Thank you so much to Berkley Romance #BerkleyPartner for the free book & ebook!

This book will be out on August 5th.

This book just hit the spot for me! From the very beginning I knew I was going to love this one. Celebrity romances is one of my favorite tropes and oooh this one just was so good.

Clementine has dreams of being a performer but life setbacks has her staying close to home to care for her mom but the opportunity to tour with a rockstar (Tom) Halloran. She has never done anything like this before and is nervous to leave her mom. I love seeing Clementine grow while on this tour. She became close with the other band members and singers and it was this little found family.

I love watching the relationship between Clementine and Halloran go from coworkers to something more. Halloran is quiet, reserved and doesn't enjoy all that comes with being a celebrity. Clementine is not used to the fast life that comes with being in the rockstar world. And that is where that connection with the other band mates come in, they really swooped in and took care of her. Halloran was just so protective of Clem before they even established any sort of relationship. I just love seeing them bond and share their stories and really be vulnerable.

This is a debut author and I thought she really knocked it out of the park. The book was much spicier than I was anticipating and I was not complaining!

I highly recommend if you love a rockstar x normie romance, banter, life on the road and just overall love a romance!

If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden

4.75/5
OBSESSED is an understatement. I seriously could not put this book down, and honestly, I didn’t want to. I never know how I’m going to feel about rock star romances, but this one completely BLEW me away. The way Kate Golden writes is so lyrical and emotional, like the feelings just fly off the page. The way she captures visual scenes was stunning, I am someone who struggles to picture things while reading, and I swear I saw every moment unfold in vivid detail. I felt like I was there, living every moment.

The yearning. The chemistry. The banter. TOP TEIR. This book is messy, romantic, tender, and emotionally charged in the very best way. Kate has a talent for writing slow burn tension that makes you feel like you're holding your breath the entire time. And when it comes to characters? She nailed it.

And TOM HALLORAN?? He literal embodiment of swoon.. I was head over heels for him on every. single. page. Everything he said felt like pure poetry. The lyrics. The passion. Kate’s descriptions of his performances made me feel like I was one of the fans in the crowd, desperate just to be in his presence. And the way he loves Clementine? Soft, steady, and absolutely breathtaking. He treats her like she’s the most precious thing in the world, and honestly, I fell in love with him right alongside her.

Clem was such a beautifully written, relatable character. Her love for musicals made my theater-loving heart so happy, and I adored seeing the world through her eyes, everything was big, magical, and meaningful. Her fear of love, rooted in past pain, felt real and raw. Sure, I wanted to shake her at times (GIRL.TALK TO HIM AND TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL!!), but her growth was phenomenal. By the end, she was choosing herself and embracing love on her own terms, and it was so empowering to witness.

Even though Tom and Clem’s relationship starts quickly, the emotional and romantic build-up is so well done. Honestly perfection. The sexual tension between them (especially on stage), don't even get my started, it was UNREAL. I loved how Tom didn’t push or pressure her, instead giving her time and space to process her feelings. I also just loved how utterly OBSESSED he was with her. Watching them slowly open up to one another on tour was just so soft and swoony.

And the found family with the band? It was EVERYTHING. Watching Clem build friendships and find connection with this quirky, lovable crew was so heartwarming. Clem letting people in, making real friendships, it melted me. I only wish we had more time to dive into their individual stories because I loved them all. I wanted to live on that tour bus!

Having loved Kate Golden’s The Sacred Stones fantasy trilogy, I was excited to see her try something new, and she delivered. Her contemporary debut was nothing short of magical. Kate, please keep writing contemporary romances alongside your fantasy worlds, because this story? I’m never getting over it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

RUN to the shelves on August 5th so that you can read this book!!

I loved this!! The tension was so great and I really liked the characters. Clem and Tom had such great chemistry and all the side characters were a blast. I actually laughed out loud so many times when the whole gang was together joking around. Tom was so sweet to Clementine and his sincerity felt genuine. It's such a departure from the "typical rockstar romance" and I thought it was a great contrast. They really did a lot of growth together throughout the story. Such a great story and Kate's writing was fun to read!!

I could not stop reading this one!! I almost let my Duolingo streak lapse to stay with the characters for just a little longer.

Clementine was a convincing small town musical nerd who avoided romance at all costs. She witnessed her mother go through too many heartbreaks growing up, and develop a chronic illness along the way. She avoids feeling like she needs anyone as a result, which is understandable but tragic.

She did sometimes come across as “too perfect”, having perfect pitch and never seeming to need rehearsals, which I know can annoy some readers. However, if you accept that this world is filled with musicians who get it right all the time, then you’ll find Clementine quite charming.

BUT HALLORAN! Be still my beating heart!! He feels so fully developed and it’s clear that Kate Golden had him fully formed in her mind as if he were a real man (I wish!). I was so impressed that his dialogue and the lyric excerpts were so distinct from anyone else’s. I wish I could listen to those songs!

If you love fish out of water, rock star romances, and men who yearn for a living, then If Not For My Baby is a MUST read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Oh My God, the YEARNING in this book! 2025 has been the year of the rockstar romance and this might be my favorite of the bunch? (And I’ve loved them all!)

I loved Kate Golden’s fantasy series and I can’t believe that this is her first contemporary romance! It’s so good She billed it as her Hozier-mance and it lived up to its billing!

The Hozier like MMC, Tom Halloran is the perfect soft Irish rockstar. The stuff he says! The lyrics! I can’t imagine the pressure of writing a character that is supposed to be a lyrical genius— but Kate knocked it out of the park. The lyrics in this are stunning and like poetry. But Tom! Truly a perfect MMC— he so open and kind and thoughtful. And the accent doesn’t hurt!

Clementine is a cynic and doesn’t believe in love, obviously. Watching her get outside of her comfort zone and start really living is one of my favorite things. The chemistry she and Halloran have both on stage and off is 🥵 and I am obsessed.

I loved this book cover to cover! Cannot recommend enough!

Read if you like:
- Rockstar Romance
- He Falls First (and Harder)
- Doesn’t Believe in Love x Hopeless Romantic
- Down BAD
- Found Family
- Big Eldest Daughter energy
- Hozier/6’7” Irish MMC

Thank you to Berkley for the free finished copy and eARC!

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you so much Kate Golden , Berkley Publishing & NetGalley for the opportunity to receive this arc in exchange for my honest opinion !

This book was truly beautiful and it took me by surprise . The FMC and MMC were broken in their own way and were perfect for each other . The songs , the love , the beauty of their story - I’ll never forget it ! Definitely reading all of Kate Goldens work . The only thing I would have loved to seen was some of Tom’s POV . This book is told from just Clementines POV .

If you love rockstar romance , he falls first , celebrity , forced proximity romance ? Please give this a go !

If you’ve ever wanted a bit of “Coyote Ugly” but with a rockstar and tour bus and the most amazing cast of characters, well, this is it. @kategoldenauthor wrote such a swoony and dreamy and fun and delightful book and it’s got me firmly in my rockstar romance era. As always, thank you to @berkleyromance for this ARC!

Clementine and Tom have the best tension and chemistry. You have forced proximity (touring on a bus together) and the fact that Tom is so down bad for Clem (he loved her VOICE - and the rest of her, too). You have a bit of the forbidden aspect because they’re touring together. They banter and they flirt and they both PINE (but no one pines like Tom because his pining is pure poetry).

Clem is so “the bolter” coded but it’s a shell she’s built up over time to protect herself. I loved how real she felt and how we spent so much time getting to see her not only fell in love with Tom, but develop her own found family relationships with the rest of the band.

And Tom, I mean. He YEARS. He’s a bit broody and a bit closed off, but mostly he’s just quiet and introspective. And he is so head over heels for Clem in the purest ways. The man would crawl on all fours over a river of lego pieces just to get to her, and if that’s not the energy in other MMCs, I don’t want it.

Kate did a fantastic job making me fall in love with Tom and Clem both as a couple and as individuals. I was rooting for both of them to succeed - Clem to find her happiness and live for herself, and Tom to find his peace. They helped each other get to that and it was such a joy to read.

Plus, like always, Kate nailed the spicy scenes. Never has the back of a bus been so hot. The way he worships her….no, I mean, it’s SO GOOD.

Rockstars will forever be hot to me, and Tom Halloran will always live in my brain.

If Not for My Baby was everything I wanted it to be and a little more. It’s messy, emotional, romantic, and soft in all the right ways. Kate Golden has a way of writing slow burn tension that feels like you're holding your breath for 300 pages.

Clementine is such a grounded, relatable main character. She’s not chasing fame, she’s not looking for love, she’s just trying to get through life and take care of her dad. And then she’s thrown into this surreal whirlwind of a music tour and ends up singing backup for the one and only Tom Halloran.

Tom is what every fictional rockstar boyfriend should be. Quiet, poetic, emotionally repressed in a deeply romantic way. The kind of man who writes love songs and actually means them. Their chemistry builds so slowly, so intentionally, that when things finally happen, it hits.

What I loved most was how much heart this book had. The music scenes felt alive. The friendships on the tour bus were comforting and warm. And the way Clem and Tom understood each other without always needing words? Yeah, that got me.

There’s a third act breakup that made me want to scream a little, but I understood it. These are two people who are scared, who’ve lived hard lives, who are trying to figure it out. And watching them get there felt earned.

i am in complete shambles…

this is by FAR the best book i have read all year. this is going to stick with me and consume me for the rest of my life. i’m already longing to reread and be back on that tour bus with that band. tom is THE book boyfriend. he is so hozier coded it’s not even funny. i genuinely fear ill never feel this way about another man fictional or not ever again. i literally just can’t stop crying. that felt so real and it was so raw. kate golden is a mastermind.

Another book by Kate Golden that will go on the top of my recommendations lists for years to come. Her writing is beautiful and that didn't change with the change from fantasy to contemporary. The way that this woman writes romance is swoon worthy and leaves you wanting in the best possible way until the very end. If you like rockstar romances, you will enjoy this book. If you don't like rockstar romances, you will enjoy this book. It's written in a way that is unlike any rockstar romance that I have personally read and I just loved every single second of it.

We have the set up of a rockstar and his back up singer, a recipe for an amazing story right out of the gates. But you add the extra layer of a romantic and a cynic to that and it makes it that much more delicious of a story.

Clementine (the cynic) grew up watching her mom get her heartbroken over and over again and grew up much faster than she should have had to due to circumstances outside of everyone's control. I enjoyed her point of view throughout the entire book and how she grew into herself and her perspective slowly started to change and shift. The people pleaser, parentified, eldest daughter in me saw herself a bit in Clem so it was easy for me to root for her to get her happily ever after.

And her counterpart was Tom Halloran, who is the absolute romantic who literally writes and preforms music about love and life and the highs and lows that come with it. He was dreamy. That's it, point blank. I'm in love with him. I loved literally every single thing about him, no complaints. This was the definition of a man written by a woman in the best possible way. I will be thinking about him for a very long time to come.

Their dynamic was such a fun time and I ate up their chemistry from start to finish. The banter was bantering and I loved the fact that when Clem got all cynical about things, he didn't chastise her for it - just kept on bantering with her. He never tried to change anything about her, he just accepted her as she was and loved her for it. The way that their love story pans out over the book was genuinely such a pure delight.

I also really enjoyed the found family aspect in this book. It's one of my favorite tropes ever and to see it done in the way that Kate Golden did with the tour family was just absolutely lovely.

I really hope that this isn't the last contemporary that we get from Kate Golden because I would just continue to eat up anything and everything that she has to offer us! Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this one. It's definitely a highlight for the year and it was so nice having an anticipated release really deliver on such a high level!

- rockstar romance
- he's a hopeless romantic
- she's a bit of a cynic who doesn't believe in love
- he falls first and hard
- a man who yearns and pines
- found family on a tour bus
- "get your hands off her"
- a bit of sneaking around
- he takes care of her when she's drunk
- late night sexting
- he's irish
- a bit of forced proximity

I absolutely LOVE Kate Golden's fantasy romance series (A Dawn of Onyx) so I immediately requested this when I saw it listed. I wasn't really sure what to expect with her first contemporary romance, but boy was this a great read. At this point I'm convinced Kate Golden cannot write a bad book, I don't think she has the ability to write a bad book. I will simply devour it every time.
I loved the music aspect of this book, and the discussions surrounding how music can change a person's life. I also loved the anxiety aspect of Halloran, it was very relatable.

I did knock off a star because there were a few very cringy lines, and there's truly only so many times I can hear about how enormously huge he is and how itty bitty tiny she is.

Okay, this book opened my eyes to rockstar romances and I will definitely be picking up more of them!
3.5 stars!
I went into this knowing it was "inspired" by a famous singer. but I was a little surprised at how much it felt like fanfiction, but just with his name changed. There was very little separation to me. I've come to learn that fanfic about real people can feel pretty invasive so I think it's important to envision Halloran as an entirely separate fictional character, despite the similarities, which I did. But I would've preferred a bit more originality and uniqueness.
I still had a great time reading this though. There were a lot of beautiful moments in this book. The writing was okay overall but some of the more poetic parts really stood out to me and I enjoyed those aspects. It did feel out of place and clashed at times when it contrasted with the more modern, simple tone.
The incorporation of music intertwined through everything was a nice touch since the lyrics were so beautiful. (I would've preferred listening to an audiobook of this though for the full effect)
While a lot of incredibly romantic things were said, the romance itself felt a little unbelievable and surface level to me, but I did enjoy the build up and the spice payoff. I think it's mostly because it was too quick and the conflicts were a bit immature. For these types of characters, I wanted it to go a bit deeper and more gritty. I really liked the found family aspect, but also think that could've been explored a little more. There were also some very touching and impactful life lessons woven throughout. Overall, I just wanted a bit *more*
I honestly probably won't think about this book much down the road but had an enjoyable experience while reading it and recommend for anyone wanting a quick, easy palate cleanser!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing this e-ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the lyrical genius that is Kate Golden for the ARC of If Not For My Baby in exchange for my honest review. Which is this: five stars. All the stars. Every single one in the sky. Possibly even a few stolen from Hozier’s eyes.
This book will be released on August 5th, also known as my birthday, also known as a national holiday in brebre’s delulu land. Was it written for me personally? I’m not saying yes, but the universe clearly is.
From the very first page, I was feral. FERAL. There’s an illustrated Hozier with a butterfly perched delicately on his cheek and a flower tucked in his hair — I nearly wept. But then I saw that Minnesota wasn’t on the tour schedule and my rage came back just as fast. I respect the petty. I respect the pain.
Clementine is, how do I put this delicately… c*nty in the best way, and I say that with full reverence. She is bold, blunt, booking dates for mid-shift at the restaurant she works at, and main character-ing every inch of this novel. I fell for her immediately. I want her in my group chat. I want her memoir. I want her judgmental eye on all my past situationships.
And then there’s him. The Irish, folk-rock, mythical “cloaked in violet shadow” man who walks like a metaphor and talks like an acoustic guitar. Is he described in ways that occasionally made me go full eye-roll emoji? Yes. Did I eat it up anyway? Also yes. Because sometimes a girl just needs a 6'6”gentle giant who’s allergic to the male gaze and emotionally fluent in trusting his partner. That’s feminism, baby.
Also, the “I’m grand” line? Please. I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Every Irishman in fiction should be legally required to say this at least once or I’m calling the embassy.
The grand gesture scene was everything. EVERYTHING. And this time, the girl gets to make the move? Inject it into my veins. It’s the perfect inversion of the trope and it gave me actual butterflies. Not metaphorical ones — like, my stomach did things.
Bonus: this book somehow packed in a million music references (usually a recipe for cringe) but it worked. Every lyric, every nod, every metaphor to nature, art, and mythology felt like it belonged. The whole thing reads like a mixtape made by someone who romanticizes the end of the world while barefoot in a forest — i.e., someone who listens to Hozier. Religiously.
Look, I know way too much about Andrew Hozier-Byrne for it to be normal. I’ve studied the man like he’s the Rosetta Stone of my soul. So when I tell you the MMC in this book is undeniably Hozier-coded, I say that with the authority of a woman who has spiraled deep into the YouTube interview archives and come back changed.
So if you’ve ever found yourself sobbing to a Celtic-soul anthem about death and desire while whispering “he gets it,” or if you’ve ever screamed “TAKE ME TO CHURCH” like a prayer and a threat, then If Not For My Baby is your next obsession.
Romanticizing the apocalypse? Check.
Greek mythology? Check.
Songs about sex, love, death, religion, nature, and maybe God herself? Big fat check.
This book is for the indie pop sad girls, the mythologically inclined, the tour bus dreamers, and the delulu romantics.
And me. It was made for me. Happy birthday to me.

4.5 ★

I am actually pleasantly surprised by this book! I know rockstar/musician romances are all the rage right now, but with so many coming out around the same time I worried if this trope would get old. It definitely doesn’t because I truly enjoyed this!

Clem and Tom’s connection was evident from the moment they met. The sparks flew off the page! And it wasn’t done in a super cringe/insta-love kind of way. They had an obvious connection from the start and then it slowly built up over time as they got to know each other. The yearning was to die for in this. Tom is a real yearner at heart and don’t we all just love a man who yearns? Tom truly set the bar so high. He never shied away from how he felt about Clem and instead of bombarding her with constant confessions of his love, he gave her the time and space to come to terms with her own emotions. He obviously showed her plenty of care and attention and was honest about how he felt, but he was respectful of the way she processed her emotions and I love that.

I adored Clementine. The way she spoke about music (not just Halloran’s but all of it) was amazing. She has such a clear passion and respect for the art and that is shown in the way she articulates herself so beautifully. I completely understand her feelings and the way she’d almost get swept away talking about it all. It’s the way I feel about books. And god what I wouldn’t give for someone like Tom to just listen intently to me ramble about my passions and then kiss me senseless. ugh.

I know that this is Hozier-inspired. And I know that some people feel fairly negative about that, which I can understand. There have been plenty of books published that were inspired by real people or fanfics of a real person that come across overly sexual and disrespectful, but I don’t think this is the case here. To start, there not a lot of “spicy scenes” or at least not as many as some led me to believe there were. Secondly, you can tell in Kate’s writing that she has a clear love and respect for Hozier and his art in the way that she discusses the importance of the art itself and what it has done for people. She also has never shied away from the fact that it’s Hozier-inspired and essentially says as much in the acknowledgments (obviously not using his name but you get it). Also, while she did use looks and music as a basis for her character, Tom still remains HER character. It’s not like she (or any of us for that matter) knows Hozier on a personal level to be able to write a character that’s exactly him to a tee. Tom is still entirely a fictional character that happens to be inspired by a real musician.

I do understand the caution that comes with reading a piece like this though. There have been too many books published lately that over-sexualize the person in question and instead providing a legitimate story, it ends up being essentially just straight up smut about a person the entire time. I think in this case, Kate does an exactly job of riding that line between inspiration and cheap knockoff. You can tell by the way she writes, that she has a lot of respect for the work Hozier has done.

I think the only minor complaint I have is that I wish we had the chance to be more connected to the side characters, to the band! Clem later describes them as a kind of family, but I felt like I didn’t really know them all that well to really say so. I feel like this could’ve had an excellent execution of the found family trope and it just didn’t accomplish it that strongly for me. Obviously this is just my personal opinion and is this necessary for the book? no the book is good. But I feel that it could’ve been great.

One thing I really loved that Kate did was have the playlist she made for the book be at the end of the book instead of the beginning. I completely agree with her that if the playlist had been at the start of the book, I would’ve listened immediately and therefore slowly start forming an unplanned bias in my brain with expectations on how the book will go. By including the playlist at the end of the book, I’m able to avoid any unintentional biases and still get that extra special connection between author and reader.

overall I truly enjoyed this book much more than I ever thought I would.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

If Not For My Baby is out August 5th, 2025!

4.5 stars, 2 spice

<b>
“I’ll concede I’m susceptible to lovesickness. And, perhaps, the errant bout of excruciating yearning. And you?”
“And me what?”
“You’ve never been in love?”
</b>

Thank you to Berkley for the e-arc and to Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC.

LOVE the audio - DUET narration, and his accent [I’m melting]. Both of the narrators brought out the emotion in the story.

The vibe here is moody, soulful, a little brooding. Tom Halloran, is a reserved rock star known for his sensual, poetic lyrics. Then there’s Clementine, a small-town Texas waitress who ends up stepping in as a backup singer on Tom’s eight-week tour. The money is too good to pass up, and needs it to cover a medical trial her mom desperately needs for fibromyalgia, which isn’t covered by insurance.

Clementine isn’t prepared for Tom at all. There’s sooo much yearningggg, which I love, and the chemistry is there from the start. There’s some “will-they-won’t-they” energy, mostly on her side. Clementine’s been shaped by watching her mom get hurt over and over again by men, and it’s left her closed off and scared of real love. She pushes people away before they can hurt her, and she takes on way more responsibility than she should, always putting other’s needs before her own. She’s kind of stuck in a life that isn’t hers, afraid to even consider what she actually wants.

That dynamic did get a little frustrating at times, there’s some miscommunication and a few moments where I just wanted to shake her and say, <I>girl, you know that’s not what you really want?!?!?!</I>. But I also get it. She’s 24 and emotionally guarded, and her journey is about learning to let herself want more.

<I>
“I’d slice out my own tongue, offer it to my baby in hands cupped, just to taste the perfect crookedness of her smile when she swallows me up.”</I>

The tension was great, the lyricism worked beautifully, and I really enjoyed the setting of the tour and the cast of side characters. Was it a little predictable at times? Sure. But it was still so satisfying. It delivers exactly what you want from a rock-star romance, gorgeous lyrics, duets where you can’t tell if its the song or real feelings, so much tensions and emotional depth.

Would absolutely recommend this one on audio, especially if you’re a fan of contemporary romance with slow burn, a bit of angst, and lots of yearning.



___ other quotes I loved___

<I>
Though it’s gin-clear, not a cloud to be seen, the vivid blue is already melting gradually into a dusk of soft summer pink. It’s vivid, it’s stunning, it’s—“It’s you.”
I turn up to him, and Tom is pointing at the watercolor sky. The impact of his simple words make my eyes burn. He sees that view and to him, it’s the embodiment of me.


“I don’t care if you go after this musician or not. Fuck him. He’s just a man, Clementine. I just want you to go after something for yourself.”


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

If you like Hozier fan fiction, this book is for you. If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden is a rock star x back-up singer, forced proximity, strangers-to-friends-to-lovers romance.

Clementine gave up her Berklee College of Music dreams to stay in her small Texas town and care for her mom, who has fibromyalgia. Her friend, Everly, was supposed to go on tour with Irish rock star Halloran, but when another, better opportunity arises, she recommends that Clem take her place on tour. 48 hours later, and her life is forever changed. Clem finds herself singing on stage, living on a tour bus, and falling in love with a rock star.

I really enjoyed the story (5 stars!) until I did a quick google search and realized HOW much Hozier inspired our male main character. Nationality. Height. Eye color. Musical style. Spaced out album releases. Musical INSPIRATION (both the main character and Hozier love Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, and Van Morrison). Both attended Trinity College in Dublin. I even found a picture of Hozier that looks almost identical to the cover.

So, still a good story, but I just wish the author would have made it a little less copy/paste from Hozier's wikipedia page.

Ohhh my heart!!! 💖 This book was pure magic. From the stunning, fiery cover to the slow-burn romance and sizzling chemistry between Clem and Tom, I was completely swept away. 🔥

If you’re a fan of Daisy Jones & The Six or A Star Is Born, buckle up. This story has that same soul-deep connection, laced with music, longing, and electric tension. Imagine Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham vibes (but make it healthy 🥹).

🎤 Meet Clementine Clark—a small-town Texas girl who’s always put her mother’s health first. Her life takes a wild turn when she’s asked to join rising star Thomas Patrick Halloran’s U.S. tour as a fill-in vocalist. It’s supposed to be temporary. But then she meets him. 👀

Tom is the opposite of the rockstar cliché. He’s quiet, poetic, soulful—like an Irish Jim Morrison who lives in the woods and reads too many books. And the moment these two meet at a vending machine? SPARKS. FLY. ⚡

What follows is a breathtaking journey full of music, late-night conversations, longing glances, and the kind of love that makes you believe in fate. 💫 But Clem has always feared heartbreak—and Tom is known for turning it into hit songs. Can she take a chance on him, and on herself?

🌟 I absolutely adored this book. Clem and Tom’s connection is tender, fierce, and unforgettable. One of the most passionate and emotional romances I’ve read this year! 5 blazing stars!! 💕🎶

An Irish rock star romance, SOLD!

The undeniable chemistry between Clementine Clark and Tom Halloran was blasting from its pages. A tattooed, brooding singer who enjoys a deep, philosophical read might just be my secret vice. I absolutely devoured their love story. Hollaran falls first, but believes the age gap is tough to overcome. He's only 8-years older than her!!!

From the band to the many side characters on the tour and their families, everyone enhanced this love story.

Honestly can't wait to buy this book for my romance shelves!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley

Did I reread this book after finishing it in one day? Yes, I did. I could not resist myself when I read something so freaking good that put me out of my reading slump. And I still want to reread it again. I just love them so much.

Clementine and Halloran were always meant to be together. There is no if or but in the question of them. No matter how much they differ in their career paths, Clementine and Halloran were meant for each other. Clementine and Halloran just fit together with their endless insanity of creating or singing music together. They both understand the craft of music that ties Clementine and Halloran in deeper feelings.

What I love the most in this book is Halloran's endless patience and effort. Halloran never pushes Clementine, which we all love from a man. Halloran is always willing to wait for Clementine to share when she is comfortable and ready to share. It's not always easy, especially when Halloran falls for her even more. Halloran is just the best book boyfriend to have.

What I also love is the endless sexual tension between Clementine and Halloran. It makes the read so much hotter to read. And the chemistry between Clementine and Halloran is off the charts. I was just waiting for them to be together already.

thank you to the publishers for one of my new fav books <3

this is kate’s first contemporary romance debut and it did not disappoint. i devoured this, it was dreamy, it was spicy, it was fun, it was everything i wanted in a music romance. when i tell you i couldn’t put it down because it was so addicting to follow the mc’s on tour. the fmc clementine has such a big heart and puts everyone above herself and the mmc tom is an irishman (love!!!) and falls first. i definitely recommend you check this out when it releases!

clementine isn’t looking for love and has buried her music dreams out of sight and out of mind. one night, her best friend calls with an opportunity to join irish megastar halloran as a backing vocalist on his first US tour. at first, she wants to reject but the pay is enough to change her and her mom’s life (her mom is sick with fibromyalgia). thomas halloran, “poet, introvert, and lyrical genius” quickly gets under clementine’s skin. even though they see the world differently, they strike a sort of chemistry that makes you obsessed with them.

tropes: rockstar romance, forced proximity on tour, he falls first, hopeless romantic mmc x doesn’t believe in love fmc, yearning irishman, found family on tour, single pov