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The Notes Between Us: A contemporary and feel-good romantic comedy
She has the voice of a star. But can she find the courage to sing?
Clara's always dreamed of being on stage. In the shower, she's sensational. In the choir, she blends right in. But when it comes to singing solo, nerves steal her voice. And so she watches as others chase their dreams from behind the reception desk at Delagado Sounds… the hottest record label in town.
Everything changes overnight when Clara steps in to help Marco Delagado. He's handsome, infuriating and the reason she suddenly finds herself promoted to PA. One evening, she sneaks into the studio after hours and records a song but forgets to take the recording home – the next morning, the whole office is buzzing about a mysterious "new voice". The problem? Clara's too terrified to admit it's hers.
As Marco and Clara search for the unknown singer, sparks fly between them. But the closer they get, the higher the Marco's business is on the line, a ruthless rival is out to destroy him, and if Clara doesn't reveal the truth and pluck up the nerve to sing, she risks losing not only her dream, but the man she's falling for.
Perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary and Paige Toon, The Notes Between Us is a contemporary romance about finding love, having courage and following your voice.
Clara's always dreamed of being on stage. In the shower, she's sensational. In the choir, she blends right in. But when it comes to singing solo, nerves steal her voice. And so she watches as others chase their dreams from behind the reception desk at Delagado Sounds… the hottest record label in town.
Everything changes overnight when Clara steps in to help Marco Delagado. He's handsome, infuriating and the reason she suddenly finds herself promoted to PA. One evening, she sneaks into the studio after hours and records a song but forgets to take the recording home – the next morning, the whole office is buzzing about a mysterious "new voice". The problem? Clara's too terrified to admit it's hers.
As Marco and Clara search for the unknown singer, sparks fly between them. But the closer they get, the higher the Marco's business is on the line, a ruthless rival is out to destroy him, and if Clara doesn't reveal the truth and pluck up the nerve to sing, she risks losing not only her dream, but the man she's falling for.
Perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary and Paige Toon, The Notes Between Us is a contemporary romance about finding love, having courage and following your voice.
- GenresRomance
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2026
9 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 8, 2026
Thank you to the publisher Bloodhound Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Oh Marco, dear sweet Marco was such a manchild at the start of this book and it’s almost like the song was written about him. I enjoyed the dual point of views in this book as the way Marco sees things is different to how Clara experiences it, it’s obvious in their chapters as Marco doesn’t see the harm in his behaviour and it takes something drastic for him to get his head out of the sand. I very much enjoyed this book and I really liked Clara, she was very organised, very efficient and definitely her own worst critic. It was funny watching her and Marco search for the mysterious songbird, while all the time it was secretly Clara. By the end of the book it’s clear Marco has undergone a lot of personal growth and I’m glad as he and Clara were good together. I also like Clara’s brother Minty and his poor misguided match making attempts, I got to give an honourable mention to Nelly as he was delightful. I hope Monty gets his own book.
Oh Marco, dear sweet Marco was such a manchild at the start of this book and it’s almost like the song was written about him. I enjoyed the dual point of views in this book as the way Marco sees things is different to how Clara experiences it, it’s obvious in their chapters as Marco doesn’t see the harm in his behaviour and it takes something drastic for him to get his head out of the sand. I very much enjoyed this book and I really liked Clara, she was very organised, very efficient and definitely her own worst critic. It was funny watching her and Marco search for the mysterious songbird, while all the time it was secretly Clara. By the end of the book it’s clear Marco has undergone a lot of personal growth and I’m glad as he and Clara were good together. I also like Clara’s brother Minty and his poor misguided match making attempts, I got to give an honourable mention to Nelly as he was delightful. I hope Monty gets his own book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is exactly what it says it is. A Cinderella type romance set in the music industry. Clara is an exceptional singer but has a phobia of singing in front of others. She bags herself a job at a record company where they are auditioning for the next big thing and late one night records herself singing. The next day her track is heard and the company begin a search for this anonymous singer. Clara is thrown into the search along with her handsome boss and romance is surely to follow.
This is nothing deep, and apart from one mildly spicy balcony scene is quite wholesome. It's a light read and it held my interest but isn't going to set your world on fire.
This is nothing deep, and apart from one mildly spicy balcony scene is quite wholesome. It's a light read and it held my interest but isn't going to set your world on fire.
February 7, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of The Notes Between Us by Shirley Day!! All opinions are my own.
The Notes Between Us is a fast-paced romantic comedy, that I enjoyed! It wasn’t just a romance, but a love story to courage. This book was written so descriptively and kept me engaged the whole time. I absolutely loved the characters and were rooting for them along the way.
This book follows Clara, a receptionist turned personal assistant who can sing, and Marco, a music producer and her boss. Clara accidentally leaves a recording of her singing while Marco and his record label is searching for new talent. They do not know Clara was the singer leading to a Cinderella-like pursuit.
Although it is a comedy, there were some serious themes in The Notes Between Us like drug abuse and alcoholism from a main character.
While I enjoyed reading this book, there are times when the paragraphs can be dense with no breaks. There are also times the characters’ thoughts can contain long-winded bouts of information, that doesn’t always allow the audience to find out details and aspects of the characters personalities naturally. These flaws don’t necessarily affect the plot or the overall reading experience.
Once again, I greatly enjoyed the relationships and banter between all of the characters. I also loved the concept and ultimately wish this book had been longer with more development of the characters and their relationships.
The Notes Between Us was a sweet and funny book, that I’m glad I read. I hope to see more from this author!!
The Notes Between Us is a fast-paced romantic comedy, that I enjoyed! It wasn’t just a romance, but a love story to courage. This book was written so descriptively and kept me engaged the whole time. I absolutely loved the characters and were rooting for them along the way.
This book follows Clara, a receptionist turned personal assistant who can sing, and Marco, a music producer and her boss. Clara accidentally leaves a recording of her singing while Marco and his record label is searching for new talent. They do not know Clara was the singer leading to a Cinderella-like pursuit.
Although it is a comedy, there were some serious themes in The Notes Between Us like drug abuse and alcoholism from a main character.
While I enjoyed reading this book, there are times when the paragraphs can be dense with no breaks. There are also times the characters’ thoughts can contain long-winded bouts of information, that doesn’t always allow the audience to find out details and aspects of the characters personalities naturally. These flaws don’t necessarily affect the plot or the overall reading experience.
Once again, I greatly enjoyed the relationships and banter between all of the characters. I also loved the concept and ultimately wish this book had been longer with more development of the characters and their relationships.
The Notes Between Us was a sweet and funny book, that I’m glad I read. I hope to see more from this author!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a longtime romance lover, and I always enjoy picking up stories that feel a little different while still delivering everything I love about the genre. From the description alone, this book immediately caught my attention. It sounded fun, fresh, and like the kind of story that would make me laugh along the way, which is always a bonus for me.
One thing I really enjoyed is that the book is told in first person with alternating perspectives. I especially liked that some scenes were shown from both points of view rather than just one. Seeing the same moment through two different lenses added so much depth and made the miscommunications between the characters feel very real. It was interesting to watch how small misunderstandings formed and how easily things could have gone differently with just a bit more clarity.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing worked so well for me, and I never felt like the story dragged or skipped over important moments. There were several times when I found myself wondering about something, only to have the book address it almost immediately. To me, that speaks to an author who truly understands their readers and knows how to keep them engaged. This was such a satisfying and enjoyable read from start to finish.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
One thing I really enjoyed is that the book is told in first person with alternating perspectives. I especially liked that some scenes were shown from both points of view rather than just one. Seeing the same moment through two different lenses added so much depth and made the miscommunications between the characters feel very real. It was interesting to watch how small misunderstandings formed and how easily things could have gone differently with just a bit more clarity.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing worked so well for me, and I never felt like the story dragged or skipped over important moments. There were several times when I found myself wondering about something, only to have the book address it almost immediately. To me, that speaks to an author who truly understands their readers and knows how to keep them engaged. This was such a satisfying and enjoyable read from start to finish.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
February 19, 2026
The notes between us' by Shirley Day is a beautiful romantic comedy novel. It mainly revolves around the characters 'Marco' and 'Clara' where Marco is the boss and Clara an employee.
