All I have ever read by Kami Garcia is the first couple of books in the Beautiful Creatures series. I haven’t read any of her other YA standalones or series. I was very interested in getting this ARC from Netgalley so that I could see if I like her contemporary - since I know I like her fantasy/paranormal stories.

I wasn’t disappointed! This book read like a true young adult - Peyton’s life is shaping up nicely - she has it all… an acceptance to UNC, she’s excelling in her division for soccer, and a loving boyfriend. But, once you’re on top - you don’t get to stay there for long. Life throws her some pretty tough curveballs - and it was an interesting ride to see how she dealt with them, and how she grew as a character. Her strength, and tenacity were admirable. Then, we have Owen - an MMA fighter that Peyton meets on her road to dealing with life. Secrets all over the place, and it was interesting watching these two young people navigate their feelings, and how to deal with them.

I really enjoyed the depth of the characters that we got to experience, and their growth. Do I think they Peyton is a bit of a bore sometimes, and has her weak moments? Sure. She’s a young girl, trying to overcome some pretty tough situations. Do I think she over thinks her decisions and sometimes has the wrong reaction? Sure… also typical of the age range of these characters. I liked that this book felt real. It felt like a story that could be happening to some teenager out there.

I loved Garcia’s writing style in this contemporary manner. I easily could relate to and feel for these characters. The plot as whole as a tad predictable, but otherwise entertaining.

Broken Beautiful Hearts

*received an arc in exchange for an honest review**

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A great book that you won’t want to put down. Two people will be faced with losing their dreams and what are they going to do to make sure they don’t lose each other. They will be faced with challenges and have to find strength in not only each other but themselves. Kami Garcia weaves a heartwarming story that will have you wanting more.

Peyton was on her way to her dream school playing soccer, but after a fateful night where her boyfriend pushes her down the stairs and wrecks her knee, her dream is slipping through her fingers. The worse part is no one except her mother believes her and Reed won’t leave her alone. Her mom decides to send her to her uncle’s to continue PT until things die down.

On her first day there she meets Owen who even though they don’t say much to each other she can already feel a connection. When she finds out that Owen is an kickboxer/MMA fighter and will be helping her with her PT she knows it could change things. As she grows closer to Owen they can’t deny their feelings but as time goes on they both find out that they are hiding things from each other.

Will they be able to help each other and their own dreams? Or will Peyton once again lose someone she loves because they won’t take care of themselves?

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

I loved this story. Broken Beautiful Hearts is a poignant and riveting story of heartbreak, betrayal, and second chances. Secrets has a way of coming out and hurting people. This story also tackles very real issues. I would also suggest reading the Author Note at the end of the story. This read kept me turning the pages as I followed these characters to the end of their emotional and troubling journey.

Kami Garcia has created a story that others can relate to. Her character development and world building created this emotionally compelling story of young adults dealing trauma(s) in their lives and how they deal with it. Kami created strong characters, yet they also have their faults/weaknesses. Each having unique personalities. The character dialogues and setting itself also created somewhat of a mysterious atmosphere.

All in all, Broken Beautiful Hearts is an emotionally heartbreaking and heartwarming story that touches real issues. This story is a definite must-read.

Disclaimer: Received a Netgalley review copy for an honest review/opinion

*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*

This book, come at me YA feels! I knew the plot line...by half way through the book I knew how things were going to play out but damn if that mattered because by then I was already consumed by these characters. I put the book down to sleep and spent the entire day at work thinking about Owen and Peyton, and being totally productive *cough, cough*. In all seriousness, I adored this story and love that Kami Garcia has come to the contemporary YA side because this is truly where she shines as an author.

Kami writes about things that matter to her, and Broken Beautiful Hearts is no exception. I could feel tangible emotions from each character. The twins are absolutely fantastic and blend just the right amount of over-protective family and smart-*sses that had me in stitches laughing. Grace is sweet, adorable, and let me be honest here, I was Grace in high school. I was the one pining after the best friend who I was never going to have...lucky for Grace though she has someone waiting for her.

Now let me talk about Peyton, she is a hard-*ss and I loved it. Her personality was vivacious and her fire was inspiring. But the real star of this story is Owen...cue the swoon. I don't know what it is but Kami just writes these boys that I fall for over and over again and Owen was no exception. I found myself drooling over the Kindle screen and I couldn't get enough of him. I could write you a short story professing my love for Owen so you will just have to take me at blog value that he is all the levels of perfection in one sculpted body.

The story line, while somewhat predictable, still had several elements of surprise. I teared up towards the end, and for once it was happy tears, my heart full of joy and at peace for a character who has struggled far too much in her young life. Characters grew and found inner peace, happily even afters took place and honestly, my heart is just content and full and this is how I want to end every book.

4-4,5 STARS

Kami Garcia delivers a poignant,heartwarming and sweet story!I was hooked from the beginning and there were many things I enjoyed in this story!The writing was beautiful, the plot interesting and the characters were great!I haven't read before a book from Kami Garcia and I'm happy that I finally did it, because I loved it!

Everything about it felt realistic and I could easily keep up with the story!Peyton was a difficult heroine in my opinion.I didn't like her from the beginning she annoyed me sometimes but I could understand her behavior.Owen was one of the best parts in the story!

If you like reading YA books then you definitely have to check this one!I'm planning to read soon more books from this author!!

I thought this was a sweet story. I had moments of heartbreak, but it also had moments that healed as well. The characters were easy to relate to. While I didn't always agree with them, I understood where they were coming from. They were real and flawed and beautiful. I loved this story. I don't read YA very often, but I am always a fan of Kami Garcia and she definitely does the genre justice. I absolutely fell in love with the world created in this story.

Peyton Rios has a boyfriend and is starting her senior year as a star soccer player on her high school team. Her dreams of playing on a college soccer team are within her grasp until a fall injures her knee. Was it a fall or was she pushed? Peyton now has to concentrate on her recovery while being accused of lying about what truly happened to her. Her mother decides to send Peyton to her uncle’s house to rehabilitate her knee and get away from her accusers. There, Peyton meets Owen Law who, as it turns out, is much more than she bargained for.
I appreciate the depth of the characters and the bravery that Peyton demonstrates throughout the story. You will not want to put this book down!

This was my first Kami Garcia and I really enjoyed it. I definitely plan to read her future work and hope to enjoy it as much as this. There wasn't much that made it stand out in a positive or negative way, but i just really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it's funny that the world of MMA which is a huge theme in adult romance has finally made it to YA. I would say this book is definitely older YA as it has a fairly descriptive sex scene. This book deals with many serious issues: emotionally and physically abusive relationships, harassment, stalking, drinking, drugs, peer pressure, bullying, doping with steroids, and more I'm sure I'm forgetting. What touched my heart and made me cry was the authors notes at the end where she went through a relationship like this and also didn't seek help or report him. I think it's very brave of Kami to put story out there and then give teens resources for help. Well done! I have already told all my co-workers and look forward to recommending this book to my veracious teen readers.

*I do not post negative reviews online, so I will not be posting this to any site.
Being that I like Kami Garcia, I was really disappointed when I finished this book. The world does not need another romantic tale of a young woman who is against love and relationships and falls in love anyway. Oh, wait! The object of her affection must be an MMA fighter/boxer/Ultimate Fighting Champion/ninja or something of the sort. This story was all over the place and I couldn't decipher which was supposed to be the main story line. Moreover, the relationships were very superficial and petty. Finally, I tire of reading about girls who are automatically mean to each other because of the way they look. There are too many YA books in which we are supposed to like the main character because she "isn't like other girls," but this protagonist is often just as judgmental and, well, mean as the other girls. We need to teach girls to give each other a chance, not immediately size each other up and determine they won't like the other. Overall, Broken Beautiful Hearts was a huge letdown.

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. Around 30% is where I started to get interested, but sadly I wasn't ever truly invested (and I really wanted to be!). Then with about 20-25% left a potential game changing reveal hits that took me almost completely out. Personally these types of reveals are not my favorite, but I powered through and was okay with how it turned out. The author's note at the end of the book sheds some light on how this story and the subject of abusive relationships came together and I applaud Kami for having the strength to put it to paper. While this wasn't my favorite and I personally couldn't relate, I'm sure this will connect with others and help them through their own personal experiences.

I loved this book! Kami Garcia is a master of her art. I loved all of the characters, with their depth and goals. I even loved the jaded boyfriend's character. He was made into a monstrous guy, but I could feel his suffering as an addict and as someone who felt backed into a corner by his life.

Thank you for the opportunity to read BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS. I loved Kami's, THE LOVELY RECKLESS, and was so looking forward to this one. but it fell short for me. I had a difficult time relating to Peyton and some of the events felt too far-fetched to be believable. This may not have been the book for me, but I don't doubt there will be readers who love it.

I can sum Broken Beautiful Hearts up quickly: the main character, Peyton is a rising star, amazing soccer player headed to her dream college. Then she finds out her fighter boyfriend is abusing steroids, confronts him, he goes into a rage and pushes her down a flight of steps outside a party. Peyton tells everyone, including her boyfriend's sister who is also her best friend, what happens but nobody (other than her mother) believes her. Then the threats start and Peyton has to leave town. In her new town she meets a new boy, Owen and tries to fight her attraction to him but she really likes him. Then her psycho ex shows up with the attitude "If I can't have you no one can", things escalate, and finally at the end Peyton allows herself to be with Owen. I mean, some other stuff happens but that's basically the gist.

