You’d Be Mine is a modern young adult retelling of Johnny and June Carter Cash’s relationship - the bad boy with demons who hit it big and the girl who grew up in the spotlight of country music going on tour together. I thought this was a very sweet love story. Not gonna lie, it made me tear up a couple of times. And I enjoyed reading it next to my Amazon speaker and playing the old country songs that were referred throughout the book while I was reading. You can preorder this book now and it hits shelves April 2nd, 2019. I would give this book 4/5.
Thank you to @netgalley and @erinhahn_author for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for this ARC!
You'd be mine is a story about Annie Mathers, the talented daughter and heir of country music legends. Tragedy touches her life when her parents both die, leaving Annie orphaned, traumatized and left to pick up the pieces of her young life. Send in troubled country music bad-boy Clay Coolidge, and Annie is thrown for a tailspin. Clay knows that his label is fed-up with his philandering and trouble-making ways, so they give him an ultimatum. Convince Annie Mathers to sign with them and go on tour with Clay, or they will drop as an artist from their label. This is no easy task as Annie has been avoiding the spotlight since her parents deaths shook her. Annie is convinced by Clay's undeniable charm and swoon-worthy good looks, and she and her band eventually agree to join his tour. As Annie and Clay tour together across the country, fans are convinced that a romance is brewing between the two country stars, and Annie and Clay can't help but wonder if they should play into this idea. Feelings grow, and tensions rise. Will Annie and Clay over-come their demons and finally give-in to happiness they could find together? or will their pasts stop them?

I really enjoyed reading You'd be Mine by debut author Erin Hahn. This book had a sassy main female character in Annie and a swoon-worthy bad boy in Clay. The chemistry between the two was through the roof and when they connected with each other it was really sweet. Both of them had pasts that haunted them and changed the way they formed relationships with people, and each other. I really liked that not only was the character Annie giving her audience on tour an "education" in country music but I also, as a reader got an education in the genre. I loved all the characters in this book so much! They were funny and sassy and REAL (despite the whole celebrity thing)! It all made me love them and really had me rooting for everyone to find what (and who) made them happy! This book takes you on a journey of love, heartbreak and redemption and I encourage readers to open this book and dive in!

This book was sweet, sparky and enjoyable.

I enjoyed the story and how it mirrored the Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash and it was light enough to recommend to a teenage audience, only touching on some darker themes.

I wasn't keen on the song lyrics and found that they took up too much of the writing but other than that great. This would be a really nice summer read for a teenager or young adult.

I loved this book so much. It felt like my face was melting from smiling so much while reading it. I teared up a few times too (sometimes I teared up *while* smiling). This book is just amazing.

Annie is such an amazing character. Smart, opinionated, talented, loyal to her friends and herself, and genuine. I loved her immediately and rooted for her till the very end. She's amazing.

Clay is so layered (Shrek and Donkey would say he's like an onion) and well-written you can't help but want to know everything about him.

The side characters are perfectly written, the story is perfection, and the references to music will make you want to put on your boots and your best summer dress and go find some good music.

CWs: alcoholism, drug overdose, graphic description of suicide, PTSD, panic attack

You'd Be Mine tells the story of two country musicians: Annie Mathers, the daughter of two famous parents who died when she was 13, and Clay Coolidge, the bad boy in country music. After Clay is arrested drunk one time too many, his label makes a bargain with him - he convinces Annie Mathers to sign to them, and tour with her, and they don't drop him. Despite their reservations, they're attracted to each other from early on, though Annie doesn't want to end up like her parents and Clay has his own problems to deal with.

If I'm honest, I was, at the start at least, expecting something a little different to what I got. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but it wasn't quite this. I think maybe it was that the MCs hit off so early, I was kind of wanting something with a little more slowburn. Perhaps with them not really liking each other to start, but growing on one another. But instead, they were attracted fairly early on. But then, their romance isn't that large a feature in the story, insofar as it's not the only plot. Instead, it's a fairly character-driven story, about Annie's rise to fame and Clay's dealing with his grief and alcoholism.

I liked that about this book. The characters were also so intriguing and realistic that I didn't feel like I got bored of the plot, or lightness of it, although the trope of sweet, innocent girl and bad boy is a little overdone and I did get somewhat bored by that. (Especially the whole "I'm not good for you" thing, which, okay, I understand in this context, but can we talk cliches?) I also really liked that Annie's love didn't "save" Clay from his alcoholism. Instead of falling into those tired, awful tropes, Clay gets himself help and afterwards they get together for real.

