⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5 stars)

This was a sweet and swoony read with a fun “small-town girl meets famous musician” vibe that felt both escapist and grounded. Clementine is a strong, relatable protagonist—devoted to her family and hesitant to chase her own dreams, which made her arc feel earned and emotionally resonant. Watching her step into the spotlight was genuinely satisfying.

The chemistry between Clementine and Halloran builds slowly but surely, and their dynamic—his brooding poet energy vs. her warmth and realism—made for some charming moments. Their connection definitely had sparks, but at times I found myself wanting a bit more depth in their conversations and emotional development. The whirlwind pace of the tour and romance made some of the relationship beats feel rushed, and I wished we’d gotten to linger a little more in those quieter, meaningful moments.

That said, the music and travel aspects were vivid and fun, and the story had a lot of heart. If you're into slow-burn romance with a touch of glam and a dash of vulnerability, this one hits a nice note—even if it doesn’t quite reach a full crescendo.

I went into this book having not read anything by Kate Golden before and had such a great time, it was such an easy read and kept me hooked the entire time.

I loved the characters and the setting, Tom was very very dreamy. I really like Clementine as well, both were enjoyable characters in their own right but my god I loved them together.

It did feel a little repetitive at times, some phrasing and descriptions etc, which occasionally took me out of the story itself. However, this didn’t ruin the read for me.

If you’re looking for an easy romance read, I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus for the arc 💕

🎸 rockstar romance
💕 forced proximity
🎸 following your dreams
💕 age gap
🎸 spice

4.5⭐ rounded up!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book! I'm a big fan of the inspiration behind the story, and wasn't entirely sure how I'd find reading this with that in mind. It ended up far exceeding my expectations!

I loved Clementine, our sweet and talented FMC. The issues she faced from her own life and upbringing combined with the whirlwind situation she'd found herself in was so real and relatable. Getting to experience this story from her POV was wonderful. The way she saw our MMC was so very whimsical, soft, safe and romantic.

Tom was everything and more. The Irish (I could hear everything he said in an accent in my mind from the way things were written, so fun), how thoughtful and kind he was, everything he did felt like it was sprinkled in magic and romance. I wish he was real lol.

The story was fast paced and very fun, I read most of this in one sitting. The romance was deep, emotional and spicy. The plot had some excellent antagonists and realistic life events and circumstances working against Tom and Clementine. By the end it all felt very earned and satisfying.

I will 100% be buying this when it gets published!

Thank you to Netgalley, Quercus Books & the talented author Kate Golden for this e-ARC of If Not for My Baby.

A cosy read I was in need of. I adore this book and found it easy to read.

I just had to request this arc after reading the sacred stones trilogy.
Initially I wasn’t sure it was for me, but after a few chapters I couldn’t put it down. This is my first musician romance read and won’t be the last.
The characters, loved them, the growth, amazing, I enjoyed being able to relate to how they were feeling.

If not for my baby
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🎶 rockstar romance
🎶 forced proximity
🎶 banter and yearning
🎶 age gap
🎶 romantic MMC x cynical FMC

The way I screamed when I got approved for this book!!!! The very first thing that caught my eye was definitely the cover, the colors, the aesthetic, and what do you mean it's a rock star romance? (I haven't read a lot of these and apparently I'm missing out).

This book was every bit of fun I expected it to be! The banter was bantering, the vibes were vibing, and wow, it was so sexy. Some scenes made me even blush a little bit. The pace of the story was also quite nice to follow, I felt entertained and I wanted to keep reading.
Also I really liked the setting, and the found family that was formed on tour, but I missed more scenes on stage and more group dynamics and conversations between everybody.

My biggest issue with this book was the overwhelming Hozier reference, I mean, I knew where I was getting myself into but I didn't expected that much with the "forest daddy" and some other frases and stuffs. It was too present, all the time, til it read more like the old fashion wattpad fanfic. And for me, that affected also the depth of the romance, cause the FMC felt more a fangirl who finally gets to get on with her favorite singer instead of just a woman inlove. I still feel like their relationship was cute and hot, but at times I just couldn't pass by the bit of cringe.

Overall, this is still a book I would recommend! It was a fun experience and the author totally knows how to write a compelling story. Despite my issues I was really invested and I devoured it till the end.

I was HOOKED from the off and engulfed this novel over the course of a day, propping my eyelids open in the wee hours so that I could get to the delicious conclusion before succumbing to sleep! I was all in with Clem and Halloran's chemistry and vibes, rooting for them all the way. They'd be fools not to cast Stuart Mackey as Halloran for the film that they had better bring out - as that's who I kept picturing.

Golden did contemporary romance proud and I can't wait to see what she brings out next.

I absolutely inhaled this book and had a great time doing so! There’s something about the way that Kate Golden writes that my brain finds addictive. The plot and pacing were great, I loved the angst and the yearning, the banter was so fun, and the spice was absolutely smoking. This one will get you in the feels and reward you for it.
The real life inspiration for the MMC is very clear, but I had no problem separating that from the story and the characters, nor did it hinder my enjoyment of them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved the music, the romance, and the slow-burn vibes

This was such a comforting, emotional read. I’m a sucker for anything set on tour, and this had all the good stuff—late-night bus chats, shared headphones, and that slow, steady build between two people who clearly get each other. The music element was so strong, and I honestly wish the songs were real because I’d have them on repeat.

Clementine was such a solid main character—quiet, a little unsure of herself at first, but really easy to root for. I loved watching her slowly step out of her comfort zone and start doing things for her for once. And Halloran? Yeah. Broody Irish rockstar with a soft heart? I was sold.

Their chemistry took a bit to build, but once it did, I was fully invested. It wasn’t super spicy, but the emotional tension made up for that. Some moments were just so soft and tender, and the way they connected through music gave it extra depth.

It’s not super plot-heavy, and yeah, some of it’s a bit predictable, but I honestly didn’t mind. I just really enjoyed being in their world. Also really appreciated that there wasn’t any unnecessary drama or “mean girl” subplot—just a bunch of people figuring life (and love) out on the road.

Definitely recommend if you’re into slow-burn rockstar romances with a lot of heart.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone make the music sound the way you do”

The way I have been waiting for this book the SECOND it was announced. The cover alone is gorgeous!!!!you can literally feel the chemistry.

The way I haven’t read a good rockstar romance I think in forever!? This was amazing the tension and the yearning between Clementine and Halloran was amazing. I loved watching their romance and how it was connected through the love of music. Their chemistry was electric and I wanted more as I loved it so much.

Also an age gap romance? Instant yes. 😍 also Hallorans accent !? Say no more ☘️

I wish the songs were real in this book!? The way I would have had them on repeat.

I loved the friendships formed between Clementine and the band and how they were on tour! I think watching Clementine find herself and become more confident and have these friendships and find herself identity were amazing along side the romance of this book.

Everyone needs to get a copy of this book ASAP as I was mesmerised and want to reread immediately.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

This rockstar romance is quite wholesome and Tom is the greenest flag rockstar I've seen. Clementine gives of major musical/theatre kid energy and I love it. The book has multiple pop culture references (musical, Fleetwood Mac, Daisy Jones & the Six) and overall reads a bit like a Hozier fanfiction (in the best sense of it).


thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for the digital ARC.

Clem in this book was so well written. i felt like i could see not only an image of her but as a whole person to as a smiled at some of the things she said and did. i also liked how she knew what she new and didn't want to break that comfort zone even if the zone wasn't all the comforting to be in.
but still she had the dilemma of knowing this could make things easier. the choices she made next could help every concerned. it does mean being brave but being brave no only with moving out of her routine but also in taking a chance on a dream she long since put aside for her mum.
and then there is Tom. hes strong but not in a nasty way. in the way he stands for what he wants and isn't afraid to keep himself to himself and not be what "popstar" mould people have already tried to make or fit him in to. but hes also running with veins full of respect and care especially when eventually it comes down to how he is with Clem. they had something at once tense and flirty but then so much deeper and emotional too.
i was also waiting with some of the other girls on the tour for one of them to be trying to push Clem down. or the "gotcha" moment when we found one girl was trying to sabotage her. and how refreshing it was that this just never happened and didn't need to. ive been a bit sick of seeing that stereotype happen and not in a good way. because it can, but definitely doesn't always occur when you put woman together. i do get how in some industries it might occur more so though.
ive never been on for music star or based romances. i think as of late ive seen the dark side of certain industries. so the romance seems to be a cover up for me. but actually after reading a few better one recently i have started to think who cares if they are not true. lets be honest most of the romance i fall for isn't lol. and half the time isn't that the very reason we fall for them? and actually a lot of the romances i fall for arent without their heart stirring moments! but the love, when love is written well is just worth it.
and this one was it for me. i was in with this book. singing its praises i am, ha.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

I wanted to read this because I loved the sacred stones trilogy. It was my first rockstar romance and I wasn’t sure to expect but I loved it.

What I loved in particular:
- Conry and Willow, both MCs have adorable dogs.
- Tom, a funny, thoughtful and genuinely likeable love interest.
- A great supporting cast of characters including loyal friends and a nice ex-boyfriend.
- a late night texting session that somehow managed to be both hilarious and hot.

I loved every minute of this funny, heartwarming and spicy story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this one – such a solid 4 stars from me. The musical element completely pulled me in; there’s something about the setting of a tour and the behind-the-scenes of the music world that just works so well in romance. It added such a vivid, emotional backdrop and made the story feel alive.

Clementine was such a lovely main character – grounded, caring, and easy to root for. I really admired how she put her life on hold to care for her mum, so watching her take a leap and step into this huge new world felt so well-earned. And then there’s Halloran… whew. The broody, poetic Irish rockstar with a quiet intensity – say less. Their chemistry built gradually but felt really believable, and yes, the spice? Absolutely delivered.

It’s got that perfect mix of longing, emotional depth, and heat – and while it doesn’t necessarily break new ground, I found it such an enjoyable, easy read that kept me turning the pages. The romance felt genuine, and the whole journey had just the right amount of tension and heart.

A really fun, emotionally satisfying read – especially if you love music, broody leads, and a bit of heat. Definitely recommend picking it up.

3⭐️
2🌶️

I expected to love If Not for My Baby — I’ve been following Kate since the beginning when she first started writing this, and I was genuinely excited to read it. I loved her Sacred Stones trilogy so much, but unfortunately, her writing just didn’t carry over as well into contemporary romance. This dragged on and on. I was bored — and I didn’t expect to be.

I struggled with Clementine as a character. Her motivations didn’t make much sense, and there wasn’t enough time spent getting to know her, which made the romance feel forced. I think Kate could’ve done more to flesh out her fear of love and relationships — it didn’t feel believable. If she claims to hate relationships, why is she constantly going on dates just to appease her mom?

This book is very heavily inspired by Hozier, and honestly, in a lot of ways, it read like fanfiction. I thought we’d get more longing, tension, or slow-burn chemistry — but instead, it felt more like love at first sight. It just wasn’t convincing. I also found myself skipping the song lyrics after a while; they were repetitive, especially when Clementine tried to describe his music. It felt like too much.

As a huge Hozier fan, I thought I’d love the idea of a romance inspired by him — I expected that. But something about the execution left me feeling weird. It was just so much Hozier, and it started to feel a little try-hard, even cheesy at times.

The story was predictable — not inherently a bad thing, but it didn’t bring anything new to the table. Add to that the constant mention of how tall and massive the MMC is compared to the FMC, and I was already irritated. At one point, the author literally uses “Tiny Girl™” and I full-body cringed.

Clementine’s emotional back-and-forth over Tom’s feelings was frustrating — it happened every other page. She’d jump to conclusions about his love life without ever talking to him, and it felt juvenile. I didn’t feel any real chemistry between them. What exactly made Tom fall for her so fast? All she ever does is insult herself and rant about how much she doesn’t believe in love.

Most of the book is just Clem obsessing over Halloran in a way that made her seem more like a fangirl than a love interest. It was hard to root for a relationship that felt so one-sided and shallow.

I liked the tour setting and the found family dynamic on the bus — that part had potential. But the way Kate handled Grayson’s character really rubbed me the wrong way. I expected the crew to be close-knit, but instead Grayson was made into some weird villain. It didn’t make sense. Why was he so bitter toward Tom? Why did the story feel so judgmental about him being a womanizer? The portrayal gave me the ick. There was such a clear opportunity to make the bus crew feel like a united front and really lean into that found family vibe — but instead it felt fractured and underdeveloped. I think the story would’ve been way stronger if the conflict had come from outside that circle instead of turning one of them into a bitter, unnecessary antagonist.

The side characters were forgettable. One chews on a toothpick in every scene — and that’s her whole personality. Another is generically nice. One’s basically a witch who exists solely to make out with someone else. There just wasn’t any depth.

Also, once Clementine and Tom become friends, it’s strange that she still refers to him by his stage name in her head. It made their connection feel shallow, like she was still hung up on the idea of him, not the actual person.

That said, I did like Tom as a character. He’s steady, kind, and incredibly patient with someone as emotionally inconsistent as Clementine. But let’s be honest: he’s not an original character. He’s just Hozier. Everything — his name, appearance, country, music, lyrics, height — screams Hozier. It felt like a self-insert fanfic with the serial numbers barely scratched off. I’ve read Wattpad stories that handled this kind of character inspiration better — at least those MMCs stood on their own. Halloran doesn’t. He’s not his own person.

Clementine’s talent also came across as way too convenient. She gets handed a job as a backup singer with zero experience or training. No soundcheck, no rehearsal — she hasn’t even sung the songs out loud before hitting the stage. But of course, she nails it effortlessly. Halloran is instantly mesmerized by her. It’s giving Mary Sue. She’s portrayed as this unrecognized musical prodigy who can’t share her gift with the world because she cares too much about everyone else. It was over the top.

The third-act conflict was the weakest part of the story for me. A random mean girl creates drama out of nowhere, and everything just spirals. It felt lazy and unearned. And once again, a major chunk of the emotional fallout is handled with a time skip — we’re told what happened instead of being shown. That’s probably my biggest issue with the book: the most important emotional beats happen off-page, and what we do get is too clean and too fast. Every problem resolves immediately. It left me feeling disconnected.

There’s also a scene where, after barely speaking all week, Clem and Tom end up in a hotel hallway — her in a robe, him shirtless — talking about sexting. She sings one of his songs to him because the lyrics feel “too intimate” to say out loud, and then he sings one of hers back. Apparently, he’s already been writing songs about her at that point? After maybe one real conversation? I was cringing by the 20% mark.

Also, kind of funny that “Clem” — the nickname Tom gives her — is Irish slang for “idiot.” So this whole time, he’s literally calling her an idiot. Fitting, honestly.

In the end, this just didn’t work for me. I loved the concept, but the execution was too uneven, the characters underdeveloped, and the romance unconvincing. It had potential — but it ended up being a little boring and too on-the-nose for me.

Entertaining, but not noteworthy. Not my cup of tea (Barry’s or otherwise 😜).

Absolutely addictive! I couldn’t put it down, every opportunity I had I would read a sneaky chapter. Clem and Tom were perfect characters, their blossoming relationship made me smile from ear to ear. I 100% recommend this!

this book was so lovely and beautiful, i loved absolutely everything about it from start to finish!!!

tom and clementines love ripped me open and stitched me back up, you could feel how desperately they wanted each other — the yearning leapt off of the pages and when combined with their forced proximity and having to sing together?? MAGICAL I WAS OBSESSED

clementine is one of my new favourite characters ever! she was so selfless and such a girls girl, i loved her and how genuine she was in all of her relationships and friendships. her relationships with the girls on the tour was one of my favourite aspects of this book!!

I NEED A TOM HALLORAN ASAP!!! omg he was so perfect and so gentle and kind and hotttt. don’t even get me started on the lyrics of his songs because they were ART!!

overall I adored this book and am so so so grateful for the arc!!! easily one of my favourite reads of the year!

review on my socials to come!

Headlines:
Lyrical love
Tour bus forced proximity
Gentle friendship, undeniable attraction

There was something very inviting about this story of two people from very different lives whose stars crossed over music. Clem was a talented young woman with a hope for a musical theatre career who stayed in her hometown to care for her mother. Halloran was the private and introverted but extremely successful rock star. Clem was offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a backing singer and she took it.

This story showed the unglamourous side of big music tours alongside the stage-front glamour, then in popped my favourite trope of forced proximity a-la-tour bus. Friendships in the rest of the band and crew were a good plot backdrop but the spotlight shone on Clem and Halloran (Tom). Tom was a wonderful lyricist and the way his performances were written made me feel like I was watching the gig and enraptured alongside Clem. Clem's starstruck start did settle and I loved seeing the slow and gentle start to a connection.

This read was hard to put down and I read most of it in a day. It was the kind of chemistry that had me glued to the page and devouring the highs and lows of their journey. The plot was full and the connection was magnetic.

It's been a while since I've read a rock star romance and once upon a time I'd seek these kinds of stories out. If Not For My Baby reminded me of what I'd missed. For me, this hit the spot like old favs from Kylie Scott and Kristen Callihan, so if you're a fan of those OG romances in the music world, you will love this. Newer romance readers also need this fix of addictive reading too. I can definitely see myself re-reading this to recapture the feels of these two MCs.

Thank you to the author for the review copy.

I can't explain how much I loved this book other than I read it in one sitting despite desperately needing a nap. Every single character was exquisitely crafted, the tour described so well and the EMOTION. The pining! The breakups and relationships! Clementine's relationship with her best friend and her mom really had me rooting for her by the end of the first chapter and I loved that we didn't lose these characters in the book. The mother-daughter love and respect was so well done and so genuine.

Molly and the rest of the tour group were honestly so well written and bounced off each other so well. It was an extraordinarily well written dynamic and I love that we got some closure for everyone at the end! The slow build between Clementine and Tom and the issues they faced together were very well done- not too quick to be unbelievable, not too slow so as to lose the passion and lust. I loved the contrast of Tom's school friends and family to the band.

6 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of If Not for My Baby!

OH MY GOODNESS. I adored this passionate, electrifying, and deeply moving love story—Tom and Clem’s connection is pure magic! Their chemistry is utter perfection, and this novel easily earns five blazing, fiery stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Apparently, my new favorite trope is introverted male musicians finding their muse, and the fact that Clem is his backup singer and doesn’t believe in love made it even better. 🤩🥹I absolutely devoured this.❤️

Kate Golden’s writing is lush, lyrical, and brimming with emotion. Every word feels intentional—moody, musical, and deeply heartfelt. It’s not just a love story—it’s a journey of self-discovery, friendship, family, and chasing dreams.

Highly recommend grabbing a copy of this book when it comes out on the 7th of August 2025 !

✨4.25 stars ✨
🌶️ 1 spice 🌶️

“Just because you don’t let yourself dream doesn’t mean you don’t have any.”

First off, thank you to Quercus Books for allowing me an e-arc of this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What to expect in this
* Singer x backing vocalist
* Tour
* MMC is inspired by Hozier
* Fibromyalgia representation
* Swoon worth MMC
* FMC learning to follow her dreams

I’m a puddle on the floor. I have swooned too much.
This book was ADORABLE. It was heartfelt, romantic, and tender through and through.

The part I loved most about it was 100% the MMC, Tom Hollaran. A singer that has lost his passion for touring and making music, who I can only picture as Hozier. He was such a romantic. I love me a poet and he was the perfect MMC.

I loved his relationship with our FMC Clementine. I will say it was a very quick to start romance but they were absolutely adorable together. I had so much fun reading about them.

The book is very much focused on the romance itself but it did have a beautiful character development with Clementine. I loved how she slowly grew to start following her dreams and opening herself up to chances.

There wasn’t really a solid plot but it was heartfelt all the way through and I had a good time!

Check TWs and CWs
Happy reading 🩶