★★★★★
5 Stars
5 Stars
Greyson East left his mark on me.
As the young girl who first fell for him, I didn’t know much about life. I did know about his smiles, though, and his laughs, and the strange way my stomach flipped when he was near.
Life was perfect…until it wasn’t, and when we were forced to go our separate ways, I held on to our memories, let go of my first crush, and wished for the day I’d find him again.
When my wish came true, it was nothing like I imagined.
I couldn’t have known when I took the nanny position that it would be his children I looked after, that my new boss would be that boy I used to know, that boy who was now a man—a cold, lonely, detached man.
The smile and laugh I had loved so much were gone, now distant memories. Every part of him was covered in a fresh pain.
When he realized who I was, he made me promise to do my job and my job only.
He made me promise not to try to get to know him, not to recall the memories I’d treasured all this time.
But, sometimes, I saw the boy I’d once known in his stormy eyes. I saw the Greyson who smiled and laughed, who had stolen a young girl’s heart, and there was no doubt in my mind that this boy was worth fighting for.
I was given a second chance with the one who’d left his mark on me. All I hoped was that somehow I’d leave a mark on his soul, too.
OY!
Brittainy! Jeez!
Such a beautiful book.
Non-stop heartbreak. I think I never cried as much as I did with this book!
Part one of the book (the first 33%) takes us back to 2003.
It starts as this super-sweet young adult romance. The nerdy bookworm and the hot guy every girl at school wants.
First love and Harry Potter and smiles and dragonflies and red licorice and kung-fu movies and just showing up.
But then there are also the sad parts about their home lives that they can forget for a few hours whenever they're together.
Ellie has the best parents ever - but her mom is sick. And poor Grey - his parents are the worst.
Ellie and Grey are everything for each other for a short while - but then life gets in the way with a lot of heartbreak and then more life/time/College gets in the way. They lose touch.
Fast forward 15 years and we're in present time Chicago where Ellie is looking for a new job as a full-time nanny.
And she finds this position with Greyson.
His wife died ten months ago and he needs someone to take care of his two daughters.
But of course it's not easy. The girls are missing their mom and Greyson... he's so different. Cold. Sad. So sad and heartbroken. The happy boy with this beautiful laugh isn't there anymore.
Ellie doesn't know how to get through to him - or if she should even try.
Ugh - now I need to stop talking about the story. I think I didn't spoil much - most of it is already said in the blurb.
Just read it please!!!
It's beautiful and heartbreaking. But also so full of love and hope and happiness and second chances.
I just wanted to jump into the book and stop life from happening - I wanted them to get their HEA 15 years ago and not waste so much time ... but life did happen. And now we need to fight for that second chance!
I loved every single word of this book!
I wouldn't have minded if the book would've been just this adorable and heartbreaking young adult thing. Maybe they could've met again just a few years later in or after college for their second chance - but then we wouldn't have those two beautiful kids. Ugh. It's all so heartbreaking!!!!!
Brittainy knows just how to get our eyes peeing, doesn't she?! Crazy woman! ☺
ELEANOR & GREY was such a beautiful second-chance love story. Full of heartbreak and loss and pain. But also so full of love and hope and sweet and happy moments. I adored every single word in this book!
Wow, just wow.
That is all I can say about this book. Buy it and read it, that is all!
As with all of Ms Cherry's books, it is an emotional, 2-box-of-tissues read. I know every time I start a Brittany C Cherry book that this is what I should expect, and every time I am blown away with how emotional the story is.
Now, I adored Eleanor from the start, however her love of all things Harry Potter moved her up a few steps from adored to absolutely freaking loved her. From this Gryffindor to that wonderful Hufflepuff - you rock!
This is a beautiful, heartbreaking second chance story that will have you riding that emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
Our lovelies are both flawed and emotionally destroyed, however it was wonderful to see them find each other, hold each other, repair each other.
Gah, seriously, I just loved this book.
↓ Links to the Book & Author ↓
...if you haven't read Brittainy's ELEMENTS series yet ...
DO IT NOW ! Standalones!
Book #1
Book #2
Book #4
Disgrace - standalone
DO IT NOW ! Standalones!
Book #1
Book #2
Book #3
Book #4
Book #1 in the Music Street series - Complete Standalone!
Brittainy Cherry has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing. She loves to take part in writing screenplays, acting, and dancing--poorly of course. Coffee, chai tea, and wine are three things that she thinks every person should partake in! Brittainy lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her family. When she's not running a million errands and crafting stories, she's probably playing with her adorable pets.