What I didn't really like about their relationship, however, was this: Clay at one point humiliates Annie in front of an enormous crowd - just before he hits rock bottom - but he never apologises for it. Not even after he's all better. It's just kind of brushed under the rug and never mentioned again. And I hated it. He treats her like shit in front of a whole stadium crowd and yet it's passed over, almost excused as a result of his alcoholism (and at this point, slight paranoia). Also brushed under the rug is the fact that he effectively cheats on Annie during the tour. Okay, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but he kisses Annie a few times and then, without talking to her, and without them obviously coming to the joint decision to stop, he hooks up with Lora. And, yes, all of this happens at the worst point of his addiction, just before he overdoses and hits rock bottom, but it's still on him. And he should still apologise to Annie. But he doesn't. After he's recovered, it all appears to be forgotten. So yeah. That kind of ruined the end for me.

Overall though, You'd Be Mine was an easy, well-written read. I just wish I'd cared a bit more about the relationship between the characters.

Country music fans will enjoy reading this story about a girl from music royalty who joins the tour of a boy who enjoys fighting and partying a little more than playing music.

Two teen country singers, both struggling with hard life experiences, join together on a summer tour that impacts both of them. This is an unflinching look at how the bad things that happen can lead down two, separate, distinct paths: one leading to possible destruction and the other to wholeness.
Clay lost his older brother in the war and never allowed himself to grieve. Rather, he used booze to fuel his on and off stage persona. Annie found her country legend parents after their murder/suicide leaving her traumatized at age thirteen. Both have music to drive them until they meet and together they start the hard process of coming to terms with their pasts.

You’d Be Mine is such a perfect end of summer book. I’m glad I read it when I did. I loved the country music background, mention of current country music singers, and a bit of insight to the industry. Clay and Annie both have had to deal with serious issues in their lives and are forced to grow up quickly. Mistakes are made along the way, and a chance for learning emerges. This book deals with some sensitive topics such as alcoholism, drug use, and suicide, but I felt that it really shows how hurtful these things are and how important it is to try and overcome them.

I kind of wish there was more of a highlight on Annie and Clay’s relationship. They had a rocky relationship (in all aspects of the word) but I feel like when the book ended, I wasn’t quite there with them yet. I would have likes a bit more time to see their characters grow.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

As my first e-arc ever, I didn't know what to expect but I loved this book (4.5/5).

Let me tell you that as a French girl, I don't know anything about Country music, its culture and so on. At best, I know what we can pick up in films which might be a little stereotypical I guess.

Anyway, my first impressions: I wasn't swept away by the very first chapters; it was OK but I didn't truly care about the characters at first, and was worried it will just stay on the surface of things (of their personality & their aspirations).
Then, the story unfolds and as Annie and Clay are falling for each other, we're falling for them.😍

I particularly loved anything music-related, it is at the core of this romance (they respectively fall in love with their music/ talent before even falling in love with each other).❤🎼🎵
The lyrics of their songs are so important to the story, it was one of the things I enjoyed the most in this novel! I wish there was a soundtrack with it!!😆 I'm kind of hoping a singer will read this book and play it!!
While I was reading, I listened to the songs that the characters performed on their tour and discovered Johnny Cash and June Carter's voice for the first time (I already knew "Jolene" which is mentioned too). I love how music is a way to lay bare their souls, to declare their feelings; it is when they're playing/ composing that they're the most vulnerable!

As for the romance, it is really cute! And Clay seems really attractive.😍 I think I would have liked it better if the characters were 25 years old (NA) and if there were some steamy scenes between those two! There was SO MUCH potential, and even if it takes a few chapters to settle in, the chemistry is really there!!

The other characters were quite interesting too: Annie's cousin, Fitz, Jason. Real friendship with no rivalry or jealousy! it's refreshing!

Oh and I almost forgot but I really need to say this: the last sentence -though rather simple, left me oh-so satisfied with my read 😍...we often talk about the first sentence of a book but the last one is just as important and the last sentence of this book put a huge smile on my face and made me want to read even more.

So as a whole, I recommend this YA contemporary (mostly romance); I would have put 5 stars if there had been more love scenes.

Thanks to the author for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

Loved it, ...could not put it down. Take two young country music singers and send them on tour together to see if they can fall in love. Works for me.. Annie and Clay are both highly talented young adults who have lost a lot in their lives. Both... kind of solo, in the go it alone stages of their lives. Clay lost a grandfather and his brother, and Annie lost both of her parents. Now the two have joined forces in a tour that seems to be endless as the two learn about each other and what they could be.