The character of Clara is dealing with stage fear and has anxiety performing in front of everyone. It so well written that at one point it feels relatable. Her organization skills are commendable. I wish there was more growth in her character development and I did hope her to see more successful at the end.
The character of Marco at first was unlikable but as the story unfolds one can understand his personality. By the end of the story I was satisfied with his growth and personality. I wish there were more scenes of Clara and Marco so that one can know the depth of their relationship and more mature conversations.
Side characters like Nelly, Evelyn and Minty were wonderful. Minty was such an amazing brother and I enjoyed his scenes with Clara. The character of Fitz totally surprised me and it was unexpected.The story was medium paced and I would highly recommend to those who enjoy slow burn Romance👍
Thank you bloodhound books and netgalley for the ARC.
The character of Clara is dealing with stage fear and has anxiety performing in front of everyone. It so well written that at one point it feels relatable. Her organization skills are commendable. I wish there was more growth in her character development and I did hope her to see more successful at the end.
The character of Marco at first was unlikable but as the story unfolds one can understand his personality. By the end of the story I was satisfied with his growth and personality. I wish there were more scenes of Clara and Marco so that one can know the depth of their relationship and more mature conversations.
Side characters like Nelly, Evelyn and Minty were wonderful. Minty was such an amazing brother and I enjoyed his scenes with Clara. The character of Fitz totally surprised me and it was unexpected.The story was medium paced and I would highly recommend to those who enjoy slow burn Romance👍
Thank you bloodhound books and netgalley for the ARC.
January 30, 2026
This is a short, easy read, which I read in a few hours. A nice story, about kind people, with strong elements of friendship and family loyalty. Clara has a beautiful voice and loves to sing, but she is quiet and unassuming as well as suffering from serious stage fright. She lives with her brother, Minty, who has cared for her since her parents died. She works at the reception of a tower block which houses a prestigious music studio, and watches with envy as hopeful singers turn up for auditions. Her first meeting with the company director, Marco, is not auspicious. However chance gives her the opportunity to work closer with him, and she cannot fight being attracted. The story develops steadily, with twists and turns caused by the two main characters failing to communicate honestly. A gentle and enjoyable read.
February 16, 2026
Cinderella romance vs the dog eat dog world of the music industry. The Notes between us is a wholesome, fast paced rom-com with only a mildly spicy scene in between.
The alternating perspectives gives insight into the two very different worlds that belong to our MCs.
Clara a down to earth, family orientated receptionist with the voice of a songbird but stage fright like no other. & then we have Marco stuck in a rut with his record label that's sinking fast until he hears the voice of an angel who could fix all his problems including his love life. Cue the pursuit of Cinderella.
Only downside for me was I felt the story could have been longer with further development of characters & scene settings.
Thank you to InstaBookTours & Shirley Day for a digital copy of the book.
The alternating perspectives gives insight into the two very different worlds that belong to our MCs.
Clara a down to earth, family orientated receptionist with the voice of a songbird but stage fright like no other. & then we have Marco stuck in a rut with his record label that's sinking fast until he hears the voice of an angel who could fix all his problems including his love life. Cue the pursuit of Cinderella.
Only downside for me was I felt the story could have been longer with further development of characters & scene settings.
Thank you to InstaBookTours & Shirley Day for a digital copy of the book.
February 17, 2026
A huge thank you to Vic at Instabooktours for having me on this readalong. A romance immersed in music will always hold the key to my heart.
This book was absolutely delightful from the beginning to the very end. I absolutely adored the dual pov because we were able to see the situations from two different perspectives and it added so much more dimension to the protagonists and their relationship. At the very beginning, Marco drove me up the wall and his immaturity made me detest him. However, as the book progressed, it was a delight to see him realise his true self and I found myself really liking him by the end of the novel.
Clara was so likeable throughout, and this made me root for her even more throughout the book.
I adored this one. A beauty. A romance for all.
This book was absolutely delightful from the beginning to the very end. I absolutely adored the dual pov because we were able to see the situations from two different perspectives and it added so much more dimension to the protagonists and their relationship. At the very beginning, Marco drove me up the wall and his immaturity made me detest him. However, as the book progressed, it was a delight to see him realise his true self and I found myself really liking him by the end of the novel.
Clara was so likeable throughout, and this made me root for her even more throughout the book.
I adored this one. A beauty. A romance for all.
February 17, 2026
The story in 3 emojis: 🎤🎸🩷
Highlights from the book:
•Dual POV
•Workplace Romance
•Rom-Com
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a lovely read, that I thoroughly enjoyed and didn’t want to put down.
Whilst it is a rom-com, I enjoyed the “mystery” vibes that came from certain things that happened.
The two main characters, Clara and Marco were great and I liked getting the story from both points of view and the two sides to a situation. I especially enjoyed the ending, where Minty finally got something right!
I would definitely read a spin off book just of Nelly and those couture outfits…..
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Marco is a manchild in need of a personal growth. Clara is a efficient perfectionist with performance anxiety.
They shouldn't work as a couple. And honestly, I didn't think they would at the first tiers of the book.
But slowly, the author put things together and I was able to see them, to believe in them, to believe in their story.
The side characters were charming and added layers to the story.
They shouldn't work as a couple. And honestly, I didn't think they would at the first tiers of the book.
But slowly, the author put things together and I was able to see them, to believe in them, to believe in their story.
The side characters were charming and added layers to the story.
February 13, 2026
I received an ARC of the Notes Between Us thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Notes Between Us is well paced with a lovable main female character. The male main character is predictably interesting with his daddy issues and not wanting to turn into him. The spice is pretty lack luster but the build up was good. Worth the read.
The Notes Between Us is well paced with a lovable main female character. The male main character is predictably interesting with his daddy issues and not wanting to turn into him. The spice is pretty lack luster but the build up was good. Worth the read.
February 18, 2026
That’s three and a half rounded up. Seemed an unlikely scenario. Angel voiced but lacking confidence chorister makes a secret demo tape and then the people at the recording studio want to find out who she is. Add to that she’s fallen for the studio boss who doesn’t want to be involved with the studio any more and who falls for her too. Just a bit too far fetched for my liking.
February 2, 2026
What a cute Cinderella type story. Instead of trying to find the foot that matched the slipper, they are trying to find the person that matches the voice. Only problem is, she is shy and lacks confidence. Thank you to bloodhound books for allowing me to read this sweet ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cute, sweet romance. Loved Clara whose dreams of being a singer give her so much heart. And I loved the simplicity of this romance. Yes there are the usual tropes found in romances, but the book’s honesty about love, family and generosity of spirit transcend the usual love story. Bravo Clara!
My thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for allowing me to read this ARC.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for allowing me to read this ARC.
February 16, 2026
I found this story to be a little mix of mystery and romance. I found the characters interesting and enjoyed how everything ended. There is a lot of British slang so if that's your thing, you'll really enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc, these opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc, these opinions are my own.
January 14, 2026
A twee romance set in the music industry, Clara and Marco are not brilliant as colleagues but events throw them together. A most unlikely couple but when fate throws the dice…
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An easy to read romance novel with good characters that don't seem very compatible at first.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I loved this book. Its a nice easy read romance. Lovely for a lazy Sunday afternoon or for the beach
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It was an engaging easy HEA read. I enjoyed the characters, and I liked Clara and her story. Her singing story ending was not a phony, unbelievable one. A lighthearted read.
February 17, 2026
This book is a Cinderella story set in the music world. This is a short book that I read quite quickly . It is about family and friendship loyalty. A good rom com worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews