Essence (Oakwood: Heart & Soul) Paperback – April 10, 2023

I am not 100% sure where to even start....ughhhh.... This book was so heartbreaking, but soooo good! I cried so often in this book I had to put it down several times.This book follows Callen and Tierney through an innocent friendship, growing up, growing apart and ultimately growing together, to then fall apart again. This book does end on a cliffhanger, but book 2 is out March 12th;) I highly recommend this book, just know, it will break your heart, make you laugh, scream and end up loving these characters, even with their flaws

This is the first Jeri Marie book I’ve read. I picked it up because I saw a post about her next book, reader, Resilience.I was pleasantly surprised. I was interested in the story and the development of the characters. I have had family members who have struggled with the same issues in this book and I think Jeri did a great job at showing it. The only reason it’s 4⭐️s instead of 5 is I did find it hard to keep up with the time frame. I found myself going back and forth to see how days, weeks or months had gone by. But I loved it!! Can’t wait to get my hands on Resilience!!!

This story goes beyond a best friend's brother romance. There's so much about addiction and the different shapes it takes and the ripple effects it has on the family and friends. I love the friendship and foundation these 2 have. My heart goes out to Tier because she's had a really tough road. My heart breaks for Callen too though. It sounds like he has a family history that no one talked about and something for them to understand and get the skills to avoid falling into it. I'm really hopefully about book 2, I'm interested to learn about he's trying to get better. I'm also wanting to see what Tier has been doing with her life. They both seem like soulmates, and I wish that for them.

This book is so important to read if you can a book dealing with addiction….. trigger warning - overdose, addiction….I’m a psychology major so reading books that could help used people and people mind set are beautiful to me in weird but good ways, because helps me learn and understand how to help people… their are so many ways on helping a person… this book is another example of that…Five star read for me…. Its is slow burn but I believe it meant to be get you really thinking and feelings for people on both sides of this type of topic.

The beauty behind every word, the raw emotion and gut wrenching decisions that lie beneath the artistry of the writing is all encompassing. This story is real and honest. It hits at the core of who we are as humans and challenges the choices we make. It shed light on the glow of first love while acknowledging the demons that can surface beneath. It's beauty and charm, heartache and fluffy smiles, the various meanings of friendship and family. It's everything a great book should be and I highly recommend it.

This book was one of those books that takes you through every emotion! Callum and Tierney’s story was one that was riveting, and their chemistry felt so genuine. The author did a beautiful job of covering difficult and heavy topics with tact and grace. This friends-to-lovers story was such a different take and the authors writing style was so unique. The cliffhanger is a doozy but, that just means the next book is on my TBR!

This book starts with Tee looking back 8 years and what happened before she left her hometown, and has not returned since. It then goes back in time before she left and what happened causing her to leave. This book follows Tee while in high school and her relationships with her best friends and her mom. Her relationships have become strained after dealing with the loss of her dad. Jaime is her best friend and her brother Cal was also super close until a few years ago. After the death of Tee's dad, her and Cal start becoming close again. Now she has to leave town because she can't face the people hurting her and she feels more betrayed than ever. Can't wait to read the next book!

I’m screaming. I’m kicking. I’m throwing things. All in my brain but still.Essence… God bless. This story is so beautifully told and well written and the way my heart was beating in my chest so erratically at the end. I wanted to jump into this book and hug Tierney so badly the entire way through. And the end… I need the second book like I need a trip to Starbucks; always and immediately.I loved this book. Thoroughly and wholly.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️