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In Concert
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Expected 9 Feb 27Win a free print copy of this book!
27 days and 17:38:52
10 copies available
U.S. only
One Day meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this decades-spanning story of fate, love, and ambition, when a single photo taken one hot summer night forges an unforgettable bond for two star-crossed strangers.
When Abraham Ford and Rebecca Garavano meet as teenagers in 1977 at a Grateful Dead concert, the connection between them is as instant as the flash of the Polaroid camera someone uses to snap a photo of them together.
Fifty years later, when a flea market owner stumbles across the Polaroid and posts it to social media, one hawk-eyed viewer recognizes the young man as “Ham” Ford, a world-renowned classical violinist. The fervent attention to his love life as onlookers speculate about the young woman in the photo forces the now-reclusive Ham to confront his tumultuous and complicated past with “Bee” Garavano. A past he’d rather keep hidden.
Told only in snapshots of the iconic concerts and performances Bee and Ham attend over fifty years—sometimes together, sometimes apart, but never far from each other’s hearts—their epic love story is a heart-wrenching exploration of the connective power of music and the sacrifices we make for those we love most.
When Abraham Ford and Rebecca Garavano meet as teenagers in 1977 at a Grateful Dead concert, the connection between them is as instant as the flash of the Polaroid camera someone uses to snap a photo of them together.
Fifty years later, when a flea market owner stumbles across the Polaroid and posts it to social media, one hawk-eyed viewer recognizes the young man as “Ham” Ford, a world-renowned classical violinist. The fervent attention to his love life as onlookers speculate about the young woman in the photo forces the now-reclusive Ham to confront his tumultuous and complicated past with “Bee” Garavano. A past he’d rather keep hidden.
Told only in snapshots of the iconic concerts and performances Bee and Ham attend over fifty years—sometimes together, sometimes apart, but never far from each other’s hearts—their epic love story is a heart-wrenching exploration of the connective power of music and the sacrifices we make for those we love most.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 9, 2027
About the author
Colleen Oakley
13 books2,382 followersColleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of Jane and Dan at the End of the World, The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, You Were There Too and other unconventional love stories. Her books have been translated into more than 20 languages around the world, lauded by numerous magazines including People, Us Weekly, Library Journal, and Real Simple, and won multiple awards including Georgia Author of the Year. Her seventh book IN CONCERT will be released February 2027.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I can't wait for you all to meet Bee and Ham and love them as much as I do. Happy reading!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Some love stories end with a goodbye. Others apparently need fifty years, a lifetime of missed opportunities, a mountain of complicated feelings, and one very determined Polaroid photograph to make their point. And honestly, I wasn't prepared for how much In Concert would make me reflect on the strange, unpredictable ways people can remain part of each other's lives.
Colleen Oakley takes a seemingly simple moment—a chance encounter between two teenagers at a Grateful Dead concert in 1977—and turns it into an expansive story about love, ambition, choices, and the lives we build along the way. Abraham “Ham” Ford and Rebecca “Bee” Garavano meet, connect, and go their separate ways, seemingly destined for entirely different futures. But some connections have an inconvenient habit of refusing to disappear, no matter how much time passes or how many detours life throws in their direction.
And then, fifty years later, a photograph resurfaces.
Of all the things that can unexpectedly return to our lives, apparently an old Polaroid is one of the most powerful. One image sends the past crashing into the present, reopening questions that were never entirely answered and forcing Ham to confront a chapter of his life he'd rather leave undisturbed. What follows is a decades-spanning journey through two lives, their individual ambitions, their shared history, and the countless moments that brought them together or pushed them apart.
What I particularly enjoyed was Oakley's unconventional storytelling structure. Rather than simply moving chronologically through the years, she uses significant musical performances and cultural moments as markers along the characters' journeys. Music becomes part of the atmosphere of their lives, connecting different periods and reflecting how much the world, and the people living in it, can change. There is something wonderfully evocative about watching characters grow older against the changing soundtrack of several generations. It made me nostalgic for eras I remember and curious about those I experienced only through stories and songs.
But the real reason this story works is Bee and Ham.
Their relationship is anything but a straightforward romantic fantasy. They make mistakes, disappoint each other, pursue different dreams, and sometimes seem determined to complicate their own happiness. I didn't always agree with their decisions, and there were moments when I wanted to reach through the pages, sit them both down, and conduct a very necessary intervention. Apparently, communicating honestly and making sensible choices are still too much to ask from fictional people.
Yet their imperfections make the journey feel human. Love doesn't automatically make people brave, selfless, or even particularly wise. Sometimes ambition takes precedence; sometimes fear makes decisions on our behalf. And sometimes we spend years trying to understand the consequences of choices we made when we were younger. Oakley explores those uncomfortable spaces between what we want, what we pursue, and what we ultimately sacrifice.
I also appreciated that the story doesn't reduce either character's existence to their romantic relationship. Their ambitions and personal journeys matter, and the passage of time gives their connection a different meaning at every stage. Bee, in particular, has an interesting journey, and I enjoyed seeing how her experiences shaped the woman she became.
That said, I wasn't completely swept away by every aspect of the storytelling. The structure occasionally felt uneven, and some transitions between perspectives and periods could have been smoother. There were moments when I would have preferred to experience an important event firsthand rather than learn about it after the fact. I also found the sheer number of recognizable musical figures and historical references slightly distracting. While I understand the intention behind weaving real cultural history into a fictional love story, a few connections felt a little too carefully arranged to be entirely convincing. I wanted the music to enrich Bee and Ham's world, not occasionally compete with their own story for attention.
I would also have welcomed more depth in certain character dynamics. Some relationships and developments deserved additional room to breathe, particularly considering how much time the narrative covers.
Still, the emotional ambition of this book won me over. There is a particular kind of storytelling I find irresistible: the kind that makes you wonder how differently your life might have unfolded if you'd made one different decision, taken another road, or held on to someone just a little longer. In Concert understands that certain memories never quite lose their power, even as everything around us changes.
This isn't simply a conventional romance, and readers expecting a nonstop, swoon-filled love story might approach it with different expectations. It's a sweeping relationship drama about the unpredictable intersection of love, identity, creativity, and time. It's about the people who change us, the dreams that take us elsewhere, and the memories that somehow remain louder than everything that comes afterward.
I finished this book feeling genuinely touched, a little nostalgic, and rather grateful for the reminder that some stories are worth telling, even when their characters take the scenic route to figure themselves out.
Four stars! A heartfelt, ambitious, musically rich story with memorable characters and an emotional journey that stayed with me. Not every note landed perfectly, but the overall composition was absolutely worth experiencing.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this hooking, epic, resonating romance fiction with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Colleen Oakley takes a seemingly simple moment—a chance encounter between two teenagers at a Grateful Dead concert in 1977—and turns it into an expansive story about love, ambition, choices, and the lives we build along the way. Abraham “Ham” Ford and Rebecca “Bee” Garavano meet, connect, and go their separate ways, seemingly destined for entirely different futures. But some connections have an inconvenient habit of refusing to disappear, no matter how much time passes or how many detours life throws in their direction.
