Resonance: A Rockstar Romance

Fractured Frequencies #2

by Vari Scott, Jason Clarke (Narrator), Tim Paige (Narrator)

Some dreams ask for sacrifice. Others demand everything.



I’ve loved Cooper Riddick for most of my life. Long before we crossed the line. Long before he left our small town and became Reign Cooper—the name in lights, the voice people chant back at from the crowd.



Loving him meant accepting second place, because music was always his first love.



We tried to keep things simple. Best friends. No promises. No expectations. But unrequited love doesn’t fade just because you ask it to, and eventually, wanting more started to hurt worse than walking away.



Now he’s back. Worn down by a dream that took more than it gave. And I’m not the same guy he left behind. I’ve rebuilt my life here, piece by piece, and I won’t give my heart to someone who can’t choose me. Not fully. Because this time, love isn’t enough on its own.



This time, wanting him means risking everything I’ve worked so hard to protect.



Resonance is a spicy mm second chance romance between a rockstar and ex-hockey player with a guaranteed HEA and is the second book in the Fractured Frequencies series.



Refer to front matter for trigger warnings.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Second Chance, M M Romance, Audiobook, Romance, Sports, Hockey

Audible Audio

Published May 1, 2026

About the author

Vari Scott is a British author of indecently decent romance. When she's not writing spicy stories with dirty talking men and sassy ladies, while her two pugs snooze under her table, she is reading them instead.

Reviews

[Sarah]

I was excited for this, especially the audiobook because Jason Clark is narrating an MM🤩 and I also love Tim Paige.

I knew there would be a separation of 10 years, and most likely them being and hooking up with others during those years, and I was ready to digest that, with no on page scenes of course.

But the fact that they are best friends who started a friends-with-benefits arrangement since senior year of high school to explore together, and the fact that Declan is in love with Cooper, but when he is away at college still hook up with OP to help forget his love for Cooper, while also continue on hooking up with Cooper whenever they meet up, and they meet up often; it's not like they go years without seeing each other. This is so messed up to me.
Also, Declan lost his virginity freshman year because he couldn't bear the idea of Cooper having the last part of him that he hadn't already given. So, he lost his virginity after starting being intimate with Cooper (they haven't done any penetrative sex yet) Then later on, Cooper loses his virginity to Declan. The whole thing feels wrong to me.
All of that happens before the long separation btw.

No OP scenes on page as we are told all of this, but it still does not sit right with me. I don't know if my head can get past that (probably not) because I would love to listen to the audiobook as I've seen reviews praising the narration.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I loved you. And you ruined me.”

RESONANCE by Vari Scott

My bestie wrote the perfect summary in their review…
“Holy f*ck. Talk about an emotional listen. You know those books that break you and heal you at the same time, give you the whole range of emotions and when it's done, you both want to say, "thank god for the HEA" but also "I want more"? Yeah, that's Resonance. That's Cooper and Declan. That's Jason and Tim's performances.”
- @bookish_redpanda

I could not have summarised it better if I tried! This book was phenomenal. It is the SLOWEST of slow burns (kinda) and yet, I was never bored or feeling impatient because the way Vari wrote the emotional builds and gave us such a great look into their lives and emotions was perfection. Emmi and I remarked a few times about how the pacing was so good.

Jason and Tim are both favourites of mine because they both really know how to bring all facets of their characters to life. The emotion? Made me cry. The funnies? Made me giggle. The spice? I had to turn the book off at one point because one of them WHIMPERED while I was on the train to work… enough said?

I also made a few comment in my notes app that deserve to be added right here with no context 😂 :

MY FACE WHEN I REALISED HOW THIS LINKED TO CADENCE HOLY F*CK (don’t panic, whilst Book 2 in the series but can definitely and easily be read as a standalone. I DID have a small moment though cause I didn’t see it coming and it was epic (I hadn’t finished Cadence before this ALC came out so that is probably why))
Screenshotting this to remember to add it to my review cause WTAF JASON (I lost the screenshot so I don’t even know what it was about now 😅 but probably he either made me cry or he whimpered…. Could really have gone either way tbh 🤣)
The spice in this is so good. The way she connects the emotions to it and the way she keeps the pace up so well!
Cooper being a whimpering lil bottom is giving me life 🤣
I need more #bottomjason

My format: Audiobook 🎧 #ALC
Performers: Jason Clarke & Tim Paige
Production: Lyric Audio
Narration style: Dual
Main relationship: MM
What To Expect (tropes, rep present, k!nks etc):

🎸 MM romance
🎸 rockstar romance
🎸 best friends to lovers
🎸 unrequited love
🎸 second chance romance
🎸 singer x ex-hockey player
🎸 small town romance
🎸 I wish I could hate you but…

Th@nks to: MLunA for providing this copy.

[Amber (Amber Reads Romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Resonance was an angsty, MM romance between best friends full of longing and pining spanning years. This was my first book by this author and I loved how she brought the emotions in this second chance romance.

Declan has been in love with his best friend Cooper for years until they shared a kiss one night. Cooper was open to them having a friends with benefits relationship, but Declan wanted so much more. They were both on their own journeys that pulled them in different directions. Declan was on his way to the NHL, till an injury takes away his dreams. At the same time, Cooper gets discovered and becomes a huge rockstar.

Years pass and Cooper comes back into town and now he has to try and rebuild his relationship with Declan. He has to work hard to gain Declan's forgiveness and he wants his other half back.

