sapphic indie pop princesses assemble!!! this is the second chance romance trope at its best — the FMCs' voices were each so distinct yet so relatable. the band in the story is very MUNA / boygenius coded. i really connected to Amelia's relationship with her family and her self doubt despite dizzying success. i felt Ramona’s man hating and self sabotaging nature. i loved Bea so much and how they served as a reality check for them both in different ways. the yearning! the tension! i was rooting for them all the whole time!!!! also the spice was hot AF. 11/10 highly recommend xoxo

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. A second chance, slow burn romance packed with sapphic yearning, delicious “will they/won’t they” tension, and a ton of messy emotions.

Set against the backdrop of a queer band’s reunion tour, the story balances romance with the complexities of friendship, ambition, and the challenges of revisiting the past. The characters felt super real, each with their own struggles, fears, and motivations, and I found myself genuinely rooting for all of them.

Ramona and Amelia’s romance is at the heart of the story, and their chemistry, history, and unresolved feelings made for a really compelling read. But Bea was also a standout character for me. If the authors ever decide to write a spin-off centred on Bea, I'd be all over that!

This is a heartfelt, emotional, and beautifully character driven sapphic romance that I think fans of second chance romances and queer music will really enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! The romance between Amelia and Ramona was so genuine and I could feel their nervous energy and attraction whenever they were together. I loved the slow buildup they had of realizing that their old feelings from the past still remained. The character of Bea was so funny, and it was heartwarming how she was such a true friend to her bandmates. I loved the backdrop of the tour and all of the stops they made along the way, each one bringing Amelia and Ramona closer together. I devoured this book in one sitting. Highly recommend!!

Set 5 years after their disastrous breakup, Creative Differences follows the lives of Amelia, Romona and Bea on their reunion tour of their college band Swanboat. Following relationship between the lead guitarist Ramona and vocalist Amelia, we are introduced to the characters just before they break no contact. The rekindling of their friendship and further relationship (through stunning sexual tension thank you xx) didn’t feel rushed or too drawn out. I really lobed getting to know the characters more intimately and learning about the details of the band before the love story kicked in.

I really enjoyed dipping into Amelia’s perspective in her chapters and read about her coming to terms with her own personal success as a solo artist. Her internal battles with more relatable themes of loneliness and self doubt paired with the bigger issues of her fighting for authenticity with her label and trying to battle writers block really made her such a dimensional and interesting character to follow. Especially her dealing with being known as a ‘Tiktok’ artist or dealing with the concept of fame and fans. It didn’t feel gimmicky or forced at all which made me really invested.

Ramona’s perspective also as an artist dropped from their label and working as a radio host really added a cool dimension to the book. I loved seeing these vast experiences somehow being so similar to one another. I also thought the handling of Ramona’s anxiety and panic attacks was done really well and I really really loved her ending!!

Bea was my favourite character by far!! I loved the clear friendship between the group and how good of a friend they were. One of my biggest pet peeves is when romances neglect the importance of friendships in a story and this didn’t disappoint!

The snippets of artists I love also was so fun and I loved recognising some of my favourite artists (I squealed when Bigthief were mentioned as if they don’t have millions of streams lol!). This was clearly written with such a love and passion for indie music and the scene and it bleed onto the page beautifully!

Thank you Netgalley and Bindery Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Ramona, Amelia, and Bea are all members of the band, Swansong. After a five year break, they have a reunion tour and it delves into the past, present and future of their friendships and more than friendships. The characters are so well written and the authors get into their heads and hearts in a wonderful way. I loved Bea - she was so down to earth and played an amazing referee for all the band. I wanted to know what was going to happen next through the whole book and didn't want it to end. Can we have a Creative Differences Part 2???

A love letter to sapphic bands with a lot of yearning, missed connections, and lived-in friendships (real question is would Swanboat open for boygenius or would boygenius open for them after their second album, the people need to know).

Gliding through Swanboat's reunion tour, and getting to know Bea, Ramona and Amelia through the ups and downs of life on the road was a true delight. I appreciated how the trips to Ramona and Amelia's hometowns revealed more about their pasts and connections to their younger selves. Because the book placed such a heavy emphasis on their college years, I wish we had seen a bit more of their dynamic as a band in the early days, so the reunion meant as much to the readers as it did to the characters. I also liked the sweet and slow unfolding of Ramona and Amelia's romance, and appreciated Bea as the grounded voice of reason.

So excited to reread this listening to the new Phoebe Bridgers album in a month. Thanks to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the advanced copy!

I absolutely loved Creative Differences!!!
The characters are fully fleshed out, the plot is believable, and the chemistry is undeniable. If you like the local scene and have dreamed of making it in the industry, this will be a fun way to connect with that aspiration. I love queer women <3

Funnily enough, I too have a yeehaw edm bass drop headbang twang playlist!!

Probably the most fun romcom romp I’ve read in a while. It’s like if daisy jones and the six was instead about boygenius and muna, and idk something about it was so delicious that I ate it right up.

I don’t usually like second chance, but there was such a compelling cast here that I could not put this book down. Would love if I could get a sequel… and a tv show… and a real album of the songs… and another series all about bea’s farm life please and thanks!

I had a great time reading this book! The yearning was felt so tangible. I loved being able to feel connected to swanboat’s hometown, it added a lot of depth to the story and it felt very nostalgic. I appreciate a book with a happy ending but still keeps the plot interesting. I hope Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang keep writing together!

It was absolutely planned that my 100th book of the year would incorporate as many of my favorite things as I could find in a book. Naturally, it's a Bindery book. Even when a book hasn't been in one of my (many) preferred genres, I've not yet been let down by a Bindery book. This book was no exception (it was literally tailored for me) rockstar romance, tour bus (and car) shenanigans, romance, sapphic lit, second chance, a little enemies to lovers (could have had more snark and higher stakes) sensitive handling of anxiety and depression, a fun approach to "the inn only has one bed!" and the sapphic YEARNING!!! I absolutely loved Bea and their calm yet firm way of handling their two best friends/bandmates. (Sometimes the dummies in love need someone to point out how they are dummies in love.) Would absolutely read more from their perspective! Watching Ramona tackle anxiety and her mental health while on a rockstar tour was uplifting. And even though my brain kept auto-correcting Amelia to Amelie, seeing her navigate loneliness and exploring how sometimes making the "safe" choice isn't really safe at all gave her depth that I didn't expect from the "popstar FMC."

Thank you to Bindery and NetGalley for my gifted EARC!

The slow burn romance made me aching for them to be together. I love rock music and I love romance books so this was a perfect blend. Romana and Amelia had a great amount of history that blurred a lot of lines. I loved how all the characters were written. The story was beautiful.

your classic romance formula following an indie rock band who reunites after their breakup half a decade later. it gave me muna (the band) and heartstrings (the web comic) vibes and i am so here for it.

i enjoyed the setting and the road-trip aspect of it, but i still feel like i had too many issues with it.

the biggest one is why did the authors add two more members to the band if they were just going to be decoration?? i don't know if that part was realistic but even outside of hanging out, the main trio did everything on their own, including interviews and other band related activities. i sometimes wondered if the authors had not forgotten about quinn and georgia.

second, i've said this before and i'll say it again, but one of my biggest ick is mentioning taylor swift in a book as this feminist figure every young woman looks up to. don't include her if you don't want me to dock half a star to my rating.

finally, i understand a romance book needs to follow a certain formula, but i'm never a fan of the choices concerning the inevitable third act breakup. here again, i found the characters' behaviours very immature and while it was addressed after it, i would expect better from people over 25.

i still had a great time with this story and read it in just a few days! don't be deterred by my criticisms, it's always a pleasure to read queer love stories and i only want to encourage publishing to release more in the future!

thank you to netgalley and bindery x sapph lit for inviting me to read and review this arc!

I went into this one blind, as a big fan of the rockstar romance genre but less familiar with sapphic romances, and it seems I have a new subgenre I’ll be leaning into! Amelia and Ramona both resonated with me in such strong but different ways, and their characters leapt off the page for me. They were written so well that I felt like I understood them deeply even without a ton of backstory. While there was more leaning on the “lack of, or missing communication” plot than I’d normally like (just freaking TALK TO EACH OTHER) it was almost organic and understandable in their contexts.

I loved watching their relationship rebuild, rekindle, and grow, and really enjoyed the book as a whole.

MUNA and boygenius fans, this one is for you! The sapphic yearning, the indie queer band, the second chance romance, readers of Paulsen & Wang's debut HERE FOR THE WRONG REASONS will not be disappointed.

This was very cute despite the fact that both main characters are infuriating avoidants who are terrified of life. It reminded me a lot of boygenius. It’s very readable and it pulls you in easily, I constantly wanted to know what would happen next. I did find it a bit unrealistic that Mia had been in a 7 year situationship with a man she didn’t even like. The third act conflict did feel a little like reheating nachos and i wanted it to be something more creative. Also it took them way too long to admit feelings for one another (appropriately 67% of the book). It wasn’t my favorite lesbian romance i’ve ever read but i still had fun!

Artistic Differences really captures the essence of a band story, a love story, and also a friends as soulmates story: This book isn’t just about Ramona and Amelia, it’s about Bea as well, and how the three of them come together again as a band after a sudden and traumatic split five years before. All of these elements combined is what makes it so engaging and great to read, instead of just another formulaic literary rom-com that also has a band.

Something else that’s done perfectly here is how the neurodivergence of the characters is handled and represented in a very natural and realistic way. This is something that I really appreciated, as my spouse and I are both neurodivergent.

And the spice? It’s very, very slow burn, but is very, very worth it.

Thanks so much to Bindery Books and Sapph-Lit for the advance reader copy through Net Galley. I really loved this one, and I hope that the published version comes with a playlist, because the characters’ favorite music is mentioned often and featured prominently, as it should in any story about a band.

»Amelia's used to what-if-what-if-what-if, but she's not used to thinking about good what-ifs too.«

A sapphic story about friendship, love, second chances, being musicians AND there's a Halsey reference in it?! Count me in!! I gotta admit I never gravitate towards romance books at all, but I loved the cover so, so much and if I'm gonna read a love story of course it's gotta be queer and about two girls in a rock-band.

First things first I loved our three FMCs a lot and could find pieces of me in each of them. I'd have loved to read even more about Bea and their inner thoughts, in my opinion they were sometimes a bit too nonchalant during certain conversations.

The writing and sentence structures sometimes felt a bit clunky, especially at the beginning. But I still found the way Ramona's inner feelings were described as understandable and believable. There's spice in it (which usually I also avoid or find cringe) but it wasn't over the top, felt passionate and didn't feel dragged out endlessly

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!

CREATIVE DIFFERENCES by annabel paulsen & lydia wang is a tender, dual-pov second chance sapphic adult romance that sings on every page & pulls at your heartstrings. it follows singer amelia & guitarist ramona, who used to be in a band called swanboat with their friend bea, as they reunite for a reunion tour years after they broke up following a kiss as they try not to fall for each other all over again. but it's a truly intimate story about growing into who you truly are, pursuing the things that bring you joy, and going after the kind of love that scared you, but you knew you were after all along.

This felt very fresh and like I’d totally be friends with these characters, in terms of their dialogue and points of view. Love stories about musicians, and that fantasy of behind the scenes action. Good chemistry between the main characters and I liked that they talked, like talk talked about their relationship.

Is there a sapphic experience that unites all of us more than kissing your best friend and it causing not only the breakup of your friendship but also causing your band to break up? Creative Differences is a cute wlw romcom that is as heartwarming as it is humourous.

4.5 stars.

yes!! this is what I wanted—a queer-centered story. I can never find anything like that, but this? yes ma’am.

I love the complexity of amelia and ramona‘s relationship. sometimes, they could have been a little bit dense about feelings, their own and each other’s, but I think it’s very realistic how complex their relationship is. I honestly love them and all of the other characters in this book, maybe except declan, but he wasn’t too bad. all of these characters are different and flawed, but they each fit the story well. this genre alone was very interesting, because I don’t see it too much, the band mates, having a “secret relationship.” when I first saw the arc on netgalley, it piqued my interest just because I don’t read a lot of stories about music and bands.

like I said before, sometimes, amelia and ramona were very dense about their feelings and things like that, but it’s not too worrisome because I find it to be really realistic and relatable. I also wanted to see more of the other band members. yes, the story is mainly about amelia and the amona‘s relationship, but I feel like we don’t know too much about the other characters and it’s almost like you can kind of take them out in the story would play out the same, especially fink and georgia.

something I thought about when I was reading was the possibility of adding more of the band and music element into the story to kind of balance that with the romance. I think this could have even further improved storyline and learn more about the characters and how their music reflects them. the critiques I have are very minor and they didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story. I really like this book and I think I would like to buy it when it releases.

this is a great book for queer people who want to see dynamics of queer relationships. relationships are complicated whether you’re straight or gay or lesbian, but I think dynamics are slightly different between straight and queer people

What I really enjoyed about Creative Differences was how developed the two MCs were. Ramona and Amelia obviously have plenty of things to work on, but I felt really invested in their plight. It very much felt like I was following Fleetwood Mac or Daisy Jones and the Six on tour. I often don't wish for more of the same couple in another book, but I really thought these characters were great. This second-chance, will they or won't they sapphic love story is highly recommended for fans of the genre. I ripped through it in two days!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much. I read the entire thing pretty much in one day, which I don't do very often anymore! Creative Differences is set on the reunion tour of an indie band, Swanboat, that broke up five years previously because of the near-romantic-entanglement of the lead singer, Amelia, and the lead guitarist, Ramona. Amelia goes on to have a successful solo tour, but is blocked writing her third album. The Swanboat reunion tour is the solution to helping Amelia get over her writing block and potentially launching the solo careers of Ramona and the bassist, Bea--if Amelia and Ramona can get over their past and work together again.

I really liked Paulsen and Wang's debut romance, Here for the Wrong Reasons, but I felt like Creative Differences was even more fun and had really lovable characters. I also just love a second chance romance generally, so might be biased. Ramona's mental illness is depicted so thoughtfully and lovingly, never just a plot device used as an excuse to keep the couple apart, which I really appreciated. I think the strongest points for me was not only a couple I could root hard for, but secondary characters who were just delightful, Bea in particular, who is hilarious and whose alt-techno goat music I wish was real so I could listen to it.

These authors have moved onto my automatic-read list of authors for sure!

I loved the characters in this book. They felt real and truly fleshed out to be independent of each other but also work so well together.

There were points of the book that felt slow to me but overall it flowed well and was easy to read. Not sure if it’s a book I would revisit. Definitely glad I read it through and it made me want to read more them both authors.

Thanks NetGallery and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Creative Differences by Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang
☀️☀️☀️☀️

This sapphic romance is an ode to music, friendship, queerness, and growth. Filled with yearning and earnestness, it's a predictable but genuinely enjoyable ride.

Most of the second chance romances I've read in the past are full blown relationships, so finding this book where Ramona and Amelia *almost* got there before burning out and running made for interesting context. The built-in tension from that unresolved situation propelled the story forwards while still maintaining a slow burn in the current time romance.

