Cover of Breaking Character by Lee Winter
CelebritiesSteamy

Breaking Character

by Lee Winter

2018 · 334 pages

Life becomes a farcical mess when icy British A-lister Elizabeth and bright LA star Summer try to persuade an eccentric director they're in love to win Elizabeth her dream role. A lesbian celebrity romance about gaining love, losing masks, and trying to stick to the script.

Fake DatingOpposites AttractForced Proximity
Editor ReviewedAI-AssistedRomance Profile Available
Your rating:

About This Book

Breaking Character is a celebrities romance novel by Lee Winter, first published in 2018 by Ylva Verlag E.Kfr.. It runs 334 pages. Readers can expect fake dating, opposites attract, forced proximity; steamy heat; a slow burn and emotional tone.

At a glance

Genre
Celebrities
Trope
Fake Dating
Heat
Steamy
Ending
HEA
Mood
Slow Burn
Published
2018

Where to read or listen

Get Breaking Character by Lee Winter

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Should I read this?

Why You May Love This Book

You may love this if…

  • An icy British A-lister and a bubbly Hollywood starlet must fake a romance to land a career-defining role, only to find the script of their lives blurring with reality.
  • Fans of the Ice Queen trope
  • Readers who enjoy Hollywood glitz and glamour
  • Romantic
  • Features Fake Dating

This may not be ideal if…

  • Readers looking for high-action or dark romance
  • Readers who dislike celebrity-focused plots
  • The 'eccentric director' subplot is somewhat farcical
Romance Profile

The Romance

Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.

Tropes

Fake DatingIce QueenGrumpy vs SunshineCelebrity RomanceOpposites AttractForced Proximity

Relationship Dynamics

Publicly affectionate / Privately clashingProtective mentor-like figureEmotional walls breaking down

Details

Type: Contemporary

Pairing: F/F

Power balance: Skewed toward the established A-lister initially, leveling out as emotional intimacy grows

Slow BurnVery strong (85 out of 100)
Relationship TensionVery strong (88 out of 100)
Emotional IntimacyVery strong (82 out of 100)

Age gap: 10-15 years

Emotional Experience

How It Feels

The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.

Moderate comfort, high tension, moderate humor, and a strong emotional payoff.

AngstMild (45 out of 100)
ComfortStrong (65 out of 100)
HumorStrong (70 out of 100)
TensionVery strong (80 out of 100)
DarknessLow (10 out of 100)
Emotional IntensityVery strong (75 out of 100)
Emotional PayoffVery strong (90 out of 100)
Tear RatingLow (20 out of 100)
Pacing: Moderate
Tone:WittySophisticatedRomanticCinematic
Heat & Explicitness

Heat Level

Based on available metadata and editorial review.

Heat Level
On-page sexual contentStrong (65 out of 100)

High

Explicitness: Moderate/Open Door
Sexual content present
Heat information is based on available metadata and editorial review. Reader sensitivities vary.
Reader Fit

Who Is This Book For?

Best for

Fans of the Ice Queen tropeReaders who enjoy Hollywood glitz and glamourFans of witty, banter-heavy dialogueReaders who love slow-burn sapphic romance

Reading mood

RomanticAmusedHopefulEngrossed

May not suit

Readers looking for high-action or dark romanceReaders who dislike celebrity-focused plots

Recommended audience: Adult

Content Guidance

Content Guidance

Story & Themes

The Story

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

When a prestigious film role requires a level of public vulnerability she doesn't possess, Elizabeth Thornton enters into a fake relationship with the sunshine-personified Summer Hayes. As they perform their 'love' for the cameras and an eccentric director, the masks they wear for the industry begin to slip, revealing genuine feelings that neither expected to find in a business arrangement.

Central Conflict

The tension between Elizabeth's guarded, professional exterior and the genuine vulnerability required to maintain a fake relationship with Summer, all while navigating the high-pressure environment of a Hollywood production.

Setting

Los Angeles / Hollywood

Themes

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoIce QueenHollywood RomanceFake RelationshipSapphic FictionFake DatingGrumpy/SunshineCelebritySlow Burn

Strengths

  • Sharp, witty dialogue
  • Strong character archetypes executed with depth
  • Authentic-feeling Hollywood setting
  • Excellent tension building

Consider before reading

  • The 'eccentric director' subplot is somewhat farcical
  • Slow pacing in the initial setup
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Book Club

Discussion Guide

Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.

  1. 1

    How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?

  2. 2

    Which theme — The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo — resonated most strongly with you, and why?

  3. 3

    How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?

  4. 4

    Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?

  5. 5

    How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?

  6. 6

    Who would you most want to recommend this book to?

  7. 7

    How did the pacing affect your reading experience?

  8. 8

    Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?

Questions are generated from approved book intelligence and may not reflect every reader's experience.
Trust & Transparency

How This Profile Was Created

Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.

Editor reviewed:
Yes
Last reviewed:
August 30, 2026
Confidence:
High confidence
Profile version:
eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
Meet the writer

About the Author

LW

Lee Winter

2 books
Be the first follower
Reader Reviews

What Readers Say

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Publication Details

Publisher
Ylva Verlag E.Kfr.
Published
2018
Length
334 pages
Language
English
ISBN-13
9783963241130
ISBN-10
3963241136

Breaking Character: quick answers

Who wrote Breaking Character?
Breaking Character was written by Lee Winter.
When was Breaking Character published?
Breaking Character was first published in 2018 by Ylva Verlag E.Kfr..
What genre is Breaking Character?
Breaking Character is a celebrities romance novel, with fake dating, opposites attract, forced proximity.
How many pages is Breaking Character?
Breaking Character is 334 pages long.
How spicy is Breaking Character?
EIKNA rates Breaking Character as steamy heat.

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Where to read or listen

Get Breaking Character by Lee Winter

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

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