Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book so much!! Although I am younger than the characters, I related to them very well, and it was a nice change to read about middle-aged characters, since many books that I read have younger main characters.

I really enjoy reading books with archaeology and anthropology, since I studied anthropology in college. This book included a great balance between the archaeology and romance!

It was such a great plot idea for Kate and Ben to reunite while working/teaching at an archaeology field school, after meeting at the one they attended as students many years ago. I love the parallels between their experiences at each field school.

The romance was written so well! It was a very realistic portrayal of two people with personal struggles coming together and seeing the best in each other. I enjoyed seeing how they became each other’s safe place, and helped each other work towards a place where they could heal.

I would love to read more about Kate and Ben! (Possibly continuing to teach together at the field school in the future?)

As a side note, I love how Kate was interested in going to Interstate State Park, and that it was mentioned several times in the book! I am from Minnesota, and that is one of my favorite State Parks to visit, so I can definitely understand her enthusiasm!

Tropes:
- Second chance romance
- Being each other’s safe place
- Mutual long-term crush
- Slow burn
- Romantic tension
- Friends to lovers

Representation:
- LGBTQ+
- Mental health, including anxiety, depression, and body image issues
- Physical disability
- Chronic pain
- Relationship issues and divorce

Favorite quote:
“If he were brave, he would tell her how he was falling in love with her, that it wasn’t only the idea of her but all of her, including the parts she worried were unlovable.”

In Colorado, Kate is reeling: her long-term, live-in girlfriend has just left without warning or explanation, she's turning to alcohol and pills more and more often in order to sleep, and she still has lingering thoughts of what could have been.

In Norway, Ben too is struggling: his marriage being over is one thing, but his teenage daughter slowly rejecting him is another. Add to that an injured back and a changing body that he hasn't made peace with, and his day-to-day existence feels tenuous.

What connects them: decades earlier, they met on an archeological dig; they've stayed very loosely in touch, but both of them have always wondered: what if that was the one? And now, back together on a dig in Newfoundland, they have the chance to explore that.

I read another novel set at an archeology dig a year or so ago, so my interest was piqued when I saw the similar (well—not all that similar—but related) setting here. Kate and Ben both have extensive experience and a genuine love for their jobs, which I appreciate; there's a fair amount of drama and tension within the book, but (almost) none of it has to do with people behaving badly at work. Instead, the story is largely an exploration of two people who are not really young any more, and bringing some baggage to the table, and both determined that even when they cannot make seek the best for themselves, they can help the other seek more positive things.

There are some places where I'm not sold: the exes get a bit unnecessarily evil (which is always a pity in books that are otherwise aiming for character complexity), the proofreading gets a bit shaky, and I would have loved more archeology scenes and details. But I found the dynamic Kate and Ben develop to be really satisfying—like, they're both very clear on the fact that if it comes down to Ben's daughter or his new romance, Ben will pick his daughter; it should be a obvious thing but is something that I don't see come up all that often in fiction. Or: sex is a part of the book (not a huge part), and one of the points there is that these are not twentysomethings who spend hours at a time on every position imaginable; they are humans with human limitations, and that's okay. Or: there are moments of insecurity here (plenty of them), but never the cheap shots of small misunderstandings that rapidly become gulfs.

I'm not sure how best to categorize this: there are elements of romance, but it feels more like a coming-of-(middle)-age story in a lot of ways. Two people growing up and figuring it out. Either way, it made for a satisfying read.

Thanks to the author for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

This was a sophisticated romance novel with some heavy subject matter, but I loved all of it. A second-chance romance is a forever favorite of mine, and I was rooting for Ben and Kate from page 1. Loved the archaeology setting, the treatment of mental health, the older characters (with REAL bodies), and the supporting characters, as well as the masterful writing. Would definitely recommend!

they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but with this one, you kind of can! a BEAUTIFUL cover for a BEAUTIFUL book!

the cover is initially what drew me in, but after reading the description, i was sold. i’ve found myself commonly enjoying novels with older (in this story, they’re in their 40s) main characters. i think it has something to do with maturity and communication!

this is a kind of second chance situation — the characters both crushed on each other back in undergrad, but choices led them down different paths. now, they’re back together, and the circumstances are ripe for reconnection!

i liked how weald divided the book into four different parts; they’re paced very well. i don’t think this is like the best book i’ve ever read, or my favorite, but i think there’s something in kate’s and ben’s stories (both together and apart) that is very special.

i would recommend this book to anyone! i loved it, and struggled to put it down. once i was in the thick of it, i just wanted to finish it!

#netgalley

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“ I want to be the bone lady.”

Even If We’re Broken captivated me like no other book before; its unique blend of archaeological intrigue, romance, and sensitive exploration of mental health themes captured my heart from the very beginning. The author’s skillful depiction of deeper emotions resulted in numerous heartfelt scenes that lingered in my mind long after I turned the final page.

At the core of the narrative are the remarkable characters, Kate and Ben, whose journey I followed. Their struggles with anxiety and depression were portrayed with such authenticity that it felt as though I was experiencing their challenges alongside them. The raw honesty with which their mental health issues were depicted was both compelling and deeply moving.

The dynamics between Kate and Ben were a touching reflection of the complexities that arise when mental health issues intersect with love and companionship.

Throughout the novel, I found myself rooting for Kate and Ben.

So very grateful to be able to read the ARC for this debut novel. I can’t wait to get my hands on a paperback copy to be able to reread and annotate!