The Music of Us

by Emerald Alexandrea

A fun and flirty contemporary YA novel between a cat café barista and a boy band pop star that hits all the right notes! The Music of Us is a laugh-out-loud friends-to-more romance perfect for fans of Kasie West, Beth Reekles, and Lynn Painter.

If life came with a playlist, Lucy's current era would be "stressed girl summer." While her friends are out enjoying the last summer before college, Lucy has her hands full managing her mom's quirky cat café. But with the fancy new coffee shop across the street, how will she attract enough customers to adopt the cats—or even pay the rent?

In a desperate moment, Lucy emails her ex-best friend (and first crush) Jake Moody, who’s now the resident bad boy in the massively popular boy band the Usual Suspects. Lucy hasn’t spoken to him in years—not since he kissed her and left for auditions without a backward glance. Which she’s totally not holding a grudge about, thanks for asking.

To her surprise, Jake is all in on hosting a livestream performance to raise support for the café—and salvage his image after his most recent scandal. As Jake and Lucy work together to corral his bandmates and plan the livestream, she finds her old feelings resurfacing despite her firm intentions to keep her distance. Is it possible the old Jake she knew is still hiding under his new rebellious image?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Audiobook, Family, Music, Friends To Lovers, Young Adult Romance

336 pages, Hardcover

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

Emerald believes in the power of love, music, and happy endings. You’re most likely to find her getting lost in a good book or a great song. She lives in California with her beloved packed bookshelves, vinyl collection, way too many coffee mugs, and the world’s best developmental editor, Midnight, who accepts payment in the form of tuna flakes. She’s currently working on her next novel, and is probably talking about plot points out loud to herself while her cat ignores her. To hear more about her books, cats, and coffee, connect with her insta: emeraldalexandrea

Reviews

[BookLoverAmanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Music of Us by Emerald Alexandrea
3.5 rounding up to 4 stars

Blog post:
https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...

Y'all, this was a delightful surprise! A clean, YA romance that is great for teens and young adults - and really anyone! Thank you to @librofm and @blinkyabooks for a complimentary ALC to listen to for review. I had a lot of fun with this, it was a breath of fresh air honestly. I am also OBSESSED with this cover!

So if you like boy bands, cats, cafes and sweet romance reads, this is one to pick up! Lucy is helping manage her mom's cat cafe....but the fancy coffee shop across the street is causing them to lose customers and people to adopt their special cats in the cafe. Lucy emails her ex-best friend and first crush Jake, who is in a music boy band with his friends and pretty famous, to help attract more people to the cafe via a livestream performance. But Lucy and Jake haven't talked in years....and their feelings resurface.

I think this was a fun audiobook to listen to. Yes, there was some miscommunication bits, but expected in a YA romance. I love that this was wholesome and appropriate for young readers with no explicit sexual content or language. We need more of these type of reads out there! The cats were SOOO CUTE and the narrator did a fantastic job with the voice and the tones/inflections for each character.

The family bits were great too, seeing her Mama especially was so precious.

Definitely recommend!

I received an ALC of this book from the publisher and libro.fm. All thoughts are my own.

Content: no language, no spice, kisses only, few “omg” statements, no real content warnings I found

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anyone is in the mood to revisit the days where they would stay up late on Wattpad reading boy band fan fiction, this one is totally for you!

I did not expect to love a YA second chance romance about a boy band saving their childhood friend’s cat cafe, but as a girl who was a teen during One Direction’s prime time, I stood no chance here. This book was so cute and fun! I wish I could have read this when I was 14, but even now I loved how funny and well written it was. I’m also literally always down for a second chance romance so this book was perfect for me!

Thank you Blink and NetGalley for the eARC!

[mimi ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute and fun listen!!! I loved the romantic aspect of it all, cozy setting, perfect for when I’m doing little hobbies like lego or procrastinating packing for my trip 🫡🫡

The audiobook narrator was great, I thought she was a perfect fit for the FMC and I felt more immersed!

The characters were a little bit cliche, but with the authors own little touch, which made them less insufferable than some of the other books I’ve read where it never gets altered. There were so many points in the plot where it was so obvious where it was going (once again with the cliche thing) so I basically predicted the whole entire book. In a romance I’m still always looking for that plot twist and extra depth in the characters, like real vulnerability and I just didn’t really get that from this book. Still a very cute read for passing time though, so no huge complaints!!

Thank you to HCCP & HCF Audio, Emerald Alexandra and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own!

[Athena 💗 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute!!!!

I’m a sucker for a cute friends to lovers YA romance and The Music Of Us did not disappoint. This book was the perfect balance of sweet and silly. I felt like the content was age appropriate for a younger crowd and I will definitely be adding this to my list of book recs for the younger romance readers in my life.

📖🎧I read this in tandem with the e-arc and audio and I highly suggest skipping over the audio on this one. The voice narrator was not a good fit for Lucy. Sarah Beth Goer’s narration was giving much older woman and I feel like she dropped the ball on bringing the lightheartedness to the story and characters. As far as the writing itself goes, it was very well written. The storyline is basic but considering it’s focused for a younger audience I didn’t mind it.

Many thanks to the publishers at Blink for an advanced readers copy of The Music Of Us by Emerald Alexandrea.

[Mrs. Beady P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved this as an ARC read for an honest review.

The Music of Us is a cute YA friends to lovers story. Jake and Lucy start off as friends in high school and Jake is on his way to becoming a well known musician in a boy band. It's giving One Direction vibes.

