Happy book birthday to Sasha Laurens's adult debut, When I Picture You! I've been eagerly reading every music-related romance that has come out this year, so when I heard about this one, I couldn't wait to read it, too. Lola Gray is a wildly successful pop star known for her songwriting. But after a breakup,... Continue Reading →
I couldn't let this month end without reading Regina Black's new romance, August Lane. Set between the late 2000s and 2023, this second-chance romance takes one-hit-wonder Luke Randall back to his small hometown in Arkansas to perform a song with the new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, JoJo Lane. But he knew JoJo's daughter,... Continue Reading →
The year of music romances continues! Emma Lord's For the Record is a second-chance, enemies to friends to lovers romance between two former rivals, pop star Mackenzie Waters and punk rock frontman Sam Blaze. After two years away from the industry, they're each ready to make a solo comeback... until their label decides to make... Continue Reading →
I have been absolutely loving all the music-themed romances coming out this year, and one of my most anticipated was Kate Golden's If Not for My Baby. It starts with the kind of unexpected opportunity we all dream of: Small-town waitress Clementine's best friend drops out of backup singing duties in a big star's tour... Continue Reading →
Today Danica Nava releases her second novel, Love Is a War Song, and I loved it! This romance follows Avery Fox, a new pop singer (and former child actress) after she's been canceled for maybe lying about being Native American and misrepresenting her culture. For damage control, she goes to stay with the Grandmother she's... Continue Reading →
When the Music Hits by Amber Oliver is the book I've needed for years! A young woman trying to work her way up in the music industry, in that sweet spot between musical creativity and the business side. That's exactly what I wanted to do with my career. This sense of harmony made it easy... Continue Reading →
Who doesn't love a pop punk cruise? This is what caught my attention with Alicia Thompson's Never Been Shipped. I've already been wanting to read her books since With Love, from Cold World came out; the Paramore reference was like a siren call. That one is still on my TBR, but today, one of its... Continue Reading →
This week saw the release of Lissette Decos's second novel, Takes One to Know One. Set primarily in Puerto Rico, this enemies-to-lovers romance follows up-and-coming reggaetonero Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez... and Daniela, the reggaeton-hating record label executive working with him while he records his debut album. Why I Chose This Book: I never pass up... Continue Reading →
This week, Myah Ariel released her second novel, No Ordinary Love. It follows her previous book, When I Think of You, this time diving into the music industry, a woman going through a brutal divorce, and the new chance at love she finds along the way. Why I Chose This Book: I wanted to read... Continue Reading →
Happy book birthday to The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest! This is the final book in her Greene Sisters trilogy, in which eldest sister and single mom Iris finds an unlikely connection with a popular R&B singer, Angel. But with her past and carefully constructed life, can she pursue a future with a celebrity like... Continue Reading →
Lauren Kung Jessen is back with her third romance, Yin Yang Love Song. When a celebrity bad boy teams up with a woman who works at a family business, their complementary missions seem like the perfect duet: They'll fake date to play up his heartbreaker image and promote her heartbreak-healing retreat. But what happens when... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books this fall was The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley. Set in the Seattle grunge scenes of the 1990s, this dual-timeline novel is about star-crossed lovers—Elijah Hart and Jane Pyre—torn apart by fame and addiction. But when Elijah goes missing in Iceland in late 1994, Jane is forced to carry... Continue Reading →
Tomorrow, one of my most anticipated July romances comes out: Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. It's set in the world of music, but instead of the pop and rock that I usually read about, this takes us into the contemporary classical realm. Violinists and cellists, a New York City orchestra, and rivals who... Continue Reading →
For many months, I've been excited for the release of Lindsay Hameroff's debut novel, Till There Was You. I'll admit, that delicious cover is what first caught my attention (who doesn't love blueberry pancakes?), but I was also intrigued by the music industry aspect of it, too. This is a charming and heartwarming contemporary romance... Continue Reading →
Three years ago, I adored The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod. The first in her Lillys series, it introduced an all-girl rock band starting to gain traction before releasing their first album. It was an incredible work of music fiction as well as contemporary romance, and I was eager to continue... Continue Reading →
We’ve all heard the Plain White T’s hit “Hey There Delilah” countless times since its release in 2006. I’ve loved the song all these years, and the lyrics have always made it easy for me to envision the story like a movie. Now, that story has been reimagined into a whole novel: What You Do... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books this fall is Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg. I’m always a sucker for novels about music, and that’s what first drew me to this one. It follows a singer-songwriter on the verge of success at 35. But in her past, she asked two different men to... Continue Reading →
I love when two different things that I enjoy converge. Such is the case with the latest book I read. In the last few years, I've become a fan of Zoraida Córdova, having read several of her books. Last year, I also enjoyed Jasmine Guillory's By the Book, the second installment in the Meant to... Continue Reading →
After enjoying a couple of romance novellas in February, I was in the mood for another quick and cute love story. I picked out For Love or Music by Julie Lipson, in part because of my deep love for music. It's such a different romance than I'm used to reading, and I really enjoyed the... Continue Reading →
Last year, I greatly enjoyed Brendan Slocumb's debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy. As soon as I heard about his second book, I could hardly wait. I was overjoyed to get an ARC of his new novel, Symphony of Secrets, which comes out tomorrow, April 18th. His sophomore release is even more impressive and impactful than his... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books this year has been The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale. Though I haven't yet read her first novel, The Ballerinas, this one falls into a similar genre of drama thriller. Also like her first book, this one features a dual timeline and a protagonist gifted in the arts. Instead of... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books last year was The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, the debut novel by Dawnie Walton. As a huge fan of music (including punk), and as someone who cares deeply about politics and social issues, this is a book I knew I needed to read. Throughout this month, my... Continue Reading →
Late last year is when I first heard about The Violin Conspiracy, the debut novel by Brendan Slocumb. As soon as I read the summary, I was sold; I pre-ordered it immediately. While I awaited its release day, The Violin Conspiracy became the inspiration for my February reading challenge: books about Black musicians. Needless to... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 