What do you think?
Rate this book
Broken Rival
From #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
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
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, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2026
About the author
Tessa Bailey
107 books70.2k 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 735 reviews
October 18, 2026
4.19
TESSA BAILEY WRITING FANTASY?! YES MA’AM!! 🙌🏻😍
This was such a fun read! Give me more Tessa Bailey fantasy because I honestly think she might have found her calling with this one. I hated seeing that this was a standalone because I would happily spend more time in this world, but at the same time, the story wrapped up so nicely that I can’t even complain. 🥹
Let’s talk about Ramsey because SIR. PLEASE. 🥵 He acts like he hates everything Magnolia stands for, and the tension and banter between these two had me eating it UP. The rivalry, the chemistry, the way their relationship develops… YES, PLEASE!
The story blends fantasy, rivalries, and time travel, with travelers who bring a whole lot more trouble than anyone wants to deal with. While I would have loved to see more actual time traveling throughout the story, I still really enjoyed the overall plot and the direction it took.
And this book had me crying within the first few chapters?! 😭 I LOVE when a book can pull emotions out of me like that, and this one absolutely delivered. And THAT ENDING?! Listen, we may have been given a few crumbs along the way that hinted at where things were headed, but I still loved watching it all come together.
Honestly, I think Tessa might do fantasy even better than contemporary romance. 👀 I really hope this is a direction she continues to explore because I would be FIRST IN LINE for more!
And these quotes?! 🥵
“You gave me your mouth today when I needed it most. Use mine now. Husband.”
He’s panting against my swell. ‘Give me a minute with it.’” 😮💨
Ramsey, you absolute menace. I will be thinking about you for a while. 😂❤️
🤍🤍⏱️⏳🤍🤍⏱️⏳🤍🤍⏱️⏳🤍🤍⏱️⏳🤍🤍
☀︎★Pre read ★☀︎
My girl Tessa Bailey is delving her feet into the fantasy world and I’m all for it! Time traveling?…yep, let’s do this.
TESSA BAILEY WRITING FANTASY?! YES MA’AM!! 🙌🏻😍
This was such a fun read! Give me more Tessa Bailey fantasy because I honestly think she might have found her calling with this one. I hated seeing that this was a standalone because I would happily spend more time in this world, but at the same time, the story wrapped up so nicely that I can’t even complain. 🥹
Let’s talk about Ramsey because SIR. PLEASE. 🥵 He acts like he hates everything Magnolia stands for, and the tension and banter between these two had me eating it UP. The rivalry, the chemistry, the way their relationship develops… YES, PLEASE!
The story blends fantasy, rivalries, and time travel, with travelers who bring a whole lot more trouble than anyone wants to deal with. While I would have loved to see more actual time traveling throughout the story, I still really enjoyed the overall plot and the direction it took.
And this book had me crying within the first few chapters?! 😭 I LOVE when a book can pull emotions out of me like that, and this one absolutely delivered. And THAT ENDING?! Listen, we may have been given a few crumbs along the way that hinted at where things were headed, but I still loved watching it all come together.
Honestly, I think Tessa might do fantasy even better than contemporary romance. 👀 I really hope this is a direction she continues to explore because I would be FIRST IN LINE for more!
And these quotes?! 🥵
“You gave me your mouth today when I needed it most. Use mine now. Husband.”
He’s panting against my swell. ‘Give me a minute with it.’” 😮💨
Ramsey, you absolute menace. I will be thinking about you for a while. 😂❤️
🤍🤍⏱️⏳🤍🤍⏱️⏳🤍🤍⏱️⏳🤍🤍⏱️⏳🤍🤍
☀︎★Pre read ★☀︎
My girl Tessa Bailey is delving her feet into the fantasy world and I’m all for it! Time traveling?…yep, let’s do this.
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.
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
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
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 🌟
I was so excited to read about a dystopian where time travel was forbidden and how the people who jump are called "takers," and in some parts, it was freaking amazing, but in others, not so much. I will definitely recommend this book to those who like a fast-paced romance that contains twists and turns. I love Tessa, but unfortunately, this one wasn't her best FOR MEE. 😭 Did I enjoy it? Sure. Did I like the FMC and MMC "eh" lol.
I'll start by saying this was an audiobook read, so maybe that affected my rating lol. For me the narrator of the FMC her voice was younger than her age. I understand she is just graduating high school but since the MMC voice you could sense it was older, I would of thought the FMC would have same idea. But alas, anyway I did process and decided to round up because the premise itself and scenes were good, but the romance rip......
The world Tessa created was hella fun and tbh, a bit hardcore. This ain't a fluffy society, nope, this is a bit of a violent one since time travel is forbidden, and if caught doing so, it is means for execution. There were a couple of scenes where I was like, "well damn, this took a turnnnn" ‼️ and not gonna lie, the final twist I sort of expected, but at the same time, it was VERY well written. Yes, the world building was entertaining and the actual plot, but... the baseline of it all goes back to the romance, and I am still not sure what the hell happened in that department. 🫠
****MILD SPOILERS BELOW****
Magnolia is dating Fallon, while on the sidelines, you get to know Ramsey, who is the brother who "hates" Magnolia. You see what I'm getting at with that sentence right? 👀 Anyway, the romance went too fast for me. One day, it's all about the hate, and then the next, she's sobbing for her love interest in like the span of nothing, while she's been feeling some other way a couple of days ago. I get that some love stories have underlines of attraction, but the start of theirs was so one-sided that it took me a while for me to be like OKAY MAGNOLIA FINALLY GETS IT 😭
Also...... the smut scenes (again, the narrator might not have helped) but they were a bit too hardcore because, again, the switcheroo from one brother to the next lmao, and then her basically devoting to him, I just.. was like WHAT IS HAPPENING 🫠 especially for the circumstances that happens for the love interest to solidify it just made me even more confused. This is so hard to explain without spoiling it.. AGH Anyway that definitely hindered my reading experience.
If I have to put this book in a sentence I would say: The world and plot are super entertaining, but the romance is a vibe check which for me it didn't pass it completely 🫣
thank you avon for my audiobook & eARC
I was so excited to read about a dystopian where time travel was forbidden and how the people who jump are called "takers," and in some parts, it was freaking amazing, but in others, not so much. I will definitely recommend this book to those who like a fast-paced romance that contains twists and turns. I love Tessa, but unfortunately, this one wasn't her best FOR MEE. 😭 Did I enjoy it? Sure. Did I like the FMC and MMC "eh" lol.
I'll start by saying this was an audiobook read, so maybe that affected my rating lol. For me the narrator of the FMC her voice was younger than her age. I understand she is just graduating high school but since the MMC voice you could sense it was older, I would of thought the FMC would have same idea. But alas, anyway I did process and decided to round up because the premise itself and scenes were good, but the romance rip......
The world Tessa created was hella fun and tbh, a bit hardcore. This ain't a fluffy society, nope, this is a bit of a violent one since time travel is forbidden, and if caught doing so, it is means for execution. There were a couple of scenes where I was like, "well damn, this took a turnnnn" ‼️ and not gonna lie, the final twist I sort of expected, but at the same time, it was VERY well written. Yes, the world building was entertaining and the actual plot, but... the baseline of it all goes back to the romance, and I am still not sure what the hell happened in that department. 🫠
****MILD SPOILERS BELOW****
Magnolia is dating Fallon, while on the sidelines, you get to know Ramsey, who is the brother who "hates" Magnolia. You see what I'm getting at with that sentence right? 👀 Anyway, the romance went too fast for me. One day, it's all about the hate, and then the next, she's sobbing for her love interest in like the span of nothing, while she's been feeling some other way a couple of days ago. I get that some love stories have underlines of attraction, but the start of theirs was so one-sided that it took me a while for me to be like OKAY MAGNOLIA FINALLY GETS IT 😭
Also...... the smut scenes (again, the narrator might not have helped) but they were a bit too hardcore because, again, the switcheroo from one brother to the next lmao, and then her basically devoting to him, I just.. was like WHAT IS HAPPENING 🫠 especially for the circumstances that happens for the love interest to solidify it just made me even more confused. This is so hard to explain without spoiling it.. AGH Anyway that definitely hindered my reading experience.
If I have to put this book in a sentence I would say: The world and plot are super entertaining, but the romance is a vibe check which for me it didn't pass it completely 🫣
thank you avon for my audiobook & eARC
August 15, 2026
Thank you to Avon/Harper for the ARC. 3.75 rounded up. In Tessa Bailey fashion, this was fun. But for a dystopian story that only has a bit over 400 pages to world build and develop the characters, it doesn’t have a lot of it. The FMC’s decisions don’t always make sense… Actually, not much of it makes sense if you actually think about it. So… If you’re looking for a story that’s super developed and intricate, you’ll be disappointed. If you want an interesting time travel romance that will have you giggling and kicking your feet? YEAH you’ll like it.
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!
October 6, 2026
Miss Bailey branching out from horrendously cringy writing? The sun must have risen in a different direction.
This is a low-stakes, predictable, soapy little read that’s surprisingly easy to get lost in for a few hours. The ending was a bit rushed, though. I hope she expands this world because I can somewhat see the potential.
This is a low-stakes, predictable, soapy little read that’s surprisingly easy to get lost in for a few hours. The ending was a bit rushed, though. I hope she expands this world because I can somewhat see the potential.
May 20, 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!
April 15, 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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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!
October 18, 2026
I was very excited to learn that Tessa Bailey had a new book coming out, and I was intrigued to see her explore the dystopian genre. While I did not dislike the main characters, I felt that their connection was somewhat rushed in order to bring them together. I found the time-traveling storyline quite compelling and had hoped to see more development in that area. Ultimately, while I did not dislike the story, I felt that it left something to be desired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2026
Wow, I am now a big fan of Tessa Bailey! That was so good! 🤩
But wait are we getting a sequel or perhaps a interconnected stand alone?🔥 I am so hear for it! Loved the world that was created here!
⭐⭐⭐⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️
RTC!
But wait are we getting a sequel or perhaps a interconnected stand alone?🔥 I am so hear for it! Loved the world that was created here!
⭐⭐⭐⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️
RTC!
Currently Reading
November 1, 2026Went into this one completely blind, so didn’t even know it was like sci-fi with time traveling, but it’s really good so far!
October 17, 2026
I absolutely DEVOURED this audiobook! I love Tessa’s romance books, but when authors branch off into a new genre I don’t get my hopes but because it’s new for them, they’ve never written this before.. well let me tell ya, she DID NOT disappoint!
I thought she did such an amazing job writing a dystopian fantasy! The world building was fantastic, and the character development was also fantastic. I cannot wait for other books like this from Tessa.
The narrator’s did an outstanding job giving life to Magnolia & Ramsey.
I thought she did such an amazing job writing a dystopian fantasy! The world building was fantastic, and the character development was also fantastic. I cannot wait for other books like this from Tessa.
The narrator’s did an outstanding job giving life to Magnolia & Ramsey.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2 more days!! My favourite release of 2026.
P.s i’m sorry that trailer was not it but I still love it
Update:
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
P.s i’m sorry that trailer was not it but I still love it
Update:
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
October 12, 2026
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
My parents abandoned me fifty-two years in the past.
A dystopian young adult romance that leaned into the teenybopper feel. Magnolia's parents were scientists in the year 2076 who found a way to invent time travel, which ends up causing catastrophic results for the year 2024. While they tried to keep the technology restricted to trusted users, it gets out to the masses, and in a world where resources and environmental concerns are rampant, everyone is trying to travel back. This causes havoc for 2024 and with people trying to protect their resources in their time, a General Cyrus gets power and he uses it to kill any time travelers that come through. Magnolia's parents are killed when they come through but she's only sixteen years old at the time, causing people to stick up for her and she ends up being taken in by a family. A family with two sons, one who seemingly loves her right away and one who seemingly hates her on sight.
After Magnolia's initial arrival, the story then jumps two years and she's eighteen about to graduate high school and dating Fallon, the son who was taken with her right away, while Ramsey, the son who seemed to hate her left the house Magnolia's staying at with his mother and stepfather, and is working and living with his father, who just so happens to be the killer General.
The story had some interesting time travel plot, the whys of people clamoring to time travel back and how the current time period people react, some shadowing of current immigration issues. However, it didn't really capture me with the romance. Ramsey's revealed instalove made no sense to me, he never knew Magnolia nearly enough to immediately be saying lines like: “Like I said, I’ll go breathe somewhere else.”
Two beats pass. “What about me? How will I breathe, then?”
I think it was around twenty percent when some “I love yous” were said and I was just baffled by it all because at no time did I think there was enough substance between the two for such statements.
The story got a little better for me deeper in, Magnolia realizing Fallon's controlling love was not healthy and more development of the time travel politics. However, I found myself not a personal fan of how the characters younger ages, eighteen and twenty-one, was written with them forgoing a condom and baby talk; it's all personal dislike but with the climate in the US right now, it felt like I was suddenly reading a story implementing an appeal I'm not personally about.
The ending gave some us some action and a switch in pov from all Magnolia's to Ramsey's and some quick, sloppy to me, reveal about Magnolia's true power her parents gave her. I thought a storyline was going to be continued in a next book but it was surprisingly wrapped up and an epilogue gave us an HEA. Some interesting dystopian time traveling concepts here but for a younger demographic that would probably enjoy a less depth filled romance.
My parents abandoned me fifty-two years in the past.
A dystopian young adult romance that leaned into the teenybopper feel. Magnolia's parents were scientists in the year 2076 who found a way to invent time travel, which ends up causing catastrophic results for the year 2024. While they tried to keep the technology restricted to trusted users, it gets out to the masses, and in a world where resources and environmental concerns are rampant, everyone is trying to travel back. This causes havoc for 2024 and with people trying to protect their resources in their time, a General Cyrus gets power and he uses it to kill any time travelers that come through. Magnolia's parents are killed when they come through but she's only sixteen years old at the time, causing people to stick up for her and she ends up being taken in by a family. A family with two sons, one who seemingly loves her right away and one who seemingly hates her on sight.
After Magnolia's initial arrival, the story then jumps two years and she's eighteen about to graduate high school and dating Fallon, the son who was taken with her right away, while Ramsey, the son who seemed to hate her left the house Magnolia's staying at with his mother and stepfather, and is working and living with his father, who just so happens to be the killer General.
The story had some interesting time travel plot, the whys of people clamoring to time travel back and how the current time period people react, some shadowing of current immigration issues. However, it didn't really capture me with the romance. Ramsey's revealed instalove made no sense to me, he never knew Magnolia nearly enough to immediately be saying lines like: “Like I said, I’ll go breathe somewhere else.”
Two beats pass. “What about me? How will I breathe, then?”
I think it was around twenty percent when some “I love yous” were said and I was just baffled by it all because at no time did I think there was enough substance between the two for such statements.
The story got a little better for me deeper in, Magnolia realizing Fallon's controlling love was not healthy and more development of the time travel politics. However, I found myself not a personal fan of how the characters younger ages, eighteen and twenty-one, was written with them forgoing a condom and baby talk; it's all personal dislike but with the climate in the US right now, it felt like I was suddenly reading a story implementing an appeal I'm not personally about.
The ending gave some us some action and a switch in pov from all Magnolia's to Ramsey's and some quick, sloppy to me, reveal about Magnolia's true power her parents gave her. I thought a storyline was going to be continued in a next book but it was surprisingly wrapped up and an epilogue gave us an HEA. Some interesting dystopian time traveling concepts here but for a younger demographic that would probably enjoy a less depth filled romance.
October 18, 2026
4 ⭐️
Tessa Bailey’s first foray into fantasy/science fiction was mostly a success. The world she created was interesting; the characters had personalities. The execution of the plot was a little flat for me, but not so flat that it took too much away from my enjoyment. The rest of my review contains spoilers.
Some issues/questions I had with/about the book:
Tessa Bailey’s first foray into fantasy/science fiction was mostly a success. The world she created was interesting; the characters had personalities. The execution of the plot was a little flat for me, but not so flat that it took too much away from my enjoyment. The rest of my review contains spoilers.
Some issues/questions I had with/about the book:
October 9, 2026
DnF at 80%
I got wayyyy to much second hand embarrassment from this
I’m sorry but Tessa Bailey should know by now she can’t make anything other than a romcom ppl saying she switched genres … babe where l
Words like
“ syfy queen” & “ owned Cyrus in front of his boys” are to cartoonish to not be romcom
And this ain’t me hating cause I can get down with a silly romance, but it’s when the silly romance is trying to be serious that I just can’t stop laughing
I’ve been noticing a thing probably since a court of thrones and roses so I’ll blame Sarah J Mas for this I’ve been seeing a rise in like the genre like fantasy, dystopian paranormal whatever you wanna call it of like this girl coming into her own like Uber feminism, finding her voice trope and like the bad boy guy who doesn’t hate her at all being like her biggest hype, man and like hooray he’s a pro feminism. He wants her to be a baddie. He’s her champion so the other guys they suck but see he’s for the women…… that’s so corny as fuck. when you need to beat it on readers’s heads over and over again just how for the heroine. He is in her power and her “ finding her voice” It’s so corny like what the fuck the writing doesn’t flow naturally it doesn’t really feel like it’s authentic. It just feels like they’re trying to feel the trope that’s going viral. Instead of it actually being him supporting her
I got wayyyy to much second hand embarrassment from this
I’m sorry but Tessa Bailey should know by now she can’t make anything other than a romcom ppl saying she switched genres … babe where l
Words like
“ syfy queen” & “ owned Cyrus in front of his boys” are to cartoonish to not be romcom
And this ain’t me hating cause I can get down with a silly romance, but it’s when the silly romance is trying to be serious that I just can’t stop laughing
I’ve been noticing a thing probably since a court of thrones and roses so I’ll blame Sarah J Mas for this I’ve been seeing a rise in like the genre like fantasy, dystopian paranormal whatever you wanna call it of like this girl coming into her own like Uber feminism, finding her voice trope and like the bad boy guy who doesn’t hate her at all being like her biggest hype, man and like hooray he’s a pro feminism. He wants her to be a baddie. He’s her champion so the other guys they suck but see he’s for the women…… that’s so corny as fuck. when you need to beat it on readers’s heads over and over again just how for the heroine. He is in her power and her “ finding her voice” It’s so corny like what the fuck the writing doesn’t flow naturally it doesn’t really feel like it’s authentic. It just feels like they’re trying to feel the trope that’s going viral. Instead of it actually being him supporting her
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this book from Goodreads.
I desperately wanted to like this book as much as everyone else does, but I can't.
The premise was enticing, but the execution was mediocre. Broken Rival is promoted as Tessa Bailey's dive into the dark and gritty romance genre, but it reads like a half-assed YA.
The book is advertised as an enemies to lovers and rival is literally in the title but it's giving more Insta-Love . And the way Bailey describes the sex scenes is a major ick, you'd almost think it was written by a man. If that unpleasantness wasn't already a deal breaker, the cause vs effect in this book has enough inconsistencies to be consider a good Swiss cheese.
I desperately wanted to like this book as much as everyone else does, but I can't.
The premise was enticing, but the execution was mediocre. Broken Rival is promoted as Tessa Bailey's dive into the dark and gritty romance genre, but it reads like a half-assed YA.
The book is advertised as an enemies to lovers and rival is literally in the title but it's giving more Insta-Love . And the way Bailey describes the sex scenes is a major ick, you'd almost think it was written by a man. If that unpleasantness wasn't already a deal breaker, the cause vs effect in this book has enough inconsistencies to be consider a good Swiss cheese.
September 3, 2026
I sat on this review for a while because I kept going back and forth with my rating but it’s a solid 4.5 star which is 5 stars here. This is so different from what I’m used to from Tessa Bailey and in my opinion, she really delivered. There’s a few things I didn’t love with the romance at the end that’s probably a personal preference which is why it’s 4.5 but this had a really unique concept and I really loved it. I also listened on audio and the narrators were great. It was dual audio and I highly recommend.
Did Not Finish
October 9, 2026DNF @ pg210
This was my first Tessa Bailey book and it was going so well in the beginning but now I just can't stand the main character and love interest. The romance is soo insta-lovey and I hate it. There are very few exceptions where I don't mind insta-love and this was not one of them.
