Ah Cherry, Cherry, Cherry... che ne hai fatto della mia Cherry?
Non fraintendetemi, anche questo - come tutti i libri di Brittainy Cherry - è un gioiellino, ma come anche tutti suoi libri post serie Elements... beh, ha qualcosa che non mi ha convinta troppo.

Il romanzo è un music romance e segue i cliché tipici del trope: cantante famoso, ragazza in difficoltà. Però è la Cherry e le sa sempre come rendere speciale una storia anche se l'abbiamo già vista e rivista.
Emery e Oliver sono due cuori, lui soprattutto. A entrambi si vuole bene con una facilità che quasi spaventa e li si accompagna più che volentieri lungo la strada che porterà al loro happy ending. Happy Ending anche un po' sofferto, oserei.
La Cherry ormai si sa che è una maestra nell'esprimere le emozioni. Lei sa come lavorare sulla sofferenza e anche questo, come tutti gli ultimi suoi libri, assume quasi i tratti di un manuale di auto aiuto che non quelli tipici di un romanzo.

La perdita di una persona cara è un tema che non manca mai nelle sue storie, ma in questo la Cherry torna dal suo secondo tema preferito, quello della musica. E diamine se la si percepisce.
Non è il libro migliore della Cherry, questo no, ma vi assicuro che se aveste mai bisogno di una lettura che vi faccia sentire meno soli, questo libro è quello giusto!

THE MIXTAPE by Brittainy C Cherry 5 STARS
Oliver and Emery's story
As always Brittainy C Cherry took me on an amazing journey of broken hearts, so painfully alone who find solace in each others arms. After a tragic accident, Oliver loses his twin brother and musical partner. Now after his life is torn apart, he must find his own way. After meeting Emery, her kind hearted soul seems to heal his broken heart. She's an amazing single mother who's barely making ends meet when Oliver had come into their lives. Her 5 year old daughter is a joy as she banters with Oliver, making me laugh out loud. I totally loved their story. Moments of despair, pain and sadness are shadowed by the beautiful love that was growing between them. This couple will steal your heart and soul!! Beautifully written and and so full of all the feels that Brittainy always delivers. I highly recommend this book!!

OMG, it was sensational! 5+ stars
I adore this book to the point I added it to my ALL TIME recommended books. It was emotional, sweet, heartbreaking, and swoony in the BEST WAY. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you for a long time. I get goosebumps even thinking about it. The characters seemed so real. Oliver is the sweetest man and I wanted to hug him so many times. Emery too for that matter. She is tough, strong, smart. She is young, but she already went through so much while raising her daughter alone. She is a lioness. I loved how Emery and Oliver’s relationship evolved from friendship to love. I felt it all through Brittainy’s words. It was so beautiful to read how the connected, how they completed each other, how they supported and healed each other. I loved Olivers parents, they were the best, just like Abigail, Emery’s neighbor. And I really hated Cam, Olivers girlfriend, and Emery’s parents. Reese, Emery’s daughter deserves a special award for the cutest, smartest, most adorable little girl.
The whole book is just wonderful. I cried tears of sadness and I cried tears of happiness. Brittainy C Cherry has a special talent for telling stories which will break you apart, but then that special talent will also put you back together and leave you with an epic book hangover. Don’t expect lots of bed action, this is not that kind of book, but honestly it’s not even needed. I sure didn’t miss it, but hey I love the books in which the connection between the characters is more on the emotional level. All the feels all the way for me, so I say this story is perfect the way it is. MUST READ for all the romance books fans.

Brittainy Cherry is a new to me author. The blurb for The Mixtape is what drew me in. The characters of Oliver and Emery kept me reading this story. I loved them and through everything happening with the outside world vs. them I couldn't not hope that they would make it.

**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**

THE MIXTAPE (Mixtape-Reihe Book #2) by Brittainy Cherry is an emotionally intense rock star contemporary romance that is heartbreaking in so many ways. You will need the tissues for this read. While this rock star romance is the second in the series, the characters are completely different from book one The Wreckage of Us in the series and stands on its own.

Emery is a single mother working as a bartender barely making ends meet, but she is a strong, kind-hearted and loves her little girl more than anything. Five-year-old Reese is Emery’s light and with the help of a neighbor in her apartment building, who is also a therapist, she is dealing with her fear of not being enough for her daughter and other personal issues.

Oliver is half of the twin duo of super pop stars. When his brother, Alex is killed in a car accident that he survives, he falls into an intense depression for months. Skipping a return concert, Oliver is drunk and while Emery helps him escape paparazzi, she loses her job as a result. When Oliver finds out what he has done, he hires Emery as his cook and she begins to show Oliver that he can trust her and with help, he can learn to deal with his anxiety and depression.

The main characters in this romance both start off in different places with difficult lives but are able to come together and help each other to move forward in their journeys. Music also plays an integral role in their entire lives and aids in their coming together and healing. You learn through flashbacks that Emery is dealing with so much more than just being a single mother and it is amazing that she is the loving and giving person she is in the present. Reese is a spot of sunshine and laughter when things get too heavy. All the secondary characters where fully fleshed and realistic, good and bad. The sex scenes are explicit, but not gratuitous. I feel all the exceptionally difficult mental health issues interwoven throughout this story were handled in a believable manner by this author.

I highly recommend this emotional roller-coaster rock star contemporary romance!

I absolutely LOVE Brittainy C Cherry. Her writing has brought so many tears and emotions out of me. Ms. Cherry is one of my favorite authors!
With that said, this was sadly a very hard book for me to get through. My least favorite of hers. I didn’t feel the normal connection I have with her novels. The writing was done well and it was an interesting story, just not one that I connected with.

4★★★★Stars

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual

“The oddest thing about life was how it could show up out of nowhere and change everything in a split second of time.”

Oliver Smith with hard work and determination crossed all the obstacles and succeeded at his music career along with his twin brother. An unfortunate event left him with the loss of his brother and Oliver just wasn’t the same after. His brother knew him and loved him no matter how awkward he felt, he understood him, and now he was fighting to figure out his place in the world once again.

“I wonder if she knew she was too good for the world we lived in. Not manny people like Emery Taylor existed. Especially in my world.”

Emery Taylor was dealing with her own struggles trying to make means and keep her baby girl fed and safe. When she crosses paths with Oliver she didn’t anticipate the blessings that would come her way. She took care of Oliver when he was at this lowest and it gave Oliver hope, their love for music connected them.

“He was a beautiful man with a beautifully scarred soul, and the best part about it was that he hadn’t even known how beautiful he had been. The broken pieces of his story were exactly what made him shine.”

This story was lighter than what I’m used to for this writer. I still enjoyed it, it hurt, it had it’s sad moments not as much as I am used to but I’ll take it. These two characters were both enjoyable and I loved their friendship and the slow burn connection. There was some characters that made me so angry through the book and their horrible actions toward the main character left me feeling utterly sick.

Overall; The Mixtape is a story of self love and healing. It would be appealing to readers looking for a slow burn romance.

Side Note: I usually don’t search music from books but I was curious and I found couple of great new songs that I added to my playlist! will be checking songs mentioned in books more often haha.

I love Brittainy’s words, she writes characters that have depth, that fit well together in such beautiful stories. Mixtape is a perfect example of this. I could not put it down. I had tears in my eyes several times, but large smiles too. I felt such a huge connection to the characters by the time book ended.

5 stars!
"When love met pain, beauty could be created."

Oliver and Alex were a music duo who were topping the charts. Then, tragedy strikes and nothing is the same. Oliver struggles every day, trying to move on but unable to let go of the grief of losing his twin brother. He is at his lowest when he meets Emory.

Emory has her own struggles. She tries to make ends meet while working her hardest to support her daughter as a single parent. She has no family to rely on and only a few good people to help her through her own dark times.

The Mixtape is an emotional journey of finding oneself after a heartbreaking loss and discovering love along the way. Though there are times that the characters nearly hit rock bottom, they come into each other’s lives and make a difference when they least expect it. It’s not just a romance. It’s a story of healing, growth, and forgiveness, and I loved it!

From the moment Oliver and Emory meet, they had an impact on each other. Emory is such a good listener and she understands what Oliver needs. They are there for each other, offering a shoulder to lean on when they both are having hard days. It’s a slow burn romance that allows for a gorgeous friendship to form before they take a chance on love.

"The oddest thing about life was how something could show up out of nowhere and change everything in a split second of time."

It is full of all the feels and though I shed a bunch of tears, some happy and some sad, in the end my heart was full. I loved the journey that Oliver takes as he finds his passion again while opening his heart to possibilities after his devastating loss. Though it’s mostly his need to heal on his own, Emory is there for him along the way and they become stronger together.

"Healing doesn’t walk a linear line; it takes the messy route… healing comes during both the dark days and the bright ones. It’s not all rainbows. Sometimes healing means slicing open the scars that made you hurt so much before and examining them to fully understand yourself."

I love single parent storylines if they are well done and this one is fantastic. Not only is Emory’s daughter amazing, she provided some much needed comic relief in an emotional story. I adored her and her personality, and I loved how she interacted with Oliver and the other people are in her life.

I loved the secondary characters, too. Abigail is wonderful and I loved how much she helped Oliver and Emory in different ways. And Oliver’s parents were the sweetest. I loved their relationship with Oliver.

There wasn’t as much drama and angst as I was expecting, and honestly I loved that. Sure I wanted to scream at Emory’s family and ruin Oliver’s ex, but I loved that I was invested in the characters and emotion without being overwhelmed with over the top angst. This story provided the right number of tears and smiles, and it’s loaded with love.

"Your heart beats in sync with mine."

With raw talent and passion, Oliver Smith deservedly found success in the music industry. But a tragedy put him on a destructive path that could put both his life and career in jeopardy. Fortunately for him, Emery Taylor crossed that path and gave him hope that things might finally be looking up. However, the price of fame might be too much for him to bear.

This book was lighter than the author’s usual work but it still carries an emotional weight. I was drawn to Oliver’s pain and sadness and admired Emery’s tenacity. While they came from the opposite side of life, they both carried heavy burdens on their shoulders.

There were characters in this book that made me incredibly angry and sad for the main character. The Romance was a slow burn with minimal sexy scenes - which I don’t mind in this case. There was one thing that bothered me though. One of the characters decided on a significant action but the result was never mentioned. With that said, I enjoyed the story overall.

The Mixtape is a story of healing and self-worthiness. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a slow burn Contemporary Romance.

Oliver and Emery's story is about two people finding each other during difficult times in their lives. Emery, a struggling single mom, helps Oliver one night at the bar she's working. She soon comes to realize her good deed comes with consequences. When Oliver finds out he offers to help. Spending more time together, soon Emery and Oliver are getting closer. Toss in a precocious child, an ex, friends and family, and you've got an emotional, heartbreaking and hopeful story that will leave you glued to the pages. I highly recommend The Mixtape and I'm hoping a couple of other characters get their own stories because I'd love to see more of them. Seriously, go grab it!

This isn't my favorite Brittainy Cherry book, but it's also not my least favorite. I liked the overall concept and I loved the mental illness aspect of it, but something was just missing. The connection between Emery and Oliver didn't pack any kind of punch like Brittainy's couples usually do. There was a lot of focus on Sammie, Emery's parents, and Oliver and very, very little on the development of their relationship. Don't get me wrong, all of those things were definitely impactful and kept me hooked, but I just wanted to more of their romance. I think I had a hard time connecting with them because of it.

Emery was a good, but somewhat bland character. She had no faults and always managed to say exactly the right thing. I like my characters a little more flawed and she felt too perfect most often. She also says "gosh" a lot and that just got on my nerves a bit. There was a lot of a dialogue that didn't feel natural though and that is so unheard of with Cherry's books that it surprised me. For some reason I felt like she was trying to keep this book pretty clean and it just didn't work.

Oliver I really did like. He had a pretty solid character arc and a whole lot growth. I loved how it took some time for him to come to terms with his mental health and it wasn't something that was resolved in a chapter. His battles with his demons was so heartbreaking and though this book isn't a gut wrencher, I definitely shed a few tears for him at various parts. He and Sammie were easily the most interesting people in this book and I found myself drawn to them and their stories more than anything else.

Something I need to know that is driving me crazy- What in the hell happened with Cam? There's almost no resolution and we never get an update. I don't like that that started off as a big part of the story line and then just faded into existence. I hope that it gets added to in the final version of this book because I want to know all about the fall out.

Overall, like I said before, not my favorite BC book. I enjoyed it, but it definitely left me wanting more.

I, unfortunately, am taking a break from The Mixtape. I think the premise is interesting and I want to like it so maybe if I put it down and revisit it later, I will have a better reading experience. Currently, I find that the characters are interesting but the pacing is too slow for my addled brain. I want there to be more dialogue and less interior/mental wrangling, which probably doesn't make sense because the characters are dealing with THINGS. So, I'm going to chalk this up to a me problem and take a breath and then come back.

***I received an ebook copy from the publisher at no cost***

What a gut wrenching and beautiful story!

This story is heavy on the angst. Like, really heavy on it, which of course made me happy because the more it hurts to read, the better I like it. There are a number of trigger topics in the book, stuff that's not easy to read. If you're good with that then grab your security blanket and buckle up for the ride.

Oliver lives through a tragedy and comes out on the other side, but he's barley hanging on by a thread. The Mixtape is his story. Along the way he meets Emery, a single mom with baggage of her own. These two help each other put the pieces back together and find their way out of the dark holes they found themselves in.

Both main characters felt real to me, because they went through some tough crap that people go through every single day. I enjoy romance, the swoonworthy moments and all, and there are those moments in this book, don't get me wrong. But I like it when authors make their characters work for a HEA and don't paint everything out to be sunshine and rainbows. (If you're looking for a book that's all sunshine and rainbows and unicorn farts, this isn't the one for you, FYI.) There's a slow, slow burn in this story, but when the flame is at its brightest things are so sweet and amazing. I'm not a fan of insta love, so I enjoyed watching this one play out.

There were a few peripheral characters I wasn't a huge fan of, but I think that's a testament to Cherry's talent as a writer. She brought them to life.

This book drew out a number of emotions. I was crushed a few times, mad at the characters at different moments, and I felt quite a bit of empathy for both Oliver and Emery. I loved Reese. She was a breath of fresh air.

I enjoy rockstar romance novels, and Cherry did a wonderful job with this one. She handled some touchy topics in a way that felt authentic and respectful, created a solid cast of characters, and she put together a good mix of angst, tragedy, romance, and some sprinkles of comedy here and there.

If you enjoy contemporary romance (sex, drugs, cursing ... the whole nine yards, take it or leave it) featuring musicians and strong female leads, then this is a good book for you.

Four stars to this novel!

“When it rains, it pours, but the rain always stops, and the sun comes out again.”

Oh wow! My heart! What a stunning roller coaster of emotions! The Mixtape will take you on a sincere journey of healing, finding your truths, and an immense amount of love.

The connection that Oliver and Emery have is beautiful! The way they heal each other and the depth of their connection is heartwarming. Your heart will be full as you watch everything unfold.

“Don’t you get it? So much of your beauty comes from those broken pieces. In those cracks is where you shine.”

Oliver needed someone to see him and Emery truly sees him. She feels the depths of his pain and truly wants to be there for him. These two each have their struggles and their journey is filled with heartache, hope, and love. It’s a story that will have you laughing one minute and tears filling your eyes the next. It’s characters will fill you with love. It’s real and raw and simply beautiful.

“You found me when my heartbeats were hardly there, and you stamped it. You stamped my heart, and that’s why it’s still beating.”

The Mixtape is a story of two people who are broken, hurting. Musician Oliver has lost his twin brother, and Emery has a challenging life as a single mother. They meet and find something in each other that lifts them out of their darkness.

I was pulled into this story from the start and I really liked reading about these characters. Their lives were complex and they were dealing with many emotions. If you like your romances with a lot of emotional hurdles to cross, this might be the romance for you.

That being said, this book is not overly romantic. There is just so much in the journey for these characters, it's not about that. I didn't mind that so much and Emery's daughter does provide some lighter moments.

Overall, I really liked this. I was engaged in the story and characters right away, and that's what keeps me reading.

Each time I pick up a book by Brittainy Cherry, I expect an engaging and emotional read. She did not disappoint with her latest, The Mixtape. It follows a struggling single mother, and a broken musician on their journey of self-discovery, healing and love.



I was eager to read this latest offering from the offer, so I was glad for the opportunity to take part in the blog tour. I had a good time with the story from start to finish.

The story introduces Oliver, a talented, introverted and shy singer. He lost his twin brother, Alex, the other half of their music duo, in a tragic accident. The fans and the media blamed him despite him not being responsible. Since that terrible night, he spiraled into a state of depression with alcohol as his crutch.

Emery, a single mom to precocious five-year-old, is struggling to make ends meet. To her, Alex and Oliver’s music was her saving grace. Their music got her through some difficult moments in her life. Oliver played the leading role in most of her fantasies, but never did she dream that one day she would be the one to rescue him from the well of despair.

Emery was such a great character. Strong, independent and determined. Despite the struggles she faced, she never gave hope for a better life for her and her daughter. I loved how she always put her daughter first. My heart ached for Oliver as I watched him struggled to come to terms with the loss of his twin. I felt every ounce of his pain, fears, despair and loneliness. It didn’t help that he lived with a soul sucking leech, who only dated him because of what he could do for her career. Emery’s daughter Reece brought lightness to the story with her sass. Her interactions with her mom made me smile, but what had me laughing were the conversations between her and Oliver.

I loved the friendship which developed between Oliver and Emery and their falling in love was the icing on the cake. However, their journey towards love and healing had its fair share of challenges. I have to admit I wanted more of the romance. Drama and angst overshadowed it.

I had my suspicions about some events concerning Emery’s family, so the revelations came as no surprise. I won’t go into the details, but one thing I will say is that I am glad she escaped that toxic environment. The story addressed some heavy topics, but Cherry balanced it out with humour and a slow burning romance. Overall, a wonderful story and one I recommend without hesitation.

The Mixtape is one of my favorite reads of 2021! Brittainy Cherry stuns in this romance with her fascinating characters and heartbreaking storyline.

The story follows Oliver as he dealing with a huge loss in his life. He is a musician and was part of the chart-topping duo, Alex & Oliver. But tragedy strikes when a terrible accident leads to the death of his bandmate and twin brother, Alex. He is struggling and is full of darkness. To cope he seeks alcohol and everyone close to him is worried. He enters a bar, meets Emery and his life will be forever changed.

Emery is a single mom who is currently working as a bartender trying to make ends meet. One day she hopes to be a chef but that just isn't in the cards for her. At least not yet. One night she is working and notices that the man who she is serving is Oliver Smith. He is one of her favorite musicians because his music has helped her through some of her toughest times. Oliver always seemed like the quiet, nice twin, but he is anything but that. When he starts to cause a disruption at her bar she has to make a choice. Does she kick everyone out and let Oliver go home alone, or does she help him and sober him up?

Emery takes care of Oliver and sees how broken he is and she wants to help him. But he is a celebrity and thinks that after he returns to his mansion they will never see each other again. That doesn't exactly happen. Once Oliver sobers up, he sees how kind and caring Emery is. He is fascinated and attracted to her but has to remember that he is currently in a relationship. Even though the woman, Cam, he is in a relationship with is horrible he puts up with her because he doesn't want to be alone. But Oliver wants to continue to be around Emery so he hires her to be his chef.

Emery and Oliver go on a beautiful journey together. They help each other heal in so many ways that you can't help but feel connected to all of them. Emery's daughter, Reese, steals so many of the scenes with her pure and innocent heart and her comedic timing. I just loved reading this book so much.

I give The Mixtape 5 stars. I loved every single thing about this book. It is beautiful, heartbreaking, full of heart, and hopeful. I feel like so many readers will connect with Brittainy's writing. Expect to laugh, cry, and want to create your own mixtape. To be honest, as I am writing this review I am listening to 'Could It Be I'm Falling in Love' by 'The Spinners' and picturing the whole Smith family dancing along. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year!!

Reading the last page of The Mixtape by Brittainy C. Cherry, I had to process it, and that's something that happens to me with every book by the author.
I find myself in every story, and that's what makes it hard. It's as if Cherry knows me or, I don't know, can read inside every reader.

The first meeting between Oliver and Emery was not the most romantic.
Emery, for one night, just wanted to forget what it was like to have lost a twin brother and not have to live in the indecision of pleasing his fans or finding himself.
Emery is a girl who struggles day in and day out, in her life, her only goal is to make her daughter's life the best it can be.

“Sometimes I don’t know how to be in the same space with you,” I confessed. “You make me nervous.”
“Why?”
“Because somehow you make me feel better, and I’m not certain if I’m allowed to feel better.”
“Oh, Oliver.” She sighed. “If there was one person on this planet who deserved to feel better, it’s you.”

Emery and Oliver are two very strong personalities, dare I say brave. It's not every day you lose a twin brother or raise a daughter while juggling multiple jobs.
One could be the support for the other, and if that night Oliver could have walked into any bar to escape the paparazzi, he walks into the one where Emery works.

You can tell from the get-go that the two of them have a certain affinity, but what tugged at my heartstrings was finding myself in Emery.
Let me be clear, I don't have any daughter, but in some ways I find myself in her because I know what it's like to have a birth mother and actually not feel like one and maybe consider another person "your real mother."
And it's because of this subject matter that Cherry covers that I feel like the author knows me.

Oliver is a golden boy, life with him has been unfair, but thanks to Emery, he is finally able to appreciate what life has to offer.

Like every book by Cherry, I will never stop telling you that you absolutely must read her novels.
Every story is poetry.
The Mixtape is a book to be enjoyed and digested at leisure, because as always Cherry manages to give us priceless gems.

“Thank you, Emery.”
“For what?”
“Existing.”

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

Blog tour: http://lianareads.home.blog/2021/07/04/the-mixtape-by-brittainy-cherry-blog-tour/

Arc provided by the publisher Montlake through NetGalley

I love the author’s books so much and over the years I’ve read everything she has published traditional published or indie titles.

The mix tape is a beautiful romance story full of heartbreaking moments that tag at your heartstrings in so many directions but also fulfils my cravings for a great contemporary story.

After rescuing him from an altercation, and finding out who he really is, Emery struggles with a drunk Oliver to keep him safe and getting back to her house for the night.

Oliver needs to “prove” himself and the world that he is still good in the music industry even after his brother padded away and lived all his life in his shadows.

There's no story without drama and family dynamics, without so many misunderstandings and miscommunications between the characters but in true Cherry style, everything unfolds and comes together beautifully in the end.

A perfect romance for any lovers of the genre.