In My Opinion...
book lover
“Keep reading. It's one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have.”― Lloyd Alexander
IMO~Book Lover 5 STAR REVIEW
In My Opinion~
Brittainy Cherry's writing? Pure magic. It flows, it resonates, and it makes you feel everything. Every. Single. Time. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster (yes, tears are involved!), because her books are utterly unputdownable – this one included. Haven't read her yet? Stop what you're doing and start. (P.S. You might want to clear your reading schedule – you'll want them all.)Fair warning: obsession is a real possibility. You might want to clear your reading schedule – you'll want them all.)
Favorite Quote:s
"Because I finally know what love is. It's patience during the storms. It's sometimes waiting. I'll wait for you."
"Grow as we go".
"I think we'll all just trying out best while battling the storms."
"Yes, you do. We all deserve love." "Even those who mess up so deeply and will regret their choices for the rest of their life?" " Maybe they deserve a little bit more love than others."
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Purchase
As of 5/2025 available on
Kindle Unlimited
Audiobook
if you Stayed?
Leave a comment below!
Did you read
IMO Book Lover's
Book Review
Check out on goodreads below!
4.23 stars
Book
E-Book
Audiobook
IMO Book Stars
5/5
IMO Spice Rating
2/5
Narrators:
Audiobook
Marcella Cox , Winston James
Narration Stars
3/5
IMO Emotional (tears) Rating
4/5
Language Warning
4/5
{Due to curse language &
DV language.}
if you Stayed
Book Title
Author
Brittainy Cherry
Publication Date ~April 22, 2025
Paperback~ 400 pages
Audio-time~9 hrs 17 min
Main Characters
Kierra
Gabriel
Plot:
Their once childhood love was erased by tragedy; now, his unexpected return forces her to confront the past she tried to forget for a second- chance at a new beginning.
Book Description
Beautiful cover, pages are soft, easy to hold
Genre
Tropes
Content Warning
Read Again or Recommend
Book Blurb:
Fate tore them apart. Can forgiveness and a second chance mend what was broken?
Kierra and Gabriel were each other's first love, their childhood a tapestry woven with shared dreams. But a devastating accident shattered their world, leaving Gabriel scarred and Kierra burdened by guilt.
Years later, a chance encounter throws them back into each other's orbit. Gabriel has emerged from the ashes of tragedy, a pillar of strength and unwavering support. But Kierra is trapped in a suffocating marriage, convinced she's unworthy of happiness.
As sparks of their old connection reignite, Kierra faces an impossible choice: remain in the shadows of her present or dare to grasp a new beginning with the man who never stopped loving her. Can their rekindled romance overcome the ghosts of the past and the chains of her present?
IMO Review~
This book. This book is beautifully written (Like most Brittainy Cherry books are, IMO) This book is raw. This book is emotional. This book is a series of devastating life experiences that allow for Gabriel and Kierra to have a second chance at love. This story follows a childhood friendship- love derailed by an accident when they were teenagers. Years pass, and life takes them in different directions, only for a chance encounter to bring them back together. But with lost memories in the mix, lives in different places, and secrets being kept with supposedly with good intentions, their journey involves forgiveness, care, protectiveness, and a sense that maybe it was always meant to be, with some hard times and surprises along the way. This book also shows you when you feel something in your gut or heart to listen and pay attention.
Each character in the book (maybe, minus the "bad guy") all experience strength within themselves they may not have know they carried, all while learning what it means to truly love someone. That even when someone may do something to you that you just can't understand, they still deserve love. Without giving much away-I even admired the way Ms. Cherry has the "bad guy" recognize he is turning into the person he didn't want to be. (Even if it didn't change him.)
Be prepare to be moved by the sheer beauty of the writing on page 343 (paperback), where a conversation unfolds between the FMC and her mother-in-law – Within its lines lies, an exchange of wisdom and understanding that feels essential for every woman to witness /read/hear. It truly feels universally significant for women. And the title, "If you stay"... its meaning unfolds in that scene with a poignant beauty , carries a hidden weight, and revealed with exquisite tenderness within the story that will resonate long after you turn the final page.
It's rare for me to single out a favorite character, but in this book, a figure with a modest presence in the novel resonated with extraordinary power, Tamera, the mother in law,. illuminated the depths of a mother's love, the agonizing acceptance of a child's imperfections. The quiet strength in facing such a truth is deeply affecting. What struck me profoundly was the mother-in-law's capacity to not only see this difficult reality but to wholeheartedly embrace and support those she loved, even if they weren't her own.
A note from IMO Book Lover~
Please remember book reviews can be helpful in discovering new books or getting a general sense of a story. But they shouldn't be the ultimate deciding factor. Trust your gut, explore genres that intrigue you, and form your own opinions. After all, the most important critic is the one holding the book.
Book reviews are simply a reflection of each reader's individual experience.
Lo ~ The Booklover