I don't know what I expected, but this book REALLY took me by surprise in the best way. I'm a southern girl myself (Kentucky!) so seeing queer romance intertwined with country music made me fall in love. The dual POV is done masterfully and the contrast and the harmony of Decklee and Darren's stories is delicious. This is a favorite.

I really enjoyed this. It gave me similar vibes to the movie Crossroads. It also gave me a what if Dolly wasn't Dolly kind of vibes. Decklee Cassel has a persona that is bigger than life, and it shows how if you use your power for yourself, it can leave you in a place you're going to regret. I found Darren and Kendall to be interesting characters as they began their journey to find the Decklee Cassel time capsule.

I found the journey so satisfying because Darren doesn't know herself hardly at all. She just knows what she thinks she wants. But I think as the journey goes on it's interesting to see how her views start to slowly change for the better. I think the dual timeline of learning the history of Decklee from the start as a runaway to the end of the novel was an excellent addition to this story because it allowed you to form your own opinion about Decklee and not what Darren thinks of her.

I also really loved that Decklee loved a woman, <spoiler>but at the same time I hated watching her tank every relationship she had because she was too afraid to be true to herself because in the long run, she never really did love herself enough. She thought success was the only way to measure your worth which is so untrue. </spoiler>

I sobbed at the end of this. Not because it's sad, but because I was so hurt for all of the characters at the end. I found that I was very invested in their journey, where they were going how they got there. I cried as a small-town girl who left and came back, because even though it has its moments it for sure has its high points too. 4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5

This was stunning. Truly a gorgeous YA novel that I will be recommending for a long time to come. I had some problems with the physical formatting of the arc but other brilliant

This was such a good story, from the road trip and adventure elements, to the romance elements, to the mystery element. Voris does a phenomenal job of drawing in the reader and making you want to find out what happens next. I almost felt like I was on this adventure with Decklee Cassel, desperate to hear more about her life and learn more about the people she associated herself with.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris, two teens drive across the South in search of clues leading them to the time capsule (and rumored final album) of a recently deceased country music legend.

Darren can’t wait to get out of her hometown just like her hero—country music legend Decklee Cassel—did decades ago. Like Decklee, Darren has dreams that feel too big for the tiny Arkansas town, but with her mother still paying off medical bills, she isn’t sure how she’ll fund that future.

When Decklee passes away fans expect to find solace in her legendary time capsule, except when it’s finally opened there’s nothing inside. A series of clues will lead one lucky fan to the real capsule, and a cash prize big enough to pay for Darren’s dreams of escape.

Told from both Darren and Decklee’s perspectives across alternating timelines, Every Time You Hear That Song celebrates of the connective power of music while simultaneously asking readers what price they’d be willing to pay to make their own dreams a reality.

Now for some chaotic thoughts:

- I have my own small Southern hometown (just one state over) that I couldn’t wait to leave behind, even though it meant leaving a part of my heart with the people who stayed, so of course this book made me cry
- I wish I could give this book to my college freshman self, who once saw a pretty girl wearing cowboy boots and had to go lay down on the floor because she was overwhelmed with queer feelings + homesickness
- This book is like the cowboy-boot-wearing teenage cousin of a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel
- On a related note I need it to be adapted so I can become as obsessed with the soundtrack as I did the Daisy Jones and the Six soundtrack

Told from a dual POV, we follow singer Decklee Cassel on her tumultuous journey to fame, grappling with her Queer identity, and Darren Purchase, who, years later, embarks on a scavenger hunt to uncover Decklee's lost songs and lover after her passing. As Darren embarks on this quest, she undergoes a profound self-discovery about her sexuality and her true feelings for Mayberry.

This book beautifully intertwines the lives of two women across decades, united by their love for country music and the enigmatic ties of their careers. Voris skillfully blends these narratives, offering a dual perspective that sheds light on the complexities of identity, ambition, and authenticity.

However, I felt the ending was somewhat rushed. I wished for more time to immerse in the characters' emotions post-twist. The scavenger hunt, although crucial to the plot, felt underwhelming at times. While it propelled Darren and Kendall's journey, it lacked the fulfillment I anticipated. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or maybe it was meant to unfold this way.

Although this book wasn't what I'd initially pick to read, I still rather enjoyed it. The exploration of identity and the emotional depth of the characters made it a captivating read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.