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Coda

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Some loves never truly fade. They just wait for the right moment.

In college, Parker Thompson poured her heart into an anonymous love letter to Hannah Wells—only to be met with silence. Heartbroken, music became her emotional refuge and she buried herself in building a career as a respected music editor. Now in her forties, Parker is certain those old feelings are long gone. But when a union strike forces her into an unexpected sabbatical, she returns to her alma mater for homecoming… and comes face-to-face with Hannah.

Hannah Wells never expected to see Parker again, let alone feel drawn to her. A dedicated music teacher, Hannah has spent decades helping others find their voice while suppressing her own. Freshly divorced, the last thing she wants is another intense relationship. Parker might not be the lovesick kid she once knew, but Hannah has had more than her share of being overwhelmed by other people’s emotions.

Parker is intriguing, magnetic, impossible to ignore—and completely wrong for Hannah. But sometimes love's melody refuses to end.

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2026

2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read

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Anna Gram

7 books4 followers

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
382 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 23, 2025
Parker Thompson and Hannah (née McArthur) Wells went to the same college near Conway, Arkansas. Hannah was a few grades ahead of Parker, but Parker had a deep crush on Hannah even though Hannah was dating Mike Wells. One day Parker gets up the nerve and leaves an anonymous love letter to Hannah. Parker never receives any response to the letter.

Now twenty-seven years later, both women are returning to their alma mater for homecoming. Parker is a successful music editor in Los Angeles and Hannah is a music teacher is her hometown area of central Arkansas. Hannah is freshly divorced from Mike and has a sixteen-year-old daughter, Morgan. Hannah has also recently come out as bisexual. Coda tells the story of the homecoming, in more ways than one; discusses their past; and launches them forward into their present attraction for one another.

Some aspects that I appreciated about the story included Parker admitting to a mutual friend, Steph, that she was over her deep crush on Hannah prior to Parker returning to Arkansas for the homecoming. Parker seemed to have a strong sense of herself and what she wanted out of a possible relationship with Hannah as the story progressed. Meanwhile, Hannah seemed deeply impacted by her almost thirty-year relationship to Mike and voiced that she did not want to make the same mistakes in another relationship. Morgan was also a welcome addition to the story to bring the two women back together via all of their mutual interests in music. For me the last third of the book considerably slowed down the progress of the story when Hannah and Morgan returned to Arkansas and Parker remained in LA. The two women had no communication with one another for weeks and the reader was left hanging and wondering what would happen to break the stalemate. On a smaller note, the use of the abbreviations, UCLA and UCA, at times felt a little confusing with them being so similar. 3.5 stars
Profile Image for Kaye.
4,364 reviews73 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 4, 2026
Parker Thompson fell in love (infatuation) with Hannah when they were in the same sorority at the University of Central Arkansas. Hannah was a couple of years older but that didn’t stop Parker from writing her a love letter asking her to meet. She doesn’t show up and marries her boyfriend shortly after she graduates. Twenty seven years later Parker is a successful music editor for tv and films in California. When actors and writers strikes are occurring she decides to visit an old friend in Arkansas and attend homecoming festivities for her college. She isn’t expecting Hannah to also be there. She is recently divorced, has a sixteen year old daughter, Morgan, and has come out as bisexual.

Hannah feels attraction towards Parker but isn’t in the headspace to start anything. But Morgan wants a career in music and is very interested in the work Parker does. Parker offers to mentor her and show her around if she comes out to her dream school of UCLA. There are a couple of time jumps in the story that work well. It gives Hannah time to recover from divorce and allows for Morgan to prepare for college auditions.

This is Gram’s sophomore book and I enjoyed it as I did her first one. Parker is great. She is a good communicator even though she hasn’t been great at relationships. Hannah has reasons to fear getting lost in a new relationship. It doesn’t help that they live half a continent apart. The connector between the pair is their mutual friend Stephanie. I liked her but was frustrated by her. She was great at encouraging one or the other to take the next step. But she also withheld crucial information that may have helped smooth the path forward. Morgan also adds a lot to the story and she has an ability with music I’ve never heard of before and it was interesting.

A very good second chance at romance (although they really weren’t together the first time). I personally hate that it took 27 years. With Morgan’s age it could have been a third less time apart. Everything gets wrapped up fairly quickly. I wanted to bask in their togetherness a bit more. I also like the name of the book and how it was part of the story. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for lirissa.
22 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2026
A 27-year long waited love story about two girls (now women) who reconnect under some crazy circumstances, will they find what they are missing in life after all this time? Some very real topics are brought up in this one including DV and mental and health, so keep that in mind if picking it up.

The connection through music mattered to me more than the romance in this one. Not as a gimmick or background detail, but as the way the characters move through their lives. Hannah through teaching and her daughter. Parker through editing and composing. Even Morgan, still in high school, trying to work out who she is and where she fits, experiencing the world through sound and colour because of her synesthesia.

Parker was the character I connected with most. Seeing who she was at eighteen compared to who she becomes as an adult felt realistic and well paced. She puts everything into what she loves, work included, and that intensity shows through her actions and through how other characters talk about her. I recognised that way of loving things deeply.

The romance is steady and slow, and it fits the characters and the lives they’ve lived. There’s breathing room for growth, especially in the second half, and the pacing is backed by the pain both Parker and Hannah carry. Nothing feels rushed or artificially heightened.

Morgan’s storyline ended up carrying as much emotional weight for me as the main two. Her synesthesia, her relationship with the adults around her, and her process of figuring out what she wants to do with her life made the world feel fuller. It was refreshing to read a romance where the side story mattered and had depth.

This is a grounded second-chance love story. Bittersweet in places, quieter in others, and very aware that love later in life comes with history attached. From a romance perspective I enjoyed the first half more than the second, but overall it’s a thoughtful, music-threaded, warm sapphic romance that gives its characters space to exist.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.
146 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 10, 2026
Wow, Coda by Anna Gram has blown me away. Having grown up with music and being part of many concert bands and orchestras over the years, I absolutely loved the way that the author weaves musical analogies into the story of the journey the two MCs are on. In fact, this would have to be one of those books that I would love to see made into a film, if for no other reason than to see what the composers, musicians, and music editors would create and weave into the story.

Parker and Hannah first met in college when Parker had an unrequited crush on Hannah. After having her heart broken she buried herself in her music and moved on to build her career as a music editor. Meanwhile, Hannah went on to marry her college boyfriend and raise their daughter Morgan. However, when circumstances bring Parker and Hannah back together 27 years later at a college reunion it soon becomes clear that there is still an emotional connection. However, with Hannah afraid of repeating past mistakes and Parker afraid of being rejected again it is going to take something special to help them find their way to each other.

I particularly loved the character of Morgan, Hannah’s teenage daughter and her talent and special gift with music and the central role that this gift helps to keep the two women in each other’s orbits. It was fascinating reading about her gift and I loved the way that Parker helps her to draw on her abilities when considering future college options and potential careers.

This is definitely one of those books that I would happily read over and over again whenever I need to get lost in a world of music, hope and love.

I am very grateful to Anna Gram, Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of Coda and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Rach.
145 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2026
Coda, is the second novel I have read by Anna Gram. This is a second chance romance set 27 years after Parker who had a huge crush in college on Hannah. The Parker of the past is infatuated in Hannah, she leaves an anonymous love letter for Hannah that is not reciprocated, at the time Hannah is engaged to her college sweetheart Mike and is straight.

We then jump forward, Parker now a successful music editor in LA due to the strikes is persuaded by her college big sister Steph to return for an anniversary homecoming. Parker starts an unlikely mentorship with Morgan who happens to be Hannah’s daughter.

This then sets the build up where Hannah, a recently divorced and now bisexual is instantly attracted to the women who she later realises is Parker, Parker who thought she was over her clearly isn’t the attraction is still there all these years later. The remainder of the novel focus on their growing attraction, supporting Morgan and throw in them aiming to be friends but it’s not going to work.

It is a cute book but I felt it was overly long and at times I just wanted them to figure it out quicker as it felt dragged out. Parker, was great at being so respectful to Hannah but at times it just lacked passion between the two of them in the reality of it, Mike was a dick that was well written as I couldn’t stand him. Good read and do stay with it but would have liked a bit more than two weeks that ended in miscommunication and silence that could have been avoided!
Profile Image for Sue Plant.
2,322 reviews32 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 2, 2026
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

my second book by this author and i am a big fan how they write their stories and pull you right in is amazing

parker is going back .... back to her college reunion.... she hasnt really been interested before and lost touch with everyone apart from steph and they now have a great relationship

she really doesnt want to go back either because it was around the time of the most embarrassing time of her life.... when her first crush developed and she wrote a letter hoping that it would bring them together..... it brought steph into her life to help her through the fall out

so going back was going to be hard....

hannah fresh out of her divorce isnt looking for anything apart from her freedom...she attends the reunion with her daughter and is on hand to give steph a hand when she is needed.... what she hadnt expected was her daughter to be sat with parker and that was the first of the many surprises....

she hadnt expected the rush of attraction to parker ...... oh hell no not after coming out of a divorce that stifled her..... she didnt need the headache

a captivating storyline with hints of hollywood music and school ...great storyline
Profile Image for En.
71 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 7, 2026
Coda: a passage that brings a piece (or a movement) to an end. (Src: Wiki)

Loved the naming of this book! Coda offers a fascinating premise that kept me on the lookout ever since I stumbled on the book description some months back.