I requested to be on the blog tour for this book because I've read and loved other books by Kami Garcia and the way it was promoted sounded like if you liked The Lovely Reckless, Garcia's last book, you'd love this one. While I loved The Lovely Reckless and devoured it in one night, this book reminded me of the plot of about 10 Lifetime movies I've seen. I've read other books where the main character is an athlete, which is not exactly something I can relate to, but I've enjoyed those books and thought I'd like this book but it seemed almost too focused on the boring mechanics of soccer in the beginning. I also get that the author was trying to convey a true image of teen dating violence but if I were Peyton I would have handled things differently from the start. I wouldn't have given a damn that Reed was supporting his family, his butt would have been in jail and there would have been a restraining order.

The players in this book:

The Heroine / Survivor:
Peyton is supposed to be shown as a girl putting her life back together but I honestly didn't like her very much. In the beginning she was whiny and kind of self-absorbed then after the incident it was like she was still trying to protect Reed, even indirectly. I never really grew to like her after that.

The Perpetrator:
Reed is your basic controlling, abusive boyfriend. Steroids or not, he's not a good guy no matter what anyone says. The whole fact that Peyton didn't want to rush in and tell Reed her good news that morning in case waking him up caused an argument? That's what we call a red flag. He's not a sexy bad boy we love, he's a psycho to run far away from.

The Traitor:
Don't get me started on Tess. I know Reed was her brother but come on, you've seen his mood swings! You know something is up!

The Love Interest:
Honestly, Owen was the only thing that saved this story for me. I loved him as a character.

Overall, I didn't like the first half of this book and I almost DNF'd it a few times because I didn't like the main character, but the second half of the book got better. It was a quick read and the book's intent has an important message but it wasn't a unique story for me. I feel like I've seen the same story in different variations in television movies and other books.

I could not put this book down! Kami Garci truly knows how to write for teens! Her small town high school was spot on from the girl drama to the lockers and cafeteria (and athletes!) Of course the romance of it all was swoon worthy. She gave her characters room to grow and threw in several great lessons for readers of all ages, most notably that the ever after is the important part, and you control your own happy! I loved the transparency and authenticity of her authors note and how she snuck good advice on what to do if you ever find yourself in the same situation into the text without being too "preachy." Thank you for allowing me to read and review his book. I will definitely recommend it to my readers not just because of the great message, but because it is a great book!

The story started off strong but my main problem was with Peyton throughout most of the novel. While I liked how she could be strong and independent—a lot of the time she tried too hard to be that way. There are times when you can ask for help; it doesn’t make you weak. She annoyed me in that aspect—getting mad and overreacting over stupid shit. While she may have thought she was determined and independent; it came off as a petulant child.

Peyton is on the fast track to becoming a division 1 athlete at UNC for soccer. What more could Peyton want when she just got her acceptance letter, has great friends, and of course, the perfect boyfriend. A perfect boyfriend that’s been changing as of late. He’s keeping secrets and once Peyton finds out, she does what any sensible girl would do, she breaks up with him. But something terrible happens—resulting in Peyton moving to Tennessee to with her Uncle. It’s there she meets an aspiring and beautiful fighter, Owen.

While I have all of Kami Garcia’s books, this is the first time I’m actually reading one by her. I find her writing deep, intense, and poetic. Despite my love/hate relationship with Peyton, I enjoyed the book very much. Peyton, when not being bratty, really can be strong. I liked how in the beginning she stuck up for a girl she felt was getting bullied. I also liked that she remained solid when breaking up with her boyfriend, Reed. That guy was something else...

Overall, I think readers will enjoy a story of characters fighting back when not being heard, and never backing down. It’s a story of healing, new beginnings, and letting go of things that are out of your control. It also shows that while life can sometimes leave you broken; it can also surprise you in the most beautiful ways.

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"His expression is a complicated tangle of emotions I can’t unravel. There was a time when I Would’ve wanted to try to do Some untangling, after watching a good-looking guy swoop in and rescue someone. But I’m done with complicated “

“Sometimes life only gives you two options–bad or worse. So you go with bad”

“At the last possible moment, he stops and looks back. It’s two seconds. Maybe less. But when a boy looks at you like he’s drowning and you’re the only person who saw him fall on, it feels like forever. “

“Every heart can be broken. Some just break more easily than others.”

Broken Beautiful Heart is an incredibly well written and captivating YA read. The story-line is compelling and the writing is 100% addictive. With lots of drama, heartache, intense and shocking moments, this book will be sure to keep you on your toes and leave you unable to put it down.

I forgot how much addicting the YA genre can be. I was hooked from the very first page and got completely lost in the story that unfolded. I was shocked and couldn’t look away. I had to keep reading. I had to see what would happen next. And this book totally kept me coming back for more.

