I just liked this book. It was ok. I hoped for more mature writing but the story was cute. I do enjoy witty banter, and friendship all interspersed with music.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this title. I think my rating is a 3.5 stars. Ultimately, this was a super enjoyable, beautiful, and well-written read by Ebony LaDelle, who I'd definitely love to see more from in the future.

The only challenge for me in this book was that I adored everything about it except the actual relationship between Prince and Danielle, and since that's so central but not all-encompassing, it's tricky. I love the characters as individuals, and how we're introduced to their worlds -- both teens' circumstances have made them need to be a little bit more grown up than their age, yet they're still learning and growing and finding out who they are. This book talks about music and writing and following your passions so beautifully that it's a joy to read, and passages about Detroit and Motown and radio and caretaking and family love just leap off the page. I feel way less enthusiastic about Prince pursuing Dani, and I almost would've thought it made more sense if his insistence on taking her out for specifically 3 dates would be part of a radio challenge for his love advice show. I kept feeling like Dani wasn't ready or willing to dip back into her friendships or head out on elaborate dates, and while ultimately she may have been helped out by Prince's big romantic gestures, she didn't seem to have a lot of agency in making those calls until much later in the story.

Prince Jones has always been a romantic. At only seventeen, he's the youngest DJ at a local radio show, spinning music and dishing out love advice to the Detroit masses. Despite helping others find their happy endings, Prince has put his own on the backburner to help support his family. Until he meets Dani Ford. Dani doesn't have any time for relationships. Her sole focus is on finishing her senior year, getting into a good college, and moving to New York City to become a writer. If only she can get past the incident at a party months ago that blocked up her creativity. When Prince and Dani meet, neither can deny the attraction, but Dani can't afford any more distractions. So the pair agree: Dani will give Prince three chances to prove to her that he's worth the risk.

I thought this was a nice coming-of-age story. I liked watching the relationship blossom between Prince and Dani. I thought it was heartwarming to see how gentle Prince was with Dani and how much he respected her boundaries. The dates they went on were adorable, and I liked watching the two of them grow closer and open up. LaDelle did a great job creating these two characters who were going through things, but who wasn't afraid to ask for help when they needed it and knew that you never have to face something alone. It led to open and honest dialogue that was refreshing. I also loved the dynamic between Prince and his group of friends. It was so cute watching how they hyped one another up, but also called each other out when necessary. The letters that Dani wrote to her favorite authors were also a lovely touch. Since I'm a bit older than the targeted demographic, there were times I had a hard time connecting with what was going on, but I still think it's a good read.

What initially attracted me to Love Radio was the setting: my beloved city of Detroit. Secondly, it features a main character that loves music. Last of all, the author is Michigan-born. The description says this new YA novel is Hitch meets The Sun is Also a Star. How can it not grab my interest?

Prince is a teenage self-professed love doctor with a popular radio show. DJ Love Jones' advice on the Detroit radio station is quite popular and valued. But the true test is if he can take own advice and fall in love. Dani is a girl with a plan: graduate high school with honors, earn a scholarship and become a famous author in NYC. She is not looking for love or checking for the confident radio DJ. Dani gives Prince three dates to convince they can fall in love.

Love Radio is not just a lovesick romance among high schoolers. It also deals with heavier issues such as sexual assault and illness. Even with this balance, it follows a common road that young adult books tend to follow. There was no element of surprise but more-so running through the pages because I knew what was coming next...and it did. For this reason, well-read adults can pass on this new release; this is fit for young readers.

Happy Early Pub Day, Ebony LaDelle! Love Radio will be available Tuesday, May 31.

~LiteraryMarie

At the beginning of Love Radio, author Ebony LaDelle includes a letter to readers that explains her inspiration for writing her first novel. She talks about how she’d always been the relationship expert amongst her friends, about her lifelong dream of becoming a writer, and her love for her hometown of Detroit. LaDelle uses these elements from her own life to write a great love story between two characters who break away from the YA stereotype.