I liked how the book provided insights into the world of music editing and film score composition. We also get a glimpse of varied public perception towards Synesthesia.

While Coda was enjoyable, I wished the execution had been different. I was left feeling as though Hannah was blindsided by lust while Stephanie had been orchestrating the plot between two first chairs. The resolution felt kinda meh imo.

I thought that this would have been better if read from a single POV, where Hannah’s struggles and revelations could have been better explored. In this alternative world, the role of music editors would be explained by Morgan, saving us from the glaring switch to a mini speech about the job.
But that’s just my two cents.

Coda was an enjoyable read. If you like a romance with second chances with a first crush that comes with a strong dose of yearning, this should be on your tbr!
Profile Image for Nia.
418 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 24, 2025
I have a bit of a crush on Parker. Such a sweet and hot character, whose heart was broken by Hannah when she was just a young woman in college.
Hannah knew Parker had a crush on her, and also about the letter…more in the book ;)
However, I have to admit that I had some difficulties with Hannah.
Until almost the very end when some things were explained. That's when I finally warmed to her.
It actually explains why Hannah is so cautious with her feelings and trust in general. They are, however, made for each other, and young Morgan, Hannah's daughter, is an absolute gem.
Such an interesting character, and not just because of what makes her special.
I loved her from the very first moment.
It's a sweet story, slow-burning and gentle.
There's also a bit of friends-to-lovers and second chance for love in it.
All in all, a warm and romantic story full of wonderful music and about the feelings that music is meant to awaken in us.
I thank the Bold Strokes Book Team, and of course the author, for the ARC via NetGalley!
Profile Image for Meghan.
703 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 12, 2026
Parker and Hannah went to the same college, but Hannah was ahead of Parker. Parker had a big crush on Hannah even though Hannah was dating Mike Wells. One day Parker gets up the nerve and leaves an anonymous love letter to Hannah. Parker never receives any response to the letter.

Twenty-seven years later, both are returning to their alma mater for their homecoming. Parker is a successful music editor in Los Angeles and Hannah is a music teacher in her hometown. Hannah is newly divorced from Mike and has a sixteen-year-old daughter, Morgan. Hannah has also recently come out as bisexual. Coda tells the story of the homecoming, in more ways than one; with their past and; and their present attraction for one another.

It dragged out a bit at the end, but wasn't a huge turnoff, but downgraded the rating to 3 stars unfortunately. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Aleana.
726 reviews20 followers
January 13, 2026
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Parker was crushing (infatuation) on Hannah while being in the same sorority. Hannah is older then Parker has been dating Mike when Parker hears that they broken up she gather the courage to write a letter to Hannah only later to find out Hannah didn’t break up with Mike. Years later Parker is now a successful music editor she gives in when a her friend Stephanie invites her back for homecoming activities she meets Morgan who happens to be Hannah daughter who interest in music and wants career out of it and starts to mentor her. Hannah just recently admits TK herself that she bisexual but isn’t in the space to start anything despite her attraction to Parker. Hannah and Parker get to know each other despite their fears with the help of Stephanie and Morgan . This nice warm cute read about second chances and living for oneself.
Profile Image for Grace.
978 reviews12 followers
January 19, 2026
Coda is a lovely little book about Parker, a music editor, and her college crush, Hannah. Whilst the book starts off pretty slow, by the 20% mark i was fully hooked and excited to see the relationship between the two characters grow. However, the character that truly steals the show is Morgan, Hannah’s daughter, who i would honestly read a sequel about.

If you’re looking for a (kind of) second chance romance with a lovely little slow burn and lots of music references then this is the book for you. The pacing is perfect, and the book itself is only 209 pages so the story doesn’t feel dragged out or rushed. The characters are endearing and if that doesn’t sell this to you then the two super cute cats will.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Shannon Cross.
39 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 9, 2026
This was a pleasant romance overall, and there were several moments I really enjoyed. The premise was appealing, and the romantic connection had its share of sweet and engaging scenes.

At times, the pacing felt a bit uneven, and I wished there was more emotional depth or development in the relationship. Some moments that should have felt bigger didn’t fully land for me, but the story still had charm.

Overall, this was a decent book and I will definitely read Anna's next book. Fans of sapphic romance will likely find things to enjoy, even if it didn’t completely sweep me away.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for early access to this book, in exchange for an honest review!
136 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 12, 2026
This was possibly the sweetest book I’ve read in a while. Parker is so sweet and endearing that I couldn’t help but fall in love with her myself. Parker’s youthful (and unrequited) crush on Hannah was so relatable and I enjoyed seeing the adult versions of these characters form a new and different relationship, something we can all strive for. The supporting characters were great as well, and I would love to see some of them get their own books. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a sweet and realistic second chance romance story.

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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