This was my first book by Regina Black, and I'm officially a fan! The characters are so real and dynamic. This story tackles heavy themes. You need to read this book. Second chances, a slow burn, and country music. This book hits all the right notes! Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley, and Regina Black for the Advanced copy for my honest review.

August Lane is one of those second-chance stories that feels less like a romance and more like a song—lyrical, raw, and deeply honest. Regina Black’s prose reads like poetry, unfolding across a nonlinear timeline that mirrors the way love and grief move in real life: never in a straight line. I loved watching August and Luke grow separately—and then slowly find their way back to each other—with every moment earned, every emotion unflinchingly real. A beautifully written, soulful story that lingers long after the final page.

“People take a sweet thing for granted. But no one forgets what makes them cry.”

This was a second chance romance that tugged at my heart. We have August and Lucas who are two individuals who come from a difficult upbringing. They use each other as a means of escape until they fall into a teenage love story. Until they suddenly and without closure go their separate ways.
I loved that both of main characters were complex. Lucas in the with his battle with alcoholism and August with her struggle of being discarded by her mother.
This book jumps from the past— during the characters teenage years— and in the present, 14 years later. I wanted to hug young Lucas and August. They both had childhoods that were tough to read through. It was nice to see how they used each other as a reprieve.
I loved how when August and Lucas reunited that you could feel the angst and the longing that the two had for each other. This was the slowest of slow burns— like waiting until the 60% mark for them to even kiss. I loved the build up that went into the rekindling of the romantic relationship. I loved the small town feel of the book and how the town itself was even a character.
This book also deals with some really heavy themes, so definitely check trigger warnings before reading. I felt that all the heavy topics from grief to alcoholism to childhood abuse were all handled carefully and made for a more poignant read.

Thanks to Grand Central publishing and NetGalley for giving me an advanced e-copy of their book that I was really anticipating!

3.75⭐️ thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The yearning. So much yearning. The love song was their love story. August and Lane experienced so much pain in the relationships with their parents . Their place with each other was a safe place until it wasn’t anymore. The love never faded, it just had to be lit again. Loved this book.

4.25 stars

thank you grand central publishing and Netgalley for a e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

this was giving me major cowboy Carter vibes, and I loved that.
August and Luke's love story is not an easy-breezy one but definitely one worth fighting for. with all the mess, betrayal, secrets, lies, and angst they endured was heartbreaking at times to read, so I was so happy when it all worked out for them in the end.
This story really speaks to the fact that things aren't what they seem, and it's more complicated that you may think. I enjoyed it overall, however the pacing kind of got a little slow in the middle, before picking back up again.
So much love, endurance and a great homage to country music. and I loved the conversations centered around race, because of how relevant it is to what's happening in our society today.

Regina is an absolute genius. This book is everything I want my romance books to be and more. There's a quality to her stories that just takes me back to the days of primetime soaps, they're so captivating and layered. The tension in this book is so on point, I didn't want to stop reading once I started!

First, this was hands down one of the best books I've read this year.
Second, HOW is this Regina Black's sophmore debut?

Washed up country star, Luke, reluctantly says yes to the chance to play with the legendary Jojo Lane at her hall of fame concert even though it means returning to his hometown and seeing August, his first love again. August, Jojo's daughter, is not excited to see Luke after she feels like he abandoned her when he left town without a word and recorded their song without giving her any credit.

August Lane was one of the most beautiful slowest of the slow burns second chance romances that I have ever read.
But there was so much more here: Commentary on Blacks in Country music, overcoming addition and childhood abuse and expectations of family that a lot of young black girls go through.

But as a whole, this was August and Luke's story of redemption, love and overcoming the odds to find their way back to each other.

And again, one of THE BEST books i've read this year.

10/10 recommend

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

WOWWW
This one's for the kids who were never wanted, and became obsessed with being chosen.

August Lane is told in both dual POV and dual timeline which is usually hard for me to be fully invested in bot, but this was done SO WELL, I never wanted to put it down.

This book was the slowest (and hottest 🥵) of burns and the most beautiful second chance romance i've read IN MY LIFE.
Regina Black made me fall in and out of love over and over again, and not just with August and Luke, but every side character- Jojo, Charlotte, Mavis, Jason & Bill (iykyk 😭), and even the town of Arcadia.

The TLDR; this book completely ripped me open and at least had the decency to put me back together by the end- and this quote that's basically free therapy: "Pain is a sign of life. If it hurts, that means there’s something worth saving.”
5 stars, no notes.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC!!

Washed up country star, Luke, jumps at the chance to play with the legendary Jojo Lane at her hall of fame concert even though it means returning to his long lost hometown and seeing his first love again. August, Jojo's daughter is equally not as excited to see Luke after he left her all those years ago. Can they rekindle their love after realizing they still make magical music together? A second chance romance that is hard to put down.

4⭐
PG-13🌶️

This one is for all the Seven Days in June fans who've been eating up every deep tortured romance book since. I will say I found this book challenging because addiction and trauma to this level is always tough for me and I do think they both need some more therapy before getting together.

I felt so much for August and Luke though in overcoming so much and finding a way to make music together again. They were beautiful together and this was just such an interesting complex book that is going to be that perfect moody romance for moving from summer into fall.

There is no way this is a sophomore novel by Regina Black. A perfect blend of music and romance. Regina's take on a small town second chance country music romance is chef kiss. I was invested in every character. Every moment was easily imaginable, and I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster. This should easily make several list of top reads of 2025 and Regina is definitely an author to watch.

Sooo Good!

Because I'm not a musical or sports reader, I have to give it to Regina, she surprised me with this one. I didn't think I was going to like this one at all, but I pushed through, and "WOW" is all I can say, I can't wait to get my book in the mail.

This book was so good and the takeaways, too many to list. My most favorite takeaway was:

**STOP ASKING PERMISSION, DON'T WAIT TO BE SAVED!
- External validation is an old trap that's easy for artist to fall into
- Love it, Live. And F*ck everything else
- Sometimes it took hearing your despair in someone else's voice to recognize it for what it was.
- Memories tell a story
- Every Song has a story

** Real love is - An act of worship, something worthy of sacrifice because the mere doing sustains you. We all become foolish when we love, but that's what makes it special.

5 🌟

Thank you Negalley and Grand Central Publishing for my ALC!

I want to thank NetGalley for this e-arc. I also listened to the audio because I have heard so much about it.
Regina Black has a remarkable way with words. No matter the story, her writing is raw, layered, and deeply felt. August Lane is a powerful exploration of reclamation in all its forms.
Through three distinct voices, Regina weaves a love story that unfolds across time. It's one that captures romantic love, intergenerational bonds, and the love of family/ community, all through the lens of the Black experience in perceived white spaces.
At its core, this is August and Luke's story: a second chance musical romance written like a melody that lingers in the soul.
While the tropes are familiar, Regina's artistry transcends them. Jo's perspective, the first voice we hear, is perhaps the most distant and trauma-bound, yet it offers the reader a necessary and heartbreaking lens that grounds the narrative in truth and depth.
This novel is beautiful in every sense. It's the kind of story that stays with you long after you've finished. I know I'll be carrying August Lane with me for the rest of the year.

I wanted to love this. An emotional love story, a slow burn, beautiful writing, emotionally damaged characters? All of these things appeal to me and this book had it. So why am I DNFing? All of the information dumps. There’s so many extra details added that kept making me disengage from the story. Do I care about his virginity story? No. Do I care about all the little details with this town? No. How he met his ex wife and their relationship? No. There was just so many extra details that hindered my enjoyment.

I don’t doubt it’ll get better but I lost interest in following the characters after struggling with the beginning. I do think those that liked Seven Days in June will probably like this. Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This had a lot of interesting ideas and of course comes at a perfect time when people want to see more Black Country musicians but it's such a slow burn it had a hard time maintaining my attention.

A whirlwind of emotions, this story captivates from the very first page. It’s not just a tale—it’s an experience, one that grips your heart and refuses to let go. The characters are masterfully written, layered with complexity and vulnerability, pulling you into their world with every decision and every revelation. Regina Black wrote a beautiful story full of passion, heartbreak, hope, healing, forgiveness and surprises I didn't see coming....brilliantly.

I loved this book. As a country music fan, I really loved the way music was woven into the story, and the discussion of black women's experiences in the country music industry. The author is so incredible at layering in aspects of each character's personality and life, and I felt totally immersed in the book.

Rating: 4.75⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Friends, I'm in my rockstar/country music romance era. This was my fourth book this summer with music themes and it was definitely one of my favorites.

Regina's writing has a subtle intensity that immerses you from the beginning. You feel August's (FMC) and Luke's (MMC) quiet anguish as they go through the motions. They are living their lives but stuck in the mistakes of their past. You really can't help but hurt for them both even Luke who claimed August's lyrics as his own.

It's a second chance romance that makes you really think about what we are able to forgive and what is able to grow from our past trauma. One of my favorite things about this book is how complex and layered these characters were yet there was a certain optimism through their struggles. Also, the portrayal of a community that could both hurt and uplift you. While there was a thread about the love lost and possibly regained between August and Luke, there was also a thread about familial relationships and what it means to be a mother.

I could go on about why I loved this book but I'll leave you with one of my favorite lines that I feel just captures the authenticity of the characters: "That's a lie but you can keep it 'cause you clearly need it."

Thank you to Regina Black and Hachette Publishing for this eARC.

August Lane is a raw and emotional story that I could not put down. Whether you’re looking for a story about a musician just trying to get back to his roots, a famous country artist who left her baby behind to find fame, or a second chance love story, this one is a must-read.

𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘦 is a dual timeline romance novel centered around Black country music.
The main characters are August Lane and Luke Randall. August and Luke went to high school together and are pretty much soulmates.

Luke is a one hit wonder, who made it big with his one song "Another Love Song". August helped him write the song, and he lied on national tv about being the sole writer of the song. Luke essentially disappears and becomes a drunk and performing in bars & restaurants. The book opens up with this, and Luke is presented with a performance of a lifetime - to perform his hit song with his idol 90s Country Star Jojo Lane. This requires him to go back home, and if you noticed August is Jojo's daughter.

By this time, Luke is about a decade too late to apologize to August and she wants nothing to do with him - unless he performs a new song written by the two of them. But once they get together, they can no longer deny the spark that was there all those years ago.

So I really enjoyed this book. I usually don't gravitate towards romance but this was one that was just so cute. I liked the Black Country aspect, the second chance romance trope and just how everything was written. I did not like Jojo as a character, but I did like that there was a podcast transcript aspect in this book - which I love when things are written in different ways.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book.