Kiss and Break Up (Magnolia Cove) Paperback – March 4, 2019

Ella Fields takes readers on an entirely new journey through the world of the angsty world of high school seniors Peggy and Dash. Long time best friends who make a dangerous decision to explore the ‘fringe’ benefits of their relationship. Promising one another not to catch feelings and realizing that you’ve loved that person all along and denied your feelings aren’t much of a stretch in this delicious slow burn novel that will have your stomach churning and your heart races. I thought the duel perspective romance was entertaining and fun—reminiscent of some of my favorite high school drama moments. The major plotlines might have been explored before, but the delivery is uniquely Ella Fields. I have spent the last two years reading everything I could possibly get my hands on by this author and she never disappoints. Her stories are completely consuming and Kiss and Break Up was no different. The excellent storytelling ability that I have become accustomed to is present as is one of my favorite character traits—an a$$hole alpha. **heavy sigh** Dash the very definition of an a$$hole alpha—growly, possessive, determined... delicious! His only soft spot, Peggy Sue, lifelong best friend and the one person he guards passionately. But when he realized that was because it was always her? Perfection! Pure Romance Gold!!! Now, Peggy—the heroine—is where this book became slightly dicey for me, although that is hard for me as admit as I desperately love Ella’s novels. Peggy was strong as he11 and had no problem standing up to Dash—as much as he would listen—and yet is the more immature of the pair which I found surprising. It caused me to struggled a little with her character, which is a first for me when it comes to this particular author. Nevertheless, I couldn’t have put the story down if my life depended on it. I loved how much the tension between Peggy and Dash was amped up with each scene they shared, with each encounter that pushed them beyond the boundaries of those who were previously ‘strickly friends’… I particularly love how hot it made the slow burn of their romance. While sexy for sure, their romance is also sweet in the ways that only first time love can be. 4.5 EXCELLENT STORY STARS!!!!Quotes:…she’d ... rejected me. Laughed at me. Then walked away from me. I was so pi$$ed, so unexpectedly thrown by her response and the weird stabbing sensation that cut at the insides of my chest, that I’d climbed out her bedroom window and gone home before she even came back to her room.--I wasn’t sure how much longer I could take this. This feeling that ate and ate and ate at my chest, leaving nothing but bleeding need behind.--I didn’t know how I’d never seen it before, or when exactly it changed, but maybe that was why I’d shied away from anything that resembled commitment. Because it was supposed to be her all along. Peggy and Dash— more than just best friends.--A hidden truth unearthed. It was official. I’d fallen for my best friend, and she was breaking my black ... heart.

I’ve read the other stories with this group of characters, and this one didn’t sit right with me as well as the others did… lemme explain why.Peggy truly got on my nerves, yes Dash could be an 🫏 but his reasoning for messing with the other girl was justified in my opinion. Peggy was NOT innocent, but she decided to hold a grudge like no other against Dash and it grated on my nerves. The other stories went so smoothly, this one was good, just didn’t feel for Peggy’s character 🥀

Senior year of high school. The final year of ‘childhood’, and for some, it’s the year that they throw caution to the wind. Peggy is a quiet girl, living with her mom. She loves scrapbooking with her friends and playing video games with her best friend Dash. Dash is your resident bad boy. He has zero cares in the world and does what he wants when he wants. There’s an unwritten rule at their high school, boys steer clear of Peggy unless they want the wrath of Dash. When a boy named Byron decides he’s done with the rule Dash has laid down, it’s game on. Dash and Peggy try to figure out what they both want, and the question is, when it’s all said and done, can the two forgive the past and actually be together?This book was, to describe it in one word, captivating. From the first chapter I was pulled in and couldn’t put it down because I absolutely had to know what was going to happen next for each of these characters. Ella Fields is a new author to me, and I must say, I’ll be going back through her books because this book was seriously phenomenal. The banter between Dash and Peggy was both hysterical and heartbreaking at times. I also enjoyed the secondary characters like Daphne and Lars, and Willa and Jackson. I need to know more about these characters as well! This book was super well written, and I hope that there will be more for each of these characters!

Ella Fields… she can do no wrong 😍

After reading the sample I had to buy and I'm glad I did at first I thought it was going to be the same as any book about best friends and feelings in the mix but this was so much more I loved all the characters especially dash I laughed so much about what he said an dose at times he's brill but I connected with the characters from character 1 would definitely recommend

Wow! I’ve gone through a whole range of emotions with this book. From loving the friendship that these two have had for 18yrs, to being angry over Dash not seeking the truth, to heartbroken when things went downhill, swooning when Dash was trying to win Peggy back, heartbroken again for the sideline characters to smiling like a loon for the end of the book. I loved the strength in these people and the stability of the characters. I can’t wait for more.

Highly enjoyable. Peggy and Dash had one heck of a story to tell and Ella Fields told it in her very distinctive style. Onward to the next story

I'm fairly new to Ella Fields books, having only read a couple before this, but I enjoyed those quite a lot. When I started this book I wasn't quite sure if I even liked any of the characters, and to be honest, I'm still a bit unsure about some of them.I really really disliked Dash at the start, and whilst he grew on me, I don't agree with a lot of the things he does. There's a fair bit of angst in this and it really kept me going. Plenty of high school drama and life drama thrown in as well, and not just for our main characters. Some interestingly real issues dealt with in this. Peggy's friends are interesting and with everything that happened between them, I'm keen to read their stories and see how they play out, now that the foundation has been laid for those.Even though I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters and the high school antics (and that might be my age talking here, as the older I get, I probably don't connect with the younger stories as much), I still found myself hooked and looking to pick my book up every chance I got.Enjoyed this and looking forward to getting a chance to read the rest of the series.