I remember really enjoying Brittainy Cherry’s writing - so I had applied for this ARC with curiosity. But the writing was really jumbled, repetitive and rough to concentrate on. I got through 10% before putting it down, which says a lot because I’m a hard person to DNF. This just wasn’t my style at all.

“If You Stayed” is one of those stories that sneaks up on you—gentle in its tone, but heavy in its truths.
It follows Kierra, a woman who’s been through far more than most. Years ago, she was in love with Gabriel—her first love, her everything—until tragedy tore them apart in the most gut-wrenching way. Now, she’s trapped in a cold, controlling marriage, holding on for the sake of her teenage stepdaughter, Ava, who’s become her whole world.
And just when she thinks she’s buried the past for good, guess who walks back into her life? Gabriel. But there’s a twist—he doesn’t remember her. Not the accident. Not their love. Not even the pain they both still carry like ghosts.
From there, the story gently unravels their history, weaving in pieces of what was, with the raw, painful reality of what is. It doesn’t shy away from hard topics—abuse, guilt, trauma—but it handles them with so much care. It’s not about shock value. It’s about truth, healing, and the slow, steady climb back to yourself.
Kierra is the kind of heroine who stays with you—quietly strong, deeply compassionate, and fiercely protective of the people she loves. She’s not perfect, but she’s real. And Gabriel, even with the gaps in his memory, has this calm warmth that makes you believe he was always her safe place.
The pacing does shift a bit—some moments linger longer than others—but overall, it works. Life, especially after trauma, isn’t linear. And neither is healing. There were parts I flew through, and others I sat with, just taking in the weight of it all.
If you’re someone who appreciates second chances, emotionally layered characters, and stories that deal with difficult topics without romanticizing them—this one’s for you. It's tender. It's messy. And it’s ultimately hopeful in the best kind of way.
Just maybe have tissues nearby.

This story was truly messy. The angst, heartbreak, devastation, confusion and powerful reconnection over the pages of this book pulled my emotions in so many directions and it was absolutely worth reading until the very last page. Thank you so much Brittany Cherry for this beautiful second chance romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Whoa Nellie, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions. Major CWs: domestic violence, abuse, gaslighting, death of a parent, death of a child. The depth of this book was incredible, the pacing was right, the connection between the FMC and MMC felt natural.

I wasn't sure how the amnesia would play out, if the author would force an emotional connection. However, it felt seamless despite Kierra keeping her distance as promised. She and Gabriel keep interacting by chance and then intentionally. I was rooting for them all the way.

This book was challenging to read at times because of the domestic abuse and gaslighting. But it made it all the more satisfying to read the end. Cherry demonstrates the psyche of someone in a domestic violence situation and why they stay, even when they're a therapist themselves and knows logically what is happening and what they should do but do not for the longest time (or ever).

If You Stayed was a sweet, poignant and beautiful story. It was also a sad and at times difficult to read. I loved that it didn’t shy away from abuse or the factors that would lead someone to stay in an abusive relationship. It kept my attention but I wasn’t fully immersed in it or all the way sold on the characters or their connection. The pacing was a little off for me. There were parts that I found moved slowly while other parts I couldn’t read fast enough. I enjoyed this story. I think the author did a great job with it, a great job of portraying the struggles, angst, blame and feelings of unworthiness that someone in an abusive situation goes through. She also did a great job with making the abuser not just the sum total of his abusive parts. It was an interesting read, one that I definitely recommend.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is an absolutely beautiful (and heartbreaking) second chance romance that will truly have you all up in your feels. The chemistry, the love, the pride for each other... Gabriel and Kierra are so beautiful together and their story is so raw. A serious accident in their youth almost takes Gabriel's life and allows his love - Kierra to run away - she just had to escape the guilt. She ended up in a very toxic, very abusive marriage full of a messy ride to break free - there are a lot of really intense triggers in this book, and Brittainy does a fantastic job at making sure that you are very aware of what you're walking into which I am grateful for! The entire first half of the book is just so messy and complicated - Gabriel doesn't remember Kierra but how they come back together is so incredibly beautiful and worth all the tears.

Kierra and Gabriel

"If you stayed" is a stunning second chance story by Brittainy Cherry and will make your heart ache.

