From bestselling author Ella Fields comes an all-new, turbulent, new adult romance.Dashiell Thane wasn’t a nice guy.He was an abrasive, demanding, conniving, intolerable brat. Yet somehow, we’d been best friends our whole lives. Until our senior year when I finally decided to dip my toes into the dating pool. All it took was one kiss for jealousy, lies, and betrayal to sweep in and propel us … to sweep in and propel us heart first into dizzying, hostile depths.
You’re not supposed to kiss your best friend.
You’re definitely not supposed to kiss your best friend while you’re dating someone else.
And the absolute worst thing you could do is fall for your best friend.
Unless, of course, you want to ruin everything.
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Ella Fields has knocked it out of the park with this one!! It was the best teenage angst love story dilled with heartache, passion and let’s not forget the DRAMA. I simply and wholeheartedly LOVED this book and when you’ve read something that literally gave you all of the feels and highs of emotional turmoil, that to me?… Is nothing but perfection.
Best friends since they could walk, Dash and Peggy has maintained a friendship that has stood the test of time despite their parents own. Now high school Seniors, they’re both looking forward to their final year and making it a memorable one. Dash is arrogant, cocky, knows exactly what he wants and his main goal in life is to protect his best friend from anything that he deems a heartbreak hazard. But for their final year things are about to change drastically and when it’s all over, a lifelong friendship will never be the same.
I’m going to be honest right now and tell you that you couldn’t pay me enough to go back to high school in this time. Cold hard cash, black platinum credit card, my answer will still be a very generous heck no. Been there, done that and I didn’t go to jail so I’m a winner. But reading about them in fictional books? I’m all for it and I was so excited to start this one because this author always brings her A game. Dash was the kind of Hero that from the moment he opened his mouth, you became puddy in his hands.
He was honest to a fault, passionate, and I loved that you always knew where he stood. His relationship with Peggy was like watching a once in a lifetime love story. You know that there is going to be heartbreak and betrayal but the beauty and the pure raw love is what’s going to get you through and for that, the ride is going to be worth it.
I was not expecting was to feel so much for these characters and literally feel the warmth in my chest from their vulnerability and seeing the love and emotions pour out of them. These were two characters that went through everything together and I wanted nothing more than to see them come out on top. They caused each other’s pain with their words, became a constant reminder of the what if’s, shattered each other’s trust, but loved each other with a passion beyond this lifetime.
If you’re a fan of New Adult romance, this is THE book to read for the year!!
*Arc provided for an honest review.
This is a teenage/high school love story. I will say that I’m not a big fan of these just because it’s not one of my troupes I like to read. But I do love this author so I was compelled to read.
High school love involves lots of angst and more so when Peggy and Dash have known each since birth. Peggy is the sweet good girl and Dash is the rebel, bad boy. Best friends who are inseparable and love each other as friends. But more than friends is the question as both enter into their senior year of high school as different feeling begin to unfold. But jealousy and miscommunications enter into their lives and verges on breaking a forever friendship. Can friendship survive if love enter into the picture? And of course there is a cast of friends from their private high school that keeps the story entertaining and drama fueled.
If you love young love, best friends, enemies to love stories, then Kiss and Break Up will make you smile. Ella Fields is a great writer and she always instills love, heartbreak, and angst in the best way possible.
OMGGGGG!!! Whata helllaaa fantastic read! Ella had nailed it again! Kiss and Break Up was spot on and so dear with all the snug emotional romance. DASH and PEGGY were grown up together since baby diaper. The story was written deliciously with the highlight of young adult dilemma.
Can a girl stop dreaming? Im oogling and salivating through this book! Ella brought the memories of being a teenager! The first for falling inlove was surreal. I was inlove with the way the relationship goes.
Oh, my heart!
Ella Fields wow, this story took me back to my high school years, the friendships, the gossip, and all the fun of being young. This friends to lovers read is gonna keep you glued to the pages, I didn’t want it to end. In true Ella Fields fashion she breaks our heart, gives us all the feels and then little by little puts it back together again.
Dash and Peggy are a breath of fresh air. The loyal bad boy, rough around the edges but loyal to a fault. Peggy the quiet girl, a little naive but sweet. This two have been best friends since they where little, they always been in each other life. Now in high school, things change growing up protecting your best friend and then seeing her becoming a woman is messing with Dash’s head. He will protect her at all cause but is he really doing it for her, or because he is protecting his heart. Feelings are tested and things will fall apart. Major DRAMA all around.
Oh and the side characters are just as great as the main ones, definitely add more to the story.
The teenage angst and drama in this book is gonna have you, laughing, swooning and wiping your tears. Ella Fields has done it again, new town, new crowd and a whole other level of feelings. Her writing is flawless, it takes you to another time in your life, makes you feel things that you probably have forgotten and puts a smile on your face.
You need Dash and Peggy in your life. Another 5 Stars read from Mrs. Fields!
5 swooning Stars!!
If you are undecided as to which author takes command of the NA/YA romance genre, you need not look any further than Ella Fields. My designated Queen of Gut-Punching Romance nailed this book, and she nailed it GOOD!
If you’ve convinced yourself that NA/YA romance is not bold enough, not hot enough, and too full of sweet and sugary interludes to hold your attention, I can only reach but one conclusion…You haven’t spent time with an Ella Fields man. These men are an entirely different breed and they know no boundaries. Latest case in point is Dashiell “Dash” Thane. Words cannot describe this guy!
My duty to the romance reading community and womankind insists that I try, so here goes…..
When I learned the title of the book was to be Kiss and Break Up, I thought “Oh cool, Ella’s gonna give us a slow burn, really stoking those fires, and warm us up good.”
Ha!!
Dash Thane is so egotistical, pushy, impatient and smug that he couldn’t even let an accomplished author take her time telling this story….he came at us with the force of a bull demanding our immediate and full attention!!!
*Spoiler alert: He always thinks he knows best….classic Dane maneuver. Just get used to it.*
What? You were thinking he’d treat us differently than he did his beloved Peggy “Freckles” Newland?
SMH….Amateurs. 😉
Basically it went like this:
“I couldn’t watch her morph into a woman with someone else. No way. I didn’t know how I’d never seen it before, or when exactly it changed, but maybe that was why I’d shied away from anything that resembled commitment. Because it was supposed to be her all along. Peggy and Dash- more than just best friends.”
Dash proclaimed his best friend status with Peggy way back in preschool, and he has been looking out for her ever since. Whether she wanted it or not. Dash knows what a girl needs; specifically this girl.
Usually Dash just takes what he wants, no regrets and no apologies, but Peggy has decided that she wants to begin dating and attempts to leave Dash in the friend zone. Oh Peggy….like Dash would ever let that happen.
Our fun-loving, egotistical, sexy, flirtatious, witty, charming, devoted, loyal, irresistible, and complex hero is about to prove to Peggy that making bad decisions with a bad boy, may ultimately be the best decision she’s ever made. That is, if they don’t screw it all up.
Peggy is the one and only for Dash, and he’s determined to do anything and everything within his power not to let her get away. She’s his safety net, his feeling of home, his peace, his happiness, she’s his family; or at least he intends her to be.
“A hidden truth unearthed. It was official. I’d fallen for my best friend, and she was breaking my black heart.”
Dash is infuriating in all the best ways. He’s brutally honest, deliciously manipulative, strong willed, hilarious, smart, somewhat reckless, loyal, sweet, sexy, protective, caring, romantic beyond imagination, and an utter mercenary with words.
“I love you. More than a friend should. The kind of love you fall into and desperately try to crawl out of, but it’s futile.”….SWOON!
“I’m dead serious, I’M taking YOU. So fix whatever the he–you just agreed to with Prince Sh– Shoes over there.”….Gawd I love his take charge side! LOL!
My heart ached for Dash in this book, because he laid himself bare to Peggy. Wide Open!
He wasn’t playing games with her heart, he simply adored her and saved the best side of himself solely for her. He was so darn sweet! Even when she was insecure about her upcoming date, Dash was there for her.
“You’re worried, but you shouldn’t be.”
“Why?” I said, noticing his lashes were really kind of long.
“Because most guys aren’t going to care how inexperienced you are. Especially not the right one.”
(I was screaming at my Kindle at this point!!! “Open your eyes Peggy!!!!, Open your eyes!!!)
Peggy was a wonderful heroine! My favorite ones always have backbone and Peggy had that in spades. She was intelligent, funny, challenging, assertive when necessary, entertaining, playful and spirited. She loved her family, and her friends and treated others with kindness and respect without being overly sugary or annoying. The type of girl I could see myself wanting to be friends with. Even during the drama, my heart pleaded for her to find her way to the HEA she deserved.
This was such a fantastic story that I nearly picked it right back up and started it all over again.
The backbone to this one was friendship, and I’m such a sucker for friends to lovers stories! Even the secondary characters enamored us with their friendships: the moms, the gals (Willa & Daphne), and the guys (Jackson & Lars). The storyline was balanced to give us the perfect dose of each character so that you’re invested in them all and craving more to come. Ella writes with such passion and such heart that you can’t help but fall in love with her words. Her characters feel so realistic.
I urge every romance reader to meet the crew of Magnolia Cove Prep. You’ll be swept away by them!
Another story meticulously crafted by Ella delivering all the best FEELS!
In the heart pounding words of my new favorite book boyfriend…”You’re curious aren’t you?”
Releases March 8th! Go ahead…satisfy yourselves. One-Click your dose of Dash & Peggy!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
I can’t imagine anyone else writing teenage angst as well as Ella Fields does and Kiss and Break up is packed full of adolescent confusion, emerging young love and lusty goodness.
Dash is a complicated character, a loveable bad boy with a “couldn’t give a damn, I’m going to do what I want”, attitude. Too honest for his own good sometimes, one minute I wanted to hug him, the next I could’ve shaken him till his teeth rattled for his cocky attitude. Peggy’s naïveté is very sweet and I found her hugely endearing. I could totally empathise with her apprehension in certain situations and I loved the way she sought the advice from her girlfriends. There’s actually a great group of supporting characters, including Peggy’s mom, who I now want as my best friend.
It’s been a long time since I was in high school and, whilst I appreciate the fact that these kids are teenagers acting like teenagers and not 40 year olds, my attraction to Dash did make me feel slightly guilty. However, he could, without a doubt, give some older men a run for their money and so I decided to channel my inner youth and accept he would be my guilty pleasure.
Although I wouldn’t go back to school for love nor money, this story brought back all the warm feelings and memories of the fun times I had from those teenage years. Times when you felt quite giddy when a boy you liked paid you some attention, when music and hanging out with your friends was life, and when, although you were still discovering who you were, nevertheless you felt invincible.
Kiss and Break up is a well written, very enjoyable read and for lovers of NA with, in my opinion, a slightly YA feel, this is definitely one to check out.
Kiss and Break Up is a book that is young adult/senior year of high school and holy cow full of the feels. The tension, drama, angst and dynamics are all out of this world and will captivate you from the beginning. Peggy is the sweet student and Dash her overprotective best friend and not one of the good boys.
I truly fell in love with this book and so sad it is over
I can still say that I love everyone one of Ella’s books she has put out since I was introduced to her words, which seems lik yesterday.
Dash and Peggy are BFF and have know each other all of their lives but when they get older things get complicated and the boundaries are getting blurred.
I can say that I was hating Dash a bit becuase of some in the beginning and a few times thoughout but he totally redeemed himself by the end.
I needed a little light reading as of late and it made me feel better when I was already feeling down. Ella is always a automatic one click author for me.