These two had a beautiful connection and I loved watching them come back together. They both had great character arc's and I appreciated their hard won journey to make things work between them.


AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
🎤Dual narration by Jason Clarke & Tim Paige

Jason Clarke and Tim Paige both brough the longing, angst, and emotions to their performances in a beautiful way. I would definitely recommend the audio. I flew through this book in a day.

Thank you to Luna Literary for providing the ARC and Must Love Audio for providing the ALC.

[Kaci Misun · Rating 4 out of 5]

The angst in this one… wow. It hit every single trope I love, so I absolutely flew through it. Tim Paige and Jason Clarke absolutely delivered, bringing Declan and Cooper to life so vividly that every scene played out effortlessly in my head.

Resonance is the second book in the Fractured Frequencies series, but you can read it as a standalone without any confusion. That said, if hate-to-love rockstar romances are your thing, I definitely recommend picking up Cadence too.

TROPES
🎤 Rockstar Romance
🎤 MM Romance
🎤 Best Friends to Lovers
🎤 Unrequited Love
🎤 Second Chance Romance
🎤 Singer x Ex-hockey Player
🎤 Small Town Romance
🎤 I wish I could hate you but…

Bookstagram Edit

[lindseysbooklore · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I’d been eagerly anticipating this new release from Vari, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. She delivers all the longing, tension, and emotional pull I was hoping for. The story is layered from start to finish, with real depth and intensity.

The connection between Cooper and Declan feels vivid and undeniable, full of passion and heart. I also really enjoyed the writing style, and Declan’s little sister was such a standout character.

The audiobook was excellent! Dual Narration by Jason Clarke and Tim Paige, did a fantastic job bringing it to life.

Thank you Vari Scott, Luna Literary & Must Love Audio for this eARC/ALC. Releases May 1st!!

🎸 MM romance
🎸 rockstar romance
🎸 best friends to lovers
🎸 unrequited love
🎸 second chance romance
🎸 singer x ex-hockey player
🎸 small town romance
🎸 I wish I could hate you but…

[Marrissa Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sports, rockstar, childhood best friends with a second chance, and lots of angst - all my favorite things mixed together?! There was no chance that I wasn’t going to love this book! But I had no idea how much I was going to love Cooper and Declan. These two are just everything. Their chemistry and connection were fantastic, and heartwarming and breaking all at once. Cooper kind of gave off lost puppy vibes, and Declan was the strong and steady force he needed in his life, but it took him a while to realize it. They felt so raw and real, Vari created truly special characters, making it impossible not to get swept up in their story and love. And I adore her writing style!! The timeline and pacing were perfect.

🎙️𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 ⇣
Dual narration - Tim Paige and Jason Clarke did an incredible job, their voices were PERFECT for these characters. Tim’s voice embodied Cooper’s sunshine persona and his naïveté, and Jason was completely captivating with the way he portrayed Declan’s emotions and longing. And I enjoyed their vocals for the rest of the characters as well, they had me hooked all around!
Produced by @lyricaudiobooks 👏🏼👏🏼

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
MM romance
Small town
Childhood best friends
Rockstar x ex hockey player
Unrequited love
Second chance
Angst and yearning
Dual POV
Spice

Thank you to must love audio and Luna literary management for the advanced copies!

[Libraryat44 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5✨ loved this so much the audio was brilliant! Jason Clarke narrating Declan omg it was everything! The yearning the pining loved every second. Cooper & Declan are best friends and their friendship is everything and when cooper goes to LA to live his dream he leaves Declan behind and the way Declan is so in love with him hurt my heart. Ugh I just love them both so much! So much angst! Defo read!

[Jess • bestiebookshelf_]

BETA READ

Add to your tbr if you like:
- MM romance
- rockstar romance
- best friends to lovers
- second chance
- unrequited love

Resonance releases on 1 May 2026!

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m just going to dive straight into this review. Wow what an incredible story and audiobook. This MM romance is so angsty, emotional, and incredibly beautiful despite all the challenges these characters face.

I’m such a sucker for best friends to lovers romances where the characters have known each other since childhood, especially when the story takes you on a journey of losing connection and somehow finding their way back to each other. Both characters had such fantastic emotional depth. I was completely drawn in by the tension and chemistry from the very first chapter. It’s very character driven, but done so well.

I honestly thought Declan would be the one to crack because of his circumstances and how suddenly everything in his life stopped before he was able to start a promising career. But I loved that he kept going because he felt like he had no other choice. I loved how he still tried to stay connected despite everything. I’m just obsessed with Declan and how strong he comes off but so vulnerable at the same time.

Cooper, on the other hand, got swept up in fame and completely lost his way and his voice along with it. Watching him slowly realise that, and seeing the support he received from his bodyguard, was exactly what he needed. The choice he made to stay present but also making the effort in the end was beautiful.

These two together are honestly perfection. The spice was so intimate and delicious.

Lastly, the audiobook was absolutely brilliant. Tim and Jason were perfect for these roles and brought so much emotion to the story. Definitely a memorable audiobook experience.

