What We Brave

by Jenna Myles

"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This was the ending they earned.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I don’t know anyone who writes relationships better. The reality, the insecurities, the feels, and the victories.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “These two books broke me. I cried most of the time. They were beautiful and I loved them.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Outstanding, complex characters. Loved all the twists and turns.”

I didn’t run.

I want that on the record. Blake Moore detonated a bomb in the middle of my life and disappeared to a war zone, Reid chose his best friend over me every single time it mattered, and I’m still here. Same town. Same job. Same apartment I picked when I decided, for the first time in thirty-two years, to stay somewhere.

I’m not the one who left. That’s new for me.

Reid wants another chance. He’s sorry. He’s so sorry. And I believe him — that’s the worst part. I believe him and I still can’t let him back in, because every time he looks at me with those golden retriever eyes, I remember that he didn’t believe me.

Then Blake comes home.

He’s not supposed to be a factor. He’s here for Reid. Here to fix the damage, patch the cracks, and step aside like none of it ever happened.

But I know what happened. He told me he loved me. And the way my pulse kicks when he walks into a room tells me the feeling wasn’t as one-sided as I’ve been pretending.

I kiss him. Because apparently I’ve lost my mind.

Now Reid’s best friend is looking at me like I’m his whole world, and Reid is looking at me like I’m his second chance, and I’m looking at both of them thinking —
what if I don’t have to choose?

What if the bravest thing I’ve ever done is refusing to?

What We Brave is the conclusion of The Breaking Duet — and it is the payoff.

Everything Book One broke, this one rebuilds: three people who finally stop protecting each other from the truth and start saying it out loud. To each other. To my parents. To a world with a lot of opinions about what a family is supposed to look like.

It’s brutal. It’s filthy. It’s laugh-until-you-can’t-breathe funny. And I promise you — all three of them get their happy ending. They earn every inch of it.

Read What We Break first. This is the second half of one story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I love the level of communication they all have with each other — wanting to discuss the hard things so they can fix it rather than sweeping it under the rug. Honestly refreshing.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Normally I would not be about the whole throuple idea, but it became obvious it was the best and only option for them to have an HEA.”"

Genres: Romance

624 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2026

About the author

So apparently, not everyone has entire worlds and a whole cast of made up characters living in their head.

I bought my first book on how to write romance fifteen years ago.

And did absolutely nothing with it.

Until one day, tired of all my wishing and doubting, I sat down and started writing. The plan was to prove to myself that I sucked.

Turns out, not only do I not suck, I tell really great stories.

And those people who live in my head? They’ve been desperate to get out.

I am an adoptive and foster mom. I have a soft spot in my heart for kids from tough places.

Reviews

[Julie]

Way way too slow.

[lisa]

Loved these characters

Usually why choose is not my genre. I find nearly all of them rely heavily on lust and sex to "prove" or show the FMC is in love with however many men are in the story and there isnt much character or plot building. Theres nothing necessarily wrong with that, i just want more from the story and i havent had much luck finding that in this genre. Since I loved the Brash Brothers series by Jenna I wanted to give this duet a chance. Im so glad I did. I couldn't put it down. These characters are flawed and yet you can't help but root for them. Seeing their relationships, both friendship and romantic, unfold is beautiful to read. I love the level of communication they all have with each other, not letting things go and wanting to discuss the hard things so they can fix it rather than sweeping it under the rug or ignoring it was honestly refreshing. And many times this type of story focuses on the females relationship with each of the men and very little of the men's relationships with each other. Thats not the case here. Reid and Blake were friends for most of their life and have a deep understanding of what the other has gone through and genuinely want the other to be happy and thrive and I loved seeing that too.
This series is spicy but its not solely focused on the spicy scenes or relying on them to carry the story.
The only negative that jumped out at me were some continuity issues but they weren't so prevalent that I didnt or couldn't enjoy the story.
Theres so much heart and emotion with these characters and I loved it. Highly recommend and please make sure you read the bonus scene, it's the icing on the cake.

