Author: Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
Publication: Berkley (January 23, 2024)
Description: A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of The Roughest Draft.
Riley Wynn went from a promising singer-songwriter to a superstar overnight, thanks to her breakup song concept album and its unforgettable lead single. When Riley’s ex-husband claims the hit song is about him, she does something she hasn’t in ten years and calls Max Harcourt, her college boyfriend and the real inspiration for the song of the summer.
Max hasn’t spoken to Riley since their relationship ended. He’s content with managing the retirement home his family owns, but it’s not the life filled with music he dreamed of. When Riley asks him to go public as her songwriting muse, he agrees on one condition: he’ll join her band on tour.
As they perform across the country, Max and Riley start to realize that while they hit some wrong notes in the past, their future could hold incredible things. And their rekindled relationship will either last forever or go down in flames.
My Thoughts: Max Harcourt and Riley Wynn met in college and fell in love. Both were very good musicians which was one of the things that drew them together. But when Riley tried to convince Max to go with her to try to make it big in Nashville, Max decided that his role in his family's old folks home was more important to him than music. The two split and built their own lives.
Riley became famous for her music and her string of failed relationships which led her to become the queen of breakup songs. Max immersed himself in the family business and never could make a commitment to another woman.
Riley's latest album is a massive hit and the song she wrote about her and Max's relationship is all over the radio. With Harcourt Homes losing money and facing possible closure, Max has the idea of auditioning to go on Riley's tour to play their breakup song together which will let him earn the money he needs to keep the home open.
Neither Max or Riley have ever stopped loving each other but their life goals are radically different. Riley seems to go into relationships with the goal of writing a breakup song. She only feels real and alive when she is on the stage performing. Max needs to convince her that she's more than her stage persona and that love can be real and can last. It isn't always necessary to write a breakup song.
The story was infused with music and songwriting. The writing style was lyrical. I enjoyed that story but felt that Riley was a little too introspective and wondered if she could ever change enough to take a chance on a relationship that had a happy ending.
Favorite Quote:
Favorite Quote:
"The only thing worse than having your ex-girlfriend become the singer-songwriter of your generation and write a hit song about you is having your ex-girlfriend become the singer-songwriter of your generation and write a hit song everyone knows is about you."I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
I like that quote!
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