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.

This was a cute, fun read! I really enjoyed Clementine’s arc and growth throughout the story, as well as how poetic and dreamy Tom was. We love a brooding Irish man. The whole aspect of life on the road with a rockstar was different than anything I’ve read before, but I honestly loved it. The found family trope was unexpected, but so great. They truly all felt like a family in the end and I would 10/10 read any books written about the band mates. Overall a great book!

Ahhhh I loved this rockstar romance from Kate Golden!!! The yearning and poetic writing/imagery in this book were top-tier. There were so many little funny moments and also heart tugging ones too 🥹 I really enjoyed this one!!

❤️Forced Proximity
❤️Rockstar Romance
❤️He Falls First
❤️Absolute Yearning!!
❤️Found Family

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the E-ARC copy of this book!

2.5 Stars

Started strong with a great set-up and a bit of a throwback New Adult angsty vibe. I had high hopes for the artistic and melodramatic souls of two people who are inexplicably drawn together. But the more I read, I came to see that it was all vibes and sex and no actual plot. No real conflict or build. The flimsiest hint of backstory that created a “non”-obstacle, the only drama in the book, that was over before it began because it wasn’t much at all.

Overall, a lot of poetic descriptions but not much else.

I really enjoyed this venture into contemporary for romantasy author Kate Golden. Is this thinly veiled Hozier fan-fiction? Sure. Is it a good time? Absolutely. If you're looking for a fun, spicy, rock start romance, this one definitely fits the bill.

OMG, this book was so poetic. I usually don't love rock/star romances but Kate Golden has changed that! Holloran was such a mystery and his broodyness kept me going. I loved Clem, our FMC. She was living a life she did not love and stepped outside her comfort zone to become a backup singer for Holloran. The found family and coziness each character brought made me feel so warm I did not want to finish it for fear of missing this story. Clem and Holloran were complete opposites but the same at the same time. This book needs to be made into a movie because I could see it played out before my eyes!

Thank you so much Berkley, PRH and net galley for allowing me to arc read this I can't wait for the world to read it.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Berkley Publishing Group.

Clementine Clark is not looking for love. Growing up with a single mom who weeps over a new guy each week tends to have that effect on a girl. But Clementine does not mind being the rational one—she is even buried her musical dreams so deeply within herself that she hardly notices the hole it is left in her life.

That is until her best friend calls her with a life-changing opportunity: to join Irish megastar Halloran on his first US tour as a backing vocalist. Clementine wants to reject the offer, but the pay is enough to change her and her mom’s life. Overnight, Clementine goes from serving enchiladas at the Happy Tortilla to belting high notes before a cheering crowd.

But the whiplash of trading small-town Texas for sold-out stadiums is nothing compared to the rush of performing with the enigmatic Thomas Patrick Halloran (Tom). Poet, introvert, and lyrical genius, Halloran quickly gets under Clementine’s skin. The two could not see the world more differently. And yet, over the course of the next eight weeks on tour, the romantic rockstar might just strike an unforgettable chord in Clementine. But will it be enough for an encore?

Rating: 4.5/5

I have not read many rockstar romances, but this one was so good. I did not expect to finish it so quickly. Clementine felt so real and relatable. And the dynamic between Clementine and Tom. Tom was never afraid of calling Clementine out on her and he did so with so much love and respect. I will say that Clementine and Tom's relationship started very quickly but they were absolutely adorable together. The chemistry and tension between them was off the charts. I had so much fun reading about them. It was so nice to slowly get to know Tom and the way both of our characters start opening up to each other was so refreshing to see. I also loved the relationship we see between Clementine and her bandmates was everything. It was honestly refreshing to see women just getting along and not having to compete and pit each other against one another. Such an enjoyable and bingeable read. I would be recommending this to everyone. This was my first book by Kate Golden and I cannot get over some of the quotes in this book. I cannot wait to read more by Golden.

I was so excited to read this book and I was not disappointed!! grumpy and grumpier is my favorite kinda romance ;) i loved that these two characters yearned for each other in a way that only people who love music can yearn, in a deep and whimsical way. in an inspiring, you and only you are my muse way. More contemporary romance from Kate Golden pleaseeeeee the language and style of the writing was so mystical.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Let me start off by saying by saying I'm not naturally drawn to Rockstar romance books. But the cover was so beautiful, and the premise was intriguing, so I decided to try it. And boy, am I glad I did!

The whole book is written from Clementine's perspective. She was raised by a teen mom in small town Texas. Her mother has a long-term illness that requires expensive medications to manage. Clementine works as a waitress and has given up her dream of singing and Broadway.

When a friend recommends her to be a backup singer for Halloran - an Irish megastar, Clementine sees the money as godsent. Overnight she goes from slinging tex-mex to singing at sold-out arenas.

Thomas Halloran is the anthesis of a typical rockstar: he dislikes the crowds and interviews. Rather, he prefers to hole up alone in his room on the bus with his tea to read and write. The more I read about Halloran, the more I admired him and the kind of man he is. Green Flags all around!

His voice and the lyrics immediately hook Clementine. But Clem has watched her mother lose herself to heartbreak over and over, and she vows never to do the same. If only they didn't have such chemistry.

This was a lyrical love story. It was beautiful to watch Clementine grow and flourish as a person as she made new friends with the band, and allow herself to love and be loved.

I may have picked this book on a whim (and to fulfill a reading challenge requirement) but I look forward to purchasing a physical copy for my bookcase (and re-reads) and to read other titles by this author.

A contemporary rockstar romance debut from fantasy author Kate Golden. Clem is sharp, messy, laugh-out-loud funny, and unflinchingly loyal, the kind of character who feels like someone you know. Sometimes her flaws feel like a call out on your own person, so it felt very real and fleshed out. And when I say laugh out loud, I did quite a few times. Tom, the MMC, is tender and challenges Clem without trying to dim her. Their relationship was a nice cross between intensity and comfort, with a lot of flirting. It was easy to feel every look and every lyric, and I believed in their romance. Bonus points for a found family dynamic among bandmates that feels warm and genuine.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📆 Pub Date August 5 2025
♥️ Hopeless romantics
♥️ found family
♥️ He yearns for her

I ate it up!!! I knew about this book before it was even available on NetGalley, so naturally when I saw it available I freaked out, requested it, and was elated when I saw the request was granted. This book was so beautifully and romantically written that it was like reading a love story in verse. Tom Halloran will fulfill all your Hozier dreams in this spicy poetic romance. A book for the hopeless romantics.

First off, this cover captures the story so well. I love it. Small-town waitress Clementine Clark lands the opportunity of a lifetime when she’s swept up into the whirlwind of Irish rock star Halloran’s U.S. tour as a backup singer. Their connection sparks almost immediately, leading to a super cozy, passionate romance!

The atmosphere was amazing. I loved the gritty, cramped tour bus vibes and the whole living-on-the-road lifestyle. It really sold the intensity between the characters. At times, the romance veers a little saccharine, but I think that’s kind of inevitable with musician characters? I imagine them as deeply feeling, poetic people, so that emotional intensity felt fitting. That said, I was hoping for more of a slow burn. The sexual tension is undeniable, and while their conversations did dip into deeper territory, things often circled back to physical attraction and felt a bit fast-paced, which isn’t my preference.

But Halloran himself was dreamy! I loved that he’s a rockstar who shies away from the spotlight—quiet, compassionate, and just here for the music. A slightly cliché conflict pops up, but the story as a whole unfolds in a really easygoing, low-angst way, which I appreciated for a rockstar romance. And surprisingly, I really enjoyed the original lyrics sprinkled throughout! I usually skip over those, but here they genuinely added something special to the story!

I had such a great time with this book!!!! The writing is gorgeous. Tom is gorgeous. The way they speak about each other makes my heart warm. The spice was SO GOOD. Some of my favorite I’ve read this year. I finished this book knowing I just read about true love. Like the elusive big picture kind. Getting to know these characters was so fun. All the little adventures that made up being on tour with a band were delightful. The friendships were so cutie sweetie baby. Clem’s relationship with her mom hit me right in the heart. I feel like they were both so scared that their baggage would ruin things and then their baggage just held hands instead. I loved it. I had the best time!!!

2.75 ⭐️

My main ick when it comes to romance stories is insta-love and sadly this one fell in that category. This is very obviously a Hozier fanfic and that would’ve been fine if the love or lust between the two characters was more developed and had less of those Wattpad moments. Some reactions and dialogue made me cringe and reevaluate the main character’s age. The plot also fell flat for most of the book so I found myself pushing through to finish. The writing wasn’t all bad which explains my overall final rating.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book !

Thank you NetGalley and Berkely for the advanced galley! This one definitely didn't disappoint - I really enjoyed how the characters were set up and seeing the story and romance progress. As someone who doesn't read a lot of real-world romances, this one has left an impression. Also, whoever coined this as a Hozier romance, you have forever changed how I think when I listen to his songs. Not a complaint though.

4.75*
This is my first book by Kate Golden and it did not disappoint!
This story was so beautiful, poetic, heartbreaking, healing, and soulful.
Kate literally writes poetry in these dialogues.

This Story is following Clementine and Halloran.
Clementine lives in a small town with her mother. She has a deep passion for music but was never able to pursue it because she stayed in town to look after her mom who is sick.
Halloran is a big time Irish rockstar who is struggling to find joy in what he is doing anymore.

Clem’s bestie, Everly, is the backup singer for Halloran but when she gets the opportunity to open for a big country star she has to take it.
Clem takes Everly’s place and is now going to be on tour with Halloran.

Did I forget to mention that Clem is the BIGGEST cynic on love..

And so their secret story begins on tour!

This story wreckedddddddd me.
I need an Irish man STAT!
I love Halloran. He is so soulful and hopeful when it comes to Clem.
She brought life back into him and he just fell head over heels and was so vulnerable.
Clem begins to let loose those cynical thoughts when Halloran was around. She supported him and wanted to protect him.

It was so beautifully and heartbreakingly told.

Don’t worry it is a HEA!
I loved experiencing tour life and the relationships she made with the bandmates.
Halloran acted like a kid on Christmas morning when he got to spend time with Clem and I loveeeee it!

Highly recommend!
Congrats Kate on an amazing release!

This is a sweet debut rockstar romance - is it Hozier fanfic? Probably? I felt there were some cliche situations that reminded me a lot of other romances I read ( the sick single mom always falling in love), but the overall vibe was a feel good story with music at its center.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!