Stars Like Confetti

With the Band #3

by Sundae Leighton

The hockey player and the rockstar; that's what we were supposed to be.

Blake Duncan was going to be this award-winning musician and I would be the hot shot goalie. And we would be together, just like we had talked about. I wasn't supposed to go behind Blake's back, even if it was to save him from a life he didn't deserve. Blake had every right to be angry with me. I just never thought he would leave without saying goodbye.

My life was never the same without him. My career was not nearly as amazing as his; not as bright and shiny, but I managed. I carried around guilt that was stifling me; until the night of the accident that changed everything. The only person I wanted to comfort me was Blake, my best friend and soulmate. Only he wasn't there. I was still alone. I was broken.

Now my brother Jackson is getting married, and his fiancé just happens to be the drummer in Blake's band. Which means he'll be coming home; we'll see one another for the first time in years and it terrifies me. I'm not the same boy I was when he left. I'm angry and anxious. Riddled with PTSD from the accident. I'm scared to find out what he'll think when he sees me again. What if he found someone else to be what I couldn't?

Blake's still beautiful. Sparkling stars on a dark night. And I still want him despite trying to stay away. When he tells me he still loves me, I want to say it back. But if I can't let him kiss me, how can we be together? I find myself slowly breaking all my rules for Blake. He makes me feel like myself again.

For the first time in years, I find myself smiling, laughing, and hopeful. Maybe we can still have the future we wanted? Be together and live happily ever after. There is no one else that I want but Blake.


Stars like Confetti takes place after Frost, and before Killian & Matthias. All books in this series should be read in order to avoid spoilers. Please be aware that this book contains PTSD, anxiety, suicidal talk and thoughts as well as alcohol abuse which may be triggering to some readers. Please read at your own risk.

Genres: Second Chance, M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Found Family, Music, Hockey, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

Published May 27, 2024

About the author

Sundae Leighton writes romance novels that are sweet with a dark twist. She got her start writing fanfiction with her friends in school, but didn’t take the plunge to publish her first book (Picture Perfect) until 2020. Born and raised in Connecticut, where she currently resides with her husband and their cats. She sometimes scares herself when she writes things darker than intended, considers coffee the nectar of the Gods, and once ran the NYC marathon (OK - half marathon). When she isn’t writing down what the voices in her head tell her to, she likes watching murder shows, NASCAR, and reading romance books with lots of dark angst.

You can keep in touch with Sundae at SundaeLeighton.com and find her on most social media platforms.

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Reviews

[⋆.⤹vajiha࿐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

˚⸙͎۪۫⋆🎬 Mini review ✦ ˖ ࣪
ARC REVIEW
—4 stars
—3.5🌶🌶🌶/5

"Stars like Confetti" A book that showed a beautiful friendship turned relationship which had my emotions gripped. blake and tommy were so equally engrossed as an individual in there love, tommy's PTSD broke my heart, and it was so relatable to see them trying to deal with there emotions,even when they come face to face, things weren't easy at all, i just loved their chemistry they had for each other!!! definitely a recommend!!!

Mini synopsis—
Blake and tommy were best-friends who ended up falling in love in the sweetest way. they developed feelings and eventually fell for each other, everything about them was very natural, further in the story, tommy gets to know some secrets of blake, which were heartbreaking, After knowing those tommy decides to to help him,which ends up backfiring on their relationship. they meet again at jax's wedding[tommy's brother] where blake comes to know about tommy's accidents, eventually they figure themselves out and have there happily ever after, after all the seperation,longing,healing..

˚✦࣪𖦆 Fav Quote—
“I want you to hold me and make everything better. You’re the only person who can do that.”

"I have no idea what you’re thanking me for.
“For loving me,”
“Loving you comes naturally to me, Blake.”
“That is the most romantic thing I have ever heard.”

“You’re still mine, then.”
“I’ve always been yours, Gretzky,”࿐

Tropes—
Friends to Lovers
Gay For You
Grumpy/Sunshine
Hockey/Rockstar
Hurt Comfort
Mental Health Representation
It's Always Been You
Found family
Second Chance
MM Romance
HEA
PTSD

[You can find the graphics and review on my Instagram account @coversbyvajiha]

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars Like Confetti is the third book in the With the Band series by Sundae Leighton and this is Blake and Tommy's story. Blake is the guitarist in the now hugely successful rockband Mulligan Downtown and Tommy was the goalie for a successful NHL team until a brutal accident stalled his career. He is also Jax's brother from Frost.

We first meet Blake and Tommy in The Lying Tree during the early days of the band, while the boys were still at school. Whilst Stars Like Confetti can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read The Lying Tree and Frost first, for continuity.

What To Expect

❣️MM best friends to lovers to .....
❣️second chance romance
❣️found family
❣️first times
❣️all the angst
❣️all the steam
❣️hurt comfort
❣️mental health rep
❣️HEA

and p.s. Blake was adorable!

4 stars

[Laura Fabian · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review

I'll always enjoy returning to the characters from With The Band, and even though I didn't really know what to expect from Blake & Tommy I was dying to read them! And it makes me very happy to say that I really liked their story, some events took me by surprise, the characters melted my heart and I loved reading the rest of the characters in this series again.

Blake became my favorite Mulligan boy, I really loved getting to know him, even though his personal story of him broke my heart a little. I LOVED his positive, smiling personality, and the way he always accepted Tom as he is, Blake has a heart of gold that I think, until this moment, we had not been able to read, nor had we been able to fully knowing his place within the band, how much Killian's, Mav's and his own problems were affecting him while the boys were on tour. Which brings me to one of the things I loved most about this book: reading Killian, Mav, Dean & Blake being much more mature, working on healing their past traumas, being happy and recovering the friendship they had in thebeginnings, it was something that completely melted my heart.

I think Tom is the character with most obstacles in this book: Jax's's younger brother, with whom he has a beautiful relationship, he plays hockey and manages to be a professional too, but his career ends after an injury that leaves him with more than physical scars. Tom was always the most serious of the main characters, but due to the situations he has experienced he has become a little grumpy, isolated himself from the people around him and is terrified of going out and being seen the people in Canfield. Tommy doesn't have an easy path, but I really liked that Sundae showed us this character with a path already taken to improve, even though he has a long way to go.

Blake & Tommy have a very simple path at the beginning as friends who love each other unconditionally and whose feelings evolve until they decide to become boyfriends in the most unexpected, natural and sweet way, but Tom discovers that Blake has secrets that also broke my heart to discover, and although I understand that Blake feels betrayed by Tommy & Jax's decisions, I think the reason behind everything is a very nice one, even when it ends up separating them for years . And when the reunion finally happens, things are not easy at all, but Blake & Tom cannot ignore that their feelings are still there despite everything, and that they are still a beautiful couple.

I think the only thing that would have made this story better would have been if the extra scenes at the end of the book were part of the book itself, since they add a lot to Blake & Tommy's story.

🌠Blake: 5/5
🌠Tommy: 4.5/5
🌠Plot: 4/5
🌠Love story: 4.5/5
🌠Secondary characters: 5/5
🌠Universe: 5/5
🌠Cover: 4/5
🌶️: 2/5

ARC amablemente proporcionada a cambio de un reseña honesta

Siempre voy a disfrutar regresar a los personajes de With The Band, y aún cuando no sabía muy bien que esperar de Blake & Tommy me moría de ganas de leerlos! Y me da mucha alegría decir que su historia me gustó muchísimo, algunos acontecimientos me tomaron por sorpresa, los personajes me derritieron el corazón y amé leer de nuevo al resto de personajes de esta serie.

Blake se convirtió en mi chico favorito de Mulligan, me encantó conocerlo realmente, aún cuando su historia personal me rompió un poco el corazón. AMÉ su personalidad positiva, sonriente, y la manera en la que siempre aceptó a Tom tal cual es, Blake tiene un corazón de oro que creo que hasta este momento no habíamos sido capaces de leer, tampoco habíamos podido conocer del todo su lugar dentro de la banda, lo mucho que los problemas de Killian, Mav y los suyos propios le estaban afectando mientras los chicos estaban de gira. Lo que me lleva a una de las cosas que amé más de este libro: leer a Killian, Mav, Dean & Blake siendo muchos más maduros, trabajando en sanar sus traumas del pasado, en ser felices y recuperando la amistad que tenían en sus inicios, fue algo que me derritió el corazón por completo.

Creo que Tom es el personaje con más obstáculos en este libro: el hermano menos de Jax, con quien tiene una relación hermosa, también juega hockey y logra ser profesional, pero su carrera se termina después de una lesión que le deja más que cicatrices físicas. Tom siempre fue el más serio de los personajes principales, pero debido a las situaciones que ha experimentado de volvió un poco gruñón, se ha aislado de las personas a su alrededor y tiene pavor de salir y ser visto por las personas en Canfield. Tommy no tiene un camino fácil, pero me gustó mucho que Sundae nos mostrara a este personaje con una camino ya recorrido para mejorar, aún cuando le queda mucho por delante.

Blake & Tommy tienen un camino muy sencillo al principio como amigos que se aman incondicionalmente y cuyos sentimientos evolucionan hasta que deciden convertirse en novios de la manera más inesperada, natural y dulce, pero Tom descubre que Blake tiene secretos que a mi también me rompió el corazón descubrir, y aunque entiendo que Blake se sienta traicionado por las decisiones de Tommy & Jax, creo la razón detrás de todo es una muy linda, aún cuando termina separándolos durante años. Y cuando el reencuentro por fin se da, las cosas no son nada fáciles, pero Blake & Tom no pueden ignorar que sus sentimientos siguen ahí a pesar de todo, y que siguen siendo una pareja hermosa.

Creo que lo único que hubiera hecho esta historia mejor hubiera sido que las escenas extra al final del libro fueran parte del libro como tal ya que aportan mucho a la historia de Blake & Tommy.

🌠Blake: 5/5
🌠Tommy: 4.5/5
🌠Trama: 4/5
🌠Historia de amor: 4.5/5
🌠Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🌠Universo: 5/5
🌠Portada: 4/5
🌶️: 2/5

[Marcy Sorenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞 𝙝𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙤𝙣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5 (rounded up)

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️(Smokin’)

I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the third book in the 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, and should be read in order to avoid any spoilers for previous books.

I loved this book, and couldn’t get enough of Blake and Tommy. Tommy broke his own heart to try to save Blake from a life he didn’t deserve. Seeing Tommy grow into confidence after the accident was beautiful. Highly recommend.

𝘛𝘙𝘖𝘗𝘌𝘚:
- MM romance
- Friends to lovers
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Gay for you
- Hockey player
- Rockstar
- Hurt/comfort
- Mental health rep
- Spicy
- HEA

𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗕:

The hockey player and the rockstar; that's what we were supposed to be.

Blake Duncan was going to be this award-winning musician and I would be the hot shot goalie. And we would be together, just like we had talked about. I wasn't supposed to go behind Blake's back, even if it was to save him from a life he didn't deserve. Blake had every right to be angry with me. I just never thought he would leave without saying goodbye.

My life was never the same without him. My career was not nearly as amazing as his; not as bright and shiny, but I managed. I carried around guilt that was stifling me; until the night of the accident that changed everything. The only person I wanted to comfort me was Blake, my best friend and soulmate. Only he wasn't there. I was still alone. I was broken.

Now my brother Jackson is getting married, and his fiancé just happens to be the drummer in Blake's band. Which means he'll be coming home; we'll see one another for the first time in years and it terrifies me. I'm not the same boy I was when he left. I'm angry and anxious. Riddled with PTSD from the accident. I'm scared to find out what he'll think when he sees me again. What if he found someone else to be what I couldn't?

Blake's still beautiful. Sparkling stars on a dark night. And I still want him despite trying to stay away. When he tells me he still loves me, I want to say it back. But if I can't let him kiss me, how can we be together? I find myself slowly breaking all my rules for Blake. He makes me feel like myself again.

For the first time in years, I find myself smiling, laughing, and hopeful. Maybe we can still have the future we wanted? Be together and live happily ever after. There is no one else that I want but Blake.

[C. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so this wasn’t my favorite out of the series but I really enjoyed it. I knew their friendship was strong in book two, Frost, but I didn’t expect it to be this strong. After a falling out they went their separate ways, Blake to California with Mulligan Downtown and Tommy Arizona for hockey. Once seeing each other again they realize how miserable they have been without each other. I’m looking forward to Dean & Beau’s book along with the spinoff series. 🖤🔥🎸🔥🖤

My favorite Tommy quotes:

• Just a few days ago, my future seemed bleak and empty. Now I could see more. A happily ever after with the man I loved. The one person who meant everything to me. And the best part was that he felt the same way about me.

• We might have lost years together because we were both stubborn, but never again. I would never let Blake slip away from me without a fight.

** Side note: did I miss if anything happened to Martin Hollins after what he did?!?! TIA ����

[Sylvia Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy and Blake's story is one of second chances and best friends to lovers. They had a falling out five years ago and when an accident prematurely ends Tommy's hockey career, he finds himself back home in Canfield. Everyone's in town for mav and jax's wedding, including Blake Duncan, the love of his life and the boy he lost. They've both been struggling, but together they work to reconcile the past and their love story is so sweet. It's dual timelines in past and present, so we get to know all the details of their relationship and it's progression. I loved their story and getting back to this world with all my favorite characters. There was lots of heavy spice and some heavy themes in the book, but overall it was incredible and I cant wait to see who will be next.

[Caitlin Loggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story itself, a romance between a hockey player and a bassist and it is pretty well-written but having the five years ago chapters mixed in with the current storyline ones made the story kind of hard to follow and I felt that all of the extra scenes at the end should have been included in the actual chapters of the book.

Also, in chapter 28, Jackson, Tommy's brother, was referred to as the "first goalie" which is totally incorrect. He should have been referred to as the "starting goalie"

There was a couple of parts that I loved, one was the food fight scene and I loved the tattoos that Blake and Tommy got for each other. I thought that was really cute that they did that.

*I received an ARC from Chaotic Creatives and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake, the bass player, and Tommy, the hockey player. They went from best friends, to hot and heavy lovers, to enemies that didn’t speak for years. When they’re reunited years later for a wedding, can they move past years of hurt, betrayal, and silence?

Stars Like Confetti is the third book in this series, and was one of my favorites. I loved learning more about Blake and Tommy. After moving in across the street, Blake quickly became besties with Tommy, and once they confessed their feelings to one another, the two jumped in feet first and didn’t look back. The two are both looking forward to a future together, but when family things complicate things, everything takes a dramatic turn.

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars Like Confetti is book three in the With The Band Series. This was a friends to lovers, second chance story.

I loved the character development of Tommy. He did something to ruin their relationship many years ago, but he did it so Blake could have a better life. Then there is an accident and he becomes depressed. He deals with a lot of PTSD and I liked the way it was written on the page in a realistic way.

I loved how solid of a person Blake was. He really brings Tommy out of his shell and helps him cope with everything he has gone through.

This was a great story that kept me reading and intrigued to see how it was all going to come together.

[Lianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, enjoyable read.
I liked both of the main characters. However, I did have more of a soft spot for Tom.
I felt so sad for him, after everything he'd been through. But I was glad when he and Blake found their way back to each other.
I was also very glad that we didn't have a very long drawn out reunion! It was refreshing to see two characters come back together and talk through things so we were able to see their relationship move forward.
My only,one, very small criticism is that there was a lot of 'giggling' from grown humans. Not for me.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the story, and I'm looking forward to the next!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Stars like Confetti’ is book 3 in the series but the first I’ve read. Not having read the earlier books didn’t affect my enjoyment but I’m definitely going back to learn more of the other characters story’s, while waiting for book 4.

This was a second chance, enemies/friends to lovers, rockstar, hockey, hurt/comfort romance. It is the story of Blake and Tommy. Everyone is returning to their hometown for Tommy’s brother’s wedding. The story flicks between teenage Blake and Tommy and their mature selves.

[kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars Like Confetti is the third book in the With the Band series by Sundae Leighton and this is Blake and Tommy's story.
Blake is the guitarist in the now hugely successful rock band Mulligan Downtown and Tommy was the goalie for a successful NHL team until a brutal accident affected his career.
This is a friends to lovers/second chance romance.
Both have been struggling while they have been apart. They are so much more when they are together.
Their journey towards their well deserved HEA is full of support, love and so much more.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the With the Band series and while I haven't read the entire series I have loved those I have read. I do suggest reading the other books first as I do feel I was missing out in the continuous story. This is a second chances, friends (enemies) to lovers, hurt/comfort read about Blake and Tommy. This book deals with trauma and ptsd and I would suggest checking with the trigger warnings.

[Gina Burkart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series and this is Blake and Tommy story and it was amazing. This is a hurt/comfrot read that is sweet and careing. these two were made for each other and everything that happened in the pass. Blake break his heart to make sure Tommy ha a good future and to protect him.

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏒 Thoughts🎙
Thank you, Sundae & Chaotic Creatives for the eARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stars Like Confetti is book 3 in the With the Band series. I highly recommend reading the previous books as this book contains spoilers. I was rooting for Tom & Blake so hard. This book had me in the feels.

Things I Loved.
🎙 2nd Chance
🏒 Dual POV
🎙 Epilogue
🏒 Bonus Content
🎙 Flashbacks
🏒 Therapy

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives you all the feels. I felt a range of emotions, but I was thankful that the story progressed naturally without a band-aid approach. I wish I had found this writer earlier. I loved all the men and how they grew up together and all found the love of their lives.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[Dee Your TBR Wrecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy and Blake make it work

This a really sweet second chance best friends book. It manages to be pretty low angst with just some mild drama and most of it is in the past. I’ve been curious and Tommy and Blake since Maverick and Jax’s book so it was great reading their love story. This is a book you need to read either as a standalone or read the whole series.

[GM Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this boys!

It’s an addiction that I will never fight against. Boys in a band, all with their own troubles, that become brothers. Blake and Tommy’s story has all the hurt and angst of their struggles and I love the back and forth from the past and present as we see them work through their issues and come together for their much deserved HEA. So good!

[ㅤmelli ꧔ · Rating 1 out of 5]

ᨳ᭬ ⭑ || dnf @19%࿐ྂ

“You’re still mine, then.”
“I’ve always been yours, Gretzky,”

i really tried to get into it, but i can't. i'm not a fan of these characters and i don't like the writing style either.

this book is just not for me.

[camms.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven’t read this series, this is me saying GO! Sundae is one of the best story tellers I read. I was completely engrossed in this beautiful story. I couldn’t put it down! One click author for me!

[Brooke Greathouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

Still with the errors! And so repetitive! They literally told each other every single page “I love you!” EVERY PAGE! “I love you” was written 5,447 times!

And I skipped all of the “past” chapters. It was all mentioned in the present anyways. Those chapters added nothing to the plot.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy when I received an ARC for Stars Like Confetti and it didn't disappoint. Blake and Tommy were EVERYTHNG. The hurt, the angst, the spice.

I can't wait for Dean and Beau's book.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for Stars!

[Amanda Quarles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars Like Confetti

Blake and Tommy

This was a nice addition to the series. I liked learning more about all the guys and what happened between them all. What made them tick.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Carlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY HEART

[Cassio · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 50%

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I adore Blake and Tommy and loved their hard earned love story. This had angst, emotional turmoil, sweet romance and spice. Love the series and this read.

[Mimi Rhine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, this is a hard one. I hate writing not so thrilling reviews, especially because I absolutely loved the other books in this series and I really loved Tom and Blake, our MMC's here in this book.
They were both so easy to connect to and everything I wanted was for them to be happy.
My problem was, I knew that about 25% in and from then on I waited for something spectacular to happen to justify the other 75%, but it didn't came. I'm so, so sorry.