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Pieces of the Night
I already had a life. A future. A man I'd promised forever to.
But the night I found Chase Rhodes—bleeding, broken, and more lost than I was—everything changed.
I wasn't supposed to let him in. Wasn't supposed to write music with him in secret beneath the moon.
What started as a quiet escape became something unstoppable. Our songs caught fire, and now the whole world knows our names.
Music has a way of pulling the broken together, even when the timing is impossible and the fallout inevitable.
But some hearts don't settle. Some songs were never meant to stay quiet.
Because the night I saved him was only the beginning.
And loving me might be the last risk he'll ever take.
From USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Hartmann comes a new angsty, standalone contemporary romance.
But the night I found Chase Rhodes—bleeding, broken, and more lost than I was—everything changed.
I wasn't supposed to let him in. Wasn't supposed to write music with him in secret beneath the moon.
What started as a quiet escape became something unstoppable. Our songs caught fire, and now the whole world knows our names.
Music has a way of pulling the broken together, even when the timing is impossible and the fallout inevitable.
But some hearts don't settle. Some songs were never meant to stay quiet.
Because the night I saved him was only the beginning.
And loving me might be the last risk he'll ever take.
From USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Hartmann comes a new angsty, standalone contemporary romance.
544 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2026
1820 people are currently reading
16459 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Hartmann
36 books17.2k followersJennifer Hartmann resides in northern Illinois with her own personal romance hero and three children. When she is not writing angsty love stories, she is likely pondering all the ways she can break your heart and piece it back together again. She enjoys sunsets (because mornings are hard), bike riding, traveling, bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and that time of day when coffee gets replaced by wine. She loves tacos. She also really, really wants to pet your dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,078 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating to come - will likely be 2 stars
This was very emotionally taxing, and unfortunately, not with even one ounce of the emotional gratification of healing that I usually get from JH books.
I think the first thing we need to do is reframe expectations before going into this book:
• It is not forbidden romance; it is much closer to a love triangle.🔺
• The first 55% focuses primarily on the cycle of abuse and gives a very strong depiction of a relationship with a manipulative, narcissistically inclined partner.
• While the book is angsty, the tension itself isn’t really there, which makes it lack the emotional punch it could have delivered.
🧠 Annalise & the Cycle of Abuse
Reading this felt like having the same exact conversation over and over again with a best friend stuck in an abusive relationship.
The amount of guilt Annie internalises, along with the constant “I’m not enough” and “I should try to fix this” narrative, really showcases how damaging an abuser can be to the way their victim sees themselves.
You clearly see how someone becomes trapped in that loop: the entire world points out something they can see as well, yet they still refuse to accept it and keep offering excuses.
And listen, you need to be prepared for this part. It is very present and takes up a huge chunk of the book.
It also includes a clear — though not graphically described — non-con moment, which, up till now, is not mentioned in the Content Warning section.
🌿 The Missing Healing
What I usually seek in JH books is the way she puts the healing process into words that hurt beautifully.
But throughout this book, despite the many phases and opportunities Annalise goes through and gets, she does not actively heal from what the abusive relationship did to her and her psyche.
Her choices change, yes.
But even when she believes she is choosing herself, we do not see that choice translate into behavioural or psychological change that reflects true internal freedom or self-love.
Because of that, the parallels drawn between the two relationships — emotionally and practically — do not land differently from Annie’s side. She hasn’t grown beyond the cycle of abuse yet.
The difference between the relationships ends up being Chase: his behaviour, his intentions, the reasoning behind his choices and his words.
And I expected more from that dynamic. It hurt a bit that I didn’t find it.
🤔 The Alex POVs
Throughout the book, we also get POV chapters from Alex (the abuser).
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why these chapters exist.
Are they supposed to create sympathy?
Show us the mind of an abuser?
Soften the emotional blow of certain moments by giving his perspective?
I genuinely don’t know.
But instead of adding depth, they mostly frustrated me.
🎸 Chase’s Arc
Chase is consistently a good guy throughout the book. He makes decent choices, even when he makes mistakes. He carries a lot of pain and guilt.
But I wouldn’t go as far as calling him a “tragic hero”.
The reason is that a large part of his own healing journey gets sidelined. Much of his POV focuses on his falling for Annalise and trying to push her toward seeing herself as enough, seeing the talent she has.
His own tragic story only really resurfaces around 78% of the book, and it arrives in a way that feels very isolating for us as readers.
✍️ Narrative Instrument Choices?
I also noticed a shift in the writing style.
At the beginning, the narration really leaned into the poetic and lyrical minds of both Chase and Annalise. But as the story progressed, that tone slowly disappeared and moved toward something more neutral.
I don’t believe this was a conscious stylistic choice, because the moments where that lyrical voice should have been strongest — when these two were supposedly at their peak — were actually where it was most absent.
There were also narrative sections that felt more like recounting or listing events rather than letting us experience them through storytelling. Ironically, those moments were often supposed to be the emotional payoff for readers, but instead they felt flat and stale.
While I’m mentioning structural choices, substance abuse is brought up briefly and not explored adequately. It becomes a fairly significant plot point through one of the side characters. It felt a bit inserted (almost stereotypically if you ask me), especially since there were no prior warning signs or buildup suggesting that direction.
💔 Final Thoughts
This was a sad book, but not in the way I personally like my sad books.
There were no smiles, and no emotional payoff for the investment I put into it.
The blurb does not really prepare you for how much space and mental energy the abusive relationship occupies. Meanwhile, the real romantic relationship between Chase and Annalise only takes up about 30% of the book.
The characters are not one-dimensional, but the book focuses on the ONE reality and the ONE dream, making it all feel like it’s told in a tunnel vision manner.
I come to JH books for the beautiful thread of how trauma and baggage manifest in people, and for the authentic healing journeys that breathe life into readers.
Unfortunately, I cannot say I found that here. And to my dismay, I ended up skimming the last 35% because I was emotionally exhausted and just wanted to reach the end.
