A unique non romance about finding love with oneself, this was truly an incredible reading experience. I loved Edi’s journey to finding herself outside of the longest relationship she’s ever been in. I loved how Fred helped Edi find herself and how the conclusion was a healthy ending and resolution for all parties. Wonderful storytelling!

Apologies - I wouldn’t have requested it if I had seen the reviews on GR first, I cannot support transphobic authors.

This book is definitely something, I'm still not completely sure how I felt about it. The blurb and picture give it a rom-com feel but I'd say it's more women's fiction or general fiction. There wasn't much depth from many of the characters. I kept hoping throughout that it would pick up and become more enjoyable but it was rather blah. Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was definitely not for me. The idea is different, and I did appreciate a new take on the rom-com ideas. The couple taking a break to date other people and then return to each other to decide if they want to be together. It sounds refreshing, but in practice it didn't land for me. I had a lot of second hand embarrassment, and a lot of cringe. This is definitely personal from person to person though. If this new take on a rom-com sounds interesting to you, I would check it out for yourself and see if you have a different reaction to these situations & meet-cutes we find out MC in throughout the book.

Oh my goodness! This book was so cute! First off, the story hit so close to home for my own personal life experiences that it’s insane… I have yet to find a story that does that! I loved Fred and the girls, they’re the group that you want in your corner! Seriously, the new IT book of 2022!

I had really high hopes for this book after reading the description but unfortunately I was a bit disappointed. I had to DNF halfway through. I was expecting a sapphic romance but it definitely wasn't that. If anyone, wants to try the book keep that In mind. The writing style wasn't my cup of tea but might be good for some.

I had some concerns regarding the bi-phobia within this book...it was rampant. If this was 10 years ago, that and the transphobia would have been brush over...but it's not. I wanted this to be so much better.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have received an ARC through NetGalley for review purposes.
Okay, just to get this out of the way: this book was marketed as a romantic comedy. In the acknowledgements, the author refers to this as a romantic comedy. This is doing the book a disservice as it is most assuredly not a romantic comedy. The book is neither a romance, nor especially comedic.
What is is, instead, is a sweet story of a woman who, when her fiancé pressures her into a three-month "break"/open relationship, learns to stand up against her immature and selfish fiancé, to do things that pleases her, rather than just him, and who also finds the courage to acknowledge that she is attracted to women.
All of the book is centred on Edi's (the protagonist) journey: her supportive, if interchangeable friends, her almost ridiculously self-centred fiancé, and her female love interest, whose main personality traits are being supportive of Edi, understanding of Edi and encouraging of Edi. Their relationship (in fact, ALL of the relationships in the book) are not show as actual, nuanced relationships between two people. Instead, the point is only the effect of the relationship on Edi and what she learns about herself through the relationship.
Again, all of which would be fine, if the book was marketed as the "finding yourself" story it is, rather than as a sapphic romcom.

I went into this book thinking it was a sapphic romance but was sadly disappointed. The writing was good.

Ironically started reading in trans visibility day then I read something that threw me off. Went on to investigate and turns out I was right all along. Therefore I’ve made the decision to not finish the book. Hope other can understand.

Edi Parcell's boyfriend proposes to her and all is looking chipper in her world. Until he arrives home from a weekend at his parents and confides in her that is worried they both might be missing out and suggests an open relationship. Edi is hesitant but, as a people pleaser, agrees, and finds out more about herself in the process.

I loved this book for about 60%. I was genuinely considering stopping reading it so I could go buy the physical copy. It was the perfect sunny day binge read. The secondary characters were so well placed and the relationship MVP award goes to Edi and her circle of girlfriends. Who doesn't want ride or dies like this?

Admittedly, I felt it dragged towards the end and there were a few moments where I expected dialogue to go a different way and it didn't and it was a shame. My main rating drop off came from comments that were used by characters that were a little jarring to see in 2022 - they were used as a device to code the character as hateful or unlikeable, but there were other ways to go about it.

I enjoyed this book. Edi’s childhood sweetheart has no sooner proposed to her and she has accepted when he admits to feeling like he needs a break so that when they do get married they don’t have regrets about not having experienced dating and having sex with others. Unbelievably, Edi goes along with it!

Initially, she’s hurt and a bit bewildered but she soon realises that it’s an opportunity for her too and begins to embrace her freedom. Her great female friends are really supportive of her and set her up a dating site profile and she goes on a date or two. As many of us have found (and here speaks the voice of experience) not everyone is as honest as they could be on their dating profiles! She also finds herself on the receiving end of some flirty banter with a female waitress………….and she’s strangely excited by it. So she begins exploring her sexuality.

Edi is a lovely character and I took to her straight away. It’s just an interesting take on an age old theme of ‘being on a break!’ It made me think of the Beautiful South song, ‘A little Time’.

Unfortunately this book didn't turn out in the way I thought it would. I didn't particularly enjoy the writing style or the characters or the plot so I DNF'd at around 30%.

For easy the first half of this book, I did wonder what the hell it was that I was reading and so wanted to stop because I wasn't at all enjoying it, but then it was almost like we'd turned a corner and I started to enjoy the book. A main character that grows on you and a group of close friends that is very good to have and to call upon in your hour of need.

For a book described as a romantic comedy it had dissapointingly little romance in it. I think it handled the topics of independence, discovering who you are outside of romantic relationships and female friendships really well, but i expected more romance. It definitely has the vibe of a feel-good wholesome romcom you can watch a milion times for comfort, except for the focus not being on romantic love. Considering my expectations, i was a little bit let down and really counted on some nice queer romance. If that's what you're looking for - this isn't the book for you. But if you find yourself longing for a book with a twenty-something main character, who only begins to discover her sexuality and finds her voice, you should give "The break up" a try.
The only other thing i have to mention is that i felt Edi's friends each had one (1) personality trait and i honestly saw more chemistry between Edi and Faith than any of Edi's actual love intrests.

I really wanted to enjoy that book. Unfortunately I didn't. I expected some wlw romcom and there was not it at all. Instead I got Edi moaning about her relationship with Rowan with whom she seems to be very in love at first but when the plot goes on, she realises that she hasnn't been happy with him at all and I just can't. It was boring and not funny and definitly not gay romance. The one good thing I can say about it is that I read it pretty fast. And I love Edi's friends - they are supportive and lovely and really great.

Thanks Netgalley fot this ARC.

Completely, funny, really easy to relate to, completely feel good and throughly enjoyable. If you are a romantic romcom fan. Don't miss this wonderful book.

Although this wasn't necessarily a bad book, it certainly wasn't what was described on the blurb. However, I did like the story it just wasn't what I was expecting.
I was expecting a cute sapphic romance but this was actually only a very small part of the plot. The main focus of the story was actually on Edi and her friend group and how they were always there for each other no matter what and although I did like the feminism and girl power vibes, I couldn't really tell the female friends apart as they were written quite one dimensional. I loved Fred's character and how she was so care free and loving towards Edi, showing her how she should be loved.
I liked Edi and thought she deserved better than Rowan who was a truly awful male character who wanted some freedom before getting married and made Edi question her self worth quite a lot. There were also some questionable comments made which were biphobic and homophobic which put me off a little.
Overall this is a book that is more about female friendship and loving yourself rather than the romance I was expecting.

The Break Up was such a fun British rom-com! I loooove novels set in London and the language was really fun. I loved the rapport between Edi and her group of friends. However, I will say, I was a little frustrated with Edi at times! I really wanted her to see her worth and kick her loser fiancé to the curb. Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange of a honest review.

I had high expectations because of the description and the beautiful cover, but i had to dnf this book. I expected a wlw romcom (half the book is about Edi and her fiance) and received: transphobia.