut contact with him for hurting his best friends and their daughter.
We learn that Ben was forced by his agent to make the breakup move, but we don’t know why until later on. However, one thing is made clear: he has always loved Charley, she’s the “love of his life and the blood of his soul”, and he did it to protect her.
He has the fight of his life to convince Charley, her family and friends, take care of his father during his last months, and find a way to control his agent who is on a warpath to control and dominate Ben.
This story is sweet and sexy. I saw Ben as a little clueless, decided to save his love with Charley, but keeping a secret that’s tearing them apart. His constant juggling of trying to reconcile with Charley and keep the paps away from his town is driving him crazy. Charley is dealing with a flailing photography business that collapsed right on the day that Ben dumped her. It makes for an entertaining read. The only thing I found is that the plot thread about the evil agent wasn’t completed IMO.
Anytime that you are up until 3am because you simply can not put a book down, you know its an incredible book. Break is one of my favorite reads of 2018.
Charley and Ben have a very long history. Ben was her first kiss at 15, her one true love. For years they keep their love hidden from their families, especially Charleys brother. They were together for 6 years until Ben breaks her heart on social media in front of all the world to see.
Three years later and Ben comes back to his hometown because he learns that his dad is sick. Ben has his reasons for why he shattered his and Charley’s life with one, not so simple Insta post. Boy, oh Boy is it a big secret, one that I never saw coming. With Ben being back home, literally next door to her, Charley’s feelings of hurt and betrayal are brought up to the surface.
“ I want you to always feel safe.But I’d rather you be reckless with me than playing it safe without me.”
Will Ben be able to tell Charley the truth, his deep secret that forced him to break both of their hearts?
This book has so much depth to it. I was continuously trying to figure out what was going to happen that I devoured Break in one sitting. I love that Cassia placed links to the music through out the storyline.
Oh man, I enjoyed the hell out of this book! I’m a sucker for a second chance at love story, and the way the relationship between Ben and Charley imploded three years prior the book’s start meant there would need to be some serious groveling and explaining.
It was obvious from the start that Ben isn’t necessarily a bad guy; even though it’s his first time in Bodega Bay in three years, you know his heart is in the right place by the small gestures he makes with those who were once closest to him. I gotta admit though, I (along with everyone else) couldn’t wait to find out why Ben dumped Charley the way he did. The story is told in both past and present scenes, so we get to see the evolution of the friendship to something more for Charley and Ben when they were teens, along with Ben’s journey on the path to making it in the entertainment industry. I wasn’t prepared for the bombshell that was dropped when we finally learned what happened with Ben, and that was the subsequent reason why he broke up with Charley the way he did.
I was glad he finally took the stand he did, and how it worked out, but I do wish there had been some closure about what happened with the perpetrators. I would like to know exactly why the perp felt it necessary to have recording devices in certain places when it came to Ben’s and Charley’s relationship. I couldn’t fault Charley’s reaction when she received the newest email, but I was surprised who seemed to be on Ben’s side after the latest monkey wrench thrown in their relationship. A good ending for this story, although I was sad for Ben and his dad, and the fact that Ben was all alone during that pivotal moment. I liked the secondary characters we got to meet in this book, and I’m hoping there will be stories for those characters sometime in the future.
I am a sucker for a second chance romance. Break pulled me in from the very first page and I couldn’t stop until I finished. This book broke me at times, I really felt for Charley and what she was going through. I have to say for a while I was hoping Charley would be able to move on from Ben and be happy. The heart wants what it wants and Ben was it for Charley. It took me a while to like Ben but once I finally got there I was glad he was able to redeem himself.
I really enjoyed this book and the characters. If you are looking for a second chance romance full of emotion look no further. Cassia Leo has delivered another book that I loved.
I anxiously awaited the release of this book. I have enjoyed several stories from this author. And while I love spending time with her characters over several books, I was uniquely attracted to the prospect of getting a stand alone in her style of writing. I was not disappointed. I got all the angst and love that I’ve become accustomed to from Cassia and I didn’t have to bite my nails for a month when I read the last page to find out what came next for the couple I’d come to love. lol.
I absolutely adored the quirkiness and realism of these 2 characters. They just may be my favorite creations of hers yet.
It takes a real gift to write words that paint a picture the way Cassia does. This book checked all my boxes, even some I didn’t know I had — celebrity/rock star romance, angst, realistically flawed characters, real life problems unveiled in a unique way, heartache, healing, and love conquers all.
Surprisingly, this was actually my very first time reading anything by Cassia Leo. It’s ok, I kind of want to smack me too. I can clearly see I’ve really been missing out because Break is outstanding! Not your typical celebrity meets average girl romance here with this epic second chance. Nope. Break is overflowing with heartfelt emotion, shocking secrets, devastating loss, but most of all love. Lots and lots of fill you heart up, cry your eyes out, happy sighing love. Then, just because apparently all of that isn’t awesome enough, there’s bits of laugh out loud humor sprinkled in when you least expect it.
Charley and Ben are simply everything. I loved every bit of these two together. Even if they did make my cry like a baby occasionally. Charley is such an all around sweet woman. My heart shattered for her right from the start and I just wanted to give her a hug, but her capacity to love and forgive is endless. The strength she exudes even in moments where she feels weak is magnificent.
Then there’s Ben, sweet made me want to both kick him and kiss him, Ben. So many secrets are hidden behind the celebrity mask he wore but even still I found myself rooting for him to make things right with Charley. It’s clear even through the fog of secrets that the love these two share is the epic once in a lifetime kind of love we all search for. Charley and Ben’s story is overflowing with so much of that love that you can’t help but find yourself entirely wrapped up in this book.
Now I’m off to nurse the mother of all book hangovers by binging on more of Cassia Leo’s writing.
Break was a great 5 star read.
Charley’s world is turned upside down when her ex returns home. He is determined to get her back but he burned those bridges three years ago when he broke her heart in the worst way.
Ben left town to pursue his rock star career, he has returned home to be with his sick father and try and fix things with Charley. Ben has a huge secret that caused him to break Charley’s heart, now that he’s back he’s working hard to fix what he broke and get back to where they were.
Love has a way of keeping people rooted in a past they can’t stop longing for. But it can also send a person, like me, into fight or flight mode, destroying everything in their path as they make their escape. – Ben
Will Charley let Ben back into her heart? Can they get a HEA or will things unravel and destroy them?
I loved these two characters, they had such a great connection. It really brought some first love memories back for me. Ben was so sweet and caring and Charley was a strong and determined young lady. Once you get started reading you won’t want to stop until your done. There are twists and turns and some emotional pieces that had me teary eyed at times. The secondary characters were great. This is another must read from this author.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I always thought that being rich and famous would be a blessing, after reading this book I’m not so sure. To have everything, yet not the thing you want most would be horrible. Ben and Charley were happy and in love, until they weren’t. Now the damage is done and they just have to move on. They say time heals all wounds, well that’s not completely true. When events change and things are coming together they get thrown another curve ball and hearts break again. When the one you love hurts you most is hard to move beyond “the Backfire Effect” Some things that take place in this story will pull at your heart strings. In true Cassia style, she will break you then put you back together again. In the end it all comes down to peace, love and fun in the sun.
“I love us”
5/5
You know it’s a good book when it breaks your heart, or when it makes you cry, or perhaps when it makes you forget it’s almost 3 in the afternoon and you didn’t have lunch yet. COULDN’T. PUT. IT. DOWN.
Ben and Charley were the IT couple. They knew each other since they were young, and everything was so perfect. They were so in love, until he dumped her publicly on social media. But no he’s back in their town, and not just to take care of his ailing father, but he wants back into her life again. Would she let him back into her heart and give him the power to break it again?
Ben and Charley have their imperfections. There’s loads to like about them individually, and lot to hate about them as well. Like Ben, he loves Charley. He made sure that she was secured with him, and his love. But things happened, and he allowed them to happen – this is where I hated Ben. He could have told her, and save them both from heartache. I hate that he turned into alcohol, and didn’t really sobber up until Charley was back into his life. Our girl, on the other hand, let heartache rule her. She didn’t finish her degree, lives with her parents and her business was crumbling down since she refused to put it on social media. But Charley has a very big heart, and this is what I love most about her. She didn’t let their breakup impede with her relationship with Ben’s dad. She didn’t easily forgive, and Ben has to grovel (which he really deserves).
Them together brought everything into places. Suddenly, things were right again not just between the two of them, but in their respective lives. But what happens when his secret came out of the open? Can he risk losing her again?
It was the blurb about the second-chance romance that had me wanting to read Break, but I was in for the biggest surprise of my life when it turned out to be something more. It talked about the power of social media, an equal argument of the pros and cons – how it make and break lives, relationships and reputations. Furthermore, Break is more than just a love story and some sexy contemporary romance (although, yes it’s a wonderful love story and definitely sexy), but behind it lies a way more substantial fact that this book dealt with a timely and relevant issue that was taboo for years. It’s a really brave book, and one that hands out support in the most amazing way to people who have dealt with the same type of situation.