Two enemies. One secret that could ruin them both. And a chemistry neither of them can deny. Callum Reed used to have it all—prestige, power, and a last name that opened every door. But when his father's empire collapses in scandal, Callum is left clinging to what little he has a broken reputation, a dying sister, and a job backstage at the university theater, where anonymity is the only thing keeping him afloat. Julian Hayes is everything Callum is not—disciplined, brilliant, and unrelentingly moral. On a scholarship he can’t afford to lose, Julian lives by the rules… and despises those who break them. Especially Callum Reed, the golden boy with a shattered crown. Their first collision is accidental. The second is combustible. But the third? The third threatens to unravel everything. As hatred turns into obsession, and obsession into something dangerously close to desire, Callum and Julian find themselves caught in a game neither of them knows how to stop—where pride is their weapon, vulnerability is their battleground, and love might be the ultimate betrayal. WHEN RIVALS BREAK is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance set in the dark, glittering world of elite academia. Perfect for fans of angsty tension, emotionally complex characters, and the kind of love story that claws under your skin and refuses to let go.
This is supposedly rivals to lovers. They aren’t rivals. They just go to the same college. And the nerd in the story hates the rich boy. That’s it. There is zero chemistry between the characters. In one chapter the nerd is watching a play but can see backstage to the rich boy moving props and such. There is no way a member of the audience, in the back row, would be able to see backstage. And then for him to go backstage during intermission to wander around, no. Impossible. Then the “near kiss” at the party. Like what? The story is just forced. Sorry not for me.