Tag Archives: romance books

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Holiday Romance Review: The Merriest Misters

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

If you are looking for a cute, funny Christmas romance, look no further! Thank you to SMP Romance & Macmillan Audio for the review copies!

The Merriest Misters
By Timothy Janovsky 
🎧 Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin, Zach Barela 
Book 160 of 2024
Spice Level: fade to black

The Merriest Misters is this great balance of the realistic struggles of a young relationship – splitting bills and housework, making decisions about where to live and how to decorate, and balancing your work life, and your dreams and passions, with your home life – and an absolutely fantastical situation – being the new Santa Claus. There’s also a sprinkling of conversations about the rigidity of gender roles in our society. But Janovsky tackles these deep conversations amidst a fun romp of a novel, keeping the vibes mostly lighthearted.

Patrick and Quinn met in college and got married soon after graduating. They are early in their marriage, and things are getting a little rocky. Quinn starts out the book feeling emotionally neglected, and like he has been responsible for more of the housework and cooking while Patrick works long hours.

Patrick is learning how to show his love and appreciation in a way that actually makes Quinn feel loved and appreciated – and how many of us have had that phase in our relationships? There are whole books about the Five Love Languages to try to give couples the language to identify how their partner can show them love. And, of course, there are studies showing how home labor tends to fall on women’s shoulders more than men’s – even if the woman is the primary breadwinner. It was really interesting to see how these roles play out when there are two men in the relationship.

While I can go on and on about these deep conversations that I find interesting – the core plot of this book was so fun and lighthearted! After Patrick attacks Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, he becomes the new Santa, and moves to the North Pole for a year with Quinn. There is a lot of magic and fun at the North Pole – the Christmas vibes were off the charts! The whole cast of characters was so fun – especially the little poet elf that Quinn gives pep talks to.

🎧 I really loved these two narrator’s performances. With two POVs and flashbacks, it can sometimes be a little hard to follow by audio, but I found this one to be very clear with what POV we were in and where we were in the timeline! All of the characters were clear and distinct, and the narrators matched their characters so well.

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Romance Review: With You Forever

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Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #berkleypartner #berkley

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

With You Forever
By Chloe Liese 
🎧 Narrated by: Nelson Hobbs & CJ Bloom
Series: Bergman Brothers, Book 4
Book 42 of 2024

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  series info   .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

The Bergmans are a close knit family, so you will see a lot of the previous couples and allude to their story, so I think they are best read in order. Book 1 was a 4 star for me because it had a couple of slow spots, but book 2 is one of my favorite books that I’ve ever read, so they are worth your time!

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  book review   .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

I have been impatiently waiting for Rooney & Axel’s story!! Rooney has been around since book 1, since she is Willa’s best friend. I love how much we get to see of all the Bergmans and their partners throughout the books.

My only complaint about With You Forever was that, after a a multi book build up…this was still a slow burn!!! However, Liese gave us just enough that it kept the tension high without getting repetitive or boring. I do love romances that build an emotional relationship before getting spicy, so this was an absolute joy to read. 

Something I really appreciate about Chloe Liese, especially as an own voice autistic author, is the way she writes about both mental and physical health. While sometimes conflict happens because of a character’s mental or physical health, it is treated with such kindness and empathy by their partner. The conflict often becomes about how a character’s own sense of self worth or internalized ableism is affecting their ability to trust their partner. As someone who’s physical health has changed drastically in the past few years, I find this so relatable. 

🎧 I love that all of the Bergman Brothers books are narrated by the same duo! To me, it creates continuity because the characters sound the same from book to book. 

Representation: chronic illness (IBD) & autism  

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  book synopsis  .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

The TikTok sensation, now with new exclusive content!

Opposites attract in this heartfelt, modern marriage-of-convenience romance about finding love—and home—in the most unlikely of places.

Rooney Sullivan is sunshine incarnate and the antithesis of quiet, reserved Axel. He’s been able to hide his attraction to her until a party game gets out of hand and ends in an unexpected kiss. Months later, Rooney’s staying just next door to him for a cozy A-frame getaway and temptingly within reach.

Axel, the eldest Bergman brother, is a gorgeous grump and Rooney’s longtime crush. Their kiss was an accident, and months later, so is stumbling into him at the Bergman family’s property. Rooney’s sure her feelings are unrequited, thanks to the distance Axel keeps, so she keeps her attraction to herself.

But when Axel and Rooney unexpectedly find their paths—and problems—converging, marriage proves the perfect solution. At least, until they face a new a marriage of convenience that’s inconveniently become a love match, after all.

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Romance Review: Friends Don’t Fall in Love

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you to SMP Romance for the review copy!

Friends Don’t Fall in Love
By Erin Hahn 
🎧 Narrated by: Kale Williams & Lisa Zimmerman
Book 41 of 2024

🎧 You absolutely need to read this one on audio, the narrators’ performances are incredible! 

This gave me all the vibes I loved from Lovelight Farms, with that “friends to lovers” (but they’ve been into each other for a long long time). 

I loved everything about FMC Lorelai Jones – she’s a little bit based on Natalie Maines and the fall from grace The Chicks had after speaking up about politics. After Lorelei Jones sings a protest song after another devastating school shooting, everyone abandons her – even her fiance. Everyone except Craig. 

Craig is so smitten with Lorelei from page one. But he’s happy to have whatever relationship she wants – friends, producer/artist, housemates…

This was just so good from beginning to end, and I couldn’t recommend it more. 

🌸 Bookmark from @readwithallison – if you want some of your own follow my 🔗 and use code JANA 10 for 10% off your order!

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  book synopsis   .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

Erin Hahn’s Friends Don’t Fall in Love is about long-time friends, taking chances, and finding out that, sometimes, your perfect person was right there in your corner all along.

Lorelai Jones had it all: a thriving country music career and a superstar fiancé. Then she played one teenie tiny protest song at a concert and ruined her entire future, including her impending celebrity marriage. But five years later, she refuses to be done with her dreams and calls up the one person who stuck by her, her dear friend and her former fiancé’s co-writer and bandmate, Craig.

Craig Boseman’s held a torch for Lorelai for years, but even he knows the backup bass player never gets the girl. Things are different now, though. Craig owns his own indie record label and his songwriting career is taking off. If he can confront his past and embrace his gifts, he might just be able to help Lorelai earn the comeback she deserves―and maybe win her heart in the process.

But when the two reunite to rebuild her career and finally scratch that itch that’s been building between them for years, Lorelai realizes a lot about what friends don’t do. For one, friends don’t have scratch-that-itch sex. They also don’t almost-kiss on street corners, publish secret erotic poetry about each other, have counter-top sex, write songs for each other, have no-strings motorcycle sex, or go on dates. And they sure as heck don’t fall in love… right?

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Romance Review: Written in the Stars

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Written in the Stars
By Alexandria Bellefleur
🎧 Narrated by: Lauren Sweet
Series: Written in the Stars, Book 1
Book 37 of 2024

I’ve been meaning to read this series forever, and I can’t wait to continue it!

If you read the book synopsis (in the comments), the book is marketed as having nods to Pride and Prejudice, and I can always use more of the source material. Written in the Stars really only uses the archetype of the main characters – Darcy is a bit cold and reserved, and Elle is more free-spirited. 

While I overall enjoyed Written in the Stars, and thought it was a fun romcom, there are a few elements I wish were different that may have made it a five star for me. 

First, I feel like with the opposites attract trope, especially in the case of this story where Darcy was kind of mean to Elle at the beginning, we need the more reserved or stuck up character to fall first and fall harder. Darcy starts out being attracted to Elle, but really doesn’t like her personality. For me, this made the beginning slow and it made it harder for me to really like Darcy or root for her love story. Don’t worry though, she did really like Elle after getting to know her, and respect her belief in astrology. 

Once our couple started spending real time together and getting over their first impressions, it was a really fun read! 

🎧 I listened to this all via audiobook and really enjoyed Lauren Sweet’s performance. I sometimes have trouble when the two POVs share a gender, but I found it easy to tell who’s POV we were in!  

[book synopsis]

With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, a charming #ownvoices queer rom-com debut about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve—with results not even the stars could predict!

After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love—and the inevitable heartbreak—is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success. Darcy doesn’t expect her lie to bite her in the ass.

Elle Jones, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account, Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soul mate. But she knows it is most assuredly not Darcy… a no-nonsense stick-in-the-mud, who is way too analytical, punctual, and skeptical for someone as free-spirited as Elle. When Darcy’s brother—and Elle’s new business partner—expresses how happy he is that they hit it off, Elle is baffled. Was Darcy on the same date? Because… awkward.

When Darcy begs Elle to play along, she agrees to pretend they’re dating to save face. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her own overbearing family over the holidays and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a fake relationship.

But maybe opposites can attract when true love is written in the stars?

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Paranormal Romance Review: Heartsong

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you to Tor Books for the review copy!

Heartsong
By TJ Klune
🎧 Narrated by: Kirt Graves
Series: Green Creek, Book 3 
Book 35 of 2024

The thing about the Green Creek series is that by this point you just feel like you are another member of the pack. So the beginning really confused me when Robbie was off with not the pack?? I thought it was about before he came to Green Creek, but that wasn’t the case.

The way Klune crafts the community feel of his stories – ugh. I feel like I could happily read about them watching paint try because the banter would be top-tier and someone would probably forgive themselves for something and it would be all beautiful and healing. (I’m not fixing that run on sentence, it’s for the vibes.) 

My only complaint is that I like watching people fall in love with each other for the first time, and that’s not what we got in this book. It was still a beautiful and satisfying story, but because of Robbie’s situation *I* also sometimes felt like I was missing part of the story. 

Overall – LOVED – can’t wait for Brothersong!!

🎧 Kirt Graves is the voice of Green Creek for me. If someone ever tried to make a graphic audio, I couldn’t listen to it unless the narrators sounded exactly like the voices Kirt creates. I think he makes Klune’s writing really come alive for me – some of the repetition I could never have made feel as strongly as Graves made me feel in his narration. 

[book synopsis]

Heartsong is the third book in the Green Creek series, the beloved fantasy romance sensation by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, about love, loyalty, betrayal, and family.

“Complex and startling… Green Creek is the perfect setting.” ― Charlaine Harris

The Bennett family has a They’re not just a family, they’re a pack. Heartsong is Robbie Fontaine’s story.

All Robbie Fontaine ever wanted was a place to belong. After the death of his mother, he bounces around from pack to pack, forming temporary bonds to keep from turning feral. It’s enough―until he receives a summons from the wolf stronghold in Caswell, Maine. Life as the trusted second to Michelle Hughes―the Alpha of all―and the cherished friend of a gentle old witch teaches Robbie what it means to be pack, to have a home. But when a mission from Michelle sends Robbie into the field, he finds himself questioning where he belongs and everything he’s been told.

Whispers of traitorous wolves and wild magic abound―but who are the traitors and who the betrayed? More than anything, Robbie hungers for answers, because one of those alleged traitors is Kelly Bennett―the wolf who may be his mate.

The truth has a way of coming out. And when it does, everything will shatter.

The Green Creek Series is for adult readers.

Now available from Tor Books.

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Debut Review: Never Blow a Kiss

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you Forever Publishing for my review copy! 

Never Blow a Kiss
By Lindsay Lovise
Series: Secret Society of Governess Spies, Book 1 
Book 34 of 2024

This book was PERFECTION. 

Emily Leverton is a governess with a murky background. She grew up impoverished, but managed to trick her way into the ‘ton as a governess for a wealthy family. She is quickly recruited by a mystery woman known to her as “The Dove” to be part of a group of governesses that also spy on the ‘ton. 

To be honest – the title and premise seemed a little far-fetched and cheesy. To me, the meet cute where Emily blows a kiss to her love interest was the only cheesy moment. The rest was a wild ride. 

I read a lot of historical romance, so it was really fun to have the added mystery element. I have read a few books lately that tried to blend historical romance and mystery, and one element always overwhelmed the other. Either the romance was there, but the mystery was lost, or the mystery was there but the romance fell flat. Never Blow a Kiss felt very much like the best of both worlds to me. 

I loved that both of the lovers were aware of the mystery and were working in different ways at times and together at other times to solve the case. 

Fans of short chapters rejoice! I loved having 4-8 page chapters, it made the book fly by for me – especially since I usually don’t enjoy reading with my eyes, I really need a book that holds my attention. 

I can’t believe I have to wait over a year for the next book. It’s not even on goodreads yet but I need it now!! I’m excited that it’s following a new character instead of trying to make the romance play out over multiple books. We saw just enough of the next FMC to really pique my interest! 

QotD: It’s Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?

I am staying in and hopefully getting some reading done. Thinking about trying to do a 24 hour readathon over the course of the weekend? 

[book synopsis]

The utterly charming Emily Leverton has a dark past and is determined to leave it behind in her respectable new role as a governess. But when she is recruited by a secret network of governesses who spy on the ton, it may just be a way to redeem the dark secrets of her past.

Straddling the worlds of the ton and the working class, as an ex-solider turned railroad magnate, Zach hunts killers for the Metropolitan Police by day and dutifully attends balls at night. In neither world has he met a woman with the brazenness to mock him. So when a saucy governess blows him a kiss he is determined to catch her, never expecting that when he does he will find an intelligent, quirky woman hiding more than her true name. As Zach peels back the layers of Emily’s lies, he falls for the street-wise woman who handles a dagger like a pro and kisses like a mistress. But when his affair with Emily intertwines with his hunt for a killer, he discovers Emily is hiding an explosive secret—one that could destroy them both.

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Romance Review: This Could Be Us

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you Forever Publishing for the review copy!

This Could Be Us
By Kennedy Ryan
Series: Skyland Book 2
Book 33 of 2024

Where Before I Let Go was all about rebuilding joy after grief, This Could Be Us is about learning to trust yourself after betrayal. 

We knew from book 1 (which I highly recommend that you read) that Soledad’s marriage was rocky, but her husband turned out to be SO much worse than I thought! 

This Could Be Us shows so many different depictions of love: romantic, familial, friendship, and self love, and all of them were done so beautifully. I cried a lot of happy tears, which was especially nice because Ryan’s last book made me ugly cry several times. I think This Could Be Us could best be described as empowering. 

Judah is a top tier book boyfriend. He’s an exceptional father and co-parent to his ex wife and shows so much empathy towards Soledad at every stage of her journey. 

Something that stood out to me was Soledad’s journey as an influencer. I loved Ryan’s depiction of the hard work of being a mother and homemaker, and how that could translate to being an influencer. I always love depictions of influencing as hard work and positive depictions of social media! 

I hope you love This Could Be Us as much as I did!

[book synopsis]

Soledad Barnes has her life all planned out. Because, of course, she does. She plans everything. She designs everything. She fixes everything. She’s a domestic goddess who’s never met a party she couldn’t host or a charge she couldn’t lead. The one with all the answers and the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But none of her varied talents can save her when catastrophe strikes, and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes poof in a cloud of betrayal and disillusion.

But there is no time to pout or sulk, or even grieve the life she lost. She’s too busy keeping a roof over her daughters’ heads and food on the table. And in the process of saving them all, Soledad rediscovers herself. From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise.

But then an unlikely man enters the picture—the forbidden one, the one she shouldn’t want but can’t seem to resist. She’s lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes. Can she trust him? Can she trust herself?

After all she’s lost . . .and found . . .can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?

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February 2024 Reading Wrap UP

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February was a great month of reading, but not a great month health wise. I had my worst crash of my Long Covid journey, and have been recovering for most of the month. I’m extra thankful for books and book friends for keeping my spirits up when things were extra hard! 

Photo 1: My physical reads

Photo 2: Reading Goal Check in

Reading Goals:
💖 Physical TBR: 7 of 6 
💖 Total read: 18 / total brought into my house: 25 – closer to equal but still very much not 
💖 Diverse Authors: 9 of 7 planned
💖 ARCs: 6 of 8 planned 
💖 BOTM: 1 of 1

Photo 3: ARCs

Photo 4: Diverse Author / Book breakdown (could be diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, physical difference, neurodiversity, or something else!)

Photo 5: March plans

See my Instagram pinned posts for information on the two challenges!

All the books

Key:
😍 Reread
📖 physical/ebook
🎧 Audiobook
📖🎧 = mix of both
📓 ARC / ALC 
🖋 Reviewed 
📚 Series
🖤 BIPOC Author
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Representation
🗣️ Mind, Body, Spirit Representation

I have linked to my own review if you want to read more!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖🎧🖋📚 Eleven Scandals to Start…
📖🎧🖋📚🗣️ Always Only You 
📖📓📚🖤 Kiss the Girl
📖📚 Deja Brew

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
📖🎧🖋📚🖤 Rebel
📖🎧🖋📚 Castle of Dusk and Shadows
📖🎧📓🖋📚🏳️‍🌈 One Night in Hartswood
📖🎧📚 Blood & Steel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖🎧📓🖋📚 Ruthless Vows
📖🎧🖋📚🖤 The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes
📖🎧📚🗣️ Six Scorched Roses
📖🎧📚🖤 Wild Rain
📖🎧📚 The Highlander Who Protected Me 

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
📖📚 Mastering the Marquess 

⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖🎧📓📚🗣️ Fangirl Down (skip the audiobook, read with eyes!)
📖🎧📓 Here in Avalon (lit fic readers might like it more than I did)

⭐️⭐️
📖🎧📓🖋 The Breakup Tour

QotD: What was your favorite read in February? Do we have any books in common? Do you have any goals for March?

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Romance Review: Always Only You

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Always Only You
By Chloe Liese
Bergman Brothers, Book 2 
🎧 Narrated by: Nelson Hobbs & CJ Bloom
Book 20 of 2024

Nope. this is it. Ren is the perfect book boyfriend. I should just stop reading now. I will never find better.

Thank you to everyone in the Romance ARC group chat that has gushed over the Bergman Brothers for years until I finally picked them up! This is the second book in the series, and you could read it without reading the first, but the characters that are introduced in book 1 show up, so it’s a little more fun if you already know them. I did think that Book 1 had some pacing issues, but was overall good and worth the read! 

Frankie is the social media manager for the hockey team that Ren plays for. Ren has been hopelessly infatuated with her since the day that she started, but would never in a million years try anything because they are coworkers. 

But…one night when the team is at a post-game bar hangout…a teammate crosses the line with Frankie and Ren gets all *protective* …and ends up driving her home…and omg oh no her apartment was broken into so THE ONLY CHOICE is for her to go home with him. Obviously. 

Forced proximity + Forbidden + Grumpy / Sunshine = perfection

Each of the main characters holds such a special place in my heart. Ren is our sunshine character and while he may appear hyper-masculine, being a professional hockey player, he also has such a soft side. He runs a Shakespeare club and loves so fiercely and I just love him so much.

Frankie is hyper independent, especially after her diagnosis with a chronic illness in her teens made her mom overprotective. As someone with a disabling (but not terminal) illness, her internal journey was so powerful and I related so strongly to her difficulty with allowing people to take care of her. 

QotD: (choose one or all)
– Who was the last character that you strongly related to?
– What series are you working your way through or waiting for a new release for? 

[book synopsis]

It’s an office romance on the ice rink in this heart melting story about love’s power not in spite of difference but because of it.

Ren has known Frankie Zeferino was a woman worth waiting for since the moment they met. She’s a master of deadpan delivery, has a secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes his knees go weak. But as long as Frankie’s the team’s social media manager, she’s off limits.

Frankie is a self-admittedly blunt, grumbly grump, but even she isn’t immune to sunshiney Ren Bergman. Who could be, when he’s a six-foot-three hunk of happy with a hockey player’s physique? Maybe in the past, Frankie would have gone for a guy like him, but since being burned too many times by people who learn about her diagnoses and see a problem, not a person, she’s wised up.

After waiting years for the right time to make his move, Ren learns Frankie plans to leave the team to pursue a new career. But what he didn’t anticipate is how hard he’ll have to work to convince her to let him have his shot at winning her heart.

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Romance Review: The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes
By Xio Axelrod
🎧 Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, Tamika Simone
Book 17 of 2024

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes has been sitting on my shelf probably since it’s release date in 2021, and I’m so excited that I finally read it!! 

Check the content warnings…this one is a little heavier than my typical romance read. It doesn’t live in it’s darker themes though, so it was overall a very fun read. 

I would recommend this for readers who like the romance to be just one of the main elements in their reads. We get to spend a lot of time with the band, and Toni’s own growth, as well as the romantic plot. And I would definitely recommend it to music enthusiasts! 

💖 second chance romance
💖female rock band / women supporting women
💖 some found family vibes 

Going back to the content warnings, both main character Toni and her love interest Seb have difficult parents that have a range of abuse. I really admired how Axelrod didn’t shy away from the complex feelings of being an adult child of an abusive parent. 

🎧 Excellent on audio!

QotD: Do you consider yourself a music lover? Who are you currently listening to? 

I’m always in my Taylor Swift era, but with a heavy side of Noah Kahan this week!

[book synopsis]

They say the road to stardom is paved with broken dreams.

Growing up, Antonia “Toni” Bennett’s guitar was her only companion…until she met Sebastian Quick. Seb was a little older, a lot wiser, and he became Toni’s way out, promising they’d escape their small town together. Then Seb turned eighteen and split without looking back.

Now, Toni B is all grown up and making a name for herself in Philadelphia’s indie rock scene. When a friend suggests she try out for the hottest new band in the country, she decides to take a chance. She’s in for a surprise when one of the decision-makers turns out to be none other than Seb. Toni can handle it. No problem. Or it wouldn’t be if Seb didn’t still hold a piece of her heart, not to mention the key to her future.