I enjoyed using music to tell the past of the characters, but I feel like everything in the last 25% was really rushed, and I didn't buy the resolution of the conflict. Maybe future books will show more.

Two years ago Ariana made a huge mistake, walking away from the love of her life, rockstar Gabriel. She thought leaving him would be the best option as she had no desire to live in the limelight.

Now, she has won tickets to his concert - going would mean bring back all the pain, but also all the happy times. Can she handle it?

I loved the way this story progressed through the songs during the concert. It’s was very cleverly done and incredibly unique. I am looking forward to reading more by this local WA writer.

The Album, A Cruise Control Novel, Sian Ceinwen

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, Women's Fiction

OK, start with my usual moan. Women's Fiction – why? Men write romance, men read romance., 'nuff said...

So, this trope is a real favourite of mine and I really enjoyed Sian's writing style. What didn't work, and stopped this being a five was the past present format that lasted the majority of the book. We know right from the start they've been broken up for two years, and I was hoping all the way through that this chapter we'd finally leave the past and get to Now. That didn't happen until the every end though and though that was absolutely perfect, angst and heartbreak just as I love it did mean it felt rushed.
I'd have liked to read more of how the band felt about them being together, what they said etc. we get a sneak preview of this for book two but I wanted more.
I did feel Arianna was a bit pigheaded, stubborn in the extreme although her fears were real. Gabriel showed no signs of being like her uncle and I think she could have recognised her issues and maybe sought therapy for them. She'd learned what she lost when they were apart but I felt unless she'd actually dealt with her fame/limelight issues they cold be headed for heartbreak again. Time helps, it doesn't heal automatically though.
An excellent debut novel, good things to come from Sian I'm certain, it was just the story format that let this down for me. If we'd left the past about a third or even halfway through, it would have worked better for me.
BTW I Loved, Loved the mean girls, the bitchy groupies, I was hoping their manager would prove to be a bit difficult too- one of the reason I love this trope is the potential for jealousies, back stabbing and some real b itchy characters.

Stars: four, a great read, excellent story and I'm looking forward to book two.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers