A Song I Used to Know

by Genalea Barker

"A four-strand braid comprised of love, loss, forgiveness, and family, Barker's thoughtful examination of the human condition is a testament to the power of hope." (KJ Micciche, author of The Book Proposal)

Orphaned twice by the age of nineteen, Stevie Parker resigned herself to a life of solitude, unwilling to explore the unknown and risk further disappointment. Working a lackluster call center job for the last two years, Stevie has remained complacent, accepting promotions despite the added strife they bring, until a third offer initiates an awakening. Stevie steps off the empty road to nowhere, allowing herself a chance to do something more than merely survive.

After enrolling in college and accepting a work-study position with the on-campus daycare, Stevie makes fast friends with an outspoken classmate, and begins shaking off the crushing weight brought on by years of isolation. Unfortunately, friendship and self-fulfillment don’t buy groceries or keep the lights on.

When an opportunity arises in the form of a part-time babysitting gig, Stevie leaps at the chance, but quickly finds herself falling for rough-cut single dad, Mason Shepard. Reluctant to open her heart and jeopardize her job, Stevie attempts to bury her feelings, which only seems to make them stronger. She’s even starting to think Mason returns her affection, though something dark and ominous behind his eyes suggests there may be more to his story than Stevie bargained for. Too bad she’s already in so deep she can’t see the surface.

Genres: Romance, New Adult

314 pages, Paperback

Published December 19, 2023

About the author

Genalea is a sleep-deprived mom and—somehow—the author of three books: LIFE AFTER, A SONG I USED TO KNOW, and LOVEHURTS (2024). Her work has appeared with Broad River Review, WOW! Women on Writing, Watershed Review, Gemini Magazine, The Bookends Review, and more. She resides in Southern Idaho with her husband, four children, and two judgmental dogs. Should you ever need to find Genalea in a crowd, simply shout a line from an early 2000s emo song and she’ll be sure to answer back.

Reviews

[Shelly Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect book to pull you out of a reading slump. An unputdownable winter warmer that inspires hope and healing with the ideal amount of romantic tension.

From the offset, I was routing for Stevie. Right there with her, feeling her demons and eager for her to find her happy ending.

I love this moment ... "You smell so good." Then he freezes, maybe to see if I noticed.

This is now the only shampoo
and conditioner I will ever use for
the rest of my life, even if I have to
sell my organs to afford it...

This book stirred all my emotions; there was laughter and tears but most of all hope.

This is an author to watch out for and I book I recommend for any tbr!

[Kate Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Song I Used to Know" is an absolute gem in the world of romance literature. This unconventional love story weaves a delightful tapestry of snarky and witty banter that had me chuckling throughout the book. But beneath the humor lies the heart warming exploration of found family and the incredible growth that comes with healing from past trauma and heartache. I was utterly charmed and emotionally invested from start to finish... I can't tell you how many times I stayed up way too late so I could read "just one more chapter". I really think this is a must read for anyone seeking an emotionally satisfying story of refreshingly authentic love and found family.

[Princess Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I don't know what I was expecting, but this book will be with me for a long time. 🥺

Okay, let's talk about the negatives first. For one, this book had some cringey parts. Like I inwardly cringed at the wording on some in some of the writing. Two, the plot seemed kind of rushed. Like one second she was only in it to focus on making money and the next thing I knew, she was in love with Mason?? WHAT?? That didn't make sense to me. Then on top of that, the ONE THING I HATE THE MOST after third act breakups 😒😒😒 THE MISCOMMUNICATION TROPE!!! Why on God's green earth is this a thing?? Please make it make sense?? THis costed the book 2 stars, and for risk of spoiling the book I won't say what else caused the book it stars. Also, I feel like there wasn't really an arc in the story. The story kept jumping to different scenes and skipping important parts. 🤔 Like why did we not hear about this scene between them. Build the chemistry, PLEASE! That's just my personal opinion. I don't mind that there's no spice scenes! Personally, I just wanted there to just be MORE!! That's all

