What do you think?
Rate this book
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, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Tessa Bailey
106 books69.8k 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 140 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.
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
this was not as good as i thought it was going to be... 🫣 will post review soon
thank you avon for my audiobook & eARC
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.
August 30, 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
August 4, 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!
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.
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.
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!!
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
August 25, 2026
4.5⭐️ As if I couldn’t love Tessa anymore, she goes and writes this swoon worthy dystopian time travel romance. Dare I say Broken Rival is Tessa’s best book yet!
It’s got everything you could want and more in a dystopian romance. There’s betrayal, secrets, politics, banter, and a romance that will have you melting because it’s so good. There’s a reason Tessa is the queen of spice, she excels as writing the most romantic spicy scenes that will have you drooling! 🤤 And did I mention there’s dirty talk?!🥵
“It will be you in every timeline. In life. In death. Afterlife and rebirth. I’d carry you with me, for all of them, Magnolia. You are my soul’s compass.”
This quote hit me with all the feels. To be loved this deep and unconditionally is what we all long for.
And I don’t want to spoils anything but just know that I loved the romance between Magnolia and her soulmate. All the heart eyes! 😍
Thank you so much to Avon Books for the gifted book and ALC!
It’s got everything you could want and more in a dystopian romance. There’s betrayal, secrets, politics, banter, and a romance that will have you melting because it’s so good. There’s a reason Tessa is the queen of spice, she excels as writing the most romantic spicy scenes that will have you drooling! 🤤 And did I mention there’s dirty talk?!🥵
“It will be you in every timeline. In life. In death. Afterlife and rebirth. I’d carry you with me, for all of them, Magnolia. You are my soul’s compass.”
This quote hit me with all the feels. To be loved this deep and unconditionally is what we all long for.
And I don’t want to spoils anything but just know that I loved the romance between Magnolia and her soulmate. All the heart eyes! 😍
Thank you so much to Avon Books for the gifted book and ALC!
definitely-maybe
August 21, 2026So, should I read this? It's time travel, which I love. But it's also a romantasy, which I'm trying to avoid currently. It's Tessa Bailey, who writes some incredible spice. But it's also Tessa Bailey, whose female main characters tend to be irritating. Hmmmm
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.
Read
August 26, 2026I don't know how to rate this because it's stupid but I liked it
August 18, 2026
I don’t know what I was expecting but it was absolutely not this! This book was explosive and incendiary right from the jump. Holy shit. You are dropped into this story and expected to take off running for your life — and the only time you get to stop running is once the story finishes. That’s truly how reading Broken Rival felt! I was absolutely on the edge of my seat SO MANY times and had to set the book down because I was so anxious!!!
Everything about this book felt so unique to me. The time traveling. The relationships. The twists. The truths that took the entire book to unravel. I adored the love story. (This particular love story FELT like it was Chris Greys “Let the World Burn” in words instead of song!) And wow - the range when it comes to Tessa Bailey’s writing is incredible and showcased beautifully with this novel. I think a lot about re-readability when I experience a book for the first time and I’m already thinking about how different it’ll be to experience this book for a second time. The re-readability factor is high with this one!
If you’re looking for:
•dystopian
•time traveling
•strong love stories where their love isn’t the only plot line
•slow burn + well deserved and well written 🌶️ scenes
•a truly excellent duet narration audiobook
…then reading this book really is worth your time!
I split time between the ebook and audiobook and I cannot say enough amazing things about the audiobook. I’m historically not a big fan of duet narration - most of the time a story just doesn’t require being told this way and for me it detracts from the experience. This story couldn’t have been more different. Being told with duet narration felt so authentic and both Molly Stark and Aaron Shedlock were incredible. These two really were so easy to listen to and really melted right into these characters.
My qualms:
*At times the dialogue - especially when things got spicy - could take a turn for the cringy. It didn’t happen super often and the majority of the story was perfect. But it happened enough to note it.
*I feel like Aaron Shedlock’s performance as Ramsey didn’t match up with the intensity of the moment/his words. Aaron lacked the intensity that Tessa’s words required.