This was my first book by Vari Scott, and it’s now become one of my favourite MM romances. Im so glad I took a chance on it. I’m really looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length:
Narrators: Tim Paige and Jason Clarke - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Spicy Chapters: 8, 12, 13, 28, 69, 71, 73, 75 and 78
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book Two In The Fractured Frequencies Series
Tropes or Themes: MM Romance, Small Town, Best Friends To Lovers, Rockstar, Sports (Ice Hockey), Second Chance, Unrequited Love, Angsty, Yearning, Jealousy, Manipulation, Its Always Been You, Time Jumps, Panic Attack, Mental Health, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Get On Your Knees, Taken Bare, After Care, Backdoor Play, Backroom Scene and Office Scene.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫

[CourtneyS · Rating 5 out of 5]

OVERALL: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
•Storyline: ⭐⭐️⭐️⭐.5
•Dual Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
🎙️Jason Clarke and Tim Paige
•Spice Level: 🌶🌶️🌶️

•Trope:
MM Romance
Best friends
Rock Star
Ex Hockey Player
Small Town

Series: Fractured Frequencies: book #2

• THOUGHTS:
This was my very first ever Vari Scott book, and I LOVED this book so freaking much. I liked the timeline that the author presented. From when they were teens, like senior year of high school up to adulthood. It completely makes you fall for both Cooper and Declan. I mean I was pretty much in love with both of them within the first few chapters, do not get me wrong, but oh the journey that they go through.... This book is going to be a favorite of mine for the year. It was so well written, the characters were loveable, and relatable. I have nothing but good things to say about this book. You will love falling in love with Dec and Coop. Resonance is a book that will stay with you. I highly recommend!! Grab it consume it. Let's talk about it.

Oookkaayy, narrator chat time:
This was a dual narrative and boy did Jason and Tim shine!!! They were incredible! They captured each character, pulled out all my emotions. You guys it is a HEA but I cried. Lol. The ending but the depth that Jason and Tim provided to these characters you can't help it. Sigh. .. this is a need on your audiobook shelf.

[kei · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you Luna Literary, Must Love Audio, and Vari Scott for the ARC/ALC. all opinions are my own!!

Vari’s books are the best immersive reads and I stand by that. First the Jason Clarke and Tim Paige truly did the best job narrating Declan and Cooper and I WILL be listening to the audiobook again before the year is over. Now on to Declan and Cooper who were everything I wanted from them. I knew I would love this book from the moment the tropes were announced. The emotional depth is this book is one of the best parts. The birthday texts? Let’s just say there were tears and leave it at that. Declan and Cooper broke my heart and put it back together. I LOVED Cadence, but this? This was truly the best book and is one of my favorites I’ve read this year.

[Lindsey schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Scrilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an ALC/eARC

This was a beautiful, raw, and emotional story about 2 best friends and life. Did I cry? Nah, I ugly cried! I was on an emotional rollercoaster with Declan & Cooper.. the yearning, the love, the tension, My broken heart. I received an advanced copy of both the audio and ebook; this immersive experience took me to another level of emotional damage. LOVED LOVED this book. 
The narrators did amazing and I felt every emotion!

Amazing read highly recommend!

[holli chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is such a fantastic emotional roller coaster, and worth every moment. i laughed and definitely cried, and i rooted for the two main characters from start to finish. cooper and declan were both mature enough to put their life dreams & goals ahead of anything else, however opposite they may have been. they maintained their friendship while declan was away at college, and when he returned all he did was root for coop to get his turn making his own dream come true despite declan’s own just having fallen apart right in front of him.

i loved that their parents were best friends, that both came from families who not only supported their own son, but also the son’s best friend. it was a nice, small-town feel without the dysfunctional family aspect that i often see in the books i read. and of course, there were meddlers outside of the parents (who, for the most part, let the two boys work things out on their own), most namely in the form of declan’s closest buddy from college & a little sister with zero filter.

as someone with zero sex drive, understanding how these two could maintain their friends-with-benefits relationship, on top of their already best-friends-friendship, without both of them falling in love caused me to see things from a different perspective, gave me more understanding of how that dynamic might work.

it was refreshing to see how declan never gave up on coop fighting for his dream, and how coop never gave up on dec or their friendship in general: keeping him in his life, borderline annoying him until he couldn’t continue pushing coop away. i truly felt like i understood where both of these characters were coming from, and i’m really glad it was dual-pov so we could see both sides.

on top of realistic, flawed, lovable, well-developed characters—main ones & the side ones—the writing is fantastic. it flows, shows rather than tells, and digs deep into how the characters are feeling at any given time; both internally as well as how they’re handling (or, in some cases, not handling) it externally. the bar, the lost compass, felt like its own character, a place for not only solace, but somewhere that seemed to ground everyone in the town.

overall, this story is about declan and cooper and the coming-of-age, so to speak, of their friends to fwbs to lovers relationship. the side stories are all done in a way that makes you interested in them as well, rather than just waiting to get to the next coop/dec scene (which, thankfully, are not lacking, by the way). i really admire these two boys-to-men (pun not intended, lol) for their maturity, wanting to put everyone else first, while still not only pursuing their goals but making a life for themselves the way they need to in order to find out who they are.

the reason this review might feel a little “detached” is because this book made me so emotional, in all the best (and sometimes worst, lol) ways that even though i finished it over a week ago i still can’t figure out how to put into words all the ways it affected me. props to the author for invoking that kind of response in me & my cold dead heart. point is, read this book.

thank you to the author & publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. this is a voluntary review.

[Queenbeereads_sugarandspice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rockstar romances aren’t my usual jam (see what I did there 😂) but the blurb for this was so tempting, I just had to read it. And I’m so glad I did!

These two grabbed my attention and kept teasing me with how good they could be together as a proper couple for far too long. Declan, I was totally joining you in the pining!

God, I ACHED for Declan. I felt every little bit of heartache that man did. He’s so hopelessly in love with his best friend, and I so longed for Cooper to see it. Dec's a superstar in his own right, and I couldn’t adore him anymore. Welcome to my Book Boyfriend list, Dec!

And Cooper. He’s got a real energy to him, bright and charismatic, but talk about oblivious! Urgh, I wanted to yell at him so badly to realise what’s right in front of him! But he’s so resolute to achieve his dream, focused only on that goal, and I can’t blame him for that; I respect his drive and perseverance to get there. And I was pleased that he made it after working so hard for so long, I just wish it hadn’t hurt so much to see him leave Dec behind. 

I got lost in these two. They have such an easy chemistry, and honestly, I had hearts in my eyes the whole way though. They are so freaking cute together and I was just waiting impatiently for Cooper to see it.

Life does throw complications at these two, does kick them down when they should be soaring, and it’s painful to read, but they do find their way back to each other eventually – or more like Cooper finds his way back home. Straight into the arms of the one person he finally starts to really see. I did sigh in relief when Cooper finally realises his feelings and loved that he was ready to fight for them.

I adored their families, and Gracie, of course. I loved how close she and Declan are. Very grateful for Levi and Lockie too as supportive friends as well.

And jeez, that ending gave me goosebumps. Loved it so much! What a fab ending for these two, for Declan who waited so long for his rockstar and for Cooper, who took way too long to see what was right in front of him but who got there in the end.

Definitely one of my favourite rockstar stories. This one’s moved straight onto my comfort read list.

-----

Some of my favourite quotes

Cooper is the drug I’m too addicted to quit.

It wasn’t a lightning strike. It was slow, steady, like gravity pulling me in. And by the time I realized I was falling, I was already gone. 

“Don’t do that thing where you pretend something’s not good enough, just because you haven’t polished it yet. Just because it’s not finished doesn’t mean it’s not good.” 

He looks like sin. A dirty temptation just for me.

He tastes like temptation, like everything I can’t get over and everything I’ll never be able to leave behind.

“I don’t give a shit about hockey, but I love you. That’s why I showed an interest in it. But you were never just the future NHL star, Declan. You were always just my Declan.” 

“Guess what I’m saying is, sometimes the dream shifts. Doesn’t have to mean it dies, it just...changes shape.” 

He’s everything. He’s always been everything.

“You’re more than Reign, Cooper. Don’t let them make you forget that.”

“I never wanted you as Reign. I only ever wanted Cooper.” 

“I mean it, Dec. I’ve wasted enough time not realizing how I feel. I’m not waiting another second.” 

“I don’t know how to do this again. I don’t know how to let you leave and pretend it won’t kill me.” “Then don’t. Feel it, feel all of it when I say this time I’m coming back because I love you. I’ve loved you before I even knew what that word truly meant.”

“I told you I was coming back. And I meant it. Wherever I end up...it only counts if you’re there with me.” 

[Alecia Only1leesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced reader / listener copy received

Thank you Vari Scott , @lunaliterary and @mustloveaudio for the ALC -Rated 4.5 ⭐️
This is a beautifully emotional MM second-chance romance that dives deep into unrequited love, timing, and the cost of chasing dreams. Vari Scott is a new-to-me author, and wow… the way this story was written and narrated it lingers.

Declan’s hockey career. Cooper’s rockstar career. And the emotional fallout between them?
Yeah… this one wrecked me.
From the outside, they both chased their dreams—Declan on the ice, Cooper on the stage. But what this story does so well is show that success doesn’t mean fulfillment… especially when it costs you the person who’s always been your home.
Declan’s journey hit hard. Watching him rebuild his life, find his strength, and finally stop settling for being second place? That growth was powerful. His hockey career wasn’t just a dream—it was part of his identity, and seeing how everything shaped the man he became? I felt that.
And Cooper… being a rockstar sounds like everything, right? But the reality? Exhaustion. Pressure. Losing pieces of himself along the way. When he comes back, you can feel how much that dream took from him instead of giving.
💔 The emotional moments between them?
Absolutely devastating in the best way.
All those years of:
* hidden feelings
* Stolen moments together
* loving someone who couldn’t fully choose you
*
It builds into this raw, aching tension that just explodes when they’re finally forced to face it.

🎧 Narration:
Jason Clarke and Tim Paige brought every ounce of that emotion to life. You could hear the history, the longing, the hesitation… the love that never really went away.

🔥 This book is about:
* Choosing yourself after years of choosing someone else
* The reality behind “dream careers”
* Loving someone who isn’t ready… until maybe it’s too late
* And deciding if they’re worth the risk—again
Because this time?

Tropes
Best friends ➡️ lovers ➡️ heartbreak ➡️ second chance
Rockstar x ex-hockey player dynamic
That deep, aching unrequited love
Emotional growth & boundaries
Small-town roots vs. big dream consequences
“I wish I could hate you… but I don’t” energy

Love isn’t enough unless it’s chosen fully.

[Rayya O'Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

6🌟 3🌶

I received an ARC and an ALC for this. The narrators for the ALC were fantastic, they added a layer of emotion that elevated the book (not that it needed elevating lol)

The writing for this book is incredible. By 20%, I was beyond emotionally invested and in love with these characters that their pain, was my pain.

This was so viscerally painful and more than once, cracked my entire heart open

I've been hurting my brain on how to express my love for this and review it. How do you put into words how much a book gripped you by your heart, tore it in two, and then stitched it back with Cooper and Declan? How do you tell people that its one of the best books I've read and the emotional complexity of the book AND characters is immense.

The truth is, I cant. So please just trust me in saying that if you want an emotionally challenging read thats about an ex hockey star and a rockstar, about two bestest friends coming together in a second chance.. with foul mouths, intense longing/yearning and a plot that will have you GASPING... then this is one for you.

The tension is palpable, the chemistry is insane, the witty AND flirtatious banter is EVERYTHING. While both Declan and Cooper are very complex, multifaceted characters individually; as a unit, its also explored in such depth. The spice is impeccable. Dec is a dom, I have a great poker face when it comes to spice but this had me giddy like an idiot😂

This love story? This journey? Splintered its way through my heart and I cried a LOT. Even when I wasn't crying, my chest ACHED. The author @variscottwrites wrote this exceptionally. The tropes were very well written and she clearly has a knack for ruining readers🥺

-get on your knees and choke.
-tension
-yearning SO MUCH YEARNING
-unrequited love
-small town
-right person, wrong time
-best friends to best friends with benefits to strangers to LOVERS ohmygosh
-emotionally complex characters
-hockey player x rockstar

I've added a few of my favourite quotes. But I highlighted A LOT lmao. My first book by Vari and 1000% will not be my last, I've already downloaded Shutter Bug😅

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ story
5⭐️ narration (Tim Paige continues to be one of my all time faves & Jason Clarke was so perfect in the emotional chapters inside Declan’s thoughts)

*I received an ALC copy of this audiobook, all opinions are my own*

I really wanted to love this one y’all, but it was just okay. The start was so strong! I loved that we started with Cooper & Declan at a younger age, just starting to explore and realize their feelings for each other (which of course they never discuss). And then it all starts to crack when Dec looses his NHL dream while at the same time Coop gets his dream music deal.

I was definitely expecting the second-chance to happen a lot earlier in the story, like right after a few chapters, so it was really refreshing to instead have it happen a lot later, after we’d had time to become attached to the characters and their potential romance. This definitely added to the emotional gut punch of the separation timeline. And worked really well. But I could see 50ish pages being cut with no problem 😂

BUT, I refuse to believe that a character would totally ghost their best friend (and love of their life - even if they haven’t acknowledged it) for TEN YEARS! Especially when we are old that their parents are also best friends and spend time together all the time. I do not believe that Cooper’s mom wouldn’t have given him the what’s what to stop being such a shitty friend.

And then, we basically don’t get any grovel. Basically Declan tells Cooper that he loved him when they were younger, and still loves him now and Cooper is like “wdym?!” When Cooper should be on his knees begging Declan to give him the time of day.

Also, just a reminder that we don’t use “clean” when talking about negative STI results. As that means folks with an STI are inherently “dirty” 😑

I also really liked Lachlan (Cooper’s bodyguard), but after ten years why was he just now stepping in to help Cooper escape the coercive control of his terrible manager? I think that easily would’ve happened a lot earlier. And then the resolution of all that felt too simple for how many pages it took up

[Jill B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resonance by Vari Scott- Book 2 of Fractured Frequencies
Narrators: Jason Clarke & Tim Paige
Release Date: May 1, 2026

This book. This couple. OMG. I’m in love!

Vari Scott is a new to me author and now I need to go back and read the first book in this series! This couple was beautifully written with such depth and angst. Reading their story made my heart hurt, until it didn’t. There was smiles and spice, but the pure emotion of this book was everything!

I was lucky enough to be able to do an immersive read with this one and I was so glad!

The audiobook I can’t say enough about it. The performance from Jason Clarke and Tim Paige was dual narration style and it’s a master class in why dual narration can produce a beautiful audiobook. Both narrators performed the hell out of this one

If you love angst and rockstar romances - run - don’t walk to read (and listen) to this one!

Blurb:
Some dreams ask for sacrifice. Others demand everything.

I’ve loved Cooper Riddick for most of my life. Long before we crossed the line. Long before he left our small town and became Reign Cooper—the name in lights, the voice people chant back at from the crowd.

Loving him meant accepting second place, because music was always his first love.

We tried to keep things simple. Best friends. No promises. No expectations. But unrequited love doesn’t fade just because you ask it to, and eventually, wanting more started to hurt worse than walking away.

Now he’s back. Worn down by a dream that took more than it gave. And I’m not the same guy he left behind. I’ve rebuilt my life here, piece by piece, and I won’t give my heart to someone who can’t choose me. Not fully.

Because this time, love isn’t enough on its own.

This time, wanting him means risking everything I’ve worked so hard to protect.

What you will find inside this book:
🎤 Rockstar Romance
🎤 MM Romance
🎤 Best Friends to Lovers
🎤 Unrequited Love
🎤 Second Chance Romance
🎤 Singer x Ex-hockey Player
🎤 Small Town Romance
🎤 I wish I could hate you but…

Thanks to the author, Must Love audio and Luna Literary for the ARC & ALC to read and listen to and review.

[Shaunna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Vari writes a book, you can just tell she pours her whole heart into it. More so the characters she creates. They have purpose, they have soul. I could list all the tropes but Resonance is so much more than the tropes! It's the heart of the characters that grip you.

In Cadence, we got a glimpse of Reign Cooper but who was the man behind the mic!? Resonance brings us to Taunton Falls, the epitome of small town vibes. From local spots, to family first, to the regulars, Friday night open mics and Saturday's at the rink. Intertwined through their families, Declan & Cooper have been best friends for forever.

Supporting each other through all their individual achievements. When one dream shatters another opens, leaving behind heartache, exploring self-worth & purpose, love & finding your way back home.
Music is at the core & heart of the story. From the references to classics & the journey Declan & Cooper go on. Their character arcs are heavy & meaningful. It's finding strength in yourself & how they find strength in each other. Vari writes these types of scenes so incredibly.

Declan & Cooper are characters who are ambitious yet flawed. Relatable. Big hearts with big dreams. Best friends but more. This story is filled with such emotion, depth that is more than a romance. From heartache, to swoon worthly moments to yup, Vari just wants us to feel more heartache; Resonance is the MM romance, second chance story for those who want to be left with a rawness in their chest, who love feeling everything & finish a book & immediately go, what's next in the series, Vari!

Jason Clarke & Tim Page embodied Declan & Cooper so incredibly well in the audiobook! All the characters feelings, inner thoughts, how they expressed their words, the spicy scenes (which where 🔥🔥🔥) was palpable. The combination of Vari's writing & the timbre of the voices, Declan & Cooper come alive on & off the page.

Rating: 4.25⭐️
Spice level: 3🌶

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: 🎧 Audiobook 🎧 (ALC)
Performed by: Jason Clarke and Tim Paige
Style: dual
Production: Lyric Audiobooks

Holy fuck. Talk about an emotional listen. You know those books that break you and heal you at the same time, give you the whole range of emotions and when it's done, you both want to say, "thank god for the HEA" but also "I want more"? Yeah, that's Resonance. That's Cooper and Declan. That's Jason and Tim's performances.

This book. THIS BOOK.

Ugh, it's filled with tension and yearning and so much heart. So much pining and secret love and the pure brilliance of a romance set on years of friendship, even if parts of the story are utterly heartbreaking.

Scott has written this exceptionally. She's captured the core of the friendship of Cooper and Declan as teens, going into their 20's; their unwavering support for each other as they both rise to follow their dreams. The transition from best friends to best friends with benefits was seamless, and I love that you could tell from the start there was more, even if the boys didn't want to admit to it.

The sheer emotional punch of Declan losing out on his dream was so hard to listen to, and then the heartbreak that came shortly after with Cooper's "disappearance" into his music career - ugh, I can't write too much without spoiling the story, but this book. THIS BOOK.

Jason fucking Clarke, man. That's the other major comment for this. Jason. Fucking. Clarke. His performance was next fucking level. Beyond any other performance I've heard him in. His range, his emotions? His performance is what almost killed me. The number of messages I sent to my bestie (who also had the ALC) regarding his performance? Gah. I could wax poetic about him all day long. But all you need to know is he was perfectly cast, and no-one can convince me otherwise.

Throw Tim into the mix and this book is exceptional. His own emotional delivery, especially when certain things come to light (trying to stay spoiler free) was just beyond amazing. Tim Paige is Reign Cooper. There is no other way to put it.

I have been broken and healed by this story, and this is definitely one of those audios I cannot wait to re-listen to. Scott is definitely on my radar, and I cannot wait to read/listen to more of her works.

Thank you to the author, @lunaliterary.management and @mustloveaudio for the ALC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.

[Kayla.bookish26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5/5
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes
🖤MM Romance
🖤Second Chance
🖤Rockstar Romance
🖤Best Friends to Lovers
🖤Unrequited Love
🖤Singer x Ex-Hockey Player
🖤Small Town Romance
🖤HEA
🖤Angsty
🖤Found Family

Resonance is a MM angsty, emotional, tension filled second chance romance. Declan and Cooper have been best friends since they were children. Their connection overtime changes into something more, full of longing and pining after something that seems unattainable. Declan wants more than Cooper is able to give him. Cooper is fine with friends with benefits, but Declan is not! Their lives then pull them in different directions. Declan is headed to the NHL and Cooper is on his way to becoming a rising star. Declan suffers an injury and returns home while Cooper leaves it all behind to chase his dreams and he becomes a huge rockstar. Years later Cooper returns home after burnout from the price of fame. He must work to repair his relationship with Declan because he wants him back in his life. Cooper must work hard to gain Declan’s friendship and trust back.

I absolutely devoured this book. We get to live right alongside these characters as they try to find their way back to each other and come out stronger on the other side. This book is so emotionally charged filled with tension, angst, and yearning. I ATE it up.

🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧
Dual narration by Jason Clarke and Tim Paige.
I chose to read the book and then listen to the audiobook. The audiobook added so much more emotional layers. The narrative was spot on. I felt it all!! The painful years of longing and heartbreak. The emotions hit so much harder with audio, and these narrators did not disappoint. I loved the healing journey that this book took us on and cannot wait to see what Vari Scott will write next.

I would like to thank Luna Literary and Vari Scott for the ARC/ALC, these are my honest thoughts on the book.

[sky ~miss.littlereader~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

🅰🆁🅲 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resonance by Vari Scott

"𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘, 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅. 𝑰'𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅."

Ms. Vari Scott did it again. I was not emotionally prepared for this.

I’m usually not a second chance kind of reader, but wow… this one completely got me. The tears I’m shedding are a mix of heartbreak and swooning, and yes, my couch blanket has officially suffered the consequences.

From the moment I pressed play, I was completely immersed. The narration didn’t just tell the story, it brought it to life in such a vivid, intimate way that I felt like I was right there beside the characters, feeling everything with them. I found myself pausing just to brace my heart for what was coming next.

"𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝑰 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈."

When one dream shatters, another begins to take shape and this story captures that beautifully. It is layered with heartache, self worth, purpose, love, and that quiet, aching journey of finding your way back home. Music sits at the very core of it all, threading the emotion through every moment. The character arcs are heavy, meaningful, and deeply human. It’s about learning to find strength within yourself, and then discovering how to lean on each other when it matters most.

Jason Clarke and Tim Paige were absolutely incredible as Declan and Cooper. They didn’t just narrate, they embodied these characters. Every emotion, every crack in their voices, every quiet moment… it all felt real. I honestly don’t know if it’s Vari Scott’s powerful writing or the narrators’ stunning performance, but together, they created something unforgettable.

This is one of those stories you don’t just listen to… you feel it. And this book is something you cannot miss.

[Payton R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I firstly want to say thank you to Vari Scott for popping my MM romance cherry because this was my first MM and I loved every minute of it!

Definitely wasn’t expecting the amount of spicy scenes but it did not disappoint in the absolute slightest! I loved that we got so see Cooper and Declan’s relationship before things changed, we got to see idiots in love like you have no idea how badly I wanted to take their heads and make them kiss lol. The amount of heart break I received while reading this was definitely uncalled for like what do you mean 10 years!?! (Jen Law “Wha-what do you mean!?”)

Poor Declan his career and love of his life all ended practically around the same time. Dec is a pro hockey player until one bad accident he tears his acl and other tendons to cause him to lose his career forever. When he’s trying to figure out his depression and next career path he finds a job at his old bar that he would fill in during his off seasons, and having Cooper leave because he finally blew up on social media and now has a contract to be a rockstar!

Cooper, cooper, cooper, he struggles with understanding his new found fame and balancing his old life with Declan, thus leading to a fall out for 8 years without communication and my good that was rough but as we delve further into his story we understand that he was being controlled and manipulated by management and that is why there’s a misunderstanding/miscommunication

The overall story was very beautiful and I loved the concept of the Right Person, Wrong Time - second chances - trusting each other after hurting, I truly adored the last few chapters in how that tied in with fractured frequencies and that epilogue was the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard!

“For the life I never thought I’d get and the man who gave it to me”

Thank you Luna Lit for the gifted ARC/ALC for Vari Scott’s second book!

[Marquess Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m speechless.

No words.

72 highlights and that was me keeping it tame or else the whole book would’ve been highlighted.

I went into this blind, I knew there was going to be angst but I was not expecting defcon level. Tears were shed, curses were said. It was a giant rollercoaster ride with dips and turns.

Declan, oh goddddd my heart broke for him. He just wanted to be with his best friend and Cooper just didn’t see it. So oblivious. The yearning will have you gripping your chest screaming “WHY AREN’T YOU TOGETHER YET!!!!” And then listen, Dec gets injured and I got upset because he didn’t deserve it and I just wanted him to get everything that he could ever want. Hasn’t he suffered enough? He’s an angsty ex hockey player and I just wanted to give him a big hug. I shed many tears over his chapters because I’m an empath I couldn’t help it.

Cooper, okay. He pissed me off for a lot of the book because
W A K E U P and see what’s right in front of you!!! But eventually, I got over it because my guy was also going through it so I really felt for him. He’s flawed, he’s beautiful, but above else he’s Declan’s, it just takes him a century to see that. When they finally get together for real 😭🥹 life changing.

I’ve read Vari’s entire backlist and Resonance just really resonated with me the most I fear. It’s a story about finding your way back to your person. It’s a story about loving someone that doesn’t love you back but not giving up anyways. It’s a story about adversity and when life throws everything at you, do you roll over and take it or do you buck up and keep going?

It was worth every long hour I stayed up past my bedtime and it’s one of those books I know I’ll reread when I wanna feel something.

Also, the epilogue????? some of the best. Chefs kiss, 10/10.

I loved this so so much, another top book for me.
♾️ stars

NO NOTES

[Anisha Choudhury | A Literary Autopsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received an eARC and ALC of Resonance via Luna Literacy and Must Love Audio.

Resonance is not just a rockstar romance; it is a surgical examination of how unrequited love can fracture a person over a lifetime. Vari Scott has written a heartbreaking tale of a heart being cracked open over and over again, and I was utterly powerless against its pull.

The Diagnosis:
Declan and Cooper’s story is visceral. For 90% of this book, I was straining against the urge to shut it down just to catch my breath. The emotional toll of watching Declan be hurt was staggering—I felt every ounce of his pain as he tried to protect the life he rebuilt in the wake of Cooper's stardom as Reign Cooper. Watching Cooper finally learn to use his "two brain cells" to prioritize whaat actually matters was a grueling, necessary journey that made the eventual HEA feel hard-earned.

The Anatomy:
The prose is delivered with such raw, broken intensity that I found myself unable to eat or sleep until I finished the book. Scott masterfully explores the sacrifice required by fame and the even greater sacrifice required to stay behind. It is a haunting, beautiful, and sometimes infuriating look at what happens when love isn't enough on its own.

The Narration:
Tim Paige is a legendary narrator. However, that raspy twinge in Jason Clarke's voice? It deserves its own award ceremony. They delivered this story in the most beautifully broken manner possible.

The Verdict:
This story spun me and controlled my psyche. It is a "fuck me up" kind of read that I know I will return to, even knowing the emotional damage it inflicts. If you want a story that demands everything from you, this is it.

[Michelle VanHuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this one got me in the feels! Resonance stretches across a decade in our MC's lives as they are childhood best friends turned lovers turned estranged friends before reconnecting.

The blurb for this MM romance focuses more on Declan's POV but the story explores both of their sides. First, I will say that I loved that our MCs just got to be themselves where the fact that they were both men doesn't overtly impact their relationship. That allows us to focus on their internal struggles and their relationship.

These two are in love with each other from high school but, coming from a small town, they don't want to be the thing that holds the other from pursuing their dreams. However, Declan's dreams of joining the NHL come crashing down while he's in college. He has to face the challenges of finding a new purpose. Meanwhile, Cooper's dreams of becoming a rockstar start to take off and he is successful and feels guilty for it.

Ten years later, Cooper finally reaches a breaking point and returns home to reconnect with Declan. However, Declan is heartbroken - not only did he lose his dream, he then lost the long of his life that he never told - and has rebuilt a life for himself independent from Cooper. They both have been unable to move on past their feelings for each other and are both forced to face their choices to either keep those feelings hidden or to recognize them in the first place.

This book explores grief and healing, balancing our dreams with the reality of either achieving or not achieving them, and how to make room for everything that matters in your life.

I was on the verge of tears multiple times while only a third into the story and that trend just continued being heartbroken for these men. The audiobook is fabulous with both Tim Paige and James Clarke bringing such depth and emotion to their narration - breath catching, voice cracking, etc. The epilogue finally broke me - I am so happy for these fictional men.

Thank you to Vari Scott, Luna Literary Management, and Must Love Audio for both advanced reader and listener copies.

[Monica (The Accidental Romance Blogger) Barbosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks, Vari Scott, Luna Literary Management, and Must Love Audio for the copies. 

Cooper and Declan are best friends. Two gay kids with big dreams of rock concerts and the NHL. One '7 minutes in heaven' game and it kickstarts a 'let's explore' situationship that neither one wants to address fully. As they grow older, their dreams start to become a reality. Declan is playing college hockey and Cooper is starting to get some traction in the music scene. They'll live their dreams together. 

Then tragedy strikes and, instead of heading towards their goals together, they are now moving in opposite directions: a career ending injury sends Declan back home. A viral video shoots Cooper to stardom. And Life happens...

OMG, I loved this angsty, messy, emotional audiobook! Narrated beautifully in dual style by Tim Paige and Jason Clarke, who take you across the years through this 'idiots to lovers' , 'it's always been you' second chance romance. Tim's warm, kinda peppy voice is perfect for the golden retrieve Cooper. Jason is perfection too as the broody, lovesick Declan. Both shine in their character transitions and Jason gets to voice a little girl and it's downright adorable! 

One of the things I loved most about this book is that the boys' sexuality is never a problem. Unrealistic? Maybe. But that is the world that I hope to one day live in. 

What you get: best friends falling in love, an 'everyone can see it but them' situationship, first times, reshaping your life when the dream is no longer possible, a bodyguard that is more a guardian angel, wonderful parents, a spitfire little sister and an HEA that will hit you in the feels. 

This was my first Vari Scott but definitely won't be my last. 

Representation: queer romance/ MM

Content notes (including but not limited to): career ending injury, panic attacks (on page). Power imbalance and manager manipulation. 

[Ari Lozada · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Cadence, I instantly took a liking to Reign Cooper. I wanted his story, especially when I knew it would be MM. what I didn’t know or expect was how angry I’d be at him. Cooper was such a great friend…until he wasn’t.

One chapter in and I was in love with Declan, not Cooper. He was so soft. So caring. So strong. So hurt. I wanted to hug him tight and protect him.

I loved their journey. Vari did such a wonderful job guiding us through the ins and outs of their relationship. The way she makes you feel the anger, the pain, the joy, is remarkable.

More than once, I cursed at the book. I didn’t know who to curse at tbh. Option 1, Cooper for being a gigantic ass. I wanted to shake him and remind him who he had in his corner. He was stronger than what he showed and was being manipulated. Option 2, Declan for being so weak when it came to Cooper. I wanted him to have more self preservation. He was only hurting himself in the long run. Never watching out for himself but Cooper. Option 3, Vari freaking Scott for being so good that I was in tears for numerous parts of the book. She put me in their head. She made me feel their pain. Damn her. 😂

In the end, I decided all 3 deserved it but Vari deserved it the least because of her pure talent...or maybe it was the most 🤷🏽‍♀️ I love her even when I’m yelling at her in my head or in our DMs. I will read every book this woman writes. She knows how to write layered and flawed characters. Not to mention she can write spice in a way that leaves you hot and bothered.

If you love MM, best friend to lovers, this book is for you. Honestly, I can’t explain just how much I loved these two. I was cheering when they got their HEA. I didn’t want to stop reading.