“I do.”Two words woven in love. In sickness and in health. For better or for worse. Til death do us part. And death dragged us apart. We both said those vows.But neither of us kept them. This is not one of those happy stories.Life isn’t made of simple choices and happily ever afters.It’s a dark place.It’s not easy.It’s full of mistakes and lessons.It hurts.And in the end, those two words said in … lessons.
It hurts.
And in the end, those two words said in love,
are the same ones said in hate.
“You want a divorce?”
“I do.”
more
I read the warning about crying.
I doubted the warning about crying.
I scoffed at the warning about crying.
I was blubbering by the first couple of pages.
The cheating doesn’t bother me. I know it can be a trigger for some. But what gets me is how real and raw the feelings resonate off the page, how I can feel Lo’s despair like it is my own. I can easily remember my first life-altering experience when reading her pain, and I relate to her so hardcore.
I cannot wait to read Toby’s book. I am shipping ToLo so bad!
This book still haunts me, and every now and then I revisit it for the same torture the initial experience put me through. Beautiful and brutal, but captivating in every way. C.L. Matthews
This book broke me…….broke me so much my heart hurts! The pain, gut-wrenching destruction feels so real reading word after word of the life altering deceit, betrayal, and hurt this story reveals.
“Scars made by people can go many ways. They can slice you through your skin. They can slice you to the bone. They can even sever limbs entirely. But scars of the heart, the untouchable ones, the ones that ache deeper but are invisible, branded, tattooed, those are the ones you feel forever.”
The suffering, heartbreak and agony had so many emotions flowing through my body it was hard to read through the tears. Each chapter had my heart aching and slowly destroyed me that I want sure I could come back from this story. This book was a roller coaster of emotions but in the end my shattered, broken heart began to heal and this book is one that will absolutely stay with me long after reading.!
“Love her but leave her wild.”
If you have read this book I highly recommend because I can honestly say C. L. Matthews has written an UNPUTDOWNABLE, heartbreakingly beautiful must read!
This book was EVERYTHING!! It was devastating, yet heartbreakingly beautiful. It tackled subjects that we do not like to talk about whether out of fear or just plain denial. This book destroyed me in the best way possible and will stay with me for a long time. I felt every emotion while reading this book and felt like I connected with these characters on a deeper level than ever before. That to me is a sign of a great writer! I’m looking forward to what is to come 🙂
I saw this book ALL OVER social media. Saw people raving about it. So in turn, I wanted to read it. As soon as I read the blurb, I knew I was in for some pain. Well…pain is what I got. And TONS of OTT drama and angst.
Where to even begin. I’m just gonna start with, this book was not for me…now let me try to explain.
INHALE. EXHALE. BREATHE.
This was not a romance in my opinion. It was a train wreck romance. I don’t know exactly how you’d categorize it…maybe a tragedy?
My biggest struggle was with the infidelity and the reasoning behind it. YES, at times I could see WHY it happened. Why that character stepped out on their marriage, but at the same time, my heart and mind struggled with the notion that you marry with these vows: I, [name], take you, [name], to be my [husband/wife], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.” and you should uphold those vows, especially in THIS situation given in this book. In my mind, the hero in this story was irredeemable. And the fact that he was indeed forgiven, doesn’t sit well with me AT ALL. “I wasn’t here for your fall, Peaches, but I’ll make damn sure to be here for your rising.” UMM….TOO LATE FOR THAT DUDE! YOU SHOULD’VE BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME!
My second struggle was with the flow of this story. It was broken up into Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. While reading PART 1, I actually stopped reading and went back to the blurb and double checked I was indeed reading the same book I thought I was. PART 2 (which is EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER) is when the blurb comes into play and when all the “action” starts to happen and the craziness and pain begins. This is when I really dove into the story. Where I started enjoying it! But I was still feeling a certain disconnect with the characters. You see, I truly didn’t see HOW this could possibly end up with a HEA and I honestly didn’t know if I wanted it to *GASP* (look back at my infidelity post above.) If I were this character that got cheated on in this book, I’d be saying GOODBYE with my middle finger raised high as I walked away with our children in tow. I see no way that this character would be able to forgive such a betrayal!
The only character I did find myself connecting with was Ace, their 15 yr old son. You see at that exact age, I also had a personal experience with cheating parents, so I could empathize with his emotions and feelings. Also I would’ve loved to have said to his father to my own when I was younger. I was silently applauding him when he confronted his father about his infidelity. “You made me realize men are pigs. When their women need them most, they walk away. When life gets hard, they don’t care. When someone easy and nice to look at comes along, they spread their legs. You ruined my depiction of what a man should be. How am I supposed to grow up and be a man someday, have children, and be able to do what you NEVER taught me? Words are words, Dad, so before you get on your high horse and spew your BS about how you told me how to be good, your actions showed the exact opposite. You were my hero, but one day, you took that away from me.” Then PART 3, was when I officially “checked out” so to speak. Every time a new plot twist was added, I just thought “HERE WE GO AGAIN.” I had given up on wanting the hero to get a HEA, he didn’t deserve it in my opinion. I actually was rooting for the other brother to win the heroine over. A part of me was hoping Lo would open her eyes and see that HE has ALWAYS been there, through EVERYTHING. Loving her, even when she loved his brother more, even after the infidelity. HE WAS ALWAYS THERE! Throughout the book we get 3 POV’s and a bunch of past and present chapters in no chronological order, so at times it was confusing because with each PAST chapter, there was ANOTHER layer of drama and pain added. Whatever would happen in the past would give you foresight as to WHY things were the way they were in the PRESENT and at the same time adding more OTT drama and plot twists (some of which were unrealistic and/or predicable). Then we get to the end of the book and everything seems rushed. A couple more plot twists get thrown in and then we get a HEA with some things unanswered.
I REALLY wanted to like this book and it pains me that I didn’t. But I will say that CL Matthews really pulled out intense feelings from me while reading this book, so I can give her credit for that! She hammered it home in the pain and betrayal department. I FELT IT. I BREATHED IT. I INHALED IT. I EXHALED IT.I’m clearly in the minority here, so I’m guessing if you’re reading my review and made it to this point, there’s a chance you’ll like this book because 1)you’re looking for a cheating book OR 2)you’re into books with tons of drama and angst. If you want those things, then give this book a try. Clearly, a bunch of people loved it, so maybe you will too. BUT if you can’t stomach blatant cheating with no disregard for their spouses feelings or well being, then stay away from this book because you will be left upset in the end
Also, I guess this series is a series of standalones, so book 2, BREATHE, will be about the brother that didn’t get the girl (still bitter about that). He deserved Lo more than anything. A part of me really wants to read his book because out of everyone, he deserves a HEA, but idk if I can stomach more. I have a feeling he’ll just be pining after Lo for most of his book and I’ll just end up feeling pity for the woman that does win over whatever is left of his heart after Lo broke it. We shall see, maybe I’ll give a try when it’s released, maybe not.
2 stars
I don’t even know where to start! I have never read a book that has made my heart feel the way it did reading this. The clench you feel personally from your own heart break. That feeling in. Your chest! I went through a whole range of emotions! It was hit after hit but the story was written beautifully. I can’t put into words all that I felt and am currently feeling!
This book dug deep into my soul and it took a part of me with it when I read the last word!
A love so real and amazing, too perfect and imperfect all at the same time.
Love and hate, joy and pain, betrayal, lies and honesty. It felt so real…every single word and in a sense…it is.
This is someone’s reality.
Someone lives this life.
Day in and day out…
The emotions this book evoked from me were real, brutal and unwilling to quieten. I buddy read this with a good friend and I’m glad that I did. That I had someone to talk to about it. It touched me in a way that no other book ever has. It gave me a little glimpse into my past, present and future. I couldn’t relate to Lo and Jase on each situation but some hit very very close to home for me. To have a book touch you in such a way is absolutely amazing and the best gift an author can give a reader.
I don’t think I have ever read a book that had me experienced EXTREME frustration while loving it at the same time. I am near to rip the hair from my head with my mixed feelings as I read this amazing book.
Without giving too much info, I would like to say first that this book KILLED, SLAYED, MURDERED me, any other synonyms you can think of, that was it. Man, what was that? Shit just got real. This book is raw pain, harsh realities, disappointments AND heartbreaks galore, but hey, that was life to you. And this story showed us that in its painstaking clarity. I cried, oh man, did I cry. Up to this moment, I didn’t even know if I hated this book or just plain freaking loved it. I’ve read that this book is not a typical love story, I thought I was fine and ready. Never have I been more wrong. What happened to Lo, happened to someone close to me and I still remember the pain I felt for that person. How indignant and furious I was, and this is what I felt for Lo’s behalf. This is like the third book that I have read with cheating and like I’ve said before, who am I to judge why they did it? I tried to understand the reason in this story but I was left with feelings of betrayal and heartbreak. That was what makes this a remarkable book than any I have ever read so far. This story will stay with you, makes you think hard and it won’t let you go. It is because it is so realistic and something that happens in everyday life.
Overall, I love, love, LOVE it and I COULDN’T wait to read book two because that teaser at the end is a killer! Gah!!!
A raw, emotional story that will break you and put you back together in the end. Toby and Lo were so in love but so many obstacles were in front of them. A really great read that kept my emotions all tangled til the end.
First I have to say that this is the very first book I have read by C.L. Matthews and I am very honored that I was able to read this book for my honest review.
This book was more than a book it was a true to life look at how marriage is and can be. I did lots of Inhaling and exhaling while reading. This book took me on such an emotional ride and honestly triggered things in my own marriage.
I cried and cried throughout this book so I must tell any reader not to forget their box of tissues!!!
This book will leave you raw and broken with what goes on throughout this whole book.
I can not say anymore about this book and it’s excellence but that this is a MUST read.
I loved this book and believe it is my #1 read for this year!! If you haven’t read this book yet than you must BUY this book!!!!
My heart is bleeding. My soul is shattered. My emotions are drained. Wow, I have no words right now. I am speechless. I can’t breath. I can’t think. I can’t function. Because of Inhale, Exhale. Because a book WRECKED me. Because a story like Inhale, Exhale seeped inside me and crushed every single part of me. Damn, C.L. Matthews, you have ruined me. Inhale, Exhale gripped me from the first sentence to the last. Every page was jagged edge of hurt and pain. Every sentence was deep and resonating. I felt it. I felt it in the depths of my heart. I felt in my inner soul. Inhale, Exhale truly captured the essence of my heart.
Inhale, Exhale is the phenomenally brutal book with a heart splintering story. My heart ached. My emotions stirred. Heart Breaking. Soul Wrenching. Heart Ripping. Beautifully and Emotionally Haunting. Inhale, Exhale is a hard hitting story that touches on aspects of life. Inhale, Exhale is a HUMAN story. A powerfully story that open your eyes. An honest and heartful story. C.L. Matthews plunges you so deep into an unforgettable story with anguish, angst, love and pain. I swear, I cried all the tears. I raged like a madwoman. I felt my heart crack. I was taken to a journey of FEELS from page to page. C.L. Matthews poured out her heart. I felt it her writing. I felt it in her characters. I felt it in every single scene. Inhale, Exhale is a raw story with a touching look into mental abuse and cheating. Inhale, Exhale is meant to make you uncomfortable. It is risque. It is heart aching. It is a no hold bars kind of romance that will suck you in.
In Inhale, Exhale, you will meet Jase and Loren, a married couple that will go through lots of trials and tribulations. They will make your heart hurt. They will break your heart. They will move your heart. You are sucked into their messed up and rocky relationship from high school to adulthood. It will pierce your heart. It will destroy you piece by piece. Jase and Loren go through so much together. You will rage about their decisions. You will even want to throw your kindle. However, you are touched by their love and strength. Sometimes, love is a battle. Sometimes, love is messy. Sometimes, love can be damaging. Inhale, Exhale , Jase and Loren will teach you about fighting for love and true strength despite every challenge you are thrown at.
Inhale, Exhale truly made me a fan of C.L. Matthews. This book really takes you on a roller coaster. Intense and heart paralyzing ride you won’t forget.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
I literally had to make myself inhale and exhale when reading this amazing, gut wrenching masterpiece. C.L. Matthews has taken these real life subjects and brought them to life before your very eyes. I obsess over amazing books, and this is one that I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about so much.
The way she weaves this story about this family and other characters was enthralling. Tragedy can be so hard to deal with, but it can also heal you and make you grow into a stronger person. I am still in shock and awe over this book. Hands down, top read of 2019!!
This is the story of Jase and Loren and their life. It includes amazing secondary characters and situations that will make you cry and want to throw your kindle.
Once click this baby today! You will be so happy you did!!
This book will stay with me for a long, long time. It may well give me a hangover. It’s exquisitely written, poetic and utterly heart-shattering. It was a tough pill to swallow from time to time, but I remember my own mantra, inhale, hold, exhale, and was able to navigate the parts I personally resonate with, which were so close to home. This book is hard to read, hard to stomach, hard to breathe through, especially when I experienced so much of it. It is a story of one’s journey to healing and living after sheer heartache, deep-rooted pain and loss in its varied proportions. Thank you for writing this C. Truly.
Inhale, Exhale was a heartbreakingly beautiful read that consumed me, broke me and left an indelible mark on me. My poor heart is still trying to recover from the torrent of emotions I went through while reading this book. This story isn’t easy to read but it’s real, honest, and truly unforgettable.
The characters were flawed and utterly relatable. They drew me into their story and burrowed their way into my soul. The depth of the feelings they invoked quickly had me fully invested as my emotions constantly bounced all over the place. I loved that the author didn’t shy away from telling their story and didn’t sugarcoat or gloss over anything that wasn’t all hearts and flowers.
Inhale, Exhale for me wasn’t just the title of this book. It was a reminder when I found myself bawling late into the night as I tried to clear my eyes enough to continue reading to stop, breathe, and then dive back in. This book is one poignant and stirring read that dares you not to just let the emotions flow and to feel every single one along the way. Inhale, Exhale wrecked me and was truly one of the most beautifully moving books I have ever read.
You. Guys. YOU GUYS. This book was one of the most emotional reads I’ve ever read. I am not okay. This book hurt me. It broke through my walls, grabbed my heart, twisted, and pulled. My chest hurts from reading this emotional, gut wrenching, flawed story.
This book is about real life. Real life relationships. Real life problems. It’s just so real. A lot of books we read, the couples have no real problems. The kind of problems that rip them apart. But Inhale, Exhale.. they are ripped apart, put together, only to be ripped apart again.
It sucked me in!! I would pick up the book and check the time and realize I had been reading for two hours straight. I got lost in Jase and Loren’s story. The pain. The suffering. The lost. The love. The passion. It all swept me up and dragged me along for the ride.
I am a new reader of CL Matthews, but man am I in it for life. She has gained a new stalker today. If I could give one book more than 5 stars, this one would be it. She sucked me in with her phenomenal writing. Made me fall in love with all of the characters (except Nora. Screw that b***h.) I can not wait to see where she takes this series.
Emotionally draining is exactly what this book was. I thought I was prepared and I don’t have any real triggers but this book managed to bring up all the feelings and emotions from things in my past that I thought I’d gotten over. This book was difficult to read but not in a bad way. I loved every word and I believe it made me stronger by showing me that I’m not alone and that in itself shows the author’s talent. I just want to end this review by saying thank you to the author for writing this book. I can only imagine how draining it must have been being on that side of it.
WOW! This was sooooo good.
Gripped me from the start with the sweetness then when it got to the very emotional and ugly parts i was completly hooked and couldnt put it down till i broke and cried a little for them and i had to have break. I continued their story feeling as if i was right there with them, their troubles in their marriage is real life, this is what makes this story more emotional.
Love all the character’s even Jase, secondary character’s are fab.
Twists and turns i did not see coming, full of angst. love and loss.
I need book 2 now, what happens with Toby, i need to know!
4.5 Stars
“Scars made by people can go many ways. They can slice you through your skin. They can slice you to the bone. They can even sever limbs entirely. But scars of the heart, the untouchable ones, the ones that ache deeper but are invisible, branded, tattooed, those are the ones you feel forever”
It has taken me a few days to gather the right words for this review, and honestly, I’m not sure that I have them. This book absolutely gutted me, it broke my heart into a million pieces, and I still haven’t figured out if it put them back together again. It’s raw and real, and heartbreakingly beautiful.
C.L. Matthews has done something most authors are afraid to do – she’s given us a gutwrenching, angst-filled story that isn’t hearts and flowers, but showcases reality. Life and love aren’t always puppies & rainbows & happily ever afters, and she has fully embraced that with this story. Fair warning, this book is full of triggers, and not for the faint of heart, but it is one of those books that, if you can handle it, everyone needs to read.
“You can’t hate someone without dancing the line of love. They’re one in the same, you see. Hate and love are two sides to the same bitter coin.”
One of my favorite things about this book is how the characters are written. Usually, when reading a book I either love or hate each character, and with this book, I’m still not completely sure how I feel about them. And that’s what makes this so real – these characters aren’t the perfect, swoon-worthy characters I normally love or the smug, arrogant ones I hate. Every character is so fully developed, with their flaws on full display, their inner demons and truths plain to see, not hidden away to let their perfections shine. These characters are so realistic, I loved & hated each one throughout the book, and even days later I’m not sure where each falls.
Inhale, Exhale hooked me from the very beginning, and I couldn’t put it down. These words were beautifully written and addicting, and I don’t remember the last time I highlighted so many quotes and passages of a book While I’m not a person who shies away from certain triggers, I will admit this book may be hard for some people to digest. But I highly recommend pushing through and giving this book a chance!!
While reading this book there were many times that I had to take a step back and breathe. I got angry and emotional and while it’s the best feelings to get while reading I was scared. I wanted to skip to the end of the book and see what happened but I didn’t. I couldn’t because I wanted to enjoy this crazy ride.
When it came to Loren my heart aches for her. Everything she is going through, everything that happens. Gah! My heart also ached for others. It’s so hard to review this with out spoilers. The author left little cribs while the book progressed but it seemed like every new boom moment made my stomach sink and heart stop.
I want to say so much about this book but I’m not going to risk spoilers. I’m going to say it does deal with cheating but it’s so much more then that. You need to get to the heart of the story, the progression of the characters, and just dive in and experience this story. I’m an avid reader of books that deal with this sensitive matter but this author really took it up a notch and made my heart explode.
The ending was really fast paced and o do with it had been drawn out more but I think it fit the story and the characters. I was really worried with how the story would end, but I loved it. Every page that I read. It is a standalone but I look forward to seeing if the author writes more with the secondary characters. 5 stars #2OCCJD
I am still reeling after finishing this fantastic, marvelous, extraordinary book.
I was waiting a long time to read this story and I finally, FINALLY got to read it and have to say that this book went beyond my expectations.
So much, hurt, betrayal, lies, lies and more lies that had my head spinning from one way to another. I couldn’t get my emotions under control with everything happening and the shattering of my heart, it just kept shattering more and more, little by little with every chapter I read.
C.L. Matthews did such an amazing job with this book. It was so damn well written, the story line is one that will definitely stay with me for a very long time.
The characters were raw, broken beyond repair and even though the love was still there so much was in-between that it made it impossible for them. I honestly didn’t expect that ending even though I was hoping for it to end similarly like this and although Jase wasn’t a favorite of mine throughout the book, I can see why he did what he did, but it doesn’t excuse him for it. But that man sure redeemed himself in the end.
Toby on the other hand, was a lovable character, who loved unconditionally and was a faithful friend but things don’t always work out the way you want.
Lo (I love that name) sometimes made me cringe by her decisions or her way of thinking, but a woman who is a shell of a woman who can’t seem to find herself out of it, it’s hard for you to break from that shell and just pick up with life where you left off. I still think she did great in this book, I loved how she picked herself back up for her children.
A top favorite read of the year!!!