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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I am crying so much. Kierra and Gabriel are the definition of soulmates and their relationship to Ava was so beautiful I am destroyed
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I Stayed by Brittainy Cherry
4.5-5 stars
Spice: š„š„š„/5
As a mom of two, it has been hard to keep up with my reading. However, with this book, I couldnāt put it down. Luckily, I was reading it on my phone so I was able to attempt to read while bottle feeding, cooking, and doing random things because I could not put this book down. I think this was my second book by Brittainy Cherry. I remember liking whatever book it was previously, but not devouring it like I did with If I Stayed.
Brittainy Cherry got me in the feels with this one. It was so heartfelt, full of emotional up and downs, and so much angst. I donāt know why but I love when my chest feels heavy with angst and emotion when reading books. She hit the nail on the head perfectly with that.
There was so much sexual tension and slow burn too. There are triggers in this book ā domestic violence, cheating, and maybe something I havenāt thought of while writing this review so make sure to check your triggers if you need them. I know some people have a hard limit on cheating, BUT I think this one deserves a read despite that rule. I personally donāt have that limit myself, so I was all for it, in this instance, but youāll have to read yourself to make that determination yourself.
Gabriel was swoon-worthy. He was the perfect best friend and book boyfriend. I could not get enough of him, and their backstory. I think Brittainy did a great job with creating their history with past scenes and filling in gaps during their present day. On a random side note, I loved that these characters were older. As a 35-year-old mother, it was nice to read about people closer to my age range. Although, I would love to think my age range is still low myself LOL
Despite a lot of the narrative of Kierra being weak, I found Kierra to be a strong female character. Sheās aware of what is happening, doesnāt provoke the situation to keep herself and daughter safe so I see that as protective instincts, not weakness, and full of determination. I did feel we lost some of her therapist self during the middle of the book, but she found herself again.
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emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting
I don't know how she does it, but every story that comes from Ms. Cherry just gets better and better, and I have been a long-time fan girl and have read everything she has written.
This is the story of childhood friends Kierra and Gabriel. Tragedy brings two children together, and tragedy breaks the young lovers apart.
Time and memory doesn't fade the soul-embracing love that exists between Kierra and Gabriel. They are each other's home, and even time and distance don't seem to deter that.
Fate cannot be denied in this story, from the surprise blast from the past to the way that these two gravitate toward each other, even when the present wants to continue to separate them.
This is a story that is going to pull your heart from your chest and slowly give it back to you in bits and pieces. This a love story that gives you a bumpy ride till the end, but it is so worth it!
This is the story of childhood friends Kierra and Gabriel. Tragedy brings two children together, and tragedy breaks the young lovers apart.
Time and memory doesn't fade the soul-embracing love that exists between Kierra and Gabriel. They are each other's home, and even time and distance don't seem to deter that.
Fate cannot be denied in this story, from the surprise blast from the past to the way that these two gravitate toward each other, even when the present wants to continue to separate them.
This is a story that is going to pull your heart from your chest and slowly give it back to you in bits and pieces. This a love story that gives you a bumpy ride till the end, but it is so worth it!
challenging
emotional
sad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting
4āļø
ARC Review
Brittainy Cherry does it again!! Wow, I felt all the emotions reading this one. Let me start of by saying this book has one of my least favorite tropesā¦amnesia, BUT if thereās one person I trust to be able to win me over with a novel that has that specific plot itās the lovely Brittainy Cherry and boy did she destroy me in the best possible way with this book!!
ARC Review
Brittainy Cherry does it again!! Wow, I felt all the emotions reading this one. Let me start of by saying this book has one of my least favorite tropesā¦amnesia, BUT if thereās one person I trust to be able to win me over with a novel that has that specific plot itās the lovely Brittainy Cherry and boy did she destroy me in the best possible way with this book!!
Domestic violence and any sort of abuse towards women is searing to me. It pierces me, body and soul, and makes me want to detonate the entire āmaleā population. Anyway, the only plus point of this book was that I didnāt feel bored, hence this rating. Unfortunately, I didnāt find myself emotionally invested in the characters or their stories. Itās plot-driven, and the characters are one-dimensional. Itās quite ironic how the heroine is a therapist and knows all the red flags of her abusive POS husband, but still doesnāt leave him just because she loves his daughter and fears he would never let her see her again. She also married him just because she liked his daughter but never really loved or liked her husband. Granted, she was in a dark place at the time (because of the heroās accident), but I donāt know, is this the kind of example she wants to set for āherā daughter? She clearly doesnāt love or respect herself enough to get out of the abusive marriage.
The romance between the MCs was kind of meh, 0 angst/pining for a second chance romance and amnesia as a trope. It also felt sidelined, and the ending was HFN. Overall, it was a lukewarm read and didnāt give what I was supposed to give.
Ending: HFN (divorced and pregnant with the heroās child)
The romance between the MCs was kind of meh, 0 angst/pining for a second chance romance and amnesia as a trope. It also felt sidelined, and the ending was HFN. Overall, it was a lukewarm read and didnāt give what I was supposed to give.
Ending: HFN (divorced and pregnant with the heroās child)