ARC Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What the Storm Broke by Nicole M. King

Published June 1, 2026

First of all, thank you to Nicole and InsideStory for allowing me to get completely lost in thought with this one.

Writing this review turned out to be harder than reading the book. Not because it’s bad—absolutely not. In fact, I loved it. There was something about the carefully chosen words and the writing style that pulled me in immediately. I flew through the beginning like a madwoman because I was completely there.

Now, if you know me, you know I have a complicated relationship with slow burns. Slow everything, really. My brain likes to sprint while books sometimes prefer a leisurely walk through the countryside. Usually that’s a problem. Strangely enough, it wasn’t here. The pacing felt slower than my usual goblin-speed reading habits, but I didn’t mind it at all.

Where I did struggle was near the end. For me, the story could have comfortably ended around chapter 40. Everything that needed to be said felt like it had already been said, and what followed felt a little like an old VCR tape stuck on a loop. Sometimes the mystery and the emotional depth lie in what isn’t explained, and I personally felt some of that magic was lost.

Please put the pitchforks down for a second. I know this is just my opinion, and I’m also fully aware this book wasn’t written specifically for me. If I had judged it purely on my personal reading preferences, the rating probably would have been lower. But I also know there are plenty of readers with far more patience than I have who will appreciate exactly what the story is doing and enjoy letting it sink in slowly. That’s why I genuinely feel it deserves four stars.

If you’re ready for a journey through blocked memories, buried emotions, and everything painful—and sometimes beautiful—that comes with uncovering them, then this book is definitely for you. Just close your eyes every now and then, take a deep breath, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself mentally feeding those farm animals twice a day, just like I did.