Another hit by Ashley Poston! The reason I love her books is because there is always a paranormal element, but there is no excess time spent on the "why" of it. It just is, and we can continue with the development of the relationships instead of harping on the science of it. She manages to write so that the reader doesn't actually ever wonder WHY, because they are too caught up in the events and the lives of these people. This one is about two songwriters who are both feeling stuck in various parts of their lives, and they can hear each other's voices in their heads. The only solution seems to be to write the song that has been percolating for both of them. Emotional with a clear sense of place and time (and a cameo from our Seven Year Slip friends), I loved this one.

For those that have ready other Ashley Poston books - I think you'll like this one just as much as the others.
For those that have never read here's what you need to know - Her romances all contain a level of mysticism. You've got to accept some things and use your imagination. The couples are always MADE FOR EACH OTHER in the most SWOONY sense. This one happens to tie together two music professionals with a bonus beach town setting. It checks all the boxes for a summer beach read.
Joni Lark returns home for the summer for one last time at her family's music venue. She's a songwriter of moderate success.
Sasha McKellan has a mysterious connection to the Larks and after a kiss, becomes intertwined with Joni's thoughts, and we're not just talking about some sort of obsessive self talk - they have a telepathic connection. These two go back and forth and finally meet to hash out a song though neither of them are sure where it's coming from.
I enjoyed this romance even though the style of the MMC made me giggle a bit (just not my type in any way). It was still swoony and funny and fun. Poston always seems to work in a way to give at least one character the best family you could imagine - it just always seems like a warm hug wrapped around the love story.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

Ashley Poston somehow knows how to cast spells with her words and I’m here for it every single time.

Ashley does it again! Really hit this one out of the park! I loved it from start to finish and didn’t want it to end! She handled grief with such care and the mental rep was represented so perfectly! Ashley will forever be an auto buy author for me! Highly recommend this one!

I love Ashley's magical realism plots and humor, but especially for her writing on topics like grief. Her stories always feel so heartfelt and like a warm hug.

Another fun romance from Ashley Poston! I really loved the singer-songwriter relationship here and felt like it was a cool twist on the "famous rockstar" romance trope. Perfect summer read!

this is now my second fve ashley poston (seven year slip remains #1); it was sweet, tender, funny (and i don't just mean the narrator singing the verses in 2x speed lol), and full of the classic ashley poston magic.

This book was absolutely beautiful. Ashley Poston should host a masterclass in magical realism and emotional damage. Sounds Like Love is easily one of my favorite reads from Ashley, which is saying something because The Seven Year Slip has lived in my head rent free since I read it almost two years ago.

I thoroughly enjoyed the magic in this one. The intimacy that is created by Joni and Sebastian being able to hear each other was very unique. In fact, towards the end when they were no longer able to hear each other I felt myself missing it so much. That truly is a testament to Ashley’s writing capability. I could really sympathize and empathize with Joni. She was so well written and fleshed out. I also loved all the nods to various songs throughout the book, I don’t typically like chapter titles but for this it worked well.

I think the other thing that broke me but felt so real was the dementia diagnose for Joni’s mom. I really liked how real they felt. Joni describes her mom at one point as having a gap between her teeth and I had that moment of I could see how this woman could be real and a backup singer for this older musical group.

Overall, I felt like this was an incredible read. Ashley Poston really knows how to weave the magic and romance into this real world situation that would have anyone struggling. Incredible job!

Another incredible read from Ashley Poston. Sounds like Love is an emotional ode to the cosmic connections that happen to us and the music that brings us together. Poston is a master of infusing her work with thoughtfulness, empathy, and meaning. This book is both sweet and funny and also moving and inspiring,

This one was hard for me to get through and I'm super disappointed because I absolutely love her books. Between her and Katherine Center, they are auto buys for me. Unfortunately this one didn't work for me. I liked the magical realism aspects and even the family dynamics were interesting but I just couldn't get into the romance. Still can't wait for her future books though because A Novel Love Story and the Dead Romantics are two of my favorite books.

Solid 4.5 stars. Did not ugly cry, which I appreciate, but I think I maybe only held it together because I was at work.......

As usual, Ashley Poston's work is so READABLE, and I got sucked into staying up way too late to keep reading, and all of a sudden it was after 1 am. <i>Sounds Like Love</i> is about Joni, a songwriter currently living in LA who also happens to be suffering major writer's block after her mother's dementia diagnosis. She is invited to a concert for the singer of her latest hit song, and she bumps into Sebastian, the son of a rock star, former boy band member, and dude who is kind of awful, in the private balcony. The next day, she starts hearing traces of a new melody in her head-- and also someone else's thoughts. Turns out, she and some guy named Sasha made a mental connection somehow, and it doesn't end when she goes home to her parents' place in the Outer Banks for a break and to check on her mom. Sasha decides to come meet her in OBX to try to figure out why they keep hearing each others' thoughts and this same melody. Turns out Sasha is Sebastian!! Can they figure out why they have this connection? Can they get Joni back into her writer's space?

