The Have Not

by Beth Crowley

Cam Donovan was perfectly fine living as a normal teenager with her father in Arizona, far from her D-list celebrity mother Jackie Jenson and whatever reality show or perfume line she was involved with at the moment. The custody agreement between her parents only required Cam to spend alternating holidays and a few weeks each summer with Jackie, which she mostly spent with her older half-brother Charlie anyway since Jackie was usually off at some photoshoot or club opening.

But when Cam’s father dies, she finds herself uprooted to Los Angeles and thrust into the spotlight she never wanted. With her mother pushing her to establish her “brand,” the gossip site Chick About Town constantly posting about her, and not being able to ignore the crush she’s developed on the attractive waiter at her new favorite diner (who is definitely not single), Cam is starting to feel like the walls are closing in on her from all sides.

And it certainly doesn’t help that the anger that seems to have taken up permanent residence in the pit of her stomach is constantly threatening to make its way to the surface and ruin the life she is trying so desperately to rebuild.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2024

About the author

Whether Beth Crowley is releasing a sweeping cinematic pop song or an emotional piano ballad, her honest and poignant lyrics are what keep listeners coming back for more. Her songs have been streamed over 69 million times on Spotify and her YouTube lyric videos have amassed more than 60 million views, with responses like “this song speaks to my heart” and “beautifully written and exactly how I feel” flooding the comment section.

Beth began sharing her music on YouTube in 2011 and has since released two albums, three EPs, and dozens of singles. She is best known for her songs inspired by Young Adult novels, and her most popular book-based song, “Warrior,” has been streamed over 18 million times on Spotify.

In addition to music, Beth is also a passionate advocate for mental health. She discusses it frequently and openly on her YouTube channel and has written several songs around the topic.

Beth always knew that when she inevitably wrote a book of her own, she would want to write music to go with it. Her debut novel The Have Not includes an accompanying soundtrack of original songs written to provide the reader/listener with a unique experience combining Beth’s two passions: music and storytelling.

Reviews

[Diamond E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author because of some of the artwork I did for the zine (that you, dear reader, should check out when it's available!)

I'll start off by saying I'm a fantasy girlie so books like this aren't really my genre, but boy did I enjoy this book! Cam, our lead, is witty and relatable and was a breath of fresh air for me as a FMC (even if she irritated me sometimes!)

The story itself kept me hooked as Cam tried to navigate celebrity life and the segments with her half brother, Charlie, were my favorite.

The Have Not is an easy, enjoyable read that touches on grief in a relatable way. It's anger, numbness, flickers of joy as you find acceptance. For a debut novel I think the author did a fantastic job and I hope to read more from Beth Crowley in the future!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m incredibly grateful to have received the ARC of this book. I had so much fun reading and got fully immersed in the book. Sleep was sacrificed but for a good cause, because I just had to read it in two sittings. Cam is a funny, witty, intelligent and food loving character who gave me a lot of laughs. Now I’ll be patiently waiting for the release to reread it with the album.

[M.C. Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Beth Crowley's music, especially the songs based on well-known books. So, when I found out she was writing her first novel, I did not hesitate to be among the first to pre-order a copy. I don't generally lean towards YA contemporary, but it was executed well. Cam is a much too relatable character going through grief after losing her dad and dealing with many life changes she was not ready for. She's comfortable not being in the spotlight and now she's living with her mother who is much too comfortable being in the spotlight. Then you have sparks flying when meeting Milo which turns out to be a complicated matter. If you need a distraction from reality and want to dive into someone else's drama, The Have Not is for you! And bonus, it comes with it's own original soundtrack of much related songs. My personal favorites are Villain or Hero, What Will It Take?, and Out of My Head. A labor of love went into the debut novel and it's not one to miss!

[Laurie Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an EBook ARC for this debut novel from the author, and I’m so excited that I got the chance to dive into this story early!

I do not read contemporary often, generally just one or two a year, I’m more of a fantasy/dystopian reader, but I do enjoy branching out into other genres!

‘The Have Not’ was quite an enjoyable read! I found myself turning page after page, because the writing was very quick paced, which I appreciated.

Cam is a complex, witty, and sometimes a little bit stupid (but in a very well written way!), teenage MC, trying to find herself and adjust to her new life after a tragedy causes her entire life to be uprooted from Arizona to LA, and the struggle that comes with having a celebrity Mother whom she has a strained relationship with.

