BriAnn Danae is an urban romance author and native of Kansas City, Missouri. In October 2015, she penned her first novel and since has enhanced her catalog claiming seventy titles to date. She whimsically writes Black love stories with purpose and passion, making you want to go beyond the book and look into her mind as a writer.
As the two-time 2021 Black Girls Who Write award winner for Best Black Book Series and Best Black Urban Romance and KCPCA 2023 Best Author of Kansas City, BriAnn has masterfully crafted her pen. With the talent to navigate between genres, she’s captured the hearts of her readers, making them fall hard in love with her characters. Her writing can be classified as soul-snatching, heart-yearning, chest throbbing, and downright some of the most exhilarating literature one could grace their eyes upon.
There’s a message BriAnn strives to leave with her readers. “I don’t just write to tell a story. I write to paint a picture and give a testimony.”
BriAnn, don’t piss me off! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 Now, why would you end this book like that?!!! I’m irritated AF and, I’m mad at everybody. I’m mad at Cyren cause, why you upset with Heavy for movin’ like a single man when you refuse to give him what he wants?!!! Then, she pulled that ridiculous azz stunt. Self-sabotage much?!!! I’m mad at Heavy cause, of all people, why TF would you take Tish’s needy azz to Cabo with you?!!! Sir, you’re not actin’ like a man who’s supposedly in love. I’m mad at Skylar’s silly azz cause, why you so damn jealous of your cousin?!!! Girl, go sit on somebody’s couch and talk about it. I almost threw my iPad across the room when I got to the end of this book cause, I definitely wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger. I need the author to book two me expeditiously.
Although this story ended with a mild cliffhanger, I am excited to see this one thorough to The End... I will certainly be back for more of this story. And the cover is gorgeous.
If it’s one thing BriAnn Danae is going to do, she’s going to write the HELL out of an MMC. And Rashawn “Heavy” Taylor is definitely one of them ones. 😮💨
We’re talking about a man who immediately applies pressure. A man who shows up when you need him. A man who’s consistent, dependable, and stands on his word. Just an overall solid man.
When we meet Heavy, he’s recently returned home after serving a three-year prison sentence. During that time, he suffered the loss of his grandfather—the man who raised him and helped shape him into who he is. But his grandfather was the kind of man who made sure his loved ones were taken care of even after he was gone. He left Heavy with assets, opportunities, and a community center that could completely change the trajectory of his future.
Now Heavy is faced with a choice: continue hustling in the streets or turn that hustle into something legitimate.
Just as he’s trying to figure out his next steps and get his life in order, he’s hit with another devastating loss when his best friend Dre passes away.
Then we meet Cyren Anderson.
She’s grieving too.
Not only has she recently lost her mother, but she’s also dealing with the loss of her cousin Dre, who happened to be Heavy’s best friend.
At its core, this story is about two people trying to navigate life while carrying the weight of unimaginable grief.
Cyren has convinced herself that she’s okay with keeping things casual. She’s determined not to get too attached because loving people means potentially losing them, and she’s already experienced enough loss to last a lifetime.
The problem?
She’s lying to herself.
Because little by little, she’s falling for Heavy.
And if we’re being honest, Heavy falls first and falls hard. 😂 That man was ALL about Cyren from the beginning, and I loved watching him show up for her over and over again.
For most of the book, things are moving in the right direction… until Cyren makes a decision about her future and completely drops the ball when it comes to communicating with the man who’s actively trying to build a future with her.
Now listen…
I was rooting for you, Cyren.
WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU! (In my Tyra Banks voice.) 😂
Because baby, you already had me side-eyeing you with the lying. But then you decided to add immaturity, assumptions, and jumping to conclusions to the mix and that’s where you lost me.
I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs, but this?
This was wrong.
She was wrong.
Wrong.
WRONG. 😂
And now I’m over here irritated because I know Heavy is about to be the one applying pressure in Book 2 when honestly… I don’t think he should have to. I need Cyren to do some work. She has some making up to do. I’m not saying she needs to take over the man’s role, but she definitely owes that man some effort after the way this book ended.
One thing I really appreciated about this story is how thoughtfully BriAnn handled grief.
This book is heavy on loss, mourning, and healing, so please take care of yourself while reading. However, BriAnn has a gift for writing these emotionally difficult stories in a way that never feels overwhelming. Even while reading about deeply painful experiences, I felt taken care of as a reader.
That takes skill.
The emotional depth, the romance, the healing journey, and of course Heavy being Heavy made this an easy 4.5-star read for me.
And now excuse me while I impatiently wait for Book 2 because I need to see how this plays out. 😮💨👏🏾
Book: Remind Me Again Author: BriAnn Danae Genre: Urban Romance Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Spice: 🥵🥵🥵🥵
This book stressed me out I'm pissed with Cyren she played with my boy the whole book then wanted to crash out when she didn't even know what really happened and on top of that was sneaky as h£ll and moved without telling the man 🙄 @brianndanae when is part two coming out because it's giving pregnant Cyren was acting way too irrational towards the end.
It ends on a cliffhanger and if I’d known that, I wouldn’t have read it until book 2 was released. Other than that, it was nice read. I liked how a highlighted grief and their journey of trying to heal. I wish I would’ve been able to see them heal MORE together, but I know that that’s a book 2 is probably going to be centered on. This just seemed like it scratched the surface. The FMC definitely likes to self sabotage, and that was so annoying. The MMC was your typical MMC - BDE, big spender, etc. he was also navigating his own grief while trying to help her.
Y’all, these two truly just needed someone, and I’m so happy they found each other .
That cake scene? The LISTENING while she talks? LOVEEEE. It’s easy to only hear what you want to hear, but to genuinely listen, read between the lines, and act on it? That’s what I love about romance! Also, SHE HAD A REAL FRIEND. I love when there’s at least one person they connect with outside the relationship. BriAnn writes best friends and their connections perfect each time!
Overall, I highly recommend it and absolutely need the next book ASAP.
I hate when a mc says “I love you” and my immediate thought is “why?” It means I didn’t feel like the characters truly connected. They didn’t do anything except have 3 conversations and 2 sex sessions 😩 hoping book 2 offers a bit more
I love a down bad MMC! Heavy from the start juggled the fragments of Cyren. That poor baby is crumbling in her despair and despite his own grief he’s picking up the pieces and holding space. He free fell into all things Cyren. Meanwhile, I want to shake some sense into her.
I did feel there were some gaps within pretty much every relationship. I do recognize some of the gaps are meant to be filled in the coming books. However, it felt like there were big jumps and at times made me question how we got here.
Nonetheless this is a BriAnn Stan account! She’s back🫶🏽
This was my first time reading BriAnn Danae, and this story did not disappoint! Honestly, I’m so upset it’s a "to be continued" because of how good it was. lol This book made me feel all sorts of things. Grief is a newfound feeling I’m currently dealing with myself, so I really connected with both Cyren and Heavy. Trying to look through that lens of grief, I wanted so badly to understand why Cyren acted the way she did, but man, she did not cut Heavy any kind of slack. He was in her face daily, showing her how much he cared for her. This was the first story I’ve read in a long time where the man wore his heart on his sleeve and the woman actually reciprocated it (to an extent). Part of me respects Cyren for doing what was best for her, but she did it without any regard for anyone’s feelings but her own… that’s grief for you. Despite that, their chemistry was unmatched. I loved the routines they fell into. She loved him, but I think she was just terrified of losing him. My only hope is that they find each other again in the next book. I want that so badly for the both of them. This is def a read!
This did start off just a tiny bit slow for me, but the momentum definitely started to pick up. I loved Cyren and Heavy together, and the comfort they became for one another while grieving lost loved ones, and trying to rediscover who they were without the presence of the family members that meant the most to them. I loved the positivity they spoke into one another while learning each other.
I’m definitely anticipating the next part, because Cyren’s lack of communication started to piss me off. I understand her reservations of not wanting to get hurt, and not wanting to be too attached out of fear of permanently losing someone once again, but she’s going about things all wrong. Sh*t just started stressing me the hell out towards the end.
I’m definitely hoping Heavy applies that big pressure when it comes to getting things straightened out with Cyren, and I hope she doesn’t give him a hard time, and is willing to take more risks that could lead to true love and happiness. I hope the next part isn’t too far away.
I have mixed feelings about this book because of how Cyren was treated by her "family." She was welcomed by her aunt but the tension with her cousin was unwelcome. Why ask for someone to come to be close to family if they still feel alone? I k ow all about grief but this gave jealousy as well.
I am happy she had Heavy but his situation was a little too much. There was a lack of communication there and if they were to have talked and been 100 things would have not ended the way it did. Oh, there is a cliffhanger so don't read if you are not into them.
Baby, Heavy had me smiling one minute and stressed the next. From bringing Cyren flowers, lunch at work, and making sure she celebrated her mama’s birthday, this man was applying pressure in all the right ways.
Now Cyren, sis had me wanting to throw my Kindle a few times. Talking about “we need to slow down” and planning a whole move to Texas without telling that man? Girl, be serious.
The romance, family drama, grief, and growth kept me locked in from beginning to end. And don’t even get me started on that restroom scene.
My only issue? Ain’t nobody tell me this was part one! I got to the end looking crazy because I need part two immediately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
So, if I would've known this was a cliffhanger, I would NOT have read it yet lmao good story though. At some points I was lost because there was some internal dialogue that almost felt like it was a continuation of something not discussed on page nor recapped on page, but great story! I had to remind myself multiple times that Cyren was grieving and to be patient with her. Sis was annoying me more times than not! Skylar…never mind. I’d have liked to see more from Aunt Nia. I love Heavy even if Cyren don’t 🤷🏾♀️ Now we wait for whatever silly games she’s going to play in the next part. Ugh.
This was an enjoyable read that pulled me in with two characters who were both carrying the weight of grief and trying to navigate life after loss. I really liked both Cyren and Heavy and appreciated how they found each other while they were each struggling to figure out what came next.
Their connection felt genuine because neither of them had everything figured out. They both had unresolved issues and emotional baggage, which made their journey together feel realistic. Just when I thought we were getting closer to seeing where things would lead, the story took a turn and left us wondering what the future holds for them.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and am definitely invested in seeing where Cyren and Heavy’s story goes next.
There’s no guide to navigating grief, but Cyren is trying her best. Heavy recognizes that pain because he knows it all too well. So when two worlds collide, they find solace in one another in ways neither of them expected.
BriAnn gave us BDE, a headstrong FMC, grief written so vividly, oh and she made sure we knew it was real trickyyyy 🤑🤭🤏🏾 She gave us all of the feels!!!
Book 2 can’t come fast enough because I can’t wait to see Heavy go up that mountain! 🤭
What a read! part two cannot come fast enough! I absolutely adore the yearning for her! I love a headstrong FMC and MMC who knows what he wants ! While this greif written story is unfolding I am falling in love with these two; especially HIM! I understand Cyren so much and and i relate so this hits 10 times harder! Read the book!!!! She just doesn’t miss! -A dejxreads2 Review-
As an April Aries, I would have returned the call and yes! He owes her an explanation! Im not explaining anything. This book was sooooo good, I hope I don't have to wait months for book 2. Yes, I would have still went to Texas. Skylar need an old school beat down ( 60's or 70's) love me some heavey. Cyren needs therapy and she need to take her auntie with her. That man loved her though.
And I mean cuss in a good way. All I’m gonna say is I agree with my girl Reenie Pooh…. For right now 🤭 HOWEVER, HEAVY HEAVYYYYYY! I thought I was in Dreamgirls the way I kept saying his name. Honestly BriAnn never misses. This book covered grief and working through it with those new in your life and those who’ve always been there. I cried, I laughed but overall I loved.
A cliffhanger?! I was NOT expecting that and I’m super irritated by that because I would have waited until the next book came out to even start!
But as for the story, BriAnn Danae’s writing is always good! I could feel the grief from Cyren and it choked me up a bit. I would have liked to have seen more of the way Heavy’s grief shows up but maybe we’ll get that in the next book. Can’t wait to read what happens!
BriAnn! Why am I feeling suspense right now? I loved the way Heavy showed his love through action. I hate that Cyren has been so taken by grief. In the end, I know this story is going to be just what it should. I can’t wait to see how it plays out. This was such a good read. Emotional, Funny, Suspenseful, & a touch of drama.
I don’t want to provide a rating because of the cliffhanger. I absolutely love this author but the way Cyren self sabotaged and refused to communicate bothers me. I know the next book will turn the story around so I’m going to pin this and come back when the second book is out. I don’t want to put Cyren on my cancelled FMC list but Heavy!!!! The name suits.
I am so in love with Heavy. He and Cyren were really good together, but I hate the way that this book ended. Now I’m going to be feigning for Heavy and Cyren. The book was well written, flowed well and definitely kept my attention. I couldn’t decide who I disliked the most, Skylar or Tish, but they both irked my nerves. Ok Heavy, it’s time to go get your lady!!!
I wouldn’t have read it if I’d known there was a cliffhanger. I would have waited, but with that said, I really enjoyed the book. I need a little more about what happened in Cabo….hopefully part 2 will enlighten us. Even though Cyren is grieving, I still liked her, and I like Heavy for her. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I really enjoyed going in this journey with Cyren and Heavy. They’re intuitive, supportive and difficult AF, maybe more Cyren than Heavy. You feel like you know the characters personally. Heads up because I wish I knew, this is the first of a series, the story does not end here.
And in part 2 I need cyren to put in more work for him cs unt unt like she being immature jumping into conclusions like cmon and like how dis een gon work is she gon go back or is he gon move to Texas ion kno cs grandpa’s community center aint dere so like whatssss going onnn
I love BriAnn’s writing style and how she really makes you feel like you are getting to know the characters personally. I loved this story of Cyren and Heavy. They both been through a lot and I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds and how their relationship evolves. I do hope in the next book there is a little more about how Heavy handles grief from a male perspective. I have been thinking about the way this book ended since I finished it, so I am excited for the next book.
This was heavy read for me because I’m grieving hard right now. To sit and wallow with these characters was the opposite of therapeutic but to see them embrace joy and allow life to creep back in was wonderful.