What do you think?
Rate this book
I Hate Rock Stars
I follow the rules. He breaks them. Rule #1: Don’t kiss, no matter what he says about the way you eat an ice cream cone.
My dream is to get a promotion at Melody Bay Animal Shelter. So my new intern should help me get the promotion, right? Shoulder some workload? Make some killer coffee?
Wrong.
Unfortunately, my new intern is Nate Hart. Rock god extraordinaire. The local who finally returned. The local everyone loves.
Apparently, his bad boy shenanigans caught up with him—a judge appointed him to do community service at our animal shelter. Although what he did is a Big Secret.
Whatever.
You see, I know Nate. He was my first kiss in school. A forbidden kiss I try to forget.
But as much as I try to tame my feelings, the wilder they grow…
They hit code-red when my boss assigns us on a road trip to pick up a traumatized dog. Of course, the motel room only has one bed. So what if it leads to the hottest, most physically creative night of my life? So what if I’ve never felt anything like this before?
The question remains: Is it true love, or is a second chance romance like teaching an old dog new tricks?
A standalone romance with a very HEA!
Tropes / What to Expect
Enemies to lovers
Workplace romance
Second chance
Small town (beach)
Forced proximity
One bed
Palpable tension
Fun dialogue
And a motley crew of animals you can’t help but fall in love with
My dream is to get a promotion at Melody Bay Animal Shelter. So my new intern should help me get the promotion, right? Shoulder some workload? Make some killer coffee?
Wrong.
Unfortunately, my new intern is Nate Hart. Rock god extraordinaire. The local who finally returned. The local everyone loves.
Apparently, his bad boy shenanigans caught up with him—a judge appointed him to do community service at our animal shelter. Although what he did is a Big Secret.
Whatever.
You see, I know Nate. He was my first kiss in school. A forbidden kiss I try to forget.
But as much as I try to tame my feelings, the wilder they grow…
They hit code-red when my boss assigns us on a road trip to pick up a traumatized dog. Of course, the motel room only has one bed. So what if it leads to the hottest, most physically creative night of my life? So what if I’ve never felt anything like this before?
The question remains: Is it true love, or is a second chance romance like teaching an old dog new tricks?
A standalone romance with a very HEA!
Tropes / What to Expect
Enemies to lovers
Workplace romance
Second chance
Small town (beach)
Forced proximity
One bed
Palpable tension
Fun dialogue
And a motley crew of animals you can’t help but fall in love with
- GenresRomance
249 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2024
59 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Mia McCoy
4 books64 followersMia writes fun and steamy romances about swoon-worthy men and the women they fall for. She loves thick hot chocolate, reading nooks, and her very serious rescue pup.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 15, 2024
I received a free copy from NetGalley...
Sadly I only managed to get 50% of the way through, I had to DNF - I think the author really needs to have a chat with her editor and beta readers as it honestly felt as if the content editing had been skipped and they'd gone straight to a proofreader, the grammar and spelling was great but the rest just didn't hit.
It was such a good idea for a story, I absolutely love a second chance romance and I loved the idea of a bad boy Rockstar. But like I said above I honestly couldn't get past the writing.
There was small amounts of it that you could see the potential for really good writing but some of the phrasing felt strange and immature. They switched from hating each other to kissing after 40% and it just came out of left field, there was barely any build up.
The beginning was very strange, I almost didn't continue after the first chapter. The whole obsession with the dust sparkling felt like a scene was trying to be set and then her bf starts chatting about frat boy summers?!
Then there was the whole telling us about forgetting to close tabs a bit further in, why was that in there?
If I never hear the term beach roses again I'll be thankful, I don't know how many times it was said but it was ALOT.
Then, the scene that I decided to put the book down at included a rushed self realization of some type where Nate spouted on about new years resolutions and self help books, which was strange enough. But then the author decided to use the terms "brush, brushhh, bruuush" to describe a touch, said he was "buzzy" with need and then proceeded to tell her "i want to edge you". The whole encounter felt icky, like a teenager writing a sex scene.
Also, I hated how the author kept asking the reader questions or talking directly to the reader
I didn't understand the need for that either.
Like I say, I could see a lot of potential if the author had a more thorough editor, and some more beta readers.
I'd be interested to see what they could do with that help!
Sadly I only managed to get 50% of the way through, I had to DNF - I think the author really needs to have a chat with her editor and beta readers as it honestly felt as if the content editing had been skipped and they'd gone straight to a proofreader, the grammar and spelling was great but the rest just didn't hit.
It was such a good idea for a story, I absolutely love a second chance romance and I loved the idea of a bad boy Rockstar. But like I said above I honestly couldn't get past the writing.
There was small amounts of it that you could see the potential for really good writing but some of the phrasing felt strange and immature. They switched from hating each other to kissing after 40% and it just came out of left field, there was barely any build up.
The beginning was very strange, I almost didn't continue after the first chapter. The whole obsession with the dust sparkling felt like a scene was trying to be set and then her bf starts chatting about frat boy summers?!
Then there was the whole telling us about forgetting to close tabs a bit further in, why was that in there?
If I never hear the term beach roses again I'll be thankful, I don't know how many times it was said but it was ALOT.
Then, the scene that I decided to put the book down at included a rushed self realization of some type where Nate spouted on about new years resolutions and self help books, which was strange enough. But then the author decided to use the terms "brush, brushhh, bruuush" to describe a touch, said he was "buzzy" with need and then proceeded to tell her "i want to edge you". The whole encounter felt icky, like a teenager writing a sex scene.
Also, I hated how the author kept asking the reader questions or talking directly to the reader
I didn't understand the need for that either.
Like I say, I could see a lot of potential if the author had a more thorough editor, and some more beta readers.
I'd be interested to see what they could do with that help!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2024
This book was not it for me. The premise of it sounded great, and I think with some more work from editing and beta readers this could have been good, but there was a LOT that was missing and it just did not flow well. This is supposed to be a second chance romance, but we got so little of the first chance background that I just didn’t believe our characters being into each other. Further, there were just plot points that were stated but never followed up on or don’t make sense long term. My biggest questions are around Nate’s parents’ house/relationship with his family.
1. It’s Nate’s parent’s house, he bought it for his parents and then it’s his? Why did his parents keep the code to their house that Nate bought them the date of his first kiss? Also, who remembers the date of their first kiss?
2. Nate’s parents and sister were traveling together when he makes it back to his parents’ house and then later she’s in his band? When the band was just on tour??? Like how did she get away to go on this vacation with his parents if she is supposed to be on tour?
3. If she’s in the band, why didn’t they split the cost of the house for his parents?
4. There’s so much drama around Nate’s relationship with his parents and yet we never meet them. Is this relationship resolved? Does he stand up to them?
5. There are lots of issues I have with Bev and Nate’s relationship but I just can’t get over the weird ownership of the house and Nate’s sister randomly being in his band after 50%+ of the book being completed.
Anyway, book had the premise for what could have been a good rom com but just fell short due to inconsistencies in the plot. I think having more beta readers would be super helpful to the author to help give feedback to help tighten the story.
1. It’s Nate’s parent’s house, he bought it for his parents and then it’s his? Why did his parents keep the code to their house that Nate bought them the date of his first kiss? Also, who remembers the date of their first kiss?
2. Nate’s parents and sister were traveling together when he makes it back to his parents’ house and then later she’s in his band? When the band was just on tour??? Like how did she get away to go on this vacation with his parents if she is supposed to be on tour?
3. If she’s in the band, why didn’t they split the cost of the house for his parents?
4. There’s so much drama around Nate’s relationship with his parents and yet we never meet them. Is this relationship resolved? Does he stand up to them?
5. There are lots of issues I have with Bev and Nate’s relationship but I just can’t get over the weird ownership of the house and Nate’s sister randomly being in his band after 50%+ of the book being completed.
Anyway, book had the premise for what could have been a good rom com but just fell short due to inconsistencies in the plot. I think having more beta readers would be super helpful to the author to help give feedback to help tighten the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2024
Thank you so much Net Galley and Victory Editing for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I am a huge sucker for a Rock Star romance and this book did not disappoint. Nate, a rock star who suffers from panic attacks, must return home for court order community service. Unfortunately for him, his manager is Bev, a former classmate who he has a complicated history with.
The interactions between Nate and Bev at the animal shelter made me laugh out loud, especially the rescue of a certain 🐇 resident. Highly recommend you read this book if you like the following tropes; Small Town, One Bed, Force Proximity, Second Chance and Workplace Romance. I also really enjoyed Nate’s mental health journey. The book goes into detail about his struggles with panic attacks and loneliness. As a psychology nerd, I always love to see books with Mental Health representation. I thought this was done really well. This book is a solid four stars for me but I bumped it up to 4.5 because I really loved all of the different interactions with our main couple and the animal residents at the rescue. It was a quick fun read that I enjoyed!
I am a huge sucker for a Rock Star romance and this book did not disappoint. Nate, a rock star who suffers from panic attacks, must return home for court order community service. Unfortunately for him, his manager is Bev, a former classmate who he has a complicated history with.
The interactions between Nate and Bev at the animal shelter made me laugh out loud, especially the rescue of a certain 🐇 resident. Highly recommend you read this book if you like the following tropes; Small Town, One Bed, Force Proximity, Second Chance and Workplace Romance. I also really enjoyed Nate’s mental health journey. The book goes into detail about his struggles with panic attacks and loneliness. As a psychology nerd, I always love to see books with Mental Health representation. I thought this was done really well. This book is a solid four stars for me but I bumped it up to 4.5 because I really loved all of the different interactions with our main couple and the animal residents at the rescue. It was a quick fun read that I enjoyed!
July 19, 2024
2.5⭐️
El estilo de escritura no funcionó para mi.
De la nada el cantante de rock, Nate, desarrolló miedo escénico, se metió en problemas y tiene que regresar a su pueblo natal. Como es famoso se volvió creído y algo mimado.
Beverly trabaja es un refugio de animales y su sueño es abrir un propio refugio para salvar a mas animalitos. Pero para eso requiere dinero y un mejor puesto por lo que quiere un ascenso, entonces su jefa le dice que el trabajo es suyo sí superara dos tareas:
- Guiar de manera adecuada a su nuevo pasante.
- Recaudar $10,000 dólares más que él año pasado.
Las dos peticiones parecen posibles, pero hay un gran problema y es que su pasante resulta ser Nate con quien tiene una historia que termino mal.
No me gustó que desde el principio ella cae por él y más viendo el tipo de historia que tienen. Era necesario aclarar lo del beso y que poco a poco él se fuera ganando la confianza y cariño de Bev.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
El estilo de escritura no funcionó para mi.
De la nada el cantante de rock, Nate, desarrolló miedo escénico, se metió en problemas y tiene que regresar a su pueblo natal. Como es famoso se volvió creído y algo mimado.
Beverly trabaja es un refugio de animales y su sueño es abrir un propio refugio para salvar a mas animalitos. Pero para eso requiere dinero y un mejor puesto por lo que quiere un ascenso, entonces su jefa le dice que el trabajo es suyo sí superara dos tareas:
- Guiar de manera adecuada a su nuevo pasante.
- Recaudar $10,000 dólares más que él año pasado.
Las dos peticiones parecen posibles, pero hay un gran problema y es que su pasante resulta ser Nate con quien tiene una historia que termino mal.
No me gustó que desde el principio ella cae por él y más viendo el tipo de historia que tienen. Era necesario aclarar lo del beso y que poco a poco él se fuera ganando la confianza y cariño de Bev.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2024
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️
At the start of the book I wasn’t really feeling it, I think from where it was rushed due to the book being short but around 40-45% I was eating it up. This is such a short and cute summer read. It had some great tropes such as rockstar, workplace romance, small town, second chance, forced proximity and one bed. These just so happen to be some of my favorite tropes. At first I found some dialogue to be kind of cringy but that’s something I can definitely look over in books! Also I loved the animal shelter scenes and any of the scenes with the actual animals!
At the start of the book I wasn’t really feeling it, I think from where it was rushed due to the book being short but around 40-45% I was eating it up. This is such a short and cute summer read. It had some great tropes such as rockstar, workplace romance, small town, second chance, forced proximity and one bed. These just so happen to be some of my favorite tropes. At first I found some dialogue to be kind of cringy but that’s something I can definitely look over in books! Also I loved the animal shelter scenes and any of the scenes with the actual animals!
August 10, 2024
Nate & Bev: Second chance/ workplace-court appointed community service/ animal shelter/ forced proximity/ small town beach romance: Plenty of delicious tension and banter. It was a bit slow to start, but then their story really takes off. I enjoyed this quick & fun read.
August 7, 2024
This book is so sweet and features an animal shelter which is close to my heart.
Bev and Nate are both likable characters and I was rooting for them the whole way. I was a LITTLE upset with Nate when he said he didn’t like pets……..but luckily that doesn’t stick for long.
The spice seemed a little rushed in the first scene and it is mild throughout the rest of the book.
The only piece that didn’t fit or get resolved is the part about Scooter harassing Bev —I was kind of hoping for a little more drama or at least for Nate to acknowledge that.
And then It ends with a nice epilogue! I would definitely read another book by this author and I’d recommend this to you if you like a mild spice enemies to lovers romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing publishers for this ARC!
Bev and Nate are both likable characters and I was rooting for them the whole way. I was a LITTLE upset with Nate when he said he didn’t like pets……..but luckily that doesn’t stick for long.
The spice seemed a little rushed in the first scene and it is mild throughout the rest of the book.
The only piece that didn’t fit or get resolved is the part about Scooter harassing Bev —I was kind of hoping for a little more drama or at least for Nate to acknowledge that.
And then It ends with a nice epilogue! I would definitely read another book by this author and I’d recommend this to you if you like a mild spice enemies to lovers romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing publishers for this ARC!
July 26, 2024
4.25 ⭐
1🌶️
Tropes: Rockstar, second chance, small town, enemies to lovers, workplace romance, forced proximity, second chance, one bed
Nate Hart is a rockstar with panic attacks. Bev is his childhood love, who lives with and cares for her ailing father while working at the local animal shelter. When Nate is court ordered into community service at Bev’s shelter, his first thought is “I wonder if she’s home”.
Tensions run high while he learns the ins and outs of the shelter, and at first they both try not to let go of their hatred for each other which started when they were in middle school. Except when news of a severely abused dog who needs to be taken in by the shelter comes, Nate and Bev drive 10 hours to go pick him up. As luck would have it, their plans for separate rooms and ignored feelings are foiled by toe wrestling.
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**
There were a few things that stuck out to me that I wasn’t a fan of.
First, with the bunny. The fact that it was adopted by someone to be eaten came out of left field. I expected it to be something like he was a known animal abuser or bounces checks or maybe even resells them for profit but eating rabbits is not uncommon. Many people raise meat rabbits specifically for eating. It seems odd to me that someone would spend a lot of money adopting a rabbit just to eat it instead of hunting or raising it himself?
Secondly I find it odd that at 30 Bev hasn’t done more research into the issues she’s having with her period, either by going to a doctor or looking online.
When they finally get down to business at the hotel and Nate talks about having wanted her for 15 years, I didn’t expect that. I didn’t really get the unrequited love vibe from anything in the story leading up to that, especially since there was so much animosity between them when they first started working together and how much he wanted to get away from her.
I also felt the ending happened all of a sudden- I don’t mean it needed to drag on but maybe another 20 or 30 pages so he didn’t blow his load as soon as he thrust in?
I know this all sounds harsh, but this was a quick, fun read. I really did enjoy the book though and I definitely recommend it.
1🌶️
Tropes: Rockstar, second chance, small town, enemies to lovers, workplace romance, forced proximity, second chance, one bed
Nate Hart is a rockstar with panic attacks. Bev is his childhood love, who lives with and cares for her ailing father while working at the local animal shelter. When Nate is court ordered into community service at Bev’s shelter, his first thought is “I wonder if she’s home”.
Tensions run high while he learns the ins and outs of the shelter, and at first they both try not to let go of their hatred for each other which started when they were in middle school. Except when news of a severely abused dog who needs to be taken in by the shelter comes, Nate and Bev drive 10 hours to go pick him up. As luck would have it, their plans for separate rooms and ignored feelings are foiled by toe wrestling.
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**
There were a few things that stuck out to me that I wasn’t a fan of.
First, with the bunny. The fact that it was adopted by someone to be eaten came out of left field. I expected it to be something like he was a known animal abuser or bounces checks or maybe even resells them for profit but eating rabbits is not uncommon. Many people raise meat rabbits specifically for eating. It seems odd to me that someone would spend a lot of money adopting a rabbit just to eat it instead of hunting or raising it himself?
Secondly I find it odd that at 30 Bev hasn’t done more research into the issues she’s having with her period, either by going to a doctor or looking online.
When they finally get down to business at the hotel and Nate talks about having wanted her for 15 years, I didn’t expect that. I didn’t really get the unrequited love vibe from anything in the story leading up to that, especially since there was so much animosity between them when they first started working together and how much he wanted to get away from her.
I also felt the ending happened all of a sudden- I don’t mean it needed to drag on but maybe another 20 or 30 pages so he didn’t blow his load as soon as he thrust in?
I know this all sounds harsh, but this was a quick, fun read. I really did enjoy the book though and I definitely recommend it.
October 24, 2024
This was a fiery, opposites-attract romance that delves into the chaos, glamour, and emotional turbulence of life in the music industry. The novel follows a protagonist who is determined to stay far away from the drama of rock stars but finds herself irresistibly drawn to one despite her best intentions. What ensues is a tension-filled, witty, and often humorous exploration of love, fame, and the price of letting your guard down.
McCoy excels at creating strong, flawed characters, especially the heroine, who is fiercely independent, smart, and carries a backstory that adds depth to her reluctance toward romance. The rock star love interest, while embodying the rebellious, charismatic energy you’d expect, also surprises with layers of vulnerability beneath his larger-than-life persona. Their chemistry is electric, with banter that keeps the pages turning and emotional moments that give the romance real weight.
The novel explores themes of trust, the pitfalls of fame, and the fear of getting hurt, making the story not just a fun ride through the highs and lows of rock-and-roll life, but a deeper look at the sacrifices and risks involved in relationships—especially in the public eye. McCoy doesn’t shy away from showing the messy, complicated nature of love, making the characters’ journey feel authentic and earned.
“I Hate Rock Stars” is a perfect pick for readers who love sizzling chemistry, strong heroines, and stories that take you backstage into the wild world of fame without losing the emotional core. It’s a bold, energetic romance that’s as much about finding yourself as it is about falling in love.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review
McCoy excels at creating strong, flawed characters, especially the heroine, who is fiercely independent, smart, and carries a backstory that adds depth to her reluctance toward romance. The rock star love interest, while embodying the rebellious, charismatic energy you’d expect, also surprises with layers of vulnerability beneath his larger-than-life persona. Their chemistry is electric, with banter that keeps the pages turning and emotional moments that give the romance real weight.
The novel explores themes of trust, the pitfalls of fame, and the fear of getting hurt, making the story not just a fun ride through the highs and lows of rock-and-roll life, but a deeper look at the sacrifices and risks involved in relationships—especially in the public eye. McCoy doesn’t shy away from showing the messy, complicated nature of love, making the characters’ journey feel authentic and earned.
“I Hate Rock Stars” is a perfect pick for readers who love sizzling chemistry, strong heroines, and stories that take you backstage into the wild world of fame without losing the emotional core. It’s a bold, energetic romance that’s as much about finding yourself as it is about falling in love.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review
March 20, 2025
Newly single, Bev throws herself into securing a promotion for her dream job at Melody Bay Animal Shelter. When she learns she’s getting an intern, she’s excited at the chance to prove her management skills while planning a fundraiser. The only problem–her intern is local boy Nate Hart, the rock star with whom she just happened to have her first kiss. Bev never wanted to see him again, but now he has court-ordered community service the shelter, avoiding him will be impossible…
I’m not a huge fan of romance, but I do love a story about a troubled rock star, so decided to give this one a go. It leans heavily on tropes–all the tropes–from high flier returns to small town and falls in love, to enemies-to-lovers to ‘oh no, there’s only one bed!’ This last didn’t really make much difference to what happened IMHO, and I would have liked a little more backstory in order to fully buy into the second-chance romance thing, especially how the misunderstanding over a first kiss escalated into an all-out prank war. It also didn’t appear Nate had ever tried to talk to Bev to clear up the misunderstanding, which I found a little hard to believe given he then pined after her for fifteen years. There were a couple of loose threads at the end, namely that it had seemed Nate’s record label was trying to keep them apart–especially one exec that threatened Bev–but this was never mentioned again, which was rather frustrating as it added some interesting conflict.
