I will read anything and everything Matthew Norman writes forever. Charm City Rocks, was, well, CHARMING. I loved it. I loved the characters and loved the way a child was integrated-I feel like children as real characters in adult fiction can often fall flat, but this worked! I often buy Norman’s books for the men in my life who think they don’t like fiction and it’s always a hit. If this is your first MN book, read Last Couple Standing next-it’s my fav :)

I love a good single dad music filled romance and this fit the bill. I loved that it was fluffy and swoony and no unnecessary drama.

I hardly ever give a romance 5 stars, but this just hit all the buttons with me. The main characters are in their 40s, and have balanced, ok lives. But they are so much better together! And that happens, when Billy's son Caleb gets stoned and catfishes Margot's record label, setting up a meeting between the two.

Some of the things I loved most:
Billy rocking out on his Steinway at night to the neighborhood
Margot talking to her daughter Poppy
Billy's talks about being a man to Caleb
Margot's ex-husband the rockstar
Caleb, the sweet, sensitive tall son
Baltimore - and the baseball games

Now off to recommend this to some family/friends :)

So it is possible for the female MC to be the grumpy one and not the guy?? Finally I can have representation for being the grump while my partner is the golden retriever. This was a super cute read with a great setting in Baltimore. I loved the music theme as well. Margot and Billy were great characters!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

A cute, feel-good love story with nice representation you might not always see (ie, why are all contemporary romance novels about 29-year-old women?).

I was intrigued by the premise because I love music-all music, and it is a big part of my life and my children's lives. I think I was hoping for this one to be a little different-something it wasn't. I still think the story and the romance, especially reuniting old flames, was well done.

🎶 This is a cute, clean, later-in-life romance that includes family drama, music nostalgia, and the public spotlight.

🎶 I enjoyed the story overall, but I did feel like the romance was WAY too fast and it lacked spark. I do prefer clean romances, but I do want a little bit of spark at least! Margot (FMC) and Billy (MMC) felt more like old friends than lovers. And Margot was written a bit oddly in my opinion. Something about her character felt off to me, and a tad unrealistic.

🎶 The best part of the book was the family dynamics – that felt genuine to me, and it was great reading about a family who worked things out rather than fought.

🎶 If you like cinnamon roll guys, Steinway pianos, music stores, female drummers, Baltimore, second chance romances, and interesting family dynamics, you will probably enjoy this book.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse Ballantine for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed voluntarily.

This is my first Matthew Norman novel and it won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a charming love story between a music teacher and a former drummer of an all-girl band. Both were in their 40’s and had pasts. The characters were likeable and relatable. As someone who lived in Maryland for 35+ years, I enjoyed the Baltimore setting.

Charm City Rocks rocked! I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman from the publisher Random House Ballantine via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Billy Perkins is very happy, he has a fabulous apartment above Baltimore’s famed record shop, a wonderful job, and the coolest kid in his brainy son, Caleb. But he hasn’t really sought out the romance, but when a new documentary about his celebrity crush, Margot Hammer’s band appears on Netflix documentary, and he explains his crush to his son, his life starts to change. See, Caleb on his way to college worries his dad is lonely and decides to take action. Margot Hammer is far from happy, her famous rock band Burnt Flowers is defunct and she’s been living off the grid. When a request comes in from Baltimore for her to rock out with some little girls in a band, she takes the chance to get back out there and from there our beautiful romance.

What I Loved: Matthew Norman writes really good books. They always make me laugh and smile. The characters are always likable even when they have problems. I really connected with these characters and found them super compelling. The writing is just so lighthearted and feel with heart and seeing a rom-com from him was a special kind of delight. I really loved this sweet and thoughtful book.

What I Didn’t Like: The side story about Billy moving in with his ex-partner and her husband was a little weird and felt unnecessary but otherwise I got nothing, this book was a delight!

Who Should Read It: People who love a book with wonderful characters that feel like your friends.

Summary: A man gets a chance with his celebrity crush and it’s charming as heck.

I chose not to finish this book. Charm City Rocks features a clever premise and an intriguing inciting incident. The writer's voice is fresh and unique. His descriptions of life in Baltimore show a true appreciation for the city and made me feel like I was a part of the neighborhood. However, the excessive profanity detracts from the story, so I stopped reading. Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy. Sadly, this book is not for me.

I’m a big fan of romance novels involving the celebrity trope. They are often escapist fun with the tiniest bit of drama thrown in, and I’m thrilled to see that more and more of these stories are popping up lately.

Charm City Rocks is one of these, but it flips a lot of the tropes around. I feel like many of the stories I read are about twenty-something starlets, and that they usually feature a famous man and a “normal” woman. However, Charm City Rocks focuses on characters who are a little older: Billy, a single dad who teaches music in Baltimore and Margot Hammer, the former drummer of a rock band who has faded from public view.

This story is a true romantic comedy, with a big emphasis on comedy. The dialogue is full of fun quips that flow easily between characters and as I read, I could definitely see this making a good Netflix rom com (I was picturing Paul Rudd and Lisa Kudrow as Billy and Margot the entire time). But even with all of the laughs and zany situations, there are many sweet moments throughout that keep the story focused on the impact of the burgeoning relationship between the two leads.

Seeing Billy and Margot’s relationship was my favorite part of the book. I’m a fan of complex, morally gray characters that are hard to root for but there’s something refreshing about reading a book with characters who are so easily likable.

Charm City Rocks is out now and is the perfect book if you’re looking for something light and sweet. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Charm City Rocks! As a former Baltimore citizen, the references to neighborhoods and customs were spot on. I wouldn't have minded even more references (Hon Fest, Artscape, etc) but the real star was the characters. Every single one was relatable and loveable. Billy with his cardigans and Margot trying to figure out being an aging rocker seemed liked they shouldn't go together but their relationship was something every one is looking for as they grow up and realize there is more to a person than their pretty face. It was great to read about a mature couple and see how they deal with ex spouses, grown children, and life!Definitely a story I didn't want to end. Can it be a Neflix series?

I adored this book! It's the story of ordinary people dealing with an extraordinary situation and it's relatable, believable and completely charming. I especially loved that it's a contemporary romance that features real adults. I only wish there was a soundtrack to go with it!

This is my first Matthew Norman read and I'm excited to dive into his backlist.

Thanks to Dell for the copy to review.

This is the third I've read by the author and my favorite of his! I really enjoyed the two characters, seeing their connection grow, finding what they have in common, and I loved the son who got them into their mess!

I loved the concept of this book. I thought it was pretty cute and charming. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I loved this book so much! The Baltimore details, the heartfelt and warm storytelling, characters that I rooted for, and a story that just kept me wanting to read more. This was such an enjoyable read and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

I was not expecting this to be THIS GOOD. I loved reading a love story between not 20 somethings. Plus celebrity/real person romance? I loved this cast of characters and would love spinoffs!

Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman is a fun beach read! Happy Reading!

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

Such a fun book! If Gilmore Girls was about a cute dad & daughter and took place in Baltimore, this would be it! Highly recommend for a feel-good romance for people that don't want anything too scandalous.

4.5 I really enjoyed this sweet love story between single dad Billy and former rock star Margot. This is a book that will have you rooting for the main characters. Billy is such a good guy, and I also really loved seeing his relationship with his teenage son. If you're a music fan, you'll also love all the music references throughout this one. And Baltimore! I don't know that I've ever read a book set in Baltimore, but the setting in this book really stands out as well.