Worth the Fight

by Rachael Brownell

Cassidy’s a fighter, designed to survive.

After the crushing death of her parents, she persevered. When she caught her fiancé with another woman, she held her head high and moved on. Fighting always came easy, because she never had to do it alone.

She had Liam.
Her best friend. Her protector. Her rock.

But every bond has its breaking point, and they found their’s... with a kiss. One weak moment upturns the foundation of their relationship, making Cassidy look at Liam in a whole new light.

Now, she has a choice to make. Is the shift from friends to lovers even possible? Or will Cassidy lose the one person she can’t live without?

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2019

About the author

I'm a Michigan girl, born and raised. My addictions include: coffee, chocolate, coffee, avoiding adulting, coffee, and coffee.
My favorite season is fall. My favorite color is teal. And my favorite genre to read and write is romance.
I refuse to 'stay in my lane' when it comes to my books. You'll find I write everything from young-adult to sweet contemporary to steamy new adult.
#noregrets
Looking for a place to start with my books? Check out A Moment Too Late (small-town second chance romance) or The Lake State University series (new adult, steamy college romance).
Thanks for being here and happy reading!

Reviews

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"Love is a powerful emotion. It can change your perspective on everything."

This book was my surprise "Blind Date With A Book" and I had a lovely time reading it. It's a cute best friends to lovers romance with potential.

"Listen with your heart, but let your head lead the way."

Liam was awesome. I wish I had such a best friend I could fall in love with. He always knew what to say and what to do. Having someone knowing you better than you know yourself is scary but such a wonderful thing to have, because it's something extremely rare and special. Liam is a unicorn.

Cassidy is a lovely character, easy to like but nothing really impressive.

The flow was slow but steady and captivating, however there where parts where the story felt dragged to me, took some turns that where a little hard to believe and some parts where hinted at but weren't followed through.

"Your best life comes from surviving your worst experience."

Worth The Fight is a lovely friends to lovers romance with a little thrill and angst, that will capture your heart from page one.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read and my first of the author.. I'd say she writes well and eases her way into a writing style that creates some meaningful words with some depth.

I'm not into friends to lovers trope, but once in a while I give them a try.. It's okay if so called friends get to develop deeper feelings other than friendship.. but definitely not okay for me if the hero is loving the heroine for long, not just as a friend and doesn't do anything about it.. well in this book, we have this hero.

For me, if a man truly feels for a woman, regardless of any friendship scruples or fear of the unknown, he'll take risks, take chances of letting her know how he feels.. he takes action to let her fall for him, to be truly with her, regardless of anything, rather than just stay being friends, not knowing how's it like to be with her.. not just letting years pass by, wasting and losing chances, letting her be with other men or him being with other women.. this ruins the romance for me in a book.. and there's this quote, "that if you dare nothing, when the day is over, nothing is all you will have gained".. in this one, the hero not just wasted days or weeks or months but lots of years.. so nope I'm not a fan of this certain kind of hero.. nor a hero being a manwhore despite loving the heroine.

In this case, I'll be the minority.. I don't like both characters.. they didn't elicit or evoke any deep unforgettable emotions from me while reading.. the hero, he's a great friend yes, but I'd rather he just stays that way.. he's described here as loving the heroine as in forever, not just as a friend, and yet does nothing but be a great friend because of a certain fear.. for me it's cowardice and being weak.. but yeah this is a friends to lovers romance fiction, and it would be contradicting the trope if I wish him to remain as so.

I didn't feel their connection when they've realized they wanted to be together.. they've been friends for so long as described, doing their own thing, having different partners or flings, hero not fighting for the heroine, that I can't help but lose interest early on and root for them to just remain as friends.. then because they get to live together out of necessity on the part of the heroine, suddenly a change happens, which is kind of ludicrous at this point after so many years of "just" being friends.. this is with regard on how the heroine, after just weeks from a painful incident on her wedding day, suddenly has an epiphany.. changes her perception on their relationship, just because of a simple kiss.. without so much of a build up to that "said kiss", it catapults them to wanting to be together.. I didn't feel the shift from friends to something more.. just lots of inner monologues from a single POV, those of the heroine's afterwards, reflecting all her doubts and fears and all those years passed of just being friends, and how all of a sudden she's hot for him.. and all these, just because of a simple peck maybe on the lips of the hero.

The hero, oh well.. while loving the heroine, he lets so many years pass by, keeps his feelings to himself, just accepting that they could only be just friends or whatever the heroine wants after the "kiss".. he lets the heroine be with others for years, almost to be married, while he continues to date and be a manwhore.. he has four years of college to take his chance with her, instead he chooses to date others and again be "just friends".. so I didn't buy his reason why he thinks he lost his chance, when she reconnected with a former flame after college.

If the heroine could just easily forgive the hero, regarding a certain confession he made to her, I understand her reasons.. but nope, not for me as a reader.. this is something that involves her former fiance, in which the hero is privy about for a year, but kept it from the heroine.. knowing something this significant, that could give him a fighting chance to be with the heroine and yet chooses not to do so, this hero has lost any credibility left for me to say, that he also doesn't deserve the heroine.. I can't accept the fact that he, claiming to love her for so long, and yet he's willing to see her marry the wrong man despite knowing something about the fiance.. this time, so accepting to lose his chance for good, even prepared to see her in a crumbling miserable marriage in the future.. so instead of saving her from a future misery and takes his chance, he just lets her go.. yet again.. a would be husband who does what the former fiance is capable of doing, is a surefire way to a miserable marriage.. and the hero just lets this go? how is loving her so much as he claims, being protective and caring for the heroine being defined here?.. his reasoning?.. again is yet another bull for me..
it's not a selfless unconditional love nor sacrifice for me.. the hero here, from all those years and chances he willingly wasted, and manwhoring instead, is just a pure coward in my vocabulary.. as simple as that.

The author tries to justify the actions and choices of her characters, mostly the hero especially in the final chapters, and most readers appreciated her effort.. but nope, it didn't work for me.. but it's her story.. her book.. it's the way she wanted to weave her plot and characters.. and I respect that.

Also, I guess I've read a lot of books already with dual POVs, which I much prefer by the way, that I've found myself here wanting.. wanting to know more of Liam the hero.. his inner self, his thoughts and how he feels and perceives things.. and for me to be able to feel more of his connection with Cass the heroine and the depth of his love and passion for her.. sadly I didn't get it here.

I take my books seriously whatever genre or trope has taken my fancy at the moment.. fiction isn't just a form of fun and entertainment for me.. I learn a lot from them, just as I learn from real life.. so overall, I'd say this is an okay read.. the author has a lot to say about many things, regarding life in general.. and for that, I'd say she's got great potential.. but this book isn't just for me.

[Crystal Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassidy is a fighter, holy goodness. Her strength is admirable. I loved this book from the beginning to the end. I could not get enough! The ups and downs, it was so relateable and real.

[ItaPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a couple of friends to lovers books lately but I wasn't bored at all because the stories are so different that even if they share the same trope.
Worth The Fight was a nice read that kept me glued to my reader for a whole day.

Cassidy and Liam have been friends for ages,they went to the same high school and college,they are so tight that sometime they raise the jealousy of their lovers.
When Cassidy's love life becomes a little harder the only person she wants next to her is her best friend.
Now that they are closer than ever their relationship grows and blooms.Will they take the risk and become something more or will they keep their friendship unspoilt?

Rachael Brownell wrote a very good story with her unique style,I recommend to give it a try.

Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.

[Tabi Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, Bring tissues

As usually this author has the ability to open up my heart to allow the emotions to just flow out. There are so many things in this story you can track back to something in your own life or someone you know. This story makes you wonder how many times best friends fall in love with each other and never say anything out of fear.

The story about the best friends reminds me so much of my own parents. They grew up in each others baby pictures, but my mom was married a couple of times before she went back to my dad. Even though growing up with my parents you would never know she had before because they seem like they have been together forever.

So this was a story close to my heart and I truly love it.

Until Next Time... Tabi

[Rachael Brownell]

A friends-to-lovers romance you don't want to miss.

Cassidy and Liam have always been friends, and only friends. But when Cassidy leaves her fiance at the altar and moves in with Liam, the ground beneath them begins to shift, forcing Cassidy to see Liam in another light.

The question becomes... is taking a chance with Liam worth the risk of losing him forever?

SNAG YOUR COPY ➡️ www.books2read.com/WorthTheFight

[Danae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the Fight is worth reading.
Seriously I was glued to my Kindle while reading this and this book reminded me of why I love friends-to-lovers tropes. It is so freaking cute and it made me laugh, cry, melt into a puddle that I don't think I will ever be able to fully form into a heart again, and outrage. Yes the one is now being called "she who must not be named" because she is awful and I love how the author tried to make all of the characters human even the witch that starts with a b.
Ugh, Liam is like *chef's kiss* I want somebody like him and he is totally raising my bar on men now. The fact that he waited eleven years for Cass to fall in love with him is like heart melting.
Cass is such a sweetheart and I love her for having fears about changing her relationship with Liam before realizing that she might have blurred the lines a long time ago, but it still did not stop her from fearing that she will lose him because he has always been in her life and in her future. I love how in the end she is able to accept that things are not always her fault and that she has standards and she sticks to them. I have nothing but respect for her even though I was a little annoyed at the beginning because it was like we get it your high school sweetheart did the unthinkable, but also love how yes she keeps thinking it but it changes.
Sasha, can I have her for a friend, please? Anyone who is that understanding is worth having as a friend (I also would not say no to Liam being my friend either).
I love how each person has a unique personality that works for the group: Kevin (the adult), Sasha (the devil's advocate. There is no better way to describe someone who eggs on drama), Aaron (the big lovable joking teddy bear), Liam (the leader), and Cass (well she saw herself as the tomboy, but I see her as the glue) and she who must not be named (the attention seeking queen bee, that is me being polite).
I won't give everything away, but if you love the friends-to-lovers trope than you need to read Worth the Fight.
Bring tissues.
500 out of 5 stars.

[Chalice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The couple: Liam and Cassidy

Romance trope: friends to lovers
Length: 216 pages

Plot: When Cassidy finds her fiance cheating with her maid of honor on the day of her wedding, her best friend Liam is there for her, like he's always been. When she moves in with him after the debacle, she never could have guessed that her best friend would become something...more. But Liam has a chance at what he's always wanted and he's not going to sit around and wait anymore.

Commentary: This book was sweet but despite the presence of conflict it was surprisingly low-angst. Cassidy's wedding went awry, and I was really surprised that she fell for that guy in the first place. He and his "side-ho" were pretty awful and I hate that everyone seemed to know except for Cassidy. But Liam - dang, #boyfriendgoals. He was the absolute best, if a little self-sacrificing to the point that it hurt him. I like how his mom gently implied that to Cassidy, sticking up for him when he never would have for himself. This was a sweet book - I've had it on my tbr list forever and finally knocked it off. 4 stars because it's nice to have a story without murder every now and then.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author won my heart and quickly became one of my go to authors with the rumors series. She has gone on to keep my eyeing her releases and making sure I read them. She has a way with her characters and always having that one stirring up crap and this one is no different. This time this friends to lovers book has so much going on from start to finish that you fall in love with the friends who are true blue ride or die as the six of them deal with what's happened. Cass and Liam have been friends since birth and now she finally sees what everyone has. Now all she has to do is get out of her head and the fear that letting their relationship become more will take away from what they have.

The thing I love about this author is that she let's them work thru it and we get to have the fun along the way. It's not a wham bam and done it's a slow build up that has lots of distractions, good and bad. A wonderful read and a great reminder to make sure what ever and who ever floats your boat is worth the fight.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends to lovers is a pretty common theme for books, and that is what this one is. It was sweet and the story was interesting. The characters were believable and I liked all of them. Of course, two of them were the "evil villains" of the story, but they were good characters even if they were bad people. It made me happy that Liam and Cassidy only had a minor hurdle to cross once Cass realized her feelings, and there were some other incidents, but nothing that threatened to end their relationship. I would have rated the story higher if the theme wasn't so common. I would recommend the book if you really enjoy friends to lovers, this one is pretty good.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the Fight by Rachael Brownell is a wonderful story that will fill your heart with love for Cassidy and Liam. They have been best friends forever. Cassidy walks in on her fiance and Kendra, her best friend having sex right before Cassidy is to be married to Garrett. Liam to the rescue. Best friends forever. Can Cass and Liam progress from best friends to lovers? Will that ruin their friendship? There are so many emotions in this book. I loved the story. I will give a warning that if you are uncomfortable with the "F" word or some sex, then you may not enjoy this book. I do fee that the story is worth reading. I personally skimmed those parts because the story was captivating. I received this book as an advance reader copy and I always review every book that I read.

[Samantha (Millennial Life Crisis Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a good story about fighting back! Liam and Cassidy have been best friends since childhood thanks to their parents, and with that friendship they have gone through the ups and downs of life together in addition to happy times and tragedies. On the day of Cassidy’s wedding to another man, she finds her fiancé with non other than the maid of honor, and that action sparks a chain of events that change her life. Done with her fiancé for good, Cassidy runs into the arms of her best friend Liam, who in turn does everything he can to protect her. As Cassidy recovers and licks her wounds from her broken engagement, she starts to realize that the unrequited feelings she’s had for Liam her whole life might not be too far-fetched and actually reciprocated. Wow this book was everything I wasn’t expecting! This was my first read from her but definitely won’t be my last. Her writing captivated me from page one of this story and I couldn’t put it down even if I tried! Well written and a great spin on a standard storyline.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[AnneKR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam has always been in love with his childhood best friend Cassidy, but will always put her happiness first, even if she chooses to be with someone else. When she catches her fiancé cheating on her wedding day, will Liam finally have the courage to act on his feelings? Told from Cassidy’s POV, I wish we knew what was going through Liam’s head during the years he had to see Cassidy with others. Even though he was no saint himself, he knew his heart belonged to Cassidy. This was a sweet friends to lovers story, years in the making. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

[Lynn Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassidy is having one of the worst days possible. She’s finding it hard to turn that around to finding the best day possible. Liam is a friend whose there when you need him. He’s a man who has the protector role down pat. Our author does a great job in creating a man who is perfect book boyfriend material. He almost seems too good to be true. But then again, maybe he has an incentive.

Our author has created something that seems so realistic. We have a woman whose had the rug pulled out from under her on a day where happiness should be a given. Some women who read this tale may be the one who understands what Cassidy is feeling. You have to wonder where she finds the strength to change what you think might be her destiny. But it seems that Liam may have a say in that. He’s a good friend because he wants his friend to be happy.

This is a sweet story with a little bit of heat. Yes, there are some instances where you might be sad about the circumstances. It’s hard not to put a smile on your face since Liam tries to do that for Cassidy. Their story has a very sweet, very romantic ending. You may find that after you finish this book that you’ll want to check out more of what this author has written.

I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a friends to lovers romance and it was a quick and sweet read. I really connected with Cassidy and enjoyed reading about her falling for Liam. It was very well written and I recommend it!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing best friends to lover’s story. Not even sure what to say… I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, it will grab you from the start and not let go until you’re done. Once I started this, I couldn’t put it down. Found myself trying to find quiet spots where I would be left alone, to finish this one.

[Jaime Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend to lovers romance you will not want to put down. I instantly fell in love with Liam and Cassidy. The entire story and characters are so relatable that I found myself wishing I could interact with them. There was laughter and of course tears while reading and when I got to the last page I sighed with happiness. The author has the ability to write these amazing stories that you never want to end. A must read for sure that you do not want to miss.

[Lena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute romance but not a reread

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars are not enough!! This is one friends to lovers romance that you do not want to miss. Liam has always been Cassidy's rock. The one true strength she could always rely on. But when once again Cassidy finds herself leaning on Liam for emotional support a spark happens. Can one kiss change everything? Will it make or break the friendship? I fell in love with these characters fro the opening pages and with every chapter they became stronger and more lovable. You can actually feel the emotions they entail and just want them to get their HEA. Rachael Brownell once again creates a masterpiece. Absolutely LOVED it!!

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cassidy finds herself running away with her best friend Liam from the day that was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, it’s not because she is having cold feet. She’s just witnessed the worst betrayal on her wedding day. Liam has always been there for Cass and today Is no exception. We are taken on the journey of these two trying to decide if staying forever friends or becoming lovers is worth the risk. Or should I say worth the fight? Cassidy has never noticed Liam as more than her friend until she finally sees what’s right in front of her.

Their story took me on an emotional rollercoaster. There were characters I loved, didn’t like and just swooned over. This author has developed characters that are real and easy to fall in love with. Another wonderful story written beautifully about a woman who never gives up when obstacles are thrown in her path, with a man who stands by her and supports and loves her throughout. I cried sad tears, mad tears and the best of all, happy tears.

[Kirsty Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! From page one, I was instantly drawn in and struggled to put it down. I really enjoyed seeing Cass and Liam's relationship come together. I loved the humour and banter between them and the way they were both scared of their feelings. A really great read and one I will read again and again.

[Read.Review.Repeat Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the Fight is the first book by this author that I have read and I enjoyed it very much. I loved following Liam and Cassidy's friends to lovers story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Katie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down. Why can't all men be like Liam?! My heart felt for Cassidy, with everything she's gone through. She's such a strong female character. All of the friendships throughout the book are great as well. Another fantastic book, Rachael!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this friends to lovers romance 😍 Cass has had so much loss and heartbreak in her life but the one constant has always been Liam. Once she finally realizes her feeling for him they both finally get their HEA! Loved this read Liam is the best kind of book boyfriend ❤️

[Kandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters are written with a living, breathing existence!

