Break Away

by Melanie Walker

577 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2026

Reviews

[✩ layla ✩]

Quickest ways for me to DNF:

-a hero who fucks around because he’s not getting his way with the woman he supposedly loves. She, of course, can’t really move on because trauma. And there’s no way women are allowed to work out their frustration/hurt/anger out the same way. She’s only allowed to flirt, and even then, she’ll be blamed for pushing him to fuck other girls, and how dare she flirt with another guy 🙄

-shitty women who take a man’s side over their best friend, especially knowing the trauma she’s dealing with, and even after this best friend has their back no matter what. Apparently loyalty is only one way.

-men who get a pass for being cruel to the supposed love of their life, but when a woman acts the same way, she’s fucking crucified for it



This book had all 3 of those.
The heroine doesn’t get a free pass, but in my opinion, she was the only likeable/nuanced character in this book.

[Tulsi]

ARC Review
Thank you to EmJay Soren for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Break Away, the second book in the Kimball Falls series, is an emotionally intense, character-driven romance that isn’t afraid to explore the messy side of love, grief, forgiveness, and healing. If you’re looking for a light-hearted hockey romance, this isn’t it. This is an emotional rollercoaster packed with angst, longing, explosive chemistry, and two characters who have to confront their past before they can even think about a future together.

Aura and Easton’s relationship is the heart of the story. Their enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance is filled with tension, sharp banter, and so many unresolved emotions that every interaction between them feels charged. They aren’t perfect characters, and they don’t always make the right decisions, but that’s exactly what made their journey feel so compelling. Their story is messy, frustrating at times, and deeply emotional—but it also feels earned.

I especially enjoyed how EmJay Soren allows both characters the space to grow individually, while navigating their complicated relationship. Beneath all the anger and longing, is a story about accountability, healing, and learning that love isn’t always enough on its own.

While this didn’t quite reach five-star territory for me, I genuinely enjoyed it. There were a few moments where the pacing slowed slightly for me, but once the story found its rhythm, I was completely invested in Aura and Easton’s journey and couldn’t wait to see how everything would unfold.

Please be aware that this book contains themes of non-consensual sexual assault, public humiliation, grief, and toxic relationships, so I’d encourage readers to check the trigger warnings before picking it up. While these are difficult topics, I felt they were handled with care and were integral to the characters’ development and the emotional journey of the story, rather than being included simply for shock value.

Overall, Break Away is an emotional, angst-filled hockey romance that delivers on tension, longing, and character growth. If you love enemies-to-lovers romances, second chances, and relationships that are beautifully imperfect, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.

Although I received an ARC, I’ll definitely be purchasing a copy for my Kindle. I already own the first book in the series, and the covers are absolutely gorgeous. I can’t wait to have Break Away sitting alongside it in my library. I’m also looking forward to seeing where the Kimball Falls series goes next.

[Aia]

this was the definition of toxic? but did i eat it up? OFCCCCCCCCCCCC. was i annoyed at Easton AND AURA???? OFCCCCCCCCC. the side characters were the best in this. but i did feel every freaking emotion written in this book. so seriously. this and the first book omg.

No actually this series has me in a chokehold. My only problem is the book covers but that's for another time. again, don't judge a book by its cover?!?! bc obvi im obsessed. i couldn't put the book down omg i couldn't put it down. I highlighted a lot. I think i highlighted a whole page. omg i need my kindle to sync already so I can see what I highlighted. Obvi this book made me dumb bc i cannot even think or write this review properly. my mind is all over the place.

also idk what to call this book. lovers to enemies to lovers? bully romance kind of? toxic. lol never met a MMC so mean to the LOVE OF HIS LIFE. but also i didnt get annoyed bc he had every right. Aura never told him (but also she didnt have to which I get) but also there was a little or a lot of miscommunication. again i usually hate the toxic miscommunication trope but this book did not turn me away. minus the cover lol.

- easton's heartbreak
- easton's MEANNESS omg
- aura's trauma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- aura's trauma NOT getting justice!?!??!!
- bliss and cade are so cute
- Briggs is too funny
- I AM OBSESSED WITH EASTON'S MOM!!
- I need ryan and charm's book now
- I need to stop reading interconnected series that are not complete

NOW I NEEED RYAN AND CHARMS BOOK ASAP. THAT EPILOGUE. ALL THE BREADCRUMBS ABOUT THEM THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK. I NEED TO READ IT NOW. I feel myself going into a book slump ugh.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! omg this quote Aura said to Easton. OMG.
"You don’t get to take what I survived, when you don’t know what I survived, twist it into a personality flaw, and throw it at me because you’re mad I didn’t love you back in that moment.”

[Gregory]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I Have Questions… Mostly About My Wife.

As the author’s husband, I’d like to issue a formal apology. Not for the book but for my wife.
At approximately 10:47 Saturday, she looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Tell me when you read chapters 15 through 17.”
I said okay. Then, after I finished and my blood pressure finally returned to a survivable level, she goes…
“Read them again.”
Excuse me? Why would I voluntarily put myself through Chapter 17 TWICE?
Who does that to someone they claim to love?
Apparently… my wife.
I’d also like to apologize on her behalf to every single reader who’s about to experience Chapter 17. I loved Easton! My man woke up that morning and chose violence, stupidity, and emotional terrorism.

I was sitting there reading like… “No… don’t say that.” “Easton… buddy…”
"EASTON, SHUT THE HELL UP.”
Then he kept talking.
My jaw hit the floor so hard I genuinely had to remind myself this entire disaster came out of my wife’s brain. I looked at her across the couch like…
“You wrote this? Are you okay?”
She just smiled.
SMILED.
I knew I married a menace. The worst part? The woman had me defending fictional people out loud.
Because, I mean… I get why he’s mad…
Five pages later…
"wth Melanie, l don't like what you're doing to me.”
Then five chapters after that… “…Okay, maybe I forgive him.”

I don’t appreciate being manipulated like that. The tension is ridiculous. The side characters somehow made me laugh when I was still actively hatedt Easton, and Ryan is her GOAT so now he's my GOAT, I’m not saying Book 3 has my attention…

…I’m absolutely saying Book 3 has my attention.

Anyway, five stars. Would absolutely recommend and will to anyone i come in contact with because I'm proud of her and back it all.

Would absolutely read it again but would absolutely not read Chapter 17 twice ever again.

Unless my wife asks... because apparently that’s how this marriage works now

[Allicia Latini]

Break Away By: Melanie Walker

✨ARC READ ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Enemies to Lovers
Second Chances
Tension & Longing

⚠️ CHECK TW ⚠️
Non- Con SA
Public Humiliation
Grief
Violence
Toxic Relationships
And More……

This is the second Book of the Kimball Fall Fury series, and I am so excited and blessed to have this opportunity to be able to be apart of the ARC team for this book. This book and a series as whole so far has me in its grips and I do highly recommend this book!

Oh my lanta, this book had me in such a chokehold that I wanted to ignore all of my responsibilities and just read to find out what happened next. The emotional roller coaster this book took me for, was one I was not expecting but was just along for the journey. There were time I wanted to hate, love and just cry for both the FMC & MMC at different times through out the book. I absolutely love the back and forth between this whole group within this book is next freaking level.

I cannot wait for the next book of this series! If the sneak peak into the next book is any indication of how the book, I feel like that one is going to be more of a while ride and I for one am so ready for it.

This is a series that will have you laughing, crying and wanting to reach in the book and just hug the FMC & MMC at different times throughout these books! If you have not read any of these book, oh man I highly recommend and prepare yourself, in such a good way.

[Jessi]

I told this amazing author I was going to take Aura and Easton far away from her- my babies were hurting!

Aura and Easton made a huge mess and everyone got tangled in their web. It was far from perfect, far from easy, but that’s what makes it their story. And for the first time I was 100% on the guys side which says ALOT cuz I am that ride or die girlfriend, I will side with the main female characters and die on that hill- however a reverse uno was pulled and I found myself deeply siding with Easton. See if even found myself tangled in the web they created.

This wasn’t a love story that was rushed, it wasn’t a fairytale, it wasn’t a tear jerker.

It had just enough chaos mixed the toxicity of how the characters handled situations and eachother, and at points I myself felt as if I were the fly on the wall watching it all go down.

I absolutely loved the chaos in this book, the messiness of it all, how i immediately started off Team Easton- I swear I found the male version of me to switching up to being Team Aura to being stuck at that line being drawn in the sand because I understood both side so perfectly well.

It was anger and angst, love and misery that bled off the pages so the author could give the HEA that fit the characters

Definitely a 5 star must read

[Beeg Panda]

The blurb is fabulous.

Now I just need to settle into the author’s figurative language (I think that’s what it’s called) writing style with the constant use of similes, personifications, personifying similes. The word “like” appears hundreds of times - I checked because I wanted to know what I’m in for. Let’s see how far I get.

TRIGGER LIST:
book contains mature themes and emotional content that may be difficult for some readers. Please be aware that Break Away includes triggers for: Non-consensual sexual assault Nonconsensual recording and sharing of intimate content Public humiliation Trauma and trauma responses Grief Violence Physical assault Toxic relationships Emotional distress Panic responses Strong language Explicit sexual content

[Ashlei Lankford]

Break Away is all things Aura and Easton. The drama is real between them, and I am here for it! It was brutal and intense and emotionally charged as they work their way into realizing how they truly feel about each other. No one in KFU was left unscathed watching them fight the pull they have to each other. The banter is hilarious and we'll timed when serious, and what makes this friend group so amazing and perfect together. I can't wait to be pulled further into the KFU world and see what happens next!

[Anah Grindrod]

ARC Review

Rating: 4.5 stars

Break Away is book 2 in the Kimber Falls series — this book has angst, tension, longing, grief, healing, and second-chance heartbreak all rolled into one emotional ride. 🏒💔✨

Aura and Easton’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic had me hooked from the start. Their chemistry is explosive, their banter is sharp, and their history is messy in the best, most frustratingly addictive way. They’re imperfect, they make mistakes, but that’s exactly what makes their journey feel so real. 📖🔥

I loved the emotional depth, the character growth, and the way the author explores accountability, forgiveness, and the idea that love alone isn’t always enough. It didn’t quite hit five stars for me, and the pacing dipped in places, but once it found its rhythm, I was fully invested. 🥹🫶
Overall: emotional, angsty, beautifully messy, and packed with second-chance tension. If you love hockey romance, enemies-to-lovers, and imperfect characters fighting for their HEA, add Break Away to your TBR. 🏒📚💙

[Anita]

Shew, after Cross Checked I couldn't wait for this story. I knew it would be messy and I was right. I love Messy and dramatic in my stories.
Easton and Aura did not disappoint. I love when I can read a book and feel the emotions of the characters. They pull you right in.

[Heidi LaGrone]

Easton and Aura's story is just a heartbreaking and beautiful journey through pain, healing and love. Loved it from start to finish, even when I wanted to cry.