As a big music fan, I’m always drawn to books that feature musicians as main characters, so For One Night Only, a second chance romance featuring estranged former bandmates really called to me.

These days Valerie Quinn is an actress with a hot mess of a reputation, whose musical TV show is on the brink of cancellation. Back in her heyday though, Valerie was the lead vocalist in the beloved pop punk band, the Glitter Bats. Desperate for some good press , Valerie arranges for the Glitter Bats to reunite for a concert, one night only, in hopes that it will help to both rehab her image and save her TV show.

There’s just one catch - the band broke up years ago and has been estranged ever since, particularly Valerie and co-founder Caleb Sloane. Valerie not only broke Caleb’s heart, but the band’s breakup left him broke, anxious, and resentful of the entire music industry.

This was an addicting read for so many reasons, particularly if you like dramatic, emotional scenes. The bandmates haven’t seen each other for six years, so once they finally come face to face, they have a lot of hurt and residual anger to work through before they’re even willing to move forward. Then, of course, Valerie & Caleb have the added emotion of their shared romantic history. I flew through the pages as this group had all of the hard talks they needed to have, & it was clear how much they all cared for one another.

The band’s found family vibes were my favorite part of the book, but I also enjoyed the second chance romance between Valerie & Caleb, although I’ll admit her journey to personal growth was just such a roller coaster ride that it took me a while to decide they would be good together.

"One Night Only" is a charming second-chance romance featuring ex-bandmates. I appreciated the author's thoughtful portrayal of celebrity life and mental health, as it's easy to forget that these individuals are people too. The chemistry between Caleb and Valerie was strong, and I liked them for the most part. However, Valerie was a bit difficult to like at times; she came across as selfish and ungrateful. I mean, her ex-band members were trying to help her after all.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. If you’re a fan of second-chance romances and stories about rockers, then this book is definitely for you.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the free review copy. Opinions are my own.


Quote
“Every time she smiles it hits me, how lucky I am to be in her orbit. But it’s never just been an orbit. We collide, again and again, like two stars in an explosion of light and color.”

Introduction
A heartfelt debut, For One Night Only centers on former bandmates and ex-lovers Valerie Quinn and Caleb Sloane as they reunite to save Valerie’s career and relaunch their band, the Glitter Bats, for a single spectacular reunion concert.

Characters
Valerie and Caleb are richly drawn protagonists, with layers of unresolved tension and chemistry that leap off the page. Valerie’s determination to redeem herself in the public eye and Caleb’s cautious vulnerability make them compelling leads. They feel real in ways that left me feeling each was somewhat unlikable.

Themes
The novel deftly explores second chances, the complexities of fame, and the intersection of personal and professional relationships. It also delves into themes of forgiveness, growth, and rediscovering one’s passion.

Plot
The fake dating trope is central to the story, but it’s elevated by the emotional stakes tied to the Glitter Bats’ comeback. The pacing balances nostalgic reflections on the band’s heyday with the tension of unresolved conflicts.

Setting
The backdrop of the music industry feels authentic and immersive, with concert rehearsals and media scrutiny adding to the drama. The pop-punk atmosphere of the band was extremely nostalgic for me.

Conclusion
This is an excellent debut that is sure to please fans of second-chance romances and stories set in the world of music and media.

For One Night Only by Jessica James feels like a love letter to all the fans out there who used to follow their favorite groups, read fanfics about them, and eventually bawled their eyes out at the news of their break up.

I absolutely loved this debut from Jessica James, as it was incredibly charming. I always forget how much of a sucker I am for a second chance romance until I read one that quickly becomes a new favorite. Which was the case in this second chance romance that finds two exes come face to face for the first time in years to bring the band back together for one more show for the fans.

One thing I absolutely adored with this book was the tension between not just our main couple but the other band members as well. I think any time we go through a break-up of any kind it wouldn’t be realistic to see everything fall into place right away. And Iames absolutely delivered on showing the tension between all the band members, and the added tension on the ex lovers. It was amazing to see not only the lovers find themselves falling each other again, but to watch the beauty of friendships being rebuilt.

Another area James excelled in was making this a love letter to all those who have been fans. I loved the references to the Glitter Bats fans and all of their excitement for the band getting back together. And of course we love the ship name, Calerie, because we all know as fans ship names are very important. Even the mentions of fanfic dealing with the band just felt very natural and so perfect. It reminded me of being part of a fandom (I truly felt like I was part of the Glitter Bats fan base ready to buy a ticket for their reunion) and how fun it is.

But the author also did a great job of showing the humanity in our favorite musicians by showing what they were dealing with behind the scenes. I especially loved how she showed our MMC struggling with coming back to the fame while dealing with his anxiety. As someone who has a more severe anxiety disorder I loved seeing the representation, but especially in a male love interest. It was a nice reminder that men don’t have to bury their emotions or problems they face. And watching how he dealt with times the anxiety became too much felt extremely therapeutic and needed.

I absolutely adored the way the author showed how much fame can damage one’s mental health as it does remind us that celebrities are humans with feelings. I also loved how she made a commentary on how it was easy for Valerie to be labeled in negative light due to biphobia and misogyny within the industry.

The one main issue I did have with this book was how our FMC, Valerie, struggled at the end of the book. It felt like she was struggling with her own anxiety that stemmed from her life in the spotlight, but it was resolved without her exploring this a bit more. I think it would have been nice to see her take the step to find a therapist to help process what fame and her family issues had done to her.

Especially with how much she hurt her friends and person she loved. While it did get resolved and worked out in the end, I would have loved to see a bit of an indicator that showed she would take a step towards her own mental health journey.

“Maybe I just believe in whatever brings “Maybe I just believe in whatever brings me back to you.” “You give me something to believe in too.” He squeezes me tight, then reaches for my chin, softly drawing my mouth to his. me back to you.” “You give me something to believe in too.” He squeezes me tight, then reaches for my chin, softly drawing my mouth to his.

This is a second-chance lovers romance, following Valerie who is literally looking for a second chance at life in my opinion. She needs to fix her image because her life is in shambles and hurries to get her band, Glitter Bats, back together for a reunion concert. The only problem is she needs to get back in contact with her ex, Caleb. We all know where this story goes from here right?

I struggled with the story in the beginning because Valerie irritated my soul. Eventually, though, the story picked up and I was able to get past it. The pining was strong in this book - Caleb was down bad for Valerie - but they both thought they had unrequited feelings. Again, frustrating. They do have their forgiveness arc and hash things out, getting their HEA in the end.

For One Night Only was such a fun read and I finished it in one sitting! Valerie's reputation is in shambles and in order to get her TV show renewed for another season, she gets her old band, Glitter Bats, back together for one last concert. The only problem? Valerie hasn't spoken to her old band mates in six years.

I loved seeing the band work out their problems as they came together to make this last concert worthwhile for the fans. Seeing the behind the scenes of this process was so interesting and made me root for them to make it work. The side characters were all a delight to get to know throughout the book. They each had such distinct personalities that came together so nicely. This was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book!

Throughout this whole process, the press speculates on whether or not Caleb and Valerie are back together, which they decide to play into. I loved the extra layer of complexity the fake dating gave the story! It made the relationship a bit messy (in a good way!) and interesting. I would have loved to see Caleb and Valerie communicate a bit more clearly and set expectations, but Valerie was incredibly impulsive and decided on things without consulting Caleb.

This is an ongoing struggle throughout the book, which made Valerie a bit of an unlikeable character. This would have been fine if she learned and grew from it, but she did not until the very end. It was only in the last 10-15% of the book that we see Valerie have any character development. There is a third act conflict, which I mostly enjoyed. My one issue is that things were solved a little too easily for my liking, especially after what Valerie did.

