If I could collect every star and give it to this book I would.
Unbelievably beautiful in every way. I truly think this may be one of the best books I ever read.
From page 1, I was hooked.
I am just sitting here staring at a wall. I was in tears at the end.
A love story like no other.
Thank you Berkley, NetGalley and Colleen.

In a word, Colleen Oakley’s new book IN CONCERT is beautiful. And even that one word does not do the book justice.

Beautifully written. Beautiful story. Beautiful flawed characters who feel real. I came close to tears multiple times while reading.

IN CONCERT is my generation’s LOVE STORY — not OLIVER’S STORY, the subpar, unnecessary sequel that tarnished the power and cultural significance of the first novel. I’m with the author on this point. You’ll see.

Rebecca “Bee” Garavano and Abraham “Ham” Ford met in 1977 at a Grateful Dead concert. Bee was tripping on acid at the time; it’s revealed that this was her first time trying drugs, and she did so because she did not like the idea that she was predictable or boring. You know what is not predictable but is absolutely memorable? Bee vomiting on Ham while tripping. Quite the meet-cute.

Bee has her whole life planned out. She is going to attend Cornell and study microbiology. Except she learns that she does not have a knack for science and instead loves stories and language. So she pivots, embracing her free spirited nature. She studies English, moves to New York, works as a bartender . . . she experiences everything life throws at her.

Ham is a classically trained violinist who first stepped into the spotlight as a child, playing his violin on the Johnny Carson show. Ham is obsessed with being the best and playing perfectly, but his character is that of being too rigid, too serious, and a bit arrogant (that’s putting it mildly). However, being around Bee at that concert in 1977 evokes a side of his personality that makes it so easy to fall in love with him.

This book is an epic love story that spans six decades. Bee and Ham are destined to be together, and it is clear to everyone that they love each other with a capital L. So what is keeping them apart? Life. And their own mental baggage.

To write anymore about the plot risks revealing too much, and I refuse to ruin any details for future readers.

Just know that IN CONCERT is a book of love, passion, heartbreak, tragedy, and triumph. It is a deeply personal story that Ms. Oakley shares with her readers.

There is the probability readers might view the book as a series of episodes, chronicling the protagonists’ lives as well as the importance of music throughout their life story. After all, the two meet at a Grateful Dead concert. And then there are references to moments over subsequent decades to when Bee and Ham come in contact directly or indirectly with Bruce Springsteen, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Sara Bareilles, to name but a few. The music mentioned in the book defined a decade and became the soundtrack of Bee’s and Ham’s lives.

The numerous musical references will instill a sense of nostalgia in the reader as they remember where they were when John Lennon was shot or when the Live Aid concert happened or Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction at the SuperBowl.

Oakley writes, “What is it about any song you love? It’s not the song, really, it’s what it evokes in you. The memories. Songs are like smells: the scent of your child room bedroom, your mom’s pot roast. Your favorite ones remind you of something. Of someone.”

These references in the novel will evoke something in the reader. So don’t think of the book as a series of episodes. Substitute the word track. Each chapter is a track on an epic double album called IN CONCERT.

I guarantee readers will want to share this beautiful book with family and friends. I also suspect that many of them might put together a mix tape for family and friends to listen to as they read. I cannot think of a higher compliment than that.

IN CONCERT is a 2027 Must Read!

This beautiful book scared me in the most unexpected way

This is such a sweet, sweeping love story and it completely stole my heart — but it also scared me.

It’s not a scary book in the thriller sense. What scared me is how real it feels. It starts with one perfect moment — two teenagers at a concert in the 70s, a Polaroid flash — and then life just happens. Fifty years of near-misses, bad timing, different paths, and all that unsaid love in between.

It scared me because I saw myself in it. How many of us have that one person, that one summer, that one photo we can’t let go of? How easily years slip by while we’re busy chasing other dreams? Watching Ham and Bee orbit each other for decades, so close but never quite at the same place at the same time, had my chest aching.

It’s romantic and tender and full of music and nostalgia, but it also made me think about fate and regret and time moving too fast. I was hooked and left a little breathless.

This book enrapture me- I love music, I belive everyone has a soundtrack to your life, even if your not that into music, its still playing in the background, the title of the book clues the reader in that the book is about a concert, and obviously music, and it is but so much more its a love story - heartbreaking, infuriating, funny, and has sprinklings of music history sprinkled throughout - Bee and Ham meet as 18 and 19 year olds at a festival in the 70s - Greatful Dead is the headliner, although neither is a fan - Ham is a violinist- a great one playing since he was 3 now 19 he's on the cusp of greatness, and Bee is two days away from starting college and her dream of being a scientist. They meet and spend time together at the show and they pose with friends for a Polaroid picture- and go their separate ways at dawn- the photo is found some 50 years later in a book across the country at a flea market- someone posts it on social media trying to see if they can get the photo to the rightful owners- (by this time Ham who has become a very famous musician and Bee- i cant tell you because you know no spoilers,) it doesn't take long for social media sleuthes to figure out its Ham whi is on the verge of a special show for the first time in almost 20 years, but who is the girl?, in a series of flashbacks told through their timeline interspersed with music history we learn their story its messy, complicated, maddening, beautiful and tear jerking, but its so good- the way Colleen Oakley intertwined the story and all kinds of musical events from the 70s to the 2000s is so good- im not a spoiler writer in reviews and this one its hard to talk about without giving away key points the book hits on family dynamics, life long friendships romantic entanglements, break ups and makeups, ---so im gonna tell you as a reader and a music lover- buy this book! Read this book! I read it in two sittings because I had to know what was happening with these two, its a love story 50 years long and worth every minute of missed sleep I got, I'll leave with one final message- go to the concerts, make the memories,who knows who you may meet and what will happen

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

Loved this one! This was really engaging from start to finish. I would absolutely check out more from this author. I would recommend this one to my followers.

In Concert seems so realistic that it makes you believe that the characters are real. Rooting for Ham and Bee throughout the novel as they interact and depart causes tension and anticipations that keep the story flowing to the surprising conclusion. Loved it.