Review: A Heartbreaking Story About Healing After Tragedy & Letting Love In!  (Lindy@ A Bookish Escape)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
My Thoughts:Best Kind of Broken, by Chelsea Fine, was a gripping and heart-wrenching story about grief caused by tragedy, and the process of trying to heal and live again.  Sarah (Pixie), and Levi (Leaves) have both suffered a horrific loss that turned their lives upside down.  Levi's parents separated, and moved to different states, because they couldn't deal with their grief, Levi's college grades dropped so low that he was put on probation, and Pixie was left to feel all alone and abandoned.  While this tragedy was neither Pixie nor Levi's fault, they both suffered from guilt, and blamed themselves for what happened.  These two had been incredibly close since childhood, but could not stand to look at one another, because they reminded each other of the loss that they had suffered.  Grief can bring people together or pull them apart.  In this case, Grief tore their relationship apart.  Levi and Pixie suffered great loses.  They lost themselves, their close knit family, and each other.During the summer, Levi has no place to live.  His family moved away, and he found himself looking for a place to live.  Ellen, Pixie's aunt, offered him a job as a handyman, with free room and board at her inn.  Pixie didn't want to live with her bitter, and angry mother, so when her aunt Ellen offered her a job cooking at the inn with free room and board, she instantly took it.  Pixie and Levi were both shocked when they realized that they would both be working and living together for the summer.  They planned to avoid one another, but soon learned that avoidance was impossible.  Their rooms were located right next to each other, and they were the only people who lived in the East Wing of the inn.  They had to share a small bathroom, and were in close proximity consistently throughout the days.The first 30% of the story was a bit slow paced for me, but then things picked up, and the story flew by.  My heart broke for all that Levi and Pixie had to endure.  I wanted them to lean on one another, console each other, and help each other heal.  However, they were both in such a dark hole, that they couldn't let themselves think about, share, or deal with their mutual loss.  I loved the secondary characters in this story as well.  Ellen had a big heart, and it was obvious that she was trying to bring Pixie and Levi back together.  Daren was an interesting character as well.  At first, I thought that he was hitting on Pixie because he was attracted to her, and a scumbag, but then I realized he was suffering from loss too, and was just trying to push Levi's buttons by making him jealous so that he would admit his feelings for Pixie.  I loved Pixie's best friend, Jenna, and Levi's best friend, Zack.  They were both great characters, and amazing friends!The sexual chemistry and attraction between Pixie and Levi was intense, yet it was obvious from the beginning that there had been a lot more to their feelings for one another than lust.  We got the dual perspectives of the main characters, and some of the memories that they had of one another before the tragedy occurred.  I loved the sassy and snarky banter that Pixie and Levi engaged in on a daily basis.  These two were hilarious.  Levi would use all the hot water every morning, so that Pixie had to take a cold shower.  In turn, she would overload the electrical circuit whenever Levi needed electricity.  One time she did it when he had only shaved half of his face.  He ended up having to walk around with half a hairy face, which I thought was hilarious.  These two found comfort in fighting with one another.  There were many sexy scenes between Levi and Pixie, as well as a lot of sexual tension, and buildup.  It felt like it took a very long time for anything significant to happen between Pixie and Levi.  I desperately wanted them to communicate with one another, and act off of their emotions.  Yet, I understood that this story was meant to be realistic, and that the healing process takes time.My Rating:I give, Best Kind of Broken, by Chelsea Fine 4 Heartbreaking, Grieving, Healing, and Finding Your Way Back Home Filled Stars!  This story had angst, heartache, romance, humor, and a great love story.  I look forward to reading Daren, and Kayla's story, which will be the next book in the series!My Favorite Quote:"I run a finger along my scar, tracing its jagged pattern with my eyes as the damaged-yet-healed skin meets my fingertips.  It's a best friend and a place to call home.  It's a lesson learned and a reminder that life is fragile.  It's my first taste of death and a second chance at life.  It's everything I never want to forget.  And it's beautiful."  (eARC, Loc.3545)~Pixie