This story brings back all the memories of being in high school and trying to figure out where you fit in… when you bloom from being a teenager to an adult. Peggy reminds me a whole lot of myself. I was a bit awkward in my early teens and then all of sudden blossomed into being someone that people wanted to know. Meanwhile, she has Dash… who has been her best friend since they were babies. And at some point, their feelings start to change as well. Dash is the most lovable, fiercely protective jerk. Everyone would be lucky to have a friend like him. Then add in some classic Ella Fields drama to this story and you get another masterpiece. Oh, the drama! Each character has a bit of it going on and I couldn’t get enough of it. This story put my heart through the wringer and I’m not upset about that one bit.
GAH! My YA/NA reading heart is so happy right …Full of angsty goodness, all the sass & swoon Kiss and Break Up is hands down my favorite Ella Fields book to date
Peggy & Dash have been best friends since diapers but when Peggy decides to date everything changes & Dash well he’s decided in all his cocky goodness that he isn’t too happy to sit in the friend zone. But the rocky road to admitting ones feelings are never easy especially when your still in high school…friendships are tested and mistakes are made. All the feels with this one..written with such honesty and vulnerability that you feel what they feel… you hurt when they hurt and it was worth every single second. KABU is jam packed full of characters that you will instantly fall in love with, root for & hope that this isn’t where their stories end… I couldn’t have loved this book more and I 150% recommend it to any and everyone
***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review- Megan/Scandalous Book Blog***
ggy and Dash have been best friends forever. When guys start ignoring Dash’s presence and go after Peggy, all heck breaks out and he try’s to stake his claim. His broody, cock-sure personality clashes with her want to get experience. The whole journey is a back and forth that you can’t help but love! You want them to fight. You want them to make up. You want them to prevail. Throughout this all, you have more friend drama than the average high school . I hope we get more books with some of the others stories playing out if they are as good as this one!!!
I adored this charmingly twisted young adult story about two, high school seniors and best friends whose feelings for each other begin to unravel through a series of bad decisions, misunderstood feelings and betrayals. Upheaval of a life long friendship to something more is the name of the game in this new, stand alone, YA romance Kiss and Break Up. Told from both the male and female main character points of view, Ella Fields takes readers on a tumultuous, witty adventure of first love recognized.
All of the characters in this book play heavily into the plot and make the book that much better. In individual ways they’re key players to Dash and Peggy’s story and Fields’ world building. Even better is the banter, kinship, and trust between the two mains even amidst the torturous turmoil in their lives you can feel their connection, which for me is the mark of lasting romance.
There’s really something to be said about the way Ella Fields tells her young/new adult stories. Her writing causes excitement while reading. Her characters are edgy, making choices you probably don’t want to think about young people making but recognizing they do anyway. Her stories are gritty and a little darker for YA which I love. It’s not fluff, pomp, and circumstance with this author but rather raw, unfiltered honesty which straddles a fine line. I really enjoy it. It’s a ride you’re sometimes uncomfortable with and can’t believe you’re enjoying as much as you are but never the less Fields pulls in and keeps you there. Several times while reading this I thought to myself that with younger characters this author reminds of the great, dark love stories I read from L.J. Shen.
What else is there to say besides Ella Fields your words and characters are awesome!! Dash and Peggy have been friends for the longest time, so when someone shows romantic interest in Peggy it sets alarm bells off in Dash forcing him to see her in a different light- and ultimately come to the realization that she is the ONE! What a beautiful story of teenage love and the mistakes one makes while in search of finding love…Their journey was not an easy one but one thing that came across was their love for one another and that they were indeed meant to be! Great job Ella yet again! Do yourself a favor and read Ella’s words you will not be disappointed everything she touches is magic and you can’t help but fall in love with her characters!
Ella Fields is a queen in the YA/NA romance genre. I don’t know what her secret formula is, but she always manages to come up with an original, captivating, heart clenching, swoony worthy story that steals your breathe away.
Best friends forever, Dash and Peggy take us on a journey through high school and the romantic feelings they start to have towards one another. The flashbacks of how they met and the development of their friendship is a great segway into their current situation. I loved hearing about their childhood and it solified their connection to one another.
Dash is a jerk, no doubt about it! But as you get to know more about him and his family life his attitude and actions make sense. Regardless, one thing that NEVER waivers is the admiration he has for Pegs and his need to protect her. Okay, okay some of these things he does to “protect” her has him acting like a complete jag. It’s just his way and I can guarantee you’ll love him for it. It’s impossible not to swoon over Dash because when he lets his guard down with Pegs and we see his soft side, he’s an alpha asshole you’ll love!
Pegs is tough at times and I loved her for it, but she could still be very naive and stubborn. She struggled when it came to their relationship and what these new feelings could mean for them. She was so afraid of losing their friendship, it was hard to see past that.
I adored them together as friends, I loved them even more as a potential couple. This new road for Dash and Pegs was not going to be easy, but being with them through the ups and downs made it all worthwhile. The laughs, the tears, the #SHOUTS, I don’t think there’s an emotion you won’t feel. Take a chance on Freckles and Dash the Demon
The Queen of Angst does it again! Wonderful,in depth characters, intense feelings, situations. Scenes that have you screaming,yelling and wanting to throw your kindle. Both main characters are stubborn and bullheaded. Both hurt each other deeply, and struggle because being best friends makes the pain that much worse. But deep down they love each other, as friends and as more, but being best friends makes the more much more important and precious.
At times Dash was a jerk, a smart ass, but that sexy nerdy look he has going for him, as well as his sense of humor makes him even that much more sexier. Peggy is more reserved, beautiful in the classic way, but unaware of how the world, especially the opposite sex sees her. Dash makes it his mission to scare off wannabe suitors, not realizing it, he hopes that she will finally see him for him, a potential mate as opposed to best friend.
I hope we see more of them and their friends in future books, and I loved the little shout out to GSU! Made me smile. This is one book I highly recommend, as well as he other works! As I said she has become the Queen of Angst as far as I am concerned but does it so well, you have to love it and her.
What an emotional roller coaster of teenage heartache and angst between Dash and Peggy. As with many relationships the miscommunication leads to misunderstanding and so so much heartache between these two that it just hurts and brings up so many teenage memories. But in the best way since we are on the outside looking in so to speak. The bond these two have is strong and deep rooted so can they withstand the test of each other and the other teens around them? This is a must read to find out and be on this wild ride.
Be still my teenage heart!!! Dash and Peggy are just the sweetest! Their friendship had me laughing so much. Dash is not the kind of guy you think of being friends with. There were so many times that I laughed during this story! And the secondary charterers! OMG I want so badly to get more of Willa and Daphne!!! I really really love Peggy… She definitely made him work for it! And some of the things she says just floored me! Her spirit really pulled me in from the start! Peggy was just plain awesome! And Dash was just the right mix of asshole and sweetheart! Totally worth 5 teenage heartbreak
A Young Adult Story that Rekindled the Feelings of my Youth
Ella Fields made me remember what it was like to be young and in love, struggling to make your way as a teenager turning into a young adult. Although I’m not normally drawn to young adult books, I adore Ella’s writing, and never hesitated a second to read this one. I was so enveloped in the story, rekindling and channelling my inner child, that I read from cover to cover in a matter of hours. Ella made me reconnect with my own youth, remembering all the promises that the future held.
I envied the friendship between Dash and Peggy. Going through life with a best friend to share your experiences and lean on in times of struggle can be an amazing thing. Finding your person at such a young age, if at all, is such a rare thing, so Dash and Peggy were a one-of-a-kind couple. They had a connection that really endeared them to me causing me to want them to work, to find their way back to each other through the destruction they created.
Watching them figure it all out, to struggle with the hurt, to rise above it, is what made the story so captivating. Dash and Peggy make some major mistakes along the way, gargantuan mistakes that may seem unforgivable, but they are young. It’s not the mistakes that you make that define you, it’s what you do after to make things right, or as right as they can be, that builds character, and hopefully redeems you in the end.
Watching Peggy grow as an individual through her senior year and make some really smart choices and tough decisions, gave me a sense of awe. Being a teenager is hard but Peggy’s mom was doing a great job guiding Peggy through it all. Not all teenage girls have that kind of connection or role model. Ella made being a mom to a teenager look easy but it’s a tough job and I loved Peony.
