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Undertow
A story of young love gone wrong - and the desperate quest to find a way back to each other. Lea Dalton has grown up on the Sydney beaches - the biggest force in her childhood and adolescence was her best friend, Jay Mackenzie.
The two are opposites in many ways - Lea is quiet, introverted and sensible, where Jay is energetic and out there, and obsessed with becoming rich and famous. They find their love for each other through the music they make together. But when Jay is catapulted to international fame, their young love is blown apart.
Fast forward to five years later, and suddenly Jay is back in Lea’s life, with an insane request - can she leave her life in limbo and join him on tour, to save his music career?
Lea has to figure out if she can forgive Jay for his past betrayals, write music with him, and if there’s possibly a spark still there, despite all the hurt of the past.
If that wasn’t complicated enough, the band’s lead guitarist Keiran can’t seem to stay away from Lea. She’s drawn to him too, but is she ready to move on from Jay? And can the tour survive the tension between the three of them?
The two are opposites in many ways - Lea is quiet, introverted and sensible, where Jay is energetic and out there, and obsessed with becoming rich and famous. They find their love for each other through the music they make together. But when Jay is catapulted to international fame, their young love is blown apart.
Fast forward to five years later, and suddenly Jay is back in Lea’s life, with an insane request - can she leave her life in limbo and join him on tour, to save his music career?
Lea has to figure out if she can forgive Jay for his past betrayals, write music with him, and if there’s possibly a spark still there, despite all the hurt of the past.
If that wasn’t complicated enough, the band’s lead guitarist Keiran can’t seem to stay away from Lea. She’s drawn to him too, but is she ready to move on from Jay? And can the tour survive the tension between the three of them?
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 30, 2025
So I had the privilege of receiving this book as an ARC to read earlier than most people so that I can leave my honest thoughts and opinions!!!
First things first the rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5, but honestly speaking, through the beginning and middle of this book it was through and through a 4 - 4.5 star rating, UNTIL the last 2 chapters!!!
The way I could sort of relate to Lea (FMC) from the very start, literally on page 4 when Lea describes wanting, needing to play music, “I couldn’t resist being around music. I still needed to feel the drums clanging so loud it felt like they were in my bones, still needed the reverb from the guitars to drown out my thoughts”.
Yes girl, me too 🙂↕️🤏 Also with how Lea plays guitar and wrote her song “Undertow” and how she describes it to be about ‘the feeling of not knowing who you are, until the right person pulls you out of the rip’. Yes, that I felt right down to my core.
Lea and Jay (MMC.1) relationship dynamic was in my opinion frustrating to say the least, with all due respect. JAY IS A MANCHILDDDDDDDDD. Like c’mon now bro, you’re pissing in my cornflakes and making it out to be milk 😒 It's been 5 years and NOW, you try and weasel your way back into her life? Get fucked. But in saying all of this Jay did make a comeback after Lea finally, and well essentially, cracked it with him and he matured by the slightest, so l do love that character development for him.
But now, step aside for the real man who doesn’t complain every 3 minutes KIERAN 👏👏👏.
WOO HOO WHERE DO I START ON MY BOYYYY 😝😝😝😝😝😝
Firstly, where do I find a Kieran for myself? He alwaysssss and I mean always put Lea first in whatever he was saying or doing at the time. Like, he wanted her from the get go, that was very clear! And it was also extremely clear that Lea knew who was more mature and not so much of a manchild hehe. I could yap about Kieran for ages, and spoil it but i won't! He was just that sexy, lovable character I needed!!!
ALSO can I just mention that Carly (who is Lea's best friend) is such a diva and always clocked Lea on her behaviour and how she presented and followed through with herself when it came down to Jay and Kieran. Like what an icon I love Carly.
Thank you once again to the author who so kindly sent me an ARC copy of this <3
First things first the rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5, but honestly speaking, through the beginning and middle of this book it was through and through a 4 - 4.5 star rating, UNTIL the last 2 chapters!!!
The way I could sort of relate to Lea (FMC) from the very start, literally on page 4 when Lea describes wanting, needing to play music, “I couldn’t resist being around music. I still needed to feel the drums clanging so loud it felt like they were in my bones, still needed the reverb from the guitars to drown out my thoughts”.
Yes girl, me too 🙂↕️🤏 Also with how Lea plays guitar and wrote her song “Undertow” and how she describes it to be about ‘the feeling of not knowing who you are, until the right person pulls you out of the rip’. Yes, that I felt right down to my core.
Lea and Jay (MMC.1) relationship dynamic was in my opinion frustrating to say the least, with all due respect. JAY IS A MANCHILDDDDDDDDD. Like c’mon now bro, you’re pissing in my cornflakes and making it out to be milk 😒 It's been 5 years and NOW, you try and weasel your way back into her life? Get fucked. But in saying all of this Jay did make a comeback after Lea finally, and well essentially, cracked it with him and he matured by the slightest, so l do love that character development for him.
But now, step aside for the real man who doesn’t complain every 3 minutes KIERAN 👏👏👏.
WOO HOO WHERE DO I START ON MY BOYYYY 😝😝😝😝😝😝
Firstly, where do I find a Kieran for myself? He alwaysssss and I mean always put Lea first in whatever he was saying or doing at the time. Like, he wanted her from the get go, that was very clear! And it was also extremely clear that Lea knew who was more mature and not so much of a manchild hehe. I could yap about Kieran for ages, and spoil it but i won't! He was just that sexy, lovable character I needed!!!
ALSO can I just mention that Carly (who is Lea's best friend) is such a diva and always clocked Lea on her behaviour and how she presented and followed through with herself when it came down to Jay and Kieran. Like what an icon I love Carly.
Thank you once again to the author who so kindly sent me an ARC copy of this <3
October 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
At first glance, this book seemed like your typical love triangle romance;the familiar setup of a heroine caught between two very different men. Our FMC, Lea, finds herself torn between the hot, charismatic lead singer and the quiet, nerdy-looking bassist. It’s a well-loved trope, but what makes this story shine is the emotional depth behind the characters and their relationships.
I found myself really resonating with Lea, especially when she says, “I forget who I am sometimes.” That line hit hard. It captures the uncertainty so many of us feel when we’re still figuring out who we want to be and where we’re going in life. That said, I did get frustrated with her at times, particularly when she couldn’t see how poorly Jay was treating her. It made me want to reach into the book and give her a little shake!
Kieran, on the other hand, can do no wrong in my eyes. He’s the kind, caring, and quietly supportive friend every girl deserves — the grounding presence Lea needs while navigating the chaos of life on tour with the band.
Overall, this was a great feel-good, comfort read. It’s the kind of book you curl up with when you want something familiar yet emotionally engaging, with characters who feel real and a romance that leaves you smiling by the last page.
“Torn between being proud of him and sad because I knew that I had officially lost him.”
“He took our song. My song. I would never, ever forgive him.”
“Just let me be proud of you.”
“He has no idea what he has. Or what he’s lost…”
🌶️
At first glance, this book seemed like your typical love triangle romance;the familiar setup of a heroine caught between two very different men. Our FMC, Lea, finds herself torn between the hot, charismatic lead singer and the quiet, nerdy-looking bassist. It’s a well-loved trope, but what makes this story shine is the emotional depth behind the characters and their relationships.
I found myself really resonating with Lea, especially when she says, “I forget who I am sometimes.” That line hit hard. It captures the uncertainty so many of us feel when we’re still figuring out who we want to be and where we’re going in life. That said, I did get frustrated with her at times, particularly when she couldn’t see how poorly Jay was treating her. It made me want to reach into the book and give her a little shake!
Kieran, on the other hand, can do no wrong in my eyes. He’s the kind, caring, and quietly supportive friend every girl deserves — the grounding presence Lea needs while navigating the chaos of life on tour with the band.
Overall, this was a great feel-good, comfort read. It’s the kind of book you curl up with when you want something familiar yet emotionally engaging, with characters who feel real and a romance that leaves you smiling by the last page.
“Torn between being proud of him and sad because I knew that I had officially lost him.”
“He took our song. My song. I would never, ever forgive him.”
“Just let me be proud of you.”
“He has no idea what he has. Or what he’s lost…”
October 2, 2025
The characters in this story make beautiful music together.
When Jay reappears in Lea's life he brings back with him all the unresolved feelings that she had hoped to leave in the past.
Then there is Keiran who is exactly what Lea needs in her life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read from Aussie author Zoe Finnigan which reminds us all that rarely is loves path a straight line and sometimes what you want is not what your heart needs!
When Jay reappears in Lea's life he brings back with him all the unresolved feelings that she had hoped to leave in the past.
Then there is Keiran who is exactly what Lea needs in her life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read from Aussie author Zoe Finnigan which reminds us all that rarely is loves path a straight line and sometimes what you want is not what your heart needs!
October 4, 2025
It’s good
This was actually a very sweet story. I was worried about who the MFC would have a HEA after reading the first couple of chapters. It has a very romantic ending.
I would rate this a 4.5 out of 5 stars because it would have been nice to read this from other POVs. Overall, I would 100% recommend this book!
This was actually a very sweet story. I was worried about who the MFC would have a HEA after reading the first couple of chapters. It has a very romantic ending.
I would rate this a 4.5 out of 5 stars because it would have been nice to read this from other POVs. Overall, I would 100% recommend this book!
September 28, 2025
Lea and Jay were best friends growing up until Jay won a major talent competition, shot to fame but did Lea dirty in the process. 5 years later Jay springs back into Lea's life and asks her join his band on tour, hoping this will revive his struggling career and help him finish their next album. It's also a chance for Jay to make amends and rebuild their fractured relationship. Things get complicated when Keiran the band's lead guitarist takes an interest in Lea.
Expect drama, tensions, a messy love triangle, life on tour, fan culture and the dynamics of a band.
Grateful thanks to the author for providing an ARC. Undertow will be released on September 30, treat your s(h)elf by getting a copy!
Expect drama, tensions, a messy love triangle, life on tour, fan culture and the dynamics of a band.
Grateful thanks to the author for providing an ARC. Undertow will be released on September 30, treat your s(h)elf by getting a copy!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews