Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Bones We Break

Rate this book
I sold my soul to the devil.
To a handsome man in a pristine suit.
A monster in human skin.

He broke me down the nothing,
but I refuse to be broken
Anymore.

This is a pitch black romance with very heavy themes throughout.
This book ends on a CLIFFHANGER.

411 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2025

42 people are currently reading
304 people want to read

About the author

J.N. Bamforth

6 books61 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
62 (64%)
4 stars
27 (28%)
3 stars
6 (6%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Profile Image for Holly.
76 reviews3 followers
August 6, 2025
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR  
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS  
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 SPICY  
  
⚠️ This book is heavy.  
It tackles dark themes like abuse and trauma. Please read the trigger warnings beforehand and take care of yourself 🖤 

You guys… this book!! 😭💔 It’s dark, it’s heavy, and it hits so hard. But part two really shifts the tone and gives you a much-needed breath of air — finally, there’s a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel ✨ And that ending… WOW. Just wow. I seriously cannot wait for book two! 🙌  THAT CLIFFHANGER GUYS OH LORD

This story deals with some intense topics, and the way it’s written — with so much care, empathy, and raw emotion — you can just feel the love in every word. 💬❤️ It feels deeply personal, like it’s coming from someone who knows these struggles firsthand. 

And Dean… oh, Dean 🥹 He is the ultimate book boyfriend. Not only does he have the best dog ever 🐶 (Lyla, I love you!), but he treats Ana with such gentleness and love. He truly shows her what it means to be cared for 💕 He goes above and beyond to give her the kind of love she’s never known before. 

Profile Image for haunted.kelly.
183 reviews40 followers
August 15, 2025
I knew this book would be a banger as soon as I saw that playlist and let me tell you, TBWB did not disappoint.

I knew immediately that I had to run to sign up for the arc of this book once the hints started dropping. I was consumed with Ana’s story. What that woman went through was nothing short of traumatising. I felt so so bad for her all the way through. Once she met Dean I just knew that she would be cared for and loved forever. I actually was obsessed with Dean from the get (and with his dog Layla too, might I just add).

The rollercoaster of emotions I went through reading this. Slowly watching Ana’s personality reduce to nothing was heartbreaking but watching Dean bring back that spark in her life - ugh it was just perfect.

This book is the epitome of “he falls and he falls hard” and I love that so much. I mean he buys her a kindle ffs and acts out scenes from her books. I cannot rn, who doesn’t want a scary as fk bf on the outside and a sweetheart on the inside (but just for his girl).

Be prepared for the cliffy that you get with this one, it had me wanting to throw my kindle outta the window but I am so excited for the next book.
The anticipation is killing me.

Profile Image for Darkacademiareads.
80 reviews37 followers
October 8, 2025
Please check your trigger warnings before reading this book — it deals with some heavy and dark themes.

Now that that’s out of the way… this book is an absolute masterpiece. It’s not an easy or fluffy read, so if that’s what you’re after, this one might not be for you. But if you want something raw, emotional, and painfully real, then prepare yourself.

The story of Ana is soul-shattering. Ricky being the source of her pain makes it even more devastating. From the moments she breaks to the moments she begins to reclaim her power, you feel everything, the hurt, the rage, the flickers of hope, the fragile euphoria. Ana starts out soft, hesitant, unsure of her place in the world, but as the story unfolds, she grows into a fiery, flirty, determined woman finding herself again — and that transformation feels so beautifully human. Every page feels real, like trauma itself was written into the bones of this book.

Now, Ricky… just wow. He needs professional help, a straightjacket, and probably 24/7 surveillance. This man is not redeemable. He’s not a dark romance antihero or the misunderstood villain type, he’s a pure, cold-blooded psychopath, and we do not like him here.

