Beyond Repair or Beyond Bruised? The Journey of Lydia Baker and Callum Reeve in Annie Hughes' Broken Girl Series
Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes: A Review of the Second Book in the Broken Girl Series
If you are looking for a new adult romance novel that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon, then you might want to check out Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes. This is the second book in the Broken Girl series, which follows the lives and loves of Lydia Baker and Callum Reeve, two broken souls who find each other and heal each other. In this review, I will tell you what this book is about, what makes it so good, and why you should read it.
beyond bruised by annie hughes ( epub) pdf
The Plot: How Lydia and Callum Overcome Their Past and Present Challenges
Lydia Baker has been fighting a war in her own mind for as long as she can remember. She suffers from anxiety, depression, and PTSD due to her abusive father and her traumatic past. She has tried to cope with her mental illness through therapy, medication, and self-harm, but nothing seems to work. She feels like she is beyond repair, and that she is a burden to everyone around her. She decides to change herself, to become someone else, someone normal, someone who can fit in and be happy. But in doing so, she loses herself and her spark.
Callum Reeve used to be a bad boy who didn't care about anything or anyone. He was involved in illegal activities, drugs, and violence. He was also a player who used women for his own pleasure and never committed to anyone. But everything changed when he met Lydia. She saw through his facade and touched his heart. He fell in love with her and wanted to be a better man for her. He gave up his old ways and started a new life with her. But he soon realizes that loving Lydia is not enough. He has to understand her, support her, and protect her from her demons.
Together, Lydia and Callum face many challenges from their past and present. They have to deal with their families who don't approve of their relationship, their enemies who want to hurt them, and their own insecurities and fears. They have to overcome many obstacles and hardships before they can find their happy ending. They have to learn to trust each other, communicate with each other, and accept each other for who they are.
The plot of Beyond Bruised is full of drama, suspense, action, and romance. It will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow Lydia and Callum's journey of healing and happiness. It will also make you feel a range of emotions as you witness their struggles and triumphs.
The Characters: What Makes Lydia and Callum Relatable and Lovable
Lydia Baker is one of the most relatable and lovable characters I have ever read about. She is a strong heroine who has gone through so much pain and suffering in her life, but still manages to survive and fight for herself. She is also a funny heroine who has a great sense of humor and sarcasm that makes her stand out from the crowd. She is not afraid to speak her mind or stand up for herself or others. She is loyal, caring, and compassionate to those she loves.
However, Lydia is not perfect. She has many flaws that make her human and realistic. She has low self-esteem and self-worth that make her doubt herself and her abilities. She has trust issues that make her push people away or hide her true feelings. She has coping mechanisms that are unhealthy and harmful to herself or others. She has mental illness that affects her mood, thoughts, behavior, and relationships.
But despite her flaws, Lydia is not hopeless or helpless. She tries to overcome her problems with the help of therapy, medication, friends, family, and Callum. She tries to change herself for the better without losing herself in the process. She tries to find happiness within herself instead of relying on others.
funny, witty, and charming. He is also sweet, romantic, caring, and protective of Lydia. He treats her with respect, kindness, and love. He makes her laugh, smile, and feel good about herself. He supports her, encourages her, and helps her with her issues. He is loyal, faithful, and committed to her.
But like Lydia, Callum is not perfect either. He has his own flaws that make him human and realistic. He has a dark past that haunts him and makes him feel guilty and ashamed. He has anger issues that make him lose control and lash out at others. He has insecurities that make him jealous and possessive of Lydia. He has trust issues that make him doubt Lydia's feelings for him.
But despite his flaws, Callum is not a bad person or a bad partner. He tries to overcome his problems with the help of therapy, friends, family, and Lydia. He tries to change himself for the better without losing his edge or his personality. He tries to find happiness with Lydia instead of pushing her away.
Lydia and Callum are two characters that complement each other and bring out the best in each other. They have a lot of chemistry and passion that make their relationship hot and steamy. They also have a lot of love and respect that make their relationship sweet and tender. They have a lot of humor and banter that make their relationship fun and entertaining. They have a lot of challenges and conflicts that make their relationship realistic and relatable.
They are not perfect individually or together, but they are perfect for each other. They are two broken people who heal each other with their love.
The Themes: What Messages Does the Author Convey Through the Story
Beyond Bruised is not just a romance novel, but also a novel that explores some important themes and messages that can resonate with many readers. Some of these themes are:
The importance of self-acceptance and self-love: The author shows how Lydia struggles with her self-image and self-worth due to her mental illness and her abusive father. She shows how Lydia tries to change herself to fit in or please others, but ends up losing herself and her happiness. She shows how Lydia learns to accept herself for who she is, flaws and all, and to love herself unconditionally. She shows how Lydia realizes that she is not beyond repair, but rather beyond bruised.
The power of friendship and family: The author shows how Lydia and Callum are not alone in their journey of healing and happiness. They have friends and family who support them, care for them, and help them along the way. They have friends like Harper, Liam, Jake, Emma, and others who are always there for them when they need them. They have family like Lydia's mother, Callum's parents, Callum's sister Mia, and others who love them despite their differences or mistakes. They have a chosen family that they create with each other.
The reality of mental illness and its impact on relationships: The author shows how mental illness is not something to be ashamed of or ignored, but rather something to be acknowledged and treated. She shows how mental illness affects not only the person who suffers from it, but also the people around them. She shows how mental illness can cause misunderstandings, arguments, breakups, or even violence in relationships. She shows how mental illness can be managed with professional help, medication, therapy, coping skills, or support from others.
wiser, or braver in their life. She shows how trauma can be healed with the help of therapy, forgiveness, closure, or acceptance. She shows how trauma can be overcome with the help of love, happiness, hope, or dreams.
The Writing Style: How the Author Captures the Reader's Attention and Emotions
The author has a captivating writing style that makes the reader feel immersed in the story and connected to the characters. Some of the features of her writing style are:
The use of first-person dual point of view: The author writes the story from both Lydia and Callum's perspectives, alternating between them in each chapter. This allows the reader to get inside their heads and understand their thoughts, feelings, motivations, and actions. It also allows the reader to see both sides of the story and appreciate their differences and similarities.
The use of humor, sarcasm, and banter: The author writes the story with a lot of humor, sarcasm, and banter that makes the reader laugh out loud and enjoy the interactions between the characters. She uses witty dialogue, funny situations, hilarious jokes, and clever insults that add some lightness and fun to the story. She also uses humor as a way to cope with or express some of the darker or heavier aspects of the story.
The use of descriptive language and imagery: The author writes the story with a lot of descriptive language and imagery that makes the reader visualize and experience the scenes and settings of the story. She uses vivid words, phrases, metaphors, and similes that create a clear picture and a strong impression in the reader's mind. She also uses descriptive language and imagery to convey some of the emotions and sensations that the characters feel.
The use of suspense, twists, and surprises: The author writes the story with a lot of suspense, twists, and surprises that keep the reader hooked and curious about what will happen next. She uses foreshadowing, clues, hints, secrets, revelations, and shocks that create tension and excitement in the story. She also uses suspense, twists, and surprises to challenge some of the expectations or assumptions that the reader might have about the story or the characters.
Conclusion: Why You Should Read Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes
Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes is a book that will make you feel a lot of things. It will make you feel sad for Lydia and Callum's pain and suffering. It will make you feel angry at their enemies and abusers. It will make you feel happy for their love and happiness. It will make you feel hopeful for their healing and future.
Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes is a book that will teach you a lot of things. It will teach you about mental illness and how to deal with it or help someone who has it. It will teach you about self-acceptance and self-love and how to achieve them. It will teach you about friendship and family and how to appreciate them. It will teach you about healing and happiness and how to find them.
Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes is a book that will inspire you a lot of things. It will inspire you to be yourself and not change for anyone else. It will inspire you to be strong and not give up on yourself or your dreams. It will inspire you to be kind and not judge or hurt others. It will inspire you to be happy and not let anything or anyone take away your joy.
swoon, and think. It is a book that will touch your heart, mind, and soul. It is a book that you will not regret reading.
FAQs: Some Common Questions About Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes
Here are some common questions that you might have about Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes and their answers:
Is Beyond Bruised a standalone book or do I need to read Beyond Repair first?
Beyond Bruised is the second book in the Broken Girl series and it follows the same characters as Beyond Repair, so it is recommended to read them in order. However, the author does provide some background information on the previous events, so you can still enjoy Beyond Bruised without reading Beyond Repair first.
How realistic is the portrayal of mental illness in Beyond Bruised?
The author does a great job of depicting the struggles of someone who suffers from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She shows how these conditions affect Lydia's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships, as well as how she copes with them through therapy, medication, and support from others. She also shows how Callum learns to understand and help Lydia without judging or fixing her. The author does not glamorize or trivialize mental illness, but rather presents it as a complex and challenging reality that can be overcome with time, patience, and love.
How steamy is Beyond Bruised?
Beyond Bruised is a new adult romance novel that contains some explicit scenes between Lydia and Callum. However, these scenes are not gratuitous or graphic, but rather serve to show their emotional connection and intimacy. The author also balances the steamy moments with sweet and funny ones that make their relationship more realistic and endearing. If you are looking for a romance that is hot but not too hot, then Beyond Bruised might be a good choice for you.
How long is Beyond Bruised?
Beyond Bruised is about 300 pages long, which makes it a relatively quick and easy read. You can finish it in one sitting or in a few days depending on your reading pace and preference. It is also available in both paperback and ebook formats, so you can choose whichever suits you best. You can find it on Amazon or other online platforms for a reasonable price.
Will there be another book in the Broken Girl series?
According to the author's website, Beyond Bruised is the final book in the Broken Girl series. She has wrapped up Lydia and Callum's story in a satisfying and hopeful way, and she does not plan to write any more books about them. However, she has written another series called Breaking Free, which features some of the secondary characters from the Broken Girl series, such as Callum's brother Liam and Lydia's friend Harper. If you enjoyed Beyond Bruised and want to read more from the same author, you can check out Breaking Free and see what happens to these characters next.
I hope this article has given you some useful information and insights about Beyond Bruised by Annie Hughes. If you are interested in reading this book or other books by this author, you can find them on Amazon or other online platforms. Thank you for reading this article and happy reading! 71b2f0854b