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Fractured Frequencies #2
Resonance
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.
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.
Audible Audio
Published May 1, 2026
About the author
Vari Scott
9 books165 followersVari 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
maybe-not-sure
July 2, 2026I 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.
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.
July 21, 2026
Resonance hooked me from its prologue and never loosened its grip. Vari Scott builds a second-chance romance around two boys whose ambitions were always likely to carry them away from their hometown, only for a reversal of fortune to make one man’s success inseparable from the other’s grief. As one struggles to build a life amid the rubble of shattered dreams, the other discovers that achieving his came at a cost he had never priced in.
The emotional imbalance at the heart of Cooper and Declan’s relationship is apparent from the first, with the novel opening on their Year Twelve selves, locked in a closet at a party while their friends cheer them on to take part in “Seven Minutes in Heaven”. Cooper is immediately open to kissing Declan, completely confident and comfortable sharing this level of intimacy with his best friend. Declan, however, is desperate to get out. His reluctance does not stem from a lack of desire, but the opposite: he does not want their first kiss reduced to a party game. The distinction establishes the predominant dynamic between them. Both boys feel a pull towards each other, but Declan already understands that his feelings run deeper. He knows he is in love with Cooper. I knew immediately that this was going to hurt.
Scott deepens this imbalance by giving both men enormous ambitions. Declan is initially headed towards professional hockey, while Cooper remains in their hometown, grinding away at music without any meaningful breakthrough. Cooper is immensely proud of Declan, but that pride is complicated by a quiet bitterness that their success is not mutual. He loves watching his best friend move towards the future he deserves, even as that future appears to be leaving him behind.
Then their fortunes reverse.
The inversion is exquisitely painful. Cooper now feels guilty for achieving the success he has worked relentlessly towards while Declan is grieving the death of his own dream. Declan, in turn, experiences the same complicated mixture Cooper once did: immense pride, love and support accompanied by the private ache of watching someone else move towards a dazzling future without him. Neither man is cruel. Neither wants the other to fail. Scott simply allows love to coexist with envy, grief, guilt and the fear of being left behind. That emotional complexity is one of the novel’s greatest strengths.
The chapters depicting their growing estrangement are the most painful in the novel. Scott captures the gradual decay of a modern relationship through its digital remains: delayed replies, rearranged FaceTime calls, unread messages and promises to connect that never become conversations. The phone becomes an archive of intimacy and neglect, preserving proof that there was once a relationship and equally undeniable proof that only one person is now maintaining it.
This culminates in three rapid chapters, each set one year apart. In each, Declan wishes Cooper a happy birthday. Cooper never responds. Each message becomes shorter and more emotionally guarded than the last. I felt a physical hollowness in my chest reading them.
The sequence is devastating because there is no dramatic argument and no decisive severing. There is simply a ledger becoming increasingly one-sided. Declan keeps reaching into the silence until he can no longer bear to expose how much he still cares.
Cooper is the guilty party. Whatever interference may have occurred from his manager, and however completely he became swallowed by the machinery surrounding “Reign”, years of silence cannot be placed entirely at someone else’s feet. Cooper admits that as his career grew, he found it increasingly difficult to share his success with Declan, fearing that every achievement might reopen the wound left by hockey. Eventually, the silence itself becomes an obstacle. Once you have neglected someone for long enough, reaching back requires acknowledging the scale of what you have done.
That is where the title becomes particularly effective. Resonance is what continues after an original sound has been made, the vibration that carries through another body or space. By the time “Reign” begins to collapse, Cooper can no longer write at all. Declan has always been the frequency at which his creativity operates. The music does not fully exist without him.
Reconciliation between these men is not easy. Years of abandonment have scarred over the softness Declan once offered without reservation. Cooper immediately feels the distance, while Declan is tormented by the knowledge that anger has not changed the deepest truth about him: he is still in love with Cooper. Cooper earns his way back through presence. He stays. He spends time with Declan. He refuses to disappear simply because Declan’s pain is uncomfortable to witness. Gradually, “Reign” becomes Cooper again, and Declan begins to recognise the friend he lost beneath the persona constructed around him.
I would have liked Cooper to sit even longer with the full implications of what he had done. Declan is not merely grieving the loss of his oldest friendship. He has spent years mourning the only person he has ever loved, while carrying the knowledge that Cooper allowed their connection to die through neglect. Cooper does feel immense guilt when he finally understands this, but I could easily have tolerated more time inside that realisation.
