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Pages From the Book of Broken Dreams
Emmalynn Gallagher threw caution to the wind once—and found herself in the middle of a tornado. Needless to say, she won’t be doing that again. Now she fills her life with plans and to-do lists. Having moved home for a fresh start, Emma’s facing the ultimate re-do list when she abruptly comes face to face with Aubrey Glass, the source of Emma’s teenage yearning.
Aubrey wouldn’t recognize yearning if it tornadoed into her face, but she does recognize Emma…even if she wishes she didn’t. Socializing, especially with her past, is Aubrey’s least favorite activity. She’s tender in spots no one can see and would prefer to fade into the background.
Amidst the backdrop of towering shelves of books and the persistent aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Emma and Aubrey navigate their post-high school reunion. With plenty of fumbles and missteps, it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll manage to merge their paths, nor does it always seem that they want to…until suddenly, it’s the only thing that makes sense to either one of them.
Aubrey wouldn’t recognize yearning if it tornadoed into her face, but she does recognize Emma…even if she wishes she didn’t. Socializing, especially with her past, is Aubrey’s least favorite activity. She’s tender in spots no one can see and would prefer to fade into the background.
Amidst the backdrop of towering shelves of books and the persistent aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Emma and Aubrey navigate their post-high school reunion. With plenty of fumbles and missteps, it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll manage to merge their paths, nor does it always seem that they want to…until suddenly, it’s the only thing that makes sense to either one of them.
- GenresLesbianLesbian Fiction
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2024
4 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Kat Jackson
36 books18 followersLibrarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 21, 2024
A captivating tale that had me rooting for MCs Emma and Aubrey. Pages From The Book Of Broken Dreams is a story that delves into the complexities of the challenges and emotions that 20-somethiings face while finding themselves and their paths. Presented in dual POVs of both girls, we get a pretty deep insight into their insecurities and backgrounds. I appreciated Aubrey's respectful approach in allowing Emma the space to process her feelings and attraction, while Emma's perceptive nature breaks down Aubrey's defenses with gentle yet honest confrontation.
There is a good ensemble of supporting characters, one that is quite a diverse mix of individuals! (Excepting one facet—more below.) From the barista Genesis (odd name!) to Aubrey's difficult mother and her step-father’s first wife, Emma's easygoing older brother, and a group of attractive college professors, each contributes to helping Emma and Aubrey navigate their challenges.
I did have a couple of issues with Ms. Jackson’s choices though. After a while, the constant jaw-dropping of both MCs at the stunning beauty of the older gay women I found a little weird when you’re creating a romance between younger (20s) girls. Not to mention it might be nice to have a little more diversity. Is everyone so thin and physically beautiful in the university? Why not someone who is captivating for their mind and personality? There was the ideal environment for that, alas not utilized.
Another thing that stuck out to me was how strange it must be to have two pairs of women who bear such a resemblance to each other but have no blood relation whatsoever. I wondered, and can’t work out, what the author’s intention was with that. Just felt odd.
Overall though, don’t let a couple of gripes put you off. Pages From The Book Of Broken Dreams is full of real-feeling issues and emotions, including sexuality, which was especially dealt with well, I felt. At times raw, Pages is deeply human and, a couple of oddities aside, makes for a compelling read.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
There is a good ensemble of supporting characters, one that is quite a diverse mix of individuals! (Excepting one facet—more below.) From the barista Genesis (odd name!) to Aubrey's difficult mother and her step-father’s first wife, Emma's easygoing older brother, and a group of attractive college professors, each contributes to helping Emma and Aubrey navigate their challenges.
I did have a couple of issues with Ms. Jackson’s choices though. After a while, the constant jaw-dropping of both MCs at the stunning beauty of the older gay women I found a little weird when you’re creating a romance between younger (20s) girls. Not to mention it might be nice to have a little more diversity. Is everyone so thin and physically beautiful in the university? Why not someone who is captivating for their mind and personality? There was the ideal environment for that, alas not utilized.
Another thing that stuck out to me was how strange it must be to have two pairs of women who bear such a resemblance to each other but have no blood relation whatsoever. I wondered, and can’t work out, what the author’s intention was with that. Just felt odd.
Overall though, don’t let a couple of gripes put you off. Pages From The Book Of Broken Dreams is full of real-feeling issues and emotions, including sexuality, which was especially dealt with well, I felt. At times raw, Pages is deeply human and, a couple of oddities aside, makes for a compelling read.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
July 4, 2024
I haven’t been writing many reviews lately as life is quite busy and, believe me, the last thing I want to do is sit longer at a computer and write more words. But I wanted to spend some words on this book now that I finished the series set in New England, around the fantastic world of Pennbrook College and Cornerstone Books. Because the three books I just read in a matter of few days had a special meaning to me, and so all the characters that animate this collegial town.
I studied Foreign Languages and Literatures so there was no way I wouldn’t relate to the passion for reading classics, poetry, fiction and non-fiction. The academic world Kat Jackson describes is somehow a dream I wish I could have been part of. I mean, the professors in it? I would have died on the spot if they were my professors when I was in my twenties. But the passion for literature criticism, discovering the hidden or not so hidden meaning behind the words of someone you don’t know anything about? Reading words written by someone who is no longer with us? From Emily Dickinson to Walt Whitman? I did share and still share that passion, vividly.
While the first two books of the series focus more on the professors at Pennbrook the last one “Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams” takes you right into the life of young adults, navigating the loss of direction in life and the difficulties of having the strength of changing something in life in order to “do” and “be”.
I admire the people that never doubted themselves and followed a set path reaching for their goals. But it didn’t happen like that to me, and I deeply felt the connection with Aubrey and Emma, even in my now almost 50 years.
It’s easy to lose your way when you are so young, what it’s not easy is reacting to the negativity in your head and trying to break through it.
Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams is an extremely slow burn novel. One that will let you understand the psychological mindset of both characters. Both having similarities and differences that intersect and crash with each other, and yet, finding a middle ground, Aubrey and Emma discover that you can find someone to rely on and grow and flourish together in life, day by day.
Mistakes are made so that we can learn from them and go further, and I think this book teaches us that in a great way.
There is no judgement on what mistakes or traumas are. Everybody is different and what can be seen as “nothing particularly traumatic” for someone could be a “big deal” for someone else. The fear of failing and the need of being always perfect is the same, no matter what you fail at or you want to be perfect at. Our brains set the bar of how important that failure is... and most of the times our brains can't be objective when the failure happens.
In Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams, learning to know each other and finally really “listening to each other” to “help yourself and the other” has never been so adorable.
I love all these characters…. These highly overthinking, nerdy, witty, confused, torn and neurotic humans Kat Jackson writes about. I want more of this series. I need Genesis or Sadie’s story.
I studied Foreign Languages and Literatures so there was no way I wouldn’t relate to the passion for reading classics, poetry, fiction and non-fiction. The academic world Kat Jackson describes is somehow a dream I wish I could have been part of. I mean, the professors in it? I would have died on the spot if they were my professors when I was in my twenties. But the passion for literature criticism, discovering the hidden or not so hidden meaning behind the words of someone you don’t know anything about? Reading words written by someone who is no longer with us? From Emily Dickinson to Walt Whitman? I did share and still share that passion, vividly.