Ramona and Amelia have great chemistry, and are both interesting and complex characters on their own, but they're not without weaknesses, namely the believable yet incredibly frustrating third act breakup. Without Bea, the fascinating and cool third band member, things would have been much more sulky and indulgent, so their presence acted as relief to that as well as the voice of logic.

The plot, which is structured around the reunion tour dates and locations across the US, is incredibly formulaic. Despite this predictability, the insightful internal monologues written by Paulsen and Wang made these more bland moments become great moments to expand on character. The writing is accessible and enjoyable. The pop culture references felt cool, not cringey, as did the band member themselves.

This story does not reinvent the wheel, but it is easy to read with compelling characters who clearly care deeply for each other and their music. It is unapologetically queer and emotional and, most importantly, a really good time.


"They stand there, the three of them, in a tight triangle. And it's like they're standing in the eye of a hurricane, like everything is happening around them and any one of them could get swept away in the catastrophic winds, but they won't, because they're all anchored to each other. They're held together with the weight of their own gravity, the gravity that they invent whenever they share a space."

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in February. Yes I loved this sapphic romance. The way it handled the complicated stuff without getting unnecessarily high tension especially. I got invested into the characters pretty quick.

4.25/5 stars
Creative Differences is a sweet, cute, and funny story about two women who are getting a second chance at love and friendship.

I think it was surprisingly good because I don’t necessarily enjoy romance. I enjoyed the banter and the mutual emotional constipation between Amelia and Ramona. Yes, you can be pushing thirty and still not have everything figured out feelings-wise.

I loved the dual POVs from both authors. I enjoyed how they tackled both FMCs' mental dilemmas because it didn’t feel like they were just putting it on paper just for the sake of moving the plot forward. It felt very realistic. It felt like these girls could be a friend I’d smack on the head for being obtuse, and they also felt like someone I could see in the mirror. They’re just like me for real. It was cliché, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. It was really fun and sweet.

I enjoyed Bea’s character as well. I loved that the story didn’t make me feel as if Bea were just a side character in the romance novel; they felt very much connected with both the FMCs, so that was really nice to read about, too. I take pride in friendships that don’t come second to romantic relationships.

I recommend this to someone who just wants to giggle for a bit and read something between a lesbian and bisexual FMC who also happen to be ex-bandmates!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publishing Date: February 9, 2027

Loved the premise of this one—it felt extremely tailored to my interests. A sapphic second-chance romance between former bandmates, with strong MUNA × boygenius × Clairo x Sleater-Kinney energy.

It would have been easy to make Amelia feel underwritten or turn her into a simple foil for Ramona, but I actually found her the more compelling and fully realized character. The book handled her ambition, loneliness, and compromises with a lot more nuance than I expected.

The romance worked for me, but so did the tension between art, fame, resentment, and the intimacy of listening to music with someone. Thanks for the galley

As someone who loved Daisy Jones and the Six as well as The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, I was really enthused to get my hands on another music-centered fiction piece.

The reading experience overall was really enjoyable, and I loved getting to know Swanboat, its history and experience the nostalgia-driven reunion tour. Paulsen and Wang laid out a distinct dynamic between the trio that really set the foundation for all aspects of the story as well, and it was refreshing to see such a range of queer representation.

In terms of the romance, I found myself going back and forth with Amelia and Ramona, especially with the string of miscommunication in the second act echoing their first misunderstanding. When paired with both characters' stubbornness, it made it difficult at times to root for their inevitable reunion. Regardless, this was a great read, and I look forward to seeing it hit store shelves in 2027.

The tension, the love, the connection -- all swoon worthy. I mean the cover says it all!

Swanboat fell apart years ago - it's three primary members living their lives; one on a farm, one a radio DJ and the other an up coming indie star.
On a impulse, Amelia gets the band together again with their favorite musicians to do a summer tour. Barely speaking, they start to reconnect and build their talent.
Ramona and Amelia spent years ignoring the attraction - together again, more intense and tempting.

Just a great sapphic romance!

I love cheesy love stories. I love gay people. I love romance. This book was so cute and the chemistry between the leads was everything. It's a pretty short read, but I enjoyed every bit of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing me an ARC.

I really enjoyed Creative Differences and appreciated the way it combines romance, emotional depth, and a strong creative atmosphere. The characters felt well developed, and their connection brought a lot of heart and authenticity to the story. I especially enjoyed the themes of personal growth, vulnerability, and finding a balance between relationships and individual dreams. The writing was engaging, with moments that were both heartfelt and entertaining. While the story is more character driven and focuses heavily on the emotional journey rather than a fast-paced plot, I found that approach allowed the relationships and conflicts to feel more meaningful. Overall, this was a thoughtful and charming romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy strong character dynamics, emotional storytelling, and a creative setting.

i absolutely jumped at any and all opportunity to read this and perhaps for the #wrong reasons knowing it could never do exactly what i wanted.

swanboat is a trio i knew from the initial synopsis i would know way too well. i have a deep kinship with ramona that does not prevent me from finding her communication in this novel frustrating. the fact that the third member of this crucial trio is looped into the main conflict approximately 20 pages before the end kinda devalues the impact of this dynamic they’ve tried to build. similarly, amelia and ramona are written to know each other better than anyone else and yet their whole schtick is just self sabotage.

i love our immersive musical world and the reference points are bands i so deeply care for and love to see revered in this way. i’m annoyed this book was never gonna fix my life but i hoped to be more affected by our main couples romantic moments so I could live vicariously through them.

big fan of this!!! incredibly fun & well-written. silly & sexy & funny & authentic! I was a little more into the group/band dynamic and less into the romance (surprisingly) but I really enjoyed reading it! And this book being written by 2 women in love makes me want to throw myself off a cliff like I- 😫

Creative Differences is a book about friendship, love, self discovery and music.

The authors managed to tell us the story in a way that shows that no matter your stage in life or how much success you have, everyone struggles with something. We are all human, with complex emotions and fears; we make mistakes, we change our minds and so on.

I really appreciated the way mental health issues were portrayed, specifically Ramona’s. I related a lot to her feelings and how she managed them (not very well I know).

Bea was absolutely my favorite character. They were empathetic, understanding, respectful and just an AMAZING friend. They were the best.

I struggled to like Amelia and to understand her, but I believe it is just as I said at the beginning we all struggle and process life in different ways. In the end I did understand her.

If you’re looking for a book with found family, queer characters and music, Creative Differences is totally the book for you.

Thanks to Bindery Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. The first thing I can say is wow. When I found out I could get an ARC on this one, to say I was stoked would be an understatement.

I started reading this one yesterday while on the bus, and immediately was sucked into the narrative. It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to experience that. If it hadn’t been for my brother tapping my shoulder, I would’ve missed my stop.

It took me about 6 hours collectively to read, and I was able to sit down and read it on the plane. I was so impressed by the narrative.

Number 1) the characters were so relatable. I felt so seen in the portrayal of Bea and Ramona. I highlighted multiple quotes that made me giggle or made me connect with the story.

The way Ramona’s anxiety and depression was depicted, didn’t take up the entire storyline, which was wonderful, but it was also incredibly important to the character, and was perfectly executed.

Number 2) it was the perfect balance of fluff, angst, spice and plot. It was so perfectly blended, that I didn’t feel like I was craving something. It was all perfectly timed.

Number 3) I adored the ending. It’s very rare for me to finish a book that ends the way I hoped it would, and actually ties up all of the loose ends that I wanted.

Number 4) As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I can say this- I occasionally feel that in some books, the writing and characters are oversaturated with queer themes. I did not feel that way at all, when reading this one. Everything was exactly right.

Number 5) The writing style was so so good! I felt so comfortable with the narrative, and it flowed incredibly well.

So overall, I’m giving this one 5 stars. Can’t wait for the physical copy to come out so I can gift it to my girlfriend and get her to read it!

Another great sapphic romcom from these authors! The road trip aspect of this book was well done and brought all the best aspects into the story including with a funny and original take on the one bed trope I haven’t seen before. If you like Muna or Boygenius you will like this book, it repeatedly had me thinking about both bands in the best way. I really appreciated the way that anxiety and depression was represented in Ramona and how it was also a factor in the relationship between her and Amelia. This story was a lovely mix of angst, fluffy romance, and plot with just the right amount of spice! The characters in this book were relatable and well thought out creating believe dynamics with friendship and romantic relationships with a group of people. I would have loved to read a chapter or 2 from Bea’s prospective on the tour or have a spinoff following them. Overall this book was incredibly enjoyable and perfectly showed a lovely friends to lovers story line with lots of sapphic yearning.

Funny and super cute, and as the book description said, this really is perfect for Daisy Jones & The Six fans.. because I'm one of them.. I'd also add that Ramona and Amelia were very Mizisua to me.. #eyes👀

We have sapphic rockstar second chance romance.. with a whole lot of tension..
The plot itself was great, but I feel like what really made me love the book were the characters. I loved them a lot.. You can still feel the care and love they have for each other even though they're all completely different people with different lives, and even after so many years apart they still clicked together so easily.
Ramona's dry sense of humour. Bea who's always trying to "fix the group" by leaving Ramona and Amelia stuck together, and oh!! Amelia!! I walked out as a huge Amelia lover!! I love how she was written 🥹 Her relationship with band members, with her friends, fans, it all just felt so sweet.
I also liked how even though we didn't get Bea's pov, they're still a character we can grow to love, they weren't left out even if the focus wasn't on them.

I felt as if the author let the scenes "breathe" as in there weren't any annoying "too many details" kind of thing. We had just enough information and could create a scene in our heads and feel the story, kinda be there with the characters. I didn't feel like I was reading a book, I felt like I was watching them on stage in front of me and I was a #big fan of that.

There weren't many things i disliked, other than mentions of social media and the music artists that are popular today. I also felt like the book could've been a bit longer, maybe to put more focus on the band, them making music and just existing as a group of friends.

All in all, a really great read.. perfect for anyone who wants a quick band romance read with queer and very loveable characters!!

Huge thanks to Netgalley for providing me an arc in exchange for a review!! All thoughts are my own.

A clever, charming exploration of collaboration and the messy magic of creative partnerships. The dual‑author dynamic shines through in the storytelling, at least in my opinion, the alternating perspectives add richness and humor to the narrative. The characters are relatable, and the conflicts feel grounded in real creative tension. It’s funny, and full of heart. A delightful read for anyone who enjoys character‑driven stories about art, compromise, and connection

As someone who loved silver sweet by Krista and Becca Richie, this book scratched the perfect itch I was having.

FIRE. I love a sapphic book where theyre musicians and kinda hate each other but also maybe not? I will admit this took me a bit to get in to, but once I got it, I Got It.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

First want to say that I would give this more of 4.25 or 4.5 but NetGalley won't allow it. This was a wonderful follow-up from this author pair, as I really loved their first book and this one was enjoyable in the same way. This dual-POV second chance romance will definitely appeal to those looking for something a little more New Adult than adult romance as the messiness and conflict has "mid-20's" written all over it in the best way. We're insecure. We're making negative assumptions about ourselves and everyone around us and being pleasantly surprised that those assumptions are wrong because people care about us (except Declan). I think the pacing was a little wonky, as the myriad conflicts were resolved/glanced over in a way that left me stumbling sometimes but overall, would greatly recommend this to someone looking for a heartwarming second chance romance set in the music world with a wonderful surrounding cast of characters.

Okay this book was just the most wholesome thing ever without being sugary sweet, like a perfect cinnamon roll.

The characters were very well balanced and I greatly appreciated the gender diversity without it being too on the nose. (Minor side note: this also was the first book in which I ever saw a straight edge person being mentioned?! I feel seen!)

The tone and the pace of the book were very well-balanced. The stakes of the story could have been a lot higher, but in my opinion the authors struck a great note with there being some tension and unanswered questions. Hell, there’s even room for a sequel?! I am sat for an expansion of the Swanboat Universe.

The title is a cute reference to both of the main characters’ songwriting backgrounds, something many creatives must encounter when collaborating with other creatives. To me the idea of ‘creative differences’ didn’t really translate into the nature of their relationship: I read it less as ‘opposites attract’. I didn’t feel too much strife between Amelia and Ramona, despite them being quite different, but more as two sides of the same coin who really needed each other to get the most out of their creative outlets and their personality. In a way I preferred how this was written! The relationship between the two protagonists felt palpable, there wasn’t too much back and forth (which is a trope that might be enjoyed by others) and all in all it really felt like a wholesome building up to a climax.

All in all it felt like a wholesome, low-to-medium-stakes romance story with a low-moderate amount of spice that was described rather lovingly instead of graphic. Would recommend!

4.25/5 stars

Oh, I love these two. Ramona and Amelia are the walking, (not) talking miscommunication trope and while I did want to shake them more than once, the split point of view saved this from being annoying instead of understandable. The authors do a great job of illuminating the why behind some of the more frustrating decisions our leading ladies make, and while the ending felt slightly too fast and rushed, the story itself was well-paced and kept me engaged throughout. The secondary characters were great, though I wish we had more time with the third member of the core band as they seemed to be a grounding force and someone we could all learn from. I'd definitely revisit this world again if given the opportunity, and hope that wherever Ramona and Amelia are, they are happy and saying their feelings out loud.

I need more sapphic rockstar romances in my life immediately! Paulsen and Wang deliver a romance that is so delicious and brimming with history, forced proximity - feelings can’t be outrun when you’re stuck in a vehicle together and traveling for weeks while on your - shared microphones and hotel rooms, and SO. MUCH. SAPPHIC. YEARNING.

Five years after they broke up, a reunion tour for the Swanboat band members could either be brilliant or a disaster… and Paulsen and Wang handle these messy characters with their big feelings beautifully. Amelia and Ramona tended to get in their own way at times, but I found their insecurities and guarded hearts very relatable. Now do I wish they had sat down earlier and discussed their feelings and not made decisions for the whole band? Of course, BUT humans don’t always get it right and most shy away from uncomfortable conversations when their hearts are vulnerable.

I loved the mixed media and getting glimpses both on and off stage. It was a great time and I can’t wait to read more from Paulsen and Wang!

Once again I genuinely believe Bindery never lets me down !

This was my first contemporary romance from Bindery and it was a perfect sapphic x music inspired romance and both Amelia and Ramona were so flawed and real but honestly despite being flawed they were both really likeable which made me love the book so much more. I think writing complicated female, flawed characters can often be challenging because it's very easy to make them unlikeable when they do unlikeable things, but I actually found myself loving the characters and understanding their choices even when I did not agree with them.

I think I thought I would love Ramona more but ended up falling in love with Amelia. I think her character development was incredible and I loved her childhood and backstory it was just really personal and beautiful to read.

Honestly such a good romance and definitely the representation that sapphic love stories deserve xx

What if we could go back and have another shot at happily ever after? What if you could unbreak your own heart and follow your dreams? This book is an ode to yearning and set in the excitement of a rock band reunion. I loved the main characters Mia and Ramona and the cast of interesting supporting characters including exes and band mates. The heart-breaking depiction of self doubt and imposter syndrome is highly relatable. The "what ifs" and "maybe, maybe, maybes" of the dual POV are a pleasure to read and the ending is... spoiler free. Definitely recommend to readers of slow burn romance that is worth the wait.