For Our Next Song

Glitter Bats #2

by Jessica James

The decade-long friendship between two rock goddesses is thrust into the spotlight after their mutual desire strikes a perfect—and very public—chord.

For Glitter Bats keys player Jane Mercer, writing music helps tune out her self-doubt from a strict upbringing. Composing also distracts from her longtime feelings for her bandmate and best friend, Keeley, who Jane can’t pursue if she wants to keep her bisexuality out of the media. But when an incompetent percussionist quits mid–recording session on one of her major solo projects, there’s only one drummer to call to make the deadline.

Keeley Cunningham is determined to do what’s best for the newly-reunited Glitter Bats—including conceal her incurable attraction to Jane by keeping her distance. Still, when Jane asks for her help in the studio, Keeley drops everything to fill in. They collaborate harmoniously… until their repressed feelings crescendo into a massive argument about the band’s future that leaves them barely speaking.

As music forces Jane and Keeley into increasingly close proximity, the lingering tension finally ignites into the romance they’ve both been craving—and it’s hot, emotional, and fundamentally secret. But after an intimate moment is caught on camera, they’ll have to decide if their duet can survive its debut—both on and off stage.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Queer, Contemporary, LGBT, Music, Adult

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2026

About the author

Jessica James is a writer who also loves going to concerts, baking new recipes, spending time in local coffee shops, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her spouse and dogs. In addition to writing, Jessica has a passion for singing. While she’s never been a rock star, she’s a mezzo-soprano with a BA in Music and a healthy Broadway obsession. For One Night Only is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Mel]

Review to come!

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was nothing necessarily wrong with For Our Next Song, but I felt like it lacked and that’s why it’s receiving a 3 star.

None of the characters I loved and didn’t get enough from any of them to enjoy reading their POV. Keeley was a bit cheesy and just let Jane walk all over her in a sense, and Jane kind of strung Keeley along for a bit when she literally wanted to be with her the whole time?

I liked that the book went over religious trauma and the difficulties of coming out, but past the relationship between the two MCs there wasn’t much of a plot outside of it. There was really no information on Jane’s workload life which was talked about a lot, and really any big progress with the band itself, just the talk of what they would do.

For two people who have known each other for 10 years, it didn’t feel that way at all between them. I got new friendship/relationship vibes almost the whole time. There just wasn’t enough, of anything.

Overall the story was predictable and just didn’t catch my attention as much as I hoped it would have. There could have been a bit more put into the story itself to keep the engagement higher.

Please note: I received an arc copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for a copy!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s next for your rock band is nothing compared to unresolved feelings for your bandmate.

Keyboardist Jane and drummer Keeley have always had a perfect harmony on stage. Off it they are desperate to hide their feelings by a tried and true staple: avoidance. When a chance for collaboration forces both women into close proximity, decades of feeling and attraction come pouring out in the music and the space between them. A forever kind of connection may be in the cards, that is if they can navigate a much larger test through the media and their respective families. Jessica James returns to her acclaimed recently reunited punk pop group the Glitter Bats in For Our Next Song, a sapphic friends to lovers romance all about composing music and the importance in living our authentic truth. A reunited rock group on the brink of a major resurgence is merely the beginning of this romance and much like their comeback it’s only better from there.

For Our Next Song is the rock filled sapphic romance we deserve, striking the perfect chord between angsty and romantic like all the best sort of love songs. This her second in the Glitter Bats series, Jessica James strives to connect the history of a band both past and present, a slow burn sapphic romance, breaking away from religious trauma, and the fragility of the media, all of which are executed to perfection. James doesn’t just make you feel for her main characters; she makes you fall in love with the landscape surrounding them—be they writers, fans, industry names, or fellow bandmates. It made me wish I could really kick back to the Glitter Bats and throw support behind these two women (or force them to confront feelings from within the band). Jane and Keeley need that push and the result is electric and heartfelt, a love story well worth cheering on from the crowd or behind the stage.

Read my review

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[Bai ♡︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

a big thank you to Berkley publishing and goodreads for providing me with a physical arc!

this isn’t a bad book at all, but something was really lacking for me. i found myself just wanting to be done with the book rather than enjoying it in full. i understand that Keeley & Jane have been into each other for years prior to the timing of this book- but there wasn’t enough build up for me, or on page yearning that makes sense for them to end up in a relationship so suddenly and decidedly. i also found that i didn’t really care that much about other characters within the band. this could be my own fault, since i didn’t read the first book and i’m still debating whether or not i want to. i’m not sure how much it will change my mind. overall, i still enjoyed it

[ella (luniellar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up a 3.5!

We're back with the Glitter Bats! This story focused on Jane and Keeley's POV and while I was excited to be back, the first half of this was very dense to get through. Certain parts felt very info dump heavy and the plot was very predictable from the way it was set up. I don't think I would've made it without the Caleb and Val appearances (which were so cute btw!). But once I got to the 50% mark, the book turned around and I felt like I was finally reading the Jessica James-style I fell in love with in Book 1. The romance scenes were so hot and the book really came to life.

