Strings Attached

by Sera Elly

Winner of the 2025 Storytrade Award for Contemporary Romance & Finalist in the Page Turner Awards

He ghosted her after one unforgettable night. Now he’s back—with a wheelchair, a guitar, and her name still saved in his phone as THE Caroline.

Caroline Parker has a build a business helping indie bands go big, forget the charming musician who vanished after a Chicago night she can’t shake, and never, ever mix feelings with work. Easy.

Until Ben Carter shows up—six months later, newly paralyzed, painfully familiar, and about to become her newest client.

Ben was on his way to see her when the accident happened. Now he's relearning how to live, how to play, and how to face the girl who made him want a future—right before his fell apart.

Thrown together by the comeback concert that could save his career, Caroline and Ben must navigate old sparks, new scars, and the music that brought them together in the first place.

Because the only thing messier than a second chance... is falling even harder.

A slow burn, emotionally raw second chance romance

A disabled musician hero with a self-sabotage streak

A fierce music publicist heroine building her dream

Forced proximity on a comeback tour

Secret pining, angsty lyrics, and steamy tension

Real healing, real heartbreak—and the kind of love that’s worth risking again

A swoony, high-stakes contemporary romance for fans of Carley Fortune, Chloe Liese, Emily Henry, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and emotionally rich love stories with music, heartache, and heat.

For readers who

Second Chance Romance

Slow Burn

He Falls First (and Hard)

She Thinks It Was Just a Fling

Forced Proximity

Workplace Romance

Emotional Angst

One Night That Changed Everything

Lyrical Love Confessions

The One That Got Away

Hurt/Comfort

Disability Representation (paralyzed MMC)

Learning to Live Again After Trauma

Hero’s Emotional Growth Arc

Rebuilding Career + Confidence Post-Injury

Female Entrepreneur Heroine

Hero Who Believes He’s Not Enough

Messy Men With Good Hearts

Found Family / Band as Family

Mutual Pining

Grumpy/Sunshine–ish

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Slow burns. Second chances. Set to a killer soundtrack.

Sera Elly is an award-winning Chicago-area writer, marketer, and professional wrangler of two wild sons, three even wilder dogs, and one husband who’s somehow still on board with all of it. When she’s not turning her love of music and messy road trips into angsty fiction, she runs Tiny Marketing, helping B2B businesses grow without burning out. She thrives on emotionally-charged storytelling, big feelings, bigger playlists, and iced coffee in all seasons. If she disappears, she’s probably on a back road somewhere with the windows down, scream-singing with a half-written scene running on repeat in her mind.

She is the author of the Breakout Sessions, a series of standalone, interconnected romance books set in the indie music scene, featuring messy musicians and earned love stories.

And always...an HEA.

Reviews

[Anita Salonger · Rating 4 out of 5]

How could I not like this book, my favorite genre, rockstar romance. This was written on a very different angle. Ben and Caroline, love at first sight although they did not know it. Alot of obstacles n their way, but true love prevails. READ THIS BOOK. Thank you Hidden Gems for te advanced copy. All thought and opinions are my own.

[Melissa Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this

Love Love Love. Ben & Caroline are so cute, and I love that they both fought for their love. I couldn't get enough of their stories. The side characters were so amazing and supportive, especially Alyse. Love her.

[Alyssa✨ |apvreads| · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rockstar romance, love at first sight, major plot twist. Check.

The love I had for Caroline and Ben’s beginning. And how one night spent together left an instant connection and change in life trajectory. The raw emotion. I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending to all my rockstar romance lovers.

[C.L.S. Willman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good lord this took me on a JOURNEY! I have never burst into laughter while still drying my eyes from bursting into tears a paragraph before. This was emotionally charged in the best way and such a great read.

[Sarah Furlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline and Ben's beginning how one night spent together left an instant connection and change in life trajectory. The raw emotion. Ben finally was being seen for him and when they locked eyes he couldn’t look away from Caroline, they had this connection and he wasn’t ready for this be over with her. Then the most tragic accident happened when Ben was on his way to see Caroline before going away for 6 weeks but he never made it and now it’s 6 months later and they are meeting again for the first time since that tragic day, and she is angry at him. She doesn’t understand how he went through that tragic event by himself she would of been there but he didn’t think like that since they had only met the night before but she was all in with Ben and then he ghosted her. Now they get to rebuild their story that was to be continued once he was back from tour. Will Caroline and Ben’s story go on or will the hurt be too much to bear?

Ben still is coming to terms with his new outlook on life, he kind of gave up in a sense and is still trying even though everyone around him won’t give up on what they have. This is including his band mates Tanner and Leo who have been with each other all their lives and they will not leave him behind.