Prince Jones has a great setup. At only seventeen, he’s already got a daily radio segment as DJ LoveJones, Detroit’s youngest and most popular advice-giving DJ. He’s got a solid group of supportive friends. And even though he’s nursing a broken heart after getting dumped by his college-bound girlfriend, he does okay in the romance department.

But Prince shoulders a lot of responsibilities at home. His single mother has Multiple Sclerosis, and his younger brother, Mook, is a handful, but you won’t hear him complaining about the extra work and sacrifices involved in taking care of the family he loves. Prince has accepted that his situation means abandoning his dreams of attending college after graduation. One dream he doesn’t have to give up? Pursuing his crush-since-middle-school, Danielle Ford.

Dani Ford wants to be a writer. She’s got a plan to attend New York University where she’ll study the greats and become the next Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, or Alice Walker. The problem is, she can’t manage to nail her college application essay. When she sits down to write about a life-defining event, the one event she most wants to forget is the one that keeps bubbling to the surface.

Not only is Dani preoccupied with getting into college, she’s not looking for any kind of relationship. Unlike her romance-movie-obsessed mother, Dani’s not sure she even believes in romantic love. In her experience, guys are only about one thing.

“Meanwhile, most of the guys I know are way too shallow and self-absorbed. They send messages telling their new pursuits how sexy they are. Dudes hit you up depending on how valuable you are online; how many likes and comments you get from your most recent selfie. But the worst of it is, guys don’t show respect.”

When Prince and Dani experience the exact opposite of a meet-cute at the Detroit Public Library, Prince figures his hopes of dating Dani are over. But she surprises him by not only apologizing for her part in their disastrous first meeting but agreeing to hang out with him. Three dates, he asks for, to get her to fall in love with him. She doesn’t believe him, but she hopes the distraction will ignite her creative juices and get her out of her current writer’s block.

Over the next few months, Prince’s ability to see Dani for who she is and to appreciate what makes her so special proves far more appealing than any celebrity he has attained as DJ LoveJones. His confidence in Dani helps restore her confidence in herself, and she begins to come out from behind the walls she’s constructed. But even with Prince’s support, Dani isn’t sure she has the capacity to be in love with anyone, and she knows it isn’t fair to lead Prince on when she can’t offer him anything more than friendship.

What I loved most about Love Radio is that it depicts a positive, healthy relationship between two young people who truly like each other for who they are. There is not even the slightest hint of insta-love or attraction based purely on the physical. Indeed, the physical is rarely mentioned. Rather, Dani and Prince get to know each other over time, and that learning only makes them like each other more. They appreciate the passions that they each have, Dani for writing and Prince for music. And what makes their relationship work is that they encourage and support those passions. They genuinely want the other person to be happy.

I’m in love with Prince. He’s respectful and charming. He adores his little brother and is never resentful of having to care for a disabled mother. He’s loyal to his friends and does give some pretty great relationship advice. Best of all, he genuinely sees Dani. He learns what is important to her and uses that information to craft the perfect dates. Not because he’s hoping to manipulate her or to get something from her, but because he understands what she needs and what makes her happy. And when Dani has her moment of crisis, Prince accepts that it isn’t about him but rather Dani needing to heal before she can offer him more. He’s hurt, but he respects her decision without bitterness.

Dani proved equally astute in encouraging Prince’s dreams and passions. She plans their third date with the goal of helping Prince realize that his love of music can lead to a great future. And while I found Dani’s reluctance to accept Prince’s love a little hard to understand and somewhat frustrating at times, I did see how her past experiences would make her scared to open herself up. A good portion of the story involves Dani coming to terms with what happened to her and her realization that the support of those who love her will help her move forward.

The sense of family in Love Radio is so positive. Dani is very close to both of her parents, and unlike so many YA novels, they are a constant presence in her life and in the story. Prince is devoted to his mother, brother and uncle. Friendships also play a huge role. For Dani, reconnecting with her best friends is a critical step in her healing journey - and I loved every scene with Prince, Malik, Yaz and Ant because their conversations are hilarious!

Speaking of Malik… my one nitpick is that a subplot involving Prince’s friend Malik and his indecision regarding two girls, Rashida and Charte, never gets resolved. Is that, perhaps, Book Two?

LaDelle has succeeded in her goal of writing a love letter to Detroit. Instead of simply a place to set a story, the city and its culturally significant locations are used to further the relationship  between Prince and Dani. I’ve never been to Detroit, but I’m ready to check out Dutch Girl Donuts and the Motown Museum.

In the end, this is a fantastic first book by Ebony LaDelle, and I look forward to reading more from her soon. I can happily recommend Love Radio as a wonderful YA love story.

Buy it at Amazon, Audible or your local independent retailer
Visit our Amazon Storefront

I was really looking forward to reading this book as I've heard so many wonderful things about it, however for some reason my access on Netgalley has expired even though we haven't passed the archive date yet? So I'm probably just going to read it whenever it comes out, and I can update my review here if/when that day comes. Again, I've really been looking forward to reading this book, and i don't know why this has happened. If possible it would be great if the publisher could allow this in the form of kindle ebook as well as Negalley shelf app because I've definitely had a lot of issues with the shelf app in the past and I've never had an issue with Kindle.

When I first read the summary of this book, I immediately added it to my TBR list because of the comps. I just found it very intriguing and was so excited to read it! Love Radio was a sweet story about opening yourself up to love.

Prince Jones is a certified love expert—that is, he has a popular segment on Detroit’s hip-hop show and people often seek out his romance advice. He’s been crushing on Dani Ford since middle school, and when they meet again, they don’t leave a good impression. Dani has closed herself off from all of her friends after an incident last year; she’s definitely not looking for love. Instead, she just wants to keep her head down until she can escape to NYU. However, she can’t resist when Prince convinces her to go on three dates with him and gradually they fall in love.

The romance was really cute! Prince tries his best to convince Dani that he’s worth falling for, including genuinely trying to get to know her with the help of her parents. They both open up to each other about stuff they don’t usually tell other people. It was nice to see how they become another person in the other’s support group. Dani is healing from a previous sexual assault, and I liked seeing how Prince understands when she needs to take a step back from them.

We get both Prince’s and Dani’s point-of-view throughout the story. Dani is excited to get into NYU but can’t stop rewriting her application essay. She’s also struggling to explain to her parents why she hasn’t been hanging out with her friends because that would mean talking about the assault. Over time she begins to realize that this isn’t something she has to deal with alone. Meanwhile, Prince is dealing with providing for his family, especially since he has to take care of his mother, who has MS. I liked reading about his close relationship with his younger brother and how he tries to always be there for him

I also liked reading about Prince and Dani’s pride in their hometown of Detroit. This book draws attention to the Black community and love there, particularly with Prince’s radio segment. They talk about the influences Motown has had on today’s music, as well as how Black beauty practices have been appropriated.

Love Radio was a quick, cute read that also deals with the protagonists’ personal growth. I liked the romance and the characters. If you’re looking for a sweet contemporary or are a fan of The Sun Is Also a Star, you might enjoy Love Radio!

SPEECHLESS!

What a beautiful Love Story that CELEBRATES the beauty within BLACK LOVE! This isn't just your average rom com, it's one w/ a deeper meaning. Told from 2 POVs, LaDelle's LOVE RADIO explores the ups and downs of first love, parental sickness, and taking chances. Prince and Dani's story was so beautiful.

You need to read this ASAP!

This was such a great book, I loved the formatting and writing style, and would’ve loved this so much more as a teen so I know that demographic is going to adore it. Love the playlists. Super creative approach to a simple story.

Prince Jones is 17 years old and a DJ for Detroit’s popular radio show, Love Radio! It seems like he has all the answers until it comes to Dani Ford. Dani wants nothing more than to ace a scholarship, graduate, and move to New York City to become a famous author. The only thing stopping her is dealing with what happened at a party a few months ago, so she can cure her writer’s block. Easier said than done. Prince is head over heels for Dani, but she’s focused, and he doesn’t fit in with her plans. So Prince has a deal for her, three dates and he’s sure she’ll fall in love with him.

The cover sparked my initial interest in reading this book, but it was so much more than I expected! There are some heavy topics covered: racism, cultural appropriation, sexual assault/trauma, and acting as a caretaker to someone. These are everyday issues that people deal with and it’s so relatable!

The romance in this book warmed my heart. It was so sweet and there were times I just could not stop smiling. I have moved Prince to the top of my list of favorite book boyfriends! There were so many instances that I could relate to Dani and Prince, which made this such a splendid read for me. I could really see myself in the characters, relate to their families, and other challenges in their lives. The representation of black love and young black people was light and refreshing!

I love a good romance that incorporates Dual POVs, and this story really made them shine! I enjoyed getting into both Prince and Dani’s heads and seeing their highs and lows. Prince and Dani’s relationship was so pure and truly captured how important it is to communicate and how a friendship first can help a romantic relationship blossom. I cannot say enough good things about this book. The only thing that kept me from rating it 5 stars was the ending. It felt a little rushed, and I wish we had a little more of Dani and Prince! Overall fantastic read and I look forward to purchasing this when it comes out!

Thank you Net Galley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for an eARC of Love Radio in exchange for an honest review.


Danielle aka Dani has big dreams of moving to NYC and becoming a famous author. She views her future as a means of escape from the events of a college party a few months ago. Since the party Dani has completely isolated herself from friends and isn’t being open with her parents.

Prince aka DJ LoveJones has taken on the role of caregiver for his mother who has Multiple Sclerosis and his little brother who has ADHD. On top of that he also is trying to finish senior year, maintain a social life and do his radio segment “Love Radio” where he offers relationship advice to all of Detroit.

Prince makes a bet with Dani that he can make her fall in love with him after only 3 dates. Dani, being a huge skeptic of love doesn’t think it can happen, but she’s curious. She decides to give him the opportunity to try.

LaDelle’s debut is an ode to Black Love and also a love letter to the city of Detroit. She writes about her hometown with such affection and great attention to detail. I’ve never been to the Motown Museum but her descriptions of it made me feel like I was reliving a memory of my own trip there.

Many times during the novel Dani’s mom tells her that she deserves to have her own big love story. The powerful message LaDelle shares with readers through her characters: You matter. You are worthy of love but first it has to start with you!

Things I LOVED:
* Emphasis placed on Black and BIPOC teens
* The way Prince and Dani’s friends showed up for them in big and small ways.
* Dani and Prince both learning at a young age that it’s ok to ask for help and lean on your support system.
* How thoughtful each one of their dates was and the gifts they gave one another!
* The way the author handled Dani’s trauma and her healing process.
* How gentle and sensitive Prince was to Dani’s feelings and need for space after learning what she went through.
* All the references to Black culture via music, films, books, etc.
* The letters Dani writes to her favorite Black female authors as well as the letter Prince writes to her *swoon* 💕

Love Radio is a wonderful debut and I look forward to Ebony LaDelle’s future projects!

Content Warning ⚠️:
Sexual assault
Parent with a degenerative disease

This was so heartwarming and I absolutely loved it. As someone who had to step up as a caretaker as a high schooler, I really related to Prince Jones and appreciated his character.

What I loved:
- The friendships and familial relationships
- The diversity/representation
- The romance was so pure and sweet
- Discussions around difficult topics

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. I think it's a great read for young adults who are still coming into themselves.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy books about black love. Love Radio is about a young high school boy named Prince. He seems to have all the answers. He's kind and very passionate about music. He helps out his mom. We also follow Danielle she loves books and writing. She has experienced hurt in the past with college boys. Prince tries to win her heart. This is a quick and easy read. It speaks a lot about the black culture. This is a young adult book that mentions sexual assault, grief, and finding your way. This book was simply a cute and sweet young black love story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

FIVE STARS⭐️

This book has a chokehold on me oh my god.

Just reading the description I knew I was going to love it, and it STILL exceeded my expectations.