The sex throughout Resonance works because it is inseparable from the emotional history between them. Each early encounter is pleasurable for both men, but carries an additional cost for Declan. He is continually giving Cooper something that cannot be returned while his feelings remain unnamed.
Resonance understands that dreams can destroy us whether we lose them or achieve them. Declan must rebuild himself after his future is taken away before it can begin, while Cooper must recover the person he surrendered in pursuit of his own. Their eventual return to one another is deeply satisfying not because their love for each other survives, but because Cooper finally learns to hear what has been resonating between them all along.
The emotional imbalance at the heart of Cooper and Declan’s relationship is apparent from the first, with the novel opening on their Year Twelve selves, locked in a closet at a party while their friends cheer them on to take part in “Seven Minutes in Heaven”. Cooper is immediately open to kissing Declan, completely confident and comfortable sharing this level of intimacy with his best friend. Declan, however, is desperate to get out. His reluctance does not stem from a lack of desire, but the opposite: he does not want their first kiss reduced to a party game. The distinction establishes the predominant dynamic between them. Both boys feel a pull towards each other, but Declan already understands that his feelings run deeper. He knows he is in love with Cooper. I knew immediately that this was going to hurt.
Scott deepens this imbalance by giving both men enormous ambitions. Declan is initially headed towards professional hockey, while Cooper remains in their hometown, grinding away at music without any meaningful breakthrough. Cooper is immensely proud of Declan, but that pride is complicated by a quiet bitterness that their success is not mutual. He loves watching his best friend move towards the future he deserves, even as that future appears to be leaving him behind.
Then their fortunes reverse.
The inversion is exquisitely painful. Cooper now feels guilty for achieving the success he has worked relentlessly towards while Declan is grieving the death of his own dream. Declan, in turn, experiences the same complicated mixture Cooper once did: immense pride, love and support accompanied by the private ache of watching someone else move towards a dazzling future without him. Neither man is cruel. Neither wants the other to fail. Scott simply allows love to coexist with envy, grief, guilt and the fear of being left behind. That emotional complexity is one of the novel’s greatest strengths.
The chapters depicting their growing estrangement are the most painful in the novel. Scott captures the gradual decay of a modern relationship through its digital remains: delayed replies, rearranged FaceTime calls, unread messages and promises to connect that never become conversations. The phone becomes an archive of intimacy and neglect, preserving proof that there was once a relationship and equally undeniable proof that only one person is now maintaining it.
This culminates in three rapid chapters, each set one year apart. In each, Declan wishes Cooper a happy birthday. Cooper never responds. Each message becomes shorter and more emotionally guarded than the last. I felt a physical hollowness in my chest reading them.
The sequence is devastating because there is no dramatic argument and no decisive severing. There is simply a ledger becoming increasingly one-sided. Declan keeps reaching into the silence until he can no longer bear to expose how much he still cares.
Cooper is the guilty party. Whatever interference may have occurred from his manager, and however completely he became swallowed by the machinery surrounding “Reign”, years of silence cannot be placed entirely at someone else’s feet. Cooper admits that as his career grew, he found it increasingly difficult to share his success with Declan, fearing that every achievement might reopen the wound left by hockey. Eventually, the silence itself becomes an obstacle. Once you have neglected someone for long enough, reaching back requires acknowledging the scale of what you have done.
That is where the title becomes particularly effective. Resonance is what continues after an original sound has been made, the vibration that carries through another body or space. By the time “Reign” begins to collapse, Cooper can no longer write at all. Declan has always been the frequency at which his creativity operates. The music does not fully exist without him.
Reconciliation between these men is not easy. Years of abandonment have scarred over the softness Declan once offered without reservation. Cooper immediately feels the distance, while Declan is tormented by the knowledge that anger has not changed the deepest truth about him: he is still in love with Cooper. Cooper earns his way back through presence. He stays. He spends time with Declan. He refuses to disappear simply because Declan’s pain is uncomfortable to witness. Gradually, “Reign” becomes Cooper again, and Declan begins to recognise the friend he lost beneath the persona constructed around him.
I would have liked Cooper to sit even longer with the full implications of what he had done. Declan is not merely grieving the loss of his oldest friendship. He has spent years mourning the only person he has ever loved, while carrying the knowledge that Cooper allowed their connection to die through neglect. Cooper does feel immense guilt when he finally understands this, but I could easily have tolerated more time inside that realisation.
The sex throughout Resonance works because it is inseparable from the emotional history between them. Each early encounter is pleasurable for both men, but carries an additional cost for Declan. He is continually giving Cooper something that cannot be returned while his feelings remain unnamed.
