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I was excited to read Charm City Rock after reading summary of book since I'm a huge music fan. I love stories of fans falling in love with their musician/celebrity crush.

The book had its funny romcom moments and main characters are easy to love, especially Billy. How can you not root for the divorce music teacher that plays piano for everyone in the neighborhood?

Few things that probably could've brought my rating to a 4 are:
1. There was a line in book that was off putting "it's time a straight white guy finally catches a break in this country."
2. Wish author focused more on the main characters, Billy and Margot's POV. It was hard to focus on the story once the author brought in Margot's ex husband showed up. There was no need for every supportive character to have their own POV.
3. I didn't care for the ending. Not sure if the author ran out of ideas on how to end the book. It abruptly ended.

I loved this book the writing took me back to my time in Baltimore. I could imagine being there with the description of the city. The main characters Billy and Margot I loved. There was depth to them and you could feel what they were feeling.

Thank you House Publishing Group - Ballantine and netgalley for allowing me to read this book. I just could not get into this story. I enjoyed the father/son relationship between Caleb and Billy. I wish I would have felt more chemistry between Billy and Margot. I guess I was just bored with this story in the beginning then I was overwhelmed by it 75 % of the way through when all the drama happened at once. I felt a little lost at times with how many characters were thrown in. I didn’t love how it ended either. I was just expecting more to be resolved by the end of the book.

This was a light-hearted, refreshing palate cleanser for me to read after a particularly dark and angst-filled book. I loved the premise (who wouldn’t love ultimately connecting with the crush of your younger self and discovering he or she is actually a great partner for you!), the well-written secondary characters, main characters of a certain age (so elusive!), and the dashes of baseball and rock and roll. This was my first book by Matthew Norman and I’m excited to explore his other creations!

This was a super cute, quick read! The story centered around Billy, a single dad with a giant kid who is always happy. He was a great dad, friend, neighbor (and overall person), and it was really easy to root for him. I really enjoyed the writing style of the book and loved how the author incorporated the side character's perspectives into a lot of chapters. It was a lot more than just the romance, and with it being a closed door romance, I needed that addition to the story. There were a lot of good conversations about family and healthy co-parenting, and with the main character's all being above 40, there was a certain maturity about the romance and the conversations that was refreshing to read. If you're looking for a quick low-angst, closed door romance with a great cast of supporting characters and a bit of rock-and-roll, give this one a read!

What great fun ! Billy is a talented piano player and music teacher living a stress free life in Baltimore. He co parents his son Caleb with his first love and truly isn't wishing for much more. When cable tv features a "Where are They Now?" Rock special, Billy reveals his crush on the great dummer, Margot Hammer. Caleb is struck by this information and puts a plan into place. What happens next is fun, charming and just a great Baltimore story!

If you love rock and roll, think your best years may have passed you by or just love a romance for the ages, Charm City Rocks is for you!
#RandomHouse #CharmCityRocks #MatthewNorman

Confession time: I lived just outside of Baltimore for 9 years before moving away in 2021. When I saw 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 was available on NetGalley, I jumped, nay leapt at the chance to read this book. There are things that Marylanders, and more importantly, Baltimoreans just get. Imagine my delight within the first few pages when nostalgia kicks in and I am transported to the places, people, and good times I've had over the years (Johnny Rad's! Natty Boh! Clancy?!). What I enjoyed so much about this book is that Baltimore is just as much a character as Billy and Margot are. It says a lot about the love an author has for a place and a people when they devote so much of their energy to making it part of the story. Dare I say that the true romance of this book is between the reader and Baltimore?

Okay okay, let's get into it...

Billy is a self-proclaimed "nice guy" single dad who teaches music, wears cardigans, and lives above a record shop in Baltimore. Margot is a once famous rock 'n roll drummer and single mom who enjoys her quiet life in New York City. When an "accidentally on purpose" incident brings these two together, they find that second chance romance is only just a train ride away.

With an exceptional cast of supporting characters, including Billy and Margot's children and the famous ex-husband, this book is a charming take on relationships between partners, families, and friends (and a little bit of rock 'n roll!).

Billy is passibly happy - he’s a single Gen X dad, who teaches piano, and wears cardigans and always had a crush on Margot.

Margot is … more complicated. Not exactly happy, not unhappy - she exists. A mostly retired rock star drummer, she’s a divorced mom of an adult child.

Billy tells his son of his crush on Margot - and one accidentally ingested weed gummy, the best of intentions, and video editing skills later, and Billy and his decades long crush meet.

Charm City Rocks pulled me into it, and dare I say it, charming me entirely and I really appreciated my time reading this one.

This was my first book by the author and I enjoyed his writing - the characters here are vivid and realistic, and I liked the pacing of the novel; I’ll read more of Mr. Norman’s works.

I really did adore this one and do recommend.



Thank you to Bantam Dell and NetGalley for the DRC!

Rock and roll, nostalgia and love flow through Charm City Rocks at a delightful pace. The characters are awesome and great. The relationships of Billy, Margot, Robyn, Lawson, Caleb. and Poppy are full of touching and quirky predicaments. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Charm City Rocks is a love story set in Baltimore about a single dad who meets his former rock star crush after his son gets involved. This book takes us through complicated romantic relationships, friendships, and family relationships. There was a nostalgic second-chance romance feel to this read, which I liked but the relationship I loved most was between Billy & Caleb.

If you liked Christmas With You on Netflix, this book gave very similar vibes.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book Due to the number of characters in this book, it felt like there was a lot going on while simultaneously not a lot going on at all. We missed out on some pretty big character & relationship development because there wasn't enough time spent on our main characters.

