I wanted to like this so bad but it just wasn’t for me. I struggled with the flashbacks throughout the book it didn’t seem to build up the story as much as it could. There also was so many plot lines it was hard to follow and I wasn’t completely sold on the romance between the main characters. Overall I do think that production of this audiobook was so good.

Second chance romance. He left and took credit for the song they wrote together
Now he’s back ready for his comeback joining a concert show for her mom‘s recognition award. Luke is singing his only hit song, the song he took full credit for, with her mom as a duet. The vulnerability and the depths of the character was heavy with emotion and tension. I loved everything about it. It felt like I was reading someone’s biography. It was so good. The romance was the perfect amount of tense and angsty, with dual timeline. I honestly didn’t want this book to end.

this one didn’t fully land for me. the pacing felt uneven and there were long stretches where i struggled to stay invested. the romance element felt a little muted and the emotional tension didn’t build the way i hoped it would. it wasn’t a bad read by any means—just one that didn’t quite hit the high notes for me.

Favorite Quote: “Each time I sing it, I get to fall in love with you again, hurts like hell when its over but its worth it. I want to hurt that way for the rest of my life” ~ Luke Randall

I read Regina Black’s debut novel ‘The Art Of Scandal’ that released in 2023 of August of last year. I liked it but did not feel strongly about the characters and felt they lacked some depth.

Now I was granted the amazing opportunity to listen to a advanced copy of Ms. Black’s second novel and my favorite part of this was the multilayered characters. I was blown away by this story, this felt like more than a simple second chance romance. You feel the growth in the author’s skills from one book to another and I can only see this getting better from here.

Semi failed country star Luke Randall gets the opportunity for a redemption arc and is asked to perform a duet with one of his idols, unfortunately it forces him to return to his traumatic small childhood town and his past childhood love, whose song that he stole launched his career many years ago.

This does not even touch the surface of this layered story told that is written in dual timelines (which really made this story) with a podcast interview in the middle from the country idol, Jojo Lane. This story dived into being a Black country music star, addiction, integrational trauma and so much more. I don’t want to spoil this amazing story but please listen or read if you can!

The narration of this story was so amazing!!! They use 4 narrators and they fit all of the characters so well and they really brought the passion and pain for the characters alive. This is a narration and story that will sit with me for a long time.

Super excited for August Lane. I loved Regina Black's previous book and was eagerly anticipating this one. I started listening to the audio and it was an immediate no for me in terms of audio production and quality. Even though some of my favorite narrators are featured, the quality of the sound was so subpar that I put the book down and will pick it back up once I can read with my eyes. Very disappointing as a reader who primarily does audiobooks.

The star rating is for the audio, not for the content of the book.

Growing up, I was never much of a country music fan. However, those songs I did listen to had some of the best storylines - full of loss, trials, and heartache, yet also laced with hope and redemption. Regina Black has captured that narrative so well here in August Lane.

I loved August and Luke’s love story. It’s as messy as it gets. Layered and complicated, these high school sweethearts are torn apart by stardom, family dysfunction, and trauma, plus a huge secret hovers between them.

August Lane is not just a romance; it's a passionate, intense blend of music, regrets, race, and second chances. It's a story that hits all the right notes, drawing us into a world where love and raw emotions intertwine, making us feel deeply connected to the characters.



🎧Narrated by Bahni Turpin, William DeMerritt, January LaVoy and Stephanie Cannon this was an outstanding production! This cast does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. The addition of sound effects enhances the different formats, such as the recording of the podcast perfectly. A wonderful complement to the physical book.

Thank you @hachetteus for this #gifted book. Thank you @Hachetteaudio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley.

If you are looking for a feel-good, traditional romance, you should look elsewhere. This story was beautiful, but yet so tragic.

Overall, 4 stars, maybe 4.5 stars, this story was tragic, sad, and downright heart breaking. The character development of Luke and August was amazing, and I felt like I could better understand Jojo through the interview transcripts throughout the book. The amount of trauma in this book was unreal, the abuse, the neglect, and the bullying to name a few. All I wanted to do throughout this book was rage, at Luke, at Luke's mom, at August's bullies, and at August's family. My need to rage took away from the overall enjoyment of this book because I just wanted to protect August and make her feel loved.

*Racism
*Small town romance (not in the traditional sense)
*Dual timeline (2009 and 2023, 2024)
*Multiple POV
*Music industry

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Regina Black for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a raw and emotional journey for August Lane.This story contains multitudes of real life issues; racism, sexual assault, choice, addiction, violence. Regina Black does not hold back or sugar coat any of it- and that is what makes this story so gripping and relevant.

Narration was WONDERFUL! Using four narrators to tell this story was BRILLIANT! I'm recommending that everyone grab the audio on this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for allowing me to listen to this ALC!
I did not have this book on my radar and I'm so glad I requested this one!
Washed-up country star Luke Randall is forced to return to his hometown and confront the woman whose lyrics launched his career, August Lane, who wants payback and a shot at her own success. To protect his secret and secure a comeback, Luke agrees to co-write a new song with August for a high-stakes performance. But as old feelings resurface, they must decide if healing the past is worth risking everything.
Listening Speed: 1.75X
Narators: Bahni Turpin; William DeMerritt; January LaVoy; Stephanie Cannon
Feedback: What a performance!! This is definitely one of those audiobooks where you sit back and listen and do nothing else! It's such a spectacle I loved it! The full cast audiobook brings the story to life with incredible depth and emotion, each voice perfectly captures the heart of the characters, making the listening experience immersive and unforgettable! I highly recommend!

Regina Black's writing is some of my favorite in the romance space right now. In her latest book, she blends music, history, culture with an electric connection between the main characters in a way that makes this a summer romance I can't wait to hand sell.

This is my first book by Regina Black. I enjoyed the audiobook and couldn't put it down. the narration was great. The storyline had me from the beginning. Luke and August's chemistry was great. The storyline with their mothers was done well. I can't wait to read more by Regina Black.

What a ride. I was anticipating a music industry romance but this story gave so much more. This book covered racism, abuse, addiction, childhood love, forgiveness, familial strain, pursuing your dreams, and so much more. It didn’t take much for me to get into this story. The narration was great as well. It felt like I was listening to a docuseries and I loved how the picture slowly came together over time. August is complicated but familiar in her pain. Luke’s story was heartbreaking at times but his resolve and heart was at the forefront of his character development. I loved the exploration of black country singers and the hurdles they have to face in a world that likes to put black entertainers in very specific boxes. Well done👏🏾

Thank you to NetGalley, @HachetteAudio and @GrandCentralPublishing for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

August Lane by Regina Black it's a layered, emotional second chance romance with so much feeling and heart and the audiobook narration made it even better.

Luke Randall is a washed-up country singer still coasting on the one hit he never actually wrote. August Lane is the one who did write it, and she’s been living in his shadow for way too long. When fate (and some blackmail) forces them to co-write a new song for a big concert, sparks fly and not all of them are friendly. There's history, hurt, and a whole lot of tension between them, and watching them slowly unpack it all kept me hooked.

The narrators, Bahni Turpin, William DeMerritt, January LaVoy, and Stephanie Cannon did an amazing job bringing these characters to life. Each voice felt distinct and added so much to the story. It felt like I was listening to a movie.

I loved the music angle, the small town drama, and the way it all explored forgiveness, family, and finding your voice again. It gets emotional at times (definitely some heavy moments), but it’s handled with care and depth. There were a couple parts that leaned a bit dramatic, but nothing that took me out of the story.

If you’re into second chance romance, complicated pasts, and country music vibes with a strong Black woman lead, this one’s definitely the audiobook/book for you.

4.25 Stars!

#NetGalley, #AugustLane, #ReginaBlack, #SecondChanceRomance, #HachetteAudio, #GrandCentralPublishing

August Lane by Regina Black is the perfect small-town romance for lovers of country music and second chances.

August Lane, daughter of the biggest Black female country artist in the genre's history, still lives in the small town she grew up in. She's feeling unmoored after the death of Birdie, the grandmother who raised her, and her world is suddenly turned upside down when the boy who stole her teenage heart shows up out of the blue. Luke Randall, five years sober, is back home, preparing to sing with August's mother, who is being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Back home, he has to face the past he left behind--his addict mother and his biggest regret, August. He's a has-been country music sensation, known for one song--a love song he and August wrote together their senior year of high school, but he took all the credit. He isn't home to ask forgiveness--he doesn't feel like he deserves it--but he is trying to make amends.

August and Luke eventually arrive at their happy ending, but this is a book that doesn't shy away from alcoholism, addiction, racism, physical abuse, and sexual violence (although the latter is only referenced and doesn't appear on page). If those are triggers, read with care. I couldn't stop listening to this one--the narrators did a fantastic job. Bahni Turpin is one of my favorite narrators, and the others, including William DeMerritt, January LaVoy, and Stephanie Cannon added their own wonderful performances to create a textured, dynamic listening experience.

I think overall this was a good story. Regina Black is a great writer and story teller. I loved the plot of these two country artist who have this crazy past with each other through music. The story of the hardships in the music industry, especially as a Black country interesting to read about. They both had their traumas that seemingly brought them together in the past and present. I like the back and forth that gave us context to how they new each other as teenagers and how they came back together as adults. I also found the background on their family life to be a story that was told well and gave us more insight into why they are the way they are. The interview chapters also gave great context into August especially when it came to her relationship with her mother and grandmother.

Unfortunately the main thing that I didn't quite connect with was the romance. For some reason I just couldnt get into the chemistry between these two characters. I understood their history and how they came together, but I just didn't feel engaged. I thought everything outside of the relationship was a lot more interesting. Depsite this, I feel like I might revisit the book again to see if my opinion will change.

As far as the audio, I thought the narration was well done and I loved the variety of voices for the characters when it came to the POVs.

Thank you Hachette Audio!

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing for the free ALC and e-arc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. Regina Black is a Supremely talented author and this follow up from her debut did not disappoint. I am absolutely in my based on real life historical fiction. This has my whole entire attention.as someone who loves music I know many genres are as a result of black singers performers. I will absolutely be looking into this more. This bookmis so important with the current state of things and the erasure of historical events.

Suggest giving it a try.

5/5☆

This book was great. It had heart felt and heart wrenching storylines. It addressed racial and economic disparities, stereotyping, pigeonholing people, and historical whitewashing. However, this book didn’t feel like being lectured to, it was a legitimate story that told the intersecting lives of two people and the intertwining people and stories around them. It talks to how our personal history influences the actions we take and the vices that plague us or that we have to overcome. It was a story about music that felt like the song of a people and the history of a person. The love story is an undercurrent that has the power to build or destroy in equal measure. It was sad and hopeful and showed the messiness of life across generations.
The primary narrator did a fantastic job it felt like her voice added a layer of interest to the story but almost felt like it fell into the background in a way that ensured the words had their moment.

Friends to enemies to lovers
Multiple timelines
Second chance romance

Dual narration- Bahni Turpin; William DeMerritt; January LaVoy; Stephanie Cannon

Some amazing voices here.

Deeply emotional journey. Great listen. The storyline and plotting was good. Writing style keeps you interested and wanting to know what else happens

AUGUST LANE by Regina Black was the first book I read by the author; and I absolutely loved every second of the read.

Regina’s writing and storytelling is honestly beautiful and captivating. I was completely drawn to the story from the start. There is so much emotion and vulnerability in each scene that you can’t help but feel as you reading each word she wrote.

She brought forth the important discussion of the position black musician have in the music industry country music. Specifically, the lack of respect and representation they have especially when it comes to country music.

Her characters felt so real and human. They were complex, raw, and vulnerability that anyone who reads their journey could understand and relate with.

The characters endure so much as the story unfolds; from heartbreak, to love, to self-acceptance, forgiveness, and recognizing when to let go.

August and Luke’s love story was beautiful, the pacing of their relationship was done really well . There was so much hurt, resolved emotions, and residual emotions between them they was resolved in a realistic way. You can’t deny their chemistry, they were each others support system and seems like they can only rely on each other during the moments of hurt and pain.

This book was beautiful, I really loved every moment of this book. It really shows that one story will never be perfect, there will be moments of pain and sadness but if you understand your worth and have at lease one person by your side it can make the pain and anguish better.

The audiobook was also incredible, the narrators captured the emotions of the characters really well.

Will definitely read more of Regina Blacks work.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this copy.

This was a moving and emotional second chance romance involving two Black Country singers/songwriters who fall in love as teenagers and get torn apart when one finds fame on a reality show and takes credit for a song they wrote together. Fast forward many years later and a shocking confession brings them back in one another's orbit.

Told from multiple perspectives and a dual timeline style with flashbacks, we see how August and Luke first fell in love, the childhood traumas they endured and later their struggles as adults. In the present August is grieving her grandmother's death from dementia, is estranged from her famous singer mother and Luke is a soon to be divorced recovering alcoholic with a childhood of domestic abuse.

Great on audio narrated by a full cast that includes some interview style segments with August's mother, this is perfect for fans of Seven days in June by Tia Williams or Can't get enough by Kennedy Ryan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

CW: mention of off page abortion (side character), domestic abuse, dementia, alcohol addiction/abuse