Brittainy Cherry absolutely delivered with If You Stayed—this was an unforgettable five-star read that left a lasting impression on me. From the very first chapter, I was drawn into the emotional intensity of the story. The banter between the characters added just the right amount of lightness to balance the weight of the themes, and their chemistry felt so genuine and natural.

What really stood out, though, was the depth of emotion packed into every page. This book didn’t just tug at my heartstrings—it completely unraveled them. The highs were breathtaking, filled with moments of hope and connection, while the lows were gut-wrenching and raw. At times, it was almost too much to bear, but in the best possible way.

Brittainy has a gift for crafting characters that feel real and broken in all the ways we are, and then guiding them—slowly, beautifully—toward healing. And just when you think you know where the story is going, she throws in a twist that turns everything upside down. She never holds back, and If You Stayed is proof of that. It’s emotional, heartbreaking, and completely consuming—in short, everything I hope for in a great romance.

It’s good to be back in the clutches of Brittainy Cherry’s emotional angst! It’s been a while and boy did I miss it! You know I always love a story that really puts me through it before giving me the HEA and If You Stayed was this and so much more!

Kierra found the love of her life, Gabriel, as a teen. He was her best friend and so much more. He was her forever, until his memories of her faded in an instant. Guilt ridden with all the what-ifs of their situation, Kierra leaves their hometown and Gabriel behind. Now married to Henry, a man whose love for Kierra is conditional and controlling, circumstances bring Gabriel back into Kierra’s life in a way that is unavoidable. He remembers nothing of their past but she remembers everything, including the way she loved him.

No one does childhood sweethearts to lovers with a bit of trauma in the middle like Brittainy. I swear, she has a special way of writing a couple’s beginning that shows their deep connection, no matter how young the characters are. This easily flows into their re-connection later in life and has you enduring whatever hardship she puts them through as they make their way back to each other. And, wow, do Kierra and Gabriel go through it!

There are so many gut-wrenching moments wound into this story. Kierra has let the past dictate her worth and what she deserves, leading her to a loveless marriage with a horrible man. However, this man has a daughter who has become Kierra’s whole heart and their relationship is the bright light in the darkness. I adored their honest and authentic connection and the hope it brought Kierra daily. Gabriel, even without his memories of Kierra, is drawn to her in a way he can’t explain. I loved watching their relationship rebuild as pieces of the past flutter into their future. Their love story is HARD so please check your triggers but, if you’re an angst lover like me, this is one you have to read!

This book was a little too much. The highs and lows of the storyline gutted my soul. Brittainy never fells to input the emotions and twist when you least expect them.

And again an very emotional story written by brittainy cherry. This book has everything you need if you love to read emotional storys. I cried a lot! After an very tragic accident he loses all his memorys with that everything about his biggest love. She doesn't have any opportunity to get in contact with him. After many years he works as an architect for her new home with her (i hate him) husband.

Two Souls which require to be together will never be separated and recognize themself even in distance.

This describes everything about this story and i loved every second every word and every page of it

Brittainy Cherry DID IT AGAIN. I will forever love her and her beautiful mind.

This story hooked me from the very beginning, and I couldn't stop! I'm not sure how Brittainy does it, but every single character she writes is so unique, and realistic. I felt as if these were real people, the pain and the sorrow, the love and the happiness, it all happened so realistically and naturally. The way the characters hurt, but healed throughout this story was so beautiful.

Brittainy Cherry is an auto-buy author for me, and she continues to prove why. This book was so well done. If you're looking for a book to draw you in, hold your attention and make you feel every single emotion possible - this is your book. And honestly, anything by Brittainy is a great option!

This book was sadly not for me. The writing was very clunky and the dialogue felt forced and inauthentic. I felt that the author did a lot of telling and not a lot of showing, and I really struggled to connect with the characters. I was expecting to be heartbroken but I was left feeling quite underwhelmed. This is my first book by this author and I think her writing style is just not for me!

✨ Publication date: April 22, 2025✨

If You Stayed is a second chance, dual POV, now and then romance novel. This book deals with some sensitive topics so check the trigger warnings before reading.

Kierra and Gabriel were each other’s first love. Kierra can remember all of their little moments and how they fell in love, the problem is Gabriel has no memory of anything from before the accident that took his memory and his little brother.

Gabriel’s mother begged Kierra to let go and leave Gabriel to heal. It was the hardest thing for her to do but she was the one driving the car when the accident happened.

Years later, Kierra in an immensely horrible marriage that she only stays in for her step daughter, can’t believe her eyes when Gabriel shows up as the architect on her new home build.

She vows to keep her promise to Gabriel’s mother and keep their past secret but even without his memories, Gabriel feels the pull to Kierra.

As her marriage continues to deteriorate, Gabriel supports her while continuing to feel the pull of their chemistry. Can Kierra and Gabriel finally find their happy ending or are they destined to only have a past?

I liked this book and the authors writing. I wasn’t pulled in by the story and characters though. This is a 3 star read for me, but I would definitely read another from this author!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #brittainyccherry #ifyoustayed

This was so good. I loved the plot and characters. It was paced perfectly. I didn't wanna put it down and was on the edge of my seat. Definitely adding this to my shelf as a trophy

Get ready for an emotional ride...

Dang you, Brittainy Cherry. You love to break our hearts and feel all the feels, then put us back together, stitched with all the angst of an emotional rollercoaster.
Kierra and Gabriel was once young and in love, but nothing lasts, especially when there are life altering consequences. Back and forth in time, from past and present, their story unravels. In the present, Kierra is ironically trapped in a very unhappy marriage, she's a therapist living a Stepford Wife life, but stays because of her step-daughter Ava. Gabriel has no memory of their first love that ended abruptly and painfully.

Gabriel has no memory of Kierra, He is successful and working to build her new home. Ironic, right?
Recommend for a complicated, emotional ride.

Brittainy C. Cherry has done it again. If You Stayed is a breathtaking second-chance romance that pulls you in from the very first page and refuses to let go. It’s not just a love story it’s a journey of survival, healing, and rediscovery.

Kierra’s character touched me deeply. Trapped in a toxic marriage and trying to protect her stepdaughter, her resilience and emotional strength were incredibly moving. When Gabriel Sinclair, the boy she once loved and lost, comes back into her life, we’re thrown into a slow-burn reunion filled with longing, pain, and undeniable connection. Their history is complicated by tragedy and memory loss, but Brittainy weaves it all together with such raw emotion that it feels heartbreakingly real.

Cherry doesn't shy away from difficult topics; this book deals with domestic abuse, trauma, and emotional healing. But through all the darkness, there's light. The bond between Kierra and Gabriel is filled with hope, and their love feels like a safe place to land after a storm.

If you're looking for a romance that aches in all the right ways, that explores grief, love, and forgiveness with poetic writing and unforgettable characters, If You Stayed is the book for you.

I love a good second chance romance that has a true reason for them to get back together. Especially when its a high school relationship gone wrong. My favorite type of second change is right person, wrong time. While related, it isn't quite the same.

Kierra is so strong. She had to be. She lost her friend, her love, and her ability to fully move on. Then one day, years later after setteling in a relationship that brought her the best thing in the form of her daughter, Gabriel reappears with no memory of Kierra and what he has lost. This throws her through a tailspin as all of her feelings are brought back. While they reconnect as he designs her new house, she has to navigate her reemerging feelings and starting to believe in the best for herself. Her story was heartbreaking and we could feel everything she felt as she navigated her role and her family.

Gabriel was a fun character to see to reinvestigate who he was. So much was lost after the accident, so I enjoyed watching him rediscover himself from before.

Overall, this was a solid book by Brittainy Cherry, and I can't wait for her next one! She is a go to author for me when I'm wanting to see the true struggles people have in their life!

Thank to Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

4.25⭐️ This book was so dang cute!!

the amnesia trope can be a hit or miss for me but this book made it work. I’m a sucker for a good second chance romance, and this book delivered in all the right ways.

The flashbacks to their childhood were so sweet and heartwarming, and they added such depth to the story. And Gabriel?? A literal golden retriever green flag. So patient, kind, and caring just an absolute sweetheart 🥹

My only critique is that the last few chapters felt a little rushed, but overall this was such a solid read.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Just finished this marvellous book by Brittainy Cherry, which emphasizes heartfelt themes like memory loss, emotional abuse, toxic relationships, healing, and self-worth. When Kierra returns to her small hometown and reunites with Gabriel—her first love who no longer remembers their past—old wounds resurface, and new beginnings unfold.

The characters are well-developed and carry the appropriate emotional depth to bring out the story’s powerful themes. The romance, rekindled after many tragic events, was portrayed beautifully. The plot was crafted so well that it kept me hooked from beginning to end.\

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy intensely emotional, slow-burn romance with serious themes of trauma, recovery, and unconditional love.

An emotional second chance romance that takes on the controlling abusive husband trope (which I felt like has been done to death). This was good on audio but I felt like I had read some version of this story tons before. Just an okay read for me. I would recommend for fans of authors like Ryan Kennedy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

this had me hooked SO fast. brittainy cherry’s writing really is beautiful. this book gave me so many emotions, it felt like i was on a roller coaster. i cried, i laughed; over and over again. but it was so worth it in the end. i loved gabriel & kierra’s love story so much.

Second chance is such a top tier storyline and is one of my favorites for developing those soul deep connections that make me feel their love more than just seeing it.

These characters were so authentic and real! Their story falls lighter on the on page spice, but doesn’t sacrifice on any of the tension.

The amnesia trope really enhances how meant to be these characters were — even without their shared experiences to fall back on, they still continued to be pulled back into each other.

You’ll Find —
Forced Proximity
Second Chance
Childhood Sweethearts
Friends to Lovers
Amnesia

Thankful for the opportunity to read!

How many times have we asked ourselves this book title? What if you stayed? Well author Brittainy Cherry answers this question and more in a new romance fiction novel.

Gabriel is Kierra's first everything. Her first friend, first kiss, first love and first heartbreak. One tragic accident tore them apart, leaving Gabriel with no memory and Kierra with a world of guilt. Fast forward a few years to Kierra in a loveless marriage when Gabriel re-enters her life (because we all know it's a small world). Feelings stir, memories threaten to surface and controlling jealousy rears its ugly head.

As an overthinker, I appreciated Kierra's natural instinct to think through every possible scenario. She did not make any kneejerk decisions like chicks in romance novels often do. She was a planner that considered others' feelings before her own. This was not the typical spin the block plot. It really was a second chance romance that I could not put down.

Oh, the emotions this book gave me! All the feels as the story came together! Bookhearts, you will want to read this book in just one or two sittings. It is not spicy or steamy romance. It is what could happen IRL type romance. All sides of love are explored: the good, the bad and the ugly. Tension is built with suspense hanging at every chapter. And the writing is just beautiful.

I have not read many of Brittainy Cherry's books, but I will definitely add more to my shelf now. I recommend you do the same.

If You Stayed is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

What an emotional journey—intense, moving, and beautifully written. The author tackles some heavy themes, so I highly recommend reading the author’s notes and content warnings before diving in.

Gabriel was an incredible character—kind, and supportive of Kierra from the very beginning. Their relationship felt genuine, and it was heartwarming to see them navigate their challenges together. While Gabriel’s mother didn’t always make the best choices, I found myself feeling a lot of empathy for her as well.

There is a happy ending, but again, be sure to read the trigger warnings first.

Solid 4.5 stars from me!

Love wasn't always perfect. It often came with bends and cracks. The greatest heartbreaks always came from love more than they came from hatred.'

Brittainy Cherry never ever disappoints! I mean not ever! My heart was so torn! This was a mess but beautifully written!

Are you happy, Kierra?
No, but maybe some people aren't meant to be happy. Maybe some people are just meant to be heartbroken!

Run... Don't walk to pick this up!

This was such a beautiful second chance romance between Kierra and Gabriel that I just absolutely adored!!

The characters just pulled me in and fell head over heels with Kierra and Gabriel. This was my first book by Brittainy and I just fell in love with her writing and characterization.

This one made me smile, cry, and curl up with coziness. Cherry is a phenomenal storyteller and I can see why so many love her books. So heartwarming and heartbreaking but the best combination of both.

I highly recommend this one!!

5/5 stars