Review: 5 Broken, Heartfelt Stars
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 11, 2014
This book was my most highly anticipated 2014 novel, and boy, did it DELIVER! I swear, this woman can do no wrong in her stories. One minute, I'm crying. The next minute, I'm laughing. One minute, my heart is aching for the characters and the next, I'm rejoicing as they find their way out of the black hole of grief and into each other's arms. Chelsea's stories always make me feel. There is not one part of this book that didn't make me feel something, whether it be happiness or sadness or, even anger. I became so invested in Levi's and Pixie's story that I found myself not wanting it to end.The beginning of this novel was kind of hilarious, and I was immediately hooked on the story. Pixie and Levi have been living together in a strained and tension-filled hallway that only they share. It's awkward, and hard for them, because they used to be best friends. But all that changed when they lost Charity.The result of an accident that ruined lives and gave both the main characters misplaced guilt has left Pixie and Levi just fighting to ignore everything between them. They are the King and Queen of pretending. Usually, I'd find the high school antics in an NA novel annoying, and normally they'd turn me off from the story. But, I don't know. It seemed appropriate for these two; it seemed normal that they'd prank and argue all the time. Because, that's probably what they did growing up together. It made their connection to each other more tangible, and it was honestly kind of hilarious. :)I absolutely loved the double POV, and I loved their voices. It took me a little bit to warm up to Pixie, though, probably because she's a character who can be unreasonable at times. Her personality was a little hard to sympathize with, because she can come off as cold and standoffish. And sometimes childish; hence, all the arguments and pranks. Levi was just as bad with those. But I did grow to love Pixie, and understand where she's coming from. Her mother was emotionally abusive, and Pixie didn't just lose Charity that day. She lost the only family she's ever known. And she lost Levi. She's practically on her own, and is now having to finally face her past and own up to her feelings. It takes her a long time, as it does with Levi, but her character growth was beautiful.Levi, oh Levi. My poor, tortured love. Ever since his sister died, he's been in a downward spiral of despair, anger, and guilt. But it's easiest for him. It's easier for him to focus on the overwhelming hurt instead of confronting his feelings, both for what happened and with Pixie. Levi is just as bad at pretending as Pixie is, but the feelings are still there after all this time. He'd been living at the inn long before Pixie came back into the picture, but he doesn't know how to even be around her anymore. She's a walking, breathing reminder of the worst day of his life. The guilt eats at him. This boy has been through so much, but all he wants is to be Pixie's hero. His development was also beautiful to watch unfold, and I ended up really loving his character. He has flaws, as we all do. But his flaw is that he takes the blame for all the things he can't control. It takes him a long time to feel like he can breathe again, and his love for Pixie, and her love for him, helps strengthen that feeling.I absolutely loved the development of their relationship. Chelsea Fine certainly knows how to write about two characters who have sizzling chemistry. The bond between the two was so tangible, and the love between them so ingrained into the pages of this novel, that you couldn't doubt their feelings. They had a past, a history, and it was evident in the beginning. The sexual tension between them never felt forced, and steamy scenes weren't overdone or underdeveloped. I thought they fit the relationship between Levi and Pixie. And I just loved watching their relationship grow steadily stronger once the antics died down and they actually started communicating. Their journey back to each other was beautiful, and heartbreaking, and utterly romantic.Not only did I love the main characters, but I also loved the secondary ones! This whole group of cast, from Jenna and Aunt Ellen to Zach and even bad boy, Daren, were amazing additions to the story. They each brought something to the book, brought something to Levi's and Pixie's relationship, and they all had their own personalities. I can't wait to see them again in the next two books! :)The plot unfolded like watching a couple interact in real life. Not much happened, but I never found myself growing bored. It was real life and heartbreak, grief and letting go. It was finding the strength to move on and opening up to make new friends. It was discovering who you are and achieving redemption. But most of all, it was about healing and love. It was about two characters who had battled grief and guilt to unleash feelings that had been dormant for far too long.Best Kind of Broken tells the story of two childhood sweethearts who find their way back to each other. And those are simply my favorite kinds of stories; the ones that steal their way into my heart with their beautifully broken characters and heartfelt love story.