Jake becomes a well known pop-star with a group called US; Usual Suspects. Lucy feels forgotten about after many attempts of trying to get hold of him and their friendship falls apart.

During their separation, Lucy's mom gets involved in a car accident and is injured and needs help managing her cat Cafe 🐈 When Lucy realizes the Cafe is experiencing financial hardship she turns to her friend Amber for advice. They come up with a plan to get celebrity endorsement so they can try to save the cat Cafe which is their only source of income.

This is a cute YA Romance story. I really enjoyed the cats personalities and the fellow band members banter once they all get together to perform a live stream performance to help raise funds.

There is a ton of miscommunication and misunderstandings throughout the story and some hidden betrayal by someone you least expect!

It was a cozy read and I devoured it in a day.

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

View this review on my blog:
https://emmaisabookworm.blogspot.com/...

Watch me unbox this book!
https://youtube.com/shorts/9QfoHEE6Kj...

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0 stars romance - there is romance but nothing inappropriate
0 stars language - I don’t remember there being any
12+

☆⛤♥⭑plot⭑♥⛤☆
Lucy has taken over running her mom’s cat cafe after her mom’s injury and the cafe is struggling. She doesn’t want her mom to know, but she needs to fix the problem. So, she emails her old friend Jake, now part of the popular boy band The Usual Suspects and asks for his possibility to help restore the cafe.

☆⛤♥⭑lucy⭑♥⛤☆
She was so determined and focused on helping the cat cafe! She was very clever and cool, and didn’t get flustered easily, which I loved.

☆⛤♥⭑jake⭑♥⛤☆
I love a good bad boy! He was very sweet, beneath the bad boy exterior and he was just a really great book boyfriend!

☆⛤♥⭑the romance⭑♥⛤☆
I loved how there was no third act breakup and the entire book was just the leadup to the romance, as opposed to a romance and then a third act breakup. It was so sweet and adorable and I just loved the tension and story of them getting together.

☆⛤♥⭑in summary⭑♥⛤☆
If you like cute romances, friends to lovers, second chance romances, bad boys, celebrity boyfriends, or cat cafes, you will love this book!

xoxo
emma

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Girls Life and the Publisher for an early copy in exchange for a review!

The Music Of Us 3/5⭐

Let me just say the MVP of this book was most definitely Leon. We are coffee addicts together!!

Don't forget to follow me on YouTube, where I post all about my favorite clean books! https://www.youtube.com/@ItsRenity

✨Plot✨

Lucy (or Luciena) has taken over her mom's cat cafe temporarily after her mother is too injured to do so herself. Business is slow until Luciana has the idea to invite the most popular boy band ever to perform there for PR. And how is she going to do this, you might ask? Because she was childhood best friends with the lead singer of the boyband until he rocketed into fame and ghosted her right after it seemed like he was confessing to liking her! But then he shows up to help the cafe, and tensions rise!

SOOOO glad this didn't have the typical romance plot where they deny feelings, admit to liking each other, have a huge conflict, they fight, and then happily ever after! It still had a pretty predictable plot, but not like how Lynn Painter's plots are the same things OVER and OVER again.

This review is coming from a dog lover reading a cat lover book so we'll see how this goes.

✨Charecters✨

💚Leon💚 (I feel like green hearts are fitting for his charecter but idk why)
Yes, I am indeed aware he was not a main charecter but what can I say, he was probably my favorite. Who else would show up in a trench coat and go insane due to a lack of coffee every morning? Also, he was hilarious. Love him❤️✨ (ALSO I NEED A SPINOFF FOR LEON STAT)

☕Lucy🐈
The lover of cats. The contactor of the famous Jake. She was fun, but was really blind at times as to what was being said.

🖤Jake❤️
This dude was such a softy. like more than the rest of the band, who were known for being more softy than he is. The whole bad boy thing was such a PR stunt, but hey, it was entertaining! I'm not sure if his songwriting passion was super realistic, though. I write songs, and I don't think about writing them THAT MUCH. But that's his personality, not mine.

✨Romance✨

The romance was just all denial. I kind of realized I don't like second-chance books. I like books when they get to know each other, and their feelings sprout and grow in the book, not when I start a book and the feelings are already a forest. But it was still really cute, and they are perfect for each other! They both try to act tough on the outside, but are such softies.

✨Writing & Art Style✨

The writing style was good, and it flowed well. I enjoyed it, and it kept me interested! I would definitely read the spin-offs (which hopefully there will be!)

✨Would I Recommend It?✨

If you love cats and boybands you've found your soulmate in this book! ENJOY!!!

signing off,
Gwen

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I made time to read this one, as I ended up loving it! It could be because I am a boy band fan (NKOTB Blockhead here!). But also I loved the banter and the fun once we started getting all the “boys” there to help save the cat cafe. I loved the dynamic between the guys, how they interacted with each other, but in the end, they were really brothers/family who would do anything for each other. Honestly whenever I picked it up to read, I couldn’t put it down.

It is YA in that you can tell by how the main character Lucy reacts to things, but that’s okay, it’s what it is supposed to be! And of course it was easy to guess that the reason Jake “stopped” communicating or replying to her texts wasn’t really him, but someone else who kept them apart. That was easy to see if you read any books with this type of plot/trope. It was also very easy to see that of course the songs he’d written were about Lucy, and not some other “girlfriend” that really was just a PR stunt.

Of course Lucy’s worry about her mom needing her keeping her from taking her scholarship to go to college was an added part to making all of the help from Jake and the other Usual Suspects band members so important. But it also led to more connection between her and Jake, when she had the talk with her mom about needing to do what was good for her, and she could then pass that wisdom on to him about whether he should work on a solo album or not.

I loved that the band name: Usual Suspects, was shorted to “US”. It fit so well into the story, as well as even the title of this book if you think about it. If only my favorite boy band name had initials so easily worked like that. A really fun book, and if I was still at the high school level, it would definitely be in my high school library next year!

[Rosi Colmenares · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of:
Celebrity romance
Cat café setting
Found family
Summery vibes

This was such a cute and easy audiobook to listen to. I really enjoyed the cozy cat café setting and the found family vibes throughout the story. The romance was sweet, and the audiobook narrator did a great job bringing the FMC to life. She fit the character really well and made the story more immersive.

I will say the story was pretty predictable. I could see most of the big moments coming from a mile away, and I wished the characters had a little more depth and vulnerability. I kept waiting for something to surprise me emotionally, but it never quite got there.

That being said, I still had a good time with it. Sometimes you just want a cute romance that doesn’t require too much emotional energy, and this delivered exactly that.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly cannot think of a reason not to give this book 5 stars! ⭐

FIRST OF ALL: FRIENDS TO LOVERS (ESPECIALLY CHILDHOOD BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS) IS THE BEST TROPE EVER PERIOD GO AHEAD AND FIGHT ME CUZ I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL

and omg the boy band stuff AH SO CUTE AND FUNNNN WHO DOESN'T LOVE A GOOD BOY BAND?? it was heavily giving One Direction 🥰😝

I also LOVED the music, lyric and song references AHHH!!! now I really wish Usual Suspects existed 🥲

all the characters~ Majestic, engaging, likeable, and spectacular
the plot~ GREAT! so many good moments!!
the romance~ so freaking cute and clean and such a good slow burn 👌🔥
++ I still liked this book about a cat cafe even though I don't really like cats
the writing~ excellent! good humor, realistic dialogue, solid pacing/plot, nice description, lovely characters.

Wonderful book!!!! 🙌💕

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro.fm stays FEEDING me with these audios! You had me at cat cafe. This was such a cute romcom vibes/cozy listen! The narrator did a fantastic job at bringing this story to life! This had all the cheesy predictable feels but I loved every minute of it! 🤣 this was a nice comfort read for sure. It was such a fun refreshing listen!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Blink publishing for the arc!

♾️/5⭐️ This book was SO much fun, boybands and cats are two of my favourite things so I knew I had to read it as soon as I saw it!! This has easily become one of my favourite books of all time and I immediately just wanted to pick it up and read it again the second I finished it.

I loved the main character Lucy, she’s one of my favourite fmc’s and I loved that she had so much personality. Her humour, her hard working nature and her relationship with her mom was amazing and I loved that she became so close to the whole band and instantly clicked with them all. Her friendship with Amber was super sweet and I loved the relationship between the two of them, it was so lovely to see a supportive friendship without any drama. I really liked Amber as a character and would love to see more of her if there’s any more books set within this world! Jake is an amazing lead too and also one of my favourite mmc’s. I loved his loyalty to both his band members and Lucy and yet again the author had created so much personality within him. The romance is so sweet, friends to lovers is one of my absolute favourites and this was so perfectly done. The chemistry between them was so clear from the start and the two of them were made for each other, it was so wholesome and I felt instantly connected to both characters. I really liked how despite the misunderstandings and place their relationship currently stood it didn’t ever take away from the fun relationship between them and that immediately came across when they were reunited. The joking back and forth and sarcasm between them was hilarious and I loved how they immediately picked it back up when they met instead of letting any previous misunderstanding cloud it.

The other band members are amazing too (Leon is definitely a favourite of mine though it’s genuinely so hard to choose!) and the four of them together are the most chaotic, fun group. I adored each of their personalities so much and loved how each of them had such distinct personalities and their own quirks. The combination of their different personalities worked so well together and added so much to the book and I loved how strong the brotherly bond between them all was. The whole book had so much life to it which came across even in the smallest interactions which were still packed with so much personality and made the book feel so cozy to read as you instantly felt a part of this group of people and so immersed within the story and its characters. I don’t know if this is a series or not but I’d absolutely love it if the other band members got a book each too, I need more of them and would read about them doing anything at this point!!

The plot itself was such a fun concept and I loved the way it had a lot of layers to it from saving the cat cafe, Lucy and Jake’s relationship to the bands issues. This book was just so positive and I loved how each of the key relationships wasn’t toxic in the slightest. I loved the lack of drama/ arguing as the whole book just had the best, feel good vibe and made it so enjoyable to read. The authors humour is hilarious and 100% my kind of humour, it brought so much life and fun to the book and its characters. Every reference was used so perfectly and I had the biggest smile on my face throughout the entire book.

I had the best time reading this and never wanted to put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed every second from start to finish and I already know I’m going to be rereading this again and again and will hopefully pick up a physical copy once it’s released! I thought I’d love it but this was even better than I could’ve ever imagined and 100% is a new favourite book of mine, this made my boyband loving heart feel so full and gave me all the joy that staying up for new releases gives me (I’m a one direction and kpop fan so there’s been a LOT), I can’t recommend it enough or put into words how incredible it is!

