Love Songs and Other Lies is a quick YA contemporary clearly going for the ‘American summer read’ approach. It appeared sporting the hallmarks of boyband lit – a phenomenon I’ve written about here and here – and I decided to see what’s being done with the genre across the pond, given that much of what I’ve read from it has come from UKYA.

Vee’s been the songwriter behind her best friend’s band for most of her teenage life, and when Logan’s band wins a spot on a battle-of-the-bands reality TV show, she gets pulled along for the ride – only to come face-to-face with Cam, her heartbreaker ex-boyfriend, who’s been called back into the band at the last minute. Cam is determined to win her forgiveness, but as the story of his secret is slowly unravelled and the competition gets more intense, it looks like things are going to get messy for the both of them once more.

This début has got music, mystery, and the added intrigue of the close-quarters setting. It’s told in dual timeline alternate narration, revealing how Cam and Vee fell for each other the first time around while also following a bitter reunion over the battle of the bands. It takes some getting used to, but showcases a bit of narrative ambition, which I liked. Reminiscent of Sarah Dessen or Emery Lord’s When We Collided, Cam and Vee’s first romance is enjoyable and heady, full of one-on-one moments and beaches at midnight. Vee’s friendship with Logan and the other band-members is interesting, too. The book deals with some intense stuff – fame, heartbreak, loss – and I was drawn into the pages by that unexpected level of intensity.

However, once you’ve closed those pages, the feel of the book is less captivating; it’s one of a modish, fleeting contemporary which doesn’t delve deep into exploration of theme or character. Most of the relationships don’t have depth, the secondary characters are thinly sketched and the prose is dialogue-heavy. The reader sees very little of the actual battle of the bands. Increasingly unbelievable decisions result in correspondingly unbelievable, too-easy, undeveloped successes. The ending could have been braver. There are so many warm, rich, thoughtful, well-written takes on this genre to be found elsewhere – Love Song by Sophia Bennett, Remix by Non Pratt, I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman – that this one became forgettable.

The hype surrounding this book and the synopsis caught my interest, so I was hoping I would enjoy this book. The book started out okay for me at first and seemed pretty interesting. I lost interest after the first few chapters though.

There was way too much unnecessary drama in this story, in my opinion. I feel like a lot of drama was put into the story just for filler content. That may have been because of the camera/reality TV storyline though. Either way, it just became too much at times and lessened my enjoyment of the story.

I also did not like the characters in this story. Virginia was super petty and annoying. Cam came across as really creepy. I didn't really care for any of the other side characters either.

Even though I didn't particularly enjoy this book, I would still recommend this book if you enjoy a reality TV type of feel and don't mind all of the added drama.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Teen girls likely will eat up this book with a spoon. You have spunky heroine Virginia who ditches the dullness and conformity (and confusion) of home to go on the road with a rock band starring high school friends and an ex as they compete in a reality TV show, and you have Cameron, the mysterious, tortured ex, a guy who might still hold a fiery torch for Virginia.

The two share broken family dynamics, which play out in different ways. Virginia largely stuffs down her dreams, letting other people sort of co-opt them, while Cameron allows guilt to keep him from fully living the life he wants. He and Virginia understand each other on an elemental level, so when one of them feels betrayed by the other, the hurts run deep.

There were times when reading this book that my attention wavered. I would get frustrated with Virginia and even more frustrated with Cameron, yet those frustrations were borne of those two characters feeling authentic. Some of Cameron's issues feel a little overly manufactured, but his pain rings true.

Jessica Pennington sets this book in the summertime, which is a fine time to read it. If your teen does, please let me know what he or she thinks about Cameron and Virginia.

The lyrics within the story was a very nice touch and made the band feel more genuine. I like it when we're given a glimpse of the kind of music the band plays in these types of stories because it gives me a better idea of what their music sounds like. There were some songs that I really wish I could hear in real life because the lyrics sounded so cute, especially the duet.

