This book was such a wonderful surprise. I was drawn in by the fantastic cover, and it turned out to be a story that sucked me in until there were no more pages to turn. Even though it is technically a romance, the romance part takes a back seat for most of the book. The strength of this book is in telling Toni's journey in life through music. She's a great female lead and the music is interwoven with such authenticity that it feels like another character. I enjoyed the romance between Toni and Seb; even though it didn't feel central to the story, it was sweet and endearing . I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for Xio Axelrod's next book.

I was able to listen to the audio version as well as the e-book and I slightly preferred the book version. The female narrator and the male narrator had different styles (hers more subtle, his more dramatic) and I found that the switches from one to the other were distracting because they felt so disparate. Also, the parts that were songs in the book didn't sound like singing in the audio version, so I preferred imagining the singing as I read.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good story, but I didn't find it to be a great one. Toni B is a fierce protagonist, and I loved her determination to make it in a misogynistic music industry, but I never quite bought the whole relationship between her and Seb. I listened to the audio... perhaps I would have enjoyed reading the text copy more.

Thanks, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the audio-ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. The heroine was fierce, without her fierceness being shoved down the readers' throats. I loved the female friendships, and I loved how the heroine's goals changed throughout the book (in a really realistic way, one that still made me feel like she was getting what she wanted and not compromising anything). And the romance was hot.

I took off a star because I couldn't completely get into the character of Sebastian. I wish I knew more about his backstory earlier in the book. I think it would have helped me identify with him more. His mystery was not very intriguing to me. This might also have been because of the narrator for the character in the audiobook. The voices he made for the other characters took me out of the story.

“Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.”-Anonymous

This was my first book by Xio Axelrod, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! You can tell she has a passion for the music industry (which I know next to nothing about) and I loved being able to see inside the various relationships of The Lilly’s. The way they interacted, played, fought, and worked together was nothing short of intriguing.
Seb and Toni were beautiful characters with complicated backgrounds and a past that made them who they are today. If you enjoy music, romance, and characters with grit then you will love this one 💞

I was so excited to get the audiobook copy of this, because I'm always such a sucker for dual narration. I found the narration to be really good and created an altogether positive reading experience. Overall I thought this was a fine romance, albeit a little forgettable. In its defense I've read a ton of really good romances lately so I found myself unfairly comparing it to those titles throughout. This was my first book by this author, and I would definitely consider picking up another in the future depending on the premise!

I'll post a full review on my Goodreads on it release date!

I really enjoyed this story. I felt that the author could include all the components you might expect from a story about someone's rise to fame, and yet it was not cliche. The characters were relatable, likable, and I looked forward to their perspectives. The characters were diverse and entertaining to learn about. It felt Better yet; it was evident that the author was passionate about music and conveyed that passion in a way that the lay reader could understand. The author's depiction of an all-girl group was empowering, and I'm glad she included the characters' struggles in the industry as women.

I also feel that the narrators did an excellent job of incorporating their styles into the audiobook. I feel like the accents could have been better or avoided, but it was a good listening experience.

I will definitely be recommending this book when it comes out.
#indigoemployee

I LOVED this book. The story is just wonderful, and you'll get attached to the characters quickly.

This audiobook was the most fun I've had listening to something in a while. I finished it all in about two days. The narrators were fantastic actors, and I felt the brought the book to life amazingly. The audiobook also sounds great in 2x speed, the speed I normally listen with, which is great!

This New Adult contemporary fiction gripped me from start to finish and I felt like I was there with Toni, navigating her hardships, her joy, and finding her dreams.

Toni grew up following her mom around from gig to gig, waiting back-stage or being babysat by a bar owner until her mom decided to ship her off to live with her father. Her dad didn’t really give her the time of day and so she befriended a local boy who shared her love of music. They were inseparable until he ran off on her too, without a word. Years later, and much more grown-up, Toni runs into Seb again and those sparks are still there, but can she forgive him for abandoning her?

I really liked all the characters, and because of that I wanted to know more about them, particularly the leads. I actually wouldn’t have minded if this book was a little longer than its 464 pages if we got to go a little deeper into both Toni and Seb. I wanted to hear more about their time growing up and the years in between. But I loved their chemistry and the way they supported each other in a way that only someone with that much shared history really can.

I listened to this on audio, and loved the narration by Alexander Cendese and Tamika Simone. It’s just over 13 hours long, and was a wonderful experience.

It looks like this will be the first book in the Lilly’s series, so stay tuned! I can’t wait to read more!

Antonia “Toni” Bennette (yep) is trying to make it in a man’s world. Regardless of her talent, garnering respect in the music world doesn’t come easy—especially as a woman of color. Toni B. eventually gets an opportunity that would take her farther than she could imagine. The only problem? It requires working with Sebastian Quick, the guy who left her without a word when they were teenagers. I so loved Toni’s character and as a musician I loved the different “behind the scenes” aspects of her life. Xio Axelrod's writing kept me invested throughout the book and I found myself missing Toni B. and Seb after I finished.

I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t like Seb. He seemed slimy and I just didn’t like him as a love interest. I think maybe if we knew more about them before they had a falling out earlier that might have changed it.

I really liked Tony, I thought she was a great character. I loved how talented she was, but didn’t care for fame.

But I just couldn’t get past Sebastian, it made any romance scenes weird to me. It brought me out of the story a few times.

This might the first time I didn’t want the main characters to end up together.

Overall, a really great book. I wish I could pinpoint what it was about Sebastian that I didn’t like.

The ending was cute, I like that Tony was able to do both owning the label and perform with the Lillys.

Unfortunately, I never grow to like Seb. He gave me a weird vibe and his “jokes” always make me feel uncomfortable.

This second chance romance about music and dreams will break your heart and mend it with music.
Stunning read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes is a fun, entertaining and romantic read about Tony, a talented guitarist trying to make it in the music industry. While the book has some depth in themes, I still found it to be a light-hearted, enjoyable read that was the perfect break from the thrillers I've been reading lately. The romantic interest is a large part of the story, but so is the story of a woman trying to figure out what she wants from a demanding and difficult career path. There are some very steamy scenes for those who love the romance angle.

I listened to this on audiobook and thought both narrators did a great job. This was my first read from Xio Axelrod and I look forward to reading more of her work!

Toni is an amazing character I loved her! There's a romance that will pull on your strings while you fall in love with these awesome characters!
This is an emotional, well written, amazing read! I couldn't stop listening to it!

I enjoyed this book a lot! I was expecting a fun, fluffy band romance, and there was some of that, but there was more than that, too. This book also involved topics of addiction, trauma, and family (biological and chosen). There was also a really good steamy scene that I was not expecting! I think this is a series that could get even better after the first book as we get to know the characters in the present as much as the first book addresses the past.

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited for this but I have some very mixed feelings about it.

First off, I love Toni. She's tough and works hard for what she wants. She's been knocked down by people in the industry but she's always managed to get back up. This story is very much Toni's story and because of that, I wish there wasn't two POVs. I typically really like dual POVs but this is one case where I just wanted more Toni.

You could feel the love of music in the story. I really enjoyed everything about the industry and her struggles in breaking into the rock world. Her journey with the Lillys is my favourite. I would love more of their dynamics and to see what comes next for this band.

The second POV comes from Seb and I could never get on board with him. I didn't like him as a character and didn't ever learn enough about him to come around. His character seemed to revolve around Toni and Candy. I didn't feel the connection between him and Toni or how it could have still had such a hold on them both.

Tamika Simone's narration was great and was perfect for Toni. Alexander Cendese was not my favourite, I especially didn't care for how he did female voices. Part of my dislike of his performance may be my dislike of Seb and not liking the dual POV though.

I'd give 5 stars to Toni and the Lillys and maybe 2 to Seb.
3.5 stars

This was a great read - a romance, yes, but so much more than that. I loved the focus on a female rock band and its talented musicians. You get an inside look at what it takes to work in the pop/rock music business (and yes, it’s a business, as a couple of characters point out). The backstory of both Toni (Antonia) and Seb (Sebastian) were heartbreaking in their own ways (neither had what anyone would call a typical childhood) and their connection felt so real. The story was a combo of second-chance love and enemies-to-lovers tropes. The audiobook was excellent, with one female narrator (Tamika Simone) and one male narrator (Alexander Cendese), reading different chapters, depending on whether that chapter was being told from Toni’s point of view or Seb’s. Also really enjoyed the love sent out to Philadelphia throughout the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Hmmm. I read three quarters of the book in one day, then took four days to finish the rest, and I have very mixed feelings about it. Will I be able to properly put my thoughts into words? Let's find out, shall we?

Right off the bat I need to clarify that this review is based off the audiobook. The publisher was kind enough to allow me to listen-read early, and the narration is the first point upon which I have mixed feelings. I listened to the three minute narration sample before requesting, and Tamika Simone was perfect as Toni. Hearing Alexander Cendese as Seb? Not so much. Where Tamika has a fabulous voice to listen to, every time Alex spoke I imagined myself in a dramatic movie trailer. You know, "In a world far, far away, one man stands alone against a terrible evil." It was a poor fit for the character and made it difficult to take his chapters serious. Worse still was every female voice from him was pitched to have an odd nasally, valley girl accent.

Toni and Seb's story is deeply entrenched in the rock music industry. From record labels to recording studios, to band dynamics and live shows, and the sheer passion for that world shines through in the writing. The experiences from both characters come across as realistic and genuine, and I believe that is because the author herself has that same experience. While I am not a fan of the rock music that is referenced, I was entranced right from the start. Especially by Toni's view of the industry. It's a tough business to crack into, harder still as a woman, but the way she saw her career rolling was very relatable. Honestly, Toni's journey with the Lillies, an all-female rock band breaking onto the scene, is really what made this an enjoyable book.

I have nothing but praise for Toni Bennett (no, not that one). She is a tough as nails and fierce woman who knows what she wants and will do what it takes to do right by herself. If that means sacrificing a little bit of her career plan by stepping into the spotlight to get that career in the end, then so be it. She always lands on her feet, even after getting knocked over by people in the industry, her family, and those she's come to love. I really admired her and adored her as a main character. Seb on the other hand didn't stand out to me. I couldn't connect with him and felt like I knew so little about him. What he wanted for himself, what his motivations were--in hindsight everything about him seemed to revolve around Toni and Candy. There is a reveal about his character where he's just like someone in his past, but not once did I see him act that way, so I just didn't get him.

Enemies-to-lovers is my favourite romance trope, and when second chance romances like this draw from a similar well it can be just as fun, if not more so. Sadly, this fell short for me and kind of gave me whiplash? Toni and Seb grew up together and made all sorts of plans before Seb bailed, leaving Toni behind. They clearly have feelings for each other, but it didn't see it shine on page. Their relationship lacked tension once they reunited and what was there barely got off the ground to cause any angst. They sort of revolved around each other with zero spice. In fact, after reading 3/4 in one day, my biggest takeaway was there was nothing ... hot. I fully expected this to be a fade-to-black type of book, so imagine my confusion when I came back the next day to d*cks being whipped out of pants? Truly went from zero to 100 in one chapter.

I've heard this might be a series with each book focusing on a different member of the band. If that's the case, I think I'll check it out! Toni really was the star of this book for me, and I'd love to know more about the other Lillies.

This is a review of the audiobook: I thought the narrators' voices were perfect for these characters. For me, they really captured their personalities and emotions. I would recommend the audio version as I found it quite enjoyable.

I completely fell in love with Toni & Seb's story. This author has some serious talent.

Antonia (Toni) and Sebastian (Seb) were childhood friends until the day he left her behind. Now, years later, fate brings them back into one another's orbit and Toni is still quite bitter....to say the least. Seb has his work cut out for him trying to explain to Toni why he had to leave. Can they find their way back to their friendship? Can they possibly be more?

Meanwhile, I also really enjoyed the side characters that Ms. Axelrod created. From each of the Lilly's band members to Toni's other friends, the characters all felt fleshed out and real. In addition, the author's knowledge about the music industry felt personal and extensive. She shared musical information in a way that enriched the story and made it feel like a character all its own.

I simply liked everything about this book and cannot wait to read more about the Lillys.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I went back and forth between reading this and listening to the audiobook. The narration was FANTASTIC! Both the female and male narrators brought such life to this story. ⁣
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I really enjoyed this story. I loved Toni’s drive, strength, and ambition. She always followed her dreams and did everything she could to be the best she could be in a “boys club world.”⁣
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Learning about the band, really feeling like you were there during their rehearsals and gigs was so much fun and filled with energy. The banter between the band members was hilarious at times and they were just a vibe.⁣
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The second chance friendship to relationship between Seb and Toni was truly heartfelt, raw, real, and at times I was smiling so big I felt like hearts were popping out of my eyes. ⁣
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If you love music, second chance romances, and the underdog beating all the odds- this book is for you!⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
Thank you @sourcebookscasa for an ARC for my honest review!

Young, lonely, and feeling abandoned, a 12-year-old Toni finds comfort and true companionship for the first time when she gets plopped down in a small town to be raised by her father. Seb, slightly older and similarly talented, is not only her closest friend, he is her way out – until he leaves her behind without a word. Years later, Toni is an up-and-coming indie rocker and Seb is managing a band in need of a guitarist – as it turns out, she’s a perfect fit in more ways than one.

This romance is not your typical romance. There is a depth to the slow burn of connection that pulls a deep thread of shared history, deep trauma, and pure passion. This isn’t just a love story about childhood friends reconnecting – this is a story of finding love of one’s self and trusting one’s talents, to making big leaps, and honoring one’s experience. We don’t see Toni and Seb as silhouettes of whole people, shown only in full light together. We see them brightly in the context of friendship, career, and family.

Not only is the story compelling, the writing is captivating, the pacing even, and flow graceful. We are left wanting to know even more about our cast of characters – which is a good thing given this is the start of a series.

I personally can’t wait to get my hands on a print copy and recommend this my fellow readers who enjoyed Daisy Jones & The Six, The Rhythm of Blues, or any of Talia Hibbert’s Brown sisters series.

I enjoyed this book on audio thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced copy! The audio narratives were stellar though they have a slow, deliberate pace so you may opt to listen at a modified speed.