The story was pretty predictable, but in a cosy, comforting way. The characters were well-rounded with believable flaws and realistic dialogue. The spicier scenes worked well, and Nate’s panic attacks were handled sensitively. And all the animals seemed adorable!
I’m not a huge fan of romance, but I do love a story about a troubled rock star, so decided to give this one a go. It leans heavily on tropes–all the tropes–from high flier returns to small town and falls in love, to enemies-to-lovers to ‘oh no, there’s only one bed!’ This last didn’t really make much difference to what happened IMHO, and I would have liked a little more backstory in order to fully buy into the second-chance romance thing, especially how the misunderstanding over a first kiss escalated into an all-out prank war. It also didn’t appear Nate had ever tried to talk to Bev to clear up the misunderstanding, which I found a little hard to believe given he then pined after her for fifteen years. There were a couple of loose threads at the end, namely that it had seemed Nate’s record label was trying to keep them apart–especially one exec that threatened Bev–but this was never mentioned again, which was rather frustrating as it added some interesting conflict.
The story was pretty predictable, but in a cosy, comforting way. The characters were well-rounded with believable flaws and realistic dialogue. The spicier scenes worked well, and Nate’s panic attacks were handled sensitively. And all the animals seemed adorable!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2025
I picked up I Hate Rock Stars expecting a fun, trope-filled romance, and while it definitely delivered on the tropes (enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed, all the good stuff), it surprised me with how much heart it had. This isn’t just a story about a rock star with a bad boy reputation and the girl who can’t stand him (or so she thinks). It’s about second chances—not just at love, but at life, purpose, and figuring out who you really are when the spotlight fades.
Bev is the kind of character who feels like someone you’d meet in real life. She’s practical, a little rigid, passionate about her job at the animal shelter, and totally blindsided by the chaos that is Nate Hart. Nate, on the other hand, is every bit the rock god you’d expect… except he’s also raw, vulnerable, and battling his own demons, which made him way more than just the stereotypical “bad boy musician.” I really appreciated how Mia McCoy handled Nate’s mental health struggles, especially his panic attacks, it felt authentic without being overly dramatized.
Their banter had me laughing out loud, especially during the scenes at the animal shelter (there’s a rabbit situation that still cracks me up thinking about it), but it’s the quiet, unexpected moments that stuck with me. Like the tension-filled car ride, the awkward motel room situation (yes, there’s only one bed), and the way their walls slowly, stubbornly crumble.
This book felt like comfort food—warm, satisfying, and exactly what I needed. If you’re into small-town charm, complicated feelings disguised as snark, and romances that sneak up on you with real emotional weight, give I Hate Rock Stars a shot.
Bev is the kind of character who feels like someone you’d meet in real life. She’s practical, a little rigid, passionate about her job at the animal shelter, and totally blindsided by the chaos that is Nate Hart. Nate, on the other hand, is every bit the rock god you’d expect… except he’s also raw, vulnerable, and battling his own demons, which made him way more than just the stereotypical “bad boy musician.” I really appreciated how Mia McCoy handled Nate’s mental health struggles, especially his panic attacks, it felt authentic without being overly dramatized.
Their banter had me laughing out loud, especially during the scenes at the animal shelter (there’s a rabbit situation that still cracks me up thinking about it), but it’s the quiet, unexpected moments that stuck with me. Like the tension-filled car ride, the awkward motel room situation (yes, there’s only one bed), and the way their walls slowly, stubbornly crumble.
This book felt like comfort food—warm, satisfying, and exactly what I needed. If you’re into small-town charm, complicated feelings disguised as snark, and romances that sneak up on you with real emotional weight, give I Hate Rock Stars a shot.
August 2, 2024
[I got this book with Netgalley, so I was gifted a free copy in exchange for a honest review]
Hmmm okay, I was expecting a little bit of a different book. Things were mostly too fast paced due to the book being short, and due to that there were some things lacking for me.
The one thing I liked, was having older main characters. Most of the time main characters in romances are 25 or younger, and I really liked the trend of getting older main characters in (romance) books.
But this book also gave me some icks here and there, and I give a few examples:
Our main character needs to get a promotion to get a manager function, and to do that, she needs to raise 10k (!!!). That just does not feel realistic to me. Maybe things are different in the US? But that would be so impossible were I live, and it already gives you a heads up about what is going to happen and who is going to help.
"Do you feel the energy there' (whilst someone's hand is laying on another persons arm). The end up describing heat, when you touch a person it feels hotter than when your hand hoovers over a person. But to talk about energy? It immediately gave me icks because I thought it would talk about chakras, and I am not at all a spiritual person.
Another thing that was so weird was the following "I consider how unexpected it is for a rock star to love ice cream." Girl, you went to school with the guy??? Like, you actually knew him. How is it unexpected.
And the chemistry between Nate and Bev just felt lacking, the book pacing was off, everything just happened to fast. Same with the ~corn~ scenes. Due to the so called 4play not really being there, it was just a bit cringey. And honestly, the scenes were over way too fast to actually feel realistic, but once again, due to the 4play kinda missing, I couldn't really care for those scenes.
The writing itself is okay, and the book would've been 10 times better if it was a little bit longer and took more time to slow down the pace from time to time. I do see potential in this writer, and hopes she doesn't stop writing, because there is a lot of room for development.
That all being said, I ended up rating this book 2.75 stars. It is not "bad" enough for a 2.5 stars, but not good enough for a 3 star book.
Hmmm okay, I was expecting a little bit of a different book. Things were mostly too fast paced due to the book being short, and due to that there were some things lacking for me.
The one thing I liked, was having older main characters. Most of the time main characters in romances are 25 or younger, and I really liked the trend of getting older main characters in (romance) books.
But this book also gave me some icks here and there, and I give a few examples:
Our main character needs to get a promotion to get a manager function, and to do that, she needs to raise 10k (!!!). That just does not feel realistic to me. Maybe things are different in the US? But that would be so impossible were I live, and it already gives you a heads up about what is going to happen and who is going to help.
"Do you feel the energy there' (whilst someone's hand is laying on another persons arm). The end up describing heat, when you touch a person it feels hotter than when your hand hoovers over a person. But to talk about energy? It immediately gave me icks because I thought it would talk about chakras, and I am not at all a spiritual person.
Another thing that was so weird was the following "I consider how unexpected it is for a rock star to love ice cream." Girl, you went to school with the guy??? Like, you actually knew him. How is it unexpected.
And the chemistry between Nate and Bev just felt lacking, the book pacing was off, everything just happened to fast. Same with the ~corn~ scenes. Due to the so called 4play not really being there, it was just a bit cringey. And honestly, the scenes were over way too fast to actually feel realistic, but once again, due to the 4play kinda missing, I couldn't really care for those scenes.
The writing itself is okay, and the book would've been 10 times better if it was a little bit longer and took more time to slow down the pace from time to time. I do see potential in this writer, and hopes she doesn't stop writing, because there is a lot of room for development.
That all being said, I ended up rating this book 2.75 stars. It is not "bad" enough for a 2.5 stars, but not good enough for a 3 star book.
August 5, 2024
✨ARC Review ✨
⭐⭐⭐/5
I hate Rockstars by Mia McCoy is a nice summer romance, with likable characters and a decent storyline.
So the good parts... Loved the main characters and their dilemmas. The small town/island was very cosy. I loved the Moose storyline, in fact I think that's the most vulnerable storyline throughout the book. And I love how Moose's story ended up, it was really nice. The alternative dula POV was a nice touch, it helped to navigate through the story easily.
Now for the not so good... As I started the book, it took me quite a while to build the connection. It's not until almost 40%, that I felt that connection building. So even though, it's a short romance, those first 40% felt really long. But after that, it was good, and I started to really enjoy the book. Also the tropes felt rushed, mainly because it's a short fiction. The Forced proximity, enemies to lovers were so rushed that it didn't felt as enjoyable as it should. And It's the first time that I have noted my frustrations throughout the ebook.
Overall, it was a nice, easy read. But it could have been more. So 3/5 is all I can rate.
And if these tropes excite you,
🔣 Rockstar
🔣 Enemies to Lovers
🔣 Second Chance Romance
🔣 Small Town
🔣 Forced Proximity
🔣 Workplace Romance
🔣 Bucket list
🔣 One Bed
Give this a try
Thank you Author Mia McCoy, NetGalley, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for sending me this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
⭐⭐⭐/5
I hate Rockstars by Mia McCoy is a nice summer romance, with likable characters and a decent storyline.
So the good parts... Loved the main characters and their dilemmas. The small town/island was very cosy. I loved the Moose storyline, in fact I think that's the most vulnerable storyline throughout the book. And I love how Moose's story ended up, it was really nice. The alternative dula POV was a nice touch, it helped to navigate through the story easily.
Now for the not so good... As I started the book, it took me quite a while to build the connection. It's not until almost 40%, that I felt that connection building. So even though, it's a short romance, those first 40% felt really long. But after that, it was good, and I started to really enjoy the book. Also the tropes felt rushed, mainly because it's a short fiction. The Forced proximity, enemies to lovers were so rushed that it didn't felt as enjoyable as it should. And It's the first time that I have noted my frustrations throughout the ebook.
Overall, it was a nice, easy read. But it could have been more. So 3/5 is all I can rate.
And if these tropes excite you,
🔣 Rockstar
🔣 Enemies to Lovers
🔣 Second Chance Romance
🔣 Small Town
🔣 Forced Proximity
🔣 Workplace Romance
🔣 Bucket list
🔣 One Bed
Give this a try
Thank you Author Mia McCoy, NetGalley, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for sending me this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 18, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
"I Hate Rock Stars" is the perfect summer romcom for those who are fond of the genre. It mixes all the ingredients that make readers giggle while kicking their feet: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance, one bed, second chance romance, small town...should I say more?
In short, Beverly is a young woman that works at Melody Bay Animal Shelter: she loves animals, loves taking care of them and really wants to get promoted. To get there she has to earn a decent sum of money at the foundraiser event the shelter hosts once a year and has to work with a new intern. But what if that intern is a famous rock star that also happens to be a huge part of Beverly's past. How will this end?
I am a huge fan of romances that start with good premises like this one did, even though it is not my favorite genre to read. Overall, the book is a nice and pleasant read: i finished it in less than a day and i had a lot of fun reading it. I think it's fun, witty and sweet.
Bev and Nate are cute and hilarious, the kind of couple you immediately start rooting for. I have to say their relationship is a bit rushed, especially toward the end, but overall engaging. The characters are brilliant, especially Beverly, and I absolutely fell in love with every single animal that stayed at MBAS. Of course Moose holds a special place in my heart.
I would totally recommend this book!
"I Hate Rock Stars" is the perfect summer romcom for those who are fond of the genre. It mixes all the ingredients that make readers giggle while kicking their feet: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance, one bed, second chance romance, small town...should I say more?
In short, Beverly is a young woman that works at Melody Bay Animal Shelter: she loves animals, loves taking care of them and really wants to get promoted. To get there she has to earn a decent sum of money at the foundraiser event the shelter hosts once a year and has to work with a new intern. But what if that intern is a famous rock star that also happens to be a huge part of Beverly's past. How will this end?
I am a huge fan of romances that start with good premises like this one did, even though it is not my favorite genre to read. Overall, the book is a nice and pleasant read: i finished it in less than a day and i had a lot of fun reading it. I think it's fun, witty and sweet.
Bev and Nate are cute and hilarious, the kind of couple you immediately start rooting for. I have to say their relationship is a bit rushed, especially toward the end, but overall engaging. The characters are brilliant, especially Beverly, and I absolutely fell in love with every single animal that stayed at MBAS. Of course Moose holds a special place in my heart.
I would totally recommend this book!
July 22, 2024
3⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
This was a cute and easy summer read! It's short and only took a few hours for me to read.
The premise is so fun! The story follows Beverly (Bev) and Nate, two former high school enemies. Bev is back living in their cozy island hometown, and she is working towards a promotion at the Melody Bay Animal Shelter. Nate is a world famous rock star, whose tour has been cancelled after he punched a record executive.
Bev is surprised to learn that her new intern is none other than, Nate, who has ordered to do six months of community service at the animal shelter. Bev tries to her put her hatred of Nate aside so that she can show her boss that she is a good supervisor and deserves the promotion.
Working closely together, Bev and Nate's feelings toward each other begin to change. An overnight road trip to save a troubled dog leads to a steamy night together... Was it just one night or could there be something more between them?
While the story and characters were cute, this was only a 3⭐️ read for me. The characters fell a little flat. It isn't explained why Bev hates Nate so much until about the 60% mark, so it was difficult to feel the enemies to lovers. A lot happens in the last 15% of the book, and the character and plot development felt rushed and not full explained. The HEA happens quickly and a little too easily.
Some of the tropes: Enemies to lovers, small town (beach), forced proximity, workplace romance, one bed
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
This was a cute and easy summer read! It's short and only took a few hours for me to read.
The premise is so fun! The story follows Beverly (Bev) and Nate, two former high school enemies. Bev is back living in their cozy island hometown, and she is working towards a promotion at the Melody Bay Animal Shelter. Nate is a world famous rock star, whose tour has been cancelled after he punched a record executive.
Bev is surprised to learn that her new intern is none other than, Nate, who has ordered to do six months of community service at the animal shelter. Bev tries to her put her hatred of Nate aside so that she can show her boss that she is a good supervisor and deserves the promotion.
Working closely together, Bev and Nate's feelings toward each other begin to change. An overnight road trip to save a troubled dog leads to a steamy night together... Was it just one night or could there be something more between them?
While the story and characters were cute, this was only a 3⭐️ read for me. The characters fell a little flat. It isn't explained why Bev hates Nate so much until about the 60% mark, so it was difficult to feel the enemies to lovers. A lot happens in the last 15% of the book, and the character and plot development felt rushed and not full explained. The HEA happens quickly and a little too easily.
Some of the tropes: Enemies to lovers, small town (beach), forced proximity, workplace romance, one bed
August 9, 2024
Thank you to the publisher, and author for allowing me to have an ARC in place of a honest review.
This book was so cute! Right from the start I felt sucked in and could not put the story down. I felt as if it was a shorter book, but it was probably in part due to me reading through it so fast. This book would have been the perfect beach read for me a few weeks ago. The characters are loveable, enticing, and easy to connect with. The small coastal town they live in sounds positively idyllic, and the lightness of the town blends perfectly with some of the small darker aspects of the story.
Bev is quite quirky and loveable, and all of the men in her life have been compared to her first kiss from high school- the first boy she ever truly cared about, Nate. It just so happens that he's now a famous rockstar who has long forgotten about her, until she walks into her job at a local pet shelter and finds out that he's her new intern.
Nate: He's a big name now, and even though he loves his fans dearly, he also loves his privacy. Now his name is all over the news for a charge that was warranted, and he's being sent home with his tail between his legs on a court ordered community service. He doesn't want to be here, but as soon as he sees Bev Walk through the door his mind changes completely. She's his great white buffalo, and he's willing to make every second he has with her count.
This book was so cute! Right from the start I felt sucked in and could not put the story down. I felt as if it was a shorter book, but it was probably in part due to me reading through it so fast. This book would have been the perfect beach read for me a few weeks ago. The characters are loveable, enticing, and easy to connect with. The small coastal town they live in sounds positively idyllic, and the lightness of the town blends perfectly with some of the small darker aspects of the story.
Bev is quite quirky and loveable, and all of the men in her life have been compared to her first kiss from high school- the first boy she ever truly cared about, Nate. It just so happens that he's now a famous rockstar who has long forgotten about her, until she walks into her job at a local pet shelter and finds out that he's her new intern.
Nate: He's a big name now, and even though he loves his fans dearly, he also loves his privacy. Now his name is all over the news for a charge that was warranted, and he's being sent home with his tail between his legs on a court ordered community service. He doesn't want to be here, but as soon as he sees Bev Walk through the door his mind changes completely. She's his great white buffalo, and he's willing to make every second he has with her count.
July 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC 🤍
I Hate Rock Stars is a delightful and charming read that offers a mix of humor, romance, and heartwarming moments. The engaging banter between Bev and Nate keeps the narrative lively and entertaining. Their chemistry is palpable, making their interactions a highlight of the book.
The side characters, especially the lovable Moose (definitely the standout character 🐶), add depth and warmth to the story.
However, I did find some aspects of the book less satisfying. The resolution of the main characters' drama took longer than necessary to unfold, which slightly hindered the pacing. Additionally, the conclusion felt a bit rushed, leaving me wishing for a more drawn-out and satisfying wrap-up to the story.
Despite these drawbacks, it remains a charming and cozy read that I would recommend to fans of romance and animal lovers alike. It’s a heartwarming story that provides a pleasant escape, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of a five-star read.
Overall, this is a cute and cozy read that successfully balances humor, romance, and endearing animal companions. While it may not be perfect, it's a delightful addition to any reader's collection and a solid three-star read.
I Hate Rock Stars is a delightful and charming read that offers a mix of humor, romance, and heartwarming moments. The engaging banter between Bev and Nate keeps the narrative lively and entertaining. Their chemistry is palpable, making their interactions a highlight of the book.
The side characters, especially the lovable Moose (definitely the standout character 🐶), add depth and warmth to the story.
However, I did find some aspects of the book less satisfying. The resolution of the main characters' drama took longer than necessary to unfold, which slightly hindered the pacing. Additionally, the conclusion felt a bit rushed, leaving me wishing for a more drawn-out and satisfying wrap-up to the story.
Despite these drawbacks, it remains a charming and cozy read that I would recommend to fans of romance and animal lovers alike. It’s a heartwarming story that provides a pleasant escape, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of a five-star read.
Overall, this is a cute and cozy read that successfully balances humor, romance, and endearing animal companions. While it may not be perfect, it's a delightful addition to any reader's collection and a solid three-star read.
August 9, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, Mia McCoy and Victory Editing for the opportunity to review this book!
This book had a lot of my favorite tropes in it
*Rockstar Romance
*2nd Chance
*Enemies to Lovers
*Forced Proximity
*Workplace Romance
Nate and Bev are a cute couple. He is a Rockstar that suffers from panic attacks and she works in an animal shelter and looks after her ailing dad. These two share a past that still holds a grudge and so you can imagine their surprise when Nate is court ordered to perform community service in the animal shelter that Bev works at. Neither is happy with the situation.
I liked Nate and Bev well enough and thought the two of them were fun. I enjoyed their banter, but I didn't really feel their "love connection" if you will. I would have liked to have had a little more backstory into their animosity a bit earlier in the book and then watch them resolve it a bit earlier and get more of that connection, as the end seemed a bit rushed.
I feel like I enjoyed Nate a lot more than Bev in this one. He totally felt like a fish out of water to me and watching him try to find his way around the animals was quite enjoyable, especially his relationship with Moose :)
This is the first time that I have a book by this author and overall I liked this book.
#netgalley #arcreads
This book had a lot of my favorite tropes in it
*Rockstar Romance
*2nd Chance
*Enemies to Lovers
*Forced Proximity
*Workplace Romance
Nate and Bev are a cute couple. He is a Rockstar that suffers from panic attacks and she works in an animal shelter and looks after her ailing dad. These two share a past that still holds a grudge and so you can imagine their surprise when Nate is court ordered to perform community service in the animal shelter that Bev works at. Neither is happy with the situation.
I liked Nate and Bev well enough and thought the two of them were fun. I enjoyed their banter, but I didn't really feel their "love connection" if you will. I would have liked to have had a little more backstory into their animosity a bit earlier in the book and then watch them resolve it a bit earlier and get more of that connection, as the end seemed a bit rushed.
I feel like I enjoyed Nate a lot more than Bev in this one. He totally felt like a fish out of water to me and watching him try to find his way around the animals was quite enjoyable, especially his relationship with Moose :)
This is the first time that I have a book by this author and overall I liked this book.
#netgalley #arcreads
July 29, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for a review.
This is a sweet story about a rock star who has to do community service at the animal shelter where his enemy from high school works.
It does what you’d expect from a novel with that kind of blurb. It’s a quick and easy romance with many animals described. Which as an animal lover I really enjoyed. I read it by the pool on holiday and it’s that kind of book - one where you can concentrate on it even with the distractions of kids in the pool and music!
The relationship is a bit uneven and whilst the main character comments that he’s an ‘asshole’ there’s no evidence that he is. In fact the opposite really. And there’s a few inconsistencies that suggest this book wasn’t carefully read even by the author before it was published.
It’s very short which is totally fine but maybe why there’s not much in terms of romantic development. There was no brilliant sexual tension that would make me want to read it again.
Overall an amusing book probably good for teenagers’ first forays into adult romance.
This is a sweet story about a rock star who has to do community service at the animal shelter where his enemy from high school works.
It does what you’d expect from a novel with that kind of blurb. It’s a quick and easy romance with many animals described. Which as an animal lover I really enjoyed. I read it by the pool on holiday and it’s that kind of book - one where you can concentrate on it even with the distractions of kids in the pool and music!
The relationship is a bit uneven and whilst the main character comments that he’s an ‘asshole’ there’s no evidence that he is. In fact the opposite really. And there’s a few inconsistencies that suggest this book wasn’t carefully read even by the author before it was published.
It’s very short which is totally fine but maybe why there’s not much in terms of romantic development. There was no brilliant sexual tension that would make me want to read it again.
Overall an amusing book probably good for teenagers’ first forays into adult romance.
August 5, 2024
I can tell you I got a few funny looks on the train as I giggled over the two main characters in this novel. Nate and Bev have history growing up in Melody Bay, attending the same high school and they seem to hate each other’s guts. But all is not as it seems. While Nate has gone on to rock stardom, Bev has stayed in Melody Bay with dreams of setting up her own animal shelter. Unsurprisingly perhaps, Nate is not an animal lover. In fact, these two seem to have nothing in common and are about as compatible as chalk and cheese. Yet, there seem to be unresolved issues between them. A road trip to pick up a traumatized dog puts a new slant on things as past resentments and misunderstandings are explained. Though the ending is a bit rushed, I couldn’t help smiling stupidly as Nate watches Bev and her father laugh over their “charcoal” dinner at Belle Vue. However, the animals in this story steal the show. I loved Pepper, the orgasmic parrot and Alberto with his indoor/outdoor fetish 😊 But, of course Moose was my absolute favorite! ***Spoiler alert*** They all get their forever homes in the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 8, 2024
(Thank you to Mia McCoy, the author, for the ARC through BookFunnel!)
So I’ll be honest and admit that I had this as a DNF at about 19-20%. I just wasn’t feeling the connections between any of the characters. I didn’t really get why Bev and Nate seemed to hate each other and hate working around each other despite the obvious attraction they both had. I get the lust/hate trope, but it felt odd because there was no hinting at why the tension was there.
There were some other things I wasn’t a big fan of, but they were minor (ex. strawberry cheese cookies? Did the author mean strawberry cream cheese or strawberry cheesecake?). There were some punctuation and grammar errors, too, and that takes me out of the story immersion.
I wasn’t sure, but I just wasn’t feeling the book. On the kindle shelf it went.
I decided to pick it back up a few weeks later, and I am glad I gave it another go. I won’t go into detail as to not spoil it, but it was a cute story with a bit of spice 🍦🌶️ and some sweet side characters (some with tails, beaks, and fur). I think the author ended up with a sweet little story, and I wish the author nothing but the best in their writing endeavors!
So I’ll be honest and admit that I had this as a DNF at about 19-20%. I just wasn’t feeling the connections between any of the characters. I didn’t really get why Bev and Nate seemed to hate each other and hate working around each other despite the obvious attraction they both had. I get the lust/hate trope, but it felt odd because there was no hinting at why the tension was there.
There were some other things I wasn’t a big fan of, but they were minor (ex. strawberry cheese cookies? Did the author mean strawberry cream cheese or strawberry cheesecake?). There were some punctuation and grammar errors, too, and that takes me out of the story immersion.
I wasn’t sure, but I just wasn’t feeling the book. On the kindle shelf it went.
I decided to pick it back up a few weeks later, and I am glad I gave it another go. I won’t go into detail as to not spoil it, but it was a cute story with a bit of spice 🍦🌶️ and some sweet side characters (some with tails, beaks, and fur). I think the author ended up with a sweet little story, and I wish the author nothing but the best in their writing endeavors!
August 8, 2024
I was on the fence about I Hate Rock Stars by Mia McCoy, not because I care about rock stars one way or another, but because I DIDN'T particularly care about any of the characters in this book - didn't hate 'em, didn't love 'em.
Bev was stuck in a past trauma that wasn't even her own, but that she wanted to honor because she loved her dad. Nate is a rock star who "done wrong" (not really, as we come to find out - it was, again, a matter of doing the honorable thing and paying for it). The two were childhood sweethearts (kin'a) who fell apart because of a misunderstanding... and Bev's insecurities. All this, with a side of delightful dogs (that part, I loved; but, even with that, I didn't feel that the personalities of the dogs came through - and dogs definitely have personalities!).
That said, it was a good light beach read. I'm on the fence as to whether I'll try another McCoy book - given my penchant for giving people a chance, I'll more than likely read one; but we'll have to see what she offers next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bev was stuck in a past trauma that wasn't even her own, but that she wanted to honor because she loved her dad. Nate is a rock star who "done wrong" (not really, as we come to find out - it was, again, a matter of doing the honorable thing and paying for it). The two were childhood sweethearts (kin'a) who fell apart because of a misunderstanding... and Bev's insecurities. All this, with a side of delightful dogs (that part, I loved; but, even with that, I didn't feel that the personalities of the dogs came through - and dogs definitely have personalities!).
That said, it was a good light beach read. I'm on the fence as to whether I'll try another McCoy book - given my penchant for giving people a chance, I'll more than likely read one; but we'll have to see what she offers next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 8, 2024
Bev and Nate grew up on the same small island and went to school together, but now he is a famous rockstar while she struggles with taking care of her dad and working at an animal shelter. Bev still harbors some unresolved feelings towards Nate, most of those full of hate and anger and Nate seems to come off as not caring one way or another about Bev. When Nate is forced to be Bev’s intern at the shelter things start to speed up and while you know there is a connection between them for me it took long for us to figure out why Bev hates him so much. The story is fun and full of witty banter that I was engaged wanting to know how these two would figures things out, the only issue I had was a times it was hard for me to believe that they were adults that were almost 30 acting this way. I understand bitter feelings at a young age etc. but to hold on to that for so long and be a 29 year old woman is strange and to be that old still doing what her father wants (which I get his sick and she wants to make him happy) she’s almost 30 and should know to follow her own heart etc. Overall, I enjoyed this story, the characters, and the animals it was fun.
August 29, 2024
A friend passed this on to me and normally I'm a no-go on romance but since there was an animal shelter angle...yeah, I had to read it. I was surprised to not be disappointed. The story hummed along and kept me coming back. It is a light, fast, summer read that more often than not had me smiling and actually giggling a time or two.
The shelter was full of people who are doing good work for unwanted animals to the best of their ability. The dog in this story...that is sadly a regular occurrence and I was glad to see it in a story. And humans were not perfect but trying. I am always glad when mental health is presented as a normal health care issue (because it is) And the sultry parts... normally not my thing, but probably standard fare in romance novels, I'm guessing. Well lets just say they were a welcome change of pace for how those are usually presented. I'll just leave it at that. :-)
I read to be entertained, so I am willing to overlook a lot. And sure, I could pick apart a few things, but I had too much fun reading this to be bothered. If you need a quick, weekend romance...this is your book.
The shelter was full of people who are doing good work for unwanted animals to the best of their ability. The dog in this story...that is sadly a regular occurrence and I was glad to see it in a story. And humans were not perfect but trying. I am always glad when mental health is presented as a normal health care issue (because it is) And the sultry parts... normally not my thing, but probably standard fare in romance novels, I'm guessing. Well lets just say they were a welcome change of pace for how those are usually presented. I'll just leave it at that. :-)
I read to be entertained, so I am willing to overlook a lot. And sure, I could pick apart a few things, but I had too much fun reading this to be bothered. If you need a quick, weekend romance...this is your book.
July 19, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Release date: August 8th, 2024
This was a super fun read! Nate Hart is a musician on tour- with stage fright. After an “altercation”, he’s sent back to his hometown, Melody Bay, for service work. Enter Bev: Melody Bay Animal Shelter’s number one intern. When Nate gets assigned as Bev’s assistant, old history gets dug up. 🤭
I really, really liked these characters! Bev and Nate are so relatable and I was rooting for them both the whole time. Their love story was *chefs kiss* BUT I especially loved Bev’s dad (🥹🥹🥹) and their relationship was so sweet to read. The only reason Im giving 3 stars and not 4 is because there was nothing much special. There were also some very, very small details I noticed that did not match up.
This was a very quick read! The fast pace is perfect for getting out of a reading slump (which we all hate) and you won't get bored!
Release date: August 8th, 2024
This was a super fun read! Nate Hart is a musician on tour- with stage fright. After an “altercation”, he’s sent back to his hometown, Melody Bay, for service work. Enter Bev: Melody Bay Animal Shelter’s number one intern. When Nate gets assigned as Bev’s assistant, old history gets dug up. 🤭
I really, really liked these characters! Bev and Nate are so relatable and I was rooting for them both the whole time. Their love story was *chefs kiss* BUT I especially loved Bev’s dad (🥹🥹🥹) and their relationship was so sweet to read. The only reason Im giving 3 stars and not 4 is because there was nothing much special. There were also some very, very small details I noticed that did not match up.
This was a very quick read! The fast pace is perfect for getting out of a reading slump (which we all hate) and you won't get bored!
July 29, 2024
Nate totally lives up to his bad boy rock star image, but when he finds a judge issuing him with community service back in his hometown he's not happy at all. Bev runs the local animal shelter and is hoping that the new intern lives up to the job. When he walks in and they're face to face she know this cannot be happening, of all people it had to be him. He'd been her first kiss and now he was here to work for her, surely somebody is playing a joke on her Nate would never willingly work in an animal shelter. This easy to read book delivers all the right things to keep you reading. It's easy to see from the start that this is going to playout as a fun will they won't they story, with a few difficult times that force them both to deal with the past they shared. If you want a nice afternoon read this ticks the boxes.
July 29, 2024
This book had very little spice, but it gave us a taste that was pretty good. I'd give it half a chili pepper out of five for spice rating.
The book itself as a romance was sweet and I'd rate it four stars out of five. It had a lot of appeal to me as I used to be a singer and have also volunteered with a dog rescue.
Hot rock star + romance + rescue animals = a lovely story!
I don't always like second chance romances, but lately I've liked every book that I've read that has one so maybe I'm changing my tune.
It was a nice small sized novel that could have been longer with more spice, but I enjoyed my time reading it.
I also really loved that the last chapter gave "what happened tos" for some of the rescue animals in the book.
It was fun. It was cute. And I'd recommend it to plenty of people.
The book itself as a romance was sweet and I'd rate it four stars out of five. It had a lot of appeal to me as I used to be a singer and have also volunteered with a dog rescue.
Hot rock star + romance + rescue animals = a lovely story!
I don't always like second chance romances, but lately I've liked every book that I've read that has one so maybe I'm changing my tune.
It was a nice small sized novel that could have been longer with more spice, but I enjoyed my time reading it.
I also really loved that the last chapter gave "what happened tos" for some of the rescue animals in the book.
It was fun. It was cute. And I'd recommend it to plenty of people.
August 6, 2024
I Hate Rockstars
Short, sweet, easy binge read.
A rockstar, Nate, coming home to complete community service, for an undisclosed misdemeaner, at his teenage home's animal shelter where he is teamed up with his teenage love, Beverley, as his supervisor.
The writing was staightforward and easy reading. The slow start had the kind of set up that laid the end before us early. The spice, open door, for what it was not overblown.
There appears to be a lost opportunity to elaborate on both Nates mental health woes and develop some real tension in regards to the music executive angle.
A light filler between other reads. Leans YA rather than A.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.
Short, sweet, easy binge read.
A rockstar, Nate, coming home to complete community service, for an undisclosed misdemeaner, at his teenage home's animal shelter where he is teamed up with his teenage love, Beverley, as his supervisor.
The writing was staightforward and easy reading. The slow start had the kind of set up that laid the end before us early. The spice, open door, for what it was not overblown.
There appears to be a lost opportunity to elaborate on both Nates mental health woes and develop some real tension in regards to the music executive angle.
A light filler between other reads. Leans YA rather than A.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.
August 19, 2024
This was a really cute book. I'm a sucker for any trope that involves musicians or bands so I knew I had to try this one out. There was definitely less rockstar in it than I thought there would be, but that kind of made it better.
Most of this takes place on a small island that the two main characters grew up on. Something happened in high school that led them to dislike each other for the last 15 years but when he has to come back for 6 months to do community service they're thrown back into each other's lives and discover unresolved tension and reasons to mend them over this time.
I feel like a couple things could have been done differently with the plot to make it a little more immersive. But overall, if you're looking for a quick, cute read, you'll get that with this book.
Most of this takes place on a small island that the two main characters grew up on. Something happened in high school that led them to dislike each other for the last 15 years but when he has to come back for 6 months to do community service they're thrown back into each other's lives and discover unresolved tension and reasons to mend them over this time.
I feel like a couple things could have been done differently with the plot to make it a little more immersive. But overall, if you're looking for a quick, cute read, you'll get that with this book.
October 18, 2024
I picked this up because I love rockstar and second chance romances, and I think this book had potential. However, the execution left a little bit to be desired. I do think it's a good. light summer beach read, with likable characters and a fun storyline.
I do wish we had gotten more of the first chance backstory in the beginning. I think in a second chance romance, having the reader get invested in the first chance storyline is a necessity. I feel like a lot happens in the back 10-15% without having the buildup to it during the course of the book, so it makes the pacing feel a little off. I think this book could have been improved if it was a bit longer and more drawn out, and feeling less rushed.
Overall, I still think it's a good story and book, I was just expecting more.
I do wish we had gotten more of the first chance backstory in the beginning. I think in a second chance romance, having the reader get invested in the first chance storyline is a necessity. I feel like a lot happens in the back 10-15% without having the buildup to it during the course of the book, so it makes the pacing feel a little off. I think this book could have been improved if it was a bit longer and more drawn out, and feeling less rushed.
Overall, I still think it's a good story and book, I was just expecting more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews