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A Boy Called Lovesong

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“Sometimes the needle of life skips a groove on the record. Sometimes we have to go back to the start of the song and begin all over again. Sometimes we have to learn to move in time to a strange new melody, one we don’t know the steps to. But if our hearts keep beating in time with the music, then maybe… just maybe… we’ll learn to dance again.” —Lovesong Valentin

When life deals him an unexpected blow, freelance music journalist Noah Van Owen decides to leave his New York home for the backwoods and bayous of Louisiana in search of a man named Lafayette Valentin.

He knows nothing about the stranger who inadvertantly set in motion the events that turned his life upside-down… nothing but the man’s name, an address, and the fact that he is a music prodigy, a gifted artist capable of playing any instrument like he was casting a spell.

What Noah doesn’t know is that Lafayette Valentin—known in his remote hometown in the deep south as ‘Lovesong’—is blind, angry, heartbroken… and determined to make a deal with the Devil himself.

As two men stand at a crossroads in their lives, will their destinies intersect? Will one of them sell his soul while the other loses his to grief and despair? Or will Noah learn to dance once again… in the arms of a Boy Called Lovesong?

1 pages, Audio CD

Published June 24, 2025

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About the author

Robin Knight

62 books94 followers
aka Geoffrey Knight

Robin Knight is the author of gay fiction novels, novellas and short stories, ranging in genre from gay adventure, gay romance, gay suspense and gay comedies.

The heroes of Robin's books love to spend their time jumping off the page, stumbling through misadventures and falling in love.

Robin has worked in advertising, politics, journalism and event management, but nothing is as fun as telling stories.

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5 stars
149 (56%)
4 stars
77 (29%)
3 stars
25 (9%)
2 stars
10 (3%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Molly Otto.
1,585 reviews34 followers
December 30, 2024
Well, Robin did warn us this one was gonna hurt, and he delivered on that and then some. We start off with Noah's life shattering as he knows it. We see a man break to the point he needs to confront the man he blames for his pain. Off to Louisana, he goes, where his life will once again be thrown on a completely new trajectory. Lovesong is a musical prodigy brought up in an overzealous religious town that doesn't deserve his beauty. Throughout these men, learn what the new normal can be with the hope and possibility of something more. Noah gives Lovesong the strength to accept he is better than this town made him to believe. Lovesong gives Noah the hope that after loss, he can move forward to yes something different but just as beautiful in a while new way. A beautifully broken love story that will have you feel the pain of loss but also the hope for more. It is a truly magical piece of writing.
Profile Image for Tonya.
88 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2025
My first 5 ⭐️ read of 2025!!

Robin Knight, What an emotional, unique story you’ve given us with Lovesong! 🥹 I loved the healing journey Noah took, the found family aspect in Lovesong’s little town, and absolutely loved the ending. All of the side characters who were friends of Lovesong’s were so lovable! I could just hear their Louisiana accent and smell all of Maybelle’s good Cajun cooking. Also, this cover model is perfection! 👌🏻❤️

If you haven’t added this one to your TBR yet, go do it right now! 🎹🎶🎸🎻
1,475 reviews55 followers
January 5, 2025
story of Noah and Lovesong

This is a hurt/comfort to more small town romance, featuring Noah and Lovesong (Lafayette), and is a standalone book.

We meet Noah as he loses the love of his life in an accident and the book is told from his point of view as he goes through the stages of grief. Noah ends up going on a road trip to find the person, Lovesong, his husband was trying to send a letter to about an audition at Juilliard.

When Noah arrives into the small town, his car breaks down and the locals put him up in the share house. He is assigned to share a room with the person he is here to see - Lovesong.

This book did not hold back the emotional punches, I recommend you read the CW, I didn’t but some people may want to know what they are jumping into.

So much happens in this story. It was not my typical go-to but I absolutely loved it. The suspense, the little bit of paranormal activity, the mystery behind Lovesong as well as how Noah deals with his grief over losing his partner. There are some interesting characters in this town too, the dog named Chet was adorable and I may have cried a few times through this, especially at the end. I didn’t think it was too angsty but there was some.

I highly recommend this one and will read more from this author.

Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone
Single POV
MM small town romance
Check CW
Journalist x musical prodigy
Slow burn
Hurt / Comfort
Loss of a partner
Dealing with grief
Blind MC
Small age gap (38/27)
Roommates / Forced proximity
Intuitive dog
Little bit of Paranormal activity
Mystery & Suspense
Finding love again
HEA
Profile Image for Fay MMBookworm.
3,160 reviews70 followers
January 3, 2025
THE BEST STORY YET BY THE AUTHOR. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE TBR's
A full review at mmbookwormreviews.com
Profile Image for riley | romance reader.
1,093 reviews22 followers
September 21, 2025
2.5 rounded up

I don’t know how to summarize the experience I had.

