3 to 3.5 stars. See my full review here:
https://readinaflash.wordpress.com/2015/10/09/the-air-he-breaths-by-brittainy-c-cherry/

This was a quick read that was post of a 4-book set. My absolute favorite line that made me laugh out loud for minutes was when he was stomping out the bag of dog poop that Faye lit on fire.

Two people that both lost everything found each other and resuscitated each other back to life.

“Her soul was scarred, and mine was burned.

But when we were together, the hurting hurt a little less. When we were together, the past wasn’t as painful to take in. When we were together, I never for a second felt alone.”

Here's to love, life, and loss. A story of two broken people that came together in one of the most perfect way as possible. Definitely one of those great reads this weekend. There was so much hurt, pain, and suffering, but amidst that was also happiness and tranquility.

Tristan and Elizabeth were one of the perfect set to see that there's always light beyond the dark. No matter how painful the process was for them to get there.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot, the writing, the characters, everything.

I really really loved this. Such a beautiful, honest, sweet, and moving story about love, loss, and a lot of rebirth. I definitely will be reading more books by this author! I'm going to quickly go over what I did enjoy and what I didn't, because while I absolutely adored this book it had flaws. I didn't give it 5 stars, as you can tell. I would have loved to, because this story was so raw and real and beautiful-but many things it lacked. First of all, the characters felt quite real to me. They all felt distinct and I loved that, but sometimes I felt like I couldn't "see" them. Some characters were painted vividly by the author, while others were left like living mummies. I must say this happens so so often and I never really talk about it in reviews. But so many authors forget to describe characters inside and out. Some characters aren't important, while others are, but either way a good description helps paint the picture. For the most part this author did very well with the actual personalities, just a few I had troubling visualizing features physically. Anyway, besides that, there was also some over dramatization here. I'm not trying to demean the principles of this beautiful book. There were just many times where it felt like I was walking over the same pebble every day, eating the same sandwich, itching the same spot...I understand the pain of the characters and for the most part is was very well done, but at a few points in the novel I was thinking about how much I wished there was more going on than just pain. I hope that makes sense. I felt the plot was well done and while I was not "fell out of my seat" shocked by the turns I was surprised and I really enjoyed this book and its characters. I just wished there was a little more fleshed out here and a little less of the same happening a certain points. Also, the writing. I loved it. It was beautiful and quick to read, but here lies the problem with many of the things I mentioned already. First of all, I'd like to say there were some points where the writing would stop being beautiful and start feeling cheesy and overdone. I did not like that, because I was loving the story and it wasn't eye-rolling bad, but there was cheese. Next... If there was a little more description, a little more of everything and less of others, I think this would have been a stronger novel. The story was very strong, but the construction of it could have been better, as with many books! Okay, now onto more positive comments. I adored this book. Through and through. The characters were amazing, the plot was very done, and the writing was sweet and quick. It was just what I needed to get through the constant reading slump I have seemed to have been in lately. I cried with these characters, laughed with them, felt so so much for them. I highly recommend this new adult read. It is so much more than you expect. I don't know what to say as far as all the things I loved in particular because I don't want to spoil anything, but just know that if you have no tried new adult and really want to, START HERE. Or if you like Colleen Hoover and wonder if there are any authors who write with, not the same, but a similarly deep and powerful way for this genre, read this book. I can't wait to read more. JUST READ IT ALREADY IT'S WONDERFUL. So sad, so sweet, so so wonderful.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars

Genre: Second Chance Romance
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 5/10
Writing: 9/10
Enjoyment: 5/10
Hero: 9/10
Heroine: 8/10
Supporting Characters: 7/10
Humour: No
HEA:

Spoiler

Yes

Thoughts: I just struggled to get into this one. The last 20-30% let it down, felt rushed and like it was just ready to be done

2 barf worthy stars.

I don't get it. I just don't get it.

Sigh.

This book has been on the Amazon Bestselling List sitting comfortably on the top five for the past few weeks and garnering glowing reviews. I mean, just look around us. JUST LOOK. Everyone and their mother loves this book. It has a mere 1% for 1-2 stars on Amazon.

So, why didn't I love it? Is it because I'm a grumpy asshole?

Reasons I don't like this book:

1. The main characters have no personality. Literally. None. Zero. Nada. I can honestly tell you that I don't know either of the main characters. Their whole personalities consist of the fact that they both went through tragedy. Tristan is an archetypal asshole and Elizabeth is...nothing. There's nothing to say about this chick.

2. Elizabeth has a child who is neglected throughout the book. Several times, Elizabeth jumps out of her house to go to Tristan's house and spend the night. Uh...you're just going to leave your kid alone at night? Mother of the year fucking award, lady.

3. The narration is so sappy, guys. Like, is there something wrong with me? Am I just cold hearted? Or are the following lines as barf worthy to you as they are to me?

I could almost see his soul within his eyes

"Show me the shadows that keep you up at night. Kiss me with your darkness" (This happens in the middle of sex guys. SEX. Talk about a turn off.)

But when I was with him, at least I remembered to breathe

Breathing is an involuntary mechanism, Brittany Cherry.

(And this is the absolute worst and oddly enough the one most people quote)

You know that place between nightmares and dreams? That place where tomorrows never come and yesterdays don't hurt anymore? The place where your heart beats in sync with mine? The place where time doesn't exist and it's easy to breathe? I want to live there with you.

Barf. If any of you aww'd while reading that then get out. Get out.

4. This author insists that each character helps the other breathe. Hence the title of the book. I know the author was going for depth but groan. People don't forget to breathe, Brittany Cherry. We literally can't. Stop with the terrible sappiness.

5. Even with all of the above, even with all the hatred I have towards the writing and the characters, I could have enjoyed this but then somewhere around the 75% mark the book went bat shit crazy and she tried to insert all these terrible plot twists for which there was no foreshadowing whatsoever, just out-of-the-ass plot twists for the sake of it. One terrible plot twist after the other.

I gave the book two stars because, in its defense, I think I wasn't its target audience. I love a good well developed romance with two adults but oh my god I hate sappiness for the sake of it.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

...
...
...

You're telling me that in all the time they dated they never once asked each other when their respective tragedies happened? They could've easily put two and two together. For fuck's sake. It was just such a terrible ending.