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Unfortunately, for me this felt artificial and overly constructed. While reading, I couldn't help but picture the author creating an outline for the plot: take two popular tropes (cat cafes! boy band romances!) smush then together then add the usual stock sidekick characters: quirky chipper best friend, wisecracking bandmates, sweet mother figure, evil manager, etc. The dialogue was stiff enough to be cringe and lacking validity or even logic. This might as well have been a Hallmark movie.

Story: Lucy's just earned herself a much sought after scholarship to prepare her for vet school. But at the same time her mother's pride and joy, her cat cafe, is about to go under. Lucy is left with one desperate option: try to get help from childhood friend turned popstar, Jake. He ghosted her once he got famous but against her better wishes she needs him. Can the two work together long enough to save the cat cafe?

Already the premise here is absurd: supposedly in four years the entire town has forgotten that one of the most famous members of a hugely popular boy band grew up in their town? Was always hanging out with Lucy? Yet no one recognizes him or even supposedly knows he grew up there - because it was left out of his Wiki page, according to the author? Then we have to defy logic to believe that Lucy, who desperately wants to save the cat cafe and also pay her mother's medical bills, is stupid enough to be judgmental and insulting to Jake when he does show up. And of course Jake just accepts it and falls all over himself to help out the cafe anyway. And did cat cafes really exist in small usa towns 20 years ago? Seems a much more modern concept.

The plot was extremely predictable. Anyone want to guess why Jake suddenly turned into a bad boy when he joined the band? Why he suddenly stopped communicating with best friend Lucy? Did we mention the over protective manager obsessed with PR? Yeah, we have read this all before. This might have been elevated if either character was interesting but Lucy wasn't very interesting and Jake was a walking marshmallow. Granted, I'll take marshmallow over wisecracking smirker alpha any day but still - there should be SOME character in there other than Lucy-obsession.

So no, this was not the book for me. I think for younger audiences it will be fine - it has the depth of K Pop Demon Hunters in terms of inoffensive romance and a cast of side characters to fill in the lack of character development by the two mains. But in the end, this is a Twinkie of a book -sweet and fluffy but not very filling. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[My Fairytale Days · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿: readers who love YA romances, music, cat cafés, found family, and stories full of first loves, second chances, and learning to say what you really feel.

There is something wonderfully comforting about a romance where you spend the whole book wanting to gently push two people together and say, "Please... just talk to each other."

That was exactly my experience with The Music of Us.

This is one of those stories that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve. The romance is charming and innocent, full of the kind of miscommunication that had me quietly rooting for both characters rather than wanting to shake them. They are young, chasing big dreams, and convinced they know far more about life than they actually do. Which, honestly, felt exactly right for their age.

I also loved how naturally music was woven into the story. It wasn't simply there because one of the characters was in a band. It shaped the people, their dreams, and the way they connected with each other. Add in a wonderfully cosy cat café, a band full of distinct personalities, and one unforgettable little thief of a cat, and I was very happy to spend a few hours in this world.

This isn't a story that keeps its cards close to its chest. I often found myself knowing exactly where things were headed long before the characters did, but that never took away from the fun. If anything, it had me cheering them on and quietly hoping they'd finally say what had been obvious all along.

By the time I reached the ending, I wasn't surprised by where the story went, but I didn't mind one bit. This was exactly the kind of story I needed that day: a heartwarming romance, a cosy cat café, music, and two people slowly finding the courage to be honest with each other. I closed it with a very content little "aww."

✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱: • A romance that had me rooting for both characters from beginning to end • Music woven naturally into the story • The cosy cat café, lovable band members, and one unforgettable little thief of a cat ❤️

🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱: • The story revealed its secrets long before the characters caught up • The audiobook read the song lyrics rather than bringing them to life musically • Predictable, even if the journey was charming

🎙️ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:

The narrator had such a wonderfully gentle voice that it suited this story perfectly. Every character had their own distinct personality and tone, making conversations effortless to follow, and the delivery matched the cosy, romantic atmosphere beautifully. The only thing I wished for was a little more melody during the song lyrics. I completely understand why they were read rather than sung, but it would have added an extra layer of magic. Even so, this is absolutely a narrator I would happily listen to again.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5

A little thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for opening the door and letting me wander into this story. All thoughts, feelings, and bookish ramblings I brought back are entirely my own. 📖✨

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts are my own.

you know, it's really my fault honestly. i mean this book was so wattpad coded but if one direction was sold to the girl in order to help save a cat cafe. great pitch line i know, they should hire me to do marketing.

because here's the thing. the book started out...really badly but it had redemption and then the redemption wasn't enough. it wasn't horrible but it wasn't amazing. if you need something that makes you die of cringe but giggle slightly.


lucy

honestly i didn't hate her! i've hated a lot of fmc's lately but she's been the most likeable one. she had a personality she had goals (its about drive it's about power we stay hungry we devour) and she ate the day away. Her main fault was being blind to things. such as hearing the song "lovely aren't ya" which is...a song written by the band "US" in the book. she has issues but at least she had a personality.

jack

a "stereotypical" bad boy in all fiction. so basically in this sense, not a bad boy at all. i'm actually 99% sure i'm like more "bad" than jack. like he has the personality of a docile kitten and the bad boy image is such a publicity stunt that is like ?? he would drop the hat for lucy (or luciana) at anything. he'd fly across the country. he'd get his lucchese dirty for her thats how DOWN BAD he was. like so pathetically it was almost nauseating.

the band members of US (usual suspects

honestly aspen, leon, and philippe were all stars, truly the highlight of the whole book. nothing like reading "trenta venti shot triple thing coffee, dont talk to me till ive had my coffe" in the book at almost midnight and going ???. but being honest i liked his band members more than him. i'd actually read their books. they were funny albeit cringe.

romance

they were both in love with each other but neither would admit it.

everything else

if i have to read more cringe lyrics and poetry or things like that in books again, i'm genuinely launching myself to siberia because wtah. no like what. truly. like reading the lyrics made me question my sanity. kpop lyrics but make it english make more sense truly.
having to read the "famous in the book song" lovely aren't ya was like having to witness some frat bro do a hazing to someone. genuine cringe in the worst kind. i liked the side characters (hated the manager she can go--) and lucy's mom was super sweet. plus the cat cafe fundraiser was fantastic

all in all, not a horrible but not an outstanding one. a fun read for a pallette cleanser and nothing too crazy. just what i'd call a little sweet treat book.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Blink for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Music of Us” by Emerald Alexandrea is a warm, cozy YA romance that feels like a cup of tea or coffee in book form as it’s sweet, comforting, and filled with cats, music, and second chances. With its charming cat café setting, soft friends-to-lovers romance, and heartfelt emotional beats, this story is an easy read that still manages to tug at the heartstrings. I was immediately drawn to the cat café setting and while I stayed partly because of the cats, I also stayed because I fell in love with the love story (and all the cats).

At the center of the story is Lucy who runs a cat café with her mother and is facing a crossroads: should she leave behind the family business and the life she loves to go to college? That tension grounds the story in something very real, especially for young readers navigating expectations, independence, and change. Lucy’s relationship with her mother is refreshingly realistic and emotionally rich, adding depth beyond the romance.

Enter Jake, Lucy’s former best friend and crush, now a rising musician and member of a popular band. Their reunion sparks a slow-burn, ex-best-friends-to-lovers romance filled with witty banter, lingering feelings, and—yes—a major miscommunication trope. While the misunderstanding takes most of the book to unravel and can feel a bit obvious, it ultimately works thanks to the sincerity of the characters and the emotional payoff. When everything finally comes into the open, the resolution is tender, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying.

One of the book’s biggest delights is its atmosphere. The cat café isn’t just a gimmick; the cats are fully realized little personalities who add humor, warmth, and charm to nearly every scene. Likewise, the band members bring strong found-family energy, showcasing the close bonds and restrictive realities of life in the public eye. I loved the unique band members so much that I wish there are future spin-offs focused on the other band members.

While the story leans comfortably into rom-com tropes and can occasionally feel a bit preachy, especially around themes of future planning and responsibility, it never loses its cozy appeal. The humor lands well, the emotional moments feel earned, and the ending delivers exactly what it promises: a happy, hopeful conclusion.

Overall, “The Music of Us” is a feel-good YA romance full of heart, humor, and cat energy. Perfect for those who love friends-to-lovers stories, cozy settings, and soft, wholesome romances, this book is a charming reminder that sometimes love and the future sound best when you listen to your own rhythm.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book was honestly just cute chaos in the best way.

Lucy is having what I would call a certified stressed girl summer. While everyone else is enjoying their last months before college, she’s busy trying to keep her mom’s very adorable but very financially struggling cat café alive. And to make things worse, a shiny new coffee shop opens across the street like it’s personally trying to ruin her life.
Rude.

So in a moment of mild desperation, Lucy reaches out to someone she hasn’t talked to in years: her ex best friend and first crush, Jake Moody… who is now a boy band pop star in the massively famous group the Usual Suspects.
No big deal.
The last time she saw him he kissed her and then immediately left town for auditions and basically disappeared from her life, which is a totally normal thing to not hold a grudge about… obviously.

Anyway, Lucy asks him if he’d help the café by doing a livestream performance to bring attention (and hopefully customers) to the place. And somehow Jake is like yes actually that’s perfect because his own reputation could use a little polishing after his latest scandal.
So now they’re working together again, wrangling chaotic bandmates, planning this livestream, and trying very hard to pretend their history isn’t still sitting right there between them.

I really liked the vibe of this book. It’s very light, funny, and wholesome. The friends to more / second chance-ish dynamic between Lucy and Jake was sweet, and their banter felt natural. I also loved the cat café setting because any book that includes cats wandering around causing minor chaos automatically gets bonus points from me.

Jake was also surprisingly endearing under the whole “bad boy boyband member” image. Watching Lucy slowly realise that the boy she used to know might still be there was really cute.

That said, the story felt a little predictable at times and I wished we got a bit more emotional depth in some moments. Everything wrapped up pretty quickly, which made the romance feel slightly rushed.
But overall? It was fun, fluffy, and perfect if you want a quick feel good YA romance.

If you like:
* friends to lovers / second chance vibes
* boy band pop stars
* chaotic bandmates
* adorable small businesses
* cat café settings (honestly the real star)
then this is a really fun summer read.

Also… if a famous pop star offered to help my struggling café with a livestream concert I would also forgive him immediately. Lucy showed far more restraint than I would have.

[Cheyenne Oleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Emerald Alexandrea, Blink, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of The Music of Us in exchange for my honest review.

The Music of Us was such a sweet and charming YA romance that had me smiling from beginning to end.

If you love friends-to-lovers stories, second chances, adorable cats, and a touch of boy band nostalgia, this book is definitely worth picking up. It gave me all the cozy, feel-good vibes while still delivering plenty of heart and emotion.

Lucy and Jake were childhood best friends whose relationship fell apart after Jake found fame as part of a wildly popular boy band. Years later, they're brought back into each other's lives when Lucy needs help saving her family's struggling cat café. Watching them reconnect and work through years of hurt, misunderstandings, and unresolved feelings was both frustrating and incredibly rewarding.

The cat café setting completely stole my heart. Between the cozy atmosphere and all the feline personalities running around, it became one of my favorite parts of the story. The cats weren't just background decoration either, they added so much warmth, humor, and charm to the overall reading experience.

I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Jake and his bandmates. Their friendship brought a fun layer to the story, and honestly, I wouldn't mind reading books about some of the other members in the future.

The biggest challenge for me was the amount of miscommunication driving the plot. There were moments when I wanted to sit both Lucy and Jake down and force them to have one honest conversation. Still, because I cared about the characters, I found myself invested in seeing how everything would eventually come together.

What I appreciated most was how age-appropriate and wholesome this story felt. It's a perfect YA romance filled with friendship, family, personal growth, and first love without relying on unnecessary drama or spice. Just a genuinely sweet story with characters you can't help but root for.

Overall, The Music of Us is a cozy, heartwarming read packed with lovable characters, adorable cats, and a romance that feels like your favorite comfort song. Perfect for readers who love friends-to-lovers, second chances, boy band vibes, and stories that leave you feeling happy when you turn the final page.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this isn’t the cutest YA romance, idk what is! Usually I try to steer clear of YA romance as I find them too juvenile as an adult, where the characters make bad decisions that frustrate me to no end just because they’re so young, but the synopsis for this book was just too good to pass up! I mean, using the power of music to save a cat cafe? Plus a little romance between a pop star bad boy and his long lost best friend? Say no more! Luckily, the characters are on the older edge of teens in this one and both were from life situations that caused them to be more mature, so I was able to thoroughly enjoy this novel! I honestly feel like this would make an amazing movie.

In this book, we follow Luciana, who finds herself abandoned by her best friend after he suddenly gets his big break as a singer in a new and very popular boy bad. Fast forward 4 years later, and Lucy’s still haunted by the loss of her friendship to Jake. Every time his songs come on the radio, she thinks of the past and what she could have done wrong to completely lose her best friend. In a last ditch effort to save her moms cat cafe, Lucy contacts Jake begging him to bring his hand for a PR stunt to bring in traffic to the cafe, and he shockingly shows up the next day. Will Jake and Lucy be able to save the cafe? Will they be able to rebuild the friendship they once had…and maybe possibly something more?

I loved the sweet, friends to lovers romance this book follows. Lucy and Jake are such great characters, and I was rooting for them the whole time. Jake’s band mates and Lucy’s friend Amber were also great because they were so supportive of their friends, and I love seeing teen books that feature positive friendships over toxic relationships. What’s more, this book focused on a small cast of characters so you really got to know each of them fairly well. I think this would be a great book for teens, as it instantly had me hooked from page 1, and I read it in 2 days (couldn’t put it down!) The romance and friendships were charming, and the characters were mature enough that I actually enjoyed reading it as an adult too!

5/5 Star

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Parvathy I · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so grateful to NetGalley, Emerald Alexandrea, and the publisher for the advance review copy of The Music of Us. Thank you for the opportunity to read this lovely story! 💙All the thoughts are my own.

This was such a charming YA romance! It was heartwarming, comforting, and exactly the kind of feel-good story I was in the mood for. I had such a lovely time with both the book and the audiobook. 🎶🐱

The audiobook made the experience even more enjoyable. The narrator perfectly captured Lucy's emotions, making her feel authentic and easy to connect with. She brought the characters to life, and I found myself completely immersed in the story from beginning to end. 🎧✨

The story follows Lucy and Jake, childhood best friends who drifted apart after Jake became a member of a famous boy band. Years later, life brings them back together when Lucy is trying to save her family's beloved cat café. Watching them reconnect, heal from old wounds, and slowly rebuild their friendship was one of my favorite parts of the book.

The cat café completely stole my heart. It felt warm, welcoming, and full of charm. Between the adorable cats, the cozy atmosphere, and the sense of community, I wished it were a real place I could visit. 🐈☕❤️

Lucy and Jake had wonderful chemistry, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow naturally. I also loved Jake's friendship with his bandmates. Their interactions were fun and supportive, and it made me curious to read stories about the other members.

The only thing that held this back from being a full five-star read was the amount of miscommunication. There were a few moments where I wanted the characters to simply sit down and talk. Still, I was so invested in their journey that I couldn't stop rooting for them.

What I appreciated most was how wholesome this story felt. It celebrates friendship, family, healing, following your dreams, and first love without unnecessary drama. It left me with a smile on my face and reminded me why I enjoy YA romances so much. 💕

If you're looking for a cozy, emotional, and uplifting romance filled with music, adorable cats, second chances, and lovable characters, I definitely recommend giving The Music of Us a try—especially in audiobook format! 🎧📚

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars.

🐈‍⬛ The vibes:
- Cat cafe
- Boy band
- YA contemporary romance
- Lots of lyrics
- Celebrity
- Childhood crush
- Closed door (kisses only)

🐈‍⬛ My thoughts:
When Lucy’s mom has an accident and needs knee surgery, Lucy volunteers to help run the cat cafe during the summer. When the cafe is financially struggling, Lucy calls Jake- an old friend (who is now in a famous boy band) and asks him to help her save the cat cafe.

🐈‍⬛ Ok, if you enjoy boy bands, cats, and YA romances, this one is fun. It’s very light and breezy with little stress along the way. There were moments that felt a bit repetitious and the miscommunication was pretty heavy handed here. I do think it makes sense for the ages of the characters (18), but it was a bit tedious for me at certain moments.

🐈‍⬛ There was clearly a really deep connection between Jake and Lucy in the past (ages 14-15 ish), but I didn’t see much of that on page so I struggled to feel a strong connection between the main characters. They had some cute moments in there but I mostly felt a nice friendship vibe between them.

🐈‍⬛ It’s important to not forget the target age for YA (13+), so I think it makes sense for the plot to stay fairly non-serious. I really appreciate that this book was wholesome and completely age appropriate. I think it wasn’t a great fit for me because I felt too old for some of the character interactions, but I would definitely feel comfortable handing this to a young teen.

Note / spice content: closed door (kisses only)
Release date: June 2, 2026.

Thank you so much to Emerald Alexandrea, Blink, and Netgalley for the gifted copy. I received this eARC from the author/publisher, but this honest review is voluntary.

[Melody Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful YA romance made me nostalgic for Disney movies like The Lizzie Mcguire Movies. This is an easy recommendation for my friends with girls ages 13+. There is profanity, innuendo, or sexual content, so it's definitely something I would purchase for some of my friends kids for birthdays or the holidays without worrying if their parents would approve.

Summary:
Imagine your childhood best guy friend suddenly becomes an overnight boyband sensation, and all you're left with is a kiss. Luciana wants to forget the kiss, but when Jake ghosts her text messages, she moves on. Now, she's working at her mom's cat cafe while her mother recovers from a car accident. The Tiny Tiger cat cafe's business is struggling, and with Lucy's plan to attend college in the fall, she desperately reaches out to Jake to see if he can help promote the cafe to avoid a business closure.

Jake Moody is part of a huge national sensation boy band called the Usual Suspects, US for short. And with their business manager's approval, the boy band, plans to get back together for a livestream to save the cat cafe. Filled with animosity for Jake leaving her but hoping to save her mother's cafe she spends her time getting to know the boys in the band and seeing if any of her old friend lives on in this newer, mysterious bad boy Jake. Did he ever have feelings for her or was it all just a game? Why should she even care how he felt before when he plans on leaving.

What I loved:
I really loved how sweet the romance was as well as each of the unique characters in the boy band. It was a great quick read in between some other books and I found the plot delightful and charming in the cat cafe background.

[Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Music of Us is exactly the kind of book that reminds me why I enjoy YA romance. The friends-to-lovers setup, the boy-band celebrity angle, and the cozy cat café setting are all incredibly cute. Lucy and Jake have the kind of history that naturally creates tension, longing, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. If you enjoy light, wholesome romance with plenty of emotional pining, there’s a lot to like here.

The writing style is simple and easy to read, which fits the lighthearted YA romance tone of the story. While the prose isn’t particularly memorable or lyrical, it keeps the story moving and makes for a quick, enjoyable read. Readers looking for beautiful, literary writing may find it a bit basic, but fans of contemporary YA romance will likely appreciate its accessibility.

Some parts of the story rely on familiar romance tropes, and a few emotional moments could have been explored in greater depth. However, the chemistry between the characters is charming enough that I found myself invested in their journey. The mix of second-chance romance, friendship, and boy-band fantasy creates a fun escape that delivers exactly what it promises.

This isn’t a book I’d recommend for readers seeking complex character studies or groundbreaking storytelling, but if you’re in the mood for a sweet, cheesy, low-stakes romance, it’s a satisfying choice. The cat café setting adds extra charm, and the wholesome tone makes it an easy comfort read.

Overall, The Music of Us succeeds as a cute, feel-good YA romance. It may not reinvent the genre, but it’s a warm, enjoyable story with plenty of heart and just the right amount of swoon.

[Mary Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four years ago, 14 year olds Jake and Luciana were best friends, and maybe on the verge of becoming more, when Jake left for LA to pursue his dreams of becoming a musician. Now they are 18 and haven't spoken since the night he left. Jake is the bad boy in a super famous boy band while, Luciana - now, Lucy- still lives in their same small town. She is getting ready to leave for college in the fall and working at her mom's one of a kind coffee shop and cat adoption center, and things aren't looking good for the business. Her feelings for Jake are still complicated, often times made worse since she is frequently subjected to listening to his music on the radio over the coffee shop speakers! On a whim, and over concern for her mom's struggling business, Lucy takes a chance and emails Jake to ask him for help. She is hoping he will remember and honor his promise to "always be there for her" despite their lack of communication over the last four years. Imagine her surprise when Jake shows up on her doorstep without so much as a warning!

This is such a cute book! It is well written with clean dialogue and no sexual situations. it is definitely appropriate for younger readers who would appreciate Jake and the other band member's heartthrob qualities! Who doesn't love a musician who is also willing to cuddle a kitten!? Absolutely recommend this for pre-teens, teens and their moms!

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks in advance to Alexandrea, Blink, and Netgalley for the ARC. I had a lot of fun reading this book!

This is a young adult romance about two childhood friends who lost touch. Jake is part of a pretty famous boy band (I was making comparisons to One Direction) and Lucy is a regular girl headed off to college in the fall who is trying to save her mom's cat cafe business that's falling apart. Lucy reaches out to Jake to ask for his help, which he surprisingly (to her), responds to.

This entire book covers how Lucy and Jake work together to try to get the cat cafe back on track financially. Along the way, they wrangle with their old feelings and the circumstances that led them to where they are currently.

