Thank you NetGalley for the Arc.
This was a nice break from all the dark and intense books I have been reading lately! Clementine is just like most of us with a dream but life gets in the way of following that dream sometimes. We get stuck in our lives and it’s hard to look elsewhere in what we really want. Is it adventure? love? Found family? Maybe all of the above.

If Not For My Baby lets dreamers dream and lovers love.
Though the main character got a little annoying at times, she seemed to jump to too many conclusions, this book was hopeful and I enjoyed reading it.

This was cute, but I don’t think rockstar romances are ever fully gonna be my thing :(

What I did really enjoy was the dynamic between Clem and Halloran, their connection felt intense but also soft in a way that’s hard to explain, and I loved how he constantly called her out without ever crossing the line. They had this mix of banter, tension, and emotional depth that worked really well. That said, the romance moved way too fast for me. I love a gone man as much as anyone, but I needed more build-up, more tension before the full-on pining kicked in. It didn’t fully hit the way I hoped. Still, I liked how genuine Clem felt! Messy, funny, and figuring things out. Definitely had some fun moments, just didn’t quite sweep me off my feet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I read a lot-well over 100 books a year. But only a handful turn into something all-consuming, where I fall asleep thinking about the story, and again immediately when I wake up. When I’ve finished it I know the characters have carved a place in my brain and they’ll stay with me forever. This is one of those.

If Not For My Baby was so beautiful, and soooo so unbearably sexy. Tom was the tortured poet musician of my dreams, and Clementine was the perfect opposite to his calm restraint. She is so incredibly funny, and her growth was magical. AND THE TENSION OMGGG! I grinned wildly, swooned, laughed, and just absolutely enjoyed every word. An easy giant 5 stars ✨

Hozier will never be the same to me. I enjoyed this book from start to finish! I love that we dived into the main plot so quickly and got to feel like we were a part of the band while they toured! I felt like I was at the shows and witnessing all of the emotions that come with song lyrics and performing. Our main characters were CHEFS KISS and our side characters only enhanced the story.

3.5 rounded up ⭐️

Thank you to Berkley Romance & netgalley for the eARC!!

I'm so happy rockstar inspired romances are becoming a thing! I think If Not For My Baby had such a fun concept, I love all things music/pop culture so I really enjoyed that aspect of the book! I thought that our MMC, Tom was sooo swoon worthy. I loved the chemistry between him and Clementine!!! I also really loved all of the authors song lyrics in this book! I thought they were beautiful and really captured the vibe of the story!

Definitely recommend especially if you are looking for a sweet rockstar romance with the swooniest mmc!!!

Clementine is stuck in a small town, caring for her mom with fibromyalgia, but she is a great singer. Things happen, and she gets to be a backup singer for Halloran's new tour, who is basically Hozier. It turns out that her voice is the perfect match to harmonize with Halloran, and their chemistry singing together continues off the stage.

Super cute, loved Halloran and his introverted superstar self. Chemistry really was there, perfect levels of spice!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

Clementine is an aspiring musical talent who has been dealt a difficult hand in life. She feels music so deeply and always feels most like herself when performing. When faced with sticking by family or taking a leap of faith, Clementine always chooses to devote her time to others, only allowing herself glimpses into a life she really wants. Clementine is also not interested in putting herself out there, believing love is not for her. Why not save yourself the inevitable heartbreak, right? When an opportunity arrives to join as a backup singer for music sensation, Halloran, Clementine makes the decision to put herself out there and enjoy something for herself. During her time on the road, Clementine explores herself, her needs and what a growing attraction would mean for the life that she currently lives. Perhaps her emotional connection to music isn’t the only way she can experience such a feeling.

I connected with Clementine a lot on a few aspects of her life. I love the depiction of how music can evoke so many emotions and really allow people to express how they feel. Tom is a super sweet and lovable. A practical man who loves making music and sharing it with the world. He may have also had some demons, but he overcame them and found a new purpose in life. His journey out of the dark was just as inspiring as Clementine’s journey giving herself the opportunity to accept love and allowing herself the to love. The connection between the main characters is so organic and heart felt, and the way they respect each other is extremely wonderful to see. I loved how there was not too many setbacks, but rather two people being themselves with another person.