I ADORE Prince and Danielle. Both of them were struggling internally, and both grew to learn that it is okay to ask people for help and how to communicate. I think the communication done between them was amazing. I loved that the third act break was not due to miscommunication, but actually happened with a form of open communication. Danielle needed to heal. She spent so holding everything in, she needed that time and she was honest about it. Prince needed to accept it is okay to ask others for help. I LOVED his relationship with his mom and brother. And same with Danielle and her parents, I love books with loving families.

The romance left me nearly speechless. I am obsessed. I normally go for books with an over abundance of angst and tension, but this so SO CUTE. I reminded me I need to read more fluff. I loved the fluff and cuteness of their dates. Each of the dates had me squealing. When I say I want romance, THIS is what I mean. I want fun meaningful dates and conversations. I love seeing the characters connect with each other and themselves. I loved the way the parents were involved with planning them and everything. It was just so lovable. This had me smiling like crazy.

I would TOTALLY recommend this!!

I loved this book. As a teen i worked at a radio station and it brought back all the feelings. ONe of the best YA books I've read this season. Prince and Dani... ugh.. the cutest. So much joy and love about two kids from Detroit.

**Review will be published May 30th on my Insta/Blog/Goodreads etc.**

AMAZING DEBUT.

I adored this book y’all! A beautiful coming of age story filled with moments of growing up, overcoming trials, and finding the best foot forward to the big world after high school. Not to mention, a super sweet and swoony romance thrown in too.

I LOVE that this was dual POV. Prince was amazing. I loved how kind he was, and the fierce loyalty he had towards his family and friends. I enjoyed hearing his story and how he learned to take his own advice in forming a relationship with Danielle.

Danielle is a recluse by choice and watching her come back out of her shell made me so happy. While I didn’t love the way she approached her issues, it felt authentic. Especially because of the support around her (from family and friends) she was able to make safe steps forward in overcoming trauma from her past. I thought there were great discussions on processing sexual assault and grief. How it’s okay to lean on others and to find a road back to yourself.

I loved the full body essence of Black joy and the passion filled pages of culture and love for Detroit. The way this entire group of characters made my heart swell had me bursting.

I thought the ending was a bit abrupt and occasionally the pacing felt a little off, but those are minor thoughts towards a fantastic book. Highly recommend!!

Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary Romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: kisses
- Trigger/Content Warnings: discussions of racism and appropriation, sexual assault (on page), mother with a degenerative disease

It's a rare book that makes me cry in joy and anguish and then joy again and LOVE RADIO somehow managed. Prince and Dani are two of the realest, most compelling protagonists I've seen lead a romance in such a long time. Their independent struggles, pasts, virtues, and values made you not just believe in their relationship, but actually root for it to work from the very first page.

Prince checks Dani when she gets too judgmental or closed off. Dani checks Prince when he gets too egotistical or stunts too much. And their cast of friends, Prince's dedicated guy group and Dani's forgotten girl group, add to their interior lives and arcs in a way that few books manage to juggle well. When they're with their friends, they talk about each other, sure, but they also talk about school, about dreams, about worries, about fears — and their friends have all of those things in turn. It was just so beautiful to see groups of different Black and BIPOC teens just being normal and happy in a city that doesn't get enough shine for its good qualities as it does for its bad.

Above all, I loved the ending. It felt real and true to the characters. I loved the climax. It brought tears to my eyes. I love Prince and Dani's dates, I loved their love for Black music and Black movies, for Black hair and Black siblings, for Detroit and family and elders and each other. LOVE RADIO is a story that feels at once urgent and timeless, an instant classic that you immediately want to read again once you turn that last page. I'm so, so excited to see this book resonate with teen readers.

Truly the best YA rom-com I've read in a long time—in regards to both its romance and comedy. I stopped keeping count of how many times I literally laughed out loud and just smiled at my screen, all cheesy. LOVE RADIO embodies the best aspects of the genre without getting trapped in any of the pitfalls. At no point did it feel overly cutesy, contrived, or forced. I can't wait until everyone is talking about Dani and Prince, and I really can't wait until everyone knows the name Ebony LaDelle.