We ♥ all of the books in the Finding Fate Series by Chelsea Fine and are so excited to share our review for Best Kind of Broken here on Swoony Boys Podcast with you today. (A modified version of this review can be found on Pretty Sassy Cool, our sister site that focuses on New Adult and Romance books.) We can’t wait to get our ::grabbyhands:: on the paperback copy of Best Kind of Broken, which is available in bookstores everywhere today!! *jumpyclaps* Trust us, you’re going to want to go ahead and order this for your shelves, too.
Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine
Series: Finding Fate #1
Published by Forever on March 4, 2014
Genres: New Adult
Pages: 336
Goodreads Buy the Book 
SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN
Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can't. And the damage is done. She's hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there's a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more--until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he's right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she'd long buried . . .
Levi can't believe he's living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple "sorry" won't suffice--not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie's better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she's so close, Pixie's heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear--he can't live without her.
The 411:
Nineteen year old Pixie is spending the summer working at her aunt’s hotel when she gets a surprise she didn’t think she could handle:
I started working for my aunt Ellen at Willow Inn because one of the job perks–and I use that term loosely–is free room and board.
And my free room shares a hallway and a bathroom with the only person I was hoping to avoid for the rest of my life.
Levi Andrews.
Hot guy. Handyman. My long-lost…something.
Pixie and Levi were best friends until thirteen months ago, when something terrible happened in both of their lives, causing them not to speak to each other again until she shows up for the summer. Both of them feel an overwhelming guilt for the part they each played in what happened, and they just can’t get past it. They also can’t get past the way they still feel about each other.
Right here, right now, yesterday, tomorrow–whenever he’s near–I feel safe. Safe and loved. Because that’s exactly what I am, even if he doesn’t know it. Even if I don’t deserve it.
Over the course of the story, they try to deny the way they feel and come to terms (somewhat) with what happened and why they didn’t speak to each other again after that. Their UST is off the charts, and everyone knows it is just a matter of time until they give in.
He gripped my hips as my hands, still clutching the flag, slid over his shoulders and pulled me up toward the mouth I wanted so much more of. I whimpered desperately and I wasn’t even ashamed. This was Levi. This was everything right.
His hands slid up my body and held my face, his warm palms cupping the sides of my neck as his thumbs stroked the edge of my jaw and the curve of my cheeks.
He kissed me like he owned me. Like I was his, and his alone, to kiss. And I wanted to be.
There are a few hiccups in their path toward one another, including their total lack of communication and the fact that Pixie has a boyfriend at the beginning.
What We Loved:
We really liked these characters. We could immediately feel the connection that Pixie and Levi shared, and we liked both of them, especially Levi.
“I can think of better things for you to do in my bed, Pix.”
We loved their banter and their fights and how crazy about each other they were. And though we didn’t really think the reason that they didn’t speak to each other for thirteen months–considering that they were best friends before that–was realistic, we also really liked the idea for this story. The supporting characters were awesome too, and we were excited to see who will be featured in the rest of the series.
Um...Not So Much:
There were a few things we didn’t like, though. We hated the repetitiveness of their thoughts and actions. They ran hot and cold with each other a little too much for our tastes, and we’re not a fan of the whole one step forward and three steps back approach. We didn’t think her mother was realistic–at all, but we’re glad that Levi stood up to her. We also did not love the smexy parts, and the fact that she howled like a werewolf or that they were having loud sex when there were other people very close by. Maybe that’s just us.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a good story with substance, an original storyline, and likeable characters that you’ll find yourself rooting for, we think you’ll really like Best Kind of Broken.
Verdict:
| Rating Report | |
|---|---|
| Cover |  |
| Characters |  |
| Plot | |
| Writing | |
| Swoon |  |
| Overall: | 3.5 |
**About Chelsea Fine**
Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.
***GIVEAWAY***
Good luck!