Dean, on the other hand, is everything Ana deserves. A golden retriever MMC with a dash of Doberman energy, loyal, protective, and unexpectedly soft. He’s quirky, patient, and tender when it matters most. But he also has a past that will make your heart ache (again, please check those TWs). He’s the kind of man who helps her heal, not hurt her — and that makes all the difference.

And that cliffhanger? I am still reeling. My brain is spinning, my heart is racing, and I need the next book yesterday.

This story is brutal, beautiful, and achingly real, a dark, emotional ride that will tear you apart before carefully piecing you back together. I loved every gut-wrenching second of it, and I’ll be counting the days until the next one drops.
Profile Image for Anna.
202 reviews5 followers
August 8, 2025
"𝚂𝚑𝚎’𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚗, 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚜𝚑𝚎’𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚎. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙸’𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚠."

Special thanks to sweet @jnbauthor for sharing her baby with me to read pre- release 💕

🅕🅞🅡 🅛🅞🅥🅔🅡🅢 🅞🅕

🔪 evil-to-the-core villain
🔪 tragic and violent
🔪 golden retriever boyfriend turns wolf in bedroom 🌶️
🔪 Horror-and Bookloving FMC
🔪 fantastic, very explicit writing
🔪 A trigger list so long it could be your next read alone

This is my first ever dark romance and yes, I took my dark-romance virginity with a book that has "misuse of a meathook" and "lukewarm necrophilia" as trigger warnings. I won't lie, I was nervous going in. But the was was so worth it.

So, what is it about? Ana opens her arms to a guy who is confident, handsome and very destructive. In this book we experience how a relatable young woman can easily become a victim to someone so engulfed by darkness, they'd do anything to make you suffer.

It was very hard to read about her abuse and my heart hurt for her.

But there's also light with Dean, a guy who's like a golden retriever, CEO of "hey, mama" but damn, this dude does a 180 in the bedroom. 🌶️ I don't think I have to say it: this book is steamy!!

There were moments of dominance in Ana's connection to Dean, as well. However, I loved that. At the end of the day, if you want to experience submissiveness, it does not mean you give you consent to being hurt or your boundaries to be ignored. It also tells us that a victim of sexual violence can still have kinks and that's fine. The difference here clearly was to feel safe instead of fearful.

This book was well written and I could tell that the author poured her heart and soul into it. Please go support her.
Profile Image for Love.bites.xoxo.
40 reviews
August 7, 2025

This book doesn’t ask for permission it rips you open from page one and pours in blood, secrets, and sin. The Bones We Break is a haunting slow-burn that lingers under your skin, wrapped in shadows and whispered promises of pain. It’s not just dark romance it’s razor-blade devotion disguised as prose.

The MMC is unhinged in the way only the truly broken can be. obsessed, possessive, and dangerously tender.

And our FMC? Her trauma isn’t just background noise. it shapes the entire tone of the story. You can feel it in the way she flinches at softness and fights against needing anyone. She’s not weak, she’s wounded. And instead of healing gently, this book throws her into the arms of someone just as broken… someone who sees her pain and wants it anyway. . Their connection is wicked and addictive, a brutal tangle of trauma and desire.

This isn’t a story for the faint-hearted—it’s for the ones who crave teeth behind every kiss and skeletons under every floorboard.

🖤 Proceed with caution… and maybe a safe word.

• Trope List -
• Possessive, morally grey MMC
• Damaged heroine with a backbone
• Trauma bonding
• Forced proximity
• Captor/captive tension
• Dark psychological romance
• Slow-burn with violent undertones
• Twisted protector
• Found in the wreckage, not the light
• “If I can’t have you, no one will” energy
• Age Gap
• Healing through destruction
• Lust laced with danger
Profile Image for Daisy Magnolia.
211 reviews10 followers
August 7, 2025
I am now 100% sure that plastic rolling pins are not just for fondant, cake, pastry, or anything remotely food-related. That scene is burned into my brain 🙈🥵

First off, let me say this loud and clear: I HATE Ricky. I loathe that man down to the marrow of my bones 🤬

You ever feel like your life's a mess, your home's a war zone, and all you want is someone, just someone to love you? To ask how your day was. To make you feel like a queen when all you've known is scraps. But dreams? They don't come true without pain. Sometimes, you have to walk through fire and broken glass just to find the one who's worth it 💔 - That's how I feel about Ana.

And Dean? The kind of man who would burn the whole world just to see her smile. Who gathers every shattered piece of her soul and keeps them safe. Who carves his name into her very skin so she never forgets she's his. Who would rip heaven apart with his bare hands if it meant keeping her and walked through hell if she asked him. He doesn't fall. He claims ❤️

And just in case it wasn't clear: I STILL hate Ricky. My hatred runs deeper than blood 🤬

⚠️ This book is heavy. Know your limits, protect your heart, and take the trigger warnings seriously. Your mental health matters 🌼

A 5☆ read. I need book two like Dean needs her. Now.
Profile Image for Marta Conteh.
20 reviews
August 7, 2025
☝️First, let me say that it deals with some heavy themes. Like physical and mental abuse, etc. (I can't tell you everything because this app would take down the post, but you understand)

💔This was a book that broke me from the prologue; it kept me in constant tension during the first part. Becduse yes, this book makes you feel everything.

👹Ricky De Rossi is a monster who, becduse of Annabelles gambling father, targets her and destroys her life, leaving her alone and without a support network. What she's had to go through is horrible; my heart sank reading it, poor Annabelle.

But in the second part, our beloved
💕Dean Sinclair💕is there.

If Ricky was a giant red flag and the devil, Dean is a tremendous green flag and a saint at his side.

From the first moment, he feels a protective instinct toward her.
Hes patient, not pushy, and becomes her support network, helping her heal. (I wish I had someone like that.)

Also... Dean is a former Marine and former Hitman... but most importantly... hes the father of a beautiful German Shepherd named Layla!🐶🐾

This book brought back memories id kept locked away. But I also want to say it helped me heal. That not everything is dark and nothing is our fault.

Anyway... THE END? I NEED PART II NOW!😍😍
Profile Image for Ramona Strijkers.
113 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5


I'm in love! In love with this book and in love with Dean.

"Whenever you look at me, my skin sets alight. It burns under your gaze and I know right then that my soul is connected to yours"

Dean is everything you could want in a man, tall, dark and handsome, he has a trusted sidekick, Lyla the German shepherd, he's caring and he would do anything for his girl!

Speaking about his girl, Ana had been dealt a sh1tty hand when it comes to her husband.
Ricky is a piece of sh1t, abus1ve and irredeemable and Ana goes through the worst with him.

Until one day she manages to escape and built a new life for herself, but slowly her past catches up to her.
Will she have her HEA?

I devoured this book, it had me in its claws from the first sentence to the last. Mind you I actually gagged reading those last three words of this book.

I loved the writing style, the way the timeline was built, the little details that give you this ominous feeling throughout the book.
The chemistry and the tension between Dean and Ana was everything and the spice......hot!

"Your home can be a person, and Dean is my home"

This book is very heavy on the DV and SA so please check your triggers.
If you don't have any, dive right in and enjoy the ride 🖤
Profile Image for Jessica Hoffmaster.
89 reviews15 followers
August 11, 2025
The bones we break
By JN Bamforth

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5


🔪you get to the spice
🔪runaway FMC
🔪age gap
🔪mental health
🔪protective MMC
🔪bike smut
🔪praise



What a great read and amazing story tho. It was written so well. Thank you for my ARC and I will continue to read this author ✍️


This was a great quick read, very dark.

This poor girl went through some horrible trauma and that was hard to read. She lost it all over a nasty horrible man came into her life for revenge.

i loved the raw and genuine emotion in this story.