Resonance understands that dreams can destroy us whether we lose them or achieve them. Declan must rebuild himself after his future is taken away before it can begin, while Cooper must recover the person he surrendered in pursuit of his own. Their eventual return to one another is deeply satisfying not because their love for each other survives, but because Cooper finally learns to hear what has been resonating between them all along.
August 20, 2026
Cooper & Declan story is beautiful.
Declan always knew he was in love with Coop and Coop was… being Coop?
Every single thing Coop did when they were young, every years he spent celibate and it took him 11 years to understand he has always loved Declan…
Of course my heart squeezed each time Declan’s messages were unanswered and how he felt when he saw Coop walking into his bar.
Favorite parts:
- Declan shouting to Coop how he has loved him since forever and how much it costs him.
- Cooper disregarding Declan request to be only friend
And yes I am curious about Lachlan & Thea’s dynamic. I mean he calls her « my heart » in Gaelic
Declan always knew he was in love with Coop and Coop was… being Coop?
Every single thing Coop did when they were young, every years he spent celibate and it took him 11 years to understand he has always loved Declan…
Of course my heart squeezed each time Declan’s messages were unanswered and how he felt when he saw Coop walking into his bar.
Favorite parts:
- Declan shouting to Coop how he has loved him since forever and how much it costs him.
- Cooper disregarding Declan request to be only friend
And yes I am curious about Lachlan & Thea’s dynamic. I mean he calls her « my heart » in Gaelic
June 30, 2026
Well this book came out of nowhere, cut open my chest, squeezed my heart to the point it almost stopped beating and then put me back together. At one point in the story, I almost DNF'd because the pain was too much for me. Now, let's be real, I am a wildly emotional reader and quite dramatic during certain cycles of the moon, but this book puts you through it, no matter how emotional you are.
Declan and Coop are best friends (w/benefits) that are on two different journeys in life. One stays home in their small town (due to unfortunate circumstances), the other follows his dream to LA for his love of music. And you all know the saying - out of sight, out of mind - essentially. Watching the closeness of Dec and Coop turn into missed texts, unavailable FaceTimes, pining from afar, love that's unrequited and a few bad assumptions made this book so angsty and so sad. OMG, the yearning and longing were torturous. I felt the pain of this book in my soul. I don't know if I've ever experienced such angst while reading; it's unrivaled.
Once the two reunite, the story turns into the cutest story of one proving himself to the other in the most endearing way. Coop refused to give up. He loved Dec and that's that. There were still moments of uncertainty and angst, but Coop's unconditional love prevailed.
My goodness what a great read to end my month. I read some bangers in the month of June and this is no exception.
Declan and Coop are best friends (w/benefits) that are on two different journeys in life. One stays home in their small town (due to unfortunate circumstances), the other follows his dream to LA for his love of music. And you all know the saying - out of sight, out of mind - essentially. Watching the closeness of Dec and Coop turn into missed texts, unavailable FaceTimes, pining from afar, love that's unrequited and a few bad assumptions made this book so angsty and so sad. OMG, the yearning and longing were torturous. I felt the pain of this book in my soul. I don't know if I've ever experienced such angst while reading; it's unrivaled.
Once the two reunite, the story turns into the cutest story of one proving himself to the other in the most endearing way. Coop refused to give up. He loved Dec and that's that. There were still moments of uncertainty and angst, but Coop's unconditional love prevailed.
My goodness what a great read to end my month. I read some bangers in the month of June and this is no exception.
May 12, 2026
“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.
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.
May 2, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
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.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
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.
May 1, 2026
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
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
April 20, 2026
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…
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…
May 7, 2026
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!
🎙️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!
April 22, 2026
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!
July 1, 2026
Beautiful
This story for Cooper and Declan was truly beautiful. I cried so much reading this book. The pining and longing between these two was the best I've read in a very long time.
This story for Cooper and Declan was truly beautiful. I cried so much reading this book. The pining and longing between these two was the best I've read in a very long time.
June 1, 2026
My second attempt with this author and I really liked this story. Coop and Dec were fun and sweet and their story was heart breaking at times. I teared up. I love when that happens.
Read
March 4, 2026BETA 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!
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!
May 24, 2026
"I want you in the worst way. Every fucking day. Always have."
This isn’t a review, but a statement:
I was hoping there would be a really good reason behind Cooper's behavior after he left, but no. He just acted like a total douche to his closest friend—the person who had been by his side for most of his life—just because 'he didn’t make him feel bad'.
What a joke.
I was honestly hoping Declan would find a better friend and, without a doubt, a better partner.
This isn’t a review, but a statement:
I was hoping there would be a really good reason behind Cooper's behavior after he left, but no. He just acted like a total douche to his closest friend—the person who had been by his side for most of his life—just because 'he didn’t make him feel bad'.
What a joke.
I was honestly hoping Declan would find a better friend and, without a doubt, a better partner.
July 17, 2026
⭐️4.5⭐️
I picked up this book because it came highly recommended by a trusted book bestie, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Lifelong best friends and second-chance romance are two of my all-time favorite tropes, so I had a feeling this book would be a winner—and it definitely was.
Cooper and Declan have been best friends for as long as they can remember, and since they're both gay, it feels completely natural when their friendship evolves into a friends-with-benefits relationship their senior year of high school. The problem? Declan is secretly, hopelessly in love with Cooper, while Cooper genuinely believes what they have is casual. Talk about a recipe for heartbreak.
Both of them are chasing big dreams and neither one wants to keep the other from acheiving them. Declan is working toward a career in the NHL, while Cooper is determined to make it as a rock star.
I adored their friendship and how unwaveringly supportive they were of one another, even while living separate lives after high school. Cooper may have stayed behind trying to launch a music career that wasn't taking off, but he was still Declan's biggest cheerleader as he found success playing college hockey. They continued their FWB arrangement during that time, all while Declan quietly carried the weight of loving someone who didn't seem to love him back. The yearning and pining were absolutely heartbreaking.
Everything changes when Declan's hockey career comes to a devastating end. Suddenly, their roles are reversed. Declan is grieving the future he thought he'd have, while Cooper's music career is finally beginning to take off. As Cooper gets swept up in his growing fame, he slowly loses sight of himself—and of the people who matter most. Watching him drift further and further away from Declan was genuinely sad, especially knowing Declan never stopped reaching out with unanswered texts and FaceTime calls. Then after what ends up being six years of silence, Declan isn't just mourning the loss of hockey anymore—he's mourning the loss of the person he thought would always be by his side.
When Cooper finally returns to his hometown 10 years after leaving, he's burned out, broken, and trying to rebuild his life and figure out what he wants with his music. I'll admit, there were moments when I found him frustrating because he allowed the people in his music career to walk all over him and run his life instead of setting healthy boundaries. Why didn't he fight for himself? For his relationship with Declan? But I appreciated that once he came back he recognized the damage he'd caused and was willing to put in the work to earn Declan's forgiveness. And I was so glad Declan made him work for it. After everything Cooper put him through, an easy reconciliation wouldn't have felt earned.
One thing I kept wondering was how it took Cooper so long to realize he was in love with Declan. The songs he wrote about him absolutely wrecked me—they were beautiful, heartfelt, and made it seem so obvious from the outside. Still, watching them slowly find their way back to one another, open up about years of hurt, and finally choose vulnerability, forgiveness, and love was incredibly rewarding.
My one real complaint was that even after Cooper realized he loved Declan, he still let Declan be the one to say "I love you" first. After everything Declan had endured, I really wanted Cooper to give him that moment. Even so, I loved watching them rebuild the trust they'd lost and create something even stronger together.
I also loved Grace, Lockie, and Levi and everything they brought to the second half of the story. Cooper and Declan shared such a beautiful emotional connection, and their chemistry felt effortless. I especially appreciated that the author didn't simply hand Declan a second chance at hockey. Instead, he had to grieve the life he'd lost, rebuild himself, and discover a new dream. It made his journey feel authentic, and it made me love his character even more. He was such a steady, dependable presence and loved Cooper so deeply, even when it hurt.
If you're looking for an angsty friends-to-lovers romance filled with second chances, unrequited love, years of yearning and pining, and a deeply satisfying happily ever after, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.
Tropes:
Lifelong best friends
Friends with benefits
Friends to lovers
Second-chance romance
Unrequited love
Mutual pining
Years of yearning
Slow burn
Small-town romance
Rockstar romance
Hockey romance
Hurt/comfort
Emotional healing
Groveling
Found family
HEA
I picked up this book because it came highly recommended by a trusted book bestie, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Lifelong best friends and second-chance romance are two of my all-time favorite tropes, so I had a feeling this book would be a winner—and it definitely was.
Cooper and Declan have been best friends for as long as they can remember, and since they're both gay, it feels completely natural when their friendship evolves into a friends-with-benefits relationship their senior year of high school. The problem? Declan is secretly, hopelessly in love with Cooper, while Cooper genuinely believes what they have is casual. Talk about a recipe for heartbreak.
Both of them are chasing big dreams and neither one wants to keep the other from acheiving them. Declan is working toward a career in the NHL, while Cooper is determined to make it as a rock star.
I adored their friendship and how unwaveringly supportive they were of one another, even while living separate lives after high school. Cooper may have stayed behind trying to launch a music career that wasn't taking off, but he was still Declan's biggest cheerleader as he found success playing college hockey. They continued their FWB arrangement during that time, all while Declan quietly carried the weight of loving someone who didn't seem to love him back. The yearning and pining were absolutely heartbreaking.
Everything changes when Declan's hockey career comes to a devastating end. Suddenly, their roles are reversed. Declan is grieving the future he thought he'd have, while Cooper's music career is finally beginning to take off. As Cooper gets swept up in his growing fame, he slowly loses sight of himself—and of the people who matter most. Watching him drift further and further away from Declan was genuinely sad, especially knowing Declan never stopped reaching out with unanswered texts and FaceTime calls. Then after what ends up being six years of silence, Declan isn't just mourning the loss of hockey anymore—he's mourning the loss of the person he thought would always be by his side.
When Cooper finally returns to his hometown 10 years after leaving, he's burned out, broken, and trying to rebuild his life and figure out what he wants with his music. I'll admit, there were moments when I found him frustrating because he allowed the people in his music career to walk all over him and run his life instead of setting healthy boundaries. Why didn't he fight for himself? For his relationship with Declan? But I appreciated that once he came back he recognized the damage he'd caused and was willing to put in the work to earn Declan's forgiveness. And I was so glad Declan made him work for it. After everything Cooper put him through, an easy reconciliation wouldn't have felt earned.
One thing I kept wondering was how it took Cooper so long to realize he was in love with Declan. The songs he wrote about him absolutely wrecked me—they were beautiful, heartfelt, and made it seem so obvious from the outside. Still, watching them slowly find their way back to one another, open up about years of hurt, and finally choose vulnerability, forgiveness, and love was incredibly rewarding.
My one real complaint was that even after Cooper realized he loved Declan, he still let Declan be the one to say "I love you" first. After everything Declan had endured, I really wanted Cooper to give him that moment. Even so, I loved watching them rebuild the trust they'd lost and create something even stronger together.
I also loved Grace, Lockie, and Levi and everything they brought to the second half of the story. Cooper and Declan shared such a beautiful emotional connection, and their chemistry felt effortless. I especially appreciated that the author didn't simply hand Declan a second chance at hockey. Instead, he had to grieve the life he'd lost, rebuild himself, and discover a new dream. It made his journey feel authentic, and it made me love his character even more. He was such a steady, dependable presence and loved Cooper so deeply, even when it hurt.
If you're looking for an angsty friends-to-lovers romance filled with second chances, unrequited love, years of yearning and pining, and a deeply satisfying happily ever after, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.
Tropes:
Lifelong best friends
Friends with benefits
Friends to lovers
Second-chance romance
Unrequited love
Mutual pining
Years of yearning
Slow burn
Small-town romance
Rockstar romance
Hockey romance
Hurt/comfort
Emotional healing
Groveling
Found family
HEA
May 6, 2026
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.
•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.
April 20, 2026
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.
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.
August 10, 2026
This booked wrecked me and then put me back together again, and I was so there for it. Cooper and Declan’s story had all the love, sweetness, yearning, angst, and pain that I could ask for in a book. I alternated between not wanting to read more because of the hurt the book was causing me and not wanting to put it down because it was so beautifully written. I’m glad I pushed through so that I could experience Cooper and Declan’s HEA. One of the best books I’ve read, no question.
June 29, 2026
"It hurts in the best way possible" ❤️🩹
This book gave me life, broke me, killed me, brought me back to life and repeated that process over and over! First time reading this author and definitely not the last !! I am in awe.
This book gave me life, broke me, killed me, brought me back to life and repeated that process over and over! First time reading this author and definitely not the last !! I am in awe.
August 30, 2026
90% of this book was pure pain. 5 stars.
May 1, 2026
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!
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!
June 16, 2026
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 💫
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 💫
August 14, 2026
I've never written a review before. That's how much this book clenched my heart, twisted it, shattered it to pieces many times over, and somehow healed it in the end.
I read romance novels mainly because they are fun, have guaranteed happy endings, and distract me from my day to day life. But every once in awhile one sneaks in and destroys me in all the best ways possible. I spent days in my feels with this one, torn between wanting to devour the book and ignore everything else, yet trying to prolong finishing it because I didn't want to stop ALL the feelings.
From Declan and Cooper's first kiss to the final scene on stage, I was all in. Vari Scott manages to capture in words, story telling, and character development what few authors can do across all genres. This isnt just a romance story, it is a beautiful novel.
While it is dual POV, the first part of the story is mostly about Declan and his chance to not only leave Tauntan Falls, but leave Canada for college in the US with a huge dream of making it to the NHL. As generational talent in hockey, he is bound for the NHL, and unlike most hockey romances, Vari Scott accurately portrays the path and the experience of high level hockey collegiate players. Cooper is his biggest champion but he is left behind, trying his best to be there for Dec while never giving up on his own dream of playing his music for the whole world. He spends his Friday nights performing at the Lost Compass, a local bar where Declan's hockey games are ever present on the TVs. Declan is the hometown hero, the one destined for greatness, while Cooper is still waiting for his big break.
Declan sustains a horrific knee injury during his second year of school ending his career not only short of the NHL. but short a NCAA championship and the Hobey Baker award. He goes home and doesn't return because it's simply too painful to go back to where his dream died. Cooper is there for him when he gets home, connecting with him the way only Cooper can, showing up for him and getting him through the early days of his recovery.
Until one of Cooper's IG reels goes viral, and he's invited to a showcase where he's spotted by Liam, the eventual manager that signs him to a record deal and essentially launches "Reign Cooper." At this point book shifts more to Cooper's story as told mostly through the eyes (and feelings) of Declan. If your heart isn't breaking for Declan after his injury, it is for sure shattering as he and Cooper drift apart when Reign becomes an international rock star.
Six years after their last contact, Reign plays in Toronto and Declan goes to the concert with his college friend Levi, who became a physical therapist after seeing Declan's experience after his injury. He moves to Tauntan Falls to set up his practice and remains Declan's closest friend in Cooper's absence. They end up with VIP access backstage after the show and Declan sees Cooper for the first time since he left home. This scene broke me as the author revealed how little Declan knows about Cooper's life now, and the devastation in Declan when "Corey" is all over Reign in a way that can only be interpreted as Declan's replacement, and the yearning to steal Cooper away and simply talk to him. Reign suggests Declan meet him at his hotel to catch up, and Declan goes to the hotel, but saves himself the heartbreak of being left behind again, and leaves after texting Reign "maybe next time." We find out later that Reign didn't even remember telling Declan to meet him and spent the evening as he always did, partying with fans, roadies, and living the quintessential rock star life.
After 4 more years, Reign is broken, burned out and barely hanging on. He's lost his ability to write songs, manage his life, or be anything but a shell of even Reign (let alone Cooper) as his manager Liam controls his every waking (and sleeping) moment. He walks out of a photo shoot and with the help of his bodyguard Lockie, heads back to Tauntan Falls for the first time in 10 years.
Now the book shifts a bit and we get more of the perspective of both characters as they navigate Cooper's homecoming. We get to see the way being an international star has literally turned Cooper into Reign and it seems as though Cooper is lost forever.
This is not your typical romance book where everything comes together neatly when Reign "comes home" and the HEA is right there. Nope, not this one. This part of the story is as painful as the first half as the mask of Reign is slowly shed and the real Cooper emerges. This old/new Cooper realizes he's always loved Declan and lost his ability to write when Declan faded from his life. He fights hard to help Declan see he's changing but Declan is so broken and struggles to create distance as he continues to yearn. He's never been able to move on from Cooper and he can't stay away from him, can't stop loving him, touching him, or being in his orbit, but it's not enough to trust Cooper won't keep breaking his heart.
This story never stops being achingly painful, tender, emotional, and gut wrenching. Their HEA still doesn't feel real, permanent, or something you can trust until the very end. I was right there with Declan hoping and praying Cooper really did come back, and at the same time, so insanely proud of Cooper for figuring it out and proving to Declan he was here to stay. For good. For always.
It's been 24 hours since I finished the book and I'm still not ok. This will require a reread when I need to feel all the feels again.
I read romance novels mainly because they are fun, have guaranteed happy endings, and distract me from my day to day life. But every once in awhile one sneaks in and destroys me in all the best ways possible. I spent days in my feels with this one, torn between wanting to devour the book and ignore everything else, yet trying to prolong finishing it because I didn't want to stop ALL the feelings.
From Declan and Cooper's first kiss to the final scene on stage, I was all in. Vari Scott manages to capture in words, story telling, and character development what few authors can do across all genres. This isnt just a romance story, it is a beautiful novel.
While it is dual POV, the first part of the story is mostly about Declan and his chance to not only leave Tauntan Falls, but leave Canada for college in the US with a huge dream of making it to the NHL. As generational talent in hockey, he is bound for the NHL, and unlike most hockey romances, Vari Scott accurately portrays the path and the experience of high level hockey collegiate players. Cooper is his biggest champion but he is left behind, trying his best to be there for Dec while never giving up on his own dream of playing his music for the whole world. He spends his Friday nights performing at the Lost Compass, a local bar where Declan's hockey games are ever present on the TVs. Declan is the hometown hero, the one destined for greatness, while Cooper is still waiting for his big break.
Declan sustains a horrific knee injury during his second year of school ending his career not only short of the NHL. but short a NCAA championship and the Hobey Baker award. He goes home and doesn't return because it's simply too painful to go back to where his dream died. Cooper is there for him when he gets home, connecting with him the way only Cooper can, showing up for him and getting him through the early days of his recovery.
Until one of Cooper's IG reels goes viral, and he's invited to a showcase where he's spotted by Liam, the eventual manager that signs him to a record deal and essentially launches "Reign Cooper." At this point book shifts more to Cooper's story as told mostly through the eyes (and feelings) of Declan. If your heart isn't breaking for Declan after his injury, it is for sure shattering as he and Cooper drift apart when Reign becomes an international rock star.
Six years after their last contact, Reign plays in Toronto and Declan goes to the concert with his college friend Levi, who became a physical therapist after seeing Declan's experience after his injury. He moves to Tauntan Falls to set up his practice and remains Declan's closest friend in Cooper's absence. They end up with VIP access backstage after the show and Declan sees Cooper for the first time since he left home. This scene broke me as the author revealed how little Declan knows about Cooper's life now, and the devastation in Declan when "Corey" is all over Reign in a way that can only be interpreted as Declan's replacement, and the yearning to steal Cooper away and simply talk to him. Reign suggests Declan meet him at his hotel to catch up, and Declan goes to the hotel, but saves himself the heartbreak of being left behind again, and leaves after texting Reign "maybe next time." We find out later that Reign didn't even remember telling Declan to meet him and spent the evening as he always did, partying with fans, roadies, and living the quintessential rock star life.
After 4 more years, Reign is broken, burned out and barely hanging on. He's lost his ability to write songs, manage his life, or be anything but a shell of even Reign (let alone Cooper) as his manager Liam controls his every waking (and sleeping) moment. He walks out of a photo shoot and with the help of his bodyguard Lockie, heads back to Tauntan Falls for the first time in 10 years.
Now the book shifts a bit and we get more of the perspective of both characters as they navigate Cooper's homecoming. We get to see the way being an international star has literally turned Cooper into Reign and it seems as though Cooper is lost forever.
This is not your typical romance book where everything comes together neatly when Reign "comes home" and the HEA is right there. Nope, not this one. This part of the story is as painful as the first half as the mask of Reign is slowly shed and the real Cooper emerges. This old/new Cooper realizes he's always loved Declan and lost his ability to write when Declan faded from his life. He fights hard to help Declan see he's changing but Declan is so broken and struggles to create distance as he continues to yearn. He's never been able to move on from Cooper and he can't stay away from him, can't stop loving him, touching him, or being in his orbit, but it's not enough to trust Cooper won't keep breaking his heart.
This story never stops being achingly painful, tender, emotional, and gut wrenching. Their HEA still doesn't feel real, permanent, or something you can trust until the very end. I was right there with Declan hoping and praying Cooper really did come back, and at the same time, so insanely proud of Cooper for figuring it out and proving to Declan he was here to stay. For good. For always.
It's been 24 hours since I finished the book and I'm still not ok. This will require a reread when I need to feel all the feels again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2026
I was so close to DNF’ing this at around 70%, but I thought, nah, I’ll give it one more chance. I did end up enjoying the story overall. Buuuut… I just didn’t connect with the characters.
I love pining, yearning, and emotional angst, and I feel like this book lacked that for me. I wanted to feel more while reading, but emotionally, it just didn’t hit the way I hoped it would.
I love pining, yearning, and emotional angst, and I feel like this book lacked that for me. I wanted to feel more while reading, but emotionally, it just didn’t hit the way I hoped it would.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
May 11, 2026
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.”
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.”
June 5, 2026
Declan y Cooper son mejores amigos desde siempre, al igual que lo son sus padres. Ambos tienen objetivos ambiciosos por los que llevan toda la vida animándose mutuamente. Declan es un grandísimo jugador de hockey que quiere dedicarse a ello como profesional, entrando a formar parte de la NHL. Cooper, por otro lado, desea ser una estrella del rock y poder compartir con el mundo sus canciones. De momento, uno juega en categorías bajas (aunque ya le están ojeando desde más arriba) y el otro trabaja en la tienda de discos del pueblo y canta los fines de semana en un bar. No obstante, ninguno duda de que el otro vaya a lograr su sueño y confían en poder hacerlo a la par. El problema es que todo cambia cuando el de uno de ellos se trunca y el otro tiene que aprender a lidiar con la nueva versión de su mejor amigo mientras descubre cómo gestionar que él si está alcanzando su meta. Sumado a ello, un día, debido a un juego tonto, se besaron y, poco a poco, su relación de amistad empezó a rozar límites sexuales que, en el caso de Declan, solo están agravando su enamoramiento por su mejor amigo. De un momento para otro, la vida de ambos adolescentes cambia por completo, así que se verán obligados a descubrir si el vínculo que tienen es tan fuerte como para superar cualquier obstáculo.
¿Qué puedo decir? Ha sido una de las mejores lecturas de lo que va de año y va a estar dentro del top10 de 2026, estoy convencidísima. Me ha gustado tanto!!! Declan es mi bebé, le protejo de todo. Lo injusta que me pareció su lesión y que fuera algo definitivo que no le permitiera volver a competir profesionalmente. Mi niño no se merecía algo así. Pero luego encima ver cómo su mejor amigo cumplía su sueño de ser cantante y se olvidaba de él en el proceso... Ha sido una historia muy dolorosa de leer en ese aspecto porque parecía que no encontraba su lugar en el mundo sin el hockey y que sus sentimientos por Cooper no eran correspondidos. Además, era muy complicado entender por qué Coop no le hacía ni caso. Por eso, cuando se descubre que es todo culpa de Liam, su puto representante... qué enfado, asqueroso!!! Eso sí, la actitud de Cooper cuando se da cuenta de que lleva años enamorado de Declan y hace de todo para que le perdone, me ha encantado... PELOS. Y las canciones que escribe para él... MÁS PELOS TODAVÍA. Por un lado, me gusta también que Declan siga vinculado al hockey por su hermana pequeña (super random que teniendo él más de 20 palos la madre se quede embarazada, eso sí) y que se haya hecho cargo del bar en el que trabajaba de camarero. Él es un empresario y le amamos. Por otro lado, el personaje de Cooper, aunque ha sido algo más complicado de conocer, me ha flipado también. Es super perseverante y tiene tanto talento... Uff y cuando manda a la mierda a Liam: una de las escenas más gratificantes de leer. El epílogo siendo perfecto también con Cooper de concierto dedicándoles una canción a Declan y al hijo que han tenido... pues lloro. Librito maravilloso que se queda dentro del corazoncito.
¿Qué puedo decir? Ha sido una de las mejores lecturas de lo que va de año y va a estar dentro del top10 de 2026, estoy convencidísima. Me ha gustado tanto!!! Declan es mi bebé, le protejo de todo. Lo injusta que me pareció su lesión y que fuera algo definitivo que no le permitiera volver a competir profesionalmente. Mi niño no se merecía algo así. Pero luego encima ver cómo su mejor amigo cumplía su sueño de ser cantante y se olvidaba de él en el proceso... Ha sido una historia muy dolorosa de leer en ese aspecto porque parecía que no encontraba su lugar en el mundo sin el hockey y que sus sentimientos por Cooper no eran correspondidos. Además, era muy complicado entender por qué Coop no le hacía ni caso. Por eso, cuando se descubre que es todo culpa de Liam, su puto representante... qué enfado, asqueroso!!! Eso sí, la actitud de Cooper cuando se da cuenta de que lleva años enamorado de Declan y hace de todo para que le perdone, me ha encantado... PELOS. Y las canciones que escribe para él... MÁS PELOS TODAVÍA. Por un lado, me gusta también que Declan siga vinculado al hockey por su hermana pequeña (super random que teniendo él más de 20 palos la madre se quede embarazada, eso sí) y que se haya hecho cargo del bar en el que trabajaba de camarero. Él es un empresario y le amamos. Por otro lado, el personaje de Cooper, aunque ha sido algo más complicado de conocer, me ha flipado también. Es super perseverante y tiene tanto talento... Uff y cuando manda a la mierda a Liam: una de las escenas más gratificantes de leer. El epílogo siendo perfecto también con Cooper de concierto dedicándoles una canción a Declan y al hijo que han tenido... pues lloro. Librito maravilloso que se queda dentro del corazoncito.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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