I found the anxiety representation in this book to have been done extremely well. I saw myself a lot in Caleb and his struggle with his anxiety throughout the book. I also enjoyed the discussion on bisexuality and how it frames the way Valerie is portrayed in the media.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am so excited to see what Jessica James releases in the future!

ummmmm i dare you to try to wipe the grin from reading this book off my face (you can’t)

📚 this book follows caleb and valerie six years after it rock band, glitter bats, split. in a desperate attempt for good press, val convinces the rock band to reunite for an anniversary concert concert — that also means facing caleb. he left the industry with a broken heart, but he’s never been able to say no val

maybe it was that undeniable #calerie chemistry or maybe it was that karaoke scene but my heart was just soaring the entire time i was reading this 💕 valerie and caleb were childhood friends before their falling out and we get to see how music helps them both reignite their passions and reconnect with one another. it’s sweet and slow, but their feelings are just simmering the whole time it’s perfection!

i’ve also never read a contemporary romance that portrays anxiety as accurately as james does in this book?? it makes me feel seen and omg caleb my bby i just wanted to wrap him in a hug 🥺

there is a bit of a fanfic quality to the writing. sometimes the first person pov reads like diary entries, sometimes the characters are over the top, and ohhh my the third act break up!! i think we needed a whole book to just unpack all that 🫢 but this cast of characters got me obsessed with their band. it was like i was 16 again reading all the lore and watching concert vids on tumblr ✨ i think im officially a glitter bug 🦇 where can i buy some band merch?

thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for a copy of this arc!

For One Night Only is a fun rockstar romance. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I do love a good second chance trope. Caleb and Valerie have so much built up between them despite not seeing each other after they quit band several years prior. The band is named Glitter Bats (I love that name so much and don't know why lol) and to save Valerie's reputation they agree to a reunion show.

Everything centers around this one night only show - nothing like forced proximity to really bring them together. I thought Caleb and Val had great chemistry. It's obvious how much they care for each other and how much they also ruined one another. At times it almost felt toxic - my biggest thing with the book is they both needed massive growth as individuals before having their second chance. I think they weren't *quite* there yet when they come together and could've used a bit more time to earn that chance. But I love romances with imperfect humans and we definitely see that here!

I thought the other band members were interesting and I honestly wanted to know more. There was quite a bit of hinting at their own love stories so who knows? Haha
The little interstitials between chapters to further the story were super fun.

There is also mental health representation and queer representation.

Overall I enjoyed this book - it's the author's debut! I definitely recommend it if this sounds like your thing.

This really had me hooked!! Stick with me here: this was contemporary romance Daisy Jones but make it Paramore. Make sense? I’m excited to read more from Jessica James - it was clear she knew what she was talking about musically so I hope she writes more in that space in the future.

I LOVED the second chance romance between Valerie and Caleb, but I did want to shake them both and scream TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ALREADY!! Their chemistry was great, and I was also a fan of the found-family vibes of the entire band.

This was a fun music industry BTS romance. Between chapters, Jessica James included a mix of social media threads, blog posts, and articles which was great extra context.

Definitely check this one out if you love second chance romance, friends to lovers, and rockstars.

The author is obviously passionate about music. You can absolutely feel it in how she describes the scenes when they’re all playing together, and I love it. My only real problem with the book is, unfortunately, Valerie, the FMC. I know that her self-centeredness is part of her character growth arc, but it takes her way too long to learn the error of her ways. Her mea culpa felt too little, too late for me. Thank you to Berkley for the ARC.

For One Night Only mixes a couple of my favorite tropes to absolutely glittering effect!

Pop punk band Glitter Bats broke up years ago, and now singer Valerie Quinn decides to get the group back together to help save her professional reputation. Fans always loved the are they or aren't they nature of her relationship with bandmate Caleb, and the pair use the interest in the band's reunion to play up the possibility of them as a couple.

This book felt like a backstage pass to the reunion of a beloved band, and it was full of performance highs and anxious lows. Seeing the band members attempt to move past their awful prior experiences to live their wildest dreams had me feeling the nerves with them, and I loved the mental health representation that Caleb brought to those moments.

I didn't love how Valerie was consistently thinking only of herself, putting Caleb in bad positions where he was forced to fight his anxiety to help her out. Her character arc could be frustrating at times, but I was ultimately happy with where things went. Such a fantastic debut romance; Ill be looking forward to more from James in the future!

Read if you enjoy:
💕 Fake dating
💕 Celebrity romance
💕 Articles and chat messages interspersed
💕 Dual POV
💕 Anxiety rep

Interesting premise and mix of characters. I was not awaits enamoured with the Valerie which made it hard to root for her and Caleb. Overall still worth a look as others might enjoy it more.

4.5 stars!

The whole time I was reading this book, I kept picturing it as a movie! I started this one while in a reading slump, but I was quickly pulled out of that slump. I was hooked right away and absolutely flew through this book!

The Glitter Bats are a “pop-punk-inspired rock” band whose name is a Twilight reference! They split up years ago after tension between band members Valerie and Caleb led to them both leaving the band. This story is told in present day, but the reader learns about what happened to cause the split through memories and conversations. The band started while the five members were in high school, so they have this amazing relationship that is somewhere between friends and family. Or they did, before the band broke up. Now they’re reuniting for one last reunion concert and their fans are going crazy! In the past, the fandom speculated that Valerie and Caleb were together (couple name CalErie 😂), and fans are assuming they’re together again. Val and Caleb decide to fake date for publicity, but there is a lot for them to work through to make it believable!

There is so much tension from all of the band members about the past, and I really enjoyed reading about each members’ feelings over what happened. The mental health representation (anxiety and panic attacks) was so well done, and I also loved watching Val work through her complicated relationship with her mom. And the poetry that was the song lyrics…so good!!

Despite some heavy themes, this was such a fun book, and I’m hoping we get books about each of the band members some day!

Thank you Jessica James, Berkley, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Read if you like:
💕 Celebrity romance
💕 Second chance romance
💕 Fake dating
💕 Dual POV
💕 Anxiety rep

the premise of this book had me so excited. I love a second chance romance and mix in fake dating?! sign me up!! I loved the pop punk rock band setting and the different media mixed in with the interviews and articles and tweets. it made it easy to stay engaged throughout the book. I also loved the mental health and queer representation in the book.

unfortunately, I think some bigger aspects of the book fell flat. the biggest being the character development. I felt almost immediately annoyed and turned off from valerie with almost no foundation to her character before diving into the band reunion. I thought it would be okay once she started on her growth. instead she remained pretty selfish and self-serving throughout the book and any little growth she may have accomplished was completely dismantled by that third act. I felt like everyone forgave valerie too easily without any meaningful explanation/apologies from her.

overall I think someone who just wants to come in to vibe to a daisy jones and the six-esque romance and who isn’t a grudge holder (which, admittedly, I am) would really enjoy this book.

thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For One Night Only is a second chance rockstar romance. Debut author Jessica James writes an engaging story that looks at found family, the perils of fame, and of course romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Valerie and Caleb were lifelong friends when they formed Glitter Bats as teens. But the band and their romance ended 6 years ago, and Caleb disappeared from the public eye. Now Valerie has a PR mess on her hands, and is trying to get her current TV series renewed. What better way to help her image than to get the beloved band back together? After the rest of the band members are on board, Valerie hunts down Caleb to convince him to join. Just for the summer, and just for one show. But as they are thrown back together in rehearsals and the public eye, can they work out their unresolved feelings? And what happens after the show?

I enjoyed this debut romance. I have a continuing love of rockstar romance, and the behind the scenes drama rang true. Valerie and Caleb and the rest of the Glitter Bats were great characters to spend time with. And while the story acknowledges that the general public has issues with Valerie’s bisexuality, I liked that it wasn’t an issue for any of the characters in the story. I’m also giving bonus points for including a short MMC, and a dog named Sebastian Bark.

This book covered a few important details that I insist on in a second chance romance. Valerie and Caleb’s initial breakup actually makes sense, as does their 6 year separation. The only downside for me was the third act breakup, since it didn’t seem to mesh with the characters’ growth throughout the book.

For One Night Only is an entertaining second chance, rockstar romance with a large helping of forced proximity and a bit of fake dating too. I enjoyed Jessica James’s debut romance, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yes! This book was so much fun. I’m a sucker for a couple that falls in love doing something creative together and the MCs were just so adorable and earnest and down to earth. They are trying their best and had to grow up way too fast. I am picky about my second chance romances but this one was well done because there wasn’t tons of animosity or resentment, more understanding that they were both under immense pressure and not the best at communication. I had so much fun “getting the band back together” and reading about all the different personalities. I wouldn’t be upset if this became a series with the other members’s love lives (cough cough). And the HEA had me sobbing in my car so this was a win!

