I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It was cute and I liked the characters and I even liked the dual POVs. Something about it just bugged me. I feel like the author was trying to reference a certain uber famous pop star with Decklee's story. It felt inauthentic though. Also a lot of the main characters picked their stage names and they were all the worst names imaginable. It really took me out of the story and was probably a big reason why I did not love this book.
I did like the teenage characters' stories and their little romance that occurred. The connection that music and lyrics can have on people was a relatable part of the story that was, in my opinion, the most successful part of the book.

This was the first book I have read by Jenna Voris and I'm so glad I found her. This was a beautiful book. I absolutely loved almost all of the characters in this book. Decklee was a little tough to love becauae she was so darn stubborn. But Darren and Kendall were so good!! There was a big twist closer to the end that I did figure out before the reveal but I was so happy to have figured it out! This story brought me such joy while reading. I do wish the ending would have been different but it didn't stop me from loving this book. I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who will listen! So grab a cup of coffee and sit back with this wonderful story!!

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

"Dumplin' meets Daisy Jones & the Six" is an entirely accurate description of this book. "Every Time You Hear That Song" is a story told in between two POVs, Darren Purchase, a teen with a big dream from the small town of Mayberry, and the country pop icon Decklee Cassel following her rise to fame. Darren dreams of getting out of Mayberry and it’s why she’s followed the Decklee’s music and career her whole life, idolizing her for getting out and leaving everything behind. But when the singer passes on, she leaves a little quest; a hunt for a hidden time capsule: a memoir of her life, for a price that could get her out. And when Darren sets out to find it along with her friend Kendall, she soon uncovers more about Decklee’s legacy, one that will teach her to set out and tell her own story.
I absolutely fell in love with this book. I was shocked when it was so deep and complex, when I figured it would be a cute romcom. I loved the dual POV between Darren and Decklee because it really highlighted a true story of love, loss, what it means to be queer, and focused on your career. The queer rep was wonderfully conveyed because the feelings surrounding bisexual and lesbian women were articulated well. I loved this story on account of how emotionally captivating it was. It hooked me from the beginning and kept me coming back for more. The ending is not what I had envisioned, but it makes sense. 4/5 stars. I would highly recommend it.

Thank you to Penguin Group and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy (ARC) of "Every Time You Hear That Song" in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun romp that I just ate up, but it didn’t quite hit five stars for me. First off the pros, I love some messy morally gray lesbians and Decklee scratched that itch for me. Her romance felt so raw and real that I kept wanting every chapter to be in her perspective. Not to mention I adore the 60s/70s as a setting for a story because of its grimy glamour. Decklee is definitely this books standout, however, Darren is also a wonderful character. I think that I related less to her struggles since I’m an adult but I think her story will resonate with a lot of teens. Getting to watch her go full investigative reporter was such a silly good time.

I think what kept this book from being perfect for me is that I kept comparing it to two of my favorite reads, I Kissed Shara Wheeler and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Shara better executes the theme of learning to love small southern towns. While Evelyn Hugo better explores the ways in which women exploit and are exploited by fame. As a read I just kept wishing we delved more into Decklee because she’s the most compelling character in the whole book. It felt like I only got a glimpse of her psyche. This also is no fault of the book but I really struggled to get through this because of the formatting on kindle. There would often be random large paragraph breaks or huge spaces between parts of words. I’m assuming that this happened because of a format conversion. Hopefully Viking fixes this issue for future ARCs.

Thanks to Viking Books for Young Readers for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Darren and her coworker Kendall go on an amazing adventure to search for the famous Decklee Cassel's time capsule. Little does she know, this trip will change her life. This was really sweet, and I loved the parallels between Darren and Decklee in their discovery of what's important in life.

Kendall is the sweetest - his support and sense of adventure to do this trip with Darren is amazing, and watching them become close was a truly adorable thing. I loved how the music tied in with everything and just spoke to Darren's soul. Everything that happened at the end was so fast and unexpected, it was such an amazing way to end this.

This was so much fun!! The author did such a good job at capturing what it's like to be from a small town in the south trying desperately to claw your way out before it buries you alive, extending grace to the main characters while also keeping them honest and the reader on their toes, this was such a solid book front to finish!

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up

Daisy Jones meets Evelyn Hugo meets Inheritance Games

A fun mystery with romantic elements! I was hooked the entire book. It’s told in a dual pov and timeline.

For me, I wouldn’t categorize this book as a romance, but more so contemporary fiction w/ romance elements. The central storyline is the mystery element of finding Decklee’s time capsule and the secondary storyline is Decklee’s career & relationship (or lack there of) w/ Micklee.

Super engaging and a fun story!

TWs - death, cancer

“We’ve grown together in too many ways, torn each other up from the inside out. She’s a part of me, a beating heart right in the center of my chest, so I know when she walks toward the door that this fight isn’t permanent either.”

Ahhhh I loved thissss! This story was so heartfelt and captivating! It made me so excited to see what happened next! I loved Mickenlee but ugh she deserved so much better🥺 my heart hurts for her and everything she was put through while trying to keep the person she loved. There were some times that I understood Decklee but gosh she was just so selfish and so caught up in the fame sometimes I just wanted to jump in the book and yell at her😒 but this story def pulled at my heart strings! So so good! I love how it was told from Decklee’s point of view as well as Darren’s! And the plot twist with Mickenlee!!! Was not expecting thattttt!🫢

This book was almost what I wanted it to be. I think if the whole book had been from Decklee Cassel's point of view I would have enjoyed it more. I couldn't get past Darren's pop-punk, I hate this town, mantra. I didn't get very far I'll admit, Darren was too frustrating of a main character for me to make it very far.

