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

Yes, yes, 1000 times yes. I'll take books that feel like Hozier's yell any day of the week.

In this stunning story between a rock star who is definitely not Hozier (he is) and his last minute replacement back up singer, you get to experience an absolute love for music, found family, and top notch yearning from a man who is the very epitome of "down bad." Tom Halloran is soft-spoken and private, but it belies a passion and a love for his craft. And Clementine who often feels like a feelings-less robot is perhaps the most compassionate and empathetic character in this book. These two are drawn together and it makes me so terribly sad to only get to be in their world for such a short time.

This book has so much depth to it. The writing is fantastic, the cast of characters is well thought out and developed, and the love story between Tom and Clementine is next level. Golden really did an amazing job with these two and I loved every second of reading this book.

You will not want to miss out on this one.

🎀“They won’t be back for an... hour at least.”
🎸“I’ll need far longer than that to do with you all the things I’d like.”
🎀“Do them now,” I beg.
🎸“You’re going to have to learn a bit of patience.”
🎀“I’m American... We’re big on instant gratification.”
🎸Tom seems about to laugh again, but is distracted by my near nudity. His gaze gobbles up every inch of my skin. His hands skate up my thighs. “Jesus Christ.”
🎀I tremble. “They’re just my legs.”
🎸“Nothing about you is just anything.”

I LOVED this scene so much.!!!! It perfectly captures the tone of the whole book 💗

Kate Golden’s writing felt easy and natural to fall into
I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, the music, and the inner dialogue
The references to other bands and songs sprinkled throughout made it even better, and I loved he original lyrics!!!

There were a few parts that didn’t quite land for me... but honestly? The good far outweighed the bad.

If you’re looking for a Hallmark style rockstar romance (with more steam 2/5🌶️) this is the one for you!!
Tom + Clem are a great match in my book 💕

Interesting premise and a lovely cover. The dynamic of between Tom/Halloran and Clementine was engaging. Lots of good tension, a slow burn and chemistry made for a good read.

DNF at 50%…I tried so hard to get into this book, but I couldn’t. If Not for My Baby is the first book I’ve read from Kate Golden. I couldn’t stand any of the characters in this book. Clementine seemed too immature. Tom was supposed to be this cool mysterious rockstar but he didn’t have any personality whatsoever. I wasn’t a fan of the instalove in here and some of the writing just didn’t land right.

4.25/5 stars.

This book is 100 percent Hozier fan fic and it was SUCH a good time. It is so broody, angsty, and filled with allll the yearning! Clem agrees to go on tour with Halloran to cover the costs of a new clinical trial for her mom's fibromyalgia. From the start, she is thrown into a whole new environment and experience for her as she has never left her small town in Texas. Meanwhile Tom Halloran is a lyrical and musical genius, but extremely closed off - even from his band. Right away these two had chemistry and tension, but kept their distance from each other. This give us SO much buildup and anticipation. I absolute loved the forced proximity and emotions we got from them singing and touring together! I loved both characters development as individuals and as a couple (my FAVE when they both get individual growth but also grow as a couple).

I also loved the found family aspects within the band and how much they bonded and cared for one another. I really hope we get some related books in a series for some of the side characters, because they were great!

The audio of this was AMAZING. Eric Nolan is an actual DREAM in the audio 😜 His accent is the most delicious thing and I was melting the whole time I listened to it. It is a duet narration as well, so even though it was all in her POV, every time Tom speaks its with the male narrator. I loved the emotion both narrators brought to the roles. Well done!

If you want an angsty, year-filled, slow burn rock star (Hozier) romance, I cannot recommend this one enough!

Thank you Berkley and PRH audio for early copies of the book!

I ate this book UP. It was so good. But I’m also a sucker for an Irish mmc 😍😍😍 I was ready to jump through my kindle and shake Clem to her senses!!!

This book follows a hopeless romantic man and a girl who doesn’t believe in love - the chemistry between them right off the bat is chefs kiss 🤌🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc!

If Not For My Baby is out August 5th!

Me at the start of this book: there's no way I can take this seriously
Me at the end of this book: TRUE LOVE IS REAL

Listen, I did not want to love the Hozier fanfiction book. It is not subtle at all about the fact that it's fanfiction. When I started it, I felt like I was dropped into a Wattpad Y/N story with an FMC who could be any one of us living in a fantasy world where Hozier magically falls in love with us. I could be that girl!

And then...they did start falling in love and something changed. I couldn't put it down, and I was so enamored with the yearning and their chemistry. I also was lucky enough to download the audiobook ARC of this thanks to the PRH Audio app, and I started switching between the Kindle book and the audiobook so that way I could be reading it at all times.

My heart broke for both of these damaged souls trying so hard to not give into something that felt like it couldn't last. The whole cast of side characters was so fun too.

Was this the best book ever written? No. Is it absolutely still glorified fanfiction at its core? 100%. But damn if it's 5 stars based on my pure enjoyment of it.

Have you ever fantasized what it may be like to be whisked away by Hozier? (me me me!!) Well here’s your chance to find out!

If Not For My Baby may have been the most poetic romance I’ve read in a while. I haven’t read many rockstar romances, so the aspect of song lyrics throughout the book is pretty new to me. Kate Golden really has a way with words - the lyrics for the songs in this book were magical and fit Tom, his life, and his and Clementine’s relationship to a T.

I don’t think I could’ve hidden how I felt about this book while reading it even if I tried. Their (somewhat) secret relationship had me giggling, the flirty scenes had me blushing, and the found family / relationships in this book had me teary eyed. If Not For My Baby really hit me from left field and has made it’s way on the list of my top reads of the year!

⭐️: 5/5
📖 pub date: 8/5/25
☘️ rockstar romance
🎤 lead singer x backup singer
🗽 he falls first
🧊 found family
🍊 Hozier coded (he’s Irish!!)
🥂 sneaking around

Thank you Berkley Romance for the gifted eARC & finished copy!

This book swept me up in the quiet, aching kind of way—the kind that lingers in your chest a bit after you finish. It’s deeply character-driven, almost meditative in how it moves through grief, memory, and love. There’s a softness to the writing that makes space for vulnerability, and I found myself especially taken with the male main character. Yes, he’s clearly Hozier-inspired, and that absolutely worked for me—gentle, intense, lyrical in both presence and voice.

The pacing is slow in a way that feels deliberate, like the story is more interested in emotional resonance than hitting plot beats. I loved that. But I’ll be honest—there was a bit more angst than I typically reach for, and some of the miscommunication stretched a little long for my personal taste. Still, I appreciated how emotionally honest the whole thing felt.

Now, on the RPF critique: yes, there are definitely moments that seem pulled from real-life interviews—but to me, that doesn’t make it exploitative or inappropriate. As fans, we already build fictions about public figures, especially ones as private and poetic as Hozier. We fill in the gaps with the version of them we imagine through lyrics, performances, and vibes. This book just makes that impulse intentional—and turns it into something creative, tender, and transformative. It’s not a replica of a real person—it’s a story about the idea of someone like that, and how that kind of presence can stir up deep, emotional truths.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 @berkleyromance 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬!

You know this novel is everything when you’re only supposed to read up to chapter six as part of a buddy read… next thing you know you’re on chapter twenty-six and can’t put the book down! It’s been a long time since a romance delivered anything close to this one. I finished it and knew I couldn’t go into another romance novel for a bit; I would definitely miss everything 𝗜𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 delivered.
𝘈 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺… Clem, a waitress, lives at home with her chronically ill mom. She is offered the opportunity of a lifetime: joining Irish singer Tom Halloran on tour as one of his backup singers. The extra money would be a huge help towards caring for her mom as well as the ability to leave her hometown for 8 weeks to live her own dreams. As she embarks on the tour, she falls in love with the music, the lifestyle, and ultimately finds Halloran to be someone she wants to be around. It’s quite refreshing to have a FMC like Clementine. She has to make decisions not only based on herself but also the people she cares about, which leaves her guarded when it comes to love. Tom allows Clem time and space to be vulnerable and to acknowledge what she needs/wants. Their relationship is simply stunning and I need more love stories like it! Honestly, it’s hard to believe this is Kate Golden’s first contemporary romance. We/ I will be needing a whole lot more, please!

Have you ever read a book that perfectly embodies the Jane Austen quote "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more,” from Emma? Well this is the book for me. I genuinely have no idea how to convey how much I adored this.

When Clementine Clark's best friend has to drop out of her gig as a backing vocalist for Irish megastar Halloran, her first suggestion to the tour managers is to have Clementine come in & take her spot. Clementine wants to reject the offer, but it pays enough to change her & her mother's lives and get her mom into a clinical trial she needs. Overnight her life changes, going from being a waitress at the Happy Tortilla to singing in sold out stadiums. But Thomas Patrick Halloran is even more of a surprise for her. He's an introverted lyrical genius that couldn't see the world more differently than Clementine. She isn't looking for love and feels it is a waste of time, while he is susceptible to...the errant bout of excruciating yearning." Obviously, Clementine "Clem" Clark here is no match for Mr. Halloran & his masculine wiles (i.e. him calling her out for her avoidant attachment lmao).

If you're looking for a story with palpable, excruciating yearning then this is the book for you. Their chemistry was JUMPING off the page. The side characters were all great, and there wasn't that weird rivalry between the female characters that can be common in contemporary romance. I genuinely cannot say enough good things about If Not for My Baby. I haven't stopped listening to Hozier/Hozier adjacent music since finishing. Was it a little weird that this is essentially fanfic about an IRL person? Sure. But I honestly forgot about that pretty quickly as I was reading. That might be due to my inherent ignorance about most musicians though lol.

Thank you, thank you to Berkley Romance & NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this story!

““When you introduced yourself to me I thought you were an angel... Come down from on high to ruin my life.”His words might sound like an insult, but I know from the way he says them and the heat in his eyes that they’re the farthest thing from one. I stare at his mouth and swallow the urges battling across me. “Don’t worry,”I manage. “I’m not going to fall in love with you.”“Clem”—he sighs like I’ve pained him—“that’s just what I’m afraid of.””


““I can’t promise you a life free of sorrow. Nobody can. But I can swear to shelter the heart of ye with all I have.”“I don’t care.”“You do.”A tear slips down his cheek and he wipes it away. “I know that you do.””


“I could say I’m grateful the rain will mask them, but I’m learning lessons in love in real time these days: when you feel about someone the way I do about Tom, there isn’t much room for shame. To be loved is to be known—the worst of you, the best of you. Maybe that was what I was hiding from all along, and now I can’t understand why.”



ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW


I'm so happy and grateful to the day I was checking my instagram and the cover, blurb and pitch of this book caught my eye because I ADORE IT!!!!

It's everything I expected but also so so so much more. The inspiration behind it is someone I'm passionate as well, and I could see that magic woven her not only in Tom but also the way the book is written. The prose is breathtaking, it's so poetical. I wish Halloran' songs were real and I'm glad they kinda are (I'm also glad for the playlist at the end because I love playlists and this one is extra special because of the meaning music has to clementom.

Clementine is a beautiful character, we know right from the start all her reservations and doubts and how she wanted to cling to them but life helped her finally soar into her true self. Such a big heart even when she didn't notice it.

Tom Halloran the man that you are, the perfection that you are. How talented, how brilliant, how profound and emotionally intelligent even when you had stuff to heal and process to. Perfect with your imperfections.

The whole band (minus you and you, you know who you are) are the best found family Clem could've stumble on and they prove why in the very book. I just love them to pieces and I hope I get to read them all again.

I already miss them so much and o just finished reading. It's just so beautiful and has such a beautiful message about following your dreams and dare to fall in love without fear or abandon.

I'm super grateful to have been given this arc, this book is very dear to me now. And a big thank you to the author for writing it!!!

Now, I'll leave some of my favorite quotes below so please beware of possible spoilers.



“I’d rather not spend an eternity in hell, literally or metaphorically.”“Don’t knock the hell of heartache. It’s rare to feel anything in life as severely as longing. I’ve broken bones that hurt less.””


““I’ve nothing for you to worship, Clem. If anything, I’m the acolyte. I certainly think of ye each night like one.”“Before you lay your head to sleep?”I kid, even as my breath hitches. “Something like that.””

Did I just fall in LOVE with a rockstar romance?! This has never happened before!! I rarely love musician focused romance novels. . . I have nothing against musicians, but the music industry stuff is rarely interesting to me! But these characters and the UTTER romance that falls from this hero's lips. . . I loved it.

He is an incredibly introverted/reclusive, poetic, talented, sexy rockstar, and she takes a last minute gig as one of his backup singers on tour. And he says, "Jesus. Your voice." Followed by, "What a thing to behold." (Pretty sure I had to pause my audiobook to squee right then.)

If you're interested in:
• Hopeless romantic vs jaded heroine
• Yearning and longing and pining!
• Hozier vibes/potentially Hozier inspired?! (Why NOT give romance readers a Hozier inspired romance! That man writes sone swoony, swoony songs!)
• Poetic and beautifully written

Highly recommend!

OUTLIER alert.

Whelp. This is a tough review for me to write, because honestly, I have zero idea what went wrong for me here, only that it did. When I first started reading it, I was completely immersed and flying through the story. I seriously could not put it down. But once I hit the 20% mark, and we approached the romance at the heart of it, I somehow disconnected. I struggled to pick it up, found myself no longer engaged with the writing or characters, felt overwhelmed by the insta love of it all, and yet, I also struggled to DNF it.

Months passed, with the book indefinitely paused. Somehow I had now convinced myself that the audiobook would work so much better for me, and it would make sense to listen given our MMCs accent. And yet somehow the audiobook managed to emphasize all of the elements I was struggling with. Although I eventually pushed through, I think I can safely say that this one is probably just not for me. However, I’ve seen so many rave reviews, making me the outlier here and that’s totally okay because not every book is for every person. If you’ve had your eye on it, I’d definitely recommend trying it for yourself.

Read if you like:
▪️rockstar romance
▪️age gap
▪️forced proximity
▪️he falls first
▪️tour life
▪️chronic illness rep

📆 Pub: Aug 5, 2025

Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy.

Okay, I get the hype. This was my first read from Kate Golden and honestly sign me up for the rest of her backlog because I am invested in her writing. As a yearning aficionado (idk I definitely make up that word), this one easily will be a title I recommend because the yearn hurt so good.

I feel like I've read a lot of singer/rockstar/rock band romances this year so I didn't expect a lot going in, but this had all the great elements of that genre like a fun band dynamic and tour bus shenanigans, and went beyond to add an emotional mother-daughter relationship and a story of an FMC who was afraid of chasing her dreams. I loved the family relationship aspect of this, especially with the FMC's mother's representation of fibromyalgia and the struggles that come with take care of your loved ones. I also appreciated that all miscommunication was generally resolved within a few pages.

Overall, the plot was interesting and I enjoyed how music was portrayed through Kate Golden's writing.

Tropes!
- Rockstar romance (famous singer x regular gal with an amazing voice)
- Yearning and more yearning
- One... bus?
- Forced proximity
- Found family

Big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance e-copy of the book. I will definitely be going out get a physical copy on release day!

I was not aware of Kate Golden's game and now I immediately need to read her entire backlog because... this? This was a MASTERPIECE

If Not for My Baby follows a small town girl, Clementine who has dreams of being a singer but due to her mom's chronic illness does not follow them to stay by her side. She is then presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to sub in her friend as a backup singer for a Halloran's tour.

Where do I even start because I devoured this book in a day. I quite literally could NOT physically put it down. If you love a book filled with more yearning & tension > spice. PLEASE pick this up. If I could beg you to read this book I will, just let me know, I'll send a list of all the reasons.

Tom Halloran the MAN THAT YOU ARE. He is the yearning blueprint my GOD. I needed him BAD and listen if you know who this man is inspired by... it made this book sm better. I wasn't even a fan of him like that but this book got me playing his albums on REPEAT.

Tom was literally SO patient with my sweet Clem who was a love cynic. He really just gave her that space to come to her own decisions and I really adored that about this book. They also addressed it in such a lovely way... UGH this book was just perfect. I will hear nothing otherwise.

Also if you are not a fan of celeb romances... I really hope this one changes your mind because the touring aspect of it x the found family within the band was so fun. I felt like I was on tour/in the concerts with them.

A sensual and romantic story filled with heaps of yearning.

Clementine is still kind of figuring out her life and what she wants when her friend begs her to take over as a backup singer for her on Halloran's upcoming tour. She joins the tour and it changes her life forever.

The romance! Ouhhhh, the romance!!!! Clementine & Tom's chemistry and connection was everything! If you look up yearning in the dictionary, this man's face will be THE definition. From their first time really speaking by the vending machine to when they finally give in to this pull they feel toward each other, the tension was palpable. This man falls first and falls harder. This man is kind, patient and understanding. I love a gentle and softhearted MMC to my core, and he was in every way.

I just adored watching them fall head first into something so intense.

Also, this is book was primarily about the romance, but I also loved the female friendships that develop between Clem & the other women on tour.

Where this lost a star for me in the conflict/third act breakup and some thing that happens near the end. I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers, but I'll just say that it felt wholly unnecessary.

Over the course of eight weeks on tour, a guarded Texas girl and a poetic Irish rockstar find themselves caught in something neither of them expected. The romance hits early, but the connection feels honest—rooted in lyrical music, shared moments, and a behind-the-scenes band dynamic that’s full of charm and heart. Every character brings something genuine to the mix.

Let’s just say I’ll never see Barry’s Tea and Claritin the same.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the ARC!

Clementine is a small-town girl from Texas who for years has put her life on hold to care for her mom. Due to that she's basically given up on her singing dreams and settled into a quiet and simple life. Until one day Clementine gets an unexpected phone call that changes everything.
Her best friend is leaving a huge tour, and Clem is offered to fill the spot as a backup singer.
She wouldn't be backup singing for just anyone, it's for none other than the overly famous Irish singer, Thomas Patrick Halloran.

Clementine decides to take the job and follow her dreams. The tour will also make her a ton of money which she needs for treatment to hopefully help her ill mother, but it's not an easy decision to leave her mom behind. She's thrown into the whirlwind of performing live onstage in front of unthinkably large crowds, living life on the road on a tour bus, and sharing that space with a new group of people. Among those people is the wildly talented lead singer, who is nothing like she expected. Halloran is quiet, thoughtful, and very down to earth.
Their first encounter is far from glamorous, at a vending machine in a hotel, but it starts their slow burn connection that continues to grow deeper.

I adored everything about If Not for My Baby. It's SO much more than just a pretty cover. The story is well thought out from the characters to beautiful songs enjoyable plot.
I finished If Not for My Baby almost a month ago and I still keep thinking about it. It's a poetic and unforgettable love story. The chemistry between Clem and Halloran is *Chef's Kiss*. There’s tension, vulnerability, and so much emotion in their interactions. But it isn't just about romance, it's about choosing yourself even when it feels scary, and in turn finding yourself while following your dreams.
Clem’s growth was just as satisfying to watch as the romance itself.

I like that all the side character helped bring the book together and added to the story in the best way. There's no forced drama or eye-rolling cringey conflicts. Just real, believable emotions and choices.
This was my first book by Kate Golden, and it will not be my last. I devoured this story and have thought about it ever since! If you love emotionally rich, slow-burn romances with characters and a setting that completely immerses you, then If Not for My Baby is for you!


Thanks so much to NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC!

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to articulate how utterly IN LOVE I am with this book.
The longing?! The tension!? The prose!? THE FICTIONAL MAN WRITTEN BY A WOMAN!? The mommy trauma!? The vulnerability!?!?!?! I’m booking myself a one way ticket to County Kerry and naming my first born after our lord and savior Kate Golden.