Both Vee and Cam's grandmothers were so endearing and I loved the close relationship they had with them, especially Vee whose grandmother encouraged her right from the beginning to live life to the fullest and take risks. It's always heartwarming to see a close and positive relationship between the younger characters and their elders, even more so if the latter are sassy and have some fun bantering with and teasing the former.

I appreciated how the 'reality' of reality TV is portrayed in this book, and how most of the drama is created intentionally for entertainment purposes. The moment Vee and her friends meet the film and production crew, I already knew what was going on in their minds and, yeah, it was predictable and cliche and something I've read in so many fanfiction stories, but it's one of those troupes that I can't get enough of. Haha Maybe it's because it reminds me of some of the fanfiction I used to read that I liked those parts.

This wasn't my first time reading dual POV's, or even alternating timelines, but for some reason on the last third of the book I started getting confused, particularly about Vee's fluctuating feelings towards Cam. In the POV's set in the past, it shows how Vee and Cam first meet and fall in love, which then eventually leads to their breakup. Then in the POV's set in present time, they accidentally find each other again, Cam persistently attempts to reconcile with Vee while she struggles to hold on to her grudge against him. Somewhere between their relationship going downhill back "then" and it being in limbo in the "now", I kept switching Vee's feelings around and ended up confusing myself. It may have just been a personal issue, nothing really to do with the writing, but there you have it.

Right off that bat, we're introduced to the mystery that is Cam's backstory and are given little bits and pieces of it throughout until we can finally put the whole picture together. In doing so, we also find out the extent of its effects on Cam and how it affected his relationship with Vee in the past. I was surprised and really empathized with Cam, and understood why he was such a mess, but I couldn't understand why Vee didn't. Even after everything, it seemed really awful of her to still hold a grudge against Cam especially when she already knew what happened.

I also felt that Vee's "secret" appeared out of nowhere at the last part of the story. It was just briefly mentioned after her breakup with Cam, so I thought that was that, but then later resurfaced on a larger and more serious level than I expected. It would have flowed better if there were more hints of it during the present timeline, at least then the scale of it would have made more sense in the end instead of feeling like a "Oh! How convenient!" quick fix.

This book was fairly enjoyable and I really liked the whole battle of the bands aspect, but I was hoping for more and felt that it fell short. I didn't fall in love with the story or its characters, but I did find it entertaining enough, despite some issues I had. If you enjoy stories with a musical element to it, reality TV drama, and messy, second chance romances, you could give this one a try.

Love Songs and Other lies was everything I was hoping for! It was even better than I’d hoped for actually. Especially the characters. Well Cam in general. He turned out to be my favorite even though I disliked him at first.

The love story was so cute and charming. And well real. I think it covered heartbreak but also love the way you would except for teenagers in the summer who are in a rock band. Then also once they have grown up some and spent some years apart.

The chapters were from the main characters POVs. Vee, Virginia Miller, and Cam, Cameron Fuller. They go back and forth from past tense to present tense. Which gives you a real sense of their story. If this novel was just written in the present with a little detailed of the past then this story wouldn’t have been nearly as intersecting or good. I got to really connect with the characters because of that fact.

If you’re looking for a summer YA romance with some music influence then I definitely encourage you to read this if you haven’t already.

Oh yea, I can’t forget that Virginia was named after the song Meet Virginia by Train. WHICH I LOVE SO MUCH BECAUSE DUH.

3.5 Stars: I have a weakness for rockstar romances, what can I say? I just...wish there had been more to the second chance aspects?

If you are needing help remembering what high school was like then this is the book for you. I had major de ja vu as I read this book. A book that I just could not put down. How can you not be interested in a book that has YA and Music involved in it? I am always a sucker for books that include music, even if it is just a playlist at the start. That is always a question I ask when I am interviewing authors, what are you listening to?

It took me a little bit to become hooked, but like any good hunter, this book lured me in and snagged me completely. The only part that worried me a bit was that Cam seemed sort of stalkerish and I would hate for that to be put in a good light and encourage others to be the same. But overall I enjoyed the drama of the book.