I fell in love with the characters instantly and found them easy to connect with. Their story was spellbinding, yet gritty. Filled with lost dreams and broken hearts. I even fell in love with the secondary characters and wanted to more about them. And let me tell you, there are quite a few characters that I wouldn’t mind seeing more of in the future.

Owen had my heart from the moment I met him. He was tough, yet adorable at the same time. He was an amazing friend and never pushed for more. He was protective of those he let get close and was 100% swoon worthy. And Peyton…She could have let her injury consume her, but she was so incredibly strong. It may have turned her world turned upside down and force change, but if there was anyone up to the challenge, it was Peyton. Fresh start.

Owen & Peyton were adorable together. I loved seeing their friendship grow and enjoyed witnessing their slow building romance. I’m usually not a big fan of the slow burn, but with these two, it was totally satisfying.

Overall, I thought this book was an enjoyable read. It kept me on my toes right until the very end. Beautiful Broken Hearts is a terrific YA novel that has just the right amount of drama, intrigue and romance. I loved getting lost in this story and look forward to checking out more contemporary works from this author in the future.

I loved this book!! This was my first book by this author and I loved every second of it. While it’s ya it’s more of a mature ya. This deals with a very difficult subject matter that happens at the teen level that no one talks about or reports. Abuse by a boyfriend/girlfriend. The author finds an amazing balance in this book, while she talks about a serious subject she does interject humor to lighten the book up some. I plan on having my 18 year old read this, I know she would love it and I can’t recommend it enough. Told entirely in Peyton’s POV.

This isn't your typical YA book. It was a little deeper.
I really enjoyed this book. While reading it I thought ok this is predictable BUT it changed and I wasn't expecting the Reed/Peyton and Owen thing.
I wish we had just a little more at the end. Don't get me wrong I liked it, I guess I always want more.
I loved the author's note at the end. Thanks for sharing that.

Thanks for letting me review

I was stoked to read this book because like Peyton, I was involved in an accident caused by someone else that ruined my knee and life. I thought I could relate to her. I thought this story would be powerful and inspiring, but I was wrong. I didn’t finish at 30% because the story and characters were awful. The story started off with Peyton reminiscing about her boyfriend of seven or so months and how he illegally fights underground for money. She just received her college acceptance letter to UNC and a spot on their soccer team and cannot wait to share this news with her boyfriend. What Peyton can’t seem to understand is that her boyfriend works as much as he can and participates in underground fights to help his mom and sister (who is Peyton’s BFF) for rent/food/bills at their apartment. Peyton wants all the attention on herself and doesn’t understand why her boyfriend (I can’t even remember his name at this point) must work overtime henceforth why he doesn’t spend every waking minute worshiping her very presence. He is an adult and has responsibilities to help his household and Peyton can’t comprehend that.

When they wander to a party (cue a scene now and later where teenagers drunk drive. Wonderful promotion.) Peyton starts a fight with the boyfriend because she finds steroids in his car and she just doesn’t understand why he must work all the time. She whines until eventually the boyfriend snaps and pushes her down the stairs. I’m not excusing the boyfriend’s actions here, but I’m surprised he didn’t ditch Peyton earlier on since all she did was complain about how he neglected her to work. Anyway, both these people aren’t good for one another since Peyton wants attention and the boyfriend is too busy and responsible to give her attention. So the boyfriend pushes her down some stairs and she lands on her knee and tears her PCL.

I expected this story to revolve around Peyton’s healing and therapy since it takes months to heal after a knee surgery. Instead, there’s a three-week time gap until after the surgery where Peyton is wearing a brace and apparently can walk almost perfectly which is inaccurate. She’s harassed by people angry at her for calling her boyfriend out and making him take a drug test (he passes) and her boyfriend keeps stalking and texting her that he loves her and denies pushing Peyton down the stairs.

I was happy that Peyton kept telling everyone that her boyfriend pushes her, although no one believed her. I didn’t like how she refused to press charges because she didn’t want to inconvenience her BFF. Her mother ships her off to her uncle and twin cousins in Tennessee and once they arrive in Black Water the stereotypes begin. All types of redneck, farm loving, country living southerner stereotypes are weaved into the story complete with the mean, popular girls who have it out for Peyton. Peyton of course is beautiful and skinny so every guy falls in love with her and all the girls are jealous of her because of her looks and how she is related to the beautiful, godlike twins.

Anyway, this story was a stereotypical mess filled with a whiny and self-centered main character who loves attention but refuses to let anyone help her and then complains about the lack of help and attention. Please pass if you’re not into books with typical young-adult trends featuring whining main characters who are gorgeous, evil mean girls, narcissism, and no plot.