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The Breaks by Ellen Barker
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour. 
Quick Summary:
The Breaks: A Novel by Ellen Barker is a gripping and absorbing read that will resonate with fans of character-driven stories about resilience, redemption, and the power of human connection, particularly those who appreciate complex, atmospheric portrayals of community and the struggles of the human spirit. (StoryGraph)
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[Book Review] The Breaks by Ellen Barker #LiteraryFiction #Bookstagram #BookSky #BookX #EllenBarker #TheBreaks #iReadBookTours
Book Details
![[Book Review ~ 4.5 ⭐ ] The Breaks by Ellen Barker #LiteraryFiction #Bookstagram #BookSky #BookX #EllenBarker #TheBreaks #iReadBookTours](https://i0.wp.com/ginaraemitchell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/The-Breaks-BOOK-COVER-Ellen-Barker.jpg?resize=300%2C475&quality=100&ssl=1 "[Book Review ~ 4.5 ⭐ ] The Breaks by Ellen Barker #LiteraryFiction #Bookstagram #BookSky #BookX #EllenBarker #TheBreaks #iReadBookTours")
The Breaks by Ellen Barker
Published by She Writes Press on February 18, 2025
Genres: Adult Fiction 18+, Friendship, Literary Fiction, Women's Literature
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 315
A contemporary literary novel about an unlikely friendship between two very different women, The Breaks will appeal to fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
Waking up in the emergency room with a broken arm is not one of the ways Marianne imagined her first date with Carl, if it is a date, ending up. Nor was driving up to the entrance of a women’s prison a few weeks later anywhere on her radar. But here she is. At least I’m on this side of the gate. She picks up newly released Stephanie, as a favor to a nun she barely knows, returns to her East of Troost home, and finds herself immersed in a whole new drama.
East of Troost is Marianne’s childhood neighborhood, downtrodden by decades of redlining and a wide swath of destruction to make way for an expressway. Marianne moves back after a reversal of fortune limits her options. She repairs the house and deals with a couple of “incidents”—hence her acquaintance with Officer Carl.
Meanwhile, Sister Colette bought the house behind her and is taking in women who, in her words, need to learn to “just live.” As Stephanie helps Marianne cope with her broken arm, she gradually comes out of her shell and teaches Marianne a thing or two about just living.
Source: iRead Book Tours
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: I’m not sure if this book should be PG-13 or PG-13+M. The book contains little profanity, no sex or violence, and no abortion, suicide, adultery, sexual or physical abuse. It does deal with wrongful conviction and women leaving prison, which may be unsuitable for under 13. (Lauren @ iReadBookTours)
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Purchase Links for The Breaks
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Barker, Ellen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 315 Pages - 02/18/2025 (Publication Date) - She Writes Press (Publisher)
If the above link does not route you to your country’s Amazon page for The Breaks, please let me know, and I’ll gladly get you a link.
Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount from their share. Every penny helps support this blog.
Purchase The Breaks online from your local bookstore.
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My thoughts on The Breaks
Ellen Barker’s The Breaks is a heartwarming and poignant contemporary novel about resilience, second chances, and the unexpected friendships that change us. Fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine will appreciate the novel’s blend of humor, heart, human connection, and a great dog character.
Redemption is at the heart of The Breaks, woven into the journeys of Marianne and Stephanie as they try to rebuild their lives after major setbacks.
Stephanie’s Path to Redemption: Fresh out of prison, Stephanie faces the uphill battle of reintegrating into society. She’s dealing with the weight of her past while trying to prove—to herself and everyone else—that she’s capable of change. With Marianne’s unexpected friendship and Sister Colette’s unwavering support, she slowly learns to trust again and begins to carve out a new future.
Marianne’s Journey of Self-Forgiveness: For Marianne, redemption is more personal. Moving back to her childhood neighborhood after life didn’t go as planned, she’s stuck wrestling with regrets and self-doubt. But taking in Stephanie—at first as a favor—gives her a renewed sense of purpose. As she helps Stephanie find her footing, she starts to find her own.
The Role of Sister Colette: Acting as both a guide and a grounding force, Sister Colette represents redemption through faith, compassion, and community. She creates a space where both women can move beyond their pasts and redefine who they are.
In the end, The Breaks shows that redemption isn’t about a single defining moment—it’s a process. Healing, self-worth, and second chances don’t happen overnight, but with patience, support, and the willingness to change, they’re always within reach.
I’ve also reviewed Still Needs Work, a Novel by Ellen Barker
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.
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About Ellen Barker
Ellen Barker grew up in Kansas City during a period of demographic upheaval, and she returns there in her novels.
She has a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Washington University in Saint Louis, where she developed a passion for how cities work, and don’t. She began her career as an urban planner, then spent many years working for large consulting firms, first as a writer-editor and later managing large data systems, jobs-rich in corporate drama, large and small.
She is the author of East of Troost, which introduced readers to the neighborhood where Still Needs Work takes place. She now lives in Los Altos, California, with her husband and their German shepherd, Boris, who inspired the dog in this novel.
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Official Tour Page for The Breaks
Full Tour Schedule:
Feb 17 – @chloeltaylor__
Feb 17 – @bearyintobooks
Feb 18 – @this.human.reads
Feb 18 – Locks, Hooks, and Books
@acourtofspinesnpages
@ginaraemitchell
@KimBartosch
@bookish_mum
@geturbook
@junebug_reads
Paws.Read.Repeat
@Leannebookstagram
@michellegodardricherauthor
@readsandmusic
@onemorechap
@nissa_the.bookworm
@jennyfioreads
@speedreadstagram
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Book Title: The Breaks (a Novel) by Ellen Barker
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 310 pages
Genre: Literary Novel
Publisher: She Writes Press
Release date: February 2025
Tour dates: Feb 18 to Mar 10, 2025
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: I’m not sure if this book should be PG-13 or PG-13+M. The book contains little profanity, no sex or violence, and no abortion, suicide, adultery, sexual or physical abuse. It does deal with wrongful conviction and women leaving prison, which may be unsuitable for under 13.
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] The Breaks by Ellen Barker #LiteraryFiction #Bookstagram #BookSky #BookX #EllenBarker #TheBreaks #iReadBookTours
I like the looks of this book looks and sounds like a great read would love to to read & review a print/physical copy of this book
Hey Crystal. Check out the link at the bottom of the post. If you review for iRead Book Tours, they have print copies of most books.