He’s spent his life trying to outrun the storm…she’s the calm he’s been searching for.Ramona Hendrix has always followed the rules. She built the steady career, lived the safe life—and now feels like she’s slowly suffocating. The only place she comes alive is at a Nashville music venue on the weekends, where the thrum of guitars and the chaos of live shows remind her what it feels like to breathe.
When she’s offered a last-minute chance to hit the road with Atlas Obsidian, a gritty emo rock band in need of a merch girl for their summer tour. It’s spontaneous. Wild. Exactly what she needs. But she fears the reckless decision might disappoint the people she cares about most.
Atlas Obsidian Frontman Elias Hawthorne is magnetic on stage and mysterious off of it. With lyrics that hint at a haunted past and a silence that speaks louder than any song, he keeps everyone, even his bandmates at a distance. Ramona is intrigued, drawn to the rawness in his voice and the way his eyes seem to carry the weight of untold stories.
As long drives and late-night load-outs blur the line between strangers and something more, Ramona finds herself falling into a secret romance with Elias—it’s intense, unexpected, and impossible to ignore. With every mile, she uncovers more of the truth he’s buried behind his guarded exterior.
But Elias’s past isn’t finished with him yet. And as the ghosts he’s spent years outrunning threaten to catch up, Ramona must decide if she’s brave enough to stand in the fire with him—or if this summer was only ever meant to burn.
He is chaos and shadow.
She is serenity and light.
Together, they just might learn how to survive the storm.
Relatively spoiler free view: this was my first ARC ever so be nice! I really enjoyed this book! The chapters were quick to get through which I love in a book. It was the Ultimate slow burn but still perfect pacing. I like how it didn’t take forever and a day for the plot to build. I loved the shout outs to the romantasy series I’ve read (crescent city, fourth wing, quicksilver). It made the story even more immersive for me. When I get to the part of the book where everything is peaceful and happy, but then see I still have 25% left, that’s when I know things are about to go down. The little twist towards the end… didn’t see that coming and I pride myself on being able to pick out really obvious “twists”. I really REALLY wish there was a soundtrack of the Atlas Obsidian songs because I would be playing that on repeat. I also would buy a tshirt if she sold them *cough cough*.
When I read books written in first person, I picture myself as that character, and it was great to have a character like Ramona to live through for this adventure. It’s nice to see a FMC with the same personality traits as me, i.e. people pleaser constantly saying yes and putting other people’s needs before their own. I have a tendency of growing tired of my FMC after a while, either due to consistent stubbornness or just poor treatment of other characters in the books and terribly lazy redemption arcs. Ramona wasn’t one of those for me. Seeing her grow throughout the book was refreshing. I didn’t have times where I was screaming at her (internally) to stop doing something self destructive.
The dynamic between Ramona and Elias had me tearing up if not in full blown streaming tears. He’s a brooding, badass rockstar with his demons, but he’s also a giant teddy bear. He’s mysterious, deep, protective, considerate, and every girl’s dream MMC. His story and struggle broke my heart, I couldn’t help but root for him the entire time. The definition of a human shadow daddy, Elias Hawthorne has now made his way onto my list of book boyfriends.
I don’t typically stray from the romantasy that I always read. However, I found myself smiling and giggling along as I read through this story, but also reflecting inward to think about myself in comparison to the characters. This is one of those books that I was thinking about while doing other things because I wanted to get back to it to see how the story developed.
A slow burn is one of my favorite tropes, but I often find they’re not done well because they’re not actually slow. 100% not the case with Elias and Ramona. Following their story you really got to feel it build.
This book was such an easy read which I loved. The side characters were entertaining (shoutout Cody).
Overall, this story has depth and skillful pacing. I never felt like it was too fast or slow paced. It’s a book you could get through in a weekend, so if you’re like me and find yourself needing the occasional palate cleanser from romantasy.. put this book on the top of your TBR!
Oh, and the hot, brooding (“shadow daddy”) MMC like Elias made it all the better (look up Vlado Saric from Melrose Avenue..)!
I don’t even know how to act after finishing this book. I took FIVE full pages of notes… and I loved every single second of it.
Imagine being stuck in a soul-sucking office job, living for music on the side… and then getting the chance to go on tour as a photographer, merch and social media manager for your new favorite band right after you discover them or should I say after they discover you. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity….just like reading this book is :) JUST do it!
From the very beginning, I felt seen. That line about being “the reliable one” who gets taken advantage of? Yeah… that hit a little too hard. This book doesn’t just tell a story—it understands people, especially the ones who give too much of themselves.
And then we’re thrown into the music scene—the vibes, the tension, the energy. I was hooked instantly. Atlas Obsidian has that chaotic brotherhood that feels so real—messy, hilarious, loyal, completely ride-or-die. Cody had me laughing nonstop, and Elias… yeah. He’s THAT broody, emotionally wrecked, secretly soft man we all eat up.
Watching Ramona go from overworked, overlooked, and stuck… to someone who finally chooses herself? That arc was everything. Her quitting her job felt like freedom—not just for her, but for anyone who’s ever felt trapped in a life that didn’t fit.
The romance? Gods. The slow burn. The tension. The tiny moments that build and build until you’re practically vibrating waiting for them to just kiss already—and when they do? Worth it. Every second. Elias and Ramona are the perfect contrast: sunshine and storm, softness and edge—and it works so well it actually hurts.
What really sets this book apart is the emotional depth. This isn’t just a rockstar romance. It dives into trauma, addiction, and healing, and what it truly means to love someone through their darkness without losing yourself. There were moments that took my breath away, moments that made me laugh out loud, and moments that gave me actual chills.
And the music? The author didn’t just sprinkle in songs—she built a full emotional soundtrack. Lyrics with meaning. Songs that matter. It felt like more than just a book—it felt like an experience.
The found family? Top tier. The band, the friendships, the support system—it all felt earned and genuine. You can feel how much these characters grow together.
By the end, I was completely wrecked in the best way. The love confession, the song, the way everything comes full circle… yeah I definitely had chills.
This book is chaotic, emotional, romantic, funny, painful, healing—and completely addictive.
I didn’t just like it. I lived it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book didn’t just break my heart… it sat with it quietly afterward 🖤
I expected a rockstar romance. What I got was a deeply emotional story about loneliness, healing, and two people trying to find a place where they could finally stop pretending they were okay.
Ramona’s story hurt in such a quiet, relatable way. She’s done everything “right” her entire life — built the stable future, followed the rules, became the dependable person everyone could count on — yet she feels completely disconnected from herself. That ache of living a life that looks fine on the outside while slowly suffocating on the inside was written so beautifully.
Then there’s Elias Hawthorne.
And honestly… I don’t think I was prepared for him.
He carries the kind of sadness that bleeds through every lyric, every silence, every look. The more you learn about him, the more you understand that he’s spent years believing he has to carry his pain alone. Behind the fame, the music, and the walls he built around himself is someone exhausted from surviving.
What made this story unforgettable for me was how gentle their love became.
Not perfect. Not easy. Just real.
Ramona doesn’t try to “fix” Elias, and Elias doesn’t magically erase Ramona’s fears. Instead, they slowly become a safe place for each other in the middle of all the chaos. Their relationship felt intimate in a way that had nothing to do with physical chemistry — it was in the late-night conversations, the understanding, the vulnerability, and the way they saw each other completely.
And when Elias’s past finally starts catching up to him… you feel the weight of it. The fear. The desperation. The heartbreak. There were moments in this book where my chest genuinely hurt for them because you could feel how badly they wanted peace but didn’t know if they deserved it.
This story feels like: 🎶 Music that says the things you can’t 🌧 Carrying pain you never learned to talk about 🖤 Loving someone at their most broken ✨ Finding freedom in being truly seen 🔥 The terrifying hope that maybe healing is possible
Some romances give you butterflies.
This one gave me bruises.
And I mean that as the highest compliment possible.
I don’t even fully know how to put into words what this did to me ❤️
From the very beginning, it felt like I was being pulled straight into a world that understands what it means to feel like you don’t quite belong anywhere, until you find a scene, a sound, a place that finally makes sense of the chaos inside you. The emo scene in this story isn’t just a backdrop… it feels like survival. Like oxygen for people who’ve been holding their breath for too long.
Elias absolutely wrecked me in the quietest, most devastating way. Fiercely loyal, deeply protective, but constantly pushing everyone away because he’s already decided he’s too broken to be loved back. And yet, in the only language he trusts, his music, he lets everything spill out. The pain, the sorrow, the things he can’t say out loud without falling apart.
And then there’s Ramona.
Watching her through her POV feels like standing in the middle of something tender and terrifying at the same time. You feel every shift in the air between them, the light, carefree moments that make you forget to breathe, and then the heavier ones that sit on your chest long after you’ve put the book down.
Their story doesn’t pretend recovery is clean or easy. It shows addiction in a way that hurts, because it doesn’t just consume the person going through it, it ripples through everyone who loves them. It breaks things. It rebuilds things. Sometimes it does both at once.
And on top of all the heaviness, the side characters bring so much life to the story. They’re sincere, fun, loyal, and make the found family feel like the heart of everything. Especially Cody, he’s this absolute ball of sunshine, Elias’s total opposite, basically a tattooed punk golden retriever. He brings so much warmth and light into every scene he’s in and balances the story beautifully. At its core, this book is about pain, healing, music, and the way people can slowly find their way back to each other even when they think they’re too broken to be loved.
I have no idea how to describe my feelings; I’ve experienced a true “𝓢𝓪𝓵𝓿𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷” story in which I was both in tears and madly in love.
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
I fell in love with every single scene. The way Elias tried to get Ramona to think only of herself… The way he gave her his bunk bed—which he’d never given to anyone else—just so she could be comfortable… The way Elias, who’d been unable to sleep since that terrible incident, drifted off to the most peaceful sleep of his life in Ramona’s lap… I WAS ALMOST IN TEARS AT THIS POINT. Those moments of closeness whilst teaching Ramona how to throw a punch, and oh, the way he let slip that he cared for Ramona whilst attacking a man in a fit of jealousy… our mysterious ‘Shadow Daddy’ is revealing his feelings
The first kissing scenes>>>. But what a brilliant ‘mistake’ that was—what a lesson it was; we were absolutely hooked. Especially the fact that he sang karaoke just because Ramona asked him to, but only with Ramona—‘The Man That You Are’—and the way he had to admit he could never stay away from the kiss he called a ‘mistake’, even as he was going mad at the thought of Ramona sharing it with someone else.
But what parts moved me the most? The way Ramona proved to Elias just how much he was worth, even though he never saw himself as worthy of love. The fact that Elias went back to the drugs he’d been running from his whole life—all because of that scoundrel Traeger—just for Ramona’s sake… Ramona’s helplessness… I couldn’t hold back my tears.
I love a good rockstar romance book but this one wasn’t just good, No, it was AMAZING!!! Some books entertain you for a few hours. This one settled under my skin and stayed there long after I finished the last page.
I wasn’t expecting that level of emotional impact when I started reading, but somewhere between the late-night drives, messy healing, screaming lyrics, and quiet moments between Ramona and Elias, this story completely consumed me.
Ramona’s journey hit especially hard. She’s stuck between the life she’s built and the version of herself she buried years ago, the girl who wanted more than routine and survival. Watching her slowly rediscover pieces of herself through music, chaos, friendship, and love felt incredibly honest.
And Elias… wow. He’s the kind of character who says very little but feels everything too deeply. Broody, guarded, self-destructive, yet somehow unbearably tender underneath all the sharp edges. His love came through in the smallest moments, and honestly? That hurt more than grand gestures ever could.
What stood out most to me was how raw the story felt. It doesn’t make addiction look good or anything, but it shows how the people around you are affected by it as well.
But despite all the heartbreak, there’s still so much warmth woven throughout the story. The band dynamic, the found family energy, the humor mixed into the chaos, it all balanced beautifully. Cody especially brought so much light into the darker moments and completely stole every scene he was in.
The romance itself felt electric in that messy, aching kind of way. Tension packed into stolen glances, emotionally charged conversations, cramped tour bus moments, and the kind of chemistry that builds slowly until it finally explodes. The spice absolutely delivered, but it was the emotional connection underneath it that made everything hit harder.
A big thank you to the author for letting me read this ARC! Everyone needs to add it to their TBR!
Tropes- secret summer romance, forced proximity (tour bus), found family, sad emo frontman x mercy girl, tension-filled slow burn, grumpy x sunshine, rockstar romance
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I need to read more rockstar romance cause this one was so freaking good I went through all the emotions reading this book but it was so worth it in the end for Mona and Elias I love them real bad and their story was so beautiful, emotional, messy, and real but I still couldn’t get enough of them
Mona my girl oh how I love her so much, she’s been feeling like her life is boring and wants something different and exciting so when the chance for her to become the merch girl and part time photographer for the bad she jumps on it and good thing she did cause she instantly bonded with them. Mona is such a sunshine girl I would do anything for her
The chemistry and banter with them is absolutely top tier yeah they made me crash out multiple times but I just love them so much and their story just felt so real in every single way and don’t even get me started on the found family!? I loved it so much had me laughing one minute and then crying the next lol
Elias very mysterious and has been through a lot and is a tough guy to crack but once you do he’s such a complex person that I love so hard. Elias is the frontman for his band Atlas Obsidian who actually may be one of my top bands lol. I loved reading about Elias life and why he is the way he is especially when he’s on stage everything just disappears he was written so well
The slow burn tension had me going crazy like if you guys don’t kiss right now ima cry cause Elias and Mona were just made to be in each other life. Cody is definitely the loml I would do anything for him and I can’t wait for his book. The chaos of the band life and everything was so amazing I loved every second of it.
Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤
4.5⭐ I received this ARC from Rebecca Elder in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much for making me part of your team. It is an honor.
‘‘The melodies coming from your lips are driving me wild’’
How I ❤️ a good Rockstar story. Perhaps I should say EMOstar story in this case. I never really listen to that genre of music, but Rebecca Elder convinces me to create a new playlist for myself!
As I always enjoy raw emotions, endearing personas and loyal friends, I was not disappointed with this romantic and wonderful novel.
Ramona💐 and Elias🫶 (our MC’s) completely pulled me into their romance and never let me leave. I was impressed by their courage, their resilience and their vulnerability. They are genuine, beautiful inside and out. You will uncover them, one layer at a time.🫣 You will crave for their smiles, perks, laughs, their feelings and secrets...crave as if you would suffocate and lose your mind if you didn't get them.
And what about the side characters? 🤯OMG, they are magnifique. Fun, enthusiastic, sincere, friendly, honest, and they undoubtedly belong in the fabulous world of "Atlas Obsidian".🚍
I am attached to this band, as a group and individually. I need to know their struggles and their wins. I want to follow them straight into their darkness. I want to feel all their jubilant moments. I want to run towards each of their cotton candy skies. Loving them is now part of my life. Fuck, now I need all their stories.😍
As I read "Through the Storm" I can honestly say this: ⭐ As a woman, I smile ⭐ As a lover, I lust ⭐ As a mother, I sob ⭐ As a friend, I trust ⭐ As a sibling, I hope ⭐ As a reader, I feel
Thank you, Rebecca, for allowing me to dream about such fun and real and incredible characters.✌️
I went into this expecting a fun, slightly chaotic warped-tour/emo style romance, and it definitely delivered that. But I was honestly surprised by how much more I ended up getting out of it.
Ramona as a main character made me feel so seen. As someone who’s definitely struggled with being a people pleaser, feeling stuck in corporate life, and navigating friendships where people have taken advantage of that, I related to her so much. Watching her slowly grow into herself and start choosing what was actually right for her made the story feel really heartening.
I also loved the dynamic between all the characters. The found family between the band members genuinely made my heart so happy. If you’ve spent any time in the emo scene, at shows, or just have a deep love for music in general, that passion really comes through in this book. I was a little nervous the music aspect might feel cheesy, but by the end it was obvious how much the author has been shaped by that community and music scene, and that love really shines through on the page.
I do want to mention that if you or someone close to you has struggled with substance abuse, definitely check the trigger warnings. That said, the healing journey in this book was really beautiful and hit close to home for me. As someone who has lost family to addiction, seeing Ramona’s perspective as someone who loves a person struggling with substance abuse felt incredibly real, and honestly like a perspective I didn’t realize I needed to read.
You can tell a lot of love went into this story, and I’d absolutely recommend it, especially if you love music, found family dynamics, and characters learning to take their lives back for themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for a fair review...and I was so thrilled with the book!
It starts out with fun, creative phrasing that wastes no time acquainting you to the relatable plight of a girl stuck in a soul-sucking "successful" job that seems to bleed more out of her every day...something I think resonates deeply with so many of us who were encouraged to take the safe route with our careers rather than grow up to be all the wonderful dreams we had as kids.
But all of that is about to change when Ramona gets the opportunity of a lifetime. Will she stick with what she's always known, or go on tour with a band that lights her soul up like fireworks...and maybe spend more time with the mysterious front-man who captivates her with every lyric he screams from the stage?
The book is entertaining, fun, has some funny and some cute moments...and some powerful tear-jerkers. I won't spoil it, but that scene in the alley is still one of my favorites. <3 I love a book that can make me cry, and this one was the first one that had done it in so long! The flow keeps it moving, and once the spice starts, it definitely delivers plenty of exciting little moments on the road...in the janitorial closet...on the tour bus...etc. >:)
I admire Ramona's courage, Elias is a broody shadow-daddy (as his bandmate loves to call him) and Cody is a fan-favorite that I cannot WAIT to read more about in upcoming works. Rebecca did a great job creating something lovely, like a Summer whirlwind romance full of late nights in music venues and long drives under cotton candy skies, all contained in one book. I'm so thrilled she let me get to know these characters a little bit before the rest of the world, and I can't wait to see what she does next!
You’ll fall in love with these character immediately, and they will hold your heart until you hit that final The End. Through the Storm was an absolutely amazing read, it’s full of emotions… honestly it’s full of life. It shows the good, the bad, the hard, the ugly, of living and fighting for life in a way that is both beautiful and beyond relatable! And the romance… man the slow build, slow burn romance between Elias and Romona was so so beautifully written that you just can’t not root for them. Individually Romona and Elias are just two people who have been through so tragic, tragic things and are just trying to not let the darkness of those tragedies steal the light, love, and passions they have left. Even if one of them is doing it by being a bit of people-pleasing, ray of sunshine, who loves fiercely. While the other is a bit of a shadow working in the background and keeping others at arms length so that he feels like nothing can be broken again. And for that alone you’ll love them. But together… together their romance absolutely steals the show… it’s slow burning, it’s awkward strangers, turned acquaintances who are drawn to each other, to reluctant but inevitable friendship, to falling head first into love without even realizing it in just a stunningly written way. Truly I loved every second and word of this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a rockstar romance, full of amazing characters, hilarious banter, sizzling romance, swoon-worthy moments, a bit of darkness, and drama, an emotional rollercoaster ride and an ending that will leave you both amazed and wanting more!
I can’t thank Rebecca Elder enough for the incredible opportunity to ARC read this!
This was such a beautiful story! I loved how the music and passion and angst were interwoven into the plot. I don't think this was a book just any author could write. I am not as into music as much as the author is, but I loved getting a glimpse of what it could be like for your soul to bleed music. I even loved the acknowledgments at the end and need to go listen to some of the bands she mentioned! The backstory is so well done in this book too. The progression of the peeling back of layers is so nicely timed. Not too much, but enough that you don't feel frustrated. Some books feel like I made myself read it just to finish the story, but each time I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to reading this one. The characters will live in my head now, too... Elias is every bad boy you ever crushed over. He's troubled and sweet and needs someone to see who he really is. Ramona is a bit of a people pleaser, but she also makes everyone feel seen and appreciated, and you can't help but like her character. The side character, Cody? His book cannot come soon enough. He's a goof, but he's loyal and kind. He's the ultimate golden retriever. And he and Ramona have the best romantasy book club. I loved hearing snippets of Cody's take on the books. His character cracked me up. Ok, and the last thing and the best thing? The 3/4 twist at the end was executed so perfectly with the character arcs and plot that it pulled you right through it, and I had to charge along full speed to find out what happened! I hate an awkward twist at the end, but this was perfection!
Thank you so much to Rebecca Elder for this ARC copy of Through the Storm!
Through the Storm was such a fun and emotional ride—I genuinely loved this book. From the very beginning, I was hooked by the concert setting and the way Ramona and Elias met. There’s just something about a music/tour romance that hits perfectly, and watching Ramona go from working at a venue to joining the tour as a merch girl made the whole story feel immersive and exciting.