And then, fifty years later, a photograph resurfaces.
Of all the things that can unexpectedly return to our lives, apparently an old Polaroid is one of the most powerful. One image sends the past crashing into the present, reopening questions that were never entirely answered and forcing Ham to confront a chapter of his life he'd rather leave undisturbed. What follows is a decades-spanning journey through two lives, their individual ambitions, their shared history, and the countless moments that brought them together or pushed them apart.
What I particularly enjoyed was Oakley's unconventional storytelling structure. Rather than simply moving chronologically through the years, she uses significant musical performances and cultural moments as markers along the characters' journeys. Music becomes part of the atmosphere of their lives, connecting different periods and reflecting how much the world, and the people living in it, can change. There is something wonderfully evocative about watching characters grow older against the changing soundtrack of several generations. It made me nostalgic for eras I remember and curious about those I experienced only through stories and songs.
But the real reason this story works is Bee and Ham.
Their relationship is anything but a straightforward romantic fantasy. They make mistakes, disappoint each other, pursue different dreams, and sometimes seem determined to complicate their own happiness. I didn't always agree with their decisions, and there were moments when I wanted to reach through the pages, sit them both down, and conduct a very necessary intervention. Apparently, communicating honestly and making sensible choices are still too much to ask from fictional people.
Yet their imperfections make the journey feel human. Love doesn't automatically make people brave, selfless, or even particularly wise. Sometimes ambition takes precedence; sometimes fear makes decisions on our behalf. And sometimes we spend years trying to understand the consequences of choices we made when we were younger. Oakley explores those uncomfortable spaces between what we want, what we pursue, and what we ultimately sacrifice.
I also appreciated that the story doesn't reduce either character's existence to their romantic relationship. Their ambitions and personal journeys matter, and the passage of time gives their connection a different meaning at every stage. Bee, in particular, has an interesting journey, and I enjoyed seeing how her experiences shaped the woman she became.
That said, I wasn't completely swept away by every aspect of the storytelling. The structure occasionally felt uneven, and some transitions between perspectives and periods could have been smoother. There were moments when I would have preferred to experience an important event firsthand rather than learn about it after the fact. I also found the sheer number of recognizable musical figures and historical references slightly distracting. While I understand the intention behind weaving real cultural history into a fictional love story, a few connections felt a little too carefully arranged to be entirely convincing. I wanted the music to enrich Bee and Ham's world, not occasionally compete with their own story for attention.
I would also have welcomed more depth in certain character dynamics. Some relationships and developments deserved additional room to breathe, particularly considering how much time the narrative covers.
Still, the emotional ambition of this book won me over. There is a particular kind of storytelling I find irresistible: the kind that makes you wonder how differently your life might have unfolded if you'd made one different decision, taken another road, or held on to someone just a little longer. In Concert understands that certain memories never quite lose their power, even as everything around us changes.
This isn't simply a conventional romance, and readers expecting a nonstop, swoon-filled love story might approach it with different expectations. It's a sweeping relationship drama about the unpredictable intersection of love, identity, creativity, and time. It's about the people who change us, the dreams that take us elsewhere, and the memories that somehow remain louder than everything that comes afterward.
I finished this book feeling genuinely touched, a little nostalgic, and rather grateful for the reminder that some stories are worth telling, even when their characters take the scenic route to figure themselves out.
Four stars! A heartfelt, ambitious, musically rich story with memorable characters and an emotional journey that stayed with me. Not every note landed perfectly, but the overall composition was absolutely worth experiencing.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this hooking, epic, resonating romance fiction with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
September 24, 2026
Actually in tears. If I could collect every star and give it to this book I would. A love story unlike any I’ve ever read. Truly think this may be one of the best books I’ve read to date. Which is saying a lot because I’ve read a lot of books. I also probably should of hated it because I hate third person. But this book was everything to me. If you want yearning, nostalgia, messy relationships and just pure love— read this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Colleen Oakley for an advanced copy of this book. Something I will think about for probably the rest of my life.
Release date: 2/9/2027
Thank you NetGalley and Colleen Oakley for an advanced copy of this book. Something I will think about for probably the rest of my life.
Release date: 2/9/2027
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book…just read it. Colleen’s best book yet. It’s the kind of book you’ll think about months and years after you have read it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Bee and Ham meet at a Grateful Dead concert in the 70s, flash forward 50 years and someone finds a Polaroid picture of them. Social media attempts to find out who these two were.
Ham is violinist prodigy; Bee has other aspirations, related to music...and mythology?
Throughout In Concert, we see every decade of music: Whitney Houston performing at a church before she become an icon, Live Aid, We are the World, New Kids performing at a Stonestown Galleria in Berkley (it's actually in San Francisco, ahem), to Sara Bareilles, Mariah Carey, need I say more?
Regardless, while the entire book is devoted to pop music's iconic stories, I felt this to be much of the same. Bee and Ham weaving into each other's lives, always wavering back to that fateful day when they first met.
The music mentions were quite generic, as well as the other events that took place during these decades. Probably because I have lived through it all (!!!), I just found it to be mundane and forced.
"Saturday Night Fever, The Big Chill, Annie Hall, St. Elmo’s Fire, E.T., Footloose, Flashdance, Purple Rain." (literally this is the sentence)
I know this will find an audience of people who love going down memory lane, but with social media pages devoted to this era, it was quite frankly, outdated and nothing new. The push and pull between the two characters was fairly predictable.
After reading a brilliant Elif Shafak right before this, I wish I had chosen something with more depth, as I'm still reeling. This was just filler I could have skipped.
Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy!
Ham is violinist prodigy; Bee has other aspirations, related to music...and mythology?
Throughout In Concert, we see every decade of music: Whitney Houston performing at a church before she become an icon, Live Aid, We are the World, New Kids performing at a Stonestown Galleria in Berkley (it's actually in San Francisco, ahem), to Sara Bareilles, Mariah Carey, need I say more?
Regardless, while the entire book is devoted to pop music's iconic stories, I felt this to be much of the same. Bee and Ham weaving into each other's lives, always wavering back to that fateful day when they first met.
The music mentions were quite generic, as well as the other events that took place during these decades. Probably because I have lived through it all (!!!), I just found it to be mundane and forced.
"Saturday Night Fever, The Big Chill, Annie Hall, St. Elmo’s Fire, E.T., Footloose, Flashdance, Purple Rain." (literally this is the sentence)
I know this will find an audience of people who love going down memory lane, but with social media pages devoted to this era, it was quite frankly, outdated and nothing new. The push and pull between the two characters was fairly predictable.
After reading a brilliant Elif Shafak right before this, I wish I had chosen something with more depth, as I'm still reeling. This was just filler I could have skipped.
Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Concert by Colleen Oakley (Feb. 2027) [read in Sept '26]
368-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
Movie Rating Equivalent: PG-15/R for adult content
Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🎻🎼🎶🎵🎤👩🎤👨🏿🎤
A Beautiful Life Story That Defies Genre With Decades of Musical Nostalgia
What I love about Colleen Oakley is that her stories are incredibly genuine. She is one of the few authors who writes from the heart instead of allowing herself to be pigeonholed into recreating the same remixed hit over and over. So I was not surprised when In Concert took us down a completely unexpected road. My only issue with this story is that it was labeled as a romance. If you go into this expecting a typical romance, you are going to be a bit disappointed and frustrated. Once I let go of the expectation that it was a romance or women's fiction, I thought it was great.
I enjoyed this story from the start. I have a few reading buddies who are reading it at the same time, and we were all a bit frustrated by the relationship portion of the story initially. I finished before they did, so I do not know when they worked that out, but I will say this: this is purely contemporary fiction. If you are looking for the typical boy meets girl, third act breakup, happily ever after romance style, this is not that kind of story. Instead, this is beautifully written contemporary fiction that covers decades and has all the musical nostalgia a music lover could want. It features the classic Oakley signature of deep emotional connection, human error, book and song references, and unique health circumstances. I could definitely see myself rereading this with my book club next year.
I have read every book Oakley has published, and they have all made me feel things on the highest level, whether it was grief, love, excitement, or extreme laughter in the face of danger. This book is no different. I felt the characters' passion through their frustration, I reminisced over the years through their eyes, and I accepted the artistic license she took in weaving those elements into the story. I think this might be one of those stories that has masterpiece potential. The only thing stopping readers from falling in love with this one is going to be their patience level. It is not a slow burn because it is not a romance, but it is a love story. Primarily, it is a life story, and I absolutely loved it.
Recommend to others: Absolutely! It is not for everyone, but it is for most people. You just have to give it a try to find out. It is like a chocolate milkshake: most people are going to love it, but there are always a few who do not like dairy or the texture. Getting it through the straw is the hardest part, but if you can make it past that, there is a 90% chance you are going to finish it and love it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Berkley via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Featuring: Bibliography for Colleen Oakley, Table of Contents, Epigraph, Parts, 2026, 1977-2004, Drinking, Drugs, Grateful Dead Concert, Music History, Violinist, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; New Jersey, Your Favorite Recording Artists, New York City, New York; Los Angeles, California; Social Media Graphics, San Francisco, California; Correspondence, Racism, Berkley, California; Celebrity, Artistic License, Nostalgia, Author's Note
368-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
Movie Rating Equivalent: PG-15/R for adult content
Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🎻🎼🎶🎵🎤👩🎤👨🏿🎤
A Beautiful Life Story That Defies Genre With Decades of Musical Nostalgia
What I love about Colleen Oakley is that her stories are incredibly genuine. She is one of the few authors who writes from the heart instead of allowing herself to be pigeonholed into recreating the same remixed hit over and over. So I was not surprised when In Concert took us down a completely unexpected road. My only issue with this story is that it was labeled as a romance. If you go into this expecting a typical romance, you are going to be a bit disappointed and frustrated. Once I let go of the expectation that it was a romance or women's fiction, I thought it was great.
I enjoyed this story from the start. I have a few reading buddies who are reading it at the same time, and we were all a bit frustrated by the relationship portion of the story initially. I finished before they did, so I do not know when they worked that out, but I will say this: this is purely contemporary fiction. If you are looking for the typical boy meets girl, third act breakup, happily ever after romance style, this is not that kind of story. Instead, this is beautifully written contemporary fiction that covers decades and has all the musical nostalgia a music lover could want. It features the classic Oakley signature of deep emotional connection, human error, book and song references, and unique health circumstances. I could definitely see myself rereading this with my book club next year.
I have read every book Oakley has published, and they have all made me feel things on the highest level, whether it was grief, love, excitement, or extreme laughter in the face of danger. This book is no different. I felt the characters' passion through their frustration, I reminisced over the years through their eyes, and I accepted the artistic license she took in weaving those elements into the story. I think this might be one of those stories that has masterpiece potential. The only thing stopping readers from falling in love with this one is going to be their patience level. It is not a slow burn because it is not a romance, but it is a love story. Primarily, it is a life story, and I absolutely loved it.
Recommend to others: Absolutely! It is not for everyone, but it is for most people. You just have to give it a try to find out. It is like a chocolate milkshake: most people are going to love it, but there are always a few who do not like dairy or the texture. Getting it through the straw is the hardest part, but if you can make it past that, there is a 90% chance you are going to finish it and love it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Berkley via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Featuring: Bibliography for Colleen Oakley, Table of Contents, Epigraph, Parts, 2026, 1977-2004, Drinking, Drugs, Grateful Dead Concert, Music History, Violinist, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; New Jersey, Your Favorite Recording Artists, New York City, New York; Los Angeles, California; Social Media Graphics, San Francisco, California; Correspondence, Racism, Berkley, California; Celebrity, Artistic License, Nostalgia, Author's Note
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m still wiping away tears. In Concert is hands down the best book I’ve read all summer!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved In Concert. This is, without a doubt, Colleen Oakley’s best book yet.
It’s a sweeping love story, but what I loved most is that Ham and Bee’s relationship isn’t some perfect, straight-line love story. It’s messy, complicated, full of ups and downs, and feels incredibly real.
I also loved the way the story unfolds through little glimpses of their lives at memorable concerts over the years. The music references were SO good and added this whole nostalgic layer that made me feel like I was right there with them.
I laughed, I hurt for them, I rooted for them, and I definitely wasn’t ready for the story to end. There’s just something really exceptional about a love story that can span decades and still feel so deeply personal.
This one is really special. A love story for the ages, told in such a uniquely beautiful way that only Colleen Oakley could!
It’s a sweeping love story, but what I loved most is that Ham and Bee’s relationship isn’t some perfect, straight-line love story. It’s messy, complicated, full of ups and downs, and feels incredibly real.
I also loved the way the story unfolds through little glimpses of their lives at memorable concerts over the years. The music references were SO good and added this whole nostalgic layer that made me feel like I was right there with them.
I laughed, I hurt for them, I rooted for them, and I definitely wasn’t ready for the story to end. There’s just something really exceptional about a love story that can span decades and still feel so deeply personal.
This one is really special. A love story for the ages, told in such a uniquely beautiful way that only Colleen Oakley could!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this. When I saw it being compared to Daisy Jones & The Six and One Day, I knew I had to read it and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it before it officially makes its way into the world. I LOVED the pop culture references sprinkled throughout the novel. They added so much to the reading experience and made everything feel so immersive. All of that said, I did find myself wanting a little more. Specifically, I wanted more chemistry between Bee and Ham. I wish their connection had been fleshed out more because I struggled to fully understand how one chance encounter at a concert could lead to years of pining when their chemistry didn’t quite feel as strong as I wanted it to. I enjoyed this story overall but I just wish I’d felt a little more of that spark between them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book enrapture me- I love music, I belive everyone has a soundtrack to your life, even if your not that into music, its still playing in the background, the title of the book clues the reader in that the book is about a concert, and obviously music, and it is but so much more its a love story - heartbreaking, infuriating, funny, and has sprinklings of music history sprinkled throughout - Bee and Ham meet as 18 and 19 year olds at a festival in the 70s - Greatful Dead is the headliner, although neither is a fan - Ham is a violinist- a great one playing since he was 3 now 19 he's on the cusp of greatness, and Bee is two days away from starting college and her dream of being a scientist. They meet and spend time together at the show and they pose with friends for a Polaroid picture- and go their separate ways at dawn- the photo is found some 50 years later in a book across the country at a flea market- someone posts it on social media trying to see if they can get the photo to the rightful owners- (by this time Ham who has become a very famous musician and Bee- i cant tell you because you know no spoilers,) it doesn't take long for social media sleuthes to figure out its Ham whi is on the verge of a special show for the first time in almost 20 years, but who is the girl?, in a series of flashbacks told through their timeline interspersed with music history we learn their story its messy, complicated, maddening, beautiful and tear jerking, but its so good- the way Colleen Oakley intertwined the story and all kinds of musical events from the 70s to the 2000s is so good- im not a spoiler writer in reviews and this one its hard to talk about without giving away key points the book hits on family dynamics, life long friendships romantic entanglements, break ups and makeups, ---so im gonna tell you as a reader and a music lover- buy this book! Read this book! I read it in two sittings because I had to know what was happening with these two, its a love story 50 years long and worth every minute of missed sleep I got, I'll leave with one final message- go to the concerts, make the memories,who knows who you may meet and what will happen
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
Did Not Finish
October 5, 2026DNF 27%
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC us exchange for an honest review
I was super excited for this one but i wasn't vibing with the characters, and wasn't interested in the story unfortunately
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC us exchange for an honest review
I was super excited for this one but i wasn't vibing with the characters, and wasn't interested in the story unfortunately
October 20, 2026
Colleen Oakley is in my top 5 favorite authors so anytime she announces a new book I’m eagerly anticipating its release. My year was made when I got the approval email with the digital ARC! So first let me extend my deepest gratitude to the publisher for gifting me this advanced digital copy - you truly saved me from the FOMO I was feeling when I saw some reviews trickle in well before the book release. And rest assured I will be buying the book for my library the minute is available in paperback!
So now let’s talk about why I loved this specific book from Colleen. I don’t read a ton of love stories so when I do I am very picky with them. They can feel too forced or too cliche and I can find myself rolling my eyes pretty quickly. But I was cheering for this couple from the get go.
First: I felt the nostalgia in this book immediately. Immediately! I felt immersed in the concert-goer environment right away and it made me long for the days (which I actually DO remember) before cell phones and constant connection to a digital world instead of the real world. She so beautifully described a simpler time when going to concerts was for the music and the moment not for the videos and filtered photos to be shared on social media. It was a clear reminder of a time when concerts were accessible to normal people and I long for those days to return. General admission was pretty normal and getting close to the stage was achievable but not necessary.
Second: Colleen did such a great job showing the reader that despite the love growing between these characters it was clear that Ham was chasing fame even when he didn’t know he was chasing it himself. (The Johnny Carson interview in particular where he lost himself in the 8 seconds ovation and didn’t think of Bee at all). And she so subtly planted simple character traits and histories that become pretty important to the end result of their love story over the course of the relationship (such as certain medical ailments) without too heavy a focus on them that you see try to determine an outcome before it happens.
So back to Johnny Carson: the celebrity sightings and interactions were surreal to me as a millennial who grew up following celebrity culture and watched a lot of MTV and The Box. I mean, even with the minimally-altered timelines, the peppering in of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Diana across, Michael Jackson Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Sara Bareilles, Sheryl Crow, etc. - it was like we were given a private glimpse into a world we will never ever be a part of - even though it was completely fictionalized. It, IMHO, was a completely unique approach to writing a love story that would pull readers in and make them feel invested quickly. Because at the heart and core of this book it is first and foremost a beautiful love story that we get to watch unfold over 40-50 years.
I want to compare it to the story of When Harry Met Sally (to a tiny degree) because of the multiple-decades timeline and friends-turned-lovers who couldn’t ever quite get their timing right. I felt every emotion when they worked and every frustration the when they didn’t work. The layers of their lives were deep and you couldn’t fault them for the lives they lived in between each other. And just when you think you know what’s going to happen, the author throws us a small curveball- I won’t call them “twists” they are just “redirects” that make the most sense ever and you’re just so engrossed in the story as you read it that you don’t really pay attention to how things creeped back into the story and you think “wow how did I not see that coming?”
Listen, I write super basic and quick reviews for books when I have simple thoughts I feel compelled to share - and this is the first time I’ve left a book review for a publisher so I’m not sure what is too much or not enough to share- but I will say this:
Colleen Oakley has yet to let me down - I believe that she has an innate ability to write a love story. She made that clear with You Were There Too (which was the first Colleen Oakley book I ever read and what turned me on to all of her other books after that). And I love how the underlying love story in this book had so very little to do with race and everything to do with who these characters were. Obviously race was an important factor in the telling of the story but it wasn’t the complexity or conflict of the relationship. It was so refreshing to read a book about an interracial love story and not have race be the main arc of that love story. Genuinely I just loved that. Well done and THANK YOU for just telling the story because that’s all it should ever be. Love stories for the LOVE of it and not for the core lesson or message to humanity of being a reasonable human.
Thank you publishers and thank you Colleen. I LOVED it!!
So now let’s talk about why I loved this specific book from Colleen. I don’t read a ton of love stories so when I do I am very picky with them. They can feel too forced or too cliche and I can find myself rolling my eyes pretty quickly. But I was cheering for this couple from the get go.
First: I felt the nostalgia in this book immediately. Immediately! I felt immersed in the concert-goer environment right away and it made me long for the days (which I actually DO remember) before cell phones and constant connection to a digital world instead of the real world. She so beautifully described a simpler time when going to concerts was for the music and the moment not for the videos and filtered photos to be shared on social media. It was a clear reminder of a time when concerts were accessible to normal people and I long for those days to return. General admission was pretty normal and getting close to the stage was achievable but not necessary.
Second: Colleen did such a great job showing the reader that despite the love growing between these characters it was clear that Ham was chasing fame even when he didn’t know he was chasing it himself. (The Johnny Carson interview in particular where he lost himself in the 8 seconds ovation and didn’t think of Bee at all). And she so subtly planted simple character traits and histories that become pretty important to the end result of their love story over the course of the relationship (such as certain medical ailments) without too heavy a focus on them that you see try to determine an outcome before it happens.
So back to Johnny Carson: the celebrity sightings and interactions were surreal to me as a millennial who grew up following celebrity culture and watched a lot of MTV and The Box. I mean, even with the minimally-altered timelines, the peppering in of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Diana across, Michael Jackson Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Sara Bareilles, Sheryl Crow, etc. - it was like we were given a private glimpse into a world we will never ever be a part of - even though it was completely fictionalized. It, IMHO, was a completely unique approach to writing a love story that would pull readers in and make them feel invested quickly. Because at the heart and core of this book it is first and foremost a beautiful love story that we get to watch unfold over 40-50 years.
I want to compare it to the story of When Harry Met Sally (to a tiny degree) because of the multiple-decades timeline and friends-turned-lovers who couldn’t ever quite get their timing right. I felt every emotion when they worked and every frustration the when they didn’t work. The layers of their lives were deep and you couldn’t fault them for the lives they lived in between each other. And just when you think you know what’s going to happen, the author throws us a small curveball- I won’t call them “twists” they are just “redirects” that make the most sense ever and you’re just so engrossed in the story as you read it that you don’t really pay attention to how things creeped back into the story and you think “wow how did I not see that coming?”
Listen, I write super basic and quick reviews for books when I have simple thoughts I feel compelled to share - and this is the first time I’ve left a book review for a publisher so I’m not sure what is too much or not enough to share- but I will say this:
Colleen Oakley has yet to let me down - I believe that she has an innate ability to write a love story. She made that clear with You Were There Too (which was the first Colleen Oakley book I ever read and what turned me on to all of her other books after that). And I love how the underlying love story in this book had so very little to do with race and everything to do with who these characters were. Obviously race was an important factor in the telling of the story but it wasn’t the complexity or conflict of the relationship. It was so refreshing to read a book about an interracial love story and not have race be the main arc of that love story. Genuinely I just loved that. Well done and THANK YOU for just telling the story because that’s all it should ever be. Love stories for the LOVE of it and not for the core lesson or message to humanity of being a reasonable human.
Thank you publishers and thank you Colleen. I LOVED it!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into In Concert really wanting to love this book. I am a genuine fan of Colleen Oakley’s writing, and Close Enough to Touch remains one of my favorite books. Unfortunately, while I think this story had so much potential, it never quite came together for me.
The story spans many years and weaves in recognizable names and major cultural events throughout the characters’ lives. At times, it reminded me a bit of Forrest Gump, with the characters seemingly connected to so many famous people and historical moments. While I enjoyed the idea of placing their story within the backdrop of these events, some of the connections felt a little far-fetched, particularly the level of fame and recognition surrounding a classical violinist in the popular music world. I understood his ambition and drive to be the best, but I struggled to find the level of celebrity surrounding him believable.
My biggest struggle, however, was the lack of character and relationship development. There were plenty of interesting moments and events, but I wanted more of the in-between. Just when I felt we were approaching a significant moment in their story, the narrative would jump forward months or even years, and we would be told what happened rather than getting to experience it. I wanted to see these characters grow, interact, navigate their challenges, and develop their relationship on the page.
I never quite felt the chemistry between the two main characters or fully understood the depth of their connection and the pull they seemed to have toward one another throughout their lives. I wanted more conversations, more vulnerability, more insight into who they were individually and who they were together. Both characters also faced health challenges that sometimes felt like they were brushed aside until they suddenly became significant to the story.
Another storyline I thought had so much potential was the Polaroid taken at their first concert together, a 1977 Grateful Dead concert, and its eventual discovery in 2027 by someone on social media attempting to find the couple in the photograph. I loved this concept and thought it could have added such an interesting layer to the story, connecting their past to the present. However, it only seemed to surface a handful of times and was never developed in the way I hoped. Even toward the end, I wanted more of this storyline and a stronger sense of resolution. It felt like such an intriguing piece of the story that was introduced but never fully explored. I would have loved to see this thread woven more meaningfully throughout the book.
Interestingly, Robert was the character I found myself most drawn to. Even with the limited time we spent getting to know him, he made an impression, and I often found myself wanting to learn more about him.
Ultimately, I felt like this book had all the ingredients for a wonderful story, but I wanted more depth. There were plenty of snacks and dessert, but I was missing the meat of the story. I would happily have read another hundred pages if it meant more character development, more relationship building, and more opportunities to really get to know these people. The Polaroid storyline alone felt like another opportunity to add that depth.
One quote from the book that really stuck with me was:
“I think criticism of art is important, and necessary—when you share your work, public discourse about your work is part of the deal.”
I think that’s a fitting sentiment, and I hope this review comes across in the spirit in which it’s intended: as an honest reader’s response, not a dismissal of the author’s work.
I am genuinely disappointed that this one didn’t resonate with me the way I had hoped. I still have so much appreciation for Colleen Oakley as an author, and my love for her other books hasn’t changed. This simply wasn’t the story that worked for me. I know every book won’t connect with every reader, and I hope others find in it the story I was hoping to discover.
The story spans many years and weaves in recognizable names and major cultural events throughout the characters’ lives. At times, it reminded me a bit of Forrest Gump, with the characters seemingly connected to so many famous people and historical moments. While I enjoyed the idea of placing their story within the backdrop of these events, some of the connections felt a little far-fetched, particularly the level of fame and recognition surrounding a classical violinist in the popular music world. I understood his ambition and drive to be the best, but I struggled to find the level of celebrity surrounding him believable.
My biggest struggle, however, was the lack of character and relationship development. There were plenty of interesting moments and events, but I wanted more of the in-between. Just when I felt we were approaching a significant moment in their story, the narrative would jump forward months or even years, and we would be told what happened rather than getting to experience it. I wanted to see these characters grow, interact, navigate their challenges, and develop their relationship on the page.
I never quite felt the chemistry between the two main characters or fully understood the depth of their connection and the pull they seemed to have toward one another throughout their lives. I wanted more conversations, more vulnerability, more insight into who they were individually and who they were together. Both characters also faced health challenges that sometimes felt like they were brushed aside until they suddenly became significant to the story.
Another storyline I thought had so much potential was the Polaroid taken at their first concert together, a 1977 Grateful Dead concert, and its eventual discovery in 2027 by someone on social media attempting to find the couple in the photograph. I loved this concept and thought it could have added such an interesting layer to the story, connecting their past to the present. However, it only seemed to surface a handful of times and was never developed in the way I hoped. Even toward the end, I wanted more of this storyline and a stronger sense of resolution. It felt like such an intriguing piece of the story that was introduced but never fully explored. I would have loved to see this thread woven more meaningfully throughout the book.
Interestingly, Robert was the character I found myself most drawn to. Even with the limited time we spent getting to know him, he made an impression, and I often found myself wanting to learn more about him.
Ultimately, I felt like this book had all the ingredients for a wonderful story, but I wanted more depth. There were plenty of snacks and dessert, but I was missing the meat of the story. I would happily have read another hundred pages if it meant more character development, more relationship building, and more opportunities to really get to know these people. The Polaroid storyline alone felt like another opportunity to add that depth.
One quote from the book that really stuck with me was:
“I think criticism of art is important, and necessary—when you share your work, public discourse about your work is part of the deal.”
I think that’s a fitting sentiment, and I hope this review comes across in the spirit in which it’s intended: as an honest reader’s response, not a dismissal of the author’s work.
I am genuinely disappointed that this one didn’t resonate with me the way I had hoped. I still have so much appreciation for Colleen Oakley as an author, and my love for her other books hasn’t changed. This simply wasn’t the story that worked for me. I know every book won’t connect with every reader, and I hope others find in it the story I was hoping to discover.
October 18, 2026
NetGalley ARC Review: In Concert
What a beautiful story! I loved it!
There were so many aspects of In Concert that made this book stand out to me. First and foremost, I loved watching Han and Bee’s relationship evolve over time. Rather than feeling like a straightforward fairy-tale romance, their relationship felt complicated, authentic, and real. It wasn’t always a love story, and I really appreciated that. Their connection had so many layers, which made me invested in their journey.
I also loved that the story unfolded over several decades, weaving in iconic pop culture and music moments that made the book feel familiar, nostalgic, and fun. Music was such an integral part of the story, and I enjoyed how it brought another dimension to the characters and their relationship.
Romance readers are often familiar with tropes like friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, or forced proximity. What I appreciated about this book was how naturally the relationship developed without feeling like it was following an obvious formula. I also didn’t anticipate the direction of the plot, which is rare for me with romance novels! Instead of feeling like I was reading another predictable love story, I felt like I was along for the ride, genuinely curious about what would happen next.
The characters were another highlight. I loved their personalities, their complexities, and the way their relationship changed over time. The story beautifully captures the many sides of relationships, from love and connection to frustration and even hate.
Overall, In Concert is a beautiful, refreshing story that weaves together music, love, heartbreak, and the passage of time. With its music industry backdrop and a relationship that feels authentic rather than formulaic, it offers a fresh take on the romance genre. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend it to readers looking for a character-driven love story with depth, nostalgia, and a plot that keeps them guessing!
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
What a beautiful story! I loved it!
There were so many aspects of In Concert that made this book stand out to me. First and foremost, I loved watching Han and Bee’s relationship evolve over time. Rather than feeling like a straightforward fairy-tale romance, their relationship felt complicated, authentic, and real. It wasn’t always a love story, and I really appreciated that. Their connection had so many layers, which made me invested in their journey.
I also loved that the story unfolded over several decades, weaving in iconic pop culture and music moments that made the book feel familiar, nostalgic, and fun. Music was such an integral part of the story, and I enjoyed how it brought another dimension to the characters and their relationship.
Romance readers are often familiar with tropes like friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, or forced proximity. What I appreciated about this book was how naturally the relationship developed without feeling like it was following an obvious formula. I also didn’t anticipate the direction of the plot, which is rare for me with romance novels! Instead of feeling like I was reading another predictable love story, I felt like I was along for the ride, genuinely curious about what would happen next.
The characters were another highlight. I loved their personalities, their complexities, and the way their relationship changed over time. The story beautifully captures the many sides of relationships, from love and connection to frustration and even hate.
Overall, In Concert is a beautiful, refreshing story that weaves together music, love, heartbreak, and the passage of time. With its music industry backdrop and a relationship that feels authentic rather than formulaic, it offers a fresh take on the romance genre. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend it to readers looking for a character-driven love story with depth, nostalgia, and a plot that keeps them guessing!
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A generic, predictable love story that centers around music and lacks heart and chemistry.
When an old polaroid is found of a candid moment of a couple at a concert and posted to Reddit, it sparks a social media frenzy when one of the people in the photograph is identified as famed violinist, Ham Ford. The reader is then transported back to 1977 when the photo was taken, and told the love story of the couple in the photo, spanning decades.
This is my fourth Colleen Oakley novel, and the first that I have not found enjoyable. Whereas I have found her other novels laugh out loud funny and unique in their premise, this felt like her interpretation of Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones and the Six. The writing in this was often amateur and stilted. Examples: In chapter 2, "He offered her a tentative smile--and hers grew in return, slowly, until they were both beaming at each other, like two kids who'd just discovered their shared love of freeze tag on the playground." Chapter 4: "Their lives were like trains on two different tracks." Chapter 8: "He stood and paced the one-hundred-square-foot room like a lion in a cage." And in chapter 22 in a transcript from one of the 2027 TikTok vignettes: "To thicken the plot like my thighs..." I could go on with examples, but those were some of the stand outs for me.
Oakley also chose to include real life celebrities in this book. It felt like every chapter was littered with cameos ranging from Mariah Carey to Alicia Keys to Steven Spielberg. I laughed out loud (in a bad way) when an unknown talent named Whitney Houston was singing at Ham's church. This became a distraction throughout the novel, and added nothing to the story arc or Ham's celebrity.
A few times Oakley tried to tackle serious issues such as Ham being one of the only black musicians in the classical music space. She briefly details how Ham's dad pushed him and told him that he owed earlier black musicians who have paved the way for him, but this storyline did not seem like it dug deep enough or really said much of anything, with the exception of the Oprah scene. The same can be said for Bee's point that there is a misogyny in the music industry about women writing love songs and getting made fun of; whereas when men write love songs they are praised. Aside from the feature on Bee, this is a point that isn't really explored, but could have been thought provoking.
Most tragically for me as the reader is that I didn't like Ham or Bee. I understood Ham and his drive to be the best, but I never understood why he was so smitten with Bee aside from their initial meeting at the Grateful Dead concert. He also could be a self centered jerk, especially when it came to his relationships outside of Bee. As for Bee, she was a very underdeveloped, aimless character. I found her to be irresponsible, flighty, and immature. I'm assuming Oakley wrote Bee as this type of romantic that lucked into her career path as a song writer--with truly some of the most basic, trite lyrics I've ever read--to juxtapose Ham's composed, serious nature, but Bee was infuriating and never thought of long term outcomes to her hastily made decisions. It is hard to root for a couple when you think they lack chemistry, let alone when you don't particularly like either person.
I also feel like because this book spanned decades, a lot of the meat of the story happened off page and the reader was told about it in the next section. Ham and Bee's entire break up arc felt like it got cut on the editing room floor in favor of scenes to give celebrities cameos.
This was a miss for me, and I am hoping Colleen Oakley brings back her originality and candor for her next novel instead of attempting to write something trendy.
When an old polaroid is found of a candid moment of a couple at a concert and posted to Reddit, it sparks a social media frenzy when one of the people in the photograph is identified as famed violinist, Ham Ford. The reader is then transported back to 1977 when the photo was taken, and told the love story of the couple in the photo, spanning decades.
This is my fourth Colleen Oakley novel, and the first that I have not found enjoyable. Whereas I have found her other novels laugh out loud funny and unique in their premise, this felt like her interpretation of Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones and the Six. The writing in this was often amateur and stilted. Examples: In chapter 2, "He offered her a tentative smile--and hers grew in return, slowly, until they were both beaming at each other, like two kids who'd just discovered their shared love of freeze tag on the playground." Chapter 4: "Their lives were like trains on two different tracks." Chapter 8: "He stood and paced the one-hundred-square-foot room like a lion in a cage." And in chapter 22 in a transcript from one of the 2027 TikTok vignettes: "To thicken the plot like my thighs..." I could go on with examples, but those were some of the stand outs for me.
Oakley also chose to include real life celebrities in this book. It felt like every chapter was littered with cameos ranging from Mariah Carey to Alicia Keys to Steven Spielberg. I laughed out loud (in a bad way) when an unknown talent named Whitney Houston was singing at Ham's church. This became a distraction throughout the novel, and added nothing to the story arc or Ham's celebrity.
A few times Oakley tried to tackle serious issues such as Ham being one of the only black musicians in the classical music space. She briefly details how Ham's dad pushed him and told him that he owed earlier black musicians who have paved the way for him, but this storyline did not seem like it dug deep enough or really said much of anything, with the exception of the Oprah scene. The same can be said for Bee's point that there is a misogyny in the music industry about women writing love songs and getting made fun of; whereas when men write love songs they are praised. Aside from the feature on Bee, this is a point that isn't really explored, but could have been thought provoking.
Most tragically for me as the reader is that I didn't like Ham or Bee. I understood Ham and his drive to be the best, but I never understood why he was so smitten with Bee aside from their initial meeting at the Grateful Dead concert. He also could be a self centered jerk, especially when it came to his relationships outside of Bee. As for Bee, she was a very underdeveloped, aimless character. I found her to be irresponsible, flighty, and immature. I'm assuming Oakley wrote Bee as this type of romantic that lucked into her career path as a song writer--with truly some of the most basic, trite lyrics I've ever read--to juxtapose Ham's composed, serious nature, but Bee was infuriating and never thought of long term outcomes to her hastily made decisions. It is hard to root for a couple when you think they lack chemistry, let alone when you don't particularly like either person.
I also feel like because this book spanned decades, a lot of the meat of the story happened off page and the reader was told about it in the next section. Ham and Bee's entire break up arc felt like it got cut on the editing room floor in favor of scenes to give celebrities cameos.
This was a miss for me, and I am hoping Colleen Oakley brings back her originality and candor for her next novel instead of attempting to write something trendy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 stars. In Concert by Colleen Oakley was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really enjoyed the dual timelines, the decades-spanning love story, and the themes of unrequited love and losing your way. There’s something relating about following a relationship unfolding over the years, especially when timing and circumstances don’t always work in their favor.
Oakley’s writing is lovely, with beautiful prose that makes it easy to become immersed in the story and root for the characters. I enjoyed the journey, but there were a few things that kept me from fully connecting with the story.
I struggled with the constant celebrity name-dropping and the way Bee is credited with writing so many popular songs associated with real artists. With recognizable musicians, recordings, and music history woven throughout the story, I sometimes found it difficult to suspend my disbelief. Instead of making the fictional world feel more authentic, the blending of real music history with Bee's career occasionally felt contrived and distracting. I appreciated the intent behind the story but this fictional world just didn’t work for me.
While Bee had excellent character development, Ham felt a little underdeveloped and I was frustrated by his lack of progress. There was a twist about 2/3 through the book that I saw coming well in advance. I won’t spoil it, but I was hoping to be a little more surprised. Overall, I enjoyed the characters, the writing, and the emotional journey, even if some aspects didn’t quite work for me. I’m glad I read it, but it’s probably not a book I’d revisit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Oakley’s writing is lovely, with beautiful prose that makes it easy to become immersed in the story and root for the characters. I enjoyed the journey, but there were a few things that kept me from fully connecting with the story.
I struggled with the constant celebrity name-dropping and the way Bee is credited with writing so many popular songs associated with real artists. With recognizable musicians, recordings, and music history woven throughout the story, I sometimes found it difficult to suspend my disbelief. Instead of making the fictional world feel more authentic, the blending of real music history with Bee's career occasionally felt contrived and distracting. I appreciated the intent behind the story but this fictional world just didn’t work for me.
While Bee had excellent character development, Ham felt a little underdeveloped and I was frustrated by his lack of progress. There was a twist about 2/3 through the book that I saw coming well in advance. I won’t spoil it, but I was hoping to be a little more surprised. Overall, I enjoyed the characters, the writing, and the emotional journey, even if some aspects didn’t quite work for me. I’m glad I read it, but it’s probably not a book I’d revisit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 28, 2026
It all started with a picture going viral of a young couple at a concert back in 1977 at a Grateful Dead Concert. 50 years later, Vicki Humboldt from Vicki’s Vintage Treasures is trying to find the couple. Are they still together, or did they take their separate paths?
The story proceeds to tell the story of when Bee and Ham met at the Grateful Dead Concert and takes the reader on a journey of their lives. Will it last, or will their relationship be short-lived?
This dual-time story is a love letter to music, friendships, and those we love! A story that quickly draws you in, wanting to know the fate of Bee and Ham and if the Polaroid photo makes it back to them 50 years later. Be ready for a roller coaster of a ride. A fantastic read to take on vacation or to discuss at your next book club!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The story proceeds to tell the story of when Bee and Ham met at the Grateful Dead Concert and takes the reader on a journey of their lives. Will it last, or will their relationship be short-lived?
This dual-time story is a love letter to music, friendships, and those we love! A story that quickly draws you in, wanting to know the fate of Bee and Ham and if the Polaroid photo makes it back to them 50 years later. Be ready for a roller coaster of a ride. A fantastic read to take on vacation or to discuss at your next book club!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for letting me get an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
5/5 — stars
I have no doubt that In the Concert is going to be in the 2027 into to the blue. Not because they are alike, though they have that will they, won’t they dynamic for several years, but because it’s a masterpiece.
Ham and Bee have my heart.
I love all the references to the old days and the newer ones, like TikTok. It really felt like you were going through those decades with them.
It has yearning that lasts for decades, fun moments, letters to each other, and then the yearning all over again. Everything about this book was chef’s kiss.
I will recommend it to everyone who loves books, especially those who like books such as One Day at a Time and stories with yearning that spans decades, as well as the right person, wrong time trope.
5/5 — stars
I have no doubt that In the Concert is going to be in the 2027 into to the blue. Not because they are alike, though they have that will they, won’t they dynamic for several years, but because it’s a masterpiece.
Ham and Bee have my heart.
I love all the references to the old days and the newer ones, like TikTok. It really felt like you were going through those decades with them.
It has yearning that lasts for decades, fun moments, letters to each other, and then the yearning all over again. Everything about this book was chef’s kiss.
I will recommend it to everyone who loves books, especially those who like books such as One Day at a Time and stories with yearning that spans decades, as well as the right person, wrong time trope.
October 7, 2026
I see many reviewers calling this Oakley’s best book yet and while I can see where they are coming from, I personally prefer The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise. However, In Concert is not without its merits— I enjoyed the snippets of letters and articles as a storytelling device, AS WELL AS THE SETTING AS A JOURNEY THROUGH LITERAL DECADES OF MUSIC. At its core, In Concert is a story about how a chance (meeting) can change the entire course of your life. And if you think everything is over… it’s not. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel hopeful about the world/people, and the kind of book that makes the big giant world seem not so big she scary. I loved Bee and Ham and Kira.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Prepare for a ride along a wave of music and nostalgia with Oakley's newest novel about a love story that spans the decades. Ham is a professional violinist and Bee is a songwriter slash college professor in the current day, but they met long ago at a Grateful Dead concert that neither one wanted to attend. Through the years, they move apart and together, all to the background of rock music. And the cameos are WILD!
I loved this. LOVED. The cameos of famous musicians and events in the music industry felt a little like Forest Gump, to be honest, but not in a cheesy way. They were far enough between each mention that I had time to forget the last one, so I was surprised every time! When I finished the book, I read straight through the notes and acknowledgements, not wanting it to be over. I very rarely do that. I can't wait to get this one into the hands of readers. 😍
I loved this. LOVED. The cameos of famous musicians and events in the music industry felt a little like Forest Gump, to be honest, but not in a cheesy way. They were far enough between each mention that I had time to forget the last one, so I was surprised every time! When I finished the book, I read straight through the notes and acknowledgements, not wanting it to be over. I very rarely do that. I can't wait to get this one into the hands of readers. 😍
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing the copy of In Concert by Colleen Oakley. After reading the first chapter, I had high hopes for this book! I loved Bee and Ham, and the uniqueness of having them meet at a Grateful Dead concert was clever. As they grew up, I didn’t really like either one of them, and while they may have had incredible chemistry and been in love, they didn’t seem to like each other much. The writing was uneven; sometimes it sang, and other scenes were clunky and threw me right out of the story. There were many musicians, and it would have been nice to have some diversity, including in the musical genre. I understand it was supposed to relate to the title “In Concert", but it felt contrived. Still, the story was enjoyable, and because it was a romance, I kept wondering how they would get to their HEA. If you like an epic love story, you will adore this book. 3,5 stars rounded up to 4
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was just as hooked on figuring out the story behind the Polaroid as everyone in the book! I needed to know how all the pieces fit together. 🎸 I loved the vintage, music-soaked atmosphere, starting with a Grateful Dead concert and following Bee and Ham through years of music history, messy relationships, and all the ways life can change you. There’s something nostalgic and cinematic about the way their lives intertwined with the music of the times. If Mayluna and Daisy Jones & The Six are your kind of books, you need this one on your radar!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
OK, this is my new favorite book! I always love Colleen Oakley, and she strikes gold with her newest, In Concert, a lifelong love story of first love, heartbreak, ambition and regret. Spanning from the 1970's - the 2020's, this is a music lover's dream. SO many relevant cultural and musical references. Oakley doesn't just name drop; rather she cleverly weaves them into her story. The storytelling is also enhanced with sprinkles of musical reviews, celebrity news and gossip, letters and social media posts.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Read. I look forward to it coming out in print!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Read. I look forward to it coming out in print!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have loved everything Colleen has written but this is her best book to date and I absolutely loved every second of this story.
If you love music from the 70s-90s✅
If you love a story about undying love ✅
If you love a perfectly researched book✅
Preorder this one now…out on 2.9.27 and this one will be talked about!!!❤️❤️❤️
If you love music from the 70s-90s✅
If you love a story about undying love ✅
If you love a perfectly researched book✅
Preorder this one now…out on 2.9.27 and this one will be talked about!!!❤️❤️❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a sweeping story covering over six decades that is part love story, part nostalgia and part the power of music. I have so many highlighted sections of this book. While Bee and Ham are flawed, it was so easy to root for them despite everything going on with them. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2026
I knew it was coming, but I still read it anyway
Want to Read
September 1, 2026A new Colleen Oakley book in 2027?! I. Can't. Wait.
October 16, 2026
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, told in two perspectives and exploring how the events affected each character differently. Honestly, I think the idea of all of these iconic music moments happening to these two people is a little contrived and didn’t do anything for the plot, so I would have left that through-line out. They felt forced and gimmicky after the first one or two. I would have liked a little more from some supporting characters throughout the book—the main characters didn’t seem to interact with many people, and mostly just recalled what they had been told. The twists were good, and this was ultimately an enjoyable read. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance reader’s copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bee and Ham initially meet through happenstance. Even though their introduction is brief, it is indelibly part of their shared memories of the summer of 1977. A candid Polaroid is proof of the prelude of their on again/off again relationship which spans several decades. The connection with Bee and Ham is easy and comfortable. Even through the periods that they aren’t romantically involved, they are still a part of each other’s lives. The nostalgia throughout the book is evocative, and the author aptly describes the different cultural zeitgeist taking place in the story and pairing them with the music popular during these periods.
The story relies heavily on sentiment. The main characters long for each other, but are never quite able to connect due to being at different stations in life or careers. While I thought that the book was enjoyable, I never really cared for either Bee or Ham. There was nothing wrong with them, but nor was there anything particularly charismatic or endearing about their characters. I also didn’t really enjoy all of the music centric Easter eggs throughout the story. Once or twice is fine (pre-Wham! George Michael busking on the tube!), but to keep inserting these cameos got a little embarrassing and made the novel read more like fan-fiction.
I received an ARC courtesy of Berkeley Publishing. All opinions are my own.
The story relies heavily on sentiment. The main characters long for each other, but are never quite able to connect due to being at different stations in life or careers. While I thought that the book was enjoyable, I never really cared for either Bee or Ham. There was nothing wrong with them, but nor was there anything particularly charismatic or endearing about their characters. I also didn’t really enjoy all of the music centric Easter eggs throughout the story. Once or twice is fine (pre-Wham! George Michael busking on the tube!), but to keep inserting these cameos got a little embarrassing and made the novel read more like fan-fiction.
I received an ARC courtesy of Berkeley Publishing. All opinions are my own.
October 6, 2026
I have enjoyed Colleen Oakley's previous releases so I was excited to receive an ARC of this book. I had 35% left when I went to bed to read last night. I usually will read for 30-60 minutes before going to sleep. Well, I hit a part in the book at that time when I couldn't put In Concert down. I had to know the ending to Bee and Ham's story. So I stayed up way past my bedtime.
We follow Ham and Bee's story through their adult lives. Many close calls and near misses with a lot of miscommunication which I found frustrating at times but showed their humanness and flaws.
The Grateful Dead and the Live Aid concerts were the two music events that I thought added to the story. I thought that many of the other musical event references actually detracted from Ham and Bee's story. I found myself skimming over these parts which I found surprising since I love music. I would have loved more of Bee and Ham.
3.5 stars.
You know you. I would suggest checking trigger warnings.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
We follow Ham and Bee's story through their adult lives. Many close calls and near misses with a lot of miscommunication which I found frustrating at times but showed their humanness and flaws.
The Grateful Dead and the Live Aid concerts were the two music events that I thought added to the story. I thought that many of the other musical event references actually detracted from Ham and Bee's story. I found myself skimming over these parts which I found surprising since I love music. I would have loved more of Bee and Ham.
3.5 stars.
You know you. I would suggest checking trigger warnings.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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