This was a great quick read, very dark. Ends on a cliffhanger that I’m assuming sets up for book 2. The FMC is a runaway wife and starts over in a small town. The MMC instantly falls for her.
I enjoyed this read. So amazing that this is her debut story, I will be continuing with this! I really was sucked in on page one, it read so quick! Definitely check your triggers this is extremely dark! Pitch black romance. Many, many dark themes.. You feel all the emotions and experience all the feelings !!


✔️******please remember to check TRIGGERS**** ✔️
Profile Image for claire wilband.
44 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2025
Firstly wow.
Secondly take the time to read the trigger warnings.
This book is dark. Exquisitely written but damn.
The story is told from 3 POV and in the first person which I love.
We hate ricky. There’s not even a smidge of redemption for him. And Ana could feel that from the first time they met..
Ricky got us this.. ricky chose this..Ricky paid for that… ricky wanted that one.. the brainwashing and manipulation is very real.
Dean. Dean is probably in my top 10 book boyfriends now. The chemistry between Dean and Ana is beautiful.
I won’t give away any spoilers but this book is so captivating I literally read it in two days. There were a lot of tears and a lot of giggles. My heart broke so many times for Ana.
Pre-warning… this book ends on a cliffhanger and now I will be anxiously awaiting the next one!

❤️ I received an advanced review copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily ❤️
Profile Image for Mandy’s Dark Reads.
41 reviews
August 6, 2025
Some books leave a mark.
The Bones We Break by J.N. Bamforth didn’t just hit me—it wrecked me.

As a survivor, I’ve rarely seen trauma written so honestly. This isn’t just dark romance—it’s a raw, gutting, unflinching portrayal of DV and SA, and what it truly takes to survive.

Annabelle’s story isn’t easy to read. But it’s real. And if you’ve lived through that, you might see yourself in her—in the silence, the fear, the numbness. In the way she doesn’t just learn to love again, but learns to exist without fear.

Dean doesn’t save her. He listens. He waits. He respects her boundaries. And slowly, with the help of a found family who never gives up on her, she starts to remember who she is underneath the pain.

This book gave me chills, tears, and most of all—hope.

🖤 If you’ve ever felt broken, read this.
Profile Image for Kelsey Nicole.
128 reviews9 followers
August 6, 2025
WOWZA!!! For a debut novel this book was amazing!!! I flew through it so quickly, I could not put it down!

I loved the story so much. The author had such a way of making the reader feel so many different emotions and feelings towards all the characters. I absolutely hated Ricky from the first time he spoke! LOVED Ana and felt so so sorry for her. Dean, well it’s was hard not to fall instantly in love with that man???? AND HIS FUR BABY, who was the star of the show by the way! 🥹

If you’re after something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, fast paced and full of twists and turns oh and let’s not forget, yummy scrummy spice, I highly recommend this book!

ALSO, that cliffhanger ????? my god. I need the next book more than I need air at this point.

Thank you for letting me arc read <333
Profile Image for MsSmuttySmut.
76 reviews11 followers
August 8, 2025
This book was the definition of an emotional rollercoaster!

Please be aware a good portion of this is very heavily focused on DV (including abuse, rap3, isolation). I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much rage towards an MMC as I did to Ricky, he is the definition of an absolute ass ( the only word i can use that won’t get me banned ) , the absolute horror Annabelle goes through while married to him is heartbreaking and some parts felt far too close to home for myself.

Then we meet Dean, and let’s just say he is the complete opposite to Ricky, he is every green flag you could possibly imagine in a partner which is exactly what Annabelle needs to try and overcome her past and present.

Trust me when I say you will feel every emotion, and that ending… I need book 2 ASAP!
Profile Image for Jasmin Elyse.
109 reviews
August 11, 2025
I was so lucky to receive this book a little early after a great recommendation. It took me a while to get through just due to the heavy nature of the topics but I enjoyed the whole ride. It’s a dark romance that was a welcome change to writing in the way a normal dark romance is written. I enjoyed the story and kept coming back for more. Thankyou JN Bamforth for your story and I can’t wait for book 2!
Profile Image for Patrícia Brito.
19 reviews
December 11, 2025
Achei a história boa e bem conseguida, porém, a forma da escrita exaustivamente detalhada com todos os pormenores, até os mais insignificantes, levou-me quase a dar DNF ao livro...
O abuso é todo repentino e acontece tudo muito rápido nos primeiros capítulos.. e quando chega em cena o personagem principal torna-se num extremo slow burn, em que há extrema tensão sexual entre os personagens, mas só a 90% do livro é que a relação deles desenvolve ..
Atenção que acaba em uma reviravolta!
Irei ler o segundo livro, e espero que a leitura seja mais fluida. 😅
Profile Image for Rachel.
38 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2025
First of all. WOW.


I absolutely devoured this book. That cliffhanger is cheeky though

Annabelle I was so sad for her, angry for her then happy but then sad again. so many emotions. Think I've found a new book boyfriend in Dean. oh my that man is a dream.

Ricky is a straight up piece of shit. hate him with everything I have.

Read trigger warnings guys. (or keep it a surprise if you prefer)

I cannot wait for the next book. like, literally I can't wait. I need it now.

thanks for allowing me this arc. now I will be in a reading slump
Profile Image for Sophies_booktok.
71 reviews2 followers
August 8, 2025
6 FUCKING ⭐️
2 🌶️

Please Please check trigger warnings before starting this book. DV, Non Con, Physical, Mental and Financial Abuse.

The anxiety i felt reading this book OMG!!!! This was genuinely an amazing book (I had to put it down a few times as the emotional anxiety i felt was quite heavy) The way Jordon touched the DV and Mental Health topic with such sensitivity and honoured it beautifully was so amazing to read.

You could feel such real emotions when reading and it had me gripped and on a rollercoaster of emotions through out the whole book.

The FMC Anna was so strong despite everything she went through and this poor soul went through so much in her abuse marriage but she finally had the courage and strength to leave and then she met our MMC and the way he started mending her broken soul/heart was just so beautiful to see as she deserved so much more then what her abuse husband provided.

The guy literally burnt her books as he wanted her only to think about him and not the men in the books. The anger i felt in that scene 😡 However the crawl to me and rolling pin scene with our FMC and MMC lives rent free in my head. That cliffhanger though JAIL……honestly i think i actually screamed when i saw that.


ALSO……Really praying Ricky’s death is very long and torturous in book 2 by Annas hands not Deans
Profile Image for Audi Walbridge.
123 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2025
Ummm ma'am! That cliff hanger?!?!?! Please tell me book two is written and it's just hiding waiting for you to release?

Please please check the trigger warnings as this book has some serious heavy topics such as domestic violence, rape, and suicide.



Ana starts off with a crappy hand. A father who is addicted to gambling, which makes her leave home at an early age. She cuts contact and is surviving on her own.

Till her father crosses the wrong person. Ricky De Rossi- complete scum and a psychopath but unfortunately good looking and charming too. When her father doesn't pay his debt he decides she'll be his to collect, to use as he pleases, and discard like trash.

He tricks her and lulls her into a false sense of security and does horrendous things to her.

Her father does one good thing though and provides her an out, which she takes.

On the run and scared she meets Dean. Ex-Marine, ex-hitman, biker, mechanic, and yummy. He also has his own trauma.

Instant chemistry and he's so kind to her.

Slowly she lets her walls down for him.

But Ricky can't just let her go.....

Can Dean save her?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for kall.isreading.
126 reviews6 followers
September 21, 2025
☆ eARC review
rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
spice : 🌶🌶🌶🌶
-
I was not prepared for this rollercoaster ride of emotions. I'm not sure many people can be, cause this one had my heart breaking for the FMC .. even when it was happy, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because I knew it was coming, but I had no idea when or what to expect for it.

Part one had me in shambles. There's so much sadness in the beginning, just in getting to know the FMC, Annabelle, a strong woman desperate to be loved. Then she meets Ricky, and he provides her all that she needs and a sense of security for her .. but as the story reveals more and more of their relationship and both their POVs, you see the games he plays with her, the torment, and it f*cking sucks!

Part two felt like taking a breath for her again. Seeing the cracks in Ana that Ricky had created brought me to tears plenty of times. But the immediate intrigue the first POV chapter of mystery man Dean had me immediately eager for more of this man. Already such a stark difference in them, and he goes dark again. But damn he had my attention. Ana's too.
And i couldn't be more obsessed with this man. He is everything. The dark power radiating off him, mixed with the compassion and empathy will have any woman panting. Plus, the way he handled the scared and broken Annabelle when he found her was all it took for my obsession to start. He was so perfectly written. And a protector, which Ana need while running from her husband, Ricky.
And I know im already terrified to find out what happens when he finds her ..

Thank you to J.N Bamforth for the opportunity to be apart of this ARC. You're writing is heartbreakingly beautiful and look forward to more.
Profile Image for MorallyDarkReadz.
127 reviews15 followers
October 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
“The Bones We Break” by J.N. Bamforth
🖤 Dark Romance | Domestic Violence | Psychological Trauma | Survivor Strength

This book wrecked me—in the best and worst ways. The Bones We Break is not your typical dark romance. It’s raw. It’s painful. It’s real. It tells the story of Anna, a woman trapped in a nightmare disguised as love. Her relationship with Ricky starts off like any other romance, but what she doesn’t know is that she’s just become the centerpiece of his next cruel scheme.

Ricky is not a villain in disguise—he’s a full-blown monster. The abuse is brutal, relentless, and disturbing, and J.N. Bamforth doesn’t shy away from the truth of what that kind of manipulation and torment looks like. Watching Anna suffer for years at his hands hurt to read, but it was written with such depth and accuracy, especially around the emotional paralysis and mental erosion victims experience.

When Anna escapes and meets Dean, you breathe with her. There’s hope. There’s light. There’s a chance at love, at healing, at peace. And just when you think she’s finally found her salvation, the story rips it all away again with a cliffhanger that makes your soul scream.

As a survivor, I felt seen in these pages. The confusion, the fear, the guilt, the strength—it’s all here. J.N. Bamforth didn’t just write a dark romance—she wrote a reflection of what survival really looks like.

This isn’t just a story. It’s a scream into the dark for all the women still trying to claw their way out—and a tribute to those who do.

Read the trigger warnings. Then read this book.
Because it will leave a mark.
Profile Image for booksandcoffeewithjordan.
115 reviews8 followers
August 8, 2025
I applied for this arc solely based on the tropes/TWs alone because “misuse of a meat hook” amongst all the other wild ones, was enough to lure me in and spark my curiosity. With that said, this was a wild ride from beginning to end and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Do I have some serious qualms with a certain POS who deserves to get his sh!t rocked up down left right two weeks from last Tuesday? Sure do. 100%. I haven’t hated a character with so much intensity in a book in so long so feeling that genuine disgust was insane. I commend Jordan’s writing for bringing out such raw emotion and feelings towards the story and the characters. On the positive side, Ana’s character went through itttt, that poor soul but damn watching her and Dean find each other and form their connection was beautiful. They both have their own demons but still want each other nonetheless. The passion and spice were very tasteful. Very well done. Now that ending? I knew it was a cliffhanger but damn do I need book two asap.

Overall, this book was filled with intense topics and very heavy emotions, but it was phenomenal and I highly recommend it to all my dark romance lovers. As always though, please check your TWs before reading.
Profile Image for Krystle.
34 reviews
August 19, 2025
Need to know before reading*
🖐I just want to start off with checking your TW on this one
🖐This lands on a cliffhanger

TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️ Full list at beginning of book alot of heavy topics

I was so excited to get this as a ARC!!!
This is a PITCH BLACK DARK ROMANCE. This book had my feelings all over the place i was emotional wreck but loved the authors writing. This book really pulled me in and I was invested 100%! There were times I wanted to reach in and help Ana. Even though the scrappy hand Ana was dealt, she really kept fighting. I just hated Ricky (not MMC) he made me so mad I hated what he did to Ana, no one deserved that. I enjoyed the part where she got the upper hand and left him. I have such hatred for him, I now despise the nickname sweetheart for a pet name😡. Then she meets Dean 😍. They connect they got right away, his need to protect her even after barely knowing her. Especially when he told her unalived people she responded with

"I know in my bones that you're a good man, and I think my trauma calls to the trauma I can see in your eyes. You've been through things and made it out to the other side but not without the mental wounds to prove it."

Dean and Ana relationship was amazing and it really showed his patience with her as she healed and was right by her side and i felt she was healing him as well. And when the spicy scene hits with them 🥵🌶. When he would call her mama 🤭 I so would blush. Never though that would sound hot coming from a man but Dean definitely made it hot 🔥 🥵.

I was so mad at the ending like how could you do that to us, I really hope book 2 comes out quick cause I want the HEA for Ana and Dean and Ricky be handed his demise!!!

I definitely recommend this book it does touch on alot of trigger warnings that may not be everyone's cup of tea but it was raw, emotional, deep, gave hope, trauma, resilience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jordan Claybourn.
64 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2025
You guys, this book is so good. It is so dark and heavy, but that part two really loosens things up some, and we finally can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The end is wow. I cannot wait for book two.

There are some heavy, dark subjects approached, and the way it is written with such care and love. You can really tell that what is written is written with care and written from someone who might have experienced the subjects at hand.

Dean is the best man. I love him so much. Not only does he have the best dog, but he is the best man who treats Ana with such love and care, going above and beyond to show Ana the love she's never gotten.

A bit about it: Ana is abused by her ex-husband, Ricky, and finally has had enough and leaves town. She soon meets Dean and his dog Lyla, who treat her how she deserves. But Ricky doesn't give up without a fight to get his punching bag back.

This book is a dark, heavy book that approaches dark and heavy subjects. Please read the trigger warnings and know your triggers.
Profile Image for Martha Bookish.
100 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2025
This story is dark, consuming, and unapologetically intense. From the very first pages, The Bones We Break feels like stepping into a contract you can’t escape—one signed in pain, power, and secrets.

The MMC is the kind of danger that wears a flawless suit and smiles while dismantling you. Calculated. Seductive. Cruel. He doesn’t just hurt the FMC—he reshapes her, forcing her to confront every fracture she carries. But what stood out most was her refusal to stay shattered. Even at her lowest, there’s a quiet defiance that simmers beneath the damage.

The emotional tension is relentless, the atmosphere heavy with control and consequence. This isn’t an easy read, but it’s a compelling one—raw, uncomfortable, and impossible to look away from.

And that ending?
Sharp. Devastating. Perfectly timed.
The kind that leaves you staring at the page knowing you’re not done yet.

A gripping start to the Broken Souls duet that delivers darkness, depth, and a finale that demands continuation. Definitely check trigger warnings before diving in.
Profile Image for Kayla (Kayuhlareads).
175 reviews10 followers
August 7, 2025
"𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑛. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑐ℎ𝑒 𝐼 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡"

I feel like there is no words to express that is good enough! What a beautifully done debut!

I was grateful to have read this as a BETA & let me tell you the amount of emotions swirling while reading this was insane. Swooned yet PISSED!

Anna really lives through the worst nightmares. Being stuck in a unhealthy abusive marriage. My heart really broke for her. She really thought he cared until he finally shown his true colors.
Dean, He is the man that everyone deserves. The man who will make you feel like you have a purpose & not just an object. The one who will give her time to heal & make her feel safe.

