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Broken Rival
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26From #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes a gripping, heated romance about a girl trapped in a new reality, forced to make a choice between two brothers—one who is the high school golden boy, the other sworn to hunt down her kind—time travelers. This is Tessa Bailey as you’ve never seen her before.
Magnolia Brown loves Friday night football games, volunteering and dominating at high school swim meets. Just your average everyday eighteen-year-old. Except for one thing:
She’s from fifty years in the future.
Magnolia’s parents, two brilliant scientists, are the inventors of time travel, but due to widespread destruction and rampant abuse of the technology from a corrupt few, time travel is outlawed and punishable by death. When Magnolia’s parents are seized and executed for illegally traveling to the past, they leave Magnolia stranded in 2026 without a way to get home.
Now Magnolia has nowhere to turn but a complicated Kansas family with two sons—Fallon, her high school sweetheart with secrets of his own, and Ramsey, the brooding militia commander who hunts and kills criminals like her. Magnolia knows Ramsey resents and hates her, but how can he be her true enemy when he looks at her with such hunger, despite his callousness, and guards her with his very life? Which brother can she trust and is the real danger coming from inside the house?
Magnolia Brown loves Friday night football games, volunteering and dominating at high school swim meets. Just your average everyday eighteen-year-old. Except for one thing:
She’s from fifty years in the future.
Magnolia’s parents, two brilliant scientists, are the inventors of time travel, but due to widespread destruction and rampant abuse of the technology from a corrupt few, time travel is outlawed and punishable by death. When Magnolia’s parents are seized and executed for illegally traveling to the past, they leave Magnolia stranded in 2026 without a way to get home.
Now Magnolia has nowhere to turn but a complicated Kansas family with two sons—Fallon, her high school sweetheart with secrets of his own, and Ramsey, the brooding militia commander who hunts and kills criminals like her. Magnolia knows Ramsey resents and hates her, but how can he be her true enemy when he looks at her with such hunger, despite his callousness, and guards her with his very life? Which brother can she trust and is the real danger coming from inside the house?
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Tessa Bailey
104 books69k followersNew York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a devoted Tessa Bailey fan, I went into this book with equal parts excitement and panic. Excitement because she is one of those authors who can make me binge-read until 3 a.m. without a shred of regret. Panic because stepping away from the romance lane she dominates so effortlessly and diving headfirst into science fiction felt like a risky move.
Well... consider me officially humbled.
I should have known better than to doubt her.
This book grabbed me by the collar from the very first chapters and refused to let go. What starts as a fascinating time-travel premise quickly evolves into something much bigger: a story about grief, survival, identity, trust, betrayal, and discovering where you truly belong when the world insists you don't belong anywhere.
Magnolia immediately won me over. Imagine being stranded in a timeline that isn't yours, losing everything that defined your life, and then being treated like a criminal for circumstances completely beyond your control. I wanted to wrap her in a blanket, hand her a coffee, and tell everyone around her to leave her alone. The poor girl goes through emotional warfare from beginning to end, yet she never loses the determination that keeps her moving forward.
And then we have the brothers.
Now, without spoiling anything, all I'm saying is that Tessa Bailey knew exactly what she was doing.
EXACTLY.
Every interaction had me questioning everything. Every reveal made me rethink the assumptions I had made just chapters earlier. I kept changing sides, changing theories, and questioning everyone's motives. The author expertly plays with reader expectations, and I absolutely fell into every trap she set for me.
But let's discuss Ramsey for a second.
Actually, let's discuss Ramsey for several minutes.
The man is walking, breathing trouble in the most irresistible way possible. Gruff, complicated, emotionally guarded, frustratingly protective, and somehow capable of making every scene infinitely more intense just by entering it. The chemistry between him and Magnolia practically crackles off the page. Their relationship develops amid fear, distrust, impossible circumstances, and growing attraction, creating the kind of tension that had me flying through chapters.
What surprised me most was how well the science-fiction elements worked. The time-travel concept isn't just there as a decorative backdrop. It drives the entire story, creates genuine stakes, and raises fascinating questions about power, responsibility, and the consequences of trying to rewrite history. The world-building felt ambitious while remaining accessible, and I found myself completely invested in the mystery surrounding Magnolia's situation.
The pacing is relentless. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another revelation arrived and sent my theories crashing into a wall. I kept promising myself "just one more chapter" and then suddenly realized I'd read another hundred pages.
Classic Tessa Bailey behavior.
What I loved most, though, was how seamlessly she blended genres. This isn't simply a romance with a sprinkle of science fiction. Nor is it science fiction that occasionally remembers it's a romance. Both elements work together beautifully, creating a story that feels fresh, addictive, emotional, and impossible to categorize neatly.
Honestly, seeing one of my favorite romance authors step outside her comfort zone and absolutely nail it was such a joy. If this is what Tessa Bailey can do with time travel, suspense, mystery, emotional family drama, and scorching romance all in one package, then I am more than ready for whatever genre experiment she decides to tackle next.
This was thrilling, emotional, surprisingly thought-provoking, and yes, ridiculously addictive. By the final pages, I was fully invested, emotionally compromised, and desperately wishing I had the sequel sitting next to me.
A very special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for sharing this smart, addictive, time-travel-infused romance from one of my favorite authors with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Well... consider me officially humbled.
I should have known better than to doubt her.
This book grabbed me by the collar from the very first chapters and refused to let go. What starts as a fascinating time-travel premise quickly evolves into something much bigger: a story about grief, survival, identity, trust, betrayal, and discovering where you truly belong when the world insists you don't belong anywhere.
Magnolia immediately won me over. Imagine being stranded in a timeline that isn't yours, losing everything that defined your life, and then being treated like a criminal for circumstances completely beyond your control. I wanted to wrap her in a blanket, hand her a coffee, and tell everyone around her to leave her alone. The poor girl goes through emotional warfare from beginning to end, yet she never loses the determination that keeps her moving forward.
And then we have the brothers.
Now, without spoiling anything, all I'm saying is that Tessa Bailey knew exactly what she was doing.
EXACTLY.
Every interaction had me questioning everything. Every reveal made me rethink the assumptions I had made just chapters earlier. I kept changing sides, changing theories, and questioning everyone's motives. The author expertly plays with reader expectations, and I absolutely fell into every trap she set for me.
But let's discuss Ramsey for a second.
Actually, let's discuss Ramsey for several minutes.
The man is walking, breathing trouble in the most irresistible way possible. Gruff, complicated, emotionally guarded, frustratingly protective, and somehow capable of making every scene infinitely more intense just by entering it. The chemistry between him and Magnolia practically crackles off the page. Their relationship develops amid fear, distrust, impossible circumstances, and growing attraction, creating the kind of tension that had me flying through chapters.
What surprised me most was how well the science-fiction elements worked. The time-travel concept isn't just there as a decorative backdrop. It drives the entire story, creates genuine stakes, and raises fascinating questions about power, responsibility, and the consequences of trying to rewrite history. The world-building felt ambitious while remaining accessible, and I found myself completely invested in the mystery surrounding Magnolia's situation.
The pacing is relentless. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another revelation arrived and sent my theories crashing into a wall. I kept promising myself "just one more chapter" and then suddenly realized I'd read another hundred pages.
Classic Tessa Bailey behavior.
What I loved most, though, was how seamlessly she blended genres. This isn't simply a romance with a sprinkle of science fiction. Nor is it science fiction that occasionally remembers it's a romance. Both elements work together beautifully, creating a story that feels fresh, addictive, emotional, and impossible to categorize neatly.
Honestly, seeing one of my favorite romance authors step outside her comfort zone and absolutely nail it was such a joy. If this is what Tessa Bailey can do with time travel, suspense, mystery, emotional family drama, and scorching romance all in one package, then I am more than ready for whatever genre experiment she decides to tackle next.
This was thrilling, emotional, surprisingly thought-provoking, and yes, ridiculously addictive. By the final pages, I was fully invested, emotionally compromised, and desperately wishing I had the sequel sitting next to me.
A very special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for sharing this smart, addictive, time-travel-infused romance from one of my favorite authors with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
May 19, 2026
Oh so I guess Tessa Bailey just knows how to write a perfect time travel romance now does she??
SHE DOES.
SHE DOES.
April 12, 2026
Infinity stars. Truly. ♾️✨
I went into Broken Rival not knowing what to expect with Tessa Bailey stepping outside the rom-coms that we know and love, and I’m still sitting here trying to process how much this story unabashedly moved me!
I had my first round of tears on page 62, and from there it just didn’t let me off the rollercoaster. I giggled, I gasped, I guffawed, I cried. I experienced an absolute full range of emotions, no warning, no breaks. And I loved it!😅
I was engulfed by this story completely. I love these characters in a way that made me feel attached to them, like I was right there living it with them. Their growth felt natural, messy, real, and even though this is a dystopian time travel story, the emotions felt so grounded and human that it almost caught me off guard how hard it hit me at times.
There were moments that genuinely hurt my heart to read. The kind where you have to pause and just sit with it for a second. There were also moments that made me smile and giggle like a buffoon, and I couldn’t get enough. It just balanced everything so SO well!
I stayed up until 3AM and read this in one sitting because I could not put it down. I needed to see it through, and I wasn’t ready to leave it when I got there. It’s definitely a book I wanted to savor and draw out just so it never ended, but in the same breath, I HAD to know what happened next.
This felt different. Deeper. More emotional than I expected, and it completely hit every mark for me. And the loveeeee, oh mylanta, the romance in this one was top notch, let me tell you…🪭
But now I have to just, what…exist until October before everyone else gets to experience it?? 😅
Unwell. Completely unwell.
Thank you SO much to Tessa and Avon books for this incredible arc copy!
I went into Broken Rival not knowing what to expect with Tessa Bailey stepping outside the rom-coms that we know and love, and I’m still sitting here trying to process how much this story unabashedly moved me!
I had my first round of tears on page 62, and from there it just didn’t let me off the rollercoaster. I giggled, I gasped, I guffawed, I cried. I experienced an absolute full range of emotions, no warning, no breaks. And I loved it!😅
I was engulfed by this story completely. I love these characters in a way that made me feel attached to them, like I was right there living it with them. Their growth felt natural, messy, real, and even though this is a dystopian time travel story, the emotions felt so grounded and human that it almost caught me off guard how hard it hit me at times.
There were moments that genuinely hurt my heart to read. The kind where you have to pause and just sit with it for a second. There were also moments that made me smile and giggle like a buffoon, and I couldn’t get enough. It just balanced everything so SO well!
I stayed up until 3AM and read this in one sitting because I could not put it down. I needed to see it through, and I wasn’t ready to leave it when I got there. It’s definitely a book I wanted to savor and draw out just so it never ended, but in the same breath, I HAD to know what happened next.
This felt different. Deeper. More emotional than I expected, and it completely hit every mark for me. And the loveeeee, oh mylanta, the romance in this one was top notch, let me tell you…🪭
But now I have to just, what…exist until October before everyone else gets to experience it?? 😅
Unwell. Completely unwell.
Thank you SO much to Tessa and Avon books for this incredible arc copy!
May 22, 2026
Tessa Freaking Bailey. Attempts her first romance that isn’t a romcom, and she writes this?!? GIRL.
The best dystopian standalone I’ve read this year (and one of the best loosely fantasy standalones, too). It’s the perfect, one book dystopian romance. New Adult, but never reads too young.
I truly devoured all of this, so so easily, in one sitting. The time travel element here is simple enough that there’s so little world to build—you get it easily, and can really just jump right in.
I adored Magnolia. She’s young and has the right touch of innocence, but with a maturity that works, for this story. She’s imperfect and easy to root for. She feels so, so human.
And the MMC? I love a man who is a total shit. Some of his lines had me BARKING.
Also:
🤍 Tension, in a hate-fueled enemies to lovers, medium burn romance that never feels rushed
💧 Incredible banter and quips
🫦 Dirty talk that will have you blushing & kicking your feet (Tessa is the best in the game here, I swear)
♾️ Invisible string theory but make it time travel
🌺 Possessive, protective MMC—think “touch her and die” with follow through
🍰 Side characters that shine
✉️ Plot twists with perfect hints you might catch—and regardless, that land beautifully
⏳ A patient man who LONGS
I won’t give too much away about how this one unfolds, but just know that this one 407 page book packs so, so much in. Truly such a shining star of a dystopian story that will leave you feeling well fed.
Thank you Avon for the early copy!
The best dystopian standalone I’ve read this year (and one of the best loosely fantasy standalones, too). It’s the perfect, one book dystopian romance. New Adult, but never reads too young.
I truly devoured all of this, so so easily, in one sitting. The time travel element here is simple enough that there’s so little world to build—you get it easily, and can really just jump right in.
I adored Magnolia. She’s young and has the right touch of innocence, but with a maturity that works, for this story. She’s imperfect and easy to root for. She feels so, so human.
And the MMC? I love a man who is a total shit. Some of his lines had me BARKING.
Also:
🤍 Tension, in a hate-fueled enemies to lovers, medium burn romance that never feels rushed
💧 Incredible banter and quips
🫦 Dirty talk that will have you blushing & kicking your feet (Tessa is the best in the game here, I swear)
♾️ Invisible string theory but make it time travel
🌺 Possessive, protective MMC—think “touch her and die” with follow through
🍰 Side characters that shine
✉️ Plot twists with perfect hints you might catch—and regardless, that land beautifully
⏳ A patient man who LONGS
I won’t give too much away about how this one unfolds, but just know that this one 407 page book packs so, so much in. Truly such a shining star of a dystopian story that will leave you feeling well fed.
Thank you Avon for the early copy!
Read
May 25, 2026Update:
Just received it on my shelf. I was expecting a normal Tessa Bailey, cutesy romance with love triangles and time travel. But i see, she’s stepping outside of her comfort zone. You get a massive lore drop in the first 3 chapters (still easy to follow along) but I am very intrigued with the technology and how time travelers, Takers, are banned and hunted but no one questions why.
Her parents didn’t make the tech but recreated it to warn the people in the past about an impending disaster. We never figure out what their goal is but all we know is they FAILED.
We have the general, Cyrus, a mystery figurehead, keeps the town safe and assures the townsfolk that progress is being made.
Fallon, who without knowing Magnolia, stepped in to defend her. He does remind me of Dane with his blond hair and how he coddles her and choose to not acknowledge her parents were Takers
More character analysis to follow
I’m reading it slowly to truly process and I’m loving it so far.
pre-read
a love triangle with a time traveler fmc 50 years from the future, a hunter that is ‘supposed’ to catch her, the bff from present time. She’s stuck in 2026.
I’m excited for this new time travel series. Fingers crossed the ARC gods would bless me
The other time travel series that emotionally wrecked me is Parallel series by Elle O Roark
Just received it on my shelf. I was expecting a normal Tessa Bailey, cutesy romance with love triangles and time travel. But i see, she’s stepping outside of her comfort zone. You get a massive lore drop in the first 3 chapters (still easy to follow along) but I am very intrigued with the technology and how time travelers, Takers, are banned and hunted but no one questions why.
Her parents didn’t make the tech but recreated it to warn the people in the past about an impending disaster. We never figure out what their goal is but all we know is they FAILED.
We have the general, Cyrus, a mystery figurehead, keeps the town safe and assures the townsfolk that progress is being made.
Fallon, who without knowing Magnolia, stepped in to defend her. He does remind me of Dane with his blond hair and how he coddles her and choose to not acknowledge her parents were Takers
More character analysis to follow
I’m reading it slowly to truly process and I’m loving it so far.
pre-read
a love triangle with a time traveler fmc 50 years from the future, a hunter that is ‘supposed’ to catch her, the bff from present time. She’s stuck in 2026.
I’m excited for this new time travel series. Fingers crossed the ARC gods would bless me
The other time travel series that emotionally wrecked me is Parallel series by Elle O Roark
May 11, 2026
I fear I am obsessed. Like BEYOND obsessed. I am so grateful to have gotten this ARC thanks to being on the street team for this book and Tessa never fails to disappoint!!
"Goodbye, sweetheart. I'll think of you until the last second."
This books follows Magnolia whose parents re-created time travel to go back in time and warn people of a severe drought that occurs in the future but then their time travel device gets stolen and it spins out of control with people from the future infiltrating the past. Magnolia's parents are then caught in the year 2024 and Magnolia turns herself in, unexpectedly then being taken in by a kind family with two sons. What happens when one of those sons hates everything she is and his father is the leader of a force killing all people who escape into the past from the future?
"Look me in the eye and tell me it wouldn't have been us, if I'd stayed. He didn't know the first thing about you. I fucking live you. Day in and day out."
This dystopian romance novel was everything to me. The romance is absolutely amazing as always, but the dystopian elements in this book elevated it. I loved how this storyline felt like a race against time and self discovery at the same time. Magnolia felt real, she felt lost and alone and she felt like a character I can easily see myself in at times. I just wanted to give her a hug and take her pain away. It was beautifully written and set up and I need more Tessa Bailey in my life now.
"I'm his last meal before an execution; his texture and taste like a favorite meal I haven't prepared in decades. He kisses me the way I've been fantasizing about since I've been living alone."
THE ROMANCE!! I love love loveeee the romance in this book so much. I have a whole notes app dedicated to just quotes that I adored from this book. I was literally giggling and kicking my feet this entire book from how cute it was. It makes me want to go back and re-read Tessa's Big Shot series because I am having a romance withdrawal at this point. This was a romance that makes you feel like you are missing the other half of your heart.
If you want a book that will fill your heart up and then rip it out and then make you cry, you have so come to the right place and need to get this book when it releases!
"Goodbye, sweetheart. I'll think of you until the last second."
This books follows Magnolia whose parents re-created time travel to go back in time and warn people of a severe drought that occurs in the future but then their time travel device gets stolen and it spins out of control with people from the future infiltrating the past. Magnolia's parents are then caught in the year 2024 and Magnolia turns herself in, unexpectedly then being taken in by a kind family with two sons. What happens when one of those sons hates everything she is and his father is the leader of a force killing all people who escape into the past from the future?
"Look me in the eye and tell me it wouldn't have been us, if I'd stayed. He didn't know the first thing about you. I fucking live you. Day in and day out."
This dystopian romance novel was everything to me. The romance is absolutely amazing as always, but the dystopian elements in this book elevated it. I loved how this storyline felt like a race against time and self discovery at the same time. Magnolia felt real, she felt lost and alone and she felt like a character I can easily see myself in at times. I just wanted to give her a hug and take her pain away. It was beautifully written and set up and I need more Tessa Bailey in my life now.
"I'm his last meal before an execution; his texture and taste like a favorite meal I haven't prepared in decades. He kisses me the way I've been fantasizing about since I've been living alone."
THE ROMANCE!! I love love loveeee the romance in this book so much. I have a whole notes app dedicated to just quotes that I adored from this book. I was literally giggling and kicking my feet this entire book from how cute it was. It makes me want to go back and re-read Tessa's Big Shot series because I am having a romance withdrawal at this point. This was a romance that makes you feel like you are missing the other half of your heart.
If you want a book that will fill your heart up and then rip it out and then make you cry, you have so come to the right place and need to get this book when it releases!
June 15, 2026
Recieved an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
3.5
Tessa Bailey knocks it out of the park with her introduction into Sci-Fi Romance with Broken Rival. It was so intriguing, romantic, nostalgic, and more deeply emotional than expected. While the plot is not perfect, I do think it reminds me of early 2000's YA, which usually placed a touch more emphasis on the romance over the "realism" of the plot.
By the way, this is NOT YA. There is SPICE in this. I don't know why it's been categorized as that.
This is so incredibly different from every other Tessa Bailey book I have read. This is written so beautifully, as it touches on memory, grief, stigma, love, etc. it reads as a love letter to humanity.
Magnolia is such a strong character, who carries her grief and loss so close to her heart. I just wanted to give her a hug throughout the entire book. She feels everything so deeply but still remains good, despite the treatment she has recieved by others.
The romance took me a little bit to get into, just because it seems to move a little fast. And a little insta lovey. But, again, that really reminded me of the early romance books I grew up with. But once it gets going it gets going good. I actually really enjoyed seeing Magnolia being CARED for, and seeing how she evolves from being scared to trusting another person to love and care for her.
The plot twists in this story are chef's kiss. This is definitely a book that I can see myself rereading. I just wished it was a little longer! We could have seen more buildup romance wise, and I would have loved a longer ending. It ends beautifully, but I just couldn't put it down. Maybe we can get a sequel?....
If you've read Tessa Bailey before, throw all your experiences out the window for this one. Read it with an open mind! Personally, it's one of those books that even after finishing I can't stop thinking about it.
3.5
Tessa Bailey knocks it out of the park with her introduction into Sci-Fi Romance with Broken Rival. It was so intriguing, romantic, nostalgic, and more deeply emotional than expected. While the plot is not perfect, I do think it reminds me of early 2000's YA, which usually placed a touch more emphasis on the romance over the "realism" of the plot.
By the way, this is NOT YA. There is SPICE in this. I don't know why it's been categorized as that.
This is so incredibly different from every other Tessa Bailey book I have read. This is written so beautifully, as it touches on memory, grief, stigma, love, etc. it reads as a love letter to humanity.
Magnolia is such a strong character, who carries her grief and loss so close to her heart. I just wanted to give her a hug throughout the entire book. She feels everything so deeply but still remains good, despite the treatment she has recieved by others.
The romance took me a little bit to get into, just because it seems to move a little fast. And a little insta lovey. But, again, that really reminded me of the early romance books I grew up with. But once it gets going it gets going good. I actually really enjoyed seeing Magnolia being CARED for, and seeing how she evolves from being scared to trusting another person to love and care for her.
The plot twists in this story are chef's kiss. This is definitely a book that I can see myself rereading. I just wished it was a little longer! We could have seen more buildup romance wise, and I would have loved a longer ending. It ends beautifully, but I just couldn't put it down. Maybe we can get a sequel?....
If you've read Tessa Bailey before, throw all your experiences out the window for this one. Read it with an open mind! Personally, it's one of those books that even after finishing I can't stop thinking about it.
April 12, 2026
I absolutely loved it and was in a total chokehold the whole time. This is definitely Tessa Bailey as you have never seen her before and is her best work yet! The premise is so unique and intriguing, the plot is addictive and will keep you on the edge of your seat with all the surprises, and I promise you that Ramsey will be your next fave book boyfriend 🔥. Highly recommend! 🤍✨
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆:
🤍 Enemies to lovers
✨ Time travel romance
🤍 Dystopian vibes
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆:
🤍 Enemies to lovers
✨ Time travel romance
🤍 Dystopian vibes
June 12, 2026
okay friends, buckle up because i have A LOT to say about this book. this will be a very in depth, & painfully honest review. slight spoilers are below regarding plot pacing & events in the order they take place.
this is exactly what you would expect from a romantic comedy writer diving headfirst into dystopian fantasy. if you're picking this up because you're a fantasy reader, you will be disappointed. if you're picking this up because you're a Tessa fan, you might be disappointed. maybe not, more about that later.
i am not well-versed in fantasy romance, but i am when it comes to dystopian fiction so i can confidently say that this was just a mess from all aspects. in a world where humanity is divided, food is being rationed, there's no GPS satellite - no one seems to act like it. there is more than one scene where Magnolia goes on a baking spree like she has no care in the world. weird, but okay. & more than halfway through we find out that water is being rationed & Magnolia may or may not have a solution but then it's never talked about again because no one cares. WEIRD but okay?
to be a little more in depth on the satellite thing - it is established early on that satellite (& if i'm not mistaken, internet) capabilities have been disabled but there are scenes where Magnolia can text, call, drop location pins, and ends up being tracked by the bad guys. there was just such a lack of consistency in this dystopian timeline, it was hard to follow.
Magnolia is also supposed to be from 50 years in the future, but this is never fully explored. she could have been such an interesting character but she had no futuristic insight, wisdom or knowledge.
events happen, & Magnolia needs to go back in time to save the future, this is the focus from the 25% - 80% mark, & the last 20% of this book is spent on the time traveling aspect that goes much too smoothly for the convenience of the plot.
there are such bizarre scenes where Magnolia is stuck in prison cells, castle chambers, indoor pools with murky water, & she must confront the patriarchy to stand up for herself & the good of humanity. i can best describe her internal dialogues in these scenes as "Gen Z Tik Toker who doesn't realize she could be executed at any moment".
i digress, now for what i did like. in terms of romance, this is Tessa Bailey at her best. this was high stakes, this was forbidden, this was HOT. 😩😭😍 i mean, Ramsey Royse, you could take me any day of the week. let's be real, Man Darkness had me clutching my sheets, writhing with pleasure 🤭🤸 we gotta save the world? hold on, we have time for another round before we go. LIKE stopppppp i fucking can't!!!!🤸🤸🤸😭😭✋🏻✋🏻✋🏻
Ramsey carried this story on his back, & his character growth was executed flawlessly.
thank you so much to Avon and Tessa Bailey for the gifted early copy. all opinions are my own.
this is exactly what you would expect from a romantic comedy writer diving headfirst into dystopian fantasy. if you're picking this up because you're a fantasy reader, you will be disappointed. if you're picking this up because you're a Tessa fan, you might be disappointed. maybe not, more about that later.
i am not well-versed in fantasy romance, but i am when it comes to dystopian fiction so i can confidently say that this was just a mess from all aspects. in a world where humanity is divided, food is being rationed, there's no GPS satellite - no one seems to act like it. there is more than one scene where Magnolia goes on a baking spree like she has no care in the world. weird, but okay. & more than halfway through we find out that water is being rationed & Magnolia may or may not have a solution but then it's never talked about again because no one cares. WEIRD but okay?
to be a little more in depth on the satellite thing - it is established early on that satellite (& if i'm not mistaken, internet) capabilities have been disabled but there are scenes where Magnolia can text, call, drop location pins, and ends up being tracked by the bad guys. there was just such a lack of consistency in this dystopian timeline, it was hard to follow.
Magnolia is also supposed to be from 50 years in the future, but this is never fully explored. she could have been such an interesting character but she had no futuristic insight, wisdom or knowledge.
events happen, & Magnolia needs to go back in time to save the future, this is the focus from the 25% - 80% mark, & the last 20% of this book is spent on the time traveling aspect that goes much too smoothly for the convenience of the plot.
there are such bizarre scenes where Magnolia is stuck in prison cells, castle chambers, indoor pools with murky water, & she must confront the patriarchy to stand up for herself & the good of humanity. i can best describe her internal dialogues in these scenes as "Gen Z Tik Toker who doesn't realize she could be executed at any moment".
i digress, now for what i did like. in terms of romance, this is Tessa Bailey at her best. this was high stakes, this was forbidden, this was HOT. 😩😭😍 i mean, Ramsey Royse, you could take me any day of the week. let's be real, Man Darkness had me clutching my sheets, writhing with pleasure 🤭🤸 we gotta save the world? hold on, we have time for another round before we go. LIKE stopppppp i fucking can't!!!!🤸🤸🤸😭😭✋🏻✋🏻✋🏻
Ramsey carried this story on his back, & his character growth was executed flawlessly.
thank you so much to Avon and Tessa Bailey for the gifted early copy. all opinions are my own.
May 31, 2026
the kind of soapy goodness the CW used to feed me!!
Want to Read
June 6, 2026tessa bailey doing fantasy? Interesting
April 13, 2026
Incredible book. Review to come.
May 26, 2026
Holy moly, this book was so good. I flew through it in a single day because I could not put it down. This isn’t the typical romance readers usually expect from Tessa Bailey. Along with the romance, the story also includes time travel, which added such a fun and unique twist. The mix of romance and sci-fi elements made this book feel fresh and completely addictive. Definitely one of my favorite reads from her!
June 12, 2026
Tessa, just when I thought this couldn’t possibly be as good as your romcoms you proved me wrong. This one had me by the BALLS. You’re a genius. A goddess of books and romance.
Want to Read
April 13, 2026A dystopian time travel romance?! YES!!!👏🏻 I’m so excited for this! And Tessa said, “It’s got all the same heat. Maybe even more heat than my contemporaries. So, there’s dirty talk.” 🥵🔥
May 28, 2026
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and Net Galley for the ARC!
5 ⭐ / 3🌶️
I wanted to start off my review by saying that I am a huge Tessa Bailey fan, any of her classic romcoms are always a 5/5 read for me. So when I heard she was diving into science fiction romance I got very excited. I feel most of the novels coming out are heavy on fantasy and in my area of the internet I don’t see too many scifi romances!
The premise of this book is that Magnolia is the daughter of two time travel scientists who have sent her 50 years into the past to 2023 (? I can’t remember the exact year sorry ya’ll). She is then taken to be sentenced for the crimes of her parents, who people in the past claim have started a war. People in the future are using time travel to come back to the past to find refuge as the future has food and water insecurities. They call these people “Takers” and consider Magnolia to be the epitome of that title. She is going to be handed over for death, when a family becomes her salvation and she meets two brothers who will become a pivotal part of the book. She meets Fallon, the quarterback and jewel of the community. A typical pretty boy. Then you have Ramsey, the dark sibling who is cruel and brooding (on the surface).
The story follows these three, and not to spoil any more of the plot I won’t go any further. Tessa Bailey has infiltrated the science fiction world and done a great job. We have seen time travel done a million times, but her take is refreshing and seems a bit too real. The reality of the occupants of the book seems like something that could happen in our near future.
It wouldn’t be a Tessa Bailey book without romance, and she does not disappoint. I loved watching Magnolia find her footing and grow into herself. She is a character with a lot of depth and trauma, and seeing her explore that is interesting. Ramsey...Oh gosh Ramsey. This man is my dark brooding “Touch her and I’ll kill you” king. Literally he will kill someone. He is so alluring and sweet in moments you will read.
I can keep blabbing about this book but I loved it. Great job Tessa Bailey! 5/5.
5 ⭐ / 3🌶️
I wanted to start off my review by saying that I am a huge Tessa Bailey fan, any of her classic romcoms are always a 5/5 read for me. So when I heard she was diving into science fiction romance I got very excited. I feel most of the novels coming out are heavy on fantasy and in my area of the internet I don’t see too many scifi romances!
The premise of this book is that Magnolia is the daughter of two time travel scientists who have sent her 50 years into the past to 2023 (? I can’t remember the exact year sorry ya’ll). She is then taken to be sentenced for the crimes of her parents, who people in the past claim have started a war. People in the future are using time travel to come back to the past to find refuge as the future has food and water insecurities. They call these people “Takers” and consider Magnolia to be the epitome of that title. She is going to be handed over for death, when a family becomes her salvation and she meets two brothers who will become a pivotal part of the book. She meets Fallon, the quarterback and jewel of the community. A typical pretty boy. Then you have Ramsey, the dark sibling who is cruel and brooding (on the surface).
The story follows these three, and not to spoil any more of the plot I won’t go any further. Tessa Bailey has infiltrated the science fiction world and done a great job. We have seen time travel done a million times, but her take is refreshing and seems a bit too real. The reality of the occupants of the book seems like something that could happen in our near future.
It wouldn’t be a Tessa Bailey book without romance, and she does not disappoint. I loved watching Magnolia find her footing and grow into herself. She is a character with a lot of depth and trauma, and seeing her explore that is interesting. Ramsey...Oh gosh Ramsey. This man is my dark brooding “Touch her and I’ll kill you” king. Literally he will kill someone. He is so alluring and sweet in moments you will read.
I can keep blabbing about this book but I loved it. Great job Tessa Bailey! 5/5.
June 7, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ARC of Broken Rival! 🖤 This was definitely Tessa Bailey as we’ve never seen her before, and it was quite a ride.
I have to admit, I had mixed feelings going into this since dystopian/sci-fi is a totally new genre for Tessa.
The world-building wasn't quite as seamless or strong as I hoped, and there were a few plot points that didn't fully add up or seemed forgotten along the way. But... the story somehow completely captured me anyway!
Even with the writing flaws, I found the dystopian world itself to be totally fascinating. And the romance? The enemies-to-lovers transition happened a little fast for my personal liking, but I was so incredibly hooked LOL! 😂
The ending really delivered, but now I’m left so confused—is there going to be more to this story?! I need answers! 🤔
Overall, if you're willing to overlook some plot holes for a unique world and characters that will completely lock you in, you're going to want to grab this one.
I have to admit, I had mixed feelings going into this since dystopian/sci-fi is a totally new genre for Tessa.
The world-building wasn't quite as seamless or strong as I hoped, and there were a few plot points that didn't fully add up or seemed forgotten along the way. But... the story somehow completely captured me anyway!
Even with the writing flaws, I found the dystopian world itself to be totally fascinating. And the romance? The enemies-to-lovers transition happened a little fast for my personal liking, but I was so incredibly hooked LOL! 😂
The ending really delivered, but now I’m left so confused—is there going to be more to this story?! I need answers! 🤔
Overall, if you're willing to overlook some plot holes for a unique world and characters that will completely lock you in, you're going to want to grab this one.
May 31, 2026
SO SO SO good. Thank you Avon for sending me a copy to read early! Once I started this I wasn’t able to put it down
June 16, 2026
She really named him Ramsey tho huh
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a very different direction for Tessa Bailey and I quite enjoyed it. It's an interesting mix of sci-fi, dystopian and romance that somehow worked. The romance is all-consuming, where Ramsey pines for Magnolia with all his heart and he'll definitely make it to many best book boyfriend lists. Full review to come.
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Got approved for an eARC on NetGalley. Let's see what the hype is all about...
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Got approved for an eARC on NetGalley. Let's see what the hype is all about...
Want to Read
April 12, 2026If she writes it, I will read it and I cannot wait to time-travel with Tessa!
Want to Read
February 19, 2026I'M READY! frigging large popcorn! Hot dog! Damn slurpy dammit! Don't talk to me when I sit down to watch this! Don't touch me! Don't breathe in my direction! This is it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all I want to say a massive thank you to Harper Collins (Harper360) for approving and sending me this Arc on NetGalley. I received it yesterday afternoon and from the moment I started it, I knew I wasn't putting this book down until I had read every last page. It hooked me from the very beginning and I wish I could leave more than 5 stars.
This is very different from any other romance book I have read by Tessa Bailey, it has a more dystopian feel mixed in with a little time travel and it might be my favourite Tessa book so far.
Magnolia is from the future, 50yrs to be exact and the world she lives in now is dying, resources have depleted and they aren't going to survive if things don't change. So her parents, who are brilliant scientists find a way to time travel, they want to go back and warn the past pf what is to come if something doesn't change. But people are greedy and when they replicate what her parents can do, they go back in time and start a war against the past, looting, stealing and killing. Resulting in her parents being perceived as monsters. For her safety Magnolia is sent back to 2024, leaving her alone in enemy territory where she is hated, but the Royse family are different.
They take her in, protect her and give her a chance at life. Here we introduce two brothers, one made of light and the other hiding in the shadows, Fallon and Ramsey. From the very beginning she has a connection to Ramsey but he hates her and everything she represents, and the there's Fallon, the golden boy who everyone adores and he wants her by his side.
Now anyone who knows me, knows I don't do well with love triangles, but I went on a journey with this book and everything Magnolia went through, I felt like I experienced with her. We all know that when you start a book, things aren't always as they seem, and everything changes and develops along the way and this is what kept my reading. It had loss, love, danger and a little bit of flirty banter and I gobbled it all up. It was not what I was expecting when I started it yesterday afternoon, but at 3am I was crying and smiling because I loved every moment of Magnolia's story.
I can't wait for the romance readers of the world to get their hand on this when it is released ❤️❤️.
This is very different from any other romance book I have read by Tessa Bailey, it has a more dystopian feel mixed in with a little time travel and it might be my favourite Tessa book so far.
Magnolia is from the future, 50yrs to be exact and the world she lives in now is dying, resources have depleted and they aren't going to survive if things don't change. So her parents, who are brilliant scientists find a way to time travel, they want to go back and warn the past pf what is to come if something doesn't change. But people are greedy and when they replicate what her parents can do, they go back in time and start a war against the past, looting, stealing and killing. Resulting in her parents being perceived as monsters. For her safety Magnolia is sent back to 2024, leaving her alone in enemy territory where she is hated, but the Royse family are different.
They take her in, protect her and give her a chance at life. Here we introduce two brothers, one made of light and the other hiding in the shadows, Fallon and Ramsey. From the very beginning she has a connection to Ramsey but he hates her and everything she represents, and the there's Fallon, the golden boy who everyone adores and he wants her by his side.
Now anyone who knows me, knows I don't do well with love triangles, but I went on a journey with this book and everything Magnolia went through, I felt like I experienced with her. We all know that when you start a book, things aren't always as they seem, and everything changes and develops along the way and this is what kept my reading. It had loss, love, danger and a little bit of flirty banter and I gobbled it all up. It was not what I was expecting when I started it yesterday afternoon, but at 3am I was crying and smiling because I loved every moment of Magnolia's story.
I can't wait for the romance readers of the world to get their hand on this when it is released ❤️❤️.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"It will be you in every timeline. In life. In death, Afterlife and rebirth. I'd carry you with me through all of them, Magnolia. You are my soul's compass" - woah 😮💨
Tessa Bailey, first of all, wow! Second of all, WTF!? An incredible Romance author writes a time-travel romance book and it's even more amazing!? Is there anything this woman can't do!?
There's too much I want to say and I can't say a lot without spoiling the book, but if you have the chance to read this book then do please pick it up. So much goes on in it and it's the perfect amount at the same time. Its the first time in a looooong time that I've actually taken my time reading a book, to lengthen it out and make it last as long as possible because I simply could not get enough of the characters - again I'm not saying names etc, I don't want to spoil anything!
There's six parts to the book and each part better than the one before it, I think I felt pretty much every emotion whilst reading this (!?) one chapter had my heart on the FLOOR because I wasn't expecting it (but then the ending everything become clearer 🚮 #iykyk) some characters I hated, some I really really liked and I love that TB was able to keep me on my toes the entire way through. The chapters are short enough to keep the pacing up and like I said, enough happens to keep you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages.
One thing I will mention is the declarations! Oh my LIFE, I don't think I've ever highlighted as much as I have in a book before this one and there are some quotes I'll be thinking about for a while (please see above for my favourite one) One character starts as someone you hate and becomes a massive importance and the character development is beautiful.
AH there's so much to say!! 😂😅 I wasn't 100% sure what to expect but it certainly wasn't this, so I will say that if you do read it, don't go researching, go in blind and be pleasantly surprised like I was. Every twist and every turn truly kept me guessing and even better, its all tied up nicely in a bow at the end (thank you TB!!) Can't wait for this book to be published and have it in physical form for my shelves, I absolutely adored it (can you tell 😂🤪)
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the e-arc
Tessa Bailey, first of all, wow! Second of all, WTF!? An incredible Romance author writes a time-travel romance book and it's even more amazing!? Is there anything this woman can't do!?
There's too much I want to say and I can't say a lot without spoiling the book, but if you have the chance to read this book then do please pick it up. So much goes on in it and it's the perfect amount at the same time. Its the first time in a looooong time that I've actually taken my time reading a book, to lengthen it out and make it last as long as possible because I simply could not get enough of the characters - again I'm not saying names etc, I don't want to spoil anything!
There's six parts to the book and each part better than the one before it, I think I felt pretty much every emotion whilst reading this (!?) one chapter had my heart on the FLOOR because I wasn't expecting it (but then the ending everything become clearer 🚮 #iykyk) some characters I hated, some I really really liked and I love that TB was able to keep me on my toes the entire way through. The chapters are short enough to keep the pacing up and like I said, enough happens to keep you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages.
One thing I will mention is the declarations! Oh my LIFE, I don't think I've ever highlighted as much as I have in a book before this one and there are some quotes I'll be thinking about for a while (please see above for my favourite one) One character starts as someone you hate and becomes a massive importance and the character development is beautiful.
AH there's so much to say!! 😂😅 I wasn't 100% sure what to expect but it certainly wasn't this, so I will say that if you do read it, don't go researching, go in blind and be pleasantly surprised like I was. Every twist and every turn truly kept me guessing and even better, its all tied up nicely in a bow at the end (thank you TB!!) Can't wait for this book to be published and have it in physical form for my shelves, I absolutely adored it (can you tell 😂🤪)
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the e-arc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍’𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒔 𝑰’𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔"
A perfect recipe of romance, spice, and a mind bending time travel adventure that makes for a gripping and addictive read!
I am a sucker for time travel stories, and this book delivered everything I could ask for. Time travel, romance, spice, high stakes, and an intriguing plot all come together to create an unforgettable reading experience.
The action packed narrative took my excitement to another level. I could never get enough of it. The story kept me on my toes the entire time as I questioned characters' motives and constantly revised my theories.
When Magnolia is captured in Aubrey, Ramsey never misses an opportunity to threaten her. Yet every time she's in danger, he is always the one who comes to her rescue. Their dynamic is frustrating, addictive, and impossible to look away from.
𝑨 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍. 𝑨 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏? 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒔𝒆.’
This is a brilliantly crafted novel that blends dystopian fiction, science fiction, time travel, and romance. It is impressive how seamlessly the author combined all these genres into one cohesive story. It is fresh, addictive and emotional.
Every chapter felt intentional and well structured, every reveal mattered, and every character had a role to play. What stood out to me most was that, despite the large cast of characters, I never felt overwhelmed.
The pacing was excellent, keeping me fully invested from beginning to end. I also loved the character growth throughout the story. Watching Magnolia and Ramsey evolve as they faced impossible choices made the journey even more rewarding.
Gripping, emotional, romantic, and undeniably addictive, this book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. It made me gasp, made my heart ache, and kept me turning pages long into the night.
A thrilling story of love, loss, belonging, survival, and self discovery wrapped in a captivating time travel adventure that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
Thank you Netgalley, harper360, Avon for this digital ARC, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Stop everything you’re doing because Tessa Bailey is officially entering her high-stakes, sci-fi era and I am absolutely losing my mind! 😱✨
🕰️ THE REVEAL: Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey
I am so incredibly excited to share this stunning cover for Broken Rival. Just look at that moody, floral aesthetic! But don't let the pretty petals fool you; this story is a total departure from Tessa’s usual rom-com vibes. We are talking high stakes, life-or-death secrets, and a love triangle that is already making my heart race.
✨️Why I’m Obsessed with this Premise:
▫️The Hook: Magnolia Brown is a 2076 girlie stranded in 2026. Her parents were executed for time traveling, and now she’s stuck in the past with no way home. Talk about a bad day at the office.
▫️The Conflict: She’s caught between two brothers. One is Fallon, her high school sweetheart who is definitely hiding something major. The other? Ramsey, a brooding militia commander whose literally job is to hunt down and kill people like her.
▫️The Tension: Ramsey supposedly hates her, but the way he looks at her? The way he protects her? I can already feel the enemies-to-lovers tension radiating off the page.
I’ve always loved Tessa’s writing, but seeing her tackle a world where love is rebellion and memory is a weapon is everything I didn't know I needed. Is the real danger the time-travel hunters, or is it coming from inside the very house she's hiding in? I need answers and I need them now!
"She’s from fifty years in the future and she’s running out of time."
This is Tessa Bailey like we’ve never seen her before darker, grittier, and intensely gripping. Magnolia’s choice between the golden boy and the hunter is going to destroy me in the best way possible!
✨️Thank you Avon Books, The Collective and Tessa Bailey for allowing me to be apart of this reveal and for sharing the Broken Rival with me!
🕰️ THE REVEAL: Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey
I am so incredibly excited to share this stunning cover for Broken Rival. Just look at that moody, floral aesthetic! But don't let the pretty petals fool you; this story is a total departure from Tessa’s usual rom-com vibes. We are talking high stakes, life-or-death secrets, and a love triangle that is already making my heart race.
✨️Why I’m Obsessed with this Premise:
▫️The Hook: Magnolia Brown is a 2076 girlie stranded in 2026. Her parents were executed for time traveling, and now she’s stuck in the past with no way home. Talk about a bad day at the office.
▫️The Conflict: She’s caught between two brothers. One is Fallon, her high school sweetheart who is definitely hiding something major. The other? Ramsey, a brooding militia commander whose literally job is to hunt down and kill people like her.
▫️The Tension: Ramsey supposedly hates her, but the way he looks at her? The way he protects her? I can already feel the enemies-to-lovers tension radiating off the page.
I’ve always loved Tessa’s writing, but seeing her tackle a world where love is rebellion and memory is a weapon is everything I didn't know I needed. Is the real danger the time-travel hunters, or is it coming from inside the very house she's hiding in? I need answers and I need them now!
"She’s from fifty years in the future and she’s running out of time."
This is Tessa Bailey like we’ve never seen her before darker, grittier, and intensely gripping. Magnolia’s choice between the golden boy and the hunter is going to destroy me in the best way possible!
✨️Thank you Avon Books, The Collective and Tessa Bailey for allowing me to be apart of this reveal and for sharing the Broken Rival with me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 ⭐️
16 year old Magnolia Brown is a typical girl next door, except for one thing: she’s from 50 years in the future. Her parents are the investors of time travel, but after widespread abuse of the technology, they are executed and magnolia is left is 2024 for her own safety with no way to return.
She is taken in by the Royse family and falls into a whirlwind relationship with their youngest son Fallon, and develops a complicated relationship with the older son Ramsay who is a military commander who hunts time travellers.
A devastating accident unravels Magnolia’s new life, now she must uncover the truth that’s being hidden from her.
This was excellent! Whilst not marketed as such, this is a dystopian/sci-fi romance. I was gripped from the very first page and it did not stop the whole way through.
Magnolias relationship with Fallon, while naive is extremely sweet and very nostalgic of first love. I was glad the story took the turn it did and things start to get more serious and “grown up”.
Big fan of the enemies to lovers relationship between her and Ramsey (in spite of some VERY cringe dialogue at times). Beyond the romance, I am super invested in untangling what’s really happening with the Takers and what Fallons real motives are. We got a breadcrumb at the very end with the fire but I need to know more.
Tessa Bailey has always been a bit hit or miss for me but this was an absolute hit. I assume this will be part of a series but there is currently no talk of a book 2 and I don’t think I can wait that long!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the arc. All opinions are my own.
16 year old Magnolia Brown is a typical girl next door, except for one thing: she’s from 50 years in the future. Her parents are the investors of time travel, but after widespread abuse of the technology, they are executed and magnolia is left is 2024 for her own safety with no way to return.
She is taken in by the Royse family and falls into a whirlwind relationship with their youngest son Fallon, and develops a complicated relationship with the older son Ramsay who is a military commander who hunts time travellers.
A devastating accident unravels Magnolia’s new life, now she must uncover the truth that’s being hidden from her.
This was excellent! Whilst not marketed as such, this is a dystopian/sci-fi romance. I was gripped from the very first page and it did not stop the whole way through.
Magnolias relationship with Fallon, while naive is extremely sweet and very nostalgic of first love. I was glad the story took the turn it did and things start to get more serious and “grown up”.
