This book is beautifully written. I found myself highlighting many passages that resonated. The author is very gifted with writing descriptions.
I loved that the fmc August is a mess. I loved how flawed mmc Luke is. These are people with problematic childhoods and trauma that impact their life choices.
"August was suddenly very sure that he couldn’t. Years of being punished for existing had stripped him of boundaries or gut instincts. None of it was his fault. Life was different for kids like them. They were never wanted, which made them obsessed with being chosen."
I also loved the music and artistry in this book. The lyrics and poetry throughout the book spoke my language. The passion the characters had for music is palpable and believable because that's how artists are about their craft.
"Once the guitar was in his hands, his body transformed, adjusting to what felt like its natural state. This was why he’d roped her into helping him. Aside from when he spoke to her, Luke only felt like himself when his fingers were on the frets, his feelings buried beneath a C chord."
The theme of Black people as unseen in country music is important. It is art imitating life with the real-life backlash that exists as if Black people didn't always exist in country music. Because you ignore something doesn't mean it hasn't always been there.
I liked that her mother doesn't show for the concert. It tracked. I would've not liked it as much if she showed and they sang together and all was forgiven with a tidy bow. It is a gritty and raw story and I liked that the author remained true to that tone.
I definitely recommend this novel. I plan to read her first one.

I loved Black’s The Art of Scandal, so when I saw this go up on Netgalley, I grabbed it right away, eager to spend more time with her evocative, lyrical prose, complex character studies, and hard but rewarding emotional journeys. Her sophomore release centers two musicians who’ve had achingly hard childhoods, coloured with abuse, neglect, premature adult responsibilities, and countless messages about low worth. Though resilient and talented apart, it’s only together that they find the confidence to fully embrace their unique, powerful voices and move forward into the futures they want. Through a dual timeline, Black explores the profound impact of childhood on adulthood, from the delight of singing along to country music during one’s most formative years, to the silencing of passion and talent due to systemic exclusion, addiction, microaggressions, racism, social ostracism, imposter syndrome, and a lack of parental love, care, and guidance. Black’s leads emerge as tough but desperately tender young adults with so much potential, the reader is left yearning with them for a chance to do so much more than survive. The embedded lyrics in the novel are deeply moving, and the threaded history about Black country musicians is fascinating. Overall, this is another powerful, emotional character study, with a heart-breaking but ultimately joyful romance at its center, a beautifully depicted setting full of sensory texture and complex history, and a cast of memorable, imperfect characters whose interwoven stories blend hard realities with soft vulnerabilities to create the kind of melody /story that lingers with the listener / reader long after its last note / chapter.

I took my sweet time with this one. August Lane is a gorgeously written, musical second-chance romance. I’m beyond grateful to have received this ARC ahead of its release, 7/29/25. Thank you @netgalley & @grandcentralpub!

It’s Black Music Appreciation Month and this novel honors the roots, complexity, and power of Black artistry. From the structure alone, Regina Black delivers something genius: each chapter unfolds like a track on an album—intro, first verse, lift, chorus, bridge, outro—mirroring the emotional arc of the story itself.

August Lane follows August and Luke—two deeply wounded souls (⚠️TWs) brought together and torn apart by music, ambition, grief, and addiction. Told in dual POV and across a dual timeline, their love story feels raw and real. We move between the heat of their past connection and the bittersweet complexity of their present-day reunion, witnessing how time, fame, and trauma shaped their lives— and their hearts.

And threaded throughout is their song—“Another Love Song.” What starts as a melody becomes a memory, a scar, a lifeline. It recurs again and again, shifting in meaning with every stage of their relationship. It’s more than a song—it’s the echo of everything they’ve loved, lost, and tried to rebuild. When you read it you’ll get it and the refrain will haunt you in the best way!

The book subtly and powerfully explores the creative pain of being “trapped” at a specific emotional moment—especially as a Black country artist, a topic that y’all know is increasingly in the public eye. I couldn’t help but think of artists like K. Michelle, who has spoken candidly about trying to break through in spaces that were built on Black musical traditions yet often gatekeep Black artists. That theme comes alive with August & Luke + August’s mother, Jojo introduced through a podcast interview woven throughout the story.

This story was as soulful and layered as the music it centers. A must-read. 🎶 #AugustLane #ReginaBlack #BlackRomance #BlackMusicMonth #SecondChanceRomance #CountryMusicRomance

Loved the art of scandal and now I’m fully obsessed with August Lane! Regina Black’s storytelling skills shine through in this book managing to cover a host of heavy topics with grace and poignancy. Five stars to this book. Will be recommending this to everyone I know.

August Lane by Regina Black

I loved this emotional story! I knew it would be different as there aren’t many black country stories out there so it was a privilege to read this one! The mmc and fmc have a complicated relationship. It was a story that represents how important it is to give and receive love and attention because when August was older she began to fall for the bare minimum qualities of those who looked her way.

If you enjoy books about stepping out of the shadows and following your heart, consider August Lane as your next read!

Music has always been the language of August and Luke — it’s what brought the unlikely pair together — and what tore them apart. It’s been over a decade since the two have last seen each other. Now a washed up country star of a one-hit wonder, Luke Randall is nursing a secret that could upend his reputation. But when he’s given an opportunity that could revive his career, he has to face the girl whose heart he broke — and August wants nothing to do with him. With musical ambitions of her own, can August and Luke once again strike the perfect chord between their hearts, or has the music come to an end?

Regina Black does it again! The Art of Scandal was one of my favorite reads last year and her sophomoric novel had the same effect on me. There was so much I liked about this book. I thought it did a great job of touching on the ways that black musicians’ contributions to country music have historically been downplayed. It was a novel, but it still felt like you were getting a small dose of a history lesson sprinkled throughout. August and Luke were very well fleshed out characters; they felt raw and real and I really rooted for their love story the entire time. I just think Black’s writing is so addicting that it easily pulls you into the story and leaves you wanting more. A gritty story with depth, heart and soulful undertones. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC. Expected publication is July 29.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. I loved this one even more than her last. The writing was so beautiful too.

I stayed up way too late reading this because it had so much potential at the start, but unfortunately, everything started going downhill and it ended up being incredibly unsatisfying.

I’ll be honest, this author is very talented. Her writing is phenomenal and so vivid. I absolutely loved her debut release, and there were definitely emotional moments in this book, especially with everything the MMC went through. But I don’t rate books based on how much sympathy I feel for the characters.

The author clearly tried to make the MMC come across as this sweet, likeable guy, but I just couldn’t buy into it. It felt like the fmc was so desperate, love-starved, and isolated from being bullied that she latched onto any crumbs of kindness he offered. It came off like she would’ve fallen for literally anyone who did the bare minimum. She was a bit doormat, not just for the mmc but others in her life as well and honestly, I’m frustrated just thinking about it. The way she forgave him so quickly, with no real accountability, was hard to swallow. I need my wronged fmcs to be angry and demand some actual growth or redemption, but that just wasn’t the case here.

She was ready to jump back to be with him a little too fast for my liking. And don’t get me started on his excuse for staying away. I get why he didn’t get in touch during his years of alcoholism, but he’s been sober for five years. He couldn’t reach out even once? Such choices made it difficult for me believe in their love or root for them

Regina Black's sophomore release is an emotional slow burn that has you feeling EVERYTHING! Once again I truly appreciate the sensitive content warnings added to this book and I highly recommend reviewing before reading.

Luke Randal is a washed-up country artist fighting his own demons when he is approached by the manager of Jojo Lane to perform his hit single with her at an upcoming music festival in their home town to celebrate her induction into the hall of fame. Problem is...he didn't write the hit song he has taken credit for. Enter Jojo's daughter August. Full of broken dreams and fighting through her own battles of feeling abandoned and like she is good enough.

Luke, August and Jojo's story is told in dual timelines and I love that Regina used the build of a song for each of the parts. This heartbreaking second chance romance also gives a hard look at the racism and barriers black artists deal with trying to break through in country music. You can tell the really took care with her research and writing of this book. Regina has posted openly on her social media platforms which black country artists she spoke with and based songs from this book off of. This book had me feeling so many emotions, it was a hard journey but it pays off in the end.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. August Lane publishes July 29th 2025.

Five out of five stars. I loved how the story was tooled with the flashback scenes and the podcast transcripts then what’s going on in the present. The characters were well developed and you had feelings about all of them. Just overall a great story!

This story was all over the place with three times lines. This story has everything I like. A small town, a little drama, a little romance, and a messy family. This is a story of forgiveness, secrets, and music. I enjoyed these characters each and everyone was flawed but you could see the good in them ( except for Ava) through all of the bad things. The writing made the characters complex but relatable. Parts of the story moved a little slow but I liked watching the drama unfold almost like a soap opera. I recommend this book.

Magnificent.

August Lane was such a beautiful ode to love and sacrifice. This was everything I wanted from a story highlighting the history of country music that has been attempted to be erased. August and Luke were so complicated for valid reasons. But the love they shared and the sacrifices they made for each was just so beautiful. Regina Black’s writing was masterful!

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this treasure.

Black writes about love which such depth of feeling, you almost drown in her words. The connection between August and Luke is so electric you feel like every conversation they have is a sex scene (even when they're not particularly nice to one another!!)

The plot moves well and you get rounded characters that exist outside of tropes and because it flips between adolescence and adulthood, you see how young choices lead to adult consequences.

This book is achingly beautiful and hard at times, due to bullying, abuse, and addiction.

This and Art of the Scandal has turned Regina Black into an auto-buy for me!!!

An emotional and beautifully written romance!

This was my first time reading Regina Black but when I read the synopsis I knew this was going to be good. Country music artists, drama and angsty second chance romance? I ate this up.

August and Luke were so angsty and romantic. I loved this pairing. Their chemistry was fantastic and, again, couldn't get enough of the angst. Their romance developed nicely and was believable.

I liked the dual timeline too. I thought the author did a good job of knowing when to switch between the two and everything came together seamlessly.

If you like slow burn angsty love stories with plenty of country music, this book is for you!

Regina Black never fails with her stories ! I felt this story with my whole heart - Luke and August stole the scene in every page! I am obsessed with Regina’s story telling and the passion & healing with Luke and August. This book is filled with heartbreak and healing - the combination of the perfect love song.

What an emotional and heart tugging love story! This was my first book by the author but won’t be the last! I’m happy in the end the MC got the HEA!

August Lane by Regina Black is a love story, yes—but it’s also a story about survival, erasure, music, and the mess people carry with them long after the spotlight fades. It’s not a light read, not a neat romance where a single grand gesture heals years of pain. It’s raw, heavy, and deeply human. And it’s one of the most emotionally layered books I’ve read in a long time.

The story follows Luke Randall, a washed-up Black country singer who spends every Thursday night playing the one hit song that made him famous—and that he secretly didn’t write. “Another Love Song” isn’t just tired; it’s stolen. So when he’s offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform it as a duet at a Hall of Fame tribute for JoJo Lane, a legendary Black country star, he has no choice but to face the woman who actually wrote those lyrics: JoJo’s daughter, August Lane. The girl he left behind. The girl whose trust he shattered. And the girl who still hates him for it.

August wants nothing to do with him—until she sees an opening. If Luke wants to keep his secret buried, he’ll need to co-write a brand-new song with her and perform it live. For August, it’s a chance to step out of her mother’s shadow and finally launch her own career. For Luke, it’s a deal with high emotional stakes, and one more shot at redemption.

The novel unfolds in dual timelines—2009 and 2023—tracing August and Luke’s teenage friendship and slow-burn love as it evolved against the backdrop of trauma, neglect, and musical dreams. At first, the flashbacks felt like a distraction. But slowly, they earned their place. They show us how two vulnerable kids became each other’s shelter, how their bond formed and fractured, and how betrayal doesn’t always look like malice—it can look like fear, desperation, or a last-ditch attempt to escape a life that feels impossible.