While the first two books of the series focus more on the professors at Pennbrook the last one “Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams” takes you right into the life of young adults, navigating the loss of direction in life and the difficulties of having the strength of changing something in life in order to “do” and “be”.
I admire the people that never doubted themselves and followed a set path reaching for their goals. But it didn’t happen like that to me, and I deeply felt the connection with Aubrey and Emma, even in my now almost 50 years.
It’s easy to lose your way when you are so young, what it’s not easy is reacting to the negativity in your head and trying to break through it.
Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams is an extremely slow burn novel. One that will let you understand the psychological mindset of both characters. Both having similarities and differences that intersect and crash with each other, and yet, finding a middle ground, Aubrey and Emma discover that you can find someone to rely on and grow and flourish together in life, day by day.
Mistakes are made so that we can learn from them and go further, and I think this book teaches us that in a great way.
There is no judgement on what mistakes or traumas are. Everybody is different and what can be seen as “nothing particularly traumatic” for someone could be a “big deal” for someone else. The fear of failing and the need of being always perfect is the same, no matter what you fail at or you want to be perfect at. Our brains set the bar of how important that failure is... and most of the times our brains can't be objective when the failure happens.
In Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams, learning to know each other and finally really “listening to each other” to “help yourself and the other” has never been so adorable.
I love all these characters…. These highly overthinking, nerdy, witty, confused, torn and neurotic humans Kat Jackson writes about. I want more of this series. I need Genesis or Sadie’s story.
July 30, 2024
Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams is not your typical romance novel. It delves deep into the complexities of real-life traumas and hardships, presenting characters with genuine struggles and unresolved pasts. The story had a promising premise but often fell short, leaving many plot threads hanging and character backstories underdeveloped. The depiction of Emma and Aubrey’s individual issues felt incomplete, with significant events and emotions often glossed over.
The book's strong points include the realistic depiction of certain themes like abusive relationships and compulsory heterosexuality. Jackson's writing is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid scenes and emotions. However, the narrative sometimes relies too much on telling rather than showing, which I found frustrating.
I also found the novel's pacing inconsistent, with numerous secondary characters introduced without much payoff, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. Emma’s internal conflicts and Aubrey’s complicated relationships were intriguing but lacked sufficient exploration and resolution. The first-person perspective further isolated the reader from fully connecting with the characters, making their experiences feel distant.
Despite these shortcomings, the book has its merits. Kat Jackson's writing remains compelling, and the story's setting and genuine portrayal of difficult themes offers a deeper exploration of personal and emotional challenges. While this book might not be the author's strongest work, it still offers moments of depth and reflection on the challenges of personal growth and healing.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
The book's strong points include the realistic depiction of certain themes like abusive relationships and compulsory heterosexuality. Jackson's writing is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid scenes and emotions. However, the narrative sometimes relies too much on telling rather than showing, which I found frustrating.
I also found the novel's pacing inconsistent, with numerous secondary characters introduced without much payoff, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. Emma’s internal conflicts and Aubrey’s complicated relationships were intriguing but lacked sufficient exploration and resolution. The first-person perspective further isolated the reader from fully connecting with the characters, making their experiences feel distant.
Despite these shortcomings, the book has its merits. Kat Jackson's writing remains compelling, and the story's setting and genuine portrayal of difficult themes offers a deeper exploration of personal and emotional challenges. While this book might not be the author's strongest work, it still offers moments of depth and reflection on the challenges of personal growth and healing.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2024
Kat Jackson is a relatively new find for me and oh, how I love her books! Especially those set in the Pennbrook College universe. Those books begin with The Roads Left Behind Us, then The Missing Piece, and now Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams.
I don’t generally read many Young Adult novels because those years are so very far behind me that I can rarely relate to them. While the first two books in the series were about professors or PhD students on track to be professors, this one is set primarily in a bookstore near the college where characters in the previous books make appearances. With that said, I loved this book. There’s something about Jackson’s writing that draws you in and makes you fall in love with her characters. While her humor isn’t quite as front and center in this book as the first two, it a very thoughtful, relatable, entertaining story.
Two young college aged women who had their dream careers derailed by life are brought together when one, Emma Gallagher, returns home and starts working at a bookstore where Aubrey Glass, who also left home only to return, now works. They knew of each other in high school, though Emma was three years younger than Aubrey, so they didn’t really associate. But they had something very much in common - field hockey. Now both are in a place in their lives where they are trying to find their way. Their fateful reunion helps them both discover things about themselves and realize that their dreams - while not what they originally planned - may not be so far out of reach.
I listened to the audiobook version and it wasn’t voiced by the same narrator as the first two, Lila Winters. That can throw you off when characters from the previous two books make appearances, but there wasn’t too much of that. The narration by Ellie Gossage was fine but didn’t make me want to seek out more of her work.
I highly recommend this entire series of books. Jackson gives us a little teaser of the next potential pairing and I’m definitely here for it!
I don’t generally read many Young Adult novels because those years are so very far behind me that I can rarely relate to them. While the first two books in the series were about professors or PhD students on track to be professors, this one is set primarily in a bookstore near the college where characters in the previous books make appearances. With that said, I loved this book. There’s something about Jackson’s writing that draws you in and makes you fall in love with her characters. While her humor isn’t quite as front and center in this book as the first two, it a very thoughtful, relatable, entertaining story.
Two young college aged women who had their dream careers derailed by life are brought together when one, Emma Gallagher, returns home and starts working at a bookstore where Aubrey Glass, who also left home only to return, now works. They knew of each other in high school, though Emma was three years younger than Aubrey, so they didn’t really associate. But they had something very much in common - field hockey. Now both are in a place in their lives where they are trying to find their way. Their fateful reunion helps them both discover things about themselves and realize that their dreams - while not what they originally planned - may not be so far out of reach.
I listened to the audiobook version and it wasn’t voiced by the same narrator as the first two, Lila Winters. That can throw you off when characters from the previous two books make appearances, but there wasn’t too much of that. The narration by Ellie Gossage was fine but didn’t make me want to seek out more of her work.
I highly recommend this entire series of books. Jackson gives us a little teaser of the next potential pairing and I’m definitely here for it!
April 7, 2025
4.5
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It's a young adult book and the 2 main characters are 24 and 21 respectively. Aubrey Glass is 24 went to college on a field hockey scholarship and is working in her home town bookstore. She's in a severe depression over her ex and her poor life choices. She grew up as a privileged kid with a very social climbing mother. During high school she was very popular and adored by all her classmates. Emma Gallagher is 21 and a college drop out. She's also back home after trying two different universities and failing in both. She gets a job at the local bookstore. Emma is super sweet and trying to figure her life out.
This book intrigued me from the start to find out what was the root of each characters' problem. Jackson keeps us guessing throughout book and never completely fills us in on the details. I liked Jackson's writing style as well in this book, more so than another book of hers. I felt the angst that both Aubrey and Emma felt. Emma was a great character and I could relate to her. Her brother Liam added to the story and was completely supportive of Emma in her quest of self discovery.
Emma enrolls in the local hometown college and sets out to get a business degree. She's a type A personality and can't stand that she hasn't graduated. She hates lit classes but
finds that she's required to take two of them. Aubrey who was a philosophy major is great at writing and understanding classics. So Aubrey ends up tutoring Emma. A lot of the story focuses on Emily Dickenson's poetry and the meanings of them. Which sets up an analogy throughout the story of Aubrey and Emma's feeling for each other and their own struggles.
