3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨ // a very easy and dare I say cheesy? read! I always love Ashley Postons magical realism romances but I’m not sure this is one that will stick with me like The Seven Year Slip did! I LOVED all the music references as I am big music junkie. I however didn’t love the nickname of our main male love interest—definitely gave me the ick but maybe that’s just me? All in all I think I wanted more tension and butterflies and I just didn’t get it with this one.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC :)

Right off the bat, I had to DNF this title at 48% which I really never ever do. I love romance and read plenty of fantasy, but this was simply not engaging or driving enough for me to want to suspend my disbelief. It reads as lazy / fan-fiction-y in the way that a young girl would day dream or y/n herself into a story about her favorite boy band. “Oh my goodness! We are stuck in each other’s MINDS!” However, almost 50% into an adult book, I would really hope there would be more substance, comedy, anything more than what this story had to offer. Again, I did not finish this read... but I love a Music romance especially, and this was just too bland and corny for me. This had nothing keeping me interested in reading further when there are so many other books out there...

I wasn't the biggest fan of Novel Love Story, so I didn't have super high expectations going into this book. But I'm glad for that because I just loved this story! The only thing I wasn't a fan of was Joni and Sebastian both seemed to act younger than their 30 something years. Overall though, I loved the connection between them.

The nitty-gritty: Ashley Poston channels the joy of music in this funny, romantic story about following your heart.

This is the fourth book in what I’ll call Ashley Poston’s magical realism romances, and I say, keep ‘em coming! Sounds Like Love is an ode to music and finding your passion in life. It’s also about dealing with tough life events, like the death of a parent, but it’s all handled with a deft touch so the story isn’t bogged down with too much drama and heartache. This is probably my least favorite book of hers, but I still had a lot of fun, so even my least favorite is still very good. 

Joni Lark is a songwriter who lives in Los Angeles. She wrote a song called If You Stayed that rocketed to the top of the charts after pop star Willa Grey recorded it, but now almost a year later, she’s having writer’s block. With the recent news that her mother has early onset Alzheimer's, her joy for writing music has disappeared, but she’s going home to visit her family in Vienna Shores, North Carolina with the hope that she can get back some of the magic she’s lost.

The night before she leaves, Willa invites her to a concert, where she decides to hide up in a private balcony to watch the show. Joni is surprised to find someone else there, a man she recognizes right away. Sebastian Fell was famous as a teen, part of a boy band called Renegade, but he’s even more well known because his father is Roman Fell, rock superstar. Joni and Sebastian butt heads, but when Willa’s “kiss cam” puts them in the spotlight, the two decide to go with the flow and kiss. 

Later, after Joni has left for Vienna Shores, she starts to hear a man’s voice in her head. Neither one can figure out what’s going on, only that they can hear each other’s thoughts, as well as a melody they can’t stop thinking about. The man, who calls himself Sasha, suggests they meet in person to solve this weird mystery. Perhaps the tune is a sign that Joni's music mojo has returned? In any case, if they want their lives back, they’ll have to work together first.

This was a fun, fast read, which is just what I needed and expected. My favorite parts of the story were the ones where Joni and “Sasha” (you probably don’t need to read the book to figure out his real identity) are together and working through the bizarre situation they find themselves in: they can read each other’s thoughts and carry on telepathic conversations. This made for some very funny moments, especially since they're both attracted to each other and can't always control what they're thinking. It was all done in a very PG 13 way, and I thought it was adorable.

Both characters are going through some personal struggles, and so part of their getting to know each other involves dealing with and helping each other through some tough times. Joni of course is dealing with her mom’s Alzheimer's, and it’s even worse because her family doesn’t want to talk about it. Both her mom and dad act as if everything is fine, but then her mother has a bad day and Joni is faced with some hard truths. She’s also feeling guilty about her success as a songwriter, while her family seems to be falling apart. Sasha is also dealing with an identity crisis and is uncertain about his next career move. 