FU*K RICKY. His chapters really made me sick to my stomach. His need for revenge is more important than anything and he does not care who he destroys in the process.

Prepare yourself for all the emotions.
Profile Image for Clarissa.
274 reviews11 followers
August 10, 2025
I...just.....ugh.... speechless, really

This book will be one for my trophy shelves. And I don't just add any books. That's how serious I am about this book.

Firstly, please check the TW. This book is dark and deals with heavy stuff.

I am no stranger to dark books, I read a lot of Pitch Black and Horror Romance so this was right up my alley.

One word to explain this book? POWERFUL.

It is raw, emotional, deep, traumatic, evil, loving, hopeful, all of it.

Our FMC, your heart will break for her. You will cry, there is no getting around that. But she ends up okay, I promise.

Ricky.... I wish I was in this books because BOY DID I WANT TO DO SOME HARM TO YOU!!!!!!

Dean... my sweet Dean... you are perfect. You deserve the title Book Boyfriend. You deserve all the beautiful things!

And adorable Lyla....that's it... adorable.

This book should not escape your TBR. Seriously, read this. You will fall in love with J.N. Bamforth the way I did
Profile Image for robyn.
92 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2025
Jordan you were VERY successful with your dedication - I HATE RICKY🔪🩸
I was gripped by this book from the very first paragraph alllll the way to the end, and then I was sat in shock for a solid 5 minutes 🫣 I've managed to feel in love and heartbroken within 50 pages and I don't think I'll ever get over that (I will on book 2 release day🙂‍↕️)
Both Ana and Dean's "crawl to me" and the first "I love you"s had me kicking. my. feet.
I'm absolutely obsessed with these characters and I seriously don't think I can be patient enough to wait for part 2 of the duet😭
If Dean isn't the hands behind Ricky's inevitable death (I hope he dies) I will be upset I fear, but I'll be happy that he's gone🫶🏻
Since book 1 in the duet is out now, you'd be a fool not to add it to your shelves✨

⚠️‼️ please be sure to check ALL trigger warnings before purchase to make sure that you're comfortable with the contents of this story‼️⚠️
Profile Image for Teneil.
113 reviews6 followers
December 6, 2025
The Bones We Break hit me straight in the chest. Ana’s escape from a violently abusive marriage and her slow, painful journey back to herself is written with a level of honesty that hurts in all the right ways. The author doesn’t shy away from the reality of depression, self-harm, and trauma — it’s raw, confronting, and beautifully handled.

And then there’s Dean.
Dark, commanding, kink-coded… and still the king of consent. The dynamic between them is sharp, heavy, and rooted in autonomy, proving you can have intensity and boundaries coexist. I loved every second of their slow, dangerous pull toward one another.

This is pitch-black romance with survivor themes, obsession, violence, and a cliffhanger that’ll leave you vibrating — but luckily I’m ARC-reading Book 2 already.

If you want a dark romance that doesn’t just flirt with shadows but lives in them, this one absolutely delivers.
Profile Image for Lynnmarie542_books.
384 reviews35 followers
August 6, 2025
I sold my soul to the devil
To a handsome man in a pristine suit
A monster in human skin
He broke me down to nothing
But I refuse to be broken
Anymore


Trigger warning—read responsibly.

I thought I hated this book at first… but not for the reasons you’d expect.

Ricky is an absolute master manipulator, and I swear I wanted to crawl into the pages and take him out myself. Ana, on the other hand, is such a gentle soul, I just wanted to protect her from everything.

Watching Ana find the strength to walk away and start over? So satisfying.
And then came Dean. Sigh. Dean was exactly what she needed—supportive, steady, and seriously swoon-worthy. The spice? Delicious.

That ending though? Brutal.
I need book two ASAP.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.