This story takes you on a journey of raw emotion, Ben choosing himself before he can finally be with someone who is choosing to fight for that connection and finally seeing that he is still the same musician just a direct outlook on how he performs now.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Ben and Caroline, but I loved their growth as individuals even more. If you want a solid romance, music, art, and the ability to fight not just for your partner, but also yourself, this is a good read for you.

[April wenzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet love story!

[Kelly Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strings Attached by Sera Elly done got me hooked faster than a fish on a hot day. I'm not a book smart fella but I know when something good hits me and this one hit me like a truck. I started reading and next thing I knew it was two in the morning.

Caroline is tough as nails. She's got herself a job pushing bands up the ladder and she doesn't want no one fooling with love. But here comes Ben, the same boy that ghosted her after one night, and now he is showing back up all busted up in a wheelchair but still holding that guitar like it is his heart. I near about laughed when I seen he still had her name saved as THE Caroline. Boy he knew what he had lost.

Now they are stuck working together on this tour mess and it is like pouring gas on a fire. Sparks flying, old scars showing, and you can feel it slow burning the whole way through. I was sitting there like dang yall just kiss already and quit fighting. But that’s what made it good, because it felt real. Life isn't smooth and this book sure isn't either.

What I liked most was it isn't some sort of fairy tale mess. It shows how you can be broke down, hurt, mad at yourself, but still find a way to stand back up. Sometimes love doesn't fix everything, but it helps you carry the load without falling.

I give it 5 outta 5 catfish!

[Tardisgiggler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read that was somewhat emotional. Caroline was sunshine and fun, she was an absolute fighter and optimistic, she was such a strong female lead that it was hard not to love her. Ben was extremely sweet, I loved when his stutter came out every now and then, he'd been through so much and you could feel his mental anguish through it all. I loved how supporting Ben's grandma, and their friends were, they truly wanted what was best for them and Ben's bandmates never wanting to replace him was so sweet. There was some spice but it was super low and I would have liked a bit ore of it, but this was focused more on them as people, falling for each other and overcoming the new reality they faced. I did think it took a little bit too long for them to get back together, it was like the last 25% of the book of being a part and working hard to get back to where they were. If it happened just a bit earlier we could have gotten more of them together or at least the epilogue being a bit longer. Over all though it was a fantastic read and I really did enjoy it, the humor and sweetness were fantastic and I just wanted more of it.

[Tesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a first by this Author for me. An emotional romance with a realistic theme.

Musician Ben was coming to meet up with Music Promo officer Caroline when he had a tragic accident. Six months later he turns up seeking her help to get his music career back but in a wheel chair and with his heart on his sleeve.

Emotional and heart felt story that comes through in the writing. Honest and eye opening and a frank look at the world between two people with flaws.

So well done I really liked the book and certainly will like to read more from this author. Great work!!

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very emotional story. Ben and Caroline definitely had to fight for their happily ever after, with so many ups and downs. I've found a new author and cannot wait to read more of her books. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

An accident took so much from him but he wants to try to get the girl he wants. His life is so much harder than it was before but he will fight to get what he truly wants. Follow them as they try to make a future for them
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a wonderful love story

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes you on such an emotional journey, with highs and lows and raw honesty. The characters are likeable and you will find yourself rooting for them throughout. I am voluntarily leaving this review after receiving an ARC from Hidden Gems.

[Whitney Warrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice change to read a romance that wasn't "Girl meets boy. They argue but are obviously predestined. Girl marries boy and possibly gets pregnant." Not that there's anything wrong with those (just check my reading list), but this was so refreshing.

[Christine Iula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads ebook giveaway win.
You can’t help but feel Ben’s raw pain as he struggles to pick his life back up as best he could while also trying to come to terms of what his life will look like for him after the accident!

[Angie Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good a rock star romance. I enjoyed this book. I was given an arc and i choose to give a honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional story full of twists and turns to keep me glued to the pages. Lots of interesting details. Storyline was fast paced and amazing. Read cover to cover. Highly recommend.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book started of good and then it kinda slowed down for me after the accident. I liked the connection between the two. 3.5 stars

[Amber Goldfaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Such a good read! Loved all of the characters! My emotions were all over the place! Even a touch of spice. Very well written!

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book with representation which i really liked!
For myself i missed tension. It was like love at first sight which isn‘t my favorite.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

just a fun rom-com

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strings Attached by Sera Elly, is a roller coaster of emotion. Angst, humor, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings make this love-at-first-sight romance a story that won’t soon be forgotten.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.