Best Kind of Broken (Finding Fate #1)

There are the special books that have the ability to completely own you as you devour its pages. Then, there are the really special books that still completely own you, hours or even days later. The author’s voice just speaks to you like its your favorite sound in the world…words that leave their fingerprints on your heart, so that you still feel their touch, their meaning, long after you’ve read the last page. Best Kind of Broken was *it* for me.

In Best Kind of Broken, Chelsea Fine welcomes readers to stay for awhile at the quaint Willow Inn. Here, we meet Levi Andrews and Sarah “Pixie” Marshall, two college kids working in their hometown for the summer and living next door to each other at the inn. Their story, about figuring out the past, present, and future, had an upbeat touch in one moment and a firm grip in the next. Back and forth it went, but the whole time, the author was painting a captivating work of art.

Levi and Pixie had the tension-filled, love-hate going on. First. Page. As the chapters alternated between each of their points of view, I had a wide grin on my face because I always enjoy that kind of flirty animosity. Levi had a genuine charm. And Pixie? Well, Pixie is quite possibly my new all-time favorite nickname for a heroine. It fit her sprightly mannerisms well! Some of the things that popped into her head cracked me up. It didn’t take long at all for these two to make me laugh and smirk!

Alongside the present-day friction, though, the ghost of their former friendship piqued my curiosity immediately. It became clear that they shared a painful past and were only clinging to the illusion that everything is fine. They tried distracting themselves with “normal” things–like Pixie’s attempt at dating and Levi’s job as inn handyman. These distractions, though, ultimately felt hollow and unfulfilling. (The deeper I got into this novel, the irony of Levi’s ability to fix small household problems, yet the inability to fix the biggest problem of all, did not escape me!)

Not only were these two in denial about the state of their lives, they were in denial about their feelings for each other. The former friendship I mentioned? That familiarity translated into some interesting romantic frustration and angst. They fell into an amusing routine of butting heads! As I pointed out already, these two could make me laugh and smile!

But then, the jagged pieces of their reality–of the past still haunting them–began to pierce through their thin walls…The estranged relationships with family. The truth of what they once meant to each other…Pixie and Levi didn’t know how to put those pieces back together. They were deflecting, covering up the holes, but they weren’t healing those wounds. That much was clear, but the reason behind it all remained foggy, leaving me on pins and needles to wonder What happened?

Soon enough, more memories came. More flashbacks from both Pixie and Levi. Chelsea Fine’s beautiful, beautiful storytelling really shines through here, in her ability to completely immerse you in another time or place so that you were soaked with nostalgia.

When the tragic accident that tore Pixie and Levi apart was finally revealed, it really was tragedy striking. Gut. Punch. Even though I had a solid idea of what was coming–able to put the hints together–it still hit me. Again, bravo to Chelsea’s storytelling. I soon understood why they were so stuck. They were afraid to face it, to face each other. Their pain wasn’t just a physical loss of a loved one, the inability to speak to or touch them anymore. It was also about the emotional loss. Missing what you used to have.

There was some comfort in knowing that the people closest to Pixie and Levi were perceptive of the situation and offering support in their own small ways. What’s that saying about It takes a village…? 😉 I especially adored Pixie’s aunt, Ellen, who was truly like a fairy godmother. The Willow Inn staff members were their own eccentric, close-knit group. Pixie’s friend, Jenna, and Levi’s best friend, Zack…with his pet goat ;)…also deserve an honorable mention! It was just up to Pixie and Levi to find a way to accept that help.

Between the two of them, there was so much misguided guilt and misplaced blame. So much pretending. The more I found out about their life and relationship before the accident, I was just hurting for them. The unspoken longing became increasingly palpable. Sometimes, it was in their caught-in-the-moment chemistry. That electric feeling when long-buried desire comes to the surface. The “steam” made limited appearances, but when it did, it was scorching. Other times, it was more poignant. That lonely feeling when their mixed-up confusion forces them to push that desire back down again.

Their struggle resonates with anyone who has ever lost a loved one in a senseless accident. Being the ones who survived weighed heavily on their conscience, and Pixie and Levi took it out on themselves, tried to bear that cross alone. *I* really started to break down as more of the past was unveiled, like Levi confronting his parents’ reactions to the accident and Pixie rehashing her mom’s history. The “adults” that they were supposed to lean on were unable to accept the past themselves and move on, so who else could they trust to guide them?

Later on, it wasn’t just about the sadness and guilt. There was also anger simmering underneath. There was so much pent up emotion that, when even the tiniest amount spilled from the dam, you felt it. In one such instance, Chelsea Fine put Pixie’s hateful mom front and center, let her rear her ugly head and spew her poison. A single scene reduced me to pissed off rage, to having a slow clap over my Kindle, then to having warm and fuzzies. Whatever this author wants you to feel, you do. She fleshes out these emotions so well!

Finally, when the healing process began, I loved that Chelsea showed it wasn’t a simple step to take. It wasn’t one quick, easy purging. Admitting their truths was a slow, hammering process for Pixie and Levi. When they finally faced each other and their still-fresh scars, it brought tears to my eyes. These moments were so raw and stripped down…scenes that turned me into a highlight-obsessed madwoman. Yes, God, such beautiful words.

Pixie and Levi needed to thrive again. To come back from limbo. To live. The moment when Levi found the clarity he’d been desperately seeking…that scene especially broke me and hit me the hardest. My heart was aching for Levi, but it was such an exquisitely raw moment when he allowed himself to remember what he lost.

The road to forgiveness is often a long, arduous one, and Pixie and Levi had been carrying their guilt for almost a year. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do isn’t to forgive someone else. The hardest part is to forgive yourself. Those scenes between Pixie and Levi were so powerful. I felt like I could breathe out and let it all go, right along with them. It felt cleansing.

At last, it felt good to laugh again! (Again, best friend Zack. Loved him.) Life started to move. There was a sense of hope and renewal. Throughout the book, there had been a big storm brewing. Thunderous clouds loomed above. The rain literally started to fall at this point, but instead of signifying destruction, it was a sign of revival. And just like a glorious post-storm sky, the air between Pixie and Levi felt refreshingly open and clear.

However, new beginnings can be accompanied by fear. Fear of the what-if’s and the what’s next? Making the choice and the effort to move on from the past is a big step. Choosing to live in the present with hope, not fear, is an entirely different step on its own. I loved watching this couple overcome that one last hurdle.

This book expressed such beautiful messages about loss, grief, healing, forgiveness, hope, and love. It was wonderfully heart-gripping from start to finish. I fell in love with Chelsea Fine’s graceful storytelling, the distinct voices that she gave her characters, and the touching journey that she sent them on. Best Kind of Broken is a beautifully written, 5-star, New Adult gem!

Ive had this book for ages and I cant believe it has taken me so long to read it. I should have read this a long time ago because it was a great read. It reminds me of the new adult books I read back when the genre was new and those are still my favorite, so of course I really enjoyed this one.

Pixie and Levi are both fantastic characters. I love friends to lovers and second chance romances and this book was a bit of both. Pixie and Levi have a complicated history, but gah they are so perfect for one another it hurts. I adored them together. Their banter and fighting was so much fun. My heart also hurt for both of them so damn much. I also absolutely adored Ellen. She is a fantastic character. Oh and Jenna too! I am so excited she has a book and I cannot wait to get to it.

Obviously I loved the romance, but I think my favorite thing about this book is how funny it was. There is definitely an emotional aspect to the story and its not all lighthearted fun. But it also made me laugh out loud. The inner monologues for both Levi and Pixie were fantastic. The author did an amazing job balancing the serious aspects with the humor. The book never felt like it was all fluff, but it also never felt as if you were drowning in sadness. It was a great tone. Like for example, in the middle of a very serious conversation, this happens Its okay to be afraid of lizards. Its really weird, but its okay. Theyre like tiny, terrifying dinosaurs. That quote had me cracking up and there were so many little moments like that.

Best Kind Of Broken was a really great read and anyone who is looking for a good new adult read needs to pick this one up. The characters are great. The romance is great. The story is great. And the banter is great. You wont be disappointed with this one.

Best Kind of Broken is the first book in the Finding Fate series by Chelsea Fine. This is a New Adult book and I absolutely loved it. Here we have two college students Pixie and Levi. They were childhood friends for years and they drifted apart a year prior to this book starting.

Pixie moves into the Inn that her aunt owns during summer break from college. What her aunt doesn’t tell her, is that Levi is staying there too (in the next room). They both end up working there for the summer and sharing a bathroom, which leads to many humorous arguments between them. It also leads to a lot of tension. And sexual tension. And more tension. Pixie and Levi desperately try to avoid each other. But this book is more than just about a couple of people trying to avoid each other and failing desperately.

This book is heavy. Not literally, but emotionally. I won’t say why Pixie and Levi stopped talking a year ago because I don’t want to spoil anything. This is the kind of heart-wrenching book that will make your chest hurt while you are reading it. It’s not light and fluffy. I will say though, that it does have a happy ending. Because I know that is a deal breaker with some people. I, personally, avoid books if I know there is no happy ending.

Pixie and Levi are meant for each other, but they are so stubborn and frustrating that it takes them a long time to realize this. You will want to ring both their necks, several times, before you finish the book. There is some mystery throughout the book, because it takes a long time to find out what the big secret is that everyone is avoiding. The author gives little bits of it away until you finally realize what has broken these characters so much. It’s great though, really. I mean, of course it was a little frustrating but it kept me GLUED to the pages because I couldn’t wait to figure the mystery out.

This is a great love story with great characters. Even the background characters were great. The only thing I would have changed (a little) is the ending. Not that I didn’t like the way it ended, but because I felt like I needed to know more about these two characters. I needed to read more happy moments between these two, because through most of the book they were just…sad. It’s not enough for me to just KNOW that they lived happily ever after… I need some details. Just…something more. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series, I can’t wait to get a chance. The other books are based on different characters, but they are characters that met in this book. Oh, and fyi there are a couple of really steamy scenes. There’s not too much detail but probably the right amount for most people. Personally, I would have liked to have had more detail because these scenes were hot 😉

So this set of books arent a trilogy but they are all based around a cute BnB called Willow Inn, & the characters interlink in each story. Each story is about a couple that have hardships & challenges to face before they get their HEA but not too much drama where youre rolling your eyes! Theyre a very well written cute set of rom-com books. I originally read them years ago and I knew I really enjoyed them couldnt remember the storylines so Im really happy I re-read them. Definitely recommend.

This was a good read. I enjoyed reading the story from both characters points of view. The only reason I dropped a star is I felt the story could have been resolved sooner! The characters grew closer to only be held apart due to silly ideas. Great characters and a good story. I would recommend.

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