
Member Reviews

I’m not a huge country fan, or a country fan in general let’s be real, but I'm a sucker for sapphic books. I enjoyed my time with this one:)

DNF.
I had high hopes as a fan of country music and young adult love stories but sadly this was not a hit for me. I can't really figure out how to put into words what I didn't enjoy about this book but sadly it was a DNF for me. I just couldn't get into it and eventually gave up. Not something that happens often, but it happens.

This is such a fun, but emotional, scavenger hunt story told in a dual POV as we follow singer Decklee Cassel on her path to fame, as she struggles with her Queer identity, and Darren Purchase, who years later, is on a scavenger hunt to find Decklee's lost songs, and lost lover, after Decklee passes away.
I love a scavenger hunt story and this one is so unique. Combining it with Queer culture and a Bisexual girl struggling to find her way out of her small town made this story so interesting, and I flew through the pages each time I picked it up. Although I usually dislike not being able to work out the clues for myself, I didn't mind with this story, and was happy to follow Darren.
There's so much hurt, and grief tied into this book that pushes it to a five star read for me. Decklee is shown to be a pretty terrible person, and Mickenlee has to decide if to continue being dragged along on Decklee's obsession with fame, or to break ties with her forever. Mickenlee is an incredibly memorable character that I really grew attached to.

DNF
It was just uninteresting and hard to actually get into so I literally couldn't finish it. It just did not give what it needed to give. And I hate country music.

I was completely caught up in this road trip and self-discovery quest and found it the perfect summer read. Country music star Decklee Cassel supposedly filled a time capsule throughout her life, including an entire unheard album. It was supposed to be opened at her funeral, but when it is, it's empty--and soon after a music-based quest is announced, each stop led by another of Decklee's songs. It's the perfect quest for rising senior Darren Purchase, aspiring journalist and escapee from the same small Southern town Decklee herself escaped from as a teenager, and also life-long Decklee fan. But she needs a car. Her coworker Kendall is the only option. Many adventures ensue, as both Decklee and Darren have a lot to figure out about themselves and the people they love (the novel is told in alternating sections, Decklee through her life and Darren over the course of the road trip). I couldn't put it down.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc. My opinions are all my own.

I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read. It is a well-crafted coming-of-age story that explores queer identity in a sensitive and nuanced manner. The dual timelines are skillfully interwoven, creating a cohesive and engaging narrative.

I love a good scavenger hunt, and Jenna really took us on a big one in this book! Of course, it’s not really about the hunt so much as it is about one girl’s complicated relationship with her small town and the people in it, but that’s kind of how all books like this go, and I absolutely love it. This book was exciting, heartbreaking, and delightful, and I can’t wait for the next one from Jenna.

is a captivating and emotionally resonant novel that intertwines the lives of two women across decades, bound by their passion for country music and the mysteries surrounding their intertwined careers. Voris masterfully weaves these narratives together, offering readers a dual perspective that illuminates the complexities of identity, ambition, and authenticity. Darren's determination to uncover Decklee's truth mirrors the struggles Decklee herself faced in navigating her personal and professional life, making for a narrative that is as introspective as it is compelling.

3.5 stars
Quick, enjoyable read. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and I would have liked to live in the character's feelings post twist more than we were able to.

A must read for queer country music fans, this is a story of identity and ambition, of finding yourself when feeling stuck in a small town and wanting more for your own future. Told in dual POVs and dual timelines, we follow the life of country singer in the past and a fan far into the future who goes on a treasure hunt in the hopes of finding a jackpot to help break her out of the town she's eager to escape.
I absolutely loved the discussions on sapphic relationships and bisexuality. I loved the way both queerness was tackled in both timelines. Honestly so stunning. It was my favorite part of the book. I also really enjoyed the pacing. Both timelines ebbed, flowed, and peaked together. The ending was bittersweet and I thought was really fitting for the story. This definitely read like a country movie in book form and enjoyed it quite a lot.
(+) lots of queer rep - sapphic relationship, bi/pan MCs, achillean secondary characters and romance, trans secondary character

I gave this book a try through ebook but couldn't get into it so I gave it a try on audiobook. I couldn't get into the story after listening for 3 hours so I decided to DNF the story.

This book was such a sweet read. It reminded of Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing in the best way. I wasn't expecting this to be such an emotional story but more than a few tears were shed while reading this one. I do wish that we got to understand each individual character just a little bit better but overall I really enjoyed this story.

I tried to read my ARC a few times and couldn't get into it. I'm really glad I gave the audiobook a try. It was a great and actually switched me from DNFing a book to finishing it and recommending it!
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Full review:
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I feel like my review will be split in half for EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THAT SONG by Jenna Voris. Maybe I’ll attempt a sandwich, but let’s start with what made me happy.
Happy trails:
The top half of the cover. Tbh, I overlooked the bottom portion until I went to write this review 😅 I love the Dolly-esque lady - who we now know is Decklee Cassel (that name!! 😍🤩) - in the sky.
The story was told using an alternating timeline. It was put together so well! Plus, the narration by Emily Lawerence and Allison Strong fits the characters perfectly. Listening to them tell Decklee and Darren’s stories made it interesting and fun to find the parallels.
The reminder that the most important people will always be there even when you don’t realize it or deserve it.
Frustrations:
The scavenger hunt was played up to be a more significant part, but I felt let down. Yes, it did move along the plot and where Darren and Kendall go to find clues, but I wish it was more fulfilling. Or maybe I just read too many scavenger hunt books that put people on the brink of death, so was this my fault for expecting too much?
I always say I don’t mind an unlikeable lead and stand by that. Decklee was different. She was determined. She knew what she wanted and went for it, even if it hurt people who were faithful to her along the way. I know it was the 70s, so times were different than now, but I didn’t see part one of the twist coming. I saw her being many things but not making cruel, devastating ultimatums like that. I can’t go further into it without spoiling the twist or the last major one, which, omg 🤯 I did not see coming.
Speaking of the final twist, I liked the book’s ending, especially the house (vague sentence here, lol), but I wish we had a little more time with the twist. A lot more could have been explored.
Happiness vs Frustration:
Do I recommend this book? Yes. I think Jenna Voris has written a book worth reading, especially if you go with low stakes, not expecting a who’s next on the chopping block scavenger hunt and everyone finds their queer love dream-type novel.
I think EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THAT SONG is an essential read for the queer and non-queer community alike because it shows queer characters in different eras figuring out who they are, what that means to their livelihood, and will their loved ones accept them once they figured it out.
Books like this must exist. I may not have loved it, but I liked it enough to share and discuss it. The audiobook is excellent, and I got it from my local library via the Libby app!
Content warnings: toxic relationship, cancer, homophobia

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

Every time you hear that song by Jenna Voris was a most anticpaited reads of mine and I'm so happy to let Penguin Teen & Netgalley know that I loved this one!!! It was right up my ally which is weird cause I generally don't love dual timelines but for some reason this book worked out for me! Before I forget to share my. rating it was a 5/5 stars for me and here is why!
This has an amazing cast of character so we follow two different timelines from the 1960's and from present day of our main character Darren. We also follow our celbraties of this novel: Deckel! Deckel is basiclly like Taylor swift and that's all I can picture while reading her pov! Not only does this book has 2 different timelines but it had me in my feelings a lot throughout this novel! One minuet I was smiling, the next I was laughing and then towards the end I was crying but also mad at the ending!! Its so hard to talk about spoilers for this one without telling u what happened but I cannot wait to read more ya contempoaries from Jenna Voris!!(:

Thank you Netgalley & Penguin Teen for letting me read this sweet, fast paced coming of age story. There were Evenlyn Hugo vibes with a Dolly Parton-esk character (though I don't believe Dolly is any where near that self absorbed).
When Darren hits the road to find Decklee Castles time capsule she never expects to discover herself.
This is a queer coming of age story. About accepting who you are and where you come from without hesitation. A story about love, loss, and a lesson about sacrifices. Wonderful & gripping.

I hate country music and I hate this book. 2.5 stars! No really, this book is literally The Last Love song. I know they probably didn't know they were both publishing the same book but come on.

Every Time You Hear That Song is the perfect YA coming of age romance that explores the topics of bisexuality, growing up queer (in general and in a small town) and the struggles of living in a small town that you feel too big for.
This book follows our two main characters, Darren and Decklee, and their lives as they navigate the challenges in their lives. Darren is a teenage girl who loves journaling and is devastated by the death of her favorite country music star, Decklee. She feels like there is something better for her outside of her small town called Mayberry, so when news of Decklee’s passing brings forth a scavenger hunt spanning across the U.S., Darren can’t refuse. We follow Decklee as she roadtrips and goes through a phase of self discovery regarding her sexuality and feelings towards Mayberry. Glimpses into Decklee’s life are also given throughout the novel which allows us to understand her as a character and what it was like for her growing up queer and trying to make it in the music industry in the 60’s and 70’s.
Although this book was not what I’d initially pick to read, I’m glad that I did. Jenna Voris’ writing felt like a breath of fresh air and I found myself captivated by Darren and Decklee’s stories. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to begin reading!

I could sing this praises of this book forever and it wouldn’t be long enough! I love scavenger hunts, country music, sapphic plotlines, and things going wrong, so I was all over this book. As the self-identified president of the Jenna Voris fan club, I’m beyond ready for her next book!

I loved this so so much. I loved the yearning to get out of the small town that raised you, the loving tribute to country music, the time capsule race, how complex and difficult a figure Decklee was, the hard but realistic romance (in both timelines). Just a true gem of a book!