This is a good book. The main character is Charlie Dawson. She leaves New York due to her parents passing away and her parents’ hotels. Her brother took over her inheritance. She moved to Los Angeles and started up her own gallery. She has come back to for her sister’s wedding. She must confront hers past to be able to heal

Steamy romance with depth and intriguing family drama, extremely relatable and an enjoyable read. Great characters, I particularly enjoyed the sisters Charly, Kat and their cousin Holly. The banter between Charly and Darcy the Bar owner was witty and enjoyable too. I found myself rooting for Charly and Annie too.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Broken Lines of Us is a promising debut that kept me engaged until the last page. The author intertwines compelling family dynamics with a romantic subplot, creating a narrative that's both captivating and well-written.

The story follows Charlie Dawson, who returns home after four years for her sister's wedding, only to find herself unexpectedly drawn to Annie, her brother's girlfriend. While the insta-love between Charlie and Annie didn't quite win me over, the chemistry between them is palpable and well-depicted.

Despite these minor issues, it was the family relationships that kept me engaged throughout. There is a showcase of complex and realistic portrayals of sibling dynamics and personal growth. The open-ended conclusion left me wanting more closure, especially regarding Charlie's relationship with her brother. Nonetheless, Woods' engaging writing style ensures I'll be looking out for more of her work in the future.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe I’m just getting old but one of my biggest pet peeves lately is romance books where the main characters have sex within the first quarter of the book. There are some exceptions where the chemistry is well done enough or it’s integral to the story (looking at you Home for the Holidays by Erin Zak) but unfortunately this book wasn’t one of them and was a DNF.

One of the best romance books I have read in a long time! It was everything that I could have asked for from a sapphic romance.
I loved the balance of romance and plot tension.
I am overly invested in these characters, would love a book about holly.
Perfect for anyone who liked big Swiss!

Pheeew what a ride! Absolutely inhaled this book. I noticed that some people viewed the brother's girlfriend plot twist as a red flag, but I was too into their chemistry and love story to care, honestly. The writing was smooth and I just couldn't put it down. I felt like I was watching a movie, it was great from page one all the way until the end. Bonus, I fell in love with all the side characters! Well except for the brother. I really hope some of them will get their own books, I would immediately read those too. I am hooked!

Really excellent queer drama! Lots of great twists that keeps the reader on their toes. Personally I’m not a huge fan of family dramas, but this was definitely a good and wild ride

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I thought Charlie and Annie were hot together, and clearly had instant chemistry. Every time they were together, I tore through the pages.

I did find the whole Ian character a bit one dimensional and wish there were better, more fleshed out convos between him and his sisters, but whatever. He was definitely the villain.

One thing I wish this book had was an epilogue. It was kind of screaming for one — with Annie's art, Charlie's gallery, the company, Annie's parents...lots of hanging questions that would have been nice to see in like a years time.

This was a enjoyable read. The balance of plot and intimacy was very well done. I enjoyed getting a look into Charlies mind and found her thought patterns relatable. I wish it didn't have to end, I would love to real a continuation of their lives.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and am writing this review voluntarily.

I loved this book. It was an amazing journey while reading it. I enjoyed Annie and Charlie's chemistry a lot. I mean a lot.

Okay. Let's go back and write properly. Charlie aka Charlotte Dawson came to New York to attend five years younger to her sister's wedding. The city to which she had said goodbye four years back after her parent's death. The city that took everything from her when her parents died. She left in grief, guilt, and betrayal by her misogynist brother for LA to start her gallery as an artist. She came in thinking that she would just go through her sister, Kat's, wedding and leave in two weeks without a hitch. Very casually. But, what she didn't anticipate was her love for her family in the equation of leaving again. Her uncle, aunt, sister, cousins except her brother Ian. What she didn't anticipate was meeting Annie and falling for her.

The story is a delicious mix of sexiness, low-angst, humor, love, and warmth. The writing is fresh. It can be a romantic comedy. I loved Charlie's cousin Logan. He was an absolute gem. All the characters were absolutely amazing. The family fluff and smuts are there but I think it can be taken as a pinch of salt. It was needed to tell the story. The fluff actually brought calmness to the story. So, the verdict is, I loved it.

You should read it if you're looking for a story with fun, entertainment along with comedy punches, and a style of writing that has a scope to take you to places while reading it.

This story was very interesting for me, it was a mix between comedy and family drama among upper-class New Yorkers, with a tense undertone from the beginning. Although since, also from the beginning, there was the essential fact of the novel, which is the relationship between Annie and Charlie, the rest remains quite in the background, to be honest.

Charlie is returning home to attend her little sister's wedding, she left after the death of her parents, from New York to LA, leaving her family a little behind. She also has a brother Ian, who does not think much of her, although the feeling is mutual.

Annie goes to the lesbian bar the same night that Charlie arrives in town, and as soon as they see each other they feel that irresistible instant attraction that forces them to do something, which is nothing other than spending the night together, no strings attached, just one night and just knowing each other's first names. But that's going to get complicated.

It is not easy to write the review without spoilers, in this case, so I am not going to reveal much more because I consider that it is very worthwhile to delve into this story without much information. For me it has been a very interesting, romantic, hot and heartbreaking story.

A well written page turner that's steamy, complex and packed full of drama. It's like watching Tele nova. Very enjoyable.

Thank You NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC copy..

This book was oh so very good. This unique take on a sometimes overdone storyline shows that Ms. Woods is a writer to follow. Twists and tension pull you in to read further. This one definitely kept me up way later than I should have on a work night. Must read!

This book has one of the hottest opening chapters I've ever read. I was fanning myself not even 30 pages into this steamy and serious romance. I loved how telenovela dramatic this story turned out to be. I was highly entertained! Can't wait to read what Shia Woods writes next.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. | BSB genre and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.

This story has so many twists—a well-written story with a lot of drama. The characters are truly amazing the Dawson family who hold such love for each other.

3 for most, but absolutely 3.5 for the last bit!

Many questions from the start, so I am interested. I know from the blurb the one night stand is going to be complicated. Normally I like my mains to have a relationship before expressing it, not prudish I just like the chemistry however it didn’t bother me in this. Having said that, and this is totally preference, some of the words used pulled me out the scene. Totally me, not them. Unfortunately it continued to be an issue for me and I didn’t particularly enjoy the second intimate scene.
I am interested in the background story. The background story however mainly concerns one main so doesn’t move the romance forward. The romance just not the the expression of it, I enjoyish. There is a bit of eye rolling at the break up arc, but I have to admit the bricks were there for it.
I’ve read so many books with epilogues I just expected one. It’s not left open for a sequel, or incomplete, it’s just felt like a sudden end.

Charlie hasn’t been home since her parents died it’s been too painful be there without them. Charlie returns because her sister Kat is getting married and she co maid of honor with their cousin Holly. While there she goes to the bar she use to go to and strike up a conversation with a stranger name Annie that’s leads to a passion night that neither one can forget. Charlie in for a shock when she sees Annie and learns she the girlfriend of estranged brother Ian but not everything is what it’s seems. Annie and Charlie can’t seems to keep their feelings in check and give into it while Charlie uncle ask her to help save her parents business that her brother is what her uncle thinks is doing a poor job of doing. I enjoy this read but Charlie annoy me a bit when she hesitates to get involved in the business a business that her parents build their second great love beside her and her siblings because she didn’t want to run it or wants to stay. Overall good read.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Thanks to NetGalley and BSB for an ARC.

Charlie (Charlotte) returns to NYC after 4 years away in LA to be in her younger sister's wedding. She left days after her parents were killed in an auto accident. The first night in the city, she goes to a lesbian bar where she meets Annie. The two have a one-night stand that wows them both, but they know it's only for the one night. The next evening when Charlie attends a family dinner, in walks Annie.

Charlie must navigate all of the wedding-related events, an emerging issue about her family's hotel business, the longstanding enmity between her and her brother, and her growing feelings for Annie that come with many complexities.

I won't say more at the risk of introducing spoilers.

This appears to be the author's debut; and it is wonderful. The writing is excellent, particularly the dialogue. The plotting kept me reading, and when I wasn't reading, I wanted to go back to the book. All in all, this was a solidly good romance and a pleasure. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book this author has in store for us.

(posted to Goodreads under the name, Cindy Stein)

Shia Woods' 'The Broken Line of Us' is a captivating journey through the complexities of love, loss, and resilience. With beautifully crafted prose and compelling characters, Woods weaves a story that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves a lasting impact. Each page is filled with raw emotion and poignant insights, making it impossible to put down. A must-read for anyone searching for a book that touches the soul.

In some ways this story was a bit of a comedy of errors. As well as being rather fraught at times. The story idea to some extent was a bit of a cliché but it was a good read just the same. Two women have a one night stand and go their separate ways never expecting to meet again but guess what, turns out they're both going to be at the same wedding (spoiler, none of them is the bride!).