Ah. Reading this was a time for me. There were so many moments that I was excited for the prospect of the romance, & then so many moments when I was sort of disappointed that it was falling flat. But. The star of this show? The story itself & the writing. Truly it is pushing this from being a 3 star to a 4 for me.

Joni Lark is an acclaimed songwriter in LA who has chased her dreams and is making it big with a hit single. Only now, once she has heard her mother’s dementia diagnosis, does she find she cannot write songs anymore. Then, by some type of fate, magic or coincidence, Joni runs into the infamous musician Sebastian Fell. When they meet, the impossible happens, & the two somehow end up with a telepathic connection that binds their paths together. & what, of course, would two attractive people in music who can read each other’s thoughts do together? They would write a song together. That, & fall in love.

I wanted with everything in me to love this romance. I know that Ashley Poston is a reylo, & so the idea of a force bond type romance TICKLED ME. But I think the romance was a little dull here. I think there was so much STORY happening that the chemistry fell a little bit to the wayside. BUT THAT STORY. Did it break my heart or what? As a girl who romanticizes her family & loves them dearly, this story felt like a jagged knife to the heart. Joni’s relationship with her mom & watching her & her family process her mother’s diagnosis was so well done. Those were the most beautiful bits in the story & literally had me breaking down. I’m just a sucker for family & for mother/daughter relationships. Long may they warm my heart.

Thanks so much to NetGalley & Berkley for this e-arc!

This book might be my favorite Ashley Poston book so far. It made me so happy and so sad all in the same moments. I cried with joy and sadness at so many scenes. Sasha and Bird are such wonderful characters and seeing their struggles were very human made me love them that much more. I can’t wait for everyone to get to read this amazing story!

"𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦." 

I am now thumbs up for 3 of 4 Ashley Poston books.  I set aside 𝘈 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, but throughly enjoyed 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘱, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 and now 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 (PUB 06.10) Thank you to 

Blurb: "𝘈 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦""
In words:

Fresh.
Lyricist & Musician.
Going home
Grief - past and impending.
Get out of my head- literally.
Magical realism.
Unrivaled.
Hopeful.
Lovely.
Big Hearted.
Unique.
Sweet.
Career crossroads.
Emotional.
Hopelessly romantic.
Shared Struggles.
Earnest Support.
Sparkling.
Door-ajar.

Ashley Poston is one of my all-time favorite romance authors, and no one does magical realism quite like her. There’s always something so special about her stories—the way they blend heartache, hope, and just a touch of the impossible. I was beyond excited to get read this book and it did not disappoint.

From the very first page, I was hooked. Joni and Sebastian’s connection is unlike anything I’ve read before—two strangers tied together by a melody only they can hear. It’s such a beautiful concept, and the way their relationship unfolds is just so emotional. Their chemistry, their shared struggles, the way they push and comfort each other—it all felt so real. I especially loved the way songwriting and music played such a big role in their story. The pressure to create, the weight of expectations, the love of live music—it all hit hard in the best way.

Sebastian’s struggles with fame and Joni’s search for inspiration made for such a powerful dynamic. The softness they found in each other, the way they just got each other, was so touching. And the magical realism was perfect—subtle, haunting, and just enough to make you believe in something bigger than coincidence.

By the end, I was wrecked in the best way. This book made me feel—joy, sorrow, hope, and everything in between. While it has some familiar themes from Poston’s other books, it still felt fresh, unique, and deeply moving. A beautiful, bittersweet read that will stick with me for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sounds like Love was definitely an improvement from A Novel Love Story. I love books about musicians and magical realism. This was a heartfelt novel, but I did struggle to connect with the novel half way through and took a break. The ending redeemed the middle part that was missing some magic. I loved the humor of the partners. It reminded me a lot of the parents in the movie Easy A. Joni’s mother had dementia, and that was heartbreaking, but the humor between the parents really helped ease the sadness. The ending seemed a bit rushed about the mom’s decline.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an *honest* review. I’d like to start off with: The Seven Year Slip is one of my favorite books. I loved A Novel Love Story as well.

HOWEVER, Sounds Like Love felt completely AI-generated. This felt like the *concept* of a story, not a fully fleshed out book. All of the characters are painfully, achingly one-dimensional. Poston tried so hard to give the FMC, Joni, a personality, but the circumstances surrounding her (her mother’s illness, her family’s business being sold, her brother and her best friend’s relationship, etc) REALLY outshined her as a solitary character. I knew more about the random happenings in her life than I knew about her as a person. The MMC also has no personality other than he’s the ultimate nice guy with daddy issues. I knew more about his dad than I knew about him. Also, you’d think the author would at least put together a few lyrics for a song in the book, especially since that’s the whole point of the book, but it was more like “They wrote a song. It was cute and touching. TRUST ME.” The “magical realism” aspect was absolutely ridiculous, confusing, and inconsistent. I found myself cringing at how silly and immature it was. Lastly, the “twist” was so ill-fitting… The “awwww” moment that I was expecting was more like a face-palm. It had me saying “Wait… What? How did that even make sense?”

I’m sorry that I can’t give a better review. I was so excited to receive an early copy and I truly wanted to love it, but this didn’t feel like an Ashley Poston book at all.

Ashley Poston does it again! *Sounds Like Love* is a charming, seemingly simple story with a magical twist that makes you fall in love—not just with the characters, but with life itself. This time, Poston crafts an ode to music and summers spent on the beach, capturing the nostalgia of salt in your hair, sticky fingers from popsicles, and ocean waves crashing in the background.

Her vivid yet effortlessly evocative prose brings the story to life: *"A lightning strike that filled my veins with Pop Rocks."* Moments like these make the book feel electric, pulling you into its warm, sun-drenched world.

It’s not just a beach read though. At its heart, this is a story about change—how we navigate it, resist it, and if we can accept it. Joni's return home to the Outer Banks forces her to confront the weight of unspoken words and process how some things will never be the same again. As she grapples with the reality of what life home is now, the novel explores themes of identity, grief (see trigger warnings), and the ever-present question: Is the life we've built still the one we want? With a touch of magic—both in music and in the unexpected presence of a stranger’s voice in Joni’s head—Ashley Poston crafts a poignant, heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery.

I’m grateful to have received an ARC and read this early, but its June release is perfect—it’s the kind of book that begs to be read with sand between your toes and a playlist of summer anthems in the background. A must-read for fans of heartfelt and impactful, hopeful storytelling.

There's so much that I loved about this book - Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston is a heartfelt contemporary romance that does a really beautiful job of mixing magical realism with heartfelt and emotional themes. Our story follows Joni, a songwriter struggling with writer’s block while coping with her mother’s dementia diagnosis. Even though it has swoon-worthy romance, the heart of the story is about Joni’s relationship with her mother, the impact of her illness, and the fear of losing someone you love. How scary that change and loss can be.

Joni meets Sebastian Fell, a former boy band member, and they form a magical connection where they can hear each other’s thoughts across the country. They are both haunted by a melody and have to finish the song to escape each other’s minds. The magical realism in this book is my favorite part of reading an Ashley Poston story. Her books are always so charming and magical.

While I loved the book’s emotional depth, there were moments where the dialogue felt a little corny, especially in interactions with Joni’s family and friends. Sometimes it felt a little too theatrical for my liking. Additionally, the third-act breakup didn’t land as strongly as intended - it was really quick, barely lasted a chapter so there weren't really any emotional stakes. I would have preferred the story to explore the challenges of navigating their new relationship without the connection of hearing each other’s thoughts, instead.

Ultimately, Sounds Like Love is a beautiful, touching story that literally had me in tears at the end. Ashley Poston is such a special author - her blend of magic, love, and loss makes for a really special read, and I’ll always be a fan of her work. Auto-buy author for me!!

Ashley Poston once again delivers magic, both literal and emotional, in this beautifully lyrical romance. Joni and her mysterious musician share a connection that feels like fate, pulling them together through music, longing, and unfinished melodies. The tension crackles, the emotions hit deep, and the story hums with that signature Poston blend of heartache, humor, and just a touch of the unexplainable. It is haunting, intimate, and absolutely unforgettable.

Oh, how I adore this author and her magical romances. Every new book surprises me and I fall just a little more in love with her prose. This story introduces two characters, both artists in the music industry struggling with their career and life choices who find themselves telepathically connected after a kiss on a balcony.

Joni Lark is a songwriter, living the dream in L.A., with a hit song on the airwaves and a bright future. Only she has a secret, the music and lyrics aren’t speaking to her anymore. Before heading home to Vienna Shores, North Carolina she quickly stops by a friend’s show, only to discover Sebastian McKellen, ex-boy band member, already occupying the balcony. Sebastian doesn’t exactly make the best first impression, but after being put in the spotlight, they share a kiss.

It’s not until Joni arrives back home that she realizes she has begun to hear a melody playing in her head, and the voice of a man, who seems to be just as startled by their connection. As she is reuniting with her best friend, helping out at the Revelry, the music hall owned by her family, and coming to grips with her mother’s dementia, she is also slowly getting to know the man, Sasha, who’s thoughts are always right there. Sasha and Joni decide that the only way to fix this shared affliction is to finish the song they both keep hearing. So, Sasha heads to North Carolina, and Joni is surprised to find that Sasha is actually Sebastian McKellen.

Ashley Poston excels at writing grief books that are wrapped up in magical romances. This book leans heavily on Joni’s heartache over her mother’s failing health and memories, and her own decisions that have kept her away from the family she loves so much. She goes on a journey of self-reflection, about what is important to her and what she wants her future to look like. At the same time, she is getting to know the real Sebastian, who is himself angry and at times unsure. Two things they both have in common though, are their affinity for music and their love for their mothers.

This is one of those romances where you know there are supernatural forces at work bringing these two together. And although I did have inklings early on at just how these two were cosmically connected, I was still choked up at the end when I was proven correct. This is kind of a love letter to music lovers, to creatives who doubt themselves, and to people who go out into the wide world but ultimately come back home to their happy places. The scenes of Joni and Sasha working on their song together while falling in love were beautiful. The softness and deeply felt affection and love between Joni’s family and friends soothed my soul. There were tears, but laughter and sweetness as well.

I don’t even know how this author manages to write such magical, whimsical romances time and time again. This book is deeply romantic, and despite the overall sense of sadness about Joni’s mother’s illness and the progression of her disease, there is also lovely moments between them and an HEA that brings everything together just right.

Final Grade- A

‘Sounds Like Love’ is an enchanting blend of music, magic, and melancholia—a lyrical love story that lingers like a favorite song. Which I’m not surprised given the record of Ashley Poston always masterfully weaving together the best romances that are equal parts magical, emotional, and absolutely heart throbbing.

Joni’s has a creative block going on until an inexplicable connection to a brooding musician who exists both in her mind and, bafflingly, in real life cross paths. The dynamic between them was achingly beautiful with just the right touch of magical realism to make the story feel fresh, but still so uniquely an Ashley Poston story.

Poston’s prose is as evocative as ever. A strong 5 stars, and if possible even above that. Every word in this book is now something marked into my brain forever.

Ashley Poston’s writing is truly unmatched and this book truly shows that. I love how she uses magical realism in her books and still makes it feel like a typical romance (in the best way). I loved the mentions of Iwan and Lemon from TSYL and how she managed to capture the grief of losing someone before you’ve lost them. This is fighting TSYL for my favorite Ashley book 😭

The night before she leaves LA to see her family in the Outer Banks, successful songwriter Joni Lark runs into superficial former boy band sensation, Sebastian Fell. The encounter is strange and annoying to say the least, but their kiss is amazing. Once home Joni starts hearing a male voice in her head, and when the voice follows her to home, she realizes there’s more to him than she imagined. A fun love story with a mystic overtone that’s sure to please everyone. Poston hits the mark writing romance.

I love Ashley poston and her writing, I've read all of her adult works and every time I fall in love more and more.
With sounds like love I don't know if I connected with the characters as much as I have with her other works. I just felt like the characters lacked depth and also the magic realism part of the story was a bit confusing and in my opinion didn't really make sense ?
It could be too that I am just not a huge music person.. I just didn't find myself enjoying the music part of it at all. The FMC was also unbearable and constantly second guessing.

Ashley Poston is without a doubt one of my favorite romance authors of all time. No one can do magical realism like she does. I am constantly amazed and I find fascinating how creative and unique her stories are (like nothing I've read before.)

"Sounds Like Love" combines romance and magic, while exploring the theme of "grieve" (no one is surprised because every other book by her is centered around this theme and we love it.) The first chapters didn't impress me and I found hard to connect with both characters and their careers: Joni's (a songwriter) and Sebastian (a singer).

I am not a fan of the celebrity/musician trope but I was pleasantly surprised when I hit that 50% mark. After that point, the story took another turn and there were twists and emotional moments that made me want to tear up. By the end, I was able to feel in love with Joni and Sebastian undeniably chemistry. I loved the whole idea behind two people being able to communicate to each other through their minds (telepathic connection.) It was adorable seeing how both of them could hear what the other was thinking and feeling. What I took from this story is that no matter how someone looks on the outside and how they act, the reality of it all is that we don't really know what they're going through.

My favorite thing about Ashley's books is that every single one of them would made such a great romcom movie and this was no exception.

Thank you so much Berkeley Romance for the reader advance copy.

Joni is a songwriter in L.A. who had made a name for herself with uplifting, pop hits but she’s got block. Enter Sebastian, bad boy nepo baby who’s hit a bit of a lull in his precious boy band career. These two get into each other’s heads, literally, and have to figure out how to get out.

Wow. I loved this book! The characters are enchanting, messy, and adorable. Their relationship is extremely sweet and I love the backdrop of songwriting, the love of live music, and the pressures that we put on ourselves to create. And we have mixed tapes! Cassettes! Joni’s Outer Banks hometown is a lovely setting - being townies in a vacation town - and the fact that they own the local music joint is perfect. Since we are talking about Ashley Poston here, of course, there is a dollop of magical realism and it is AWESOME. This and Dead Romantics are my two faves now. I adore this novel and highly recommend it!

This book is a beautiful romance but it also is a deeply introspective book about your place in the world, fears, grief, friendship, and family. I loved it so much. I loved the richness of the experience reading this book. This is now my favorite Ashley Poston book.

This was a great read! I am a fan of and have read most of Poston’s work, and this book doesn’t disappoint!
I loved the characters in this story, Joni, Sebastian, Gigi, and Joni’s parents all felt so alive. I really felt like I got to know them throughout the story. Joni and Sebastian’s chemistry was amazing and how they got to know and understand each other as time went on was fun to read. It was refreshing to read a romance where the main couple didn’t immediately have a perfect connection and relationship, but instead the couple really had to work for it. The magical realism with the connection between the two’s minds added an extra spark of magic and uniqueness to the story.
Joni’s mother’s struggle with dementia was heartbreaking. It hit a little too close to home for me, so reading those parts of the book were very emotional. However I felt that Poston did her research and (with personal experience herself with a family member with the disease), that she faithfully portrayed the struggles and impact on the whole family.
As with her other books, Poston once again manages to make the setting of the story feel magical. As I was reading, I felt myself wishing I could visit Venice Shores and catch a show at the Revelry with Joni and Sebastian, hang out with Uncle Rick on The Marge, and see the horses race through town.
My only gripe was that I had just read Dead Romantics before this book, and I felt like the two books were a little too similar. But that could simply be since I read it so recently.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves music, magical realism, and contemporary romances set in a beach town. 4 stars

I really loved Sounds Like Love. I don't know if any of Ashley Poston's books will ever be able to dethroned The Dead Romantics as my favorite, but this has come the closest (Not that there's a huge different between my least favorite and most favorite AP book, they've all been five stars). I loved Joni and Sebastian's relationship, but I was here just as much for all of Joni's other relationships and her journey to figure out what she wanted. There's a lot of change going on in her life that she's unsure of how to navigate. I think I love Ashley Poston the most when there's a lot of family stuff along with the romance and this book has quite a bit of that. I highly recommend this book.

Quick side note: this book deals heavily with grief, I even cried some towards the end. Joni's mother has dementia and it's handled very frankly. Just be aware of that.

Some classic rom-coms have unforgettable lines like, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” Well, I have one for Ashley Poston’s books: “I’ll never give them less than five gazillion stars.” Her stories speak directly to my soul! And this book? Pure magic.

The story follows two characters, each grappling with personal and career challenges, and both deeply devoted to their mothers. Inexplicably, they find themselves connected—telepathically. They keep hearing the same unfinished song playing in their heads on repeat. The only way to break the cycle? Finish the song together. Isn’t that a genius concept? I absolutely loved it.

Meet Joni Lark. She left her hometown of Vienna Shores, North Carolina, to pursue a music career and became a renowned songwriter. But when she learns of her mother’s dementia diagnosis, everything falls apart. Struck by a creative block, she feels empty and disconnected. Returning home from L.A. for a visit, she’s still reeling from an impulsive kiss with ex-boy band star Sebastian McKellen on a music hall balcony—an encounter that left her more confused than ever.

Back in her hometown, Joni reunites with her family and best friend, only to receive heartbreaking news that shakes her to the core. Then, something strange happens—she starts hearing a melody. And a man’s voice. No, she’s not drunk, and no, she’s not losing her mind. The voice belongs to a mysterious man who calls himself Sasha, and he seems to be the key to breaking her writer’s block. They both hear the same haunting tune, and the only way forward is to write the lyrics together.

When Sasha decides to visit her town, Joni is forced to confront not just the music but also her fears, her past, and the possibility that destiny might have something bigger in store for them. What if this telepathic connection is about more than just a song? What if Joni has to learn to let go, embrace uncertainty, and finally discover what she’s truly been searching for?

I adored this story—two seemingly random (but not so random) people brought together by an inexplicable force, leading them toward something profound. Joni starts off guarded and stubborn, but watching her lower her defenses and open herself up was incredibly rewarding. And Sasha? He deserves all the love. I mean, who wouldn’t fall for a man who tells the love of his life, “You’re poetry in motion”?

Another five-gazillion-star read! This supernatural, emotional, whimsical, and deeply romantic story completely stole my heart.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this heartfelt and inspirational romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.