Audiobook note: I LOVED the dual narration.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy and audiobook copy; my thoughts and review are my own.

Why I Chose This Book:
From the second I first heard about For One Night Only, I knew I had to read it! I love any book about music, but that this one is specifically about a pop punk band getting back together? Instantly sold. Paramore vibes confirmed. This book is also a romance—my favorite genre lately—and evidently the first in a series, and I already can’t wait to read more about the Glitter Bats.

What I Liked:
- Pop punk band dynamics!
- So intimately musical; I love how detailed the music depictions are
- Band reuniting and a second chance romance, all rolled into one
- Music business and industry drama (360 deals are the worst, tbh)
- The problems fame can bring
- He’s a short king with anxiety and panic attacks; discussions around mental health
- She’s chaotic and impulsive; reckoning with her actions
- Excerpts of interviews, articles, set lists, and more throughout!

Final Thoughts
I absolutely loved For One Night Only! The music and rock band themes (Paramore vibes!), the bandmate relationships, the romantic relationship, mental health discussions, the strains of fame—plus the excerpts of other material sprinkled throughout—everything was sublime. And I’m thrilled that this is the start to a series, because I can see some possible relationships between the other characters and will gladly read their stories. This is a phenomenal debut that’s perfect for music lovers, readers interested in the dynamics of bands and fame, and a second chance romance between two flawed but lovable people.

Overall, I liked this story but one major point prevented me from rating it higher. But I’ll start with the good, because there was a lot to like! I love a romance and although I don’t always like a second chance romance, where it was so clear they never stopped loving each other, I enjoyed it. I really liked how the book was constructed - a mix of social media, fanfic, and articles that made it feel very grounded in 2025. It made it a more dynamic read. As did the supporting characters - I loved all of them and each made the story better because they were in it. But my favorite was Caleb. I am obsessed with Caleb. Book boyfriend x1000. Absolutely loved him and I adored the way anxiety was represented in this book. It was so true to how anxiety feels and how people with anxiety can overcome. Absolutely LOVED Caleb!! Conversely, I hated Valerie. Absolutely positively hated Valerie. And I hated that she was the bi rep in the story because her entire character played relentlessly into the chaotic/disaster bisexual trope in the worst way. She was self centered, selfish, and proved time and time again that she didn’t care about anyone more than herself. The author tried to make her redeemable and tried to put some fault on Caleb but it didn’t land for me. I’m so incredibly disappointed that Valerie is who bisexuals got; we deserve better. Caleb deserves better. Maybe someone who can look passed this will enjoy it more but Valerie really limited my enjoyment of this book.

- Second Chance
- Fake Dating
- Pop Punk Band Reunion
- Mental Health Rep
- Found Family

I absolutely loved the nostalgic vibes this book and The Glitter Bats gave me. Valerie was a difficult character for me to like, she had a little bit of character growth, but not as much as I wish she would have. While I did feel for her with all she was dealing with in the media she still came across as selfish, impulsive and never took anyone else’s feelings into consideration. I did like her with Caleb though, they had great chemistry and I felt they balanced each other out well.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advance reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

For One Night Only is a second chance reunion, not just in terms of the romance, but also in terms of the band that Valerie and Caleb headlined as teenagers. Their falling out led to the band falling apart. Now it's a decade later, and Valerie needs good PR for her career and reputation. So she convinces Caleb to return for a one night only reunion tour with the band.

I really enjoyed the focus on the band, the Glitter Bats. Even its name and the story behind it are great. And the book felt as much about the band and their found family dynamics and drama after a painful separation as about a romance.

Also, there was something about reading this at the same time as pop news broke showing just how fast we are to vilify women as a society. It made me really feel for Valerie's character all the more. The book also includes an equally powerful exploration of not just misogyny but biphobia.

I was so incredibly invested in the ending and wanting good things for Valerie, Caleb, and every single band member. But I was not sure what that could look like. It was a tough journey to get there, but I ultimately appreciated the wrap up.

The audiobook featured fabulous narration by Mx. Nicky Endres, Helen Laser, and Colton Woods. At about 10 hours, the audio format really brought the story alive, especially with the pop culture news and social media interludes between the chapters.