Crescendo: Billie & Gio's story

by Abi May

The Cirque De La Lune is back on the road one final time for the reunion tour. But after a four-year hiatus, following the devastating loss of star aerialist Natalie Crow, nothing is the same.

Billie Pierce, retired aerialist, can’t think of anything worse than being back in the circus. She is only there to hold up her end of the deal with the ringmaster, Aslan Black. Her presence in exchange for his help. She has no interest in taking on a new partner, especially not inexperienced Gio Crawford.

Gio has been watching Billie perform since he first laid eyes on her. He’s followed her career, learnt every move, and now he wants his turn. He wants to reach the top with her, and he’s willing to do anything it takes to get there.

But this circus isn’t what it used to be, and they may well never reach the top again. The wounds may be too fresh, and foundations beneath them too unstable. The performers are burned by loss and pain, and their relationships are fractured and maybe irreparable. Reclaiming the magic of the circus may be impossible.

But the show must go on.

Ladies, gents and our fine friends, welcome back to The Cirque De La Lune.

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2025

About the author

Abi May is a UK based indie author and screenwriter.

She writes imperfect stories about imperfect people navigating the beautiful complexities of modern life and love. Knowing, from experience, that neither life nor people are ever truly perfect, she delves into the depths of human nature, asking why we make the choices we do, how we grow through our flaws, and what it means to navigate life’s challenges. Through her storytelling, she aims to offer reflection and wisdom, guiding readers through the messiness of being human and rewarding them with a sprinkle of romance and fun along the way. ​

Abi also writes screenplays and currently has a script in pre-production and another in consideration.

Find her mostly on TikTok @AbiMayAuthor and Instagram @AbiMay.Author.

​​

Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (Semi-Hiatus-attempting return) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this one. It’s a heartfelt romance where we follow circus performers after a tragic event.

I think if you're looking for something different than literally almost every other romance book that's out there - lemme rephrase, different than the tiktok romance books. This one is worth a shot.

I did have a couple of issues with the FMC - I wasn't a big fan of her really at all, but especially because I've been through a tragic loss and given the circumstances surrounding one of the situations in this story, I couldn't really connect with her.

Super huge thanks to the author for sending me a last min arc.

For those whose fear of falling keeps them from soaring…

❤️Tension x Angst
🎪Friends to Lovers
🖤Slow Burn
❤️Emotional x Trauma
🎪Found Family
🖤Traveling Circus
❤️Workplace Romance
🎪Ariel Partners
🖤Hope x Healing
❤️Grief x Loss

Expected Pub Date - 04/30/25

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: NOW AVAILABLE AND ON KU

✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️

🎪Crescendo🎪 by Abi May
Publication date: April 30th 2025

I wanna start off by saying this book found me, not the other way round.. literally 🥲 I consumed this book like my life depends on it. I think by now most know me for my love for reading DEEP and PAINFUL with complex layered characters and this read was EXACTLY THAT

Plot Summary

After years away from the spotlight, Billie Pierce never imagined stepping foot under the circus tent again, but when she makes a deal with the ringmaster Aslan Black, she finds herself reluctantly rejoining the Cirque De La Lune for one final reunion tour. The magic of the circus feels long gone — fractured by loss, weighed down by grief — and Billie’s only there to fulfill her end of the bargain.

Then comes Gio Crawford. Passionate, persistent, and completely inspired by Billie’s past performances, he’s dreamed of flying beside her for years. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in heart. Billie wants nothing to do with a new partner, but Gio might just be the spark she didn’t know she needed.

Together, they navigate not only high-flying acts but also emotional tension, broken relationships, and the ghosts of a painful past. It’s a story of healing, second chances, and finding connection in unexpected places.

Extract from the book

Ten years since its creation, The Cirque De La Lune is back and touring once again. After a four-year hiatus that followed the devastating accident of aerial performer Natalie Crow, the performers are returning to their black and white big top, with a few changes.

Dialogue favs ( some ) 💌
“I think I’ve always been looking for a home, and a family, but never finding it was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Billie’s chest ached with his pain as if it were her own. “Why?” “If I’d found one, I wouldn’t have kept looking for you.”

I just know that I have more love for her than I know what to do with.”

MMC: Gio is literally every girl's dream guy, I kept saying "may this love find me" till the last page no exaggeration 😭 he's so fucking precious and oh my God I couldn't think he could pierce my heart more until I read his back story 😭❤️‍🩹

FMC: Bille is just another level of pain, I honestly wanna protect her forever if I could😭 the way she's bottled up so much, carried all the guilt of like it was her burden to carry.. her back story is so similar to Gio in terms of loneliness it's like they're soul mates and the universe finally made ends meet😭 what adds to is tbe fact that Gio is a fan of Billie.

I just loved them so much honestly my heart wanted to explode😭❤️‍🩹

Tropes
▪︎ Tension > Angst > Friends > Lovers
▪︎ Slow burn romance
▪︎ Emotional / Trauma / Grief and Loss
▪︎ Found family
▪︎ Travelling circus
▪︎ Workplace romance
▪︎ Areinal partners

This book was so beautifully written, I was so invested, had me in my feels... I didn't read this book rather felt it to my core! I can't wait for the rest of the books!

Many thanks to the author for the early copy

[Lidewey · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨“For those whose fear of falling keeps them from soaring.”✨

Happy Crescendo release day!!

First of all, I’d like to thank the wonderful Abi for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader for Crescendo. I was super excited to be able to read it in advance, and although my reading slump kept me from doing it immediately, I couldn’t put it down once I finally started reading.


Rating: 4,5 ⭐

"Crescendo" is an absolute gem for fans of slow-burn romance novels! This book beautifully intertwines the emotional journey of healing with a romance set against the unique backdrop of a circus. If you love stories that make your heart ache and soar at the same time, this is a must-read.

Plot and Characters: The story follows Billie Pierce, a retired aerialist, as she returns to The Cirque De La Lune after a tragic accident involving her colleague, Natalie Crow. Billie is forced back into the circus by the ringmaster, Aslan Black, and must navigate the high stakes of the circus’s revival while grappling with her emotional scars. The plot is rich with themes of grief, healing, and the complexities of workplace dynamics and the circus life.


Main characters:

- Billie is a wonderfully complex character—grieving, defiant, and emotionally scarred. She’s driven by guilt over Natalie’s accident and a deep-seated need for redemption. She’s convinced that letting people get close to her will end up hurting them, so she does her best to keep everyone at arm’s length. At first, she seems cold and uncaring, but as the story unfolds, you get to know her kindness and how deeply she cares for others.

- Gio Crawford, the new aerialist, is confident, ambitious, and supportive. His admiration for Billie and her work drives him to push for an offer to join The Cirque De La Lune. That admiration eventually evolves into a deep emotional connection, driving his persistence and support.


Romance: The romance between Billie and Gio is a slow-burn masterpiece. Their relationship slowly evolves from professional tension to a mutual care and understanding to an eventual deep emotional intimacy, driven by their mutual support and the vulnerabilities they share. Gio’s unwavering support helps Billie confront her trauma and guilt, while Billie’s growing trust in Gio fosters a sense of safety (or home) and emotional healing.


Themes and Tropes: "Crescendo" masterfully employs several beloved romance tropes:

• Colleagues to Lovers: Billie and Gio’s relationship starts with professional tension and gradually develops into a deep emotional and romantic connection.
• Slowburn: The gradual build-up of trust, intimacy, and romantic tension makes their eventual union incredibly satisfying.
• Found Family: Despite the difficulties it has gone through, the circus slowly mends back together and becomes a family for Gio.
• Emotional Healing: The story delves into themes of grief, trauma, and emotional healing, particularly through Billie’s journey to overcome her guilt and find closure.


A quote I particularly liked: "It was kind of sad how, if you really looked, you could see the bare skeleton of where a family once stood. The outlines of the relationships that once existed were visible and people that still cared for each other, but were hiding it. The flesh of the circus had been removed and it was as if it existed as just brittle bones that may break at any moment. (…) Maybe the circus just needed someone like him (Gio), with the willingness to put in the effort, to get the figurative band back together."


This was my first time reading one of Abi’s books, and I think it’s safe to say that, now that I’ve read Crescendo I will be reading all of her works and (im)patiently waiting for the rest of The Cirque De La Lune books.

[Annabelle Joyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book my gosh. It was so beautiful I seriously couldn’t put it down. It was everything I was hoping for and more. It was my first experience with this author and I have to say I am beyond intrigued by this story. Heck I’m most likely gonna end up reading this again and again.

[Molly ✨️♡ ACourtOfBooksAndHerbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review 🫶🏻


I didn't expect to be crying over Circus performers, but here we are xx

If you know me at all, you know I absolutely adore Abi's books and how she writes, I think they're the most healing books when you just need that warm hug and for someone to say "I've got you"

This book was no different. It follows Billie, an aerialist with the Cirque De La Lune, as she joins them on a reunion tour after a tragedy that happened 4 years ago
whilst on this tour, she meets newbie, Gio, who has been a fan of Billie's for years & who wants a chance to perform with her.
together, they help each other heal their deep emotional scars that have been left by the past, and they help each other feel loved again.

let me tell you I fell in love with both Gio and Billie so quickly, the way Abi writes her characters are just so human and so flawed yet incredible, there's truly a character for everybody within her books and they
will always heal you in ways you didn't know you needed healed

this book had me laughing. This book had me crying. This book had me gasping (epilogue I'm looking at you), and I adored all of the side characters (who i can't wait to get to know more about as this goes on!!) I didn't know what to expect from a travelling Circus romance, but this was just the most cathartic read I've had in a long, long time.

I truly cannot recommend Abi and her writing enough

thank you, Abi, for this ARC, and thank you for such a beautiful read (as always ❤️)

[Hannah Hartridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶🌶🌶

Okay. Listen. If you haven’t read Crescendo yet, I need you to drop everything and dive into this beautiful emotional circus of a book (literally and figuratively). I have just been through a journey, and I need everyone to know.

Billie. My God. What a powerhouse. She’s the kind of woman who commands a stage—fierce, confident, not taking a single ounce of crap from anyone. She knows her worth, demands respect in buckets, and isn’t afraid to put anyone in their place if they come at her sideways. But underneath that strong, steely exterior is someone weighed down by guilt, someone terrified to let people in because she’s convinced, they'll get hurt. And that vulnerability? Abi May writes it so beautifully—you feel it in your chest.

Then in walks Gio, the literal human embodiment of a golden retriever. Sunshine in a man. Soft smiles, relentless optimism, and just... so much heart. He’s Billie's childhood fan (!!!), now grown up and trying to prove he deserves a place in this intense world—and more than that, that he deserves a place in her life. And the way he shows up for her? Every single time? Never demanding, never rushing her, just offering his quiet, unwavering presence... I melted. Over and over again.

Their romance? UGH. Chef’s kiss. The strangers-to-lovers arc is done so well. There's tension, distrust, sparks flying in the worst/best way—and then this slow, beautiful unravelling. Gio doesn’t need to break down Billie’s walls with grand gestures; he just stays. He lets her feel, lets her be, and that’s exactly what she needed. Watching Billie soften, little by little, under his care is just so damn moving. And when they start performing together? Forget it. It's electric. Natural. Full of yearning and connection that leaps off the page. Honestly, every scene between them was magic.

Also, shout out to Gio for calling out those other performers treating Billie like garbage after Natalie’s accident. YES, GIO. Protective but respectful—love a man who knows how to stand up for what's right.

Speaking of Natalie—her friendship with Billie is another highlight. They’ve been through it, and yet there’s still so much love and humour between them. Even in tough moments, they find space to laugh, to tease, to connect. You can see why they were the perfect team. Their bond is written with such heart.

And the side characters?? Absolute gold. Diego especially—he brought so much levity and warmth, and honestly, felt like the brother Gio always deserved. I want more of him in future books, please and thank you.

Abi May also deserves massive credit for how she brings the circus world to life. It’s not all glitter and applause—there’s grit, pain, endless training, and emotional exhaustion. You feel how much is sacrificed for that moment in the spotlight. The way she breaks it down step-by-step is not only fascinating but gives the performers the depth and respect they deserve.

And that ending?? Just the right amount of what the hell happens next?! A small cliffhanger that has me so excited (and slightly panicked) about what the future holds.

Crescendo is a stunning blend of passion, pain, and healing. It's about performance, yes—but even more, it's about love, trust, and learning to let someone see you, scars and all.

Now excuse me while I go reread every Billie and Gio scene again.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

** ARC Review **
Crescendo by Abi May – 5 stars!

Following a tragic accident four years earlier the Cirque De La Lune is back for a reunion tour and aerialist Billie Pierce does not want to be there, but bills need to be paid. She’s even less enthused when stuck with newcomer Gio Crawford. As they work together in the lead up to the first show, walls start to come down and wounds start to heal. Maybe Gio is what Billie needs to help move forward from her past and soar to new heights.

This book immediately draws you in with a fantastic plot, full of twists and turns that refuses to let go. The characters are well thought out and three dimensional with their own needs, desires, quirks and faults that help to fully shape who they are and what drives them. Billie is written with an insight into trauma and how it impacts every aspect of a person’s life and those closest to them without falling into stereotype. The dual POV allows for a deeper understanding of both Billie and Gio’s inner thoughts and conflicts, with the reasons for their actions and decisions being easier to perceive as a result. We start to see the characters for the remaining cast begin to come through in their interactions with Billie and Gio, laying the groundwork the rest of what looks to be a brilliant series.

A wonderful found family, friends to lovers story that will have slowburn romance lovers hooked from the first chapter. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

[Karla Cuthbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read

I want to thank @abi again for allowing me to let me be an arc reader for her new romance series

The book was great with lots of twists and turns, if friends and lovers are you, if you like a golden retriever MMC and strong inspiring and fierce FMC this is for you, the story is about getting through loss and hardship broken families and finding light and hope in the hard times and is also revolves around a circus.

I loved diving into Billie's story and I can’t wait to read more, I was caught off by the cliffhanger at the end

[Dani ~ Booksbrewsandbees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you so much to Abi May, the author of this amazing book for an advanced copy!

Billie was an aerialist in Cirque De La Lune until a tragic accident with her partner Natalie led for an early retirement, shunning her circus family and years of blaming herself for what happened. 4 years later, Aslan - Natalie’s partner and leader of the circus gets everyone back together for a reunion tour and needs to convince Billie, his star attraction to return. She agrees in exchange for his help but with her return brings a new partner - Gio.

Billie has to face her guilt, the people she once called family and deal with having a new partner and train him to her high standards. In doing so she has to confront her past and let down the walls she has built around herself. Will Billie be able to open herself up to a new partner and face the circus which cost her Natalie?

I loved this book. The descriptions of the circus and the stunts made me feel like I was in the big top watching the show. The characters of Billie and Gio were a perfect combination of a tortured soul and a sweet loveable man. The secondary characters were also great and I want to know more about them. The themes of friendship and family ran through the entire book and I liked how it wasn’t solely focussed on just romance but the importance of friends to lean on too.

I’m excited to see that there’ll be another book in the series as I feel quite invested in all the characters and I want to see what happens with them next!

[Day Ravenstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

“All I want for her is to soar without being scared of falling.” 😭😭😭

I thought this was kind of slow to get going. It felt like it took me an age to get to page 100. After that it was absolutely incredible. The big top page breaks. The tension and the pining. Gio helping Billie through her trauma. I don’t think I have the words to describe this book. The invisible string connecting Billie & Gio two was just so good. I love that in books. Some of the lines made me feral. Abi’s book boyfriends are always the best. Milo was absolutely hilarious I hope he gets a book. Like Gio, I too am always being told how much of a gemini I am. He was such a relatable character, flawed but will still bend over backwards for those he loves. I don’t normally put quotes from the book in review but I just had to with that one.

[katy p · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc: This book was so binge worthy it was everything I wanted slow burn, circus, found family, trauma bonding. It was genuinely perfect and I can’t wait for the next book 📕

[Abigail Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely devoured this!!! I want more omg! 🩷

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lot of feelings all packed into an amazing story.
Being upfront I already had a vested interest in this as I enjoy aerial hoop in my own life so to read a book that not only has it as a central theme but also expands to other aerial equipment was always going to draw me in.
I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and I feel like I really got to know them as it went on and more was slowly revealed. The supporting characters were also woven in beautifully, I was worried with so many of them I wouldn't be able to keep track but each had such a strong personality that I feel I really got to understand them.
I won't share any spoilers but this really did put all my emotions through the wringer. I was nearly crying as I read this on the train and it was beautiful but heartbreaking.
Although this book is a standalone, it does end on somewhat of a lead in to the next book with each book in the series shifting to focus on a different set of characters.
My only minor point which is honestly just more of an ask is that I'd love for their to have been a link or a mention within the authors note at the end for where any inspiration of the routines came from! But that's only to satisfy my curiosity rather than anything within the book as the descriptions were written so well I could picture most if not all of what they were doing.
A lovely read full of complex characters existing within a real world that brings it's own strife.
Favourite Quote - She was the star and he was merely the dark sky that helped her shine.
Favourite Character - Milo

[Alicia S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that makes you want to run away and join the circus!

Pulling you in from the start, it's so well written, giving all the feels, making you appreciate found families. There are some ugly tears in there but getting to and through that, you can appreciate the guilt, love, and loss from the fmc mainly. I struggled a little with the emotions of the epilogue but not enough to ruin the overall love

It was nice not have a stereotypically macho mmc, but still having that background strength, perseverance and Support, seeing how he relates and falls into his new family.

[Mrs A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the first book of Abi May's i have read.
Crescendo is a great story with strong relatable characters ( even though I have never worked in a circus) At the beginning of the book Abi May spoke beautifully about the healing element.

We have probably all suffered some loss or tragedy in our lives at some point. The way in which Abi May addresses the issues with Billie, Gio, Aslan and Natalie is moving.

So far I have enjoyed all of Abis books and will now wait in anticipation for the next circus series book -Inevitable

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been so gobsmacked by this book I forgot to write a review 🫣

Coping with grief is hard, and we often hope for another day or moment with our loved ones.

Abi May has waded through the darkness and complexity of grief and the guilt that accompanies it.

Gio and Billie are the testament of following your dreams and forgiving yourself.

The realness of the characters, and how they react unpredictably and follow the random nature of human reactions; these are the reasons I consistently return to Abi May’s books.

[Chloe Bramall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book!! Very excited for book number 2 🤩

On a go slow with reading at the moment but we’re getting back into it!.