A Summer Soundtrack for Falling In Love is a confusing rocker romance by Arden Powell.

Kris is saved from the streets by Rayne and invited to join his band. What follows is a tour full of sexual discovery, drugs, and peacocks.

There are parts of the story where I needed more explanation or development. I thought Kris's previous feelings weren't established. And the cult part was highly confusing at first. As well, Kris's struggle doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Overall, it's an emotional ride as Kris struggles with his feelings for Rayne, and struggles with coming out. I did enjoy this part. My favorite thing has to be Kris' androgynous look. I am a huge fan of that look, and I adore his clothes and makeup. And, omg, all the on stage kisses are totally Adam Lambert like, and I love it!!

This one is loaded with touchy feeling band members, which gave me all the feels. I was definitely confused about how quickly Kris and Rayne became so physical with one another, but I liked it.

There tale includes some acting for the crowd, publicity stunts, and broken hearts. But it's the cult aspect that just threw me. I liked it the story until the last part. The cult just seems as forced as forced can be. To me, this plot point make the book average. There was so much hope in this story. Without the cult, it would be a good book.

Thus, I can't really recommend it. It's ok, but that's about it. If it's ever revised and changed up a lot, I would definitely be interested in reading that version.

Kris was on his way to achieve his dreams when his world fell out from beneath him. Doing what he could to simply make it through the first day he was able to meet the one person that would simply change his life in more than one way. It was the beginning of everything he could have possibly dreamed of at a fast pace. He would constantly question himself and would ultimately make decisions that would delve deep into who he was. Spreading his wings he would learn to fly and find the person who he had been all along.

I am always a slut for rockstar romance but this one, oh boy, this one was bad. There’s still some great stuff going on around a bad plot. I like how characters all across the lgbt+ spectrum are represented. The main character is bisexual, his coming out is treated with respect and not some bullshit like "a new awakening" for the love interest only. Another main character is transgender, and a minor character is agender. These aspects are important, but not integral to the plot so overall i respect A LOT what the author did but still, unfortunately, didn't like it.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a perfect fantasy rock star romance. When an aspiring musician finds himself homeless in New York and busking for loose change, he doesn’t expect to be spotted and hired by a famous rock band. This is the story of Kris’ summer tour as lead guitarist for the Chokecherries. It’s also a story about self-discovery and falling in love.

I loved Kris. Fresh from small town Kansas, Kris finds himself mesmerised by the genderbending world of glam rock in New York. Kris is open to everything and scared of nothing. Except he is scared about exploring his sexuality and he’s a little bit scared of his parents’ reaction to his new life. Kris is at once completely ordinary and a talented prodigy. He’s the outsider in the band and he is always learning and observing.

Rayne is a little bit harder to know and love. His charisma and sexuality made me wary of him at first. It takes a long time to see beneath his makeup and star power. I love the instant friendship between Rayne and Kris and I love the way Rayne opens up Kris’ world. The connection between these two is sweet and kinda magical. The slow burn romance is almost painful at times and I love the sparks that fly between them. There’s a blip near the end where miscommunication between Rayne and Kris is unnecessarily amplified but for most of the book these two are pretty special together.

The main thing that takes this book from five stars to four stars for me is the bizarre cult storyline that begins at the halfway point. I had several WTF moments and I think the over-the-top storyline detracts from wonderful characters, beautiful relationships, and a coherent plot.

This was absolutely a weird fun romp with some interesting twists and turns including a peacock worshiping biker gang cult. So its not the usual rockstars

3.5 Stars

A Summer Soundtrack for Falling in Love is a cute, fun YA read that manages to pack a lot of potentially dramatic/angst-worthy foibles into a low-angst, low steam story about finding your tribe and falling in love.

Upon arriving in New York City, Kris suddenly finds himself homeless and without a job prospect after his cousin, who had promised him a home and a job opportunity, gets fired and kicked out of his apartment in the space of an afternoon. Although Kris came to NYC with the simple goal of becoming a session guitarist for a recording studio, within a day he finds himself in the midst of the dream that usually brings so many to the big city—to be singled out from the millions, discovered and swept into a life of fame and adventure.

Part of Kris’s desire to leave Kansas and build a new life for himself in NYC was to get a chance to really explore who he is and want he wants. Although he loves his family and his town, he’s never felt free to figure out what he wants his life to be. Now, swept into Rayne’s world and surrounded by glamorous, free-spirited and unapologetically queer people, Kris is suddenly given the ultimate free pass. Kris has few problems embracing all the unexpected avenues being a member of a punk-glam band bring him; from the make-up to the clothes, he goes all in. Interestingly, the only piece of this new adventure Kris is uncomfortable with is the piece that has remained the same—his sexuality.

After an impromptu kiss on stage, Kris is all about making it a regular part of the show and gives Rayne carte blanche to do whatever he wants on stage—which he does wholeheartedly. As the weeks go by, Kris gets the “best” of both worlds by getting to enjoy Rayne’s kisses and touches without having to let go of his straight label. As Kris embraces his new look, his new lifestyle and the new experience of being kissed on stage by a man in front of thousands of people, Kris shies away from the one aspect of his life that hasn’t changed—his attraction to men as well as women. Although Kris never acted on this attraction while in Kansas, in contrast to everything new he has been reveling in without many qualms—I mean, in less than a month the boy is performing half-naked in a corset and tight booty shorts—he cannot seem to let go and embrace that. With the bleached hair and more feminine outfits, he fully embraces the new, more like playing a part and seeing how it fits, but his bisexuality is too real, and it’s just easier to pretend the physical attraction he has for Rayne is more tied to his stage persona than to confront his ingrained fears about this part of himself.

The first 40% of the book is all about Kris’s introduction into the band and his growing attraction to Rayne, which is offset by his fear of coming out and ending the dream he has found himself in. There is a brief POV change to introduce the cult aspect and the rest of the book takes place at the music festival where the wackiness promised by the blurb ensues. When Rayne is approached to be in a fake-relationship for the week of the festival with another artist from their label, Kris encourages him in the hopes that if Rayne is “off-limits”, his feelings will go away. . . because feelings evaporate in the presence of a fake week-long relationship. As expected, however, the prospect of a fake relationship that has the potential to be more has Kris realizing the error of his ways, and promising to tell Rayne the truth . . . which he can only do while high or drunk, so Rayne is naturally skeptical. Now add in Kris’s brother Brad trying to kill his career, a peacock and a cult full of angry, drug-using bikers, and you have all the Burning Man eccentricity you need.

Overall, I liked the book. I enjoyed the slow-burn sensuality Kris and Rayne let loose on stage, and their easy intimacy and cuddling while off it. Kris is adorable and seeing the band and all his new experiences from his eyes works well with the story, but also means that Rayne is mostly just the pretty rock-god Kris is drawn to. The reader is shown that Rayne is a charismatic guy, made for entertaining, and is given a sense that he and the band all seem like low-key, cool people, but not much else. Kris actually spends almost as much time with Angel, the band’s make-up artist who owns a burlesque club, than he does with Rayne and so the interpersonal moments that Kris and Rayne share and the little bit of depth added to Rayne’s character in these moments is on par with the connection Kris makes with Angel as a friend. As the story is more about Kris, this mostly works, but depending on your taste or expectations, once they get to the festival, the rest of the book, with Kris getting in his own way when it comes to having a relationship with Rayne and the turn the story takes when Brad and the cultists get involved, may leave something to be desired. However, if you are looking for a well-written book that is low-angst, full of the joy of finding your people, a tease of steam and just pure and simple fun, then this book is for you.

Kris Golding gets to New York and finds out that his cousin has wrecked his chances of a job and a place to stay. He roughs it in the park and decides to busk, as he can’t find a job. This is where Rayne Bakshi spots him and makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Join his band as a replacement guitarist for the next leg of their tour, which is heading to the Purple Sage Music Festival. We follow Kris on his crazy adventure where he can finally let loose after the confines of his Kansas upbringing. Arden Powell really paints a picture of tour life and coming to grips with those feelings that you’re scared of letting loose. I really loved this book, it transported me to those gigs I went to in the past and I really loved and felt for Kris. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 “rock” stars!
Review by Nancy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog

A Summer Soundtrack For Falling In Love by Arden Powell is a fast paced, sweet and interesting take on a rockstar romance. I am a total sucker for rockstar romances but this book wasn’t particularly what I was expecting and fell a little short.

Kris was broke and homeless in a new town when Rayne comes along and saves him. He gets an offer he can’t refuse— afterall how often do you get asked to travel the US with a famous rockstar band.

This book started with a lot of potential. Kris intrigued me and I wanted to keep reading. I wanted to find out how he was going to deal with his feelings and new living situation. There was definitely a lot of intensity and chemistry but I just couldn’t connect with the characters the way I was hoping to.

The writing was great and the book had a good flow. I think my rating is more based on personal taste versus quality of writing. Was the writing good? Yes, the writing was good but I couldn’t quite fully engage with the story. Was the book enjoyable? Yes it was. The story had some sweet, steamy and clever moments. Overall a good book. I’d definitely read this author again.

At it’s core this is a simple story of a young man from the Midwest who finds sudden fame and unexpected love when he becomes the new guitarist for glam rock band, The Chokecherries. It’s a journey of fulfilling dreams and finding oneself that pulled me along in a wake of bright lights, addictive adulation, and non-stop sensuality. Along the way were a few frustrating distractions involving a peacock-worshipping cult, a judgmental brother, and a fake relationship that unleashes real feelings. It all makes for an exhilarating thrill ride that gives readers a vivid depiction of the rock star world that will leave you cheering.

Kris Golding grew up in the Midwest, feeling restless and longing for more. One day he decides to take a chance and move in with a cousin in New York, but things don’t go as planned as he ends up homeless on a park bench. Fate smiles down on him though in the form of rock star Rayne Bakshi who presents him with the chance of a lifetime. Kris soon finds himself on a tour bus with an eclectic group of bandmates that quickly become like family. Before long Kris has left his Midwest roots behind, embraced the glam look, and become a star. It’s a change that empowers him to experience more in life, as well as finally embracing his bisexuality. It’s a whirlwind journey, one he embraces wholeheartedly, sometimes with wide eyes, but never with judgment. Kris is a likable young man with a kind heart. He’s full of uncertainty when it comes to matters of the heart, but he leaves himself open to all the possibilities. Kris represents us, learning the ropes of being a rock star, while fumbling when it comes to love, and his bumpy journey endeared him to me all the more.

Throughout Kris’s journey he has the sexy Rayne by his side, introducing him to a whole new world, protecting him every step of the way. It’s a relationship that started out as friends but quickly became more as their sensual antics on stage soon moved backstage. Rayne’s an exotic character, teeming with sensuality, with a commanding presence wherever he goes. He was drawn to Kris from the moment he saw him buskering in the park and from there he took him under his wing. Fleeting touches, deep kisses, a bit of dirty dancing, and a drunken admission soon has Rayne feeling leery as his previous relationship with a straight man has left him bruised and questioning this new intense connection. Just as things seemed to be heating up between them though, their record label proposes Rayne have a fake relationship with another singer who was recently outed which complicates things even further. Rayne’s larger than life, prowling across the stage like an animal, and when offstage he’s just as drool-worthy. I was enamored with him wholeheartedly and could understand why Kris was drawn to him and ready to admit the truth in hopes of keeping him close. He’s loyal, giving, and unconditionally cares for the group who’s more like family to him and I quickly became invested in his HEA.

On a whole this was a thoroughly entertaining story that easily pulled me in. The rock star life was vividly depicted, with all the sex and drugs readers have come to expect. The romance between Kris and Rayne is a very slow burn, almost frustratingly so, but it still kept me rooting for them. Despite a silly misunderstanding and Kris’s uncertainties, it was still a satisfying journey to HEA. The other members of The Chokecherries were an equally entertaining bunch, supportive of one another while never judging their sexual antics. Make-up artist and trans burlesque club owner Angel was especially intriguing as she was often the voice of reason while showing a protective side to those who seemed lost. Together they made for a formidable family of their own choosing. So much about this book appealed to me, but there were a few hiccups along the way. The introduction of a cult at the midway point of the story was jarring and made me think I’d hit a wrong button on my tablet. It was over-the-top and took the story in a silly direction that marred the sexy rock star vibe that had been built. The other frustration revolved around Kris’s brother Brad and his crazed attempts to get Kris to leave his new lifestyle behind. It was melodramatic, and after reaching a fevered pitch, it was casually wrapped up. Without these two storylines I would’ve rated this book even higher as the author depicted the rock star world in a realistic and addictive light. Kris and Rayne were an immensely appealing couple whose slow burn journey to HEA kept me furiously turning the pages and has left me breathlessly waiting for what this author puts out next.

I liked Powell’s book, but I think it’s not going to be for everyone.

I’m not a huge fan of rock star romances, but the description of this one drew me in. The story opens with guitarist Kris arriving in New York City only to find out that his living arrangements and job have fallen through. After a night spent on a park bench, he starts busking, catching the attention of Rayne, the lead singer of an internationally famous rock band. Said band just happens to need a guitarist, and thus begins Kris’s fairy tale rise to stardom.

Kris grew up in Kansas, and although he knows he’s always been attracted to guys, he never felt comfortable experimenting. Rayne is openly gay, and the two of them fall into a very physically affectionate relationship that involves onstage kissing. But Kris still isn’t willing to identify himself as bi, and Rayne had a bad experience after getting involved with a straight member of the band, so they both try to keep it mostly professional. Of course, they fail miserably, although neither of them is willing to admit their true feelings to each other.

I enjoyed the very sweet romance that develops between Kris and Rayne. I appreciated the fact that the author takes their time with allowing Kris to explore his identity in the freedom of his new environment. That exploration includes Kris adopting a more androgynous look by wearing makeup and women’s clothing in addition to his growing attraction to Rayne. The two of them are super cute together as each of them tries to figure out what’s going on between them, although I kind of thought Rayne was an idiot for accepting Kris’s description of himself as straight when his behavior was anything but.

So far, so good, but then the plot takes an odd turn with the introduction of a group of motorcycle-riding skinhead cultists who worship a peacock(!), which . . . . well, this is likely to be where the author will lose some readers. I thought it was over the top and not necessary to the overall story of Kris’s self-discovery and his romance with Rayne. It definitely takes the novel out of the realm of rock star fairy tale and into a weird place. But I had been enjoying the book up until that point, so I decided to keep reading. The addition of the cultists does allow the author to make some interesting choices with the plot, including a hostage scene that is mostly played for laughs.

Readers who can roll with the addition of the crazy cultists to the plot will probably wind up enjoying the book. In the end, the bad guys—both the cultists and Kris’s homophobic brother—get their comeuppance, and Kris gets his man, and what more can you ask for in a romance? There’s also a whole bunch of representation, with not just gay and bi but also nonbinary and trans characters, which is a bonus.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

3.5* This was nearly a 5* novel for me, until the eye-rollingly unbelievable antics in the middle.

This tale mirrors the blurb, and I liked how small-town-boy Kris was, how un-spoilt and un-worldy he was, compared to Rayne who'd seen it, done it, had written the book, or so it went. I loved their bromance and the fact that there was no full-on sex in this tale until around 90% gone, and even then it was of the fade-to-black kind that happened off page. Yes, their meeting and mutual interests might have been just a little too convenient, but I was prepared to go with the flow for a rock star tale.

What I didn't like is the events in the middle, which were frankly out of place, unnecessary and a lot 'I didn't just read that, did I???' I wondered if it might just be me, because it seemed as if we'd jumped from RL USA 2018 to another time where everything was a lot hazy and confused but nope, all of the other advanced reviews I've seen concur. The introduction of a certain character and ensuing scenario/s seemed superfluous, and then the arrival of the rest of the 'family' - and no, I'm not talking about Kris's family, but more like a cult - and the 'Avatar', made me skip parts. The drama that was deliberately concocted was OTT, and more than a little silly and just seemed to drag the book on. I did briefly wonder how I'd managed to slip into into the psychedelic 60s that I (thankfully) missed the first time round, but my mind refused to go there.

What I really liked is that Rayne was full-on ethnic - his mother was a former Bollywood actress, and his father was Persian. It was refreshing to see a lead who wasn't made out to be half Caucasian to make him more acceptable, and I liked that he was in touch with his Indian heritage, and that his mother loved and accepted him, and that he hoped that his late father would have been proud of him. I liked that he was out and proud, and that there seemed to be no evidence of race or prejudice towards him and his team. We need more tales like this!

I did think that the author tried a little too hard to include the LGBTQIA spectrum in the tale, but it wasn't done too heavily or too clumsily, and yes, it is a LGBT novel, but sometimes you can get a feeling of a bit less is more. This tale could easily have just worked with The ChokeCherries as a whole, Kris, his sister, his stupid - Republican, lol! (why is this becoming a common theme with MM authors, I wonder?) - brother and a bromance-to-romance tale.

ARC courtesy of Riptide Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

novel with a music trope is always going to call my attention. This one features a popular rock band. But it's the members that really caught my attention.

I loved how openly affectionate the band members were with each other. Their casual acceptance of everyone's uniqueness was a breath of fresh air.

The romance is between the lead singer, Rayne, and their new lead guitarist, Kris. Kris struck out on his own, leaving Kansas far behind. Unfortunately, his cousin let him down and he would have been in a bad bind if Rayne hadn't chanced upon Kris playing his guitar at a time when his band really needed a new guitarist. Kris is a genius on the instrument.

But back to the romance, Rayne is gay. Kris has had to be straight his whole life in Kansas. He's known deep down that he's not, but it was easier to suppress those feelings in a town with no other real options. Becoming a part of Rayne's band sets something free in Kris. Little by little he sheds his inhibition to become who he truly is inside. It was wonderful to watch.

We also watch as the two guys start with a spark of chemistry and evolve into true feelings for each other. Rayne is hesitant because getting involved with straight guys has burned him before. Kris takes a while to come to terms with himself. OFY is also one of my favorite tropes.

Most of Kris' family is on board. But not all of them, and we get some problems out of Kris' big brother. Why do some people think they can control other people's lives *for their own good*? The stark difference between the loving openness of the band members and the hateful closemindedness of Kris' brother is shocking.

My only little niggle was with the plot arc featuring a "cult" of exceedingly strange men. They were only tangentially connected to the music world and I found them a little too silly for belief. But you know sometimes you just have to roll with the story. Especially when it's good other than a small niggle.

This one is good. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the characters and seeing the romance between Rayne and Kris blossom.

It was cute and infuriating!! All the miscommunication bothers me a lot! And here there was so much of it!! Kris kept postponing his coming out as bisexual because he didn’t want the dynamics of the band to change, but then by not coming out his potential relationship with Rayne, who he was falling hard for, was at risk.

I couldn’t have been hard for him to tell Rayne what he felt because he was surrounded by really supportive people. He was afraid, and he shouldn’t come out if he isn’t ready, but he had more than one occasion to speak his heart, to tell Rayne even in confidence, that he was feeling things beyond friendship. Without labeling it, without coming out, he could have been more honest with Rayne. You could see from miles away how smitten they were for each other, pining for no reason, just because they were stubborn and kept things to themselves.

I always kind of like books with music bands in them. Imagining what kind of music they do, how they behave on stage and out. This was really nice, it dragged a bit, though; I thought it was almost ending when it was only at 50%. Maybe cutting some things out it would have been so much better.

Nevertheless, it was a nice book, even with the weird cult and the random peacock!

Unfortunately this book did not work for me for various reasons, some of which I'll highlight. It's mostly personal, I think? Except... The overall pace felt off and an unexpected angle / POV change in the second half of the book was not only weird to me but also changed the 'vibe' of the story.

I liked Kris well enough from page one and I wanted to keep reading after the first chapter - it was well written, fast paced and intriguing. Stranded in New York, homeless for the first time in his life and trying to make money to buy his next meal with busking. I was curious to see what would happen next to Kris, and before long Rayne comes to the rescue. Not 24 hours in a new city without direction Kris meets his savior, a famous rock star he's never heard of, and together they embark on an adventure, touring the US! Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

It was a promising start but a few more chapters in and I felt a sense of deja vu...

Anyone who has been around to witness the HOTNESS that was/is Adam Lambert and Tommy Joe Ratliff will likely see the similarities here. It's hard not to. 2010 was a fantastic year and I totally dug Adam and Tommy Joe. TO BITS. I've seen all the footage, repeatedly, read the fanfics and wrote similar stuff myself. Maybe I've had my fill of going through the same thing over and over again...

I'm afraid to say I continued with the story less excited, guessing what was coming next... romance wise at least. I don't know what the author wanted to show with 'Leif' either, it only tore me out of the story the first time and messed with the rest for me the longer his POV popped up.

The entire cult angle put me off at one point. I didn't like it.

On top of the weird turn of the story I didn't connect with Kris. I tried but he was... well he was just okay, I mean, likable from the start but it didn't evolve into more, nothing about him made me squee and fall in love with him. And while Rayne was kinda fun, I didn't feel very close to him either. He was kinda distant and didn't feel like a main character to me for most of the book. It took forever to get a read on him. He acted differently than I first had the impression when they met and it threw me a few times. Really, I thought he was pretty much in the background for the most part of the story.

The book was not at all what I was hoping for. I felt like I've read the same story before, which of course I haven't but I could guess too much that it took away the uniqueness and excitement of a new book :(

Except for the cult thing, that was certainly new to me =D

And the peacock - that was just ridiculous.

I'd want a deeper emotional connection to the MC narrating the story and more chemistry between the couple (in my eyes they were lacking that).

Still, I appreciate the time and love the author put into creating this book and its characters. I’m certain there are the right readers this book out there; many probably!

So, don’t let my review hold you back: give it a try! :)

Honestly, I'm kind of mad at myself for this one. Ordinarily, I have (and abide by) a rule of no rockstars in my reads but the lure of an androgynous character tested my resolve. That coupled with visions of Adam Lambert dancing in my head and before I knew it I'd clicked the request button.

SOMEBODY GET ME SOME WATER BECAUSE...

Wait... well, that too but I meant...

I think the author did too because Rayne is IN CHARGE on stage and Kris plays lead guitar and becomes blonde with kind of that same haircut so... coincidence? Whatever. I dug it. Kris also dabbles in the androgyny once he joins the band and is even mistaken for a girl at a club.

All of these things I liked. The beginning was going swimmingly.

Kris has lived a sheltered life in Kansas and lucks into joining The Chokecherries through a series of unfortunate events including him busking in NYC to make some money for a place to sleep. He's attracted to Rayne immediately but has never labeled or identified as bi before and I appreciated that he needed a minute to adjust. Angel was a great character too. She helps Kris reframe some things when he struggles.

But then the waters got muddied by his assertions towards the end that he's always been bi, he's just never said it aloud. Really? That wasn't the impression I labored under for over half the book. I'm a fan of angst but there wasn't much and that coupled with the above assertion derailed the whole narrative for me. If it's not a problem to be with Rayne and you've always been bi then why the push/pull for well over half the story?

It didn't help the cause that the narrative squirreled into Weirdtown at the end then threw the uppercut of a fade to black sex scene which left me wondering why was there a need to build the sexual tension to Hoover Dam levels if you're planning to flood the plain anyway? What's more, the UST never really morphed into a romance I could believe in and then... Weirdtown.

Regarding Weirdtown... in a nutshell, this story is EXACTLY what the blurb advertises. I could've saved myself the 300+ page read and just read the blurb, because that's the whole bizarre story. I would've preferred the protagonists to have an adult conversation rather than relying on this odd plot device to "bring them together" as it were.

Lesson learned. No more rockstars for me. I would categorize this story as coming of age/self-discovery with romantic elements rather than a romance.

There were things I liked but on the whole this was a dud for me and not something I'd recommend, but my opinions are my own and YMMV.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If a One Direction fic and a Queer as Folk Brian Kinney/Justin Taylor fic had a baby, A Summer Soundtrack for Falling in Love would be the result. 👨🏽‍🎤💕👨🏼‍🎤

What a breath of fresh diverse air. I mean other than the whole peacock thing being ridiculously crazy and confusing. What was the point of that plot? I'll never be able to look at peacocks the same now.

Whhhy is the book title so long? It isn't a very aesthetic hashtag. Though, I would still love a sequel. 💕📚

bonus things to do after reading A Summer Soundtrack for Falling in Love that nobody asked for
1. watch all 5 seasons of Queer as Folk and fall in love with Brian Kinney
2. watch all the Larry conspiracy videos on YouTube
3. read Catch My Breath by M.J. O'Oshea

I thought that this was a very cute book. And I mean that in the nicest possible way, because I've noticed a lot of people tend to use the term "cute" as an insult, as if it being a light, fluffy, and well cute read somehow makes the book less somehow. Romances have to be steam, or sexy, or dark or tingly, but they're almost never just...cute. And I liked that A Summer Soundtrack for Falling in Love is unabashfully cute. Kris is adorable, his bandmates are fun, and the romance between him and Rayne is basically the heart eyes emoji come to life.

Kris was a great main character, wide-eyed but not totally innocent he seemed to really shine on the page. His voice was distinct and I found that even when the plot began to slow in the middle, I was never bored. Kris' voice, combined with Powell's descriptions made this such an enjoyable read. I loved The Chokecherries' style and I loved with story. I really just made me...happy and I think it's one of those stories that can make anyone happy.

2.5 stars

I tried really really hard to like this book. It started off great, I loved the chemistry between Kris and Rayne and the diversity they had within the chokecherries. It had the making to be a great book. Then it took a turn for the worse. The worshippers of his serene majest, the incandescent and all seeing god..... is a friggin peacock! Was not expecting that and frankly it's the reason why this book is being given a 2.5 rating. If there were more books in this series I'd give them a shot. But the cult was a little over the top.

A peacock really????

This was almost a slam dunk for me. The writing style hooked me immediately, and the chemistry was blazing. I LOVE a good slow burn and this one definitely delivered there, though we don’t get to see them go all the way, which was a bummer.

I adored the supporting cast. Everyone was really well written and I’d like to know all of them further.

Unfortunately, the side plot took it off the rails for me. I don’t think it was necessary to the story, and it was just so out there that it pulled me out of my Kris/Rayne bubble. With that being said, I kind of like the way it worked out.

4 solid stars! I’ll be looking for more from Arden Powell for sure!

*Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

**Will post to both Goodreads and Amazon on 10/29.

3.5 STARS!!!
A Summer Soundtrack for Falling in Love was such a good story. I enjoyed the characters in this story a lot and I absolutely love Rockstar romance reads. The chemistry between Kris and Rayne was undeniable and I enjoyed them being together. I get why the label wanted Calloway and Rayne to be "together" and in a way I'm glad they were because it pushed Kris to face his feelings and truth. Although this story definitely had parts I enjoyed there were also some parts I disliked. I thought the beginning of the story was a bit slow. I also thought the part with the cult was unnecessary and ridiculous with their peacock, but there were some part with them that was comical. I also wished the ending was a little bit better and I would have loved an epilogue. With that being said, this was still a good read and I look forward to reading more books from this author.