What do you think?
Rate this book
L&S Duet #1
Landon & Shay: Part One
Shay Gable hated my guts, and I hated hers, too.
We went out of our way to avoid one another at all times. When she came my direction, I went the other. When we locked eyes, she’d turn and walk away.
All of that changed the day I was presented with a challenge. It started out as a stupid bet: make Shay fall in love with me before I fell in love with her first.
That was an easy bet for me to win.
I didn’t love, I hardly liked.
Yet slowly the game started to shift. Shay made me crave things I never knew I wanted.
Love.
Happiness.
Her.
The closer we grew, the more she challenged my darkness, and the parts I kept locked away.
The hurts.
The pains.
The truth.
The game between us became too real, our feelings intermixed, and the risks of hurting one another grew higher.
But you know what they say...
All’s fair in the game of love and war—especially the heartbreaks.
(Book one in the L&S Duet)
We went out of our way to avoid one another at all times. When she came my direction, I went the other. When we locked eyes, she’d turn and walk away.
All of that changed the day I was presented with a challenge. It started out as a stupid bet: make Shay fall in love with me before I fell in love with her first.
That was an easy bet for me to win.
I didn’t love, I hardly liked.
Yet slowly the game started to shift. Shay made me crave things I never knew I wanted.
Love.
Happiness.
Her.
The closer we grew, the more she challenged my darkness, and the parts I kept locked away.
The hurts.
The pains.
The truth.
The game between us became too real, our feelings intermixed, and the risks of hurting one another grew higher.
But you know what they say...
All’s fair in the game of love and war—especially the heartbreaks.
(Book one in the L&S Duet)
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,083 reviews
June 29, 2021
5+ stars
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a million times, no one writes like Brittainy C. Cherry. No one. Her writing is stunning and always blows me away. This woman is my favorite author for a reason. Her books always speak to me. They always have that perfect combination of romance, feels, and that extra special quality that I just can’t name. Landon & Shay is a stunning story and I loved it so much.
Shay Gable doesn’t hate anyone, except for Landon Harrison. This is very much an enemies to lovers story. Landon and Shay have always hated each other, for as long as they can remember. When a bet takes place, and they bet each other they can get the other to fall in love first, things get interesting. They start to learn more about one another and see sides of each other they’ve never seen.
Landon struggles with severe depression and feels unloved and unseen, and for good reasons. The person he was the closest with, his uncle, suffered from the same thing and is no longer here. His parents are distant, his father especially, and he feels like he has no one. Except for Shay. The person he’s supposed to hate.
Shay’s home life is much different than Landons, but it’s not easy by any means. She has a grandmother that loves with her whole heart, a mother who tries her best, and an addict for a father. But Shay loves and she loves hard. She gives that to Landon completely and wholly.
This book has my heart. It has the most beautifully broken hero, an incredible heroine, and a story that tugged on my heartstrings. It can be really difficult to depict mental health issues in an accurate way, and the way Brittainy wrote about depression is so precise, real, and raw. Anyone who’s ever struggled with it can attest to that. Her books always give me the feels, but this one hit me so much harder than some of the others.
If you’ve read Eleanor & Grey, you probably recognize these characters. This can be read as a standalone, but this book does take place before/during ‘Eleanor & Grey’. Eleanor is cousins with Shay and Landon is best friends with Greyson. I loved the connection and seeing little bits of Eleanor and Greyson in this story.
If you love enemies to lovers, read this book. If you love books that tackle heavier topics, read this book. If you want to feel, read this book. If you’re looking for a swoony romance that will sweep you off your feet, read this book. It is part one of a duet, but honestly there is no huge cliffhanger, just a need for more of their story and a few questions I’d love answered. I cannot wait for the second part of this story. This book was perfect for me and I loved it to pieces!!
In fairytales, the beauty fell in love with the beast. In reality, the beast destroyed beauty.
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a million times, no one writes like Brittainy C. Cherry. No one. Her writing is stunning and always blows me away. This woman is my favorite author for a reason. Her books always speak to me. They always have that perfect combination of romance, feels, and that extra special quality that I just can’t name. Landon & Shay is a stunning story and I loved it so much.
Shay Gable doesn’t hate anyone, except for Landon Harrison. This is very much an enemies to lovers story. Landon and Shay have always hated each other, for as long as they can remember. When a bet takes place, and they bet each other they can get the other to fall in love first, things get interesting. They start to learn more about one another and see sides of each other they’ve never seen.
When someone saw your pain and didn’t look away, it felt like a gift. Like people were allowing you to be exactly who you were without shame and judgements.
Landon struggles with severe depression and feels unloved and unseen, and for good reasons. The person he was the closest with, his uncle, suffered from the same thing and is no longer here. His parents are distant, his father especially, and he feels like he has no one. Except for Shay. The person he’s supposed to hate.
Shay’s home life is much different than Landons, but it’s not easy by any means. She has a grandmother that loves with her whole heart, a mother who tries her best, and an addict for a father. But Shay loves and she loves hard. She gives that to Landon completely and wholly.
“I love you in the light and in the dark. I love you like a whisper and like a shout. I love your good days and your bad days, and I love you. All of you. Every single piece…” She began fiddling with her fingers, and her T-shirt collar moved between her lips, “And every single scar.”
This book has my heart. It has the most beautifully broken hero, an incredible heroine, and a story that tugged on my heartstrings. It can be really difficult to depict mental health issues in an accurate way, and the way Brittainy wrote about depression is so precise, real, and raw. Anyone who’s ever struggled with it can attest to that. Her books always give me the feels, but this one hit me so much harder than some of the others.
If you’ve read Eleanor & Grey, you probably recognize these characters. This can be read as a standalone, but this book does take place before/during ‘Eleanor & Grey’. Eleanor is cousins with Shay and Landon is best friends with Greyson. I loved the connection and seeing little bits of Eleanor and Greyson in this story.
If you love enemies to lovers, read this book. If you love books that tackle heavier topics, read this book. If you want to feel, read this book. If you’re looking for a swoony romance that will sweep you off your feet, read this book. It is part one of a duet, but honestly there is no huge cliffhanger, just a need for more of their story and a few questions I’d love answered. I cannot wait for the second part of this story. This book was perfect for me and I loved it to pieces!!
“We’re all little broken. If you think anyone in this world doesn’t have cracks, scars, and a story, then you’re not looking close enough. We weren’t brought into this world to be perfect; we were brought here to be human. To live. To feel. To hurt. To love. To cry. To exist. And with that, comes a few broken parts. You don’t have to be perfect to love or be loved. You just have to be brave enough to show the world your scars and call them beautiful.”
January 3, 2020
#1: landon & shay: part 1 ↠ 5 stars
#2: landon & shay: part 2 ↠ 3.5 stars
5+ stars
i was UGLY CRYING the whole time i was reading this. no joke. and im still crying right now as im writing this.
the last time i ugly cried was probably when i first saw the Red Wedding but even then, i don't think ive cried as much as i did while reading this.
this book was just... breathtakingly B E A U T I F U L.
gotta be honest, when i read the blurb, i thought this was gonna be your typical ya/na romance full of cliches and petty drama but NO, oh noo. i was so wrong. i mean, the blurb literally said that this was gonna be about two enemies making a bet as to who would make one of them fall in love with the other first. so, i expected all these childish pranks but nope it was way way WAY more than that.
because of my previous notions, i wasn't expecting anything special and i definitely was not expecting that this is going to be one of my all-time favorites.
"We were just two kids who made a stupid bet a few months ago. Two kids who pushed one another. Two kids who pissed each other off, who made rude remarks, who battled each other tooth and nail. And then, somewhere in the midst of our hate, we accidentally fell in love."
the characters were AMAZING and that is an understatement.
— Shay (h): this girl is so strong and so full of love and i truly admire her character. while reading this, i felt like she was my best friend and honestly, that's all that we look for in a heroine right? if they feel like they can be your best friend, then that's a sure sign they're great and she is. and like what Landon said:
She was a vibrant light. She was the spark that lit up the sky. A fucking star.
damn. hold on while i swoon a little bit.
— Landon (H): listen, Shay was great and all but Landon? oh boy. after reading this, he is honestly my favorite Hero of the year, hands down. the depth that this character had was just so incredibly written. when i first read his chapter, i thought he was going to be your typical, cocky douche who's acting out because his parents are ignoring him but nope!
his struggles and his pain is way more deep than i could ever imagine.
the main reason why i was ugly crying was because of Landon. i felt his pain, his agony, his depression... i felt EVERYTHING.
the way the author wrote his pain was just so hauntingly beautiful yet painful to read. i've never EVER read a Hero who's so vulnerable and who is in so much pain. i literally felt my heart breaking for Landon the entire time i was reading his chapters because of his dark thoughts.
i felt so emotionally connected with this character i was literally drowning from his sadness and his pain. i just wanted to hug the shit out of him every time he was down and tell him that HE IS ENOUGH and that HE IS WORTH EVERYTHING.
Landon is definitely going to be one of the most memorable Heroe's i've ever read in my entire life. he's even up there with Rhysand from A Court of Mist and Fury and that's saying a lot.
"I wanted to know his story. His ugly, hard novel.
I wanted to read his words, even though they seemed to bleed across the page in the most painful way."
i salute the author for talking about mental health and depression. the way she wrote about Landon's depression felt so raw and real and i was in fucking AWE. and the love between Landon and Shay? P O W E R F U L. i haven't felt their kind of love in a looong time.
anyways, i honestly regret reading this before the second book comes out because now i feel so hollow and empty. I NEED the second book right tf now thank you very much.
this does end in a bittersweet note (there is a second book after all) but i swear to god if the author pulls an Eleanor & Grey move and one of them falls in love with other people during their separation...
October 31, 2019
'LANDON & SHAY' is Part One in Brittainy C. Cherry's full length romance duet. We've already been introduced to these two previously in Eleanor & Grey
It all started with a bet..But ended in truths.
These two characters despise each other!! It's been this way since middle school.
I started this not knowing if I liked it or not, and was already flitting towards a 4 star rating, and I think that's only because I didn't really connect with Landon at that stage. But somewhere along the way like a slow burn, he captured my heart like this book and not once was it released!
The feels came rushing at me literally out of nowhere, my heart was breaking but filling up with so much love for these characters, they crawled into my heart and left their stamp! What a roller coaster of a ride!
This book touched on some heavy real to life raw, emotional subjects and was done sensitively, and beautifully.
So much darkness is embedded within Landon, Shay calls him Satan, but within all that darkness his heart is true, you just have to trust in this author to show you.
Shay is like a ray of sunshine, her happy go lucky persona and her knack for reading people and delving deeper than what is presented to the outside world blind sided Landon. She was spot on with her impression of him.
To sum these two up as a couple, Landon was perfectly imperfect for Shay but ended up being perfect for her.
October 27, 2019
*****FIVE+++++++++ STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
She kissed me, and the last sleeping part of my soul finally woke up as she fell against my lips. I tasted her heaven as I fed her my sins.
STUNNING!!! Brittainy C Cherry has once again blown my mind with another one of her beautifully written stories. I am not the least bit surprised that I fell so incredibly hard for ”LANDON & SHAY” This ”enemies-to-lovers” romance was so emotionally charged and the characters left a huge imprint on my heart. The subject matter might be hard for some readers to handle but this is a story that must be read by all. There’s a beautiful message written with the exquisite words of the author. I felt as if almost every passage was important and so I ended up highlighting the majority of this book. There is no doubt in my mind that readers are going to fall just as madly in love with this story as I have. Landon Harrison and Shay Gable are two characters who are going to stay in my heart and mind for a very long time to come. While the book does end at a pivotal moment in the characters’ lives, it felt more like a ”to be continued….”. rather than a huge cliffy. I can’t wait to get my hands on PART TWO!!!
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5++++++
Heroine: 5++++++
Plot:
Angst: 5
Steam: 4
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5++++++
”LANDON & SHAY – PART ONE” releases on October 30th!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VIRvvK
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LandonShay1
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
She kissed me, and the last sleeping part of my soul finally woke up as she fell against my lips. I tasted her heaven as I fed her my sins.
STUNNING!!! Brittainy C Cherry has once again blown my mind with another one of her beautifully written stories. I am not the least bit surprised that I fell so incredibly hard for ”LANDON & SHAY” This ”enemies-to-lovers” romance was so emotionally charged and the characters left a huge imprint on my heart. The subject matter might be hard for some readers to handle but this is a story that must be read by all. There’s a beautiful message written with the exquisite words of the author. I felt as if almost every passage was important and so I ended up highlighting the majority of this book. There is no doubt in my mind that readers are going to fall just as madly in love with this story as I have. Landon Harrison and Shay Gable are two characters who are going to stay in my heart and mind for a very long time to come. While the book does end at a pivotal moment in the characters’ lives, it felt more like a ”to be continued….”. rather than a huge cliffy. I can’t wait to get my hands on PART TWO!!!
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5++++++
Heroine: 5++++++
Plot:
Angst: 5
Steam: 4
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5++++++
”LANDON & SHAY – PART ONE” releases on October 30th!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VIRvvK
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LandonShay1
Read
October 30, 2019🎉🥳LANDON & SHAY - Part One is LIVE 🥳🎉
IT’S HERE IT’S HERE! LANDON & SHAY ARE HERE!
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️Broken Hero
✔️Coming of Age
✔️Swoons upon Swooooons! 🥰
Make sure to grab this bad boy today!
✨✨
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VIRvvK
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LandonShay1
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2khPhFv
✨✨
IT’S HERE IT’S HERE! LANDON & SHAY ARE HERE!
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️Broken Hero
✔️Coming of Age
✔️Swoons upon Swooooons! 🥰
Make sure to grab this bad boy today!
✨✨
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VIRvvK
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LandonShay1
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2khPhFv
✨✨
November 30, 2019
Brittainy Brittainy. You cry-maker you!!!!
She knows just how to get our eyes peeing, doesn't she?! Crazy woman! ☺
We already met Landon and Shay in Eleanor and Grey's book. And now they get their own book - a duet even.
This first book takes us back to their highschool days in 2003.
They can't stand each other!
Landon is this super popular, but very sad and troubled and moody guy. And Shay is this sweet and happy person. Everybody loves her, she's friends with every kid in school. But Landon and Shay together ... nope. They hate and insult each other whenever they meet.
All that is about to change one night at a party ... A BET! Whoever makes the other fall in love first, wins.
Let the fun times begin! ☺
But of course it's not just this funny and adorable highschool enemies-to-lovers story.
We have some very serious moments. Landon is drowning in grief and sadness and nobody but Shay is noticing it. And Shay's home life is very stressful for her too!
Shay and Landon would be so perfect for each other - but we can probably guess by the fact that this is a duet - that we won't be getting that happy end just yet :/
I just loved reading this. Like with every single Brittainy book that arrives on my kindle. You just have to love it.
Even though I was constantly afraid of what might happen - because we just know that they won't get their happily ever after any time soon!
This was such a beautiful love story.
I adored all the people. Landon and Shay. Both so very different, but they also have so much in common. They could heal every little scar on the other's body, heart and soul. But maybe they're just not ready yet ...
I loved the friends. Such an amazing and understanding and loving circle of young people!
And even though I cried a lot - especially toward the end ... we don't get this über-heartbreaking hanging-from-a-cliff-by-one-little-finger cliffhanger.
We still want to read book #2 ASAP, and yes it was totally heartbreaking and sad, but also so full of HOPE!
I can't wait to see how this amazing love story will end!
LANDON & SHAY Part One was just beautiful. It was the most amazing & heartbreaking highschool enemies-to-lovers romance. I adored every single moment in this book!
October 29, 2019
Just when I think that Brittainy C Cherry couldn’t make me love her storytelling anymore, she goes and do this. I’ve come to the realization that getting to read her books is not only a journey, but it’s an experience. Her words feel like a healing balm to the fractured heart and you feel the everything. The pain, the sadness, the joy, and the most important thing of all: the love.
Landon Harrison has everything that a teenager could ever want. Bad boy attitude, Popularity, rich parents and good friends but beneath it all, there is something. After going through a rough year that’s changed him to his core, Landon is looking for a change and to find something that is going to keep him on his toes. But looking at the girl who became his sworn enemy for the past few years, things are about to take a turn when these two decide to make a bet.
Shay has always been and always will be a good girl. Good student, good daughter, good friend, she’s all of those things and them some. But seeing the nemesis around school and having to interact with him now and then, brings out the not so nice in her. Who would want to be around a hot cocky bad boy that makes you want to rip their clothes off and damage a part of their anatomy at the same time?
As time moves on and these two learn more about each other, the hatred begins to diminish and it replaces something that neither one were expecting. But with a new feeling, comes old demons and past secrets and for Landon and Shay, they will not be silent. How will these two face a storm that has the power to shatter more than their love?
First off let me just say that this book deals with some heavy subject matters and it’s a lot. I had no idea that the author was going to delve into something like this but I’m happy that it was done. I will admit that I for the first half of the book, I did not feel the kind of connection that I was hoping to have with Landon and Shay and I was disappointed in that. But as the story progressed, things became a lot better and I was more than invested in their love and their journey to healing.
This was not an easy read at times but the story itself is worth it. These characters were complex, witty, charming, broken, but the love they had and for each other was everything. I cant wait to see where part 2 is going to take us . if you’re a fan of this author, then you do not want to miss this one.
February 17, 2023
Ich liebe die Bücher von Britainy C. Cherry so sehr, weil sie den gebrochenen Seelen eine Stimme gibt. Es tut zwar weh, ihre Geschichten zu lesen, aber ich fühle mich gleichzeitig auch einfach so verstanden. 💔
October 30, 2019
5 "Only Ever You" Stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
-I think us broken hearts need love the most.
Landon Harrison is the bad boy from the small town of Raine, Illinois. He’s a senior at Jackson High School, who is popular, comes from a wealthy family, and from the outside appears to have it all. Inside he’s struggling, and hasn’t been okay for a while. He’s complex, moody, angry, and considers himself damaged. Often alone, he has too much time on his hands. Then he gets a much needed distraction that helps him not focus or think as much about his own problems. It’s a bet he can’t turn down. Make his enemy fall in love with him before he can fall for her first. This should be simple since he doesn’t do the whole love thing.
Shay Gable was the good girl princess with a sensitive heart. She’s in her junior year, and practically Jackson High royalty. Everyone adored her, and she was Little Miss Perfect. She’d always been flawless in every way, and hating her had become the most constant thing in his life. He’d known her for years, and they ran in the same group of friends, but they despised each other. Annoying her was fun, and they loved pushing each other’s buttons.
Shay believed in fairytales and love, and generally liked most people except Landon Harrison. He’d forever been the boy she couldn’t stand. Then one day everything changed as the game they were playing turns very real. The boy she’d so easily dismissed now flustered her, and made her heart beat a little faster when he was near. She was seeing a different side to him she never knew existed, and trying to fight the undeniable pull between them.
As Landon spends time with Shay she makes him feel again. She was the first person to truly see him in a long time. At first she was just entertaining, but then her presence began to bring him a sense of comfort, and he looked forward to spending time with her. She really noticed him and made him wonder if he could maybe have all the things he never thought were possible for him. Will Landon and Shay have their happily ever after or will things end in heartbreak?
-Whenever I was near him, I felt this heat in my body that I'd never felt from anyone else. I wanted to know why that was a thing. I wanted to know if he felt it, too. I wanted to know his story. His ugly, hard novel. I wanted to read his words, even though they seemed to bleed across the page in the most painful way.
-Loving probably came easy to her like the air she breathed.
-I didn't deserve her, and yet I couldn't stop craving her.
-I was kissing a girl- and not just any girl, the girl. I was kissing Shay Gable, and every time our lips touched, she stole a piece of me.
-She made my heart turn back on. Her kiss gave me life.
Landon & Shay: Part One is book one in the L&S Duet by Brittainy C. Cherry. It’s a fantastic New Adult, emotional enemies to lovers romance where two rivals battle it out in the name of love. It has a beauty and the beast vibe and deals with some serious issues. Brittainy continues to write unique, beautiful stories I can’t get enough of. I loved this book, and can’t wait for Part Two, and more of this couple!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2MWXbQ2
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
-I think us broken hearts need love the most.
Landon Harrison is the bad boy from the small town of Raine, Illinois. He’s a senior at Jackson High School, who is popular, comes from a wealthy family, and from the outside appears to have it all. Inside he’s struggling, and hasn’t been okay for a while. He’s complex, moody, angry, and considers himself damaged. Often alone, he has too much time on his hands. Then he gets a much needed distraction that helps him not focus or think as much about his own problems. It’s a bet he can’t turn down. Make his enemy fall in love with him before he can fall for her first. This should be simple since he doesn’t do the whole love thing.
Shay Gable was the good girl princess with a sensitive heart. She’s in her junior year, and practically Jackson High royalty. Everyone adored her, and she was Little Miss Perfect. She’d always been flawless in every way, and hating her had become the most constant thing in his life. He’d known her for years, and they ran in the same group of friends, but they despised each other. Annoying her was fun, and they loved pushing each other’s buttons.
Shay believed in fairytales and love, and generally liked most people except Landon Harrison. He’d forever been the boy she couldn’t stand. Then one day everything changed as the game they were playing turns very real. The boy she’d so easily dismissed now flustered her, and made her heart beat a little faster when he was near. She was seeing a different side to him she never knew existed, and trying to fight the undeniable pull between them.
As Landon spends time with Shay she makes him feel again. She was the first person to truly see him in a long time. At first she was just entertaining, but then her presence began to bring him a sense of comfort, and he looked forward to spending time with her. She really noticed him and made him wonder if he could maybe have all the things he never thought were possible for him. Will Landon and Shay have their happily ever after or will things end in heartbreak?
-Whenever I was near him, I felt this heat in my body that I'd never felt from anyone else. I wanted to know why that was a thing. I wanted to know if he felt it, too. I wanted to know his story. His ugly, hard novel. I wanted to read his words, even though they seemed to bleed across the page in the most painful way.
-Loving probably came easy to her like the air she breathed.
-I didn't deserve her, and yet I couldn't stop craving her.
-I was kissing a girl- and not just any girl, the girl. I was kissing Shay Gable, and every time our lips touched, she stole a piece of me.
-She made my heart turn back on. Her kiss gave me life.
Landon & Shay: Part One is book one in the L&S Duet by Brittainy C. Cherry. It’s a fantastic New Adult, emotional enemies to lovers romance where two rivals battle it out in the name of love. It has a beauty and the beast vibe and deals with some serious issues. Brittainy continues to write unique, beautiful stories I can’t get enough of. I loved this book, and can’t wait for Part Two, and more of this couple!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2MWXbQ2
April 14, 2021
➤ Part I: Review
Someone help me find the right words for this review! 😂
Landon, oh Landon! Never in a million years would I have thought that THIS is how his story was going to be. I wasn't sure what to think of him at first, but as the story progressed and I got to know him a little better, all I wanted to do was hug him real tight and never let go. (And then punch all these people who said shitty stuff to him. You'll see what I mean when you read the book lol) My heart was aching for him over and over again.
What kind of person would want to love a broken heart?
What kind of person would take the time to listen to the heartbeats of something so damaged?
I just hope broken hearts can receive love, too.
I think us broken hearts need love the most. -L
Thank God for Shay because DAMN! While Landon may be one of the most broken heroes I've ever had the pleasure of reading, Shay has to be one of the strongest heroines out there. Shay was simply amazing. It sounds so corny because I don't usually say sentimental stuff like this but this girl has to have the biggest heart out there. Loving and kind, she did a great job of simply being there for Landon whenever he had a hard time. The perfect heroine to our hero. Thank you Brittainy C. Cherry for creating such an incredible character. Shay is now officially one of my favorite heroines.
Everything sounds fine and dandy, right? Well, I would be lying if I said I didn't have any struggles. In all honesty, I wasn't fully invested in the story. At first.
I think, just knowing that this book is part of a duet - that I wouldn't get a conclusion by the end of this book - is the reason why I felt like I was reading a very long prologue to the actual story, but that's probably just a me-thing. Part one is about their teenage years and I'm someone who likes to get to the present asap. On top of that, the beginning was kinda slow for me. It took about 40% until things in the romance department finally advanced, and it wasn't until the 70% mark where I finally found myself completely immersed in the story.
But, the last 30% y'all! It wasn't much but when things got good, it became PHENOMENAL. They made up for A LOT. I loved it. LOVED IT! Brittainy C. Cherry put my heart through the wringer and then put it back together again. Everything was so freaking good even though I ended up a mess lol.
"How's your heart?"
"Still beating."
And now excuse me so I can go back to Eleanor & Grey and read all the scraps of Landon & Shay as grown-ups. I can't wait for Part Two!
**ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
➤ Part II: Book talk, best to be read after finishing the book (SPOILERS!)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
➔ 𝐋&𝐒 𝐃𝐮𝐞𝐭
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
#1. Landon & Shay: Part One | 4 stars
#2. My review of ➞ Landon & Shay: Part Two | 3.5 stars
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
March 19, 2022
“It scares me too, but I know one thing for certain.”
“What’s that?”
“I am going to love loving you as much as I loved hating you.”
this is 100% my favorite book of the year so far. i started it with two things in mind: 1. i was more excited for book 2, because it has second chance trope and i was in the mood for it, and 2. i expected this to be the typical high school romance full of clichés.
i honestly couldn't have been more wrong. every time it seemed like the story was going to take a common direction, it did a 180. it's not a story that relies on tropes, and i loved that. the characters weren't one-dimensional at all. even the typical bitchy cheerleader ended up having some depth 🤪 in a way, a lot of it reminded me of the Boys of Tommen series 🥺
Truthfully, the idea of Shay being kind to me was enough to make me want to lose my lunch.
I’d take her hateful looks over her gentle doe eyes any day.
the way these two go from hate to love is everything. even if the reason behind the hate is a little childish
“What’s the matter, Satan?” she asked, walking up to me, standing nose to nose. “You afraid you might catch feelings for someone you hate?”
i also loved the bet aspect here. like i said, at the beginning i thought it was going to be the classic scenario with the boy lying to the girl... but i'm happy to say it wasn't 😌
“Please.” I smirked, lowering my head down toward her face. My lips were centimeters from hers. “I’m going to love every second of owning your body and your heart.”
I loved both characters SO MUCH. Landon is my baby. i can't remember the last time i wanted to get inside a book and hug a character like this 🥺 his family situation, how he struggled with depression.. he was suffering so much, and not many people noticed. i'm glad Shay was one of the few who did, because he deserved to have people support him 🥺
I just hope broken hearts can receive love, too.
I think us broken hearts need love the most.
me protecting Landon from all the people who tried to put him down during this book🔪
“Why would you be here for me? Why would you do this after what I did to you?”
“Because no one deserves to be alone during the hard times. Not even you.”
Shay was the perfect heroine too. I cried for her family and how she struggled to keep it all together. she was hurting a lot too, but still never stopped smiling 😔 this review is getting too sappy adhdjhkg but these characters made me so emotional all the time. Shay was also so funny and so supportive of Landon, even when he didn't deserve it. My girl was selfless af 🥺
“How’s your heart today?” she asked me, the same question she asked every time she stopped by.
“Still beating.”
the romance melted me. how he kept trying different nicknames on her, and she hated them all until one day she started to secretly love them. how they would gather information on the other through their mutual friend Raine (first to low-key torture each other, then to actually make nice gestures 🥺). THE FUCKING NOTEBOOKS SHE LEFT FOR HIM TO WRITE 😭😭😭 bye. anything that involves letters of sorts gives me All Your Perfects vibes, so it's instant tears for me 🥲🥲
“Your butt in those jeans as you went falling forward…” She began giggling again. I wanted to call her out on talking about my butt, but her laughing was annoyingly adorable, and I didn’t want to interrupt that sound. I hadn’t known you could love a sound you hated.
it was the perfect kind of slowburn. the romance falls somewhere between YA and NA, cause there are explicit scenes but also not thaaat explicit. if anything, that's my only complaint because i wanted the sex scenes to be more detailed 🤠 but their romance was so pure and beautiful, i can't bring myself to lower the rating for any reason at all.
“You are more than the story these scars tell, Landon. You are more than your uncle. You are more than your depression. You are kind.” She kissed my chest. “You are strong.” She kissed my neck. “You are intelligent.” She kissed my palms. “You are talented.” She kissed my thumbs. “You are beautiful.” She kissed the corners of my eyes. “And this world needs you. I know those are just words, and you might not even believe them, but I am going to tell you them every single day, just as a reminder when you need it.”
i also want to mention the side characters. i LOVE it when they're important in a book and not just there as the MC's sidekicks. this story wouldn't have been the same without the family issues, the supportive group of friends and Shay's grandmother 🥺🥺 I love that woman so much. and she gets a special place in my heart for loving Landon the way he deserved to be loved 😌
The four of them wrapped their arms around me and held onto me so tight. I cried into their arms like a fucking child, but they didn’t mock me or laugh at my weakness.
They simply held on stronger.
this group of friends 🥺 >>>>>>
as you can see this book took me completely by surprise. going back to my original expectations, i was more excited to read book 2 instead of this one, but i ended up rooting SO HARD for them to get their HEA here, i don't even give a shit about book 2 anymore 🤡 i still think the ending was beautiful though. once again, i thought they were going to grow apart in the end because of a misunderstanding, but that wasn't the case at all. i'm really glad the author didn't take that route.
“I love you in the light and in the dark. I love you like a whisper and like a shout. I love your good days and your bad days, and I… love… you. All of you. Every single piece…” She began fiddling with her fingers, and her T-shirt collar moved between her lips, “And every single scar.”
p.s. i'm 20% into book 2 and sadly i'm not liking the way is going to go 💀 i don't want it to ruin book 1 for me so i may leave it on hold forever. bye. but read book 1 it's amazing 👉👈
April 21, 2020
When I heard that Miss Cherry wrote a story about mental health, I am dying to get a copy of this book. Mental health issue is usually a very delicate subject in romance.
In the hand of Miss Cherry, this story has so many punches and word of wisdom. It gives hope in the darkest hour. Landon is a broken hero. He has mental health issue and yet he denied it. He always have this hate relationship with Shay who is the opposite of her.
This is a enemy turns lover story. And it is beautiful. Never have I ever longing to hear ' I hate you' being used in such tender and endearment. Miss Cherry done it again. She crafts thia story beautifully and heart breaking.
Mental health issue is real. It can happen to anyone.
5 chick stars
In the hand of Miss Cherry, this story has so many punches and word of wisdom. It gives hope in the darkest hour. Landon is a broken hero. He has mental health issue and yet he denied it. He always have this hate relationship with Shay who is the opposite of her.
This is a enemy turns lover story. And it is beautiful. Never have I ever longing to hear ' I hate you' being used in such tender and endearment. Miss Cherry done it again. She crafts thia story beautifully and heart breaking.
Mental health issue is real. It can happen to anyone.
5 chick stars
January 3, 2020
"When a person you love is broken, you see the cracks every time they are around you, and you just wish you had the tools to fix those breaks.”
"If the past few months had taught me anything about life, it was that it wasn’t always easy, but there was something beautiful to be seen in every situation."
Characters
Landon (high school senior):
Landon comes from a dysfunctional home and his parents are never around. He loves his mom and craves her affection but doesn’t care anything about his jerk of a dad. The housekeeper (who comes on Sunday) is the closest thing he has to a grandmother and he adores her. He is popular in high school and all the girls drool over him. He used to party and do drugs but is making an attempt to clean up in that area. He has a small group of close friends who are loyal to each other, but even they don’t know all the ins/out of Landon’s life as he is not forthcoming with some of the issues he’s really dealing with.
The following words/phrases were used to describe Landon: angry, dark, asshole, not a good person, fake, sexy, lonely, broken, damaged goods, moody, wounded, shattered, disconnected, loyal, talented, good, kind, strong, intelligent, beautiful.
Some quotes about Landon:
"I didn’t know why so much darkness sat heavily in my chest. I didn’t know why I was so angry. I just knew that I was."
“Today I was happy. I figured I should write it down because it seems like a lot of my days are getting darker. Harder. I feel my mind slipping into the darkness again."
"I was fighting to avoid being swallowed alive by my own mind, and it was an exhausting task to face."
"But we want you in our lives. We need you in our lives. So, please, stop running. Place your feet on the ground and make peace with your demons. Stop fighting them and hold them. You’re not broken; you’re just complex. And the most beautiful things in the world have the most complex heartbeats.”
Shay (high school junior):
Shay also comes from a dysfunctional home. Her father did time in prison for dealing drugs and her mother can’t let go of a man who is just not good. Shay loves her grandmother, who is a rock for the family. Shay is not the most popular girl in school, but she is just one of those people who is loved by all. She has a great attitude and no one would guess her home life is in shambles. Shay pays close attention to people and is constantly writing stories in notebooks (she hopes to be a screenwriter someday).
The following words/phrases were used to describe Shay: goody-two-shoes, never misbehaved, beautiful, smart, happy, confident, joyous, looked like a princess, calm, cool, collected, poised, good at reading people, flawless, storyteller, sassy, hiding behind a mask, patient, talented.
Some quotes about Shay:
“She was always jotting things down in notebooks, too, like her life depended on the words on those pages. She must have filled up hundreds of notebooks with how many damn thoughts she scribbled down on the regular.”
“People didn’t just love her; they love loved her.”
“She was a one-size-fits-all person. She managed to find a spot in everyone’s world, and it all seemed so effortless. The geeks at our school talked about Shay the same way the goths did—with love and admiration. She was amazing to everyone.”
“If one of the first things they mentioned about me had to do with my body, I knew it would never be theirs to have.”
“I was a storyteller, and as such, I’d spent the past several years of my life learning how to study people. Everyone I encountered became a character to me. I learned their ins and outs. I wrote down their traits in my many notebooks. I studied why they were the way they were, what drove them, what inspired them, what made them tick. I asked them questions. I engaged with them because they all fascinated me so much.”
The Story:
The story starts out when Landon & Shay are in their final years of high school.
Landon: ”I hated Shay Gable. If there was only one thing in life I knew for certain, it was that fact."
“We never crossed paths much, but if we did, we exchanged short words with each other. Most of the time, they were rude, too. It was kind of our thing. We both got off on hating each other.”
They shared a tender moment when Landon’s uncle died (he was like a father to him), then they didn’t speak of it again.
Shay: ”As I watched him cry, I didn’t know what to do, so I did the only thing I could think of. I went and I sat beside him. I loosened his tightened tie and held him in my arms as he sobbed uncontrollably in my embrace. He fell completely apart, and I saw every piece of him shatter.”
What starts out as a bet between guys..... ”I bet you can’t get Shay to fall in love with you.” ......quickly turns into something else when Shay overhears the bet. ”If you think you could make me fall in love with you, then by all means, do it—but do understand that I want to play now, too. I bet I can make Landon fall in love with me first.”
Way to step up to the challenge....you go girl. 😁 👏
”Hank rubbed his hands together. “Now, that’s a challenge I can get behind. Two sworn enemies in a battle of love, and the winner—”
“Has bragging rights for the rest of our lives.”
Let the games begin.......
My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- When the bet between the guys happened, I was worried this was going to be the standard plot where there’s a bet and then the girl finds out at the end of the book. I was so incredibly happy when I found out the author had a different spin. Yes!!! Not sure why I even doubted....I should have known this author wouldn’t succumb to such an overused plot. Ahhhh....originality 👍😁👏👏
- I loved that Shay didn’t get all righteous and hurt when she heard the bet, and instead turned the tables on the guys by including herself in the bet on Her terms.
- I loved how Landon was always coming up with nicknames to annoy Shay 😀: Chicken, chick, sweet cheeks, sunshine, darling, dollface, sweet pea, buttercup, freckles, beauty, babe
- The way that Landon “secretly” loved Shay’s grandmother was sweet. Awww 💕 ”I could count on one hand the number of people I cared about, and Maria held a steady spot on that list. I swore, sometimes, she even darted in and out of the number one spot.”
"I’d never had a grandmother figure, but I figured this was what it would feel like if I did. It would be a collection of random moments that added up to big things, big memories. That was what Maria had been to me over the past several years. She’d been these small moments that built up into something important to me. There weren’t many important things in my life, but she was one of them."
- Landon's pain leaped off the pages. He tugged at my heartstrings and all I wished was for an adult to recognize his pain and wrap him up in a hug and shower him with love.
- Landon hated the reptile date.....good man. Snakes 🐍 , spiders 🕷 and creepy things...Yikes 😬😬
- The connection between Shay's dad and Landon was heartbreaking. 💔 I felt so bad for Shay when I realized her father really had been lying to her again.
- Virgin missteps 😂😂
Landon: “Yes… yes… and the head… rub the head…”
Shay: ”Odd kink, but okay. I cocked an eyebrow, and even though I didn’t understand completely, I did as he requested. I began rubbing his head with my free hand, tangling my fingers in his hair as I kept stroking at his privates.
Landon: ”Within seconds, Landon burst out laughing, making me lean back, a little puzzled. “Not my head head, Shay. My dick head. The tip of my cock.”
Shay: ”Oh.” 👋 🤣
- This sealed the deal.... I officially love Landon. 😍. "Even though he was from Illinois, he loved the Green Bay Packers. Even though he should’ve repped the orange and blue, his sports colors were green and yellow." 💚💛🏈Go Pack Go!🏈💛💚
- I loved witnessing the transformation from enemies to lovers and the growth they had in expressing feelings and thoughts. This is a special couple who captured my heart.
- I wasn’t a fan of the “I’m not good enough attitude”. It always ticks me off. 😠
- I loved how Landon’s friends stood by him. “Listen, I kind of want to be alone tonight.”
"We know.” Eric nodded, patting a spot next to him on the bed. “That’s why we’re not leaving. We’re your friends, Landon, and we can tell when heavy shit is going on in your head. So, even if you want to be alone tonight, you’re not allowed to be alone. Because you’re not alone.”
”Mom called Greyson to come sit with me until she made it home. Greyson called Eric. Eric called Hank. Hank came with Raine. I climbed down the diving board, and the four of them wrapped their arms around me and held onto me so tight. I cried into their arms like a fucking child, but they didn’t mock me or laugh at my weakness. They simply held on stronger.
- Their unconditional love and support for Landon brought a few tears to my eyes.❤️😢. It was refreshing to have a high school boy display vulnerability and heartwarming to have his friends stand by him and selflessly offer whatever was needed to get him through the dark times. ”Something had to be said about friends who never left your side, even when your storm was wild enough to strike their souls, too.”
- Landon and Shay are teenagers, but I felt they made some very selfless, mature decisions and I was proud of them. ”I don’t want to die, Shay. For the first time in my life, I want to live. I want to get my mind right first, fix myself, so I can be yours.”
”Truth is, if you stay, I’ll love you. If you go, I’ll love you even more. Because that would be you doing something for yourself. Your healing is of the utmost importance here, Landon.”
Overall:
Whew....it’s an emotional ride. It didn’t start out that way, but as more character depth was established it became clear that along with experiencing first love, there were some big issues that Landon and Shay had to deal with. There were some moments of levity, but overall this is a heavy book. The main characters deal with mental illness, abandonment, dysfunctional families, lying, addiction, suicide and loss (to name a few). As is typical of this author, she doesn't cheapen these subjects and treats them with respect, but that makes for a heavy feeling in your chest as you read what the characters have to face on a daily basis.
This is my go-to author when I need something that’s going to wring out every emotion and leave me feeling depleted after an incredible journey. Why would I want to feel depleted?? Well, that’s when I know the story wasn’t just something I read, but something I experienced. In this case, the writing was such that I felt like I actually knew the characters and that I walked beside them as they took their journey.
I want to close a book feeling like I have new friends and people that are important to me.....and I did. This author never disappoints in that realm. I loved Landon and Shay and their friends and I can’t wait to dive into book 2 where I am sure they will find their HEA.
"I love you in the light and in the dark. I love you like a whisper and like a shout. I love your good days and your bad days, and I… love… you. All of you. Every single piece…And every single scar.”
I love your happy, and I love your sad. I love your light, and I love your dark. I love you. Every script, every page, every revision, every draft.” ❤️❤️
"When you find you, come back here,” she said, placing her hand over her heart. “Come back to me.“ 💘
———————————————
- POV: dual POV
- Tropes: enemies to lovers
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? Yes
- h virgin? Yes
- First time they kiss: 53%
- First time they sleep together: 74%
- OW/OM drama? Not really. There was a girl who wanted Landon for herself but Landon never showed her any interest after he was with Shay.
- H/h cheat? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Landon had something to confess and it came later in the book, but there was enough foreshadowing that it wasn’t a surprise. It wasn’t anything that tore the main characters apart either.
- Cliffhanger? Yes. No HEA in this book
- Recommend? I hate high school drama, but I loved this book. So, although I never recommend high school books, this is my exception. Yes! Read this one.
Quotes
"Hating Shay was the most constant thing in my life. Hating her felt like a high I’d always been chasing, and as each year passed, I got more and more high off Shay’s dismissal of me. There was something intense about the hate we gave, and the older we grew, the more I craved it."
“Mom always said the first step of love was falling deeply into like. Then the freefall of love didn’t feel so dangerous.”
“I couldn’t be rude to that woman even if I tried, probably because I knew she’d whoop my butt and toss holy water at me if I ever spoke back to her.”
Standing in a crowded room when no one was able to truly see you was the loneliest I’d ever felt.
“If he breaks my heart, I hope the cracks tell a good story.”
How’s your heart tonight?"
"Still beating."
“Only you. Only ever you.”
“All of me is yours.”
Loving Shay came as easy as the wind. It pushed through my system and left me completely breathless.
“Why do you always do that?” I asked. “Why do you always say “I love you” twice?” She smiled. “Once for your heart. Twice to leave an imprint.”
"Sometimes the strongest thing a person could ever do was fall apart. It took real strength to become that vulnerable.
"If the past few months had taught me anything about life, it was that it wasn’t always easy, but there was something beautiful to be seen in every situation."
Characters
Landon (high school senior):
Landon comes from a dysfunctional home and his parents are never around. He loves his mom and craves her affection but doesn’t care anything about his jerk of a dad. The housekeeper (who comes on Sunday) is the closest thing he has to a grandmother and he adores her. He is popular in high school and all the girls drool over him. He used to party and do drugs but is making an attempt to clean up in that area. He has a small group of close friends who are loyal to each other, but even they don’t know all the ins/out of Landon’s life as he is not forthcoming with some of the issues he’s really dealing with.
The following words/phrases were used to describe Landon: angry, dark, asshole, not a good person, fake, sexy, lonely, broken, damaged goods, moody, wounded, shattered, disconnected, loyal, talented, good, kind, strong, intelligent, beautiful.
Some quotes about Landon:
"I didn’t know why so much darkness sat heavily in my chest. I didn’t know why I was so angry. I just knew that I was."
“Today I was happy. I figured I should write it down because it seems like a lot of my days are getting darker. Harder. I feel my mind slipping into the darkness again."
"I was fighting to avoid being swallowed alive by my own mind, and it was an exhausting task to face."
"But we want you in our lives. We need you in our lives. So, please, stop running. Place your feet on the ground and make peace with your demons. Stop fighting them and hold them. You’re not broken; you’re just complex. And the most beautiful things in the world have the most complex heartbeats.”
Shay (high school junior):
Shay also comes from a dysfunctional home. Her father did time in prison for dealing drugs and her mother can’t let go of a man who is just not good. Shay loves her grandmother, who is a rock for the family. Shay is not the most popular girl in school, but she is just one of those people who is loved by all. She has a great attitude and no one would guess her home life is in shambles. Shay pays close attention to people and is constantly writing stories in notebooks (she hopes to be a screenwriter someday).
The following words/phrases were used to describe Shay: goody-two-shoes, never misbehaved, beautiful, smart, happy, confident, joyous, looked like a princess, calm, cool, collected, poised, good at reading people, flawless, storyteller, sassy, hiding behind a mask, patient, talented.
Some quotes about Shay:
“She was always jotting things down in notebooks, too, like her life depended on the words on those pages. She must have filled up hundreds of notebooks with how many damn thoughts she scribbled down on the regular.”
“People didn’t just love her; they love loved her.”
“She was a one-size-fits-all person. She managed to find a spot in everyone’s world, and it all seemed so effortless. The geeks at our school talked about Shay the same way the goths did—with love and admiration. She was amazing to everyone.”
“If one of the first things they mentioned about me had to do with my body, I knew it would never be theirs to have.”
“I was a storyteller, and as such, I’d spent the past several years of my life learning how to study people. Everyone I encountered became a character to me. I learned their ins and outs. I wrote down their traits in my many notebooks. I studied why they were the way they were, what drove them, what inspired them, what made them tick. I asked them questions. I engaged with them because they all fascinated me so much.”
The Story:
The story starts out when Landon & Shay are in their final years of high school.
Landon: ”I hated Shay Gable. If there was only one thing in life I knew for certain, it was that fact."
“We never crossed paths much, but if we did, we exchanged short words with each other. Most of the time, they were rude, too. It was kind of our thing. We both got off on hating each other.”
They shared a tender moment when Landon’s uncle died (he was like a father to him), then they didn’t speak of it again.
Shay: ”As I watched him cry, I didn’t know what to do, so I did the only thing I could think of. I went and I sat beside him. I loosened his tightened tie and held him in my arms as he sobbed uncontrollably in my embrace. He fell completely apart, and I saw every piece of him shatter.”
What starts out as a bet between guys..... ”I bet you can’t get Shay to fall in love with you.” ......quickly turns into something else when Shay overhears the bet. ”If you think you could make me fall in love with you, then by all means, do it—but do understand that I want to play now, too. I bet I can make Landon fall in love with me first.”
Way to step up to the challenge....you go girl. 😁 👏
”Hank rubbed his hands together. “Now, that’s a challenge I can get behind. Two sworn enemies in a battle of love, and the winner—”
“Has bragging rights for the rest of our lives.”
Let the games begin.......
My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- When the bet between the guys happened, I was worried this was going to be the standard plot where there’s a bet and then the girl finds out at the end of the book. I was so incredibly happy when I found out the author had a different spin. Yes!!! Not sure why I even doubted....I should have known this author wouldn’t succumb to such an overused plot. Ahhhh....originality 👍😁👏👏
- I loved that Shay didn’t get all righteous and hurt when she heard the bet, and instead turned the tables on the guys by including herself in the bet on Her terms.
- I loved how Landon was always coming up with nicknames to annoy Shay 😀: Chicken, chick, sweet cheeks, sunshine, darling, dollface, sweet pea, buttercup, freckles, beauty, babe
- The way that Landon “secretly” loved Shay’s grandmother was sweet. Awww 💕 ”I could count on one hand the number of people I cared about, and Maria held a steady spot on that list. I swore, sometimes, she even darted in and out of the number one spot.”
"I’d never had a grandmother figure, but I figured this was what it would feel like if I did. It would be a collection of random moments that added up to big things, big memories. That was what Maria had been to me over the past several years. She’d been these small moments that built up into something important to me. There weren’t many important things in my life, but she was one of them."
- Landon's pain leaped off the pages. He tugged at my heartstrings and all I wished was for an adult to recognize his pain and wrap him up in a hug and shower him with love.
- Landon hated the reptile date.....good man. Snakes 🐍 , spiders 🕷 and creepy things...Yikes 😬😬
- The connection between Shay's dad and Landon was heartbreaking. 💔 I felt so bad for Shay when I realized her father really had been lying to her again.
- Virgin missteps 😂😂
Landon: “Yes… yes… and the head… rub the head…”
Shay: ”Odd kink, but okay. I cocked an eyebrow, and even though I didn’t understand completely, I did as he requested. I began rubbing his head with my free hand, tangling my fingers in his hair as I kept stroking at his privates.
Landon: ”Within seconds, Landon burst out laughing, making me lean back, a little puzzled. “Not my head head, Shay. My dick head. The tip of my cock.”
Shay: ”Oh.” 👋 🤣
- This sealed the deal.... I officially love Landon. 😍. "Even though he was from Illinois, he loved the Green Bay Packers. Even though he should’ve repped the orange and blue, his sports colors were green and yellow." 💚💛🏈Go Pack Go!🏈💛💚
- I loved witnessing the transformation from enemies to lovers and the growth they had in expressing feelings and thoughts. This is a special couple who captured my heart.
- I wasn’t a fan of the “I’m not good enough attitude”. It always ticks me off. 😠
- I loved how Landon’s friends stood by him. “Listen, I kind of want to be alone tonight.”
"We know.” Eric nodded, patting a spot next to him on the bed. “That’s why we’re not leaving. We’re your friends, Landon, and we can tell when heavy shit is going on in your head. So, even if you want to be alone tonight, you’re not allowed to be alone. Because you’re not alone.”
”Mom called Greyson to come sit with me until she made it home. Greyson called Eric. Eric called Hank. Hank came with Raine. I climbed down the diving board, and the four of them wrapped their arms around me and held onto me so tight. I cried into their arms like a fucking child, but they didn’t mock me or laugh at my weakness. They simply held on stronger.
- Their unconditional love and support for Landon brought a few tears to my eyes.❤️😢. It was refreshing to have a high school boy display vulnerability and heartwarming to have his friends stand by him and selflessly offer whatever was needed to get him through the dark times. ”Something had to be said about friends who never left your side, even when your storm was wild enough to strike their souls, too.”
- Landon and Shay are teenagers, but I felt they made some very selfless, mature decisions and I was proud of them. ”I don’t want to die, Shay. For the first time in my life, I want to live. I want to get my mind right first, fix myself, so I can be yours.”
”Truth is, if you stay, I’ll love you. If you go, I’ll love you even more. Because that would be you doing something for yourself. Your healing is of the utmost importance here, Landon.”
Overall:
Whew....it’s an emotional ride. It didn’t start out that way, but as more character depth was established it became clear that along with experiencing first love, there were some big issues that Landon and Shay had to deal with. There were some moments of levity, but overall this is a heavy book. The main characters deal with mental illness, abandonment, dysfunctional families, lying, addiction, suicide and loss (to name a few). As is typical of this author, she doesn't cheapen these subjects and treats them with respect, but that makes for a heavy feeling in your chest as you read what the characters have to face on a daily basis.
This is my go-to author when I need something that’s going to wring out every emotion and leave me feeling depleted after an incredible journey. Why would I want to feel depleted?? Well, that’s when I know the story wasn’t just something I read, but something I experienced. In this case, the writing was such that I felt like I actually knew the characters and that I walked beside them as they took their journey.
I want to close a book feeling like I have new friends and people that are important to me.....and I did. This author never disappoints in that realm. I loved Landon and Shay and their friends and I can’t wait to dive into book 2 where I am sure they will find their HEA.
"I love you in the light and in the dark. I love you like a whisper and like a shout. I love your good days and your bad days, and I… love… you. All of you. Every single piece…And every single scar.”
I love your happy, and I love your sad. I love your light, and I love your dark. I love you. Every script, every page, every revision, every draft.” ❤️❤️
"When you find you, come back here,” she said, placing her hand over her heart. “Come back to me.“ 💘
———————————————
- POV: dual POV
- Tropes: enemies to lovers
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? Yes
- h virgin? Yes
- First time they kiss: 53%
- First time they sleep together: 74%
- OW/OM drama? Not really. There was a girl who wanted Landon for herself but Landon never showed her any interest after he was with Shay.
- H/h cheat? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Landon had something to confess and it came later in the book, but there was enough foreshadowing that it wasn’t a surprise. It wasn’t anything that tore the main characters apart either.
- Cliffhanger? Yes. No HEA in this book
- Recommend? I hate high school drama, but I loved this book. So, although I never recommend high school books, this is my exception. Yes! Read this one.
Quotes
"Hating Shay was the most constant thing in my life. Hating her felt like a high I’d always been chasing, and as each year passed, I got more and more high off Shay’s dismissal of me. There was something intense about the hate we gave, and the older we grew, the more I craved it."
“Mom always said the first step of love was falling deeply into like. Then the freefall of love didn’t feel so dangerous.”
“I couldn’t be rude to that woman even if I tried, probably because I knew she’d whoop my butt and toss holy water at me if I ever spoke back to her.”
Standing in a crowded room when no one was able to truly see you was the loneliest I’d ever felt.
“If he breaks my heart, I hope the cracks tell a good story.”
How’s your heart tonight?"
"Still beating."
“Only you. Only ever you.”
“All of me is yours.”
Loving Shay came as easy as the wind. It pushed through my system and left me completely breathless.
“Why do you always do that?” I asked. “Why do you always say “I love you” twice?” She smiled. “Once for your heart. Twice to leave an imprint.”
"Sometimes the strongest thing a person could ever do was fall apart. It took real strength to become that vulnerable.
June 2, 2020
“When you stopped allowing toxins into your system, it meant getting rid of certain types of people in your life, too. Addictions didn’t only come in the form of alcohol or narcotics. Some of the worst addictions in one’s life could be the people allowed into it. I’d learned to be very selective about who I allowed into my world. It turned out, you didn’t need a big circle of people to be content. You simply needed the right people.”
It's crystal clear that Brittainy C. Cherry is an expert at weaving tear-jerker stories and infusing her stories with an abundance of emotions. Raw emotion shines through her writing. All the same, it pains me to say that I did not love this novel to pieces, as is the case for the majority of her books.
The novel follows characters readers have been introduced to in Eleanor & Grey. It can be read as a stand-alone though. It narrates the story of Shay Gable and Landon Harrison who despise one another and make a bet on getting the other to fall in love first by any means. Neither of them is willing to back down.
Unfortunately, I did not connect with none of the characters. They were underdeveloped. I felt like the plot tediously stagnated. Incalculable cliches were crammed into the story. The protagonists got buried under the weight of redundant stereotypes.
On the upside, I loved the fact that I caught glimpses of Eleanor and Gray, characters I grew to love in the previous book in the series. In contrast with their romance that tugged on my heartstrings and swept me off my feet, these characters' love story was totally indifferent to me. I hoped that the feelings would come rushing along the way, but the story did not leave an imprint on my heart.
October 26, 2019
5 “favorite broken boyfriend” stars
Gah! Brittainy C Cherry ripped my heart off my chest with this story!
I won’t lie: I disliked Landon very much in the first 15 % of this story because of how he introduced himself at the very beginning of the story!
It was exactly how he behaved or at least how Brittainy made us see him as he was a total j@rk!
I could not see at all how I would come to care for him!
But boy was I wrong!
He turned out to be one of my most favorite broken heroes and I’ll explain how below!
Landon and Shay is a true love story with broken people who have broken people’s problems. So many characters are hurting and not only Landon or his neighbor Monica but some have skeletons in their closet that you’d never have imagined!
Luckily for these broken heroes we also do have a set of fantastic sunny and loyal cast, their ring leader being Shay!
It’s not only a simple story about a bet to make the other fall for you. No. It delves deep into sad topics like depression, abuse, addiction and neglect.
Honestly Brittainy probably did one of the best portraits of depression that I have ever read about! She totally nailed this. How someone’s mind can become prison and worst enemy. How debilitating this can be. But also, how hard it is to shake depression’s grip. It’s not a simple matter of “willing it to go away”. It takes courage to face his demons. To ask for help. And it takes time to find the proper treatment. This is a long and arduous road and I hope Brittainy will change people’s view on depressed people.
The plot is as you’ve read about two enemies betting to make the other fall in love.
Landon and Shay have always despised each other.
Shay saw Landon as an entitled spoiled boy and Landon considered Shay little miss perfect. It was interesting to see how they planned to win the bet.
Landon was portrayed like a despicable boy in the first pages: he used to drink and take drugs, when he spoke about hooking up with Monica the way he described how she had intercourse (I won’t call it make love) was really demeaning, comparing her to a porn star. He appeared as uncaring and rude.
As I said I was readying myself for a disaster.
BUT
But when you really had a glimpse into his thoughts that was a whole other story!
Landon made my heart bleed!
There was so much sadness, so much sorrow for that lost boy! I swear I just wanted to give him a teddy bear hug, hug and never let go. When I got to know him, I realized that he cared so much about people. He was good at heart but he hid it well!
We met Shay in Eleanor & Grey as she is Eleanor’s cousin. Shay is a really sunny character! One that reminded me of Lucy from The Gravity of Us. She brings light everywhere she goes. She is a people’s person and is truly interested in their stories.
She is kind with everyone and how she acted when things were hard and bad, when most would have left everyone behind because the suffering was too great was inspiring!
I loved how Brittainy gave her life and fleshed out her characters with tons of tiny details like her love of candy!
These are all the ingredients to make us really BE in a character’s life and walk in their shoes.
I took tons of quotes while reading this story because Brittainy truly spoke to my heart.
Shay and Landon’s hate story is just so beautiful that it shone through my kindle. Landon’s struggle hit me square in the chest. His pain was my pain.
I can’t wait to read the second part of their story!
I just want to conclude with another quote, one that resonates deep into my soul:
And that's what this story was for me!
Have you read Brittainy's books? Do you read books about mental health? Do you want to read this one now?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
“I think I was born with a hole in my heart. It doesn’t beat like it’s supposed to, and I don’t know if
that makes it unworthy of love. What kind of person would want to love a broken heart? What kind of person would take the time to listen to the heartbeats of something so damaged? I just hope broken hearts can receive love, too. I think us broken hearts need love the most. “
Gah! Brittainy C Cherry ripped my heart off my chest with this story!
I won’t lie: I disliked Landon very much in the first 15 % of this story because of how he introduced himself at the very beginning of the story!
“If you asked most of my classmates what my name stood for, they’d probably say @sshole. Rightfully so, too.”
It was exactly how he behaved or at least how Brittainy made us see him as he was a total j@rk!
I could not see at all how I would come to care for him!
But boy was I wrong!
He turned out to be one of my most favorite broken heroes and I’ll explain how below!
Landon and Shay is a true love story with broken people who have broken people’s problems. So many characters are hurting and not only Landon or his neighbor Monica but some have skeletons in their closet that you’d never have imagined!
Luckily for these broken heroes we also do have a set of fantastic sunny and loyal cast, their ring leader being Shay!
It’s not only a simple story about a bet to make the other fall for you. No. It delves deep into sad topics like depression, abuse, addiction and neglect.
Honestly Brittainy probably did one of the best portraits of depression that I have ever read about! She totally nailed this. How someone’s mind can become prison and worst enemy. How debilitating this can be. But also, how hard it is to shake depression’s grip. It’s not a simple matter of “willing it to go away”. It takes courage to face his demons. To ask for help. And it takes time to find the proper treatment. This is a long and arduous road and I hope Brittainy will change people’s view on depressed people.
The plot is as you’ve read about two enemies betting to make the other fall in love.
Landon and Shay have always despised each other.
Shay saw Landon as an entitled spoiled boy and Landon considered Shay little miss perfect. It was interesting to see how they planned to win the bet.
“From day one, we never gelled. You know how people have instant friendships? She and I had an instant hateship. I hated her, and her goody-two-shoes personality.”
Landon was portrayed like a despicable boy in the first pages: he used to drink and take drugs, when he spoke about hooking up with Monica the way he described how she had intercourse (I won’t call it make love) was really demeaning, comparing her to a porn star. He appeared as uncaring and rude.
“That was what us bad boys did: we fed on good girls and tossed them to the side once we were full.”
As I said I was readying myself for a disaster.
BUT
But when you really had a glimpse into his thoughts that was a whole other story!
“I learned early on that there aren’t any real villains in life, just heroes who have been beaten down for so long they forget they have the ability to be good.”
Landon made my heart bleed!
There was so much sadness, so much sorrow for that lost boy! I swear I just wanted to give him a teddy bear hug, hug and never let go. When I got to know him, I realized that he cared so much about people. He was good at heart but he hid it well!
We met Shay in Eleanor & Grey as she is Eleanor’s cousin. Shay is a really sunny character! One that reminded me of Lucy from The Gravity of Us. She brings light everywhere she goes. She is a people’s person and is truly interested in their stories.
She is kind with everyone and how she acted when things were hard and bad, when most would have left everyone behind because the suffering was too great was inspiring!
I loved how Brittainy gave her life and fleshed out her characters with tons of tiny details like her love of candy!
“It seemed she was Willy Wonka and her purse was the chocolate factory with unlimited supplies.”
These are all the ingredients to make us really BE in a character’s life and walk in their shoes.
I took tons of quotes while reading this story because Brittainy truly spoke to my heart.
Shay and Landon’s hate story is just so beautiful that it shone through my kindle. Landon’s struggle hit me square in the chest. His pain was my pain.
I can’t wait to read the second part of their story!
I just want to conclude with another quote, one that resonates deep into my soul:
“We weren’t brought into this world to be perfect; we were brought here to be human. To live. To feel. To hurt. To love. To cry. To exist.”
And that's what this story was for me!
Have you read Brittainy's books? Do you read books about mental health? Do you want to read this one now?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
February 2, 2022
"When someone saw your pain and didn’t look away, it felt like a gift,...we’re all a little broken. If you think anyone in this world doesn’t have cracks, scars, and a story, then you’re not looking close enough."
I loved that this book covered a very important subject, and that is depression. It was hard reading through the thoughts of the hero, and to see how a soul could become so broken that it ceases to exist. 💔
I didn't connect too much with the main characters in the beginning. I felt the story dragged unnecessarily in the first half. I didn't care too much for the bet. However, I did love how the author addressed different aspects of teen depression, and how it feels to heal and be happy.
"Promise me that when you are feeling at your lowest, like you have nothing left to give…like your mind is slipping and swallowing you whole…that you’ll reach out to someone.."
"You awakened my spirit after so many nightmares, and for that, I owe you the world. I love you."
"You don’t have to be perfect to love or be loved. You just have to be brave enough to show the world your scars and call them beautiful.”
"I don’t think you tell people you love them just so you can hear it back. I think you tell people you love them because it feels like a rocket in your soul."
Rating 3.5 stars 🌟
I loved that this book covered a very important subject, and that is depression. It was hard reading through the thoughts of the hero, and to see how a soul could become so broken that it ceases to exist. 💔
I didn't connect too much with the main characters in the beginning. I felt the story dragged unnecessarily in the first half. I didn't care too much for the bet. However, I did love how the author addressed different aspects of teen depression, and how it feels to heal and be happy.
"Promise me that when you are feeling at your lowest, like you have nothing left to give…like your mind is slipping and swallowing you whole…that you’ll reach out to someone.."
"You awakened my spirit after so many nightmares, and for that, I owe you the world. I love you."
"You don’t have to be perfect to love or be loved. You just have to be brave enough to show the world your scars and call them beautiful.”
"I don’t think you tell people you love them just so you can hear it back. I think you tell people you love them because it feels like a rocket in your soul."
Rating 3.5 stars 🌟
October 29, 2019
I'm so happy. I'm so sad. I'm an emotional mess! Landon & Shay's story...I was not expecting that. CLEARLY it was EVERYTHING great in a read.
Enemies-to-Lovers ✔
Fun Banter ✔
Feels ✔
Romantic ✔
Real, Raw, Deep ✔
Best Friendships EVER ✔
☆ Something had to be said about friends who never left your side, even when your storm was wild enough to strike their souls, too.☆
These characters were introduced to us in Eleanor and Grey and I liked them. I was hyped to get their story.
How was I to know that I would fall face first in love with Landon! I want to cry with how amazing he is. AND don't even get me started with Shay.... She is fierce, strong, beautiful person, she's admirable.
♡ I Love You. I Love You.
I said it once so you can hear it.
Twice to leave an imprint ♡
I CAN'T WAIT FOR part 2. I can't wait to get more Landon & Shay
Enemies-to-Lovers ✔
Fun Banter ✔
Feels ✔
Romantic ✔
Real, Raw, Deep ✔
Best Friendships EVER ✔
☆ Something had to be said about friends who never left your side, even when your storm was wild enough to strike their souls, too.☆
These characters were introduced to us in Eleanor and Grey and I liked them. I was hyped to get their story.
How was I to know that I would fall face first in love with Landon! I want to cry with how amazing he is. AND don't even get me started with Shay.... She is fierce, strong, beautiful person, she's admirable.
♡ I Love You. I Love You.
I said it once so you can hear it.
Twice to leave an imprint ♡
I CAN'T WAIT FOR part 2. I can't wait to get more Landon & Shay
January 17, 2021
This review may contain SPOILERS!
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, despite the hard topics! First off, I want to mention that I was not a big fan of Landon's when I started this book, mostly because he acted like such a douche in the previous story about Grey and Eleanor. Once you get to know him and what he is all about though, I could not only sympathize with him but I also recognized a part of myself within him (even if it was just the smallest of pieces). Secondly, I loved how compassionate and good Shay was, I honestly think she might be my favorite person from this series! Her total loyalty and her need to find the truth, and not just accept the first best alternative, makes her truly special and the bestest of friends. This book made me addicted and I need to know how their story ends, cause the momentary ending is more than not sufficient enough. I really .... REALLY hope that there won't be any triangle-drama in the next book, cause I just know when it comes to Brittainy C. Cherry, I will always cry and my heart will always hurt due to her dropping the emotional bombs (even when there is yet another part involved)!
4,5/5 stars
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, despite the hard topics! First off, I want to mention that I was not a big fan of Landon's when I started this book, mostly because he acted like such a douche in the previous story about Grey and Eleanor. Once you get to know him and what he is all about though, I could not only sympathize with him but I also recognized a part of myself within him (even if it was just the smallest of pieces). Secondly, I loved how compassionate and good Shay was, I honestly think she might be my favorite person from this series! Her total loyalty and her need to find the truth, and not just accept the first best alternative, makes her truly special and the bestest of friends. This book made me addicted and I need to know how their story ends, cause the momentary ending is more than not sufficient enough. I really .... REALLY hope that there won't be any triangle-drama in the next book, cause I just know when it comes to Brittainy C. Cherry, I will always cry and my heart will always hurt due to her dropping the emotional bombs (even when there is yet another part involved)!
4,5/5 stars
February 24, 2021
Ich liebe dieses Buch. Ich liebe es. Jede einzelne Seite, jeden einzelnen Satz, jeden Buchstabe. Mit jeder Faser meines Herzens. Vom allerersten bis zum allerletzten Wort konnte Brittainy C. Cherry tief in mir etwas bewegen. Mich berühren. Mir unter die Haut gehen. Ihre liebevollen Zitate, ihre Worte, die mein Herz in tausend Stücke zerbrechen, um es schlussendlich wieder zusammenzusetzen. Landon und Shay sind etwas ganz besonderes. Zwei kaputte, zerbrochene Seelen, die sich gegenseitig Halt, Mut, neue Hoffnung und Zuversicht schenken. Sie ergänzen sich, ihre Liebe ist so schön wie die Sterne am Nachthimmel und so schmerzhaft wie ein Messerstich mitten ins Herz. Meine Gefühle fahren Achterbahn, so dass ich schlussendlich nicht mehr weiß wo hin damit.
💭»Was macht dein Herz ?«
»Es schlägt noch ?«
Es schlägt. Manchmal ungesund schnell, wenn Landon und Shay sich Liebe, Zuneigung, Vertrauen und Halt schenken. Es rast, wenn ich das Knistern zwischen ihnen spüre, das Intensiver nicht sein könnte. Es hört beinahe auf zu schlagen, wenn Landons Dämonen zum Vorschein kommen und die Wellen, nein Fluten von Traurigkeit und Finsternis mich überrollen. Es stockt, wenn Shays zarte Seele sich direkten Weg zu meiner bahnt und mir die Tränen in den Augen glitzern. Ich liebe Landon mit seinen vielen Facetten. Der sanften, liebevollen, humorvollen und charmanten Seite, bei der ich mich Hals über Kopf in ihn verliebe. Aber auch die dunkle, kaputte und tief zerstörte Facette, die dazu führt, dass ich ihn am liebsten mit einer Umarmung aus seinem schwarzen Loch holen möchte. Ja Landon, dein Herz schlägt noch. Ich liebe auch Shay, das brave und scheinbar perfekte Mädchen, hinter der aber so viel mehr steckt. Schatten-, aber auch Lichtseiten. Licht, aber auch Dunkelheit.
Lest dieses Buch. Lest es mit dem Herzen, lebt und fühlt es. Lasst es euch von Brittainys Worten verzaubern. Liebt Landon genau so sehr wie ich ihn liebe und schenkt Shay so viel Mut, dass ihr Herz nicht aufhört zu schlagen.