I also felt like the book was heavily focused on Jane since she had more conflicts, but I wished I got more of Keeley as well. The thing I appreciated the most (even more than the romance and writing) was the author's stance in her writing and message to others dealing with the stigma. I hope that others could rely on this as a guide for others who will find representation in Jane's story.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for an early ARC of this book! I can't wait to hear Riker's story next!

[aila ✧.* · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) this was super cute!! (minimal spoilers ahead)

i had a really good time with this one, and i especially really enjoyed how each of the characters had a fleshed out personality and life, and how we actually felt really connected to everyone in the band/in the band's world, though obviously we were more focused on jane and keeley.

speaking of, jane was a really great mc. she was relatable, not annoying, and she had interesting plotlines in addition to her romance with keeley. it was really interesting to watch her grapple with her homophobic family and i thought it added a lot of depth to her character. her relationship with her sister was so sweet omgg i love them sm + shoutout to her sister's husband for being a diva.

i enjoyed getting keeley's pov as well, but i felt her secondary plotlines weren't as prominent or strong. i would have liked her to have some personal plotline that didn't revolve around jane. i guess she had the legal glitter bats stuff, but that was a full-band thing so i wouldn't say it was her own specific secondary plotline.

the romance was really sweet. i love a good childhood friends to lovers. plus, NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP AND NO MISCOMMUNICATION!! well, i guess they took a break for like a chapter but that doesn't count trust. my one thing was i would have liked a little bit more on-page buildup. like, i know they've been yearning for like 25 years, but we didn't get to see any of it :(

overall i really enjoyed this! a cutesy (+ spicy 😛) sapphic romance

[thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc, in exchange for an honest review]

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devoured this in one sitting. I absolutely love Jane and Keely’s relationship—the tension between them is palpable. You can feel the weight of their decade-long history in every interaction. It’s so obvious sometimes, almost screaming at you from the page, but they’re both just choosing not to see it. And the banter? Crazy good.

Jane’s interactions with her sister was my favourite part of the book. Those scenes caught me off guard in the best way, and I genuinely teared up while reading them. They added so much heart and emotional grounding to the story.

I do think the writing leans a little juvenile at times, and I wish we got to see more of who Jane and Keely are outside of the relationship. There are moments where they feel a bit one-dimensional, especially given how rich their dynamic could be.

But overall? Still such an addictive, emotionally satisfying read.

[Suzanne (The Bookish Libra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the free e-book & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🎵 Review - FOR OUR NEXT SONG (Glitter Bats 2) 🎵

Author - Jessica James

Pub Date - 1/13/26

(Physical copy purchased by me)

This installment of the Glitter Bats series is a sapphic romance that focuses on Jane, the band’s keyboardist, and Keeley, their drummer. The two of them have been great friends for over a decade now, but whether they realize it or not, more intense feelings have been simmering between them for nearly their entire friendship. When the two of them pair up to work on a project together, all of those feelings come bubbling to the surface and they have to decide whether to embrace or ignore them.

I just loved being back in this world with the bandmates from the Glitter Bats! I flew through this book in a couple of sittings and finished the last page with a very contented sigh. There was so much to like in this book, but there were several aspects that I thought the author handled especially well. The first is the way Jane and Keeley had to try to explore their feelings for one another in the face of a complete lack of privacy due to their fame. The second is the intensely personal decision of when a person is comfortable coming out. Jane’s family is very religious and she doesn’t know if she’s ready for them to know about her bisexuality yet. I thought the author explored both of these aspects in a way that felt very authentic.

Jane and Keeley were an easy couple to root for. I loved the way they worked together and the top notch banter between them. I was also so angry on their behalf because of the invasiveness of the paparazzi/media, and it had me rooting for them all the more. I was also pretty invested in the music industry drama involving the band’s former label.

I alternated between the e-book and the audiobook and would definitely recommend both formats. The audiobook is narrated by Bailey Carr, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, and Nicky Endres, who all turn in solid performances.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this rockstar romance, especially the bi and pan rep and how it thoughtfully touched on religious trauma and complicated family dynamics. I loved seeing the band support each other through everything (along with their moment of matchmaking), and the pottery scene was one of my favorite moments. I also liked the multimedia storytelling elements throughout the book like forum posts, text messages, and announcements. I did want a bit more chemistry between Jane and Keeley since they’ve known each other for so long. The slow burn took its time, but overall it was still a solid, heartfelt romance that I’m glad I read.

3.5 rounded up

Thank you to Berkley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[KaseyG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for the gifted copy!

Synopsis: Glitter Bats keyboardist, Jane, and drummer, Keeley, fight their attraction while working together on a music project.

Thoughts: It was so fun to revisit the Glitter Bats! I love the vibes of this band and these characters. Jane and Keeley’s story is sweet, and their relationship trajectory feels genuine. I love a friends to lovers romance with lots of yearning and pining. I would’ve liked to see a bit more from Keeley’s perspective as the story heavily focused on Jane. There is not a ton of plot outside the romance, but the romance is really well-written and held my attention. If you’re in the mood for a rockstar romance, I definitely recommend this series! A note on the audio: Something about listening to music themed books on audio just hits right. These narrators did a great job, and I really enjoyed this audio production.

Read this if you like:
🎤 rockstar romance
🎤 sapphic romance
🎤 friends to lovers
🎤 found family
🎤 forced proximity

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so cute and i absolutely devoured it!! i loved jane and keelys dynamics and watching jane interact with her family and that whole plot line genuinely made me tear up. i felt so seen throughout this book. not to mention the banter was so peak!! i absolutely loved this and will definitely be rereading.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glitter Bats bandmates Jane (keyboard) and Keeley (drums) have had romantic & sexual tension between them since they met over a decade ago-- everyone can see it, except for themselves. A sapphic slow-burn with plenty of music industry drama!

[sammy ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was meh like i loved the concept the setting but. yeah. that was that.

[Soon Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

"I was taught this was a sin but there's notning sinful about this moment."

🎹 🥁👩‍🎤👩‍🎤🎶

-Libby 🎧

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica James returns with For Our Next Song, a sapphic rockstar romance that hits some high emotional notes but struggles with its core romantic rhythm. While it is marketed as an interconnected standalone, I’d highly recommend reading book one first, as the frequent references to previous events might leave new readers feeling a bit out of the loop.

The strongest part of the book is easily Jane’s internal journey. Her struggle with coming out and the trauma rooted in her religious background is a raw, empathetic depiction that many will find deeply relatable. It was genuinely rewarding to see her grow as a person, especially during the second-half breakup when she finally begins to come into her own.

However, the chemistry between Jane and Keely didn't quite land for me. Despite being friends for a decade, their interactions felt surprisingly awkward and stilted for the majority of the story. While I love a good pining trope, the first half was a bit of a slog, and it often felt like Jane was stringing Keely along. They didn't seem to have much in common outside of the band, and I found it hard to stay invested in their romance or the predictable plot. Overall, it’s a decent read for the character growth alone, but the lack of stakes and chemistry made it hard to fully root for the couple.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[kay.grace424 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love a rockstar romance! [minor vague spoilers, briefly mentioning a part of the romance arc]

I enjoyed my time with this book. The build-up to their relationship was cute with some lovely mutual pining, and Keeley’s love for Jane specifically is very clear in a sweet way. It’s your classic example of two idiots in love not looking at the obvious clues in front of them that the other person feels the same. It’s a classic for a reason. Another strong point in this book for me was Jane’s arc with her religious parents and her sister. It’s not an unfamiliar plot line with queer romances, but I liked the way this was done. Showing that some people are religious extremists and refusing to love their family and friends for who they are, but not everyone who is religious is. I also really liked that it wasn’t the only thing happening in the story. The band was dealing with their own unknown future as well, so the religious parents were a minor antagonist compared to that. I appreciated how this shows that life generally never revolves around just one issue. There are almost always multiple things going on in someone’s life, so though something may be a big impact on their current life and emotional well-being, it’s not the only thing going on. It’s a little thing, but I liked that the antagonists were a bit more multifaceted than just having one major conflict.

My qualms with the book lie in the abrupt shift from “I don’t know if she has feelings for me” to a full relationship being formed insanely fast. I get, objectively based on their history, why they would jump immediately to a relationship, and I appreciate bypassing the classic “this is just casual” route, but as an audience member, it was jarring, a bit of a telling but not showing issue. I feel like even a few brief conversational flashbacks to their friendship over the years would’ve made this more believable, but we didn’t have anything like that. In terms of their feelings for each other, we got some showing in the beginning, and then they got together, and we switched to more telling than showing. I wish that had been more consistent through the last half of the book, though it wasn’t ever only one or the other.

There were also just some small things that didn’t make sense. Keeley mentions to Jane a potential career move that is never discussed again, which felt a bit pointless. The third-act conflict didn’t really make sense. It did sort of, but also not really. I don’t even know if I would call it miscommunication, but I don’t know what else to call it. Keeley did get some lovely, mature, adult advice about it from her family, though, which I liked.
In a turn of events that should shock no one, I read the second book in an interconnected standalone series without reading the first, so I can’t comment on the cameos of the previous couple’s romance, but it seemed cute. There seemed to be some minor, recurring plot points (similar antagonists across the books) that I picked up on, but I didn’t feel it ruined the story for me because I hadn't read the first book. Enough context is provided to give you the picture. You could definitely read this without reading the first book, though it does make you want to read the first one just to get more details on things alluded to.