Also, this may just be personal preference... but there was so much swearing in this book. I don't mind some just scattered throughout but nearly every page and character's dialogue had something that was just unnecessary to the plot..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for a candid review.

My first thoughts about “Charm City Rocks” were family, baseball and rock and roll! What else do you need to create an amazing story? I loved everything about this book and I immediately fell in love with the characters, the setting and the use of music as a backdrop. How many of us have dreamed about meeting our favorite band or rockstar? Billy’s crush on Margot dates back twenty years and was all encompassing. He was mesmerized by her stage presence when he saw her concert, he was in awe of her musical ability and he never forgot how he felt the first time he saw her.

I loved the chemistry between Billy and Margot and to me, they were a perfect match. Leaving the confines of her lonely apartment and surprising Billy in Baltimore was the spark she needed to start writing songs again. Being with him was refreshing, always fun and it felt like they had known each other forever. Billy couldn’t believe that this was his life now, and that Margot was enjoying their time together. They fell into a comfortable routine as a couple and Margot had found the happiness that she didn’t know she was looking for. Billy’s knowledge of music called to Margot and they spent many nights singing together, arranging songs and laughing about his “crush” on her. Margot became a baseball fan, found the perfect coffee shop where she could relax and write down her thoughts, and enjoyed being part of Billy’s family. It didn’t take long for their peaceful bubble to burst, as videos and pictures of Billy and Margot were everywhere on social media. When someone from Margot’s past finds her in Baltimore Billy is worried that their magical time is almost over. Will the bright lights of stardom guide Margot away or will she choose her new life with Billy that is filled with love, fun and endless melodies?

Thanks, netgalley! My requests recently have been A+ and this was the cherry on top of an astoundingly adorable sundae.

Historically and popularly known as a Nice Guy, Billy Perkins has a happy little life- hes a music teacher whos students love him, has a great relationship with his teenage son and a good enough one with his son's mother. Then a gummy graced distaster lands him in the path of his ultimate musical crush, the reclusive Margot Hammer, whos band basically owned the music scene twenty years ago before meeting its catastrophic end. The unlikely duo find common ground and fall in love in Baltimore, and hijinks ensue.

This was the cutest little romance novel ive read in....maybe ever? I love that the characters aren't teenagers and Billy has a real with real problems, and the author truly made him the most likeable dude on the planet. I want to take another trip to baltimore now. Thats how cute this book is.

Charm City Rocks is a fun book about a music teacher is his forties who finally meets his rock star crush from years before. I liked the characters and the complex relationships between them. And things got so much fun once Lawson showed up. I also loved some of the music references; it's almost a pity the band isn't real because they sound just like my cup of tea. Baltimore and New York were a good setting. I think I might even want to visit Baltimore now. All in all, an enjoyable read; I'm just not sure I'd label this a romance.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for this ARC! I loved everything about this book. Having a book focus on father/son dynamic was a refreshing change from many other books I’ve read. Add in family drama, a few celebrities and loads of amazing music references, this book is such a delight from start to finish. I enjoyed each of the characters in their own way and felt that each contributed to the quality of the overall story. Highly recommend this book!

In fair Baltimore we set the scene: First, we have a single dad teaching music in his apartment above a record shop is watching a rock documentary on Netflix. He’s reminded of his crush on former rockstar drummer Margot Hammer, and her amazing talent. When Billy confesses his former crush to his son, Caleb, Caleb decides to set his dad up. What follows next is a “Sleepless in Seattle” inspired meet cute.

This story was funny, sweet, and touching. I loved Margot and Billy’s relationship. It was also nice to see Billy and Caleb’s mother coparent in a nice way. Part of my inner child was healed just reading some of their interactions.

This story moved quickly, but sometimes it felt a little too quick. I would’ve loved Margot and Billy to have even more scenes together as their relationship felt rushed to me.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in romcoms featuring celebrities or musicians.

***
Thank you so much to Random House/Dell Publishing for my eARC!

I loved this book, music is such a big part of my life and I loved reading about characters who are so into making music. The book is light and funny and has a perfect ending. I would highly recommend.

Most importantly, it is amazing to read a book that is so pro-Baltimore. Secondly, it is amazing to read a book that is so pro-Baltimore and so well-written. Matthew Norman's venture into romcoms is lighthearted and charming.

The characters are developed just enough and their flaws are obvious but not dwelled on. Norman goes out of his way to show that Margot and Billy are reasonably compatible and how they have both grown since the 1990s. Conflicts are easily settled but there aren't any obvious loose threads by the end of the novel. There are clear villains but even they aren't particularly cruel or egregiously out to get anyone for no reason.

Charm City Rocks isn't a particularly unique book but you don't always need to be unique to be a good read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t think I could love a book more than Norman’s last novel (All Together Now). But Charm City Rocks pulled me in, made me fall in love with every character, and entertained me as I sped through the pages. This book is a love letter to the city of Baltimore, and a look at what it’s like to be past the early stages of life and not sure what will come next or how to pursue new dreams. THIS is my idea of a great book club read…or a mid-winter escape…or a great book to dive into on a random Tuesday. I’m already looking forward to the author’s next book. Highly recommend

I loved this one, so glad for the opportunity from Random House. A love of music intertwined with a love story, a kiss cam kiss, a sweet man who wears cardigans, a non-traditional blended family... I'm also happy any time I stumble across an imperfect love story involving middle aged divorced people, which doesn't happen often. I could go on, but will just say I definitely recommend reading this one when it comes out in June!

This was an incredibly charming book with well-rounded, thoughtful characters. Lots of love for music and Baltimore, too. I liked Margot and Billy together, and actually, all of the characters were sympathetic, likable people. Sweet read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!