Big fan of the enemies to lovers relationship between her and Ramsey (in spite of some VERY cringe dialogue at times). Beyond the romance, I am super invested in untangling what’s really happening with the Takers and what Fallons real motives are. We got a breadcrumb at the very end with the fire but I need to know more.
Tessa Bailey has always been a bit hit or miss for me but this was an absolute hit. I assume this will be part of a series but there is currently no talk of a book 2 and I don’t think I can wait that long!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the arc. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My Review: 4/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Vibe
An intense, high-stakes sci-fi romance packed with forced proximity, a brooding "enemy" who is actually a protector, and a massive reality-check plot twist.
What I Loved
* The Ultimate Plot Twist: I loved the shift in dynamics here. Going into the book, you think Fallon is the golden-boy boyfriend and Ramsey is the villainous enemy hunting time travelers. Finding out that Fallon wasn't the great guy he pretended to be—and that Ramsey was actually Magnolia's ultimate protector—was a fantastic pivot.
* Forced Proximity & Complex Dynamics: Magnolia is isolated and hated because of her parents' past, which makes her cabin-in-the-woods isolation with Ramsey so gripping. Watching them actually get to know each other beyond the battlefield (and finding out he never actually hated her) made for incredible tension.
* The Time-Travel Stakes: Magnolia’s determination to time travel to save Fallon, only for her entire mission to get redirected, kept the pacing fast and unpredictable.
Final Thoughts
If you love the "he watches her from the shadows" trope, deep-seated family secrets, and a sci-fi romance where the villain and the hero completely swap places, you will love this. It kept me guessing until the very end!
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
The Vibe
An intense, high-stakes sci-fi romance packed with forced proximity, a brooding "enemy" who is actually a protector, and a massive reality-check plot twist.
What I Loved
* The Ultimate Plot Twist: I loved the shift in dynamics here. Going into the book, you think Fallon is the golden-boy boyfriend and Ramsey is the villainous enemy hunting time travelers. Finding out that Fallon wasn't the great guy he pretended to be—and that Ramsey was actually Magnolia's ultimate protector—was a fantastic pivot.
* Forced Proximity & Complex Dynamics: Magnolia is isolated and hated because of her parents' past, which makes her cabin-in-the-woods isolation with Ramsey so gripping. Watching them actually get to know each other beyond the battlefield (and finding out he never actually hated her) made for incredible tension.
* The Time-Travel Stakes: Magnolia’s determination to time travel to save Fallon, only for her entire mission to get redirected, kept the pacing fast and unpredictable.
Final Thoughts
If you love the "he watches her from the shadows" trope, deep-seated family secrets, and a sci-fi romance where the villain and the hero completely swap places, you will love this. It kept me guessing until the very end!
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
April 24, 2026
The rare 6/5 ⭐️
3 🌶️/5
I swear, every time I read a new release by Tessa Bailey I say it’s my new favorite book of hers…. And really it’s not fair to compare this book to her rom coms, but I’m still going to say it… THIS IS MY FAVORITE TESSA BAILEY BOOK EVER.
I am not a dystopian reader. I’m a lukewarm romantasy reader. And with this one book, Tessa altered my brain chemistry completely. I devoured this book in 2.5 days. I didn’t want to do anything else but read.
The turns this story took along the way had me on the edge of my seat til the very end. After reading so many of Tessa’s books, I was able to guess some of the romance twists immediately, because her hero is always going to be the most down bad for his heroine, every time… but the rest of the story unfolded in ways I never would’ve guessed! I was anxious at several moments for the health of our heroine and second guessing my belief in our hero, but Tessa did not disappoint.
This novel was so nicely told and wrapped up that it honestly seems crazy to think anything should come after… but I would 100% be down for a Gizzard book. And to go into another dystopian book by Tessa. She has my absolute trust.
I cannot wait to re-read this book and honestly I think I’ll probably read it at least once more before Pub day.
3 🌶️/5
I swear, every time I read a new release by Tessa Bailey I say it’s my new favorite book of hers…. And really it’s not fair to compare this book to her rom coms, but I’m still going to say it… THIS IS MY FAVORITE TESSA BAILEY BOOK EVER.
I am not a dystopian reader. I’m a lukewarm romantasy reader. And with this one book, Tessa altered my brain chemistry completely. I devoured this book in 2.5 days. I didn’t want to do anything else but read.
The turns this story took along the way had me on the edge of my seat til the very end. After reading so many of Tessa’s books, I was able to guess some of the romance twists immediately, because her hero is always going to be the most down bad for his heroine, every time… but the rest of the story unfolded in ways I never would’ve guessed! I was anxious at several moments for the health of our heroine and second guessing my belief in our hero, but Tessa did not disappoint.
This novel was so nicely told and wrapped up that it honestly seems crazy to think anything should come after… but I would 100% be down for a Gizzard book. And to go into another dystopian book by Tessa. She has my absolute trust.
I cannot wait to re-read this book and honestly I think I’ll probably read it at least once more before Pub day.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received this ARC from the publisher and want to leave an honest review!
This was my first ARC and I was so happy I got this! I really wanted to love this because the core concept and plot are so interesting. The premise has a lot of potential, but the execution didn't quite land for me. Unfortunately, I DNF'd this 25% through.
The main issue I ran into involved significant world-building discrepancies. In a post-apocalyptic setting, internal logic is everything, and things weren't matching up. For instance, it was established that cell towers were down and GPS was non-existent, but, in a chase scene, the FMC is suddenly able to text and drop a pin of her location to the MMC while chatting with him on a cellphone. These kinds of technical inconsistencies made it hard to stay immersed in the story.
I also found it difficult to get invested in the characters. The story moves into high-stakes emotional territory very quickly, but the initial setup didn't give me enough reason to care about their motives or the outcomes of their fates yet.
While the bones of a great story are definitely there, the logic gaps and the lack of early character development meant I couldn't finish this one. I appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy, but it just wasn't a good fit for me.
This was my first ARC and I was so happy I got this! I really wanted to love this because the core concept and plot are so interesting. The premise has a lot of potential, but the execution didn't quite land for me. Unfortunately, I DNF'd this 25% through.
The main issue I ran into involved significant world-building discrepancies. In a post-apocalyptic setting, internal logic is everything, and things weren't matching up. For instance, it was established that cell towers were down and GPS was non-existent, but, in a chase scene, the FMC is suddenly able to text and drop a pin of her location to the MMC while chatting with him on a cellphone. These kinds of technical inconsistencies made it hard to stay immersed in the story.
I also found it difficult to get invested in the characters. The story moves into high-stakes emotional territory very quickly, but the initial setup didn't give me enough reason to care about their motives or the outcomes of their fates yet.
While the bones of a great story are definitely there, the logic gaps and the lack of early character development meant I couldn't finish this one. I appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy, but it just wasn't a good fit for me.
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