[Elizabeth Judge]

This book is where this duet comes really alive. All the emotional angst, the working things out, the pain you feel for Blake and how you just want him to feel he deserves to have love in his life. This MFM plot just works, in my opinion Laine does need both men to be truly satisfied. Reid is too golden retriever for that to satisfy Laine’s personality long term. Blake offers another side and the fact he just sees her without her having to spell it out is so attractive. Blake’s definitely my favourite character in all this. I love how open and communicative the three of them are as they navigate their complex and unusual relationship. And how both Reid and Blake confront their own emotional pasts as a result. Their growth together is beautiful to watch and be a part of. Couple of niggly things about this book - as in book 1, Laine’s travel-nurse friend is again referred to by a different name (Jessica instead of Jess this time). I’m assuming it was originally intended to be Jessica but got changed to Bethany and a couple were missed during edits. And throughout the whole of the second book, Laine’s yoga friend’s wife Kerry from book 1 is referred to as Kelly. This was most disconcerting. There was also again a repeated passage. It’s a shame about the distracting errors but I’d still read both books again. They’re worth it.

[turn_the_page_lady. (sue mc)]

Initially undue if I would read the second part - not a huge fan of duets and had found book one way too slow paced. Although drama has happened from the cliff hanger the story is fairly miserable for sometime. Again the pace is too slow and I struggled to stay with the story and hung on for a HEA. Definitely feel this could have been one book. If you live a super slow build then you may love this. It was ok but lacking a bit of oomph!

[Rebecca Schuler]

I did like the story but parts felt very slow, drawn out with repetitive language.

[Gabi]

Because I'm not a quitter I gave the second book in the duet a chance as well. Still don't believe the emotions all the way until the epilogue. The epilogue was cute and more believable for me.

Still a fan of Jenna Myles' books. Just not this story. Sorry.

[Felicia Pijoan]

This one broke my heart in a completely different way than the first book.

Blake absolutely owned my heart. He spent so long convincing himself his love didn’t matter, and when they finally got their HEA, it felt like he kept getting pushed back into the shadows… not intentionally, but it still hurt. After everything he sacrificed, all I wanted was for someone to love him just as fiercely as he loved them.

I understood why the FMC did what she did. Reid was the relationship everyone already knew about, so it was natural to reach for him in public or introduce him first. But understanding her reasons didn’t make Blake’s pain any easier to read. Every time she instinctively let go of his hand, introduced him as “Reid’s friend,” or tucked him back into the shadows, my heart broke for him.

Blake didn’t need to be the only one… he just wanted to be acknowledged... To be loved out loud. ❤️

I know the FMC loved him, but I never felt like she cherished Blake the way he deserved to be cherished. By the end, I found myself questioning whether she deserved him more than whether he deserved her.

That emotional imbalance is the only reason this wasn’t a 5⭐ read for me.

[Sandra]

I have been a fan of Jenna Myles for a while, reading all of her last series. I was excited to see The Breaking Duet books come out and read them back to back. I have to say I loved this story so much! Normally I would not be about the whole throuple idea, but getting to know these characters it became obvious that it was the best and only option for them to have an HEA. I could see how she could love both men as intensely as she did and was captivated the whole time. I feel like these books are going to stay with me for a long time.

[Regina Duley]

Has all the “feels”.

These two books broke me. I cried most of the time. My emotions were everywhere, up, down and sideways. They were beautiful and I loved them. The author is a genius who understands how to pull you into the story as if you were right there. I hated coming to the end of the book. More please. Thank you Jenna!!!

[Sabelle C]

I had no idea how this duo-logy would play out but I’m so happy with it!
Absolutely loved all the drama and the chaos and the character building!
There was a lot of trauma bonding, heavy loss, & heavy dependency

[Kristy Odom]

This book was so good! I loved how they had to work at making their relationship work. Between her parents and the rest of the world, they had to fight to stay together. This was one of the best books I have read with this trope. It felt more realistic. I absolutely loved this duet.

[Kat]

This had more of what I’ve come to expect from Jenna Myles, and while I found myself laughing out loud multiple times, this book didn’t stick with me the way the Brash Brothers’ books do. It’s still a great story, but be prepared for it to be long.

[Jacque]

Jenna is such a fantastic writer. I don’t know anyone who writes relationships better. The reality, potential, insecurities, the feels, and the victories.

What we Brave is a wonderful build and conclusion to this why choose duet.
Such a beautiful story with fantastic characters.

[Fiona Quirk]

This was the ending they earned!

[Melinda]

Great characters. Great writing. Way too much angst for me.

[ronda davis]

Great duet!

Love, love, love this duet! Jenna developed outstanding, complex characters! Loved all the twists and turns! Laine, Blake, and Reid deserved their HEA!!

[Diana Barnett]

great book

This one is much better than the first one in the series.
Still could have been shorter then.
It is still wore the read.

[Michelle Heath]

Absolutely loved this love story!