Overall, a good time was had. Sometimes you have that band-romance itch, and this is the perfect book for that. Pining for a decade? Absolutely. Everyone in the band knows they’ll get together eventually, because the way they feel is so obvious to everyone but them? Sign me up. I probably won’t go out of my way to recommend this to someone unless they’re really into or looking for a band romance or celebrity/music industry romance type situation. If the plot sounds intriguing, you’ll like it.

*Fair warning, if you have religious trauma, especially Christian religious trauma, tread carefully because the mom heavily uses harmful Biblical rhetoric when talking to Jane. As always, read content warnings before starting the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4 stars)
🌶️🌶️🌶️(3.5 rounded down, 4.5 scenes, not super long)

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the advanced copy! I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jessica James's first Glitter Bats romance, For One Night Only, and I’ve been so excited to continue the series. Now the second installment is here: For Our Next Song, starring drummer Keeley Cunningham and keyboardist Jane Mercer.

Now that the band is back together and they’ve released a new album, they’re finally free of their horrendous recording contract. But what is next for the Glitter Bats? And why does it involve yet another battle with their old label? While the group is deciding how to move forward, Keeley and Jane are both grappling with a decade of secretly crushing on each other. Will they reveal their true feelings for each other? And will it make or break the Glitter Bats just as they’re on the brink of more changes?

What I Liked:
- Music! I’ve read numerous music-related romances in the past couple of years, and my favorites are ones like this, in which music is truly woven throughout the whole story. We get to see Jane and Keeley (along with the other three Glitter Bats members) write songs, record in the studio, play together, and discuss songs and artists they love. They deal with the business side of things, from shoddy contracts and copyright laws to attempting to gain ownership of their prior recordings. We even see different facets of music, from being in a Paramore-esque punk rock band to film scoring to being a session or touring musician. As a lifelong music lover (and someone who has a master’s degree in music business), this novel really struck a chord for me… pun intended.
- Jane and Keeley are so cute together! They’ve been friends and bandmates for over a decade, yet of course neither knew about their mutual crush on each other. I loved seeing their friendship slowly give way to something more, through good old fashioned forced proximity and a matchmaking bandmate. Their relationship has a strong foundation, which they’ll need when external forces threaten everything.
- Sexuality and coming out. Keeley has been out as pansexual since she was a teenager, but Jane has kept her own bisexuality a secret (largely due to her religious family). Jane eventually reveals that she’s bi to Keeley, but even after they consider a relationship, Jane still wants to keep it private. I appreciated seeing how sexuality and identity are explored here, and especially seeing Jane’s arc regarding it all.
- Very related: Jane’s religious trauma and standing up to her bigoted parents. Jane’s parents have a very narrow reading of the Bible, and not only do they not approve of Jane’s music career, they would never accept her if they knew about her sexuality. There’s a lot of toxicity in her family, but I did like seeing how Jane’s relationship with her younger sister unfolded. At a certain point, Jane will have to decide if she wants to continue letting her parents control her life… or if she even wants them in her life at all.
- Seeing the other Glitter Bats members. Valerie and Caleb are so happy together. Riker, I see you, and I’m so ready for your HEA!
- Interstitials between some chapters. These included text message exchanges, fan discussions, and especially news articles written by my girl Mary Kate Hampton and the evil Ryan Tate. These extra portions add greatly to the world-building and helped push the narrative forward. I always enjoyed these parts!

Final Thoughts
For Our Next Song was as much of a joy as For One Night Only! It brings back everything I loved about that first book while also introducing new emotional themes. Jane and Keeley’s happily ever after is so deserved. I adore all five members of the Glitter Bats, and I can’t wait to see Riker get his love story next. And there’s a ton of setup here, so I’m anticipating getting to know Mary Kate a lot better soon.

Special thanks to the publicists at Penguin Random House, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5ish

I absolutely LOVED the first book in this series and I was ecstatic to get a physical ARC from the author for book 2, along with a physical edition from Berkley as well. I loved the sneak peaks we had gotten of Keeley and Jane in the first book, so safe to say I was highly anticipating this one!!

Overall, I had a good time with this. I read it as a mix between audio and physical, and I did really enjoy the audio narration from the two women.

The story takes place shortly after book 1, and we get plenty of other Glitter Bats encounters in this book. This one focuses on the band deciding what to do after their comeback reunion. Do they make more music? Another album? Where should they go from here? The members are all pretty busy outside of the band with other projects, except for Keeley, who wants desperately to move forward as a group. When their old record label manages to screw them over AGAIN, the group has even more decisions to make when it comes to trying to acquire their Masters. A large focus of the plot is dealing with how both Keeley and Jane want to proceed with this, as Keeley is motivated to pursue this while Jane is drowning in other work and is scared to commit herself to yet another project. I enjoyed this angle and seeing a bit more to the business side of things when it comes to music, but I do wish we had seen more of Jane's other work. We kept being told she was so busy and struggled to balance, but it didn't feel like we actually really got to see her working outside of the very beginning. I did like the overall tension with the manager and others though, even if it was wrapped up pretty quickly.

A lot of the romance to this book centers on Jane's coming out story. She was raised in a very religious household, and while she has broken free from it, she still keeps her private life private as she doesn't really want to ruffle feathers with her family. She and Keeley have been dancing around each other for years, always having crushes on each other and being flirty, but neither thinking the other had interest. When a bit of forced proximity makes them realize their feelings, they quickly jump into hooking up and being together in secret, outside of letting their band mates know. But their love only stays hidden for so long before they're exposed to the world and the media gets into a frenzy about Jane's sexuality.

I am not a huge huge fan of forced coming out stories, so while I think there were elements that I can appreciate, it won't be my favorite of plots. That being said, I thought the religious trauma aspects were dealt with so beautifully in this book. How Jane interacted with her sister and parents gave me a lot of feels.

The main reason this one is a 3.5 for me is that I really just wanted more from their romance of them being together and us seeing more of the tension and then togetherness. It felt like it pretty quickly fell into them being together, and I would have liked to see more yearning at first (although we did see some in book 1). We did get a F*** It moment though, which I always enjoy! I think having some flashbacks or something could have really helped me to see their being into each other over the years, instead of just being told that they were. The relationship itself when they were together, again, was mostly focused on Jane being scared to come out and running away vs them actually working through things together. So while I did really like them together and found them a sweet couple, I just felt like it was a bit of a let down for my expectations given their interactions in book one.

That being said, I did still really enjoy the book and have been loving this series. We got a lot of breadcrumbs about Riker and his love interest, and I think his book is going to be phenomenal!! I cannot wait to see what happens with them next!

[susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

I enjoyed the first book in this series. It wasn't my favorite romance of all time but the characters were relatable and the story was well done. When I found out book two was going to feature Jane and Keeley I was excited. I liked them both in the previous book and I'm always up for a sapphic romance, especially one that explores how tough it is to navigate the mine field of a) coming out and b) being bi.

The book did not disappoint. Jane and Keeley are great main characters and it was fun to get to know them. I appreciated that the romance wasn't riddled with the kind of contrived tropes that tend to just irritate me in romances. I understand that miscommunication and things like people "deciding what's best" for both people in the couple are staples of the romance genre (and as a romance reader I've not only read books with those tropes but also enjoyed them), but sometimes it's nice to read about two people who actually know how to communicate.

This doesn't mean there are NO obstacles. They have to work up to admitting their feelings and then there are the usual stresses of being a famous woman who is not out, but who is in love with another woman. I thought the portions of the book dealing with Jane's strictly religious family and her struggle with deciding when and how to come out were handled well, and the tension those issues created with her relationship felt like something real people would have to deal with.

(Once again, not saying i don't like a good trope, but seriously sometimes I want two people who actually voice their problems and insecurities and try to work through them together, or at least talk honestly about them; Alexandria Bellefleur's books are usually relatively good about this too.)

If you're looking for a romance with a lot of drama between the two protagonists or a ton of miscommunication tropes or some giant third act explosion, this probably isn't it, but that's part of what I liked about it. The third act conflict is more about external forces than the two of them, and sometimes you just wanna read about two likable people who are head over heels trying to navigate their new relationship.

All in all, I enjoyed this quite a bit. I would absolutely recommend it, especially to anyone who read the first book and wants to continue the story, and I'm looking forward to the third book. The author sets up Riker and his possible love interest during the course of the story, just as she did with the Jane and Keeley in book one, without distracting too much from their story.

The only thing I wished for this book was that it was longer.

[Jenée Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Jessica James, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an eARC!

This book was a feel-good romance with lots of LGBTQ representation, in particular with the bisexuality/pansexuality at play between the two FMC, Jane and Keeley. Keeley and Jane, two long-time band members and friends, have had lots of chemistry and unresolved (and undiscussed) feelings toward each other for the past decade, neither wanting to ruin the dynamic of the Glitter Bats, the band they've made it big with.

This is the second book in a series about the Glitter Bats but can definitely be read as a standalone. I hadn't read the first book of the series and didn't feel like I was too confused about anything in this one, since I feel the author does a good job of briefly reiterating prior plot points for the reader. I really like the dynamic between the characters and the members of the band; the found-family dynamic is strong with this group and their unconditional support of each other through some of the most invasive exposure of some of their bandmates is what I think anyone would want out of their friends.

Anyone with religious trauma, especially related to their sexuality, may have a bit of a struggle reading this because Jane struggles so much with her own. However, I thought that seeing someone actively struggling with this and then coming to accept themselves and who they are without needing the validation of anyone else, including parents that continue to try to shame them by using religion into being someone they are not, was also something important to see represented in a novel. Reading about finding someone finding validation and happiness within themselves and no longer allowing themselves into being shamed into a lesser or untrue version of themselves was something I know I would have liked to see as a much younger adult struggling with acceptance of their own sexuality.