I was envious of the group of friends the Cass and Liam had throughout all of their school years and into college, I sure hope there are people out there that have that connection!
I was invested within the first chapter, I needed to know what the outcome was. I was so invested in the lives of the characters that I struggled knowing it was going to end.

We all have those moments when we have to choose a direction between what seems like the hardest things we will ever face. Knowing what you really want and not being able to see the outcome working out in your favor, talking yourself into the worst case scenario. Never really believing that the positive part of it comes with no cost, no loss, no changes in the way things have always been.

There is so much heartbreak in our world!

But what if?
What if you walk away and don't take the chance?
What if you regret the choice the minute you make it?

I love that every book by this author is it's own. She has become one of the few to be on my "watch" list.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/13/2020)! 🎁

[Mila · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nop, just no.
It was really plain.



"Yes. When it comes to you."

[Culture-Vulture · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked this novel until about halfway through. After that, it turned way too indulgent. Like a cake made only of frosting, it got to be too saccharine. Liam went from a hot, independent guy to becoming Cass' sock puppet. (It reminds me of the Jacob and Renesmee romance, but less pedo-creepy.)

There's no plot. After Cass' fiancée cheats on her and her childhood friend reveals his love for her, there's no movement forward. It's a circular, repetitive dance after that. The simpering, self-satisfied lectures/preaching at the end, about love and life, were the poopy cherry tacked onto this shit sundae.

Seriously, learn to write a plot that goes somewhere. Layer on some complexity to the tale. I'm sick of this Nicholas Sparks school of romance novels: No plot. Love-crazed men. Boringly average female leads who somehow inspire endless love/deathless-devotion from every guy within a 50-mile radius. Pointless deaths, usually involving family members. Tragic scenes at the sides of hospital beds. Men who were strutting man-whores, and had oodles of sex with no love attached, until they found the ONE and then suddenly sprung 24-hour, unflagging hard-ons for monogamy. Endless, undimmed sexual passion for the same person for 60+ years kind of monogamy. 🤦

I'm sick of this brand of typically American romance and cockeyed take on monogamy. I thought this novel would be more than this version of a stupidly formulaic and stereotypical take on romance, and I was disappointed.

And what's up with this kind of uber-needy female lead?! Only a guy who will gut himself and smear his (emotional) entrails all over the floor so that she can tap-dance over the bloody mess will do. The guy must love her with the same level of hyper, unending enthusiasm ALL the time. It's exhausting. What kind of a woman wants that from a guy?! Not a sane woman, I'll bet. And no sane, non-stalker man can provide it, either. 🙄

One star ⭐, cause I'm a bitch when annoyed. Deal with it.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassidy is a strong woman, who never stops fighting even when life tries to crush her. Her parents died, and she kept fighting, her long time relationship ended badly, she rose up. And I'm not saying that she didn't feel the pain, because she did, it's just how she continuously moved forward when life's hits tried to take her down. However, it didn't hurt that she's had her best friend, Liam, through all of it. They're super close to the point that significant others/hook ups were jealous from time to time. And even though he's a bit of a playboy, Liam has been harboring feelings for her since they were younger, but he never acted on them. Now, he's decided that it's their time, especially since there's a definite spark happening this time around when she leans on him, so it's game on getting her to give them a chance. They really did have strong chemistry which wouldn't be denied, but of course since they were hiding their trues feelings for each other, you already know it will be a bit of a push & pull situation. Thankfully, their interactions were cute and/or hilarious which kept me from getting too frustrated because from the very beginning, I already knew that they were perfect together. Unfortunately, there were some who weren't happy about things, so there were twists that came out of nowhere to make sure f-bombs were dropped out of my mouth. So, if you want to experience the journey, and find out how it all pans out, you'll have to one click this friends to lovers story! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Brianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this heartwarming and loving story about love, loss and friendship, we meet two people who seemed destined for one another Liam and Cassidy. Cassidy has over come heartache, loss and but now is struggling to figure out if she can move past the kiss with Liam and risk it all. I loved her character, she was strong, smart but had flaws. Could she trust Liam and trust in Love? Love has always decieved her in the past - taking away the two people who meant the world to her, love took away her fiance and took away her trust - was it worth the fight?

I really enjoyed Liam's character as he was that steady-eddy, always there, always fighting for what he wanted. He was the rock that Cassidy needed throughout her life time - and it all changed. I loved that he didn't just sit back and let it all crumble, he fought for what he wanted. He made Cassidy see what was infront of her eyes all this time - true love.

The story flow was beautifully written, nothing seemed forced and the characters were well developed. This was a fantastic read, definitely worth the fight and a must add to your To-Be-Read Shelf.