The concept was interesting. I loved the epilogue - was a beautiful conclusion

The towns people and the town itself were so odd, and felt almost over exaggerated. (Especially the reverend and his wife) even Joel’s sister and her husband from the prologue… awful crazy people.

It was a lovely representation of grief, death, and a blind MC.

The book was heavy on religion and “the devil” so slightly too over the top for me
Profile Image for Book Binge: Reviews by Melissa DaSilva.
940 reviews98 followers
January 3, 2025
Wow. This book was sooo beautiful and heartbreaking and amazing, I could go on and on. I honestly don’t expect to hurt so much while reading this book but this author did such an amazing job of hurting the reading but making it meaningful at the same time! I loved all the little things that were connected and how they were revealed!

This is told from Noah’s POV only and I found that was ok. Would have loved to see Lovesong’s POV as well but it did make sense with the story since we didn’t actually meet Lovesong until about 40% into the story. Which goes to show how much I was into the story since I didn’t mind that at all! The cassette tape 😭. Loved how both Noah and Chet (the dog) were affected by the tape!

Noah was a great character and I felt the author did a great job of showing all his different stages of grief and they felt believable to me. Lovesong was so great. Such a talented, amazing young man who had such a great outlook on life despite his upbringing!

I thought the epilogue was so well done and was perfect for them. I highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Tal Frost.
Author 6 books44 followers
January 2, 2025
A book of two distinct parts - the first a hard-hitting story of grief, set in New York, the second an atmospheric trip into the bayous of the Deep South: a form of exorcism, perhaps, for the torment Noah continues to suffer as he grapples with loss. Both parts contain a love story and beautiful descriptive touches that make it impossible to look away. Lafayette (aka Lovesong) makes for a compelling and unusual love interest - a musical maestro steeped in religious mysticism and Devil horror - but the star of the show is Noah, whose multi-faceted grief springs from the page, carrying the duck-out-of-water narrative perfectly. A haunting book in more ways than one, with characters that will stay with me.
Profile Image for Ashley.
703 reviews20 followers
December 30, 2024
How dare you Robin Knight! How dare you write this stunning masterpiece of a book. This book had me sobbing, truly sobbing. The grief was written in such vivid detail that I ached with it. I have never experienced that kind of loss and I never want to. This book was so beautiful. There was so even a mystery element if the main story wasn't enough of a draw. Holy crap. This book was just perfection.
Profile Image for Wren Vale.
472 reviews26 followers
December 27, 2024
This book broke me, made me sob uncontrollably and just changed my view of the world!
Robin did warn us this one would hurt and he wasn’t wrong!!
This story is beautiful.
Profile Image for Veronica.
365 reviews31 followers
January 3, 2025
5⭐️
This book was such an emotional journey. From the very beginning, I was heartbroken—and completely hooked.

We meet Noah, a 38-year-old music journalist, who’s clearly struggling to keep it together. He’s hosting a special party for his boyfriend Joel, but then the police show up, and everything falls apart. What follows is a deeply emotional grief story as Noah tries to rebuild his life without Joel.

The story doesn’t hold back, especially when Joel’s uber-religious sister shows up. She’s vile and homophobic, and her presence just piles onto Noah’s struggles. Can we talk for a moment about her crazy request for splitting Joel's ashes. Noah’s response was brilliant—I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. It was such a perfect moment. Still, just as Noah seems to be moving forward—ten months later, working on a book deal—everything falls apart again.

Then there’s Lovesong, a 27-year-old musician with incredible talent despite some major personal losses. His backstory is so compelling—raised by a preacher with seriously warped views, he’s had to overcome so much. When he and Noah meet for the first time, though? Let’s just say it’s not exactly friendly. Noah’s grief and anger come flooding out, making their initial interactions tense and messy.

Watching Lovesong and Noah slowly find understanding and connection was just beautiful.

And the ending? Where Joel’s ashes end up? Absolutely perfect. It was such a poignant and fitting conclusion.

If you loved A Boy Called Rainbow, you have to read this one. It’s just as stunning, and I can’t recommend them both enough!
Profile Image for Sabrina Morissette.
380 reviews8 followers
December 30, 2024
Noah + Lovesong

A story told just like a great piece of music. You know, such music that has multiple moods and rhythms (eg Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody or One by Metallica). That’s how I felt reading A Boy Called Lovesong.

I put this one on my TBR as soon as I learned of its existence. I loved A Boy Called Rainbow, so I needed this companion book! This is not a sequel, but rather a story with certain affinities. While Rainbow was a deaf visual artist, Lovesong is a blind musician. Both are beyond talented, kind and so loveable. Both are matched with broken men arboring secrets. Both come from dysfunctional families, but have a few very good people in their corner. What a strange place that was Clara’s Crossing, Louisiana. And what a roller coaster of emotions this book packed. I’m so glad I got to finish the year 2024 reading this book!

Here is one the most beautiful prose I read in a while from the book:
« They say time heals all wounds, but that ain’t true at all. Sometimes the needle of life skips a groove on the record. Sometimes we have to go back to the start of the song and begin all over again. Sometimes we have to move in time with a strange new melody, one we don’t know the steps to. But if our hearts keep beating in time with the music, then maybe…just maybe… we’ll learn to dance again. »

Thanks to the author, I received an advanced reviewer copy (ARC) for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
57 reviews
January 5, 2025
This book truly is an emotional journey, and I had to read it in multiple sittings. The villains in this one were truly horrible and absolutely vile people. The hateful vitriol spewed by one character early in the book hit me unexpectedly hard, and I did have to step away for a day or two before continuing. TW/CW: Loss of a loved one, homophobia, religious trauma, brief mentions of SA.

That being said, I'm very glad that I continued and finished this book. I loved both Noah and Lovesong, and my heart broke for each of them several times. Their respective grief was palpable, but they were able to slowly heal and move toward a happier future together.

This book contained more supernatural elements than expected, but I didn't really mind that at all. Religion plays a much larger part in this story than I am typically willing to subject myself to, but Knight is such a talented writer that it became more tolerable and easier to continue. It was both evocative and thought-provoking. 4/5 stars.
Profile Image for Jenn Donald.
1,205 reviews7 followers
December 31, 2024
4.5 Stars

Well that was an emotional ride, not quite what I was expecting but it really was fantastic and Lovesong and Noah went straight to my heart! This story really grabbed my attention and kept it, I was always wanting to know what was going to happen next and I didn't want it to end. It's an extremely emotional read and while at times so very painful it's also so very beautiful.

I feel like this is a book that should be experienced so I don't want to go into much of the actual story itself. It really is a journey and many times surprised me with where it went. My heart ached for Noah and his grief but then also for Lovesong and his life experiences. I absolutely adored them together, which surprised me at first, but it feels right, like it's what is supposed to be. There are a lot of surprising twists and turns but it comes together wonderfully and made my heart so very happy. Overall, a captivating and beautiful read that I highly recommend!
1,065 reviews10 followers
January 4, 2025
Wow!

Wow! I wasn't expecting this book to take me on such an emotional journey. Noah was planning the rest of his life with the man he loved when it got ripped away from him. Seeking answers he heads out on a road trip to the only person he blames for what happened. He wasn't expecting Lovesong. Born blind and with an incredible musical talent, Lovesong longs to leave the small town he grew up in. But his overprotective and very religious parents have other plans. In a town where everyone knows your business, Noah gets entangled in the mystery of Lovesong. I have to say it again. . . Wow! I loved how the book was set up. The mystery and lore around the crossroads was intriguing and kept me on the edge of my seat. I cried so many times reading this incredible book. I absolutely loved Lovesong and Noah.
Profile Image for AshPenny37 .
1,059 reviews5 followers
January 8, 2025
Brilliant!

What a fantastic read - part treatise on grief, part slow burn romance, part mystery - where all the elements are wonderfully woven together with vivid descriptions of both the New York and Louisiana settings, characters I genuinely cared about and a solid plot. As a music fan, I really enjoyed that aspect and loved the bit of woo woo and incorporating the Robert Johnson legend, too.

NGL, I only intended to read a handful of chapters to keep my daily reading streak going and ended up finishing it in one sitting. It's an easy 5* for A Boy Called Lovesong from me, and a reminder that I really should read more of this author's work.
279 reviews6 followers
January 1, 2025
This was my surprise gift of the year. What a joy to read a book filled with such a knowledge of life in the South that respected the human beings there filled with caring for each other. Music filled the hearts of everyone and converted feelings of revenge to Love. And just when I thought only this, Magic came into the read and made it so much better. The Bayou, the church, the residence that sheltered them, the feeling everything happened for a reason. The man bringing it altogether Lovesong himself. It was perfect.
Profile Image for Beth.
2,984 reviews28 followers
February 19, 2025
What a fantastic book!

This is a great book! It defies description as there is so much going on here. The book is divided into sections cleverly named for the stages of grieving. The book begins with a tragedy and then as the protagonist goes through the stages of grief we finally get to the heart of the story. And that’s where things really get weird! So many interesting facets to the story and to the action that takes place in this tiny town in Louisiana. The lessons learned by the protagonist, the messages for the reader, the wisdom of an exceedingly talented yet modest blind man, the arc of the relationship, and movement towards the conflict and the climactic moments all combine for a book you will be hanging on to see what happens yet not wanting it to end.

The writing is crisp and clever with several profound and memorable passages. I could not put the book down. I can’t wait to dive into more of this author’s work.
Profile Image for Jennifer Reilley.
1,149 reviews30 followers
December 18, 2024

I have been having a hard time reading this year and feel like I am in the slump of my life. Low and behold I click my kindle and I had an arc of this absolutely beautiful cover book. THANK YOU ROBIN.. Robin took me out of my book slump, I devoured the book in two days, and he put me back into a slump. lol


Well, I will say Noah put me through the wringer from the get go. I felt every emotion he was going through and felt so bad for him. Until, he decides to go for the man he felt ruined his life.

Awe Lovesong. Boy does he live up to his name. He lives in a small town where everyone knows everyone and in their business. He plays his music amazingly and just a joy for the town.

Both men’s lives are turned upside down when Noah shows up and they aren’t who they expect the other to be.

Omg what an amazing ride Robin took me on and I loved every page of it. We got the men learn love and how to let go of the past to move forward with happiness.

This book was a beautiful follow up to Rainbow. I highly recommend you read it. And if you haven’t read Rainbow, do that one too
Profile Image for Saskia Veldhuis .
2,150 reviews19 followers
December 30, 2024
4.5 stars. An unexpectedly complex book, with some supernatural elements and awful people hiding behind religion. Noah's struggle with grief hit hard, and his journey to find Lovesong and begin to heal was lovely. Lovesong was a very unique and beautiful character, surprisingly immune to the horrible religiousness of his family. The townspeople were really odd. Some of the evil events were downright scary. I loved how music was a theme throughout the story, and although very different to A Boy Called Rainbow, the two books complement each other well.
Profile Image for Renate Gerstbrein.
10 reviews
January 3, 2025
Absolutely loved this book. It really tugged at the heartstrings. The writing was done in such a way that you didn't pity Lovesong but had to admire his courage and determination. It also focused on the grief and anger that Noah was feeling at the loss of his partner in a way that all of us that have lost loved ones can relate to.
290 reviews3 followers
January 7, 2025
amazing

I loved every moment of this book. It’s about grief, about music, about healing, about a small forgotten town. It was a romance between a charismatic young man and a grieving man.
The book also has elements of gothic fiction with references to religious extremism, apocryphal legend and Hoodoo.
It was such a surprising book from this author and I hope to see more in this style.
Profile Image for Donna Deadman.
154 reviews
January 1, 2025
It's an amazing read. Definitely needed some tissues. Lovesong is such a unique character, and Noah.... breaks my heart everything he went through. I will be reading anything and everything Robin Knight writes. Such a beautiful story.
Profile Image for Judy Beaulieu.
6 reviews
January 2, 2025
Beautifully written

This book is not one you can just read. The story will make you feel every emotion, that Noah & Lovesong experience along the way to finding their forever. If there was ever a story I wish I could read again for the first time, it would be this one.
Profile Image for Judy.
8 reviews
January 2, 2025
This book is not one you can just read. The story will make you feel every emotion, that Noah & Lovesong experience along the way to finding their forever. If there was ever a story I wish I could read again for the first time, it would be this one.
Profile Image for Natasha Featherstone.
109 reviews
March 8, 2025
Wow

What an amazing heart wrenching, yet heartwarming love story. Noah and Lovesong find their way to each other. I love this book and definitely recommend . 5 plus stars!
Profile Image for Hannah Roberts .
504 reviews9 followers
December 30, 2024
What a beautifully heartbreaking story ❤️

I absolutely loved A Boy Called Rainbow so couldn’t wait to dive in to this one, a complete standalone you don’t have to read Rainbow to fall in love with Lovesong.

I loved everything about this story, Noah’s grief was handled exceptionally well and we really live Noah’s journey through that grief with him. The story had lots of twists and turns that made you keep tuning the pages to see what happens.

The added intrigue of it being set in the Deep South with the religious and Hoodoo additions makes this book a real page turner. Lovesong is perfect and you just want to give him a big hug 😊

A quick and lovely read ❤️
163 reviews
February 18, 2025
Such a unique story

Someone recently recommended this and I really enjoyed A Boy Called Rainbow so thought I’d likely enjoy this one as well. This story was so unique. I really enjoyed it and Lovesong was such a beautiful character. 💗
Profile Image for KB.
289 reviews23 followers
February 16, 2025
Unexpected

This kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s equal parts spooky, sexy, and sweet, with a touch of whodunit and woo-woo for spice.
Profile Image for Silkeeeeeereads.
1,456 reviews95 followers
February 14, 2025
A any

This story was a joy to read. It’s a little on the depressive side but with lovely characters and a heart melting story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews