I was generously gifted a copy of this book through Netgalley, and I'm so lucky and thankful that I was.
I LOVED THIS STORY, it was so engaging, so moving, and I loved the characters. Yes, the storyline is about tragedy, about spousal abuse, but it is so much more. It is about overcoming all this and finding love, love for yourself, and also romantic love. I couldn't put this book down, I read it in once sitting, it was THAT GOOD! Such amazing characters, and such a good story with a HEA. Highly recommend!
Themes in this book:
Lost love, second chance romance, spousal abuse, family love, romantic love. Can't sing enough honest praises about this book. LOVED IT.

Wow what a beautiful and heartbreaking love story.
Second chance at love with your soulmate only to find out he has no memory of you. Crushing. All the Feels too.
Love how Gabriel remembers (subconsciously) little things about Kierra, like calling her Penguin, that about did it in for her. Plus how protective he is with not only Kierra but Ava as well.
Kierra can’t say anything to Gabriel about the reason he lost his memory which is heartbreaking for her. When everything comes to a head and everyone knows everything, will they finally get a happy ending they both deserve?
There’s definitely triggers about domestic violence but Brittainy did well with it.

Brittainy Cherry does it again!! Wow, I felt all the emotions reading this one. Kierra and Gabriel deserve every ounce of love. Their story was heartbreaking, emotional, deep, and so complex. This story had the perfect flow and explored heavy themes with such deep care and recognition for what it is. There is no glorification. Sure the resolution of the story happened quickly, but I felt that was necessary for the amount of themes that are covered and discussed in this book. Kierra is such a beautiful character that I identify with so deeply. Her caring nature and gentleness, her wanting to do everything for everyone else to make sure they are okay, her determination and willpower to just simply get up everyday despite it all…each one of her traits is something I understand and deal with personally. Although her story is far different than mine, I see so much of myself in her. Reading this story gives me so much hope for my future. And Gabriel!!! What the kindest most loving man who deserves it all. He had such a beautiful ability to read people and their emotions so accurately. His patience, empathy, and reassurance is what won me over instantly. From his first introduction I knew I was going to love him and boy did he exceed all expectations. Gabriel is the man we all deserve. His story is so emotional, and with the flashbacks and present day structure of this story, despite what happened, he never lost the heart of himself. What a hopeful, genuine, emotional book that I will for sure be recommending!

📚 Quick Thoughts: This Book Wrecked Me (in the Best Way) 💔✨

I couldn’t put this book down—finished it in less than 12 hours! 😱 But wow, it took me days to emotionally recover. This story is intense. It’s not a fluffy romance, so check those trigger warnings, but trust me, it’s worth every tear. 😭

Kierra and Gabriel’s love story is such a rollercoaster. 🎢 They meet as kids, fall in love as teens, but a tragic accident rips them apart for nearly 20 years. When they reconnect, Gabriel doesn’t even remember her. Cue my heartbreak. 💔 Meanwhile, Kierra’s stuck in an abusive marriage, and Gabriel’s been waiting for the one he can’t seem to find (spoiler: it’s her!).

If you’ve read Brittainy C. Cherry’s Elements series, this has all those same feels—raw, emotional, and unforgettable. I’m officially obsessed and already craving more of her heart-wrenching stories. 😍

Big thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC. This one’s going to stick with me for a long time. 💕

I don't know how she does it, but every story that comes from Ms. Cherry just gets better and better, and I have been a long-time fan girl and have read everything she has written.

This is the story of childhood friends Kierra and Gabriel. Tragedy brings two children together, and tragedy breaks the young lovers apart.

Time and memory doesn't fade the soul-embracing love that exists between Kierra and Gabriel. They are each other's home, and even time and distance don't seem to deter that.

Fate cannot be denied in this story, from the surprise blast from the past to the way that these two gravitate toward each other, even when the present wants to continue to separate them.

This is a story that is going to pull your heart from your chest and slowly give it back to you in bits and pieces. This a love story that gives you a bumpy ride till the end, but it is so worth it!

If You Stayed by Brittainy Cherry
Plot: A-
Characters: B
Writing: A-
Setting: A-
Best Aspect: A good story line with realistic characters.
Worst Aspect: I little corny and predictable.
Recommend: Yes.

A true second chance romance. This book touches on so many topics including abuse {physical, emotional and verbal}, loss of a loved one, grief, guilt but most of all love. Brittainy Cherry has delivered an emotionally charged book with wonderful characters and a poignant story.

Life is never predictable and your course uncharted. One night changes the lives of Gabriel and Kierra and sends them off into the world alone.

Kierra has done well for herself if you look at her life from the outside in. Married to a very wealthy and powerful man, mother to a beautiful girl and a successful therapist. Sadly her loving husband isn't so loving behind closed doors.

Gabriel has moved on the accident that left him with no memory of his childhood and built a very successful architectural firm. When his work takes him to his clients home for a party Kierra and Gabriel cross paths but their reunion is only one sided since Gabriel doesn't remember her.

I loved their connection. It was as if they were tethered together at their souls. Gabriel feeling a connection and calm from just being near or spending time with Kierra.

I like the relationship that Gabriel forged with Ava too. His "fatherly instincts" to nurture her dreams and protect her ay all costs.

Once all of the secrets of their past were revealed the healing began. Gabriel and Kierra started to forge a new friendship but their feelings were definitely growing stronger day by day.

But her marriage to Henry was not just something she could walk away from. Years of "programming" her to play her role as the dutiful wife and threats of taking Ava from her kept her exactly where Henry wanted her.

Can she break the chains of her marriage and reclaim her 1st love and the life they have missed out on? Will Kierra and Gabriel overcome the obstacles in their path and prove that love conquers all?

Be sure to grab this book upon release and see for yourself.
Please be mindful of the author's note of trigger warnings to decide of this is a book for you.

“My soul always knew you, and it called out your name every single day.”

If You Stayed was a tragically beautiful and heartbreakingly emotional love story of two soulmates torn apart by tragedy and reunited in the strangest twist of fate. Gabriel and Kierra’s second chance story was a touching and complex story that absolutely touched my heart and took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride that I will not soon forget.

“Loving him wasn’t simply a choice; it was my destiny.”

My heart broke for Kierra and the life that she built after Gabriel. While everyone else thinks she’s living the perfect life, at home, her husband is emotionally and physically abusive and tears her down at every turn. Yet she has a beautiful spirit and the will to survive even in her darkest days.

“It makes sense that I loved you, because when I first saw you…I didn’t know you, but I could feel you. And when I felt you, I didn’t feel lost anymore.”

Gabriel doesn’t remember his first love after a tragic accident left him with amnesia. When Kierra reenters his life, she strikes a chord in him that brings him to life for the first time since his accident. He’s determined to get to know the woman who haunts his every thought.

“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.”

The longing and bond between Kierra and Gabriel is palpable. You can feel it through the pages even when Gabriel doesn’t understand why there seems to be that string that connects them. This is a story that is not for the faint of heart and will absolutely gut you, but it’s also a beautiful story about the resiliency of the human spirit and how two souls that are meant to be together will inevitably find one another no matter what tries to keep them apart. If You Stayed was a beautiful, emotional and poignant read that will give you all the FEELS.

4.5 Stars

Kierra + Gabriel

Those two have been pushed together by their parents when they were only eight years old. They hated each other. But that hate turned into friendship and love. But it all stopped after that car accident when they were 19.
Gabriel lost his memory of her - of everything. And his mother didn't want her in his life anymore.
Many years later he's the architect for her new house. The super modern tech house her husband wants to build.

...let the fun times begin...

══════════════════

Well. That was so sad and heartbreaking.
They lost so many years and now they could have something again. But! She's married and he's still not remembering her. Ugh.
Kierra is only staying in her marriage because of her step-daughter. She's her everything. Her husband is a horrible person.
And Gabriel is the absolute opposite of that. He's so sweet and perfect. But he still can't remember her. But tiny little things seem to pop up in his mind every now and then.
Will he hate her once he finds out the whole truth?
We hope not. We so want that super-delayed happily ever after for them all.
I really enjoyed reading it. It was sweet and sad and so many things.
Wouldn't mind watching this on TV one day!

Still not a fan of Brittainy over-using the words PRIOR. Ugh. I just hate that. Just say LAST NIGHT. Why say THE NIGHT PRIOR? Ew. But that's just a ME thing!
There were a few more 'writing things' that bothered me a bit. But pfft. Who cares. ME thing again.

► IF YOU STAYED was such a sweet + heartbreaking + very late second chance love story. Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Gabriel - he'll be sold out in no time!

This book is a beautiful telling of a strong woman it’s hard to see from the outside why women stay in bad relationships and the strength you convey in your writing is incredible thanks for this beautiful story

Dear BC,

First off, thank you for the tears and the profound journey through your words.

This book is a sanctuary for women who have endured the storms of abuse, providing a place where they can be seen, understood, and mourn—a mourning not born out of weakness, but a testament to the courage it takes to embrace the next step, even when it is shrouded in uncertainty.

The genuine and raw nature of falling in love is captured beautifully in your narrative, where vulnerability becomes a gateway to self-discovery and healing. It’s in this tender space that readers find a reflection of their own experiences, transforming pain into strength.

A line like, "Maybe some people aren't meant to be happy, maybe some people are meant to be heartbroken," resonates deeply, urging readers to clutch their pillows tighter as they softly cry themselves to sleep. Such poignant words linger long after the page is turned.

BC, you have a remarkable ability to touch the heart and resonate with the human spirit. You speak to the essence of what it means to be a woman, illuminating that extraordinary resilience that defies the simplistic question: "Why would you stay?" This book beautifully exemplifies the strength it takes for a woman to leave, showcasing that even in moments of perceived weakness, she is at her strongest, her bravest.

Your narrative gracefully identifies the complex beauty of grief and how it drives one to love others deeply, sometimes at the expense of self-care. Each chapter's words align with key milestones, painting a vivid portrait of the journey to self-reclamation.

And those delightful nods to nostalgic treasures, like the mention of "Smart House," serve as a charming introduction to cherished memories, adding layers of relatability and warmth.

Thank you for reminding us that we are, indeed, beautiful.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I haven’t read many books by this author but I’m going to have to check out more of them.

This book was an emotional read! I feel in love with Kierra, Ava, and Gabriel. I really loved the connection between Kierra and Ava. I loved the bond those two formed! Ava deserved her as a mom.

Watching Kierra and Gabriel find their way back to each other was sweet and heartbreaking. I feel bad for everything they both had to endure. I feel like Kierra had it worse in one way, but Gabriel in another.

I enjoyed this book and am excited to read more Brittainy C. Cherry books!

If You Stayed is a standalone title written by Brittainy Cherry.

Expected release date of April 22, 2025

*Amnesia
*Marriage in crisis
*Second chance

When two souls are tangled in forever…

After reading the description of this book I was worried that it would be too much for me to handle. Cheating has, and will always be, one of my triggers. Spousal abuse is the other. I was so worried!

However, Brittainy Cherry is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I knew I could trust her to make me fall in love with this book, regardless of the triggers.

Gabriel and Kiera were childhood friends, and high school love interests, until a tragic accident ripped them apart. Gabriel was left with no memory of Keira, and she was pushed away by Gabriel’s mother due to the accident.

Twenty years later, Gabriel has been hired as an architect by Kiera’s husband. What transpires is a new friendship, recovered memories, and a reconnection of two soul mates.

If you have never given this author a chance before, read this book!! It will truly make you believe in the power of soul mates.

I listed the trigger warnings below, your mental health is more important than anything. Do not read if any of these will cause you to experience negative feelings.

TW: on page spousal physical, verbal, and mental abuse, cheating, death of a child

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read and review this title!

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️
Characters: Gabriel (MMC) & Kierra (FMC)

I read this book in less than 12 hours, and it's taken me about 48 to process. I loved this story. It's not a light-hearted romance, and I would recommend checking trigger warnings before going in, as the content may be sensitive to certain readers. It is well worth the emotional roller coaster you will go on though!

Kierra and Gabriel's love story developed over time when they were young and then a tragic accident forced them apart for nearly 20 years, We get brief flashbacks of how they first met at age 8, then some from their teenage years and finally we find out what happens to them at age 19 and why they went their separate ways. When they reunite in their adult years, Gabriel has no memory of Kierra and I was devastated right alongside of her to find that out. She is now married to her husband of 15 years who is an abusive narcissist, but stays for her daughter's sake and Gabriel is still single because he's looking for a woman that he just hasn't found yet. I don't want to give too much away because the journey is worth going in almost blind, but if you loved her earlier books (such as the Elements series) you will absolutely love this one. I can't wait to see more of her tear-jerker style writing as I think that's been missing in my reading life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and, of course, the wonderful and talented Brittainy C. Cherry for sending me an ARC of this book to review.

Brittainy Cherry writes a second chance at love again romance that is emotional, heartbreaking, and uplifting. If You Stayed is about Kierra Hughes, a therapist, and Gabriel Sinclair, an architect. Kierra is stuck in a loveless marriage to her husband Henry but stays for their daughter Ava. When Henry hires Gabriel as the head architect to build their new smart home, Kierra is reminded of the childhood she shared with Gabriel when she and Gabriel were friends, then lovers, then nothing after an accident forced her to leave everything she loved behind. Gabriel lost his memory as a result of the accident and doesn’t remember Kierra but feels a familiar connection to her. As Kierra struggles with her unresolved feelings and attraction to Gabriel, she has to choose whether or not to act on it or leave it behind again.
 
This book was tenderly written with such care and compassion. Kierra and Gabriel’s love story was gratifying and comforting. Kierra is a fighter, and her vulnerability and strength are so tragic yet promising. Their love for each other never wavered despite Gabriel’s memory loss and the years they have lost together. This was an evocative reading experience, and Brittainy did such an exceptional job writing a poignant and impactful story, and I can’t wait to read more from Brittainy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Brittainy Cherry really knows how to write a book that tugs at the heartstrings! This book is up there with all of my other favourites from her. I was so invested in Kierra and Gabriel's love story that I devoured it. This story covers some heavy themes which made me feel for the characters while they were going through their trials. The only thing missing for me was seeing more of Kierra and Gabriel's relationship in the present.

Overall, this was a really good book and worth a read.

Thank you to Brittainy Cherry, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh, wow! What a story! This was deeply engaging and moving. It's raw and emotional and I just adored it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Cherry is a talented and crafty writer. I want more!