Favorite quotes:
“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”

“To be loved is to be known-the worst of you, the best of you.”

4.5 Stars

There’s a lot of rockstar romance out there, but this here is a soulful musician romance, and I fear I am thoroughly charmed. I had a dopey lil grin or a dramatic swoon on the whole time I was reading this book and I absolutely inhaled the endorphins I was being dosed via text. I didn’t realize a gooey romance between a romance skeptic FMC and a hopelessly romantic cinnamon roll of a heartthrob poet could hit that hard, but I’m glad I trusted my instincts about this specific book. Kate Golden I wasn’t familiar with your game but I am now.

Clementine is a theater kid, with a passion for music and a thirst for performing, and due to life reasons, she’s been stuck in her lil Texas town all her life instead of taking the world by storm. But now is her chance, and she rises to the occasion beautifully. She’s confident and talented and blunt (sometimes even a lil mean with it but her heart is in the right place) and a bit of a romance phobe. Due to ✨ past trauma ✨ . The only romance she’s into is with music and theater, and she’d like to run far away from any real feelings. Let’s just nickname her the bolter. IYKYK. Really though, she just needs that tough shell cracked like crème brûlée.

Speaking of, her life changing opportunity is touring with the dreamy and devastating, Halloran. Tom Halloran is part incredibly talented human, part fae creature of the Irish woodland, and you can tell which ethereal musician inspired his character. He’s a tortured poet, an introverted gentle giant, and a musical god. Mainly he’s the sweetest, most insightful and considerate man that ever lived. He might be the fae god in this scenario, but the sheer awe he has for Clem is worthy of any deity. He worships the ground she walks on. Let me tell you I’ve never cared for long haired men in books before Tom Halloran came along. But this man with his luscious curls and huge slutty hands and his tall tree body in slutty lit professor clothes had me rethinking my stance.

With him being a shy cinnamon roll, you’d think this book might perhaps be too sweet for me (heh), but fear not. This book is so fucking horny you guys. Ohmygod the barely concealed longing between these two from the very first moment, shifting into a barely restrained fervor for each other, eventually culminating in a cataclysmic bumping of the uglies. Wow I made that sound terrible. But trust me it’s very satisfying and very hot.

The writing is lyrical and flows like a lush waterfall, befitting the musical bent of our main characters. The Irish woodland vibes even when they’re in the states are immaculate. I was fervently wishing I could catch a flight to Ireland immediately and retire to the forests there. This is quintessential romance, but it’s also a bit of a coming of age journey for Clem, and Tom’s unwavering devotion of her through the worst of her doubts and skittishness had me sobbing into my screen. Basically I’m here again to ask: my turn when? Where are the Toms of this earth and why don’t I have one? Kidding, clearly only a woman could write one. I adored the intricacies of their tour life and even moreso the little found family they had, quirky and eclectic and dear. Most of the ensemble in fact, is compelling. Especially Clem’s relationship with her mom, complicated and heartwarmingly close. It’s like Gilmore girls if Rory was a decent person (I said what I said).

I have no words to say other than the fact that this book was mind boggling. It was absolutely beautiful. It had equal amounts of angst, spice, and romance that’s to die for. Kate Golden really outdone herself with this one.

I loved seeing the Hoizer Inspo as a big fan myself, and she really did it justice. Like yearning Irish mmc? IM IN LOVE WITH HIM. He’s in my top 10 book boyfriends now. Thomas can do no wrong except not be in my bed fr.

After finishing ‘Sounds like love’ by Ashley Poston and then jumping right into this, I realized now I have a thing for rockstar romance stories. Clemintine and Thomas just really did it for me and I can’t wait to read more stories like this by Kate Golden!

Thanks so much to Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of If Not for My Baby in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Everything I wanted in a romance novel. The writing is fun and vivid, making me feel like I am actually there with the characters. There are cute interactions and romantic vibes. Overall, I loved it.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5 🌶🌶🌶

Tropes:
🎸 Rockstar romance
🕯Slow burn
💘 He falls first
🙈"I don't believe in love" FMC x 😍 lovesick MMC
🤲🏻 Yearning

This book feels like stepping into a Hozier song in the best, most magical way. I still don’t know what kind of spell the author cast, but I was fully enchanted.

If Not For My Baby is a rockstar romance clearly inspired by a certain Irish musician (iykyk). Clementine, a waitress and hobbyist singer, leaves her small hometown for the first time after being offered a gig singing backup for Halloran, a major music star. Clementine has spent most of her life caring for her chronically ill mother, and after watching her mother’s romantic struggles, she swears off love entirely. That... gets complicated when she starts catching feelings for Halloran.

I have complicated feelings about this book. On one hand, I really enjoyed reading it—it’s a compelling, beautifully written love story. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. It hit everything I want in a romance. But I also couldn’t shake some discomfort around the ethics of basing a fictional character so heavily on a real person, especially one who has expressed a need his privacy. I won’t dwell on it, but I think it’s important to acknowledge.

That said—if you’re a fan of Hozier, you will love this. The easter eggs are plentiful, and I don’t think I’ve ever highlighted so many quotes in a book. From the performance descriptions to the original song lyrics, it truly felt like experiencing his music through Clementine’s eyes. The prose had such reverence for his music and artistry that it made the whole book feel like a slow, aching melody.

The spice is well-paced, a true slow burn with great payoff. Every time Clementine and Halloran were alone together, I was on the edge of my seat. The sexting scene on the tour bus? Cute and hot—no notes.

Ethical weirdness aside, I adored this book and will definitely be re-reading it.

"To be loved is to be known— the worst of you, the best of you."

“Without her good love my heart atrophies, I’d succumb to gloom and mourning doves, if not for my baby.”

i really enjoyed this book!! i love kate golden! i think she knows how to write an amazingly deep but beautiful story!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Having read Golden’s Sacred Stone trilogy I was curious what a contemporary romance by her would be like. I was not disappointed in the least. Tom was peak book boyfriend material. Irish singer/songwriter who feels deeply and passionately and speaks like he’s writing poetry on the fly. Oh, and he’s tall, green eyed, bearded, with long and wavy hair. This book had some real emotional depth to it and I found myself teary eyed several times. Clem and Tom were so good for each other, it’s like they reignited the excitement for the future in the other. They wanted happiness, success, and fulfillment for each other. The emotional growth of both of them, but especially Clem, was a satisfying journey to watch. I don’t want to go an anything away because it’s a journey worth making yourself.

I’ve been really enjoying this trend of rockstar romances, and this was a really fun one to read! I really enjoyed the characters, and I also enjoyed the way the tour life was depicted. I will add this to my arsenal of recommendations!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing a DRC of this title for review.

For rock star romance fans + folks who go in knowing that If Not for My Baby is pretty much Hozier RPF, I would recommend!

3.5 stars/5.

This novel is filled with excellent characters that pop off the page. Each person has unique traits and faults that made him or her feel real to me. The chemistry between Clementine and Tom sizzles and is some of the best I have ever read. Both Tom and Clem brought past heartbreaks and fears to their relationship and I felt all the emotions as they got to know and attempt to trust each other and their own feelings.

The road tour life of a music group felt authentic and the grueling hours as well as joy of performing made me feel as if I were touring with the band. I always had a difficult time putting this novel down, but also couldn't wait for my reading time the next day. I loved this novel so much that I bought previous books by this author before I even finished reading this one. I received an early digital review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I saw some other reviews that called this a slow-burn and I have to politely disagree, there’s nothing slow about this story. It made for a fun and steamy read, but when you’ve got the MMC professing his love for the FMC after they’ve literally only had two conversations with each other, my skepticism was high. I felt like they barely knew each other? Add in the age gap factor and I couldn’t help but feel this rockstar was really “in love” with the fact the she’s hot, young and blonde.

There were also issues with Clementine as a character. Her motivations were confusing and there wasn’t enough time spent getting to know her which didn’t help the romance feel believable. For instance I think the author could have done a better job exploring her distrust of love and relationships… it just didn’t really make sense or seem believable. If she hates relationships, why does she go on so many dates?