I received an ARC as part of Jennifer Hartmann’s Content Team.
--
Pre-read:
Time to cry
--
JUST LANDED IN MY LIBRARY!
The bliss of being on JH content team🥰🥰🥰
This was very emotionally taxing, and unfortunately, not with even one ounce of the emotional gratification of healing that I usually get from JH books.
I think the first thing we need to do is reframe expectations before going into this book:
• It is not forbidden romance; it is much closer to a love triangle.🔺
• The first 55% focuses primarily on the cycle of abuse and gives a very strong depiction of a relationship with a manipulative, narcissistically inclined partner.
• While the book is angsty, the tension itself isn’t really there, which makes it lack the emotional punch it could have delivered.
🧠 Annalise & the Cycle of Abuse
Reading this felt like having the same exact conversation over and over again with a best friend stuck in an abusive relationship.
The amount of guilt Annie internalises, along with the constant “I’m not enough” and “I should try to fix this” narrative, really showcases how damaging an abuser can be to the way their victim sees themselves.
You clearly see how someone becomes trapped in that loop: the entire world points out something they can see as well, yet they still refuse to accept it and keep offering excuses.
And listen, you need to be prepared for this part. It is very present and takes up a huge chunk of the book.
It also includes a clear — though not graphically described — non-con moment, which, up till now, is not mentioned in the Content Warning section.
🌿 The Missing Healing
What I usually seek in JH books is the way she puts the healing process into words that hurt beautifully.
But throughout this book, despite the many phases and opportunities Annalise goes through and gets, she does not actively heal from what the abusive relationship did to her and her psyche.
Her choices change, yes.
But even when she believes she is choosing herself, we do not see that choice translate into behavioural or psychological change that reflects true internal freedom or self-love.
Because of that, the parallels drawn between the two relationships — emotionally and practically — do not land differently from Annie’s side. She hasn’t grown beyond the cycle of abuse yet.
The difference between the relationships ends up being Chase: his behaviour, his intentions, the reasoning behind his choices and his words.
And I expected more from that dynamic. It hurt a bit that I didn’t find it.
🤔 The Alex POVs
Throughout the book, we also get POV chapters from Alex (the abuser).
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why these chapters exist.
Are they supposed to create sympathy?
Show us the mind of an abuser?
Soften the emotional blow of certain moments by giving his perspective?
I genuinely don’t know.
But instead of adding depth, they mostly frustrated me.
🎸 Chase’s Arc
Chase is consistently a good guy throughout the book. He makes decent choices, even when he makes mistakes. He carries a lot of pain and guilt.
But I wouldn’t go as far as calling him a “tragic hero”.
The reason is that a large part of his own healing journey gets sidelined. Much of his POV focuses on his falling for Annalise and trying to push her toward seeing herself as enough, seeing the talent she has.
His own tragic story only really resurfaces around 78% of the book, and it arrives in a way that feels very isolating for us as readers.
✍️ Narrative Instrument Choices?
I also noticed a shift in the writing style.
At the beginning, the narration really leaned into the poetic and lyrical minds of both Chase and Annalise. But as the story progressed, that tone slowly disappeared and moved toward something more neutral.
I don’t believe this was a conscious stylistic choice, because the moments where that lyrical voice should have been strongest — when these two were supposedly at their peak — were actually where it was most absent.
There were also narrative sections that felt more like recounting or listing events rather than letting us experience them through storytelling. Ironically, those moments were often supposed to be the emotional payoff for readers, but instead they felt flat and stale.
While I’m mentioning structural choices, substance abuse is brought up briefly and not explored adequately. It becomes a fairly significant plot point through one of the side characters. It felt a bit inserted (almost stereotypically if you ask me), especially since there were no prior warning signs or buildup suggesting that direction.
💔 Final Thoughts
This was a sad book, but not in the way I personally like my sad books.
There were no smiles, and no emotional payoff for the investment I put into it.
The blurb does not really prepare you for how much space and mental energy the abusive relationship occupies. Meanwhile, the real romantic relationship between Chase and Annalise only takes up about 30% of the book.
The characters are not one-dimensional, but the book focuses on the ONE reality and the ONE dream, making it all feel like it’s told in a tunnel vision manner.
I come to JH books for the beautiful thread of how trauma and baggage manifest in people, and for the authentic healing journeys that breathe life into readers.
Unfortunately, I cannot say I found that here. And to my dismay, I ended up skimming the last 35% because I was emotionally exhausted and just wanted to reach the end.
I received an ARC as part of Jennifer Hartmann’s Content Team.
--
Pre-read:
Time to cry
--
JUST LANDED IN MY LIBRARY!
The bliss of being on JH content team🥰🥰🥰
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️ 5 ⭐️ Why do Hartmanns books hit so hard? She writes about the most broken, bleeding kindred souls who are so lost and hurting and she sets them together on a path of heartache and healing. Hartmann has such a way with words--the adrenaline, the rush, the high, the crash.
The yearning.
The almost.
The not yet.
She writes that songs have lungs but for me it's her words. Her words are the air that I breathe or the breath that I hold when I read her stories. Her words carry so much weight and there is always so much meaning between the lines, I simply can't put into words how much of my younger self I see in ALL of her characters and stories. I feel like I find pieces of myself hidden in the journey that she takes us on.
In Pieces of the Night, Annalise and Chase are two broken chords navigating grief, hope and betrayal while chasing dreams and stars, always reaching but never touching. Annalise Adams is singer/vocalist in an emotionally abusive relationship while Chase Rhodes is a broken and bleeding man, also a musician that is struggling with grief. Fate brings them together and what starts as a quiet midnight escape turns into something unstoppable and tragically beautiful.
Their love is that of a broken record where being broken is the loudest quiet ever. She is his midnight, the broken pieces of the night. He's the truth that unravels all the lies she used to live by. The title of the book has so much hidden meaning! It will tug on all your heart strings! This is one of those stories that will stay with you for a long time. Simply breathtaking..
Jennifer, I can’t thank you enough for sending me this ARC and being part of your team!
The yearning.
The almost.
The not yet.
She writes that songs have lungs but for me it's her words. Her words are the air that I breathe or the breath that I hold when I read her stories. Her words carry so much weight and there is always so much meaning between the lines, I simply can't put into words how much of my younger self I see in ALL of her characters and stories. I feel like I find pieces of myself hidden in the journey that she takes us on.
In Pieces of the Night, Annalise and Chase are two broken chords navigating grief, hope and betrayal while chasing dreams and stars, always reaching but never touching. Annalise Adams is singer/vocalist in an emotionally abusive relationship while Chase Rhodes is a broken and bleeding man, also a musician that is struggling with grief. Fate brings them together and what starts as a quiet midnight escape turns into something unstoppable and tragically beautiful.
Their love is that of a broken record where being broken is the loudest quiet ever. She is his midnight, the broken pieces of the night. He's the truth that unravels all the lies she used to live by. The title of the book has so much hidden meaning! It will tug on all your heart strings! This is one of those stories that will stay with you for a long time. Simply breathtaking..
Jennifer, I can’t thank you enough for sending me this ARC and being part of your team!
April 15, 2026
it’s currently 12am and I’m bawling my eyes out to my husband explaining this book.
April 21, 2026
4.25 stars—JH writing always grips you in right from the beginning and this book was no exception
April 11, 2026
When you learn what the title means 😭😭😭 I am done. This is probably my favorite rockstar romance yet!
“See you at midnight”
Honesty - I’m blown away with this book! It was so good. I was so hooked into the story and then the last 10% had me in tears. So emotional!
Not only did I love Chase and Annie but I also loved the side characters! Tag was the perfect protective brother!
My one and only complaint was that this felt a tad long and at times dragged a bit but all in all - I truly enjoyed this and Jennifer Hartmann truly never misses.
“I’m trying to be easier to see” GOODNIGHT, I was done for!!!!
“We’re not written in the stars. We are the stars.”
4.5⭐️
Rockstar romance
Slow burn
Love triangle
Emotional read
He falls first
Found family
Angst
Broken MMC
Yearning
Forbidden
“See you at midnight”
Honesty - I’m blown away with this book! It was so good. I was so hooked into the story and then the last 10% had me in tears. So emotional!
Not only did I love Chase and Annie but I also loved the side characters! Tag was the perfect protective brother!
My one and only complaint was that this felt a tad long and at times dragged a bit but all in all - I truly enjoyed this and Jennifer Hartmann truly never misses.
“I’m trying to be easier to see” GOODNIGHT, I was done for!!!!
“We’re not written in the stars. We are the stars.”
4.5⭐️
Rockstar romance
Slow burn
Love triangle
Emotional read
He falls first
Found family
Angst
Broken MMC
Yearning
Forbidden
Review of advance copy received from Author
As always, Jennifer’s book made me feel the whole spectrum of emotions! This is a love story deeply intertwined with music. The writing is very poetic, and the book even has its own single, No Maps—which is so cool!
The main characters are two broken kindred souls who had to go through so much before they could finally find happiness. I loved Chase right away—he supported Annalise so much and longed for her, and I was really rooting for her to finally choose him.
The last part of the book kept me on edge, and my heart broke when I realized the hidden meaning behind the title!💔
I also have to say that Jennifer creates the best playlists! Thanks to her, I keep rediscovering old songs. I can’t even count how many times I listened to While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Hallelujah. So if you want to fully experience the atmosphere of this book, I definitely recommend reading it with the playlist!
I can’t wait for more books from the Queen of angsty romances!❤️🩹
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓ rockstar romance
✓ he falls first
✓slow burn
✓found family
✓tragic hero
✓angsty
Thank you so much, Jennifer Hartmann, for the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Pre-read: What could be better than getting an ARC from your favorite author?
The main characters are two broken kindred souls who had to go through so much before they could finally find happiness. I loved Chase right away—he supported Annalise so much and longed for her, and I was really rooting for her to finally choose him.
The last part of the book kept me on edge, and my heart broke when I realized the hidden meaning behind the title!💔
I also have to say that Jennifer creates the best playlists! Thanks to her, I keep rediscovering old songs. I can’t even count how many times I listened to While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Hallelujah. So if you want to fully experience the atmosphere of this book, I definitely recommend reading it with the playlist!
I can’t wait for more books from the Queen of angsty romances!❤️🩹
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓ rockstar romance
✓ he falls first
✓slow burn
✓found family
✓tragic hero
✓angsty
Thank you so much, Jennifer Hartmann, for the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Pre-read: What could be better than getting an ARC from your favorite author?
April 22, 2026
I really enjoyed this one!! I don’t think I could ever not like a Jennifer Hartmann book!
May 6, 2026
4 stars
I’m not gonna lie, this one stressed me out a bit. It had some really angsty moments, had a troupe or two I don’t love, but Jennifer Hartmann’s writing is always fantastic and I loved getting all the feels with Chase and Annie’s story. A solid read!
I’m not gonna lie, this one stressed me out a bit. It had some really angsty moments, had a troupe or two I don’t love, but Jennifer Hartmann’s writing is always fantastic and I loved getting all the feels with Chase and Annie’s story. A solid read!
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Angelina Rocca & Austin Stone
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 17h 57m
April 28, 2026
"For so long, I’ve let him define me. What I am, what I’m worth, what damage I’m capable of. And I realize now… That was the point.
That was the cage.
He needed me to believe I ruined everything so he didn’t have to face who he’s become."🔥
This is the type of book that if it resonates with you, it will stick with you for a while! I have not been able to find another author who can write with the gut-wrenching depth that Jennifer Hartman can. I don't know what it is but she can make you feel like no other. And I think the best part of her writing is that it's so realistic and relatable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
🌶️🌶️
If you have ever been in a verbally abusive relationship that you couldn't see a way out of this book is going to hit you hard. I related so deeply to this, having gone through something similar in a relationship. It was beautiful to read the trauma and growth, and the truths and knowledge I now know to be true depicted in writing. I hope this book gives strength to anyone going through something like this, so they know their self-worth and that no one can take that away from you!
Needless to say this was a beautiful master piece for me!
*Trauma
*Heartbreak
*Character Growth
*Strength
*Realism
*Life Truths
*Poetry
*Depth
There were some parts that seemed long and our FMC had a lot of emotion throughout the book but it was all really realistic with the trauma and story. As a whole, though, it was exquisitely done. You can tell Jennifer put a lot of heart into this! 🥰 I cant wait to see what's next!
That was the cage.
He needed me to believe I ruined everything so he didn’t have to face who he’s become."🔥
This is the type of book that if it resonates with you, it will stick with you for a while! I have not been able to find another author who can write with the gut-wrenching depth that Jennifer Hartman can. I don't know what it is but she can make you feel like no other. And I think the best part of her writing is that it's so realistic and relatable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
🌶️🌶️
If you have ever been in a verbally abusive relationship that you couldn't see a way out of this book is going to hit you hard. I related so deeply to this, having gone through something similar in a relationship. It was beautiful to read the trauma and growth, and the truths and knowledge I now know to be true depicted in writing. I hope this book gives strength to anyone going through something like this, so they know their self-worth and that no one can take that away from you!
Needless to say this was a beautiful master piece for me!
*Trauma
*Heartbreak
*Character Growth
*Strength
*Realism
*Life Truths
*Poetry
*Depth
There were some parts that seemed long and our FMC had a lot of emotion throughout the book but it was all really realistic with the trauma and story. As a whole, though, it was exquisitely done. You can tell Jennifer put a lot of heart into this! 🥰 I cant wait to see what's next!
Want to Read
March 2, 2026Roll on release day, anything this author writes, I will read..Everything she writes brings all those angsty, gut wrenching feels so I am excited for this one..
April 16, 2026
Honestly, it felt like the author’s heart just wasn’t in it. The whole thing came across as very “meh.” I didn’t like it.
March 12, 2026
3.5 stars and I am shocked 🫨 jennifer hartmann is consistently a 4.5 or 5 star author for me but this didn’t hit the same for me 🤷🏼♀️
let’s run through the good & the bad.
the good:
- jennifer hartmann is a genius with words & her writing is consistently some of the most beautiful. a book bathed in a love & appreciation for music & lyrics was the perfect path for her. every page was overflowing with beauty.
- the found family in this one is unmatched. a band of misfits, all fitting together in this complicated puzzle that doesn’t always make sense at first glance, but fits together perfectly.
- the midnight sessions were my favorite chapters. no frills, just two friends with underlying feelings, sitting under the moon & writing lyrics. talk about the mundane but the beautiful.
- the crazy meet cute at the beginning was a wild ride & I loved every second of it.
- him being the only one to call her annie >>> 🥹😍
the not so good:
- I really didn’t love that annie was in a relationship for over half of this book. didn’t like the cheating, didn’t like the midnight hangout sessions where they obviously were feeling each other - idk felt very icky to me. not that I liked alex because I didn’t, but I just wanted her to cut that off so much earlier.
- the ending felt rushed. the conflict the entire story was alex and then bam!! another bigger fiasco comes into view at 85% and is somehow completely resolved by the epilogue. I know it was slightly foreshadowed, but it just kind of came out of nowhere & then was cleaned up in a few chapters.
I love love LOVE jennifer hartmann. I could spend hours rattling off all of my faves by her & what they mean to me. this is the outlier - and that’s okay! you don’t have to love every romance book by your fave author ❤️🔥
thank you netgalley for the arc!!!
let’s run through the good & the bad.
the good:
- jennifer hartmann is a genius with words & her writing is consistently some of the most beautiful. a book bathed in a love & appreciation for music & lyrics was the perfect path for her. every page was overflowing with beauty.
- the found family in this one is unmatched. a band of misfits, all fitting together in this complicated puzzle that doesn’t always make sense at first glance, but fits together perfectly.
- the midnight sessions were my favorite chapters. no frills, just two friends with underlying feelings, sitting under the moon & writing lyrics. talk about the mundane but the beautiful.
- the crazy meet cute at the beginning was a wild ride & I loved every second of it.
- him being the only one to call her annie >>> 🥹😍
the not so good:
- I really didn’t love that annie was in a relationship for over half of this book. didn’t like the cheating, didn’t like the midnight hangout sessions where they obviously were feeling each other - idk felt very icky to me. not that I liked alex because I didn’t, but I just wanted her to cut that off so much earlier.
- the ending felt rushed. the conflict the entire story was alex and then bam!! another bigger fiasco comes into view at 85% and is somehow completely resolved by the epilogue. I know it was slightly foreshadowed, but it just kind of came out of nowhere & then was cleaned up in a few chapters.
I love love LOVE jennifer hartmann. I could spend hours rattling off all of my faves by her & what they mean to me. this is the outlier - and that’s okay! you don’t have to love every romance book by your fave author ❤️🔥
thank you netgalley for the arc!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Jennifer Hartmann and her team for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Well... fuck
I actually wasn't expecting another Jennifer Hartmann book to absolutely wreck me, but this definitely did! I was laughing and grinning and swooning and crying non-stop throughout the book and I loved every single word that Hartmann put into this! It's so tender and beautiful and emotional! Such a perfect story!!!
I was actually sobbing by the end because for me this was definitely a perfect romance book and one of my favorites from her. I love her dark romance books, but I have such a soft spot for her contemporary books because they are perfection!
Well... fuck
I actually wasn't expecting another Jennifer Hartmann book to absolutely wreck me, but this definitely did! I was laughing and grinning and swooning and crying non-stop throughout the book and I loved every single word that Hartmann put into this! It's so tender and beautiful and emotional! Such a perfect story!!!
I was actually sobbing by the end because for me this was definitely a perfect romance book and one of my favorites from her. I love her dark romance books, but I have such a soft spot for her contemporary books because they are perfection!
