3.5 stars rounded up here. Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook! These are my honest thoughts.

There were so many things to love about this book. A rom-com about a celebrity singer being sent to her grandmother's house (for the first time ever) while her mom handles a PR nightmare dealing with her being cancelled for her insensitive behavior towards Indian culture? And then being picked up by a grumpy ranch hand/nemesis who catches her reading a westernized harlequin romance novel AT THE BUS STATION? Super cute premise.

Then, our FMC is "taught" how to be Indian, because she was raised in California and grew up in Hollywood. While I know this wasn't meant to teach ME about Indian culture, I really enjoyed the peek into Indian culture, heritage, and family in this story.

This is my first book by author Danica Nava, and I can't wait for more.

I personally felt like the FMC was very naive and immature, and Kyla Garcia's portrayal of that character (and the MMC as well) was a little on the annoying side at times. There was banter, but then the dialogue became a little too whiny for my own personal preference. There were also quite a few headstrong women portrayed in this story, and those storylines felt very stunted. The stubborn conversations where the characters didn't grow to understand one another or seek to listen were particularly frustrating.

Loved this one just as much as "The truth according Ember"!! This author always impresses me with her witty humor, easy writing style and lovely, well developed characters that are easily relatable. I can't wait to read more from her 🫶

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC and PRHAudio for the ALC of this book! 🖤

4.5⭐️ WHERES THE MOVIE ADAPTATION?! |
tropes: grumpy x sunshine, popstar fmc, western, indigenous mcs | low steam | digital + audio

Overall Thoughts 💭:
Nava... you ATE! This is my second book by Nava, and I loved this book so much! Avery is such a sweet, sincere, and relatable fmc, and I loved her from the jump. You can understand her struggle balancing her dream, the pressure from her mother, and a desire to be more while being placed in a box. I liked how this book didn't completely absolve her of the problematic incident that got her sent to Oklahoma, but also showed it was more nuanced. Avery grew up away from her roots and connection to her culture, and while also being promoted as a native pop princess. I liked how this book dealt with generational harm and the cycles that are created. However, I do wish we got more of a resolution with her relationship with her mother and grandmother. I wish we got a little more from that plot line. The romance in this book was excellent! Avery and Lucas's chemistry was magnetic, and I was rooting for them hard. I struggle with contemporary "enemies to lovers" and men being mean, but Lucas quickly endeared himself to me. His struggles with his family and his story made me love him. Their story was a bit of a slow burn, but so worth it. And another thing I loved is that there were so many lines in this book that were full of so much love and yearning, I was highlighting like a madman. It was everything!

This book was super-charming.

I loved how the two main characters slowly came to love and respect each other, I loved the Oklahoma setting, I loved the indigenous rep (both author & main characters), and I particularly loved Bessie.

My only (minor) disappointment was wanting resolution with Harriet. I’d be pulling for a full-on, all-round redemption arc, but at least a little closure.

I haven’t read The Truth According to Ember, but you better believe I’m tracking that one down, too.

After a very public mistake leaves pop star and former child actor Avery Fox “cancelled” by the internet, she escapes to her grandmother’s ranch in rural Oklahoma for space, healing, and maybe even a chance to reconnect with the version of herself she never got to explore before. What she didn’t expect? A rugged, emotionally grounded cowboy who challenges her in the best, and most frustrating, ways. 😉

This novel is emotionally raw in all the right ways. The author doesn’t shy away from letting readers sit with discomfort: secondhand embarrassment, regret, and heartbreak are felt deeply throughout Avery and her family’s journies. But that’s also what makes this story shine. It’s a powerful reminder that growth is messy, forgiveness isn’t instant, and intent doesn’t erase impact, but accountability and evolution matter. Avery’s character arc is both realistic and inspiring.

This was a delicious slow burn romance with stunning Indigenous representation, a viral banger of a song, stormy weather tension, and the funniest Twilight nod (“where you been loca 🤣”) that had me wheezing. If you’re into emotionally rich stories that balance humor, heartache, and cowboys, you’ll want this one on your shelf.

I enjoyed reading this so much! I could definitely see this book as a movie. It’s a light summer read with some tender moments. Avery, just before staying in Oklahoma, was naive and sheltered, and didn’t know much about her heritage. I love how she was so willing to learn about it, not just for her image, but because she genuinely wanted to be part of something. It was so fun to read about her personal growth. I just wish we had seen more of the small-town community helping her learn about her heritage.

Grumpy/Sunshine, fish out of water, cowboy/pop star rom-com?!?!?! HIIIIIIIII!

I didn’t plan to read this in one sitting, and yet here we are! This book was absolutely beautiful. A story of learning your place in the world, learning who you truly are, and the abundance of love that comes with community.

I felt such a wide range of emotions while reading this, and yet the lingering feeling was that warm fuzzy feeling of contentment in my chest. Each and every character was so unique and well fleshed-out, and the ways that Danica Nava addressed the culture of the Muscogee Nation were truly incredible.

While we’re here, a moment for the MMC Lucas because WOWOOWOWOWOWOOWOWOWOW talk about a man!!!!

this turned out to be a tentative dnf — the writing just did not vibe with me at all. the telling i can cope with, but the narration was also pretty flavourless, lacking personality and charms that would otherwise endear me to avery’s character.

my personal issue aside, this book still has all the making of a banger. i mean… pop star escapes to a small town? reclaiming one own’s heritage? grumpy cowboy li? i would love to revisit this book at some point, probably when i’m patient enough to allow the plot to get going. my neutral rating remains, for now.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved loved loved this book, and knew within the first few chapters that it would be a new favorite for me. There was so much nostalgia that this book brought about with it being inspired by the Hannah Montana Movie which was a childhood favorite of mine, and I loved how it was told from a BIPOC perspective and the inclusion that provides. Both Avery and Lucas are two of the most lovable, down to earth, and funniest characters I’ve read about in a while and their love story left me feeling warm and excited for them. Besides the romance, the community in this book was out of this world amazing and left me wishing the members of this tight knit, protective, and loving community were real. This was such a special story and I can’t wait to read it all again one day.

Love, love, loved this one! When pop singer Avery Fox listens to the advice of her team and does a photo shoot that leads her to be the subject of scorn and scrutiny - was wearing that feathered war bonnet an homage to her heritage or cultural appropriation? - Avery finds herself on a bus to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where she takes refuge in her ancestral home with the grandmother she’s never met. The original plan? To enroll her as an official citizen of the Muscogee Nation. But as she gets to know her grandmother, the community around her, and handsome ranch hand, Lucas, who has big dreams for the ranch, Avery learns about what being Native American and family really mean. Beautiful story. Can’t wait to read more from Nava!

I was so excited for this book as I had seen it compared to the Hannah Montana movie, and the excitement never died. I loved just about every second of this book. The book really covered lots of different topics such as self growth, culture, and family. The only aspect I did not like was that sometimes I forgot how old the characters were because they seemed a little childish at times. However, as mentioned, there was a lot of growth throughout the book which gave it a 4.5 stars overall! loved it!!

Love Is A War Song is the type of book you know is going to be fun until you finish it and now don't know what to do with your life. Its that good.

This is going to be THE summer book of the summer!!!!

If you love:
- fish out of water trope stirred with the grumpy/sunshine
- Slow burn
-Muscogee Pop star x Cowboy
-Small Town
-Summer on a horse ranch
- music references

This is the book for you.

Love Is a War Song is an emotional book that explores cultural identity and personal growth, all while navigating the complexities of fame and celebrity culture. We follow Avery Fox, a Muscogee pop star, whose career takes a dive after a controversial photo shoot that sparks accusations of cultural appropriation. Reeling from the backlash, she heads to her grandmother’s ranch in Oklahoma, a grandmother she has never met. Avery meets Lucas Iron Eyes, a quiet ranch hand who views her with skepticism. They start as enemies, but slowly evolve into something more.

As Avery works to reclaim her heritage and help save the ranch from financial ruin, Lucas finds himself drawn to Avery’s vulnerability. I loved their chemistry and the emotional journey they both undertook. I found it deeply satisfying.

The author’s writing shines most in its emotional honesty and grounded character development. The themes of belonging, redemption and cultural reclamation are handled with care, making this more than a simple love story. I did find the story surrounding her mother and grandmother not to be resolved or even discussed at all. Even with this part, the overall impact of the novel is strong. There is a great balance between romantic tension and deeper, introspective moments, offering a story that is both timely and timeless.

This is a warm, engaging novel with a strong sense of place and purpose, with Nava’s voice bringing a fresh perspective to the genre. Love is a War Song is a delightful read with just the right mix of heart and healing. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

*PTERODACTYL SCREECH*

Alexa, play “If We Were a Movie” by Hannah Montana.

Besties, I’m about to put you on to the most perfect romcom. It will have you giggling and kicking your feet the entire time. It gives Hannah Montana: The Movie vibes in the absolute best way possible. It was perfection.

I literally did not stop smiling at any point while reading this book.

I just know that this is going to be a comfort read for me. It’ll be perfect anytime I want a book that will make me happy and let me escape the world.

I loved it. That’s really all there is to say.

Go get a copy if you love reading about love.

The perfect summer, cowboy romance!!

- pop star x cowboy
- city girl x small town boy
- grumpy x sunshine
- single POV

This book was a genuine delight. From the issue that Avery is facing with the public to her getting to know her roots better, made for a heart=warming story. I thought this was a really interesting native representation because it showed the community more than anything, and offered Avery's character a place to grow instead of be shamed. Avery is such a fish out of water on the ranch, but watching them teach her how to ride a horse, muck a stall and cook ended up being so funny. She's naive in the best ways and doesn't overdo the pop-princess persona.

I was very conflicted about the relationship with her mother. To me, it felt like the mom-ager was really just using her daughter, though she kept framing it as her caring about Avery. All I saw was that she used Avery as a means to an end, and I was surprised at the end **spoiler** when Avery up and leaves the ranch because her mom tells her she has to. It just felt like a good moment for Avery to have stood up for herself and said no.

The only way this book could be better is if we had Lucas' POV. Because I just want more of him!!

I adored Love Is a War Song as much as The Truth According to Ember, which is high praise.
Characters you can root for (who evolve throughout the story!) feet kicking swoony moments, and Nava's humor always hits. *chef's kiss*
This book better be on every single cowboy romance rec list this summer, because it was a delight. 😍

I love a good cowboy romance! 💕 LIAWS gave me the same vibes as The Hannah Montana Movie, and I loved the nostalgia hit! It started a little slow for me, but it was worth it in the end. I loved watching Lucas help Avery grow in her attempt to become “Indian enough” and seeing Lucas open up more as the two grew closer. I also appreciated the conversation around cultural appropriation.

LIAWS is more than just a romance; it’s a story about finding family and community. And I really enjoyed those parts of this book. I’m a sucker for found family in general, but I could relate to the family struggles both of our MCs face throughout the book. I appreciated that the FMCs’ family issues weren’t magically fixed after the big conflict because it made it feel more real.

Danica said it best in the author’s note: We are all humans looking for connection and belonging, and the support of community is everything.

This story was so beautiful and special. I loved Lucas' slow but inevitable fall for Avery, and how each of them were so willing to come to the defense for one another. 4.5 star rating!

After a scandal threatens her career, pop star Avery Fox heads to her grandmother’s ranch on the rez where she’s met with judgment and hard work. She strikes a deal with Lucas Iron Eyes to help save the ranch, but neither of them expect real feelings to get in the way.

Love Is a War Song is the first book I’ve read from Danica Nava. I had mixed feelings about it. The summary sounded intriguing and right up my alley, but the execution didn’t fully land for me. I enjoyed watching Avery’s personal growth and seeing how she evolved throughout the story. Her moments with Lottie were some of my favorites. I also really liked the ranch setting. However, The romance fell flat. Lucas was underdeveloped and didn’t show much growth. There was really any real chemistry between him and Avery. It almost felt like he was using her to chase his own goals and he didn’t contribute much to her journey that she wasn’t already getting from herself or from Lottie. Overall, this was a decent read with strong character moments and a vivid setting even if the romance didn’t quite work for me.

Although it’s set in Oklahoma, Love Is A War Song is the perfect summer beach read!

I have sucked into this story immediately and couldn’t put it down. After a highly publicized scandal, Avery is sent to her family’s ranch in Oklahoma to get out of the spotlight but she finds herself falling in love with her roots.

Avery on a ranch was hilarious and I feel like if I got plopped on a ranch, I would have the exact same experience she did. Lucas, the ranch hand tasked with showing Avery around is as grumpy as can be and that made me love him even more 🤣

The progression of Avery and Lucas’s relationship was a slowwww burn but the pay off was 🫶🏻

Love Is A War Song is a must read for all rom com lovers and hits shelves on July 22!