This one is for the music lovers. Hammond tells the story of an American pop star and the measures she needs to take to have professional autonomy and a semblance of privacy in her personal life.

If you enjoyed Taylor Swift's Miss Americana, Pop Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones or the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo then you might enjoy this one.

Overall I enjoyed the book and found the writing style easy to read. The last quarter, however, felt rushed and incongruent with the rest of the story in terms of tone and pacing, which may suit another reader.

In my view it could have been given a few extra pages to truly honour that part of Stevie's story. There was a missed opportunity to deepen the scope for the characters and their experiences and examine the theme of how various life events shape us.

Check your content/trigger warnings if you have any.

*The Ballad of Stevie Pearl* is a mesmerizing tale that delves into the complexities of fame, identity, and love. Stevie Pearl’s journey from a beloved pop icon to a woman yearning for genuine connection is poignantly portrayed, capturing the reader's empathy and admiration. Her internal struggles with the trappings of stardom are both relatable and heartbreaking.

Alex Nopah’s character brings a refreshing perspective to the Hollywood scene. His grounded nature and the cultural richness of his background offer a stark and thought-provoking contrast to the superficiality of the entertainment industry. The chemistry between Stevie and Alex is electric, and their relationship challenges and enriches both of their lives.

The narrative is beautifully crafted, weaving together themes of self-discovery, cultural identity, and the quest for authentic connections in a world obsessed with image. *The Ballad of Stevie Pearl* is a captivating read that stays with you long after the last page.

An unforgettable story of love and self-discovery set against the dazzling yet tumultuous backdrop of fame.

I got this as an ARC last year, I was admittedly not great at reading last year, the latter half anyway. But I can't resist a book with music themes, and the cover to this is gorgeous. And as a bonus, it has Taylor Swift coded chapters.
I will say this updront - this is not at all what I expected. It is far more serious, that's for sure. That's not to say it doesn't have light and cute moments, which it absoluly does. But if you're expecting a fluffy dasting-a-celebrity kind of fanfics story, this is not it. This book deals with racism, with the very real hardships of being a woman in entertainment and in business, and more. It is beautiful, organic and heartbreaking. It will destroy you if you're not ready for it.
To be honest, there were times where I questioned the plot, why certain scenes and where it was all going. It makes sense in the end. I wish the end was different, but it was inevitable it seems. It's a solid book in my view.

The Ballad of Stevie Pearl-a standalone

By SW Hammond- 1st time author for me

Publication date 2-13-24 , read 2-13-24

📃 Page count: 328 kindle

.Quick Summary: Stevie Pearl is a teen pop star (now 26 years old) who has gotten tired of being America's sweetheart. Alex Nopah is a poor, Native American graphic novelist/artist turned consultant to the film adaptation of his work, "The Final Book." They meet on a blind date and get to know each other with the world looking on. Can a relationship last between them or will they crash and burn?

🤷🏾‍♀️ What to Expect:

⭐ ️celebrity romance
⭐️ blind date
⭐️ opposites attract
⭐️ interracial relationship
⭐️ contemporary romance


🤔 My Thoughts: I liked the multicultural aspect and the Hollywood machine. Stevie was the typical pop princess who has been in entertainment since childhood and was just tired. Alex was new to the life, wasn't built for it, and paid the ultimate consequence of it. It was a little predictable with a lot of cursing, but will still wreck your heart.

Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐1⁄2
Spice: 2/5 🔥🔥

Thanks to NetGalley and Surf Star Media for this ARC 💙 ! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This book was not what I expected, probably because I expected a feel good story. At first, it DID feel like a Swifty story and I was meh...not because I don't like Taylor, I just didn't feel like reading her story. But Stevie and Alex's story really transcended the pop princess story. It encapsulated the dangers of racism, the power of women to control their own futures and the power of love to overcome all of the bs that is throw at them especially women in the public eye. This IS a love story, make no mistake about that. It just isn't romance with a traditional happily ever after with babies and marriage. Once I got passed the pretentious parts (and yes there were some), the story got so much better and had me riveted until the end.

This is more like the ballad of Taylor Swift quite honestly. It seems like the author wanted to write a story based on what Swift did when she re-recorded her music so that she would own it. Stevie Pearl, just wants to be free to live by her own rules and not have everything decided by music execs. She does get her wish but at a huge cost to her personally.
The author wrote out each character's dialogue as if people actually speak that way. It just didn't seem genuine. For instance, Franklin, Stevie's bodyguard, is an African American gentleman from the Bronx who speaks as if he were a gangster rapper. It just seems odd. Also, for someone claiming to love his characters, he sure does them dirty in the end. It's tragic and ridiculous and I can't wrap my head around it. I'm giving it 3 stars because it did keep me reading but I wasn't thrilled with the story at all.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc.*

Please let this book get better as I continue reading it. Currently, I am not sure if I can continue. It is the writing!

