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.

This book is so special. It’s a second chance romance, but it doesn’t shy away from the pain in the journey. The end result is an emotional and raw book with an ending that is worth the ride.

I loved the balance of growth, romance, grief, and identity. August and Luke were both written so well, and I thought there was the perfect amount of hope to soothe the rocky road to a happily ever after.

On a personal note, someone dear to me has struggled with alcohol dependence, and I appreciated Regina’s depiction of addiction in this book. I feel like we don’t often see a main character in recovery, and it was really special to see how both Luke and his mom were treated with empathy and compassion while also being flawed and human characters.

I highly recommend this one for the next time you’re in the mood for an emotional love story!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

The best way I can write this review is to write what I DMed the author immediately after reading.

“hi i just wanted to say that i just finished an arc of august lane and now im crying while dogsitting. i wish my brain was better at coming up with tunes so i could hear your beautiful song lyrics alongside your beautiful prose.”

THAT GOOD, Y’ALL. IT IS TRULY THAT GOOD. WORTH ALL THE TEARS.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I unfortunately was not able to get into this book--it wasn't for me but I think there will be others that absolutely love it. THanks so much for the copy.

This book had me in all my feels. It made me laugh, it made me cry. Having read The Art of Scandal, I was so excited for August Lane and from page one I was in. I love August and Luke both as individuals and in their relationship and how there was no holding back. Their story was raw and romantic and real. Could not recommend this book enough.

I loved The Art of Scandal by Regina Black. One time at a panel she mentioned when she writes a scene she is always looking past the first 2 obvious emotions and goes deeper. I felt that in this book. It's so much more than a story about a second chance romance. It has so many deeper themes of love and abandonment, abuse and sobriety, anger and forgiveness. August Lane contains so many amazing characters with lots of depth. Even secondary characters that only show up in a few scenes. There might be a bit of melodrama (like in Scandal) but it still felt real and not tacky or corny. This book made me want to listen to Country, and I have never been a Country girl. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this early.

**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Lyrical, Lush, and Unforgettable Romance**

*August Lane* by Regina Black is everything I want in a contemporary romance—deeply emotional, beautifully written, and full of soul. Black’s storytelling is both poetic and grounded, creating a world that feels as rich and complex as the characters who inhabit it.

August and her love interest have an undeniable chemistry that leaps off the page, but what makes this book stand out is the emotional depth and personal growth woven into every chapter. This isn't just a love story—it's a story about identity, healing, second chances, and the ways we carry (and sometimes overcome) our past.

Black’s prose is lyrical without being overdone, and her characters are refreshingly real—flawed, vulnerable, and fiercely human. I was completely immersed from beginning to end.

If you’re looking for a romance that goes beyond the surface and leaves a lasting impression, *August Lane* delivers in every way. Regina Black is an author to watch—I’ll be first in line for whatever she writes next.

📕 Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ 📕

Title : August Lane
Author: Regina Black
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Format: 📖
Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Pain is a sign of life. If that hurts, that means there’s something worth saving.”

This is my first Regina Black book and it was stunning. From the very first look that the table of contents, I was hooked. The book is set up in the way that a song is written into parts : The Intro, The First Verse, The Lift, The Chorus, The second Verse, The Bridge, The Chorus. and The Outro. If you love music, and the way that music is written you will love this book. If you love Country Music and also expanding your knowledge on Black Country Music then this book is for you! This is one of the first romance books that I have read were I was not just focused on the steamy scenes. The love between August and Luke is so tense and fraught with trauma that you are rooting for them the whole book. The 2nd change trope hits hard! August’s mother JoJo is a bigger than life black country music star but had to leave August when she was young. August meets Luke when she is in high school and we follow their story between a reunion in 2023 and when they are 18.

Likes:
🎸Again the music structure to the parts of the book, the mentions of country music

🎸The care and compassion that Regina Black has taken with show how abuse, addiction and mental health can leave lasting scars on humans.

🎸The interview sections with JoJo!

🎸The triple time lines and how seamless we toggle between them.

Themes: Mother daughter relationships, Domestic violence, addiction, sexual assault, reproductive rights, grief and dementia.

#blackcountrymusic #ARCreview #reginablack #secondchancetrope

August Lane" by Regina Black is a captivating second-chance romance that explores the complexities of love, identity and the country music industry. Luke Randall, a washed-up country singer, returns to his hometown to perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony for his childhood idol, JoJo Lane, who's also the mother of his former flame, August Lane. August, who wrote the lyrics to Luke's hit song "Another Love Song," is forced to confront her past and the man who betrayed her. With its dual timeline narrative, "August Lane" masterfully weaves together trauma, healing and redemption. This novel shines with its authentic portrayal of Black country music artists' struggles and triumphs. Black's writing is emotional, propulsive and beautifully messy, making this book a must-read for fans of romance and music. With its thoughtful exploration of complex themes, "August Lane" is a standout in the genre

Overall: 4.5/5
Spice level: 1.5/5
Tropes: second chance, country music star, small town, he falls first, slow burn

TW: addiction, child abuse, SA (off page), child abandonment, racism

What a story. I don't have really any criticisms for it. It was a compelling and emotional story of second chances, in romance, in life and in career.

There was really great character development for both Lucas and August, and made it work as adults instead of teens because they were stronger for the wait.

My heart hurt for both of them for things they had to endure. All the trauma, neglect and abuse. It hardened their shells.

The pacing was a bit slow but the flashbacks added depth to their story from past to present.

One of my favorite aspects featured was how country music originated with Black people, just like many other forms, but their just now slowly being welcomed and recognized for their talents.

I’m all for unlikeable characters, but when you introduce your FMC with drunk driving and a fight with a cheated-on woman, I’m out. It turned me off so bad, I honestly didn’t care what happened next. Having a famous mom might make you irresponsible and dramatic, but come on. Awful.

A heart-wrenching second chance romance highlighting grief & loss, racism in American society & media, and love. Regina Black’s prose masterfully weaves together a serious, real tone with modern, natural voices for the characters. She quickly develops layers of dimension for each character and their actions. You understand their motives but still want better for them- both in their circumstances and the choices they make. Regina’s writing is instantly gripping, and the different timelines and podcast introductions all flow together easily. This is an intense, wonderful read and I’m very grateful to the author and publisher for the chance to read & review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

5⭐️

Ahhh mothers and daughters… such a complex relationship that so many authors struggle to do justice on paper. Too often the depictions come off as stereotypical, the authors uninterested in being honest and vulnerable and complicated, especially when intergenerational trauma is involved.

This was not the case for Regina Black’s August Lane, where we saw extremely caring and touching depictions of 2 generations of mothers and daughters. I finished this novel caring so deeply for all the women in this book, sympathizing with them and all their messy, trauma-informed decisions and reactions.

I only wish the book was a little longer and could have delved into the mother and grandmother’s relationship more deeply. I would have happily read another 100+ pages to get an even bigger emotional payoff at the end. A very satisfying payoff that includes a beautiful second-chance romance, I must add!

This book is a deep/heavy story with a lot of emotion. I really enjoyed the depth of the characters and how their feelings were portrayed. I also loved the representation in this book (Black country singers).

The pacing was a little too slow for me at times. I found that between the dialogues, there was a lot of writing to provide context, and sometimes that pulled me out of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.