REVIEW: The Mixtape by Brittainy C. Cherry

The Mixtape by Brittainy C. Cherry: Losing someone close to you is hard for anyone, but for Oliver Smith it just feels that more crushing. Not only did he lose his twin brother Alex but he lost his best friend, the other half to their famous musical duo and his rock. So you can definitely say that things have been hard for Oliver ever since that tragic accident, wanting nothing more than to disappear and drawn his sorrows at the bottom an empty glass, but even this Oliver can’t do without being hounded by the paparazzi. Which is exactly what leads him to Emery Taylor.

“The broken pieces of his story were exactly what made him shine.”

Emery is barely holding her head above water, with her dream of being a professional chef put on the back burner for now, all Emery is concerned about now is keeping a roof over her and her young daughter’s head and keeping them feed, which is exactly why she is bartending. She just never expected for her teenage crush to walk into her bar looking as bad as she feels, but there is just something about the broken Oliver that Emery can relate to. Will these two hurt souls be able to help each other heal, while trying to navigate their new norm when their two very different worlds collide?

“So much of your beauty comes from those broken pieces. In those cracks is where you shine.”

The Mixtape was one emotional read and I loved every single moment! This contemporary romance had a nice fast pace which helped seeing as there were quite a few dark topics dealt with by both main characters. I absolutely loved the mash up of trope in this novel; rock star meets Cinderella-esque meets aspiring cook, they all melt so perfectly together.

“You found me when my heartbeats were hardly there, and you stamped it. You stamped my heart, and that’s why it’s still beating.”

Oh my heart just broke for Oliver, you could just feel his pain coming through the pages. The book started of with such a gut punch, that prologue had me in tears before the book really even began. The more I read the more I was hoping that Oliver would heal and move on from his guilt and grief. I absolutely loved his relationship with his parents and just generally how cute they were.

“This was my brother’s, and it means the world to me, so I wanted to give it to the little girl who means the world to me, too. I wanted you to know that you have half of my heartbeats, and I’d spend forever protecting you if you’ll have me.”

As for our leading lady Emery and her super cute little girl Reese they were just the sweetest! I loved that Emery was such a strong female lead and that she made sure that she could provide for Reese and herself. She is such a great mother and took care of her daughter all on her own even when she had to struggle with the issues with her family. I absolutely loved watching Emery and Oliver together and seeing them support each other. I will say that the romance was a tiny bit lacking however it was no a major issue overall.

The Mixtape was a beautifully angsty read that I would definitely recommend reading, this was my first Brittainy Cherry book but it most certainly won’t be my last!

Book Info:

Publication: July 1st 2021 | Montlake |

Since the death of his twin brother, Oliver’s caught between pleasing his fans and finding himself. Emery finds him first.

Emery has never felt more alone. Raising her daughter is both her pleasure and her pain as she struggles to hold on to her job as a bartender and keep a roof over their heads. With no one to help them—no support system—any unexpected expense or late bill could turn their whole world upside down.

Reeling from the death of his twin brother and bandmate, rock star Oliver Smith is trying to drink his problems away. Apparently he isn’t very good at it; they follow him wherever he goes. Also in hot pursuit are the paparazzi, who catch Oliver at his lowest low.

He could have walked into any bar in California, but he walked into hers. Emery helps Oliver lose the crowd, and they find themselves alone: two people whose paths are marked with loss and pain. However, they hold an unshakable hope for healing. They find solace together, but can their love withstand the world?