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.

Annie is the daughter of country music royalty, who refuses to follow in her parents' footsteps. Clay is a country music bad boy. The love story is cliché, sure, but it's done SO WELL. The characters are marvelously layered, the story is engrossing, and the author doesn't shy away from harder topics like grief and substance abuse.

Equal parts sweet and hard-hitting, this book was everything I love blended into one. It's a sparkling, must-read debut.

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.

I'd been wanting to read this book since first hearing about it months ago -- you had me at "a retelling of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash" -- and was so excited to receive my ARC.

Annie and Clay stole my heart with their realness. I loved reading about the role each of them felt like they needed to play, contrasted to who they really were. Country music's bad boy, Clay, is so multi-layered despite his one-dimensional mega-star status. He was wrestling with his own demons, and Annie wouldn't let him walk away from them. Good girl Annie, heir to country music legends with a tragic end, is torn between wanting to do what she loves most -- sing -- and wanting to avoid repeating her parents' volatile relationship.

But when Annie and Clay are together, their fans, friends, and family can all see that despite their relationship being a bad idea, it's bound to happen. The chemistry between the two was great, and the obstacles to their successful relationship kept the tension high throughout. The swoon worthy relationship will have fans routing for Annie and Clay throughout!

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.

It was a bit of a slow start for me in the beginning and I didn’t like Clay much but it turned out to be an okay story.

In one word: PERFECTION

Hahn's cast of characters is irresistible.

Annie IS America's sweetheart: a wonderful balance of silly & mature, with a fresh personality that just defies all the pressure that builds up around her. She's so strong and pure-hearted, digging into the best of those around her even when they don't deserve it. Jason and Kacey, Annie's friends/family and bandmates, bring some lighthearted antics and balance to Annie's heavy baggage. As a group, they're a beautiful blend of personalities that have a palpable chemistry, and it's easy to feel the love between them.

Clay Coolidge aka America's county bad boy is charming and a bit broken. He can be a real jerk, but there's something so soft and vulnerable about him at the same time. He's grieving, and lost, and thinks so little of himself. Like many others, I just can't resist the broken ones.

Fitz, Clay's bandmate and surrogate big brother, is easygoing, full of energy, and shares the same suave charisma that Clay's been endowed with. What more could you want?

One of the things I liked most about You'd Be Mine is the way Hahn creates and handles the parallel between Annie/Clay and Annie's mother and father. You'd Be Mine is a story about an earnest and passionate singer's star shining bright, but it's also a story about a girl who falls into ill-advised love.

Addiction and toxic love are some hefty issues, and Hahn masterfully approaches them both in way that shares her characters' story without glorifying either. Annie's parents succumbed to the most vicious parts of their desires, putting their selfishness before their daughter, and we see the ripple effect that their snap decisions made through Annie's life.

When it comes to Annie & Clay, we get those elements of a whirlwind romance, the ones that make readers squeal and sigh with envy, but Hahn also takes care of her characters. Whirlwind might work in the average young adult romance, but it's not a perfect fit for these damaged teens. The way she resolves their romance and concludes the novel is so very well-done. I love that she kept all of the appealing romantic elements, but in a healthy way that doesn't let the romance take over reality.

Overall, I truly loved this book, and I wish it was coming out sooner, so the world could read it too.

Annie and Clay are both burgeoning country music stars, both young and beautiful, and both full of some heavy baggage from their pasts. When they get together for a summer tour, both are forced to face their demons and decide if love can save or derail them once and for all.

While this had its cute moments, I felt, overall, that the story was overwrought. The present tense plot is hard to get absorbed in (maybe a personal preference). The characters fell in love with very little interactions, and they were kept apart by many invisible barriers that were hard to remember.

I do think some teens would enjoy the fantasy of country music stars on the rise falling in love, but there are better YA romances out there.

2 stars.

I think I'm getting to a point where I'm too old for these types of books. Or I've read too many of them and now they bleed into one huge pile of the same stuff I've been reading for a decade.

Teenagers who happen to be country music stars, guy who is a bit of an asshole and a too-good-for-him heroine that should never be dating, go through drama (a bit too much religious stuff for my liking) and angst. I skipped some parts, kind of enjoyed others.