(Actual Rating 4.75 ⭐)

Empire High: Betrayal, the third installment in Ivy Smoak’s Empire High Universe, was an emotional rollercoaster that I couldn’t put down (or in my case, stop listening to—the audio version was fantastic!).

The story picks up in the aftermath of Isabella abducting Brooklyn and Kennedy, with Brooklyn finding her way back to the hotel where the homecoming dance took place. From there, the book dives deep into Brooklyn’s emotional world. We see her begin to open her heart to her dad, strengthen her relationship with Matt, and wrestle with fractured and divided friendships.

“I turned to watch Isabella take a sip of hers. And I couldn’t help but smile. It was game time.”

What stood out to me most was how real the emotions felt. I laughed, I cried, and at times I wanted to scream at the characters for all the needless fights caused by misunderstandings. Those parts were frustrating, but the overall story was so strong, it kept pulling me back in.

“That’s the whole problem, Brooklyn. You haven’t given me any reason to believe a word you say.” He opened the door. “Matt, you promised you wouldn’t walk away.” “I guess we’re both liars.” The door slammed shut behind him.”

The biggest twist for me was the betrayal itself. I went in expecting it from Matt—and in some ways, that expectation was met. But the real gut punch came from Brooklyn’s dad. After she finally let him in, he betrayed her in a way that felt irreparable. That moment broke my heart right alongside hers.

This book shows just how messy family and love can be. It hit me hard in more ways than one, and I’m still sitting with it. The ending left me with so many questions: Where do we go from here? How will friendships heal? What comes next?

One thing’s for sure—I’ll be picking up the next book immediately.

Tropes You’ll Find

• High school drama 🎓
• Friends to lovers ❤️
• Protective hero 🛡️
• Miscommunication / misunderstandings 😤
• Family betrayal 💔
• Found family vs. blood family 🤝
• Emotional rollercoaster 🎢

Read This If You…

• Love messy, dramatic YA/NA romances
• Want a story that makes you laugh and cry in equal measure
• Enjoy series with cliffhangers that leave you desperate for the next book
• Like stories where romance and family drama intertwine
• Are drawn to characters who feel raw, flawed, and real