This book was so soft and layered, I think I'll be thinking about it for a long time. The dementia diagnosis has been included in a lot of new romance this year, but Joni's mom was a little earlier in her prognosis than other books, so it didn't feel like a rinse and repeat-- her grief over everything was definitely still being processed, and we got to experience her mom trying to muddle her way through, too. Speaking of her mom, I absolutely loved her. Loooved the secondary characters. Loved Sebastian, who has his own things to work through but was so fluffy on the inside! I will be re-reading this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts!

Ashley Poston never really misses on her books. Even when I'm not the biggest fan of one of them, I remain a huge fan of hers.

"Sounds Like Love" had all the makings of an absolute hit in my book, but it didn't quite get there. While I loved the characters and the magical love that they found with one another, I often found myself unconvinced of their deeper emotional connection.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5⭐️

Ashley Poston writes small-town charm like no one else—Vienna Shores felt like the coastal version of Stars Hollow, and I loved every second of it. There’s something so comforting and nostalgic about the way she builds these cozy little towns that makes you never want to leave.

I don’t usually go for music-themed books (something just usually cringey about it to me), but this one totally worked for me. The songwriting felt emotional and real, and getting to actually hear the final song was such a perfect and satisfying touch!

The magical realism was my favorite part—as always. And that getting to see Clementine and Iwan again absolutely melted me 😭😭😭 They’re my forever favorites!!!

I absolutely loved this one! Sounds Like Love was tender, heartfelt, and managed to also be the perfect summer read.

YALL
Ashley Poston is so well versed when it comes to magical realism. I loved this story. The prose, the setting, the characters, everything so much. The setting of the outer banks, the revelry with all the memories of past music and bands that was all so integral to how Jo grew up and the journey she goes on in this book. The relationship development between Jo and Sasha was so well done and so so tender. Sounds like love is like music to your ears because your integrated into the development of a love song & story.

THOUGHTS:
- loved the integrated songs as title chapters. I felt this gave context to the overall chapter and I was honestly living for it (ex; 3am, sympathy, best of burden - like COME ON)
- The first meeting between Sebastian and Jo was one that leaves a sour taste in your mouth, and definitely gives “oh he’s a in his head celeb” - this threw me off but ILL TELL YA THAT CHANGED
- Them being in each others head was actually such a highlight to the story that I LOVED. I loved how they always knew what the other was feeling or needed. It added a vulnerableness to their relationship where they couldn’t escape their actual feelings - sort of acting as a forced interaction but in the most wholesome of ways
- He calls her “bird” because she’s a songbird aka songwriter - *SWOON * IM A PUDDLE
- I love how the soon to be hurricane is a massive storm that is coming their way but it’s also a metaphor for Jo’s feelings and everything that she is keeping inside her
- The story is so so well done. The magic of them writing a song together is unmatched.
- Her parents are THE BEST I LOVE THEM - truly.
- The emotional aspect of her mums memory added a heavy emotional tone to the story but it was done so beautifully

Go read this book please!!

Thank you @berkleyromance and @berkleypub for the free book/arc!!

Really enjoyed the subtle magical realism in this one! I choose this book for my book club at the store and people are loving it!

Ashley Poston’s writing style is one of my favorites. She makes everything feel so magical and beautiful. The Seven Year Slip is one of my all-time favorite books so it’s hard for anything to live up to that, but this one did have a lot of the same elements to me. Joni is a songwriter visiting her hometown, dealing with her mother‘s recent dementia diagnosis, and struggling to write her next song after a huge hit. She ends up having a magical mental connection with a famous bad boy musician. It did feel a little cheesy or slow at times, but overall I loved the story. The banter back-and-forth was so cute. It’s one of my favorite things about books like Fourth Wing and ACOTAR when the couples can communicate in their minds, so putting it in a regular romance book was great. Ashley Poston brings a very unique magical element to the story while also keeping it so real and emotional.

I love me a good rom com. Ah, magic realism is so cool & Ashley Poston always does it well! I am not sure how much magic realism was in this one compared to her other books since this is my first read from her, but it was still very enjoyable! Seb & Joni were so cute & the setting was cozy!

This one was fine—not bad by any means, but it didn’t quite hit me in the feels like her other books have. I love Ashley Poston’s cozy, emotional storytelling, but this one just didn’t land the same way for me.

It had sweet moments and a charming premise, but overall it felt a little forgettable compared to her usual magic. Still a solid read, just not a new favorite.

Gahhhh Ashley Poston is back and possibly better than ever. Watching the relationship unfold between this songwriter and former boy band bad boy was so delicious. The supernatural-ish element, while always present in Poston’s novels, never seems gimmicky or distracts from the character development. I loved reading about them trying to hide their thoughts from one another. It was beyond romantic. Love love love this one. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.