When right away Alex returns to his home town Indian Reservation and sees a High School kid he knows, he tells him to keep his grades up and he will bring him to LA, you know place of <b>B*tches and Beaches</b> He repeats that 3 times. Then it’s just slang and cursing with his family. His art career worked out perfect when he started a comic book series that now Hollywood is making into the Biggest Movie Ever! Then talking to his brother, it’s “Shut the F*ckin Gate”. Next, his friend, says girlfriend, “Pam’s a F*ckin B*tch.

This was only the first 2 Chapters. If I want to talk BS and Sarcasm, I’ll call my brother and we can laugh. If I want someone to repeatedly say As*hole, B*tch, or FU, I’ll ring my Ex-Husband. I don’t need to read Alex’s story.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that SW Hammond is a young male who wanted this Hollywood Superstar Thing to happen for himself. That didn’t quite happen, so now he thinks this is writing. Just dull “shooting the sh*t”as he would say with his pals and colleagues. It’s bad. Trying to finish 🫤

I stuck with it. Stevie Pearl the talented singer/songwriter emerges. It is hard to be famous, it can be a lonely existence. She sees something in Alex. Their dialogue was pretty bad, but this whole book has been like that.

It is difficult being famous and always in the public eye. Alex can understand Pearl and see her as a real person and wants to offer her love and support. That’s after initially the love match is made when Alex says,<b> “I’ll meet your f*c*in friend. I’m just feelin a little blindsided”</b>. Pearl and Alex fall in love and care deeply for each other. The dialogue does not improve. You just have to try and see the heart of the underlying story.

I couldn’t relate to either character due to the writing. This reads as a rough first draft to me. Just my opinion, but it needs major help to make it engaging. The miracle editor I was hoping for, did not show up.

I will skip the misogynistic and disrespectful language. It isn’t even worth getting into. I just can not recommend this book. If you want a very light read and these passages read fine, then maybe give this one a try. I always feel bad leaving a one star review, but as written now, it is. I struggled finishing.

I did like the concept of a star being seen as a true person, with emotional needs and a private life. I liked that Alex was an indigenous character and always loved the Indian Reservation he grew up and his family was still there. He is proud of his heritage, which is nice to have woven into a story.

There was a very serious incident that occurs. I just don’t want to give the plot away. This is never something I take lightly.

I was thinking this was similar to Daisy Jones and the Six, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, or Utopia Avenue. No! It most certainly is not. 😥

Thank you NetGalley, SW Hammond, and Surf Star Media for granting me a copy of this book. I always leave reviews for books I read. I am sorry this one just did not work for me.

The Ballad of Stevie Pearl was a good read for the most part. I liked the flow of the story and how we get an insider's view into the life of a huge pop star. There are obvious parallels to the stardom of Taylor Swift and she's even mentioned as a contemporary of Stevie's. The use of an interview to start off the book and how Stevie recollects her short-lived romance with Alex kept me engaged. And I felt as I if I got a good grasp on their ill-fated romance and how the trappings of success, both Stevie's and Alex's(his as an accomplished artist) threatened any chance of being together.

I will say I was shocked at events that occurred in the last chapters of the book, never seeing in a million years what would transpire one dusty afternoon in the desert. It was painful and the end result of two young lovers simply trying to have a moment to themselves without all the bodyguards and quite frankly, the world, watching them had me tearing up for the remainder of the book.

This is a tough one to rate since there were a few scenes I would have liked expanded a bit, this author using the tell-not-show kind of style which kinda drives me nuts. But the real reason for me to not rate it higher is the portrayal of Franklin. He is Stevie's right-hand man in every sense of the word but the way the author wrote his dialogue as a guy from the 'hood felt very racist. It was over the top that his street language would still be this pronounced after being with Stevie and 3000 miles away from his childhood home for all of these years. At first, I didn't mind it but then it was simply too much. The man is one of the good ones and he was diminished with how his roots made him seem less. At least that's how it felt for me.

Secondary characters like Celeste, Troy, Shane and even Charlie were key components of this book and the side-story of Alex simply trying to help his struggling Native American family without hurting his brother's pride gave another perspective into how others perceive one's fame.

Again, it was a good effort but felt rough in parts and unfinished in others. I did love Stevie and the strength she showed, especially once Alex was in her life. Getting this up-close and personal kind of look into the rougher side of being famous was an eye-opener for me and gives me more appreciation for those who achieve mega-stardom.

2.5 stars.

The Ballad of Stevie Pearl is a romance where opposites are inevitably attracted. Stevie, the musician, is trapped by her world with very little room to live a free life whilst Alex is struggling to make a place for himself in the art world as he comes from a poor and minority race family. The story is well-written and provides good entertainment.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Stevie Pearl is a world-renowned pop star with a unique persona that captivates her fans. While she loves the spotlight and likes making a difference with her music, she is lonely and feels like a prisoner in her own world. She meets Alex Nopah, an illustrator, through her best friend. The best friend and Alex are working on a movie based on one of Alex's comics.

Alex is unlike what she is used to: he was raised on a reservation and has worked for everything he has while also keeping close ties to his family. There is something intriguing and freeing about him, and she wants to work to keep this man in her life, despite what may happen with her career and what their relationship may look like to others. She wants to be with this man forever, no matter the cost.

I liked the romance aspect of it and was rooting for Alex and Stevie to be together the whole time. I'm not typically a fan of the slow burn, but the way in which the author wrote the story kept me interested and invested in their story. While it was slightly predictable that there would be something that would ultimately get them to start dating, I was not prepared for the ending of this book. It was a gut punch. Yes, I know that others may think that this was predictable too, but I didn't see this coming. If you know, you know.

This is not your typical romance, either, and that's why I liked it. There's not really a happy ending, but instead a lesson that people will come and go in your life. Sometimes they make a difference, and Alex most certainly changed Stevie for the better. We know that Stevie is a person with feelings, despite what others may think of her as a celebrity, but the incident at the end of the story changes her and SW Hammond really hit the nail on the head with her character growth.

I will have to go back and look at the song titles for each chapter. I didn't really get the connection between the chapter titles and what happened in the story, but now that I finished the story, maybe I will understand this better.

If you are looking for something that is different from your typical romance novel, I would definitely go to pick this up on February 13th.

There aren’t many stories that I can’t stop thinking about, but this is one of them! In fact this review which first goes to the publisher, has been done right away while the tears are still running down my face!!.
This story… the opening scene is of Stevie Pearl, famous music artist, giving an interview and her first words are Alex Nopah. He is an artist, who has worked hard after being born into a reservation and poor. His business is booming and there’s about to be a movie made. He never forgets his roots and is a nice guy!
The story follows their lives after they meet, all that they have to do just to be able to date in a normal fashion. Both of these characters I fell so in love with!! It was so cute how they acted towards each other. I think they both knew this was it!! The other characters were so loveable too. Franklin the bodyguard, Celeste, Stevie’s life long friend who introduced them to start with… I was obsessed with this book! I also guessed that somewhere there would be a sad part because of the way it started.
The subject content left me deeply affected and I will be crying and thinking about this book for quite a while after. It deserves its 5star rating. You will love it too. I’m off to buy another book by this author!!
Many thanks to Surf Star Media for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #surfstarmedia,#swhammond.

I really enjoyed this book. What an excellent story of love found between complete opposites. SW Hammond brilliantly shares his personal knowledge of the inner workings of the music industry and I always appreciate stories the expand my knowledge of different cultures and this book included some great examples. I found it difficult to put down as I really became invested in the characters and their story. Thanks #NetGalley #SurfStarMedia

Let me preface my review with this: while Stevie Pearl may take inspiration from many beloved female singers, specifically Taylor Swift which is bound to draw many readers, if you’re looking for a sweet celebrity romance with a happily ever after, THIS ISN’T IT. It’s more of a look at the nature of celebrity and how the parasocial relationships fans and corporations have with celebrities can turn incredibly ugly. I thought Stevie and Alex were written incredibly well. Their romance might not seem as fleshed out as people would like, but unfortunately that’s kind of the point (not to spoil anything, but this book does not end happy). I loved the songs at the beginning of each chapter. I loved Celeste, Franklin and Alex’s family. It is a beautifully written book, but seriously guys, the ending will destroy you. It was brutal, traumatic and came just as I thought everything would be okay. I did think the epilogue could have given us a bit more, but I still thought it was well done. There are several triggers that I’ll have at the end of the review so check them and make sure you’re in a good spot to read this one. If you are, you’re in for an amazing, heartbreaking and honestly timely story.
CW: animal death, rape, racism, gun violence, mention of suicidal thoughts

Thank you to NetGalley and Surf Star Media for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

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

I love celebrity/pop culture so I was excited to read this story about a fictional pop star who meets an ordinary man and falls in love with him.

I knew from the title that something bad would happen but it felt too abrupt. I liked Stevie and Alex and wanted them to have happiness for longer.

I really enjoyed that the author structured the chapters through song titles and made the characters so relatable even though they were celebrities with unique lives. The demonstration of how being famous requires sacrifice personally and professionally was well constructed. Also, it was good representation of native communities. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review the ARC!!

I love a good love story, and a trying to make it artist story so this was perfect. When I opened the book and saw Taylor Swift themed playlist songs I was immediately hooked.

Two people from different worlds -- Stevie, a famous pop star and Alex, an illustrator -- meet and fall in love. The story traces Stevie's journey to have more control of her career and public persona, while in the throes of new love with Alex.
The story had potential but did not build up to engage the reader enough. The twist in the last ten per cent of the book and eventual conclusion was very left-field.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

2.75/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Surf Star Media for providing me with an advance reader copy of The Ballad of Stevie Pearl in exchange for an honest review.

The Ballad of Stevie Pearl follows the life of global, mega pop-star Stevie Pearl, and Native American illustrator Alex Nopah who’s making a name for himself in Hollywood.

Right from the beginning, you’re drawn into the glitz and glamour of the celebrity world, and all the ugliness it contains. Stevie, who seems heavily inspired by Taylor Swift, is the biggest pop star on the planet who started quite young. Stevie comes across as being too good of a person - and I do not mean in a good way, just that she is far too ideal. She does not seem to have a single flaw. Since the entire story is being narrated by Stevie herself, I doubt how valid that is. Like her only flaw is, perhaps, trusting people too much. Even the best of the celebrities in reality have their vices and flaws, and many of them are performative activists at best but not her. Found that a bit unbelievable but I digress; it’s a story so it’s perfectly possible for such a celebrity to exist. In fact, many celebrities could do with being more like her - putting their money where their mouth is.

Alex is someone who left the comfort of his home to achieve his dream of being an illustrator - his works are now being made for the silver screen. He works hard, puts up with his older brother’s tantrums, and helps his mother and grandmother out quite frequently. He is different from everyone Stevie has ever dated, and they connect with each other quite well in their very first interaction.

What I think works in favour of the book: It is the kind of read that gets you out of a slump - it is quick, and mostly to the point. It reads a lot like a script, so it’s pretty easy to imagine everything as it is happening. The characters have their quirks and will get a good laugh out of you at times.

Now, for what I did not like: the main relationship. I never really connected with Stevie and Alex’s relationship. Everything felt extremely rushed, and relied too much on the “when it’s the right person, everything just works out” trope. A good romance book, in my opinion, really gets you invested in the characters’ relationship but I never found myself actively rooting for them because their relationship simply never developed well enough. The other characters that appeared frequently also failed to leave any lasting impression.

The story itself was okay but it left me wanting more. The ending was traumatic and abrupt. The author, at the end of the book, has mentioned that the very last sequence of the story came to them first, and the rest of the story was built from that last scene. This is very evident because I did find the last few scenes to be far more impactful than the rest of the book.

The story has phonetic dialogues, which I am not very fond of, so that also definitely impacted my reading experience. The fact that it read like a script for the majority of the book did not help either (I know I mentioned it works in favour of the book but only if you don't mind it, personally, I do not enjoy it so much). I also found myself getting bored at points. I think developing individual characters - all of them, because while Alex and Stevie are the main characters, many of them appear very frequently - could have elevated this story to another level.

Overall, it is a good read for when you are in a slump or just want an easy read. It is heavy at times because of the various things it deals with - racism, the ending where both the protagonists are subject to extreme violence - so do not feel compelled to go on at the cost of your mental health.

Happy reading!

This story was beautifully written. It highlighted some very important social issues, the characters were easy to love, and I really felt for them throughout the entire book. It's so important to have stories that discuss uncomfortable topics, so I do appreciate that this one dove into a few.

That being said, I did have a really hard time with the ending of this book. It had all wrapped up so nicely and then took a really horrific turn. I'm definitely a reader that prefers a happy ending, and I feel like the characters with robbed of that. It was a great story, I just wish it ended a couple of chapters earlier so Stevie and Alex could have stayed happy.

This one didn't really work for me. I got sucked in as I've read a lot of good musician fiction of late, but this one didn't grab me the way others have. A nice idea, and some good writing but it felt a bit flat.