e-ARC, NetGalley
Author: Jackson Pearce
Remy Young is a session drummer. He’s no stranger to relative fame, as his band, frontlined by his brother, had a hit single before being dropped by their label. Now, he works in the studios, playing drums in recording sessions and occasionally helping produce songs.
When pop artist Vivi Sawn (America’s sweetheart, glaringly inspired by Taylor Swift) needs an “emergency” drummer for the American leg of her tour, he doesn’t think twice. They need the money – his brother has been creatively blocked since coming back from rehab and Remy is terrified he will start using again. So, he’ll go, play, and stay away from any drama that surrounds the “break-up songs princess”. When a bus mix-up and a paparazzi chase throws them together alone for hours, he’s surprised to find out that she’s nothing like her public persona. She ends up showing him a “baby song” and asks him to help her polish it. He can’t pass it up for professional reasons (yeah, right…) And soon the song is not a break-up song and every variation of it is a subtle love letter. But Vivi’s fame will soon put their budding love story to the test…
Although the blurb and the cover all point to a a lighthearted rom com, this is not the case. This book is a delicate love letter to making music. Also a book about how fame can turn your life into a gilded cage. The way the romance blooms between these two reminds me of Jane Austen: furtive glances, a slight touch of the hand, an intoxicating smell of vanilla. It’s definitely closed door and it has a lingering YA feeling all over, but it’s kinda lovely.
Having said that, there are a few things that I wish were different:
The third act conflict: it was so obvious that you were just expecting WHEN that was going to happen, and when it happened I really didn’t understand how passive and forgiving to “the culprit” Remy was!
Vivi’s “grand gesture”: I needed more. Six months and just that???
This is me, a very personal preference: I needed an extra chapter in the end or a more developed “epilogue”. The news tidbits at the end were cute but I needed more development.
It’s also interesting that this is told in 3rd person POV, but entirely through Remy’s.
All in all a lovely story.
Possible triggers: MMC ran away from home to escape an extremely religious household.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