💭»Was macht dein Herz ?«
»Es schlägt noch ?«
Es schlägt. Manchmal ungesund schnell, wenn Landon und Shay sich Liebe, Zuneigung, Vertrauen und Halt schenken. Es rast, wenn ich das Knistern zwischen ihnen spüre, das Intensiver nicht sein könnte. Es hört beinahe auf zu schlagen, wenn Landons Dämonen zum Vorschein kommen und die Wellen, nein Fluten von Traurigkeit und Finsternis mich überrollen. Es stockt, wenn Shays zarte Seele sich direkten Weg zu meiner bahnt und mir die Tränen in den Augen glitzern. Ich liebe Landon mit seinen vielen Facetten. Der sanften, liebevollen, humorvollen und charmanten Seite, bei der ich mich Hals über Kopf in ihn verliebe. Aber auch die dunkle, kaputte und tief zerstörte Facette, die dazu führt, dass ich ihn am liebsten mit einer Umarmung aus seinem schwarzen Loch holen möchte. Ja Landon, dein Herz schlägt noch. Ich liebe auch Shay, das brave und scheinbar perfekte Mädchen, hinter der aber so viel mehr steckt. Schatten-, aber auch Lichtseiten. Licht, aber auch Dunkelheit.
Lest dieses Buch. Lest es mit dem Herzen, lebt und fühlt es. Lasst es euch von Brittainys Worten verzaubern. Liebt Landon genau so sehr wie ich ihn liebe und schenkt Shay so viel Mut, dass ihr Herz nicht aufhört zu schlagen.
December 13, 2019
*** 4.5 I hate you STARS ***
Brittainy C, Cherry casi nunca decepciona, tiene una prosa bastante bonita y sí es bien dramática pero siempre me llega directo al cora.
Este es el primer libro de la historia de Landon y Shay personajes secundarios del libro de Eleanor&Gray. Es un enemies to lovers Young adult y está bien bonito.
Es más profundo de lo que parece.
Trata temas de suma importancia como las relaciones toxica y codependientes y sobre todo la depresión en adolescentes que cada día crece más y es una de las causas de suicidio entre los jóvenes
Landon y Shay siempre se han odiado y una apuesta los pone en la órbita del otro, el que se enamore del otro pierde al apuesta y ellos van a tratar con todo de no enamorarse.
Con la convivencia y al tratar que uno se enamore del otro van conociéndose verdaderamente que no todo es lo que parece y va surgiendo en los dos un amor de lo más bonito. Ellos dos eran demasiado cuchi.
El libro me gustó más de lo que pensé me sorprendió porque yo esperé a un Landon más chico malo mujeriego de high school y resultó ser todo una fachada.
Landon es un personaje muy profundo lleno de dolor y sufrimiento, cada día para él es una tortura.
Shay es una chica buena llena de alegría y siempre trata de hacer las cosas correctas, se lleva bien con todo el mundo pero su vida familiar es lejos de ser perfecta.
Este libro me partió mi corazoncito de pollo, hubo partes que casi me sacan una lagrima, además que sabía que no iba a terminar del todo bien porque HOOOLA segunda parte.
“I love your happy, and I love your sad. I love your light, and I love your dark. I love you. Every script, every page, every revision, every draft.”
Brittainy C, Cherry casi nunca decepciona, tiene una prosa bastante bonita y sí es bien dramática pero siempre me llega directo al cora.
Este es el primer libro de la historia de Landon y Shay personajes secundarios del libro de Eleanor&Gray. Es un enemies to lovers Young adult y está bien bonito.
Es más profundo de lo que parece.
Trata temas de suma importancia como las relaciones toxica y codependientes y sobre todo la depresión en adolescentes que cada día crece más y es una de las causas de suicidio entre los jóvenes
Landon y Shay siempre se han odiado y una apuesta los pone en la órbita del otro, el que se enamore del otro pierde al apuesta y ellos van a tratar con todo de no enamorarse.
Con la convivencia y al tratar que uno se enamore del otro van conociéndose verdaderamente que no todo es lo que parece y va surgiendo en los dos un amor de lo más bonito. Ellos dos eran demasiado cuchi.
El libro me gustó más de lo que pensé me sorprendió porque yo esperé a un Landon más chico malo mujeriego de high school y resultó ser todo una fachada.
Landon es un personaje muy profundo lleno de dolor y sufrimiento, cada día para él es una tortura.
Shay es una chica buena llena de alegría y siempre trata de hacer las cosas correctas, se lleva bien con todo el mundo pero su vida familiar es lejos de ser perfecta.
Este libro me partió mi corazoncito de pollo, hubo partes que casi me sacan una lagrima, además que sabía que no iba a terminar del todo bien porque HOOOLA segunda parte.
Read
February 22, 2021Inhalt: „Wie die Stille vor dem Fall. Erstes Buch“ von Brittainy C. Cherry. Das zweite Buch, in der Shay und Landons Geschichte zu Ende erzählt wird, erscheint zeitgleich am 27.11.2020 beim Lyx. Die beiden Bücher sind Abschluss der „Chances“-Reihe. Man kann sie unabhängig von dem ersten Band lesen, aber, wenn man auch Interesse an der Geschichte von Shays Cousine hat, dann sollte man sie zuerst lesen, da man ansonsten leicht gespoilert werden kann.
Shay und Landon hassen sich seitdem sie Kinder sind und machen daraus auch kein Geheimnis. Eine Party ändert alles. Shay bekommt mit, wie Landon großspurig mit einem anderen wettet, dass er es schaffen kann, dass Shay sich in ihn verliebt. Kurzerhand steigt Shay in die Wette mit ein und behauptet, dass sie es schaffen wird, dass er sich zuerst in sie verlieben wird. Durch die Wette kommen die beiden sich näher. Sie müssen feststellen, dass sie sich geirrt haben und hinter der Fassade des jeweils anderen mehr steckt, als sie erwartet hätten. Doch können sie sich gegenseitig helfen oder ist diese Beziehung von Anfang an zum Scheitern verurteilt?
Meinung: Das Cover finde ich schön. Es ist schlicht gehalten. Es ist im gleichen Stil wie die anderen beiden Bände gehalten, so dass die drei total gut nebeneinander aussehen. Der Titel passt perfekt zu der Geschichte von Landon und Shay. Das Buch wurde von Katja Bendels übersetzt. Der Schreibstil war toll. Den deutschen Klappentext muss ich leider etwas kritisieren. Ich finde, dass dort schon zu sehr auf den Verlauf der Geschichte eingegangen wird. Das Thema kann man auch schon erahnen. Zur Not gibt es auch eine Triggerwarnung. Ich rate dazu diese zu lesen, wenn man weiß, dass einen bestimmte Dinge triggern können. Gerade bei diesem Buch und Thema finde ich es wichtig, dass man weiß worauf man sich einlässt. Jeder der Brittainy C. Cherrys Bücher kennt weiß, dass ihre Bücher nicht immer leicht sind und einen berühren. Bei dieser Geschichte ist es nochmal auf eine andere Art und Weise der Fall. Ich selbst habe mich auch ab und zu getriggert gefühlt. Jeder muss dabei für sich selbst entscheiden, ob er für diese Geschichte bereit ist. Verschönt wurde hier nichts. Das kenne ich aus anderen Geschichten, deswegen finde ich es gut, dass es hier der Wahrheit ziemlich nahe kommt. Natürlich hat auch dabei jeder andere Erfahrungen gemacht, aber ich finde es gut, dass hier so mit diesem wichtigen Thema umgegangen wird. Gerade das macht es aber auch ein bisschen schwierig Landon als Bookboyfriend zu bezeichnen. Ich finde ihn toll, aber er ist halt nicht ganz so greifbar wie andere Männer. Dafür wurde er sehr authentisch beschrieben. Ich fand es toll, dass er seine Ecken und Kanten hatte. Endlich mal ein Mann, der nicht nur immer der typische Badboy ist. Shay ist einfach nur liebenswert. Ich mochte sie von Anfang an. Sie ist besonders. Ihr Charakter ist einzigartig. So eine Freundin kann man nur jedem wünschen. Sie ist stark und hat trotzdem ihre verletzlichen Seiten. Ich mochte den Unterschied zwischen Shay und Landon. Sowohl den aus ihrer soziologischen Schicht, als auch dem ihrer Charaktere.
Die Nebencharaktere sind großartig gelungen. Manche liebt man, wie zum Beispiel Shays Großmutter, und andere hasst man, wie zum Beispiel Landons Vater. Ich mag es, dass es hier nicht nur einen Charaktere gibt, den man hassen/lieben kann, sondern das gleich mehrere vertreten sind und das von der Autorin auch so beabsichtigt ist. Man kann sich auch auf ein Wiedersehen mit den Charakteren aus dem ersten Band freuen.
Fazit: Am Anfang bin ich ein bisschen schwierig rein gekommen und ich wusste nicht so recht wohin das Ganze führen würde, aber es war toll! Es ist nicht mein liebstes Buch der Autorin, aber es konnte mich trotzdem wieder überzeugen und berühren. Ich persönlich würde dazu raten die Triggerwarnung zu lesen. Nachdem Ende des Buches musste ich die zeitgleich erschienene Fortsetzung von Shay und Landons Geschichte lesen!
Shay und Landon hassen sich seitdem sie Kinder sind und machen daraus auch kein Geheimnis. Eine Party ändert alles. Shay bekommt mit, wie Landon großspurig mit einem anderen wettet, dass er es schaffen kann, dass Shay sich in ihn verliebt. Kurzerhand steigt Shay in die Wette mit ein und behauptet, dass sie es schaffen wird, dass er sich zuerst in sie verlieben wird. Durch die Wette kommen die beiden sich näher. Sie müssen feststellen, dass sie sich geirrt haben und hinter der Fassade des jeweils anderen mehr steckt, als sie erwartet hätten. Doch können sie sich gegenseitig helfen oder ist diese Beziehung von Anfang an zum Scheitern verurteilt?
Meinung: Das Cover finde ich schön. Es ist schlicht gehalten. Es ist im gleichen Stil wie die anderen beiden Bände gehalten, so dass die drei total gut nebeneinander aussehen. Der Titel passt perfekt zu der Geschichte von Landon und Shay. Das Buch wurde von Katja Bendels übersetzt. Der Schreibstil war toll. Den deutschen Klappentext muss ich leider etwas kritisieren. Ich finde, dass dort schon zu sehr auf den Verlauf der Geschichte eingegangen wird. Das Thema kann man auch schon erahnen. Zur Not gibt es auch eine Triggerwarnung. Ich rate dazu diese zu lesen, wenn man weiß, dass einen bestimmte Dinge triggern können. Gerade bei diesem Buch und Thema finde ich es wichtig, dass man weiß worauf man sich einlässt. Jeder der Brittainy C. Cherrys Bücher kennt weiß, dass ihre Bücher nicht immer leicht sind und einen berühren. Bei dieser Geschichte ist es nochmal auf eine andere Art und Weise der Fall. Ich selbst habe mich auch ab und zu getriggert gefühlt. Jeder muss dabei für sich selbst entscheiden, ob er für diese Geschichte bereit ist. Verschönt wurde hier nichts. Das kenne ich aus anderen Geschichten, deswegen finde ich es gut, dass es hier der Wahrheit ziemlich nahe kommt. Natürlich hat auch dabei jeder andere Erfahrungen gemacht, aber ich finde es gut, dass hier so mit diesem wichtigen Thema umgegangen wird. Gerade das macht es aber auch ein bisschen schwierig Landon als Bookboyfriend zu bezeichnen. Ich finde ihn toll, aber er ist halt nicht ganz so greifbar wie andere Männer. Dafür wurde er sehr authentisch beschrieben. Ich fand es toll, dass er seine Ecken und Kanten hatte. Endlich mal ein Mann, der nicht nur immer der typische Badboy ist. Shay ist einfach nur liebenswert. Ich mochte sie von Anfang an. Sie ist besonders. Ihr Charakter ist einzigartig. So eine Freundin kann man nur jedem wünschen. Sie ist stark und hat trotzdem ihre verletzlichen Seiten. Ich mochte den Unterschied zwischen Shay und Landon. Sowohl den aus ihrer soziologischen Schicht, als auch dem ihrer Charaktere.
Die Nebencharaktere sind großartig gelungen. Manche liebt man, wie zum Beispiel Shays Großmutter, und andere hasst man, wie zum Beispiel Landons Vater. Ich mag es, dass es hier nicht nur einen Charaktere gibt, den man hassen/lieben kann, sondern das gleich mehrere vertreten sind und das von der Autorin auch so beabsichtigt ist. Man kann sich auch auf ein Wiedersehen mit den Charakteren aus dem ersten Band freuen.
Fazit: Am Anfang bin ich ein bisschen schwierig rein gekommen und ich wusste nicht so recht wohin das Ganze führen würde, aber es war toll! Es ist nicht mein liebstes Buch der Autorin, aber es konnte mich trotzdem wieder überzeugen und berühren. Ich persönlich würde dazu raten die Triggerwarnung zu lesen. Nachdem Ende des Buches musste ich die zeitgleich erschienene Fortsetzung von Shay und Landons Geschichte lesen!
December 1, 2019
5+ stars
This gif pretty much sums up what I looked like while reading this entire book:
I am entirely shook by how amazing and beautiful this book was. I truly, with all of my heart, did not expect to be this emotionally impacted by this book when I picked it up. If I'm being honest, I expected not to care much for it since the one book I've read by this author in the past, I wasn't a huge fan of her writing. But I'm seeing now that she has grown a lot since that book and I was a big fool for thinking this wouldn't be good.
I think what I love most about this book (besides the beautiful, beautiful romance) are the important topics brought up in it and how well the author did in talking about them. These topics aren't brought up for shock value, as most romance books tend to do, or just to make a character "more dark". You can tell the author did her research and took her time with each and every one of these characters. They are all multidimensional characters. They are human, they are REAL. The amount of tears I have cried for these characters is absolutely unreal and almost never happens but they happened with this book because of how REAL these characters felt to me. At times, it felt like the author had read my own thoughts, my own soul and it made me feel seen in a way that I haven't felt in a book in a long time. I just loved this book so, so much and I won't forget it.
I finally understand what people mean when they talk about the ending being a good one. It's the best ending they could've had in this book and it's one that is needed. I'm dying to get part two and see the conclusion of their epic love story but I'm not gonna lie, I'm hella nervous. I'm nervous book two won't live up to this. That it will have drama and ruin the hard work these characters have put to get to where they are now but I'm going to be patient and wait and have faith. This author has already surprised me once with this book, perhaps she will surprise me again. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone looking for a beautiful, epic love story between two people who are both broken and whole at the same time. It's a story that is hard to read at times, but worth it.
TW:
This gif pretty much sums up what I looked like while reading this entire book:
I am entirely shook by how amazing and beautiful this book was. I truly, with all of my heart, did not expect to be this emotionally impacted by this book when I picked it up. If I'm being honest, I expected not to care much for it since the one book I've read by this author in the past, I wasn't a huge fan of her writing. But I'm seeing now that she has grown a lot since that book and I was a big fool for thinking this wouldn't be good.
I think what I love most about this book (besides the beautiful, beautiful romance) are the important topics brought up in it and how well the author did in talking about them. These topics aren't brought up for shock value, as most romance books tend to do, or just to make a character "more dark". You can tell the author did her research and took her time with each and every one of these characters. They are all multidimensional characters. They are human, they are REAL. The amount of tears I have cried for these characters is absolutely unreal and almost never happens but they happened with this book because of how REAL these characters felt to me. At times, it felt like the author had read my own thoughts, my own soul and it made me feel seen in a way that I haven't felt in a book in a long time. I just loved this book so, so much and I won't forget it.
I finally understand what people mean when they talk about the ending being a good one. It's the best ending they could've had in this book and it's one that is needed. I'm dying to get part two and see the conclusion of their epic love story but I'm not gonna lie, I'm hella nervous. I'm nervous book two won't live up to this. That it will have drama and ruin the hard work these characters have put to get to where they are now but I'm going to be patient and wait and have faith. This author has already surprised me once with this book, perhaps she will surprise me again. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone looking for a beautiful, epic love story between two people who are both broken and whole at the same time. It's a story that is hard to read at times, but worth it.
TW:
November 12, 2021
Im Märchen verliebte sich die Schöne in das Biest.
Im wahren Leben zerstörte das Biest die Schöne.
2,25 🌟
Alleine die Idee von dieser Wette fand ich schon bescheuert. Dazu waren mir die beiden Hauptcharaktere einfach unsympathisch. Der Schreibstil war wieder typisch Cherry und einfach toll, aber das war diesmal einfach nicht genug, um mich zu begeistern. Trotz allem bin ich aber durch das Buch geflogen und habe es schnell beendet. So schnell, dass ich gar keine Zeit hatte, an das DNF Regal zu denken.
Wer Spaß an gut geschriebenen Geschichten über dämliche Teenager-Liebes-Wetten (sorry für die harschen Worte, aber ich bin für so was einfach zu alt glaube ich) hat, deren Teilnehmer ihr Päckchen zu tragen haben, der kann hieran durchaus seinen Spaß an diesem Buch haben, werft aber im Zweifel lieber einen Blick auf die Triggerwarnungen.
November 14, 2019
Can Brittainy C. Cherry EVER write a book you won’t fall hopelessly in love with?
The answer to that is a big obvious NO.
This book is perfect. I love an en enemies to lovers romance and this was done so well. Brittainy C. Cherry storytelling skills is becoming legendary. Shay and Landon stole my heart. The emotions in this book was on a whole new level. This is not your typical romance where it’s all hearts and flowers with just the right amount of “drama”, no..this one makes you cry your heart out. Landon & Shay is beautiful and I know this review sucks but no words can describe how good this book is. Just get the book and I promise you that you won’t regret it.
This book is perfect. I love an en enemies to lovers romance and this was done so well. Brittainy C. Cherry storytelling skills is becoming legendary. Shay and Landon stole my heart. The emotions in this book was on a whole new level. This is not your typical romance where it’s all hearts and flowers with just the right amount of “drama”, no..this one makes you cry your heart out. Landon & Shay is beautiful and I know this review sucks but no words can describe how good this book is. Just get the book and I promise you that you won’t regret it.
November 22, 2021
5/5⭐️
387: ,,Stell die Füße fest auf den Boden und schließe Frieden mit deinen Dämonen. Hör auf, sie zu bekämpfen, und akzeptiere sie. Du bist nicht kaputt, du bist nur kompliziert und intensiv. Und die schönsten Dinge auf der Welt haben den intensivsten Herzschlag.“ -Mima
Die letzten 50 Seiten habe ich durch geheult. Ging nicht anders. Es war einfach wundervoll herzzerreißend und ich habe jedes einzelne Wort geliebt.
387: ,,Stell die Füße fest auf den Boden und schließe Frieden mit deinen Dämonen. Hör auf, sie zu bekämpfen, und akzeptiere sie. Du bist nicht kaputt, du bist nur kompliziert und intensiv. Und die schönsten Dinge auf der Welt haben den intensivsten Herzschlag.“ -Mima
Die letzten 50 Seiten habe ich durch geheult. Ging nicht anders. Es war einfach wundervoll herzzerreißend und ich habe jedes einzelne Wort geliebt.
March 20, 2022
Die Geschichte war ganz nett, aber hat mich nicht so gepackt. Am Anfang hat es sich sehr gezogen,weil man die Geschichte nicht weitererzählt hat, sondern auf einer Stelle stehen geblieben ist. Später ging es dann😐Ich fand „Wie die Ruhe vor dem Sturm“ viel besser. Ich werde den zweiten Teil aber trotzdem demnächst lesen☺️
February 14, 2021
4.75 stars ⭐️
“Somehow, she managed to return my wild heart to a calmness only she’d ever been able to provoke. She made the darkest days feel like the sun.”
If anyone probably saw me right now, they would run for the hills. No, I’m not kidding i really look like a mess with tear strained cheeks.
You guys this FUCKING book has SPOKEN to the pieces i never knew I had inside me. This book has wrecked me, has shattered me and has turned my world upside down. I don’t really know why i read books like this cause I HATE crying and I HATE loving people and I HATE because i feel too much for characters. I swear to god, i need therapy now.
“Who knew it could happen?
Who knew a heart could skip for the Devil himself?”
You know theres this double standard that guys can’t suffer through depression, can’t have bad days but this author legit thrown that custom in the bin and I LOVE her for that. I love the fact that she spoke so much of mental health. I felt each and every word piercing through my skin. Also, can i get my whole body tattooed with this book wordings? Cause THIS WAS THAT GOOD. I have had dark and gloomy days and I’ve had pretty rough days in my life where I basically questioned my existence and this book just hurt me too much. I never would’ve imagined that a book could speak to me in such a way and give me hope.
“Find yourself, lose yourself, then find yourself again. Do some soul searching, Landon. Go deep. Laugh, cry, discover. Do some digging, but don’t you dare rush this. Don’t you dare try to skip a few steps in your healing to just get back to me. I’m here. I’m here today, I’ll be here tomorrow.”
I have nothing but good words to say about this book and the ending kinda made me cry. lol, im joking the WHOLE book made me cry but whatever my skincare routine is ✨tears✨.
Imma stop here cause if I don’t i will start crying again and trust me, i dont want that (or maybe I do ugh). Pick this book up while I pick the second one up!
“Somehow, she managed to return my wild heart to a calmness only she’d ever been able to provoke. She made the darkest days feel like the sun.”
If anyone probably saw me right now, they would run for the hills. No, I’m not kidding i really look like a mess with tear strained cheeks.
You guys this FUCKING book has SPOKEN to the pieces i never knew I had inside me. This book has wrecked me, has shattered me and has turned my world upside down. I don’t really know why i read books like this cause I HATE crying and I HATE loving people and I HATE because i feel too much for characters. I swear to god, i need therapy now.
“Who knew it could happen?
Who knew a heart could skip for the Devil himself?”
You know theres this double standard that guys can’t suffer through depression, can’t have bad days but this author legit thrown that custom in the bin and I LOVE her for that. I love the fact that she spoke so much of mental health. I felt each and every word piercing through my skin. Also, can i get my whole body tattooed with this book wordings? Cause THIS WAS THAT GOOD. I have had dark and gloomy days and I’ve had pretty rough days in my life where I basically questioned my existence and this book just hurt me too much. I never would’ve imagined that a book could speak to me in such a way and give me hope.
“Find yourself, lose yourself, then find yourself again. Do some soul searching, Landon. Go deep. Laugh, cry, discover. Do some digging, but don’t you dare rush this. Don’t you dare try to skip a few steps in your healing to just get back to me. I’m here. I’m here today, I’ll be here tomorrow.”
I have nothing but good words to say about this book and the ending kinda made me cry. lol, im joking the WHOLE book made me cry but whatever my skincare routine is ✨tears✨.
Imma stop here cause if I don’t i will start crying again and trust me, i dont want that (or maybe I do ugh). Pick this book up while I pick the second one up!
November 3, 2019
Mind Blown!!!! This book is A M A Z I N G!!!
The angst, it literally had me reading this from start to finish!!!!
Now please give me book 2
The angst, it literally had me reading this from start to finish!!!!
Now please give me book 2
July 3, 2022
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Excellent - Highly Recommended
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A good, solid read
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - An okay read
2 ⭐️⭐️ - Meh
1 ⭐️ - Not my cup of tea
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A good, solid read
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - An okay read
2 ⭐️⭐️ - Meh
1 ⭐️ - Not my cup of tea
January 3, 2021
Mein Herz❤️
Dieses Buch ist einfach toll.
B.C.Cherry at her best!!
Dieses Buch ist einfach toll.
B.C.Cherry at her best!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,083 reviews