Member Reviews

This finale is everything. It is intense, emotional, and utterly consuming. The stakes are sky-high, the writing lush and gripping, and the emotions hit deep. A spellbinding conclusion that doesn’t just satisfy, it leaves a mark.

Was this review helpful?

Between These Broken Hearts is a beautifully written, emotionally charged romance that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. The book masterfully weaves a story of love, loss, and healing, all while delving into the complexities of relationships and self-discovery.

Was this review helpful?

I love Lexi Ryan’s books and this one was no exception! The world is so interesting and the romance was so amazing!

Was this review helpful?

Lexi ryan does it again with another amazing book. This book sunk it's claws in me. It kept me hooked from the start. I really enjoyed this story

Was this review helpful?

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Lexi Ryan always delivers, and Beneath These Broken Hearts is no exception! This book had everything I wanted—intense romance, heart-wrenching angst, gripping fantasy, and a cast of characters that felt so real and layered. The emotional depth in this story was incredible, and the tension had me completely hooked from start to finish.

Ryan has a way of making every moment feel so charged, whether it’s a stolen glance, a heated argument, or a swoon-worthy romantic scene. The relationships—both romantic and platonic—were beautifully developed, and the stakes kept me fully invested the entire time.

I’m already counting down the days until I can dive into whatever Lexi Ryan writes next!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I love this world and this story didn't disappoint. There's great mental health rep and the characters are beautiful written. The writing is firmly YA but in a good way and the plot is familair for readers of this genre without feeling recycled.
Im excited to see what this author comes up with next.

Was this review helpful?

Reentering this world and its characters was enjoyable. loved returning here. It's always enjoyable to learn more on this universe, its kingdoms, and its magic. Even though I'd love to see more stories in this world, the ending really brings everything together nicely. At the end, I doubt anyone will feel like they're missing anything! great read!

Was this review helpful?

Although I was excited to see what had happened to Jas and Felicity in this return to the Fae world, this book did feel a bit rushed. I preferred Felicity's story to Jas's overall, but it was definitely a book worth reading with lots of unexpected turns!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

Was this review helpful?

A fantastic ending to the fast paced, action packed duology! I loved how everything wrapped up despite such high stakes. I did find the Jas-Kendrick age gap slightly problematic though. Despite that, I enjoyed this book so much!

Was this review helpful?

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

and that is my review

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Lexi Ryan for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lexi Ryan has long been a go-to comfort read for me, and I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of <i>Between These Broken Hearts</i>. Having read all her previous contemporary romance works, I was eager to continue her first fantasy series. While I had read the earlier 3 books, I recommend a refresher, as the plot takes some time to gain momentum, and I found myself a bit lost in the beginning.

Like many romantasy novels, this one follows a familiar structure, but it still stands out from much of what is currently dominating bookstore shelves. In fact, I preferred the latter two books in the series over the first specifically because they depart from the typical formula that the first two firmly stick to. I appreciated how the third and fourth books tied up some lingering plot holes from Abriella’s story from the original duology through her sister, Jas, while also introducing Felicity, a shapeshifter, in a compelling dual narrative.

Though firmly in the YA category, the book thoughtfully addresses themes of mental health, suicidal ideation, and leans into accepting the darkest part of ourselves - all very tactfully. I also loved seeing a plus-size FMC represented in the story. However, the stakes are never all that high and the conflict resolution is pretty easy to anticipate. I still enjoyed this story and the series as a whole despite some of the more modern day language in a fantasy setting.

In her Author’s Note, Ryan shares how she channeled her personal experience with grief, writing about depression and anxiety in a world she loves while her father was in hospice. He ultimately passed shortly after she submitted her first draft, adding a deeply personal layer to this novel’s emotional depth. I hope to read more from her soon and wish her and her family strength and healing.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC of this book!

Between These Broken Hearts is the fourth book in the These Hollow Vows series.

In this story, Jasalyn has made her decision to go it alone to try to protect her loved ones from Mordeus, which also means protecting them from herself. Felicity in the meantime is attempting to figure out what has happened to her since she was imprisoned and then suddenly swept away by some unknown entity, all while dealing with her own wounded heart. Both have to make the toughest decision of all: do they sacrifice themselves for the ones they love, or do they attempt to run from their fate?

This is another world that I was really excited to return to. While I enjoyed this one, I will say that the previous book that kicked off Jasalyn’s storyline hooked me so much more. In that one, I really loved the tension between Hale and Jasalyn and the romance between Felicity and Misha. The distance between the characters, whether due to physical distance, absence, secrets, or the chaos of battle, really impacted that romantic tension in this book where it did feel less impactful. Although, there are still some beautiful lines between these characters.

I did think that there were a lot of good ideas in this one where the plot was concerned, and I loved seeing the world expand. I enjoyed the continued quest for the sword and how we got a ballroom scene and more involvement from the oracle. I also appreciated how we were introduced to new characters and places. However, even the best scenes needed more expansion—I kept wanting more depth. For instance, the final battle scene felt disjointed, where it all of a sudden cuts from one scene to another and characters are separated without that separation really being explained in terms of how it happened, and one of the major conflicts felt a bit on the anticlimactic side because it was over and done with so quickly.

Spoiler Thought:
Being a fan of the first two books in the series, I also have to ask, where was Finn? Brie played a much larger role in this storyline, and I could not for the life of me understand how he had such a meager role this time, and not only that, but he is never mentioned in the final battle scene. I know the story is not told from Brie’s perspective, but I still feel like we should have seen some glimpses of him at some point.

Tropes:
✨ Adventure/Quest
✨ Healing from an injury
✨ Found Family
✨ Forbidden Love
✨ Separated Lovers
✨ Prophecies and Curses
✨ Hidden Identities
✨ Speaking Mind-to-Mind
✨ Oracle
✨ Magic

Was this review helpful?

Between These Broken Hearts by Lexi Ryan is book four to These Hollow Vows Series. I loved the plot of the series it grabs y'all attention and keeps it. It made me want to keep reading more I loved it so much. I love the art on the cover as well the artist did a great job.

Was this review helpful?

Lexi Ryan's YA series are just simply fun and enjoyable to read. I loved These Hollow Vows duology and was excited to see a new one come out. Between These Broken Hearts is the sequal to Beneath These Cursed stars and continues the story of Jas and Felicity. I would say to go back and re-read the first in the duology just to refresh your memory and make this one more enjoyable.

Lexi Ryan remains one of my favourite authors and I look forward to other spin-off duologies from this world with other characters.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I've read by this author and I felt a tad bit lost getting into this story but looking past the fact that I did not read the other book, I actually finished this and enjoyed it. I definitely will be picking up beneath these cursed stars to get more of Felicity & Jasalyn story because I absolutely loved the characters and it's compelling writing.

Was this review helpful?

What a beautiful way to end the story. Jaslyn's growth was amazing. I was so happy about everything she accomplished.

The author's writing style is great and easy to follow. It is YA but can be enjoyed by any age group.

The romance was beautiful and the ending was perfect!

Was this review helpful?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book and provide a review.

One of my favorite series hands down. Lexi Ryan is a genius yet again! The second book in this duology (part of a full series) focuses again on Jas and Felicity with pivoting POVs again in such a unique and fun way. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars 💫

Overall, I did enjoy this book and its conclusion.

Jas is trying to figure out how to break or change the deal she made with the witch who sold her the ring to save everyone and Felicity has been kidnapped from Misha’s dungeons by her biological family who wishes to see her dead due to the prophecy saying she is her father’s weakness. All in all, nothing is as it seems. The more we learn, the more dire things seem higher the stakes.

I enjoyed diving back into this world and its characters. Learning more about this world, its magic and kingdoms is always fun. Jas and Felicity have POVs again but I honestly felt that Jas progressed more than Felicity and I wish we got to see more of Felicity at times.

I also really wish we saw more of Finn, even if he was just mentioned of being there because it seemed like he just vanished. Especially, when his bonded is in peril I feel like he would have made more of an appearance. It just seemed out of place like he was a missing link.

I’m truly not sure the best way to describe it but parts of the story almost felt anticlimactic? I don’t know if there should have been more angst, more banter, or other. I know that some things fall into place as they should, but it was missing a sense of je ne sais quoi.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book had me crying so much. Lexi Ryan truly has the most beautiful writing i have ever read. I feel like this book really tied up all of the loose ends that we were still wondering about and more.
The symbolism of the phoenix was beautiful and such a great reflection on their journey. Felicity was wonderful and i loved being able to relate to her and her complicated family life and her growth in learning to love herself.
The ending was perfect and i couldn't ask for a better book than this.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

What a beautiful ending. I’m pretty sure I was just crying for the last 100 pages or so. Loved returning to this world and this addition was so well done. The depression representation was everything to me. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Was this review helpful?