Love Is a War Song is a heartfelt, fun, and emotional romance that surprised me in the best way.

The story follows Avery, a Muscogee pop star whose career is suddenly on shaky ground after a controversial magazine cover. She retreats to her grandmother’s ranch in Oklahoma, where she meets Lucas, a grumpy cowboy who wants nothing to do with flashy city life—or with Avery. Of course, sparks fly, and what starts as reluctant teamwork slowly becomes something much deeper.

What I loved:
The representation feels fresh and real. Nava weaves Native identity, heritage, and modern struggles into the romance without it ever feeling forced.
The tropes are fun—sunshine x grump, city girl meets cowboy, enemies to lovers—but there’s real emotional weight behind them.
Avery and Lucas’s banter is sharp, and their chemistry is deliciously slow-burn.
It’s not just a romance; it’s about culture, belonging, and finding your own way back to yourself.

What didn’t quite hit: some plot beats are a little predictable, and the writing sometimes overexplains emotions. But honestly, the heart of the story shines through.

If you like small-town ranch settings, a grumpy hero with a soft heart, and a romance that mixes humor, heat, and healing, this one’s worth picking up.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ .5 almost perfect! really loved the story, but maybe a minor issue pulling it back or less emotional pull
🌶️: light spice, with 1 or 2 scenes, focusing mainly on emotional connection and minimal explicit detail.

a muscogee pop star on the brink of career ruin and a cowboy set in his ways strike an unlikely bargain in danica nava’s new rom-com. after a scandal leaves her reputation in shambles, avery fox flees to her grandmother’s oklahoma ranch, only to clash with lucas iron eyes, the stoic ranch hand who lives by his own strict rules. forced to work side by side, they agree on a deal: she’ll help save the ranch, and he’ll teach her what it really means to belong. but when sparks fly in the oklahoma heat, rules, and hearts, are bound to be broken.

this book gave me all the feelings, i laughed, cringed, swooned, and even got a little teary. avery was such a amazing character to follow, she messed up big time but i loved how she owned it and started to figure herself out back home with her family. lucas was the ultimate grumpy cowboy, but once his softer side peeked through i was gone for him, he was truly one of the best MMCs ever. lottie was an absolute queen, her sass and tough love made every scene better plus all the side characters that came along with her just made this story so rich. honestly the whole thing had major hannah montana movie vibes in the best way possible and i had such a great time reading it.

thank you net galley for an early copy.

tropes: slowburn, opposites attract, small town, cowboy x popstar, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, indigenous representation
triggers: cultural appropriation, drug use,

🎶 REVIEW 🎶

**Thankyou to @hachetteaus for the e-arc! (And apologies for the crisis-induced late post)**

Title: Love is a War Song
Author: Danica Nava
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first ever cowboy romance, and I'm so happy it was! This was also the first book by Nava I've read, and it blew me away. It had everything I'd hoped it would. There were tropes with a twist, and the slowburn killed me!

I'm so happy to see an Indigenous American cast that dealt with everyday issues while still maintaining the fun romance aspect. I'll definitely be reading Nava's other novel after this!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I really appreciate that this book exists as a rom-com with almost every single character being Native American. Such important representation. And while part of the story is about the main character, Avery, figuring out her heritage and learning "how to be Indian" (that's how it's phrased in the book), it doesn't take over the story. It's just there, like everyday life, and never feels shoehorned in.
The beginning of the book was actually really hard to read for me (as a really empathetic person who really can't deal with secondhand embarrassment at all), as some pretty intense emotional things happen to the MC. She's a child-actor-turned-singer who gets CANCELLED due to controversy. Then is turns into the Hannah Montanna Movie vibe of being sent to the farm to hide out, where Avery meets her estranged grandmother for the first time. There's a bit of family drama there.
I did like Avery as a character, but I felt like her character didn't get enough time to properly explore who she really is and wants to be. It was all fairly surface level, and while that worked, I think that it was a missed opportunity for a really in-depth exploration.
Same goes for the romance. It was cute, but it was insta-lust, which fairly quickly turned into a supposedly deep kind of love (even though we're supposed to think Lucas hates Avery at the start).
Weirdly, one of the things that kept pulling me out of the story was that I couldn't tell how old the main character was supposed to be. The love interest is 27ish, and I got the feeling that the MC is supposed to be around his age, but it's never actually mentioned. And sometimes she acts quite young, which would be explained by her upbringing and lack of real-world experience, but just confused me.
Overall, I think it's so important this story exists, and I had a fun time reading (after getting through the first 50 pages or so).

"Love is a War Song" by Danica Nava

This was such a thoughtful, heartwarming read. Love is a War Song blends slow-burn romance with themes of identity, community, and cultural connection in a way that really resonated with me.

I loved watching Avery’s growth—going from popstar scandal to slowly rediscovering and embracing her heritage. The romance between her and Lucas was everything I love in a grumpy/sunshine dynamic. It builds slowly and believably, full of tension and quiet moments that say so much. The tornado storm scene in particular was soft and beautiful—it actually brought tears to my eyes.

Lucas is the kind of love interest I always fall for: gruff, protective, and rooted in something deeper. And the popstar angle gave the story such a unique edge, especially as Avery began to question what she truly wants in life.

Lottie, Avery's Grandmother, was a nice steady presence in the background, but for me the heart of the book was Avery’s emotional journey and her growing connection to the ranch, the community, and of course, Lucas.

If you're into slow burns, forced proximity, cultural depth, and cowboys with hidden softness—this is one to add to your list.

Thank you to @NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love is a war song is a typical rom-com book, disgraced pop star Avery flees to her grandmothers farm to learn about her family and their culture and ends up falling for the brooding ranch hand. The romance between Avery and Lucas was sweet, however other elements of the story were underdeveloped.Avery spent alot of time blaming others for her lack of knowledge about her culture, which originally could be attributed to her controlling Mom-ager, but once she arrived at the ranch she didn’t make any true effort to learn and understand her heritage. While Avery does experience personal growth it’s left to the final chapters and the epilogue for us to see her confront her issues with family and find resolution. While the book was a fun read I needed more plot development aside from the romance to be able to enjoy the story more and rate it higher.

Love Is a War Song
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

This was a cozy "pop star runs to a small town" romance, and while it had a sweet premise, it didn’t fully land for me. Both main characters were likable, but I found myself wanting more depth and emotional connection from their stories.

Avery experiences some character growth, which I appreciated, but there were key relationships in her life that felt underdeveloped—I wanted the story to dig deeper into those dynamics. Lucas was charming in parts, but his character felt a bit inconsistent. At times, it seemed like the author couldn’t decide whether he was meant to be a cinnamon roll or a bit of a jerk, which left him feeling like an uneven mix of both.

I did enjoy the found family elements—those moments had heart—but by the end, I was still left wishing for more from the story overall.

Thank you to NetGalley, Danica Nava, and Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Headline Eternal for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love is a War Song is a sweet and familiar romcom - predictable in all the right ways, yet still totally charming. If you're a fan of stories where glamorous pop stars are sent back to their roots and fall for the local cowboy, this one will definitely hit the spot.

The book gave me major Hannah Montana: The Movie vibes, which I loved. There’s just something so satisfying about watching a celebrity return to a slower-paced life, get humbled by hard ranch work, and, of course, find love in the process.

I really enjoyed the tension between Avery and her momager, Harriet. Their relationship added emotional depth to the story and highlighted the complicated dynamic of a parent who doesn’t always act in their child's best interests. I would’ve loved to see this arc explored more, especially once Lottie entered the picture - it felt a bit unresolved by the end.

One thing I really wished for was a dual POV. Getting into Lucas’s head would’ve added another layer to the romance and helped us understand his background more fully. His scenes with his family stuck out to me, and I would’ve loved more insight into his story and feelings.

A major highlight for me was the Indigenous representation. I found Avery’s journey of reconnecting with her heritage and community incredibly moving and relatable. Watching her grow, learn, and embrace her roots gave the book a strong emotional core. This really pulled me in as it is something I can relate with.

Overall, Love is a War Song is a feel-good read—perfect if you’re craving a mix of popstar drama, cowboy romance, and heartwarming cultural exploration. It's an easy, satisfying escape with just enough depth to make it memorable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

4.25 stars

This was such a great and easy read! Small town, fish out of water, grumpy sunshine, cowboy, it just hits all the spots!

I love how Avery learns about her culture and her desire to do so. The relationship she develops with everyone on the ranch is beautiful, especially Lucas. I loved his grumpy cowboy self. And they had so much chemistry!!! The slow burn just intensified it!

I love that this was a Native American romance! It’s just so refreshing getting to read from all different cultures and experiences. The note at the end from the author was amazing too. I really loved this story. It was fun, but also had some deeper moments that tug at your heart.

I saw this stunning book making the rounds and knew I needed it. I was so excited to find out it’s going to be in a book box soon 👀

A Muscogee pop star and a cowboy who couldn’t be more different (Think Lizzie Maguire and your favourite cowboy romance collies) are forced into close quarters, perfect for fans of opposites attract and forced proximity. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I loved learning about Native American culture. It’s the perfect Indigenous romcom.

After landing herself at the centre of controversy, Avery Fox is no longer the rising star she once was. Her Rolling Stone cover was meant to celebrate her success as a Native American artist but instead, it’s left her branded a fraud. With her reputation in tatters, threats pouring in, and nowhere else to turn, Avery retreats to her estranged grandmother’s ranch on the rez in Oklahoma. Ranch life is a world away from the spotlight, and the brooding horse trainer who runs the place makes it painfully clear she’s not welcome.

Lucas Iron Eyes has called Red Fox Ranch home for over a decade. He lives by three simple rules, protect the culture, respect the horses, and keep to himself. But when Lottie’s granddaughter turns out to be that Avery Fox, everything changes. She’s the last person he wants to deal with and yet he can’t seem to stop thinking about her. With the ranch facing closure, Lucas and Avery strike a deal, she’ll help raise money to save it, and in return, he’ll show her what being Muscogee really means.

They promised no strings, no funny business… but out here under the open skies, rules are made to be broken.

I heard about this from an Australian Booktoker who was disappointed that this amazing book was not available easily in Australia, and NOW IT IS!!!!

This is a different take on the cowboy/popstar trope, and a really interesting exploration of what it means to be enough. Avery Fox is a Muscogee young woman who has been raised in LA with very little connection to her native identity, so she doesn’t realise how wrong things can go when a combination of a misjudged song and photoshoot end up a social media nightmare.

Sent to live in Oklahoma with a grandmother that she has never met, and immediately clashes with Lucas Iron Eyes, who works on her grandmother’s ranch.

I was really impressed with the complex layers of identity, intergenerational baggage, and complex or problematic family relationships were explored in this story without feeling dismissive and still keeping a Rom-Com vibe going.

I will definitely be looking for more Danica Nava in the future!

review from Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7748519567
(ARC Review)
Love Is a War Song by Danica Nava is a powerful and beautifully written story about identity, healing, and embracing your roots. I fell in Love with this book—from the storyline to the characters, especially Avery. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC, and I cannot wait for the official release so everyone else can fall in Love with it too.

Avery is a Native American teen who's spent most of her life under the Hollywood spotlight—acting in major films and becoming a pop star in California. Despite her fame, her record label refuses to listen to her creative voice—she wants to write her songs, but they keep pushing their vision onto her. In the very first chapter, she's filming a music video for a song she hates. Things escalate after a controversial Rolling Stone interview, where she's photographed wearing a war bonnet—something deeply offensive and culturally insensitive. The backlash is immediate, and people begin questioning her heritage.

To help her reconnect with her roots, Avery is sent to Oklahoma to stay with her estranged grandmother on Red Fox Ranch. There, she meets Lucas, a ranch hand, and let's say their first impression isn't exactly friendly. They clash constantly but are forced to work together to save the ranch.

Avery's character development is stunning. Watching her go from someone who constantly tries to please everyone—especially her mother/manager and her label—to someone who finds her voice and stands firm in her identity was deeply moving. Her reconnection with her culture and her growing bond with her grandmother, Lottie, was heartwarming and honest. The complicated dynamic between Avery and her mother also added depth; their relationship often felt more like client and manager than mother and daughter.

The slow-burn romance between Avery and Lucas was perfect. The banter had me giggling, and the Grumpy x Sunshine dynamic was spot-on. Lucas is guarded, but Avery's warmth and persistence slowly break through his walls. Their chemistry builds naturally, and while there's only one mild spice scene, the book shines more through its plot and character growth than steamy moments—which I really appreciated.

Overall, Love Is a War Song is an emotional, heartfelt story that balances culture, family, romance, and self-discovery beautifully. I can't recommend it enough.

An okay read. I wanted to like it more than that but for a solid 50% of this book I really struggled.

The first half was a chore to get through. Avery was such an annoying character, the writing style really wasn’t my favourite, and I wasn’t invested enough in her and Lucas relationship to actually care.
Avery just constantly felt sorry for herself and always looked to blame someone else when things went wrong because she couldn’t possibly be the problem, that would be crazy. No self-reflection to be found with this one. I totally got why Lucas didn’t like her, because I didn’t either. She was kind of a dumbass who thought that everything revolved around her, and so immature. Like it’s kind of self-explanatory that you should close the gate to the horse pasture after you leave it?! That's just common sense, girl.
She also read more like a 16-year-old than however old she actually was with her immature behaviour and that’s a pet peeve of mine, so yeah I wasn’t a fan.

In the second half, the story got marginally better. Avery kind of toned it down, some might even call it character growth, though I personally wouldn’t go that far. I did kind of enjoy her and Lucas together, but overall this was just not really for me.

Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing me with this ARC for free via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. I DNF’d at 35%. It moved a little too slowly for my taste and I didn’t feel a connection to the characters.

However, I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews around the Indigenous representation in this book. I agree that this was central and beautifully woven into the story. If you’re looking for a story with cultural depth, I’d encourage you to give this one a go.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette, and Danica for the review copy!

I must admit I struggled to get into this one, at the start I was so embarrassed for Avery that I actually couldn't handle it. I put the book down for a little while and then came back but, I’m so glad I did! After that I absolutely flew through the rest of the book in less than 24 hours.

Avery's personal growth was amazing to see after a rough few weeks and years of working herself tirelessly. I loved seeing her stand up for herself and push back against her mother's controlling ways. Lucas starts out gruff but as we learn more about him, the more I grew to love him. I adored watching Avery be the first person to ever stand up to his parents for him, really emphasising how much she grew during her time in Broken Arrow.

Speaking of Broken Arrow, the small town vibes with the fun characters, local sports and genuine sense of community were a delight! This one was a great read.

This was a heartfelt and refreshing romance that blends celebrity scandal, cultural healing, and a classic slow-burn love story set on an ranch. Danica Nava has crafted a tender, witty, and thoughtful novel that delivers more than just swoons—it offers redemption, identity, and community.

The writing is sharp, with great dialogue and immersive setting - . Plus, the pop star meets cowboy trope? Done with just the right mix of humor and vulnerability. Loved the character growth throughout this book as well.

This is a book that could pull anyone out of a reading slump it has that kind of cute romance story but with depth. It does take a bit to get into, but one you connect with the characters you truly do fall in love with it. I may just be in my cowboy romance era at this stage.

This was such a cutesy romcom, and honestly, I’m just grateful it pulled me out of my reading slump! It has big Hannah Montana Movie energy: disgraced pop star returns to her roots, works on a ranch, reconnects with her culture, and inevitably falls for the brooding cowboy. It’s soft, light, a little ridiculous, and exactly what I needed.

The romance was cute and very standard romcom—predictable but charming. There’s a bit of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and just enough emotional growth to make it land. That said, a lot of scenes were so over-the-top. It leans hard into the cheesiness, and some of the dialogue felt like a made-for-TV movie. The pop culture references were a bit much too—I tend to find those distracting, and there were more than a few here. Still, this book never pretended to be subtle, so I rolled with it.

What really made this worth reading was the Indigenous representation. Cowboy romances are everywhere in the romance world, but it’s incredibly rare to see them written by Indigenous authors about Indigenous characters. That’s what drew me to this book in the first place—and it absolutely delivered on that front.

The cultural elements aren’t tacked on or overly explained—they’re part of the fabric of the story. The ranch life, the family dynamics, the quiet process of reconnecting with identity—it all felt grounded and authentic. Books like this matter because they show Indigenous characters living full, ordinary, complex lives—not reduced to symbols or relegated to the past. There still aren’t nearly enough stories like this being published, especially in mainstream romance, and that’s a problem. Cowboy romances in particular often romanticise rural life without acknowledging the cultures that have always existed on that land. This book doesn’t do that—it centres those voices, and that makes a difference.

It’s not a perfect book. Some parts were clunky, and a few scenes made me cringe. But it has heart, it knows exactly what it’s trying to be, and it brings something to the genre that’s long overdue.

Thank you Hachette Australia for the ARC.

4 stars!

This book was such an easy read, I flew through it. It's giving me Disney popstar meets Cowboy romance. We meet Avery who's a Native American popstar who's intententions were in the right place with her latest song but the delivery was harmful to her community and she was basically cancelled online for her Rolling Stones cover.

Her mother sent her to her Grandmothers ranch in Oklahoma until things cooled down, here Avery was on a quest to find out about the family she's been kept from, and she fell in love with Lucas the ranch hand in the process.
I really liked learning more about the culture and the underlying themes of being held accountable and finding out where one comes from.

I would have rated this higher if it was a YA Book, I think for an Adult book there could have been abit more depth to it.

Thankyou to Netgalley, Hachette Aus and The Bookish Type Au for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

🎤 When the Spotlight Turns Sour…

We first meet Avery Fox in full celebrity mode—a pop singer of some renown with a powerhouse voice, an overbearing stage mum (complete with Botox and stilettos), and a career that’s less hers and more a product of the machinery built by said Momzilla. Avery appears to want something more authentic—she wants to write her own music, perform what matters to her—but her mother’s drive is the engine behind the whole thing. Or as her mother would say, “It’s your ambition too, darling.” Sure, Jan.

And then—cue the backlash. Avery’s Indigenous American identity is publicly questioned, and the internet does what the internet does best: it cancels her, swiftly and mercilessly. Left reeling, she’s forced to retreat to her estranged grandmother’s ranch in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma—a place she’s never been, and a life she’s never known.

🌾 Fish Out of Water

Avery is Muscogee, and Love is a War Song becomes a real fish-out-of-water story as she grapples not just with rural life (hello horses, line dancing, and morning chores), but also with the identity that’s been kept from her. Deliberately, might I add, by her drill sergeant mother (can you tell I didn't like her?). Avery’s journey to reclaim her roots and educate herself about her heritage was not only moving—it was refreshingly new territory for me in a romance novel. I really connected with her awe, her confusion, and that deep sense of not quite belonging.

👢 Enter: Lucas. Cowboy hat, smoulder, and plenty of judgement

Avery and Lucas do not hit it off. She walks straight into every one of his preconceptions: spoiled, clueless, and in need of a serious reality check. And honestly, she doesn’t help her case at first. There’s a hilarious (and telling) moment when Avery mutters something like “this is some Crocodile Dundee shit,” which feels especially pointed given the film’s appropriation of Indigenous Australian culture. Was this an intentional commentary by the author? I hope so. It subtly shows Avery still has some growing to do in terms of broader cultural sensitivity—an interesting layer to her arc.

👵 Grandma Lottie Steals the Show

Hands down, Grandma Lottie is a firecracker. Feisty, human, and fiercely rooted in her community, she brings so much heart to the story. The evolving relationship between her and Avery was a standout for me. It’s tender, fraught, honest—and ultimately the most emotionally rewarding part of the novel. Their growing mutual understanding is where the book truly shines.

💘 Romance? Meh. Eventually.

So, about that romance… yes, this is enemies-to-lovers and yes, there’s fake dating (because of course there is), but I didn’t quite feel it. The early tension between Avery and Lucas is classic: attraction meets mutual disdain. But their eventual change of heart seemed to be fuelled more by physical chemistry than genuine connection—at least at first. That deeper emotional intimacy does arrive, but a bit late for my taste.

Lucas has a moving backstory, especially his struggles with (CW) addiction and familial pressure (which I’ll avoid spoiling too much), and Avery’s growth is palpable. They’re good people—strong, evolving, layered—but I didn’t get all the romantic fireworks I hoped for. Maybe it was just a little too slow-burn-meets-LUKEwarm? See what I did there?

📖 Final Thoughts

This was fun, it was fast, and it gave me something new to think about. The small-town setting of Broken Arrow is wonderfully rendered—from the food to the horses to the sense of community—and Avery’s personal journey is where the heart of this story truly lies. We need more stories like this. The romance? Serviceable. The grandmother-granddaughter arc? Gold.

Also: definitely read the author’s note. It adds depth to the themes and context around the representation of Indigenous identity and 'cancel culture'.

⭐ 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I didn’t catch all the feels, but I was engaged, I learned something, and I’m glad I read it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—opinions, as always, are my own.

Thank you to Hachette Australia and NetGalley for letting me read this book. It was a lovable twist on your average cowboy romance.
Avery is sent to love with her grandmother in Oklahoma after she makes some career mistakes, offends many and is essentially cancelled. There she meets her grandmother Lottie for the first time and a group of workers on the ranch who become a part of her family. This includes Lucas who is the grumpy, barn door leaning, protective MMC. Their tension, banter and chemistry literally gave me goosebumps and butterflies it was so good!
I loved Avery as she was such a strong and brave FMC, who was not afraid to make mistakes. Her internal dialogue made me giggle and I loved all the movie references that were coming out! I enjoyed her character growth and she essentially used her position for the greater good.
I thought the exploration of native culture was done well, the dialogue about not being ‘native’ enough and how she developed her connection to her roots.
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed!