Verse

by Tayla McLean

Tatum Sterling has been away from her brother for five years. When the chance to flee across the country to see him arises, she takes it without hesitation. Desperate to rebuild their bond, her plans are derailed by someone unexpected.

Beck Forbes, the irresistible lead singer of Surge, is on the brink of stardom. Fame is within reach—if he can outshine his biggest Samuel Sterling, Tatum's brother. But when Beck meets Tatum, he’s completely captivated by her.

Falling for her could ruin everything—but Beck’s never shied away from a challenge.

Can two broken souls find harmony in their verse in a world of music, secrets, and second chances?

475 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2025

About the author

Tayla McLean is a Texas-based writer and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree. Writing has been a passion of hers since childhood, sparked by her mother’s encouragement and guidance. Her mother, a writer herself, helped Tayla craft stories even before she could write on her own, fostering a lifelong love for storytelling.

While Tayla enjoys exploring a variety of genres, including fantasy and sci-fi, her favorite stories often weave in elements of romance. Her first completed novel, The Cry of an Angel, holds a special place in her heart, though it’s far from her first story idea. Currently, she is working on the final book in the series, along with a few other unrelated projects, hoping to bring them to life in the near future.

Reviews

[samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

truly one of the most fun books you can read !! a rollercoaster of emotions that kept me hooked. loved & can’t wait to read the next one!

[Emma May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I liked the dynamic between Tatum and Beck, especially how he handled her insecurities and indecision. At first, all of Tatum's back and forth was a little annoying, but as I read more I realized that it was a fairly accurate representation of college romance and especially when she has a traumatic past. I particularly loved the scene where they all went to the beach - it felt like Twilight fan fiction and I was SAT for it! I know this is an indie published book so I give it some leeway with editing, but there were some simple edits and grammatical things that I think would be helpful if possible - at least to the KU edition.

I look forward to more from Tayla!

[Syd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the best books that I’ve read in a while. And let me tell you, the Beck Effect is the real deal. First off, the characters were so easy to connect with and feel close to. The plot of the book gave a college level battle of the bands feel with a forbidden romance trope and touch-her-and-you-die type relationship (LOVE LOVE LOVE) and there were no crazy third-act breakups which was such a relief! Ughhh I cannot express in words how much I loved this book. GO READ IT ASAP IT IS WORTH YOUR TIME!!