For One Night Only

Happy book birthday to For One Night Only, the debut novel by Jessica James! 2025 looks like it will be the year of music-related romances, and kicking things off is this wonderful book about a pop punk band getting back together for a one-off concert… and two of those bandmates reigniting that old spark between them. But with an expiration date on the music reunion, is there hope for these two star-crossed lovers?

Why I Chose This Book:

From the second I first heard about For One Night Only, I knew I had to read it! I love any book about music, but that this one is specifically about a pop punk band getting back together? Instantly sold. Paramore vibes confirmed. This book is also a romance—my favorite genre lately—and evidently the first in a series, and I already can’t wait to read more about the Glitter Bats.

What I Liked:

• Pop punk band dynamics!
• So intimately musical; I love how detailed the music depictions are
• Band reuniting and a second chance romance, all rolled into one
• Music business and industry drama (360 deals are the worst, tbh)
• The problems fame can bring
• He’s a short king with anxiety and panic attacks; discussions around mental health
• She’s chaotic and impulsive; reckoning with her actions
• Excerpts of interviews, articles, set lists, and more throughout!

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved For One Night Only! The music and rock band themes (Paramore vibes!), the bandmate relationships, the romantic relationship, mental health discussions, the strains of fame—plus the excerpts of other material sprinkled throughout—everything was sublime. And I’m thrilled that this is the start to a series, because I can see some possible relationships between the other characters and will gladly read their stories. This is a phenomenal debut that’s perfect for music lovers, readers interested in the dynamics of bands and fame, and a second chance romance between two flawed but lovable people.

Special thanks to the publicists at Penguin Random House, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy For One Night Only here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

For One Night Only by Jessica James
Series	Glitter Bats (#1)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Contemporary Romance
Setting	California
Number of Pages	368
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	January 7, 2025
Publisher	Berkley

Official Summary

GLITTER BATS REUNION CONCERT—SOLD OUT!

When two former bandmates—and bedmates—are thrust back into each other’s lives in a fake dating scheme for publicity, they’ll be forced to face the music.

After her recurring role in tabloid headlines, Valerie Quinn’s musical TV show is on the network chopping block. Desperate for good press, she hastily reassembles her wildly beloved pop punk band, Glitter Bats. A reunion concert could be the former lead vocalist’s ticket to a media makeover, especially if it renews public speculation around her iconic situationship with bassist Caleb Sloane.

The only problem? They haven’t spoken in six years.

Caleb had the makings of a rock god, but fallout from the messy Glitter Bats breakup left him broke, anxious, and resentful of the industry. But when Valerie shows up at Caleb’s doorstep with that devastating smile and a plea for help, he reluctantly agrees to put on one last show.

So what if the fandom assumes the two of them are back together too? They’ll play along. You know…for the press.

Making music together not only revives the harmony between them, but also the discord that led to the band’s downfall. With their futures—and the Glitter Bats—in the balance, can they survive a romantic reprise?