There were times that I laughed, cringed, and got emotional or angry (in good ways!), during this read.

I’m not generally too keen on contemporary books mentioning real life things, such as naming real people or apps, for example. As I tend to look at reading fiction as an escape from reality. But honestly it didn’t affect the reading of the story overall, and is more of just a minor personal preference for me!

Overall, I thought this was a great book! Especially if you love reading YA contemporary. I think it’s worth a read for sure, even if it’s not generally your genre as well!

I also love that the author has written an entire album based on the book, and included QR codes to scan and listen to the songs as you are reading! What a unique and fun idea! Be sure to check out the songs as well as the companion Zine full of character and scene illustrations from the book as well! You may find one done by yours truly 😉

I hope Beth Crowley continues to write more novels; because I think she has a unique voice and writing style, and would definitely be interested in reading more from her!

Thank you so much, Beth, for the ARC! Best of luck on your author journey!

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Crowley has always been able to make you feel things with her music and has now proven that she can do it with her novel. ‘The Have Not’ is an emotionally gripping novel that explores themes of identity, belonging, and perseverance. With rich character development and a compelling narrative, Crowley delves into the internal struggles of those who feel left on the outskirts of society. Her protagonist is raw and relatable, drawing readers into a journey of self-discovery, hardship, and the longing to find one's place in the world. The novel’s pacing keeps readers hooked, balancing moments of introspection with impactful scenes of action and confrontation.
Crowley’s writing style is lyrical and evocative, making ‘The Have Not’ not only a powerful story but also a beautifully written one. This Bildungsroman novel will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of resilience and finding strength in vulnerability. It’s a deeply heartfelt read that lingers long after the last page, and I cannot wait for the soundtrack she’s written to accompany it. Thanks for the ARC, Beth!

[Star Shining Forever · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve long loved Beth’s music & the emotional stories she tells through it so I was excited to receive an ARC of this book! It’s set in Los Angeles, my favorite city 😍 In it, teenager Cam deals with her father‘s death, living with her shallow D-list celebrity mother, and having a crush on a taken waiter at the local diner.

The drama abounds and the characters are sufficiently headstrong lol. I felt like we waited pretty darn long (98% of the book!) for Milo to decide he liked Cam while still annoyed when she was interested in Cassidy. And I thought more annoyance/blame could’ve been placed with the dad who also refused to move from his hometown to make a unified family, but he was remembered fondly and a lot of hate was projected onto the mom who did the same thing. But everything works out in the end! Loved Charlie’s character, would enjoy a sequel focused on him, his fashion, boyfriend troubles, etc. Cam’s food selections were much appreciated, most authors leave those (literally) yummy details out.

It’s an engaging YA read shot through with angst and emotion the way only Beth can. I’m looking forward to reading this again when the related soundtrack is out, with original songs assigned to pivotal moments in the story.

[Ivy C. Vitale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ebook ARC for this book.

First and foremost, I have been a huge fan of Beth Crowley’s since I was eleven. I’ve liked her sense of humor and personal writing style for many years. In The Have Not Beth Crowley weaves together newfound grief, messed-up mothers, confusing teenage hormones, anti-California viewpoints, and so much, much more into a beautiful story that could only have been crafted by Beth Crowley herself. Cam is one of the most authentic protagonists I have ever read so I highly recommend giving this book a chance even if contemporary style isn’t your thing!

(p.s. Beth Crowley mentioned Doctor Who!!!!!!)

(plus I can not wait for the songs to come out!!!)

[Alisha Hossain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful contemporary romance. The characters are hilarious and I would've loved to see them more and dive into all of their stories. Cam is a flawed character who constantly makes mistakes but learns from them. This book shows how grief isn't just days of gloom followed by days of sunshine. It's good days, bad days and everything in between. This is an amazing first book. Great job, Beth Crowley!!!

[Jeanna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I just finished The Have Not and Beth Crowley's book is just as beautiful as her songs. Cam was going through something no teenager, no child wants to go through. Her father dies of cancer before her senior year of high school and she is sent to live with her mother in LA. A mother she does not see often and does not have a great relationship with. However, on the plus side she'll be living with her half brother Charlie whom is a wonderful addition of support to the story. He does work as the sounding board between Cam and their mother. And he's so helpful and easy going you have to love him.

