I was warned about Tristan Cole.
“Stay away from him,” people said.
“He’s cruel.”
“He’s cold.”
“He’s damaged.”
It’s easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster.
But I couldn’t do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him because it also lived inside of me.
We were both empty.
We were both looking for something else. Something more.
We both … looking for something else. Something more.
We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays.
Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe.
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Ms. Cherry writes a beautiful story. Her work is A+
I had purchased this book a while ago when it was on sale and just recently read it. Based on the summary provided, I was worried that I wouldn’t like it, that the characters would be too whiny. I can’t do overly whiny characters because usually those books are longer than necessary and the characters are constantly repeating themselves over and over. This was not this book and I really don’t think the summary does it just because of a couple plot twists that make this a borderline thriller.
This is a story of people who have lost their significant others and are just holding it together and trying to rebuild not only their own lives, but their relationships with friends and family. The female MC, Elizabeth, is definitely stronger than the male MC, Tristan, but Tristan has lost more than her. Where Elizabeth allows her friends to help support her, Tristan has basically become a recluse. When Elizabeth and Tristan finally connect on some level they use each other emotionally and mentally in the worst ways, but finally come together to build their own real relationship. There are these beautiful tender moments and moments that just break your heart. The author did a really wonderful job in capturing those moments with the right words.
The book has it’s slow moments and drags here and there, and there are a few inconsistencies. In my mind I saw the story going one way, and it wasn’t happening and it was like ok, this isn’t happening. Finally my thoughts were proven right; however, around the 76% mark there was a total plot twist that I didn’t expect. I saw a few reviews that stated they were DNF’s, I wish they would have stuck around a little longer because that last 30% was fantastic.
Elizabeth is still reeling from the loss of her husband a year before. She is trying to keep her sanity intact because she has their young daughter to raise and she doesn’t want her to continue to see her sorrow. Tristan Cole is the loner next door. When Elizabeth arrives back in town after a year away, all she hears is that Tristan is scary, violent, a loser, and not to let him get close, but there’s something in his eyes that calls out to her and draws her in.
Tristan is pretty much what all of her friends say. He, too, is dealing with tragedy, but he has let it break him down. Even when Elizabeth reaches out to him he doesn’t know if he can handle the responsibility without it tearing him apart. So the two of them make an agreement to “use” each other. Their relationship is meant for them to not feel so alone, but it doesn’t help them get over their pain, it actually enhances it. It’s only when they stop that they realize their feelings had changed. This was one dark and emotional novel and at times I was worried that it wouldn’t ever lighten up. The surprise for me was that it was Tristan who saw the light first and helped Elizabeth find it. I read so many novels where the woman “saves” the man and I think if The Air He Breathes had taken that route I would’ve disliked the novel. Thank goodness Brittainy Cherry took me down a different path.
It’s really hard to read a book where your hero and heroine are in so much emotional pain, but Ms. Cherry seems to relish these kinds of stories and she is very good at delivering a satisfying conclusion. If you love hardcore, dark, emotional romances you will love this novel.
My 2nd favorite book from this author (the first being The Gravity of Us). Loved the story line, the characters and their interaction with each other… Wonderfully written.
This book has been in my library for 2 years at least and i have always just wanted to wait for the right time or be in the mood for this type of book. The problem is sometimes you can’t do that because other books get released and then gets pushed back and then your like me and regret not reading it straight away like me.
I knew this was going to be emotional but i got so much more out of this book than expected. We can all read love stories boy meets girl fall in love blah blah but for me a lot comes down to the writing and the telling of a story and holy hell did this author pull me in to her words i absolutely loved this book and Brittaniey C Cherry she really knows how to pack a punch and how to write a beautiful story.
This book had it all from the first page i was hooked and there was always going to be a little twist but from what we got was a whole different ball game not only did we get a heart breaking story about two people who lost the people closet to them but we got an edgy story with stalkers and weirdos.
Every character in this book had a place they weren’t just side characters they were also the heart of the story. Faye was so funny she made me laugh so hard even if i had been shedding tears the chapter before, stalker Sam showed us never judge a book by its cover, mr hensen taught us its ok to be different we all have our battles. Tanner was An example that you may never really know a person, Liz’s mum made us realise that people deal with grief so differently and we should never give up on them, Emma was light in this book and i loved her she was sassy and for a 5 year old who had lived a life already with heartbreak and sadness that it is ok to love and laugh. Liz and Tristan’s story was for me a beautiful story told that’s its ok to love again and to move on.
