“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
“The words are as harsh as beautiful, as heartbreaking as kind, as loving as hateful.”
Inhale, Exhale by C.L. Matthews has chewed me up and spit me out. It has taken me DAYS after finishing reading this book to finally sit down and write this review. Inhale, Exhale is NOT a sunshine and roses type of romance, it’s raw and it’s real and worth every single tear that I shed while reading it. From the first page, till the last page, this book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that I never wanted to get off of. Get the tissues ready guys, you are in for a whole lot of angst.
Inhale, Exhale will break your heart, but just hang on, it’ll mend it back together too.
This heartbreakingly beautiful story is about true love, and being human. We are all flawed, some more so than others, but we all make mistakes. Inhale, Exhale shows the detrimental impact of some of those flaws and mistakes.
“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.”
These characters… you will love each of them at times and hate them at others. And even though you can’t help but hope that they will ALL get what they want… real-life doesn’t work that way, and neither does this book.
I’ve been in a situation similar to Loren. And even though my situation was very, VERY different, this one still hit home for me. I literally had anxiety while reading and even though I wanted to get to the end sooo badly to find out how it concluded, I also wanted to read slowly and just savor every single emotion that is invoked.
I am on an emotional book hangover and I honestly don’t know when I’ll be OK again you guys!
“This is real. This is us. And if you let it be, this is forever.”
Told in multiple POV’s and flashbacks between the past and the present there were so many twists and turns that it kept me guessing the whole way through. The ENTIRE time, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, or what I WANTED to see happen. Obviously, I was hoping for a HEA but WHAT and WHO that happily ever after would be for Lo… I just wasn’t sure. But in the same aspect, even though at first I was like NOOOO… now that I’ve had a couple of days to think on it, I am so glad it ended the way it did and with WHO.
But it wasn’t just the three main characters either, there was an awesome cast of secondary characters, including Lo’s teenage son, Ace. There were a couple of chapters that were from Ace’s POV and they broke my heart and I would, really, really like to see a story about him.
“Lifelessness could be the book of Ace Collins. The book of how love ruined me. The start and end of happiness. The start and end of me”
If I didn’t already know then this book proved it for me, C.L. Matthews is a phenomenal author! When a writer can take several different very serious REAL LIFE issues and craft them in such a way that while reading, even though you KNOW that these characters are NOT real, the depth of the story and the characters leave you feeling as if you are RIGHT THERE with them.
Inhale, Exhale as joined my list of TOP READS OF 2019, I can’t recommend this one enough! If you let the cheating aspect stop you from reading this one, you will be missing out on something absolutely wonderful.
P.S – I just want to thank the author for NOT leaving this one off on a cliffhanger, I honest to god don’t think I could have handled that so THANK YOU, C.L. Matthews!
P.S.S – Umm, where is Passionflix?!?! This would be one hell of a movie!
“I’m going to love you now, Lo. Truly, insanely, and wholeheartedly”
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
I was not ready for this book. Inhale, Exhale was a devastatingly beautiful story that had me hooked from beginning to end. This novel was angsty, heartbreaking, sweet and romantic with so many twists and turns I was at the edge of my seat throughout. I was consumed and I loved that I could not predict what was coming.
With flawed, complex characters who show us that people aren’t always perfect, and real, relatable situations that show us that life is messy and we have no control over it, and varying viewpoints that show us the impact our actions have on others, this novel will take you on a nail biting journey and will evoke a range of emotions from you. Expect to feel it all and then some more. Its not an easy story and it will leave you breathless. I can’t stop thinking about this it. Definitely worthy of a five star status, this page-turner was a phenomenal read and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of Contemporary romance.
Get your tissues ready because this book is about to F*** your feelings.