April 11, 2026
1.75 stars
This was so fucking corny, my god. I don’t know how I got through this entire book front to back because the cheesy dialogue near killed me. The bland as fuck characters, please. Don’t get me started on the internal monologue and dialogue, nobody talks like that in real life.
Them blowing up overnight and immediately going on tour. You jump high fast, you fall down fast, all im saying.
I didn’t feel anything from this story. No connection between the characters. No depth or angst or emotion whatsoever. It just felt so lifeless and lackluster all the way through. The characters didn’t feel real. I wasn’t living the story it just felt like I was reading words.
This doesn’t even deserve two stars so I don’t know why I’m giving it more than it deserves. JH has always delivered great angst in her books and great chemistry between her couples. It was very absent in this one.
I think I’m becoming less and less impressed by romance books everyday, the quality of the stories have just been deteriorating so detrimentally lately… but maybe I’m just not looking in the right places for the real gems, because I deeply love this genre. I think it’s also not easy to really nail a rockstar romance. I’ve only ever loved one and nothing will come close to it, that’s for sure.
If you’re looking for a shit book with shallow characters - look no further. It’s right here.
This was so fucking corny, my god. I don’t know how I got through this entire book front to back because the cheesy dialogue near killed me. The bland as fuck characters, please. Don’t get me started on the internal monologue and dialogue, nobody talks like that in real life.
Them blowing up overnight and immediately going on tour. You jump high fast, you fall down fast, all im saying.
I didn’t feel anything from this story. No connection between the characters. No depth or angst or emotion whatsoever. It just felt so lifeless and lackluster all the way through. The characters didn’t feel real. I wasn’t living the story it just felt like I was reading words.
This doesn’t even deserve two stars so I don’t know why I’m giving it more than it deserves. JH has always delivered great angst in her books and great chemistry between her couples. It was very absent in this one.
I think I’m becoming less and less impressed by romance books everyday, the quality of the stories have just been deteriorating so detrimentally lately… but maybe I’m just not looking in the right places for the real gems, because I deeply love this genre. I think it’s also not easy to really nail a rockstar romance. I’ve only ever loved one and nothing will come close to it, that’s for sure.
If you’re looking for a shit book with shallow characters - look no further. It’s right here.
April 10, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ I really wanted to love this book as I’m a sucker for an angsty rockstar romance, however, this came off as whiney and immature. The best part of this book was probably the dog named Toaster.
March 27, 2026
“You smile, I smile. It’s as simple as that.” - 4.5 🌟 - Chase & Annie were absolutely incredible.
The levels of yearning in this book exceeded any and all expectations.
This book went into a direction I was no excepting but in true Jennifer Hartmann fashion she ended up making me cry.
This was soft and sweet and the found family was absolutely incredible.
Nothing is better than a rockstar romance 🌟🩵
**ARC REVIEW**
The levels of yearning in this book exceeded any and all expectations.
This book went into a direction I was no excepting but in true Jennifer Hartmann fashion she ended up making me cry.
This was soft and sweet and the found family was absolutely incredible.
Nothing is better than a rockstar romance 🌟🩵
**ARC REVIEW**
April 22, 2026
What starts as a chance encounter between Annalise and Chase leads to so much more as they embark on both friendship and a collaborative arrangement that catapults their music careers.
I can always trust Jennifer Hartmann to deliver a powerhouse of emotions in the form of an angsty, turbulent love story, and that she did with Pieces of the Night. This complex, well-developed, slow-burn story of two young adults, each struggling to find their place in the world while battling their own internal demons, was wrought with tension.
Though the natural fit would be to gravitate towards Anna’s character, I often felt drawn to the dynamic Chase, flaws and all, and I am pretty sure my heart broke for him more times than I could count. And that, even more than the love story, made this an emotional humdinger. Be prepared with the tissues, my friends!
I have virtually no reading triggers, but I do struggle when books include brain cancer. My beloved aunt died at 53 from a glioblastoma, and after witnessing the way she suffered for 15 months, I have an incredibly difficult time reading about it in books, particularly when it’s an undisclosed plot point. As a result, I did struggle a bit getting through this story. If you’re like me, please be aware of its inclusion before going in.
Read if you like:
▪️coming of age stories
▪️rockstar romance
▪️friends to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️emotional love stories
▪️dual POV
‼️CW: emotional and physical abuse; brain cancer
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Bloom Books for the gifted copy.
I can always trust Jennifer Hartmann to deliver a powerhouse of emotions in the form of an angsty, turbulent love story, and that she did with Pieces of the Night. This complex, well-developed, slow-burn story of two young adults, each struggling to find their place in the world while battling their own internal demons, was wrought with tension.
Though the natural fit would be to gravitate towards Anna’s character, I often felt drawn to the dynamic Chase, flaws and all, and I am pretty sure my heart broke for him more times than I could count. And that, even more than the love story, made this an emotional humdinger. Be prepared with the tissues, my friends!
I have virtually no reading triggers, but I do struggle when books include brain cancer. My beloved aunt died at 53 from a glioblastoma, and after witnessing the way she suffered for 15 months, I have an incredibly difficult time reading about it in books, particularly when it’s an undisclosed plot point. As a result, I did struggle a bit getting through this story. If you’re like me, please be aware of its inclusion before going in.
Read if you like:
▪️coming of age stories
▪️rockstar romance
▪️friends to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️emotional love stories
▪️dual POV
‼️CW: emotional and physical abuse; brain cancer
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Bloom Books for the gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 4 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
"You smile, I smile. It's as simple as that."
"We're not written in the stars. We are the stars."
wow. i am still trying to process all the emotions jennifer hartmann made me feel while reading this book. my heart absolutely broke when i finally realised what the title meant.
the writing in pieces of the night is beautiful and poetic. since this is a rockstar romance, the book incorporates a lot of lyrics and music references and it was just so unique and cool to see! i also really liked the found family aspect within this book. it wasn't just with annalise and chase, but with the whole band as well. i really liked those side characters, each is like a lost puzzle piece and they become whole when they're all together.
annalise and chase have my heart. the way they were just two broken souls trying to navigate life but then at the same time trying to chase their dreams made my heart ache. we have to see them hurt before they finally find happiness. something i haven't mentioned yet but really enjoyed was the insane way these two met. this instantly grabbed my interest because i honestly couldn't think of a crazier way LOL.
one thing i didn't really like was the cheating trope. unfortunately, i'm not a fan of that. it's not because i liked alex, but rather the idea itself. but that's my only complaint, because this was a great and emotional story!
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, and Jennifer Hartmann for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
pre-read:
ahhh i got a netgalley widget from team jennifer hartmann for this arc! this is so exciting and i'm so grateful! 🤭🤭
"You smile, I smile. It's as simple as that."
"We're not written in the stars. We are the stars."
wow. i am still trying to process all the emotions jennifer hartmann made me feel while reading this book. my heart absolutely broke when i finally realised what the title meant.
the writing in pieces of the night is beautiful and poetic. since this is a rockstar romance, the book incorporates a lot of lyrics and music references and it was just so unique and cool to see! i also really liked the found family aspect within this book. it wasn't just with annalise and chase, but with the whole band as well. i really liked those side characters, each is like a lost puzzle piece and they become whole when they're all together.
annalise and chase have my heart. the way they were just two broken souls trying to navigate life but then at the same time trying to chase their dreams made my heart ache. we have to see them hurt before they finally find happiness. something i haven't mentioned yet but really enjoyed was the insane way these two met. this instantly grabbed my interest because i honestly couldn't think of a crazier way LOL.
one thing i didn't really like was the cheating trope. unfortunately, i'm not a fan of that. it's not because i liked alex, but rather the idea itself. but that's my only complaint, because this was a great and emotional story!
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, and Jennifer Hartmann for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
pre-read:
ahhh i got a netgalley widget from team jennifer hartmann for this arc! this is so exciting and i'm so grateful! 🤭🤭
April 22, 2026
I keep trying to write this review, and it's hard to put into words how good this was!! Musician romances hold a special place in my heart, and I've loved almost every one I've read - -
- If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden
- The Words by A. Jade
- Still Into You by Erin Connor
A few things I love more than anything in romance novels, and that are readily present in PotN:
✅ - Angst
✅ - A little something beneath the surface that you're invested in figuring out
✅ - Real emotional upheavals and major life changes
✅ - intense character growth and hard choices
All of these were amazing, and Pieces of the Night was an easy mental/emotional addition to their ranks!! I had such an amazing time reading, and it's not often that a reveal leaves me speechless or has me wanting to order one of the author's backlist immediately - but Pieces of the Night did on both accounts. I won't spoil the ending for you - but Pieces of the Night would make a truly incredible movie for an 'in sickness and in health' style of love story!
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🖤
- If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden
- The Words by A. Jade
- Still Into You by Erin Connor
A few things I love more than anything in romance novels, and that are readily present in PotN:
✅ - Angst
✅ - A little something beneath the surface that you're invested in figuring out
✅ - Real emotional upheavals and major life changes
✅ - intense character growth and hard choices
All of these were amazing, and Pieces of the Night was an easy mental/emotional addition to their ranks!! I had such an amazing time reading, and it's not often that a reveal leaves me speechless or has me wanting to order one of the author's backlist immediately - but Pieces of the Night did on both accounts. I won't spoil the ending for you - but Pieces of the Night would make a truly incredible movie for an 'in sickness and in health' style of love story!
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🖤
April 14, 2026
DNF @ 27% . I wanted to love this but I really couldn’t stand it . I totally understand it’s a rockstar romance thing but it was just TOO cringy and the FMC & MMC were just pissing me off .
Not to mention the audio for this book is annoying as shit .
Not to mention the audio for this book is annoying as shit .
April 10, 2026
this is by far my new favorite jennifer hartmann book. I was a little skeptical in the first like 10 pages because I thought this was about to be her same kidnapping storyline but then it completely took a different turn!!
this is basically daisy jones and the six, if it did a little bit of crack. it fully immersed me in the on tour, traveling in a band, rockstar lifestyle. I really loved the mmc. I know he's supposed to be the "bad guy" but IDC. this man was a green flag for me even when it was red. I support his wrongs.
this book did such a good job of pissing me off, making me giggle, and then making me want to cry. THE PLOT TWIST at the end? BROKE my heart into millions of pieces, pun intended
thank you so much to sourcebooks for providing me with this ARC ⭐️ I'm honored to have it on my shelf
this is basically daisy jones and the six, if it did a little bit of crack. it fully immersed me in the on tour, traveling in a band, rockstar lifestyle. I really loved the mmc. I know he's supposed to be the "bad guy" but IDC. this man was a green flag for me even when it was red. I support his wrongs.
this book did such a good job of pissing me off, making me giggle, and then making me want to cry. THE PLOT TWIST at the end? BROKE my heart into millions of pieces, pun intended
thank you so much to sourcebooks for providing me with this ARC ⭐️ I'm honored to have it on my shelf
April 12, 2026
5 ⭐️
Am I crying because this book really broke me?
Or am I crying because Justin Bieber performed my favorite songs from my childhood???
This book really broke me and healed me in the same way. Jennifer Hartmann always makes me cry. There are many good things in this book: the forbidden love trope, the friends-to-lovers trope, forced proximity, musicians, a band, and self-development. It was a really emotional book.
The characters suffered from different situations, but at the end they all helped each other to survive.
I recommend this book if you are a fan of musicians, a band, a forbidden relationship and emotions, and emotional damage.
Am I crying because this book really broke me?
Or am I crying because Justin Bieber performed my favorite songs from my childhood???
This book really broke me and healed me in the same way. Jennifer Hartmann always makes me cry. There are many good things in this book: the forbidden love trope, the friends-to-lovers trope, forced proximity, musicians, a band, and self-development. It was a really emotional book.