We also meet a bunch of side characters, all with quirks and unique personalities. Gigi is Joni’s best friend, and has lived in Vienna Shores her entire life. Gigi also has big dreams and she might not be able to find them by staying there. Joni’s family is larger than life—and I have to admit, they annoyed me at times. Both parents have cutesy nicknames for Joni (her dad calls her “daughter” and her mom calls her “heart”) and this got old very quickly. I did like the way the the family handled the mom’s illness, as they are trying to shield Joni from what’s happening, not realizing they’re actually shutting her out. These scenes felt honest and believable, but the interactions with her family were, for the most part, just a little too much for me.

What I did love, though, was the way Poston integrated music into her tale. Each chapter title is a song—”Closing Time (You Don’t Have to Go Home)” for example---and not only a song, but an earworm. I knew just about every one of the 43 chapter song titles, and to be honest, I’m still singing them to myself! Joni and Sasha write a song together over the course of the story, and those scenes were lots of fun too. Finally, Joni’s family owns a concert hall in Vienna Shores called the Revelry, where local musicians perform, and it’s the life blood of the family and a place where they've made so many memories over the years. There’s also a bit of drama surrounding the Revelry that added some nice tension to the story.

And if you’ve read The Seven Year Slip, there are a couple of fun crossover moments when some of the characters from that book show up in Vienna Shores!

An interesting twist with the song Joni and Sasha are writing happens near the end, and it sort of brought everything together in a nice, feel good way. Ashley Poston fans will love this book, and I hope there’s more to come.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

The super cute cover for this book immediately caught my attention. The plot sounded like something I would enjoy, so I dove in. This musical story is really cozy and would make a great summer read.

This is my second book by Ashley Poston, and I really struggled with the concept. I think, ultimately, magical realism just isn’t for me. I have a feeling I’m in the minority and for those that love a magical story, this will be a hit.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

The Seven Year Slip is one of my all-time favorite books, and I have been searching for something to capture that same feeling since I first read it. Ashley Poston's last book, A Novel Love Story, didn't quite do that for me, but Sounds Like Love was everything I wanted it to be and more. The romance was well-paced and equal parts sweet and swoony, but true to Ashley Poston's form, the book expertly wove in themes (what happens when the dreams we thought we had change, grieving someone while they're still here, etc) beyond the central love story to make for a truly well-rounded emotional experience. This is a book I'll remember for a long time, and one that I'll definitely want a shelf trophy for. Loved it!!

Magical realism is not usually my favorite genre but Ashley Poston made me like it in this sweet romance. I love music and I love that songwriting was a huge part of the story. The fact that the chapters were each named really great songs that aligned with the story was a clever touch. This was a cute one.

4 stars ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! Ashley Poston's magical realism is always so much fun. This was such a fun and quick read. I absolutely adored the setting, the mood, and the overall aesthetic. Ashley's books always feel like pure magic (hehe) and so cozy! The romance felt a little rushed at times, and I would've loved to see a little more of Joni and Gigi's friendship! But overall, I enjoyed the book.

The Iwan and Clementine cameo was one of my favorite parts!! It was so nice to see my favs!! 🍋🥹 The Seven Year Slip remains my top favorite, but I am so glad I got to read this!

Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for the ARC!

I adore the way Ashley Poston writes books. Her imagination and use of magical realism is so creative and always captivates me. Sounds Like Love was a whimsical blend of music, magic, heartache, self discovery, and falling in love, and it was perfect.

Joni is such a relatable character. It’s so loud in her head, and music is how she understands the world, herself, and her family. When her ability to write goes away, her world starts to fall apart. Sasha a jaded, damaged, bad boy musician with daddy issues, a man bun, ear piercings, and a constellation tattoo behind his right ear. He lost his mom, his dad has never cared about him, and music has only ever let him down. But underneath all of that, he’s sweet, vulnerable, and desperate to be seen and loved. Sasha has the biggest heart, and he goes to Vienna Shores just because he wants to comfort Joni. He’s so heartfelt, and I couldn’t get enough of him.

Both Joni and Sasha put up walls to protect themselves, but they can hear each other’s thoughts, so they can’t hide from the other person. Their connection and relationship was so deep, and their story was devastating but beautiful at the same time. I loved that every chapter was a song title. And as someone who has lived in North Carolina and South Carolina, the mention of Cook Out hush puppies and Cheerwine made me feel so seen. This book was a love letter to music, had the sweetest romance imaginable, and portrayed grief in the most honest and heart wrenching way. Please go read it.

Thank you to Berkley Romance, Berkley, Penguin Random House, Ashley Poston, and NetGalley for the ARC.

📔Sounds Like Love
✏️ Ashley Poston
📆 June 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🎶 magical realism
🎶 love letter to music
🎶 musician x songwriter
🎶 grumpy x sunshine
🎶 small beach town
🎶 slow burn
🎶 he falls first and harder

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

Every time I pick up an Ashley Poston book, I know that I am going to read something amazing. She writes in a way that speaks to my soul and I can't imagine I'd ever find myself not enjoying her books. Sounds Like Love is definitely my favorite of her books (so far) and I am desperate for more from her.

This book is visceral and raw in a way that I can't really describe. The emotion that Poston evokes with her writing is all-consuming, and you really feel like you're part of the story. The characters are real, the love between them is real, and the tears are so very real. I loved Joni and Sasha's story. I loved that the cast of side characters were just as amazing as they were. I loved the way the prose felt lyrical, almost as if it were music itself. I love everything about this book.

Do yourself a favor and don't skip out on this one.

4.25 stars ⭐️

Sounds Like Love 🎶

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Poston, and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston is written from the POV of Joni Lark, a songwriter in LA who returns home to Vienna Shores, SC in hopes of finding inspiration for her next song. She hears a melody in her head which ends up being connected to the thoughts of a mystery man. As she is trying to figure out how they can hear each other’s thoughts and communicate without talking, he shows up in Vienna Shores. She discovers that he is a musician, so they decide to team up to finish the melody in their heads in hopes that this is the way to get out of each other’s minds.

Ashley Poston frequently writes books with magical realism, and this book is done so well. ✨ I’ve read The Seven Year Slip and A Novel Love Story, and I honestly didn’t love them. I wanted to give AP one last chance, and I’m so glad I did! She incorporated some heavier topics into this book, which added more depth and emotions. I really enjoyed the side characters and location. If you’re a fan of music and magical realism, I highly recommend checking out this book!

Sounds Like Love is out now! 💕

"could you sing it for me then?" he asked. "this feeling of yours?"
seriously. where to begin. ashley poston strikes yet again. let it be known that by book four of her releases i have learned to not finish her stories in public, as the result is always me in puddly, goopy, lovey dovey mess on the floor!! 5 shining ⭐️ 🪄
the storytelling is so real with this one. connection is the one word that floated through my head most during this reading experience. thought long and hard about how its easier to disconnect, to snap that wire, than it is to truly and deeply connect with someone else. our days are limited to the future that we allow ourselves to have. to exist within the orbit of another and to know them well enough to love them is a gift.
music is a magical potion that is conjured up in the hearts of people who have loved and people who have lost. let us revel in the life they have lived. sasha and jo are truly one of a kind.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc!

5/5 stars

Another fantastic book by Ashley!! I've read each of her adult novels so far, and they just keep getting better and better. This was such an interesting concept I didn't know how well it was going to play out on the page, but it ended up working quite well, and honestly this made the most sense for the magical realism out of all of her books so far. Jo and Sasha were complex and relatable, and I enjoyed reading the progression of their love and friendship.
There was also enough going on with Jo's bestie Gigi and with her family that helped make this book feel more personal; it was really touching. The authors note made me cry 😭 Looking forward to the next one!!

3.5/4⭐️ is it weird that I couldn’t put this down but also wasn’t *fully* feeling it at times?? Ashley has a way of creating captivating magic realism and you can see the growth in each book she writes and I really enjoyed the concept for this one!

The invisible string connection between Joni and Sebastian really makes you believe in the right person right time kind of love stories.

Thank you Berkley for the arc!

I discovered Ashley Poston’s books last year and loved them all. I couldn’t wait for a new one this year and Sounds Like Love did not disappoint!

If you have read her work, you know she is going to introduce some kind of magical realism into the mix. Sadly, this is what kept me from trying a Poston book earlier. Ghosts speaking, time travel, inhabiting a book, these things made me think I would have trouble suspending my disbelief in a contemporary romance. But boy was I wrong! Somehow we can go on this journey with little or any explanation as to how, because it’s just that good.

This time, our main characters, musicians Sasha and Joni, find they can hear each other’s thoughts after meeting once. Both hear the remnants of a song they can’t quite grasp, and decide the key to getting out of each other’s heads is to finish the song together.

I love books that feature music and captures how music makes us feel. It’s fundamental to our memories. I loved how the romance evolves in part because neither can hide their feelings from the other for very long. I loved how Poston ties all of these ideas into a story about Joni coming to terms with her mother’s dementia. I loved how the story is about coming home and also leaving to find yourself.
There is a lot to love.

My one quibble with the story is the character of Joni. I felt like too often she is interrupted right when she is ready to say something important, and I really didn’t like one thing that she does towards the end of the book that seemed like she just chucked a good bit of her character growth. I was getting a little worried about this one 3/4 of the way in.

But wow, though I saw the ending coming the impact packed a punch. Poston represents dementia beautifully. And Sasha is about the best MMC I have read in a long time. 💕

4.25*

If there is one thing that's a guarantee, it's that I love an Ashely Poston book. The little bits of magic mixed with the romance always make for such a beautiful romance. Between the story, the romance, and the characters I quite literally did not want to put it down. Joni felt like a very relatable FMC and the entire story felt like her invisible string moments coming together and made me love the book even more.

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

If you didn’t already know I’m a big fan of Ashley Poston books and this is no exception. This book is a love letter to music and the song writing process and the people that inspire those songs. Per the Poston brand there’s a little bit of magic. (Which I can always appreciate.). This one just felt like a big hug. And I would definitely say if you’re looking for a feel good romance, this may not be it. But if you’re looking for one to get in your feelings about, I highly recommend!!

I have never met an Ashley Poston book I didn't like, and Sounds Like Love is no exception. From the emotional turmoil of losing a parent to chasing the creative high of a new idea, Joni was an incredibly easy character to fall in love with. As for Sebastian, he was just as lovable, even if he didn't seem so at first. I devoured this book in about a day and a half, and was unable to put it down no matter where I went. If you're looking for a new beach read, or even just an edition to your summer tbr, I can't recommend Sounds Like Love enough.

“𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥”

Joni is a songwriter, living her dream in LA. She meets musician, Sebastian Fell, at a concert, and is devoid of his charm. When they are put on a kiss cam, they reluctantly give in to the crowd. The kiss ignites a power within. Not just fireworks, but the ability to hear each other’s thoughts. While Joni is visiting her family, she hears a man talking to her that she cannot see - not knowing that it’s Sebastian. They both hear a song in their head that neither knows of. Sebastian decides they need to meet up and figure out what this song means and how to get their voices out of each others’ heads.

This was such a cute story! Ashley Poston always sprinkles a dash of magical realism in her books, and I almost forget every single time 😂 When they first started hearing words unsaid, ooh I got chills! I love unique stories to break up the typical reading I do. I also appreciated that romance wasn’t the only piece of this story. We get family and friend issues, as well as Joni trying to find her spark again. It’s an important story about finding what serves you and letting go of what doesn’t. And learning to let things in that could be good for you. Loved!

Sounds Like Love is a tender, slow-burn romance with a dash of magic and a whole lot of heart. It follows Joni, a creatively blocked songwriter who heads home to her coastal hometown for a reset… only to discover she can literally hear a mysterious musician’s voice in her head. And when he shows up in real life, things get complicated!!

I’ll be honest: it took me a bit to get into this one. The beginning felt a little slow, and I wasn’t sure how I felt until the final stretch. But the last 30% completely swept me off my feet. Emotional, romantic, and unexpectedly moving. I was hooked by the end!!

I adored the thoughtful dementia rep, the clever chapter titles named after songs, and the music-filled setting. I will always eat up a story where the characters can hear each other’s thoughts, it makes for such a fun, intimate twist. Also: Sebastian Fell = man bun Harry Styles in my head.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC!