Review: The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry

The Air He Breathes 

Brittainy C. Cherry

Series: Elementals #1

Published September 25, 2015

Rating: ★★★

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

I was warned about Tristan Cole.

“Stay away from him,” people said.
“He’s cruel.”
“He’s cold.”
“He’s damaged.”

It’s easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster.

But I couldn’t do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him because it also lived inside of me.

We were both empty.
We were both looking for something else. Something more.
We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays.

Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe.

Links

Goodreads Amazon 

Cover Comments

I like that the cover model really does look like the main male character in the book. Honestly, it kind of makes me giggle because it is such a hipstery looking cover.

My Review:

The more I think about this book, the less I feel like I liked it. I had such high hopes too. After all, this book is really really highly rated on Goodreads. A lot of people were toting as their favorite this year, so I knew I was in for a good time. Right? Apparently not.

I think my problem with the story is that it all felt too rushed. I didn't feel a connection to the main couple, because it felt like everything happened in the matter of a few pages. I really wish is were a longer book and they could have developed their relationship a little bit slower. I guess I just didn't feel like their love was believable in the time I got to see them.

The story is heartbreaking. Especially the flashbacks. They had me in tears almost every time. Cherry wrote that initial pain after a loss so so so well. I had to give my son a really long and big hug after one particular scene. The pain was well written. I could feel the torture they felt coming off of the page to me. That is probably why I gave this book 3 stars instead of 2.

My absolute favorite part of the book was Emma. Oh my goodness, that little girl stole my heart. She was the most believable and lovable part about the book. I really loved reading about her interactions with Tristan. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I felt as if she helped heal his pain more than Elizabeth. I felt more of a connection between those two. But, all around Emma was just so sweet and adorable, and such a 5 year old! Of course, I'd be lying if I said I don't have a huge soft spot for kids in books.

Now, can I just say the ending was ridiculous. I really didn't feel the whole added twist was necessary to the story at all. It took a believable story and made the whole thing absurd in my head. I feel like Cherry just went a little bit too far with it.

Would I recommend it? It probably wouldn't be the first book out of mouth. However, others seem to be LOVING this book. Maybe the problem lies with me. I don't know, but if you like the heartbreaking romances, this will probably be a book you thoroughly enjoy. For me though, I'd give this book a solid 2.5 stars.