“It seems to me, that love could be labeled poison and we’d drink it anyways.” – Atticus
This story isn’t for the faint of heart. While reading, your heart will become heavy. You will cry like no other and feel a pain that is soul deep. Soul deep… Lo and Jase was a couple that you just knew were better together than apart. They built each other up and tore each other down. I didn’t know how things were going to play out. I was on edge. Not just because of Lo and Jase. Not just because of each and every crazy situation. I was on edge because of crazy Ellie and old soul Ace and many others. There were people that were affected that was on the outside looking in.
Minin Playlist
Matchbox Twenty- If You’re Gone
James Bay- Let It Go
John Mayer- Slow Dancing In a Burning Room
Seether- Broken
Lo has been best friends with Toby forever but when she meets his brother Jase. Jase and her both feel an attraction and end up together. They start a life together and everything is great until it’s not. Can their love survive?
Wow, I have no clue where to start with this review!! This is the first in a new series from this gifted author, and she has given her heart and soul into this gut wrenching story, which rips the heart out right from the beginning. This is a beautifully written story which deals with a sensitive matter, and is an emotional roller coaster throughout. This intense story has all the feels, with grief, passion, pain, loss, heartbreak, love and with relatable characters, and is a powerful masterpiece.
Inhale,Exhale by C.L. Matthews has ripped my heart out and then shredded it into tiny pieces. And I loved every painful and beautifully tragic moment with all my heart and soul. It was delicious agony. It was torture to my soul. It was a breathtaking, captivating, stunning and heartbreaking story of love, loss and hope.
The core storyline is very simple. It follows the lives of many interconnected characters while they struggle, flourish, wither and grow. Jase and Lo is the central character. But you will have many equally important and intruguing characters like Jase’s brother and Lo’s best friend Toby, their friend Ellie and their amazing kids. This story is not about finding HEA. This is a journey. A painful, traumatic, inspiring and honest journey. The loss and sufferings were real. And so where the moments of blissful and all consuming love.
I cried real ugly tears. I could not stop it. Jase and Lo’s love and hate touched me so deeply that I could not breathe. The author pulled out every raw, intense and heart-rending emotion from me mercilessly. The writing was mindblowing perfection. I was overwhelmed by the tragic beauty of her words. This story wrecked me with the angst and I am so awed by the words. This story is definitely a difficult one. Your boundaries will be tasted at each moment. And the twists and turns made me crazy. But it is not about darkness only! This story is about second chance, inner strength and the healing power of true love. The mistakes and guilt and shame will be overshadowed by the extraordinary and soul deep love. The characters are flawed and real. They will make serious mistakes and they will go in darkest parts of hell. And you will be there. And you will also be there when they change for better and rise like Phoenix from the ashed of their heartache.
Inhale,Exhale by C.L. Matthews is one of the most gritty, angsty, phenomenal and heart-rending stories I have ever read. I hate and love the searing pain in my heart. It created some extreme emotions in me and I have the worst book hangover ever. I feel I won’t recover completely soon.
Received ARC for Honest Review
Matthews destroyed my fragile heart with this.
She just obliterated all expectations.
Inhale, Exhale is just filled with heartache, heartbreak, turmoil, pain, devastation.
I literally wanted to stab and hug someone all at the same damn time. Matthews ability to weave such a heartfelt and heart destroying story is amazing. She pulled all the emotions, I honestly dont know how she was able to complete this story, its soooo fricking emotional just reading. I cant imagine what she went through writing it.
I literally had to remember to breathe. Inhale, Exhale!
GO BUY THIS BOOK!
GO READ THIS BOOK!
How do you find your way back from the edge of losing everything? Is it even possible? What happens when love is no longer enough? CL Matthews poured her heart and soul into this book that has completely captured my heart and soul. The emotion this story pulled from me is mind boggling. I felt heartache and grief and panic and terror. I prayed the whole way through the book that there would be a happy ending for these characters. At times, I found myself wondering why I was rooting for each of the characters. Their flaws were written so open and honest that I found myself not liking each one at different times. Then there were times that my heart bled for them and I had to stop reading to give my heart a chance to reconcile that I might not find the happy ending I was looking for. This storyline felt so real that I felt pulled right in. It was so raw in its truth. Jace and Lo could have been any couple you know. They could have been you. That’s how emotionally hard hitting this story was. This story will stick with me forever.
