Another rom-com indigenous rep from Danica Nava had be snickering to myself on multiple occasions. Due to the controversy and constant public eye Avery had to disappear until things cooled down. She went back to her roots to the Muscogee reservation in Oklahoma where she met her family for the first time. She was taught how to be a “real Indian”. Here is where she met Lucas a cowboy who worked at the ranch her grandma owned. It was here where she finally found her real self, fell in love, and found her true family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC for a honest review.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing a DRC of this title for review.

Fun and breezy romance, perfect for our readers in their cowboy era. Avery read fairly young to me-- which she was, at only 23-- so I could almost see this being more targeted toward the very upper YA/NA crowd. Regardless, I still really enjoyed it, and look forward to reading what Nava writes next!

5/5

Danica Nava is a relatively new to me author but I now need every book written by her on my desk immediately. Love is a War Song, her sophomore novel, follows Avery Fox, a Native American pop singer who flees to the ranch of the grandmother she’s never met after coming under fire for an insensitive photoshoot and music video. Avery has never met anyone in her family after being raised alone by her mother, but this vacation from the public eye provides her the chance to learn her family history and Muscogee identity. Unfortunately, there’s Lucas Iron Eyes, the man in charge of her grandmother’s ranch and the one person who cannot stand her or her music. Love is a War Song is a romance all about second chances and the fallible nature of first impressions. It’s about building your community and home even when you’ve never had one to begin with. The romance that blossoms between Lucas and Avery is truly heartfelt —stemming from two people who initially met with judgment actively working to unlearn those predisposed beliefs. Alongside the romance, Avery confronts the hurt she caused the greater indigenous community through her music video and magazine cover while becoming acquainted with the Muscogee community in Broken Arrow. Danica Nava addresses a host of issues in this romance from the entertainment industry, to cancel culture, and indigenous stereotypes, and all felt grounded in the story and its place. Danica Nava leaves her mark with this outstanding romance and I eagerly await what she writes next.

I love that this story is both funny and heartfelt. There's a popstar and a ranch. hits all the beats. Adored.

This book was such a delightful read! From the very first page, I found myself completely immersed in the story. The writing was so approachable and warm, making it easy to connect with the characters and the plot. I loved how the book felt both inviting and engaging, without ever being too complex or hard to follow. It was just the right mix of comfort and intrigue, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. It’s a wonderful read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming escape!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this novel. All opinions are honest and my own.

This was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases, and I literally screamed when I got approved for an arc.

I *loved* Danica Nava’s debut novel - The Truth According to Ember.

But, the truth is, I think I loved this one even more!

This book gives you:

Grumpy/sunshine
Fish out of water
Cowboy/pop star
Only one bed
Indigenous representation

The characters, setting, chemistry, and emotional punch this book gave me were all top notch.

And did you know that you can even listen to Avery Fox’s hit single (Warrior Tonight) from the book?!

PUB DATE: July 22, 2025

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: scrambled eggs with wild onions*

“‘We're makin' scrambled eggs with wild onions.’ He pulled out the whole carton of eggs from the fridge. ‘Get a bowl and whisk.
Consider this lesson three, we love our wild onions.’”

*I couldn’t find wild onions, so I used green onions which some people online said are an acceptable substitution

Triggers: sexual content, cultural appropriation, drug use (off page, in the past), injury detail, animal abuse (off page, in the past), abandonment

I devoured this within hours. I absolutely loved this and how Avery she overcame her struggles. My kingdom for Lucas. He was the perfect MMC. The ending was so perfect and I was holding back tears. Sweet and sexy in the perfect package.

I have been in a huge reading slump lately and Love is a War Song pulled me right out. I devoured it.

I love cowboy romances and celebrity romances and this book put the two together and it was amazing!! The romance was top tier. It was such a good slow burn.

did i devour this in one day? yes i did.

I LOVED THIS!!!!! it truly felt like a disney movie (for adults) in the best way. if you love cowboys and the hannah montana movie you will love this!!!!

i was hooked from the beginning. avery has to go to a small town in OK called broken arrow to get away from the spotlight of her latest and most public scandal which outraged the populace. she is a native american pop star whose intentions were in the right place but whose delivery was harmful to her community. in the town of broken arrow she meets her grandmother for the first time and a small group of workers, including lucas, our hero.

i loved the stuff that she got into while on the horse ranch. when i say it played out like a movie it really did! i could imagine EVERYTHING going on. i loved how grumpy lucas was and how off put he was by avery, but within reason. the two clashed at every turn but it was never over the top or ridiculous. it felt so natural.

i thought their relationship progressed so nicely. god, lucas!!!!! i LOVE him so much. he really tested avery but she had no problem telling him off. when he started to care for her, it melted me. the black shoelace????? STOPPPP. i loved how avery stood up for him against his parents and his story was so heartbreaking and sad 🥲

avery is a child star/actor, whose mom is both her mother and manager. this leads to some points of conflict, of course, especially because her mother doesn't speak to her grandma. watching lottie come around to avery after spending time there was so beautiful. avery really learned to respect the life in broken arrow and embrace her heritage. lottie took no crap and i loved her energy!!!

the only reason this isn't 5 stars is i do feel like the writing could use some work—there was one part that had the same sentence repeated twice in two different paragraphs and it kind of sucked me out of the story for a second—and the conflict between lottie and her mother didn't get resolved or even discussed really, at all. with lucas, too, i feel like he was present for 95% of the book but i wished there were more conversations between him and avery. we learn about his backstory but idk i just wanted more from him.

i still absolutely loved this and it was a super quick read!!!!!

thank you berkley for the arc!

I had no idea I was missing a pop star/cowboy romance in my life, but now I know I was! All of the characters felt real--personality flaws and all, and I loved getting to see the relationship develop between Avery and Lucas. In addition to the romance, one of my favorite parts of Nava's writing is her portrayal of characters who are differently abled. Can't wait to read what she comes out with next!

Avery Fox is a former Disney show star who now, in her early 20's, has reinvented herself as a pop star with her catchy dance single "I need a warrior." But when she poses provocatively on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a feather warbonnet, the backlash is swift and strong. She is dropped from her advertising opportunities and her song stops being streamed. To cope with her being canceled, she escapes to her grandmother Lottie's ranch in Oklahoma. And this fish-out-of-water story continues with the LA girl working on cleaning horse stables at the ranch.

Lucas is a cowboy that has no reason to leave the small town and is the most handsome man she has ever seen. Lottie asks him to pick up her granddaughter at the bus station, and he is surprised to find Avery Fox, he hates everything she represents. They reach a mutually beneficial agreement to help the local financial situation and he teaches her about what it means to share a culture and heritage and community.

I appreciate Danica Nava's writing, I think she writes great dialogue and good pacing. I jumped at the chance to read this book as her sophomore effort after last year's "The Truth According to Ember." This is a stronger story, and examines themes of what it means to be held accountable for one's choices and finding your place and understanding where you come from. Jeff Zentner examined this last year with "Colton Gentry's Third Act" as a singer is canceled because of his stance on gun laws.

This angle made me think about the entertainment industry and how we are so quick to self-righteously become indignant at the face of the issue. In this book, Avery is a young girl basically doing what her manager and the record company is telling her to do. She is a product, not a producer. I have learned that there are producers of racist ideas and there are consumers of racist ideas, and our accountability needs to be on those producers. I was disgusted, as most of us were, ten years ago when Kendall Jenner was in a Pepsi ad that suggested Pepsi be the answer to racism. But unfortunately most of us were upset with Kendall Jenner, who was probably doing what she was told and a product. That would be like me being mad at my bottle of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup.

I love how Lucas and Avery came together to understand each other. They had great chemistry and this was a perfect setting and set-up. Although Avery is in her early 20s it does read more like a YA book, there is one open door spicy scene but easily skippable if this is not your thing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC. I was gifted this copy in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published July 22, 2025.

This was such a fun book! I will not lie, I went into this completely blind, but was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

After a magazine cover photo upsets (what seems like) the entire nation, Native American pop star Avery Fox becomes the latest victim of cancel culture. To protect Avery and help her connect with her Indigenous roots, Avery sets off to spend time with her estranged grandmother in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. While there, she learns what it’s like to “live in the real world” and help her grandma Lottie run Red Fox Ranch. Along the way, she meet Lucas Iron Eyes, a grumpy ranch hand she can’t seem to stay away from, and discovers what family, love, and being Muskogee really mean.

First and foremost, I loved the representation in this book. I don’t know that I’ve read a romance book featuring a Native American protagonist, but I am desperate for more. I am so glad authors like Danica Nava exist and hope she (and others) continue to share their stories.

Secondly, I loved the twist of the celebrity falls for “regular” person trope that was featured in this book. Lucas and Avery’s tension was off the charts good and I appreciated the evolution of their relationship. I also really liked seeing the shift in Avery’s relationship with her grandma. Lottie was tough, but I think she and Avery learned to see each other for who they truly were, and I respected that.

At its core, I think this book was about more than just Avery understanding her Native American heritage. It was about what it means to be family and what true love, human connection, and community look like.

This one is definitely one you’ll want to pick up, preorder, or request from your library this summer!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

Avery Fox is a former child star and now has a number-one single. Her dream of being a singer/songwriter is finally coming true. Excited about appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone, she faces a backlash when the public is appalled that she is wearing a warbonnet and capitalizing on her Native American heritage. To get her out of the public eye, her mother sends her to stay with her grandmother Lottie in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Avery has never been to Oklahoma and hasn't met any of her family. Hoping to learn more about her heritage and get back in the public's good graces, Avery struggles with life on the ranch. Her grandmother doesn't welcome her with open arms, Lucas the ranch hand doesn't like her or her single "I Need A Warrior" and a horse eats her hair! During her time in Oklahoma, Avery's priorities change. As a member of the Chickasaw tribe and a life long Oklahoman, I liked the setting, characters, and lessons in this book.

Love Is a War Song had a lot of promise, and I really wanted to love it. For the most part, it was an entertaining read, with a premise that immediately caught my attention. I really appreciated that the main characters wasn't perfect, or immediately portrayed as the perfect "cool girl" - we got to see how human and flawed she was, her naive nature in letting the recording industry guide her astray with her music and image. I was really rooting for her to find her strength and for some peace in her relationship with her mother. One of the most special aspects of this book is the representation of Indigenous characters in a contemporary romance. It’s not often we see this particular intersection, and it’s refreshing to read a story that highlights Indigenous experiences and perspectives, particularly within the context of modern love and conflict.

However, what held me back from fully connecting with the book was the writing style. I’m someone who tends to gravitate toward books that show me what’s happening, rather than just telling me. Unfortunately, in this case, I often felt like I was being told rather than shown, which made it harder for me to fully immerse myself in the story. It felt more like I was being told the characters’ emotions and motivations rather than experiencing them firsthand.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I recently read Danica Nava's debut rom-com and absolutely loved it. I was very excited to dive into her next book, and it did not disappoint. "Love is a War Song" tells the story of a disgraced pop star who flees to Oklahoma to stay with her estranged grandmother in order to learn more about her identity and heritage. The book has a more emotional tone, and I appreciated watching Avery grow and develop a deeper connection with her community.

The story features Lucas Iron Eyes, a grumpy cowboy who is impossible not to love. Although Lottie, her grandmother, initially appears cold and indifferent, I enjoyed discovering the ways she shows her caring nature toward Avery.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves slow-burn romances, particularly those featuring a pop star and a cowboy, as well as themes of self-discovery and identity.

berkley is really out here repping the 2025 rock star roannces!!!! from jessica james, alicia thompson, kate golden, and ashley poston we are booked and busy!!! i feel, though, that this one truly focused on their romantic development and i couldn’t help but root for them from the first chapter!!!! it provided a unique take on what could potentially be an overtired trope and i loved every second of it

When Native pop star Avery Fox is canceled for wearing a warbonnet on the cover of Rolling Stone, she's sent to live with her estranged grandmother on a horse ranch in rural Oklahoma, where she has to deal with a prickly grandmother who she barely knows and Lucas Iron Eyes, a ranch hand who seems to hate her—and her music—at first sight. As Avery grows to care for the ranch and the people (and horses!) who live there, she connects with her identity and her own life in a new way that will change her forever.

LOVE IS A WAR SONG is compulsively readable, and does a great job telling Avery's story as she connects with her roots, discovers the family she's always wanted, and learns to stand on her own for the first time in her life. The setting and cast of characters are really fun and the romance is well paced, with lots of tension and very believable problems that Avery and Lucas have to overcome both as a couple and on their own individual terms. I also really enjoyed Avery's relationship with her grandmother, Lottie.

Charming, classic, and a whole lot of fun, Love is a War Song is for the girlies who watched the Hannah Montana movie and fell head over heels for the popstar and grumpy cowboy. There were so many antics throughout the book, keeping up the pace, while genuine moments of connection, kindness, and love balanced them out. If you’re looking for a cozy Romance, this one is it!

Danica Nava weaves a beautiful story of family, community and finding one’s true self.

Avery Fox, a pop singer, makes a huge mistake that damages her career. Her mother, who is also her manager, sends her to live with her Grandmother, Lottie, until the issue dies down. It is there where she meets Lucas, a rugged cowboy who makes it clear he doesn’t like her. The attraction is instant but with Lottie’s rules, they do their best to keep their feelings hidden.

Avery learns a lot about her family, her culture and herself while in the care of Lottie. She grows and develops the courage to truly be herself. She finds a sense of belonging and fills the need of family.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more of Danica’s work!

This cements that I will read anything by Danica Nava, I'm so serious. If she writes a grocery list, I'm reading it (and I'm sure that it will still be hilarious somehow). Just when I was losing hope that I would never find a romance that intrigued me again, this book really came in and saved the day. I read it in one sitting, because every character Nava writes just feels so true to life. Even if I don't know what it's like to be Native or feel disconnected from the culture, Nava makes you feel it in your heart and forces you to feel every emotion the characters feel.