He showed her a side of love she wasn’t accustomed to. She accepted it willingly, not privy to the consequences it came with. Mentally, Astryd had checked out of her relationship long ago. Physically, she was stuck and had been for years. The man she offered her entire being too couldn’t reciprocate the same love she dished out. At least not the way she wanted him to. When her day to day life becomes much too hard to bear; she does the unimaginable for she and her children. What Astryd didn’t know was that the life and love she needed to mend her brokenness was at her fingertips. With the snap of a finger, tragedy strikes, and her world turns into a complete disaster. In a tale of love, hate, deceit, and jealousy, will Astryd have a second chance at love or will life leave her empty and broken while the man she loves is okay?
BriAnn Danae is an urban romance author and native of Kansas City, Missouri. In October 2015, she penned her first novel and since has enhanced her catalog claiming seventy titles to date. She whimsically writes Black love stories with purpose and passion, making you want to go beyond the book and look into her mind as a writer.
As the two-time 2021 Black Girls Who Write award winner for Best Black Book Series and Best Black Urban Romance and KCPCA 2023 Best Author of Kansas City, BriAnn has masterfully crafted her pen. With the talent to navigate between genres, she’s captured the hearts of her readers, making them fall hard in love with her characters. Her writing can be classified as soul-snatching, heart-yearning, chest throbbing, and downright some of the most exhilarating literature one could grace their eyes upon.
There’s a message BriAnn strives to leave with her readers. “I don’t just write to tell a story. I write to paint a picture and give a testimony.”
BriAnn has become one of my favorite authors within 2 months, I'm loving on her for all her pen game!
I finished this book in 3 hours!
This book had me boiling from beginning to end, she had me on 10 when it was all dream, at least that's what I thought.
Astryd and Alonzo had 2 girls, Ashlee, and Ashlynn, and this man was a jealous, cold hearted, abusive cheater! She couldn't do anything; he really didn't want to be with her, but he didn't want anyone else to have her.
Whew the regurgitate scene in this book had me wanting to jump in this book and beat the breaks off of him.
D'Haven was the man in this book for me, even though he was locked up for some years, the story will reveal as to why!
The ending of this book had me on pins and needles as the story unfolded, I kind of figured out the reason why Alonzo acted the way he did, but it was still no excuse the way he treated Astyrd, no woman deserves that type of abuse!
A funny part in the book, "When he spoke in her ear with his minty fresh breath, she could have floated to the pearly gates" "When D'Haven strolled through the entryway looking like a damn walking orgasm"
5/5 🌟 Ladies: In an abusive relationship, seek help immediately and get out! 🫶🏾
THIS BOOK HAS TRIGGERS! D/V, CHILD ENDANGERMENT, KIDNAPPING, VERBAL ABUSE, & CRIME
First, reading this made me now understand why someone so dear to my heart stayed with a man for the sake of her children. Domestic violence is not something to take lightly, I witnessed it growing up, and I hated it!!!! Crazy I was that little girl.... my mom risked her well being for my brother & I. I love my mom so much!!!!! Although this opened my eyes it made me love and cherish my mom more. This book was indeed good, and I encourage every one to read it. My inspector gadget self always figuring things out while reading lol I’m glad I was right 😌 You did it again; Thanks Bri ✨✨✨✨✨
Astryd's brave journey was a sobering reminder of the heartbreak and abuse that no woman should ever face. Her story moved me to tears, but also inspired me with her courage and the love she shared with her daughter. Thankfully, she found strength in someone who stood by her side and showered them with unconditional love.
Emotionally charged read with familiar characters from previous books. Astryd's tense home life due to Alonzo's evil & sinister ways were well detailed & heartbreaking. Characters were realistic & situation relatable. D'Haven presence was like a ray of sunshine for Pebbles' life. Honey was a good friend to have. This short had a good rebuilding of life storyline that held my attention as I completed it in a few hours.
This book wi!l hit home for a lot of women who's going thru this same thing. I was glad she got the courage to leave him before it was to late. I never would have thought she was still messing with d before he went to jail. I felt bad for his sister but she was young and dumb and she knew who he was for before she was messing with him. I think she was the one who told him where she was that night in monarch club. Great read and better ending.
This was such a well written amazing story. I’m not going to lie, DV are usually a no for me, it’s just really triggering. But the story was so great that I pushed through. I’m so glad I completed this story. Astryd was my hero, she was so strong and finally did what was best for her and her girls.
