Even If We're Broken

<p><em><strong>Love like archaeology is a lot of trowel and error.</strong></em></p><p>Still reeling from being ghosted by her girlfriend bioarchaeologist Kate Roth agrees to join an estranged colleague to teach at his field school at a Viking-age archaeology site in the wilds of Newfoundland. While welcoming the escape from Colorado where she's been medicating resurfaced anxieties with wine and angry rock music she's wary of three important facts: 1) she's had a crush on Viking Cowboy Ben for half her life 2) Ben is a family man who lives in Norway and 3) all her romantic relationships and most friendships seem to have an expiration date.</p><p>For archaeologist Esben Ben Veholt inviting the woman he's been in love with since digging alongside her 23 years ago was of course the worst possible thing he could have done for himself. This summer was supposed to be his escape from reality: a love life in ruins worsening body image issues and a teenage daughter who suddenly wants nothing to do with him. When Kate accepts his offer he intends to retain a professional relationship with her. A woman like Kate could never love him anyway-not with how much he's changed inside and out.</p><p>All seems fine on the surface as Kate and Esben's friendship rebuilds but as they dig deeper they realize just how broken they both are. To heal from their painful pasts and reclaim their crumbling presents they each need a friend who accepts them mess and all. But summer won't last forever and a third chance at romance threatens to drift across the ocean yet again.</p><p><em>Even If We're Broken </em>is an own-voice debut novel-an emotional slow-burn friends-to-lovers open door romance about self-acceptance mental health and the scars we carry. See why Book Riot named it one of the best romances of 2024!</p>