BROKEN RIVAL: Cuando el amor es un acto de rebeldía

by Tessa Bailey, María del Mar Rodríguez Barrena (Translator), Ana Isabel Domínguez Palomo (Translator)

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 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?

Genres: Romance, Dystopia, Fantasy, Time Travel, Science Fiction, Enemies To Lovers, Young Adult

448 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2026

About the author

New 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.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a devoted Tessa Bailey fan, I went into this book with equal parts excitement and panic. Excitement because she is one of those authors who can make me binge-read until 3 a.m. without a shred of regret. Panic because stepping away from the romance lane she dominates so effortlessly and diving headfirst into science fiction felt like a risky move.

Well... consider me officially humbled.

I should have known better than to doubt her.

This book grabbed me by the collar from the very first chapters and refused to let go. What starts as a fascinating time-travel premise quickly evolves into something much bigger: a story about grief, survival, identity, trust, betrayal, and discovering where you truly belong when the world insists you don't belong anywhere.

Magnolia immediately won me over. Imagine being stranded in a timeline that isn't yours, losing everything that defined your life, and then being treated like a criminal for circumstances completely beyond your control. I wanted to wrap her in a blanket, hand her a coffee, and tell everyone around her to leave her alone. The poor girl goes through emotional warfare from beginning to end, yet she never loses the determination that keeps her moving forward.

And then we have the brothers.

Now, without spoiling anything, all I'm saying is that Tessa Bailey knew exactly what she was doing.

EXACTLY.

Every interaction had me questioning everything. Every reveal made me rethink the assumptions I had made just chapters earlier. I kept changing sides, changing theories, and questioning everyone's motives. The author expertly plays with reader expectations, and I absolutely fell into every trap she set for me.

But let's discuss Ramsey for a second.

Actually, let's discuss Ramsey for several minutes.

The man is walking, breathing trouble in the most irresistible way possible. Gruff, complicated, emotionally guarded, frustratingly protective, and somehow capable of making every scene infinitely more intense just by entering it. The chemistry between him and Magnolia practically crackles off the page. Their relationship develops amid fear, distrust, impossible circumstances, and growing attraction, creating the kind of tension that had me flying through chapters.

What surprised me most was how well the science-fiction elements worked. The time-travel concept isn't just there as a decorative backdrop. It drives the entire story, creates genuine stakes, and raises fascinating questions about power, responsibility, and the consequences of trying to rewrite history. The world-building felt ambitious while remaining accessible, and I found myself completely invested in the mystery surrounding Magnolia's situation.

The pacing is relentless. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another revelation arrived and sent my theories crashing into a wall. I kept promising myself "just one more chapter" and then suddenly realized I'd read another hundred pages.

Classic Tessa Bailey behavior.

What I loved most, though, was how seamlessly she blended genres. This isn't simply a romance with a sprinkle of science fiction. Nor is it science fiction that occasionally remembers it's a romance. Both elements work together beautifully, creating a story that feels fresh, addictive, emotional, and impossible to categorize neatly.

Honestly, seeing one of my favorite romance authors step outside her comfort zone and absolutely nail it was such a joy. If this is what Tessa Bailey can do with time travel, suspense, mystery, emotional family drama, and scorching romance all in one package, then I am more than ready for whatever genre experiment she decides to tackle next.

This was thrilling, emotional, surprisingly thought-provoking, and yes, ridiculously addictive. By the final pages, I was fully invested, emotionally compromised, and desperately wishing I had the sequel sitting next to me.

A very special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for sharing this smart, addictive, time-travel-infused romance from one of my favorite authors with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[naz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[bookandachai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh so I guess Tessa Bailey just knows how to write a perfect time travel romance now does she??

SHE DOES.

[Amanda Always Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Em (semi-hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[What Sam Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Michelle’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lia Carstairs]

DNF @ 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.

[Kayla Miller · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

I.. hate that I finished this book.

I feel like I lost brain cells

It should have been called “broken writing”

They weren’t rivals but they sure were broken

Also stop advertising this as a love triangle

It’s all just insta love cringe with shitty sex scenes and a setting that couldn’t decide what it was going to be.

Anyone who tells you this book is good is lying and just trying to get a parasocial relationship with the author

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Devyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Amber (ambersmagicallibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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”

[GigiReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Carissa Lambariello · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Nya · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

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.

[Brandi · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

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!

[Marrissa Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a time travel story, and overall this one kept my interest and I enjoyed. It’s a bit predictable but entertaining. However, I didn’t buy into the connection between Magnolia and Ramsey. She lived for Fallon, he was her everything and the love of her life… and then all of a sudden it switched to his brother. I missed the development there, I would have preferred more tension and build up. I get that Ramsey was always secretly pining, but a slower burn on her part would have made more sense to me.

I listened to the audiobook and Mollie Stark and Aaron Shedlock were fantastic in duet, their voices matched the characters perfectly!

[Esraa Amer · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This was such an entertaining read! I had a really fun time with it, and honestly, I can totally see this being a great movie.

I loved both MCs and their relationship, especially seeing how it evolved throughout the story. The time travel concept is always so intriguing to me, and I love seeing how different authors play around with it.

That said, I wish this book had been a little longer. I wanted more detailed world building, more development in the relationship and a bit more closure at the end. Some things didn’t fully make sense to me, and I think that’s mainly because certain aspects needed more explanation.

Still, I had a great time reading this! If you’re looking for a quick, fun dystopian sci-fi read, definitely pick this one up. I think you’ll really enjoy it!

[Louise Karolina · Rating 0.5 out of 5]

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???)

[Alexandra · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

if you love a man that YEARNS read this

[Kalyani · Rating 3 out of 5]

the kind of soapy goodness the CW used to feed me!!

[Anju · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Cate (catescozycornerofbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa Bailey’s Broken Rival is everything I hoped it would be and more. When I heard that one of the biggest names in contemporary romance was writing a romantic dystopia novel, I was -to nobody’s surprise- immediately intrigued. Two of my favorite genres crossing over? You’ve got my attention. Now having read the book, I can tell you firsthand that TB absolutely knocked it out of the park.

First off, we’ve got the heiress of the “Takers”, Miss Magnolia Brown. I love her down. Magnolia is such a good hearted person. She is flawed, which makes her truly human, but she wants to do what is right. She’s just a young girl who wants to honor her deceased, disparaged parents while also finding comfort in the people she now resides with. Her character development was so phenomenal. We start out with a very complacent, people pleasing character whose main goal is to ensure the comfort of those around her. When exposed to the pressures and danger of reality, she morphs into an absolute badass. Magnolia is fierce, willing to go into the darkest depths to protect the people she loves and get what she deserves. The way she came to find herself during her stay in the cabin was so awesome to see unfold, and that strength carried her through the remaining events of the story. As much of a fighter as she has to become, Magnolia is also loving and warm (for one person in particular) and I just adore her on all counts.

Now, RAMSEY. Man Darkness. The most down bad for his woman but scary to everyone else character around and I am obsessed with him. In fact, I was enjoying his presence from page one (which is probably concerning and I don’t care). What I like about fictional men does not always equate to real men. Anyway! I don’t think it’s possible to not love Ramsey. He is so protective, but never in a way that is smothering Magnolia. He wants her to be able to protect herself, but he’ll always be there to back her up (and take a blade if need be). The hidden sacrifices he made to keep Magnolia alive from the beginning are evidence of the deep love he feels for her, and as their relationship develops, that love only becomes more evident. I am a certified Ramsey stan.

The time travel element here was sick. I was really fascinated by the concept of the RITA suit and the Seed, and I loved the descriptions Magnolia provided of what it felt like to be between time frames. Tessa did such a fantastic job building out this system, the futuristic crisis, and the classic dystopian nature of the danger of technology.

I loved this more than I possibly could have anticipated. An easy five stars from me!

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC & ALC REVIEW✨

First, thank you so much to Avon and Tessa for the early copies and letting me into The Collective! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

ALC 🎧

Fantastic duet audio!! I loved it so much, this is exactly what I want in an audio book experience! The narrators were amazing; Mollie Stark (who I will definitely be looking for more she narrates) and Aaron Shedlock. It’s so hard to listen to anything other than duet when it can be this immersive and well-done!

ARC 📖

♾️ I loved Tessa’s journey into dystopian/magical realism!! (It’s one of my all time favorite genres, so I was extra hyped!)

🌸 Magnolia, although young, was such a strong and resilient FMC. I usually struggle with 18y/o main characters, but Tessa wrote her to skew older and I liked that. She went through SO much and so many things were hidden from her about her parents and the world. It’s a miracle she trusted anyone at all by the end.

♾️ Obsessed with the romance between Magnolia and Ramsey 😍😍😍 He is the perfect broody MMC that is down SO BAD for our girl. The time travel romance aspect worked really well and made his yearning even more intense.

🌸 Ramsey is also very morally grey, with a ton of bloodshed on his hands and a LETHAL “touch her and die” mentality.

♾️ I wasn’t expecting some of those twists, she got me good a few times! I did guess the ending twist, but it was a great “HA I KNEW IT!” moment.

🌸 Magical realism just continues to be my favorite and I’m so glad one of my favorite authors got in on the action!

♾️ Once again, Tessa is the queen of spice, so don’t worry…if you were unsure the genre change would leave out the spice…you’re mistaken 🥵🥵

🌸 Now, was there some plot holes with the timey wimey stuff?? 💯 but I was able to overlook that for the romance and overall storyline. It’s not meant to be that serious, this is still a romance first and foremost!

♾️ I also loved the not so subtle climate change awareness and warnings throughout the book. The entire book is set off by people desperate to find basic resources in the past because we don’t have them in the future anymore. A very humbling and important reminder to protect our planet!

Overall, I loved the book and can’t wait to see Tessa in October in Huntington to get my pretty finished copy and gush about the book!

[Jasmine · Rating 2.25 out of 5]

Review: 2.25 stars

I was provided with a physical ARC from Frenzy Books

Gah, where do I even begin with this one?!! I have read some of Tessa Bailey’s romance books before and find them to be okay reads. Naturally, I was curious to read how dystopian romance would work out. Well, it didn’t…

Well, the book started off interestingly enough but when it hit the 40% ish mark, it kinda got okay and then, it lost me…Firstly, the romance of the book didn’t make sense. It went from hate/dislike to insta-love and also she was seeing one brother and moved to the next one too quickly…On top of that, when you are in hiding and only exposed to one person constantly, aren’t you going to develop gratitude/love? And how did the MMC just fall for her, just like that over time?!! Also, despite being marketed as a love triangle…I don’t see how this is a love triangle when one of the brothers is also missing for most of the book?!! Also, the angst and the feels just felt over the top with the smut…and what is with the forgoing condoms and the cringey pet names?!!

Oh, and let’s talk about the FMC’s decision making…most of the actions she ends up making don't make sense and she always suffers from unimaginable consequences and hopes the MMC will save her - urghhhhh…

For a 400 page book, the worldbuilding is underdeveloped. The technology for time travel doesn’t quite make sense and isn’t explained well. The worldbuilding was severely glossed over between the war of the future people, the takers and the current and the sudden reveal of power Magnolia has?! I am soo confused.

The ending was also quite rushed with a snippet of the MMC’s POV. I also understand there might be a Book 2 in the works which confuses me seeing that the epilogue wrapped everything up just nicely.

This book screams YA in every way. After reading this book, I think Tessa Bailey’s books are probably not for me and will probably stay far away from them…But, if you are looking for a romance with minimal time travelling and dystopian elements and just want a good time, maybe you might enjoy this one.