Full Tilt by Emma Scott
Format: Audio
Rating: 3/5 stars

Thank you RBmedia and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Full Tilt was an emotional and heartfelt story, but ultimately didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. The writing is solid and the characters are likable, but the tone and themes felt a bit too YA for my taste, even though it's technically classified as New Adult. While I appreciated the emotional depth, I haven’t really thought about it since finishing it. It’s a decent read for fans of emotional romance, but it didn’t quite resonate with me personally.

I’d been aware of this book for a long time but had never gotten round to reading it. So with the audiobook now available, it seemed like the perfect time to pick it up.

What a gut punch! From the book summary, and after the first few chapters of the book, it becomes fairly obvious that this is not going to be a HEA (although, like Kacey, my romantic heart couldn’t help but hope) 💔 There is something about the pair of them, not just individually, but as a couple that draws you in from the start. Jonah, an artist battling against time to leave his legacy before his heart fails, and Kacey, a talented guitarist who has lost her way. Each brings out the best in the other.

I thought it was a beautiful book and, despite dealing with the heartbreaking subject of grief, it was predominantly uplifting and romantic. The audiobook, which was dual narrated, was also well done and made for an enjoyable, easy listen (easy in terms of following along, not easy in terms of plot 😭).

Going into this book, I knew nothing about book 2; however, reading Full Tilt, I could see the foreshadowing of Kacey’s potential future relationship with Theo and that was the only thing I didn’t love about this one. Not because I didn’t like Theo as a character, but because I was invested in the here now, and in Kacey’s relationship with Jonah; I didn’t want to think about what might happen when their time inevitably ran out. I’m not sure whether or not I’ll pick up book 2 but, if I do, I think I’ll need some time to pass so I can grieve Jonah before being able to consider another romantic interest for Kacey!

Overall, if you like a romance that will likely make you cry, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of this book.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to listen this beautifully written story. I loved the connection between the two MC’s and how real their relationship felt. This book will definitely have you in your feelings.

4.5 stars.

I loved "Full Tilt" by Emma Scott. I haven't felt this deeply while reading a book in quite some time! This story will give you emotional damage, that's for sure. It's raw, realistic, depressing, painful, and moving, yet it's also sort of life-affirming? I loved every minute of this story. The characters are imperfect and messy. I was unsure about the FMC, Kacey, at first, but she quickly changed my mind about her. She starts the book out as a wild rocker who gets drunk every single night to forget her life, and she quickly becomes someone readers can root for, someone worth believing in, someone worth saving. And Jonah... gahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Jonah. What a sweetheart! I hate what Emma Scott does at the end of this book, but I cannot imagine it ending any other way. Perfect ending, really. Jonah lives his life on repeat, so there are no distractions in his life. He works, sees his friends, visits his family, sticks to a strict diet, and does his glassblowing, nothing more, nothing less. He doesn't need the distractions: his life is one big ticking time bomb. And so is Kacey, just in another way. When their fires collide in Las Vegas one night, their lives are going to be forever changed, for better and for worse. The characters in this book have wonderful arcs, and they learn a lot and grow a lot throughout the course of the book. Even Theo, Jonah's brother, goes from being a total jerk to someone readers can sympathize with. I also loved the dual audiobook narration between Kris Koscheski and Caitlin Kelly. They embody these characters perfectly and bring them to life in a wonderful, vibrant, but sad way! I have to say, I openly sobbed while reading this book. I found it to be a quickly paced read, mostly because I just couldn't put it down. The grief I felt reading this one is something I won't soon forget. Please check the trigger warnings because this book might not end the way you think it will. CHECK THIS ONE OUT ASAP!!!

Thank you to Emma Scott, NetGalley, and Tantor Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

5⭐
5🥹

I first read Full Tilt back in 2022 and it absolutely broke my heart. So when I was gifted the audiobook I thought, why not, let's listen to the pain this time...

Firstly, this is a duet, BOTH books need to be read, stopping after book 1 will not give you the same experience. And yes, at the end of book 1 you will want to chuck it out of the window and forget you ever read it, but trust me book 2 brings it full circle. It's the kinda book you read in one sitting (with a box of tissues 🤧)

In Full Tilt you meet Kacey, an up and coming musician, living on the edge. After a rough night she meets limo driver Jonah who recently had a heart transplant. She passes out in the limo and he takes her home (like not in a creepy way) and this sets them off on a path that neither of them expected.

“I kissed Jonah Fletcher with all of my heart, and with every piece of my soul that would love him forever.”

Read this if you like:
🎸Angsty romance
⌛Friends to lovers
🎸Books that make you sob
⌛You like to cry whilst reading
🎸You do not like happiness
⌛You live on tears

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Yes, and I have and I will continue to do so ✅

Please check the content warnings, this book deals with some heavy topics and although we all like to have a cry with a good book - it should be for the right reasons. 🫶🏼

The narrators did an absolute amazing job at bringing this story to life!

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Audio for gifting me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Emma Scott’s Full Tilt follows the story of Kacey Dawson, a self-destructive guitarist spiraling through fame and alcohol, and Jonah Fletcher, a talented artist quietly grappling with a fatal heart condition. When their paths collide after a disastrous Vegas show, the two form a connection that quickly deepens into something more.

The premise had real potential—a raw, emotional journey between two broken souls trying to find meaning in their remaining time. Jonah, gentle and grounded, was the heart of the novel. His quiet strength and artistic passion offered a moving contrast to Kacey’s chaotic energy. Unfortunately, that contrast also highlighted what didn’t work for me: Kacey’s immaturity. Her character arc felt rushed and at times unconvincing. It was hard to believe their romance would have survived under different circumstances, and it often felt like the depth of their relationship hinged solely on Jonah’s impending death.

While there were touching moments—especially Jonah’s thoughtful gestures and moments of vulnerability—the story leaned heavily on the “sick and dying” trope, which felt emotionally manipulative rather than truly moving. For readers who enjoy tragic romances, this might hit the right emotional notes. But for me, the melodrama and reliance on illness to drive the plot came off as cliché.

In the end, Full Tilt aimed for profound but didn’t quite land it. It’s a quick read with moments of sweetness, but ultimately fell short of the emotional maturity and depth it was reaching for.

Wow, I honestly did not think I would love this book as much as I did. Initially I was unsure about the FMC, especially with the narrator’s portrayal of the wild rock star character, but I was quickly captivated by the book. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and I felt my heart hurt. I’m glad I got this book as an audiobook, because the dual narrators really brought this story to life and I was so drawn in. During the heart wrenching chapters, the narrators really brought across the raw emotion of the scene and the characters’ pain, love, and loss. I immediately went to go read the second book in this 2-book series, and this is now one of my favorite books. Since I rarely rate a book 5 stars, I’d give this 4 to 4.5 stars. I will be recommending this book to others, and checking out the other novels by the author.
📚
I highly recommend this book for those looking for a heartbreaking, yet beautifully written strangers to lovers romance. If you are looking for a happily ever after…. I cannot guarantee 😶
✨

Thank you Tantor Audio for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Kacey should be grateful. She’s on tour as the lead guitarist for Rapid Confession with her best friend. The band is finally starting to blow up but she's drowning. Desperate for a genuine connection with anyone, she drinks herself into oblivion after every show, crawling into bed with any man who gives her the time of day. Until one night she meets Jonah, feeling an immediate connection with him.

Jonah lives life on a set schedule. No outsiders, no distractions, he has a deadline to meet. That is until one night Kacey nearly wrecks her entire career in a drunken stupor, and something in him can’t let her fall. Though they’re strangers, he offers her a few nights of peace to stay with him. A break from the chaos and the chance to stay sober.

But what begins as a temporary act of kindness turns into something far more complicated. Because of the connection between them? It’s instant. Intense. Inevitable.
I was crashing out after finishing this book. I felt every damn emotion and it had me SOBBING. And I did it to my damn self. But fuck this was such a good book, it is SO well written.

Despite the short amount of time Kacey and Jonah knew each other, absolutely nothing felt rushed about their relationship. Their connection was undeniable, a magnetic pull between them. It felt as if I were watching soulmates finally find each other. Which is why this book obliterated my soul. It is such an amazing book but fuck it hurt to read. However, if you are into books that aim to destroy you, this one's for you.

I didn’t quite understand the hype around this book. I found the plot predictable and could see most of it coming early on. For a story that centers around a tragedy, the pacing felt slow, with the emotional weight hitting only at the very end—and even then, it didn’t move me the way it seems to have impacted others.

Grief alone isn’t enough for me to give a book 5 stars. The emotional impact just wasn’t there for me.

As for the narration, I really enjoyed the MMC’s narrator—he delivered a strong and grounded performance. The FMC’s narrator, on the other hand, made the character feel immature, which didn’t help my connection to the story.

I also think the book would have had more impact if the relationship had developed earlier rather than halfway through. After looking into the second book in the duet and seeing who it focuses on, I’ve decided to skip it.

At first it was slow moving but then it got better! I definitely cried and would recommend this book!

The male audiobook narrator was not my favorite but when I sped up it and as the story progressed it got way better. I would recommend this book to others!

Full Tilt is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story of love put to the test. It is NOT, however, a new book--something I failed to notice/remember when I requested it from NetGalley. This appears to be a new audio version of the 2016 book. It is well-done, and I found nothing to either praise or criticize about the new (?) narration. I listened to it in audio originally, though, and I have no notes or memories of issues with that original narration. So. . . the important thing to know is that this book is not a happily-ever-after on its own but is the first part of a romance "duet." I cannot recommend reading this book without having the sequel at hand, but I do recommend the set for its tenderness and beauty. I will not be sharing this review on social media.

If you are looking for a beautiful love story that will make you cry, this is the book for it! I went into this book totally blind, and I think that is the best way. I had no spoilers and really didn't know what I was in for. The narrators did a great job of clearly representing each character. I just finished this book 5 min ago and have no words. Other than to tell everyone that they need to read this book! I would rank it under "the Last Letter" but above "Under your Scars" in the cry factor scale.

Thank you Tantor Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this ALC. I will not soon forget this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for this audiobook.
Damn im kind of devastated. I was not prepared for that ending. Im usually not one for sad/ tragic romance books, but this one captured my attention. Jonah & Kacey had an insta-love situation, but i was surprisingly not bothered by it. The way the author wrote their romance to be so tender and raw made this book such a beautiful experience. And the narrators of this audiobook made it even more emotional. This book made me sad, it broke my heart a little, but it was so worth it. I loved Jonah, he’s such an inspiring yet real character. The characters in this book are flawed and so so so real.

What an emotional journey this was. Devastating, sweet, and beautiful all at once. Kacey and Jonah's story completely drew me in, and I wasn’t prepared for how much it would make me feel. Kacey’s chaotic world and Jonah’s grounded presence created such good balance, and their impact on each other felt honest and earned. I went into this a little scared of how things might end, but you wrapped it up in a way that was both satisfying and moving. I truly appreciated that. Both narrators brought the characters to life so well, and their performances added another emotional layer to the story. I see there’s a second book, and I’ll most likely continue on. Thank you for this beautiful experience.

Full Tilt chewed up my heart and spit it out, and I'd gladly ask it to do it again. I didn't realize going in that it was the first book in a duology, and that I'd have to wait until book 2 for the happy ending--but I don't even care.

Kacey and Jonah's love story was beautiful and tragic and healing and even though it left me in tears, I was so glad these two fictional people found each other right when they needed to and let love carry them through the worst days.

The narrators were fantastic--Kris Koscheski and Caitlin Kelly were both really wonderful to listen to, and their performances allowed to me to fall full tilt into the story.

Now I just need to get my greedy little hands on the second book.

Unfortunately I didn't connect with the characters. I found it very slow and just had a hard time believing their love story. Yes it was sad and very heart wrenching, but it didn't hit me as much as it hit others.

This books made me, laugh, cry, smile and everything in between. What a book!
Thank you so much net galley and tabtor audio for letting me have the audio book of this.
I knew I would I would cry with this book but I didn't know it would pull me in so much and I would be this invested in the storyline, the characters..... Wow!
It's a bittersweet love story between kasey and jonah.
A beautiful story, i couldn't stop listening, just one more chapter, just one more.

4.25⭐
Received an audio copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

I love tragedy. I love heartbreaking romance stories...quite a masochist. And Full Tilt ticked that box.

We are introduced to Jonah and Kacey. Jonah and Kacey initially appear to have nothing in common besides this intense and beautiful connection, and it only blossoms from there. Before all else, this is an exploration of love, happiness, difficulty, and finding joy in the small things in life, appreciating the people who are there and ultimately, sadness.

My only major strife with this was that the male narrator was jarring, and his performance was mediocre at best. I cringed a few times during his chapters. The female narrator, though, had a fantastic performance!

Want to cry on the batbroom floor at midnight over fictional characters that you will carry in your heart forever? This is the one.... Literal perfection. You know what's coming, but it still wrecks you. Such a beautiful story.

I couldn’t put this down!
I laughed, I cried and everything between!
Casey and Jonah’s love feels deep and rich from the jump.
Their romance is steamy, sweet, and gut wrenchingly tragic. Most importantly, totally worth the ride!
I really enjoyed the narrators, particularly Nelson Hobbs.
Casey’s journey through the novel is one of emotional recovery and growth. Jonah’s kindness and steadiness is central to his character development.
Jonah’s warm and caring family is everything you hope Casey finds from the first time you meet her.