Heartthrob: A Rockstar Romance

by Zoey Vale

Never meet your heroes. What about fall in love with them?

Natalie Foy accepted her life as it was. Her job provides for her and her many houseplants. Crafty hobbies keep her busy. But her heart beats faster at the deafening noise of Seeing Stars, her favorite hard rock band.

Charismatic singer Chris Canseco has it fame, talent, and a loyal crew of bandmates. When he spots Natalie, he realizes she could be his missing piece.

Natalie must reconcile falling in love with the man she gets to know with the rockstar she crushed on for years. Could the one person who accepts her for her true self be a sweet, talented, gorgeous musician?

Between the chaos of his world and the calm of hers, between stardom and sincerity, could her crush on a rockstar turn into the kind of love that lasts?

This steamy rockstar romance is for readers ages 18+.

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2025

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartthrob is one of my new favorite romance novels! I love that not only is it a rockstar romance and that I loved a lot of the same music Natalie and Chris loved but that it is also a romantic and emotional story about a fated true love match. Natalie and Chris’s friends are friends I wished were mine too and the incorporation of flowers and plants in the story is so very beautiful. Thank you to Zoey Vale for the review copy! It truly was a delight to read. I couldn’t put it down!

[Brittany Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this love story! It was real and full of real world problems. It doesn't go in for the romantic tropes that are often included in these stories. Instead, you get real problems about feeling uncomfortable being with someone you don't think you deserve, the fear you're moving too fast, and reading into the smallest reactions and interactions. It was a fun story and I found myself falling in love with these characters.

[Carly Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartthrob by Zoey Vale is one of those stories that makes you believe in timing, even the wildly improbable kind. Natalie is not chasing fame or fortune. Her life is quiet, predictable. Work, plants, the usual crafting rabbit holes. And okay, yes, she’s had a bit of a thing for Chris Canseco, frontman of Seeing Stars. So when fate drops him right in front of her, all charm and smirk? She’s not sure whether to laugh, run, or hope he asks her name.

What makes this book work is that it doesn’t go full fantasy. Natalie’s not some starstruck groupie. She’s grounded and not sure how to handle the fact that the guy she used to swoon over is suddenly in front of her. Chris isn’t just a walking cliché either. He’s sweet and a little worn down by the chaos of his world. Their connection builds slowly. There’s tension, there’s banter, and yes, there are some very steamy scenes, and I am here for it! Let’s just say Vale does not fade to black.

The emotional side surprised me. Natalie’s past, while not front and center, adds weight to her choices. Chris isn’t trying to fix her. He likes her just as she is. She’s not trying to “save” him either. It’s about figuring out whether two very different lives can overlap in a way that’s sustainable.

For a debut, this is seriously impressive. The writing is smooth without being too polished, the characters feel lived-in, and the romance has enough depth to stick with you after the last page. I’d recommend Heartthrob to anyone who loves rockstar romances but wants something a little softer around the edges… more heart, less drama-for-drama’s-sake. Definitely for fans of stories where the fantasy brushes up against real emotional stakes. Fans of Elle Kennedy or Talia Hibbert will feel right at home here.

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie can't believe it when her celebrity crush, rockstar singer Chris, crosses the room to talk to her. A sweetly steamy and romantic read with this unlikely pair who click from the start. I love his friends and bandmates (Jeremy, Ben and Luis) and her friend (Mandy) too.

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

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for this rockstar romance!

Rockstars are my favorite, but Chris is not your average rockstar. He already did the partying and groupies … now he’s ready to settle down. Natalie’s dreams come true when she meets her rockstar crush … and he wants to keep seeing her. And wow … this author sure knows how to write the steam! A great first book for this author.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the relationship between Natalie and Chris is so amazing. They are just so perfect and adorable together. I also have a new playlist thanks to the authors suggestion.

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

[Chloe Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

35% in, no chemistry between the characters and they’re lowkey mega boring!!! Might go back if I’m bored at some point

[Caitlyn Roe · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFd at 38%. Just no.