What do you think?
Rate this book
L&S Duet #2
Landon & Shay: Part Two
Once upon a time, I fell in love with a boy.
A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles.
People warned me against our love, but I didn't listen.
We looked weak, young, and foolish.
Dangerously in love.
We didn't care.
In order to keep our hearts protected from the opinions of others, we became each other’s secret.
We shared stolen moments. Tender touches. Secretive embraces.
It was our twisted love story, and it worked for us up until our lives changed forever.
The boy I loved became Hollywood’s newest golden boy.
His career blossomed as mine stalled.
He found massive success as I discovered multiple failures.
He made something of himself, while my dreams never came true.
We moved into different realms where our pieces no longer fit together.
In the fairy tales, love conquered all.
In reality, love was the main reason empires began to fall.
I always knew Landon belonged in my story.
He was my beginning, middle, and end.
The only problem? I wasn’t certain I still belonged in his.
*Book Two of the Landon & Shay Duet.*
A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles.
People warned me against our love, but I didn't listen.
We looked weak, young, and foolish.
Dangerously in love.
We didn't care.
In order to keep our hearts protected from the opinions of others, we became each other’s secret.
We shared stolen moments. Tender touches. Secretive embraces.
It was our twisted love story, and it worked for us up until our lives changed forever.
The boy I loved became Hollywood’s newest golden boy.
His career blossomed as mine stalled.
He found massive success as I discovered multiple failures.
He made something of himself, while my dreams never came true.
We moved into different realms where our pieces no longer fit together.
In the fairy tales, love conquered all.
In reality, love was the main reason empires began to fall.
I always knew Landon belonged in my story.
He was my beginning, middle, and end.
The only problem? I wasn’t certain I still belonged in his.
*Book Two of the Landon & Shay Duet.*
338 pages, ebook
First published December 4, 2019
1023 people are currently reading
8596 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,605 reviews
July 11, 2021
5 stars
After reading Landon and Shay’s journey in book one, I was more than ready to see where their story would go in the conclusion. Friends, this one hurt so good, but it was just as fantastic as the first for me!
Shay and Landon are in two different places doing two different things, but they make each other a priority. Landon is in California living the dream, getting into modeling and acting while Shay is still back home going to college. Things seem to be okay for the most part, until something rocks Landon and he slowly starts to withdraw more, starts to change…
This book seriously had me so up in my feels. It made me cry more than once. My heart hurt for both of these characters, and I wanted nothing more than for them to find their happy together. It wasn’t an easy path to get there.
Landon and Shay’s love story is beautiful, but it’s also complex, broken, and completely messy at times. Landon, bless his broken self, was a mess at times. I loved that Shay didn’t constantly let him walk all over her, though. It was so important to me that she stood up for herself, and I truly believe that was the trigger that got Landon to get the help he needed for real.
I love these two together. They didn’t have the most traditional love story, but gosh. I loved it so much. Books like this speak to my heart. Love, forgiveness, angst, and alllll the feels. It was so so good. Also, this story ties in with ‘Eleanor & Grey’ much more than the first, and I loved that. I especially loved that Karla was in it so much. Her relationship with both Landon and Shay was so special. I also loved that we got more of Shay’s grandma because she’s amazing!
This is an epic duet. What starts as an enemies to lovers story turns into so much more. This is a story of healing and a book that depicts mental illness in such a real way. It’s not your typical romance, but it’s still so beautifully romantic. Landon & Shay’s duet is one I’ll never forget. It was magnificent.
If you’re ever given the chance to choose between being afraid or being brave, be brave.
After reading Landon and Shay’s journey in book one, I was more than ready to see where their story would go in the conclusion. Friends, this one hurt so good, but it was just as fantastic as the first for me!
Shay and Landon are in two different places doing two different things, but they make each other a priority. Landon is in California living the dream, getting into modeling and acting while Shay is still back home going to college. Things seem to be okay for the most part, until something rocks Landon and he slowly starts to withdraw more, starts to change…
This book seriously had me so up in my feels. It made me cry more than once. My heart hurt for both of these characters, and I wanted nothing more than for them to find their happy together. It wasn’t an easy path to get there.
“You are my poison,” I whispered, pain in my breaths as my body pressed against his. His lips rolled against my collar bone as he unbuckled my jeans. “You’re my remedy,” he swore, as his mouth pressed against mine.
Landon and Shay’s love story is beautiful, but it’s also complex, broken, and completely messy at times. Landon, bless his broken self, was a mess at times. I loved that Shay didn’t constantly let him walk all over her, though. It was so important to me that she stood up for herself, and I truly believe that was the trigger that got Landon to get the help he needed for real.
I love these two together. They didn’t have the most traditional love story, but gosh. I loved it so much. Books like this speak to my heart. Love, forgiveness, angst, and alllll the feels. It was so so good. Also, this story ties in with ‘Eleanor & Grey’ much more than the first, and I loved that. I especially loved that Karla was in it so much. Her relationship with both Landon and Shay was so special. I also loved that we got more of Shay’s grandma because she’s amazing!
This is an epic duet. What starts as an enemies to lovers story turns into so much more. This is a story of healing and a book that depicts mental illness in such a real way. It’s not your typical romance, but it’s still so beautifully romantic. Landon & Shay’s duet is one I’ll never forget. It was magnificent.
“There’s never going to be anything or anyone else for you. You’re my story. You’re my final page. You’re my final word.”
March 30, 2021
#1: landon & shay: part 1 ↠ 5 stars
#2: landon & shay: part 2 ↠ 3.5 stars
reading this instead of studying for finals was definitely worth it because it was soo good.
Landon & Shay are my babies and i'm so glad they got their HEA even though they went through some rough times (that's an understatement). there were so many emotions i felt while reading this and most of them are good but some of them resembled around disappointment?? don't get me wrong this still made me feel giddy and light but none of the things that i felt while reading the first one didn’t feel as intense when i read this one.
even if i liked this one, i just didn't love it as much as the first book. why?
well...
what i disliked (SPOILERS):
↠ where was the epic love?
i didn't really feel the intensity of their love in this especially in the second half because there was a lot of telling than showing. i ended up being disappointed with this and honestly, the romance in the first book was incomparable to what happened here. they reconnected through being "fuck acquantainces" aka sex, and even that was more told than shown. sooo i didn't really get to see or feel the connection again. plus, there were so many side things happening that their connection/romance felt more like the side story.
and Landon's love towards Shay in the second half wasn't as powerful. or, it didn't feel powerful to me compared to the first book. not gonna lie, i feel like he didn't even try. yes, he wanted to be friends with her but Shay basically made all the first moves.
↠ Tracey? Shay's dad? Monica? Eric??
but where are all these characters?! there were so many questions left unanswered and side characters from the first one, and even this one, were forgotten or left aside! im always gonna wonder if Monica is ok or if Eric finally came out or if Tracey is even still friends with Shay. and Shay's dad? what the hell happened to him?
↠ Shay's dream.
i really wish there was a plot where we get to see Shay fulfill her EGOT dream. that would've been so lovely. instead, we got that unnecessary drama at the end.
↠ Lack of Landon's perspective on what he went through the 10 years they were separated.
i'm always gonna wonder if he really was a man ho? i mean, i read how he talked about the "woman" he supposedly slept with in Eleanor & Grey and im always gonna wonder how long it took for him to get over Shay? i just wish we actually got to experience what he went through instead of just being told ya know?
↠ the second half being rushed.
i think this is the most important section in the book because this is where the reunion happens but there were just sooo many time jumps and fade-to-black scenes that the romance just felt so underwhelming. and the way they connected the most was through a no-strings-attached type of arrangement and im kinda disappointed with this because isn't connecting just with sex one of the main reasons why they broke up in the first place?
↠ the trust should've been built IN the actual story and not the epilogue.
"You're my story. You're my final page. You're my final word."
and just so if any of y'all are curious both weren't celibate during the 10 years they weren't together. they didn't get into much detail but in Greyson's book, apparently Landon is a man ho but Landon says he's not. he just said he was "trying to find Shay" in the women he's been with. doesn't say how long it took for him to get over Shay and move on to OWs though, but im pretty sure it's several years? but he told Shay that he was "with" someone a few months before they reunited and we all know what that means.
other than the things that left me disappointed here, i still very much loved everything in this book. Landon & Shay will forever be one of my favorite couples because of their journey in the first one and they were honestly just so loveable to me.
anyways, i really hope Karla (Greyson's daughter) will have her own story!
December 4, 2019
God I don't even know how to go about writing up this review so I'm kind of just going to do a short and sweet review because no words of mine will do this book the justice it deserves.
I feel ike I was dragged through a hedge backwards, run over by a mack truck at full speed, then thrown into a world full of hurt by this author. No sticking plaster was going to fix the heartache that these two characters put me through, the too and fro of it all, the turmoil, the hurt, god the hurt, like a bruised banana my heart couldn't take the bruises any more. Then slowly I saw the light, my heart started to mend, I started enjoying their story and loving the angst that was thrown at me. This author pulled out all the shots!! A rollercoaster of epic proportions. She out did herself with this book, this duet.
December 3, 2019
*****FIVE+++++ STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
”You are the first woman—the only woman—who’d ever awakened every sleeping part of me. You were a defining moment of my life.”
SIMPLY AMAZING!! This angsty conclusion to the ”Landon & Shay Duet” was everything and more than I could have ever hoped for. Anyone who is a fan of Brittainy C. Cherry knows that without a doubt she is one of the best romance authors of our time. I expect nothing short of brilliance when I pick up one of her books. Her words are so beautiful--they always touch my soul. Landon and Shay are two characters I won’t soon forget. I found myself completely lost in their story and felt like no time had passed by the time I made it to the end. What a way to end out the year of books in 2019!! If you enjoy super angsty second-chance-romances with unforgettable characters, then this duet is the one for you.
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5++++
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 5++++
Angst: 5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5++++
”LANDON & SHAY: PART 2” releases on December 4th!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/340Yjb3
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
”You are the first woman—the only woman—who’d ever awakened every sleeping part of me. You were a defining moment of my life.”
SIMPLY AMAZING!! This angsty conclusion to the ”Landon & Shay Duet” was everything and more than I could have ever hoped for. Anyone who is a fan of Brittainy C. Cherry knows that without a doubt she is one of the best romance authors of our time. I expect nothing short of brilliance when I pick up one of her books. Her words are so beautiful--they always touch my soul. Landon and Shay are two characters I won’t soon forget. I found myself completely lost in their story and felt like no time had passed by the time I made it to the end. What a way to end out the year of books in 2019!! If you enjoy super angsty second-chance-romances with unforgettable characters, then this duet is the one for you.
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5++++
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 5++++
Angst: 5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5++++
”LANDON & SHAY: PART 2” releases on December 4th!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/340Yjb3
April 14, 2021
➤ Part I: Review
3.5-Team-Lay-Stars
Wow, this was one hard review to write. I was not satisfied with my first draft so I decided to rewrite everything 😅
The good
— Mima. Anyone who has at least read book one will understand why I'm mentioning her first. This woman is incredible. Everyone should have a Mima at their side.
If there was anyone who Mima loved almost as much as she loved me, it was Landon. Since day one, she'd always been his biggest fan. – Shay
— Landon learning to deal with his mental illness. I'm proud of who he has become. It was by no means an easy journey for him, and he definitely had his moments where he messed up but he always got through the dark times eventually.
"My mind's been heavy lately, and the only way I'd been able to slow it down is when I think of you." – Landon
— Karla. I adored Karla in Eleanor & Grey and I was pleasantly surprised to see her play such a big role in this book. She was like a mix between L&S and I loved, loved, loved that! Really hope she gets her own book one day.
— This book, though not as intense as in book one, brought out all the feels again. Happiness, sadness, frustration, anger,... I felt devastated, I was heartbroken... It was a true rollercoaster of emotions.
— Shay... I'm a little torn here. She was still there for Landon when it counted and I'm so glad for that.
"Landon... If you tell me to stay, I'll stay. If you tell me to go, I'll stay even longer." – Shay
But wow, on the other hand, she was so determined NOT TO talk about their past that after a while I got a little exasperated with her. I'm not saying that I couldn't understand why she was guarding her heart because I did, but...
The not-so-good
— ...part of the reason why the whole story got so drawn out was because of Shay's hesitancy. They could have had their HEA a lot sooner, which is what I would have preferred. I missed THEM when they were truly together and it took so long for them to get to that point.
— In contrast, the healing and closure I needed was just too short for my liking and incredibly rushed, epilogue included. Everything was so detailed and long for the first 2/3 of the book that the last part and actual conclusion left me wanting for more. The ending can make or break a book for me, so the last 10-20-ish percent are always especially important.
There's a more elaborated list in Part II of my review down below.
Book two didn't have the same impact as book one, but overall, this was still a solid read. I'd recommend this duet!
**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. My review of ➞ Landon & Shay: Part One | 4 stars
#2. Landon & Shay: Part Two | 3.5 stars
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
December 5, 2019
5 “Only Ever You” stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
-Our love wasn't traditional, but it was ours. And I'd vowed to do whatever it took to keep our story alive forever.
-"We make each other better without even trying. That's what love is, I think. Love is feeling healed whenever you're near your person."
Shay Gable & Landon Harrison were sworn enemies who went to high school together in Raine, Illinois. They developed a deep connection while sharing all their secrets with one another. It was a once in a lifetime epic kind of love that consumed them heart and soul. Then they are separated when he moves to California. After experiencing Landon's love, nothing else compared, so Shay vows to wait for him. It's hard to survive a long distance relationship being miles apart with only a few stolen moments. Soon her life felt like it was crumbling around her, and she began to lose hope they would have a future together. She wanted to figure out a way to make it work between them, but he was achieving all his dreams, and she felt left behind. Before long, his career took off, and he was the golden boy celebrity rising to fame.
Months, and then years go by. It's been over a decade since Shay has talked to Landon when he suddenly shows up in Chicago. He's still a huge star in Hollywood, but she's no longer the same trusting, young, naive girl she once was. After years of silence she couldn't believe the broken boy who'd disappeared from her life was back, and wanting to reconnect. She'd long ago shut off her emotions, and couldn't let him get close enough to hurt her. He broke her heart, and she wasn't sure it had ever fully recovered, but one touch, and it's like fireworks all over again.
Landon met a girl years ago who made him believe in love, and she was everything to him. Losing her was one of his biggest regrets. She had once been his comfort and his home, and he'd wanted to give her the world. They shared a heavy history, but he was still hoping she would let him back in. She's worth fighting for, but is it too late? Can they finally get their happy ending and a second chance at forever?
-I met Landon and fully understood how love could appear out of nowhere. Never in my life would I have thought I'd end up falling in love with my sworn enemy. I truly thought the only four-letter word I'd ever use for Landon would be hate. Then love creeped in without any care in the world for my brain's opinion of Landon. Love only cared about how my heart secretly beat for him.
-Out of all the men I'd ever crossed paths with, he was the only one that made my heart run wild. I hadn't known it was possible for a man to make your skin crawl in annoyance and tingle in desire at the same time.
-It almost felt as if we were one. As if the energy racing through his veins was what was used to fuel my soul. We created sparks of life with just our touch.
Landon & Shay book two of the L&S Duet by Brittainy C. Cherry is an unforgettable, beautiful, emotional, enemies to lovers, second chance romance with all the feels! The story is told from past to present about first loves who find their way back to one another. It’s full of angst, passion, and has a broken hero who will steal your heart. I loved this book so much! It’s everything special and unique that you find in a Brittainy Cherry novel. Just fantastic!!!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/34PRMAB
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
-Our love wasn't traditional, but it was ours. And I'd vowed to do whatever it took to keep our story alive forever.
-"We make each other better without even trying. That's what love is, I think. Love is feeling healed whenever you're near your person."
Shay Gable & Landon Harrison were sworn enemies who went to high school together in Raine, Illinois. They developed a deep connection while sharing all their secrets with one another. It was a once in a lifetime epic kind of love that consumed them heart and soul. Then they are separated when he moves to California. After experiencing Landon's love, nothing else compared, so Shay vows to wait for him. It's hard to survive a long distance relationship being miles apart with only a few stolen moments. Soon her life felt like it was crumbling around her, and she began to lose hope they would have a future together. She wanted to figure out a way to make it work between them, but he was achieving all his dreams, and she felt left behind. Before long, his career took off, and he was the golden boy celebrity rising to fame.
Months, and then years go by. It's been over a decade since Shay has talked to Landon when he suddenly shows up in Chicago. He's still a huge star in Hollywood, but she's no longer the same trusting, young, naive girl she once was. After years of silence she couldn't believe the broken boy who'd disappeared from her life was back, and wanting to reconnect. She'd long ago shut off her emotions, and couldn't let him get close enough to hurt her. He broke her heart, and she wasn't sure it had ever fully recovered, but one touch, and it's like fireworks all over again.
Landon met a girl years ago who made him believe in love, and she was everything to him. Losing her was one of his biggest regrets. She had once been his comfort and his home, and he'd wanted to give her the world. They shared a heavy history, but he was still hoping she would let him back in. She's worth fighting for, but is it too late? Can they finally get their happy ending and a second chance at forever?
-I met Landon and fully understood how love could appear out of nowhere. Never in my life would I have thought I'd end up falling in love with my sworn enemy. I truly thought the only four-letter word I'd ever use for Landon would be hate. Then love creeped in without any care in the world for my brain's opinion of Landon. Love only cared about how my heart secretly beat for him.
-Out of all the men I'd ever crossed paths with, he was the only one that made my heart run wild. I hadn't known it was possible for a man to make your skin crawl in annoyance and tingle in desire at the same time.
-It almost felt as if we were one. As if the energy racing through his veins was what was used to fuel my soul. We created sparks of life with just our touch.
Landon & Shay book two of the L&S Duet by Brittainy C. Cherry is an unforgettable, beautiful, emotional, enemies to lovers, second chance romance with all the feels! The story is told from past to present about first loves who find their way back to one another. It’s full of angst, passion, and has a broken hero who will steal your heart. I loved this book so much! It’s everything special and unique that you find in a Brittainy Cherry novel. Just fantastic!!!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/34PRMAB
July 1, 2020
3.5, rounding up to 4 because the writing is excellent.
”I love you times two.”
“Be brave. Be strong. Be kind. And stay.”
Characters
Landon (big time Hollywood actor):
The following words/phrases were used to describe Landon: healing, smart, talented, handsome, good, successful, sexy, suffers from anxiety and depression, kind, giving, complex, fantastic actor.
Landon struggled with depression all his life and in part 2 he moves to California with his mom to get some therapy and start healing. This book spans 10+ years and Landon goes from a regular guy to a Hollywood A-lister.
Some quotes about Landon:
"That was one of the things about anxiety and depression—every now and again, it came with masks, masks to help shield your loved ones from your suffering because you knew how much it would hurt them, masks to protect them from the pain you felt. So, I put on my mask."
"Sometimes you couldn’t run from depression—you had to face it head on, and when I turned to look mine in the eyes, it almost killed me."
“I was searching for anything that had a small resemblance to the first girl who’d ever loved me—the real me, the broken me, the scarred boy who didn’t know how to love himself.”
“I used to hate being alone, but the longer I lived in the celebrity world, the more I craved my solitude. Depression wasn’t something that went away with fame, success, and money. It still lived within me, and I was still fighting the battle daily to not slip too far away from the truths of who I really was.”
Shay (coffee barista, teacher, screenwriter):
The following words/phrases were used to describe Shay: strong, wise, confident, talented, confused, betrayed, strong, independent, afraid to love, kind.
Shay has only ever loved Landon, so when he moves to California to get help she stays true to him and can’t wait for the day they will reunite. Shay is close with her grandmother and mother and has a BFF that always has her back.
Some quotes about Shay:
"There is no amount of pressure like the pressure from a grandmother who is convinced you’re the one brought into this world to break the generational family curse set upon your family decades before."
“How did you get so confident?”
“Easy.” I shrugged. “I stopped saying mean things to myself.”
“I hoped I never lived a life where carbohydrates weren’t allowed.
If it came down to it, I’d rather die fat, with a smile, and a Twix candy bar in my mouth.”
“I climbed into the steaming hot pool of water with a bottle of red wine, because when your celebrity ex-boyfriend showed up to your door after a decade of silence, one had no need for a wineglass.”
The Story:
Nine months after Book 1 ends, Shay is wrapping up high school and wondering when Landon will come back. Although others doubt their relationship will continue, Shay believes in their love.
”I was strong enough in my belief of Landon not to let outside opinions get to me. I’d vowed to do whatever it took to keep our story alive forever."
Their story is complex and is full of challenges start to finish.
”You’re my story. You’re my final page. You’re my final word.”
“Once upon a time, I fell in love with a boy. A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles. He fought his demons. He went to battle each day and came back stronger than before, and he was mine. All his bumps, all his bruises, and all his battle scars were mine, and I loved every single one.”
My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- I'm proud of Landon for getting help.
- Landon's dad....what a jackass! 😡
- I loved the way Shay stood up to Landon's dad. Again....what a jackass
- I didn’t like the separation. Why couldn’t they be together and work it out? I would have liked to see them be a couple and work through the hard issues.
- - The majority of the book they were apart. 😤. I didn’t feel the closeness and didn’t really experience them as a couple like I did in book 1.
- They broke my heart 💔
- I loved Raine. What an awesome best friend! "Not once that night did Raine scold me for crying over a boy like him. Not once did she say she’d told me so like Tracey had. She simply held my broken pieces in her hands and told me to let my emotions out.
- Grandma Mima...gotta love a woman who doesn't mince her words. 😂 "You went out to get a puppy because you were probably getting sick of being home alone, right Camila?” “Well, yes.” “You know what could make you feel even less alone at home? A big, strong man. Plus, he can put his penis inside you, which is a win-win.” 🍆 😊
- Glad to see Landon wanted to give back to the community. "I wanted to look them in the eye and tell them my story. I wanted to remind them that just because they struggled, they weren’t alone. I wanted to create an open dialogue around mental health and give back both with money and my time."
- My heart melted at the way Landon and Shay adored Greyson's teenage daughter and how they spoke beautiful truths to her heart. "You are beautiful, Karla. Every single piece of you, and the parts that you think are ugly, are truly the most stunning parts.”
- Shay's final interaction with the other actress was priceless! 😂
- Another break up....argh. The back and forth with them together and apart drove me a bit crazy.
- It was stupid for them to become f*ck buddies rather than try to work out a different kind of relationship. Just another argh for me 🤬
- Where was the romance?? Where was the epic love story? Where’s their connection??.....In book 1 only, I guess.😏
- Where’s the detail about what happened for the 10 years apart and all the struggles that Landon faced? It was brought up here and there, but not much was revealed about it. What a shame. I wanted to know his story.
- Shay floundered in this book. She seemed lost.
Overall:
I didn’t like this book nearly as much as book 1. They were apart for most of it and that irritated me. And, during that separation they slept with other people, so if that is a trigger for you beware. Their connection, their steaminess, their unwavering support was all missing. The epilogue wraps it up nicely, but it was too little too late. I would have loved to see a story where a couple worked together to face a mental health issue. For me, the story would have been so much better to see them fight together through the hard times and the obstacles rather than break up and go their separate ways.
The writing was fantastic and this author never disappoints with her words. There were some heart melting moments and some moments where I wanted to throw my kindle across the room, so lots of emotions were evoked. Although the book ends on a good note and a HEA for the couple, Landon and Shay’s interactions left me disappointed for the majority of the book.
———————————————
- POV: dual POV
- Tropes: long-distance relationship, I’m not good enough, you are better off without me
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? Yes
- h virgin? No
- OW/OM drama? Not really. Landon is a Hollywood actor so the tabloids always try to make him seem like a playboy chasing multiple women
- H/h cheat? they were apart for 10 years and they definitely had other partners during that time.
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? I felt like Landon had a big secret about what happened when he hit his low point of depression, but it wasn’t really discussed
- Cliffhanger? no
- Recommend? I loved book 1, but not this one. So I’m torn on whether to recommend.
Quotes
“I love you, I love you. Once so you hear me, twice to leave an imprint.”
Love is feeling healed whenever you’re near your person.”
“Every moment with you feels like my new favorite memory."
“I miss real. I miss raw. I miss you.”
“Just because you don’t mean to hurt someone doesn’t erase the fact that you did.”
“I accidentally had sex with him.” She arched an eyebrow. “Accidentally? How is that even a thing? Did you accidentally take off your underwear and accidentally sit on his penis?”
“Be brave to go for the things that scare you the most. The bravest people in the world live with fear—they just let their drive drown out fear’s sounds.”
”I love you times two.”
“Be brave. Be strong. Be kind. And stay.”
Characters
Landon (big time Hollywood actor):
The following words/phrases were used to describe Landon: healing, smart, talented, handsome, good, successful, sexy, suffers from anxiety and depression, kind, giving, complex, fantastic actor.
Landon struggled with depression all his life and in part 2 he moves to California with his mom to get some therapy and start healing. This book spans 10+ years and Landon goes from a regular guy to a Hollywood A-lister.
Some quotes about Landon:
"That was one of the things about anxiety and depression—every now and again, it came with masks, masks to help shield your loved ones from your suffering because you knew how much it would hurt them, masks to protect them from the pain you felt. So, I put on my mask."
"Sometimes you couldn’t run from depression—you had to face it head on, and when I turned to look mine in the eyes, it almost killed me."
“I was searching for anything that had a small resemblance to the first girl who’d ever loved me—the real me, the broken me, the scarred boy who didn’t know how to love himself.”
“I used to hate being alone, but the longer I lived in the celebrity world, the more I craved my solitude. Depression wasn’t something that went away with fame, success, and money. It still lived within me, and I was still fighting the battle daily to not slip too far away from the truths of who I really was.”
Shay (coffee barista, teacher, screenwriter):
The following words/phrases were used to describe Shay: strong, wise, confident, talented, confused, betrayed, strong, independent, afraid to love, kind.
Shay has only ever loved Landon, so when he moves to California to get help she stays true to him and can’t wait for the day they will reunite. Shay is close with her grandmother and mother and has a BFF that always has her back.
Some quotes about Shay:
"There is no amount of pressure like the pressure from a grandmother who is convinced you’re the one brought into this world to break the generational family curse set upon your family decades before."
“How did you get so confident?”
“Easy.” I shrugged. “I stopped saying mean things to myself.”
“I hoped I never lived a life where carbohydrates weren’t allowed.
If it came down to it, I’d rather die fat, with a smile, and a Twix candy bar in my mouth.”
“I climbed into the steaming hot pool of water with a bottle of red wine, because when your celebrity ex-boyfriend showed up to your door after a decade of silence, one had no need for a wineglass.”
The Story:
Nine months after Book 1 ends, Shay is wrapping up high school and wondering when Landon will come back. Although others doubt their relationship will continue, Shay believes in their love.
”I was strong enough in my belief of Landon not to let outside opinions get to me. I’d vowed to do whatever it took to keep our story alive forever."
Their story is complex and is full of challenges start to finish.
”You’re my story. You’re my final page. You’re my final word.”
“Once upon a time, I fell in love with a boy. A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles. He fought his demons. He went to battle each day and came back stronger than before, and he was mine. All his bumps, all his bruises, and all his battle scars were mine, and I loved every single one.”
My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- I'm proud of Landon for getting help.
- Landon's dad....what a jackass! 😡
- I loved the way Shay stood up to Landon's dad. Again....what a jackass
- I didn’t like the separation. Why couldn’t they be together and work it out? I would have liked to see them be a couple and work through the hard issues.
- - The majority of the book they were apart. 😤. I didn’t feel the closeness and didn’t really experience them as a couple like I did in book 1.
- They broke my heart 💔
- I loved Raine. What an awesome best friend! "Not once that night did Raine scold me for crying over a boy like him. Not once did she say she’d told me so like Tracey had. She simply held my broken pieces in her hands and told me to let my emotions out.
- Grandma Mima...gotta love a woman who doesn't mince her words. 😂 "You went out to get a puppy because you were probably getting sick of being home alone, right Camila?” “Well, yes.” “You know what could make you feel even less alone at home? A big, strong man. Plus, he can put his penis inside you, which is a win-win.” 🍆 😊
- Glad to see Landon wanted to give back to the community. "I wanted to look them in the eye and tell them my story. I wanted to remind them that just because they struggled, they weren’t alone. I wanted to create an open dialogue around mental health and give back both with money and my time."
- My heart melted at the way Landon and Shay adored Greyson's teenage daughter and how they spoke beautiful truths to her heart. "You are beautiful, Karla. Every single piece of you, and the parts that you think are ugly, are truly the most stunning parts.”
- Shay's final interaction with the other actress was priceless! 😂
- Another break up....argh. The back and forth with them together and apart drove me a bit crazy.
- It was stupid for them to become f*ck buddies rather than try to work out a different kind of relationship. Just another argh for me 🤬
- Where was the romance?? Where was the epic love story? Where’s their connection??.....In book 1 only, I guess.😏
- Where’s the detail about what happened for the 10 years apart and all the struggles that Landon faced? It was brought up here and there, but not much was revealed about it. What a shame. I wanted to know his story.
- Shay floundered in this book. She seemed lost.
Overall:
I didn’t like this book nearly as much as book 1. They were apart for most of it and that irritated me. And, during that separation they slept with other people, so if that is a trigger for you beware. Their connection, their steaminess, their unwavering support was all missing. The epilogue wraps it up nicely, but it was too little too late. I would have loved to see a story where a couple worked together to face a mental health issue. For me, the story would have been so much better to see them fight together through the hard times and the obstacles rather than break up and go their separate ways.
The writing was fantastic and this author never disappoints with her words. There were some heart melting moments and some moments where I wanted to throw my kindle across the room, so lots of emotions were evoked. Although the book ends on a good note and a HEA for the couple, Landon and Shay’s interactions left me disappointed for the majority of the book.
———————————————
- POV: dual POV
- Tropes: long-distance relationship, I’m not good enough, you are better off without me
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? Yes
- h virgin? No
- OW/OM drama? Not really. Landon is a Hollywood actor so the tabloids always try to make him seem like a playboy chasing multiple women
- H/h cheat? they were apart for 10 years and they definitely had other partners during that time.
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? I felt like Landon had a big secret about what happened when he hit his low point of depression, but it wasn’t really discussed
- Cliffhanger? no
- Recommend? I loved book 1, but not this one. So I’m torn on whether to recommend.
Quotes
“I love you, I love you. Once so you hear me, twice to leave an imprint.”
Love is feeling healed whenever you’re near your person.”
“Every moment with you feels like my new favorite memory."
“I miss real. I miss raw. I miss you.”
“Just because you don’t mean to hurt someone doesn’t erase the fact that you did.”
“I accidentally had sex with him.” She arched an eyebrow. “Accidentally? How is that even a thing? Did you accidentally take off your underwear and accidentally sit on his penis?”
“Be brave to go for the things that scare you the most. The bravest people in the world live with fear—they just let their drive drown out fear’s sounds.”
January 15, 2021
Wow, für mich, obwohl ich da wohl eine der wenigen bin, noch besser als Band 1.
Mehr Schmerz, mehr Ehrlichkeit, alles wirkt erwachsener und noch echter.
Ich habe Shay & Landon in diesem Buch noch mehr geliebt und alle sind mir noch mehr ans Herz gewachsen. Jetzt freue ich mich umso mehr auf Elanors und Greys Geschichte, die schon seit 2 Jahren in meinem Regal steht, ups!
Mehr Schmerz, mehr Ehrlichkeit, alles wirkt erwachsener und noch echter.
Ich habe Shay & Landon in diesem Buch noch mehr geliebt und alle sind mir noch mehr ans Herz gewachsen. Jetzt freue ich mich umso mehr auf Elanors und Greys Geschichte, die schon seit 2 Jahren in meinem Regal steht, ups!
December 3, 2019
And again I say:
Brittainy Brittainy. You cry-maker you!
She knows just how to get our eyes peeing, doesn't she?! Crazy woman! ☺
Please do not read this review or this book if you haven't read part one yet!!!
At the end of book 1 Landon left for California with his mom.
He wants to get better. He doesn't want to burden Shay with his broken heart and mind.
While he's gone they communicate via letters. The most adorable and heartbreaking words go back and forth between California and Illinois.
But as we all feared, we don't yet get our happily ever after.
Because while Landon's life is blossoming out there on the west coast - with his therapy and sunshine and acting .... Shay is going to college, but her dream of becoming a famous screenwriter doesn't seem to be coming true ....
This was the perfect ending to Landon & Shay's story.
I kind of expected something completely different though. I thought...okay, book 1 was their falling-in-love-highschool-time and book 2 will be all present-time-getting-back-together-second-chance-love-story.
But it's not. We're still back in time. At least in the beginning of the book.
We see how they deal with living so far from each other. Their love never dies, the letters still come. There are visits. But then things happen ...
Ugh - I think I started crying while reading the first letter, and I didn't stop until now!
Such a beautiful and heartbreaking book!
I just adore Landon and Shay and their love story. But I also hated it!
How could they waste so many years?!?
It was all so sad and heartbreaking and frustrating and sad and horrible and sad!
Did I mention sad??? I cried a lot!
I hated that so much time went by - it should've / could've been shorter. The story would still have been amazing and heartbreaking and beautiful - but we could've gotten our happily ever after within 3-7 years!!! Grrr.
But pffft. It was a great book. A great love story.
I just love Brittainy's books and I want to see them ALLLLL on Netflix or the big screen one day!
LANDON & SHAY Part 2 was the perfect happily ever after ending for our darlings. It takes them a long while to get there - but the reader has an amazing aka heartbreaking time watching them fight for their HEA! ☺
♡
♡
April 26, 2020
Now this is the perfect ending for Shay and Landon. Now my heart ca rest assure that their HEA is final. Miss Cherry, through her duet about mental health issue, promising her readers that despite your fragile mental health issue, we too can find our happiness.
It might be hard to find it. It might be uphill battle but somehow we will find our own HEA. I do love how the ending of the story takes us back to the first book where the journey began. It is long, up and down journey and we see bit of ourselves in Landon and Shay.
I do not want to dwell so much on the story of this 2 books. You have to read it yourself.
5 stars
It might be hard to find it. It might be uphill battle but somehow we will find our own HEA. I do love how the ending of the story takes us back to the first book where the journey began. It is long, up and down journey and we see bit of ourselves in Landon and Shay.
I do not want to dwell so much on the story of this 2 books. You have to read it yourself.
5 stars
March 21, 2021
I'm in love with this book
December 7, 2019
LIKE WATCHING PAINT DRY **2.5 stars**
Love the author, but not this duet. This book was even more depressing than the first one. Like watching paint dry and nothing was happening. So much angst and drama and separation and sadness and longing, and no one was happy. The story doesn’t even take off with even a hint of reunion/reconciliation until 50%, which was ¾ of the way into this overlong duet. We went through all that in 2 books just to get to some fiery interaction in a half-assed reunion that only happens after 13 long years pass and both are in their 30s. By then, the chemistry was so faint. Landon’s incredible thoughtlessness and selfishness toward Shay -- despite what we learn at the end – makes him a flip-flopper when he remembers that she crossed his mind “every now and again” (say what!), but he tells her that he thought about her every day, loved her every day, and wrote her love letters every day of those years. Well, which way is it? He came off as incredibly weak with every opportunity to seek her out and make amends and reconcile … but he let her go for no reason, and then pretended that no woman could ever compete with her for 13 years. It didn’t ring true with his behavior.
At least they were together in the first book with all the palpable intimacy and angst of first love, despite the bet and Landon’s crushing depression. Having them not even really “together” in the last half of this book was too much. Landon repeatedly proved himself to be a depressed tool and inconsiderate to Shay, and she was the worst kind of self-sacrificing doormat just to be with him and offer support whenever he needed it. She went along with anything he did or said, even the times he just showed up without warning for sex as a coping mechanism or remedy for his depression, before vanishing again. He didn’t appreciate her, and their sporadic communications were so impersonal via texts and letters (oh, because he hates talking on the phone!), and then he ghosted her anyway. I could have jack-slapped Shay for telling him to go off and find himself, then lose himself, and then find her again whenever he was ready to be together. That she would be waiting around for that to happen made my teeth grind.
And the worst of it, he gets more depressed after becoming a famous, rich actor and jet sets around the world, but flies to her once in a blue moon IF a production shoot is in her general direction. A terrible thing happens to him at 22% and Shay is still there for him every step of the way, prostrating herself entirely for his benefit and he couldn’t be bothered to buy her a plane ticket to California? Ever? None of this made sense, and what girl would put up with that for 3 years before being dusted for a total of 13 years before letting him back into her life with little resistance? She says to herself that “this isn’t love. That it was an addiction.” Yes, exactly. And then, “You make me feel like a whore.” Now you’re getting the picture, Shay.
This is what did it for me. Shay lays herself out there … “Tell me you want me. Tell me you’ll stay. Tell me I’m not making a fool of myself waiting for a boy who is no longer waiting for me. Tell me it’s our time.” And he said no and left her. After all she’s done and been for him, he doesn’t know what he wants. I say, hit the door Landon. No TeamLay for me. He never looked back, and my heart froze over for this relationship.
Landon’s dad was a terrible man, but I agreed with him in the respect that Landon needed to take charge of his life – either get help, or commit to change, or even commit to Shay. To me, he wallowed in his depression on one hand, and lived a pretty great life (without Shay) on the other. At some point, I felt he was really self-indulgent and stopped empathizing with his depression and anxiety disorder. Shay was like a toy he picked up when he needed a boost from her and I really wanted to junk punch him. Later, details about this time in his life come out, but his explanation of being “lost” (too lost for me) doesn’t track with his actions, which are mostly unforgivable. He was very hard to root for. And then, when he finally made a committed effort to win her back, the tonal shift of the story -- which had been exhaustingly downbeat -- suddenly was light and airy.
Just because Landon’s fall was so steep didn’t make his climb back out more appealing. Most of this story relies on thought-driven narrative (not a fan of tell vs. show), texts, letters, and things that are revealed after-the-fact so the reader never witnesses the changes take place.When they make a joke of their combined name Lay, also meaning they were meant to bang each other, I cringed, because that’s what most of the book and their relationship was.
“How’s your heart? Completely full” – not mine, Landon and Shay, not mine.
Love the author, but not this duet. This book was even more depressing than the first one. Like watching paint dry and nothing was happening. So much angst and drama and separation and sadness and longing, and no one was happy. The story doesn’t even take off with even a hint of reunion/reconciliation until 50%, which was ¾ of the way into this overlong duet. We went through all that in 2 books just to get to some fiery interaction in a half-assed reunion that only happens after 13 long years pass and both are in their 30s. By then, the chemistry was so faint. Landon’s incredible thoughtlessness and selfishness toward Shay -- despite what we learn at the end – makes him a flip-flopper when he remembers that she crossed his mind “every now and again” (say what!), but he tells her that he thought about her every day, loved her every day, and wrote her love letters every day of those years. Well, which way is it? He came off as incredibly weak with every opportunity to seek her out and make amends and reconcile … but he let her go for no reason, and then pretended that no woman could ever compete with her for 13 years. It didn’t ring true with his behavior.
At least they were together in the first book with all the palpable intimacy and angst of first love, despite the bet and Landon’s crushing depression. Having them not even really “together” in the last half of this book was too much. Landon repeatedly proved himself to be a depressed tool and inconsiderate to Shay, and she was the worst kind of self-sacrificing doormat just to be with him and offer support whenever he needed it. She went along with anything he did or said, even the times he just showed up without warning for sex as a coping mechanism or remedy for his depression, before vanishing again. He didn’t appreciate her, and their sporadic communications were so impersonal via texts and letters (oh, because he hates talking on the phone!), and then he ghosted her anyway. I could have jack-slapped Shay for telling him to go off and find himself, then lose himself, and then find her again whenever he was ready to be together. That she would be waiting around for that to happen made my teeth grind.
And the worst of it, he gets more depressed after becoming a famous, rich actor and jet sets around the world, but flies to her once in a blue moon IF a production shoot is in her general direction. A terrible thing happens to him at 22% and Shay is still there for him every step of the way, prostrating herself entirely for his benefit and he couldn’t be bothered to buy her a plane ticket to California? Ever? None of this made sense, and what girl would put up with that for 3 years before being dusted for a total of 13 years before letting him back into her life with little resistance? She says to herself that “this isn’t love. That it was an addiction.” Yes, exactly. And then, “You make me feel like a whore.” Now you’re getting the picture, Shay.
This is what did it for me. Shay lays herself out there … “Tell me you want me. Tell me you’ll stay. Tell me I’m not making a fool of myself waiting for a boy who is no longer waiting for me. Tell me it’s our time.” And he said no and left her. After all she’s done and been for him, he doesn’t know what he wants. I say, hit the door Landon. No TeamLay for me. He never looked back, and my heart froze over for this relationship.
Landon’s dad was a terrible man, but I agreed with him in the respect that Landon needed to take charge of his life – either get help, or commit to change, or even commit to Shay. To me, he wallowed in his depression on one hand, and lived a pretty great life (without Shay) on the other. At some point, I felt he was really self-indulgent and stopped empathizing with his depression and anxiety disorder. Shay was like a toy he picked up when he needed a boost from her and I really wanted to junk punch him. Later, details about this time in his life come out, but his explanation of being “lost” (too lost for me) doesn’t track with his actions, which are mostly unforgivable. He was very hard to root for. And then, when he finally made a committed effort to win her back, the tonal shift of the story -- which had been exhaustingly downbeat -- suddenly was light and airy.
Just because Landon’s fall was so steep didn’t make his climb back out more appealing. Most of this story relies on thought-driven narrative (not a fan of tell vs. show), texts, letters, and things that are revealed after-the-fact so the reader never witnesses the changes take place.When they make a joke of their combined name Lay, also meaning they were meant to bang each other, I cringed, because that’s what most of the book and their relationship was.
“How’s your heart? Completely full” – not mine, Landon and Shay, not mine.
February 25, 2021
Inhalt: „Wie die Stille vor dem Fall. Zweites Buch“ ist der letzte Band der „Chances“-Reihe und erzählt die Geschichte von Landon und Shay zu Ende. Das Buch von Brittainy C. Cherry ist am 27.11.2020 bei Lyx erschienen. Dieses Buch sollte man nur lesen, wenn man den ersten Teil der Geschichte von Landon und Shay schon gelesen hat. Meine Rezension wird ebenfalls zu dem ersten Teil spoilern. ALSO LETZTE WARNUNG! :D ACHTUNG APOILER ZUM ERSTEN BAND!
Ich vermisse deinen Herzschlag. Ich vermisse dich. Ich vermisse uns.
Ich bin fest davon überzeugt, dass man seine erste große Liebe nie vergessen wird. Man gestattet ihr, in einer kleinen Ecke seines Herzens weiterzuleben. Und deshalb weiß ich, dass ich nach Landon nie wieder in der Lage sein werde, einen anderen Menschen von ganzem Herzen zu lieben. Meine Seele ist für immer verwundet. Mein Herz gefror zu Eis, als er mich verlassen hat. Es würde ein Wunder brauchen, um es wieder auftauen zu lassen. Und ohne Landon glaube ich nicht länger an Wunder.
Meinung: Auch dieses Cover passt perfekt zu den der anderen Beiden. Man kann definitiv erkennen, dass die drei Bücher zu derselben Reihe gehören. Mir persönlich gefallen die Covers sehr gut. Übersetzt wurde das Buch von Katja Bendels. Vorweg sollte man sagen, dass man auch diesmal die Triggerwarnung beachten sollte. Man sollte sich psychisch stabil genug für dieses Buch fühlen. Ehrlich gesagt hat mich das erste Buch, aber emotional mehr berührt. In diesem Buch finde ich die Beziehung von Landon und Shay ziemlich toxisch. Am Anfang sind sie noch süß, aber im Mittelteil, finde ich hat das toxische zugenommen. Am Ende waren sie wieder wie vorher. Gestärkter, aber immer noch süß und sie haben mich sehr an den Anfang erinnert. Gerade das toxische hat die Geschichte etwas in die Länge gezogen. Ich selbst habe Erfahrungen mit Depressionen, aber ich kenne auch andere mit Depressionen. Selbstverständlich können Depressionen in verschiedenen Formen auftreten und jeder nimmt sie anders wahr und geht auch auf seine Art und Weise damit um. Landons Art kann ich teilweise nachvollziehen und finde ich auch realistisch. Ebenso wie Shays Reaktion. Trotzdem finde ich, dass das ein bisschen das Besondere genommen hat. Zwischendurch hat sich die Geschichte ein bisschen in die Länge gezogen. Außerdem mussten beide Protagonisten en paar Sympathiepunkte abgezogen werden. Ich kann mir auch gut vorstellen, dass das von der Autorin gewollt gewesen ist. Die Realität kann nicht immer nur schön sein und eigentlich finde ich es auch gut, dass mit dem Thema so umgegangen und nicht alles auf eine weichgespülte Weise dargestellt worden ist. Zu oft habe ich leider schon Bücher gelesen, in denen das Thema Depressionen nicht realistisch und mit den richtigen Schattensatten dargestellt worden ist. Hier gibt es auch nicht das Phänomen, dass seine Depressionen durch Shay geheilt oder plötzlich einfach so verschwunden sind. Shay verliert in diesem Teil ein bisschen ihrer bisher bekannten Charakterstärken, aber ich denke, dass gerade das realistisch ist. Immerhin muss sie viel durchmachen und es kann nicht einfach an ihr vorbei gehen. Bei Landon erleben wir seine Hochs und Tiefs. Er beweist einen, dass man als Star nicht glücklich sein muss und dass jeder Mensch eine Maske erfolgreich tragen kann und das Innere nicht immer für jeden erkennbar ist. Die beiden hatten auch einige süße Momente zusammen. Auch hier spielen die Briefe weiterhin eine kleine Rolle. Das macht das ganze einfach weiterhin besonders. Auch die Nebencharaktere sind einfach toll. Man erfährt auch wie es mit ihnen weitergeht. Vorallem erfährt man auch mehr über Greys Tochter. Das hat mich sehr berührt. Ich fand es passend, dass ein Stück ihrer Geschichte in diesem Buch erzählt wird und es nicht im ersten Band soweit ausgeführt worden ist. Shays Oma Maria wird für mich immer ein Highlight bleiben. Ich liebe diese Frau!
Fazit: Hier wird Shays und Landons Geschichte fortgesetzt. Sie ist nicht so traurig schön, wie die anderen Bücher der Autorin. Es ist mehr zerstörerisch, unbequem, schwermütig, schmerzhaft aber eben auch total authentisch und es gibt Hoffnung. Man sollte wirklich die Triggerwarnung ernstnehmen. Ich fand es nicht das schönste Buch, aber dafür ist es auch nicht gedacht. Shay und Landon zeigen einem, dass es sich lohnt zu kämpfen!
Ich vermisse deinen Herzschlag. Ich vermisse dich. Ich vermisse uns.
Ich bin fest davon überzeugt, dass man seine erste große Liebe nie vergessen wird. Man gestattet ihr, in einer kleinen Ecke seines Herzens weiterzuleben. Und deshalb weiß ich, dass ich nach Landon nie wieder in der Lage sein werde, einen anderen Menschen von ganzem Herzen zu lieben. Meine Seele ist für immer verwundet. Mein Herz gefror zu Eis, als er mich verlassen hat. Es würde ein Wunder brauchen, um es wieder auftauen zu lassen. Und ohne Landon glaube ich nicht länger an Wunder.
Meinung: Auch dieses Cover passt perfekt zu den der anderen Beiden. Man kann definitiv erkennen, dass die drei Bücher zu derselben Reihe gehören. Mir persönlich gefallen die Covers sehr gut. Übersetzt wurde das Buch von Katja Bendels. Vorweg sollte man sagen, dass man auch diesmal die Triggerwarnung beachten sollte. Man sollte sich psychisch stabil genug für dieses Buch fühlen. Ehrlich gesagt hat mich das erste Buch, aber emotional mehr berührt. In diesem Buch finde ich die Beziehung von Landon und Shay ziemlich toxisch. Am Anfang sind sie noch süß, aber im Mittelteil, finde ich hat das toxische zugenommen. Am Ende waren sie wieder wie vorher. Gestärkter, aber immer noch süß und sie haben mich sehr an den Anfang erinnert. Gerade das toxische hat die Geschichte etwas in die Länge gezogen. Ich selbst habe Erfahrungen mit Depressionen, aber ich kenne auch andere mit Depressionen. Selbstverständlich können Depressionen in verschiedenen Formen auftreten und jeder nimmt sie anders wahr und geht auch auf seine Art und Weise damit um. Landons Art kann ich teilweise nachvollziehen und finde ich auch realistisch. Ebenso wie Shays Reaktion. Trotzdem finde ich, dass das ein bisschen das Besondere genommen hat. Zwischendurch hat sich die Geschichte ein bisschen in die Länge gezogen. Außerdem mussten beide Protagonisten en paar Sympathiepunkte abgezogen werden. Ich kann mir auch gut vorstellen, dass das von der Autorin gewollt gewesen ist. Die Realität kann nicht immer nur schön sein und eigentlich finde ich es auch gut, dass mit dem Thema so umgegangen und nicht alles auf eine weichgespülte Weise dargestellt worden ist. Zu oft habe ich leider schon Bücher gelesen, in denen das Thema Depressionen nicht realistisch und mit den richtigen Schattensatten dargestellt worden ist. Hier gibt es auch nicht das Phänomen, dass seine Depressionen durch Shay geheilt oder plötzlich einfach so verschwunden sind. Shay verliert in diesem Teil ein bisschen ihrer bisher bekannten Charakterstärken, aber ich denke, dass gerade das realistisch ist. Immerhin muss sie viel durchmachen und es kann nicht einfach an ihr vorbei gehen. Bei Landon erleben wir seine Hochs und Tiefs. Er beweist einen, dass man als Star nicht glücklich sein muss und dass jeder Mensch eine Maske erfolgreich tragen kann und das Innere nicht immer für jeden erkennbar ist. Die beiden hatten auch einige süße Momente zusammen. Auch hier spielen die Briefe weiterhin eine kleine Rolle. Das macht das ganze einfach weiterhin besonders. Auch die Nebencharaktere sind einfach toll. Man erfährt auch wie es mit ihnen weitergeht. Vorallem erfährt man auch mehr über Greys Tochter. Das hat mich sehr berührt. Ich fand es passend, dass ein Stück ihrer Geschichte in diesem Buch erzählt wird und es nicht im ersten Band soweit ausgeführt worden ist. Shays Oma Maria wird für mich immer ein Highlight bleiben. Ich liebe diese Frau!
Fazit: Hier wird Shays und Landons Geschichte fortgesetzt. Sie ist nicht so traurig schön, wie die anderen Bücher der Autorin. Es ist mehr zerstörerisch, unbequem, schwermütig, schmerzhaft aber eben auch total authentisch und es gibt Hoffnung. Man sollte wirklich die Triggerwarnung ernstnehmen. Ich fand es nicht das schönste Buch, aber dafür ist es auch nicht gedacht. Shay und Landon zeigen einem, dass es sich lohnt zu kämpfen!
December 9, 2019
Ugh, she needed to STOP at the end of book 1! Man I’m TIRED of Landon at this point. Reading this book is making me depressed. I’m all for an emotional read and I know that’s what Ms. Cherry writes and I usually love Ms. Cherry’s work but I can’t get behind the men in this new series. First with Grey and Eleanor, Grey is so awful to Eleanor and now with Landon and Shay. 👎🏽👎🏽
In book 1 Landon is basically AWFUL to Shay for YEARS because he is jealous of her happy personality. They eventually are able to move on and share a moment in the sun together and then he gets bad again - moving on to book 2 where he starts ghosting and using her for YEARS and shutting her out of his life other than an occasional hookup even though she PUT him on the path to recovery. So while his light was growing he was causing hers to diminish and when she finally said she had enough YEARS later he walks out of her life without a backward glance and hookups up with Shay’s “girl” idol. He has a brief epiphany that was wrong but instead of fighting to talk to Shay he goes on with his glamorous life in Hollywood for 10 years without saying or contacting Shay at all. Looking like he’s living the cool life of a party boy in the tabloids for Shay to see ... awesome! What a jerk!
By 50% I just didn’t care. I was sick if Landon and how dirty he did Shay and I could see where this book was going - he’s always be a sad Eeyore and she was just always going to have to excuse it accept it. I’m sick of this weird with these sad men and the YEARS of ghosting these strong, smart, wonderful women.
I was excited when book 1 ended with him getting help but book 2 was depressing and unnecessary.
In book 1 Landon is basically AWFUL to Shay for YEARS because he is jealous of her happy personality. They eventually are able to move on and share a moment in the sun together and then he gets bad again - moving on to book 2 where he starts ghosting and using her for YEARS and shutting her out of his life other than an occasional hookup even though she PUT him on the path to recovery. So while his light was growing he was causing hers to diminish and when she finally said she had enough YEARS later he walks out of her life without a backward glance and hookups up with Shay’s “girl” idol. He has a brief epiphany that was wrong but instead of fighting to talk to Shay he goes on with his glamorous life in Hollywood for 10 years without saying or contacting Shay at all. Looking like he’s living the cool life of a party boy in the tabloids for Shay to see ... awesome! What a jerk!
By 50% I just didn’t care. I was sick if Landon and how dirty he did Shay and I could see where this book was going - he’s always be a sad Eeyore and she was just always going to have to excuse it accept it. I’m sick of this weird with these sad men and the YEARS of ghosting these strong, smart, wonderful women.
I was excited when book 1 ended with him getting help but book 2 was depressing and unnecessary.
December 3, 2019
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
"You are the first woman-the only woman-who'd ever awakened every sleeping part of me. You were a defining moment of my life."
Part One is one of my favorite reads of the year, and I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful and broken characters Landon and Shay. My expectations for this book were sky-high. I couldn't wait to see how their story would develop after the ending of part one. It was obvious that Landon and Shay were made for each other, and just needed to find their ways back. I was kind of nervous to see how they lost contact. I think the author handled it really great. I think the decisions made were the right ones for the circumstances they were in. They both had to come into their own and discover themselves further. I loved seeing how Landon grew up to be a big Hollywood star. But my heart kind of broke for Shay, because I wanted to see her achieve her dreams as well. They both went through a transformation, but they weren't complete with each other.
"My heart doesn't work the way it's supposed to. I'm afraid of loving you, because that means I can lose you again, Landon, and that terrifies me."
The reunion between them wasn't as magical as I would've wanted it to be. Part one of this duet made me feel so many things, but with this book it was less. The break up in my opinion happened too late into the story, and the steps towards their second-chance felt rushed. Especially in the last part of the book too much happened in a very short amount of time. I couldn't keep up, and I just wanted to see them grow as a couple instead of them still trying to find their way back to each other. Regardless of all of that, I still really enjoyed this book and loved seeing Landon and Shay overcome their struggles and heal themselves and each other. But it just didn't impact and make me feel as strongly as part one did. I think readers who have read and loved part one will enjoy this book as well. It was also nice to see what all the side-characters were up to. Furthermore, I absolutely loved the epilogue and it really made me wish there was another book featuring this beautiful couple.
"You are the first woman-the only woman-who'd ever awakened every sleeping part of me. You were a defining moment of my life."
Part One is one of my favorite reads of the year, and I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful and broken characters Landon and Shay. My expectations for this book were sky-high. I couldn't wait to see how their story would develop after the ending of part one. It was obvious that Landon and Shay were made for each other, and just needed to find their ways back. I was kind of nervous to see how they lost contact. I think the author handled it really great. I think the decisions made were the right ones for the circumstances they were in. They both had to come into their own and discover themselves further. I loved seeing how Landon grew up to be a big Hollywood star. But my heart kind of broke for Shay, because I wanted to see her achieve her dreams as well. They both went through a transformation, but they weren't complete with each other.
"My heart doesn't work the way it's supposed to. I'm afraid of loving you, because that means I can lose you again, Landon, and that terrifies me."
The reunion between them wasn't as magical as I would've wanted it to be. Part one of this duet made me feel so many things, but with this book it was less. The break up in my opinion happened too late into the story, and the steps towards their second-chance felt rushed. Especially in the last part of the book too much happened in a very short amount of time. I couldn't keep up, and I just wanted to see them grow as a couple instead of them still trying to find their way back to each other. Regardless of all of that, I still really enjoyed this book and loved seeing Landon and Shay overcome their struggles and heal themselves and each other. But it just didn't impact and make me feel as strongly as part one did. I think readers who have read and loved part one will enjoy this book as well. It was also nice to see what all the side-characters were up to. Furthermore, I absolutely loved the epilogue and it really made me wish there was another book featuring this beautiful couple.
December 4, 2019
#1 Landon & Shay: Part One: ✭✭✭✭✭
#2 Landon & Shay: Part Two: ✭✭✭✭
It's no secret that Landon & Shay Part One was one of my top reads for 2019. I cried so many sad tears and so many happy tears reading that book. Landon's struggle with depression touched me in a way not a lot of books or characters were able to do. Therefore my expectations and hopes for Part Two were ginormous!
Some of them were exceeded, but at the same time other things were a bit of a let down. One of those disappointments were when I finished the book and it felt a bit rushed, because there was no epilogue and it felt like the story ended in the middle of sentence, but then Brittainy added some additional scenes as the epilogue and solved my inital disappointment about not getting an epilogue. And what epilogue it is! I couldn't be happier about the epilogue, it was such a beautiful scene.
When I say there is angst from the beginning til the very end, I really mean it. The tension between Landon & Shay is thick. You are in for a wild ride. The story wasn't how I expected it to be. While Landon & Shay Part One was more Landon's story and his fight to overcome depression, I feel like Part Two is more about Shay's journey to love and trust again. Landon's mental health is still a huuge part of the book and there are a lot of ups and downs, the beautiful flawed and broken characters are what make the story so unforgettable, but Landon as an adult has a pretty good hang on how to 'navigate' through his darker days.
Shay on the other hand really struggles as an adult. With her carreer and especially with men and the concept to love again. I mean Shay and her mom have this women-hate-men club going on lol. While Landon is now Hollywood heartthrob and a very successful actor, Shay is still waiting for her breakthrough as a storywriter. Landon hurted her when he never came back and she turned her heart cold towards love. Shay turned kinda bitter, but that's what I love about the characters. They learn to grow so much over the two books and are so real. When Landon broke her heart, she didn't only lose her first love but her soulmate.
Landon & Shay are a match made in heaven. There are some people who are destined to end up with together no matter what and they are one of them. And here comes the point why I'm giving this 4 stars and not 5: Landon and Shay were separated for a decade with almost no contact and I just wanted them to find their way back to each other as soon as possible. I mean I loved all the scenes they had with their friends and family, but it took them forever to get back together for real. I'm not lying when I say you have to wait until the very end until you see them back together, because of Shay's trust issues. I wished they got back together like 10-15% earlier in the book, so that we still get some domestic scenes when they were together. Shay was blocking Landon out for so long that I would been nice to see her open up more and them as a couple.
Overall Landon & Shay Part Two was as expected very angsty and highly emotional. Landon and Shay have been through some heartbreaking things and I'm happy they found their way back to each other and to happiness. Personally it wasn't better than Part One, but just because Part One was a masterpiece and it's hard to write something on that level! I'm still pretty satisfied with how the book was and enjoyed reading it very much. Thank you, Brittainy C. Cherry for giving such an emotional story and flawed characters. Would totally recommend this duet!
— Some of my favorite moments and other spoilery comments. Spoiler warning! Read with caution. —
_____________________________________________
Update: For ARC readers... Brittainy Cherry added an amazing epilogue to the book for the final version! Don't forget to read it. It's seriously so good!
I AM NOT OKAY after finishing Landon & Shay Part Two. What did Brittainy C. Cherry do to my heart? Is my heart still beating? - I DONT THINK SO.
I have so much to say about this book, but right now I can only scream. Hopefully I'm not going to get a heart attack anytime soon...
#2 Landon & Shay: Part Two: ✭✭✭✭
"There's never going to be anything or anyone else for you. You're my story. You're my final page. You're my final word."
It's no secret that Landon & Shay Part One was one of my top reads for 2019. I cried so many sad tears and so many happy tears reading that book. Landon's struggle with depression touched me in a way not a lot of books or characters were able to do. Therefore my expectations and hopes for Part Two were ginormous!
Some of them were exceeded, but at the same time other things were a bit of a let down. One of those disappointments were when I finished the book and it felt a bit rushed, because there was no epilogue and it felt like the story ended in the middle of sentence, but then Brittainy added some additional scenes as the epilogue and solved my inital disappointment about not getting an epilogue. And what epilogue it is! I couldn't be happier about the epilogue, it was such a beautiful scene.
"Our love wasn't traditional, but it was ours. And I'd vowed to do whatever it took to keep our story alive."
When I say there is angst from the beginning til the very end, I really mean it. The tension between Landon & Shay is thick. You are in for a wild ride. The story wasn't how I expected it to be. While Landon & Shay Part One was more Landon's story and his fight to overcome depression, I feel like Part Two is more about Shay's journey to love and trust again. Landon's mental health is still a huuge part of the book and there are a lot of ups and downs, the beautiful flawed and broken characters are what make the story so unforgettable, but Landon as an adult has a pretty good hang on how to 'navigate' through his darker days.
Shay on the other hand really struggles as an adult. With her carreer and especially with men and the concept to love again. I mean Shay and her mom have this women-hate-men club going on lol. While Landon is now Hollywood heartthrob and a very successful actor, Shay is still waiting for her breakthrough as a storywriter. Landon hurted her when he never came back and she turned her heart cold towards love. Shay turned kinda bitter, but that's what I love about the characters. They learn to grow so much over the two books and are so real. When Landon broke her heart, she didn't only lose her first love but her soulmate.
"Are you kidding? I loved it. That script is just like the person who created it," Landon said. "It's a masterpiece."
I chuckled. "You're so corny it's disturbing."
Landon & Shay are a match made in heaven. There are some people who are destined to end up with together no matter what and they are one of them. And here comes the point why I'm giving this 4 stars and not 5: Landon and Shay were separated for a decade with almost no contact and I just wanted them to find their way back to each other as soon as possible. I mean I loved all the scenes they had with their friends and family, but it took them forever to get back together for real. I'm not lying when I say you have to wait until the very end until you see them back together, because of Shay's trust issues. I wished they got back together like 10-15% earlier in the book, so that we still get some domestic scenes when they were together. Shay was blocking Landon out for so long that I would been nice to see her open up more and them as a couple.
“You, me, and us. This is only the beginning of our beautiful story, and I cannot wait to see what else we write against our pages.”
Overall Landon & Shay Part Two was as expected very angsty and highly emotional. Landon and Shay have been through some heartbreaking things and I'm happy they found their way back to each other and to happiness. Personally it wasn't better than Part One, but just because Part One was a masterpiece and it's hard to write something on that level! I'm still pretty satisfied with how the book was and enjoyed reading it very much. Thank you, Brittainy C. Cherry for giving such an emotional story and flawed characters. Would totally recommend this duet!
— Some of my favorite moments and other spoilery comments. Spoiler warning! Read with caution. —
_____________________________________________
Update: For ARC readers... Brittainy Cherry added an amazing epilogue to the book for the final version! Don't forget to read it. It's seriously so good!
I AM NOT OKAY after finishing Landon & Shay Part Two. What did Brittainy C. Cherry do to my heart? Is my heart still beating? - I DONT THINK SO.
I have so much to say about this book, but right now I can only scream. Hopefully I'm not going to get a heart attack anytime soon...
December 7, 2019
Release Date: December 4, 2019
Genre: New Adult Romance.
The Stunning Conclusion to Landon & Shay's story | Emotional Romance
Angsty, filled with emotion, and realistically stunning! I have no doubt that Brittainy C. Cherry will make a difference in this world through her books. She doesn't just write what her readers want, she writes what’s important. I am so glad I found her novels a few years ago because she truly touches my soul with each book.
That being said, this is the second book in the Landon & Shay duet. You must read the books in order as they follow Landon and Shay from the beginning of their love (rather, hate for each other) to the end where they finally make the toughest choices on whether to be together. This duet is ANGSTY. It’s a very slow burn even though we KNOW they are perfect for one another. However, both are dealing with some serious issues and it takes time, patience, and a ton of ups and downs in order to find that HEA everyone craves. This isn’t an easy book in terms of subject matter, and I found myself with tears in my eyes many times but as I said the subject matter is SO IMPORTANT. Many people suffer from mental illnesses- some quietly, others sharing their pain. So, reading about it in a book is cathartic.
If you haven’t had the chance to read this duet now is the perfect time to do so because it’s complete! I recommend it to ALL readers. I can’t wait to see what Brittainy writes next. Karla’s story would be amazing but we shall see.
Genre: New Adult Romance.
The Stunning Conclusion to Landon & Shay's story | Emotional Romance
Angsty, filled with emotion, and realistically stunning! I have no doubt that Brittainy C. Cherry will make a difference in this world through her books. She doesn't just write what her readers want, she writes what’s important. I am so glad I found her novels a few years ago because she truly touches my soul with each book.
That being said, this is the second book in the Landon & Shay duet. You must read the books in order as they follow Landon and Shay from the beginning of their love (rather, hate for each other) to the end where they finally make the toughest choices on whether to be together. This duet is ANGSTY. It’s a very slow burn even though we KNOW they are perfect for one another. However, both are dealing with some serious issues and it takes time, patience, and a ton of ups and downs in order to find that HEA everyone craves. This isn’t an easy book in terms of subject matter, and I found myself with tears in my eyes many times but as I said the subject matter is SO IMPORTANT. Many people suffer from mental illnesses- some quietly, others sharing their pain. So, reading about it in a book is cathartic.
If you haven’t had the chance to read this duet now is the perfect time to do so because it’s complete! I recommend it to ALL readers. I can’t wait to see what Brittainy writes next. Karla’s story would be amazing but we shall see.
May 29, 2021
Auch mit dem zweiten Buch hat BCC mein Herz in tausend Stücke zerteilt und das schon auf den ersten paar Seiten. Doch dann, ganz langsam, hat es angefangen wieder zu heilen.
Wenn ich ehrlich bin, muss ich mir eingestehen, dass ich abends länger gebraucht habe, um einzuschlafen, weil mich das Buch so berührt hat. Ob das jetzt etwas Gutes oder Schlechtes ist, muss jeder für sich entscheiden. Fest steht, dass Landon und Shay Seelenverwandte sind und je mehr sich das Buch dem Ende neigte, desto deutlicher wurde das. Was sie für einander tun und empfinden geht weit über die Normalität hinaus und ich finde die beiden unglaublich süß. Zu Beginn hatte ich oft Tränen in den Augen und mein Herz wog schwer, aber am Ende gab es so viele Momente, in denen ich Lachkrämpfe hatte und ich liebe echt Bücher, die meine Emotionen Achterbahn fahren lassen. Außerdem liebe ich es, dass die Charaktere so perfekt unperfekt sind. Sie sind realistisch und nicht irgendwie unverwundbare Wesen, die nichts falsch machen. Sie helfen einem zu erkennen, dass man seine Fehler akzeptieren muss und lernen sollte, sie zu lieben. Jeden einzelnen von ihnen. Ich für meinen Teil habe so viel aus dem Buch mitgenommen und werde so einige Dinge in Zukunft beherzigen.
Leider hat mir am Anfang der Geschichte irgendwas gefehlt, weshalb es minimal Punktabzug gibt. Dafür war es gegen Ende wieder perfekt.
Merkt euch eins: BCC hat diese Geschichte für uns geschrieben. Für dich, für mich, für uns alle und für sich selbst. Die Menschen mit dem angeknacksten Herzen, das ein Stück weit geheilt werden muss. Und was mich betrifft, hat sie es geschafft. Sie hat gemeistert, was die wenigsten erreichen. Sie hat mich berührt. Meine Seele berührt. Auf eine ganz besondere Art und Weise. Sie hat etwas aufgeweckt, dass ganz tief in meinem Inneren verborgen lag. Und dafür bin ich ihr unendlich dankbar. Shay, Landon und alles, was sonst noch dazu gehört, werden für immer einen besonderen platz in meinem Herzen haben.
Bewertung: 4,5/5 ☆
Wenn ich ehrlich bin, muss ich mir eingestehen, dass ich abends länger gebraucht habe, um einzuschlafen, weil mich das Buch so berührt hat. Ob das jetzt etwas Gutes oder Schlechtes ist, muss jeder für sich entscheiden. Fest steht, dass Landon und Shay Seelenverwandte sind und je mehr sich das Buch dem Ende neigte, desto deutlicher wurde das. Was sie für einander tun und empfinden geht weit über die Normalität hinaus und ich finde die beiden unglaublich süß. Zu Beginn hatte ich oft Tränen in den Augen und mein Herz wog schwer, aber am Ende gab es so viele Momente, in denen ich Lachkrämpfe hatte und ich liebe echt Bücher, die meine Emotionen Achterbahn fahren lassen. Außerdem liebe ich es, dass die Charaktere so perfekt unperfekt sind. Sie sind realistisch und nicht irgendwie unverwundbare Wesen, die nichts falsch machen. Sie helfen einem zu erkennen, dass man seine Fehler akzeptieren muss und lernen sollte, sie zu lieben. Jeden einzelnen von ihnen. Ich für meinen Teil habe so viel aus dem Buch mitgenommen und werde so einige Dinge in Zukunft beherzigen.
Leider hat mir am Anfang der Geschichte irgendwas gefehlt, weshalb es minimal Punktabzug gibt. Dafür war es gegen Ende wieder perfekt.
Merkt euch eins: BCC hat diese Geschichte für uns geschrieben. Für dich, für mich, für uns alle und für sich selbst. Die Menschen mit dem angeknacksten Herzen, das ein Stück weit geheilt werden muss. Und was mich betrifft, hat sie es geschafft. Sie hat gemeistert, was die wenigsten erreichen. Sie hat mich berührt. Meine Seele berührt. Auf eine ganz besondere Art und Weise. Sie hat etwas aufgeweckt, dass ganz tief in meinem Inneren verborgen lag. Und dafür bin ich ihr unendlich dankbar. Shay, Landon und alles, was sonst noch dazu gehört, werden für immer einen besonderen platz in meinem Herzen haben.
Bewertung: 4,5/5 ☆
July 26, 2020
The second part of Landon & Shay starts exactly where the first one stopped... and maybe that's I wasn't completely satisfied.
Their romance starts in high school (the main focus of part 1) and continues on until they're in their 30s. I think very few things happened during their adulthood, contrary to Eleanor & Grey that was better divided. This one failed in getting me emotional because I never felt really attached to the characters and I didn't really understand their motives to being apart for so much time.
Besides all that, it was still an enjoyable read cause I adore Brittainy C. Cherry's writing.
Their romance starts in high school (the main focus of part 1) and continues on until they're in their 30s. I think very few things happened during their adulthood, contrary to Eleanor & Grey that was better divided. This one failed in getting me emotional because I never felt really attached to the characters and I didn't really understand their motives to being apart for so much time.
Besides all that, it was still an enjoyable read cause I adore Brittainy C. Cherry's writing.
December 8, 2019
“Out of everyone in this whole world, you’re one of the strongest people I know. Your vulnerabilities are what make you strong, not weak. “
4 stars
I loved Landon & Shay part one and could not wait to read the sequel!
How would Landon & Shay manage their long distance relationship?
Would Landon get better and find his light, ways to cope with depression?
Would Shay be a famous screenwriter?
And I guessed that something would happen to keep them separate but what and how?
“The boy I loved became Hollywood’s newest golden boy.
His career blossomed as mine stalled.
He found massive success as I discovered multiple failures.
He made something of himself, while my dreams never came true.”
We moved into different realms where our pieces no longer fit together.
I was really happy to find them again and if this book flows effortlessly with very good character developments it also left me hungry for more.
It all began great with Landon & Shay making the best of their long distance relationship, keeping in touch religiously, confiding in each other.
“We began sending each other notebooks back and forth, just as we had in high school. It would take a few weeks for them to come due to the busyness of life, but whenever the package arrived in the mail, I felt as if it were Christmas morning, and I was unwrapping the greatest gift. Our love wasn’t traditional, but it was ours. And I’d vowed to do whatever it took to keep our story alive forever.”
Then somewhere along the path, they lost their way. Something happened and that precious connection was lost.
The synopsis says:
“The boy I loved became Hollywood’s newest golden boy.
His career blossomed as mine stalled.
He found massive success as I discovered multiple failures.
He made something of himself, while my dreams never came true.”
We moved into different realms where our pieces no longer fit together.”
And that’s what happened!
Well we already guessed from the first book that something would come and that they would have to find their way back together …hopefully!
I confess that I was angry with Shay for waiting so long before taking action (no telling more) and yet I was also sad as I knew Landon was hurting! That’s the curse of feeling a deep empathy with your favorite fictional characters! I could see the reasoning and the motivation behind both actions. I could understand. But it did not frustrate me less!
“He called me his remedy, his safe haven, his freedom, but he was the opposite of that to me. He was my weakness, my kryptonite, my gated cage. While I lifted him up, he weighed me down. It confused me how love could feel so much like a war. While Landon was becoming victorious, I was dying on the battlefield. This isn’t love, I thought to myself.”
This shows that even with the best intention, love is not everything to make a relationship work! Communicating is key.
And communicating is sometimes too heavy, too much to ask when you are hurting deeply and let others words fester and poison your mind!
Brittainy also brilliantly demonstrated what battling his inner demons entailed. Also, how exhausting it could be to care for someone suffering from depression when that person was not ready to let you help.
I really enjoyed this sequel but some things frustrated me and prevent me for giving a higher rating.
I had no answer to the questions about Shay's dad and what he kept secret for so long ( not telling more as I don't want to spoil anything).
I could also have lived without that last extra twist and I would have loved having an epilogue ...many years later.
Landon had success while Shay was struggling to be known.
With what happened with Landon and with her lack of breakthrough, Shay became so cynical. She was so far from the sunny heroine of the first book that I came to love!
That being said I think that Brittainy was extremely clever in the development of her characters.
The happy and sunny Shay will change and lose many illusions about hope.
Landon will still be one of my utmost favorite book boyfriends this year and he will have a long road ahead with many roadblocks and ordeals.
There is so much depth to these characters and that makes it sometimes painful to follow them around! They make mistakes and that hurt me! That’s a true gift when a writer gets to you in such way that you can barely go on reading when your favorite fictional characters are in so much pain!
Again the light Brittainy sheds on depression and all that it entails is top notch and I wouldn't be surprised if she experienced something similar or had a beloved one suffering from it.
Beautiful, touching, sad but with hope at the end of the tunnel, it was a good conclusion to their story even if I wanted even more.
Recommend it? Of course!
Have you read it already?
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
December 11, 2020
Ein Meisterwerk der Emotionen ❤
February 15, 2021
2.5 stars ⭐️
Hey mom and dad, i found something even more disappointing than me😌
Hey mom and dad, i found something even more disappointing than me😌
May 24, 2022
nobody is more disappointed than me with this rating.
December 10, 2019
“You’re my story. You’re my final page. You’re my final word.”
3.5 stars!
Don’t get surprised because I’m giving this book 3.5 stars. I don’t enjoy too much ‘second chance romance’ books and that’s why I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one.
I’d like to thank Mima for being the best side character in this book. I loved that woman since book one. She reminded me so much of my grandmother when she was giving Shay advice. Grandmothers are the best.
”Sé valiente. Sé fuerte. Sé amable. Y quédate. Be brave. Be strong. Be kind. And stay.”
Landon and Shay are one my favorite couple ever. We get to see them falling in love in book one and in this book we see them breaking up and years later giving their love another chance.
“That was it. We were done. Landon and Shay were officially over.”
Even though it hurt me a lot to see them breaking up, I think Shay took the best decision by breaking up things with Landon. Their relationship was starting to become toxic for each other and in situations like this, the best thing is going on separate ways.
Now, the question that I was asking myself while reading the book was, what happened to Monica? At the end of book she was going to rehab, but in this book we didn’t see her at all, she wasn’t even mentioned. Did she go to rehab? Is she better? Is she dead? What happened to Shay’s father? At the beginning of the book Shay told Landon that he asked her for money, but after that? He wasn’t mentioned. Before the time-jump we got to see Tracey being an annoying friend, and ten years later she isn’t there. What happened to her? Did she move out of the country? City? Did she and shay end up in bad terms? I guess we will never know.
Something that I didn’t like of the book was Shay and Landon being fuck buddies or as Shay would say “it’s more like a fuck acquaintance”. We didn’t even get to see them hooking and I really don’t know what was the point of that if we weren't even going to get to see it.
In conclusion, I love Shay and Landon. I loved seeing Landon trying to earn Shay’s trust after breaking her hate ten years ago. I loved that at the end of the book we got to see that Shay’s dream had finally come true. These two are my babies and I’m really gonna miss them.
3.5 stars!
Don’t get surprised because I’m giving this book 3.5 stars. I don’t enjoy too much ‘second chance romance’ books and that’s why I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one.
I’d like to thank Mima for being the best side character in this book. I loved that woman since book one. She reminded me so much of my grandmother when she was giving Shay advice. Grandmothers are the best.
”Sé valiente. Sé fuerte. Sé amable. Y quédate. Be brave. Be strong. Be kind. And stay.”
Landon and Shay are one my favorite couple ever. We get to see them falling in love in book one and in this book we see them breaking up and years later giving their love another chance.
“That was it. We were done. Landon and Shay were officially over.”
Even though it hurt me a lot to see them breaking up, I think Shay took the best decision by breaking up things with Landon. Their relationship was starting to become toxic for each other and in situations like this, the best thing is going on separate ways.
Now, the question that I was asking myself while reading the book was, what happened to Monica? At the end of book she was going to rehab, but in this book we didn’t see her at all, she wasn’t even mentioned. Did she go to rehab? Is she better? Is she dead? What happened to Shay’s father? At the beginning of the book Shay told Landon that he asked her for money, but after that? He wasn’t mentioned. Before the time-jump we got to see Tracey being an annoying friend, and ten years later she isn’t there. What happened to her? Did she move out of the country? City? Did she and shay end up in bad terms? I guess we will never know.
Something that I didn’t like of the book was Shay and Landon being fuck buddies or as Shay would say “it’s more like a fuck acquaintance”. We didn’t even get to see them hooking and I really don’t know what was the point of that if we weren't even going to get to see it.
In conclusion, I love Shay and Landon. I loved seeing Landon trying to earn Shay’s trust after breaking her hate ten years ago. I loved that at the end of the book we got to see that Shay’s dream had finally come true. These two are my babies and I’m really gonna miss them.
December 20, 2019
5 ⭐'s
“How’s your heart?”
The story begins with Landon trying to find his way and with Shay being as supportive as ever. They try to make things work but as time moves on, things get harder.
Then Landon is dealt a massive blow, one he didn't think would affect him as much as it did. It sets him way back and it takes tipping over the edge for him to fight his way back.
Unfortunately, he may have done too much damage for certain things to be repaired.
Oh, how I loved the angst even though I never gave up hope. The struggles these two went through was so heart wrenching!
My only issue was the time lapse. It was too much and I didn't really see why it couldn't have been sooner. Landon seemed to know what he really wanted.
I was surprised at how things turned out for Shay. I certainly didn't figure for her to be in the place at her age. I guess it did lead to a lot of drama that's for sure.
I really enjoyed these two...their love, their struggles and their outcome. The epilogues were really special and sweet.
“Be brave. Be strong. Be kind. And stay.”
“How’s your heart?”
The story begins with Landon trying to find his way and with Shay being as supportive as ever. They try to make things work but as time moves on, things get harder.
Then Landon is dealt a massive blow, one he didn't think would affect him as much as it did. It sets him way back and it takes tipping over the edge for him to fight his way back.
Unfortunately, he may have done too much damage for certain things to be repaired.
Oh, how I loved the angst even though I never gave up hope. The struggles these two went through was so heart wrenching!
My only issue was the time lapse. It was too much and I didn't really see why it couldn't have been sooner. Landon seemed to know what he really wanted.
I was surprised at how things turned out for Shay. I certainly didn't figure for her to be in the place at her age. I guess it did lead to a lot of drama that's for sure.
I really enjoyed these two...their love, their struggles and their outcome. The epilogues were really special and sweet.
“Be brave. Be strong. Be kind. And stay.”
November 24, 2020
I'm so dissapointed by this sequel.
January 12, 2021
Nachdem ich letztes Jahr den ersten Teil gelesen habe, wollte ich eigentlich so schnell wie möglich weiterlesen. Geschafft habe ich es erst jetzt und ich mochte die Geschichte echt gerne. Im Mittelteil jedoch fand ich es ein wenig langgezogen. Doch der Anfang und das Ende waren wieder einfach nur typisch. Es war eine bewegende Geschichte und ein wichtiges Thema, denn man muss sich dafür nicht schämen, dass man Hilfe braucht, damit es einem besser geht. Jeder Mensch ist anders. :)
4,5 Sterne
4,5 Sterne
July 15, 2020
Landon si è trasferito in California per poter affrontare un percorso che gli permetterà di uscire da quella oscurità opprimente in cui è piombato fin da ragazzino. Shay è rimasta nella loro città cercando di realizzare i suoi sogni,vuole diventare sceneggiatrice;nel frattempo aspetta il ritorno di Landon...
"Quando avrai trovato te stesso ,torna da me"
Ma passeranno anni prima che ciò avvenga e lei non sarà più la ragazza ingenua....
Una storia incentrata sulle seconde possibilità e sul percorso difficile che Landon affronta per sconfiggere quell'oscurita che gli impedisce di vivere . Molto brava l'autrice ad affrontare questa tematica,ha messo in evidenza le difficoltà che Landon affronta per cercare di convivere con la sua oscurità e tenerla sotto controllo ,di domarla ;evidenziando la sua capacità di avvertire anche il minimo sintomo e stroncarlo sul nascere...
"Perché è facile isolarsi dal mondo e avere l'impressione di essere solo,anche se non lo sei . Persino nei giorni più neri c'è sempre qualcuno pronto a tenderti la mano"....
"A volte devi attraversare il buio per raggiungere la luce"...
Ritroviamo personaggi già conosciuti nei precedenti romanzi:Grayson ed Eleanor.
Karla,figlia di Grayson,anche lei alle prese con le sue difficoltà e Landon è stato meraviglioso con il suo supporto . Sarebbe meraviglioso se ogni Karla avesse una persona accanto a se' che la guidasse come fa Landon in questa storia...
"Come sta il tuo cuore ?"
"Batte ancora"....
"Come sta il tuo cuore?"
"Colmo fino all'orlo"
"Ti amo due volte"...
"Dalla sofferenza sono emerse le anime più forti; i caratteri più solidi sono segnati da cicatrici"(Kahlii Gibran)
⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
"Quando avrai trovato te stesso ,torna da me"
Ma passeranno anni prima che ciò avvenga e lei non sarà più la ragazza ingenua....
Una storia incentrata sulle seconde possibilità e sul percorso difficile che Landon affronta per sconfiggere quell'oscurita che gli impedisce di vivere . Molto brava l'autrice ad affrontare questa tematica,ha messo in evidenza le difficoltà che Landon affronta per cercare di convivere con la sua oscurità e tenerla sotto controllo ,di domarla ;evidenziando la sua capacità di avvertire anche il minimo sintomo e stroncarlo sul nascere...
"Perché è facile isolarsi dal mondo e avere l'impressione di essere solo,anche se non lo sei . Persino nei giorni più neri c'è sempre qualcuno pronto a tenderti la mano"....
"A volte devi attraversare il buio per raggiungere la luce"...
Ritroviamo personaggi già conosciuti nei precedenti romanzi:Grayson ed Eleanor.
Karla,figlia di Grayson,anche lei alle prese con le sue difficoltà e Landon è stato meraviglioso con il suo supporto . Sarebbe meraviglioso se ogni Karla avesse una persona accanto a se' che la guidasse come fa Landon in questa storia...
"Come sta il tuo cuore ?"
"Batte ancora"....
"Come sta il tuo cuore?"
"Colmo fino all'orlo"
"Ti amo due volte"...
"Dalla sofferenza sono emerse le anime più forti; i caratteri più solidi sono segnati da cicatrici"(Kahlii Gibran)
⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
July 14, 2020
4,5 stelle. In questo secondo volume troviamo un Landon che ha spiccato il volo, quel ragazzo bello e tormentato è diventato una stella di Hollywood mentre Shay è rimasta la solita,ha avuto molte porte chiuse in faccia ma nonostante ciò quando vede i successi di Landon è contentissima, ha sempre creduto in lui ed anni prima l’ha spronato verso questa strada, quando si rivedranno Landon sarà il solito ragazzo o un uomo completamente diverso?...
Bello bello bello!!! Quando l’ho iniziato ho fatto le 5 del mattino perché non riuscivo a stoppare la lettura e non mi capitava da un po’, adoro le storie tormentate e dove passano anni per il lieto fine, qui anche se la trama è diversa mi ha ricordato after, letto anni fa dove anche per loro ci volle un po’ per il lieto fine. Ho dato un mezzo punto in meno perché con Shay non sempre sono stata d’accordo, troppo permissiva in tutto, molte volte l’ho trovata senza carattere, Logan invece meraviglioso, l’ho adorato 😍. Inoltre molto bello ritrovare i personaggi di come pioggia su di me che consiglio di leggere dopo questa duologia.
Bello bello bello!!! Quando l’ho iniziato ho fatto le 5 del mattino perché non riuscivo a stoppare la lettura e non mi capitava da un po’, adoro le storie tormentate e dove passano anni per il lieto fine, qui anche se la trama è diversa mi ha ricordato after, letto anni fa dove anche per loro ci volle un po’ per il lieto fine. Ho dato un mezzo punto in meno perché con Shay non sempre sono stata d’accordo, troppo permissiva in tutto, molte volte l’ho trovata senza carattere, Logan invece meraviglioso, l’ho adorato 😍. Inoltre molto bello ritrovare i personaggi di come pioggia su di me che consiglio di leggere dopo questa duologia.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,605 reviews