This was the first book that I have read from Regina Black and I really enjoyed it! The characters are so incredibly dynamic, each with their own childhood traumas & perspectives on things that happened in the past. We get multiple points of view, as well as an interview with Jojo Lane, August's mother, intertwined with the Past & Present POVs. Regina Black touched on some heavy topics with grace - please make sure to read the Author's Note at the beginning. I loved learning more about both August and Luke's history and what led up to their reconnection. If you are a fan of country music, second chances, dual timelines & perspectives, and a slow burn, this one might be for you!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley & Regina Black for the ARC!

I loved this so much as a country music fan and felt the emotions of the characters. I personally loved the aspects of adding the interview transcription before every section to show the timeline.

"I loved you like breathing. But then you left and stole my air." --- oof! This line hurt so good.

Regina Black's sophomore novel, August Lane, is without a doubt going to be one of my favorite reads of 2025.
This blend between social commentary, mutual pining, angst, family drama and poetic writing was like music to my ears as I listened to the audiobook. This story hit all of the perfect notes for me!

What do you do when the first person who was suppose to love you didn't know how? You usually search a lifetime trying to find it.
This book is all about second chances... second chances at love and at relationships with mothers. Determining who deserves it versus who doesn't is harder than it seems, especially when they both come at the same time. Needless to say my heart went out to both of our main characters. I wanted peach for August and Luke, I wanted them to find that within themselves and with each other.

I highly recommend the audiobook, mainly because of the podcast elements with JoJo. That was a special touch that elevated the book to a new level.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Regina Black is such a talented writer. This book is so multi layered. A story of family, of second chances, of a small town, generational trauma, and the connections music has and means to so many people. Regina's writing immediately pulled me in. Her craft is beautiful, I loved the many devices she used to tell the story that just abrobed me to find out hwat happened next. One of the most talented authors out there.

This books was absolutely amazing. To see where the man characters began and the struggles they both went through all the way up into adulthood. And the triumph they have later. Please check this book out!!!

What a unique book!! A combination of a steamy emotional story romance and a country legend. it’s interesting. It’s like a perfect combination of a daisy Jones and the six vibe obviously it is not that angsty and it’s about country not rock ‘n’ roll but I almost don’t think it can be categorized as purely romance. I am not primarily a romance reader, so this was perfect for me as someone who mostly reads fiction, but also wants a little romance in their life. There were so many wonderful characters in this book and it was quite sad in parts as well. there’s a lot of family drama. I will say it wasn’t a full five star for me because JoJo is only present within the interview interstitials and I think we really could have used more of her present in the action.

This emotional, second-chance romance is full of heart, healing, and honesty. I was rooting for Luke and August from the very beginning. Their story explores:
✨The cost of fame
✨Healing from unresolved trauma (abuse, abandonment)
✨Finding your voice and believing you belong

Luke’s addiction recovery felt incredibly real - the kind of raw, honest portrayal that shows how hard sobriety is, especially when life won’t stop throwing curveballs. August’s journey toward reclaiming her power in a space that rarely makes room for her was beautiful and empowering.

🎧Narration Note: The full cast absolutely knocks this one out of the park! The podcast transcript with Jojo and Emma adds so much depth and context to Jojo's private and public life as she navigates a genre still riddled with racism. I highly recommend this format!

Final Verdict 👍 A slow-burn, messy-but-worth-it romance. Luke and August are characters with deep flaws, complicated pasts, and a magnetic pull toward each other. Their journey isn’t easy, but it’s powerful.

August lane
I finished this book a couple of days ago, but I’m only just now putting my thoughts together. This is a thoughtful book, that deserved to have just as much thought given right back to it. Regina Black is a new author to me, I haven’t read her first book, so I had no real expectations going into this — and so I was not expecting the level of nuance in this smart romance surrounding the daughter of a black country star, and the man who broke her heart over a decade ago. It explores prejudice and race in country music and the music industry as a whole, addiction, generational cycles, childhood trauma — so while this book ended up heavier than I think I was expecting going in, it felt important to press on. If you’re coming to this book looking for fluff, this won’t be the book for you right now (and that’s ok!); if you’re up for a story that has depth and a cast of beautifully flawed characters, don’t pass this one up.

Thank you @hachetteaudio and @grandcentralpub for the #gifted digital and audio copies! #hachetteaudioinfluencer

Luke Randall hates the song that made him famous. Now that he’s “used to be famous,” he hates it even more as it is the only song anyone wants him to play - because it always reminds him of her. Then he gets the opportunity of a lifetime - to open for country music legend JoJo Lane at her Country Music Hall of Fame induction concert being held in JoJo’s hometown of Arcadia, Arkansas. Luke never wanted to go back to Arcadia as his traumatic youth was filled with abuse at the hands of his addict mother. He’s also not sure he can face August Lane, his first love and JoJo’s daughter. August hates Luke, the song that made him famous, and for leaving her behind in Arcadia, where she’s barely scraping by while still dreaming of a music career. But Luke and August are going to have to face the music literally and figuratively - and if they can forgive the past, they might both find a way to a better future.

There is so much to love about this story. The brutal honesty about struggling small towns and the people trying to make ends meet in them, racism, addiction, child abuse, child neglect, and the predatory nature of the music industry are all themes that shaped Luke and August’s experiences. Because of this, both as teens and again as adults, they are riddled with emotional trauma and complex feelings around love. Black beautifully navigates these two tender people who deserve so much more than they were given in life. The core of the story is the romance between August and Luke, but I was equally intrigued by the ways other characters influenced their experiences - some in positive, understated, and transformative ways, others in deeply diabolical ways that I wish the characters were held more to account for. I did feel like the book wrapped up a little more quickly than I would have liked and I wish it closed out with more time through Luke or August’s POV.

🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Narrated by Bahni Turpin, William DeMerritt, January LaVoy, and Stephanie Cannon, the cast does an exceptional job with the leading narrative voices in the story. I thought they all brought a ton of emotion and depth to the story, especially the interview sections with JoJo.

Thank you Grand Central Pub for the ALC copy of this novel.
This was my first Regina Black novel and now I want to go back to read her debut.
I did walk in expecting a tad more romance and wooing than I was met with but the depth of Luke and August made up for it. They both come from homes that aren't 100% happy go lucky. Which makes their eventual emotional connection sweeter when they were together. Both of them understand what it's like to want someone to just simply love you as who you are not what you can offer them. I did find myself drawn to the past storyline a little smidge more than the present but that also might be because during the podcast intervals - I was drawn in to Jojo's life. The connection between what it means to be Black and a country artist was prevalent throughout the novel which was also appreciated. The audio with which I tandem read this book was narrated by the greats (Bahni Turpin, January Lavoy, William DeMeritt and Stephanie Cannon) The emotional turbulence and passion was there from the beginning until the end. They made you feel as if you were actually witnessing love all over again.

This was gorgeous! I loved the writing and the prose, the way the author was able to weave words together as part of a song essentially was just really freaking cool. I think this is going to hit a note with a lot of readers. It’s got a great exploration of many issues that feel hard earned by the end, and the romantic undertones are just so lovely. I feel like it could win awards.

My second Regina Black book after reading The Art of the Scandal.
Lucas and August are thrown back into each other’s lives in the present day when he’s invited home to sing a song with famous Black country star JoJo Lane, August’s mom, for her Hall of Fame induction. The story moves between media interviews with JoJo, the present-day connection between Luke and August, and their past love in high school. I loved the epistolary, pieced-together feeling this gave the book.

Both characters carried a lot of baggage from the past, and the echoes of that pain still follow them into the present. I appreciated seeing how they had grown in their years apart.

I especially loved the representation of Black country artists with JoJo, Luke, and August. The book honored the long history of Black contributions to country music while also exploring the difficulty of “making it” in a predominantly white genre. It was powerful to see the importance of this representation on the page. If you have been intrigued by Beyoncé and others pushing at these boundaries, you might enjoy this.

While the main focus is on the narrative between Lucas and August, the interviews scattered between sections give the audiobook a full-cast feel that I loved. The narration for the main characters was excellent and felt seamless even when the point of view switched. My only struggle was that it could be hard to tell at times whether a scene was set in the past or the present while listening.

This was a story of country music, romance, and heartbreak. Regina Black did not shy away from race, racism, trauma, or addiction. The dual POV and shifting timelines were handled beautifully, and the podcast transcripts added so much insight into JoJo.

Even though I do not like country music, Regina Black’s writing pulled me in from the start. I cannot wait to read more of her work.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

I am a forever fan of Regina Black. She’s an autobuy author and I think I loved this book even more than her debut. It is heartwrenching romantic, passionate, difficult, human and the perfect read going from Summer to Fall.

Synopsis:

“Every Thursday night, former country music heartthrob Luke Randall has to sing “Another Love Song.” God, he hates that song. But performing his lone hit at an interstate motel lounge is the only regular money he still has. Following another lackluster performance at the rock bottom of his career, Luke receives the opportunity of his dreams, opening for his childhood idol—90’s era Black country music star, JoJo Lane, who’s being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. But the concert is in Arcadia, Arkansas, the small hometown he swore he’d never see again. Going back means facing a painful past of abuse and neglect. It also means facing JoJo’s daughter, August Lane—the woman who wrote the lyrics he’s always claimed as his own. August also hates that song. But she hates Luke Randall even more. When he shows up ten years too late to apologize for his betrayal, she isn’t interested in making amends. Instead, she threatens to expose his lies unless he co-writes a new song with her and performs it at the concert, something she hopes will launch her out of her mother's shadow and into a songwriting career of her own. Desperate to keep his secret, Luke agrees to put on the rogue performance, despite the risk of losing his shot at a new record deal. When Luke’s guitar reunites with August’s soulful alto, neither can deny that the passionate bond they formed as teenagers is still there. As the concert nears, August will have to choose between an overdue public reckoning with the boy who betrayed her, or trusting the man he’s become to write a different love song.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Dual Timeline—A second chance romance will always be that girl.

The Passion and Yearning—UGH IT WAS SO GOOD. If you liked Seven Days in June, I felt similarly about the second chance aspect. The love runs so deep.

The Writing—Regina Black is truly masterful/

What Didn’t Work For Me:

Nothing! I thought it was really well done. There are long chapters, which was tough for me in this season but that’s a me problem.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

abortion, child abuse, substance abuse, alcoholism, emotional abuse, racism

✨ Review ✨ August Lane by Regina Black, Narrated by Bahni Turpin, William DeMerritt, January LaVoy & Stephanie Cannon

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Lucas and August are jolted back together in the present day, when he's invited home to sing a song with famous black country star JoJo Lane, August's mom for her hall of fame induction. The story jumps between media interviews with JoJo, the present-day story with Luke and August, and their past love in high school – I loved the sort of epistolary, cobbled together field of this.

Second-chance romance isn't always my favorite but I thought it worked here. Both had a lot of baggage in the past (and still the echoes of this baggage in the present), and I appreciate the ways their characters grew in their time apart.

I loved the representation of Black country artists – with JoJo, Luke and then August, recognizing the long contributions of Black artists, the challenges of "making it" in a white genre, and the importance of having this representation around us. If you've been interested by Beyonce and other's pushing at these boundaries, you might enjoy this!

🎧 While this is mostly narrative between the two main characters, the interviews interspersed between the sections of the book make this feel more like a full cast audiobook, which I loved. The narration for the main characters was great and seamless even when the POV switched between chapters. My only complaint was that sometimes it was hard to tell if the story was in the past or present in the timeline while listening.

Overall another great one by Regina Black!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25 stars)
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: small town Arkansas
Length: 11 hours
Reminds me of: anything by Kennedy Ryan and Art of Scandal Regina Black
Pub Date: July 29, 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ Black country artists
⭕️ second chance romance
⭕️ family drama
⭕️ small town stories

I just started reading "Black Romance" this summer! I'm thrilled to have read this second-chance romance by Mrs. Black. Not only did the author introduce some people to the fact that black people love country music, but she also presented the real-life drama of small-town America. The setting, characters, and language are spot on! I'll recommend this story time and time again!

Second chance
Black country stars
Interview format
Dual pov / past present timelines
I liked this book, it was just very sad honestly. I liked the interview format a lot along with her mom as part of it.

If it wasn’t for the audio I think I would’ve been confused with whose pov it was. In the same chapter it goes from hers to his pov and I would’ve liked it if there was more interview format

I loved the storyline in August Lane. I don't listen to much country music but I can still appreciate what the story is saying even without knowing all the ins and outs of the industry. The characters themselves weren't my favorite but they weren't all that bad either. August Lane was a people pleaser. I wish she would have done therapy or something to help her break that. I don't feel like living HEA with Luke is going to heal that girl scared of abandonment. Luke was a mean drunk and not much he did redeemed him. August gave in to easily. She never knew how to be mad and make it count.

I started August Lane last night. At 10pm. I do that sometimes because I have no respect for sleep. This book is making lose all remaining respect.

I read until 12:30am. Tried to sleep, kept thinking about August and Luke. Got back up, picked up my kindle and then it’s 2:00am. I have to be up at 7. NBD. It’s Friday. It will all be ok.

This book is good. The writing is good. There are dual timelines and it’s a slow burn. Most books you can tell from chapter one if it’s going to be one you can’t put down. This is it. The writing to me is like a melody. It sways. I had some soft love songs playing in the background while reading. It was the perfect setting.

I was sat for the slow burn story of August and Luke forgiving their past as they work together towards their future. Everyone who loves love needs to read this book.

August Lane is out now and I just knew from the moment I started reading this book that I'll need to slow down and savor it because its one of those stories that I'll wish I could experience for the first time all over again. And I was right! I loved this book!

Here's what drew me in and firmly held my attention

●Everything Black country music
●Some second chance friendships
●Physically and emotionally abusive mothers
●Estranged family relationships
●Small town drama
●Racism and discrimination in the country music industry
●Addiction
●Grief
●August & Luke's history, reconnection and chemistry. There's a love/hate relationship going on that's understandable
●Jojo is a very interesting character and I'm curious to see how her relationship with her daughter unfolds
●The chapters alternate between past and present, capturing the characters lives then and now with an easy flow

Just like my experience reading The Art of Scandal, i knew I'd be IN LOVE with all of this long before the story ended.

nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book. nice book.