Elias was such a compelling MMC. His struggles with his past and his journey with sobriety added real depth to his character, and I loved how guarded he was at first. Seeing Ramona slowly break down his walls was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their chemistry felt natural, and their banter and growing connection had me smiling (and kicking my feet a little).
The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me was the twist near the end. Making it seem like Elias had relapsed and overdosed felt really out of character, especially after five years of sobriety and all the growth he showed. While I understand the direction it took and the explanation behind it, it still pulled me out of the story a bit in the moment.
That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. The romance, the emotional depth, and the tour setting all came together in a way that made it hard to put down. If you love a protective MMC, a strong FMC, and a behind-the-scenes music romance, this is definitely one to pick
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
So I really really wanted to read this ARC. I applied twice and when I was finally choose I was ecstatic. I had seen advertisements pop up on my feed and this book looked like my jam. I was not disappointed… this book 🤘 For anyone who loved Edgefest, Warp Tour, Summersault etc. this book is romance and nostalgia all wrapped up in a nice bow. Although mostly emo it still hit home for this concert goer and brought back a lot of amazing memories.
It brought be back to concert beer gardens, mosh pits and merch stands. Drama, love and fist fights.
I love a good rockstar romance and this touched on all the major points. Sex, drugs and rock n roll. I love this book. It was heavy but light and I burned through it.
I highlighted a ton of quotes because Rebecca’s writing is poetry.
“There’s no spring without the rain. No sunshine without the storm. No light without the dark that came before it.”
I’ve said it before but this touched home for me. I just love the name of the brand “Atlas Obsidian” and the original songs written in the book. I could hear them playing in my head.
The FMC Ramona and the male MMC Elias are both emotionally damaged. The way they find their own HEA is just stunning.
I don’t want to give too much away but this is a definite must read for 2026.
Tropes:
Grumpy & Sunshine Forced proximity Touch her and die vibes Found family ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
As someone who spent their late teens to mid 20’s going to warped tour, bamboozle, shows in church basements … and who still goes to as many Andrew McMahon shows as possible , this story was pure nostalgia. As I was reading this book, I was picturing my favorite bands and singers from the days of OG warped.
I also was jealous of a fictional character. I wanted to be Ramona sooo badly from the ages of 16-25. She literally lived the dream for the majority of this book. I loved that she wasn’t portrayed as a ditzy, band obsessed scene girl (if you know you know). Her relationships with all the guys was so fun - and watching her break down Elias’s walls was fun.
Let’s get into Elias - my poor tortured soul teddy bear. I think Rebecca did a beautiful job with his character representation. If you listen to some artists talk about their days in being in bands and their sobriety and their mental health - this feels on point. I loved that he was so loyal and protective over everyone but he broke my heart multiple times - I’m glad in the end he let it all go and let everyone in.
The ending took a little bit of a turn and went a little bit off the rails for me personally - but you know what - this whole book was a vibe and I’m not mad about it.
What I do need is Cody’s book. I need to see what kind of woman would lock him down.
First off, I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and honestly….
I could not get ENOUGH! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book easily is one of my favorite reads of the year. I loved every second of it. So much so that as soon as I finished I was tempted to just start it all over again.
“Nothing in my life when I didn’t think anything good could grow in me anymore.” 😍😍😍
There’s so much to love about this book but let’s start with the setting and influences:
🤘🏻 I live in Nashville so having an author like Rebecca Elder show that there’s more here than country music, bachelorette parties, and pedal taverns was *everything*
🤘🏻 This entire book is an emo kid/punk rocker’s DREAM. I could literally feel the energy of Warped Tour and Emo’s Not Dead cruise through every page.
And then there are the characters. You have a quintessential closed-off, walls up, broody AF emo front man (and, gurl I do mean emo) and a bubbly — but importantly not naive or silly! — sunshine marketing whizz determined to break down those walls. Just perfection.
Literally so great. I’ll say it again. I couldn’t get ENOUGH. I simply cannot wait to get a physical copy to show off, share, and dive into all over again.
I received this arc (my first ever one) from the author (thank you!!!). She spoke at the Feb meeting of the book club I belong to, and when she was telling everyone about this book, I knew I had to read it.
4.5 ⭐️
Though i was / am more of the pop fangirl, I still loved some emo bands back in the day, and it was every girls dream to be picked to work or do anything with the band!
There were so many raw emotions in this book, that made you feel deeply while reading. Some moments made me laugh out loud, some pulled at my heart, and one moment made me gasp out loud in shock!
Ramona being a people pleaser makes her relatable to the core, and putting herself first is what she needed to do to be happy. I also enjoyed it being in her POV. Elias is a tortured soul, but there’s people that see the good in him, and will always remind him of that.
I love the found family that the band, and the people around it bring, and would love books, or even novellas about the other bandmates! The songs in this book are absolutely amazing, and need to be real songs!
This comes out on May 15th, go read it, your inner fangirl will thank you. ✨
This was my first rockstar romance. I devoured it in less than 24 hours because I genuinely could not put it down. Every chapter left me wanting more. The chemistry, the tension, the emotions, it all hit in the best way. The characters felt so real and relatable that it was impossible not to get fully invested in their story. I didn’t just read this book, I felt it.
I’m not usually a slow-burn girly, but this one had me hooked from the start. I love me a broody mmc & sunshine fmc. Elias & Ramona were everything I didn’t know I needed. The anticipation was delicious, the tension simmered perfectly, and when things finally ignited? Worth. Every. Second. I loved how the music was woven into the story and it wasn’t just background noise, it amplified the emotions and made every high and low feel deeper and more intense. The shoutouts to popular romantasies were such a fun bonus that made me smile while still staying completely immersed & I love Cody so much!!!! This book gave me butterflies, feelings, made me laugh and cry.
Thank you Rebecca Elder for the opportunity to arc read this book. I enjoyed not only your novel, but also your lyrics!
I knew I was going to absolutely love this book from the perfectly curated playlist before the book even started. The music was my jam and it even had my favorite band listed, so I knew this was for me. She had me at emo band
The characters were beautifully written and their stories and journeys resonated with me. Elias was such a terrific MMC. He was fighting his demons daily and his heartbreak came through every lyric that was on the pages and his whole quiet, brooding vibes just did it for me.
Ramona was a treasure. She also had a past she needed to overcome and it was explained in such a beautiful way. Ramona and Elias were two lost souls who found each other and it was amazing to read.
Lest we forget one of the best characters, Cody. The ultimate golden retriever and best friend. Loyal to his core and always has to make sure people have a smile on their face. He was wonderful.
I devoured this book and I honestly want to go back and re-read it because I loved it so, so much.
Do NOT skip out on the playlist this author pulled together for this book. I have been listening to it nonstop since I saw it. Its perfection.
This one really brought me back to my high school days when I went to all those rock/emo shows over the summers! Ramona wanted something exciting and new with her life, her job was just stale and boring. So when she sees a band, Atlas Obsidian, at the bar she works at part time and they ask her to be their photographer and merch person she was all in. She felt right at home on tour with them, but she always has this strange feeling around Elias, the head of the band. He was always so quiet and introverted, but he was a whole different person onstage. I really loved the slow burn for this one, it made you yearn for more. You really get to see why Elias is the way he is. I loved Cody so much too!! He was such a goof, but had the biggest heart. This is definitely my favorite band romance book I have read! It was just so deep and it makes you feel so nostalgic. But I got to tell you that ending really made me cry and I felt so many emotions.
This story is about a band and a young woman who travels with them. The FMC is smart and in the right place at the right time. The MMCs are bandmates are very talented. One of them writes the songs that the band sings. He is a tortured sole. The songs are beautiful and sad and have so much meaning. And, much thanks goes to the FMC for an increase in their followers. Time is running out for her stay and feelings are involved. This was an absolutely beautiful story and I adored it. The writing was really good and the timing for all of the secrets revealed, surprises and drama were perfect. I loved the two main characters and the immediate secondary characters (the band members). They were easy like. This story was solid and the main male character was so deep with his feelings and the author conveyed that perfectly. It made me fall for him just a little. I loved this novel and would highly, definitely recommend it.
Thank you to Rebecca Elder for an advanced copy of Through the Storm! I was so excited to get the email and couldn’t wait to dive in!
Through the Storm was unlike any other book I’ve read! As someone who was in high school in the early 2000's, I definitely would not have called myself emo, but you will still find plenty of the same music on my current playlists. I have always been someone who connected so deeply with song lyrics, which made me appreciate this book even more!
I think I would have loved to see a version of the story from Elias’ POV. He obviously is working through so much in his life and it would have been great to see the story and his attraction to Ramona progress through his eyes.
I will certainly be reading more Rebecca Elder in the future. It’s been a goal of mine to read new authors in 2026 and I’m glad I added Rebecca Elder to my list!
Hot emo band with killer lyrics? SIGN ME UP!!! This story follows Ramona as she embarks on the dream of a lifetime working as the merch girl on tour with Atlas Obsidian. Add in a broody, distant lead singer with a dark past and his golden retriever best friend and we have a BANGER!
Through the Storm by Rebecca Elder is a wild ride of tour antics, band dynamic, personal trauma and did I mention the yearning?! The characters are fun but complex with a few very dark pasts, the lyrics are next level (a band NEEDS to sign Rebecca up as lyricist ASAP!) and the romance is incredibly honest and sweet.
Thank you so much to Rebecca for giving me opportunity to read Through the Storm before release day! If you love a rockstar romance or are an Emo girlie at heart add this one to your TBR, she releases 15th May 2026.
I don’t have the words for this book. It’s simply amazing from the first word to the last. The music is beautifully written into the story. The story is amazingly beautiful and well written.
Elias is such a complex character. He’s been through so much and he’s so closed off but he’s so well written he’s not hard to love even though you really don’t get a feel for him for a while into the story. But one you do it’s easy to see why Ramona fell head over heels for him.
Cody is hilarious.
Ramona found her people after being stuck in a rut for the longest time. She’s a free spirit who needed space to soar like her brother. Not to be caged in a corporate office. And she found it by going on tour with the band.
This book touched on some hard topics but it did so wonderfully.
I had such a good time reading this! It kept me pulled in and I couldn’t stop reading. As an avid music lover, following this up and coming band on tour and basically having a behind the scenes pass the whole time was such a fun concept! As someone who also loves lists, I will now list everything I loved:
-Grumpy vs sunshine and a slow burn are always favorite tropes -Cody. That’s it. That’s the bullet point. -Incorporation of lyrics -So many lovable characters -The deep, emotional moments with the perfect balance of comedic relief -The writing felt natural and conversational -Chosen family vibes
Overall, I enjoyed this read and can’t wait for everyone else to get their hands on it! 🎶🎸
•This book was heavy, it was super emotional and empowering. The MMC, Elias, has struggled his whole life, and has become a shell of a human. Enter the FMC, Ramona, a rocker at heart working a dead end corporate job. When she’s working her side hustle, a once in a lifetime opportunity falls into her lap. Ramona decides to take the leap, and chase what her heart loves. Joining a tour bus with a group of strangers on tour, Ramona has eyes for a certain broody lead singer. Elias tries so hard to keep her at arms length, but they both fail miserably. This story has found family, addiction and recovery, love, and adventure. The last hour of this book had me boohoo crying, and simultaneously wishing Atlas Obsidian was a band I could go see live!•
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
What an emotional ride. "Through the Storm" is a comfort read but with a heavier theme...if that makes sense. Both MCs experience love, loss, and a ton of personal growth. They're easy to relate to which I think contributed to the "comfort" part of this book. At first the MCs relationship almost felt surface level-ish, so i wasn't convinced. But as theyre relationship unfolded, more depth unraveled in their love story and in a way showed that even though you cant always see someone's scars, you might have more in common with someone that you know 🤷♀️
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this book as an ARC!! This was my first book by Rebecca, and I loved it!!! I love the characters, and I loved the slow burn between the 2 main characters. The more I read, the more and more I got sucked in and wanted to just keep going. I'm hoping this isn't a standalone because I would love more stories about the band, and definitely more on Ramona and Elias. I just couldn't get enough of their story!!! And I feel like I can't express how much I loved this story as a whole!!! I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this book to have once it's released!
A raw and emotional love story set against an emo/pop-punk backdrop.
Rebecca Elder obviously has a tremendous amount of love for the genre, and I was so impressed with how she was able to write such tragic moments without it feeling totally overwhelming. Mix in live music, road trip vibes, and realistic characters, and you've got a recipe for a great time. Ramona and Elia both have trauma that they're healing from and I love that they were able to lean on each other to try and heal from it all.
Cody obviously stole the show here. I can't wait to read his (and the other band members') story.