I loved everything about this story the author sure knows how to break your heart and to heal it in 300 pages.
Loved loved this story and i can’t wait to get into more stories from this author a huge 5 Stars from me if your looking for a book that will have to you laughing, crying, laughing and crying at the same time and really pull you into all of these peoples lives this is a book for you.
Just like the last book I reviewed, I am, again, unsure of where to begin. But with this book, for an entirely different reason. Sometimes there’s a book so good that it wraps around your heart, takes over your mind and leaves you a little unstable. You can’t find the right words to speak or the correct sentences to type and The Air He Breathes is one of them. It kept me up at night in the best of ways. This book is so amazing that, only 35% into it, I had to stop and post about it on Facebook. I informed everyone that this is a “drop everything and read it now” book and I still stand by that statement. In the first sentence, I was hooked. In the first chapter, I knew this book was something special and, at less than half way through, I had already cried about four times. If a book can draw that much emotion in such a short period of time, it’s a damn good read.
Tristan and Elizabeth are both broken characters. They are both haunted by the same ghosts and the events that changed their lives forever. They’re shattered by the memories that they can’t change, by the life that they were forced to give up. They each needed a savior and they managed to find that haven in the other, despite their raw hearts.
The story and it’s characters are so insanely beautiful and dark in their pain and it’s words like Cherry’s that feel real and not at all like a book but like honest to God people that have lost their way. There’s something so achingly lovely about two people so broken and so lost in their depression that their only way out is someone in just as much pain.
I couldn’t get enough of The Air He Breathes and it instantly put the author on my radar. With words this amazing, characters so real and a story that can break your heart into a million tiny pieces, there’s no denying that Brittainy C. Cherry is an amazing storyteller. This was five out of five stars, a fucking amazing book and I want nothing more than to curl myself back into it’s pages.
Dark, raw, amazing, real and truly beautiful.
Rating: 5 Stars.
5 Stars, Always and Always
Review by Nancy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
A phenomenal, tear-jerking page turner! One of my favorite reads this year! Brittainy C. Cherry is an incredible story teller, she never fails to deliver the absolute best. Disgrace is a powerful story of self discovery, love, lust, and fulfillment.
Gracelyn is the perfect wife, the perfect friend, the perfect daughter. She has had it all, everything except what she craves the most, a child. When her marriage starts to deteriorate, and her husband walks away and leaves her for another woman, she takes her broken heart and goes home to the small town of Chester, Georgia.
Jackson is the town’s bad boy, a monster, an outcast. He wears many labels and none of them are good. His dad is the town drunk, and his mom passed away when he was just a child. But the monster they make him out to be, that, that is just an outer shell he had to grow in order to survive living in Chester.
When Gracelyn and Jackson cross paths, there is an immediate sense of hatred. Both come from very different worlds, but both are broken and alone. Despite all the rumors in town, they keep crossing paths, and it becomes harder and harder to avoid each other. They eventually give in, and make a deal, they will be each other’s person. At least for the summer, an escape from all the drama, an outlet from all the pain.
It was just supposed to be a fling, a summer romance, Jackson would never open up, and Gracelyn could never love again.
“Do you think broken hearts can be fixed”
“Yes,” I said, matter-of-factly.
“They just beat a little different, is all”
Funny thing about love, you can’t control it. As much as it pained Jackson to admit it, he opened his heart and it now belonged to Gracelyn. But she was leaving once the summer was over, and he was going to let her walk away.
Gracelyn thought, after the betrayal she had been through, her heart would never beat again. Then Jackson came along. He was all moody and closed off, but underneath it all he was charming, funny, and oh so swoon worthy. There was no denying she had fallen in love.
Cherry gave us a story about two broken souls, two people who had been betrayed and wronged. I cried, I laughed, I swooned and then I cried some more. I was right here, on this journey with Cherry, as she destroyed me and then made it all better. Her writing is flawless. A must read!!
The Air He Breathes was hands down a 5 star read for me. This novel was both heart-wrenching and captivating all at one. The main characters were both broken by life, yet this is a story where they both got put together again. This is a story about dealing with grief from two different aspects. Its also a story about hope. The author did a great job of making me feel the emotions and it should be noted that apart from grief, there were comical aspects in this story which had me laughing so hard. So yes there was grief, yes,there was comedy, but there was also a couple of plot twists I did not see coming……WOW. This was an excellent read
This book made me a big pile of goo. I’m pretty much cold and dead inside and this book had my feels oozing all over the place. Yeah, it wasn’t pretty. *sniff*
This book is phenomenal, I couldn’t put it down. I loved Tristan and Elizabeth, more so Tristan. I have a weakness for broken/a-holeish men. Faye was a great and funny bestie! A lot of her parts made me giggle.
This was my first book by this author and I can tell you one thing, it won’t be my last. Because a book like this, you’ll never forget
The Air He Breathes is an emotionally gripping tale of love, loss and, ultimately, hope. This book throws you into the heartbreak of two people who have lost a loved one. Their pain is what connects them, the want to stay in the past brings them together and both enables them to fall in love again. Life throws curve balls at them along the way that are surprising and heartbreaking. This book captured me from the first page and held me to the last. There are several scenes that left me emotional and hurting yet there were some that provided much needed laughter. The ending had me smiling so much my cheeks hurt. This is a book that will have you hugging your kindle when it’s over. I must get this in paperback. It’s a wonderful story.
This was a great love story about two people who lost their loved ones and have a hard time starting living again. Their first interaction is an unfortunate one, Tristan hates the world and everyone in it and he reacts like a huge asshole. After the incident he goes off on Elizabeth, who gets the worst impression of him. He gets nicknamed Tick which I LOVE, you will love it too when you find out why he gets that nickname.
Eventually they use eachother to cope with the pain, they use eachother to FEEL again. It took Tristan some time to warm up to Elizabeth. BUT he is the first to express his feelings to. They start to heal eachother, and see that they can love again. BUT then Elizabeth discovers something that could make her lose Tristan, so she keeps it hidden for a while till she can find the right time to tell him. This secret is one I predicted in the early chapters (which I dont like).
There is also some drama towards the end of the book that was a bit too much for me, but it added suspense (some people will love it and some won’t).
PS: I went to a playground when I was reading this book and saw a couple of white feathers. It gave me this warm feeling. I will never look the same at white feathers again and I just love the meaning of them in the book (very creative and unique!!).
“We were living in our own worlds of little memories, and even though we were both separate, somehow we managed to feel for one another. Lonely often recognized lonely. ”
Powerfully emotional, I may be late to the party in reading this one, but it absolutely was well worth the sleepless night. Utterly heartbreaking, yet hopeful, this story spoke to directly to my heart in every way possible and it was spectacular! With every tear I shed, every laugh that escaped, and passage I highlighted to remember the perfect wording, this read won’t leave me for a long time…if ever. Every once in awhile a book speaks to you like it was written just for you…and this was it for me. One of my top reads of the year, no doubt.
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
Wow, this book is amazing. I’m late to reading it but honestly I’m so glad I finally picked I up. Elizabeth and Tristan are so broken yet with them showing the love they have for one another they become whole again. Definitely one of my favorite read this year thus far.
Great love story.
Great story
Brittainy Cherry has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her books are sweet, and moving, and are incredibly well written. From the moment I opened this book I cried. It was heartbreaking and beautiful and I couldn’t put it down. Well done!
Awesome book
Great plot with twists and turns.
Tear jerker!! Loved the ending!!! Great characters!
I was expecting this story to be a typical steamy chick-lit but it surprised me quite a bit.
It made me laugh, it made me cry (a lot), it frustrated me, it pained me deeply, so much angst!
See the roller-coaster of emotions? and although at first I was putt off by the plot twist, crazy turn of events, the element of surprise is why I am giving this story 5 stars.
August 31, 2017 – Started Reading
Review I was expecting this story to be a typical steamy chick-lit but it surprised me quite a bit.
It made me laugh, it made me cry (a lot), it frustrated me, it pained me deeply, so much angst!
See the roller-coaster of emotions? and although at first I was putt off by the plot twist, crazy turn of events, the element of surprise is why I am giving this story 5 stars.
(view spoiler)
There is no way to hold off your tears when there is a child involved in the process… I was so frustrated with Tristan for just up an leaving… if it were only for Lizzie, fine go ahead and deal with your problems, but come on… there was a little girl who had nothing to do with your troubles and you just decide to turn your back all that without saying a word… you prick!
So yes, I’m sad that he’s not talking to me, but I am beyond pissed off that he left Emma like that, without a word, without a thought. I’m pissed off that she’s been crying because she misses them. And it is breaking my heart that I cannot even tell her where he is or if he’s coming back. He said he would fight for us, but when it came down to it, he didn’t even try.”
I really liked the author’s writing style and based on the other books in this series, seems like she has a taste for heartbreaking and painful stories. I will definitely check out more of her books but I think I need a break in between for sure.