The plot of this book had so much potential, but between the dialogue and character names, this book was trying far too hard to be relevant and quirky, making it a slog to get through.

5 Stars! This book is one that will stay with me for awhile. Everything about this was stellar: the plot, the characters, their development, the drama, and the twists! I couldn’t put it down.

This has become one of my favorite contemporary YA books ever. We have a dual timeline that weaves the past and Decklee’s rise to fame with the present, where we have Darren on a scavenger hunt to find the famed singer’s time capsule. The way Jenna Voris weaved together the past and the present was absolutely magic. I felt excited to jump between characters and to see how things tied together.

Each character in this book felt so unique and I could really relate to Darren’s struggle with her hometown. Her desire to escape and Mayberry, Arkansas reflect Decklee’s, and the desire of so many other girls who grow up in small towns. I really related to Darren and her dreams of something bigger. I enjoyed the journey of Darren and Kendall going on this roadtrip together and getting to know each other.

I did NOT see the big twist coming in this book at all! I figured I would be along for a pretty predictable ride but I was absolutely proven wrong and I LOVED IT. I am not going to say any more than that, but the build and ending of this book was perfect and unexpected.

If you like roadtrips, coming of age stories, and country music, please pick this up! As someone who lived in Nashville for many years, it was wonderful to have places I have been to and know about pop up in this story. Jenna Voris is now an auto-buy author for me.

This was such a fun read and i great summer read that focued on two very different stories and loved the adventure and game element to this book! i ALSO liked that we got two very different love stores and it was such a quick read!!

Thanks for letting me read early. This was fine—not amazing, not bad. Some parts were predictable, but the author’s voice was consistent and the tone fit the genre. If you’re looking for a light read, this could be it.

I feel awful that I have owned this book for pretty much the whole time it’s been out & it took reading “Say a Little Prayer” for me to pick it up & read it. I so wish I had picked it up earlier because once I did I could not put it back down. I was pulled into the worlds of Darren & Decklee. I was so wrapped up in the love story between Decklee & Mickenlee and heartbroken when it had to end. And I know some people were let down by the reveal of who Mickenlee really was I’m proud to say I guessed it back on page 112.

I cannot wait for summer to roll around again so I can pull this back off my shelf & give it another read during the dog days of August.

I absolutely loved this one. I'm always a sucker for stories that revolve around country music, but throw in a sapphic romance, and I’m all in. Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris delivers on both fronts, weaving together a heartfelt mystery, a riveting love story, and a bittersweet reflection on the cost of fame.

At its heart, the novel follows seventeen-year-old Darren Purchase, a die-hard fan of country music icon Decklee Cassel. When Decklee tragically passes away, Darren is devastated. But the mystery truly begins when Decklee’s long-anticipated time capsule—meant to be revealed at her highly publicized funeral—turns up empty. Instead of a sentimental tribute, Decklee leaves behind a scavenger hunt of cryptic clues leading to the missing capsule and its staggering $3 million prize. As an aspiring journalist, Darren knows this is her shot at something big. She teams up with her sharp-witted coworker, Kendall, and together, they embark on a high-stakes journey to uncover the truth.

The novel’s structure masterfully alternates between the present-day hunt and Decklee’s rise to fame, and both timelines are utterly absorbing. However, it’s nearly impossible not to be completely captivated by Decklee herself—a brilliant but deeply flawed star who stops at nothing to cement her legacy. Her chapters trace her tumultuous journey through the country music scene of the 1970s and 1980s, focusing on her friendship-turned-relationship with songwriter Mickenlee Hooper. Their love story is electric yet heartbreaking, unfolding in an era where being openly queer in country music was nearly impossible. Voris does a phenomenal job exploring the sacrifices, betrayals, and painful choices Decklee makes in her pursuit of success, even when it comes at the cost of her happiness—and Mickenlee’s heart.

This book isn’t just a mystery or a romance; it’s an exploration of ambition, identity, and the stories we leave behind. It’s as much about chasing dreams as it is about the people who get caught in the crossfire. And with its blend of country music nostalgia, star-crossed love, and a gripping scavenger hunt, Every Time You Hear That Song is a must-read—especially for anyone who loves a good mix of heartache and hope, wrapped in the twang of a guitar.

"Every Time You Hear That Song" is a beautiful, romantic, heart-warming story. I always enjoy a good road trip book and I'll definitely be recommending this one!

A girl with bi panic solving a mystery her favourite lesbian musician created from her deathbed?
I loved everything about this!

Music is one of my favourite things in this world so I’m always looking forward to books about musicians and this one did not disappoint.
We follow the two protagonists in two different time lines, with Decklees rise to fame in the 60s and Darren figuring out her mystery in the present.
While I totally get if people will dislike Decklee, I feel that all her story shows is how misogyny and homophobia deeply affected her (at the people who grew up like her). She didn’t have a chance at full happiness, she always had to choose between a career, a work she deeply loved and poured her everything in, or a private life. I do feel deeply sorry for her, even though some of her actions were of course extremely selfish and inconsiderate.
Darren was a much more likeable character and her trying to figure out her bisexuality was written in a beautiful way. The mystery and the road trip were absolutely gripping to read about and I rooted for her every step of the way.
I honestly wouldn’t have needed a romance in her part of the story, considering how the book ended it felt kind of unnecessary, but it was still nice to read about a bisexual girl falling for a guy.
I somehow didn’t really get why she decided to do what she did in the very end, when the whole trip showed her how much she really loved her hometown after all.

I’d highly recommend reading this to fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books!

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I received an advanced copy of Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris from the publisher Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Darren Purchase is an aspiring journalist and eager to get out of her small town. Growing up, she has always been a lifelong fan of country music legend Decklee Cassel, especially her early work with songwriter Mickenlee Hooper. Unfortunately, Mickenlee mysteriously dropped off the radar at the height of their careers. Now, Decklee’s televised funeral reveals a time capsule but when it is open, it is empty and leads her fans down a scavenger hunt. Darren knows that there’s a story at the end of hunt and starts a spontaneous road trip with her coworker, Kendall. This book switches back between the present time line (Darren) and a past time line starting in 1963, where runaway Decklee has her sights on fame and glory and breaking into the business, while her relationship with Mickenlee grows.

My Thoughts: This book could be pitched (and perhaps has been) as Evelyn Hugo but sub in Dolly Parton as Evelyn. I think this is a bit of insult to Dolly Parton, but I get the idea and it’s apt that this is a version of Evelyn Hugo but our lead is a country star instead of a movie star. There are some discrepancies, there is no discussion between the young reporter and the country singer, Decklee. However, this book does cover a unique topic of queerness in the country music scene especially in the 60’s and 70’s and the risk. The past storyline does not flinch away from this and our main character is dislikable but it truly was well crafted. The quest part of the story was a little far-fetched to me but I’m not a big enough fan girl of anything so this might be a me bias. I also liked Kendall, and found him quite likable. I found this book just fine, but it didn’t live up to the hype for me because it did ultimately feel like a retelling of Evelyn Hugo that was not differentiated enough. However, this book is a solid palette cleanser.

Who Should Read It: People who are looking for a YA Evelyn Hugo-esqe novel. People who like road trip books. People who love books centered on a fan type experience.

Summary: Darren Purchase goes on a road trip with her coworker Kendall to find the true story of her favorite singer, Decklee Cassel.

Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris is a captivating novel that explores the lives of two country music legends and girl looking for the truth of their stories. This moving story of fame, friendship, and self-discovery will resonate with readers who love music and appreciate a well-told tale.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

An emotional journey of three women, told by two of them in different timelines. Both wanting more than their town of origin, financial situation had to offer them. The past story had more of a feel of truth to me, the ambitious country singer, choosing herself over everyone else and being forced to make hard choices due to the lack of tolerance for lesbian relationship. the current story, overlapped with the past one as she struggled to find herself and what home really was. Her relationship, somehow never felt like more than a friendship and maybe was a more forced plot point to make a point. Easy to read and interesting

I think my students will enjoy this book, the story in the present of a hunt for clues for a country singers last time capsule and the 3 million dollars that goes with it. the story in the past, which is more compelling of an ambitious country singer, who has to deal with homophobia and having to make hard choices. The present day story, a teenager wanting to win the money to help her mother and to get out of the small town she lives in and become a journalist. Both she and her mother are big fans

I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book!

Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris is a heartfelt mix of queer coming-of-age, mystery, and historical fiction. The dual timelines follow Decklee Cassel, a deeply flawed country singer navigating fame and identity, and Darren Purchase, a teen uncovering Decklee’s secrets through a scavenger hunt.

While the premise is unique and emotionally rich, some aspects fell short for me. Decklee’s chapters left me wanting more, and Darren and Kendall’s romance didn’t quite have the buildup to feel convincing. The scavenger hunt, while fun, lacked the excitement I expected, and the ending felt a bit rushed.

That said, the emotional depth and exploration of self-discovery, identity, and the sacrifices tied to ambition make this story memorable. It’s a bittersweet, music-driven journey that can resonate with readers of any age..

Okayyyyyyy cute.

Self discovery. Country music. AUTHENTIC.

I loved everything about this one…. Excpet the name spelling. It’s DISTRACTING. If you can get past that super cute story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This story has a dual timeline, flipping between present-day teen journalist Darren and country legend Decklee Cassel's rise in the 1960s. We get to see Darren try to uncover the truth about Decklee’s life.
This book was giving Evelyn Hugo and I loved everything about it. I could be biased because I absolutely adore that book.
This book just had so many great things for me. A fun road trip, a cute summer romance, sapphic lovers, dual timeline. There’s just so much that made this a great book. While this is a YA novel, it didn’t really feel like it. I think this is great for everyone.

What a joyous, queer read! I was a huge fan of 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,' and this book scratched a very similar itch. Country music isn't known as the most "queer-friendly" space, but I've been glad to see artists find and expand space for queer expression. I know that my high school students will really enjoy this book, and I'm glad that I can recommend this to my students.

Country roads take me home!!! What a wonderful mix of queer coming of age, historical fiction with a sprinkle of a mystery. I really enjoyed this book!

★★★★☆

Every Time You Hear That Song is a sweeping, emotional ode to country music and complicated women. This story captures the glamour and grit of fame, flipping between present-day teen journalist Darren and country legend Decklee Cassel's rise in the 1960s. Darren’s journey to uncover the truth behind Decklee's life and friendship with the mysterious Mickenlee is captivating, layered with high-stakes secrets and self-discovery. While some parts felt a touch lengthy, the rich characterizations and authentic dive into fame's costs made this a rewarding read.

TL;DR: A heartfelt exploration of fame, legacy, and self-discovery told through a queer, country-music lens.