How to Stay — Christina R. Mitchell

-2020 Winner of the Booksellers' Best Patti Shenberger Award for Best First Book THE BADDEST B**** IN ROCK IS RUNNING AWAY. AGAIN.It's been fourteen years since rock singer Adelia Winters escaped the small town of Cherry Lake. But thanks to her father's death (and punching the president of her record label #sorrynotsorry), she's back. But the last thing she wants is to face the secrets-and the best friend-she left behind. Perfectionist Conor Ross doesn't take chances. Not with his body, his photography career, and certainly not with love. Fourteen years ago, he'd taken a chance and it ended with his best friend trampling his heart on her way out of town. Never again. He doesn't do messy, and there's no bigger mess than Adelia Winters. Fate clearly isn't interested in what either of them want, and a storm lands Adelia on Conor's couch. Between whiskey hangovers and rock song sing-alongs, they are forced to confront their broken friendship and the passion still blazing between them. If they can heal the wounds of the past, they might just have a future, but Adelia's disintegrating career is pulling her away, even as the town-and Conor-are calling her home. TW: body dysmorphia, orthexia, loss of parent, hoarding, referenced child neglect, referenced abuse, referenced survival s*x How to Stay is a full-length, emotional, sexy, snarky, small town contemporary romance. This steamy friends to lovers second-chance romance will give you all the feels. Bring tissues. ★★★★★ REVIEWS A rock and roll ballad in book form. -Goodreads Review How to Stay is a sweet romance and a poignant character study that will keep the reader enthralled. [A-] -Lisa Fernandes, All About Romance Do yourself a favor and buy this amazing second-chance romance about two broken people who find their missing pieces once again in each other. -Lyssa Kay Adams, author of the Bromance Book Club This story has all the feels, and the kind of writing that swept me away and made me forget I was even reading a book. It's so detailed and nuanced and thoughtful, it's hard to believe this is a debut. -Stacy Gold, blogger and author of the Emerald Mountain romance series This is a well-crafted, dreamy love story with a spiny sense of humor and a heart in full bloom. -Goodreads Review Every character is beautifully flawed in a way that makes them human. Mitchell's poetic voice and richly painted world takes this book from an ordinary indie debut to an extraordinary work of art. -Multi-Award-Winning Author, Heather Novak The ending is happy but real. Life is messy, uncomfortable, complicated, sometimes sappy and ultimately beautiful. -Goodreads Review