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Friends Like This #3
Broken Like This
I promised her forever.
But I’m not sure I can keep that promise. At least, not the way I’m supposed to.
I’ll always want forever with her, but not like this.
I’m broken. Falling apart. And I’m taking it all out on her.
I’m too much of a mess for this, and she deserves more than that. More than the way I’ve been. More than me.
I don’t want to do this without her, but I don’t know how to do it with her. There’s so much I have to figure out about myself and my future, and I have to do that on my own.
I have to let her go.
She might hate me, but it’s best for both of us.
I just have to hope by the time I figure things out and am ready for us again, she’ll still want me—want us.
I have to trust that she won’t give up on us, and we can still have the forever we were always meant to have.
Will Rae and Aaron be able to fight through the hard things they face individually so they can build a beautiful relationship together? Follow all the love, heartache, drama, and angst in the third book of their love story.
Broken Like This is the third book in a mature YA/new adult drama series. Be sure to start reading with book one, Friends Like This. The series features teens in realistic and complicated situations. Recommended for readers aged 16+
But I’m not sure I can keep that promise. At least, not the way I’m supposed to.
I’ll always want forever with her, but not like this.
I’m broken. Falling apart. And I’m taking it all out on her.
I’m too much of a mess for this, and she deserves more than that. More than the way I’ve been. More than me.
I don’t want to do this without her, but I don’t know how to do it with her. There’s so much I have to figure out about myself and my future, and I have to do that on my own.
I have to let her go.
She might hate me, but it’s best for both of us.
I just have to hope by the time I figure things out and am ready for us again, she’ll still want me—want us.
I have to trust that she won’t give up on us, and we can still have the forever we were always meant to have.
Will Rae and Aaron be able to fight through the hard things they face individually so they can build a beautiful relationship together? Follow all the love, heartache, drama, and angst in the third book of their love story.
Broken Like This is the third book in a mature YA/new adult drama series. Be sure to start reading with book one, Friends Like This. The series features teens in realistic and complicated situations. Recommended for readers aged 16+
460 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2022
226 people are currently reading
452 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Monaco Smith
41 books193 followersBethany Monaco Smith is a writer-mom. When she’s not busy hanging with her boys, she’s writing cozy small town romances with lots of heart, a bit of steam, and all the feels. She loves happily-ever-afters and cries at every emotional moment, whether reading, writing, or watching. When she’s not mom-ing or writing, you can find her binge-reading on Kindle Unlimited, spending too much time on Instagram, and supporting fellow indie authors. Bethany survives on coffee, rewatching the same TV shows over and over, and her KU subscription. She lives in the Southern Tier of NY with her husband and two sons. You can find out more about Bethany and what she’s working on next on Instagram @bethanymonacosmith
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 29, 2022
OMG- This is a roller coaster ride that will leave you breathless, a bit broken at times, & definitely keep you in the edge of your seat waiting to see how Aaron & Rae handle this next chapter of their whirlwind romance.
Book 3 picks up where Book 2 ended and you are hopeful that Aaron & Rae are finally in a good place! They are at college with their friends and family! They are getting to know how they work in a relationship & they are dealing with all the turmoils of first year of college.
This is a powerful book that deals with 18 year olds who have been through more turmoil than most adults. Their love and devotion is still radiating between them but each of them are dealing with internal struggles that make it hard to communicate with each other.
Let’s face it from the first 2 books in this series we know communication isn’t their strong suit! Aaron is dealing with his loss of baseball, hating his classes, and the pain in his hand. He feels the lowest he’s ever felt and he doesn’t know how and what to do about all these conflicting emotions. As always, these two can’t seem to get their sh*t together and they end of hurting each other again and again. No spoilers but the title gives a good idea of what’s to come throughout this well written and emotional journey!! I still adore Aaron & Rae but this is a hard one to get through. Be prepared for anger, tears, heartache, & hope because this book has it all. Happy Reading!!!
Book 3 picks up where Book 2 ended and you are hopeful that Aaron & Rae are finally in a good place! They are at college with their friends and family! They are getting to know how they work in a relationship & they are dealing with all the turmoils of first year of college.
This is a powerful book that deals with 18 year olds who have been through more turmoil than most adults. Their love and devotion is still radiating between them but each of them are dealing with internal struggles that make it hard to communicate with each other.
Let’s face it from the first 2 books in this series we know communication isn’t their strong suit! Aaron is dealing with his loss of baseball, hating his classes, and the pain in his hand. He feels the lowest he’s ever felt and he doesn’t know how and what to do about all these conflicting emotions. As always, these two can’t seem to get their sh*t together and they end of hurting each other again and again. No spoilers but the title gives a good idea of what’s to come throughout this well written and emotional journey!! I still adore Aaron & Rae but this is a hard one to get through. Be prepared for anger, tears, heartache, & hope because this book has it all. Happy Reading!!!
September 14, 2022
This contemporary new adult fiction is about college romance, messy drama, and emotional relationships. The characters we know and love in the series are in college now, but that doesn't mean it is perfect and life is easy. It gets difficult as they make mistakes, hearts get broken, and they learn and grow as people and become mature adults. Aaron and Rae's story is riddled with this but is also a rollercoaster of turmoil and drama. Other unforgettable characters you know from previous books are in this, and they all experience life differently. This book gets better, and then the author ends on a cliffhanger.
We begin this book with Rae and Aaron. They are quite frisky and definitely start it out steamy. Aaron is still trying to find his goal in life without baseball, what he will do, and who he will be. He has lost a considerable part of himself and seems a bit grumpy and lost. College life is fabulous hot steamy intimacy, great classes, and amazing friends. Rae is loving it but is Aaron okay?
This book gets very emotional as they navigate failure and their own misunderstandings; it sucks that you have to let a person go to truly love them in the way they deserve, and that's precisely what happens. I feel bad for Aaron as he seems so lost and depressed. Rae is a mess, and I expected her emotional breakdown. But it still left me in tears as well.
This story feels almost tragic to the emotions as they struggle with their hearts crumbling. Still, hopefully, there is a brighter side to the turmoil and drama. The hard rock bottom comes before you can climb out; for Aaron, the bottom is very messy. Rae is hurting and worried about her best friend and trying to focus on her own growth.
We start to see the light at the end of this self-imposed tunnel of darkness Aaron has been in. I secretly hope that it means Rae and Aaron reconcile to what they were at the start of the book. This book has a lot of complicated lessons for these new adult characters to learn. The author does a great job of presenting them to the reader to connect with things like friendship, trust, healing, self-understanding, and so much more in the pages of this story.
This story is very emotional as Aaron and Rae are on this rollercoaster of crappy decisions and conversations. However, the author ends the book on a cliffhanger, and now I can't wait to read the next one as I'm completely hooked on this dramatic couple. I love the playlist at the back of the book.
We begin this book with Rae and Aaron. They are quite frisky and definitely start it out steamy. Aaron is still trying to find his goal in life without baseball, what he will do, and who he will be. He has lost a considerable part of himself and seems a bit grumpy and lost. College life is fabulous hot steamy intimacy, great classes, and amazing friends. Rae is loving it but is Aaron okay?
This book gets very emotional as they navigate failure and their own misunderstandings; it sucks that you have to let a person go to truly love them in the way they deserve, and that's precisely what happens. I feel bad for Aaron as he seems so lost and depressed. Rae is a mess, and I expected her emotional breakdown. But it still left me in tears as well.
This story feels almost tragic to the emotions as they struggle with their hearts crumbling. Still, hopefully, there is a brighter side to the turmoil and drama. The hard rock bottom comes before you can climb out; for Aaron, the bottom is very messy. Rae is hurting and worried about her best friend and trying to focus on her own growth.
We start to see the light at the end of this self-imposed tunnel of darkness Aaron has been in. I secretly hope that it means Rae and Aaron reconcile to what they were at the start of the book. This book has a lot of complicated lessons for these new adult characters to learn. The author does a great job of presenting them to the reader to connect with things like friendship, trust, healing, self-understanding, and so much more in the pages of this story.
This story is very emotional as Aaron and Rae are on this rollercoaster of crappy decisions and conversations. However, the author ends the book on a cliffhanger, and now I can't wait to read the next one as I'm completely hooked on this dramatic couple. I love the playlist at the back of the book.
September 28, 2022
But matter what he says, no one can fix what’s inside of me.
Emotional whiplash sums up Broken Like This. Not in a bad way; it was just emotional overall. Every once in a while, there were scenes that made me teared up. I’m glad I did not read this when I was not in the right mindset because I believe it would’ve made a significant difference in my reading experience.
After three books, I still wonder if Rae and Aaron should be together romantically. It seems as if their friendship was better than their romantic relationship. They continuously hurt each other, whether it be intentional or not. People can be soulmates without it being romantic. They could be platonic, and there is nothing wrong with that. Similar to what I felt about Falling Like This, I’m unsure if Aaron and Rae could work together. There were many moments when I thought they shouldn’t be together.
The year was challenging for many of them, yet they weren’t there for each other. Instead, there were moments when they made it worse. The dynamic can be challenging to juggle when it is a group of friends. There are multiple people involved, and how they would interact with each other differs. When there is a couple within it, it can get messy. If something happens, there will be sides. They claim to all be friends, yet it looks like they chose Rae over Aaron. Everyone was on her side, and no one was in Aaron’s corner. I felt for Aaron because he didn’t have anyone there for him. It doesn’t matter whether or not he wanted them to be; there was no one there to support him until after the fact.
Broken Like This has cemented my opinion of how I’m not too fond of Aaron and Rae. But, it’s not hate, only dislike. My dislike for Aaron and Rae stems from having similar negative traits. Take that with a grain of salt because I may be cynical, and I can only see the negatives here. I don’t need to like the main characters to enjoy the story. Even though I don’t like them as much as I like the side characters, I can relate to them. However, I believe that all of the characters are realistic and relatable. I’m glad that I’m able to see the growth the characters go through. At least they are learning from their mistakes, or at least they try to. It’s their first year of college, and they are growing up. I can relate to them a little bit more at this stage.
Hopefully, this doesn’t sound negative because that is not what I meant by it. Believe it or not, I did enjoy Broken Like This. I can’t wait for the conclusion of Aaron and Rae’s story in Love Like This.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
September 14, 2022
I knew going in that I would need to prepare for an emotional whirlwind, and it did not disappoint in that aspect. Aaron and Rae grew up together, they started dating right before college, so what could possibly go wrong?
Maybe dating your best friend isn’t the best idea? Or maybe it is…when you’re both mentally prepared to do so. Starting college is hard enough, but starting college when you’re not sure where your life is going is a completely different level. That’s where Aaron is - without direction. Rae knows what she wants, or at least has some semblance of it all. Both characters go through so much getting to know themselves better though, and dealing with unresolved issues within themselves. The growth they both show is so vastly different, but also so worth everything they go through.
I think my favorite parts of this book came when Aaron really started recognizing things about himself instead of simply being mad at how life was. There is unfairness in life, but it’s what he decided to start making of that that made him change. I hold such a love/hate relationship with Joel in all of it too. I think as readers we start recognizing that each character has something going on that maybe, just maybe, causes them to act a certain way. Other characters don’t necessarily recognize those aspects though, so we only get their perspective and how angry they are. The same goes for Rae though. She has her own battles to contend with, but also while still trying to take care of everyone else. Both Rae and Aaron really just culminate into people we as readers recognize aren’t perfect, but are trying their best to figure it all out. I think that’s why I love this story so much.
Maybe dating your best friend isn’t the best idea? Or maybe it is…when you’re both mentally prepared to do so. Starting college is hard enough, but starting college when you’re not sure where your life is going is a completely different level. That’s where Aaron is - without direction. Rae knows what she wants, or at least has some semblance of it all. Both characters go through so much getting to know themselves better though, and dealing with unresolved issues within themselves. The growth they both show is so vastly different, but also so worth everything they go through.
I think my favorite parts of this book came when Aaron really started recognizing things about himself instead of simply being mad at how life was. There is unfairness in life, but it’s what he decided to start making of that that made him change. I hold such a love/hate relationship with Joel in all of it too. I think as readers we start recognizing that each character has something going on that maybe, just maybe, causes them to act a certain way. Other characters don’t necessarily recognize those aspects though, so we only get their perspective and how angry they are. The same goes for Rae though. She has her own battles to contend with, but also while still trying to take care of everyone else. Both Rae and Aaron really just culminate into people we as readers recognize aren’t perfect, but are trying their best to figure it all out. I think that’s why I love this story so much.
September 24, 2022
Ahhh you have no idea how excited I got to read the next chapter of this series, I was like yasss finally Aaron and Rae got together and they will be so happy together after everything they been through, but when I saw the title I was like uh ohhhh, regardless I’m still greatful that I got to read this as an arc🤍 man oh mann what a rollercoaster🥲 Aaron is kinda annoying/pissing me off because he keeps on hurting/pushing away Rae😭! Im telling u this book is definitely like a roller coaster full of emotions……. One minute I’m fawning and then the next I’m just like NOOO NOOO NOOOO go fix it Aaron pleaseeee! I’m honestly rlly rlly disappointed they broke up😭😭😭 this book had such a plot twist that I wasn’t expecting at all…. Spoiler alert(especially when she slept with Jesse and Aaron saw them😭😭) but you know what I actually feel really bad for Aaron🥲 because he feels like nothing suits Him after him losing his chances of playing baseball! I like the happier version of Aaron, not the bipolar side of him🥲 man I know I’ve already said this but wow I love the friend group they have, makes me want one of those🥺 especially Joel and Sara always having their backs no matter what💜 nooooo I’m sobbing so hard right now because The scene where she said “well you don’t get to care. If we’re not together, you don’t get to care”😭 “Not right now I’m not. I can’t be your person like this. I’ll always be there if you need me. But otherwise, we’re not anything. We’re not dating. We’re not friends. We’re done. That’s what you wanted, right?”💔😭😭! Overall I’m loving this book and I’m rlly rlly hoping Aaron and Rae figure their ish out because I would love to see them together together for a long time and maybe them getting married!
Ps this book reminds me of the after series😂 (especially Aaron and Rae loll) I know they won’t give up on eachother and I have high hopes in the next book for them! Eep I can’t wait!!
Ps this book reminds me of the after series😂 (especially Aaron and Rae loll) I know they won’t give up on eachother and I have high hopes in the next book for them! Eep I can’t wait!!
October 18, 2022
Warning potential spoilers for the previous two books - Friends Like This/Falling Like This.
I mean the title gives it away . . . The happy ending we got from the last book wasn’t set to last! I knew it was too good to be true and the warning signs were all there! I was scared to read this book because I love Aaron and Rae together and didn’t want to see them broken.
But Bethany’s writing is so spot on. This book is billed as small town/college/sports romance but I honestly think it’s more of a mental health story. In Broken Like This we continue to explore the impact of the SA from the previous book, and the ripple effect that it had amongst the group of friends. I am particularly glad that it explores Aaron’s mental health and the way that young men deal with it - or not! Again there is so much truth and honesty in the book, Bethany has a way of writing that is just so genuine. The characters behave in a realistic way when dealing with various emotions and situations. They make stupid mistakes, they hurt and they push everyone away and through it all they learn and they continue to love each other. Again I truly believe that it’s one of those books all young/new adults should read - taking into account the trigger warnings of course.
Broken Like This truly broke me at times, but it also helped me to heal and discover some new (positive) things about my own mental health; helping me to learn alongside the main characters. I cannot wait to read Love Like This and I hope it gives us the true Happy Ever After we need from this group!
I mean the title gives it away . . . The happy ending we got from the last book wasn’t set to last! I knew it was too good to be true and the warning signs were all there! I was scared to read this book because I love Aaron and Rae together and didn’t want to see them broken.
But Bethany’s writing is so spot on. This book is billed as small town/college/sports romance but I honestly think it’s more of a mental health story. In Broken Like This we continue to explore the impact of the SA from the previous book, and the ripple effect that it had amongst the group of friends. I am particularly glad that it explores Aaron’s mental health and the way that young men deal with it - or not! Again there is so much truth and honesty in the book, Bethany has a way of writing that is just so genuine. The characters behave in a realistic way when dealing with various emotions and situations. They make stupid mistakes, they hurt and they push everyone away and through it all they learn and they continue to love each other. Again I truly believe that it’s one of those books all young/new adults should read - taking into account the trigger warnings of course.
Broken Like This truly broke me at times, but it also helped me to heal and discover some new (positive) things about my own mental health; helping me to learn alongside the main characters. I cannot wait to read Love Like This and I hope it gives us the true Happy Ever After we need from this group!
September 28, 2022
Aaron and Rae promised each other forever, but as we all very well know, life is never that easy. It’s their first year away at college, which brings unexpected challenges that are interfering with their relationship. Sooner or later, something’s got to give… but can they survive this?
Oh. My. Gosh. Bethany Monaco Smith is the absolute queen of swoonworthy, angsty, and emotional romance. Aaron and Rae go through hell in this book, and even though there were a lot of sad crying scenes, that didn’t make it any less good. I actually feel like the book as a whole was extremely well written, and I loved watching this next chapter in Aaron and Rae’s lives play out. And as always, the gang of best friends was super involved, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Rae. Oh my gosh, I don’t know what to do with her sometimes. She’s been through a lot, and I know she worries that certain things will never be okay again. Like I’ve stated in previous reviews on this series, I love the fact that Rae acts her age (she is a teenager after all)! Aaron. Okay, so I really do love him. He is Aaron freaking Cooper, after all. I think he definitely makes mistakes, but he never does it out of spite or with malicious intent. The last thing he wants to do is hurt people, but it’s hard not to when you’re hurting so badly yourself. All in all, I adored this book, and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Oh. My. Gosh. Bethany Monaco Smith is the absolute queen of swoonworthy, angsty, and emotional romance. Aaron and Rae go through hell in this book, and even though there were a lot of sad crying scenes, that didn’t make it any less good. I actually feel like the book as a whole was extremely well written, and I loved watching this next chapter in Aaron and Rae’s lives play out. And as always, the gang of best friends was super involved, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Rae. Oh my gosh, I don’t know what to do with her sometimes. She’s been through a lot, and I know she worries that certain things will never be okay again. Like I’ve stated in previous reviews on this series, I love the fact that Rae acts her age (she is a teenager after all)! Aaron. Okay, so I really do love him. He is Aaron freaking Cooper, after all. I think he definitely makes mistakes, but he never does it out of spite or with malicious intent. The last thing he wants to do is hurt people, but it’s hard not to when you’re hurting so badly yourself. All in all, I adored this book, and I can’t wait to read the next one!
September 23, 2022
Broken Like This starts off where book 2 Falling Like This leaves off and Ace and Rae are starting college and they are the happiest they have ever been. This book still sees the six good friends together and entering adulthood and dealing with all the things that life throws at them but are they ready to deal with the requirements and face the turmoils that are thrown at them?
Ace is struggling with courses, not playing baseball and is having an internal struggle with himself. Does he seek out the help and support that he needs? No instead he finds other ways to deal with all the struggles and this in turn affects his relationship with Rae and his friends. Rae and Ace's relationship is not what they both expected and they end up hurting one another over and over again. They both turn to other people because of the hurt that they are feeling but instead this causes more pain and hurt. Will Ace and Rae ever stop hurting one another?
Throughout this book, I was heartbroken for both Ace and Rae but at the same time, I wanted to yell and scream at both of them for acting and saying the things they were towards one another. Oved the words are said you cannot take back the hurt that they caused and this happened over and over between the two of them.
Ms. Smith had me yelling at my device as well as holding my breath. I was so emotionally attached and involved with the character and for me, that is the first sign of a well-written book. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us with the next book.
Ace is struggling with courses, not playing baseball and is having an internal struggle with himself. Does he seek out the help and support that he needs? No instead he finds other ways to deal with all the struggles and this in turn affects his relationship with Rae and his friends. Rae and Ace's relationship is not what they both expected and they end up hurting one another over and over again. They both turn to other people because of the hurt that they are feeling but instead this causes more pain and hurt. Will Ace and Rae ever stop hurting one another?
Throughout this book, I was heartbroken for both Ace and Rae but at the same time, I wanted to yell and scream at both of them for acting and saying the things they were towards one another. Oved the words are said you cannot take back the hurt that they caused and this happened over and over between the two of them.
Ms. Smith had me yelling at my device as well as holding my breath. I was so emotionally attached and involved with the character and for me, that is the first sign of a well-written book. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us with the next book.
September 25, 2022
4.5 stars
First I want to start off by saying AARON FREAKING COOPER!
This book starts right after book 2 ends. But this one was a rollercoaster. The emotions I felt reading this book were all over the place. Even outside of the relationship issues, Rae helping other women go through what she went through really got to me. She was always there when they needed her.
There were times when I wanted to root for Aaron, there were times when I wanted to punch him. But I loved when he got his stuff together and decided what he wanted to do with his future. For some reason in this book, I didn't really like Rae all the time. In the other 2 books, I really liked her, but not so much in this one. I think it was the over-the-top flirting with everyone and the fact that when things get hard, she runs. Miscommunication is one of those things that I do not like, but with this book, it added something extra. I don't know how to explain it.
I really enjoyed all the side characters. I felt for Mackie with what she was dealing with. I hope that Joel expresses his feelings to the person he is in love with. While reading this, I almost felt like I was part of the group! I even liked the new characters, especially Amanda, she was funny and protective and fit in perfectly.
Thank you to Bethany for this ARC!!
First I want to start off by saying AARON FREAKING COOPER!
This book starts right after book 2 ends. But this one was a rollercoaster. The emotions I felt reading this book were all over the place. Even outside of the relationship issues, Rae helping other women go through what she went through really got to me. She was always there when they needed her.
There were times when I wanted to root for Aaron, there were times when I wanted to punch him. But I loved when he got his stuff together and decided what he wanted to do with his future. For some reason in this book, I didn't really like Rae all the time. In the other 2 books, I really liked her, but not so much in this one. I think it was the over-the-top flirting with everyone and the fact that when things get hard, she runs. Miscommunication is one of those things that I do not like, but with this book, it added something extra. I don't know how to explain it.
I really enjoyed all the side characters. I felt for Mackie with what she was dealing with. I hope that Joel expresses his feelings to the person he is in love with. While reading this, I almost felt like I was part of the group! I even liked the new characters, especially Amanda, she was funny and protective and fit in perfectly.
Thank you to Bethany for this ARC!!
September 25, 2022
First I want to start off by saying one thing. It's the most important thing I promise you...
Wait for it.
AARON DADDY FREAKING COOPER
I swear I'm in love. (This book starts right after book 2 ends so make sure to read book 1 and 2 first!)
But this one was a rollercoaster AND A WILD ONE AT THAT! The emotions felt reading this book were all over the place. Even outside of the relationship issues 🥺 Rae is one of the STRONGEST characters I've ever read about and I truly freaking love her for her power and strength with helping other women go through what she went through.
(I won't lie there were a lot of times were I didn't like her 😂)
We love when a man can get his stuff together and decide what he wants with his future!
I didn't really like Rae with all of the over-the-top flirting with everyone and the fact that when things get hard, she runs. Miscommunication is one of those things that I do not like (in real life or in books), but with this book, it added something extra.
I freaking love all of the side characters and how we got to read about them! I wanted to be in the book so bad 😂😭
Wait for it.
AARON DADDY FREAKING COOPER
I swear I'm in love. (This book starts right after book 2 ends so make sure to read book 1 and 2 first!)
But this one was a rollercoaster AND A WILD ONE AT THAT! The emotions felt reading this book were all over the place. Even outside of the relationship issues 🥺 Rae is one of the STRONGEST characters I've ever read about and I truly freaking love her for her power and strength with helping other women go through what she went through.
(I won't lie there were a lot of times were I didn't like her 😂)
We love when a man can get his stuff together and decide what he wants with his future!
I didn't really like Rae with all of the over-the-top flirting with everyone and the fact that when things get hard, she runs. Miscommunication is one of those things that I do not like (in real life or in books), but with this book, it added something extra.
I freaking love all of the side characters and how we got to read about them! I wanted to be in the book so bad 😂😭
September 24, 2022
Well, if that wasn't a roller-coaster!
1-second-Summary:
Cont. from book 2 Falling like this, Rae and Aaron drift further apart only to find themselves back together. Though their timing and emotions never lined up these two continue fighting for the forever love they believe they have together.
Review -
Who left this bowl of onions here - I am literally sobbing. What a beautiful and heart-breaking read! I was immensely absorbed as this story unfolded and the root causes of Aaron and Rae's romantic fears were slowly exposed. The miscommunication trope was a big feature in this book, and you couldn't help but feel their frustration as Rae and Aaron continually misread and miscommunicated.
Totally Nailed it!
Absolutely BLOWN away by the character development in this story. Following on from parts 1&2, I am amazed at all our characters' depth and character growth - especially our MCs! So much has happened to them during their first year of college and I love how all aspects of life and college life were explored in this book!
Yes yes - can't wait for the next instalment of this one!! Despite the emotional highs and lows, it was such a pleasure to read!
Team Friends to Lovers always,
Ellie
1-second-Summary:
Cont. from book 2 Falling like this, Rae and Aaron drift further apart only to find themselves back together. Though their timing and emotions never lined up these two continue fighting for the forever love they believe they have together.
Review -
Who left this bowl of onions here - I am literally sobbing. What a beautiful and heart-breaking read! I was immensely absorbed as this story unfolded and the root causes of Aaron and Rae's romantic fears were slowly exposed. The miscommunication trope was a big feature in this book, and you couldn't help but feel their frustration as Rae and Aaron continually misread and miscommunicated.
Totally Nailed it!
Absolutely BLOWN away by the character development in this story. Following on from parts 1&2, I am amazed at all our characters' depth and character growth - especially our MCs! So much has happened to them during their first year of college and I love how all aspects of life and college life were explored in this book!
Yes yes - can't wait for the next instalment of this one!! Despite the emotional highs and lows, it was such a pleasure to read!
Team Friends to Lovers always,
Ellie
September 26, 2022
BROKEN LIKE THIS By Bethany Monaco Smith
Rae and Aaron with their tight group of friends have now gone off to college.
😊What i liked -
✔ Friends to Lovers.
✔ I think I'm going to forever be Jealous of their tight support system.
✔ My heart was breaking when Aaron was figuring out his feelings.
✔ I was all kind of a mess ( the good kind) while reading this book. There were so many emotions I was going through at the same time.
✔ This book is full of drama, anger, love, laughter, heartbreaks and friendship.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ I know it's part of the story and to create the build up, but I swear I wanted to go inside the book and sock both Rae and Aaron to tell them to sit down and communicate. Oh they need to communicate.
✔ I was screaming when the book ended, I was left hanging.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
💘Romance Lovers
💕Friends to Lovers
📈My Rating : 5/5
Thank you Bethany Monaco Smith for a copy.
Rae and Aaron with their tight group of friends have now gone off to college.
😊What i liked -
✔ Friends to Lovers.
✔ I think I'm going to forever be Jealous of their tight support system.
✔ My heart was breaking when Aaron was figuring out his feelings.
✔ I was all kind of a mess ( the good kind) while reading this book. There were so many emotions I was going through at the same time.
✔ This book is full of drama, anger, love, laughter, heartbreaks and friendship.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ I know it's part of the story and to create the build up, but I swear I wanted to go inside the book and sock both Rae and Aaron to tell them to sit down and communicate. Oh they need to communicate.
✔ I was screaming when the book ended, I was left hanging.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
💘Romance Lovers
💕Friends to Lovers
📈My Rating : 5/5
Thank you Bethany Monaco Smith for a copy.
September 21, 2022
OMG! I’m going to be honest, I was a little scare with the title of the book, but OMGOSH it was amazing. An amazing roller coaster of feelings and emotions, the ups and downs made me scream a couple of times. You can literally feel all the love, and the pain, all the feels, all of them. You are gonna cry with them and fall in love again. Seeing them learn and grow was so emotional and perfect. My heart broke so many time but the end give me hopes for the next one. It’s great to meet new characters here and keep seeing the old ones. This 6 kids (I know they aren’t kids anymore) are so good together, they have the most amazing friendship, they are all siblings by choice. Obviously I still love Aaron Freaking Cooper. Can’t wait for their HEA. And all the books to come with all the gang.
September 30, 2022
This book was amazing.
I did think that the chapters were super long, but then if they weren't it wouldn't have been this amazing end product. Definitely worth it.
The relationships between all of the characters really blow me away and their descriptions are great. Rae and Aaron have really come a long way.
I love how even through tough times they are always there for eachother and even when they're not, it's identified and resolved.
At times I laughed and times I was nearly in tears. I was teary eyed on more than one occasion.
The last bit gives me hope.
I cannot wait for the next characters stories. I'm so excited.
I would highly recommend this book. Please handle with care some parts may be triggering.
I did think that the chapters were super long, but then if they weren't it wouldn't have been this amazing end product. Definitely worth it.
The relationships between all of the characters really blow me away and their descriptions are great. Rae and Aaron have really come a long way.
I love how even through tough times they are always there for eachother and even when they're not, it's identified and resolved.
At times I laughed and times I was nearly in tears. I was teary eyed on more than one occasion.
The last bit gives me hope.
I cannot wait for the next characters stories. I'm so excited.
I would highly recommend this book. Please handle with care some parts may be triggering.
September 25, 2022
We continue Rae and Aaron’s story in book three. As they struggle through things they work to keep their relationship alive as they start college.
This one is very emotional. If books one and two taught us anything, it is these two sometimes lack communication and you know where that usually leads. No real spoilers here if you paid attention to the title.
It picks up where book two left off and Aaron is navigating a world without baseball which has defined his life. What I love about this series is it is more than just the ups and downs of falling in love. Most books end there, but this series shows what happens after you find your person and need to keep the relationship going.
I love the journey these two are on, the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly and can’t wait to see how the cliffhanger is resolved in book four.
This one is very emotional. If books one and two taught us anything, it is these two sometimes lack communication and you know where that usually leads. No real spoilers here if you paid attention to the title.
It picks up where book two left off and Aaron is navigating a world without baseball which has defined his life. What I love about this series is it is more than just the ups and downs of falling in love. Most books end there, but this series shows what happens after you find your person and need to keep the relationship going.
I love the journey these two are on, the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly and can’t wait to see how the cliffhanger is resolved in book four.
September 6, 2022
I'm not sure I have the words. I prepared myself for the absolute worst. I knew Bethany Monaco Smith was going to drag us through some stuff with them. And man, did she. I might have yelled at both Aaron and Rae a few times. I felt so many things reading this. Sadness, anger, hurt, hope, love. All of those a few times over. But along with all of that, was the growth by both Aaron and Rae. As much as you don't want to see it, it needed to happen. They needed to grow as individuals.
I cannot wait for book 4 and to see them find the forever they both deserve.
I cannot wait for book 4 and to see them find the forever they both deserve.
September 18, 2022
Bethany has managed to blow me away yet again.
I originally read this book towards the beginning of the year and I loved it back then. Since then, a lot of changes were made and I think they made the story even better than before.
Throughout this entire book, I found myself rooting for both Aaron and Rae to get it together. There were plenty of times I wanted to both hug Aaron and also knock some sense into him because he was just being so dumb.
I enjoyed the fact that there wasn't a happy ending after book 2 and in book 3 we got to see realistic struggles that a young couple starting college would actually go through. Bethany does an exceptional job of showing all sides of the story — the good, the bad, the sad, everything.
I loved this book. I love the journey all of the characters are going through and I cannot wait to read even more about them.
Exceptional job as always Bethany.
I originally read this book towards the beginning of the year and I loved it back then. Since then, a lot of changes were made and I think they made the story even better than before.
Throughout this entire book, I found myself rooting for both Aaron and Rae to get it together. There were plenty of times I wanted to both hug Aaron and also knock some sense into him because he was just being so dumb.
I enjoyed the fact that there wasn't a happy ending after book 2 and in book 3 we got to see realistic struggles that a young couple starting college would actually go through. Bethany does an exceptional job of showing all sides of the story — the good, the bad, the sad, everything.
I loved this book. I love the journey all of the characters are going through and I cannot wait to read even more about them.
Exceptional job as always Bethany.
September 26, 2022
Listen this was a rollercoaster ride, I was so full of emotions reading this third book in this series! Bethany 😊 you did it once again! Off to college the friends go! As Aaron and Rae started dating after being best friends for years they are off to college together. But maybe dating your best friend isn’t the best idea or is it? Rae is such a strong beautiful character and has overcome so much! Aaron freaking Cooper has lost baseball possibly Rae. I’ve been in tears laughed cried again! Ugh I need book 4 now!!!! Highly recommend reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2022
My was this book a rollercoaster of emotions! Aaron and Rae's relationship definitely took a rough trip through the ringer and I couldn't help but feel for them every step of the way, especially Aaron.
We have yet to find their happily ever after, which I'm sure we'll get in book four, but if anyone has ever deserved the happiest of ever afters, it's Aaron and Rae. No one ever said the road to being soulmates was easy breezy. There are bumps along the way and we all learn to work through them, no matter what.
We have yet to find their happily ever after, which I'm sure we'll get in book four, but if anyone has ever deserved the happiest of ever afters, it's Aaron and Rae. No one ever said the road to being soulmates was easy breezy. There are bumps along the way and we all learn to work through them, no matter what.
September 6, 2022
Wow this book is the first from Bethany that had me screaming and angry at both Rae and Aaron. There’s some moments of tears and definitely tons of heartbreak but a lot of anger from all the characters in this book and they were fed up with Rae and Aaron. It ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the rest of Rae and Aaron’s story. I definitely recommend reading Bethany’s books
September 14, 2022
Oh my gosh, I just can't with this series! Aaron and Are are so perfect for each other....if they would get out of their own way!
Not gonna lie, I was cursing Bethany in my head as I was reading this. Talk about killing someone with a book! WHY IS IT SO GOOD?! I am now in need of book 4, sooner rather than later!
Don't hesitate...read this series!
Not gonna lie, I was cursing Bethany in my head as I was reading this. Talk about killing someone with a book! WHY IS IT SO GOOD?! I am now in need of book 4, sooner rather than later!
Don't hesitate...read this series!
September 23, 2022
Broken Like This picks up where Book 2 ends with the group of friends going to college. Aaron and Rae think they are getting their happily ever after. If you haven't read the first two, I would recommend going back and reading from the beginning.
But life has other plans.
As always, the emotion is so well written into this book that you feel the heartache and anguish right along with the characters. Watching Aaron deal with the loss of baseball, and Rae, was hard but lead to such an incredible character growth, especially for someone so young.
Broken Like This is another wonderful instalment of the series with a wonderful group of friends and they navigate their way into adulthood.
But life has other plans.
As always, the emotion is so well written into this book that you feel the heartache and anguish right along with the characters. Watching Aaron deal with the loss of baseball, and Rae, was hard but lead to such an incredible character growth, especially for someone so young.
Broken Like This is another wonderful instalment of the series with a wonderful group of friends and they navigate their way into adulthood.
October 13, 2022
I knew going into this book that it would be hard, but I know that Bethany always writes an honest portrayal. This is the third segment of Rae and Aaron’s love story, and it is as honest and real as the previous two books. This one covers heartbreak, stupid decisions, and the rollercoaster of hurt from your first real love.
It was hard to watch, but gosh was it accurate. The writing is beautiful and the resilience of these characters continues. You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer, you’ll cry. This one is all about finding yourself as a grown-up when life shifts so much from high school to college. I completely related to it.
I am so excited to see where the story leads - this is a fantastic and necessary part of the series and I can’t recommend it enough!
It was hard to watch, but gosh was it accurate. The writing is beautiful and the resilience of these characters continues. You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer, you’ll cry. This one is all about finding yourself as a grown-up when life shifts so much from high school to college. I completely related to it.
I am so excited to see where the story leads - this is a fantastic and necessary part of the series and I can’t recommend it enough!
September 27, 2022
What a whirlwind! This one has some serious drama. I cried and was so angry while reading but I love that I feel those emotions while reading what Bethany wrote! This one was my favorite in the series so far, but I can't wait to continue on with Aaron and Rae's story!
September 10, 2022
I can’t wait to read more of Aaron and Rae! These books and these stories and just man!! It’s a roller coaster ride but one I can’t wait to keep going on and seeing these two’s story!
September 24, 2022
As always, Bethany nailed this book. She can always make me cry and patch me up in the end. I loved getting to be with all these characters again. I love Aaron and Rae so much and have really enjoyed getting to see their struggles and relationship grow.
September 25, 2022
This book is the perfect continuation of this couple who are both continuing to grow as people in college. Be prepared for the emotional ride they take you on!
September 26, 2022
I’ve loved this entire series. This is a rollercoaster ride. These two make me root for them. Want to shake them. Want to scream and throw the book at the wall telling them to just love each other. I can’t wait for the next one!
October 11, 2022
This book broke me in so many ways, but it made me not be able to put it down. There was so much emotion from the characters. I cannot wait for the next book!
September 15, 2022
Man oh Man was this was emotional. As much as it sucked watch both Aaron and Rae break up, I know it was necessary for them to grow and be better for themselves individually and as a couple. They do each have their own growing pains and mistakes they have to deal with. I can't wait for Love Like This!
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