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Finding out my fiancé is cheating on me? Not how I imagined my wedding day…

Gorgeous white dress. Champagne. Husband. All of that goes out the window when I overhear a call between my fiancé and another woman.

Hurt and angry, I turn to the only person I can trust—my fiancé’s brother. Dax. Otherwise known as my best friend.

I run. And take him with me.

One too many drinks has me confessing everything I heard. With a need to reinvent myself, I make a list. No matter how outrageous it might seem, Dax offers to help.

But when one thing leads to another, I discover new feelings for Dax. How can I go from loving one brother to the next?

It doesn’t seem to matter. Because the more time we spend together, the harder I fall.

When his brother comes back into the picture, it threatens everything Dax and I are building. Will Dax be the bigger person to keep the peace, or will his brother keep ruining our lives?

If only Dax and I can break away from his brother’s shadow...

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2025

121 people are currently reading
216 people want to read

About the author

Emily Silver

49 books614 followers
After winning a Young Author’s Award in second grade, Emily Silver was destined to be a writer. She loves writing strong heroines and the swoony men who fall for them.

A lover of all things romance, Emily started writing books set in her favorite places around the world. As an avid traveler, she’s been to all seven continents and sailed around the globe.

When she’s not writing, Emily can be found sipping cocktails on her porch, reading all the romance she can get her hands on and planning her next big adventure!

Find her on social media to stay up to date on all her adventures and upcoming releases!

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
Profile Image for Liz | Bookslizreads90 .
432 reviews113 followers
September 1, 2025
Tropes-
Ex's Brother
Best friends to lovers
Runaway bride
Hockey player mmc
Pining

“You should know something by now, Sunshine.” “What’s that?”
“I’ll always give you whatever you want.”

✨️Thank you so much to Emily and Smuthood PR for this ARC for my honest review. This was such a fun read. I read it in one sitting! I was thoroughly entertained the whole time! Chloe finds out that her fiancé is cheating on her on her wedding day, so she enlists her best friend, Dax, who is also her fiancé’s brother to help her leave him! She decides that she wants to be less boring and makes a list of things she wants to do to spice up her life. Dax being her best friend is there to help her through her list. I absolutely loved the friendship and banter that they shared. Their chemistry was off the charts! If you're a fan of friends to lovers, I 100% recommend this book!
Profile Image for Sim-fully Ever After.
116 reviews22 followers
August 27, 2025
5🌟, 3 🌶️

She was supposed to walk down the aisle—until she ran straight into the arms of the one man who always put her first.

Talk about chemistry that scorches the ice!

A perfect blend of sweet, steamy, and swoony, Chloe and Dax's best-friends-to-lovers romance scores big both on and off the ice.

Chloe's dream wedding turns into a nightmare when she discovers her fiancé's been cheating. Heartbroken and humiliated, she bolts—with help from Dax, her best friend and the man who has quietly loved her for years... even though she was engaged to his brother. Determined to guard her heart, Chloe swears off love—especially the kind that comes with hockey gear and charm. But as she rebuilds her life and Dax stays by her side, sparks fly. Turns out, the perfect guy was standing beside her all along.

I came for the hockey drama and stayed for the slow-burn steam. Dax is the kind of book boyfriend who ruins you, and Chloe? She's my new favorite runaway bride. 👰‍♀️

~~~~

Thank you to Emily Silver and The Smuthood for this Advanced Reader Copy. ✨
Profile Image for Claudia, Cmarie927.
2,065 reviews41 followers
September 12, 2025
What a great edition this series!!

I fell in love with this team when I read Marcus and Harper's HEA (Game Misconduct), and Bode and Stevie's HEA (The Playmaker), and Dax and Chloe are a perfect edition!!

Chloe is a runaway bride, and thankfully her best friend Dax is there to catch her. The ugliness of this is that she ran from his brother Duncan! The torch that "golden retriever" Dax has carried quietly for Chloe for years burns even hotter, now that she's available. Chloe hasn't moved Dax from the friend zone before, but now - things and feelings are impossible to ignore.

This team is easy to connect with, and I enjoyed their banter and support for Dax and the situation. It is an entertaining storyline, full of sizzling chemistry, solid friendships, fun story twists, and karma for the brother who did Chloe dirty! :) Love it!

This is best enjoyed in order, but you can start here, and fill in later. I was fortunate to receive an ARC (thank you), and I happily leave my review. I can't wait for the next one!!
Profile Image for ReadingWithNikki.
134 reviews4 followers
September 5, 2025
✨ARC Review: Nashville Nights with Chloe & Dax✨

Did I read books 1 & 2? ❌
Did I know the full backstory of the characters? Nope.
Did I still sign up for the ARC? ✅ 100%!
Did I love it? ABSOLUTELY 😍

Even without the first two books, I didn’t feel lost. The interconnected world is clear, and now I definitely need to go back and read the others because I want all the Nashville Nights drama and love stories! 💕

This was my second Emily Silver book, and once again her writing completely pulled me in. She’s officially on my must-read & recommend list! 📚✨

💔 The story starts with Chloe’s heartbreak—her wedding day crumbles when she overhears her fiancé say “I love you” to someone else. She runs… straight to her best friend, who just happens to be her ex’s brother 👀.

🔥 Enter Dax. Together, they dive into adventures from Chloe’s “reinvention list” as she heals and learns she’s anything but boring. Their journey from friendship to love is heartfelt, messy, and oh-so-swoony.

If you love hockey romance, a sweet cinnamon-roll hero, and all the feels with a runaway bride twist—this one’s for you! 🏒💍❤️

#ARCReview #BookLovers #RomanceReaders #HockeyRomance #FriendsToLovers #RunawayBride #Bookstagram

✨ ARC Review Rating ✨
Plot – 📕📕📕📕📕
Characters – 👤👤👤👤👤
Spice – 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Emotions – 💧💧💧💧💧
Overall – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes you’ll find:
👉👩‍❤️‍👨 Brother's Ex Girlfriend
🫶➡️💘 Friends to Lovers
🏒🥅 Hockey
👰💔🏃‍♀️ Runaway Bride
🥯💖👨 Cinnamon Roll Hero
992 reviews16 followers
September 7, 2025
I wasn’t sure how the brother’s ex thing was to work, but it went well. I’m just glad that Dax got his HEA. He’s has been in love with Chloe forever. If you like a good runaway bride book then check this one out. Dax is one of the biggest cinnamon roll heroes I’ve read. I dare you to not love him. You can read this one by itself, but you’ll enjoy it more if you read the first two books first. There are connecting characters. You’ll want to read them. Trust me.
Profile Image for ReadWithPeaches.
255 reviews17 followers
September 5, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️

This book started off with a bang. Boy, it didn’t disappoint!

The friendship between Chloe and Dex was perfection. I love that we have seen their friendship in earlier books. Getting to see there here in their world, was exactly what I needed.

Dex heart belonged to Chloe from the time they were kids. She just didn’t know it. He was always there for her. Even when she dated and was about to marry his brother. At this point, he truly felt he missed his opportunity with her.

I couldn’t have been happier for her, when she decided to leave her fiancé! Even thought she is swearing off men. You could just feel the heart break from Dex when she made that choice.

I love that he didn’t hesitate when she called and asked him to have the car ready to go. When she finally admitted to him why she wanted to leave her wedding. He was furious.

Then his brother and family, what a piece of work they are. I couldn’t imagine knowing parents or having a family like them.

I seriously couldn’t put this book down. It’s fun and fast-paced. This was the perfect blend of sweet, steady and absolutely swoony! I truly felt their connection through the pages.

Thank you Emily for the eARC! I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait for the rest of this series.
Profile Image for Katie.
59 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2025
Thank you firstly to Emily Silver and Smuthood for my ARC!

