From the gutter to the stars… Dance is in my blood. It’s what keeps me sane, out of trouble. It used to keep them out of trouble too.A group of boys I grew up with. Xeno, York, Zayn and Dax. We were a crew once and we ruled the clubs. Separate we were insanely good, together we were unbeatable. F&ing on fire. I was their girl and they were my Breakers.Until they did something they promised … Breakers.
Until they did something they promised they never would; break my heart.
We were seventeen when they left me.
You see, for kids like us, dance was all we had.
Growing up in a rundown housing estate in London with no prospects can make you view the world differently.
It can make you choose the wrong path.
I chose dance, and they chose crime.
Three years later I’ve won a scholarship to Stardom Academy. I try to forget my past.
But how can I do that when the four boys who hurt me are back?
And this time they’re following in my footsteps and joining the academy too.
Freestyle is book one of this new gritty, contemporary reverse harem academy romance for 17+ readers and deals with adult themes and some subjects you may find upsetting. If you love dance, your men on the criminal side, alpha hot holes and the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, this is for you. Contains foul language and sexual scenes and ends on a cliffhanger.*
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Wow! Freestyle has definitely surprised me. I love dance movies so I thought why not try reading a book about it and better yet it has RH (which is one of my fave trope). I gotta say I fell in love with this book for a lot of different reasons. I love the reference “See a Penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck.” The is the first book I have read from Bea Paige and I have to say that it will not be my last. I even went so far as downloading a whole series that Bea wrote. Bea did a fantastic job with Freestyle. So much going on and most of the questions you gave in the back of your mind gets answered and then comes the cliffhanger drawing you in for the next book, Lyrical. Bea captured my attention from page one until the last page. I definitely could not put my book down. I had to see what would happen and see what Penn’s secret is. Why if Penn felt betrayed is Penn, Zayn, Xeno, Dax, and York so made about and hate Penn so much. Penn, Zayn, Xeno, Dax and York are all so intense and they have so much going on. Bea has my emotions in a tailspin with all the twist and turns and things going sideways. I can’t wait for Lyrical to come out. Trigger warning…there are some triggers and you should check out the trigger warnings before reading.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
“You see it all boils down to one night, one decision, and one devastating consequence that separates who we were to what we are now”
Book 1 of the Stardom Academy is a reverse harem story about Penelope, Zayn, Xeno, York & Dax. The 5 of them used to be a part of the Breakers crew but broke up for a reason we don’t know 3 years prior to the story beginning. Throughout this book, it bounces back and forth between present and the past working through when they first met and ending ultimately with what drove them apart.
What begins as a friendship eventually becomes strained when Pen falls for all 4 of her boys. All we know at this point is that something happened to cause the boys to feel betrayed by Pen and for her to feel betrayed by them. Fast forward to the present and suddenly, after not seeing them for 3 years, each boy she fell in love with and spent the last 3 years missing appear back in her life. And for reasons we don’t know, she’s terrified. “He can’t know how scared I am that he’s here, that the Breakers are back.“ As the world she just started to gain control over begins falling apart around her due to choices she made as a child, she has to deal with the fact that all four of the Breakers look at her with resentment and betrayal in their eyes.
“Zayn, Xeno, Dax and York were my Breakers and I was their girl. Was being the operative word.“
The steam factor is pretty mild in this book, most of it took place in the past, which made sense for their story. Definitely a slow burn. But you can tell that when the tension from three years ago comes to a head, there’s going to be an explosion.
I enjoyed the format of this book and how little pieces of the past were revealed so you can’t see the full story until the very end. Once what drove them apart is revealed, all the little breadcrumbs that had been dropped suddenly made sense. Then we bounce back to the present just in time for the book to end in a cliffhanger. A major cliffhanger! I expected one, but I still was taken by surprise. What a ride!
Freestyle By Bea Paige
About The Author:
Bea Paige lives a very secretive life in London… she likes red wine and Haribo’s (preferably together) and occasionally swings around poles when the mood takes her.
Bea loves to write about love and all the dierent facets of such a powerful emotion. When she’s not writing about love and passion, you’ll nd her reading it and ugly crying.
Bea is always writing and new ideas seem to appear at the most unlikely time.
This book has amazed me in every way. Usually it takes me a couple of chapters to get into a book, but I was captivated from the first page.
This book is about a girl who has been living a hard life and just wants to dance and get the best life that she can provide for herself. All the twists and turns in this book will have you SHOOK!
I could not put this book down at all! If you haven’t read this then out whatever you have down and read this book. You won’t be disappointed.
I can’t wait for book 2!!
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Pen had everything she had ever desired in her life……her dance….her friends who meant the world to her…until they did the one thing she was not prepared for…broke her heart.
Now, after her heart has finally managed to heal itself…they are back…BREAKERS.
And this time…no one..not even her can prevent the war they will bring to her door.
I Never thought I could love this theme in a novel…dance. But I was soo wrong. Turns out, I immensely enjoyed reading this book. The cliffhanger was superb… There were some things not disclose properly in the book but I hope to get that clarify while I read book 2.
the characters were so lively..its like you could feel their heartbreaks, agony, fury, pain…through the pages…
PROCEED WITH CAUTION…CLIFFHANGER AHEAD!!
3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4
I really wanted to be wowed by this book y’all, I really did. I’d heard such good things, and the premise seemed really interesting, but unfortunately this fell flat for me. I didn’t really connect with the characters or enjoy the plot until I’d say the last 25%.
The cliffhanger ending did intrigue me though, so I’ll more than likely read the 2nd book to see how it plays out.
Freestyle is Book One in the Academy of Stardom Series. This is an all new gritty contemporary reverse harem series. If you’re into your men on the criminal side, who are alpha hot holes, sprinkled in with some enemies to lovers vibes and one thing I cannot forget this series is centred around DANCE!
Having not read this author before, It is safe to say I am completely obsessed with her. With have only read this book, I am in love with her writing style and this storyline that she has created. I am falling so deep in love with it, it’s not funny. It started off with liking it, then grew into lust, love and then an obsession like no other.
I just love when a book/series can do that, it pulls you in from the get go. This is definitely an unexpected book, that is addictive, and captivating. Before I knew it, the seconds, minutes and hours went by and I become so absorbed in these characters story that I didn’t want it to end. Let’s just say, thank goodness that this is a series.
There’s this series that is called Step Up High Water that you can find on YouTube that reminds me of this series, filling us with dancing, gangs, hot guys. But this author gives us her version, one that is completely different and in a way that screams BETTER!
This is a Bully Romance at its finest, in a way that I haven’t read before. The difference with this book is that all these characters have a HISTORY. There history was that all characters fell in love and something big made them fall apart.
The question is, what made them fall apart?
Now the characters on the other hand, they were the stars of this show. They absolutely rocked me to my inner core. They managed to make an imprint on my heart and leave an ever lasting effect.
The flashbacks going back to when they first met was what I was living for as you got to experience the start of their friendship that soon turned into something bigger, something that was unavoidable. In a way with these flashbacks, I felt even closer to these characters as you got given an insight to each of their life’s, you got to how it changed them and made them into the boys who turned into men real quickly, we also got the front row seat of when feelings started to get blurred and crossed the line.
Pen reminds me of this Dancer Jade Chynoweth. She is just something out of this world. The way she moves, she tells you a story. She just grasps your attention and this is how I see Pen with the way she dances. She dances as if her life depends on it.
Pen is in a league of her own, she’s super talented, sassy, fiery, takes no crap from anyone and is quick whited. You better prepare yourself, if your one to go up against pen then be assured she will put you back into your place. You see her backstory isn’t an easy one, it’s brutal. This girl has been through so much and continues to go through so much more. My heart was threatening to pop out of my chest as it wasn’t sure that Pen could deal. But you see, she’s a fighter. I have a lot of respect for her and I admire her.
We then have our boys, Zayn, Xeno, York and Dax. Each who hold a piece in my heart. There’s no picking favourites with this lot as you’ll fall in love with them all.
Zayn..has become Pen’s rock, he’s steady, reliable and someone she calls home.
York..knows when Pen is down or sad and his always the first to make her smile.
Dax..understands Pen in a way that the others don’t as they have had the same upbringing. His protective, and makes her feel SAFE.
Xeno..makes her heart beat erratically, he pushes her buttons and fires her up. They have this intense chemistry that is so hard to deny.
Together you just know they belong, they suit and they connect like no other. There is no denying that what so ever.
Years later, they are all back and shit is about to go down. Nothing could prepare you for the turns of events and the twist and turns that this book presents itself. I felt like I was at the edge of my seat in suspense and at war at my emotions.
The boys on the outside they are so angry, full of rage, but deep down when you look closely beyond the anger and rage. You can see sadness, lust, madness of want, need. The anger and rage is putting a foggy haze over their true feelings.
So much was happening but not in the way that it would become too much. Prepare yourself for your world to be rocked by this book as it’s that good, it’s a masterpiece.
If I can just say one thing, is that you need to read this book. You won’t regret it.
This is my first book that read form Bea Paige And I absolutely love it . I literally could not put this book down and she Kept us on our toes with this book I can’t wait till the next book comes out
I have totally fallen in love with these characters. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and she doesn’t disappoint. I was so anxious throughout this book it had me on the edge of your seat. It’s a real page turner. I cannot wait for book 2
I loved the dance theme to this book!! This story is told in Penn’s (the heroines) POV and I liked that it bounced back from the past to the present to show the relationship she had with the guys. At one point they were each other’s solace but now they just want to hurt her in any way they can. I can’t wait for the next one after that ending!!
I really liked this book. I found the storyline really original and loved how it switched between present and the past so we were kept wondering throughout the book what happened for them not to see each other for so long. I loved the sexual tension between Pen and the boys and can’t wait for the next book to see what happens as its been left completely open and with how the book ended. The ending was brilliant!
Highly recommend!
Why did i wait that long to read this!!!! Seriously you need to drop everything and just dive into this gem. I was sucked up in the story right from the start, the emotions all the feelings that you go through while reading!!! I just can’t get over what i just read right now. My mind is blowned. Why, oh why, do i have to wait for book 2 you evil woman!!!! If i could give more than 5 to this read i would in a heartbeat. A definite must read!
Wow!! This book had a phenomenal storyline and is so well written. It perfectly flows between past and present. Loved all the angst, heartache and love between Pen and the Breakers. Can’t wait for Book 2!!
Pen and her Breakers are intense! Pen has had a rough time, and her one bright spot was her relationship with her crew, the Breakers. However, after a heartbreaking night, it all blew apart. Fast forward four years later, and Pen has tried to put the past behind her and just when she gets her big break, the Breakers are back! I don’t know how Pen and her guys will get back together, especially after that ending, but I am so down for the ride. I love that you can feel their passion for dance, and each other, even through the anger! This story is intense, heartbreaking, and I couldn’t put it down!
Freestyle is phenomenal. Bea Paige continues to get better with each book she releases.
This book pulled so many emotions from me, and I wasn’t ready for it to stop. Penny’s story with her guys will leave you teetering on the edge of your seat. It’s more than worth the read. You’ll easily be sucked into the characters and their world. I need so much more.
I highly recommend.
Let me start by saying I love movies that are based on dancing and one of my fave was the first Step Up movie and Save The Last Dance. So, for the author to incorporate contemporary dance and RH, I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to find out how the story goes. Like always, the author brought out her A-game with her first book in her new series, Freestyle.
Is it hot in here or is it because of these guys? Goodness, the slow burn just about killed me with this one! And yes, I understand why the author started the series in this tone. Oh and that blindfolded, bachata dance between Xeno and Pen? OMG, that was so intense and sexy, I’m burning up just from the memory of it. Ugh! Anyway, I loved how the story was told through alternating flashbacks as it gives us their backstories until we catch up to the present time. There was a lot of secrets, betrayals and suspense in this book that made this such an enjoyable read for me.
And OMG! What the fuck was that ending? Seriously, the author couldn’t have end it with that impending pleasure and expect me not to have lady blueballs as a result? LOL! I NEED Lyrical right now!
I can’t wait to see where Bea takes this story in Lyrical! Unlike anything I’ve read in a long time. <3
Loved it!
I loved this book! It’s so much different than any other RH I’ve ever read. And it’s about one of my favorite things–dance!
Freestyle is full of drama, tension, hot boys, and lots of dancing. Fans of Step Up and Reverse Harem will devour this book.
Freestyle was impossible to out down and I was left begging for more. I literally don’t know what I’m gonna do until I can get my hands on the next book! This was an amazing to start to a new Reverse Harem series!
4.5 Stars
This was my first book by Bea Paige and I was not disappointed! I loved Pen! She was fierce, determined, and protective of those she loved. She went through so much pain throughout her life and it just makes me want to hug her and fight for her. Then we have the sexy, badass male Breakers. Each of the boys (Dax, York, Zayn, and Xeno) all complemented each other while completing her. I liked getting to see the flashbacks of their friendship and how it grew over the years. This book had me hooked from the beginning and I cannot wait to see what’s going to happen in the rest of the series!
OMG!! WHAT DID I JUST READ?!?!
My head is spinning a million miles a minute right now.
We meet our newest heroine Penelope or Pen as she likes being called. We also meet the Breakers Zayn, Dax, York and Xeno.
We see the hell that Pen goes through and the most times she’s the happiest with the Breakers when they were teens. In addition to when she dances.
When I first started reading this I had no idea what kind of ride I was originally in for…seeing as I’ve never read any of Bea Paige’s books beforehand. I knew going in that this is a Reverse Harem type of book and that didn’t bother me one bit.
I’m definitely a fan of Ms. Paige’s. I know that Pen’s story is far from over but my heart is hurting so much for her. As far as the Breakers go… my heart also hurts for them but I think it aches more for Pen because of the horrible life she’s had to endure until she does everything possible to make her dreams come true at the academy.
I’m curious as to why all of a sudden the Breakers are back after they’ve been gone for a while? I hope that question and the many more I have will be revealed in book 2.
Also this ends in a cliffhanger, so if you aren’t a patient person…you’re probably going to curse the author like I did because I NEED ANSWERS and Book 2 like RIGHT NOW!!