"every time you hear that song" is a book about ambition, drive, and how a small town can shape you. being from a small town in the south, surrounded by country music mainly sung by white men, this book resonated with me in more ways than one. i am a LOVER of characters — characters that feel real, that feel flawed, that I can have empathy for, and the characters in this novel certainly apply. the imagery Voris creates of both small town back roads and the feeling of seeing a big city for the first time really stuck out to me. the journeys we follow throughout these pages were exciting and bittersweet at the same time. this was a really quick and fun read!

If Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six had a baby.

"Every Time You Hear That Song" is a dual timeline novel following Darren - a teenage girl who's feeling trapped in a small home town, and Decklee, who's a country music star who started out in the 60s. After her death, Decklee's team announces a scavenger hunt for her last album. Darren as a big fan of her music, plus a prospect of winning $3 million, asks her co-worker to join her on this adventure.

4.5 stars!
I enjoyed this one quite a lot! It was super fun. I love when artists leave little easter eggs and clues for their fans to figure out.

Both leading ladies weren't very likable people, Darren grew a bit throughout her journey, but Decklee was just pretty narcissistic, which I guess comes with her status. These flaws make the story so real, I honestly don't wanna read about perfect people.

When I requested this book, it really spoke to me: queer, country music love (even when everyone else around you judges you for it), a fandom community. Unfortunately, this one just didn't end up hooking me and that made me really disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this title in exchange for my honest feedback!

This is the kind of story that you get lost in; you fall in love with the characters as their adventure unfolds and when you reach the end and know how things are wrapped up, you can’t help but feel like you’re saying goodbye to a friend.

What stood out to me the most was how both Darren and Decklee fought for what it was they wanted, yet the final outcomes couldn’t be more different. It (in my opinion) showcases how the people you love and care about hold such a strong connection to you and that truly means the world.

A story I’ll be thinking about for a long time for sure!

Thank you Penguin Teen and Viking Books for the #gifted ARC and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy of Every Time You Hear That Song! #PRHAInfluencer #PRHAudioPartner #PenguinTeenPartner

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐕𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★★

Oh my heart! Jenna Voris you have stolen my heart! This is a YA book that will resonate with so many people. There are so many themes explored in this book, including friendship, fame, love, queer identity, and so much more. This one is so worth the read! This is guaranteed to be one of my favorite YA books of the year!

I don’t often cry when I read books, but this one brought tears to my eyes. It’s the type of book that I will read again and that I will recommend to YA readers, and even adult readers. I truly adored this book and the characters just stole my heart and I just found it to be so well done. Every Time You Hear That Song is beautiful. It’s heartwarming. It needs to be read.

🎧I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, which was narrated by Emily Lawrence and Allison Strong. Let me tell you, these two NAILED it. They were so perfectly casted for their roles and I loved my time listening to them bring their characters to life. I highly recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening with your ears. I promise, you will not be disappointed with either format!

🎸YA Queer Contemporary Novel
🎸Dual Timeline
🎸Small Town
🎸Road Trip
🎸Coming of Age

Posted on Goodreads on April 3, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
Posted on Instagram - Full Review- April 3, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on April 3, 2024
**-will post on designated date

Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris was an absolute amazing story.
A charming coming of age story that was incredibly hard to put down.
The author created great characters that I feel in love with. This book is perfection overall, but I think my favourite element in it was the characters. I just couldn't help getting attatched to them.
A charming queer YA romance that I believe most will just totally love!

Thank You NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I think books that center around singers/rockstars/musicians just aren’t my cup of tea.

I tried, I really did try to get into this book but it wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t hate it either though, it was just okay.

Don’t take my word for it though, give it a chance. Just because it wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy it.

I would still recommend people to read this book, especially if they like books that have to do with singers and musicians.

I was given this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoyed this read! The cover was giving me Dolly Parton and the premise was giving me Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I was invested in the story of Decklee and Mickenlee Hooper and even as a non-country music fan, I was drawn into the lyrics and the history and the scavenger hunt mystery and wishing the music was somewhere real for me to listen to. The one takeaway I’ll give, which was actually my similar feedback for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s work is that I was more invested in who the MC was writing/learning about than the MC themselves. I wasn’t invested in Kendall at all unfortunately and I don’t know why. She was likeable and relatable, but I wasn’t rooting for her or her road-tripping Beau. I wish they were peeled back and this was entirely about Mickenlee and Decklee from start to end

Thank you to NetGalley for approving me to read this ARC. I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. I of course requested it because I was interested, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed the back and forth POVs, and how everything in the book connected. There wasn't anything mentioned that didn't add to the storyline or explain part of it. The author made me feel like I was on this road trip with Darren, and felt like I was traveling with Decklee. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to a friend who wants a light, romantic read with some nice LGBTQ+ representation.

I was all in on this book when I read it was scavenger hunt with a country music twist. But I had no idea what was truly in store for this reader. Dual timelines, unlikable characters, said mystery hunt, I couldn't get enough of all the complications. Voris wrote a truly engrossing coming of age tale that goes beyond your barely conceived expectations.


Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I loved the road trip aspect and the way friends might not even know each other until they’re together on a road trip! I also really enjoyed the historical flashbacks with Decklee! I’m gonna think about this book for years!