How much trouble can one couple withstand before they break?
Ever since they were kids, Brooklyn Desrosiers-King and Reece Carter have been inseparable. Their trust in each other is admirable. Their unwavering love is almost palpable, to the point where it leaves others feeling envious of their relationship.
It is perfect—they are perfect together.
At least until they’re grown-ups.
Suddenly, college seems to be tearing them apart. Their friends have opinions about things that aren’t any of their business, and to top that off, their future dream careers are testing the couple’s priorities.
When Brooke’s skating partner gets injured, Reece steps in to help his girlfriend. Little does he know that spending so much time supporting Brooke’s passions means sacrificing his own. It’s okay, though, because all he wants is to see her happy.
But what will happen when he finally snaps? When he realizes that he, too, has dreams that he wants to pursue, but he can’t if he keeps skipping hockey games for Brooke? What if one incident breaks their harmony and threatens to ruin them?
guys i just realized i never actually wrote a review for this so here i am months later!! i feel less bad about complaining endlessly now that the book has been out for a bit lol 🫣
the biggest issue with this book for me was that it felt like it didn't know what it wanted to be. i'm pretty sure the blurb mentions a "relationship in trouble" or something along those lines but like ... it really wasn't? the "trouble" happens before the book even starts and we see the characters reuniting in the first few pages. and then it was an icebreaker-esque plot later on? and then someone's changing colleges and someone's getting married and everyone's having problems and it was like girl what is even happening anymore?? i literally didn't even know how we got from one point to the next for most of the book.
i didn't like the characters. there, i said it. they were insufferable and read like YA characters, which would've been something i could look past if this was a YA book. it was not. there wasn't even a single side character that i found entertaining or redeeming. the sheer number of side characters that were mentioned but proved to be irrelevant to anything in the story was honestly overwhelming. the family tree didn't help.
if i'm being honest this could probably be a one star if i felt like being particularly harsh (but i don't, i'm not that mean), because i don't really have anything positive to say. it was quick to get through, i guess? the writing was easy to read? i don't know. this book was a mess. update: idk why i was nice. this book sucked. one star.
pre read so so so excited for this one, it’s been a while since i read a hockey romance but they’ll never not hit 🤭
biggest thank u EVER to joelina falk for an arc <3
Tropes: - Childhood sweethearts - First Love - Family Drama - Hockey player x Figure skater - spice - Anxiety rep - Foreign nicknames
This was certainly a cute story! The dynamic between Reece and Brooklyn was healthy, sweet and hot! I like how the author portrayed anxiety and how the MMC was super supportive towards the FMC. I like to take a break from fantasy from time to time and this was the perfect chill story for me!
I have so many things to say about this book. So, let's start with, this was my first time reading a book with 'relationship in problem' trope and Brooklyn and Reece's relationship makes me feel like I want a relationship but I also don't 'cause relationship problems.
Also, if a boyfriend like Reece actually exists, I want him. He actually put his hockey career in danger to become her partner.
When people say, don't judge a book by its cover, they actually mean it because I thought that this book had a cute cover, but what I did not expect is the spice, it was actually pretty good.
Anyway, Brooklyn and Reece's relationship was cute and I love how he would always do things for her and give her the princess treatment.
Thank you to Joelina Falk for sending me your book. I’m really unsure how I feel about this book because a part of me wants to say I did like it but if I really think about it I also didn’t really like it… honestly it was pretty frustrating to read, and I don’t know if that’s props to the author and her writing but man some of these characters were PISSING ME OFFFF! Some of the side characters were so aggravating to read. Like most of them were absolute bitches. It was quite hard to read the MC’s friends completely obliterating them in their relationship. There was A LOT of side characters as well and it was hard to keep track of who was who. There were always name being brought up and I kept forgetting who was who😭 (the family tree did not help) I think the author did a good job conveying that this is young love and the trials and tribulations that came along with Reece and Brooklyn’s relationship but these characters to me contradicted themselves a lot, and it was just really hard to read them having relationship problems. This book just gave me mixed feelings. I like this couple as a whole they had a lot of sweet moments but the characters themselves kinda rubbed me the wrong way. Like it just seemed that they didn’t know how to be independent on their own because all they knew was being together since they were like kids. The plot points in the book became frustrating to read. The characters were kind pushovers and people pleasers to one another and it got annoying after a while. I liked the story concept, but there was a lot added to it that made it kinda a lot to read at once. It was an overall sweet story but it wasn’t my favourite to read. This is no hate to the author. I think they did an amazing job writing this and this is 100% my opinion and I think I personally just didn’t vibe with the book like I thought I was going to.
Arc Review for What If We Break? by Joelina Falk 💜⛸️🏒🤍
Thank you to Joelina Falk for allowing me to be an arc reader for this release & providing me with an advanced reader copy of What If We Break? in exchange for an honest review! 🤍
Overall Review: 4.75/5 ⭐️ Spice Rating: 2.5-3/5🌶️
If you know me, I’m a sucker for a college hockey romance, but relationship in trouble books are usually a hit or miss for me and this one was certainly a hit!! I’ve only read one other relationship in trouble book that I really enjoyed, and now I’m so glad to say I loved this one too! I knew it was going to be an emotional rollercoaster from the start, but I was so ready to experience the story that made Brooke & Reece!
Brooke & Reece’s - they are both actually to die for — relationship just reflected so easily and accurately the human experience and what dating can look & feel like in your early 20s. I adored watching them grow together, not only as individual adults finding their way but also as a couple, experiencing relationship ups and downs and finding that certain balance to make everything work. Brooke & Reece, although fictional (they feel real to me, I can’t help it), make me believe & hope that I have one true love out there waiting for me, and am hoping - just slightly - that they resemble bits and pieces of Reece as a forever partner, through good and bad.
About 30% into my reading I found out / realized this book was a second-generation spinoff romance of Falk’s other series titled Unfrozen Four (whoopsies) - which I’d originally wanted to read before I found out this was a tie-in with that series - and i will now most definitely be going back and reading it. I enjoyed Falk’s writing & storytelling so much, i could see it all in my head and I felt everything the characters were feeling as it was happening - the emotional moments, the tender and wholesome moments that anyone could ever dream of having with the partner, struggles and stress, the yearning, and just what it’s like to be in your 20s and navigating life as a young adult.
Lastly, don't let that cutesy pastel-colored book cover fool you - the spice of this book had me gasping, blushing, sweating, and everything in between!! I ate all up and left no crumbs for the feast that Joelina served us with this book. Phenomenal.
What to expect in What If We Break?: ⛸️ childhood sweethearts ⛸️ figure skater x hockey player ⛸️ relationship in trouble ⛸️ one true love ⛸️ college romance ⛸️ mental health rep ⛸️ princess treatment ⛸️ open door spice
I received an ARC copy of What If We Break? and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
My god did i hate. And the sad thing is i was actually waiting for this book to come out
I love sports (my whole personality right now is hockey). Established relationship and characters who have history going before the beginning of the book IS MY SHIT. I’m a sucker for those stories
But goddamn did this book annoy me. NONSTOP
None of the characters felt like they could be real people. So bookish? Cartoonish? Fake basically
And the hockey parts… i’m sorry but has the author actually watched anything hockey related bc what the fuck?! Uuuuuhg
I made 89 hate notes as i was reading. Gonna use some of them as my review
“This book should have been about 13 year olds but the author really wanted to include sex. So it’s 20 years olds who act like 13 year olds and have sex”
“Not a single not public sex scene”
“For the love of god shut the fuck up” (i stopped thinking nickname “mi princesa” was cute when it was said for about 20th time. AND IT WAS USED 42 TIMES IN THIS FUCKING BOOK)
“How the fuck are you still on the team?” “And he’s still a captain?” “And they keep putting him in the starting lineup? Are you all really crazy?”
“I think my man should compete in every sport. Seems like it’s easy for him” and later again “Definitely should play every sport”
“You two are literally the problem”
“So the author not only never watched hockey. She also never talked to kids. Fascinating”
I’ll give the author one thing - they used a correct form of a russian last name for a woman. Doesn’t happen that often. Good job!
4.5 stars. I cant even fathom how much this book means to me. It's like I WATCHED Reece and Brooke grow up and now I got to read their love story. the Unfrozen Four series is my favourite series that I've read, by far. And I can already tell that the NY Sweethearts is going to be just as amazing and I can't wait for the next book. I just want to thank Joelina herself for even writing all her books. they have helped me more than you could even imagine!! Brooke and Reece are going to my forever melted into my brain as are all the Unfrozen Four couples.
Literally nothing happened and why tf was this so damn long 🙄🙄🙄 also don’t call this a relationship in trouble book when they make up and get engaged in 25%
Joelina knows how to captivate you with her words. I didn’t know what to think when I first started reading this book, but with each word I wanted to know more, I needed to read more. Reece and Brooklyn’s story was amazing from the start, I love a relationship in trouble trope and this book was amazing. I felt the struggle, the love, the emotions, and the stress. I loved Reece’s character so much even more than Brooklyn 🫣 the girl’s anxiety gave me anxiety. I enjoyed reading their relationship developing and improving through the book I loved the ups and downs and how it was written.
Joelina is a talented author and I’m happy I got to read her books and now I need a third-generation book just to read Nova and Kieran 😂 I want them in a book they were the cutest.
Brooklyn Desrosiers-King and Reece Carter, the inseparable childhood sweethearts, have trouble in their paradise as they grow up. Joelina Falk's college hockey romance is unlike the others, as no breakup or second chance anchoring the plot.
Here is the story of two beautiful characters Brooke and Reece who have been in love since they laid eyes on each other, the prologue even shows the perfect moment of their first kiss and the beginning of their dating life. The story then carries their problems as adults where there are decisions that are very important for their lives ahead but shake the grounds of their relationship. There is college, hockey, figure skating, family, and friends. This is a very fresh plot for me as it does not have the same storyline that we all have read, my expectations were very high, which may be why I was disappointed when I saw monotonous situations with dim excitement. Maybe as a reader, I had some different storyline in my mind and what I read was a pushed HEA without a 3rd act breakup.
The beginning of the story was delightful and exciting for me and I was bracing myself for more drama and spice but what I did not see it coming was the same pattern of stories that I would have expected from another book's epilogue. The main body of the book lacked a lot of enthusiasm and exciting twists, while it did have a lot of drama, sadness, and happy moments it did not feel positive. At first, Reece was sacrificing his hockey to support Brooke's figure skating with later no major consequences, rather he gets selected for NHL which was again not logical for me. There wasn't much content about his hockey or his passion for his career and it was the same for Brooke who wanted a gold medal so badly but when she got it, she was ready to leave figure skating altogether. Their family tree was traced to me in the beginning but it got me very confused, as to how did Reece end up dating his brother's friend's daughter? It was out of line for me. How quickly do they get engaged and move into an apartment? The alcoholic and Reece's grieving phase also could have used more drama instead of it being so easy on him. Then towards the end, it got better when Reece started to realise his mistake and he started rehab with Grey and Luan. His sincere efforts to fix himself were beautiful to see.
Overall, I loved the character of Reece Carter and his layers of how he was such a concerned, loving, and caring boyfriend to a phase where he did not care about Brooke and back to him trying to make things right. His journey in the book was very well written. Overall I feel the book had a very beautiful story and plot but it got misplaced and lost in execution. But I am so glad I got to read this book.
I would like to thank Joelina Falk for giving me this opportunity to read this amazing journey and book of two childhood lovers and how they fought through the odds to have their castle wedding. I wish her the best in her future books and look forward to more such ARC books ahead as well.
I live for college romance books! but a relationship that's in trouble? SIGN ME UP these books are usually a hit or miss and I actually like this one, I actually didn't read the other books that's in this universe but they are on my TBR
Brooklyn and Reece relationship is very realistic and understanding they been together for years but they're only 20 , their chemistry and banter is everything they care about each other on a deeper level
The spice goes so well with the story, this book had me going through all type of emotions they understand each other so well they were there for each other through everything
Quotes 💌
"For those who almost died in silence and are now healing out loud"
"In theory, I knew there was nothing that would ever make him run from me. Our shared history was enough to secure me a safe spot in his heart for the rest of our lives"
"Losing him as my boyfriend also meant that I lost my best friend because he was everything to me. He is everything to me."
"I could've died right on the spot at the sight of her lust-filled gaze and her parted lips. She was the most beautiful person ever to walk this earth, that I was convinced of."
"There was no pain, no anger, no fight. It was just Brooke and me, and our love for each other, and everything was fine. But then the next second came crashing in, and everything fell back into that black hole that was slowly sucking the joy out of our relationship."
"Reece was everything and so much more than I deserved."
"I need you to get better, Reece, Because I love you, and the fact that you're hurting is killing me. And because you're throwing your entire life away right now."
"I needed Brooke in my life though, more than I needed oxygen, so fucking up wasn't an option."
Tropes
childhood sweethearts figure skater x hockey player relationship in trouble one true love college romance mental health rep princess treatment open door spice
It’s a good story if you want an ice skater x hockey player romance. I really loved Reece in this book. He was so perfect until he wasn’t. 🫣 What he went through has been too much for him and I know that he did not handle it well but I can still forgive him for it. I was glad he didn’t fall deeper down the hole and Brooke had been strong enough and did not give up on them so easily. Their family has been really great support system for both of them.
Brooke and Reece’s relationship was years in the making. They have been together for so long and have been kind of co-dependent with each other. Being at different colleges really tested their relationship. I initially got the vibes that they were toxic to each other but I was so glad to be proven wrong.
There had their struggles in their relationship and I almost lost faith in them. I really thought they won’t survive the impact and were better off broken up 😬 I was actually amazed how they handled those situations. Their relationship has a strong foundation and they both are able to communicate what they actually feel really well. Their patience for each other as well as their willingness to sacrifice their dreams just to support each other is really admirable. The way Brooke handled Reece when he was at his lowest was one of my favorite scenes in the book. She gave him her all and did not just give up. She stayed with Reece and she never even thought of leaving and breaking up with him.
I feel complete! This book was exactly what I needed. I received it as an arc, and I’m so grateful I got to read it early. I am such a big fan of the frozen four series, I was so excited to read “What if We Break” and honestly it did not disappoint. Getting to re-read about all the initial characters and read about Brooke and Reece is so good.
Brooke is the daughter of Miles from “Seven months” and Reece is the brother of Colin from “Nine Days”, ever since they met they fell in love, they shared everyday of the week since they were kids, but what happens when their life turns upside down?
Their love story was amazing to read, Brooke and Reece are my new favorite couple istg. The way Reece treats her just speaks so much about the respect he has for her and his values, it reminded me a lot of the way Colin treated Lily in “Nine Days”.
It was such an amazing read, I ate the book in three days which is so rare for me😭, only do so when the book truly is a 5⭐️, which is the case! I’ve been through all kinds of emotions throughout the book. I really recommend reading it once it drops on November 12 🩷
Plots: ⛸️always has her snack on him 🏒couple tattoo 💜Childhood best friends to lovers ⛸️always wear his shirt to bed 🏒He cherish the ground she walks on 💜princess treatment ⛸️Figure skater X hockey player
Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spicy: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ Tiggers - Mention of deceased family members, - grief, death (off-page), - general anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, panic attacks (on-page), - use of inappropriate language, - use of alcohol, substance abuse, - mention of baby-trapping, - toxic friends, - mention of homophobic behavior toward side characters [MCs aren't involved in it], - explicit sexual content I really liked this book it show a relationship where they are childhood friend to lovers and yes they have ups and downs and how even some hard times. The FMC Brooklyn has anxiety and The MMC Reece he went through a hard time when his father passed away and use sex and alcohol as comfort and an escape yes did Brooklyn hard the fact to the family yes but she thought it was for the best but then she gets him the help he needed. when Brooklyn has anxiety attacks Reece knew how to help her and that is amazing how he was able to help her. He calls her Mi Princesa. Erik i know i hate you and you try to be better at the end but i still hate you i hope you step on a lego when your legs work again and that your pillow is always hot 😠. my favorites quote Dedication “For those who almost died in silence and are now healing out loud”
On va suivre Brooke et Reece ensemble depuis l’âge de 13 ans, mais à l’entrée à l’université tous les problèmes qu’un jeune couple avec de nouvelles responsabilités peuvent avoir, ils vont les avoir: confiance en soi, confiance envers le couple, le regard des autres, les changements…bref…la vraie vie.
Ce que j’ai aimé: - revoir des personnages de la première saga: Unfrozen Four - le found family incroyable - le fait que Reece et Brooke se battent l’un pour l’autre, qu’ils essaient toujours de discuter et de trouver une solution - ils ne baissent pas les bras à tout bout de champ - la communication! - le spicy 🌶️ - Reece aka possessive boyfriend - la plume de l’autrice - une lecture addictive et très page-turner
Ce que j’ai moins aimé: - tous les problèmes: ils passent pas beaucoup beaucoup d’épreuves et parfois ça fais un peu beaucoup pour un seul livre de romance mais c’est aussi ce qui rend aussi VRAI ce livre.
Ce que je peux dire c’est que ce livre CHANGE totalement de ce qu’on peut avoir l’habitude de lire en romance et ça fais du bien.
Tropes: childhood sweethearts princess treatment college romance figure skater x ice hockey player relationship in trouble
When I saw the sign up with the the tropes for this book I immediately sign up I mean I already knew brooke and Reece from the previous books and the TROPES yeah I RAN.
This book is about Reece and Brooklyn, they have been in a relationship since the were little children and have know each other forever. The furhter in their relationship the more fights and problems seem to arise. Everyone in their working and school life seems to want to break them up. In this book you see how they overcome many obstacals and get even closer together.
This book was definitely a roller coaster, when I began with this book I did not expect it to start like that and everything that happend, let's just say I was surprised at every page. And damm REECE CARTER what a MAN, he is SO SWEET!!. Their relationship was everything and more.
If you love a good childhood sweathearts with a relationship in trouble than this is definitely the book for you!, What if we break? comes out on november 12th. Thank you so much Joelina for giving me the chance to read this book in advance!.
This book was so good!!! This book was undoubtedly a roller coaster of emotions, which made this reading even better. I loved seeing the unfolding of Brooklyn and Reece’s relationship, seeing them going through several challenges but overcoming them all because their love was stronger than everything was beautiful to read. This couple is that couple that when we finish the book we know that they really stayed together forever because they were made for each other. I loved seeing their relationship being so realistic with arguments and vulnerable moments. This book was beautiful. Seeing Brooklyn and Reece growing up individually but also together was wonderful I even shed some tears to be honest. This book has a beautiful journey of growth, love and much more! I liked this book so much that I don’t even have words to describe how good it was! I can only tell you that I really recommend this book to you💜🥹
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨: College romance Childhood sweethearts One true love Relationship in trouble Figure skater x ice hockey player
This book was like an emotional roller coaster and not in a good way. At first, I thought it would be good, but then as I read further, the characters irritated me as they kept going back and forth, and for me, I mostly saw them fighting.
I felt that the book had talked about how hard relationships can be and that you need to put in the work to maintain them and how people will be there for you in your darkest times. But at the same time, it felt like the characters were being immature about their relationships and kept on fighting about the smallest things. I felt like the FMc could have been a little more mature since she is older, but it never felt like that to me. In the beginning, I first thought that the MMC would be immature, but as I read through the first few chapters, it didn't feel like that, but after a while, it felt like he became a bit more immature.
Honestly, this book was okayish. It could have been better, but the fight and the going back and forth and hiding things from each other were really irritating me.
Tropes: • Childhood Sweethearts • Figure skater x hockey player • Princess treatment • SPICY • College romance • Relationship in trouble • One true love
Review: I LOVED the book! The whole storyline was amazing. The way it’s written is so amazing to read!
I am in love with Reece and Brooke and the understanding that they have with each other in the relationship is something that I want in my relationship!! The nickname Reece has for Brooke, had my jaw dropping because that’s so hecking cute!😍
Brooke and Reece go through a lot, like Reece drinking much alcohol because of his father passing, people/some friends who think that they should break up because that would be better for figure skating/ice hockey, … but to see them come back stronger and finally seeing them marry is so adorable, beautiful, emotional!
I would really recommend reading it and also every other book of Joelina because, heck, I’m addicted!🩷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Tropes: 🩷Childhood sweethearts 🩷Figure skater X ice hockey 🩷Princess treatment 🩷Spicy 🩷College romance 🩷Relationship in trouble 🩷One the love
Firstly I would like to thank joelina for the wonderful opportunity to read her book What If We Break which is the first in the series NY Sweethearts. I really enjoyed this one and found myself not able to put it down.
What If We Break follows Brooke and Reese. Two wonderful people who have known each other since they were little. These two go through some obstacles along the way. But through thick and thin, rain, hail or shine these two seem to make it work or even when things drift apart they find their way back to each other.
This is a childhood sweethearts, relationship in trouble, figure skater x hockey player, college romance. Brooklyn and Reece have been inseparable since they were kids, but college, life and other people are getting in the way of their relationship. Will they be able to survive all that life is throwing at them?
This story is a roller coaster ride, with all the ups and downs. Reece is a sweet cinnamon roll and their relationship beautiful even with all the obstacles. It’s how they overcome the obstacles that drives the story for me.
Thank you @authorjoelinafalk for the e-ARC of this story.
2 stars bc I managed finish the whole book but i was annoyed the whole time
As someone who’s been in a relationship for 9 years and started dating at 15 this was a wildly unrealistic example of going from high school to college while dating the same person. These two wouldn’t have lasted a second in college acting the way they did and it made no sense how they would supposedly argue every single day but we only saw them having amazing communication and handling arguments in a healthy way…make it make sense The side character drama was left unresolved and for a book that was supposed to be about a couple trying to save their struggling relationship they sure got engaged at like 25% lol
Al principio pensé que sería igual a otro libro, donde el la ayuda. Pero, si cambiaron la trama o el trauma que me generó. Ahora que le diga mi princesa, me mato. Fue extraño leer las escenas de sexo porque en mi mente aún eran unos niños(En mi defensa el mes pasado aún lo eran, porque recién leí los libros) Me gusta los easter eggs de que si leíste los primeros libros lo entiendes y si no los leíste no hay problema. Ahora por que siempre termina muriendo un Carter, en el primer libro? Yo estaba llorando porque no lo podía creer.
Recién me entere de estos nuevos libros, y yo quiero leer el resto sin importar que en mi mente aún son niños
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.