The characters suffered from different situations, but at the end they all helped each other to survive.
I recommend this book if you are a fan of musicians, a band, a forbidden relationship and emotions, and emotional damage.
April 16, 2026
fate is real and it’s beautiful 🥹 i love jennifer hartman
April 6, 2026
4.5 ✨
Tento príbeh sa mi vypálil do hlavy, pretože pre mňa hudba znamená veľa a vy si musíte knihu jednoducho prečítať, aby ste pochopili moje pocity. Nedokážem ich popísať.
Jenn vytvorila dokonalú atmosféru ako keby som knihu nie len čítala, ale aj cítila. Už len prostredníctvom odkazov na konkrétne songy alebo originálne úrivky piesní, ktoré písala hlavná hrdinka. (Pustite si playlist!)
Čo sa týka romantickej linky, tak to nebolo vôbec nič dokonalé. Stretnutie dvoch zlomených umeleckých duší v zlom čase. Jeden z nich uviaznutý v stereotypnom toxickom vzťahu plnom kontroly, druhý zasa pretĺkajúci sa životom bez cieľa a plný smútku.
Mieša sa tu ľúbostný trojuholník so zakázanou láskou a čo ma rozrušilo je fakt, že sa Jenn pohybovala na hranici cheating trope. Bola som ako na ihlách, čítala pomaly cez prsty a čakala či sa táto hranica prekročí alebo nie.
Milujem momenty v knihe kedy si postavy ukradli svoju polnoc, robili to čo ich napĺňa, prehlbovali svoje priateľstvá a hnali sa za snami. Ako čitateľ som bola priamo pri zrode kapely a sama si prosím do nejakej patriť 🥺. Jenn dokonalo opísala ťažkú cestu za slávou.
Všetci samozrejme očakávame tú časť kedy nás jej príbehy zlomia a samozrejme tento nebol výnimkou. Celkou dlhú dobu na to pripravovala a v tomto bode som trochu sklamaná, pretože mohla vyťažiť viac. Zdalo sa mi to zrýchlené a v úzkosti som sa nerochnila toľko koľko by som chcela (hej, masochista 😂)
Ale čo si budeme, aj tak som spokojná a knihu najviac odporúčam.
Tento príbeh sa mi vypálil do hlavy, pretože pre mňa hudba znamená veľa a vy si musíte knihu jednoducho prečítať, aby ste pochopili moje pocity. Nedokážem ich popísať.
Jenn vytvorila dokonalú atmosféru ako keby som knihu nie len čítala, ale aj cítila. Už len prostredníctvom odkazov na konkrétne songy alebo originálne úrivky piesní, ktoré písala hlavná hrdinka. (Pustite si playlist!)
Čo sa týka romantickej linky, tak to nebolo vôbec nič dokonalé. Stretnutie dvoch zlomených umeleckých duší v zlom čase. Jeden z nich uviaznutý v stereotypnom toxickom vzťahu plnom kontroly, druhý zasa pretĺkajúci sa životom bez cieľa a plný smútku.
Mieša sa tu ľúbostný trojuholník so zakázanou láskou a čo ma rozrušilo je fakt, že sa Jenn pohybovala na hranici cheating trope. Bola som ako na ihlách, čítala pomaly cez prsty a čakala či sa táto hranica prekročí alebo nie.
Milujem momenty v knihe kedy si postavy ukradli svoju polnoc, robili to čo ich napĺňa, prehlbovali svoje priateľstvá a hnali sa za snami. Ako čitateľ som bola priamo pri zrode kapely a sama si prosím do nejakej patriť 🥺. Jenn dokonalo opísala ťažkú cestu za slávou.
Všetci samozrejme očakávame tú časť kedy nás jej príbehy zlomia a samozrejme tento nebol výnimkou. Celkou dlhú dobu na to pripravovala a v tomto bode som trochu sklamaná, pretože mohla vyťažiť viac. Zdalo sa mi to zrýchlené a v úzkosti som sa nerochnila toľko koľko by som chcela (hej, masochista 😂)
Ale čo si budeme, aj tak som spokojná a knihu najviac odporúčam.
March 19, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ ARC Review - I was smiling, swooning, giddy and in pain the whole way through. This is a true slow burn, the kind that builds so beautifully so when it finally hits, the TENSION is painfully perfect. At its heart, it’s a tender story about two broken people finding comfort and solace in each other. The element of found family is KEY throughout the story and is so heartwarming.
I must have highlighted at least 60 quotes 🤭 Jennifer’s way with words is just something else. The writing is so poetic it had me emotional on its own. I felt everything right alongside these characters, love, heartbreak, jealousy, sadness. That’s the magic of her storytelling… she pulls you in so deeply it all feels real, like you’re living it with them.
This was such a beautiful, emotional story! Chase & Annie have my heart.
“If this is the last time I ever see her, she needs to know it mattered. That someone like her looked at someone like me and didn’t turn the other way. “Why?”
“Because kindness is a testament to our own character. It’s not about external factors. If it ever feels difficult to be kind, we need
I must have highlighted at least 60 quotes 🤭 Jennifer’s way with words is just something else. The writing is so poetic it had me emotional on its own. I felt everything right alongside these characters, love, heartbreak, jealousy, sadness. That’s the magic of her storytelling… she pulls you in so deeply it all feels real, like you’re living it with them.
This was such a beautiful, emotional story! Chase & Annie have my heart.
“If this is the last time I ever see her, she needs to know it mattered. That someone like her looked at someone like me and didn’t turn the other way. “Why?”
“Because kindness is a testament to our own character. It’s not about external factors. If it ever feels difficult to be kind, we need
April 20, 2026
Jennifer Hartmann does it again…she is becoming one of my “if she writes it, I will buy it” authors. Her style is exactly what I’m looking for. She is so good at pulling you in and bringing the story to life in your head. You feel every word and see it vividly in your head. This story had me crying and laughing and angry and just feeling all the feels! The ending made me very happy! Definitely read this book!
March 13, 2026
3.75⭐️ as someone else in the reviews previously said, this book is absolutely giving Drive meets A Love Letter to Whiskey. A angsty, and emotional rockstar romance, only they’re both the rockstars. I had the opportunity to listen to the ALC narrated by Austin Stone and Angelina Rocca, both narrators did a phenomenal job. However, the tone that was used for Alex automatically gave me the ick for him (which is valid) but there were times Chase laughed and sounded like Alex and it immediately made me cringe, because I despised that man.
When an act of desperation leads our MMC Chase to steal a car, unknowingly kidnapping a very drunk Annie as well, fate was absolutely at play. Annie is struggling to find her place, wanting to chase her dreams through napkin lyrics, all while struggling with a plethora of guilt from a tragic accident that happened when she was 16. All while feeling trapped, and obligated in an unhealthy relationship. One terrible decision made by Chase that night was the stepping stone to the ripple effect that leads to late moonlit lyric sessions, a band that was meant to be, and collateral damage left in his wake that may end up saving his life in the end.
This book deals with grief, and makes you wonder if the people that crash into your life is an act of fate, even if it’s by terrible circumstances. While I absolutely despised Annie’s boyfriend, this book does have the cheating trope (emotional, and a kiss).
While I loved the story, the side characters, as well as Chase (and Annie when she pulled her head out of her a**). I found this to be a tad repetitive, even the similar issue between the 2 male love interests, while the ending felt very rushed, I felt like I wanted more. There is another trope in this book other than cheating I don’t particularly care for, but unfortunately I feel like it’s too much of a spoiler to share. This was a solid emotional book by Jennifer Hartmann, it just wasn’t my favorite of hers.
Thank you so much to Podium Entertainment for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
When an act of desperation leads our MMC Chase to steal a car, unknowingly kidnapping a very drunk Annie as well, fate was absolutely at play. Annie is struggling to find her place, wanting to chase her dreams through napkin lyrics, all while struggling with a plethora of guilt from a tragic accident that happened when she was 16. All while feeling trapped, and obligated in an unhealthy relationship. One terrible decision made by Chase that night was the stepping stone to the ripple effect that leads to late moonlit lyric sessions, a band that was meant to be, and collateral damage left in his wake that may end up saving his life in the end.
This book deals with grief, and makes you wonder if the people that crash into your life is an act of fate, even if it’s by terrible circumstances. While I absolutely despised Annie’s boyfriend, this book does have the cheating trope (emotional, and a kiss).
While I loved the story, the side characters, as well as Chase (and Annie when she pulled her head out of her a**). I found this to be a tad repetitive, even the similar issue between the 2 male love interests, while the ending felt very rushed, I felt like I wanted more. There is another trope in this book other than cheating I don’t particularly care for, but unfortunately I feel like it’s too much of a spoiler to share. This was a solid emotional book by Jennifer Hartmann, it just wasn’t my favorite of hers.
Thank you so much to Podium Entertainment for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2026
As a long time fan of Jennifer Hartmann’s writing as well as a professional singer for half of my life, I was excited to pick this book up. As usual, I absolutely loved her beautifully descriptive and lyrical writing style. Despite not loving the magical rise to fame of the two main characters and their band, I did adore Chase and Annie’s romance. It felt like they were teenagers even though they weren’t. Every occurrence…super dramatic. Every moment…seemingly life-altering. Even Alex’s character was as unlikable as was intentioned and his characteristics hit close to home as someone who has experienced emotional abuse. All that being said, I can’t put this book in the same category as my other favorites of hers. I would say that this one and Dream On just didn’t hit like her others. But I still love you, Jennifer and will continue to read everything you write!
April 14, 2026
3.75 Stars ⭐️
April 7, 2026
4.5⭐️
I received an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jennifer Hartmann never fails to give me an emotional read that will have me invested in our characters from beginning to end.
This is the classic case of right person/wrong time where girly meets the man who is clearly meant for her but is in an awful relationship she feels like she can’t leave.
This story gave me Daisy jones and the Six vibes (if Camila was the worst) because Annalise and Chase have an immediate connection when it comes to music and songwriting and the angst and yearning was off the charts!
Annalise’s commitment to her relationship with Alex and difficulty leaving felt realistic to me given their history and dynamic. It’s so easy to convince yourself that your relationship isn’t all that bad until you’re shown what it means for someone to truly care about and support you.
Honestly, Chase is so swoon worthy, even a less awful Alex didn’t stand a chance.
I loved Annalise’s journey to truly believing in herself and her dream despite years of being with someone who belittled her.
And I absolutely loved the found family aspect of this book, especially considering how lonely Chase is when we first meet him.
Naturally this book is simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting in a way only Jennifer Hartmann books can be and I truly enjoyed every second of it.
Rockstar Romance
Right person/wrong time
Angsty
Found family
I received an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jennifer Hartmann never fails to give me an emotional read that will have me invested in our characters from beginning to end.
This is the classic case of right person/wrong time where girly meets the man who is clearly meant for her but is in an awful relationship she feels like she can’t leave.
This story gave me Daisy jones and the Six vibes (if Camila was the worst) because Annalise and Chase have an immediate connection when it comes to music and songwriting and the angst and yearning was off the charts!
Annalise’s commitment to her relationship with Alex and difficulty leaving felt realistic to me given their history and dynamic. It’s so easy to convince yourself that your relationship isn’t all that bad until you’re shown what it means for someone to truly care about and support you.
Honestly, Chase is so swoon worthy, even a less awful Alex didn’t stand a chance.
I loved Annalise’s journey to truly believing in herself and her dream despite years of being with someone who belittled her.
And I absolutely loved the found family aspect of this book, especially considering how lonely Chase is when we first meet him.
Naturally this book is simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting in a way only Jennifer Hartmann books can be and I truly enjoyed every second of it.
Rockstar Romance
Right person/wrong time
Angsty
Found family
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