The setting in the bookstore and small college town were very well done and easy for me to envision.
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It's a young adult book and the 2 main characters are 24 and 21 respectively. Aubrey Glass is 24 went to college on a field hockey scholarship and is working in her home town bookstore. She's in a severe depression over her ex and her poor life choices. She grew up as a privileged kid with a very social climbing mother. During high school she was very popular and adored by all her classmates. Emma Gallagher is 21 and a college drop out. She's also back home after trying two different universities and failing in both. She gets a job at the local bookstore. Emma is super sweet and trying to figure her life out.
This book intrigued me from the start to find out what was the root of each characters' problem. Jackson keeps us guessing throughout book and never completely fills us in on the details. I liked Jackson's writing style as well in this book, more so than another book of hers. I felt the angst that both Aubrey and Emma felt. Emma was a great character and I could relate to her. Her brother Liam added to the story and was completely supportive of Emma in her quest of self discovery.
Emma enrolls in the local hometown college and sets out to get a business degree. She's a type A personality and can't stand that she hasn't graduated. She hates lit classes but
finds that she's required to take two of them. Aubrey who was a philosophy major is great at writing and understanding classics. So Aubrey ends up tutoring Emma. A lot of the story focuses on Emily Dickenson's poetry and the meanings of them. Which sets up an analogy throughout the story of Aubrey and Emma's feeling for each other and their own struggles.
The setting in the bookstore and small college town were very well done and easy for me to envision.
September 1, 2024
Loved this book! A real well told story without the romantic fuzz but full of romance. People working though their past, succeeding despite their past, even when it’s hard. I must read more of KJ. Highly recommended.
May 20, 2025
I didn't have any expectations going into this book, as this is a new to me author. I find the story interesting as we see two young adults trying to navigate the twists and turns of their lives. It's set mostly in a local college town bookstore where both MCs work. The bookstore setting gives it a comforting ambience. The romance is a slow buildup, but that does not really deter from my enjoyment of the story.
June 9, 2024
When the main characters are on the younger side it’s always a bit hit and miss for me liking it. For me, this book was a big collection of hit and miss.
To me a book is at its best when you feel like you are experiencing everything alongside the characters, in this book there so much telling going on that I never get to that part of being their with them.
What I found the most annoying is that both these main characters resemble older characters in this book so much and how each of the mains has a crush on the older version of their possible partner. And it kept being stated just how hot these older women are… I mean…
Ooh! And drinking and driving! And not just a beer, no no, much more. Why? Just don’t let your characters drink and drive, make them walk, take a rise share, call a cab anything other than driving themselves.
This book for me is a collection of missed opportunities. The main characters, even at their young age, have a bit of a history. We get told both in about 2-3 pages each and that’s it. A depressive episode because of events in one’s past? Let’s just not make this character appear for a bit and no one will ask either, it’s good. It could have been so much better, these are just some examples that don’t quite hit the mark for me, there are many more.
This book was more miss than hit for me and I can’t give it more than 2 stars.
To me a book is at its best when you feel like you are experiencing everything alongside the characters, in this book there so much telling going on that I never get to that part of being their with them.
What I found the most annoying is that both these main characters resemble older characters in this book so much and how each of the mains has a crush on the older version of their possible partner. And it kept being stated just how hot these older women are… I mean…
Ooh! And drinking and driving! And not just a beer, no no, much more. Why? Just don’t let your characters drink and drive, make them walk, take a rise share, call a cab anything other than driving themselves.
This book for me is a collection of missed opportunities. The main characters, even at their young age, have a bit of a history. We get told both in about 2-3 pages each and that’s it. A depressive episode because of events in one’s past? Let’s just not make this character appear for a bit and no one will ask either, it’s good. It could have been so much better, these are just some examples that don’t quite hit the mark for me, there are many more.
This book was more miss than hit for me and I can’t give it more than 2 stars.
June 10, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
what Emmalynn Gallagher and Aubrey Glass never realised was that they would end up back in the town where it all started for them... they both needed a break and a do over....
what they never realised was that they would end up back home and working in the same place but such is life
emma who hated coffee but had a knack for being the best barista in town and aubrey loved working in the book store as she loved books and knew where a book was when a customer asked for it...
as they both tried to work out their next steps in life.... life would make things interesting for them along the way
a compelling story and i was routing for emma and aubrey as they travelled through their painful (at times) lives
what Emmalynn Gallagher and Aubrey Glass never realised was that they would end up back in the town where it all started for them... they both needed a break and a do over....
what they never realised was that they would end up back home and working in the same place but such is life
emma who hated coffee but had a knack for being the best barista in town and aubrey loved working in the book store as she loved books and knew where a book was when a customer asked for it...
as they both tried to work out their next steps in life.... life would make things interesting for them along the way
a compelling story and i was routing for emma and aubrey as they travelled through their painful (at times) lives
June 29, 2024
a little long but very sweet
July 21, 2024
Likable characters, amusing banter.
July 3, 2024
Great read, full of emotions and beautiful descriptive writing 🥰
Full Review will be out with The Lesbian Review.
Full Review will be out with The Lesbian Review.
June 16, 2024
Returning to your hometown with a backpack full of the shards of everything you dreamed your life would be. An in depth exploration of learning how to become an adult taking failures in stride.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Emma Gallagher returns to her home town broken. After two failed college attempts and her dream of becoming a professional field hockey player having shattered in high school, Emma feels like a huge failure. She can’t even bring herself to apply for a job at the local bakery. Her hopes of a future as a baker shrouded in dense, dark clouds. Settling for a job at the bookstore cafe a few stores from the bakery, Emma attempts to find her way again. But where the hell should she start looking? The last person she expected to run into is high school golden girl Aubrey Glass. Emma never really knew Audrey way back then, but always knew she was so far out of her league. To see her now, a shell of her former self, is very confusing. And maybe intriguing.
Audrey Glass is tired of trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. Through high school and later in college, she did everything to make others happy. What is she left with in return? A bruised and battered heart, cement walls around herself as high as the biggest castle and no idea how to get herself to believe in a future again. Cornerstone Bookstore is as close as a home she has ever had, so working there is good for now. That new girl Emma though. Doesn’t she know her from somewhere? She must have been looking at her with her eyes closed then, because, wow, is Emma stunning.
You can always count on Kat Jackson to trick you into entering the deepest corners of her characters’ psyche. It’s always slightly uncomfortable but at the same time so very alluring. Most of us have been there. Trying to figure out how to unburden yourself from past mistakes and learning how to function successfully and maybe even be happy while doing it. Emma and Aubrey are right in the thick of it. So, so scary.
This is not a happy go lucky story, despite the happy ending. It dives deep into the hard parts of being human. The story is told from both Emma’s and Aubrey’s POV. It gives you a chance to really get to know them and see where their insecurities come from. I loved that Aubrey gave Emma all the space she needs to wrap her head around the obvious and very strong attraction between them. Emma, on the other hand, sees through every wall Aubrey puts up and challenges them in a kind but honest way.
The cast of side characters is made up of an eclectic bunch of people. From dark and moody barista Genesis, to Aubrey's awful mom, Emma's laid back big brother and a cast of very attractive college professors. They all help Emma and Aubrey figure things out in their own, unique way.
Pages From The Book Of Broken dreams is another great example of Kat Jackson’s writing talent. Not sugary sweet but a little painful and utterly human. A must read for me!
I received an advance copy from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Emma Gallagher returns to her home town broken. After two failed college attempts and her dream of becoming a professional field hockey player having shattered in high school, Emma feels like a huge failure. She can’t even bring herself to apply for a job at the local bakery. Her hopes of a future as a baker shrouded in dense, dark clouds. Settling for a job at the bookstore cafe a few stores from the bakery, Emma attempts to find her way again. But where the hell should she start looking? The last person she expected to run into is high school golden girl Aubrey Glass. Emma never really knew Audrey way back then, but always knew she was so far out of her league. To see her now, a shell of her former self, is very confusing. And maybe intriguing.
Audrey Glass is tired of trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. Through high school and later in college, she did everything to make others happy. What is she left with in return? A bruised and battered heart, cement walls around herself as high as the biggest castle and no idea how to get herself to believe in a future again. Cornerstone Bookstore is as close as a home she has ever had, so working there is good for now. That new girl Emma though. Doesn’t she know her from somewhere? She must have been looking at her with her eyes closed then, because, wow, is Emma stunning.
You can always count on Kat Jackson to trick you into entering the deepest corners of her characters’ psyche. It’s always slightly uncomfortable but at the same time so very alluring. Most of us have been there. Trying to figure out how to unburden yourself from past mistakes and learning how to function successfully and maybe even be happy while doing it. Emma and Aubrey are right in the thick of it. So, so scary.
This is not a happy go lucky story, despite the happy ending. It dives deep into the hard parts of being human. The story is told from both Emma’s and Aubrey’s POV. It gives you a chance to really get to know them and see where their insecurities come from. I loved that Aubrey gave Emma all the space she needs to wrap her head around the obvious and very strong attraction between them. Emma, on the other hand, sees through every wall Aubrey puts up and challenges them in a kind but honest way.
The cast of side characters is made up of an eclectic bunch of people. From dark and moody barista Genesis, to Aubrey's awful mom, Emma's laid back big brother and a cast of very attractive college professors. They all help Emma and Aubrey figure things out in their own, unique way.
Pages From The Book Of Broken dreams is another great example of Kat Jackson’s writing talent. Not sugary sweet but a little painful and utterly human. A must read for me!
June 11, 2024
This YA story of Aubrey and Emma, is sweet and, stormy at times. They have not seen each other since high school and both end up back in their hometown.
Aubrey has wounds from her past that she would rather not think or talk about and Emma has her own feelings about high school and the loss of her dream.
Through witty banter and good character development the author draws us into the story. Their developing friendship and attraction leads to healing and coming out.
A good read.
I received an arc from NetGalley and Bella Books and leave this review voluntarily
Aubrey has wounds from her past that she would rather not think or talk about and Emma has her own feelings about high school and the loss of her dream.
Through witty banter and good character development the author draws us into the story. Their developing friendship and attraction leads to healing and coming out.
A good read.
I received an arc from NetGalley and Bella Books and leave this review voluntarily
May 28, 2024
Thank you to Net galley for providing me with an arc for this book. I was really excited by the premise but i was really confused till about 33 percent in trying to work out who was who and what was happening. When it started to get clearer I really enjoyed the romance whilst both main character had their personal struggles and how they could support and help each other. I adored the ending.
June 8, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. Thoughts below are my honest review.
At this point, I think I've read (and deeply enjoyed) most of Kat Jackson's books, aside from the odd one that did not appeal to me. She does a fantastic job with older characters and I've enjoyed all her romances about them but sadly this one is one of the outliers than I did not enjoy much.
One of the things I did not enjoy is the sheer number of characters from said other books that I enjoyed that turn up and actually have minor subplots in this book. It all begins to feel a bit like jumping into a late stage MCU movie where I saw the first few years ago and so am not quite sure on the specifics of those characters. A cameo in such cases is great and will either be enjoyed by people who have read previous books or it will just go over their heads if they haven't. In this case, there is far too much involvement and discussions with characters we have met in other books and it doesn't really need to be there. Even more so because it gets old after a while: our young main characters' jaws dropping at how gorgeous every single other older gay woman in the cast is, even the ones who have partners. What I would give for some variety: perhaps a plain, everyday person who is not intensely beautiful or even someone with a different body shape or ethnicity for variety.
Additionally, can I just say that this whole university town needs to do a 23andMe check because it is incredibly weird to have not one but two sets of women who look similar enough to be mothers and daughters but are in fact completely unrelated. I understand that the purpose of this is that if an MC likes this older, unavailable woman, surely this younger version of the same looks will appeal to her. It just comes across to me as weird and honestly a bit shallow, but that may just be my reaction to this odd little connection that is explicitly made in the book for each of the two MCs and two older women in the supporting cast.
The other large gripe I had was that I couldn't quite get a good grip on the main characters because there is a great deal of telling instead of showing. A major depressive episode? We'll just join their point of view again when they're pulled out of it so that we don't really get to see or understand what she's like during that time and understand her trauma response. Main character has a long-standing and unrequited crush on her boss and landlady who looks very similar to their newest employee? Let's skip over dealing with any of that completely. Have a traumatic response to the supposed mean girl who caused the injury that ended your dream sports career? We'll just gloss over that completely and have a throwaway line about how that's fine later. There are many examples, big and small, of things happening off screen and we either never mention them again or they're just talked about after the fact.
Honestly, though, the biggest oddity for me was the lack of consent around that first kiss with the MCs. Deeply confusing to just behave in this predatory fashion with someone who, as far as everyone knows at this point, is straight. Even more confusing when there is a big show made late of the recipient being ready to start a relationship or decide on her sexuality and share that information with a potential partner. The main characters never actually managing one single reasonable conversation just exacerbates this problem for me and the whole time it feels like they are completely unsuited to communicating even basic needs and thoughts to each other, until we suddenly arrive at the ending.
All that said, this was a decent book and certainly not bad, but deeply disappointing to me for the above reasons and because I have read other books by Kat Jackson and given them five stars and added them to my favorites list in the past, some of which involved the side characters in this book.
At this point, I think I've read (and deeply enjoyed) most of Kat Jackson's books, aside from the odd one that did not appeal to me. She does a fantastic job with older characters and I've enjoyed all her romances about them but sadly this one is one of the outliers than I did not enjoy much.
One of the things I did not enjoy is the sheer number of characters from said other books that I enjoyed that turn up and actually have minor subplots in this book. It all begins to feel a bit like jumping into a late stage MCU movie where I saw the first few years ago and so am not quite sure on the specifics of those characters. A cameo in such cases is great and will either be enjoyed by people who have read previous books or it will just go over their heads if they haven't. In this case, there is far too much involvement and discussions with characters we have met in other books and it doesn't really need to be there. Even more so because it gets old after a while: our young main characters' jaws dropping at how gorgeous every single other older gay woman in the cast is, even the ones who have partners. What I would give for some variety: perhaps a plain, everyday person who is not intensely beautiful or even someone with a different body shape or ethnicity for variety.
Additionally, can I just say that this whole university town needs to do a 23andMe check because it is incredibly weird to have not one but two sets of women who look similar enough to be mothers and daughters but are in fact completely unrelated. I understand that the purpose of this is that if an MC likes this older, unavailable woman, surely this younger version of the same looks will appeal to her. It just comes across to me as weird and honestly a bit shallow, but that may just be my reaction to this odd little connection that is explicitly made in the book for each of the two MCs and two older women in the supporting cast.