For Kierra, Gabriel is the love of her life - until one devastating moment shattered everything. Cut off from Gabriel, she tries to move on with her life and gets married.
After 10 years, she unexpectedly meets him again - only he doesn't seem to remember her and she is stuck in a terrible marriage. But the attraction between the two is unbroken.

For me, "If we stayed" was finally another book by Britainny C. Cherry that I really enjoyed. She pulled me in from the very first page, and my heart had to endure a lot. And it hurt - for Gabriel, Kierra and also for Ava.

The author writes very poetically and manages to intensify the reader's emotions. This makes the characters so vivid and the emotions so tangible that I can empathize with them.

"If You Stayed" is a very character driven story. Kierra is such a strong woman and to me she is a real role model. She puts her loved ones first and fights for them to the bitter end.

I also immediately liked Gabriel. He has a quiet charisma and a genuinely good heart.
And the individual relationships between Kierra and Ava and Gabriel and Ava are also very special to me. But I actually liked the scenes with Ava and Gabriel the best.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This book gave me all the feels. BCC is an incredible storyteller! This story had so much depth to it. This is my first amnesia trope. Some people are not a fan of the trip but I think that the author did a nice job. I loved all the main characters, though Ava may have been my absolute favorite..I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it!

This was an emotional read. Kierra and Gabriel have an intense connection that has stood the test of time and circumstances. They deserve happiness after everything that's happened. This book made me cry but I really enjoyed it.

This is a beautiful, emotional second chance romance between Kierra and Gabriel that I devoured. I couldn't believe how quickly I read this. The characters just pulled me in.

It's been twenty years since Kierra has seen Gabriel. She is now married to a controlling husband, Henry, with a fourteen-year-old stepdaughter, Ava. There is no love in their marriage, but she stays for Ava. When Henry hires Gabriel as their architect to build their (his) new mansion, she comes face to face with her one true love. Only problem is...he can't remember her due to amnesia caused by the car accident that they were in at nineteen years old. She was driving and he lost his younger brother.

This was aiming for a five-star read until the end. The pacing changed a little, seemed rush. It was all wrapped up too quickly.

Overall, I enjoyed it. Please, check your trigger warnings before reading. If you can't handle reading about domestic violence, then skip this book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts adn opinions are my own.

Another beautiful and absolutely devastating story from Brittany C. Cherry.

I loved this book so much. Kierra and Gabriels story is raw, sweet, heartbreaking and all emotions wrapped up into one.

I loved how Cherry intertwined the past and present. How we got glimpses of their original love story but ultimately we got to know them best in the present. Gabriel losing his memories for so long really allows us to see who he was then and now. Same but different. Still so in love with Kierra.

Kierra is so so strong. The definition of resilience and what a mother's love truly is. How she stayed in her marriage for so long so as to not lose her daughter(stepdaughter).

I loved the ending. My little heart couldn't handle their much deserved HEA.

Well this book obliterated my poor little heart. Gabriel and Kierra's journey was such a beautiful yet heartbreaking story to read. It speaks to the power of true love being able to heal a person's soul.

Kierra and Gabriel are childhood friends. They're reluctant friends at first, but soon develop a relationship that only kids can understand...just pure and innocent. As they grow, so does their relationship, and soon their feelings bloom into something more. I really like how the story was told in past/present timelines. We're introduced to past situations that have greatly impacted the current lives of both Kierra and Gabriel, and through that we get to experience the story in its rawest form.

This book tackles the topic of domestic violence in such a powerful way. Through Kierra's POV we get to experience her power, self doubt, sacrifice, love, temptation, and selflessness. Her husband Henry plays his villain role carefully and cunningly...the kind of snake, hiding in grass, waiting to strike. Kierra's character was easy to connect to. Right from the start we're shown her fragile side and just how sensitive her heart is when connecting with people. When she reconnects with Gabriel later in life it's a bit overwhelming how her emotions practically screamed from the pages.

Gabriel, my guy. I loved this man. He was so sweet as a kid, and grew into a special kind of man. The kind of man that just gets it. The way he stands up for the women in this book was absolutely spectacular... a true champion, and a man worthy of the fiercest love. I mean, he wasn't afraid to use his fists to get sweet revenge on disrespectful men. Thank you fine sir. But he's also fighting some pretty unique demons. He doesn't remember Kierra due to an accident that ripped them apart, so their reconnection is riddled with a lot of uncertainty, and of exploring feelings that have been long buried and forgotten.

Kierra and Gabriel had to figure out how to exist in each other's lives. Boundaries get crossed, buried emotions begin to manifest, and ever so slowly, hearts begin to heal. This is a messy situation and some pretty heavy topics get explored. I think this author handled this story perfectly, giving us a raw and real picture of Kierra and Gabriel's situation, while also giving us a story built on hope, strength, and resilience. We get to see soulmates find their way back to one another after tragedy, and it's a beautiful thing to see.

Notable side characters include Henry's Mom and daughter, and Gabriel's mom. Their inclusion server to amplify the underlying story of the power of love, and the hopelessness that women face with battling through toxic relationships.

No matter what this lady writes it always breaks my heart. There’s this quiet emotional pull that just grabs you. The whole vibe is soft, sad, a little tense, and totally addictive. I seriously could not put it down. The story itself is beautiful and heartbreaking and full of that “what if” kind of love that just gets you. Brittainy’s writing is super easy to read—like, I breezed through it—but it still hits deep. There are so many lines that made me stop and go, ouch... but also wow. The entire last part though, my goodness had me on the edge of my seat like what is seriously going to happen now! My heart went out to both of these characters! I desperately wanted to flip to the end to see the outcome but I stayed strong. Barely….
Kierra and Gabriel grew up as enemies which then turned into best friends which then turned into in love. They would have gone the distance - that’s how strongly they loved each other. But something terrible happens only leaving one of them remembering. The other person cannot remember the first 19 years of their life. The one who could remember left forever blaming themselves for the incident.

Warning: Triggers include emotional and physical abuse, cheating, sizeism, and loss of a child.

Given some of the triggers in this book, you can assume that this story has a good dose of angst. Something I really didn't factor into when I began reading. Did it help that I'm already on edge with everything going on in the world? Not really. So, I will say that it is best to be prepared going into this book. That said, the author does a great job covering all themes with the care they deserve, and showing how a woman, buried in grief and self-loathing, gains the support to turn her life around for the better.

This story is told in the past and present.
In the past, we learn how Kierra and Gabriel develop an eventual friendship, and then fall in love. A tragedy tears them apart, the details of which aren't clear for a while, other than Kierra blames herself.
In the present, the two are reunited, when Gabriel is hired by Kierra's husband, Henry, to design their house.
Two things made this reunion very interesting:
Gabriel has no memory of Kierra (a condition caused by the tragedy as teens).
Henry is a monumental jackass (and that's putting it nicely).
So, Kierra is put in the awkward position of wanting to be closer to Gabriel, but can't admit why. And leaving her marriage is even more complicated, which I won't get into.
Needless to say, cue the angst.

I loved Gabriel immediately. Not just that he is the polar opposite of Henry, but for how he treats Kierra and her daughter, Ava. He shows time and time again what a kind heart he has. As for Kierra, I truly felt sorry for her, especially with how she takes the abuse from Henry. It broke my heart.

Does Kierra deserve a HEA? Absolutely. But she has to work for believing she does as well, it's all part of the journey.

Overall, this book is worth a read, you just have to pull up your big girl panties and open a nice bottle of wine first. : )

4.5 cinnamon muffin stars


I am no stranger to Brittany's writing and something I've come to expect from her books is emotional story telling and she never misses. If You Stayed is about first love, about tragic mistakes, grief, loss and most of all hope towards a better future. Now, I have to be honest some scenes were so hard to read there is emotional and physical abuse on page and it's heartbreaking. Brittany beautifully navigates us through some really hard material while weaving in inspiration and a light at the end of a sometimes dark tunnel.

If You Stayed is a true testament to love, found family, break throughs, and happily ever afters.

“Kierra, you feel like the whole f–king galaxy wrapped up in one human being. I’m not saying that to convince you to want me over Henry. I’m telling you this because I need you to feel how I feel for you. I need you to look into the mirror and know that you are the whole f–king universe wrapped in one. And you deserve better than anything that man can give you.

- second chance romance
- Black MCs
- slow burn
- flashbacks
- 🌶️/5
- dual pov

POV: An accident tore away your first love’s memories and you from him. Twenty years later, you’re a therapist with a 14-year-old stepdaughter in a loveless marriage, and he re-enters your life as the architect building your family’s new home.

This is Brittainy at her angsty, emotional, heartwrenching best. If you want an emotional roller coaster, this book is for you. She expertly builds the tension so you viscerally feel all the feelings (anger, sadness, shock, and heartbreak included) as you wait for the bomb to drop. But oh, how the HEA is so unforgettably worth it. Even if you have to work to get to it!

Kierra and Gabriel are the definition of soulmates. Their reunion twenty years later is fate personified, and the flashbacks help seal the deal. They’re both dealing with old feelings resurfacing, even if Gabriel doesn’t remember the past.

As Ava says, Gabriel is a man, and it is written by a woman. The way he treats Kierra is so soft, tender, and heartwarmingly beautiful. He’s honest, patient, forgiving, and perfectly protective of her. Most importantly, he sees and appreciates the real Kierra, as she can only be her true self around him.

He also shares such a special bond with Ava and don’t even get me started on the empowering moment he shares with her. I cried at the beach reading it! Rosie is the much-needed comic relief to balance out the heavier storylines.

Angsty girlies, PLEASE add this to the TBR!

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the early copy!

Gabriel and Kierra were each other's first everything but a terrible accident stole Gabriel's memory and their future together. Years later when Gabriel shows up to work on a new home build, Kierra has moved on to have a family. Kierra is hopeful that Gabriel will remember her and save her from her unhappy marriage. An emotional, second chance romance.

Brittainy Cherry does it again! I love reading any of her books when I need a good ansty read, and this one was no different. If You Stayed is a second-chance romance that brings two characters back together after two decades apart.

Kierra and Gabriel were childhood friends who were separated after a terrible tragedy. Two decades later, they run into each other again by chance. However, Gabriel has zero memory of Kierra, even though he has this pull towards her. By the time they meet again, Kierra is married to a cold and manipulative man Henry. From her marriage, she gained a step-daughter, Ava. The two of them are very close, and Kierra will do anything for Ava, including staying with Henry. Henry unknowingly hires Gabriel as their architect, not knowing that Kierra already knows him. Gabriel doesn't let the fact that Kierra is married stop him from spending time with her. He will do anything he can to keep her in his life. I absolutely loved seeing the connection between these two, and it will definitely pull on the heartstrings.

I am forever a Brittainy Cherry fan, and I encourage everyone to pick this one up!

“If I lost my memory every single day for the rest of my life, I would still find my way back to loving you. I’d love every version of you.”

I’m someone who likes their books to hurt them (yeah, yeah, I know… I’m probably a masochist) and If You Stayed did everything I needed it to. Were there tears? No, but this book was still heartbreaking. Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca & Brittainy Cherry for the ARC.

Imagine getting into an accident with your first love and he loses his memory, completely forgetting about you, and then his family thinks you should stay away. And then years later when you’re married (to a horrible guy) you collide with your first love again. He still doesn’t remember you and what happened. But you remember. You still love him; however, you’re trapped.

Yeah, tell me after that you wouldn’t feel like your heart was breaking.

Everything that happens to Kierra in the time that Gabriel and she are separated truly peeves me. The marriage she’s in is truly horrendous and I fully understand why she stays because there’s a child involved that isn’t her biological daughter. It still made me so angry everything she endured. However, Kierra is a therapist and she really needs to take her own advice because like… what?!

Overall, If You Stayed had me hooked right from the beginning and I was invested in what was going to happen to Gabriel and Kierra. I do wish we’d gotten more of their story when everything was said and done at the end, buuut I’ll try not to be too picky.

She does it again. There is not one book I have disliked from this author. They hook me right from the beginning. I wish I could read them all over again for the first time.

Kierra is living a life everyone thinks is amazing and glamorous. But of course we all know that's not always the case. She lost the love of her life years ago to a horrible accident that left him not remembering anything. One day he shows up to Kierra house because he is now her architect that is supposed to be helping her husband build their house.......I highly recommend this one it's emotional and will hook you from the start!