Not only did Dash and Peggy have each other, they each had their own group of friends. I loved the close-knit friendships the characters had and their loyalty to each other. Each of the characters played a part in bringing this story to life. They were so prominent that I feel some of them may have stories of their own to tell. Stories that I would be compelled to read.
I also want to mention the parents of Dash and Peggy, especially their moms. Having a life-long friend is a VERY special thing, and those who do are very blessed. Friendships to fall apart sometimes but the curious thing is how easily they can be rebuilt as if no time has passed at all. If you are lucky enough to have someone in your life who is there for you always, to stand by you, to enjoy the special moments with, cherish that, water it, let it live and thrive, not wither and die.
I definitely recommend this book with no reservations to lovers of romance, no matter their age. Ella has told a beautiful story of love and how two destined souls made for each other dig deep inside themselves to wade through all the drama and all the angst to find themselves stronger for it, stronger together.
Ella Fields never disappoints! I have found my unicorn author in her <3
Oh Dash, how he won my heart with his wittiness and humor. I would laugh at his silliness and I was so darn proud of the way he protected Peggy. I loved everything he did to persuade anyone away from her. Even though Dash and Peggy were just "best friends" he still managed to manipulate her however he wanted and he wold make sure no guy would go near her. Why would that be? Hmmm, I asked myself? Well it was because he was IN LOVE with her and he was too blind to see it.
Peggy only ever saw Dash as her best friend and nothing more. He was always there for her and he was the only one that would ever stand up for her and she loved that about him. But she never imagined that she could actually have feelings for him beyond friendship. But one kiss, just one changed everything between them.
Now Peggy found herself in a situation. Not only was Dash doing the impossible to sabotage her relationship with Byron, but he was tryin got get her to see that he was the one for her and he always been "the one" they were both just too blind to see it.
The things kids will do these days for love (sigh)!
I was absolutely IN LOVE with this story and can't express how much this book deserves more than 5 stars in my eyes!
I can read an Ella book without reading the synopsis and I can sit and read it without taking a break. That's how good her books are!
Ella, you have won my heart a thousand times over with this book <3
5 KISS AND BREAK UP STARS
“No time with you is wasted even when we’re breaking.”
This book had my tummy full of butterflies and remembering what it was like falling in love my first time (which is a great memory of mine because I am happily married to that first love).
Ella captured the essence of first time love, young innocence, and teen drama flawlessly. And the heart wrenching dilemma of trying to resist falling for your best friend because of fear of ruining what you have as friends and ultimately losing them completely because of it, overpowers rationale thoughts, leads to bad decisions and ultimately overshadows the obvious…you can be best friends AND go “all in”. Yes, it’s daunting but… “I’m scared.” I said, unsure where the admission came from. “Good.” Dash’s body felt impossibly warm against mine as if even his skin was trying to reassure me. “If love doesn’t terrify you, you’re not in love. And if you’re not in love, then what are, Peggy?” #swoon
Ella does what she does best…. brings out ALL THE FEELS with this book! There were LOL moments and heartbreaking moments and moments that had me positively swooning over Dash. Of course there were also moments I was NOT swooning over Dash because *hello*, this is an Ella novel after all and it wouldn’t be hers without some anger towards the main guy in the story. LOL! Then there was Peggy…Peggy was so blinded by her resistance and her desire to experience all things that a teen girl wants to experience (first time crush/love) that at times I wanted to bop her on the head and say OPEN YOUR EYES!
“Love, I’d discovered, was something that multiplied. With every kiss and every touch, it continued to change shape as we continued to fall.”
KISS AND BREAK UP was a story about wanting to experience first love and everything that comes along with it: butterflies, desire, the “fall”, stolen kisses, late night phone calls, and dates. I ADORED this story and these characters and I can NOT wait to see if Ella will announce that their’ll be more of this world because I have a feeling that certain secondary characters need to have their stories told as well *smirk*
#DashAndPeggy2.0 #Freckles
5 stars
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