So, you probably know that this is a "Taylor Swift" romance. Luckily, we have combined the forces of an "I know who TSwift is and probably recognize some songs" reviewer and an "I considered buying a ticket to the Eras tour in Poland bc why not?" In other words, one of us missed 99% of all of the Swiftie references in the book, while the other of us had fun recognizing them all.

What's this book about? Well, Riley Wynn is on the cusp of superstardom thanks to her "breakup" album (each song is about a different ex). Her toxic ex husband is claiming that the hit single is about him - but it's not. It's about Riley's college sweetheart Max. She approaches him about publicly naming him as the hit's inspiration, but he's not thrilled... until he realizes that his parents' business is about to go under unless they can find investment funds. He approaches Riley with a suggestion to add him to her tour, playing piano on the song, and allowing speculation about their relationship in the press to take the attention off of her ex-husband.

We thought that Riley's characterization in this book was really very nuanced and interesting. She’s decided that her best work is based on heartbreak, so she specifically mines each experience, even in the moment, for its emotional resonance. This doesn't exactly make her a likable character, or even someone we thought “deserved” a love story, but it's an interesting and complex choice on the part of the authors. It also meant that the ongoing metaphors about lyrics and instruments and songwriting (etc.) fit her character really well.

Max's characterization was less nuanced and interesting. He wasn't exactly a consistent character (first, he doesn't want to be in the entertainment news... but the next day he proposes going on tour?) but, y'know, fine. His backstory in particular was really weak and needed the reader to take a lot on credit. (Why was he so invested in his parents’ retirement home?) We felt that his character and backstory was very "Christmas movie" in that there were a lot of contrivances required to make it work.

That said, the grand gesture was remarkably dramatic, OTT, and fun - perfect for a love story of this magnitude.

If you are a person who likes this kind of romance - contemporary first person present tense dual POV, celebrity romance - then you'll be pleased with the book. And if you like TSwift, you'll be even more pleased. Recommended with those two caveats.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

🎹 Ok, I adored this. Thank you so much to @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for the sneak peek at this. The Breakup Tour is out tomorrow!

🎹 I’ll start by saying I’m a big fan of this writing duo. Their writing is so lyrical, it was just a matter of time before they wrote a book about musicians. And since we are all in our Taylor Swift era— why not now?!

🎹 A classic storyline here. Mega-headlining pop star and a former fling who is talented in his own right, but resistant to fame. What could go wrong?!

🎹 What I loved here:
- the writing: they use a lot of flowery language and descriptive scene setting. No other romance writers have me using the Kindle dictionary quite like these two (swipe for examples). It may not be for everyone but I dig it.
- the life: I was living for the scenes on the tour bus and on stage. I’ve always wished I could belt a tune (I sadly cannot), and I was so immersed in the vivid pictures painted here
- the artistry: I’m forever impressed when authors take on books about music and manage to write songs in addition to a beautiful story
- the struggle: when you thrive on writing the drama from your life into song, do you intentionally create drama? A chicken and egg dilemma that’s done really well here!

🎹 What didn’t work as well:
- ok, stay with me here but I wasn’t sold on the romance 😳😬🤪 There just wasn’t enough here to convince me these two were really in love. This was a second chance on a short college romance that happened a decade ago. There weren’t enough scenes from back then, or present day, to convince me these two were mad for each other. I think that came secondary to depicting the rock star life and struggle here, and it showed. That said, the other parts of the book were so entertaining it still worked for me somehow. 🤷🏼‍♀️

🎹 I think that will be the main critique of this book, and this won’t be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it and thought it was a lot of fun. If you’re a Taylor Swift girly and love the way she writes her life into her music— you should DEFINITELY give this a try!

I was so stoked for a book that is Taylor Swift coded.Unfortunately, I must say that I was hugely disappointed (and actually very frustrated) by this book.

To dedicate a book to Taylor but then further perpetuate many of the harmful misogynistic stereotypes and ideas around her seems thoroughly ironic. It’s dedicating a book to someone you don’t really understand or respect and then take massive liberties and assumptions about why people like her instead of actually diving in and exploring yourself.

If you’re going to write a book based on her it seems natural that you would read up on her, watch some interviews, etc. Instead, it almost seems like the authors took the highly publicized and patriarchal misogynistic view of Taylor and her songwriting and personal life and ran with that inauthentic cheapened version. It’s a misrepresentation of her and why she has such a dedicated fandom.

The character is made out to check the many boxes the public often tries to place Taylor in - manipulative, calculating, immature, over-emotional. Also the insinuation that her behavior is always tied how she can write a song about it and make a profit is also a very insincere and inaccurate take. The quote below sums up exactly what I think the book insinuates about Taylor and a quote from Taylor herself on how she feels when people talk about her career or life through that lens:

“People would act like it [songwriting] was a weapon I was using. Like a cheap dirty trick. Be careful, bro, she’ll write a song about you. Don’t stand near her. First of all, that’s not how it works. Second of all, find me a time when they say that about a male artist: Be careful, girl, he’ll use his experience with you to get — God forbid — inspiration to make art.”
-Taylor A. Swift

I know the book is inspired by Taylor Swift, but there wasn’t a whole lot of depth to the character they were trying to create. It felt like an emotionally immature caricature of a woman incapable of healthy emotional expression and stable relationships. The writing was also a bit clunky - it was like an attempt to mimic more complex lyrical writing (maybe channeling Taylor’s talent) but coming up short.

I was also disappointed by the lack of chemistry. It felt rushed and awkward and it wasn’t selling the relationship at all. It also felt like there were lots of missing pieces and I was sometimes confused by the lack of build up or explanation to big decisions/changes.

This book was ultimately a DNF at 70% for me for all the reasons listed above. I’ve been told the authors have other books that are great but this was a massive miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for a copy of this e-arc.

The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley Austin Siegemund-Broka is a music-filled second chance romance between a pop star on tour & the talented piano player ex that is the subject of her greatest hit. Sparks fly, this is the tour & ride of wildest dreams…are you ready for it??

It’s marketed & acknowledge as a love letter to Swifties, which I can totally see, but at the same time, it’s also a love letter to just music, heartbreaks, heart makes & the beautiful chaos that is love:

The Breakup Tour is great for fans of…
🎤 Musicians
🎤 Second Chance Romance
🎤 Angst
🎤 Forced Proximity

The artistry is evident amidst the words that are woven into this lyrical love story. The authors did a really good job of making the reader be able to genuinely feel the angst & the yearning tension of having to work with the ex love of your life & have to pretend like everything’s normal.

I loved the lyrics & the songs peppered throughout the book. I enjoyed all of the music & the talk about music.

I always think it’s a good thing when a book makes you feel & this one took me on an array of emotions from sadness to annoyance to excitement & finally to happiness

If you’re looking to break & make your heart to the melodies of music in a romance, I recommend checking out The Breakup Tour!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

I will add my social media & Amazon links after I post this week.

Riley Wynn became a super star thanks to her album of breakup songs. When her ex-husband begins to claim the lead single from the album is about him, Riley goes back to her hometown to find the guy it is really about. Max hasn't seen Riley in a decade since their relationship ended. He’s been running his family’s retirement home and ultimately did not pursue a music career. But when Riley shows up and asks him to play on her tour, how can he say no. As they travel together and play music together, the undeniable chemistry they had in college is still there. Will they be able to keep things professional on the tour or will they give into their feelings?

This book is filled with Easter eggs for all of the Swifties out there and I was here for it! I’m a sucker for a good second chance romance and this one was so cute! I loved how their music brought them together and made their relationship even more magical. The behind the scenes pieces about the tour were fascinating and I loved the inclusion of song lyrics. This book was a lot of fun to read!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy. A huge shout out to @berittalksbooks and @dg_reads for hosting another fun #BerkleyBuddyRead!

Many thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for sending me an eARC copy of The Breakup Tour. All thoughts are my own.

Being called the Taylor Swift romance book I was very excited to read this one. Unfortunately this story is not what I was hoping for. The main characters seemed very repetitive in their feelings towards each other and their situation throughout a majority of the chapters. I felt like I was reading on a constant loop. The story really didn’t pick up for me until I was 70% into it. By then I just needed to know how Riley and Max’s story ended and if they found their HEA with each other or on their own. The epilogue was cute and the side characters were valuable but something was definitely missing from this story for me.

The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka is a story about two musicians, Riley and Max, who met in college, dated, and then broke up. Riley Wynn is now a superstar musician who is known for her break-up songs. She has written an album about each of her break-ups including one about her first real love, Max. The only problem is that no-one knows the song is about Max and that is becoming a problem.

There is something fun about a celebrity story and feeling like you are in the know. I enjoyed touring the country with Max and Riley and getting to know them better and being behind the scenes of Riley's tour. The story moved between the past and present as we learned Riley and Max’s backstory. The secondary characters were interesting and I may have wanted to join the band on the bus by the end of the book.

Overall, this was a good light read that brought me joy. I recommend The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

🎤 🎹 🎤
📖Review
5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
📖Book 2/100
📚The Breakup Tour
💫Genre: Fiction/Romance
✍️Authors:
Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

📝Synopsis 📝
The Queen of Breakups, Singer-Songwriter Riley Wynn becomes an overnight sensation 🎤
She is battling an ugly ex who claims one of her number one songs is about him, and she decides to pay her first true love a visit with a plan.

My thoughts 💭
Oh my freaking Swiftie Heart 💜 I adored this book and all the characters, and I’m not a fan of miscommunication tropes. The writing style and their inner dialogue kept me locked in. There were so many T. Swift references and Easter Eggs 🐣 that made it such a charming read. If you love second chance romance tropes like me you’ll love this one even if you’re not a Swiftie. Chapter 31 & the Epilogue had me in tears 😭🫶🏻
📝Favorite Quotes📝
“It’s an honor to have my heart broken by you.” 💔
“I love music in our own ways, the depth of our devotion is the same. It’s our hidden harmony, our reminder of what hasn’t changed in years when everything else has.”🎹🎤
✨✨✨✨✨

💜Thank you so much @netgalley and @berkleyromance @berkleypub for approving this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨Publishing Date: January 23, 2024

Full of musical inspiration and sweet romance, The Breakup Tour was a fun journey through love, heartbreak, and second chances.

When superstar Riley releases her new album and it becomes an instant hit, one song in particular rises the charts and helps her reconnect with the song’s inspiration and former love, Max. Together, they realize their love of music and appreciation for each other may rekindle the sparks from their past.

I always love a sweet second chance romance, where there is a little bit of pining, longing, and what-ifs, and I absolutely adore when they reunite after years away and find their way back to themselves and each other. The impact of music and how it is ingrained into our lives was such a great element of this novel. I loved seeing their connection through music and how deeply it touched them.

If you love books with celebrity inspiration, dual POV, forced proximity, and mutual pining, definitely check out this new romance!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

This book has been on my radar for so long and it did NOT disappoint!

For context, I am an OG Swiftie. I was fifteen when Fifteen came out and TSwift became my bff in music form. So, the premise of this one seemed like a fictional Swiftie dream and I really enjoyed it!

I have seen some reviews stating that the MC was limited as the “Queen of Breakup Songs” in this one, but did y’all read the book?

I am only one girl with one opinion, but Riley grows in this story and learns that she is more than the headlines, is more than a writer of breakups and she can overcome her own fears of the darkest bits of her heart.

While there is a similarity between Riley’s start and Taylor’s (primarily that they were both young stars who started with break up songs) they are different characters.

This book will make Swiftie hearts happy through some familiarity of our favorite songstress, but non Swifties also will find a heartwarming second chance romance about two people torn apart by a fundamental aspect of themselves - their own dreams.

I super enjoyed it. I laughed, I cried, and the vibes were vibing!

If I had a complaint, it’s that it wasn’t spicy BUT not every romance needs to be. Some bus filled makeout sessions would have just been a nice added touch. 😂

Thank you so much to Berkley romance for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka really show their versality in The Breakup Tour. This one is more of an angsty contemporary romance than a romcom. In fact, there is very little humor. BUT, there are original song lyrics and that was totally cool. It felt like I was reading Taylor Swift fan fiction, which was the intention. Can't wait to see what the duo brings us next.

Riley is the singer everyone is talking about, especially after her short-lived marriage and the release of her album full of break-up songs; each song for a man she has dated. The most popular song is not about her husband, but about her college boyfriend, Max. Max runs a retirement home, the reason he stayed behind ten years ago when he and Riley broke up. With Riley’s ex-husband taking claim over her hit song, she elicits Max to help shift that focus. Will old feelings emerge?

This was overall a cute story. I think the plot is a great idea, but was just missing a few things for me. I struggled with the chemistry and lack of flirting that came through between Riley and Max. Their shift of boundaries on the tour seemed to come a bit out of nowhere. The writing also lost me a bit in the middle, where I found myself zoning out. I think the end was super cute and I loved the grand gesture. I also love when authors incorporate song lyrics for the readers - super creative. It was a quick read and I definitely think there is an audience for it!

“Melodies hold memories. Like nothing else on earth, they recall feelings, places, moments-the needle dropping into the groove of the soul’s record player.”

“Everyone is a song writer if you listen.”

Riley Wynn is a superstar, best known for penning pop songs for the brokenhearted. But creating a concept album around the niche that has made her famous doesn’t come without its own set of heartache. As each song’s story behind the story becomes a source of speculation, Riley has to relive the pain as she pours her heart out.

Case in point, her current single, now rising the charts. Inspired by her college sweetheart, Max Harcourt, he’s now living a quiet life managing his family’s business. A decade ago though, Riley and Max planned on pursuing their musical dreams together, until Max pulled out. Present day Max only has a passing knowledge of Riley’s work, purposely putting off listening to her latest release, partly because he risks identifying with one of the songs, and partly because he might not have even made the cut.

Then Riley comes back to town on a mission. She wants Max to know he inspired her biggest hit to date, and she wants the world to know, too. Even though Max doesn’t want to live in the public eye, he is tempted to try music one more time, ultimately going on tour with Riley. Being on the road together could be therapeutic, or it could be torturous- but Riley is ready for either, sacrificing anything for the sake of a song. But the longer the two perform together, the more each realizes much of their story is still unsung.

The Breakup Tour is a love story that’s not unlike the classic love songs it pays tribute to. With a stellar writing duo of Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund Broka at the helm, its cadence comes across like a power ballad duet, each character getting their own strong stanza. Parallels no doubt will be drawn to a certain Taylor’s trajectory, but in a story about musical muses, it’s only fitting there’d be a bigger tribute at play.

That’s why, with The Breakup Tour, this writing team has managed to hit all the right notes.

While I think that The Breakup Tour had a lot of potential, it left me wanting more. I never felt fully connected to Riley or Max --- I felt like everything progressed too quickly or too slowly. I wanted to like this book so badly, but it just didn't resonate for me.

This should have been a home run read for me and it turned into a book I probably should have marked as dnf, however, I had hope and I persisted and the book was just such a fail. Don't cosplay as a Taylor Swift fan's dream book and then not even respect the artist you should be honoring. As for the actual romance the first kiss was made the worst one I have ever read and the male main character gave nothing, we didn't even know anything about him.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint! Wibberly and Siegemund-Broka are the QUEENS of second chance romances - I have loved every book they've written with this premise. Riley and Max were everything and I absolutely loved getting to see them fall in love again!

Yes, this is for the Swifties. I'm fairly neutral on Taylor Swift, so factor that in as you see fit. This was a solid second-chance romance. I generally like second-chance, as I tend to shy away from insta love, in they are the opposite. What I really respect here is that the reasons for the initial breakup are solid and still very much valid. This is a story rooted in how people can want different things, but that doesn't mean they can't still be together. I really like that Riley is uncompromising in her goals, and no one ever questions that she needs to settle. And at the same time, Max isn't willing to compromise his values either. It warmed my little heart to see them find a way to make it work.

This book was like drinking a cup of iced coffee when you’re exhausted on a summer day. Perfectly refreshing and rejuvenating all at once.

As a Swiftie and a reader this should have been my perfect book. Unfortunately it reads as bad fanfiction from someone that's bitter they missed out on Era's tour tickets. It's almost as if the authors found every eye-roll inducing and baseless headline about Taylor from the last 15 years and used it to make Riley unlikable and one dimensional. I'm also disappointed with the supposed love interest. He really gave us nothing! Other than his initial familial obligation he barely has any personality. Once you get past the obvious TS easter eggs this book loses it's appeal.

As a fan of both Taylor Swift and second chance romances (though I'm realizing I'm picky about that trope's execution) I thought I would love this but instead it was a struggle to get through and full of wasted potential.

I was never invested in either of these characters and therefore I wasn't really rooting for their romance. In fact, there were multiple points I felt as if I was wanting them to not get together because I just didn't see their compatibility aside from a few scenes.

I really wanted to like Riley more than I did. It felt as if the authors took stereotyped generalizations of Taylor Swift from the media to create her character rather than creating a nuanced protagonist. Despite the fact that this book was dedicated both to "the Swifties" and Taylor Swift herself, I don't think this aspect of the story was strong enough to be anything but a marketing tactic. Riley's character could've been an interesting exploration of what it's like to be an extremely famous female singer-songwriter but it never went any deeper than "she only writes breakup songs" and "uses her real life for fame" - both incorrect and sexist assumptions that have been made about Taylor Swift over the years. I expected the story to use Riley's character as a way to challenge these media assumptions in a nuanced way but it never really did. In fact, while a couple points in the narrative pushed back on these stereotypes, many aspects of the story seemed to perpetuate it instead.

Which brings me to Max, the male main character, who was overall incredibly boring but also at many points incorrectly made these stereotyped assumptions of Riley. It was infuriating to read, especially as his character was established as being someone who knew the "true" Riley. His characterization, combined with the fact that we don't really see much of their past relationship, made it hard for me to care about the second chance romance angst.

On top of the characterization, the writing in this was incredibly cheesy. The amount of musical metaphors and similes made me constantly roll my eyes (almost every chapter had at least one or two) and there were many pieces of dialogue that felt so unnatural they made me laugh (ex. Riley asking Max if they were "going down Heartbreak Road again" - "Heartbreak Road" being the name of the song they wrote together).

I will say that there were a few bright spots in this book. Once you got past any music-related figurative language, the songwriting/performing parts truly shined. Chapter 15 (when Riley and Wyn have an emotional rehearsal of "Until You") was a standout for me as was the scene of them writing "Heartbreak Road". I also thought the final chapter, depicting Riley's last show on The Breakup Tour, was excellent - I did not root for their relationship for the majority of the book but I rooted for them here.

Ultimately I do think there's an audience for this story - readers who are intrigued by the concept are are very casual Taylor Swift fans, readers who are less picky with contemporary romance (particularly second chance romance) than I am, and fans of contemporary romance who enjoyed the music aspects of Daisy Jones and the Six all have the potential to find something in here to enjoy. I just think that this story could've been significantly stronger in many aspects.