Love Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington was a very deep, emotional and raw account of young love and adult circumstances. Going into this book, I expected a nice, quick and laid back easy read with the typical young adult flirtatious, impulsive and adolescent plot. I realized after the first few chapters that the characters had a lot of substance and the plot intrigued me as much as the characters, I was surprised to find that I couldn't put the book down. While young Virginia tries to put her heartache behind her seeking solice in a warm, carefree, no-holes-barred exciting summer, her hot, young adversary to whom she had sworn off forever is led back in to her life, altering her original excitedment-filled summer plans. Get ready for some emotional turmoil!

Update: A few months back I read the first 5 chapters of this then/now contemporary and was one smitten kitten. Around 4:30 this morning (thanks to jet lag) I finished the completed novel and need to sort out my thoughts. There were parts I loved, lines I adored, and some slight swooning. However, there was also unnecessary side stories, rehashing of addressed issues, and a sense of overall whomp whomp. I don't know if it's because I finished this while sleepy, but I'm going to need a minute to process the pros and cons to see where I end up on this one.

Excerpt review:
"It's a tiny lie...
...Those never come back to haunt us, do they?"

I am so invested in this music-infused story line. Told in alternating POVs that flash between the past and the present, this contemporary left me feeling hooked. I was only able to read the first 5 chapters via a Netgalley excerpt, but I can't wait to get back into the story come April.

Cam and Vee had one of those crazy deep high school loves that falls apart before it can really begin. So when she joins her best friend's band as an intern on a reality tv show the last thing she expects is for Cam to be their newest guitarist. Now she has a long summer ahead of her of avoiding him and the cameras.

Love Songs and Other Lives switches between the past and present in a way that frames their love story nicely while adding to the mystery of what exactly drove them apart.

A good summer read.

I made a mistake when I chose this. Yes, you read that correctly. Let me explain. I was looking for something to read, something light and easy, in order to fall asleep. Joke was on me, because I was hooked after one chapter. And I didn’t put the book down until I’d finished. The whole thing, that is.

I didn’t know much about this going in. Just that it was a second chance romance. Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers. And since those are my favorite tropes—SOLD. I cared about nothing else. It’s no surprise I loved it for those reasons. However, it IS a surprise when it comes to the rock star trope. That’s probably my least favorite thing to read in a contemporary. But, I dunno what it was exactly. This time around, I was shook.

The way this story is told is masterful. Past and present. But more than that is the way Pennington packs so much emotion into everything. I could feel the sadness, the hate, the love…and the hope. I was mad for Vee. I was sad for Cam. I wanted them to work through their past and try again. And the angst! I haven’t had my heart gripped so tightly in a very long time. The ups and downs. The secrets. I could barely stand it, yet I couldn’t stop myself from reading.

What’s craziest though, is that I forgot how old the characters were. It doesn’t feel like a typical YA contemporary. They feel older and wiser. Mature. And most of that probably has to do with what they’d gone through. I just know I was thankful the author didn’t write them in a way that had them coming off as idiotic or immature or other descriptive words that people use when belittling teens. They felt REAL. And true.

This is a beautiful tale of love and loss. Secrets and lies. Redemption. It’s easily become one of my all-time favorites. And it will DEFINITELY remain on my best of 2018 list.

Just read it.

Two things I love: music and books. Put them together and I AM IN LOVE. With Love Songs & Other Lies.

I don’t know what I was expecting but this book blew whatever that was out of the park. I can’t believe how invested I became in the characters and their journeys, both set in the present and not-too-distant past. I found myself cheering for Vee and Cam the whole way through. Told through alternating POV, we get to know Vee and Cam, getting peeks inside the parts of each other that they can’t yet see of themselves. I was so endeared to both and all of the characters around them.

I also appreciate that it’s set a little later than the usual YA, something that seems to be a trend this year. The transition after high school and into adulthood is an important part of being a young adult! Add in a reality TV show and the drama of a tour bus and this is sure to be a hit.

Highly recommend this on audio, with two narrators alternating.