That being said, the second half of the book redeemed itself. I really enjoyed the fact that Tom was quiet, intelligent and sensitive and not the aggressive or overly masculine type. The ending was very sweet and romantic and I think served the appropriate justice to everyone. Overall, I enjoyed it!

I'm squealing!! What a beautiful perfect ending for a story that felt like warm golden light while I read it. People who are discovering Kate Golden for the first time with this book will be shocked that it's her first contemporary romance novel. The writing is eloquent and lyrical, a perfect reflection of the characters, and the storytelling was smooth like butter. I'm so proud of Kate for what she's done with this book that started as just a fun idea!

Clementine is a server in her small hometown. She has stayed there to care for her mom who has a chronic illness. Basically, her life is going nowhere and she's fine with that. But when her friend needs Clementine to take her spot as the backup singer on tour for the popular Irish rockstar, Halloran, Clementine finds herself picturing a different life for herself for the first time.

There was so much more to the main characters than what meets the eye. I loved watching them help the other bloom and cheer each other on the whole time. Like, Halloran? A man who cries?!!! Is he real?? (ok no he's not but I'm in denial) He is the epitome of "it's always the quiet ones," loving and supporting Clementine until she's ready to let them happen.

Let's not forget the supporting characters! I loved all of them and wouldn't be mad if we got more from some of them!

BRB, buying tickets to a certain Irish singer's show and then sneaking onto the bus in hopes that he'll fall in love with me.

Thank you Berkley for gifting me the eARC of If Not For My Baby!

Watch my IG for edits and reels for If Not For My Baby leading up to pub day! @meetcutesandco

“Cloaked in violet shadow he strolls toward me like some kind of mythical folk-rock Jesus.”

Kate Golden’s Dawn of Onyx series is one of my all-time favorites, so when I found out she was writing a rockstar romance inspired by Hozier—who I am a big fan of—I was beyond excited. Honestly, I may have let out an actual screech when I received an ARC of If Not For My Baby.

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. Golden brings in her writing style to perfectly capture the tortured-artist energy we love in our tall sad boy. It’s angsty in all the right ways, deeply romantic, occasionally heartbreaking, and yes—deliciously spicy.

While it’s clear that the male lead draws some inspiration from Hozier (think: poetic, introverted, Irish musician), the characters totally stand on their own.

One of the best parts of the novel was the strong theme of found family. There’s something incredibly heartwarming about characters discovering new versions of themselves through connection, support, and shared experience—especially against the electric backdrop of music tours, late-night games, and lack of sleep.

This book also had me laughing out loud several times. Humor in romance novels is a must-have for me, and If Not For My Baby balances the heavy emotions with witty dialogue and sweet, sometimes chaotic moments that made me fall even harder for the story.

If you love moody forest-core music, romance with soul-searching heroines, emotionally charged relationships, and that raw, earthy vibe Hozier fans will instantly recognize, this book is for you. The vibe is horny but in a deeply literary way.

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

🗸Rockstar Romance
🗸One Tour Bus
🗸6’6 Irishman
🗸Hozier Coded
🗸Hurt x Comfort
🗸Lyrical Heartbreak
🗸Found Family
🗸He Falls First, She Falls Just As Hard

If Not For My Baby by Kate Golden is out August, 7th 2025 🎸🔥❤️

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

If you love sad music, have a thing for Hozier, and watched the movie Once but wanted it to end happy then boy is this book for you!

Clementine (what a name!) is extremely jaded about love after watching her mother suffer through a string of disappointing relationships. She is an incredibly talented singer but is essentially spinning her wheels as a waitress in her small hometown when she’s granted the chance of a lifetime. She joins the tour of Halloran, a popular indie/folk/rock musician.

There’s quite a bit of emotion and heart in this one. You really feel the turmoil and joy Clementine is going through as she discovers love isn’t quite what she thought it was. And seeing Tom (Halloran) through her eyes was a delight. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted fake songs from a book to be more real like I have with these!

Thank you to Berkeley publishing for this advance reader copy.