Welcome back to the ‘90s, when the soundtrack of the decade is playing everywhere—on scratched CDs and mixtapes galore. However, the only thing that is keeping Luke Grant from fading into the background of the approaching millennium is when he and his friends decide to form a band.
Picture it was the year 1997, and Luke lived for two the band he started with his best friend, Dax, and the girl next door, Elena—the Converse-wearing and Goosebumps-reading girl who makes Luke's heart beat a little louder. Unfortunately, she was Dax’s girlfriend, untouchable and out of reach, but every song that Luke wrote, every mixtape he made, carried pieces of her name.
Caught between loyalty to his best friend, the dream of making it big with their band, and the aching pull of a love he can't admit, Luke finds himself tangled in half-truths, cryptic lyrics, and the kind of heartbreak you only feel once in a lifetime. However, every song he writes, every secret glance he shares with Elena makes it harder to keep his feelings buried.
So, what does any good musician do? They channel their feelings into their A collection of songs dedicated to her in a secret journal that he keeps hidden from everyone.
Soon, their lives collide in an endless hum of a world where music still feels dangerous and alive as Luke finally admits his true feelings to Elena, which almost ends up destroying their friendship and the band for good.
Yet, somehow, she became his.
And then, she wasn’t.
Two decades later, Luke can barely remember the details of how it all fell apart. He knows he lost Elena, he knows he lost Dax, but the memories are fractured—like a tape that’s been played too many times, warped, and worn until whole songs are missing. So, on a journey back to his hometown where it all began, he will soon discover that the story he’s been telling himself for over twenty years isn’t the truth at all.
Join Luke as he goes on a journey back to the ‘90s, where friendships are tested, hearts get broken, and somewhere between the first chords and the final curtain call, he will rediscover his long-lost self by reuniting with his band and the one that got away.
The Stoneflower Revolution is a tangled love story that is bittersweet, electric, and brimming with '90s nostalgia and told with the raw ache of hindsight. It’s a tale of unrequited love, an unpolished anthem about first love, fractured memories, and the kind of plot twist you never see coming—one that proves the past is never as simple as you remember.
Reader While the flashbacks go back to Luke's high school years, the themes and situations mature. 18+ readers recommended.
Danielle is a born and raised Upstate, NY girl, living there with her two daughters, and Project Manager husband. She lives for '90s nostalgia and is currently collecting all things Clueless.
She never turns down Cinnabon, a hot Americano, and will steal your French fries.
She writes heartfelt, messy, and occasionally glitter-covered romantic comedies about women who swear off love—then fall right into it again. When she's not writing, she can be found over-caffeinating, quoting 90s romcoms, and pretending she doesn’t cry at Hallmark movies.
I’m incredibly thankful to have been given the opportunity as an ARC reader, but, unfortunately, this was a book I could never fully “feel” nor get into. It was as though I was being told the story, rather than experiencing it or going through it, if that makes sense.
This was told through the MMC’s POV, through the entirety of the book, and maybe if we could have had the FMC POV, as well, that could have helped?
Now this was marketed as a 90’s nostalgia, rockstar romance, love triangle, romance book, but once again, I just didn’t feel any of the emotion with the characters. Again, it was like being told how they should feel, rather than it actually happening. There were lots of fun 90’s references thrown in, but I didn’t quite get that nostalgic feel, as someone having grown up in the 90’s. I would love to have had just more in general, from the characters, the story, all of it. I think it was an amazing concept, but I never got emotionally attached.
I had a guess about what this book would be like but I was totally wrong!! It was basically nothing like I expected. It jumps in time between present day and the 90s in the lives of a group of musicians. It seemed like a simple idea but there was so much more to it!
The first couple of chapters were very off-putting because there was so much metaphor and flowery language. It was almost difficult to understand at points because the writing was not straightforward at all. I was worried about having to give up and DNF but I’m glad I pressed on because it did get better. The writing went from overwhelming to much more readable.
Personally, my favorite chapters were the 90s pov! I will say those very much felt like a YA book which ended up coloring my memory of the book as being a YA book even though it’s technically not. I also think those were the stronger chapters - more memorable for sure. There were lots of 90s references that did evoke some nonstalgia, although less than I was expecting. One of my biggest gripes with this book as a whole however was the entire plot of starting a band, how the band formed, and how they got famous. It felt so unrealistic to me and was difficult to get past.
On the other hand, the present day chapters started off slow and a little bit confusing but as the book went on there was more to them. I had a guess of how it was going to end and what the “big reveal” would be but I was totally wrong! Wow, what a plot twist that I definitely did not see coming at all! My guess was 80% wrong so that was a very pleasant surprise.
Overall, a good read! Thank you so much for the ARC!
*I was given this book as an Arc but my review is based solely on my own thoughts and opinions*
Musicians are so poetic, emotional and dramatic haha. I love love, however this guy is too deep haha I think I like my men less emotional.
“For so long, I’ve wandered through sepia-toned world as if I am part of a distant version of myself that hasn’t fully come into color.”
It’s giving me major Love Actually vibes where you’re like am I rooting for this guy or is it kinda creepy how much he loves and pines for her? lol
That ending, I was not expecting that, it did feel so out of left field. Making me all kinds of sad, this book does lean more on the emotional side, giving Nicholas sparks vibes where everything is happening to keep them apart but they are meant for each other.
The book I feel is an appropriate length, it was an easy enough read, read it in a day. I don’t normally read these kinds of books, but it was cool to reach out of my comfort zone.
The Stoneflower Revolution is told from the perspective of the male MC, Luke Grant, who revisits his life in the '90s when he fell in love with the girl next door--the one his best friend and bandmate swooped in and started dating.
I sincerely hope my readers enjoy this fun take on a nostalgic time, letting it immerse you in 90s culture when life was easy. It's not meant to overload your nostalgic senses, but to be told as if the 90s were present day.
While there are no trigger warnings, there is mention of the following: * Absent parent * Fractured memory * Some spice
Not a book I would normally read, but I received an ARC from the author after having read Stupid Love (which I loved!).
This book was not what I expected. It was more. I was afraid I was going to get 90s pop culture thrown into my face throughout the story, but it was done where it didn't take over the romantic plot.
Such a great book! I've read all of Danielle's other books and it was nice to see that this romance novel was from a guy's perspective. You don't see that often as you think girls are the emotional ones. Guys have feelings too and Danielle did a fantastic job with the characters and plot thay kept me reading and reading! Can't wait for the next one!
Such a great book! I've read all of Danielle's other books and it was nice to see that this romance novel was from a guy's perspective. You don't see that often as you think girls are the emotional ones. Guys have feelings too and Danielle did a fantastic job with the characters and plot thay kept me reading and reading! Can't wait for the next one!
The romance, the nostalgia, the friendship. It was a roller coaster of love that had me swooning! I absolutely loved the found family and the ending was such a PIVOT!!
If you like contemporary romance with the vibes to send you back in time and will have you exploring the depths of “fated mates”, you’ll love this journey!
This book is for all the adults who are having withdrawals from growing up in the 90’s! Danielle presents an emotionally-driven plot that explores regret, shame, passion, and joy while at the same time beautifully interweaving it with a fun and engaging narrative that captures the essence of an era. I highly recommend it!