What makes August Lane remarkable is how fearlessly it dives into the darker corners of love, artistry, and identity. The story tackles addiction, child abuse, generational neglect, grief, abandonment, and how all of it bleeds into adulthood. Luke is in recovery and barely holding it together. August is prickly, closed off, and tired of being second to her mother’s legacy. Neither of them is okay. But in the space of this novel, they slowly, stubbornly try to become okay—with themselves, with each other, and with the music they once shared.

Beyond the emotional core, this book has something sharp to say about the music industry, particularly country music’s long history of excluding Black artists. Regina Black doesn’t just reference the genre’s racism—she threads it into every layer of the story. JoJo Lane’s career came at a cost. August’s songwriting is undervalued. Luke’s success came off someone else’s words, and even then, he couldn’t hold onto it. There’s a truth here about who gets credit, who gets heard, and who gets left behind. The fact that this book is coming out in the same era as Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Tanner Adell’s rise, and Shaboozey’s breakthrough makes it feel even more relevant. This is fiction, but it’s in direct conversation with the real world.

And yet, for all its heaviness, the book doesn’t drown in pain. There’s hope here too—earned, not given. Luke and August don’t magically fix each other, but they do offer each other something real: a second chance to tell the truth. To share credit. To make peace with what they did and what they lost. And, eventually, to love again—not as the kids they were, but as the flawed, grown people they’ve become.

August Lane is not your typical romance. It’s emotionally charged, politically resonant, and grounded in the kind of grit most love stories shy away from. The writing is sharp and lyrical, with songs and silences that echo beyond the page. I finished the book wanting to hear the music, feel the applause, and—most of all—see these two damaged, complicated people take a final bow, not as stars, but as survivors.

Five stars. Without hesitation.

Content warnings: addiction, child abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, grief, mention of sexual assault (off-page), racial discrimination, and domestic violence.

Oh my goodness, August Lane. I had a fellow book bestie recommend this book and the timing was perfect. I was in a reading slump and Regina Black grabbed me by both hands and dragged me out of it. I'm going to be honest, this is the first time I've read a book written by Regina and she's officially and auto-buy author for me now. August Lane dives into the history of country music, ownership of masters, credibility in song writing, addiction, alcoholism (the list is endless). But the timing is simply perfect. I'm going to reference Beyonce because of the revived conversation of how Black country artists are received (we can simply reference the Shaboozey incident at the recent AMA awards, you know what I'm talking about). Regina Black dives into how country music has sustained marginalized communities, how Black artists must fight with ferocity for a seat at the table for a genre that is part of America's history (we can get into the movie Sinners if you want), or how for years Black artists go unnoticed and un-credited for the songs we love.

Wow, wow, wow. I'm just sitting here in amazement. Luke and August's story rises above the other music industry novels I've read this year because of it's sincerity, ability to rip away the niceties, and finally because this story feels larger than life.

Hauntingly beautiful - this story is as sad as it is sweet. What an emotional roller coaster Regina Black has written!

Several things I really enjoyed: the structure of the story, having Jojo’s interview run throughout which helped give her character more depth and also add some color to how she sees August and Luke. The writing itself - detailed enough to bring to life without slowing the pace of the story. And I loved the perspectives on Black musicians in country music.

One watch out to future readers is to really consider the trigger warnings. This is a deep, at moments dark, story. There are references to both child abuse and child abandonment that obviously have a large impact on both main characters.

Thank you to Regina Black, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

At its core, this August Lane is a love story of two brutally broken people who don’t try to change each other and gravitate to the fractured pieces of each other with reverence and understanding. Using dual timelines, you are immersed into the past and current lives of August and Luke, the impact of neglect and abuse they’ve faced, and the consequences for their decisions to fill their internalized gaps. You can feel August and Luke’s pain through the pages just as much as their joy.

In between August and Luke’s second chance romance, you learn more about Jojo, August’s mother and Black country legend, and the choices she made to be recognized in an industry that didn’t respect her.

August Lane is immensely multi-layered and will force you to consider how love can survive amongst immense grief for the life you could have led by being true to yourself. Saying I loved this book is an understatement. I will be thinking about August, Luke, and Jojo for many years to come.