Thank you Netgalley, Tracey Garvis Graves and St. Martin's Press for this ecopy of Hear it in a Love Song in exchange for my honest review.
My review for Heard it in a Love Song will come out closer to the pub date - November 2021

Heard It in a Love Song was a slow-burn for me, but I have to say I really enjoyed it. It was different than other books by Tracey Garvis Graves, but the writing is beautiful.
Layla is a recently divorced music teacher at an elementary school, who loves music and in her younger years was in a band. Josh is going through a divorce and first meets Layla at the school where his daughter is a kindergartner. They get to know each other better when Layla dog sits for him. The characters are vulnerable, well developed, and easy to relate to.
This book gives such a realistic view of divorce and starting over. I loved how their relationship started as a friendship as they both healed from their past relationships. It is slower-paced, and written in a dual timeline with flashbacks for both characters. At times I found myself looking at my own relationship and what I can do to strengthen it as I read about the unraveling of their relationships. Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting, but was delightful nonetheless. I was expecting another Daisy Jones, but this was more like if Daisy and Hallmark had a baby, and I loved it. Layla and Josh were easy to cheer and hope for. They had depth and were flawed in a way that made them good for each other. It was also nice to read a book that was looking forward to a music career not just looking back on one.

After loving The Girl He Used to Know, I was very excited for Tracey Garvis Graves' newest book! In Heard it in a Love Song we get to know Layla and Josh, who are both trying to move on with their lives after divorce. I really enjoyed getting to know both characters through the alternating view points, but did not necessarily love the alternate timelines, and thought the story would have flowed better without the timeline set in the past. Overall a novel that will make you smile and cry! Not quite as good as The Girl He Used to Know, but definitely worth a read!

The character of Layla was the most rounded out in the story and by the end, I still felt like I didn't really know Josh. I enjoyed the reality of post 30-divorce life such as the fragility of getting into another relationship after and the steps you take to take care of yourself.

I thought the way Kimmy was portrayed was a tad hateful with this being written by a woman. Kimmy became involved in politics (Kerry era) and used her phone as an escape in later years by being overly invested in the internet (and it's never stated, but probably social media). She also didn't feel like having sex with her husband which he didn't really try to fix other than shaming her for it and planning a dumb trip to Florida. Josh was WHINY. I understand his connection with Layla, but never understood why Layla went with her husband Liam in the first place.

Liam was douche vibes from the jump.

I can totally see why someone would find solace in this book and overall, I did enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley For providing me a early E-Arc Copy of this book. Sadly this one wasnt that great in my opinion and I am actually thankful that it was a short read. The story was slow and kinda blah and I didnt feel a connection with the characters Layla and Josh. I just felt like the story didnt really go anywhere and I was glad to be done with the book. I have read other books by Tracey in the past but this one didnt meet my expectations.

I love second chance romance and Layla and Josh didnt disappoint. This book took a little bit to get into but once it took off I finished it in one sitting. It'll be perfect for those of us looking for another chance at love despite sad past experiences, including divorce. A wonderful summer read.

Tracy Garvis Graves is one of my go-to authors! I absolutely love the way she's able to infuse a real-life feel into her fiction.

Unfortunately, Heard It in a Love Song wasn't the huge hit I was expecting. It took quite some time for this story to capture my attention. I wished there had been fewer flashbacks to the characters' past relationships. I felt these moments slowed the flow of the story as the pace was beginning to pick up. But, I didn't want to give up because I was sure eventually the plot would grab me. I'm glad I kept reading because I did come to enjoy the story. It was a cozy read - more contemporary fiction than romance. It was interesting to see how the characters would grow and once I settled into the flashbacks, I was able to see their relevance to the story.

Overall, not my favorite book, but I will be eager to read more by Tracy Garvis Graves in the future!

Another wonderful love story by Tracey Garvis Graves. Layla is teaching music at an elementary school, healing from her divorce, and thinking about her past as a musician and band memeber. Josh is also newly separated and focusing his attention on his sweet daughter. When Layla and Josh meet in the school pick-up line, their love story is filled with compassion, friendship, and song lyrics. A fast and welcomed distraction, I highly recommend this novel.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book.

Such a sweet story of Layla and Josh, and their sweet relationship as they both get a "do-over" in their relationships and their lives. Layla is recently divorced and teaching music in the local elementary school, and Josh, in the midst of a divorce himself, meets her as he takes his young daughter to school each day. They become friends, and begin seeing each regularly. Layla begins to spend more time singing cover songs in a local band, something that she was forced to give up while married. Together, the two characters discover that now is the time to be their authentic selves.

I'm giving this gook 3.5 stars because it's quite predictable. But it's written well, in a back and forth format between the characters, which is so popular with contemporary writers. And the ending is lovely and satisfying.

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read Heard It In A Love Song.

This is a story of second chances and rediscovering life and love after a broken heart. It is told in a dual timeline that alternates between the two main characters. At times, it is a cautionary tale of trusting too much and being blindsided by someone you are in a relationship with(watch those bank and credit card statements!). Both the characters and the plot are realistic and heart warming as well. It is a beautifully told modern love story with two main characters that I will long remember! I did receive an ARC from Netgalley, and I am very glad I did. And that old Marshall Tucker song is still going through my mind!

I was eager to read another TGG book so I was excited to get an ARC. I can't say this is my favorite of her books however I enjoyed the read and really became invested in the characters. I would have liked it better if the pace had been a little quicker however I did love all the music references.

Tracey Garvis Graves writes another winner . Layla and Josh are both newly single. They catch each other’s eye at school drop off where Layla is Josh’s daughter’s music teacher. The writing is in alternating timelines, giving us the history of both of their relationships. I loved the writing style of this book and the slow burn of the characters’ own love story!

This story follows the journey of Layla and of Josh - both facing the end of marriages and figuring out how to start ovre and move forward. Layla finds herself drawn back to her love of music and the feelings and adrenaline that it unleashes when she picks up a guitar. Josh juggles his pending divorce at the same time that his young daughter starts school. He gets to know Layla a small bit every morning at school drop-off.

The story line is predictable, but sweet. The story does alternate between present day and then past memories (italic text) where each character is drawn back to their previous relationship and reflects on that initial attraction and the struggles the relationship faced. It took me a bit to get used to that format, but I soon fell into the rhythm.

Heard It in a Love Song was a bit of an unexpected read about two 30 something adults finding themselves. Layla is an elementary music teacher who is on the heels of a divorce that left her without a lot of confidence. Once upon a time she was something of a rock goddess, with a commanding presence on the stage of a cover band in small town Minnesota. How did she transform from that to a 30 something ex-wife teacher, and who will she be now? Josh took a road less traveled as an 18 year old who knew he didn't want to go to college, and got instead got married to his first love. Now as his daughter enters kindergarten, he finds himself separated and trying to figure out what it is like to be on his own for the first time really ever. As their paths cross, they find out more about each other, but more importantly more about themselves.

I found this book to have some romance, a lot of good music references that had me rocking out in my head as I read, but a lot of strong character development as the backstory of both Layla and Josh is slowly revealed through memories. It was a very entertaining, easy read, and sweet book. For it's genre I would give it 5 stars as truly enjoyable. Overall, I'd give it sold 4 stars.

Thank you Tracey Garvis Graves, NetGalley, and St. Martins Press for an ARC of Heard It In a Love Song in exchange for an honest review. I definitely enjoyed this one!

I was a huge fan of author Tracey Garvis Graves' previous novel and could not wait to dive into this upcoming release. This friends-to-lovers story of Layla and Josh did not disappoint. I found it to be beautiful, heartwarming and enjoyed the slow burn of the romance. The music incorporated throughout via Layla's 'character was an added touch and Josh's character was incredibly likeable.

This was an entertaining read. After reading <u>On the Island</u> and <u>The Girl He Used to Know</u>, also by Tracey Garvis Graves, I jumped at the chance to read this ARC when it became available on NetGalley.

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Layla and Josh are each trying to finalize their divorces in their respective long term relationships. Layla's marriage was a sham from day one, and Josh and his wife, Kimberly, grew apart and wanted different things from life now.

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Garvis Graves takes us through Layla and Josh's journey away from their spouses - toward each other! And what a bumpy road that was. I liked that there was no "insta-love" happening here. There was definitely mutual attraction between the two, but this story takes place over a year or more: from first day jitters for Josh's little girl to the glory days of summer vacation and a bit beyond. During that time, Layla and Josh become friends, then something more, as they each overcome their emotional battle scars (and, FINALLY, with great relief, delete their online dating APs!)

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They truly like each other's company and (despite a few issues - she is his daughter's Kindergarten music teacher and his divorce hasn't been filed yet - they decide to just let things progress... slowly. Their "friendship with potential" was a fun read. You really wanted these two damaged people to heal with each other. As Layla and Josh tried to fill those lonely hours during the initial stages of their respective breakups, I kept hoping that these two decent people would get over their emotional traumas and move toward each other. They really made such a cute couple - they were so supportive of one another.

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Characterization and dialogue in this story were good, as usual, but there was a fair amount of telling and not showing in some places. There were also some scenes between Layla and her friends that seemed more like filler, but, overall, this was an interesting, well-written story. It was very topical and anyone who has had to get back out there after a broken relationship will fully relate to Layla and Josh's story. I loved all the musical references and Layla's total immersion in her performances (although I am not a big 70's fan, sorry!)

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I'm rating this one 4 out of 5 very entertaining stars! My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Girl He Used to Know and books about musicians trying to make it in the music industry, so this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. Layla and Josh have each come out of their respective divorces wiser and a little weary. When they meet there is an obvious attraction, but they both decide to take it slow having been burned in the past. Before Layla was married she was a musician trying to get her big break, but eventually quit the industry and became a music teacher. As things start to heat up between Josh and Layla, so does her music career.

Throughout the story I was intrigued and wanted to know more and understand the personal history of both Josh and Layla, and what led them to their individual divorces. It was nice to see each of them work to rebuild, and acknowledge mistakes of their pasts. It seemed like Layla really learned more about herself and what she wanted out of the music industry and life. Josh and Layla had a quiet chemistry that built as they worked to slowly establish their relationship. I appreciated that they were very mature about the way they approached their relationship, and could feel the hesitation as they worked to build trust. I would call this a mature story about two people learning to find themselves and rebuild after divorce, which I think can be inspiring to anybody starting over after a tough breakup. Thank you to NetGalley and SMP Romance for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This is my honest review.*

My compliments on the book cover. It's like Janis Joplin posed with a batik floral piece. This is a cover that grabs attention without trying too hard.

It pains me to write this, but this book was not for me. I love all kinds of romance books and tropes, but this didn't feel like a romance novel. Further, I love stories where ordinary people do extraordinary things, or have extraordinary things happen to them. I also love stories where extraordinary people struggle with the common, human experience. This book is neither. Layla and Josh are normal people with normal lives who do normal things. Yawn.

I. Was. So. Bored. I couldn't get invested in the characters, and the momentum never picked up for me. To be fair, Ms. Graves' writing is solid and the premise has potential. However, the characters are so bland that I found myself simply not caring about any of them. It's not even that the story stalled out...it just never got up to a speed that I found engaging or interesting.

A great book and I enjoyed reading it. The characters were great and so was the storyline. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.