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How to Stay
THE BADDEST BITCH IN ROCK IS RUNNING AWAY. AGAIN.
It's been fourteen years since rock singer Adelia Winters escaped the small town of Cherry Lake. But thanks to her father's death (and punching the president of her record label #sorrynotsorry), she's back and forced to face the secrets—and the best friend—she left behind.
Perfectionist Conor Ross doesn't take chances. Not with his body, his photography career, and certainly not with relationships. One-hundred and sixty pounds ago, he'd taken a chance on love and it ended with his best friend breaking his heart on her way out of town. Never again.
Between whiskey hangovers and rock song sing-alongs, Adelia and Conor must confront their broken friendship and the passion still sizzling between them. If they can find a way to heal the wounds of the past, they might just have a second chance. But Adelia's career is pulling her away, even as the town—and Conor—are calling her home.
It's been fourteen years since rock singer Adelia Winters escaped the small town of Cherry Lake. But thanks to her father's death (and punching the president of her record label #sorrynotsorry), she's back and forced to face the secrets—and the best friend—she left behind.
Perfectionist Conor Ross doesn't take chances. Not with his body, his photography career, and certainly not with relationships. One-hundred and sixty pounds ago, he'd taken a chance on love and it ended with his best friend breaking his heart on her way out of town. Never again.
Between whiskey hangovers and rock song sing-alongs, Adelia and Conor must confront their broken friendship and the passion still sizzling between them. If they can find a way to heal the wounds of the past, they might just have a second chance. But Adelia's career is pulling her away, even as the town—and Conor—are calling her home.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2019
4 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Christina Mitchell
3 books32 followersCHRISTINA MITCHELL writes contemporary romances about damaged people who need (and deserve) love. After all, why should the well-adjusted get all the happy endings?
When she's not writing, Christina drinks Moscato from novelty mugs and spends her days listening to sad sad love songs or bad rock songs, obsessing over Batman, and riffing on b-movies about genetically-modified sharks. She lives in Michigan, where the weather is a fascinating mystery and no one gets enough Vitamin D. Her house has a hilarious and weird husband in it, as well as a f**k ton of non-winning lotto tickets laying around, because she's the most optimistic cynic the world has ever known.
Her debut novel, How to Stay has won the GDRW Booksellers' Best 2020 Patti Shenberger Award for Best First Book.
If you would like to see her ridiculous mug collection (or watch Snapchat videos of her singing badly) you can find her on Instagram @sparkleyeti. If you'd like to join her Sparkly AF reader group, you can find it at facebook.com/groups/cmbooks.
When she's not writing, Christina drinks Moscato from novelty mugs and spends her days listening to sad sad love songs or bad rock songs, obsessing over Batman, and riffing on b-movies about genetically-modified sharks. She lives in Michigan, where the weather is a fascinating mystery and no one gets enough Vitamin D. Her house has a hilarious and weird husband in it, as well as a f**k ton of non-winning lotto tickets laying around, because she's the most optimistic cynic the world has ever known.
Her debut novel, How to Stay has won the GDRW Booksellers' Best 2020 Patti Shenberger Award for Best First Book.
If you would like to see her ridiculous mug collection (or watch Snapchat videos of her singing badly) you can find her on Instagram @sparkleyeti. If you'd like to join her Sparkly AF reader group, you can find it at facebook.com/groups/cmbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 14, 2021
I can FINALLY talk about this book publicly!!! Perfect for fans of authors like Kennedy Ryan, How to Stay is a beautiful story about two broken people finding healing and love together. I was assigned this as a judge for the Vivian award so I couldn't shout about it until the contest was over but it's hands down in my top 5 romances of the year. Amazing debut and I will absolutely be reading more from this author in the future.
Adelia is a famous rockstar with a bad-girl image, but her father has died and she's returning to the town she ran from as a young teenager. The town where Conor, her childhood best friend and first romantic partner still lives. He believes she ran from him, because she never said goodbye. I thought this was so beautiful. Lia and Conor both have been through a lot of trauma and have trust issues they have to work through.
Conor was the fat kid growing up, and now he's lost a bunch of weight. However, I appreciated that isn't glamorized. He's obsessive about his eating and exercise, with all the signs of orthorexia, a less known eating disorder. It's not called an eating disorder on the page, but the subtext is clearly there. He also has body dysmorphia. Again, things that we don't always see explored for male characters. I felt it was handled really well. And it's made clear that the heroine ALWAYS thought he was attractive, regardless of weight.
This book is intense and deals with child neglect (by family) and sexual abuse (not by family), though those things are in the past, not graphic on page. If you can deal with the content though, I highly recommend checking this out. I loved it.
Adelia is a famous rockstar with a bad-girl image, but her father has died and she's returning to the town she ran from as a young teenager. The town where Conor, her childhood best friend and first romantic partner still lives. He believes she ran from him, because she never said goodbye. I thought this was so beautiful. Lia and Conor both have been through a lot of trauma and have trust issues they have to work through.
Conor was the fat kid growing up, and now he's lost a bunch of weight. However, I appreciated that isn't glamorized. He's obsessive about his eating and exercise, with all the signs of orthorexia, a less known eating disorder. It's not called an eating disorder on the page, but the subtext is clearly there. He also has body dysmorphia. Again, things that we don't always see explored for male characters. I felt it was handled really well. And it's made clear that the heroine ALWAYS thought he was attractive, regardless of weight.
This book is intense and deals with child neglect (by family) and sexual abuse (not by family), though those things are in the past, not graphic on page. If you can deal with the content though, I highly recommend checking this out. I loved it.
June 19, 2019
One of the best debuts I've read! Christina Mitchell is an incredibly talented author--her writing is so atmospheric and witty and just plain gorgeous. This story of a rocker reuniting with her former best friend, a cinnamon roll photographer who's still angry over the way she left town years ago, totally hooked me. I can't wait to read more about the other characters in this series and see what Christina Mitchell writes next.
June 13, 2019
JB, seriously, reviews do NOT need TITLES
Mitchell's debut is a rock and roll ballad in book form. A gritty and lovely story told with beautifully chosen words.
Mitchell's debut is a rock and roll ballad in book form. A gritty and lovely story told with beautifully chosen words.
May 29, 2019
Who we once were shapes us but does not define us. We are defined by not what happens to us but rather what we do and how we react. This is what inaugural novelist Christina Mitchell explores through her characters: residents of Cherry Lake.
Set in fictional small-town Michigan, bad girl rocker Adelia comes home to face the demons that chased her out of town to begin with. Dealing with the death of a parent, surviving with a parent who has a mental illness leads Adelia into teenage homelessness and a foray into teen prostitution. A skeezy music manager finds Adelia and molds her into a jail bait rock and roll star. Living the teenage rock and roll dream - being adored by fans, lots of wild parties and rubbing elbows (and maybe naughty bits) with rock stars and music big wigs slowly gets old and years later Adelia is left unsatisfied, unhappy and emotionally/relationship-ly stunted. Circumstances bring her back to her home town and throw her back together with her childhood best friend Conor who hasn’t heard or seen her since he lost his virginity and declared his love for her - fourteen years ago.
Dealing with his own insecurities and dead end job, Conor is a former fat-kid turned fit heart throb. As a child he turned to food as he looked for control and solace from an over bearing ambitious mother and a can-do-no-wrong older brother. As an adult, Conor funneled that need for control into healthy eating, running and borderline obsessive cleaning. He’s working a photography/sales job that pays the bills but is sucking his soul dry. He’s a shameless flirt but rarely ever opens himself up because he’s afraid of being rejected (again).
Mitchell weaves the back stories through out the present day and you are able to experience the insecurities and secrets these two childhood friends start to slowly share. Tension builds as they rebuild their relationship. However, they are conveniently interrupted and oft chaperoned by Conor’s support system and adopted family: smarter and wiser than she should be young teen Jo and her take no nonsense, no excuses diner waitress mom Shannon who has her own sordid teenage back story.
Adelia and Conor’s relationship starts to heal, blossom and get hot and heavy. However Adelia’s inability to open up to her feelings and come to terms with her past as a criminally neglected child of a grieving, mentally ill hoarder keeps her shut up and detached from forming lasting relationships. Conor has his own issues with body image and control and still struggles with the feelings of being an over weight teen.
Though the fat teenager turned hot babe trope has been often used in romance novels (I’m looking at you Jennifer Weiner) Mitchell made it more interesting by making hers male driven. It’s not just women who have insecurities about how their bodies look but men too. Conor’s a generous lover who is able to take charge in the bedroom however he becomes insecure, self conscious and runs away - literally and emotionally - when the lights are on and his shirt is off.
Mitchell’s dialogue is sharp and witty. Her characters speak with their own unique voice. You could see the skeez oozing off music manager EJ through his words, duck. And we’ve all known an asshole boss like Keith at some point in our lives; hopefully you had your own Andrew for support! Mitchell’s pop culture references are funny (and spot on). Her characters vulnerable, realistic and relatable. Some parts made me cringe with how real they felt, the memories they stirred and how relatable the feelings of the moment are (teenage mean girl drama and also coming to terms with your childhood insecurities and anxieties by literally opening the front door are two that come immediately to mind). The idea that certain smells conjure up specific memories and feelings plays through out the entire novel. The ending is happy but real. Life is messy, uncomfortable, complicated, sometimes sappy and ultimately beautiful.
All in all an excellent first novel which leads the reader wanting to know more about the town of Cherry Lake and the women and men who made it their home. I’m looking forward to book two!!
Set in fictional small-town Michigan, bad girl rocker Adelia comes home to face the demons that chased her out of town to begin with. Dealing with the death of a parent, surviving with a parent who has a mental illness leads Adelia into teenage homelessness and a foray into teen prostitution. A skeezy music manager finds Adelia and molds her into a jail bait rock and roll star. Living the teenage rock and roll dream - being adored by fans, lots of wild parties and rubbing elbows (and maybe naughty bits) with rock stars and music big wigs slowly gets old and years later Adelia is left unsatisfied, unhappy and emotionally/relationship-ly stunted. Circumstances bring her back to her home town and throw her back together with her childhood best friend Conor who hasn’t heard or seen her since he lost his virginity and declared his love for her - fourteen years ago.
Dealing with his own insecurities and dead end job, Conor is a former fat-kid turned fit heart throb. As a child he turned to food as he looked for control and solace from an over bearing ambitious mother and a can-do-no-wrong older brother. As an adult, Conor funneled that need for control into healthy eating, running and borderline obsessive cleaning. He’s working a photography/sales job that pays the bills but is sucking his soul dry. He’s a shameless flirt but rarely ever opens himself up because he’s afraid of being rejected (again).
Mitchell weaves the back stories through out the present day and you are able to experience the insecurities and secrets these two childhood friends start to slowly share. Tension builds as they rebuild their relationship. However, they are conveniently interrupted and oft chaperoned by Conor’s support system and adopted family: smarter and wiser than she should be young teen Jo and her take no nonsense, no excuses diner waitress mom Shannon who has her own sordid teenage back story.
Adelia and Conor’s relationship starts to heal, blossom and get hot and heavy. However Adelia’s inability to open up to her feelings and come to terms with her past as a criminally neglected child of a grieving, mentally ill hoarder keeps her shut up and detached from forming lasting relationships. Conor has his own issues with body image and control and still struggles with the feelings of being an over weight teen.
Though the fat teenager turned hot babe trope has been often used in romance novels (I’m looking at you Jennifer Weiner) Mitchell made it more interesting by making hers male driven. It’s not just women who have insecurities about how their bodies look but men too. Conor’s a generous lover who is able to take charge in the bedroom however he becomes insecure, self conscious and runs away - literally and emotionally - when the lights are on and his shirt is off.
Mitchell’s dialogue is sharp and witty. Her characters speak with their own unique voice. You could see the skeez oozing off music manager EJ through his words, duck. And we’ve all known an asshole boss like Keith at some point in our lives; hopefully you had your own Andrew for support! Mitchell’s pop culture references are funny (and spot on). Her characters vulnerable, realistic and relatable. Some parts made me cringe with how real they felt, the memories they stirred and how relatable the feelings of the moment are (teenage mean girl drama and also coming to terms with your childhood insecurities and anxieties by literally opening the front door are two that come immediately to mind). The idea that certain smells conjure up specific memories and feelings plays through out the entire novel. The ending is happy but real. Life is messy, uncomfortable, complicated, sometimes sappy and ultimately beautiful.
All in all an excellent first novel which leads the reader wanting to know more about the town of Cherry Lake and the women and men who made it their home. I’m looking forward to book two!!
June 23, 2021
Holy cow!!! I love this unbelievably beautiful, funny, and moving second chance story. It's full of laughter, sadness, and so much love.
Adelia is a mouthy, tough, and infamous rock star and she's tired. Tired of her hectic life, tired of being told what to do, tired of being alone. So when she returns home to Cherry Lake, Michigan, to bury her uncaring and indifferent father, she opens old wounds as she confronts the friends she left behind. Will she be able to apologize for leaving them so suddenly? Has she burned her bridges?
Conor is in a dead-end job and wants to open his own photography studio, but there are things holding him back. Money for sure, but it's also the niggling doubts in his mind that he's not good enough. After all, his mother is the major and his brother is a millionaire. With Adelia's unending support and insistence he realizes he needs to make changes including making the best of having her home for as long as she can stay.
What do I love about this book? I love how Adelia and Conor resort back to their childhood ribbing like it was just yesterday and not 14 years ago. I love how afraid they are of loving and losing each other again. I love how Conor is an incredible surrogate dad to Shannon's daughter, Jo. I love how Adelia is so tough and hard with others, but all soft and loving with Conor. I love how Conor is such a neat freak but doesn't care about Adelia's messiness. I could go on and on about how freaking fantastic Adelia and Conor are in all their brokenness and fear of what lays ahead. I sobbed, I laughed, and I sighed with hope for these two extraordinary people who are meant to be together through good times and bad.
Not only are the main characters amazing, but the supporting characters of Shannon, Adelia and Conor's long-time friend, and her feisty and stubborn daughter, Jo, are a huge part of what makes this such a great book. And, I'm hoping to read more about Shannon in the book series.
As you have guessed, I highly recommend this remarkable work of fiction that is a love story, but it also covers tough subjects such as neglect, homelessness, hoarding, obesity, and prostitution. Please give this book a try, you won't be disappointed.
Adelia is a mouthy, tough, and infamous rock star and she's tired. Tired of her hectic life, tired of being told what to do, tired of being alone. So when she returns home to Cherry Lake, Michigan, to bury her uncaring and indifferent father, she opens old wounds as she confronts the friends she left behind. Will she be able to apologize for leaving them so suddenly? Has she burned her bridges?
Conor is in a dead-end job and wants to open his own photography studio, but there are things holding him back. Money for sure, but it's also the niggling doubts in his mind that he's not good enough. After all, his mother is the major and his brother is a millionaire. With Adelia's unending support and insistence he realizes he needs to make changes including making the best of having her home for as long as she can stay.
What do I love about this book? I love how Adelia and Conor resort back to their childhood ribbing like it was just yesterday and not 14 years ago. I love how afraid they are of loving and losing each other again. I love how Conor is an incredible surrogate dad to Shannon's daughter, Jo. I love how Adelia is so tough and hard with others, but all soft and loving with Conor. I love how Conor is such a neat freak but doesn't care about Adelia's messiness. I could go on and on about how freaking fantastic Adelia and Conor are in all their brokenness and fear of what lays ahead. I sobbed, I laughed, and I sighed with hope for these two extraordinary people who are meant to be together through good times and bad.
Not only are the main characters amazing, but the supporting characters of Shannon, Adelia and Conor's long-time friend, and her feisty and stubborn daughter, Jo, are a huge part of what makes this such a great book. And, I'm hoping to read more about Shannon in the book series.
As you have guessed, I highly recommend this remarkable work of fiction that is a love story, but it also covers tough subjects such as neglect, homelessness, hoarding, obesity, and prostitution. Please give this book a try, you won't be disappointed.
February 28, 2020
Unique and Layered Debut: Hard-Rocking Romance with a Big Heart
Christina Mitchell's HOW TO STAY is every bit a romance, but it's something special for those of us who crave substance (and maybe a little pain?) in our literary pleasures. This is a well-crafted, dreamy love story with a spiny sense of humor and a heart in full bloom.
Adelia and Conor are childhood besties and lost souls at opposite ends of the world: one hunkered down in a trailer park in the rural town where they both grew up and the other flying high as an emotionally wrecked rockstar. When they find themselves reunited for a heartbreaking reason, they have to rediscover each other beneath layers of emotional scars that were started from the last moment they saw each other as kids. The pair seek healing in each other with a slow-burning need that runs far deeper than their tattooed and stretch-marked skins.
This book manages to be a fun, page-turning, steamy romp and at the same time a clear-eyed exploration of childhood trauma, sex work, body image issues, economic inequality, and the tenderness that lies beneath hard-earned coping mechanisms. It's the kind of book you'll want to read twice in a row, once fast and one more time slow. And then again and again. Just make a home for it on your nightstand so you can reach for it anytime you need a fix.
Christina Mitchell has plumbed the depths of the human heart, and it shows in the pages of this thick, meaty, cheeky, sexy, lovable and heartfelt book. Get it on paper. Make room for it on your shelf and in your soul.
Christina Mitchell's HOW TO STAY is every bit a romance, but it's something special for those of us who crave substance (and maybe a little pain?) in our literary pleasures. This is a well-crafted, dreamy love story with a spiny sense of humor and a heart in full bloom.
Adelia and Conor are childhood besties and lost souls at opposite ends of the world: one hunkered down in a trailer park in the rural town where they both grew up and the other flying high as an emotionally wrecked rockstar. When they find themselves reunited for a heartbreaking reason, they have to rediscover each other beneath layers of emotional scars that were started from the last moment they saw each other as kids. The pair seek healing in each other with a slow-burning need that runs far deeper than their tattooed and stretch-marked skins.
This book manages to be a fun, page-turning, steamy romp and at the same time a clear-eyed exploration of childhood trauma, sex work, body image issues, economic inequality, and the tenderness that lies beneath hard-earned coping mechanisms. It's the kind of book you'll want to read twice in a row, once fast and one more time slow. And then again and again. Just make a home for it on your nightstand so you can reach for it anytime you need a fix.
Christina Mitchell has plumbed the depths of the human heart, and it shows in the pages of this thick, meaty, cheeky, sexy, lovable and heartfelt book. Get it on paper. Make room for it on your shelf and in your soul.
June 11, 2020
Hey, listen.
So -- I don't read a lot of contemporary romance. Usually I prefer one of my usual genres, like fantasy or sci-fi or even a cozy mystery, with a side of romance. (Sometimes the side ends up being almost as big as the entree, but that's soooo not the point.) But! If romance is your thing, or maybe even if it isn't, then you should absolutely check out How to Stay. It really is a wonderful and polished debut.
There's...a lot of baggage, particularly concerning the two main characters. Personally, I felt like Adelia's emotions hit me a lot harder. (I'm not crying, you're crying!!!) However, both their flaws and struggles felt really raw and real. If you know me, then you know that I tend to become frustrated with books when characters act irrationally. This wasn't one of those books. Adelia and Conor were both well fleshed out, and I feel like we got all the information we needed in order to understand their choices, even if we wish they chose differently.
And can we talk about the supporting cast? Jo is cooler than I ever was, and probably cooler than I'll ever be. (Seriously, I was not a very interesting teenager.) Shannon kicks serious butt. The old store owner -- I forgot his name, but he absolutely deserves to have me remember his name. And EJ...
Well, let's not talk about EJ. Instead, let's talk about this book! I enjoyed it a lot. I even cried and everything.
So -- I don't read a lot of contemporary romance. Usually I prefer one of my usual genres, like fantasy or sci-fi or even a cozy mystery, with a side of romance. (Sometimes the side ends up being almost as big as the entree, but that's soooo not the point.) But! If romance is your thing, or maybe even if it isn't, then you should absolutely check out How to Stay. It really is a wonderful and polished debut.
There's...a lot of baggage, particularly concerning the two main characters. Personally, I felt like Adelia's emotions hit me a lot harder. (I'm not crying, you're crying!!!) However, both their flaws and struggles felt really raw and real. If you know me, then you know that I tend to become frustrated with books when characters act irrationally. This wasn't one of those books. Adelia and Conor were both well fleshed out, and I feel like we got all the information we needed in order to understand their choices, even if we wish they chose differently.
And can we talk about the supporting cast? Jo is cooler than I ever was, and probably cooler than I'll ever be. (Seriously, I was not a very interesting teenager.) Shannon kicks serious butt. The old store owner -- I forgot his name, but he absolutely deserves to have me remember his name. And EJ...
Well, let's not talk about EJ. Instead, let's talk about this book! I enjoyed it a lot. I even cried and everything.
May 29, 2019
This book was an experience!
A cross between Mariana Zapata and RS Grey, this book is everything I wanted it to be and more.
I didn’t know what to expect—all I knew was my friends told me to read this book. So I grabbed a copy and naively opened it while dinner was in the oven.
“I’ll just read a few pages!” I said. “I can pick it back up later!” I said. All lies.
I burned dinner and then promptly disappeared from the world until this book was finished. I usually don’t love angsty characters, but this book didn’t care. It was going to make me love it anyway.
Every character is beautifully flawed in a way that makes them human. Mitchell’s poetic voice and richly painted world takes this book from an ordinary indie debut to an extraordinary work of art. My heart broke and then each character grabbed a shard and wouldn’t give it back (oh dear, I’m turning poetic.)
Mitchell is a master at interlacing snark and feelings, of riding the wave of emotions just until the breaking point and then pulling you back. The sexual tension was so well crafted, I had to turn on a fan. I laughed, I swooned, I even cried.
This book was not just a story, but an experience. I have been changed. Do yourself a favor and read it.
A cross between Mariana Zapata and RS Grey, this book is everything I wanted it to be and more.
I didn’t know what to expect—all I knew was my friends told me to read this book. So I grabbed a copy and naively opened it while dinner was in the oven.
“I’ll just read a few pages!” I said. “I can pick it back up later!” I said. All lies.
I burned dinner and then promptly disappeared from the world until this book was finished. I usually don’t love angsty characters, but this book didn’t care. It was going to make me love it anyway.
Every character is beautifully flawed in a way that makes them human. Mitchell’s poetic voice and richly painted world takes this book from an ordinary indie debut to an extraordinary work of art. My heart broke and then each character grabbed a shard and wouldn’t give it back (oh dear, I’m turning poetic.)
Mitchell is a master at interlacing snark and feelings, of riding the wave of emotions just until the breaking point and then pulling you back. The sexual tension was so well crafted, I had to turn on a fan. I laughed, I swooned, I even cried.
This book was not just a story, but an experience. I have been changed. Do yourself a favor and read it.
June 9, 2019
I've read lots of debut novels, but this is a first. ALL of the characters are well-developed, even those we meet in passing. I want to know more about them (Old Craig, for instance!), and I hope Mitchell takes us into all of their lives in future books.
In a typical "Big city girl gets famous, comes back to the small town, falls in love with the guy" romance, I never really believe the female character, but here, I do. She has such a rich history, and it's so, so sad. But not schlocky, and the reasons for her return are genuine.
Peppered with hilarious and well-timed expletives, the intelligence of the people in the novel shines through, with jokes (and I literally laughed out loud a few times, which is rare), insults, and cultural references.
Clearly, the author has done her homework, because her locale feels real and the professions of the characters come through without any false notes.
Likeable without being sappy, raw without being crass, and sharp without being cold.
Oh, and the sexy bits made me look around guiltily.
I can't wait for the rest of the series.
In a typical "Big city girl gets famous, comes back to the small town, falls in love with the guy" romance, I never really believe the female character, but here, I do. She has such a rich history, and it's so, so sad. But not schlocky, and the reasons for her return are genuine.
Peppered with hilarious and well-timed expletives, the intelligence of the people in the novel shines through, with jokes (and I literally laughed out loud a few times, which is rare), insults, and cultural references.
Clearly, the author has done her homework, because her locale feels real and the professions of the characters come through without any false notes.
Likeable without being sappy, raw without being crass, and sharp without being cold.
Oh, and the sexy bits made me look around guiltily.
I can't wait for the rest of the series.
May 4, 2021
Author Christina Mitchell has written a perfect friends-to-lovers romance with How to Stay. Seriously.
It’s a dynamite mix of two parts flawed, realistic characters and a big dollop of character-driven narrative that makes you root for them without giving away all the backstory too early on. You'll devour it wanting to know Conor and Lia's secrets.
Oh, and add in plenty of sweet and snarky moments, evocative writing, a solid dash of sexy times, and perhaps the most perfectly rendered Boxer in the history of dogs in romance novels.
This story sucked me in from page one and didn’t let go with writing that swept me away. It’s so detailed and nuanced and thoughtful—and has all the feels—it’s hard to believe this is a debut. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. In the meantime, I’ll just be over here rereading this one.
Buy this book now, but beware… You will put your entire life on hold until you finish reading. Plus, you’ll need another day to deal with your book hangover. So worth it, though.
It’s a dynamite mix of two parts flawed, realistic characters and a big dollop of character-driven narrative that makes you root for them without giving away all the backstory too early on. You'll devour it wanting to know Conor and Lia's secrets.
Oh, and add in plenty of sweet and snarky moments, evocative writing, a solid dash of sexy times, and perhaps the most perfectly rendered Boxer in the history of dogs in romance novels.
This story sucked me in from page one and didn’t let go with writing that swept me away. It’s so detailed and nuanced and thoughtful—and has all the feels—it’s hard to believe this is a debut. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. In the meantime, I’ll just be over here rereading this one.
Buy this book now, but beware… You will put your entire life on hold until you finish reading. Plus, you’ll need another day to deal with your book hangover. So worth it, though.
June 6, 2019
How to Stay is emotionally deep but also darkly humorous. There are so many moments where you'll find yourself laughing with the characters then crying for the characters, and then wanting to smack each and every one of them. Mitchell managed to create a cast a characters, Not just Adelia and Conor (the leads), that are so human and real that I felt like I was in their story with them.
Several of the other reviews state this, but this is not a rom-com. These characters have issues and flaws and problems. Despite that, or maybe because of that, they still deserve and desire and require love from others. Adelia and Conor EARNED their HEA, and I was so damn happy for them.
I cannot wait to see where else this series takes us.
Several of the other reviews state this, but this is not a rom-com. These characters have issues and flaws and problems. Despite that, or maybe because of that, they still deserve and desire and require love from others. Adelia and Conor EARNED their HEA, and I was so damn happy for them.
I cannot wait to see where else this series takes us.
September 10, 2022
I had the pleasure of meeting the author through a writing community long before I realised that she had published any of her work. But when I did, I devoured it as quickly as a slice of Old Curtis’s cherry pie.
This is a beautiful book that truly hurt my feelings with its unbelievably complex angst, incredible depth of characters, and intricate world building that only Christina can do. From song lyrics to fragrance to the personality of a dog, the world that ‘How to Stay’ created is an absolute masterpiece. I think it’ll be a surprise to all who read it that it’s her first published work. This reads like that one favourite you go back to over and over, the story just too woven and perfect to leave on a shelf for longer than a short while.
Loved it, Christy, 666/10. Rock on.
This is a beautiful book that truly hurt my feelings with its unbelievably complex angst, incredible depth of characters, and intricate world building that only Christina can do. From song lyrics to fragrance to the personality of a dog, the world that ‘How to Stay’ created is an absolute masterpiece. I think it’ll be a surprise to all who read it that it’s her first published work. This reads like that one favourite you go back to over and over, the story just too woven and perfect to leave on a shelf for longer than a short while.
Loved it, Christy, 666/10. Rock on.
June 17, 2019
This story definitely proved that we really don't know what someone has or is going through as hard as they try to convince us otherwise. Both broken from their past and trying desperately to overcome we can relate to the struggle if not (hopefully) the cause of what they went through. You feel a relatability to both of them and want them to get together so badly that makes it difficult to stop reading. Great writing and a story that allows you to to be a wonderful three-dimensional reader who can laugh, cry, be angry and satisfied without confusion or regret.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 10, 2019
Loved it
I loved the flawed characters. The sex scenes were steamy and natural. I loved the humor too. The only thing I wished for was that there had been no buy in to diet/weight loss culture. Conor somehow is able to sustain a significant weight loss which only a small percentage of people do. I guess I yearn for a body positivity romance. Having a fat hero or heroine would be unique for this genre, I think. I would love to see this represented in the local bookstores under Michigan Authors! I look forward to the next one!!!
I loved the flawed characters. The sex scenes were steamy and natural. I loved the humor too. The only thing I wished for was that there had been no buy in to diet/weight loss culture. Conor somehow is able to sustain a significant weight loss which only a small percentage of people do. I guess I yearn for a body positivity romance. Having a fat hero or heroine would be unique for this genre, I think. I would love to see this represented in the local bookstores under Michigan Authors! I look forward to the next one!!!
June 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. What I thought at the beginning is not what I thought at the end. Conor loved Adelia and had not known why she disappeared. It was heartbreaking when you found out what her childhood was like. I love small town folks. They try and look after their own as much as they can. There were quite a few twists and turns in this book as the characters learned more about each other. Enjoyable story
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 26, 2020
I really liked the author's storytelling and characterizations. This is not the usual genre for me but I quickly forgot about that because I enjoyed the read. She strikes the perfect balance between plot, backstory, and character history. I was rooting for them, wanted to know what happened, and very pleased with the ending. The subplot was expertly handled and the whole thing just played out so well. It's a very rich and rewarding story. Loved the ending.
You should read it, and she should write more.
You should read it, and she should write more.
May 30, 2019
Adelia is back in Cherry Lake after her father's death and is now forced to face secrets and her best friend. Connor doesn't take chances, at not since his best friend broke his heart and left town. Now these two need to confront their broken friendship and the passion that is still strong between them. Will they each let themselves have their second chance at love or will Adelia take off again?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 2, 2019
This is an emotional second chance romance. The characters are well-defined as normal people with real-life problems. This makes them likeable and it's easy to realize the issues that stand between them. You won't want to put this book down until you have finished it. The author did a great job with this book and I will be waiting for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 22, 2020
This was a very cute story. I liked it a lot.
There were some plot holes that I didn't really understand. But the author really made some things work.
I REALLY enjoyed the female rocker persona. I feel like there are so many bad boy rocker contemporary romances, who move back home and fall in love with their childhood sweethearts. This was a refreshing change. Bad ass female rock star who falls back in love with her high school best friend.
Very cute.
There were some plot holes that I didn't really understand. But the author really made some things work.
I REALLY enjoyed the female rocker persona. I feel like there are so many bad boy rocker contemporary romances, who move back home and fall in love with their childhood sweethearts. This was a refreshing change. Bad ass female rock star who falls back in love with her high school best friend.
Very cute.
May 29, 2019
This book is it! While it has a very compelling main romance, it also has wonderful non romantic developments that aid in building complex and interesting characters you can’t help but care about.
Get ready to get in your feels and to fall for two very flawed humans who are just hungry for love. I can’t wait for book 2.
Get ready to get in your feels and to fall for two very flawed humans who are just hungry for love. I can’t wait for book 2.
May 10, 2021
I loved this book. I related so much with multiple characters. I loved the portrayal of body issues from a male perspective. That’s so rare. Men are assumed to just never deal with that sort of thing. Jo ending up learning that sometimes...it is ok to meet your heroes is probably my favorite part though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2021
3.5 Stars
I think you have to be a romantic to like romances, and I am certainly not a romantic. I keep trying and I'm not even sure why. Overall I thought this was well-written and not nearly as annoying as most romances but... It was fine, well written, and I could see why it got such high ratings, just not for me really.
I think you have to be a romantic to like romances, and I am certainly not a romantic. I keep trying and I'm not even sure why. Overall I thought this was well-written and not nearly as annoying as most romances but... It was fine, well written, and I could see why it got such high ratings, just not for me really.
May 30, 2019
I received this as an ARC in return for my honest review. This is a good story and goes by really fast.I liked all of the characters and would recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2019
Loved this book! Great characters, loved the writing and the story. Would definitely read again :)
August 29, 2021
Hmm, I mean it was okay. I don't quite think it was as great as the other reviewers suggest. A perfectly fine romance.
July 22, 2019
This book was wonderful. The characters are all well developed. You want to know all about each person. It’s unexpected in the most delightful way. Can’t wait to read the next one.
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