This book was amazing. As so many others of her books it had some emotional and serious moments. Loved it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book pulled me in from the first page with its emotional depth and second-chance love story tinged with heartbreak, hope, and rediscovery. Gabriel and the narrator’s shared past—and the tragic accident that erased it—set the stage for a compelling journey of love, memory, and resilience.

The emotional tension between the characters is palpable. You can feel the weight of their history in every glance, every near-miss moment. The author did a beautiful job portraying the ache of unfinished love and the fragility of second chances. I especially appreciated the nuance in exploring the narrator’s internal struggle—navigating a difficult marriage while confronting feelings she thought she’d buried forever.

Some pacing issues popped up in the middle, and there were moments I wished for more insight into Gabriel’s internal experience, but overall, the story was heartfelt and rewarding. If you're drawn to emotional, character-driven romances with a heavy dose of longing and redemption, this one will hit the mark.

A tender and gripping love story about the past that shapes us—and the courage it takes to rewrite our future.

“I went to hold him because he had no one to hold 𝒉𝒊𝒎 through the sad part. Everyone should have somebody to hold them during the sad parts.”

“What are the dreams about? About me loving you.” 🥰

“You made cookies with your period?!”😂

“I’ve built plenty of machines, but you’re my favorite little robot.” 😡🤯

“You’re my best friend.” Such a simple line but boy does it hit.

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.

This one snags my rarely given 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 rating because it was exceptionally well thought out and felt like a movie playing out in my head has I was reading. I finished it on my plane ride home from Aruba. It wrecked me, broke me into pieces and put me back together again. It was second chance romance done right.

I loved Keirra’s relationship with her step-daughter Ava and her mother-in-law. I also loved Keirra’s dismissal of certain grimey individuals, she was the most classy savage woman and I was here for it.

The 2 truths and a lie made my stomach have butterflies. #youhategrilledcheesesandwiches Honestly, there were several moments like that.

Brittainy just writes the best characters they are real, raw, honest and authentic. You can’t help but sink into any book she writes. I’ve yet to find one I wasn’t into. Her character development is on point.

4.5 stars

“That was the problem with falling in love when you were out of love with yourself: even monsters looked appealing then.”

Once again, Brittainy Cherry ripped out my heart, stomped all over it, and carefully sewed it back together... what a ride this story was from the very first page. Kierra, trapped in a loveless, controlling marriage with her husband Henry and devoted to her stepdaughter Ava, thought she'd buried her painful past—until Gabriel Sinclair, her first love, reappears as the architect of their new home. Gabriel suffers from amnesia caused by a tragic accident that erased all memories of their shared history. As he reconnects with Kierra and the sparks between them reignite, both are forced to confront guilt, trauma, and the undeniable bond that refuses to fade. With her heart torn between safety and passion, Kierra must decide what—and who—is truly worth staying for.

“Being a mother meant you pushed your own problems so far away … On the outside, we’d pretend that everything was amazing and wonderful, even though the world within us was crumbling into a million pieces.”

This was such a rollercoaster and I would highly suggest looking at TW if you have any. But overall, I was sucked into this story and was along for every twist and turn. Add this book to the reasons why Brittainy Cherry will always be an auto-read author for me! Thank you, NetGalley, for the early copy!

Read if you like:
- childhood friends to lovers to strangers (literally) to lovers
- so much angst and drama
- taboo romance
- workplace / forced proximity
- second chance
- love triangle
- dual POV
- slow burn

Another very emotional read by the incredible Brittainy Cherry!
The only reason I marked it a 4 star was the ending; it felt rushed. The majority of the book, Cherry did a great job building these beautifully complex characters and setting the scene for a highly emotional book. I really wanted more at the end, for Sierra and Gabriel; they deserved it!!
That being said, Cherry wrote an extraordinary book, as she always does!!

Beautiful story that I enjoyed, but I really enjoy anything written by Brittainy.

The angst was just perfect. The chemistry was strong. The dialogue flowed wonderfully.

This was my first Brittainy Cherry book, and I really enjoyed it! Keirra and Gabriel's love story is intense and heartfelt, taking us from their younger days to the complicated present. The story thoughtfully addresses the trauma the female main character faces.

I loved the genuine connection between the two characters—it felt real and not forced. Cherry does a great job of blending themes of healing, hope, and love, even when things get tough. I found myself really rooting for them and appreciating their quiet strength.

Overall, it’s a beautifully emotional read that pulled at my heartstrings. If you're looking for a story that captures the ups and downs of love, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an e-ARC of this book.

If You Stayed is a standalone romance that follows Gabriel Sinclair and Kierra Hughes.

Brittainy Cherry is the queen of writing emotional stories!! Gabriel and Kierra were the best of friends and were in love but after a terrible accident Gabriel lost his memories. Kierra was pushed to stay away from him and so she did. It wasn't until years later by chance that they see each other again. While she remembers their love and history Gabriel does not but feels a deep connection to her. They built a friendship over time and after Kierra tells him everything that happened when they were teens they slowly fall back in love. Kierra is strong, selfless, kind and so caring. Gabriel is kind, funny, thoughtful and protective.

Their story broke my heart and was highly emotional and does cover sensitive topics so please check TWs. The only flaw in this book is that I do wish we would have gotten a bit more detail into Gabriel's life after the accident. Other than that I really enjoyed this book!!

Thank you so much, Brittainy Cherry, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the gifted copy!

Another great book! Brittiany Cherry pulls at your heart strings! Keirra and Gabriel’s have an amazing story. Filled with love and hope and trying to allow yourself to love!

3.75 Stars This one hit me in the feels, like most Brittainy Cherry books do. It’s emotional and soft in all the right ways, with a story about healing, staying, and choosing love even when it’s hard. I really connected with the main characters and their quiet strength.

That said, a few parts felt a little too neat, and I wish some of the side characters had more depth. But overall, it’s a heartfelt, comforting read that stuck with me more than I expected.

If You Stayed is the newest book by Brittainy Cherry. She is one of my favorite romance authors and her stories always get to me. In this book she takes the readers into Kierra's and Gabriels story. They once were lovers, until that awefull accident. But what if they meet again after 20 years?

"When two souls are tangled in forever... Then forever is what they'll be."

Brittainy Cherry did it again! This book is amazing. It has star-crossed lovers, a feisty teen and some heavy theme's like domestic abuse. Kierra's life was hard ever since she was told to keep away from Gabriel, but what if the spark gets back after meeting again? Kierra is a creative mind, who is restricted by her current husband. I really felt for her and wanted her to be free so bad.

Gabriel really is a swoony hero. He is so protective and sweet and makes just the perfect book boyfriend. This book is an emotional rollercoaster but also really heartwarming. Because what if you get to love your first love again? I also really loved Ava's personality. She has some really funny saying even though she is quite shy at first.

The storyline has a good build to it and I really enjoyed seeing it come together. You get to know the characters really well and really start to feel for them as well. Ava, Kierra and Gabriel have deserved a special place in my heart. I could feel their pain and insecurities, but I could also feel their love and hope. This book really got to me and I truly was amazed by it!

Brittainy Cherry manages to create an heartwarming story. I couldn't stop reading it. This book is a true pageturner yet again. This book made me want to read even more books by this author since she truly is amazing! I cannot wait for more to come and give If You Stayed a 4,5 star rating.

Original review posted at https://boekensteeg.wordpress.com

Thanks to Sourcebooks: Casablanca for the ARC of this book! This was a really great second chance story and I enjoyed it! The book follows Kierra in the many years following a terrible accident that ripped her true love, Gabriel from her life.

She has moved on but her life is not without its difficulties. When Gabriel shows back up in her life, with no memory of her due to the accident. she can't help but feel pulled to him.

This book definitely deals with some very heavy themes, so make sure to check the trigger warnings but I enjoyed it overall! If you like authors like Kennedy Ryan, this one would likely be a hit for you!

If You Stayed is a new fave! I loved every single moment of this emotional love story, even the hard parts. It takes you on a rollercoaster of feels that will tear your heart apart and then piece it back together. Gabriel and Kierra have a love that isn’t easily forgotten so it’s no surprise that it’s stuck with me long after the last page was turned.

Gabriel and Kierra met as children when they became neighbors. When Gabriel’s mom forces him to befriend Kierra, they start out as enemies but as the years pass, they slowly turn into friends, then best friends, and finally so much more. They were each other’s everything until one tragic night changed it all.

"Loving him wasn’t simply a choice; it was my destiny. I was born to love him, and for a short period of time, I thought he was born to love me, too."

Keirra hasn’t seen Gabriel for over twenty years. When he walks back into her life as the architect building a dream house with her husband, Gabriel has no memory of Kierra. She on the other hand remembers everything.

I love a good second chance romance and this one is fantastic. I felt the first love as we got snippets of the past and then I felt the rekindling when they started spending time together. Gabriel doesn’t remember anything before he was twenty. It’s just him and his mom and no one else has a piece of his heart. At least no one he knows of. Kierra never stopped loving Gabriel, but they could never be and so she tried to move on, marrying her husband and being the best mom she can be to her stepdaughter. She never thought she would see him again.

Gabriel doesn’t remember her but he feels connected to her in a way he doesn’t understand. I love being along for the ride as they fall in love all over again. He is there for her when she needs him and she tries so hard to not upend his life with secrets. However, their love is inevitable and I really enjoyed how the story progressed and watching them fall again. It’s intense at some points and hurts at others but all the pain is worth it for a love like theirs.

I also I have to mention that I adored Ava. She was a beautiful part of the story.

I devoured this book in a day; the story pulled me in and never let go. It’s a definite tearjerker with lots of angst. The flashbacks add rich context to Keirra and Gabriel’s unwavering connection.

This book tackles heavier themes, so readers should check trigger warnings.

If You Stayed is an emotional story of guilt, pain, hope, and the enduring bond of soulmates. If you’re looking for book that will leave you reflecting on love and sacrifice, this is it.

This was my first read by Brittainy Cherry and it definitely won't be my last! I really loved this story. This second chance romance was filled with lots of emotions. I will definitely recommend this one!

This story will break your heart and slowly mend it back together. If you loved the Hoops series by Kennedy Ryan, you will absolutely love this story! I loved the mother/daughter relationship even though she was technically her step mother. It made me think of my best friend who has a stepdaughter she loves as her own. Trope that I love and haven't read in a while-childhood friends to lovers. If you like your romance with a heaping dose of drama, read If You Stayed!

As a counselor-in-training, this book hit me in all the best ways. If You Stayed was such a beautiful second chance love story full of emotion, healing, and all the feels. Gabriel and Kierra’s journey was raw, honest, and so well-written, you could feel their pain, growth, and the depth of their connection as they slowly found their way back to each other.

From a counseling perspective, I really appreciated how Brittainy handled grief, trauma, and healing with so much care and authenticity. Their emotional journeys felt so real, and I loved how they supported each other through the hard moments while also allowing space for their own growth.

The only character I wasn’t a huge fan of was Gabriel’s mom, she definitely made me want to reach through the pages a few times! And honestly, I do wish it had been a little longer, I would’ve loved even more time with Gabriel and Kierra as they rebuilt their relationship.

Overall, this story had everything I love, second chance romance, emotional depth, and characters you can't help but root for. All the feels. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a heartfelt, meaningful read that stays with you long after the last page.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the eARC via Netgalley.

for some reason, amnesia tropes just really hit every emotional catalyst I have. no words 10/10, 5/5 - give me more. love.

This is my first book by this author, and I wish I could say that I liked it, but I struggled. I found myself skimming through the book and eventually lost interest. I was interested in the premise of the book, but the story fell flat for me. I didn't care for the main characters and their love story, and it left me wanting. Thanks to NetGalley andSourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC.

This book was absolute perfection. It made me feel so many things. I was laughing then crying and my heart ached for Gabriel and Kierra. I love second chance romance books and this was just perfection. Gabriel is the love of Kierra's life but when a tragic event happens and he loses his memory, she distances herself from him and doesn't see him for two decades. When their paths finally cross, it's game over. While Gabriel might not know who Kierra is, he feels an instant connection to her. Kierra tries her best to not get too close but their love for each other is so strong. Their love story is complex, messy, and beautiful. Brittainy Cherry is incredible and this is one of my top reads of the year.