i devoured this book in less than a day! i could not stop reading it. the story was captivating and made you want to keep reading. was it as emotional as expected? for me, no. but i can see how others would get to that point. there were a few specific scenes that made my chest ache, a few that made me gasp, and some that made me feel just like Ava did when describing Gabriel as written by a woman. i loved the reader aspect for the FMC and her daughter, and how they bonded over that. i loved watching Gabriel find his home.

Note: This book deals with sensitive issues, so I suggest you look into any trigger warnings if that could be an issue for you.

I love that Gabriel was able to find his way back to Kierra and that the connection they shared never went away.

The book takes place in present time along with flashbacks to times when they were kids. We know from the synopsis that there was an accident, and I really wish we learned more about what happened after the accident during the prologue. I actually feel like it would have been even more impactful, and I would have felt even more of the heartbreak that Kierra felt.

I also wish something was mentioned about Ava’s mother from the beginning. It was very odd to me that she was never mentioned – just that Henry was a single father. Was he divorced or a widower? I just wanted some little mention of her.

This book was very good, don’t get me wrong. I definitely still recommend the book. I just felt it needed a little bit more for it to be a five-star read for me.

If you stayed is a second chance romance, best friends to lovers, childhood romance, forced proximity, love triangle, amnesia, angst-y tropes all rolled into one and Brittainy Cherry sure does deliver. Throughout the story there are several times jumps that show you Gabriel and Kierra when they were children as their relationship blossomed and then as they are now. There is a certain accident that causes them to lose touch for 2 decades and the entire time you're trying to figure it out in the book, and it's finally discussed.

This book was written beautifully as only Brittainy Cherry knows how to. It is definitely a bingeable book and the plot twist towards the end you definitely don't see coming.

This book has several trigger warnings that you should look at before diving in headfirst because they are heavily discussed even though they are handled with care.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, as always, all words are my own.

Enemies to best friends to lovers to…worse than nothing. An accident rips two decades of his past from Gabriel Sinclair, including every memory of the one girl who was so special to him, Kierra Hughes. If you love an angsty, emotional amnesia trope, you’ll love this one. If there's anything this gifted storyteller does well, it's bring all the heart.

Her writing is poetic, profound, evocative and powerful, and I know whenever I pick up one of her romances, a part of me will be forever changed. She leaves pieces of her heart and soul scattered throughout the pages, making me feel like an active participant rather than a casual observer of the story. Sagaciously wise and enchanted with magic, this touching, emotional story is worthy of far more than a mere five stars. Run to the 1-Click and start reading this phenomenal story now. Your romantic heart will be eternally grateful.

I simply cannot with this book. The writing is atrocious, the characters are flat and I am, quite simply, bored out of my mind. I had this experience with another one of Cherry’s books so I won’t be requesting them any longer.

What happens if that one person you loved from your past comes back into your life, but has no memory of you? Kierra experiences this when suddenly the first man she ever loved appears back into her life, but he has no memory of her.

If you Stayed is a slow burn romance about second chance love. Written as a dual POV going back and forth between past and present, it was fun to read. Readers are introduced to Kierra who is a therapist and is married with a daughter. Her husband, Henry is a controlling manipulative husband and as unhappy as she is in the marriage, she stays because of her step daughter Ava. Readers are introduced to Gabriel, the first person Kierra ever loved. Despite not remembering Kierra, Gabriel's heart never forgot her.

Reading this book I was just glued. I fell in love with Gabriel and how every woman wishes to find a man like him. His funny, gentle, loving, warm heartedness is what I fell in love with. Be prepared when reading this book, it will wreck you and you will cry. You'll be rooting for Kierra and Gabriel, but also on the tip of your toes hoping things work out between them.

Loved this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC and this is my honest review.

The pretty cover pulled me in but I stayed for this emotional moving story.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚, 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙚'𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙…”
Gabriel and Kierra were childhood friends and after a tragedy in their teenager years they have not spoken in almost two decades. They were each others first loves. Gabriel has no memories of his past. Keirra is in an unhappy marriage with a daughter. The story is told in alternate timelines to build to what happened in the past and also get to know the characters now. This was such a rollercoaster read of emotions that I could feel from the pages.

Gabriel and Kierra were childhood friends whose bond was shattered by tragedy. 20 years later, fate brings them back together, stirring up buried feelings.

Gabriel was such a sweetheart! His kindness and the way he treated Ava had me swooning!!

Kierra, oh my goddess, I just wanted to give her the biggest hug.

This book shattered my heart and then lovingly pieced it back together!

Such an amazing!!

Je suis tellement fan de la plume de l'autrice qu'évidemment je lis tous ses romans sans même lire les résumés. Ce roman est une fois de plus une pépite pleine d'émotions et de thèmes vraiment très forts. J'ai adoré ces deux héros, découvrir leur passé, leur présent et leur avenir.

Kierra a, d'un point de vue extérieur, la vie idéale. Psychologue réputée, elle est à l'écoute de ses patients mais elle devrait aussi s'écouter. Son passé a fait qu'elle s'est interdit d'être heureuse et elle s'est enlisée dans une relation des plus toxiques. Son mari Henry Hugues est adulé de tous pour son talent , son génie mais si vous fermez les portes, le découvrir dans l'intimité n'est pas joli à voir. Elle est donc enfermée dans ce piège qui se referme sans cesse sur elle car elle a "adopté" dans son coeur Ava, la fille de son mari. Entre chantage affectif et violence physique, elle survit pour la jeune fille. Quand son passé lui renvient en pleine face, elle n'a d'autres choix que de l'accepter et de vivre cette bulle hors du temps. Mais le destin pourrait bien la rattraper et causer encore plus de souffrances.

Gabriel Sinclair est un architecte de talent qui ne vit que pour le travail. Victime d'un accident assez grave, il a été amputé d'une partie de sa mémoire. Vous verrez que le revers de la médaille cache bien des choses. Nous savons, mais pas lui. J'ai adoré voir se personnage entrer dans la vie de notre héroîne car il va déceler chez elle ce mal être. Avec lui, elle pourra lâcher prise et être elle-même. Loin du joug de son mari, elle va se révéler. Nous aurons évidemment des flashbacks, ce qui permet de dynamiser l'intrigue et rendre le dénouement final inévitable. Les émotions seront fortes mais c'est ce qu'on adora avec cette plume: voir des gens imparfaits affronter leurs failles pour en ressentir grandis.

Bref, je me suis régalée. La magie opère et nous allons vivre des tas d'émotions, sans pour autant tomber dans le drama. C'est réaliste, poignant avec des trigger warnings mis au début pour ne pas heurter la sensibilité de certain(e)s.

When I read the blurb for If You Stayed by Brittainy Cherry, I knew I had to read it. I love anything this author writes and this sounded like something I just needed to read and I am so glad I did. This was an emotional and angst-filled second chance romance with friends to lovers, forced proximity and amnesia tropes and I was here for all of it. Gabriel and Kierra were once friends and so much more. Then everything changed and Kierra walked away, but she never forgot. Now years later, he is back in her life but does not remember her. She is in an unhappy marriage and Gabriel still pulls her towards him.

I absolutely loved Gabriel. He was caring, patient and an amazing book boyfriend. I could not love him more if I tried. Kierra was kind and compassionate. Both of them broke my heart through everything they have been through. We get their story through the past and present and be ready to be in your feels. I do suggest you check your triggers before starting this book. I loved this story. I devoured it. It was heartbreaking, emotional and compelling and I highly recommend it.

Happy reading!

Brittainy Cherry can do no wrong in my book! This was deeply emotional and so raw. I love how easy it is to relate to these characters! I absolutely loved every word and page! Go read this now!

**4.5 Stars**

This author never ceases to amaze and move me with her words and If You Stayed proved to be no different. If You Stayed is a moving, thoughtful and emotional second chance romance. Kierra and Gabriel fell in love and then life circumstances made it difficult for them to stay together. Now, two decades later they meet again and while things are different, there are so many parts of their story and their connection that remain the same.

This story had some very difficult parts and some deeply emotional parts, but I would expect nothing else from this author. This author always uses the perfect blend of emotions and difficult experiences and then always manages to leave you feeling whole.

As long as she continues to write beautiful stories like this one, Brittainy Cherry will continue to be a must-read, go-to author for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Brittainy Cherry has done it again. If You Stayed is a beautifully written, emotionally charged second-chance romance that pulled me in from the first page and never let go. The connection between Kierra and Gabriel is powerful, and their story is filled with heartbreak, hope, and healing.

This is more than a love story. It is about surviving trauma, rediscovering your voice, and making the choice to fight for a better future. Kierra is a strong and compassionate character who is doing her best to protect her daughter while navigating a deeply painful marriage. Gabriel is sweet, patient, and unforgettable. Their bond, despite the memory loss and time apart, is undeniable and moving.

I loved how real and raw this story felt. It tackles grief, abuse, emotional growth, and forgiveness with care. Cherry’s writing is full of heart, and her characters feel like people you know or wish you could. Ava, Kierra’s daughter, brings even more depth and warmth to the story.

This book made me cry, smile, and cheer for love that is worth the wait. If you are looking for a romance that balances heavy emotion with heartfelt connection, If You Stayed is a must-read.

I was intrigued by the summary and title of this book and had no idea how truly wonderful and emotional the story would be. After the accident that changed the lives of the main characters, Kierri and Gabriel, Kierri thought that she would never see Gabriel again. Now twenty years later, Gabriel is the architect who is designing the new home for her husband, Henry. Kierri’s joy in life is her stepdaughter, Ava, who she has raised since Ava was five. When Kierri meets the architect, she is shocked to see Gabriel, her once dearest friend and so much more. After the accident, she was warned, by his mother, to stay away and due to her feelings of guilt, she did so. Gabriel has no idea who Kierri is as he has suffered amnesia since the accident. Now twenty years later, he is once again in her life, as her friend and maybe something more? Gabriel only knows that he is attracted to her and feels as if he “knows” her. With his friendship, Kierri feels alive after years of being slowly emotionally controlled by her husband. She knows that she must tell Gabriel who she is, who they were, but will he turn away from her? Loved it! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Brittainy Cherry has done it again! She's one of my all-time favorite authors because she creates characters you can't help but fall in love with-and If You Stayed is no exception.
Kiera and Gabriel's story is emotional, raw, and beautifully written. From the beginning, I was rooting for them. But let me just say... Kiera's husband, Henry? I've never wanted to throw a book across the room more. He had me fuming!
Kiera and Gabriel were once close friends, but everything changed after a tragic accident-one Kiera still carries guilt over. It's been nearly two decades since that night, and when their paths cross again, there's one huge twist: Gabriel doesn't remember anything from before the accident.
Despite the missing memories, the chemistry between them is undeniable. Their slow-burning, second chance at something more-is beautiful. And the addition of Ava, Kiera's stepdaughter, adds even more heart to the story.
This is a story of love, redemption, resilience, and hope.
It will make you rage, swoon, and ultimately believe in the power of second chances.

Let me tell you, I ran through this book! I was hooked from the very first page and I could not for the life of me put it down. And even when I finished I wanted more time with these characters 😭

🩷 Amnesia
🖤 Childhood Friends to Lovers
🩷 Second Chance
🖤 Angsty, Emotional

Gabriel and Kierra were best friends, who turned into each others everything when they were kids. After a tragic accident when they were in their 20's, Gabriel and Kierra were forced to part ways. While Kierra carried the guilt and pain of the accident with her for two decades, Gabriel couldn't remember anything at all. The accident left him with no memories of his past, including his relationship with Kierra. So when Gabriel shows up at Kierra's house to be the architect on her and her husband's new house, it leads to a dramatic and emotional turn of events for everyone involved... 👀

This quite literally ripped my heart out multiple times and then smashed it back together in the end. And you know what I said, thank you! 🥹

This was a deeply emotional read, with multiple storylines that were filled with trauma, pain, and grief. But all of them were written with such care. They weren't just thrown in to sensationalize things, everything had a place, and well thought out point. The way Brittainy Cherry weaved in and out of the past and present timeline created these parallels throughout the story that really just amazed me.

I found Kierra's story to be heartbreaking. I thought the accident that left her without Gabriel was going to be the extent of her pain, but BOY was I wrong. Every possible way this woman could be smashed to bits, she was. It was so easily to connect with her, and want to see her shine, and be happy.

Now Gabriel is THE MAN OF THE CENTURY 🙌🏼. I can not stress enough how much I love this man!! The way he cared for, and fought for Kierra even though he didn't remember their shared past was so sweet. One of my favorite things too, was Gabriel's relationship with Kierra's 14 year old daughter Ava. I don't think I will get that “kick 'em in the balls!” scene out of my head any time soon 🤣. I loved seeing that side of him, and watching him so easily transform this child into a confident young women.

Kierra and Gabriel's love story was hard fought. Nothing about what they had to go through was easy. But it did lead to some glorious tension, slow burn madness, and ultimately one of the most beautiful love stories I've read in a long time. I would 100% recommend it, and if you do all I'm going to say is get your tissues ready and enjoy the ride! 🤗

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review 💞

i guess i was in a mood to have my heart ripped into shreds and stomped on because sourcebooks casa gave this book to me a week ago and i was reading a very dark romance before this and now i’m broken. literally if you look on the floor you’ll see me curled into a ball and sobbing. i knew when i read the trigger warning page i would need tissues. the pain i felt reading this book? it’s comparable to the type of pain you feel when you’re so heartbroken and you’re crying so hard you can’t breathe and you’re screaming at the big man up there asking why you and asking for it to stop. my heart HURT okay. and i will be sending brittainy cherry my next therapy bill.

gabriel could not have been more perfect. like ava said, he is a man written by a woman. he is the epitome of a man written by a woman. i’m only half way through my reading goal but man he’s won book boyfriend of the year. i LOVE gabriel sinclair so fucking much it hurts. he is so kind, beyond patient, talented as hell and so loving. his accident might have made him forget the first 20 years of his life but it did not change who he’s always been. he’s so perfect i don’t have anything else to say about him.

i don’t know how brittainy did it but i felt every single gram of pain kierra went through while married to henry. with every page, my heart cracked just a little more until i was completely broken. kierra is such a bright soul and the best mother available could ask for. she has been beating herself up over and over because of the accident but the amount of gaslighting she went through on top of that broke her spirit. she knew she needed to leave. but she wasn’t leaving without ava and i’m so glad she didn’t leave her daughter behind.

the book ends with a hea but the feelings brittainy puts you through to get there were so real.

les sujets abordés dans ce roman ne sont pas évidents donc n'hésitez pas, si besoin, à lire les TW, j'ai pour ma part adoré Kierra, Gabriel et Ava, ils ont su me toucher pour plusieurs raisons et j'ai aimé leur côté terriblement humain, avec leurs peurs, leurs doutes et leurs espoirs aussi. Les événements ne nous laissent pas souffler et on ne peut que sourire en voyant certaines choses tout comme on a parfois envie de les secouer. Le final est pour le moins intense mais je n'en attendais pas moins et j'ai adoré les voir heureux et amoureux. Une belle histoire avec ses bas et ses hauts qui nous fait vibrer.

I am a shell of the person I once was.

Brittainy Cherry has been breaking my heart for years and this book is no exception. This is already fighting strong for its place as my best read of 2025.

Told in a beautifully woven dual timeline, this story follows Gabriel and Kierra, who were once inseparable, until fate tore them apart. After a devastating accident causes Gabriel to lose his memory, Kierra is forced to walk away from the only person who truly knew and loved her. Heartbroken, she disappears from his life, while he begins his recovery from the accident, unaware of her existence. Years later, fate intervenes when Gabriel, now a successful architect, is hired to design Kierra’s future home. Except now, she’s in a loveless marriage, raising a teenage daughter, and living a life that looks nothing like the one she imagined with Gabriel. All her old emotions rush back as she’s forced to confront her past and the man who remembers none of it.

I have so many emotions about this book and I do not know where to start. Definitely check out the trigger warnings before picking this book up. This isn’t just a second chance romance, it’s a raw, gut-wrenching story of grief, resilience, and what it means to survive.

Kierra’s journey completely wrecked me. Her strength, her perseverance, and her unwavering love for her daughter even when everything else felt hopeless was inspiring and heartbreaking. She went through so much and never gave up. Watching her fight to not fall apart and keep her daughter safe was so amazing yet heart-rendering to read.

Gabriel’s return to her life brought so much healing, pain, and so many feelings of what could have been. His presence helped her slowly rebuild that confidence and self-worth she had lost all those years ago. The chemistry between them, even with the lost memories, was undeniable. Since it was told in a dual POV, we kept seeing Gabriel feeling like something was always missing, and how being around Kierra made him feel at peace. The entire story was an emotional roller coaster.

This book will stay with me for years. It's emotional, tragic, and full of so much hope. I will be recommending this book to everyone I meet for the rest of my life.

Phenomenal!
If you’re in the mood for a story that takes you out of your romance comfort zone and takes you on a steep emotional roller coaster ride…then look no further!
I went into this story not knowing what to expect and holy moly was I in for a surprise!
This story grabbed my heart and held it captive from beginning to end.
Highly emotional, I thought this story was about one thing but as the story evolved and developed I discovered it was something else completely.
For me this was much more than a second chance romance. Told in dual POV past and present, we first meet our main characters Kierra and Gabriel when they’re young children, next door neighbors brought together at the parents’ insistence.
Tragedy strikes and they don’t meet until much later in life, and when they do…well you have to read and discover for yourself!
For me, this was a thought provoking story where our heroine Kierra takes us on a journey of her painful and gut wrenching life. The trials and tribulations of her life and what she goes through are flawlessly displayed.
Gripping, and brutally raw, this powerful story ripped my heart apart and then put it back together as Kierra begins to heal and make changes with everlasting consequences!
The author offers some trigger warnings that for me hit me deeply. Yet, the author presented these scenes with such care and grace, they added to the complexity and depth of the story.