This was a touching heartfelt story, my insides cried out for Astryd. So called men like Alonzo are worthless spineless boys with low self worth because of their own failures. Great job BriAnn, this was my first read by you but not my last.
Astrid wow, Mama couldn't get a break it's so sad that there are so many women going through what she was going through glad she had friends & family to ultimately help and D'Haven ump... I need one of those. lol This was a quick but good read.
This was my first book by Briann and she did an amazing job! I love how she used her knowledge and experience as a social worker to bring awareness to domestic violence through her writing (book). I will definitely be reading more from her
Before I read the book I just knew she died at the end but I’m soooo glad and grateful that she left Alonzo for him to even put his hands on her mad me mad but when she left him I was like yessss the fact that she stayed strong while leaving him and getting herself together was EVERYTHING I’m glad he died at the end I hated him and I hate him more for what he did to that baby...I knew her and Heaven was gonna fall in Love this book was sooo freaking good and if I can give you 10 stars I would
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you BriAnn for this amazing read and awareness on Domestic Violence. I love the fact that you decided to go a different route and write a story on an issue that affects women and men in today's society. I really hurt for Astryd as she went through so much abuse from Alonzo. He was such a coward as so many abusers are. Im glad she had the support of her friends and D'Haven to get her to realize her worth. Great job.
This story made me so emotional, but I appreciated the author sharing the perspective of a domestic violence victim. The world needs more of these stories and needs to stop normalizing keeping them swept under a rug. This behavior is not ok, and the red flags need to be discussed as much as possible in our society so that women can be more aware of what to stop tolerating even more clearly.
The writing style and consistent grammar mistakes took a full star away from a perfect 5 star rating. And then a half star was taken away for the way it ended. It felt unfinished since there were still a lot of questions unanswered. For example, how was the daycare situation handled, how did Honey and the other friends help Astryd get reacquainted to her new normal after the basement scene, how was the mental health of her and her first born handled and not just the physical health, what about Ashlynn and Grammy, etc.
Finally, I felt no remorse for Demi’s trifling ass. Swift karma if you ask me.
What an emotional, heartfelt ride. This will definitely hit home for many of us. Thank God Astryd had good friends and family that loved her and a man ready to risk it all to be there for her. Not everyone in her situation has that. Many moons ago, I was in an verbally, mentally, and emotionally abusive relationship. The day it became physical I left never to return. Just like Astryd, no one knew what was happening. This book is gonna help somebody. Trust me when I tell you, this book is gonna give someone the courage to get out of a bad situation, or to read and acknowledge the signs and pump the brakes on a potentially dangerous relationship. I love all of BriAnn's books, but this one is in my top 5. ** Last, I just wanna urge anyone reading this, if this is your current story, GET HELP. It's out there. May God bless and keep you.**
This is my first time reading a book by this author. The storyline is one of many of domestic violence and abuse situations. It is so easy for that to happen to someone because of low self esteem, being needy, thinking the abuse is love but ignored the signs that it is not a normal something is not right. Just like the character Astryd did she let her boyfriend Alonzo do and say just anything that was degrading to her. I am so glad that domestic violence and abuse is now being talked about in the open and there is places to go to get help and most of all counseling. When I was going through it this was a subject that was taboo and no one or a place to go for help. Even calling the police didn't help. I recommend this book to read especially for someone who is going through this or knows someone that they will know they are not alone and there is help. Most of all learn to love yourself first. Cassandra H.
Wellll I wasn't expecting those twists and turns, like at all! Omg this book took me through it. Reading When She's Broken was like watching a crazy good movie you can't stop watching because you just have to know what's next. My heart went out to Astryd the entire time. So many women in her situation don't make it out. Alonzo was a sick monster and so many men like him are walking around like they own the world. BriAnn touched on so many important realities that happen everyday. It touched my heart that Astryd and D'Haven were able to love each other though the storm. He loved her beyond her flaws and she loved him through fears. I really loved this book and I highly recommend it to all readers.
This was a pretty good tale of events. I remember Astryd being mention in previous works but never thought this would be her story. No woman should have to go through this but if they do there are ways out. A lot time of we read stories like this and immediately categorize these women as weak. While this is fiction the events are very real. This is an every day struggle for a lot. The stories that with a great support system anything is possible but you have to the one to stand firm in your word. I would have like a bit more intensity to the storyline, I did feel like it was missing and didn't pick up until about the end.
I really struggled with book because it hit a bit too close and in my case, it didn't have a happy ending. I was in Honey's position and I saw how she struggled with hearing about the DV situation.
I decided to soldier on because BriAnn's book are always so well written and have a way of dealing with difficult situations which so much grace.
Other than that, this book was well written, the characters were well developed and you could immediately tell the change of tone of the book when hope came and it was dealt with so well.
I also got this book free on Amazon sometime back and for that, I'm thankful to the author. Go read it y'all
Wow! Domestic violence is so prevalent in today’s society and BriAnn did an awesome job in penning this book. Astryd went thru so much from Alonzo that she honestly forgot to love herself. Unfortunately, Alonzo took advantage of this and made her life miserable. I was so glad when she got with D’Haven and he showed her what true love was. I hate that Demi was so young and fell for Alonzo, which ended in her death. Thank you BriAnn Danae for such a great story. Although this is a work of fiction, we all need to be be aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse.
Wow great job, I usually don’t read domestic books but this one wasn’t as bad as I thought ( I’ve read some horrifying books that ended with death). I was so glad that Astryd broke out of her shell and in the end blossomed. Ohhh and btw I just knew that ending was for her mom. I was like she wouldn’t do that to us. That would’ve been really depressing lol . Please Please spread the word and help out a friend who is experiencing (Domestic abuse, mental or physical )! Excellent book.
Ohhhh snap when the old gang showed up I almost had a heart attack🥰. Although I haven’t been in a DV relationship the descriptions and details was as if I was watching it through a clear glass. I mean I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing not only because I felt for Astryd but because it seemed as though I was standing in the room with her! That’s talent girl! Since page 7 I was wondering if Alonzo was gone get his cuz I couldn’t take it! Excellent read!
Mannnnn!!! This book really took me to some places. I cried for Astryd. I hurt for her. And I was so pleased with the ending. This was a very good read which I expected from this author because honestly I haven’t been dissatisfied yet. With any of her books! Keep up the great work.
This isn’t my first domestic violence book, but I think I’ve been avoiding them ever since Colleen Hoover. But man, BriAnn got me with this one. Astryd showed us her true strength when she left that trash man. I was so proud of her, but ofcourse taking a step that big isn’t easy & came with even more trauma. Her friends had no clue what she was enduring, & in front of their children too. D’Haven… whew, I loved how protective he was. A man who can make you feel safe in all aspects. Emotional, but a great read.
Well I will start off by saying BriAnn did an amazing job with this stand alone. When She's Broken was something I didn't see coming. D'Haven legit had me all smiling at all the words and actions he put towards helping Astryd. Astryd is sooo many woman but I loved that she left him. She knew that when he started abusing her in front of the girls, it would only get worse. Sometimes it takes seeing the right in your kids to keep it going.
Sadly there are so many Astryd's in the world being held captive by cowards like Alonzo. I'm just glad that she found the courage to leave her abuser in order to protect her children and herself. D'Haven being there to show her what love was supposed to feel like from a man was everything but it wouldn't have mattered if she didn't began to love herself first.
A very good read. Astryd was so strong and I commend her ability to not only do for her girls but save herself as well. Self love is so crucial because if we don’t love ourselves we allow men like Alonzo to brainwash us. D’Haven was so good to her. Even looking pass the flaws he still stepped up and I’m so happy baby girl didn’t die. Whew Chile had my heart racing! Great read hun I really enjoyed it 💕
Firstly I did enjoy the book but it did feel very fast paced.. I feel like it could have been longer to fully flush out the relationships between the characters. I also think the fml jumped into another relationship very quickly although I did enjoy seeing how their relationship progressed.
Is it just me that felt like I was just getting surprise after surprise at the end ?
Woah! My heart ached for Astryd and those sweet girls. Overall, this is a short, but heavy read. I couldn’t wait for Alonzo to be dealt with. Take heed of the trigger warning, because there is a lot of abuse on page. Some aspects of the timeline and dynamics between Astryd and D’Haven didn’t make sense or match to me. But it didn’t ruin the story- which was mostly enjoyable.
This book is slow burn but in the good way. It’s heart wrenching but once you finish it’s healing all at the same time. This book will make you teary eyed for sure, there is so much pain and heartache in this book that is written so beautifully. The character development and plot was so good I found myself wanting it to end but needing more all at the same time.
I've always heard in order to heal you have to be broken & my God Astryd was broken beyond ,abuse in no form should be tolerated she's a survivor and Alonzo deserved exactly what he got such a bastard might i add & De'Haven was heaven sent what her heart needed. Crazy Demi had to be taken away in process Lord that man was evil . Definitely a must read