This dual-narrative, dual-timeline tale revolving around Virginia (Vee) and Cameron (Cam) is a love story turned wrong.... turned right (?) but so much more.
Vee's best friends just landed a spot on a battle of the bands reality show and they've talked her into joining them as an intern to get some PR and marketing experience for college credit. Unfortunately, when she arrives, she discovers the new member of the band is the guy who broke her heart into pieces just one year before.
Alternating between Vee and Cam's original love story and the present situation concerning their uncomfortable reunion during the filming of the reality show, Pennington weaves together the perfect formula for a summer love story: best friends, second chances, good music, and a road trip!
I found that the reality TV concept in the story added the perfect tone of stress - yet fun - to this story. The constant in-your-face presence of the cameras and the drama created by the fans of the show lended an added element that would have been profoundly lacking had it been left out.
If you're a fan of YA, of sweet, second-chance love stories, of awkward moments and ultimate redemption, Love Songs and Other Stories is the book for you this summer.

I enjoyed this one a lot overall! I’m giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. This review is for an ARC, and reflects my honest opinion. Full disclosure: I signed up for the Love Songs & Other Lies Street Team (before I received a review copy), and I’ll be promoting this book. So go read it! Now onto my review…

The book was told from ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ timelines, but we also got dual POVs for Cam and Virginia/Vee. I adored Vee’s character. She was easy to relate to, which is always a good thing for a main character! I was rooting for these two from the very beginning. And now for Cam’s character: I also adored him…for the most part. He seemed really sweet, but because of his past, he had a hard time opening up about anything personal. I knew he cared for Vee a lot, but I felt a bit bad for her since he was keeping her in the dark.

The ‘Then’ parts might have been my favorite. We saw them reunited after two years, and honestly I just wanted to squish them together before telling them to kiss and make up haha. Vee was standoffish for very good reasons, but Cam wasn’t having any of that. He was trying to pick up where they’d left off, trying to win her back. Without being spoilery about what happens, let me just say that I adored the epilogue, and I am so happy with how their journey “ends” in this book; I know amazing things are going to happen for these characters! I could easily read another 200-300 pages of their story.

I also really liked some of the secondary characters (band and crew members, Nonni, etc.). They just made the book that much more entertaining, and amazing. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I really liked the glimpses we saw of Reese; I wouldn’t mind seeing a book focusing on him. Check out this lovely debut book, especially if you’re a fan of books featuring music, second chance romances, or (sort of) summer road trips!

I received a copy of LOVE SONGS & OTHER LIES on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

Five stars and here's why:

I’M NOT CRYING. YOU’RE CRYING. Seriously loved this friends to lovers to enemies then back to lovers book. I laughed. I cried. I laughed some more. Ms. Pennington does a great job of sucking you right into the story with the conflict and soon you’re glued to the pages. I just loved it so much. Who wouldn’t want to join a band’s tour bus for the summer when it’s filled with your best friends…and ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend you never truly got over as much as you wanted to.

Vee and Cam have a lot of baggage between them. I’m surprised there was room on the bus for all that baggage! Toss in a reality competition show and some close band mates and you’ve got a recipe for a great YA novel.

Prepare to start this story and not put it down until the very end. Highly recommend.

I you are 90's kid and grew up with shows like O-town and etc. I think this book was so much fun. I loved the both the music aspects of this novel and how it was framed around a music reality t.v show like making the band. I also really liked the story of rekindled love and also how we got both characters sides of the story and also duel timelines both current and past. This novel was a lot like onion you kept getting more info throughout the novel and that kept me engaged and it was hard to put this book down. I found this to be the prefect summer read!

I really enjoyed this YA story.

I liked the concept of Virginia traveling around on the tour bus with her friends. This kind of band tour is completely new to me, so I liked learning about it, especially the behind-the-scenes aspects of a reality show. It’s unfortunate for Vee that the bus was completely full of guys. And it’s also unfortunate that her best friend lied to her to get her there.

I liked Virginia too, and it’s too bad that her friends were jerks. I didn’t like Logan. He had an awkward place in the story as Vee’s friend/sometimes fake boyfriend. At first I didn’t like Cam, but he grew on me. Even though he made bad decisions, I don’t think he was a bad guy.