What did I like? The whole damn thing. Clay was spiraling down just as Annie's career is taking off. As they join forces Clay tries to shut her out which only seems to bring the two closer. Great characters and great tragedy just bring the book to an exciting pinnacle.

Would I buy this book? Hell to the yea. Its decidedly YA but adult tones which make it a perfect read for just about anyone. Just enough drama and hype to keep the book rolling. Really enjoyable read.

Words for the author? This is my first book by you and I just loved it. I would beta read for you anytime. Great book!

I received this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I don't know if this copy was unedited or unformatted or what, but the beginning was rough, there were times when there was no pause between scenes. One was where she signed a contract then the next paragraph started with "We need a band name" no pause, nothing to show a change in scene, the sentence before that was in a kitchen, the sentence after that was under a tree. There was another example:

Jason breaks the silence. "I feel like we need to go get matching tats or something."
"Tramp stamps," I agree dryly. "You first, Jason."
Two weeks later, I'm packing up my things when my gran finds me. She places a small stack of folded clothes on my bed.

It was a little unbelievable with the addiction and how quick he got over it with like, zero side effects. Another small pet peeve, if you know me and my past reviews on books like that.

Aside from those small pet peeves, I liked it. I got sappy at the end, it was a nice ending. I'd read more if there was a book two..

Oh, country music lovers (like me!), you're in for a real treat with this one! This story was so much more than I expected, and I enjoyed the heck out of it!

I loved the writing. I loved how Ms. Hahn occasionally gave me a phrase or dialogue that stopped me in my tracks and forced me to appreciate her gift with words. I loved the depth of the story – and that it was so much more than a romance. It hovers somewhere between a YA story and an NA story, and it hits hard sometimes. Clay and Annie are given many layers, most of them heartbreaking but watching them sort through their issues and come to terms with how their pasts have shaped them was such a fascinating, rewarding thing to read. There are a lot of serious issues addressed in this story, and some of them were rather tough to read about – and yet, I couldn’t put it down.

That said, it’s not a perfect story. It felt a little inconsistent and uneven for me sometimes. And, despite my appreciation for the fact that this is so much bigger than a romance, I would have liked to have seen the romance developed a little bit more. I felt like there was more telling than showing when it came to Clay and Annie’s relationship, and I feel like it could have dug a lot deeper into my heart with a little more focus on the interaction and showing me why these two felt so strongly for each other. I might also have liked an epilogue here. I felt like there was all this build-up and then it sort of cut me off abruptly in the end. I needed a reward after all that toying with my heart and while it definitely went out on a high note, my feelings for them still feel a little unresolved.

Don’t get me wrong. I still enjoyed it very much. There is a lot of goodness here. I loved the way the friendships were written – some of my favorite moments came from the way these friends loved and supported one another. I loved the smart dialogue and the original and compelling storyline. At times it played out in my head like a season of Nashville and it was every bit as addicting. I didn’t always feel it the way I wanted to, but I still never wanted to put it down. You’d Be Mine is a solid, strong debut book and I will definitely have an eye out for this author in the future. ~ 3.5 Stars

Although this was a cute concept, I don't think it would be an item I would add to my library's collection. Based on the blurb, You'd Be Mine seemed to have decent potential, but the characters and story line seemed predictable.

This contemporary romance has a lot more going on than just romance, which gives this book a lot to offer a reader beyond a love story. While never delving too deep into the consequences of suicide and life in the lime light, the book provides a window into what a reader might like to know about being a singer songwriter in the modern country genre. An aspect of the story I enjoyed was the parallel made between Johnny Cash/June Carter and our book couple. The book acknowledges how iconic Johnny and June are to the country music world and this acknowledgement helps set up Clay and Annie as a couple on their tour. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy music, regardless of genre, and like to see a good relationship grow and develop.

While I loved the book, as a 7th-grade teacher, the emphasis on drinking and drug use makes it hard to use in the classroom. I liked the dynamic and how they were working through everything they faced to come out stronger. I would recommend this for high school and up.

I really enjoyed this story of love and redemption and will definitely read again. It deals with hard topics but in a way that is refreshing. I am so happy there was no love triangle.

This is the authors debut novel and based off this one I definitely look forward to reading more from her in the future. You'd Be Mine was such a great read. I enjoyed the main and side characters and the storyline was a good one. There was never a dull moment in this story for me and I think this is one story all readers should give a try especially those who love country music. I think this story will touch their soul. I would recommend readers to give this one a try. It won't be for all but I sure it will be for most.