The relationship between Keeley and Jane is sweet and I love that they are both very supportive of each others' careers and goals. And I really loved Jane's sister, Nora, and her fiancee, Danny, who showed up in a big way for Keeley and Jane when Jane's parents tried to pull some religious guilt over on Jane. This is definitely a book you want to read if you want a reason to feel some happiness when the world feels a little two dark. This is a little spark of positivity that will light up your day. This doesn't require you to think too hard or have you do anything but enjoy the story. Four stars from me :)

[Karin (msmadeinchina) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ rounded up.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.

Glitter Bats bandmates and longtime best friends Jane Mercer and Keeley Cunningham have been hiding feelings for each other for years. After seeing the kind of havoc that can rock the band when a relationship within the band fails, neither wants to confess and rock the boat. But as the music (and bandmate Riker) keeps pushing the pair into closer proximity, they can’t control the feelings spilling out. Jane and Keeley thought confessing their feelings for each other was hard, but things take a turn for the worst when an intimate moment is leaked and Jane is outed to the public against her will.

From the first moment I met Jane and Keeley in FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, I have been dying for them to get together and this book was truly a dream come true. I will always rave about a good enemies-to-lovers romance, but there is something incredibly satisfying and heartwarming about a well-written friends-to-lovers arc and Jessica really knocks it out of the park with this one.

Don’t be fooled though—there are some heavy things that our main characters go through during this story. Jane specifically is dealing with a wild amount of religious trauma and Jessica approaches its writing with such care and understanding. I did not grow up religious so I don’t have religious trauma and might be way off base here, but the portrayal of the self-doubt and people pleasing tendencies that Jane exhibits felt incredibly real and authentic.

The way Jessica weaves the story around Jane’s religious trauma while not making it too much of the focal point is actually so beautiful. Jane’s choice to stay in the closet publicly is built from that trauma and, because of that choice, something even worse (her public outing in a gossip journal) happens. But while it’s a beautiful example of the downfalls of religion, there are some bright spots woven in as well and is the perfect example of the duality of people.

The best part of this story though is the found family. We got to see the friendship and the love between the members of the Glitter Bats rebuild and strengthen in the first book, but it’s really put on display here. At every chance possible, these five people show up for each other again and again, dropping everything to make sure the ones they love are taken care of. Not only that, but the community they built among their fans is its own kind of found family that had me incredibly weepy (positive).

[Tina Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book—this is exactly the kind of romance I’ve been looking for. There’s no over-the-top spice, but instead a thoughtful balance between personal growth, career development, and romantic relationships. The plot feels believable and logically constructed, which makes the story especially satisfying.

Jane Mercer is a talented musician and songwriter who comes from a very traditional Christian family. Her mother hopes she’ll work for the church, but Jane secretly realizes she is bisexual—something she feels unable to share with her family. Determined to live authentically and independently, she moves to Los Angeles to pursue her music career. She takes on as many projects as possible to support herself financially, while also trying to keep her sexuality out of the public eye. At the same time, she begins to confront her growing feelings for her longtime friend and bondmate, Keeley Cunningham. As creative partners, they also face a major professional challenge: a bad contract that prevents them from owning the music they create.

What I loved most is Jane and Keeley’s relationship. They both value their careers as much as they value each other—especially Jane, who works incredibly hard to earn her independence and remain financially responsible. Even during the most difficult moments, neither of them makes impulsive or unrealistic choices, such as giving up an important job for the sake of the relationship. Instead, their romance develops alongside their careers, which makes the story feel grounded and authentic. Their mutual support helps them overcome both personal and professional challenges, creating a relationship that encourages growth rather than demanding sacrifice. This aspect of the story really stood out to me.

The side characters—such as Jane’s sister and the other bondmates—are also delightful and supportive. They contribute to the story in meaningful ways, making it feel wholesome and heartwarming, even as it addresses difficult topics like toxic media environments and the exploitation of musicians by powerful companies. The balance between real-world issues and fictional storytelling is handled very well.

Overall, this is an easy-to-read romance that strikes a great balance between love and career, realism and warmth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kate | bookishkatelizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this title from Berkley Romance; all thoughts are my own.

“She kisses me like she’s been running a marathon and I’m the one waiting at the finish line.”

James hits all the right notes in her sophomore novel! For Our Next Song is a slow burn, Sapphic, rockstar romance featuring bandmates Jane and Keeley as they finally give in to their feelings after 10 years of yearning. 10 years! A decade of friendship and working together to make music where the risk of relationship failure feels too severe to take a shot at love.

This book is technically the 2nd book in the Glitter Bats series, but can be read as a standalone. Read book 1 first if you want to avoid spoilers about Caleb and Valerie’s relationship.

I truly adored this book. From temporary roommates to a hot pottery date to an unexpected solo trip to Montana… Keeley and Jane finally have the chance to explore their feelings.

I can’t quite figure out which character I liked better; I have a soft spot for both of them. Jane is sweet, reserved, genuine and the hardest worker. She’s still recovering from religious trauma and keeps her personal life secret to not disrupt the delicate balance she has with her ultra-religious family. She’s also a workaholic; she can’t fathom ever losing her financial independence and having to move home. Keeley has a roguish attitude, but is a closet softy. She has a heart of gold and is beyond loyal once you reach her inner circle. She is also down BAD for Jane.

I felt both characters showed a lot of growth throughout the story, but Jane especially. It was rewarding to watch Jane give herself the freedom to be her true self. While unfortunately her parents don’t come around, I enjoyed watching her mend the relationship with her sister.

Overall rating: I rated this book 4.5 stars, but rounding up to 5 on GR. I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first book in the series. The tenderness, the slow burn, the cameos from the band- it all blended together perfectly. Truly one of the best Sapphic romances I've read in a while.

I cannot wait to see what comes next for the Glitter Bats… hopefully a story for Ryker and MK?! 🤞maybe some revenge meddling 😉

Trigger warnings ‼️ : forced outing, biphobia (check authors note for more and take care when reading 🫶)

[Julie Ditton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This spicy sapphic romance explores the hard topics of the struggle with keeping one's private life private, religious trauma, and the additional trauma of a forced outing. Jane and Keeley are members of the Glitter Bats, a band that was formed when they were just teenagers. A recent reunion tour brought the band back together after a six year separation, but these women have been secretly pining for each other since for much longer than that. Jane's strict religious parents don't approve of her music career; they already pray for her soul. She knows that if they knew she was bisexual, they would never accept her. Not even most of her bandmates know. But when Jane and Keeley finally communicate, the slow burn romance turns to a roaring hot fire. Just when they find happiness, paparazzi discover her secret and it is all over the internet. Jessica James does a fantastic job creating a story of Jane's personal growth. After years of hearing disapproval and damnation from her parents, she copes by overworking herself but doubts her own self worth. She feels like she has to hide who she is and can't be herself with anyone. She blossoms with the discovery of love and acceptance of her found family, only to crash and burn with the fallout from being outed.

This novel is a sequel to For One Night Only, a second chance romance that focuses on two other bandmates. But there is enough backstory included to let one read this book as a stand alone. I received an electronic advanced copy of this book from Berkley which I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't wait for the next book in the series so I can read the happily Ever After for the final band member.

[Annie the Lesbrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell yeah Sapphic yearning!! I liked the first glitter bats book a lot, but this one was KILLER!! I feel like by building the tension in the first book, I was super excited for this couple in the second book.

Keeley is an amazing drummer that gigs all over town. Ever the free spirit image-wise in the group, she is actually very financially secure. Since getting back together with the Glitter Bats, she wants to get back at the evil label company that stole all their masters to their first three albums. But she may have gotten distracted when fate brings her bandmate and decade-long crush Jane to her doorstep.

Jane has worked through a hell of a lot of purity culture and religious trauma to be the keyboardist in a rock band. She’s also become a super successful composer for shows. So when her mother calls and says her twenty year old sister is getting married, she has questions. In the midst of horrid conversations with her mother, a back-breaking work schedule, plus a new Glitter Bats complication, her house is flooded. Knowing the only one she can call is her bandmate Keeley, she does what she has to do. But perhaps the restrain she’s kept on HER crush all these years will finally snap.

This book was so good! Both characters were so fully realized and I just loved them. Keeley had such a good heart and she’s such a fun POV to be in. Jane has the arguably darker story (read: very shitty biphobia, religious trauma, homophobia) but she also has such grace as a character and you are rooting for her the whole time. Also I loved that the ending wasn’t neatly tied in a bow but a bit imperfect. It felt a lot more realistic for all the characters involved. Plus, I’m super hoping there’s another book and it’s Riker!! Love love love!!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh I loved this book even more than the first one! This author knows how tot tug at my heartstrings and I am just obsessed with Keeley and Jane. They are just adorable and I appreciated that after so many years of longing, they get together pretty quickly in this book. Poor Jane has an awful family and a lot of religious trauma and this book did a great job presenting that in a realistic way, that makes it much harder for people to just brush it off as not a big deal. Yes you can be 30 and still not want to upset your parents or rock the boat. My heart broke for her and I cheered every time she found someone loving and supportive of her. Keeley has a great family, but she still has trauma from her time in the music business and how males in power abuse it. I love how she supported Jane through her family drama and it's so easy to see how these women just fit. All the bi rep and a happy ending that made me smile! It's moderately steamy, but the focus was more on the couple and the logistics about coming out / not / the price of fame and the media being all in your personal business. I love the glitter bats and all the scenes with them as a group were wonderful. I cannot WAIT to read more of this series.

Note: I listened to this audiobook and enjoyed it so much; this book was an emotional journey with many bruises along the way, and both narrators articulated those dynamic feelings so well.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy and ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.

[Rachel b00ksrmagic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for the free published copy and e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the review copy of this audiobook!

Read this book if you like sapphic romance, friends to lovers, the music industry, overcoming religious trauma, and found family.

Jane and Keeley have been friends and bandmates since high school. Now that their band has reunited and is fighting the execs for control of their own music, they are spending more time together. And they are having trouble disguising their feelings for each other. For Jane the stakes are high. She’s never publicly come out as bi, mostly because of her rigidly religious family. But when they finally admit their feelings, Keeley is there to stand by her. Maybe they can make a world where they belong together.

I adored Jane and Keeley. As someone who grew up in very conservative religious circles, I understood well the religious trauma Jane had experienced. I cried multiple times throughout the book, both when Jane was rejected and when she found acceptance from others. Keeley’s support for her girlfriend was beautiful and I appreciated her POV as well. I also loved the frank discussions of mental health and neurodivergence. The spicy scenes were very sweet and beautiful and really added to the intimacy of the characters.

The plot was so interesting and varied and kept me listening throughout. I do wish I’d taken the time to read book one in the series for more about the Glitter Bats reunion tour. This book stood alone, but I still want to read book one and get that background.

All the narrators did a great job. I appreciated how a separate voice read all the social media articles. The sound quality was excellent even at 2x.

I cannot recommend this book enough! You definitely need some Glitter Bats in your life.

[Emilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - thank you to Berkley for the early access!

I grew up with pop punk and had too early of an awareness of celebrity drama, tabloids, and seeing the rise and fall of musical careers all on social media. I also grew up in an area of the country where religion and discussions of anything "worldly" were always on major display. I say these things because when you bring up the two together, you hardly expect them to be written in the same book as a part of the same plot line.

Jane and Keeley were two interesting characters, but I knew that there was so much more to learn about them. I'm such a backstory person and I wish that the book dove more into Jane's history and workload just so we can understand that pressure that she had for her other projects. I wish we knew more about Keeley's progress on her side too. There's still a good amount to work with, and for me, I enjoyed it regardless, but I can definitely say there's still room for more details to fill and I wish we could've seen more of that for these two because I know they could be so dynamic.

Overall, For Our Next Song was interesting but I know there's a lot more room to work with! felt like I was taking a glimpse back into 2012 Twitter drama. I loved the media snippets. I loved that it was kind of messy in the dramatic way to where even got frustrated for them. I loved that it didn't shy away from deeper topics and subjects when it was necessary for the character growth.

So, even though I had some grievances, there was still a lot to enjoy. It's definitely at least a 4 to me!

[Elysha Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sapphic rockstar romance with a friends to lovers trope? This was a solid read!

I had really liked Keeley and Jane in For One Night Only and I was happy to see their story continued here.

I really like Jane and her story. The story does go a bit into her religious trauma and her relationship with her religious family. I did find the book definitely focused a bit more on Jane her struggles with family and her history, as well as balancing work. I did like that though as her story is compelling.

Jane and Keeley are cute together and I liked the relationship developing from long term friends to a relationship. The the growth felt very organic! There was also some forced proximity and matchmaking going on which I always enjoy.

There were a few things that were mentioned throughout the book that didn’t seem to be picked up again (career change for example). I’m guessing there will be a third book (Riker’s?) so maybe it’ll be continued there but it would have been nice to have a bit more of a conclusion there.

It doesn’t end necessarily on a cliffhanger but there are underlying plot points from the storyline that has gone through both books that are still unresolved. Again I’m assuming there will be a third book to finish that story line.

If you’re looking for a sapphic rockstar romance this would scratch that itch!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer (novels_and_daydreams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🥁 Jane and Keeley, longtime friends and bandmates are exploring a new romantic relationship with each other but the price of fame is high and takes its toll on their happiness and the future of their band. Thankfully they have their Glitter Bats bandmates in their corner to help fight for their continued success.

This was such a sweet read full of tender moments and wonderful examples of acceptance and support in the face of adversity. I loved the positive relationships between all the Glitter Bats and how they were pillars of unwavering support for each other. Jane’s character and the religious trauma she experiences provided some interesting insights into that type of upbringing that are sure to resonate with readers with similar backgrounds. I also particularly appreciated the juxtaposition of Jane’s horrid hyper-religious parents with Keeley’s parents who loved unconditionally.

With plenty of pining and some moderately descriptive open door sapphic romance scenes, this still delivers the spice you crave but with a focus on the inner workings of the recording industry and the drawbacks of being queer in the public eye. I seriously hope James has more to come from the Glitter Bats!

✅ Check this one out if you enjoy a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, found family, forced proximity, sapphic romance featuring talented rockstars with a side of impostor syndrome and religious trauma. Pairs well with fettuccine alfredo and vanilla scented candles.