Sophie Reads YA: Erin Hahn

Waiting On Wednesday: Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn

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2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Friends Don't Fall in Love by Erin Hahn

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Friends Don't Fall in Love
Series: None
Author: Erin Hahn
Published October 17th 2023 by St. Martin's Griffin

Goodreads Synopsis
Lorelai Jones had it all: a thriving country music career and a superstar fiancé. Then she played one teenie tiny protest song at a concert and ruined her entire future, including her impending celebrity marriage. But five years later, she refuses to be done with her dreams and calls up the one person who stuck by her, her dear friend and her former fiancé’s co-writer and bandmate, Craig.

Craig Boseman’s held a torch for Lorelai for years, but even he knows the backup bass player never gets the girl. Things are different now, though. Craig owns his own indie record label and his songwriting career is taking off. If he can confront his past and embrace his gifts, he might just be able to help Lorelai earn the comeback she deserves―and maybe win her heart in the process.

But when the two reunite to rebuild her career and finally scratch that itch that’s been building between them for years, Lorelai realizes a lot about what friends don’t do. For one, friends don’t have scratch-that-itch sex. They also don’t almost-kiss on street corners, publish secret erotic poetry about each other, have counter-top sex, write songs for each other, have no-strings motorcycle sex, or go on dates. And they sure as heck don't fall in love... right?

Erin Hahn’s Friends Don’t Fall in Love is about long-time friends, taking chances, and finding out that, sometimes, your perfect person was right there in your corner all along.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lorelai Jones has it all - a thriving career, and a star fiancee. But when she dares to show her opinion on stage, she loses it all. There's only one person she can turn to, her friend and ex-fiancee's old band mate, Craig ("Huck" to his friends). What she doesn't know, however, is that Huck feels more than friendship for Lorelai, and will do just about anything for her. So when their friendship starts to blur the lines, and their work brings them closer together, will they be able to 'scratch the itch', or are they actually falling in love with each other?

Since Erin's debut, I've loved her work, but have only read her YA releases so far. I did request this as somewhat of an impulse, but I loved it! Huck and Lorelai were the perfect couple, and they worked so well together. Lorelai was the sweetheart of the country and western scene, but following a spate of shootings, she was angry and needed to do something about it. Singing a political song at one of her concerts, she turns the gun-loving crowd against her, and it forces her career to a standstill. Her lacklustre fiancee drops her immediately, but without the common courtesy of telling her in private. I truly felt for her in these moments, and was glad she went to Huck to help her regain her confidence, and come back fighting. Huck was such a sweetheart, but he had an edge that Lorelai needed. He was by her side always, and had already fallen deeply in love with her, but he shared that love via his private twitter account. Those poems of his were erotic and deep, and he shared his very heart in his words. I loved that they were so honest and open with each other, though there was an incident of miscommunication which I wish wasn't part of the story. I do think that reading book 1 would have been a good idea, as the main characters had secondary roles in this book, and I think I'll try and get a copy of it soon. This book has definitely cemented my love for Erin's works!

Dates Read:
June 2, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

Erin Hahn

Waiting On Wednesday: Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn

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2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn

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More Than Maybe
Series: None
Author: Erin Hahn
Published July 21st 2020 by Wednesday Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Growing up under his punk rocker dad's spotlight, eighteen-year-old Luke Greenly knows fame and wants nothing to do with it. His real love isn't in front of a crowd, it's on the page. Hiding his gift and secretly hoarding songs in his bedroom at night, he prefers the anonymous comfort of the locally popular podcast he co-hosts with his outgoing and meddling, far-too-jealousy-inspiringly-happy-with-his-long-term-boyfriend twin brother, Cullen. But that’s not Luke’s only secret. He also has a major un-requited crush on music blogger, Vada Carsewell.

Vada's got a five year plan: secure a job at the Loud Lizard to learn from local legend (and her mom's boyfriend) Phil Josephs (check), take over Phil's music blog (double check), get accepted into Berkeley's prestigious music journalism program (check, check, check), manage Ann Arbor's summer concert series and secure a Rolling Stone internship. Luke Greenly is most definitely NOT on the list. So what if his self-deprecating charm and out-of-this-world music knowledge makes her dizzy? Or his brother just released a bootleg recording of Luke singing about some mystery girl on their podcast and she really, really wishes it was her?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Growing up in the spotlight was always going to be hard, but for introvert Luke Greenly, it's doubly so. He's never wanted the fame that comes with being the son of former punk rocker, Charlie Greenly, but luckily he has his twin brother, Cullen to rely on. Luke is more than happy to be behind the scenes, part of a double act on his podcast, and secretly writing and creating music in his bedroom. No one else knows about that, nor do they know just how far his feelings go for music blogger, Vada. Vada has had a difficult childhood, with a father who would rather drink himself stupid in the bar she works at with her pseudo-step father, Phil, than remember that he has an 18 year old daughter. She wants to cultivate her connections through the bar to her writing, and hopefully be able to go to college in California, before becoming a music reported for Rolling Stone. Part of her five year plan is to get Phil and her mam to trust her to take on a managerial role in the bar, and even close up a few times, and part of her new responsibilities is to oversee the Greenly brother's using the sound booth to create their podcast. Working with Luke a lot more, especially when he starts working in the bar, they both realise that the feelings they've been hiding from one another are reciprocated, but when a secret recording of Luke singing his own song is released, will the pressure become too much?

Now, I've been putting off this book for a while, and honestly, I don't really know why. I loved Erin's debut release, and couldn't wait to read More Than Maybe but every time I've tried in the past, since been approved for the eARC, I wasn't in the right mood or whatnot. Well, during my Easter holidays, I decided to read it again, and I don't know what it was, but as soon as I loaded it up on my phone, I couldn't put it down, and devoured the entire book in just a few short hours. It was perfect! The characters, from Vada and Luke, to Phil and Vada's mam, Mary, to Cullen, Zack, Meg, and everyone else who was part of the story, were so well fleshed out, and had their own history and back stories. I loved the romance between Vada and Luke, but even more so was the plot line away from their relationship. Both had plans for the future, and though some people in their lives - namely, their fathers - didn't wholly approve of them, they wanted what was right for themselves. For Vada, that's writing for music publications, and continuing the hard work she had already started, whereas Luke wanted to be involved in music, but through writing and composing, not actually being on the stage. They complimented each other so much, and I loved seeing them both grow through their own eyes, and each others. They secret collaboration for the end of term showcase was a nice addition too, and we saw them go from neigh on strangers, to friends, to more, really quickly through they mutual love of music.

The backwards and forwards of sending music playlists to each other, and the sheer amount of pining and wanting between Luke and Vada made me want to squeal at times. They were the cutest, and, to be honest, the book was full of fluff and honest to god, adorable relationships. First there's the established relationships between Luke's parents and his brother Cullen, and best friend, Zack. Cullen and Zack were the sweetest couple, and I definitely agreed with what was said in the book that they were made for each other. Both of them were so invested in each other, and they wanted the best for their brother/best friend, and were perfect wingmen to Luke when he was trying to understand his feelings for Vada. Then there's Mary and Phil, who just deserved each other, and were so right for each other, and what Vada needed. After having such a deadbeat father in Marcus, having Phil there as another father figure, who actually loved and cared for Vada how she should be, and wanted to raise her up and bolster her dreams and ambitions, was more than we could've asked for. I was so unbelievably pleased with how the book ended, and everyone had the happy ending they wanted. The only thing I could've wanted more, was seeing if Meg had finally told her mam she wanted a gap year, but I think that would be me nit picking. Seriously, this book was perfect, and I am dying to read Never Saw You Coming!

Dates Read:
April 13, 2021

Rating
5 Stars

Erin Hahn

Waiting On Wednesday: More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn

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2018 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn

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You'd Be Mine
Series: None
Author: Erin Hahn
Published April 2nd 2019 by Wednesday Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about. Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things.

But unfortunately for Clay, if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him. That’s what happens when your bad boy image turns into bad boy reality. Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after her parents’ tragic death, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Clay’s label wants to land Annie, and Clay has to make it happen.

Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour. From the start fans want them to be more than just tour mates, and Annie and Clay can’t help but wonder if the fans are right. But if there’s one part of fame Annie wants nothing to do with, it’s a high-profile relationship. She had a front row seat to her parents’ volatile marriage and isn’t interested in repeating history. If only she could convince her heart that Clay, with his painful past and head over heels inducing tenor, isn’t worth the risk.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

This was a book that I hadn't initially heard much about, but will admit that the gorgeous cover is one of the main reasons I sent in the NetGalley request, and I'm really glad I did, as You'd Be Mine was such a quick and enjoyable read, especially considering I read this in November, when the weather wasn't the best, and was looking for a book somewhat similar to A Star is Born.

In You'd Be Mine, Annie, who's parents had both been country music stars, is America's Sweetheart, but just because she comes from such a musical family, doesn't mean everything is handed to her on a platter. She has to work for her career, and it's a good thing she loves singing and performing. However, she knows exactly what that lifestyle can do to a person, and she needs to do anything to avoid making the same mistakes her parents did. Clay, on the other hand, is not a sweetheart, but rather a bad boy, who's fallen to the vices that can plague stars, and he seriously needs to clean up his act. When the record label decides that their two biggest acts - Annie and Clay - should perform and tour together, it's as if its a train wreck waiting to happen, but instead, magic and chemistry could save the day.

I really liked both characters, Annie more than Clay, and enjoyed how they were complex people, with difficult backstories that we began to see as they grow closer to each other. From the off, there is chemistry between the two, and they both try to fight it, for different reasons, but it's just too much and, honestly, they're better people together. Facing their difficult pasts, and knowing that the other person understands the pressure they're under, allows each character to grow, and they are really realistic in the way they face each issue.

Now, country music has never really been a big genre for me - I don't know if it's just because it doesn't exactly have a huge following here in the UK - but I did like the way the music was fully integrated into the plot, and it felt natural to be reading the lyrics on the page. I'm definitely glad I requested this book, and am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Dates Read:
November 24-25, 2018

Rating
4 Stars