Books › Breaking Character
Breaking Character
334 pages
A deliciously tense, slow-burn Hollywood romance where a frosty facade melts under the warmth of a sunny, fake-dating co-star.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping behind the velvet rope of Hollywood's most guarded secrets, anchored by the delicious, slow-burn tension of a classic grumpy/sunshine dynamic. The narrative moves at a brisk, entertaining clip, fueled by sharp banter and the high-stakes absurdity of celebrity life. It is a masterclass in the ice queen trope, wrapping the reader in the frosty, untouchable aura of its protagonist before slowly, satisfyingly melting that exterior to reveal deep vulnerability. The mood is glamorous yet intimate, balancing the glittering artifice of the entertainment industry with the quiet, tender moments of two women dropping their masks. It will utterly delight fans of fake-dating scenarios who crave witty prose, palpable chemistry, and the deeply rewarding emotional payoff of a guarded heart finally opening up.
- Mood
- glamorous
- swoony
- tension-filled
- breezy
- Tone
- wry
- witty
- romantic
- playful
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- unthawing the ice queen · public vs. private personas · vulnerability and trust · the masks we wear · workplace dynamics
- The writing
- Sharp and dialogue-driven, balancing witty Hollywood satire with tender, emotionally observant character beats.
- The arc
- Moves from frosty, guarded isolation and professional frustration to a warm, vulnerable, and deeply devoted partnership.
- Who it's for
- Readers who devour sapphic romances featuring the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, fake dating, and the ultimate melting of an untouchable ice queen.
Content notes
- homophobia
- media scrutiny
- toxic workplace elements
About the book
A lesbian celebrity romance about gaining love, losing masks, and trying to stick to the script.
Life has become a farcical mess for icy British A-lister Elizabeth Thornton. America’s most-hated villain stars in a top-rated TV medical drama that she hates. Now, she’s been romantically linked to her perky, new co-star, Summer, due to the young woman’s clumsiness. As a closeted actress, that’s the last thing Elizabeth needs. If she could just get her dream movie role, life would be so much better. The only problem is that the eccentric French film-maker offering it insists on meeting her “girlfriend”, Summer, first.
Summer Hayes is devastated when her co-star shuns her for accidentally sparking rumors they’re lovers. Now the so-called British Bitch has the audacity to ask Summer to pretend to be her girlfriend to get her a role? Elizabeth doesn’t even like Summer! Oh, how she’d love to tell her no. And Summer definitely would if it wasn’t for the fact she’s maybe a tiny bit in love with the impossible woman.
Description from Open Library.
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