And there are a lot of things that are not making sense because wdym you say cell towers are down and you can't use gps and yet everyone was using their phones totally fine making calls???😭 and are able to track locations??? AND THERES SUPPOSED TO BE A FOOD SHORTAGE and yet there's no proof of that at all like FMC is baking desserts so often... idk the story honestly had a lot of potential but the execution went poorly in my opinion. Though, if you're a Tessa Bailey fan, I definitely think you should still give this a shot!
Thank you Frenzy Books for the proof in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Tessa Bailey book and it was going so well in the beginning but now I just can't stand the main character and love interest. The romance is soo insta-lovey and I hate it. There are very few exceptions where I don't mind insta-love and this was not one of them.
And there are a lot of things that are not making sense because wdym you say cell towers are down and you can't use gps and yet everyone was using their phones totally fine making calls???😭 and are able to track locations??? AND THERES SUPPOSED TO BE A FOOD SHORTAGE and yet there's no proof of that at all like FMC is baking desserts so often... idk the story honestly had a lot of potential but the execution went poorly in my opinion. Though, if you're a Tessa Bailey fan, I definitely think you should still give this a shot!
Thank you Frenzy Books for the proof in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited for an adult dystopian time travel romance and this book ... Did not deliver.
First there was no dystopia as it all takes place in the present time and the reader is only told of the dystopia fifty years in the future. Second, the time travel is discussed at great length but there's only one scene involving it and it's all the way at the end of the book. It was pretty anticlimactic tbh. Third, there's not really a love triangle? The marketing for this lead me to believe that but the second love interest is dispatched fairly quickly and the FMC moves on pretty fast.
My biggest gripe with this book is that it reads YA 😭 The FMC is 19 and acts like it. I thought it was an adult romance? I guess it's technically NA because of the s*x but if you've read any dystopia or fantasy YA in the Twilight / Hunger Games craze of the late aughts, this is that but less fun. I'd definitely not put this in the adult category.
I'm giving it a generous three stars because it kept me on the hook for most of it while I waited for something, anything to happen. It also has the classic intense obsessed Bailey MMC with alpha tendencies and I haven't read a proper over the top MMC in so long, it was nice. I'm partial to the unhinged love interests 🙂↕️
Overall, it's just a contemporary romance poorly disguised as a dystopian. Pretty underwhelming.
⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
(Sort of ) Morally Gray MMC
Close Proximity
(Sort of) Love triangle
I received an advance reader copy for review from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
First there was no dystopia as it all takes place in the present time and the reader is only told of the dystopia fifty years in the future. Second, the time travel is discussed at great length but there's only one scene involving it and it's all the way at the end of the book. It was pretty anticlimactic tbh. Third, there's not really a love triangle? The marketing for this lead me to believe that but the second love interest is dispatched fairly quickly and the FMC moves on pretty fast.
My biggest gripe with this book is that it reads YA 😭 The FMC is 19 and acts like it. I thought it was an adult romance? I guess it's technically NA because of the s*x but if you've read any dystopia or fantasy YA in the Twilight / Hunger Games craze of the late aughts, this is that but less fun. I'd definitely not put this in the adult category.
I'm giving it a generous three stars because it kept me on the hook for most of it while I waited for something, anything to happen. It also has the classic intense obsessed Bailey MMC with alpha tendencies and I haven't read a proper over the top MMC in so long, it was nice. I'm partial to the unhinged love interests 🙂↕️
Overall, it's just a contemporary romance poorly disguised as a dystopian. Pretty underwhelming.
⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
(Sort of ) Morally Gray MMC
Close Proximity
(Sort of) Love triangle
I received an advance reader copy for review from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
June 3, 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.
August 18, 2026
PHENOMENAL!! The reason why Tessa Bailey is an auto buy author for me!!!!! So grateful I was able to read this early. A dystopian time travel romance with forbidden love and an absolute page turner. Time after time I didn’t see things coming and I’ve become pretty good at predicting stories. WOW Ramsey was absolutely everything. I love how protective he was of her and how he literally killed anyone who touched her. The spice was absolutely hitting!! A slow burn but worth the wait. The ending blew my mind in the best way!!
“I love you in every dimension Magnolia”
“I was put here to love you”
“I love you in every dimension Magnolia”
“I was put here to love you”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2026
Broken Rival follows a world in which time travel was discovered, but has been outlawed because of future timelines running from the destruction of their worlds leaving the present timeline overwhelmed.
While Broken Rival’s world is rooted in sci-fi, the novel, at its core, is a romance. Magnolia, a time traveller stuck in the present timeline, is forced to choose between the high school golden boy and his brother, a soldier committed to hunting down time travellers.
Broken Rival would have been five stars, but the ending was rushed with convenient explanations.
As mentioned previously, Broken Rival is a romance first novel with sci-fi/dystopian themes second. The world building is good, but not excellent as the focus is on Magnolia and her relationships with the brothers. Readers are introduced to Magnolia, Fallon, and Ramsey where the chemistry between the characters is palpable. It’s quite obvious who Magnolia will end up with, but it’s the journey that is the focus.
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
For me, Magnolia’s journey in Broken Rival is the best aspect of the novel. She can be frustrating at times, but she evolves into a fiercely emotional and independent woman.
The twist is absolutely incredible and I did not see it coming.
Overall, although the rushed conclusion prevented Broken Rival from being a five star read, the strengths of the novel far outweigh its weaknesses. Between Magnolia's growth, the engaging romance, and the shocking twist, Broken Rival was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
*** I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
While Broken Rival’s world is rooted in sci-fi, the novel, at its core, is a romance. Magnolia, a time traveller stuck in the present timeline, is forced to choose between the high school golden boy and his brother, a soldier committed to hunting down time travellers.
Broken Rival would have been five stars, but the ending was rushed with convenient explanations.
As mentioned previously, Broken Rival is a romance first novel with sci-fi/dystopian themes second. The world building is good, but not excellent as the focus is on Magnolia and her relationships with the brothers. Readers are introduced to Magnolia, Fallon, and Ramsey where the chemistry between the characters is palpable. It’s quite obvious who Magnolia will end up with, but it’s the journey that is the focus.
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
For me, Magnolia’s journey in Broken Rival is the best aspect of the novel. She can be frustrating at times, but she evolves into a fiercely emotional and independent woman.
The twist is absolutely incredible and I did not see it coming.
Overall, although the rushed conclusion prevented Broken Rival from being a five star read, the strengths of the novel far outweigh its weaknesses. Between Magnolia's growth, the engaging romance, and the shocking twist, Broken Rival was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
*** I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2026
Oh boy, this was a freaking fun read! I stopped reading Tessa Bailey because her brand of rom-com doesn’t work for me so as soon as this came out my interest was peaked. Is this going to be similar to her older stuff? Is this YA? What is this?!? I could hardly wrap my brain around what a Tessa Bailey dystopian would look like and Going into it kind of wary I think heightened the experience because it surpassed my expectations.
I was expecting some brash, annoying, grumpy FMCs who fight everything like the ones we get in her rom-coms, but then we got this broken, angst-ridden, sweet and kind FMC and I was freaking stoked!! The angst! Man, this girl has been through so much. I loved it. I adored her—her struggles, her desire to get stronger, the way she loves the H, how she could feel for the people on all sides of this conflict, etc. She was a great dystopian FMC.
The H is amazing too. Misunderstood, barely in control of himself. His desperation to have her was so hot. He wanted it so badly that he didn’t even know how to hope for it, gah so good. She wrote his need for the h extremely well. I’m usually not a fan of the pining and longing coming from the MMC but it is done so well here. I want to do a reread on audio because I am so curious how the narrator handles certain scenes with the H.
Their sex scenes were very hot and their intimacy was great. I really liked how everything was handled with the two brothers and how the plot was so intertwined with the romance.
The time travel plot was super fun. It has a very dystopian, mad-max feel at times that was very entertaining. Things were kind of predictable but also kind of not. I thought the clues were pointing in one direction but we went in another.
At times it can feel a bit like watching one of those old WB/CW teen shows, can slightly verge into OTT which ruins some of the emotion and makes some scenes a little cringe but it was still a super entertaining read. It has some Dawsons Creek meets Smallville vibes.
I was expecting some brash, annoying, grumpy FMCs who fight everything like the ones we get in her rom-coms, but then we got this broken, angst-ridden, sweet and kind FMC and I was freaking stoked!! The angst! Man, this girl has been through so much. I loved it. I adored her—her struggles, her desire to get stronger, the way she loves the H, how she could feel for the people on all sides of this conflict, etc. She was a great dystopian FMC.
The H is amazing too. Misunderstood, barely in control of himself. His desperation to have her was so hot. He wanted it so badly that he didn’t even know how to hope for it, gah so good. She wrote his need for the h extremely well. I’m usually not a fan of the pining and longing coming from the MMC but it is done so well here. I want to do a reread on audio because I am so curious how the narrator handles certain scenes with the H.
Their sex scenes were very hot and their intimacy was great. I really liked how everything was handled with the two brothers and how the plot was so intertwined with the romance.
The time travel plot was super fun. It has a very dystopian, mad-max feel at times that was very entertaining. Things were kind of predictable but also kind of not. I thought the clues were pointing in one direction but we went in another.
At times it can feel a bit like watching one of those old WB/CW teen shows, can slightly verge into OTT which ruins some of the emotion and makes some scenes a little cringe but it was still a super entertaining read. It has some Dawsons Creek meets Smallville vibes.
October 6, 2026
DNF at 40%. I couldn't stand the writing or the flimsy plot (what a waste, the plot actually had potential). A lot of things made no sense and it felt... dumb. It all felt like your average "enemies to lovers" (insta lust, despite her being in love with his brother, who conveniently grows these bad traits all of a sudden so she has no choice but to be attracted to his brother. Please). The time travel plot just felt... shoehorned in?
(also, did I miss something? Maybe I dropped it too early to find out if there was a twist, but why, WHY, did Fallon run in after Magnolia thinking she was at school when he knew he had left her stranded without a ride, they had had an argument over the phone just before while she was at home and he knew she also had to pick up doughnuts? Why, why, WHY would she be at the school???)
(also, did I miss something? Maybe I dropped it too early to find out if there was a twist, but why, WHY, did Fallon run in after Magnolia thinking she was at school when he knew he had left her stranded without a ride, they had had an argument over the phone just before while she was at home and he knew she also had to pick up doughnuts? Why, why, WHY would she be at the school???)
October 6, 2026
This was FUN. It was so fast paced and I flew through it.
Magnolia’s strength really stood out to me. Even after everything she loses, she keeps moving forward, trying to make her parents proud while staying true to herself and continuing their mission of helping other travelers. Then there’s Ramsey with his very intense touch her and die vibes. His protectiveness and devotion to Magnolia definitely got me.
Was some of this ridiculous and completely over the top? Yup. Did I still enjoy every second of it? Also yup. 😂 It actually reminded me of watching Fast & Furious, which I realize is a very weird comparison, but hear me out. Are those movies completely absurd? Absolutely. Do I stop and watch every single time I find one on TV? Also absolutely.
That was Broken Rival for me. High stakes, lots of action, plenty of drama and no need for me to take any of it too seriously. I just sat back and enjoyed the wild ride.
Magnolia’s strength really stood out to me. Even after everything she loses, she keeps moving forward, trying to make her parents proud while staying true to herself and continuing their mission of helping other travelers. Then there’s Ramsey with his very intense touch her and die vibes. His protectiveness and devotion to Magnolia definitely got me.
Was some of this ridiculous and completely over the top? Yup. Did I still enjoy every second of it? Also yup. 😂 It actually reminded me of watching Fast & Furious, which I realize is a very weird comparison, but hear me out. Are those movies completely absurd? Absolutely. Do I stop and watch every single time I find one on TV? Also absolutely.
That was Broken Rival for me. High stakes, lots of action, plenty of drama and no need for me to take any of it too seriously. I just sat back and enjoyed the wild ride.
October 10, 2026
I did NOT expect to love this book as much as I did. I’ve enjoyed Tessa Bailey’s books before, but this one was on another level. The time-travel plot was so intriguing, the twists genuinely surprised me, and the romance was SO good. I loved how the tension between the characters developed and how everything was intertwined. I even texted a friend about it because I NEEDED someone else to read it.
Such an unexpectedly great read!
Such an unexpectedly great read!
October 7, 2026
if you love a man that YEARNS read this
June 13, 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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 735 reviews