Songs for Other People’s Weddings was such a fun and moving listen. The audiobook had a good flow, and it was easy to tell when a new chapter was starting, which made it easy to follow along. The narrators really brought their characters to life, and I especially loved how the music was incorporated—the songs were catchy and really helped convey J’s emotional journey, creating an enhanced experience I wouldn’t have had just by reading the book. I’d definitely recommend listening to the audiobook over a physical copy because the music added so much to the story.

J’s journey to becoming a wedding singer began unexpectedly: one of his love songs turned into a worldwide hit for couples, and from there he began writing and performing personalized wedding songs for couples on their big day. Those moments were some of my favorites, especially the funny, quick-witted exchanges (I laughed out loud during his celebrity wedding performance).

What made the story even more powerful was the contrast with J’s own life—while he was celebrating other people’s love stories, his relationship with V was quietly unraveling. With V off in New York building her start-up, J was left trying to find the words—and the music—that could bring them back together. That mix of humor, heartbreak, and hope gave the book so much depth.

Overall, it felt fresh, heartfelt, and beautifully put together. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys quirky novels with a lot of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for this audiobook arc in exchange for my unbiased review.

The audiobok was heinous!! I am sorry but I cringed the whole time!!

I am waiting for the library copy to come in so I can at least give the book a fair shake because right now... I didn't like it at all and I think it is the narration that did that.

I just couldn't care about any of it.

2.5 stars for now.... Update will come soon

2.5 Stars Not bad, just misguided. I actually enjoyed listening to the music and the characters were never boring, but this entire book felt 100% written by a man specifically VI's side of the relationship conflict. Her passivity and confusing signals is straight out of a 2000's movie produced by men to go talk to other men about how weird 'the opposite sex' is. Like I get our main character was questioning his place in the world but I can only take this book seriously if the character was written intentionally as a reckless, clueless boyfriend. Because she literally just asked for space!

I had a hard time getting into this one, I was really intrigued by the concept but overall the audio just fell flat for me.

Incredibly beautiful and heartfelt, with a narrator and singer that both bring new life to this already wonderful book. An absolute must listen for anyone who likes a gentle and slow story.

This was odd and quirky but in the perfect way for me. While a sort of a Romance, this was definitely a novel about finding yourself.

I do not think I would have enjoyed this book as much had I read it instead of listening to it. The music really made the story.

The concept of this book was immediately intriguing: J is a singer who performs at weddings, writing personalised songs for each couple. It’s an original and charming idea. The first chapter (the first wedding) was particularly striking and I really enjoyed it.

However, as the novel progressed, I found it became somewhat repetitive. The originality of the premise seemed to fade along the way. Although each wedding is different, offering J new opportunities to reflect on his own personal life, after a while it gave me a sense of length and sameness.

J’s personal life, especially his relationship with his girlfriend V, struck me as almost chaotic. I struggled to connect with him as a character, though I suspect this might have been intentional on the author’s part. While J’s professional life is centred, at least partly, around love, in his private life he seems to find the very concept more difficult to grasp.

This book is not, strictly speaking, a romance. Rather, it explores love in all its forms: in what is beautiful and fulfilling, but also in what is flawed or unsustainable. It examines the life cycle of a relationship (the couples J writes for, as well as his own with V) from its beginning to its end, and the many shapes it can take.

In the end, this was not really a book for me. That said, the audiobook version, with its songs woven into the story, added a unique and engaging dimension that I genuinely enjoyed.

I absolutely loved the uniqueness of this audiobook!
Songs for Other People’s Weddings tells the story of Jay a wedding singer who writes and performs a personalised song for couples on their wedding day.
Throughout the story we hear about Jay and his partner Vee, we hear about Vee on her own journey of self discovery. Each chapter introduces a new couple who has hired Jay, while familiar faces weave back in to become key players in Jay and Vee’s lives.
The real magic of this audiobook lies in the songs themselves—Jay’s original wedding songs are performed throughout, and honestly, some of them moved me to tears.

I loved the unique take of this audiobook with the inclusion of musical numbers made it feel fun however I didn't really connect with the characters or their relationship.

It felt quite light and in some places it had a bit of a YA feel to it so if you picked it up at the right time it could definitely be a great easy-breezy pallet cleanser between heavier topics!

I enjoyed this so much. The music was fun. Lekman really had a ball and it shows. I am always on Team Levithan. I love that he pushes himself.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!


Unfortunately I could not finish this book. I really did try to finish it but it just wasn't for me. I know the narrator did kinda bug me a bit but maybe I need it in book form so I can read it for myself.

I came late to the party, and as such, did not have the chance to complete reading before the archive date. If only there were more time! Great concept.

This had a really intersting premise but was also odd, the different songs based on the couples were intersting but I didn't love the music and the main character was a little frustrating

There are only a few positive aspects I can highlight about this novel. While the concept initially held promise, the execution ultimately fell flat. The pacing dragged on painfully, and the writing felt overly wordy and repetitive, leading me to skim and even skip entire paragraphs at times.

One of the toughest hurdles was my inability to connect with the main characters, J and V. Neither character was particularly likable, and both came across as self-centered for different reasons. There were fleeting moments involving a wedding couple that captured my attention, as well as sporadic glimpses into the intricate nature of love and relationships. I appreciated J's efforts in interviewing the engaged couple to craft a bespoke song, but even that was overshadowed by the struggle to derive meaning from the resulting lyrics.

In summary, this was a laborious read for me—the author's style simply did not resonate with my preferences.

For my fellow friends who loved Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist as a teen, this is the grown-up evolution by the same author! J is a wedding singer and comes up with custom songs for every couple he performs for. Over the years, he continues to perform and learn about other relationships for song inspiration, while struggling to maintain his own, adding in complications to keep the love songs going.
I’ve loved David’s novels since I was a teen but often found myself struggling to get through this one. I did enjoy the custom songs for each couple which added some magic to this novel! Great melodies in the audiobook as well to accompany each song by Jens Lekman.
Thank you to Harry N. Abrams & RB Media for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase in all formats for collections where offbeat relationship stories and Levithan's other titles are popular.

Songs for Other People’s Weddings by Jens Lekman is a quirky and inventive listen that blends story and music in a fresh way. The protagonist often takes on the dual role of wedding singer and therapist to his clients, which made for an interesting dynamic, though at times I found him a bit frustrating. What truly elevates the experience is the music interwoven between chapters—it adds depth, charm, and a unique texture that makes this audiobook stand out. A creative and memorable read for anyone looking for something different in both storytelling and format.

Audiobooks were made for books like this! A delightful narrator *and* songs performed by the real-life counterpart to the main character? I felt lucky to ‘read’ (listen to) this book. The story was charming, following a relatably indecisive young couple as they make their way toward the ultimate definition of their relationship. Bittersweet and poignant, David Levithan’s prose is offset beautifully by Jen’s Lekman’s songs. I loved this book.

I usually adore David Levithan’s work, but for some reason I just could not get into this one. I think the audio performance is just a bit too out of left field for me. Maybe a text based version would work better, but the audiobook was a flop for me.

I cannot explain why I loved this bittersweet, melancholy novel. I'd be hesitant to recommend it because I'm not sure it's for everyone. The characters felt real, more so than most books. The audio narration with someone singing the songs at the end of each chapter was a sweet addition. Thanks RBmedia and NetGalley for the ARC