Heartbreak Warfare

Heartbreak Warfare provides an intimate, internal look at the collegiate journey originally introduced in Friends, Lovers, or Nothing, shifting the lens entirely to Michelle Maxwell’s perspective. While the first book established the broader narrative of their relationship, this retelling focuses on Michelle's psychological transformation from "The Machine" to a woman capable of emotional surrender.

Heartbreak Warfare

Michelle Maxwell is a "The Machine." She has a perfect GPA, a clinical approach to life, and a five-year plan that has no room for error or "feelings." After a disastrous prom night in her small Tennessee town where her boyfriend chose a construction site over her future, Michelle heads to college determined to outrun her past with surgical efficiency.

But college turns out to be a laboratory of romantic disasters. As she navigates her way toward a pharmacy doctorate, Michelle encounters a series of "Specimens" that keep her data-driven heart on its toes:

The "Power Couple" Trap: A high-society senior who treats her like an "upgrade" while letting her pay for his steaks and luxury townhouse.
The Specimen Phase: A rotation of rebounds including an angsty drummer who wants to "open her chakras" and a British rugby player who tries to tackle a DJ booth.
The Constant Variable: Aaron—the messy-haired, grilled-cheese-making best friend who has been sitting two rows back since freshman year. He’s the only one who knows her "preface," but he’s also the only person Michelle is terrified to lose.

When the "all-or-nothing" stakes of her friendship with Aaron finally reach a boiling point, Michelle must decide if she's willing to abandon her spreadsheet for the one thing she can't control: a real, messy, loud, and incredible love.

In the game of Heartbreak Warfare, Michelle is about to learn that sometimes the only way to win is to finally surrender.