“This is real. This is us. And if you let it be, this is forever.”
WOW!! Heart shredding, real, raw, powerful, twisty turns galore, and just a wild ride I didn’t want to get off!! Not your hearts and flowers, but a journey nonetheless, and a powerful one to boot. There are so many examples I could give, but I don’t want to give anything away, because to experience it yourself is the only way to appreciate the beauty, the broken, the heart wrenching reality of this couple. Every emotion at least a dozen times, I was left at 4am surrounded by tissues, my heart hurting, with an evil grin, vowing to follow this Author to the ends of the earth inhaling her words from here on out. I can’t wait for more from these characters!! I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!!
“…scars of the heart, the untouchable ones, the ones that ache deeper but are invisible, branded, tattooed, those are the ones you feel forever.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
This book was a strong thrilling experience I total had my emotions wreck. I loved the main characters and the experiences they faced. I highly recommend this book. I voluntarily review this book for my honest opinion
I was not ready for this book. From the blurb I know it was going to affect me deeply. What I didn’t anticipate as that it would not only affect me, but that it would destroy me word by word, page by page in the best way possible. Inhale, Exhale tore my heart to shreds, laid my feelings out bare in front of me, and proceeded to piece them back together beautifully, yet painstakingly slowly.
To say that this book rained down emotions is to put it lightly. It was a torrent of feelings the depths of which I haven’t encountered in so long. Every chapter had me wading deeper and deeper into a pool of my own tears and emotions. My heart was shredded and my soul felt bruised.
This story and it’s characters were raw, honest, and most of all real. Their imperfections and flaws not only served to illustrate the the ugliness in the story, but also to connect with the reader because we’re all flawed and make mistakes. No character was perfect or a hero or pure goodness. Everyone falters and everyone hurts or is hurting. That’s the true beauty in this book and C.L. Matthews writing; the ability to make the reader connect and feel everything as if it were a memory.
Raw, gritty, REAL, and emotional Inhale, Exhale isn’t for the faint of heart, but most definitely worth the heartache. A story that you won’t soon forget, characters that vivid and painstakingly honest, and writing that is consuming and haunting can’t be rated anything less than 10 stars. This book is magic.
4.5 stars
”He’s my always. But he’ll never be my forever.”
Inhale, Exhale is a story that played every single emotional chord my mind is capable feeling. This book is raw, honest, real and it will crack you open like no other.
It was so hard to read this book, because every time something popped up, I broke a little more. Specially for Lo. Leaving me asking how much more she can take.
”This is real. This is us. And if you let it be, this is forever.”
This book tells us a story about how breakable humans are, how sensitive our souls are, how grief can consume you like there is no tomorrow. How the very same one can make things worse and doesn’t only hurt you but all those around close to you as well.
It teaches us how strong one can be, specially if you don’t have another chance than beeing strong. It shows us how fragil love is, no matter how strong it might be.
”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.”
Cheating will never be right, no matter the circumstances. But knowing what leads someone doing it, helps at least to understand. But it doesn’t make it right. So I won’t defend Jase’s action here. However, I’d like to bat for Jase. To see that he had feelings as well, that he as well was breaking. And as much as I wished for him to be strong enough withstanding temptation, wished for his love to be enough standing by Lo through the darkest times, I see his fragil soul seeking something that he didn’t get while he needed it the most. We are all human, we have needs and we make mistakes.
And yes, I would have loved to see more of Jase winning Lo back. She deserved to be courted. But I do understand that Lo’s love for Jase was the stronger one. SHE herself was the stronger one, especially when she decided to finally choose herself over everyone else. And I love the fact that both brothers where men enough, loved her so much to let her go.
And without Ace’s POV this book would only be half as good as I think it is. Ace’s voice deserved to be heard. He gave every feeling you might have had until then even more depth.
”He’s the biggest curveball in love’s history, and instead of batting, I let it hit me.”
Toby was just the man, who hapend to love the woman who loves his brother. Some might say he should have backed off. But do you really let the very one person fall, you do love most? I understand his need to be close to Lo, to be there for her, even though it was with the thought in mind to swipe in when Jase might have broken her and their marriage. But to me he kept his distance, he knew his place. Although sometimes he crossed lines or came close to. But again, we are all human. And Lo didn’t really make things easier for him. Did she?
Ellie was a totally different thing. She was mean, selfish and inserted herself into Jase’s life like cancer. Never being a real friend to Lo, playing a game she could never win but that would hurt everyone else. She never thought of what she might destroy only having her own advantage in mind.
”What happens when the ocean cries?”
This book is an emotional and very raw roller coaster, which makes you wonder how much a human soul can stand before breaking.
It makes you see, that there is no right or wrong when it comes to love. There is no black and white. Love comes in so many different colors, shades, facets… Sometimes love can be beautiful and sometimes it can be destructive. But most of all, it makes you feel. It makes you feel alive.
”I wasn’t here for your fall, Peaches, but I’ll make damn sure to be here for your rising.”
Inhale, Exhale is a book with many faces. A story that will consume you, break you: CL Matthews best work to date.
This brought up memories for me of my divorce from my kid’s dad!!!! This book destroyed my in every beautiful way!!!! C.L. Matthews gave me the biggest book hangover this year!!!!! Best Book Hangover Of 2019!!!!!
Inhale. Exhale. Breathe.
****It shows you the battles of loss, depression, drug abuse, cheating, and other adult themes. It’s hard to stomach at times, mostly because it’s painful.****
This book wrecked me. I cried during the duration of it, but it hit on so many life lessons most people are afraid to talk about. Above you’ll see a piece the author puts in before you read, and it’s all true. This book is hard, painful, brutal at times, and will devastate your emotions, but it can also heal you in ways you never imagined.
“Marriage is the opposite. It’s work and painful, and it sheds more blood, sweat, and tears than anything else.”
~Jase~
If anyone says life is easy, they’re lying. It’s not. Far from it. This one shows you the hardships of it. The emotional angst, is excruciating. It doesn’t just follow Loren (Lo) and Jason (Jase) it follows all of them. Their family. His brother Toby, Ellie, their son Ace, and my Gods what he goes through. My heart breaks for him. A child that had to grow up too soon.
“Scars made by people can go many ways. They can slice you in the skin. They can slice 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.”
~Lo~
Tragedy doesn’t affect just one person. It spreads. You can love someone, and it not be enough. It ebbs and flows. You can BE loved, and it not be enough. Depression is a real thing. Everyone experiences loss in different ways. Some retreat inside themselves, some leave, and some ignore it completely. Pretend it never happened. It doesn’t bother them. Infidelity leaves a lasting impression on people. Lies, distance, the disrespect of everything you promised to hold dear. Their love. Your vows. Then you remember what you had, and why you wanted it.
“She’s a sweet peach hiding behind a tangy nectarine bravado, and I want to meet the sweetness in hiding, to know her soft spots and weaknesses, to protect her and challenge her, and most of all, to just be with her.”
~Jase~
And then it’s gone. It falls on you to get it back. To fix it, or fix yourself. To heal. It’s hard. This book makes you think, and re-evaluate everything you thought you knew. You’ll have to step back at times. Wipe your eyes of the tears. Put it down. Maybe walk away for a minute. Sometimes you just have to…….
“Inhale, exhale, repeat.”
~Jase~
***I am not emotionally ready to review this book yet…..***
(a day later- I think I am ready to review this soul devastating piece of fucking awesomeness!!! )
I DIED ALL THE DEADS!!! This book was EVERYTHING!!! It is going straight to my TOP READS OF 2019 list! I don’t even know HOW to move on! It was everything I thought it would be and MORE! Book hangover from HELL right now! (Glad I’m all caught up on ARCs) 5 stars is no where near enough. CL Matthews killed it! She killed me with this book! And the last 10% of this book was THE MOST INTENSE HOUR OF MY LIFE!!!!!
The name was totally fitting because I was having to remind myself to breath while reading it. And then it felt like some one was sitting on my chest! From the very beginning CL Matthews rips your heart out….and keeps on doing it through entire book. I read it over the span of 2 days. When I was trying to go to sleep all I could think about what the most recent bomb that had been dropped before I went to bed! (oh yes… there a A LOT of bombs). I knew that I wanted a HEA for Lo… but with everything that was happening I just didn’t know what I thought that would look like for her. I think one of the coolest things in this story was that there were 2 chapters that came from Ace’s POV (he is Lo and Jase’s teenage son). It really let the reader in on how observant the children are and how these things process in their brains. It was really ingenious to include his POV in their story.
I am all in with Hollow Ridge! I can not wait to get more from the people of this world. As this book was ending there were a whole lot of interesting things regarding some of the secondary characters that I CANNOT WAIT to get the stories behind!
So basically…. this book is everything! Top 10 Reads of 2019. Emotional roller coaster. Go get it now! The angst is so really real! Everyone needs to read this book!
(Please note: No kindles were harmed in the reading of this book…. but it was touch and go there for a while)
Wow! This book was so emotional and it ripped me open and left me bare. This is a story of more than two people and the choices they make effects more than themselves. Lo and Jase love each other but is love enough when faced with the realities of real life. This story is a strong story with characters you root for. It was a struggle reading this book because I had to catch my breath along the way. The pain that these characters go through will leave you reeling, but what an incredible story. I highly recommend this story and this was a first read by this author and I was not disappointed.
I have never been left so affected by a book. This story totally wrecked me, I can’t complain because the author did warn the reader. Pain loss and heartache it’s all there dripping on every page. The author doesn’t sugarcoat the devastation that affects the whole family. I felt such anger towards the characters. The words they said, the decisions they made and everything they didn’t say and do but should have. This is a book that I’ve thought about every day since I finished. I’ve wondered how they are, are they recovering are they happy?
This was not an easy story to read but I don’t regret a single second of my time. At some point in the future I hope we get a story from Ace because I need to know the adults didn’t completely fuck him up.
I was not ready, I repeat I was not ready to read this. I am left speechless, book hangover and now seeing everyone from a different perspective. I went in without even knowing what to expect. I don’t even thing knowing would’ve have matter at this point. This book ripped me open and had my emotions turn over and over in a twist. I needed to Inhale and Exhale at different times. It’s a raw story, CL Matthews if I ever get over this I will stand and give you an ovation for making me cry when I never ever do. I need someone to glue my pieces back together. Lo and Jase story was everything.
From start to finish, Inhale, Exhale was like riding a roller coaster blind – never knowing what’s over the next hill or around the next bend. It grabbed onto me from page one and didn’t let go. It is as real as it gets; diving into the blood and guts of marriage and friendship. And not just that of Lo and Jase, but everyone their lives touched. Their story is not an easy one; a story that becomes reality for so many. It was as breathtaking as it was tragic. It was real and it was raw and the pain within those pages was palpable. I laughed, I cried and I celebrated the small victories. And along the way I fell in love with Toby and Ace. Two characters that shined so bright during the telling of Jase and Lo’s story. Two characters that walked away with a piece of my heart by the time I turned the last page.
Jase and Lo’s story is not one you will soon forget. To me, it’s a reminder of appreciating what you have, loving yourself unconditionally and the knowledge that forgiveness can set you free. You put your blood, sweat and tears into this one Ms. Matthews and it shows in every single word.