I recommend this story for anyone looking for a light YA romantic read.

"If I want lies, I'll get them from love songs."

Okaaay. I'm not the biggest fan of the book cover - I think it looks more like a poster than a book cover. But after I finished reading the book, I looked at it once again and things started to make more sense - there's a hot pink guitar pick next to some scattered Polaroid pictures of a boy and a girl holding hands and sheet music. The filter on those pictures look kinda weird though.

I was slightly disappointed, since I was expecting a lot of friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-then-back-to-lovers drama between Virginia and Cameron, but Virginia kept pushing Cameron away, and somehow the romance felt one-sided. But Cameron's a really sweet guy, and I really liked seeing how hard he's trying to prove to Virginia that their relationship still has a chance of working out. It's clear that he loves Virginia - but does Virginia love him back?

I loved the character development! All of the characters changed a lot in the story, especially Virginia, who has started to gather up courage and perform in front of huge crowds of people. She has an alter ego, Dakota Gray, which she assumes when she performs. (Just like how Beyoncé turns into Sasha Fierce when she gets onstage!) I found that super cool, and I'm glad to see that she has gotten brave enough to share her music on stage instead of writing songs backstage and only playing for her grandma.

And the amazing friendships! I love all of the characters so, so much, and it's really awesome that they all have each other's backs and help each other all the time. Tad, the cameraman, gives Virginia relationship advice, and Logan is always there for Virginia. She's the only girl on the bus (not counting the PR people), and it's really great that all of the boys (even people from other bands, AKA her competitors) are so nice to her.

I also like how the story was told. It has dual timelines - one chapter will be set in the past, and the other in the present. The truth behind Virginia and Cameron's relationship is slowly revealed, and it was so captivating - I couldn't put the book down!

Also, Nonni is an awesome grandma.

Overall rating

★★★★

If you like reality TV shows, music and second chance romance, Love Songs & Other Lies is for you!

I have mixed feelings.
The book was pretty entertaining, it kept my interest with the mystery and for that alone it made me read it in one sitting. On the other hand, things were a bit weird with all those "not telling anyone" and "not telling anything" and I also seemed to like the past storyline better. But I did not connect with the main characters and the side ones were just there for the ride, acting randomly just as much as main ones.

2.5 stars.

- this book was written after the author listened to say something by a great big world and christina aguilera and therefore it’s a second chance romance. - you get the love-to-hate-to-love trope and it’s going to be quite painful.
- there are many original songs in this one because the book is focused on bands and Vee, the protagonist, is also a singer and songwriter.
- my favourite parts of this book include the angst (i’m such a huge fan of angst), the fact that the story is being told back and forth between the past and the present, switching between the period when Vee and Cam met and slowly got together to the time where they are broken up and on the bus and alsooo grandmas (!!!) – there are not enough grandmothers in the ya literature.
- I also enjoy books that include reality shows because they are so full of intrigue, let’s talk about the situation in this one, just think how awkward it would be to have cameras on you and your ex, both of you still having feelings for each other. I know it would be terribly awkward for me (thankfully I don’t have an ex, so I’m covered). But I had so much second-hand embarrassment for Vee whenever someone would point how Cam is staring at her in a certain way. Oh god.
there is a huge reveal near the end of the book and wow, it was quite unexpected, even though I’m good at seeing those things coming. But I didn’t see it coming this time. It was really good.
- love songs & other lies has a great message when it comes to achieving your goals and becoming the best version of yourself. I think I related a lot to Vee because I’m also afraid of doing things I’d love to do (like writing) because what if people don’t enjoy it??? I also loved how Vee got over her fear mostly due to herself and not because of Cam.
- there are so many parts of this book taking place on the beach and the summer nostalgia was huge with this one. But they were so romantic as well, Cam and Vee are just really cute, okay? I love how they fought for each other, both of them really wanted for the other to be happy and I don’t know, they are kind of goals.
- all in all, I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a summer read with second chance romances, bands and lots of fun!