This story is inspired by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. The main characters Clay and Annie are both country singers and you follow them on their tour with Annie being the opening act for Clay.

Annie's parents were country singers and led a hard and tragic path that ended with them losing their lives abruptly. This has haunted Annie and leaves her fearing that she will inevitably follow the same path. Annie is determined to make a name for herself that is separate from her parents. Her passion for music doesn't stop her from following her dreams. The tour with Clay is her way to get her noticed and have a music career of her own. Annie has the drive and talent when it comes to singing as well as song writing. I enjoyed seeing Annie fight for her dream and I enjoyed the friendship with her bandmates Kasey and Jason. I also liked seeing the friendships she forms with Clay and Fitz while on tour.

Clay has a successful singing career, but has his struggles as well. Clay is still grieving the loss of those he loved and he tends to bury his sorrow in drinking and keeping people at a distance. Never wanting to let others in. When Clay and Annie start touring together Clay starts falling for Annie, but fears that he is not good enough for her and thus starts having a self sabotaging behavior. Both characters have their struggles and want to overcome all their misfortunes. The performance scenes were fun to read with both Annie and Clay bantering with one another. I enjoyed seeing the building of friendship between the two and each realizing their feelings for one another beyond friendship.

This was a fast, cute read that has a love story that is influenced by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. A fun read for country music fans.

It's a little bit country... A little bit, well let's just say some of the issues raised by this book are big ones. Clay is a perfect country star - talented, gorgeous and with his own personal demons. Rejection, heartbreak and addictions abound for this young man. And Annie, well she's the only reason Clay still has a contract. Her acquiescence to support him on tour means that she has to confront her tragic history in front of the entire country world. Including those who she feels contributed to her heartbreak.

Whilst this book deals with such heavy issues, it is also a really fun read. The characters work well together and they are easy to root for. Alternating chapter perspectives help the reader understand character decisions that feel uncertain without this insight.

I'd give this a 4/5 star rating and would recommend to fans of YA and country music!

An advance reading copy (egalley) was provided through the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

**This review is set to auto-publish on 19th March 2019**

This book made me want to jump in my car, put the windows down, and belt out the lyrics to my favorite country songs while driving on a country road—and so I did.
I was only a few chapters in when I texted Kyleigh and Lauren: This is the most Amanda book I’ve ever read. Romance? Country music? A Beauty and the Beast reference? IT’S ME, YOU GUYS! THIS BOOK WAS MADE FOR ME!
I loved every single moment of this book. It was such a fun read. I laughed, I teared up, and I had the most ridiculous grin on my face for the entire book. But most importantly, this book did the one thing I didn’t expect and didn’t even know I needed until I read it: You’d Be Mine made me remember why I love YA contemporaries.
I feel a lot of young adult contemporaries get a bad reputation because they’re about a girl who’s in high school who’s entire life revolves around a boy and it’s made out to be a life-or-death, end-of-the-world situation. Throw in the stereotypical mean girl and there it is: the stereotypical YA book that comes to mind when you even read the words “YA Contemporary.” And let’s be real, we’ve all read one of those.
But YA contemporaries are supposed to be fun. I would be willing to bet we’ve all had those moments of mean girls and crushes at some time. But as an older YA reader, it’s sometimes hard to remember those feelings of “How can I go on now?” when we are now faced with the problems that are more “adult.”
You’d Be Mine reminds me of the fun. It’s about a girl and a boy. It’s about charm and crushes. But it turns the YA contemporary stereotype on its head, because it’s not about a girl chasing a boy. It’s not about a girl begging a boy to notice her. It’s not about the end of the world as they know it. It’s about a girl who is a rising country music star. It’s about a boy who is a country music star. It’s about love of all kinds: love of friends and of family, romantic love, love of the work you do, and love of one’s faith.
Erin Hahn does an absolute fantastic job of presenting all of this in a story that is impossible to put down. I loved that characters, from Annie and Clay to all of the supporting characters. I loved the setting of concerts and the road-trip vibe. It was the ultimate summer read for me, and it made me long for Tennessee summers, cowboy boots, and country concerts.
I just have one request: I need a soundtrack from this book because I need to hear this songs.
I look forward to reading more from Erin Hahn in the future, and I have a strong feeling she will become one of the rare contemporary YA auto-buy authors for me.