Now, on to the POSITIVES!! There were so many positives ☺️☺️☺️ which is why I didn't give this book 2⭐️. For one, I absolutely ADORED Danny Boy!!! Omg my heart MELTED 🥰🥰🥰 I love that little boy!! He was so smart and so adorable and ughhhhh I loved him. Two, regardless of how fast paced the story seemed, I did love Mason and Stevie's relationship. He comforted her and was just an all around great guy!! ❤️❤️ They honestly did DESERVE each other!! 🤗 can't wait for y'all to read this book and understand that reference! Also, the ending, when I tell you I almost cried. UGHHHH !!! Brink of tears!! I did wish there was a little more in the epilogue! Just like more of them and how much they've grown.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a sweet yet tragic romance. If you're into a non-spicy romance, this book is for you. It was a really good read, don't get me wrong. I just felt like it could have been paced better.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ❤️🥰✨

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genalea Barker has an incredible talent for heart-wrenching emotion and A Song I Used to Know will shred those heartstrings before piecing them back together. I loved Stevie, I loved the Caraways, I loved the ups and downs and all the feels. Seriously enjoyed reading this! The depiction of Stevie’s poverty really struck a chord for me because it mirrored a lot of my personal experiences, and while not everyone will get it, those who do will get it in a big way. Fantastic book--fans of Jane Eyre will love this one, all the same feels but in a contemporary setting!

[Nicole Harkness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book and quite enjoyed it! Quick paced book with really likeable characters, my fave being Daniel! Would recommend for a quick,easy, fun read!

[Amrita Jheeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Once the romance kicked in, it was great.

[Arcs and Betas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will tear at your heartstrings. I fell in love with Stevie right away. She’s had a difficult life with many sad things that happened in her past. This is a romance, but it is very slow burn, very very slow! But I was engrossed, I needed to know what was going to happen next and finished the book in two days. 

One thing Stevie struggles with as the plot unfolds is unwanted sexual advances. There is a description of sexual assault as a Stevie works through this past experience, so be forewarned if you are sensitive to reading about SA. I thought it was handled well by the author, and you get a deeper sense of Stevie’s hesitations and difficulty opening up. 

The writing is beautiful, I would compare this book to Emily Henry’s _Happy Place_ so if you loved that one, give _A Song I Used to Know_ a read!

[Michelle McCarver · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly written and heart felt book. I loved and cheered for all the characters and adored the found family element… made my heart melt multiple times ❤️

Thank you so much for the opportunity to fall into this beautiful romance!

[Carrie West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This found family trope made me wish they were my family. Holy moly. It made my heart melt and swell at the same time.

Being a mom and a nanny, both POV’s of protectiveness and love for the tiny human made so much sense. Both Stevie and Mason made valid points as to why they behaved how they did, and also why it hurt so much when those big feeling from them were being read. Then you add in this found family that is loving without judgement, taking in this adult and making them feel wanted, and being there for every emotion and providing a safe space to just be, it made for such a beautiful story.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet love story for all Hallmark movie lovers! All the characters are so lovable (and Danny has a special place in my heart) that I couldn’t help but cheer for their happy ending. There’s no spice, so I’d be comfortable recommending this to YA readers.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a genuine romance.

If you’re looking for a cookie cutter big publishing house cliché romance filled with erotic scenes this is not your book.

However…

If you’re looking for a romance that will give you butterflies and make you believe in true love again than read this book.

The characters have so much depth. There’s a clear and distinct arc for the protagonist. The author does an amazing job pulling you into Stevie’s emotions and making you understand why she has such deep rooted trust issues.

This is a unique but very realistic love story that I full enjoyed reading.

[Melissa Ruth Rotert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barker does it again. And by "it," I mean completely envelopes you in her main character's emotional journey. The tears, the fears, and all the warm fuzzies. This book will be especially relatable to fellow trauma babies who struggled with trust and had no idea what to do with adult relationships. What is this love and affection business anyway?

If you like "sweet" romance, this is the perfect book for you. It incites all of the warm glow of first kisses and the flush of accidental touches.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my heart. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a romance novel that goes this deep. Between the stolen and intimate moments, the tenderness…every step in their journey to love felt so vivid and real. I laughed, I cried (again). You can’t help but root for Stevie, Mason, and sweet little Daniel. This book was a genuine pleasure to read and I know, without a doubt, it will stay with me for a long time.

[iara ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just know a book was made for you, you know? well, a song i used to know is one of them. i’m such at a loss of words, this story truly did something to me and i HAVE to convince you to read it

Saying i fell in love with Stevie, Mason and little Danny is the truth but also not enough! it was so much more than that! these characters are so special to me, i’ll forever be thinking about them

Stevie went through a lot since she was a little kid. From loosing her parents at a young age and having to grow up with an uncle that struggled to rase her up to ending up loosing him too, she had her fair share of painful moments in such a short period of time.