I thought this was a super cozy and sweet read. It truly is a light romance, as it is young adult. I found the dialogue to be funny and the sequence of events to be believable. Without giving away too much, the reason why this book gets a 3/5 for me is due to the big moment of reveal. There were a lot of assumptions made by both parties that led to the downfall of their friendship that honestly, in real life, may have been easily avoided through a different mode/method of communication.

Regardless, I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves cats, boy bands, and a light and fluffy clean romance.

[Chahd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't expecting to get hooked on this story, but I did!!
This is a YA second-chance romance that follows Lucy, our female lead, working at her and her mom's cat café that is facing a crisis. In an attempt to save it, she reaches out to her old best friend, who is now a member of a successful boy band, hoping they can help promote the café.
This book was sweet, fun, and very adorable. The whole cat café setting was sooo cute, and there were moments that made me smile. I think this is a book that will especially appeal to younger readers, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, lighthearted, and cozy read.
I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator's style wasn't really what I personally enjoy, it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story itself. I thought the writing was good, especially considering this is a debut novel.
The only issue I could think of, was the miscommunication trope, which has never been a favorite of mine. Some of the problems could have been resolved with a simple conversation, and that frustrated me a little at times.
Overall, The Music of Us was a cute and entertaining read with loveable characters and an adorable setting.

[michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for audio and digital ARCs of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was so good! I started listening to the audiobook, which is great, but wanted to actively read and basically finished the book in one day. This is a sweet and wholesome young adult romance that works well for the younger side of the YA market. The two main characters are quirky in their own, adorable ways and completely deserve this second-chance romance. This book just had me smiling the whole time.

Luciana and Jake were best friends in middle school. Before Jake goes to LA to audition for the newest boy band, he surprises her with a kiss and then ghosts her. Four years later, it's the summer before college and the cat cafe that Lucy's helps run with her mother is struggling. In an act of desperation, Lucy emails Jake and is shocked when he throws up the next day. Jake is willing to not only help promote the cafe, but do a livestream. The story only gets crazier from there, especially when the rest of the band, aka the Usual Suspects, aka US, show up.

Interspersed with songs lyrics and interviews with the band, the book takes you through a whirlwind of a week with two teens who both think they were left behind, realize they are in love. I've already purchased a copy for my school library.

[Library of J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book basically grabbed me by the hand and dragged me straight back into the years when I thought boy bands were a personality trait.

I didn’t expect much going in, like, a YA second-chance romance about a famous boy band helping save a cat café? That sounds almost too chaotic to work. But somehow it just does. It’s fun, a little messy, and very “I should be doing something productive but I’m reading this instead.”

Jake and Lucy’s story has that classic “we used to mean everything to each other and now we’re strangers who still feel everything anyway” energy. Jake becomes famous in a boy band (which honestly feels like it was pulled straight out of my reading fanfiction brain), while Lucy is left behind trying to deal with real-life stuff like family, money stress, and keeping her mom’s cat café alive.

And yes, the cat café absolutely steals scenes. The cats are basically emotional support side characters and I loved them for it.

There’s drama, miscommunication, old feelings resurfacing at the worst possible time, and a level of nostalgia that makes you feel like you should be listening to One Direction while reading it. It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t need to be.

It’s the kind of book you finish way too fast and then sit there like… okay, I guess I’m emotionally attached now?

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, can I start by saying… Emerald, you need to keep writing! I loved this, and I’m absolutely here for romances for Leon, Aspen, and Phillip too.

Finally, a YA romance that feels truly wholesome while still being engaging and age appropriate, which is so rare.

Jake is the “bad boy” rocker who used to be her best friend. Lucy is running her family’s struggling cat café and trying to keep it afloat. They have not spoken in years, but when the café is on the line, she reaches out to Jake, hoping he can help. Neither of them fully understands what happened between them, but when she calls, he shows up. Saving a café is not easy, especially when you have to do it with someone you had a falling out with. If they can work together, it might help save the café, repair their past friendship, and maybe lead to something more?!

Watching Lucy and Jake reconnect and uncover what really went wrong was such a highlight, and I did not expect some of the twists and turns in the story. The side characters were fun, and Lucy and Jake’s chemistry was so sweet. I was rooting for them the whole time. I loved the cat café setting. It made the story even more fun to read.

I definitely need more books by Emerald now.

I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Simply Stevie Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats, a café, and a cute boy band? Sign me up! 🎶🐾

This book hooked me straight from the very first page, and I honestly enjoyed every single second of it. For this to be Emerald’s debut novel? I am completely blown away! (Emerald, if you're reading this, please never stop writing!)

The story follows Lucy, who is having a major "stressed girl summer" trying to run her mom's quirky cat café and save it from going under. In a desperate moment, she reaches out to her childhood best friend turned boy-band bad boy, Jake Moody, to help save the shop. What follows is just pure joy.

It is so incredibly fun, full of heart, and packed with all the cozy café vibes and kitty love my heart could handle. The whole book gave me major nostalgic '90s rom-com energy, and I absolutely ate it up. I also love that this is a true, clean YA romance..it’s the perfect story for teens without any unnecessary spice. She did such a fantastic job balancing the romance and the humor.

Also, a huge shoutout to the audiobook! I was able to listen to an early copy, and the narrator was absolutely fantastic. She pulled me right into the story, brought so much life to the characters, and nailed all the emotional moments.

An easy 5 stars for me. Highly, highly recommend grabbing this one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️