Cam meets some really great people right away while at a diner. Cam is a character that I think at least for me I wish I could be more like. She has a way with words and talking to people that feels so candid and quirky. Being a quick thinker is a marvel for someone that overthinks all of their words. Her fist meeting with Milo at the diner and having a Luke/Lorelia chat about what she's eating is so perfect. I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan ;) I can't help but think that Milo's name came from anther character from the show, I favourite of mine who played Jess Mariano. Cam also becomes friends with Milo's sister Mei and she is just so darn cute. I do feel like Cam wasn't always the best of friend to her. And I'm glad they get to work through that too.

Having the songs accompany the story was something I never knew I needed or wanted. But I loved it! It was a beautiful touch and how could Beth not put her musical notes to her written words.

I was crying by the end of this story. It's more than just a love story, it's family, friends, it's loss and growing up. I loved to feel how angry Cam was. She should be angry and hurt and a whole range of emotions.

5 Stars for Beth Crowley's The Have Not ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love it and very much hope she'll write another. I'm a fan of her music and now a fan of her book.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid debut novel. Light fluffy with just the right amount out tear jerking moments. And the complementary soundtrack is 10/10

[The Book Nerd's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of overcoming grief, avoiding fame, and learning to cope with a new type of normal set against an exotic Los Angeles backdrop.

Cam Donovan has always done a good job staying out of the spotlight. That is, until her father dies from a chronic illness and is forced to move to Los Angeles with her mother. Now, in the midst of learning to cope with an immense amount of grief, she is also forced to learn how to deal with being highlighted across social media and gossip columns that discuss every piece of what she views as her not so interesting life. Cam also can't help but develop a crush on the cute boy, Milo, who works at her favorite diner. However, Milo isn't exactly single, which adds another layer of anger to Cam's already fragile existence. Can anything go her way? Or is it inevitable that all the stress is going to lead to a breakdown unlike any that she has experienced before?

I have been waiting so long for this book, so I am stoked to say that Beth Crowley has finally published her debut novel! I first came across Beth's work as a songwriter who writes songs based on the popular books that she reads. Beth's lyrics are always amazing, so I knew that her writing would be no different. And she even wrote a soundtrack to go with "The Have Not." The songs are just as wonderful as the book, and it was so much fun listening to the tracks as I read the book. These songs will also be a constant reminder of her book as I listen to music from now on, which means this book will stick with me in a way that most books don't have the opportunity to. Seriously, go check out her work!

One of the things that really sticks out in this one is the humor. Cam is such a sarcastic character who tends to resort to dark humor when things hit a little too close to home. As alluded to earlier, Cam goes through a whole bunch of unfortunate circumstances throughout the book, so her sharp tongue often gets her in trouble. I love the banter between her and her half-brother, Charlie, as well as with Milo, the boy that she is crushing on. The yams joke is truly hilarious and I couldn't help but laugh at the "go get 'em, bro" bit every time it graced the page. Cam's humor might be a bit niche, but I found it to be absolutely hysterical.

The aspects of change and grief are so realistic and raw in this novel. Everything that Cam goes through with losing her father, having to move to LA, and being thrust into the spotlight is overwhelming in every possible way imaginable. It broke my heart to watch Cam fall apart more and more as the story progresses, but the messages that this book portrays makes it totally worth it. The scenes towards the end of the book when Cam reconciles with her mother are truly heartwarming, and they filled me with so much hope for the future.

The romantic elements of this book didn't hook me as much as the familial elements or the trajectory towards self-discovery, but I still enjoyed them immensely. Milo is a sweet boy, even if his taste in women is slightly sketchy. The banter between him and Cam is funny and I will always remember the yams bit that the two of them share. The fact that there is a bit of a love triangle in this book is also fun; I also thought it was hilarious that Cam says that love triangles are her least favorite book tropes. Honestly, understandable.

The importance of the arts in this story is awesome. Cam is an aspiring artist, her best friend, Mei, is a stage actress, and Milo is in a band (go Discount Curses!). Pairing these artistic elements with the backdrop of Los Angeles and the aspects of being related to a celebrity, made the atmosphere of this book really interesting in a bunch of different ways.

Overall, I'm so glad that "The Have Not" is finally in my hands. I have been waiting a long time for this moment, and it did not disappoint. I love the cast of characters, the heartfelt messages, and the accompanying soundtrack is top-tier. Beth Crowley's work is truly stunning and I hope that she gets around to writing another novel at some point. I will treasure this book forever, and I can't wait to recommend this one for all eternity.

Check out Beth Crowley's music!: https://www.youtube.com/c/bethjcrowley

[Stacie (MagicOfBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks

"The Have Not" by Beth Crowley follows teenager Cam Donovan who is forced to move in with her D-list celebrity mother after the death of her father. Los Angeles is the complete opposite of Arizona, and Cam is having difficulty with the culture shock, as well as trying to understand her mother, and struggling with her feelings with the cute boy who works at the local diner.

This was so sweet and cute! First, I have been subscribed to Beth Crowley over on Youtube for probably over 5 years at this point, and I love her original music. Her songs are so catchy and real and emotional and it's a shame that she's not being played on the radio. Her songs are that amazing. So when she first announced she was going to be publishing a book, my curiosity was intrigued. Let me say this as well: contemporary young adult is totally not my thing. Young adult fantasy, yes, but lord, I have a hard time with young adult contemporary. I am no longer a teenager and books like this just don't float my boat anymore. But I wanted to support Beth Crowley because writing is hard and she bravely went out there and did this.

As for the book, I was very pleasantly surprised how much I ended up enjoying this as I already established that young adult contemporary is not my thing. There's something about this book that felt very real and honest. Not fake or phony. And don't get me started on how much I loved all the pop culture references and nerdy jokes and the dry sense of humor. I literally laughed out loud on several occasions. There's something about the dialogue that feels so very true to life and so very natural. There's a cheesiness and silliness to it that's realistic. Like, this is how real people actually talk. And I liked the whole set up of the book as well. Cam Donovan's father has died, so she's forced to move from Arizona to Los Angeles to live with her mother and stepbrother. She only sees her mother a few weeks out of the year, so this is a move she is not looking forward to. Add on top of that, her mother is a sort of D-list celebrity, famous for a sex tape that she did when she was younger. Cam has no desire to be in the spotlight and her mother is constantly trying to push Cam to get more into social media and build up a following and influence. Again, Cam is totally not into that life whatsoever. This is definitely a book that explores this really fraught mother/daughter relationship, and it's about the two of them needing to set boundaries and trying to understand each other and the lives they have both lived. It's Cam's journey of dealing with her grief and feeling like she'll never move on from that. It's about her trying to figure out her future. And it's young adult, of course she crushes on a hot guy at the local diner and the two of them are figuring their feelings out for each other. There's a lot of depth to this book that isn't just surface level, and it deals with things that many people have probably dealt with in their life or can relate to on some level.

Overall, I'm so very glad I purchased this book. If you've listened to Beth Crowley's music in the past, please go check out this book. It's light and fun and realistic. I hope Beth Crowley continues to write because I certainly see potential for her to get better and better. Oh, as a bonus, Beth released a companion CD that goes with the book, which is super fun to listen to as you read. Randomly throughout the book are QR codes that you can hit and will take you to each song. It makes for a really nice immersive experience. Very unique and clever and I quite liked it.

[sofia sinay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never use my Goodreads account because I share it but I loved this book so much that I had to make an exception! I received it as an ARC from the author herself and I have to say that I love contemporary coming of age books - but this was a breath of fresh air in the best way possible!

The writing is well aware of what it is and I felt like it represents a true teenage girl today - one that is not overly dramatic and also not a complete introvert who never leaves the house. She is normal in the full sense of the word. Although she did have some overreactions to things and forgot communication exists for a few seconds there - I related a lot to her handling of things in the situation she was thrown into against her will. I liked how it took time for things to unravel and how she realized things along the way and admitted to herself that she was feeling them instead of being in denial and petulant. She truly wanted to feel better but didn't know how, she was just living the best she can considering the circumstances and I respected her immensely for it.

I did feel in the beginning there that stuff were happening to fast and she didn't contemplate them enough in her thoughts, but I feel like it was resolved pretty quickly for me and hasn't deterred me from wanting to know what's going to happen next. Especially later when things started slowing down and the characters weren't 'forced' to do anything just because some convenient opportunity came up. I appreciated it a lot, especially because she was impulsive at times and I expected her as a typical teenager to do things impulsively for the entire story - but she was very respectful and contemplative for most of the story. Thus, the feeling of freshness.

I have a lot more to say but I think it sums it up for me, and I hope I left no one with a doubt whether they should add this story to their reading list :)

[Ash P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not normally a contemporary person unless it's some kind of magical AU, so when I heard my favourite musician was coming out with a book set in LA, it was safe to say I was skeptical of whether or not I'd like it. I gave it a shot anyway thinking if the book turned out to be as amazing as any of her songs are then it's be worth it.

Minor Spoilers from here on out

I'm happy to say I judged too harshly based on the description when I saw "A list celebrity" and "cute boy at a diner" mentioned. It felt a little predictable at times but the ending and mixing music into the story makes up for it. Cam's characertisation was fun, nailed that awkward post-move, denying yourself grief, final year of high school feeling. I finish high school in two weeks, and I do really feel like Cam at times

I'll freely admit I listened to the album on loop before I got my copy of The Have not. And yet, tying songs into the storyline absolutely wrecked me, especially "out of my head" and "hey."
The way Cam's window-breaking breakdown was written was top tier and visceral in places (and the following hospital scene was endearingly awkward), soundtracked with "out of my head" took it up several more pegs; "I remember when I used to be someone I liked , now I spent my days afraid I'll never get it right" hit me right in the feels, I felt her through and through in that moment.

I lost my grandad a couple of years back and Cam's entire journey with her dad dropped me right back into that grief, in a cathartic kind of way. Especially the ending, OOOH MY GOODNESS that ending. Safe to say I sobbed.

I will come back and add to this review once I've reread it a few times and am not in a midnight-been-reading-for-8-hours-haze.

Thank you for writing, and publishing an album to go along with it. I'd love to see what you publish in future, Beth Crowley... especially if it's fantasy! 💕

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled over this book because of the soundtrack (which, first of all, also big recommendation!), and after listening to it enough times I finally got curious and got the book, even though this is not at all my usual genre.
First of all: No regrets. The Have Not is a thoroughly enjoyable, fairly short and light novel that practically reads itself. I'm just saying, it's been a while since I read a book in just three days.
Some of the story is a bit predictable, but that goes with the genre. The main character is a believable teenager, which is to say that she can be annoying at times, but that is not necessarily a negative since, again, she's a teenager and annoying comes with the age.
The characters are mostly well fleshed-out and have some great banter, which is mostly fun to read, though sometimes maybe a tad too much (which is honestly a nitpicky critique).
A slight "problem" I had was that, since I knew the soundtrack before, the story go really predictable at parts, but that barely affected the emotional impact. Just know this as a heads up if you don't like spoilers. There are points in the book where you're directed to specific songs, which is a nice touch.

TL;DR
Overall well written, solid story which touches on some deep themes without getting too heavy. Great for fans of the genre, enjoyable for the casual YA reader. Also, go listen to the soundtrack, it's very good.

[Kiana Roylance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spice: a few kisses

Language: a few s and f words

Beth’s debut novel was done really well! It’s contemporary with a touch of romance. While I enjoyed the romance, it was def not the main story arc and was more subtle and in the background (and barely got started). So if you only like romance, this book may not be for you.

The book is about Cam having to move in with her famous mother in L.A. after losing her dad. The change upended her whole life and is a lot for her. Her mother is constantly trying to get cam in the spotlight despite her protests and a local celebrity blog is taking pics and making up stories about cam’s life almost always when she goes out.

I enjoyed the side characters such as her best friend, Mei, and her brother, Charlie. And of course her Great Dane, Jim!

While I overall like Milo, I feel like he acted like a dick when he didn’t have any sort of claim on cam. He was with another girl and she respected that. She went on dates and lived her life and even when he broke up with the other girl, he never really expressed interest. She declared her love for him and he didn’t say anything. But then he gets upset when she goes out or kisses another guy.


The story doesn’t shy away from hard topics like death, feeling abandoned, divorce, therapy (including not wanting to do it), mental breakdowns, etc.

It felt realistic but was exciting to think about a fancier way of life.

[Cheyenne Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

This felt like such a quick and easy read, which was definitely refreshing after some of the monster-sized fantasy books I've gotten back into this year! (And yes, this is intended as a compliment, even when some of the more emotional scenes gave me some pause to think.)

The contemporary genre is entirely a coin-flip for me when it comes to enjoying the story that's presented -- some end up losing me to boredom or hitting too close to home for me to truly enjoy -- but Cam's story in The Have Not was fun and engaging to follow. It felt realistic to the teenage experience, especially the sheer magnitude of losing someone close to you and navigating that grief in your own mind and through shared memories with others. In a way, it was almost cathartic to remember we all share that general experience, even if the specifics and our reactions to it are entirely different.

I've also had the album for this book saved onto my Spotify since before I could sit down and actually read it, and I enjoyed having each song play through my head when they were supposed to. Note: I can't speak on how it feels to use the QR codes included to go directly to the songs, as my musical memory kicked in before the thought even crossed my mind.

Overall a great read; I highly recommend giving it a shot, even if the genre doesn't typically suit your tastes!

[Shelly Gertan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional roller coaster ride. I couldn't put this down the moment I started it and finished it within a single day. Beautifully written, with gripping characters that feel genuinely real, as if you’re slipping into the intimate thoughts of somebody else. This story deals masterfully with grief, loss, and healing. Had me crying my eyes out quite a few times.

My favorite part were the way the characters were written - all with their own goals and desires, with moments of fun but also multiple levels of depth. This book isn’t afraid to venture into that intimate, personal space of someone’s personality, and feels like it’s stripping the emotions bare. It feels so vulnerable and real.

And also: IT COMES WITH ORIGINAL MUSIC?! That accompanied the story at certain points. It adds so much depth and brings the pages to life. And Beth’s music is stunning.

I cannot recommend this story enough. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry, and then feel like a warm tide washes over you. Absolutely beautiful.

[✧ Beanie Reads ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this a book a 3.75 overall, but I'm still rounding it down to a 3 star because those 0.75 points come entirely from the fact this book HAS ITS OWN SOUNDTRACK. I really love Beth Crowley's music, and the fact she made a ten-song soundtrack for the book and its scenes is just amazing.

For the book itself. It very much read like lower YA. The writing is very simple, and complicated issues seemed to be solved very quickly. This was especially true for different situations that popped up with Cam and her mother. The relationship is very hard on Cam, and the mom does some messy things, but it all is bypassed pretty fast. Still, this was an enjoyable book, with some really fun banter (I would end up smiling every time yams was mentioned), cozy and lighthearted relationships, and some nice bookish/nerdy vibes in the narrative. So yeah, a solid book that I think would have hit harder if I'd read it around 14, but overall is still good.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never thought that reading a guy calling a girl an "absolute fucking ignoramus" would make me smile so big but here we are!

It's been really hard for me lately to find a book I genuinely want to binge, book slump has been hitting me so hard but I absolutely devoured this book!! Cam is such a fun main character with really dry humor that I found hilarious, and the wide range of other characters in the book were so fun as well. Not to mention the included soundtrack??? If you don't listen to the album as you're reading the book, you're missing out.

I loved the complicated family dynamics, the friendships between Cam and her friends, the relationship between Milo and Cam as it developed. I also loved how, despite being set in Hollywood-central, it just genuinely felt like a very down-to-earth story. Fantastic debut book, absolutely loved it!!

[Zuzka Míglová · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was also one of the lucky few, who recieved the ARC, and boy did I love this book!
Between all these lovely characters- Leo owns my heart!; many jokes and moments that had me laughing out loud (never thought I would get to laugh about lettuce, but here we are) and just loving the story in general; I couldn´t put it down!
The fact, that Cam made me want to have a snack every time she eats something, is the only reason I was glad the book wasn´t longer.
I absolutely recommend this book, the story is well written, very enjoyable and even if Cam can be sometimes a little irritable, it´s understandable considering.. well, everything. But seriously- make sure you keep enough snacks nearby, once you start reading!

[Jenn Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to ARC read this book, and I am so grateful for that, I also preordered it soon after I finished. Here’s my honest review:

In the words of Larry the Cucumber, "I laughed. I cried. It moved me, Bob."

In my own words, this book was an amazing break from writing my own series and just getting to be a reader again. I loved this book from start to finish. I was even making comments out loud. One of which was: "THAT B!TCH!" (When you read it, you may say the same. ;) ) My husband asked what that outburst was about, and I told him. He chuckled before he returned to gaming.

This book has so many good character arcs and amazing quotes. One of my favorites is: "And Love Triangles are my least favorite book trope, just so you know!" I laughed so hard. XD

[Makenna Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s like painting a picture, then throwing it away and trying to recreate it again. Even if you use all the same colors and paint the same subject, it’s not going to be an exact replica of the first one. But that doesn’t mean it won’t still be good.”

I am so impressed that this was Beth’s first book. I think it was so well done! She did an incredible job discussing grief and I really related to Cam a lot as I lost my father at a young age as well. Milo and her were so cute and I definitely felt the chemistry between them. The book had me both crying and laughing all throughout it. Having the songs made the book so much more immersive and emotional. It was such a unique experience to listen to the songs throughout the book. Overall, I hope to read more from Beth one day!

[BookWhisperer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I grab a paperback book from my shelf and snuggle up in bed, happy to lose myself in fictional people's problems." - Cam Donovan, The Have Not

The quote above is the perfect summary of how I felt while reading this book. Most of the time when I read something I do it to escape my own life.

I had never been much of a listener of any music until I found Beth Crowley in 2019. After that I have listened her almost exclusively, and when first news of this book came out I knew I had to get it.

I love this book. It hit just the right spot for me at just the right moment, and made me feel all the emotions I want to feel reading. I am definitely going to read this again and recommed it to my friends.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not usually a huge fan of contemporary (the biggest fantasy reader there is here!) but omg have I changed my time! Beth’s ability to truly bring to life the inner mind of teenage angst and romance had me not sleeping needing to know what happened next!! I thoroughly enjoyed this as a stand alone book, but then Beth decided to go full god mode and provide an entire soundtrack to accompany this masterpiece! I mean how insane is that?! The coolest concept and the beautifully written songs truly add that extra connection with the characters! I love Cam and Milo like my life depends on it and have decided I need to find a Charlie for myself asap!! Could not recommend more! 11/10!!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED IT!! I've been a fan of Beth's music for several years, and knew I had to buy her book when she announced she was writing one! Cam felt like a very relatable character, and her banter with the various other characters was great as well! I've never read a book that has its own soundtrack to go along with it, but I definitely loved having the songs to listen to at the various scenes. I'd listened to the songs before reading the book, and already loved them all, but understanding deeper meanings of the songs by reading the book made me love them so much more. Beth - you better write another book ‐ This was amazing!

[Reese Gaffney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Beth Crowley's book based music, I was very excited to read her debut novel, and it did not disappoint.
It's a story with excellent characters and a great plot line. While it may sound like something that has been done before, Beth Crowley's humor and excellent character development for Cam, the main character, shines through and makes it a unique read worth your time. Cam's experiences and reactions to grief and change feel realistic and allow readers to empathize and connect with her more, despite her not-so-typical experiences.
After thoroughly enjoying this debut novel, I look forward to what Beth Crowley may write in the future

[Eliza Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam is a relatable character going through grief after losing her father. Her mother is comfortable in the spotlight and is hopeful Cam will follow in her footsteps. Enter the cute waiter at a local diner to be a distraction. The only problem, he has a girlfriend. Will Cam be able to work through her grief? Will she find a happy ending? Read and find out! Whats cool about this book is there is a soundtrack of original music that ties in.

[Jessica Surgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like a love story to contemporary YA novels 🩷
A love story to love stories, if you will.

The sarcasm and witty banter is just *chef’s kiss* and it managed to be equal parts hilarious and emotional. On top of that, the characters were well fleshed out and the pacing was perfect and kept me invested. Overall, I just enjoyed my time in this book so much. Beth managed to give us a swoony rom-com that didn’t take itself too seriously.

[Jillian Bandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. Maybe it’s because I have a bias since I love Beth Crowley, but I seriously found myself unable to put this down. I loved how it took a slight turn from the other romance books I’ve read and made the romance a side plot to the Protagonist and her mother’s relationship. Not to mention, the addition of songs throughout the book was so unique, and I saved them to my playlist after. Beth Crowley, please write another book… or 10