#QueerLitLoft

Published in July 2022 Broken served as Ami Spencer’s debut novel and what a cracker of a debut it was then, and certainly still is now.

An age-gap, second chance, workplace romance, Broken introduces readers to Callie Montgomery – a senior partner in her father’s architecture company, and older woman Jackie Taylor – a former business partner and lover from when Callie was younger, and now the firm’s new client relations manager.

Whilst the majority of the book is set in the present day, the first few chapters do flick between the past and present which imparts a feel for how Callie and Jackie first met and their relationship trauma up until the current day. I like that the age gap is quite a significant one, and that the power dynamics are actually inverted in the workplace, in that Callie is both the younger woman and also Jackie’s boss.

However, what really makes this book is the authentic representation of living with anxiety., which is something that Callie has struggled with throughout her life. Any readers who live with an anxiety disorder or suffer from issues arising from anxiety, will no doubt recognise the real and vivid depictions of anxiety and how receiving understanding and care from the right person can significantly help to ease the anxiety spiral. This is what readers get to experience with Callie and Jackie’s relationship from the outset; 12 years ago when Jackie first comforts Callie in the midst of a panic attack.

By the end of the story we know a great deal about Callie: her awful upbringing with a bitter and abusive mother, her failed marriage, and even the struggles she’s faced over the years assimilating with her half siblings. Callie’s backstory is full of angst and trauma, painting a vivid picture of where her anxiety not only stems from but exactly how it has been able to consume her over the years. The person we don’t get to know too much of the back story of is Jackie. Whilst there’s plenty of depth to her present day thoughts and actions, particularly when they come to her concern for Callie, I don’t feel like I ever got to know who she was outside of that dynamic.

Overall, an intriguing and emotive read – is it the best story, plot heavy book I’ve ever read? No, BUT it does an exceptional job of incorporating anxiety into a characters psyche and demonstrating the impact it can have on a relationship – whether or not you’re the sufferer or the supporter – and for that alone it gets a lot of love from me.

I received an arc of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Read for free on Kindle Unlimited or purchase from: