Genevieve
This was my first Brittany Cherry book, and it definitely won’t be my last. If I Stayed is a no spice, second chance, friends to lovers story told in dual POVs from Kierra and Gabriel, and it had me emotional way faster than I expected.
We start with Kierra and Gabriel as kids and follow them through their teenage years as their friendship grows into something deeper. Their bond felt genuine and sweet, which made everything that happens later hurt even more. After a tragic accident causes Gabriel to lose his memory, Kierra moves away, and their lives take completely different paths.
Fast forward years later, and Gabriel is now the architect designing Kierra’s new home. By this point, Kierra is stuck in a loveless marriage, raising a child with a controlling husband, and seeing Gabriel again brings up everything she tried to bury.
This book pulled me in immediately with how real the storytelling felt. The emotions weren’t overdone, but they hit hard. Brittany Cherry really knows how to make you feel every missed chance and buried feeling. Definitely check trigger warnings because there are some heavy topics, but they’re handled with thought and care.
What I really loved was the emotional connection between the characters. You could feel the history, the missed chances, and the tension of seeing someone you once loved after so many years and so many changes. The pacing was also great, quick and easy to read, but still filled with emotional moments that make you want to slow down and feel everything.
Overall, this was a beautiful, emotional, and engaging read. It broke my heart a little, healed it a little, and left me thinking about it after I finished.
This was my first Brittany Cherry book, and it definitely won’t be my last. If I Stayed is a no spice, second chance, friends to lovers story told in dual POVs from Kierra and Gabriel, and it had me emotional way faster than I expected.
We start with Kierra and Gabriel as kids and follow them through their teenage years as their friendship grows into something deeper. Their bond felt genuine and sweet, which made everything that happens later hurt even more. After a tragic accident causes Gabriel to lose his memory, Kierra moves away, and their lives take completely different paths.
Fast forward years later, and Gabriel is now the architect designing Kierra’s new home. By this point, Kierra is stuck in a loveless marriage, raising a child with a controlling husband, and seeing Gabriel again brings up everything she tried to bury.
This book pulled me in immediately with how real the storytelling felt. The emotions weren’t overdone, but they hit hard. Brittany Cherry really knows how to make you feel every missed chance and buried feeling. Definitely check trigger warnings because there are some heavy topics, but they’re handled with thought and care.
What I really loved was the emotional connection between the characters. You could feel the history, the missed chances, and the tension of seeing someone you once loved after so many years and so many changes. The pacing was also great, quick and easy to read, but still filled with emotional moments that make you want to slow down and feel everything.
Overall, this was a beautiful, emotional, and engaging read. It broke my heart a little, healed it a little, and left me thinking about it after I finished.