*And the biggest one: this ending felt SUPER abrupt. Things wrapped up unnecessarily fast. It felt like 85% of this book was for building this epic and beautiful and complicated plot just for it to be brushed aside and minimized and shoved in a box - regardless if it fit or not. The result was an ending that felt overly simple. And I do wonder why the book ended this way.
But none of these qualms took away from the story in a way that ruined it for me or changed how I felt about this amazing story. I loved this one so much and while it is currently listed as a standalone I can’t help but hope it’ll end up being more. Thank you so much to HarperAudio and Avon for a change to experience this early! What. A. Treat.
Everything about this book felt so unique to me. The time traveling. The relationships. The twists. The truths that took the entire book to unravel. I adored the love story. (This particular love story FELT like it was Chris Greys “Let the World Burn” in words instead of song!) And wow - the range when it comes to Tessa Bailey’s writing is incredible and showcased beautifully with this novel. I think a lot about re-readability when I experience a book for the first time and I’m already thinking about how different it’ll be to experience this book for a second time. The re-readability factor is high with this one!
If you’re looking for:
•dystopian
•time traveling
•strong love stories where their love isn’t the only plot line
•slow burn + well deserved and well written 🌶️ scenes
•a truly excellent duet narration audiobook
…then reading this book really is worth your time!
I split time between the ebook and audiobook and I cannot say enough amazing things about the audiobook. I’m historically not a big fan of duet narration - most of the time a story just doesn’t require being told this way and for me it detracts from the experience. This story couldn’t have been more different. Being told with duet narration felt so authentic and both Molly Stark and Aaron Shedlock were incredible. These two really were so easy to listen to and really melted right into these characters.
My qualms:
*At times the dialogue - especially when things got spicy - could take a turn for the cringy. It didn’t happen super often and the majority of the story was perfect. But it happened enough to note it.
*I feel like Aaron Shedlock’s performance as Ramsey didn’t match up with the intensity of the moment/his words. Aaron lacked the intensity that Tessa’s words required.
*And the biggest one: this ending felt SUPER abrupt. Things wrapped up unnecessarily fast. It felt like 85% of this book was for building this epic and beautiful and complicated plot just for it to be brushed aside and minimized and shoved in a box - regardless if it fit or not. The result was an ending that felt overly simple. And I do wonder why the book ended this way.
But none of these qualms took away from the story in a way that ruined it for me or changed how I felt about this amazing story. I loved this one so much and while it is currently listed as a standalone I can’t help but hope it’ll end up being more. Thank you so much to HarperAudio and Avon for a change to experience this early! What. A. Treat.
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.
August 22, 2026
I was fortunate to have grabbed an eARC of Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey through a limited read now opportunity on NetGalley. I devoured this book in a day as I couldn't get enough of 'Man Darkness' or Magnolia.
The yearning from 'Man Darkness' is top tier...5/5. For someone who had so much "hate" in his heart for the Takers aka time travelers, he was a certified lover boy when it came to Magnolia and 100% proved it through much of the book. While the world building wasn't super extensive, it was easy to picture what kind of world this story took place in. It made Kansas seem a lot more interesting outside of the endless fields we normally think of. I did think that some of the dialogue was a bit juvenile at times, but this book IS catered to readers within the New Adult age range (18-25) as Magnolia is 18-19 years old throughout it.
The one thing that I did get out of this book is that even if you CAN time travel, it doesn't mean that it changes what happens. While there are times I wish that time travel did exist in real life, I will live vicariously through stories like this.
Overall, if you're looking for a romance book that has a love triangle between two brothers, then this is a good choice. If you're looking for a romance book that features enemies to lovers with forced proximity, yearning, angst and tension then Broken Rivals by Tessa Bailey is an excellent choice.
Thank you Avon Books and Harper Voyager for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
The yearning from 'Man Darkness' is top tier...5/5. For someone who had so much "hate" in his heart for the Takers aka time travelers, he was a certified lover boy when it came to Magnolia and 100% proved it through much of the book. While the world building wasn't super extensive, it was easy to picture what kind of world this story took place in. It made Kansas seem a lot more interesting outside of the endless fields we normally think of. I did think that some of the dialogue was a bit juvenile at times, but this book IS catered to readers within the New Adult age range (18-25) as Magnolia is 18-19 years old throughout it.