She decides to finally go to college and try to find another job so she can survive. She works at the college daycare and that’s where she’s going to meet Mason, who’s looking for a nanny for his three year old adorable son.

The relationship between Mason and Stevie is everything to me. The way they love each other is everything!!!! She isn’t used to have someone she can rely on but Mason is so ready to help her on everything and his purpose is to make her feel loved like she never was before. Their love was so pure, so strong.

Things go fast between them but it didn’t felt like it. we get to see them spending time together every day, getting to know each other and falling in love in such an endearing way. the way it’s written also helps feeling like they’ve known each other for such a long time. Like Stevie said, it’s not the right time but the right person and when you know you did find your person, then you don’t wanna lose time thinking about the "what ifs".

If you know me you know how much i love the single dad trope but also how much i LOVE kids in books. Well, Danny just became one of my favorite EVER!!! He’s the sweetest, kindest, most adorable little boy and i understand why Stevie loved him that deeply. They had a real connection and built the prettiest, strongest bound just like a mother and a son would.

I can’t forget Mer, the greatest best friend on earth. She was not only the best friend Stevie could ever have but also the sister she never had. Thanks to her, my girl finally got to experience what having a family looks like, she gained a sister but also a mom and a dad, everything she deserves

This was such a long review but this book really did something to me. I think you get how much i loved it <3 A song i used to know is coming out on December 19th, go add it to your tbr, preorder it, talk and get excited about it!!! I truly hope you’ll read it and love this story, love Stevie and Mason as much as i did!

Thank you so SO much for this ARC, one of the best opportunities ever ❤️

[Beth Troxel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew. What an incredible ride this story was. I’m not going to write a long review, so I don’t tell too much.

This is a very, very slow burn and clean romance. If this is your type of style, you’ll love this story! There are also some triggers in this book so check and make sure you can handle them before reading.

To be honest, there were some parts where I cringed. Where I had to put my hand over my face to shield myself. There were also times where I felt like things rushed to fast just to get to the next point. It just seemed it jumped from one thing to another. I’m also not a big fan of miscommunication troupe but I liked it in this book. Just a warning if that’s not your thing.

The story is deep with humor evening it out. I was kinda hoping there were some spicy scenes but instead it was deep, which, in my opinion, works out well. I loved the connection Mason and Stevie had and how adorable Daniel was. It’s a wonderful story about healing heartbreak and finding family.

I’m not the type that likes to cry, but this one was one that almost broke me. It pulled on my heartstrings and still haven’t really come to terms with it.

With all the feelings this book creates, it’s a perfect read for anyone who enjoys a clean romance. It’s also perfect for anyone whose going through a reading slump. It grabs about and doesn’t let go. I’m so glad I decided to give this book a try. I was investing from cover to cover. It didn’t let me down and I know this is going to stick with me for a while. I can’t wait to read more of her work!

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

[Molly Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very sweet fast paced story with Hallmark vibes. The found family was great and the characters were all unique in their own way, they made you love them and cheer for their happy ending. They have flaws, they have gone through things but they want to heal and that makes you feel for them. In the end you end up caring for them so much and enjoying their story a lot. It honestly was a solid romance novel and I enjoyed reading it.

[Sara Sykora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a great read.

I really enjoyed how the characters back stories really added to the storyline.

There were many twists and turns and I knew something was coming, just not exactly what it turned out to be.

There were tears shed, which makes me want to read more of their books knowing that the author understands how to really connect with their readers through their words.

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

[rosalinda.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good. The first chapter really got me. It gives me something I can't explain.
I really liked how Stevie described what she felt at that moment, I felt her. The struggles, the broken trust in people and the emptiness she feels.
This is an emotionally satisfying book.
I like the author's writing style. If I could give this book a 6 star ratings I would.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was a book that I laughed, cried and even got mad at one of the characters. This author is new to me and I will definitely check out the other books she has written.

[kase · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt almost hallmark level cheesy and quite a bit cringey. So many of the pop culture/current references felt dated while others made no sense.

The girl who has no computer and an old phone and says “I beg your pardon” ALSO says “I have zero chill”? She’s also not like other girls and doesn’t wear makeup and gets a makeover from her BFF before her first date.

This slow burn but fast in actual time romance gave me whiplash. 3/4 months to date/get engaged/kiss plus 3/4 months engaged living apart and then 2/3 months broken up and then a whopping 3 week reconciliation to marriage??? This book seriously took place in under a year. That’s crazy.

I can see how others would enjoy this but it had too many of my least favorite things to be enjoyable for me.


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

[Kacey Daniels {hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars…

This is going to be kinda short because I don’t want to spoil or write a whole long drawn out review but this was a very cute book. Yes, there were some MAJORLY cringy parts that had me shrinking away from the book with a red face from second hand embarrassment…buuut if you can get over that you’ll see the really meaningful and beautiful parts of the book.

I was expecting a more fluffy read but it was actually pretty deep and dealt with some hard hitting issues which I loved. I loved the nanny trope which admittedly is a guilty pleasure of mine because I tend to alway like the trope because of the adorable kids, parental relationships, and found family. But Stevie and Danny were ADORABLE…like the cutest pair I’ve ever read. I loved Danny as a kid too he was hilarious and super cute. Mason was a really good dad and also super sensitive and caring toward Stevie.

The OW drama was kinda annoying as it always is with birth mother stuff but it was handled well and quickly enough that it didn’t harm the story that much for me. I liked how strong Stevie was and how she immediately gravitated toward Mason and Danny but still wanted to be able to stand on her own two feet. Masons mom made me mad but then I kinda understood?

I dunno…there were issues in this book for sure but if you take it as a whole it actually had so pretty deep parts, so hilarious parts, and so adorable parts. All of which added up to make a pretty good read. Definitely worth picking up and giving it a try.


*I received an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily *

[Rita Sobish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so sweet and cozy, I really enjoyed it! Very lightly salted in terms of spice, and a bit of a slow burn but the characters are all so loveable and the chemistry is so good you can't help but keep turning pages until all of a sudden it's 1:45 a.m. and you have to be to work in 5 hours.

I found that I related so much to Stevie and her story that I kept forgetting she was supposed to only be 20 or so. I saw in her a lot of the same insecurities I had to overcome when I was her age and I think that's what made this such an emotional read for me. I cried at two different points in the book. You just can't help rooting for her and a happy ending. Mason is an absolute dreamboat and the way he takes care of Stevie, and his son just melts your heart. Their relationship is somehow a slow burn that feels like insta-love and I don't know how Genalea did it, but it works. It's got that fairy tale, Hallmark sweetness that makes you willing to suspend your disbelief a little bit.

I have to admit that some of the dialogue had me grimacing in "People don't really talk like that", but in fairness, I think that's just par for the course when the book is in first person, at least for me. My biggest gripes were with the bits of dialogue that were supposed to be so funny that characters couldn't maintain their composure but, more than a few times I just didn't think the lines earned that big of a reaction.

There was some really quick turnaround on a few things, while I appreciate not being spoonfed every single moment in the story, I think that the third act forced conflict could have been fleshed out a little bit more. It felt really rushed through, could just be the nature of the conflict, but it read more like we were running out of pages and we never clarified why Mason had been so cagey through the whole book.

I will be recommending this book to people who are trying to get out of a reading slump and are looking for something that is quick, fun, and heartwarming. I enjoyed this story a lot and plan to seek out Genalea's previous works now. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenna Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

📕 A Song I Used to Know
✍️ Genalea Barker

(THANK YOU for the chance to review this book!) 🙏

⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5: Sweet, swoony, modern Jane Eyre retelling with wisdom and heart.

Tropes:

👩‍❤️‍👨 Single dad
👩‍❤️‍👨 Nanny / boss

The MCs:

♀️ Stevie Parker - 21. Orphaned college student, preschool teacher/nanny, musician.
♂️ Mason Shepard – 29. Computer whiz, single dad, college instructor.

Setting:

📍Spokane, WA
⏰ Present

Yay!

❤️ I ADORED Mason. He’s SUCH a cinnamon roll! My pulse pounded as I watched him fall for Stevie, & I fell in love with him right along with her. He makes some bad choices, but ultimately, I found it easy to forgive him.
❤️ The yearning! The pining! OHHHHH, the long, longing looks!! Le sigh… 😍
❤️ The story makes you LOL, then swoon, and then it cracks your heart wide open before putting it back together again. It hurts so good. 💔❤️

Hm…

🤔 A bit slow to warm up – we don’t meet the MMC until page 6% (p. 56 in 🍎 Books) – but once it gets going, it REALLY gets going. 💗
🤔 Maybe just a TOUCH too melodramatic in the third-act breakup, but after all, it’s inspired by Jane Eyre, so RESPECT QUEEN B (Brontë, that is). 🤷‍♀️😂😍

Other thoughts:

💡I highly recommend this moving second book from Genalea Barker. There’s a good deal of wisdom in here that really got me thinking. I get the sense that Barker is wise beyond her years.

Spice:

🌶️ out of 5: Closed door sex scenes. No swear words to describe sex/body parts. Maybe some mild making out/foreplay on page. Maybe some innuendo.

Pairs well with:

📕 The True Love Experiment, by Christina Lauren – for the DILF/adorable kid vibes

Content advisories:

⚠️ Sexual assault
⚠️ Parental/guardian death
⚠️ TECHNICAL/legal marital infidelity (VERY technical – should not bother anyone who’s lived even a little bit of life and comprehends shades of gray, a.k.a. “the real world”).
⚠️ Financial difficulties

[Moni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is the first book of the author's that I've read and I wouldn't mind reading more from her. The book's blurb is straightforward, and do be aware that loss is a prevalent theme of the story and SA is briefly mentioned. A Song I Used to Know is told through Stevie's pov and is about her finding herself.

Without a family and having spent years working a job that she doesn't care for, Stevie decides to make some changes and attend college. As she adjusts to her new life, she slowly begins to feel like she belongs when she becomes friends with Merrin and starts working for Mason. And, the more time she spends with Mason and Danny, his son, the easier it is for her to envision a life for herself that she hadn't thought about before. Because of the loss and what she had experienced, it was easy to root for Stevie and want things to go smoothly for her. She was vulnerable yet had a loving heart and I loved seeing her receive love back.

Because of their own situations and the fact that Stevie worked for him, their romance was a slow burn. There was an off limits vibe to their relationship and a lot of push and pull but it felt appropriate for their circumstances. Even when Mason attempted not to, you could feel how he wanted to love her and be loved by her. Their romance is a closed door one consisting of some innuendo/suggestive thoughts, descriptive kissing, fade to black, and cursing - including biblical words used. While I enjoyed seeing Stevie and Mason's relationship develop, I loved her friendship with Merrin and her family as well as Stevie's love for Danny. Lovers of the found family trope will definitely be happy. Also, I liked the Jane Eyre inspiration. Overall, I enjoyed this story and think it's worth a try for contemporary romance readers.

[Stacey Spelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is 1:34 in the morning. "Why does that matter?" you might ask yourself. It matters because I started the book at 5ish this evening and literally could.not.stop.reading. So here we are at 1:30 with a 7 am start time for work and 0 regrets. When a story is as good as Stevie and Mason's, you can't put it down. I had to know what would happen. Like, had to.

I am a regular reader of romance. My favorite genre hands down. A Song I Used to Know has all of my favorite elements. A flawed but loveable hero and a heroine who can take care of herself but learns that veing vulnerable with the right person is worth it every time. A family full of characters that show up and love and support unfailingly and a best friend that is once in a lifetime.

The story built with such warmth that I immediately loved Stevie, Mason and Danny. There was a slow burn as their story was told and their chemistry developed. In what I am learning is typical Genalea Barker fashion, she broke my heart and then put it back together for me and she used a Spiderman bandage to put it back together.

I am in this weird place because I am so happy with the story and the ending but kinda mad at myself for not savoring it a little more. That's the great thing about a good book though- you can re-read a million times. A Song I Used to Know will never get old. I will still get butterflies reading the story again, same as I did this time. Read it. You won't regret it.

[Abby Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Song I Used to Know by Genalea Barker is a really sweet romance featuring a single dad and a college student. This isn’t a super large age gap romance, which I appreciated because sometimes those give me the ick. Despite what it sounds like, the age gap is less than 10 years and the relationship between the protagonist, Stevie, and the love interest, Mason, feels genuine and sweet. There is no feeling of weird power complexes between them, which is something I worry about when one of the characters is a bit older.

