I absolutely adored this book. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy. I love country music books. Combine that with YA and I’m in heaven. If you loved Open Road Summer, you’ll adore this one too!

You'd Be Mine is the delightful story of two teens forced to grow up too fast, through both their life experiences and their tour as the newest country music stars. You can't help but fall in love with Annie and Clay through reading their story, and this novel really makes you have a heart for all the teenagers who gain fame to quickly or have it thrust upon them due to their families. A great read for music fans or anyone who loves a great romance!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

While browsing NetGalley "You'd Be Mine" came up. It sounded interesting and I'm a sucker for a good rockstar romance. This is a little different simply because it features a bunch of country music references which did throw me for a loop simply because I don't listen to country.

This book was surprisingly good. The main characters are realistic & will definitely make you root for them to get their lives together. They both are damaged and I like that they struggled with issues. It was nice to see how Erin Hahn wrote them. I definitely enjoyed the storyline. My only issue with this book was how easily things were fixed. It seems like it was wrapped up a little too quickly. I wish that we would have seen more of the "getting our lives together" stuff and less of the "everything is perfect" stuff.

I do appreciate that Erin was able to create solid characters and I will definitely look into reading more of her books.

All in all, it's a good book that had solid characters.

Charming & captivating. This is a fun YA story about personal battles and the struggle to not become the ghosts of your past. Two young up and coming country stars find themselves drawn to each other, both trying not to destroy their careers or each other. Once I was drawn in, I could not put it down.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

I saw this as a Read Now on NetGalley and jumped at the chance to read it; I needed some good Rock Fiction to cleanse my reading palate.

Unfortunately, this sunk itself almost from the beginning, and in a way that's becoming more and more of a trend of late: any industry person will tell you there's a HUGE difference between a band manager and a tour manager. I mean... simple, basic fact.

And as I've noticed more and more, it's only the start of the lack of due diligence to engage in realistic worldbuilding. We often talk about worldbuilding in terms of urban fantasy or other imaginay worlds, but it's equally as important, if not more so, in contemporary fiction. Your reader needs to buy the world you're creating, and that means being as accurate as possible.

So when you don't buy the world, is it possible to overlook the details that support and build the story -- such as bonfires on the beach -- and love the story anyway?

Not in this case, I'm afraid. Two reasons why. First is Annie, who gets to see the man behind the image. Okay, fine. Happens. But... she doesn't treat the man with any sort of respect. She refers to Clay as Jefferson at times when to do so really spits in his face. He's shared one of his most treasured secrets with her, and she fails to guard it or hold it gently, as if it's a precious gift. This turns her into the book's biggest jerk, and okay, one can argue that this is a Young Adult book and at 18, is she really experienced enough to do this?

I'd argue that for me buy the Happily Ever After, yes. Part of HEA is love, and love means treating each other better than Annie treats Clay.

The other problem is that we're told Clay has a drinking problem. But we don't see it, and we don't see how it affects his character growth. Instead, we are given instances that escalate -- he goes from holding beer to being so drunk he starts a bar fight and winds up in jail, and then next he's swallowing pills. These feel like isolated events, as we don't see any inner turmoil that drives him to increasing desperation to quiet his demons. It's like we're seeing the Reader's Digest version, or flashcards. Clay's issue isn't woven into the storyline. It's something that gets trotted out to make a point, and... I want stories that are woven together, that are believable, with characters who are kind and with worldbuilding that makes me trust the author to tell me a story I'm going to love.

This... just wasn't there yet.

This book was very captivating. I was hooked from the first chapter. Five starts. I enjoyed the characters and the story so very much.

Such a sweet love story. I really enjoyed this book. It flow nicely and was an easy read. Recommended it.

๏ ๏ ๏ Book Blurb ๏ ๏ ๏

Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about. Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things.

But unfortunately for Clay, if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him. That’s what happens when your bad boy image turns into bad boy reality. Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after her parents’ tragic death, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Clay’s label wants to land Annie, and Clay has to make it happen.


Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour. From the start fans want them to be more than just tour mates, and Annie and Clay can’t help but wonder if the fans are right. But if there’s one part of fame Annie wants nothing to do with, it’s a high-profile relationship. She had a front row seat to her parents’ volatile marriage and isn’t interested in repeating history. If only she could convince her heart that Clay, with his painful past and head over heels inducing tenor, isn’t worth the risk.


๏ ๏ ๏ My Review ๏ ๏ ๏

I really thought this was going to come off as overly heavy with the Young of Young Adult, but it surprised me, it deals with some heavy issues and does it surprisingly well. With a feel that reminds me of Open Road Summer, this story did not disappoint and I think I liked this even more than that book. The romance has all the feels, even for YA...and I loved every one of the characters so much. I was also blown away by the songwriting, especially "you'd be mine" and how it embodies the whole story. I would love to hear it put to music. Since I'm from Michigan, I loved that Annie and even the Author is too. There was even a shout-out to Grand Rapids, which I live only a little north of.


๏ ๏ ๏ MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏

☆4.8☆STARS - GRADE=A


๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏

Plot⇝ 4.5/5

Main Characters⇝ 5/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 5/5

The Feels⇝ 5/5

Pacing⇝ 4.5/5

Addictiveness⇝ 4.5/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 5/5

Originality⇝ 5/5

Ending⇝ 5/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Nope.

๏ ๏ ๏

Book Cover⇝ It's okay...

Setting⇝ Michigan/Indiana and all over the United States

Source⇝ I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

๏ ๏ ๏

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I had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book (thanks Netgalley) and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

It's not a new story - two damaged individuals trying to figure out how to love one another without allowing their demons to destroy them - but felt fresher and newer than this story should have.

Clay Coolidge is on top of the world, at least from the outside. He's headlining a country music tour around the country, selling out massive venues everywhere he goes. Onstage he's cocky, charming and sexy as hell. Backstage he's drinking too much, getting into fights and barely managing to hold himself together.

Annie Mather is the daughter of two of country music's greatest stars, a couple who burned brightly, but burned out quickly. Terrified of ending up a casualty of the business like her parents, Annie has resisted playing music for audiences despite loving it more than anything else. When Clay Coolidge shows up at her door begging her to join his tour as opening act, her passion for performing wins and she reluctantly agrees.

Thrown together on the road, Clay and Annie get to know each other. Their bands get to know each other. And before too long there is some definite smoldering between Clay and Annie. But both being insecure, the smallest slights lead to public declarations and songs written for revenge.

And as Annie's career begins to skyrocket, Clay's begins spiraling out of control.

I know very little about country music, but at this level, it seems very similar to the rock music world I know very well. The pressures and temptations are the same. The highs and lows are the same. The isolation of traveling the country in a bus with the same people day in and day out are the same.

So I identified with Annie and Clay and the struggles they faced on the road and enjoyed their company as they tried to figure out how to overcome their pasts and just be together in the moment. It isn't a very deep book and it isn't telling a new story, but it's an easy, fun read that will definitely engage you for the few hours you spend in its world.

In “You'd Be Mine” by Erin Hahn, we meet Annie Mathers (daughter of a legendary country singing duo) and country’s current bad boy, Clay Coolidge. Clay needs Annie to join his summer tour or his label will drop him. But Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after what it did to her parents.

But Clay’s charm and good looks sway Annie and her band agree to join the tour. Their chemistry is hard to miss but what starts out as a good time quickly turns for both of them as their demons come to the surface. Can either leave their past behind or will it ruin their future?

Some great secondary characters are also introduced with Annie’s fiddler cousin and drummer best friend rounding out her group and Clay’s fiddler of his own.

I received a copy of this book through Net Galley and this is my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Annie Mathers and Clay Coolidge, the rising stars of country music. It was a fun read.

2.75/5

This is a perfect example of a " this book wasn't bad, just not for me" kind of book.
You know how there is two type of Hallmark movies? You have the cheesy over the top cliche Christmas ones, or the mellow ones with the sad undertone throughout the whole movie. I am more of a fan of the first one, and this book was like the later of the two. There where so many times where I just wanted characters to get angry, to yell, to have some kind of conflict that, even though it was conflict, still somehow seemed to feel calm. I think there are people who will definitely enjoy that, but I just don't. I want the over dramatic and stubborn characters, and I want the characters to bicker. I can definitely see myself recommending this book to some people I know, but it won't be on a list of books that I enjoyed this year.

Great quick read! Reminiscent of A Star if Born, but without all the tears. :) I really enjoyed reading this book.

3.5*

I enjoyed this book. Clay and Annie were like night and day on the surface but still waters ran deep for Clay. He had to reach rock bottom before he became the person he really wanted to be and Annie was there to help him along the way. Each had their demons but the ending was inevitable.

Before I give it a go with my platinum review for this to-be-released gem by Erin Hahn, first, I would like to say thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin’s Press of MacMillan Corporate for giving me a copy of unedited digital galley to read in exchange for an honest review. This means the world to international reviewers like me — without further ado, here’s my review for this debut novel by Erin Hahn.

If I will to go on my usual review process then I should be pointing out the flaws in this book first but honestly, You’d Be Mine is flawless (except for some unwanted punctuation here and there since I have an unedited copy so that’s okay!) Basically, this is for the readers who want to venture in a romantic adventure with extra scoops of country music and cleverly crafted plot that will surely bring you back to your teenage days of puppy love and self-discovery. I’ll say this again before I forgot but You’d Be Mine is flawlessly amazing.

This debut novel by Erin Hahn revolve on the story of Jefferson Clay Coolidge, a prominent superstar from Indiana, who, after being caught in an anomaly with his recording label’s company owner’s grandson, found himself in the brink of losing his contract with the studio, his country-wide tour series, and his reputation as the next face of country music with a ‘bad boy’ attitude. With this, the company made a last-minute deal with Clay stating that the only thing that can save everything he have is to convince Annie Mathers, a Michigan-raised teen who made names in the music’s scene after following the steps of her parents who are both legends in country music, and her band named Under the Willows to sign a contract with the SunCoast Agency to be Clay’s opening act during his tour series. Clay, being the confident bad boy that he is, sought Annie Mathers’ approval and eventually got her coveted signature after visiting Annie in Michigan. Little did Annie and Clay know that the universe has a lot to offer to them. As a matter of fact, country music fans started dubbing the two of them as the modern June and Johnny Cash.

However, things haven’t been easy for the two of them since they both own dark backstories with Annie being caught up within the realms of her parents’ tragic death while Clay still mourns for the passing of his soldier brother. This issues, nonetheless, made their tour stops a bit of a roller coaster ride revealing the good and bad sides of their characters. With the help of their friends and bandmates, Kacey and Jason of Under the Willows and his bestfriend Fitz, Annie and Clay brave the storm that hinders their trudge towards their own definition of success and, in the end, manage to give an astonishing duet performance that will surely leave the readers slack jawed and nothing to say.

Aside from the romantic stuff between Clay and Annie that is highlighted in the book, a lot of things that will surely make readers fall in love with this read are also included. Like country music playlist ranging from the good ‘ol days Johnny and June, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton, up to the new releases from both Clay and Annie— You’d Be Mine is full of awesome tracks that are great accompaniment while reading. I love how Erin Hahn incorporated a lot of good songs (which are all Hahn’s original since she’s the one who wrote it for Clay and Annie) and my ears are begging for these tracks to be finally made into a complete song piece so I can actually hear the melody of Coattails and You’d Be Mine.

Another good thing that made me hooked on this read is the feel-good vibe it radiates off to its readers. Both Clay Coolidge and Annie Mathers’ presence when they hit it on the stage gave me that actual feels of being part of the crowd where they are performing during the tour. I like the overall atmosphere of this book and it’s a light, feel-good read with a clever take on teenage romance sprinkled with a whole lot of country music goodness.

Overall, I can say that Erin Hahn did an amazing job with this debut book of hers and if you are looking for a light contemporary romantic read with a dazzle of music and tween love, then You’d Be Mine will surely fit in your TBR pile. Take it from me, You’d Be Mine is a sure 5-star read for you. Happy reading!


BEST QUOTE/S:

“I’m not her. I’m not running after any cocky cowboys. I’m going into this with my head on straight. I know what fame can do to a girl, and I know what love can take away.”

“So, she sings like an angel, plays like the devil, pitches championships, and slays amusement park games. Is there anything you can’t do?”

“I do love it, more than anything. That’s what scares me. I know it’s hard to understand, and I don’t think I really get it myself, but it’s like music is tied to everything happy and awful in my life. All my highs and all my lows.”

“Some nights the whiskey ain’t enough—
Nights after days spent with you
Tonight the whiskey ain’t gonna be enough—
I only wanna send my days with you”

“This is just like the free space on a bingo card. Nothing counts as real today. I’m not me today.”

“That’s the glorious thing about music. It speaks to the very heart of things in the most absolute and obtrusive way.”

“Sometimes you write something you know is meant to be shared. It’s something I can’t possibly say, but something that must be said anyway.”

This is an endearing love story about more than just love - it's also about grief, friendship, and identity. I thought the story was excellent, and the characters likeable and relatable. The writing was, admittedly, a little clunky at times, but overall I really enjoyed it - and read it in a single sitting. Lots of great music references and content, too.

I will also say as a potential trigger warning that there is some heavier subject matter involving addiction, overdose, and suicide, and it does get quite detailed, so know that up front.

I would highly recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen and Emery Lord. Will definitely read this author again!

This type of book is right up my alley - I always enjoy contemporary romances that involve musicians or Hollywood stars. This was about two young country music stars - both struggling with coping with the loss of loved ones. It was on the more serious side of a contemporary novel. I personally could have used a couple of light-hearted scenes in the novel. Overall it was a good story and I enjoyed getting to read it.

Each and every book has value and I think it really depends on the reader and their mood at the point in their lives when they pick up each book that affects how the story is received. While this may not have been the best book for my frame of mind, I did find it appealing in a cutesy, teen angst kind of way.

I'm a huge fan of country music and Nashville so I found this to be the Christian-appropriate teenage version of the Nashville drama television show. Although it was an obvious plot line, it was still cute and the characters were each endearing in their own, damaged way.

Cute romance. Liked the music connection between the characters. I just felt the love fell short and lacked substance.