The other large gripe I had was that I couldn't quite get a good grip on the main characters because there is a great deal of telling instead of showing. A major depressive episode? We'll just join their point of view again when they're pulled out of it so that we don't really get to see or understand what she's like during that time and understand her trauma response. Main character has a long-standing and unrequited crush on her boss and landlady who looks very similar to their newest employee? Let's skip over dealing with any of that completely. Have a traumatic response to the supposed mean girl who caused the injury that ended your dream sports career? We'll just gloss over that completely and have a throwaway line about how that's fine later. There are many examples, big and small, of things happening off screen and we either never mention them again or they're just talked about after the fact.
Honestly, though, the biggest oddity for me was the lack of consent around that first kiss with the MCs. Deeply confusing to just behave in this predatory fashion with someone who, as far as everyone knows at this point, is straight. Even more confusing when there is a big show made late of the recipient being ready to start a relationship or decide on her sexuality and share that information with a potential partner. The main characters never actually managing one single reasonable conversation just exacerbates this problem for me and the whole time it feels like they are completely unsuited to communicating even basic needs and thoughts to each other, until we suddenly arrive at the ending.
All that said, this was a decent book and certainly not bad, but deeply disappointing to me for the above reasons and because I have read other books by Kat Jackson and given them five stars and added them to my favorites list in the past, some of which involved the side characters in this book.
June 28, 2024
Kat Jackson possesses a remarkable ability to forge emotional connections with her readers, setting her apart as a storyteller. By delving into shared human experiences with vivid and tangible details, she crafts narratives that leave a profound and enduring impact. Readers are drawn into her tales because they become emotionally invested in the struggles, triumphs and sorrows of her characters. Through skillful storytelling, she seamlessly integrates poignant moments that resonate with her audience, allowing them to truly feel the depth of the emotions portrayed in her well-crafted scenes. Whether exploring themes of love, loss, or happiness, these emotions imbue her stories with a sense of authenticity and relatability that lingers long after the final page is turned. This unique quality is what sets her apart as a writer, and it is why I eagerly accept any opportunity to read and review her work.
It was in November of last year that I was first introduced to Jackson’s writing. Bella Books kindly sent me an ARC of In Bloom, and I was completely captivated by it. Since then, I have been reading my way through her previous works, and with each book I finish, I am left in awe. While keeping a sharp eye and gentle touch on accurately reflecting emotions, Jackson manages to delve deep into the complexities of the human spirit. Themes are masterfully interwoven, showcasing a profound emotional depth that resonates with authenticity. What always strikes me after finishing one of her stories is the undeniable realization that Jackson truly comprehends the transformative power of storytelling.
What is it in Jackson’s storytelling that evokes such strong emotions in readers? Why do they form such profound bonds with her characters? The reason is clear. Jackson has a gift for making the storytelling feel personal and interconnective.
I once read that there are two versions of every story. The first one is created by the author. The second one is developed through an interpretation of the author’s story via the reader. The reader takes in the author’s story and processes it, filtering it through their own experiences and understanding. Jackson taps into this phenomenon skillfully, elevating the reading experience and making it feel interactive. It’s the underlying reason why her stories leave such an impact.
Her latest release, Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams, utilizes all of the above, and that’s why it’s easily consumable. By delving into themes of disenchantment, self-doubt, fear and love, it hits on something that every reader can understand—vulnerability. The main characters find themselves a bit broken and disillusioned when their young lives change in ways they didn’t imagine. Now in their twenties, they both find themselves working in a bookstore, a place that provides a paycheck and predictable comfort. However, it also insulates them from facing the things that squeezed the life out of their dreams. It’s only when their paths cross that they are able to find the courage to confront their fears and try again, opening a new chapter in their lives.
Emma and Aubrey are written with keen emotional intelligence; it prompts readers to look inward and examine one’s own youthful dreams and pursuit of love. This is a hallmark trait of Jackson. She likes to stir up vulnerability through self-doubt and relationship trauma—in constructive ways, mind you. These characters and their struggles provide rich layers of complexity. They help influence its relatability, ultimately generating interest and investment in the story. Furthermore, Jackson uses Emma and Aubrey’s emotional baggage to push the storyline and develop their character arcs. It makes for rich, resonating storytelling, something that readers can sink their teeth into.
Final remarks…
Storytelling exposes a vulnerability within writers, and I love the way Jackson is willing to take risks with hers. Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams captures themes of vulnerability, fear, self-doubt, courage and love with a heartfelt and youthful insight that’s so relatable one can almost reach out and touch it. It’s tagged as a romance, but it’s more than that really. It’s a reminder that dreams fuel passion. Without them, life loses its shine.
Strengths…
Emotionally intelligent
Well-scripted
Honest and tender
Compelling and relatable
It was in November of last year that I was first introduced to Jackson’s writing. Bella Books kindly sent me an ARC of In Bloom, and I was completely captivated by it. Since then, I have been reading my way through her previous works, and with each book I finish, I am left in awe. While keeping a sharp eye and gentle touch on accurately reflecting emotions, Jackson manages to delve deep into the complexities of the human spirit. Themes are masterfully interwoven, showcasing a profound emotional depth that resonates with authenticity. What always strikes me after finishing one of her stories is the undeniable realization that Jackson truly comprehends the transformative power of storytelling.
What is it in Jackson’s storytelling that evokes such strong emotions in readers? Why do they form such profound bonds with her characters? The reason is clear. Jackson has a gift for making the storytelling feel personal and interconnective.
I once read that there are two versions of every story. The first one is created by the author. The second one is developed through an interpretation of the author’s story via the reader. The reader takes in the author’s story and processes it, filtering it through their own experiences and understanding. Jackson taps into this phenomenon skillfully, elevating the reading experience and making it feel interactive. It’s the underlying reason why her stories leave such an impact.
Her latest release, Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams, utilizes all of the above, and that’s why it’s easily consumable. By delving into themes of disenchantment, self-doubt, fear and love, it hits on something that every reader can understand—vulnerability. The main characters find themselves a bit broken and disillusioned when their young lives change in ways they didn’t imagine. Now in their twenties, they both find themselves working in a bookstore, a place that provides a paycheck and predictable comfort. However, it also insulates them from facing the things that squeezed the life out of their dreams. It’s only when their paths cross that they are able to find the courage to confront their fears and try again, opening a new chapter in their lives.
Emma and Aubrey are written with keen emotional intelligence; it prompts readers to look inward and examine one’s own youthful dreams and pursuit of love. This is a hallmark trait of Jackson. She likes to stir up vulnerability through self-doubt and relationship trauma—in constructive ways, mind you. These characters and their struggles provide rich layers of complexity. They help influence its relatability, ultimately generating interest and investment in the story. Furthermore, Jackson uses Emma and Aubrey’s emotional baggage to push the storyline and develop their character arcs. It makes for rich, resonating storytelling, something that readers can sink their teeth into.
Final remarks…
Storytelling exposes a vulnerability within writers, and I love the way Jackson is willing to take risks with hers. Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams captures themes of vulnerability, fear, self-doubt, courage and love with a heartfelt and youthful insight that’s so relatable one can almost reach out and touch it. It’s tagged as a romance, but it’s more than that really. It’s a reminder that dreams fuel passion. Without them, life loses its shine.
Strengths…
Emotionally intelligent
Well-scripted
Honest and tender
Compelling and relatable
June 9, 2024
This is a messy book to review. I have given 4 and 5 stars to all the previous books I’ve read from this author and was happy to return to the college town she has used as a setting previously. But this begins so slowly and throws in a muddle of characters. It took till the 40 percent mark for me to have the people figured out and yet not much had occurred story-wise. I could have summarized the plot to that point in a few sentences.
Emma Gallagher returns to her hometown to start over. She wants a degree and hasn’t fit in or succeeded at her two previous schools. Aubrey Glass was a golden girl in field hockey and played it in college. She returned home broken, with a degree that she isn’t using. Both end up working at the local bookstore. Aubrey loves losing herself in the stacks and Emma is a barista in the coffee shop. Each is trying to figure their way forward.
The barrage of side characters is weird. I liked cameos like professors Lewes and Jory from ‘The Roads Left Behind Us’ (March 2022). But I didn’t need to know that everyone is lusting and crushing on them. Genesis, who runs the coffee shop (I think she is added for humor) is obnoxious. She openly laughs at and mocks insecure Emma. She was more of a toxic character than Aubrey’s much married mother. And what is the point of younger women resembling physically older characters to whom they weren’t related. It is unexplained and odd.
Both girls have some trauma and disappointments. I wanted to see them healing from them and moving forward. Jackson is usually very sensitive in dealing with mental health. Here it is mentioned then ignored. The story picks up more in the second half. Aubrey helps tutor Emma for her English class. And there are a few good conversations and sparks or romance. Overall I didn’t enjoy reading this book. I’m rounding up based on where it ends up and my liking for the author's previous books.
Emma Gallagher returns to her hometown to start over. She wants a degree and hasn’t fit in or succeeded at her two previous schools. Aubrey Glass was a golden girl in field hockey and played it in college. She returned home broken, with a degree that she isn’t using. Both end up working at the local bookstore. Aubrey loves losing herself in the stacks and Emma is a barista in the coffee shop. Each is trying to figure their way forward.
The barrage of side characters is weird. I liked cameos like professors Lewes and Jory from ‘The Roads Left Behind Us’ (March 2022). But I didn’t need to know that everyone is lusting and crushing on them. Genesis, who runs the coffee shop (I think she is added for humor) is obnoxious. She openly laughs at and mocks insecure Emma. She was more of a toxic character than Aubrey’s much married mother. And what is the point of younger women resembling physically older characters to whom they weren’t related. It is unexplained and odd.
Both girls have some trauma and disappointments. I wanted to see them healing from them and moving forward. Jackson is usually very sensitive in dealing with mental health. Here it is mentioned then ignored. The story picks up more in the second half. Aubrey helps tutor Emma for her English class. And there are a few good conversations and sparks or romance. Overall I didn’t enjoy reading this book. I’m rounding up based on where it ends up and my liking for the author's previous books.
July 9, 2024
In this story there are new characters (to me anyway) and some that I was already familiar with, and I like that mix. I know something about them and how I would expect them to behave and I know nothing of others and need to find out about them.
Set in the small university town we have a mixture of academics and students, the Cornerstone book shop and staff are in there too. It wasn't until I started to read it that I realised it was a sequel - and that was an unexpected pleasure. I'm sure it would have told me of I had read the blurb, but I didn't. I was drawn in simply because I enjoyed the last Kat Jackson book. Didn't really matter to me what it was about.
I guess you could call this a slow burn romance. You could see the glimmer of it early on - it just took a while to get there - but that is the whole point of a book, so no problem there. It was nicely led into through looking at both main characters, and their interactions with other characters. They had both returned to the home town they had wanted to leave behind them. Emma sort of told us why quite early - it took a little longer for us to learn Aubrey's story. Aubrey, a little older than Emma, had been back in town for longer, and had a larger backstory - as you would expect. She also had parental death and subsequent poor parenting giving her an additional slice of emotional damage.
There is plenty of baking, some additional studying and of course one of them wants to write. Writing and literature often pops up in sapphic lit for some reason.
Their friendship and emerging relationship appears to give both of them the ability to address areas in their lives that were holding them back, so they can emerge together as a bit better put together.
There is of course an epilogue - just 5 months later from the main story. This shows them steadily moving on with their plans together.
Set in the small university town we have a mixture of academics and students, the Cornerstone book shop and staff are in there too. It wasn't until I started to read it that I realised it was a sequel - and that was an unexpected pleasure. I'm sure it would have told me of I had read the blurb, but I didn't. I was drawn in simply because I enjoyed the last Kat Jackson book. Didn't really matter to me what it was about.
I guess you could call this a slow burn romance. You could see the glimmer of it early on - it just took a while to get there - but that is the whole point of a book, so no problem there. It was nicely led into through looking at both main characters, and their interactions with other characters. They had both returned to the home town they had wanted to leave behind them. Emma sort of told us why quite early - it took a little longer for us to learn Aubrey's story. Aubrey, a little older than Emma, had been back in town for longer, and had a larger backstory - as you would expect. She also had parental death and subsequent poor parenting giving her an additional slice of emotional damage.
There is plenty of baking, some additional studying and of course one of them wants to write. Writing and literature often pops up in sapphic lit for some reason.
Their friendship and emerging relationship appears to give both of them the ability to address areas in their lives that were holding them back, so they can emerge together as a bit better put together.
There is of course an epilogue - just 5 months later from the main story. This shows them steadily moving on with their plans together.
July 26, 2024
This was a bit of an odd one, I think the premise had a lot of potential but it just kinda fell apart. Most of the book spent so much time alluding to both of our main characters having some sort of trauma in their backstories but neither was ever really properly explored or explained. Right near the end we finally get a boring explanation about Aubrey's ex and we hear a little bit about Emma's sporting injury but it just all felt very unfished. I don't understand why Emma was able to bake so much but then freaked out about being asked to work at the bakery and refused to do it and insisted on working as a barista.
There was no real resolution regarding Aubrey's relationship with her mother or her friendship with Penny (her stepfather's ex-wife) - for ages it seemed like Aubrey's mother was alluding to the fact that Penny and Audrey had some kind of romantic relationship but then nothing ever came from that. Emma was also hesitant to talk to her parents (clearly feeling like a failure due to college) but we never see any real resolution from that either.
I'm also a bit confused about the way the book was pitched - when Aubrey is described as "Emma's source of teenage yearning" it makes you assume that she's out (or at least knows she's queer) - But actually the whole book is Emma sort of going through a sexuality crisis by realising she likes Audrey after Audrey kisses her on a night out... and it seemed like they never actually had any relationship or much contact while in high school so I have no idea why the synopsis claim's Emma yearned for Audrey's a teenager...
This wasn't a bad read but it just kind of felt like there were so many threads introduced but none of them properly followed so it felt like a whole load of nothing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bella Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
There was no real resolution regarding Aubrey's relationship with her mother or her friendship with Penny (her stepfather's ex-wife) - for ages it seemed like Aubrey's mother was alluding to the fact that Penny and Audrey had some kind of romantic relationship but then nothing ever came from that. Emma was also hesitant to talk to her parents (clearly feeling like a failure due to college) but we never see any real resolution from that either.
I'm also a bit confused about the way the book was pitched - when Aubrey is described as "Emma's source of teenage yearning" it makes you assume that she's out (or at least knows she's queer) - But actually the whole book is Emma sort of going through a sexuality crisis by realising she likes Audrey after Audrey kisses her on a night out... and it seemed like they never actually had any relationship or much contact while in high school so I have no idea why the synopsis claim's Emma yearned for Audrey's a teenager...
This wasn't a bad read but it just kind of felt like there were so many threads introduced but none of them properly followed so it felt like a whole load of nothing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bella Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2024
I want to be annoyed by it. There’s something about setting a book in a bookstore, or about a writer, that feels … lazy? A little cheap? Like, of course I like bookstores, I’m reading an actual book. Shooting water in the proverbial barrel, as it were.
As may be evident from the title Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams, we have both a bookstore and a writer featured prominently. Main character Emma is interested in neither of those things, a non-reader, non-coffee drinker who looks for work in a bookstore cafe. Our object of interest, Aubrey, however, ticks both of our boxes and we’re off to the (wind-assisted) races.
This is not an easy book. There’s no meet-cute where the two immediately fall in love, traumas and hardships aren’t resolved with a kiss and some heavy petting. The novels feels like it deals with real people with real issues, trying to figure things out.
Pages doesn’t take shortcuts. It’s actually much reliant on 90s music for its references than literary (or popular canon) knowledge. It seems to take care to earn every new plot progression, every lingering glance, every stolen kiss. It’s so slow-burning it might as well be called incremental smoldering, but it works. The tension between Aubrey and Emma ratchets up slowly, but there’s enough chemistry and repartee to sustain through.
I know we’re supposed to suspend disbelief for fiction, but I do want to call out why I like to refer to as “fixing yourself on someone else’s dime.” Both of these ladies have issues that they should definitely be seeing counselors or therapists about. While I’m happy they got together and can support each other, it’s not healthy to rely on one other person for everything. (Incidentally, this note directly ties into Aubrey’s backstory, making it all the more perplexing.)
Also, I know this is a college town for a liberal arts school, but is literally everyone in town a lesbian?
(I just re-read that sentence, and I withdraw my objection. Mea culpa.)
Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams is a deeply felt journey through two women’s attempts to heal themselves and find strength in one another. For that, I’d say it’s worth cracking the spine.
This review is for an advanced reader copy of the book, provided by the publisher.
As may be evident from the title Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams, we have both a bookstore and a writer featured prominently. Main character Emma is interested in neither of those things, a non-reader, non-coffee drinker who looks for work in a bookstore cafe. Our object of interest, Aubrey, however, ticks both of our boxes and we’re off to the (wind-assisted) races.
This is not an easy book. There’s no meet-cute where the two immediately fall in love, traumas and hardships aren’t resolved with a kiss and some heavy petting. The novels feels like it deals with real people with real issues, trying to figure things out.
Pages doesn’t take shortcuts. It’s actually much reliant on 90s music for its references than literary (or popular canon) knowledge. It seems to take care to earn every new plot progression, every lingering glance, every stolen kiss. It’s so slow-burning it might as well be called incremental smoldering, but it works. The tension between Aubrey and Emma ratchets up slowly, but there’s enough chemistry and repartee to sustain through.
I know we’re supposed to suspend disbelief for fiction, but I do want to call out why I like to refer to as “fixing yourself on someone else’s dime.” Both of these ladies have issues that they should definitely be seeing counselors or therapists about. While I’m happy they got together and can support each other, it’s not healthy to rely on one other person for everything. (Incidentally, this note directly ties into Aubrey’s backstory, making it all the more perplexing.)
Also, I know this is a college town for a liberal arts school, but is literally everyone in town a lesbian?
(I just re-read that sentence, and I withdraw my objection. Mea culpa.)
Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams is a deeply felt journey through two women’s attempts to heal themselves and find strength in one another. For that, I’d say it’s worth cracking the spine.
This review is for an advanced reader copy of the book, provided by the publisher.
July 6, 2024
The early 20's can be a wonderful, exciting time. It can also be a time where regrets abound, and life seems overwhelming. Emma Gallagher is back in her hometown, living with her brother and feeling like a failure. She can't even find it in her to take a job at a bakery, doing what she truly loves. Instead, she takes a job at Cornerstone Bookstore where Aubrey Glass is also working. Aubrey was one of the cool girls in high school and has everything had always come easier for her. At least from Emma's perspective.
Aubrey's life is a mess as well and her family is a nightmare. The bookstore and the people in it are her family. She doesn't let many people in because she always finds herself disappointed. A friendship develops between these two broken young women leading to a deeper connection.
There isn't another writer of sapphic fiction who breaks downs her characters more than Kat Jackson. She cuts them open, exposes all of their layers and then slowly puts them back together. She won't give you a fluffy, easy breezy read but she will give you well developed characters who will touch your heart. I really felt for these two characters and wanted to see them find their way. And I loved reconnecting with some favorite characters from Jackson's wonderful book, The Roads Left Behind.
This is another great read from an author who continues to impress.
An ARC was received from Bella Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
Aubrey's life is a mess as well and her family is a nightmare. The bookstore and the people in it are her family. She doesn't let many people in because she always finds herself disappointed. A friendship develops between these two broken young women leading to a deeper connection.
There isn't another writer of sapphic fiction who breaks downs her characters more than Kat Jackson. She cuts them open, exposes all of their layers and then slowly puts them back together. She won't give you a fluffy, easy breezy read but she will give you well developed characters who will touch your heart. I really felt for these two characters and wanted to see them find their way. And I loved reconnecting with some favorite characters from Jackson's wonderful book, The Roads Left Behind.
This is another great read from an author who continues to impress.
An ARC was received from Bella Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
June 10, 2024
This was the slowest of burns if there ever was one! At some point it was just too slow for me but I am glad I managed to finish the story.
Emma and Aubrey both work in Cornerstone, bookstore / coffee cafe. Turns out they are old aqcuintances from high school who sort of knew each other but not really. I found it odd how their past played a role in their journey as there hardly seemed to be any interaction between them and Aubrey at first didn't remember Emma at all.
These two come with bagage and there are like a lot of pages dedicated to the issues they had to deal with but for me it was a lot of details and not a lot of deeper meaning how it changed them. Maybe I lost some attention with all the details.
I enjoyed going on the journey with these MC's but there were so many side characters and hot older women that it kind of took me out of the story. There's no way there are so many hot sapphics running around in a small college town. I do get that if there were, they would probably know each other like they do in the book.
Maybe I was hoping for something else in this story or something more, I'm not sure what, but I have to give 3 stars as it took way too long with way too many details and way too many side characters.
An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
Emma and Aubrey both work in Cornerstone, bookstore / coffee cafe. Turns out they are old aqcuintances from high school who sort of knew each other but not really. I found it odd how their past played a role in their journey as there hardly seemed to be any interaction between them and Aubrey at first didn't remember Emma at all.
These two come with bagage and there are like a lot of pages dedicated to the issues they had to deal with but for me it was a lot of details and not a lot of deeper meaning how it changed them. Maybe I lost some attention with all the details.
I enjoyed going on the journey with these MC's but there were so many side characters and hot older women that it kind of took me out of the story. There's no way there are so many hot sapphics running around in a small college town. I do get that if there were, they would probably know each other like they do in the book.
Maybe I was hoping for something else in this story or something more, I'm not sure what, but I have to give 3 stars as it took way too long with way too many details and way too many side characters.
An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
July 19, 2024
I feel like the book was too slow burn that at times it felt dragging, if I recalled correctly, the moment proper communication between two mains about their thoughts and feelings doesn't happened until 70% of the book. Then again I realized this book wasn't really about romance only but told the story of how barely mature young adults navigating the life after high schools, faced with difficulties and challenges, facing the consequences of bad choices, feeling depressed and broken from seemingly unachievable dreams, But in spite of it all, ultimately come to deeply understanding of themselves of what they really want and hoped to achieved in long run and forged on.
It's an easily relatable book as we were all young once, and I couldn't help but root for them. I was incredibly happy and proud of them at the end.
The side characters were all witty and quirky in their own way, I especially love Genesis, her dialogue with two mains are extra witty and fun to read, not sure if she appeared in previous books or not but I would definitely love to read one if author ever thought of expanding the storyline of Genesis. This is a well-developed characters driven story written by this author and it's the first book I had ever read, definitely going to read the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for arc.
It's an easily relatable book as we were all young once, and I couldn't help but root for them. I was incredibly happy and proud of them at the end.
The side characters were all witty and quirky in their own way, I especially love Genesis, her dialogue with two mains are extra witty and fun to read, not sure if she appeared in previous books or not but I would definitely love to read one if author ever thought of expanding the storyline of Genesis. This is a well-developed characters driven story written by this author and it's the first book I had ever read, definitely going to read the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for arc.
November 4, 2024
Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams by Kat Jackson is a sweet and oh-so-complex story (as with all of Jackson's books) that will resonate with fans of her writing style. The characters are well-rounded and relatable, filled with the familiar Jackson blend of warmth, wit, and emotional vulnerability.
As with many other of her novels, this takes place in a college setting. This time, the novel centers on Emma and Aubrey, two "new adults" navigating unexpected feelings and old dreams as they reconnect after high school. Jackson did perfectly capture the teenage awkwardness around a crush, and the way these characters interacted early on the novel made it a hilariously infuriating read ... which quickly turned into endearment and love for these characters.
This book should have gotten 5 stars, but my main issue with it was the age of the characters. Jackson’s attempt to frame it as a “new adult” romance. While she captures the depth of emotions and the internal struggles beautifully, some cultural references and character behaviors didn’t quite fit with what kids at this age in 2024 would be doing. Some of the conversation felt out of place for the target age range.
That said, Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams is still a thoroughly enjoyable read with Jackson’s signature style of emotionally intelligent, character-driven storytelling. It’s heartfelt, sometimes maddening -- in the best way, and overall a lovely piece of writing that I’d definitely recommend.
As with many other of her novels, this takes place in a college setting. This time, the novel centers on Emma and Aubrey, two "new adults" navigating unexpected feelings and old dreams as they reconnect after high school. Jackson did perfectly capture the teenage awkwardness around a crush, and the way these characters interacted early on the novel made it a hilariously infuriating read ... which quickly turned into endearment and love for these characters.
This book should have gotten 5 stars, but my main issue with it was the age of the characters. Jackson’s attempt to frame it as a “new adult” romance. While she captures the depth of emotions and the internal struggles beautifully, some cultural references and character behaviors didn’t quite fit with what kids at this age in 2024 would be doing. Some of the conversation felt out of place for the target age range.
That said, Pages from the Book of Broken Dreams is still a thoroughly enjoyable read with Jackson’s signature style of emotionally intelligent, character-driven storytelling. It’s heartfelt, sometimes maddening -- in the best way, and overall a lovely piece of writing that I’d definitely recommend.
June 13, 2024
I was intrigued by the synopsis of the book—I mean, bookstores and coffee—two of my favourite things!
I found myself getting frustrated the more I read and after finishing the book, I felt more like I had read a memoir than a romantic (somewhat) fictional story. I couldn’t really grasp the character personalities. I felt the narration overpowered the story too much; that I was being told about the characters rather than being shown who they were.
It could have been a wonderful experience. I think more dialogue would have enhanced the development of the characters. And with that, the ending 20% of the book was much more enjoyable as the characters conversed more than in the rest of the book—at least it felt that way to me. Dialogue is so important to the development of characters to me. It makes a story come alive in a way that narration just cannot accomplish. Where narration tells me about the characters, dialogue shows me. Just sayin’.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for providing this book for my review consideration—opinions here are mine and mine alone.
I found myself getting frustrated the more I read and after finishing the book, I felt more like I had read a memoir than a romantic (somewhat) fictional story. I couldn’t really grasp the character personalities. I felt the narration overpowered the story too much; that I was being told about the characters rather than being shown who they were.
It could have been a wonderful experience. I think more dialogue would have enhanced the development of the characters. And with that, the ending 20% of the book was much more enjoyable as the characters conversed more than in the rest of the book—at least it felt that way to me. Dialogue is so important to the development of characters to me. It makes a story come alive in a way that narration just cannot accomplish. Where narration tells me about the characters, dialogue shows me. Just sayin’.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for providing this book for my review consideration—opinions here are mine and mine alone.
June 4, 2024
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a surprisingly deep romance, the two main characters both had a lot of issues and perceived failures to own up to and overcome. They work hard throughout the book to grow, mature, and figure themselves out, which is very realistic of people their ages. The romance was sweet and I enjoyed the banter between the characters. I did get a bit annoyed by the hot and cold nature of their encounters sometimes but overall this book was very enjoyable and I'd recommend giving it a read, 4.5/5 stars rounded up.
This was a surprisingly deep romance, the two main characters both had a lot of issues and perceived failures to own up to and overcome. They work hard throughout the book to grow, mature, and figure themselves out, which is very realistic of people their ages. The romance was sweet and I enjoyed the banter between the characters. I did get a bit annoyed by the hot and cold nature of their encounters sometimes but overall this book was very enjoyable and I'd recommend giving it a read, 4.5/5 stars rounded up.
July 14, 2024
This was an enjoyable read but it didn’t set the pages alight for me. Slow burn is fine but this was inert. The main characters, Emmalynn and Aubrey, have history but it’s not really part of the story development. The setting is well created and draws you in but the minor characters either add little or take over at various points. This may be because I haven’t read the other books by the author set in this universe.
I’d read another book by Ms Jackson as she is an excellent writer but this one didn’t connect with me. I think maybe the characters were too young for me to engage with.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
I’d read another book by Ms Jackson as she is an excellent writer but this one didn’t connect with me. I think maybe the characters were too young for me to engage with.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley
June 5, 2024
A nice story about two girls, who are part of each other's lives without even knowing. Aubrey and Emma are both teenages, barely touching their early twenties but already life has been pushing both women to not only survive in their chosen fields. A straightforward or lesbianforward, romance with characters the kind of people you might find yourself talking with.
Another winner for Ms Jackson. A very good read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bella Books
Another winner for Ms Jackson. A very good read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bella Books
June 24, 2024
Easter Eggs!! God, I love the way Kat Jackson writes. Nothing standard, nothing tropey, she assumes her readers are intelligent and want something different. I loved revisiting Pennbrooke, the setting of several other books, As usual, a stellar cast of side characters. Two early-twenties MCs with backpacks of baggage. There's something refreshing about turning the page and not knowing what to expect. Definitely not a light fluffy beach read, but a story to be savored.
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