Fabulous YA romance between two socially awkward musicians
Aurora Kent is a 17-year-old, highly talented violinist, who typically performs with her female cousins in a professional musical group. Though extremely socially awkward and riddled with anxiety, when she’s on stage, nothing matters but the music. Performing is an ecstatic experience for her.
Through one of her cousins, Aurora is offered an opportunity to tour with the boy band, HERS, for two months during the summer before her senior year of high school. Normally, she would never consider such a leap. It’s extremely intimidating to travel on an RV with four boys. But her loving, supportive parents encourage her to seize the opportunity, especially since her cousin will be going along. When a sudden health emergency prevents her cousin from joining the tour, it’s touch and go whether Aurora can make herself board the bus. Hiding in the shadows near the parking lot, trying to be invisible, she’s startled to discover that one of the band members is standing nearby, also hiding.
Felix Cordova is temporarily filling in as HERS’s bass player, replacing a member with a wrist injury. There’s something oddly familiar about him. But before Aurora can figure out why, the press descends, and Felix urgently asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend for ten seconds. Their resulting kiss, which is Aurora’s very first, is toe-curling and unforgettable. When a video of it goes viral, the band’s publicist begs them to keep up the act for the fans.
I don’t usually enjoy rockstar romances, whether YA, New Adult, or adult, because they often feature an uncomfortable power imbalance: the MMC is a superstar, and the FMC is a nobody, basically, "King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid." I recently wrote a negative review of a NA version of this trope, Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin by Mariana Zapata. But the difference here, as in all character-driven fiction, lies in the quality of the protagonists, and Aurora and Felix are fantastic. Here’s what made this novel shine for me:
1. Sexual innocence and emotional chemistry. Both Aurora and Felix appear sexually inexperienced, though it’s never explicitly confirmed for Felix since we don’t get his POV. Their awkwardness and shared shyness make their connection feel grounded and emotionally authentic. Unlike many romances that equate steam with depth, this book shows how powerful kisses can be when they carry emotional weight. The chemistry is electric and believable, even without explicit content.
2. A delightful fake-dating plot. Fake dating can be a disaster if done poorly, but here, it truly shines. The premise is plausible, the pacing is excellent, and the tension between pretense and reality unfolds in a way that feels both fun and emotionally compelling.
3. Meaningful friendships and found family. Aurora builds a lovely friendship with London, the sister of one of the band members, and maintains her strong bonds with her cousins. Her growing connection with the other bandmates adds depth to the story. I especially appreciated the way her romance with Felix evolves from strangers to friends to love.
4. A hopeful and satisfying ending. The novel concludes with a well-earned HFN that feels entirely believable as the beginning of a lasting HEA.
5. Wholesome content. I appreciated the absence of foul language, underage drinking, drug use, or wild party scenes.
At present, Introvert is only available in ebook format, but I love it so much that I would absolutely buy the audiobook if one is ever released.
Until now, my favorite Cookie O’Gorman novel was Ninja Girl, a fabulous YA romance. I now rank Introvert as equally high in quality.