I flew through this book! The chapters were short which I love, the story kicked off straight away which hooked me immediately. The side characters really added to the plot and I loved getting to meet all the boys on the team and their partners, who are one big found family. I’m not normally a huge fan of friends to lovers but I think this was done really well, with the twist of the ex being his brother! (This isn’t a spoiler it’s in the description).

It’s was fun, fast paced and spicy! Overall a really good read!
Profile Image for Lisa G.
36 reviews
August 27, 2025
I received an Arc for this book.

Book Review
Breakaway by Emily Silver ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

Hockey romance lovers, this one’s for you! 🏒🔥

“Breakaway” had me hooked from the very first chapter. It’s a perfect mix of tension, swoony romance, and emotional depth. The chemistry between the characters is electric — the kind that makes you grin like an idiot one moment and clutch your chest the next.

I loved how Emily Silver balances the sports drama with heartfelt moments. The writing flows so effortlessly, making it impossible to put down. And let’s talk about the male lead for a second… swoon-worthy doesn’t even begin to cover it. He’s protective, passionate, and gives golden retriever vibes. Basically, a new addition to my book-boyfriend roster. 😍

If you love:
🏒 Hockey romances
❤️ Slow-burn with high payoff
🔥 Spice in all the right places
💔 Emotional but healing journeys

…then you need this one on your TBR.
990 reviews76 followers
August 24, 2025
Thank you to the author for this ARC!🫶

When Chloe finds out her fiancé is cheating, she asks her best friend for help. Dax has had feelings for his best friend for a long time, but she was engaged to his brother. Dax helps Chloe flee the wedding. Chloe decides to swear off men, especially hockey players.

When she’s figuring out her next moves with her jewelry business and trying to be less boring, Dax decides he wants to shoot his shot. Chloe never realized that Dax was an option. They begin a relationship. But neither of their families are happy after Chloe ended things with Dax’s brother.

If you want to find out how these two get their HEA, then you need to check this one out!
Profile Image for Noëmie.
241 reviews3 followers
October 1, 2025
A sweet story with Chloe and Dax. I'm always in love with Friends-to-Lovers and their story was so sweet. thank you so much for writing such good books.
I had an amazing moment reading it.
Profile Image for Christie Hardin.
202 reviews56 followers
October 18, 2025
ARC Read
5 Stars
Spice: 2/5

I love a good hockey romance and this book did not disappoint. This is book 3 in the Nashville Knights series. I'm in love the with Nashville Knights crew. I was totally invested in Dax & Chloe's story from page 1.

Dax has been best friends with Chole since they met in the 9th grade. It was insta love for Dax however when he asked his older brother for advice on how to move himself out of the friend zone, his brother (Duncan) asked Chloe out instead.

Chloe who is engaged to Duncan finds out on her wedding day that he is cheating on her. She overhears a phone conversation between Duncan and his side piece where he states that he finds Chloe boring but feels that marrying her will help his reputation so that he can get back to playing hockey. He also states that he plans to keep his side piece after the wedding.

Chloe bales on her wedding and Dax is the get away driver. Dax is committed to helping Chloe get back on her feet and in the process find a way to make her, his forever.

Takeaways:
Friends to lovers
Forbidden: brothers ex fiancée
Hockey Player
Jewelry maker
Starting over
Chloe's "not boring list"
Sex club
Drake
Cora
Friends / Teammates / Found Family
Guys in touch with their feelings
Text banter (lol)
Adult conversations (be vulnerable)
Dating
Prom
It Will Fit
Duncan is a real douche canoe (so are the parents)
Karma
Charms by Chloe
Poem
HEA

Jasper is next. He definitely has a story to tell.


Emily Silver is a "new to me" author. I was excited to be selected to read an advanced reader copy of this book. Thank you Emily Silver and The Smuthood for the opportunity to read / review.
Profile Image for Jessie The Great.
223 reviews15 followers
August 31, 2025

This was my first foray into the world of the Nashville Knights. While this is a standalone, you can read the prior 2 books for clarity on the friends we meet on the way. I'm particularly interested in Noah and Graham's story. It seemed spicy. Now that the housekeeping is out of the way, This was Dax and Chloe's story. I'll set the scene we enter on a bride having cold feet only to find out that her groom is not all that innocent, she immediately reaches out to her best friend to spirit her away to somewhere else, just not there.

Immediately, I thought we were walking in on a scene that I may not like our FMC, but her actions are truly justified and her family and his family are trash people. This is only emphasized later on when they show up at Dax's house before his game against his brother's team of Detroit. Oh did I forget to mention that Dax is the younger brother of Chloe's ex-fiancé?
kissing brothers

Anyway, it turns out Duncan, has some deep seated insecurities - regardless of his "better than you" attitude that makes him decide he's the victim - so he decides to victimize his brother and Chloe as the targets of his ire. He makes their life unnecessarily difficult. All while Ya girl Chloe is working her way through her "Not Boring" list - also because Duncan was a jerk.

This story was light and there wasn't a third act breakup, so that was a plus. When Dax and Chloe start doing it like they do on the discovery channel, things get spicy. That's at about 55% when Chloe decides to check a box on her list about a mustachioed man. And well, there's that whole Lonely Island song about what happens next...

lonely island

Anyway, once the pining stops and the dirty talk starts, the momentum of the story advances quickly. I love the group chat conversations between the boys, makes you wonder what's up with Jasper (although I'm almost positive we know exactly who he's taken with). I'm still wondering about his cats comment, but maybe that's just Jasper. This was a sweet story, there wasn't a lot of conflict. I could have used more, but we get our HEA, so it's all good.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

For full transparency, I was given an ARC from The Smuthood and the Author
Profile Image for Carlina Hutjes.
85 reviews
September 12, 2025
3,5 ⭐️

I received this book as an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Finding out my fiancé is cheating on me? Not how I imagined my wedding day…

Gorgeous white dress. Champagne. Husband. All of that goes out the window when I overhear a call between my fiancé and another woman.

Hurt and angry, I turn to the only person I can trust—my fiancé’s brother. Dax. Otherwise known as my best friend.

I run. And take him with me.

Poor Chloe, how she found out that Duncan was cheating on her and how he thought about her. The feeling he gave her, that she thinks she has to change. Als the lack of back up from her mother and family.

And then there is Dax, everyone needs a Dax. It is so sweet how he is helping Chloe, even if it is something he doesn’t like on her “Chloe is not boring” list. Also knowing it could backfire, because he is always in Duncan’s shadow.

I loved the sex club scene, it was funny, hot and a great turning point for the both of them.
Their relationship from friends to lovers, was so easy like they are meant to be. But then there is Duncan and the parents. As expected their relationship backfires and they are choosing Duncan. Therefore I loved the fact that it all works out and Duncan gets what’s coming for him. Because I think we all can agree what a douse Duncan is.

I did miss a bit more storyline, why didn’t Dax parents and Chloe’s mother come around? Did Dax and his team win the cup? How started Chloe’s jewelry shop?

The writing of the book is great, it was an easy and lovable story. But overal the story felt too short and rushed. Also I missed the spice, there was some spice but that also felt rushed.

I really liked this book, it is still is a great serie and I am looking forward to the other books (especially Jasper’s book, I think I know who his love interest is)
Emily’s writing is good as always, she makes that you can’t stop reading.
Profile Image for Stephanie Chapin.
157 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2025
ARC Review of Breakaway Book 3 in the Nashville Knights Hockey Series by Emily Silver This is an interconnected series but this book can be read as a standalone. I really like this book it had me hooked from the beginning. It is a definite 5 star read for me. It was a really enjoyable read. The hockey team text chats are hilarious I love them. This is a pro hockey player, ex fiancé's brother, best friends to lovers, slow burn, spicy, forbidden romance. This is Chloe and Dax's story. On Chloe’s wedding day she has cold feet and goes to talk to her fiancé about it and discovers that he’s cheating on her. Chloe calls Dax who is her best friend but he is also her fiancés younger brother. Dax comes to her rescue and she runs out on her wedding to go to a bar with him. Dax isn’t close with his brother and doesn’t really like, him he hates always being compared to him and feeling like he’s living in his shadow. Dax has been in love with Chloe since high-school but then she started dating his brother and has only seen him as her best friend. While at Dax’s cabin Chloe creates an Anti-Boring to do list and asks Dax to help her complete it. Dax is a pro hockey player for the Nashville Knights. When they return to the city Chloe finds an apartment and starts her own jewelry business. She is swearing off all men especially hockey players but as they keep checking things off her list she keeps having more than friendly feelings towards Dax and is starting to see him in a new way. I love when they finally take the leap at get together ❤️ He has been in love with her for so long its good to see them get an HEA.
Profile Image for Kat.
86 reviews
September 8, 2025
This is the third book in the Nashville Knights Hockey series and it can be read as a standalone. Breakaway follows a best friends-to-lovers story featuring a sweet, cinnamon-roll hero, a runaway bride, and all the usual hockey romance tropes. The dual POV was a nice touch, and the "villain" true colors part was a definite highlight.

However, for me, the book fell into the middle of the road, and there were a few reasons why it didn't quite reach a higher rating. The repetition of the phrase "I shouldn't be thinking this about my best friend" became a bit tiresome and was used so often it took me out of the story.

I also love a good found-family trope, but in this book, it didn't feel fully realized. The blatant, over-the-top hate from the main characters' parents felt like a forced plot device, and the only real "found family" was on Dax's side with his teammates, who felt more like just close friends than a true family unit. I also wish we had seen more of Chloe's close friendships. She has a friend who is mentioned early on, but she then fades into the background, and there are no shared texts with her and the girls to mirror the ones we see with Dax and his teammates.

Ultimately, this was a comfy, quick read, but it didn't have much going on to really grab my attention. It was a perfectly fine book, but it's not one I'll be picking up again.

★★★
🌶️🌶️
172 reviews1 follower
September 3, 2025
Breakaway By Emily Silver ARC Review

I always love a best friends to lovers and even a better trope is ex’s brother and falling in love with them I liked Emily because she was not boring she was interesting on getting revenge and the ex finally getting his karma I hated him so much for cheating on her.

Emily, was a great female main character I thought she was a caring and thoughtful person with a personality which can snap if a person betrays her and I liked her for that if I could this book another star I would this was real love and chemistry which was strong and steady.

I read Emily Silver before but nothing would compare to this I would think it left me waiting for the final book in the series and this book left a grip on me wanting to re read it all of the time I felt like Dax treated her better with the supporting each other, and being treated with respect, honesty, and integrity.

I would say this story left a huge impact on me with the plot and spice and how the characters connected together showed me how strong they were and how the friendship went from that to lovers I loved that he was there for her at hard times and knew how not be too much I understood the relationship with each others and I loved the epilogue it was really a good touch on how to end this couple with a good note.
Profile Image for Crystal Reads.
953 reviews58 followers
September 6, 2025
When Chloe’s dream wedding turns into a disaster and she is starting to doubt it all and then she overhears her groom to be talking to another woman she texts the one person she knows she can always count on, Dax, her best friend. Dax just happens to be the grooms brother also. But he has carried a torch for her since high school, but has held it in and has always been there for Chloe no matter what.

Chloe has always loved Dax as a friend, but now she is seeing him in a completely new way. And these feelings are completely new and scary, but exciting, she knows he is completely different and she can trust him.

Dax has always loved Chloe and never acted on it because his brother got to her first. He’s always been there for her and always picked up the pieces for her. Now is his time to show her how he feels and what it is like to truly be loved.

I loved the progression of their relationship. He is such a golden retriever, he is sweet and kind, and would give her the entire world. You could feel the love they had for one another. And I love the friendship of all of the teammates and then the ones of the girls that formed.
Profile Image for Alicia Z.
141 reviews5 followers
September 6, 2025
Friends To Lovers In an Unexpected Way!

Breakaway was my first read by Emily Silver, and I’m honestly wondering how I hadn’t picked her up sooner! I absolutely devoured this book! Chloe and Dax’s story hooked me from the start with its mix of heart, humor, and undeniable chemistry. I loved how their relationship unfolded naturally over time, giving me all the swoony friends-to-lovers feels without any unnecessary drama.

One of the things that stood out most for me was that there was no third-act breakup. With a setup like this, I was bracing myself for the angst, but instead, the story leaned into growth, connection, and love in such a satisfying way. The banter was sharp, the tender moments melted me, and the steam definitely delivered.

This book has made me an instant fan of Emily Silver, and I can’t wait to dive into books one and two in this series. If you’re looking for a romance that blends friendship, spice, and genuine heart, Breakaway is one you shouldn’t miss.
Profile Image for Booklover Judy Lynn.
1,647 reviews30 followers
August 28, 2025
#CinnamonRollHero #FriendsToLovers #Forbidden #RunawayBride #Sports #ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book. Book three in the Nashville Knights series is written in first person from an alternating dual POV, can be read as a standalone, and ends with a HEA. Because many of the secondary characters appear in this book, readers may gain the most enjoyment from reading the series in publication order.
Dax is the gooiest cinnamon roll hero ever and I absolutely love him. He has been in love with his best friend, and his brother’s fiancée forever. When his brother (who is his complete opposite and the wrong kind of guy in so many ways) gets left at the altar, Dax is all too happy to drive the getaway car. I loved how he supported Chloe. He is there when she wants to do things that scare him. He is there when she needs a shoulder to cry on. He is there to support her dreams. He builds her up in the way she deserves. Like I said: I loved him.
Chloe makes the decision to run and that is followed by a decision to put herself first for the first time. Her list of “how to not be boring” things to do is just the beginning of her evolution into a woman who stands up for herself. She no longer fears standing up to her ex, her parents, or even her ex’s parents. I loved her fire and determination to make her own way.
The best thing about friends-to-lovers romance for me is the way the characters have a history and know each other so well. They can read each other and have a language all their own. When the friend curtain begins to drop and they start to see each other as more- those are the moments I live for. I couldn’t put this down as I experienced the romantic and steamy moments between Chloe and Dax. I adored that there is not a third act break up. I love that karma finds her ex. I enjoyed the found family aspect of the book and how the friends they make are so much more. I loved it.
Profile Image for Valencia Dawson.
107 reviews4 followers
September 5, 2025
Emily does it again with this runaway bride, friends-to-lovers romance! Breakaway is the third installment in the Knights Hockey series, following Dax and Chloe.

Dax and Chloe have been best friends since they were kids, and he’s been in love with her just as long. There’s only one problem. She’s engaged to his older brother.

Dax had long ago come to terms with not getting his chance with Chloe. That is, until Chloe is no longer engaged to said brother. The day of the wedding, Chloe overhears her soon-to-be hubby professing his love to someone else. So, she runs to the only person she trusts more than anything. Dax.

Dax loved Chloe so much that he was willing to watch her marry someone else as long as she was happy. Dax always felt like he was living in his brother's shadow. Not only on the ice, but with his parents as well. So, seeing his brother marry the only girl he had ever loved would have been the icing on the cake.

Dax was perfection. He helped Chloe find herself again after being lost in the shadows of her ex. Something Dax was really familiar with. Though Dax has always loved Chloe, it took her a minute to really see what was right in front of her all along. Once she caught up, she was all the way in.
Profile Image for Ashley.
161 reviews1 follower
September 5, 2025
What an amazing story!!!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

💕 Hockey Romance
💕 Runaway Bride
💕 Ex's Brother
💕 Best Friends to Lovers

My Thoughts:
Dang, this book started right away, and I love that. From the first page, I was completely captivated by the book. I loved reading about their easygoing friendship and how it blossomed into so much more. It made my heart melt in the best way.

Summary:
Chole was nervous getting married, so she wanted to see her fiancé before it started but then overheard him on the phone telling someone else he loved them and that he was marrying her for his image. So she texted Dex to get her out of there, her now ex-fiance's brother, and who is her best friend. But what she is blind to is that Dex has been in love with her.

Since her ex said she was boring, she made a to-do list and Dex is going to help her complete it. As he does, she starts to notice him in a new light and once they do the s3x club, things are taken to a new level for them. But add in the ex who doesn't want to be seen as the bad guy....
Profile Image for Sweet treats and Smutty reads.
116 reviews2 followers
September 6, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book, as in read in less than 24 hours devoured.

Break Away is book three in the Nashville Knights Hockey series by Emily Silver.

After Chloe finds out her fiance is cheating on her on the day of their wedding, she enlists none other than her best friend to help her escape. Oh did I mention that her best friend is her ex-fiancés younger brother?

Dax Fletcher has always loved his best friend. And like the respectable and kind human that he is, he set his feelings aside when his brother began dating her.

Chloe and Dax’s relationship goes from friends to more in an “aha” moment neither were expecting. And when the past comes knocking spewing lies, is their relationship strong enough to withstand?

Gosh! This book had everything and more. With tropes of he falls first, cinnamon roll hero, hockey romance, brother’s ex-fiancé, runaway bride, and truly the best friends to lovers I have read, you don’t want to miss out on Chloe and Dax’s love story.

And of course that found family cast of characters makes their appearances in full force.
Profile Image for Betty Wong.
375 reviews2 followers
September 9, 2025
Im having far too much fun reading this series. This is Dax and Chloe’s story. Best friends since they were in high school. Dax has always loved Chloe but she ended up getting ready to marry his brother. Once she discovers his brother is cheating on her, she leaves him and take the help Dax is willing to give her.
This hockey player is absolutely adorable. Biggest golden retriever. Chloe is a woman on a mission to gain control of her life and her future. Watching her discover her feelings for Dax is so cute. Especially that they have such a sweet and cozy relationship that turns hot!!
Dax’s teammates and their partners make for a great group as the supporting cast here. They have so much fun on their group texts!
This was an easy read. I flew threw the pages with how perfect the bookmarks tempo is. There’s one more book in this series to go and I highly recommend taking advantage of every word Emily Silver writes!
Profile Image for Amber Kirk.
500 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2025
What to expect
Ex’s brother
Best friends to lovers
No third act break up
Runaway bride
Sports romance
Hockey player MMC
Slow burn
Forbidden love
Emotional, but healing journey

“ you should know something by now, sunshine… I’ll always give you whatever you want.”

I was hooked from the first chapter! A runaway bride! What a way to start off with a bang! And it’s her best friend, who is the brother of her now Ex who is helping her run away! You’ll have to redefined the details but I was hooked immediately 🔥 Dax would do anything for her. The chemistry between these two was electric. A fantastic balance of tension, but with spice and swoon worthy moments that had me kicking my feet and blushing. DAX is passionate, protective, and gives golden retriever vibes. He’s so loyal to Chloe and cares about her so much.
I love seeing Chloe grow, into her own and follow her heart or what she wants. And stands up for herself. I loved her fire ❤️
I couldn’t put this book down. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for bar down! Thank you so much for the opportunity to being on your team, these are my own thoughts and opinions.
💯 recommend this read. 😍🏒
Profile Image for Destany.
458 reviews18 followers
September 5, 2025
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

Dax you sweet, gooey cinnamon roll you. ALL THE FEELS. I loved Chloe and Dax's dynamic. He was all in with her before she was ready for it.

Chloe’s wedding is shattered after she discovers her fiancé’s been cheating. But she doesn't find out in a regular way, oh no. She hears him on the phone talking to his mistress THE MORNING OF THE WEDDING. Humiliated and heartbroken, she runs, helped by her best friend Dax. Dax has been secretly in love with Chloe for years ... but did I mention he also happens to be her ex-fiancé’s brother?

Determined to guard her heart, Chloe swears off love, especially the kind that comes wrapped in hockey gear and easy charm. But as she rebuilds her life, Dax never leaves her side. And suddenly, the one person she thought she could only count on as a friend starts to look a lot like the one.

This team is easy to connect with, and I loved the banter and support surrounding Dax, even in this sticky situation. The players' group chat never fails to make me laugh!
Profile Image for Calypso✨.
165 reviews6 followers
September 5, 2025
✨If you looking for a heartfelt, swoony romance perfect for readers who enjoy best-friend love stories with a dash of scandal this is for you.

🫶🏽Breakaway hooked me right from the first chapter. Starting a romance novel with betrayal on a wedding day instantly set the tone for drama, emotion, and fresh beginnings. 💕I loved how the Chole’s pain didn’t keep her from trying to rebuild her life, and her connection with Dax—her best friend and ex-fiancé’s brother🤭—was full of warmth, tension, and a slow-burn chemistry that felt genuine. 🫠Their banter, stolen moments, and the way Dax quietly showed up for her gave this book so much heart.❤️‍🩹

⭐️I loved the friendship-to-lovers element and how Dax was always steady, protective, and willing to be the safe place she needed.🥹Dax is seriously such an amazing character!💜Watching their relationship evolve while they worked through guilt, family tension, and their own feelings kept me turning the pages.🙌🏽

Thank you to the Author Emily Silver and Smuthood for the opportunity to read this ARC!💜
Profile Image for JenniferMarie.
731 reviews13 followers
September 7, 2025
Breakaway is a sweet, friends to lovers romance that had me swooning. I loved Chloe and Dax so much didn’t want to put it down. After finding out on her wedding day that her fiancée has been cheating on her she calls her best friend Dax, brother of the groom, for a rescue. Dax is an absolute cinnamon roll and I loved that he did not hesitate when she needed help. I loved seeing Chloe be able to chase her dreams and do all of the things she wanted that she had been held back from doing. These two just made sense they supported each other and had trust built and I loved seeing their romance progress slowly. The group chats between the guys were great and loved all their banter, it is fun to see them be unserious and helpful at the same time. It’s hard not to fall in love with Dax and Chloe and I loved every moment of their romance!

Thank you Emily for an arc copy!
Profile Image for Missi.
411 reviews12 followers
September 9, 2025
✨Tropes~
♥️Ex's Brother
♥️Friends to Lovers
💍💨Runaway Bride
🏒Cinnamon Roll Hockey Player
🌶️🌶️
I love this series! I didn't think it could get any better than Bode and Stevie, but now there is Dax and Chloe. Chloe has always been with Duncan, Dax's jerk of an older brother. Even when he treats her like crap. Overhearing a conversation on their wedding day has Chloe ditching him at the altar to regroup with her best friend Dax. Dax has always been in love with Chloe but his brother asked her out first. Even though she's been off limits, he's there as her best friend. I was so happy to see Chloe coming out of her shell and believing in herself. She and Dax have such chemistry and a bond. It's so hot when they finally explore that. The side characters were hilarious as always. The group texts had me laughing so hard.
89 reviews
August 29, 2025
This was probably one of the easiest reads I’ve ever read. It starts out on Chloe’s wedding day and her finding out that she is not the only woman in her fiancée’s life. She needs to leave and immediately calls her best friend for help and he happens to be her fiancée’s brother, Dax. Dax and Chloe have been best friends since high school. Dax has loved her that long but his brother made a move before he could and Dax was pushed into the friend zone. After Dax gets Chloe away from the wedding Chloe begins to see Dax in a new light. I absolutely love a friends to lovers situation and I was pleasantly surprised to get a book where they are both strong enough to tell each other how they feel instead of being afraid it would mess up their friendship. Of course, when a couple gets together and 50% of the book is left you can tell a third act break up is coming. Another pleasant surprise- no third act breakup materialized! There was angst and heat and spice and it was all thoroughly enjoyable! The only thing I didn’t like is that Dax never got the apology he deserved from his parents or his brother. After it came to light just how bad Duncan was and how much of a liar he was, Dax deserved to have his parents come crawling back to him apologizing for always choosing Duncan. He never got that and I felt it would’ve been great closure. We also never got that conversation between Dax and Duncan that explained why Duncan seemed to hate his brother so much. Dax truly loved Duncan but it was obvious that Duncan didn’t share that brotherly love and we never find out why.
🏒 Friends to Lovers
🏒 Runaway Bride
🏒 Found Family
🏒 Teammate Text Group
🏒 Spice level 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Lizzie.
93 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2025
Breakaway is an emotional and heartwarming romance that blends second chances at love, friendship, and the thrill of chasing dreams. Chloe and Dax’s story is one that feels both tender and passionate, filled with the perfect balance of angst and hope.

Chloe, reeling from the betrayal of her fiancé and forced to abandon a wedding that was never meant to be, finds herself leaning on her best friend, Dax, her ex’s brother who just so happens to be a hockey star. What she doesn’t know is that Dax has carried feelings for her since high school, and now, with Chloe free and trying to rediscover herself, their paths align in a way that feels fated.

What makes this romance stand out is the friends-to-lovers progression. Dax doesn’t rush Chloe—he’s patient, protective, and supportive as she works through her heartbreak and starts checking off items on her bucket list. Their relationship builds slowly, rooted in years of history, unspoken longing, and a deep respect for one another. Watching Dax’s quiet devotion unfold is both swoony and satisfying, especially as Chloe begins to see him not just as her almost-brother-in-law but as the man who has always truly loved her.

With hockey backdrops, runaway bride drama, and a heroine learning to reclaim her independence, Breakaway delivers the right mix of excitement and emotional depth. It’s a story about healing, rediscovering joy, and taking risks—not just on the ice but in love.

Fans of sports romance, slow-burn chemistry, and heartfelt second chances will find Chloe and Dax’s love story an unforgettable ride.

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 3/5

Thank you to Emily Silver and The Smuthood for an advanced copy! All opinions are honest and my own.
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