The one thing that I did get out of this book is that even if you CAN time travel, it doesn't mean that it changes what happens. While there are times I wish that time travel did exist in real life, I will live vicariously through stories like this.
Overall, if you're looking for a romance book that has a love triangle between two brothers, then this is a good choice. If you're looking for a romance book that features enemies to lovers with forced proximity, yearning, angst and tension then Broken Rivals by Tessa Bailey is an excellent choice.
Thank you Avon Books and Harper Voyager for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
July 21, 2026
This was PHENOMENAL. I’ve read every single Tessa Bailey book, so my expectations were high, but this was such a departure from her normal style that I didn’t quite know what to expect.
The whole story was built out so well and being able to explain dynamics of time travel so clearly was fascinating. Watching Magnolia fight for her reputation and the good of the world was incredible and she was such a badass. Her relationship with Ramsey was perfect and the level of enemies to lovers was on point.
I loved the moments in the cabin and watching them both grow and learn about each other. Tessa writes such great heroes and I am a big big fan of him.
The book was intense and fascinating throughout, but still had the romance aspect I loved. I’m hoping that with the little cliffhanger Tessa gave us, a second book could maybe be on its way. I’m deeply satisfied and so happy I got to read this early. (Thank you to Rachel for this ARC!)
The whole story was built out so well and being able to explain dynamics of time travel so clearly was fascinating. Watching Magnolia fight for her reputation and the good of the world was incredible and she was such a badass. Her relationship with Ramsey was perfect and the level of enemies to lovers was on point.
I loved the moments in the cabin and watching them both grow and learn about each other. Tessa writes such great heroes and I am a big big fan of him.
The book was intense and fascinating throughout, but still had the romance aspect I loved. I’m hoping that with the little cliffhanger Tessa gave us, a second book could maybe be on its way. I’m deeply satisfied and so happy I got to read this early. (Thank you to Rachel for this ARC!)
August 1, 2026
OK, so first let me just say that this four star reading is really for sheer entertainment value of this book not necessarily the writing. I read the book in one day. I was definitely engrossed and engaged. The storyline is kind of ridiculous in terms of time traveling and weird kind of hunger, games situations with the future in the past and what we’ve done to our world kind of message. Mixed in all of that is a love story between two people who are supposed to be enemies, but as it turns out aren’t really ever enemies. The whole thing was definitely entertaining and had me reading straight through to the end. I find that all of her books are like this, where maybe the writing isn’t spectacular and it did feel a little long and the ending felt a little rushed, but it was certainly a solidly entertaining read.
August 19, 2026
broken rival arc
tessa bailey always has my heart in a chokehold with her creative genius.
magnolia has been through so much right from the start. her parents illegally time traveled and lost their lives but she was granted mercy and protection. as well as growing up with a love triangle and not knowing how or what to do about it.
fallon is football player boy charming who wants cookie cutter lifestyle when ramsey has been in the shadows protecting her with such fierceness that she believes he hates her. each boy provides a different kind of devotion that could make or break her.
the determination to save everyone from their fates and fix everything is so brave yet so dangerous but she tries anyway. i have so much respect for the way she fears nothing.
i absolutely devoured this book and i think everyone should read it. truly obsessed 🫶🏼
thank you avon for the gifted copy💛💛
tessa bailey always has my heart in a chokehold with her creative genius.
magnolia has been through so much right from the start. her parents illegally time traveled and lost their lives but she was granted mercy and protection. as well as growing up with a love triangle and not knowing how or what to do about it.
fallon is football player boy charming who wants cookie cutter lifestyle when ramsey has been in the shadows protecting her with such fierceness that she believes he hates her. each boy provides a different kind of devotion that could make or break her.
the determination to save everyone from their fates and fix everything is so brave yet so dangerous but she tries anyway. i have so much respect for the way she fears nothing.
i absolutely devoured this book and i think everyone should read it. truly obsessed 🫶🏼
thank you avon for the gifted copy💛💛
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
July 7, 2026
•Goodreads Giveaway Win•
Tessa Bailey always delivers! I loved every second of this book.
Tessa Bailey always delivers! I loved every second of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews