“Because I heard his music. I heard his music last weekend, and then when I listened to him play…I don’t know…” I swallowed hard. “It’s like, for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel alone.”
How do I begin a review for this book?
This story was so much MORE than what I was expecting
I was moved beyond belief with not only the story, but the feelings the characters evoked within me
The music … listening to the mentioned music, the music inspiring the words, and understanding how important music was to each of the characters … wow.
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC WHEN YOU READ. Seriously. So much of this book is written with these songs IN THE STORY, so listening to them truly doubles the feelings you have when you experience the story.
I’ve always been a person affected greatly by music. I don’t have any particular musical talents myself, except a bit of singing here and there, but most every memory and deep feeling in my life is associated with a song. These characters took that feeling to another level — music was EVERYTHING to them: it came from their very soul. It was so deeply rooted in them that their very existence was intertwined with music.
Elliott. This boy is so much. When we meet him, he’s still in high school, but he is so much wiser than any high school boy I’ve ever met. He’s not popular, famous, or even well-liked, but he is so focused on what matters. Deep in his heart, in his very soul, he is the epitome of what humanity should be like. Outside, he isn’t what most people would give the time of day, but even that adds to his charm.
Jasmine. She is part of a dream that isn’t her own. Talent, beauty, charisma, intelligence — – these are all words that would be used to her. She hears Elliott before she sees him. “I felt him, felt his music crawl along my skin. The chords and bars of his saxophone sent chills down my spine. It sounded magical, the way the notes danced through the air, so hauntingly beautiful.” Jasmine is drawn to the beauty in his music, which is a direct reflection of the beauty in him. Unfortunately, Jasmine doesn’t see the potential for something like that within herself.
Once these two find each other, oh. my. gosh. I can’t even describe what seeing the discovery of love does to your heart. I’ve never really read a story where you watched the characters not only discover what love is in general, but do that while discovering how to love themselves and how to love their person. Elliott’s uncle TJ is my hero. I loved him so much from the very first few interactions. He also offers the deepest and most profound advice to Elliott, something I think we all need to take to heart regarding love and life: “And, buddy?” He called after me as I was almost outside the front door. “Take it slow. There’s no need to rush it. Let the harmony fall together the way it’s meant to. There’s nothing worse than a rushed note that could’ve been so perfect. Then, when you’re ready, call her beautiful, not hot, not sexy, but beautiful. They love to be called beautiful.” Tears. Straight tears. That’s exactly what I wish people would recognize, especially young adults. I tell my students this SO MUCH. There’s no reason to rush through anything! Rushing ruins all the beauty that comes from discovery!!
Gosh, I wish I could quote the entire book to you, but that would totally ruin it. I will tell you that this book is absolute BEAUTY. Are the characters perfect? No. Will your heart be broken by events that nobody can control? Yes. But there is so much here: so much to learn, to feel, and to experience.
My absolute favorite line:
“He went back to staring out the window, and I kept staring at him. And there it was. So small, so tiny, so real. Love. It wasn’t love, but it was the beginning of it.” How I love she is acknowledging that moment when you know love is a possibility, but you haven’t quite settled in it yet. Not only is this my favorite feeling, but it is one that so often ignored. To find that wisdom in someone so young …
I feel like most of my review is just telling you how much beauty I found in this story, but it’s so true. Between the music, the feelings, and the story itself — I can’t really explain how much my heart experienced during this. Definitely one of my top ten for 2017.
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About the author
A Favorite of 2017.
When I'm reading Romance, I want to feel ALL the feels. Let's be honest, I want the author to make me cry, or even tear up a bit. Luckily, Brittainy C. Cherry is a master of heart and completes the task with each story she tells. Every book of hers is more beautiful than the last. The Gravity of Us quickly became one of my favorite books of the year, making me hesitant to believe Behind the Bars could be as good. I was terribly wrong and will never again doubt her ability to pen masterpiece after masterpiece. Elliott and Jasmine were a couple of the most endearing characters I've ever read. Jasmine's life is focused on her mother's desires for her to become a world-famous pop star, leaving Jasmine with little time for anything else, even school. Finally, her mother concedes to allow Jasmine to attend public school, a place that becomes her haven. Elliott's vision of high school is anything but a haven, however. He's berated and bullied every day of his existence, forcing him to become a shell of a person, except when a saxophone is in his hands. Jasmine and Elliott form an unlikely bond forged by the power of music. Behind the Bars fits perfectly under the umbrella of last month's post: Don't Judge a Book by its Cover...or Title. Based on this cover or title, readers may suspect this story is about race or prison. Guess again! This story simply features a beautifully redemptive love story about two musicians making a life and love of their own. Race is a non-issue and prison comes into play in a manner you will not foresee based on the title, cover, or synopsis. It's best to go into this one without preconceived ideas, and simply enjoy the exquisite story inside. I also have to give kudos for Elliott being such a relatable male character. I felt a pull to him more than anyone else in the story, making him miss him when I'd finished reading. Not to mention Ray and TJ. The guys in this book are ridiculously loveable! Talk about a book hangover! "Whenever I thought of home, I didn’t think of a place; I thought of people, the ones who shaped us into the people we were meant to become, the ones who loved us with our scars and told us those scars were beautiful, the ones who allowed us to make mistakes and still loved us fully." If you read a Brittainy Cherry book, you will not be able to say one negative word about the woman. Her heart bleeds gold onto her pages. Her writing is phenomenal and her stories feature the beauty we should all be focusing on in the world. The bottom line is if you haven't read this one yet, you're missing out!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2018
Top reviews from other countries
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- Vanessa Silva MartinsReviewed in Spain on December 18, 2019
One of my favorite by her
- Sandra De Gouveia (Alexandra Alston)Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2018
Dreams....
- JoanneReviewed in Canada on July 21, 2023
Absolutely Incredible!!!
BEHIND THE BARS by Brittainy C Cherry Music Street #1JoanneAbsolutely Incredible!!!
Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2023
Elliot and Jasmine's story
A beautiful love story of dreams, sacrifice, heartache. loss and forgiveness. I had an instant connection with Jasmine and Elliot, they were such special characters. Both had been through so much in their pasts, both knew the cold feeling of loneliness. This story tore out my heart and soul, but Ms. Cherry pieced it back together again beautifully.
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