The protagonist, Stevie, has been struggling with a lot of trauma in her life. I felt like all of the touchy subjects in this book were handled well by the author. At the beginning of the book, she gets a job watching Mason’s young son, Daniel. The dynamic between Stevie and Daniel was so so sweet. I often get frustrated with children written into romance books. This may sound horrible, but I think they can be written really annoying. I did not find Daniel annoying in this book and instead found him endearing.

The relationship between Stevie and Mason is really sweet. I did feel like the part where they have feelings for each other before they actually become a couple, was a little rushed. But I really did love their relationship and I found myself rooting for them the whole time.

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

[Tamara Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a testament that you can put Humpty Dumpty back together again. The story contains some broken adults desperately wanting to heal, but very realistically lacking the confidence to believe it can happen. There are definitely some soul crushing moments when I was terrified at the potential outcomes, and I had to keep repeating, "It's only a story, for crying out loud!" Ms. Barker has a way of sucking you into her novels so that you personally know the characters. The author is a master at exploring the fragility but tenacity of the human spirit, creating very realistic relationships. I loved the musical references, Stevie Rae, reminiscent of Stevie Rae Vaughn, a personal favorite, among others. As much as I enjoyed all of that and her snarky attitude and wit, it was young Danny that captured my heart and ran with it. Genalea obviously knows her toddlers, down to the dialect and mannerisms. As I read, I was reminded of the old twist-a-plot books. I couldn't stop reading because I really needed to know how it turned out and for the life of me, I couldn't guess. If all romance novels were like this, I would have to re-evaluate my literary preferences. Refreshing and well done!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

—This review will be on Goodreads, Amazon, and LibraryThing if allowed so. —

I want to start by saying that I am not usually a fan of first person story’s, but this one was super cute. I adored Stevie and her relationships, and I especially loved the supporting cast (her family’s encouragement at the end? Loved it!).

I also loved the reference to the title, the song, being her mom’s lullaby. It’s such a cute and soft thing, and I admittedly am just a sucker for lullaby scenes.

The miscommunication trope was…not my favourite. It's a huge thing in this book which is why it's a three and a half stars for me, rounded up to a four here b/c it doesn't allow for halves even though I feel they make a huge difference. I get second-hand embarrassment and frustrated just reading about it. The last chapter was a really cute tie-up of it though, it reminded me a lot of the Little Women remake.

The epilogue included a ginormous time skip, at least for me, so I would have maybe liked to have seen something which led to that. A wedding would have been really cute.

All in all a nice, comfy read.

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

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book “A Song I Used to Know,” Genalea captures the core of the human experience and delivers an unforgettable rollercoaster of emotions. From laughter to tears, and even moments of frustration where I was tempted to throw the book across the room, this novel drew me in and tore at my heartstrings. Genalea's story weaving and character development are unsurpassed. She draws readers deep into the lives of the characters and leaves a lasting impact. As I journeyed alongside Stevie, a young teenager thrust into the harsh realities of adulthood far too soon, I found myself relating to her awkwardness and sarcasm along with triumphs struggles, growth, and even her taste in music, making the reading experience even more profound. At times I wanted to reach out and shake her because I was frustrated with how she was handling a situation. The emotions portrayed in the story were so deeply felt that I found myself, at times, shedding tears proving the author's ability to summon genuine and deep emotional responses from readers. I admit , I stayed up far too late at night reading because I just couldn't bear to put the book down. If there's one book to prioritize on your reading list this year, let it be this one.

[Mattie Castens]

This book was a super sweet romance. The development of the relationship between the main characters was paced perfectly for the events of the story. Throughout the book I caught myself gasping, crying, and cheering for Stevie. The plot is believable and thorough. There were moments where I felt some frustration with Stevie for some selfishness, but she always managed to redeem herself.

The only reason this novel didn't receive a five-star review for me, was because there was a hint of a mystery involving Stevie's parents, but nothing ever came from it. I felt that there should have either been something done with that plot line, or it should have been left out since it was a loose thread at the end of the novel.

Overall, this novel was a sweet, heart-warming romance. It was easy to get attached to the characters and wish for their happy ending to come. If you're looking for an easy pallet cleanser, or you're interested in a nanny falling in love with not only the father but also his adorable son, this is a great choice!

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