When you’re consumed by grief, can love find a way to bloom? For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with Chris. I was never old enough or brave enough to act on it. He never saw me like anything more than his best friend’s little sister.So, when he falls in love with my best friend, I smile and try to move on. Only I never thought I would lose them both.*** One tragic night. One day … both.
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One tragic night.
One day leaving me wondering what my future holds.
One event that has me seeing Salomé under a different light.
She’s the only one who can understand what I’m going through.
She’s also the only one who can soothe my pain.
I need her to survive. But I certainly shouldn’t take advantage of it.
An emotional brother’s best friend novel like no other.
Please be aware this book is not an easy love story. Subjects such as grief and sudden death are addressed.
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5 STARS
Gabrielle G. took me on an emotional journey of EPIC freaking proportions with this book. These characters and their unadulterated actions evokes so many feelings in me. I love that we have cameo appearances of characters from the author’s other series of books. This book can be read as a standalone, but I feel that for you truly appreciate the relationship amongst the Gritt family you should read Heartbroken first. I’m eager to read Barnabas’ story! Forsaken by Gabrielle G. Is an EPIC read that will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
The feelings, emotions and angst behind. This book will make you love Gabrielle G. That much more. I have yet to find another author like this. She takes VERY REAL, RAW, and BROKEN characters and totally makes you connect instantly.
I was crying pretty quickly into this one. It is so emotional and hits you deep with every word. When hurt is involved with anyone, uncertainty and emotion play such a HUGE PART. Reading this book was like breaking every part of my heart, just to have it all out together, piece by small piece. So FREAKING impressed with this book and Gabrielle G.
Her words have never come more to life than this book and these characters.
So this book follows the Gritt family. They are a fun-loving and close family. Salome is part of this family and does not fit in so well. Chris has always been part of the family as a long-time friend. The issues addresses in this book will make you fall even more for these characters. Such a real representation of life and what we all experience.
Please go one click this story! It will make you wish you had one-clicked her sooner!
This is the sort of book that after you read it, you need a moment to compose yourself and get your thoughts in order. Gabrielle G. has this way of ripping your heart out and sewing it back together. This book did exactly that in the most beautiful of ways. These characters are not easy. They are flawed and troubled and experience some of the worst life has to give. But beneath all that is love and friendship and trust. A fantastic five star read not to be missed!
This is book 2 in the Gritt family series. This can be read as a stand-alone, but I do prefer to read an interconnected series in order, to get to know the people in the story.
This is Salomé’s story. We met her before in Heartbroken, as she’s Aaron’s little sister. Since she’s a little girl she had a crush on Chris, her big brother’s best friend. Later in life she falls in love with him, and simply never falls out of love for him, even tho he doesn’t reciprocate.
Chris, Aaron’s best friend, 10 years older than Sal, or Snot like he lovingly calls her. Always there to console her, simply be there for her as a best friend / big brother does. Never realizing what she feels for him.
Until one event changes everything in everyones life.
You might have realized that the author recently changed her tag line in Real Raw Romantic. This is so absolutely fitting!! The first half of the book wrecked me. The next 25% were the real part for me, and the last 25% the romantic part.
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I absolutely loved this book. It made me feel so much, I wanted to jump in the book to shake all characters and slap them upside the head! I hurt so much for Sal, Chris and all others.
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But I also loved the conclusion. And how all our favorite people from the other books made an appearance and helped meddling!
This might be all a little vague for you, but I cannot say more, as I do not want to spoiler. But this book is definitely a MUST READ!!
Please be aware of the trigger warning the author posted in the disclaimer in the front of the book!
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I kindly received an arc from the author and voluntarily left a review.
4.75 stars
This is the first book I have read by the author and it packs a wallop. It is the second book in the Gritt Family series and can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the first book before this one to really understand the characters and the dynamics at play. I will also caution those with triggers to take care while reading this story. Salomé is Aaron’s younger sister and the proclaimed wedding planner of the family. Chris is Aaron’s best friend who Salomé has been secretly in love with for years. Chris is unaware of Salomé’s feelings for him and only sees her as a little sister. He affectionately calls her snot. However, life can change in an instant and that is exactly what happens one fateful night. Wanting to help Chris deal with the aftermath, Salomé goes to be with him but will the pain that they share bring them closer or split them apart? This is one storyline that will have readers feeling the gamut of emotions. There is so much that is relatable especially when dealing with grief and that no one processes it the same way or in the same time frame. This is one of those stories that will sit with a person after the ending.
I love books that are written outside lines of typical romance novels. Author Gabrielle G. Creates characters and stories that are real, raw and powerful. Her stories, don’t have a fluff, she gives words that you cling to.
Sal and Chris’s story has become my favorite book from Gabrielle G. Talk about complex, passionate, painful and exciting.
These two , seriously I couldn’t get enough of them. Chris, surprised me, after reading the first book, I wasn’t sure how to feel about him but through out the book, I’ve grown to like him . His protectiveness , his willingness to love, made him a favorite.
Now Sal, being the only girl is tough, I knew that life lol. She’s the character that you gravitate towards immediately. She’s intriguing and funny.
If you are on the fence about this book, series or author, get off the fence and jump into this incredible world of the Gritt family. They will keep you entertained, you’ll cry and you’ll laugh .
Who does not love the GRITT family, after the story from Aaron and Alana , I couldn’t wait for the next story and it did not dissapoint with Salomé and Chris. Chris being Bi-sexual has a relationship with Sal’s best friend Jordan, but when something happens they find their way to each other and I loved every second of it. A real page turner, well written with wonderfull charracters and great world building. I loved it, again a 5 star book for me!!! Can’t wait for the next book in line!!
Another first for me author and I have to say after reading this one, I am going back and reading the first book in this series. This book was just an overload of emotions. I have to say if you in the mood for a heartbreaking emotion filled angst book then this is the one.
Salome has loved Chris for as long as she can remember, but he just never knew or reciprocated her feelings. And because his her brother’s best friend he would always be there.
Chris thinks of Salome as a little sister and she has just always been in his life, but when his new relationship gets serious that relationship seems to be falling along the wayside.
But then something tragic happens and it seems he is back in her life and the relationship that forms is complicated but also one that keeps both of them staying afloat
Like I said emotional overload. Definitely a book that will have you feeling all the feels and maybe shedding a tear or two. A complicated love story that will have your heart breaking but then put your heart back together again
I totally loved this storyline, it was heartbreaking yet it was perfect, I love how Gabrielle can take the emotions in a book and bring them to life, I adore that it isn’t fluffy romance but something with Gritt and real rollercoaster life experiences because true love isn’t perfect its real and raw. Another fantastic story by an amazing author
Salome Gritt is a wedding planner and has been in love with her older brother’s best friend, Chris Harbor for as long as she can remember. But Salome has never made a move on him and when her best friend, Jordan, decides to go after Chris for himself Salome stays on the outside and slowly loses both Jordan and Chris.
Chris Harbor has always been close with Salome but when he begins dating Jordan he loses touch with Salome, choosing Jordan over her. Chris has always been extremely close with the Gritt family and they are not happy with how he has treated Salome since being with Jordan.
Then in an instant everything changes and now Chris finds himself relying on Salome to make it through. Will Salome finally get everything she has wanted or has it all changed too much?
This was a really good book filled with a lot of difficult moments and tough situations. This was the first book I have read and I think I would have liked to read the first one beforehand just to get more information on the pasts of certain characters as there were a few puzzling relationships.
I thought Salome was a great character who put everyone’s needs ahead of her own. I was so mad when she said it was ok for Jordan to go for Chris when he knew how much she wanted him. From that moment on I hated Jordan as he took Salome’s friendship with both himself and Chris away from her.
Chris was a little more confusing as it seemed like he had feelings for Salome all along but then he went ahead with dating Jordan and more. Chris was so close to the Gritt family and at times I wondered who was more part of the family as Salome really seemed like an outsider.
When things take a huge turn for the worse I knew that Salome would still be there for Chris but I wondered if she would give herself the time she needed. As things went up and down between them I felt like Salome was losing herself and everyone else seemed to be making the decisions that impacted her. I was so mad at Chris for leaving as he got to escape while Salome didn’t.
Dex was like some kind of guy with ESP or super power to know what everyone needed and I think I definitely need more on him. Whenever something was wrong with Salome he knew and also knew exactly what to do. I loved how much he took care of her as her brother-in-law but I hated the way that his hubby/partner Aaron treated his own sister.
I was glad when Chris finally figured out what he wanted/needed but then when he leaves again I was so mad. I knew why but at the same time I was so mad as he once again was making all the choices and decisions that impacted Salome.
The end was good and I was glad the way everything worked but it was a little bit of a frustration in getting there!
First, i am so happy to read about Main characters in a story who doesn’t put a label on their sexuality. i have yet to come across books where the H or h are gender fluid or non binary, so seeing a bisexual as a main character warmed my heart.
The fact the whole family was as important and played such a huge part without taking away the spotlight. it never once felt crowded or necessary. The whole book was filled with so much angst and pain my favorite kind of stuff to read. The author kept it realistic when showing Chris and how people sometimes deals with pain, even not giving them the standard closure for the pain seemed perfect for the story.
All the Gritt brothers and their interaction with Sal & each other showed how much they love and put family first.
The hottest scenes are right along with the angst. it had me alternating from unable to breathe from feeling to cry to unable to breathe from the heat from my kindle
3-1/2 Stars
This book was a roller coaster of emotions & couples. I felt like I had whiplash at some points. But when I read the authors note at the end & she mentioned how some people have to go through some things multiple times before they get it right. It really clicked with me for this book, like a vicious circle/cycle… I think everyone goes through one in their life, I know I have.
I really didn’t like Jordan & Chris I had a hard time liking through most of the book. I came around near the end, when you can see the reasons why he did what he did. Salome I kept thinking girl move on BUT I’ve never met the love of my life so I can’t imagine how hard it was for her.
The Gritt family… can’t say I was a huge fan except I love Barbanos & Dex. I’d like to read Dex & Luke’s story one day.
This book was absolutely nothing like what I expected it to be. It about relationships of all kinds, love, death, grief, guilt & living your life.
I received an arc of this book in return for an honest review.
Forsaken is my first book of Gabrielle G. And it’s totally blown me away. This is a kind of book that you would want to grab right after reading the blurb. When you thought you knew the whole story.. finish the book and tell me you won’t expect those things to happen. It all so unexpected. It’s total different and it’s amazing. It’s a story of forbidden and unrequited love like no other.
Gabrielle delivers us a story that once you started reading it you won’t put it down. Sal and Chris relationships journey will shattered your heart and will put back together again. A real and raw twist of emotion. There’s a lot going on in the story that will keep your mind swirling to all the possibilities that could may happen. It’s riveting and intriguing. I don’t want to spoil anything so you must have to download it now and read it. Trust me you shouldn’t want to miss this book.
Raw and full of feels
Forsaken is my first Gabrielle G. novel and definitely won’t be my last. The intense feeling and emotion evoked by this story is raw and real. Longing, loss, unrequited love are all heartbreaking. Then there’s the other side… love, forevers, and more heartache. It seems there’s no avoiding the hurt here. Despite an amazing (and complex) family, Forsaken is rife with all forms of heartbreak, loss, and broken dreams/promises/hearts.
If angst is your thing, buckle up buttercup, because Gabrielle G. is going to make you feel it all the way home.
This book is messy and I do mean very messy but in the best possible way. Salome has loved her older brothers best friend for as long as she can remember and he’s never shared her feelings but things get even more complicated when he starts to date her best friend and then she finally decides it’s time to let go of what her heart wants until the worst thing happens to them both and the only solace they have is each other. I loved this book and even though it’s a standalone I’m going back to read the first one in the series
3.75 stars
Angsty and emotional brother’s best friend romance! I was definitely hooked with this book.
Sal and Chris went through the wringer in this book.
It’s sad, funny, heartbreaking and yet… so full of love.
I liked the fact that they took so long to be together. I didn’t like the way Chris seemingly kept running away. But I get it.
I understand why he did.
It’s an emotional read, for sure- and can definitely be read as a standalone.
A review with no spoilers.
This was book about Love and Heartache. This two love story was so complicated yet they got their HEA. Things that separate them were past and present troubles. I wish I could say more but this book is filled with things that play very important elements towards their relationship. A few things I can say is that she has always been in love with him but he always find other people to fill his lonely nights. Until they couldn’t stop what they felt and went all in.
Forsaken by Gabrielle G. was an emotional, heartbreaking and captivating read. It deals with some difficult subjects that gave readers such a raw and intense story you will devour. Salome has loved her brother’s best friend, who is ten years older than her, for what seems like forever. But she will always be the little sister. But when tragedy strikes, will Chris finally see her? Their journey was not an easy one and one that was touching about second chances you never expected.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading.
Oh lordie I should’ve had more tissues on deck. Forsaken is raw, real and emotional AF! Chris and Sel’s relationship is forbidden and heartbreakingly beautiful with so many ups and downs. Salome has been in love with her brothers best friend since she was little. But she hates that he doesn’t see her that way. Chris is Aarons best friend and a few years older than Sel. She was like a little sister to him, but what happens when his feelings change. These two had me with my stomach in knots because I didn’t know if they were going to make it or not. Talk about an emotional hangover.