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Cobalt Empire #2
Silver Sweet
Phoenix is a hot drummer with a bad attitude. Tom is a punk-rock singer who's too hard to impress. Two problem children of their bands have one shot at making it big in this M/M rockstar romance―if they don't burn it all down.
Tom Cobalt has been called a lot of things. Arrogant god. Overachiever. Demanding, uncooperative, jerk. It comes with the territory of being the fifth-born of a storied family. Not even his own punk-rock band can meet his high standards. So when every member of The Carraways quits on him before finishing an album, he's left with a bruised ego and a major dilemma.
Reviving his childhood dream comes down to one infuriating pair up with a hard-edged drummer or be dropped by his music label permanently.
Phoenix St. Pierre has enough baggage to ground every plane in New York City. He's volatile, sleep-deprived, and still carrying the fallout of imploding his own band. He should not be paired with Tom, the stuck-up trust-fund baby who pushes all his buttons―yet the second chance is impossible to walk away from.
Making music means too much to Phoenix and Tom to let this last shot slip through their fingers. But working together feels like a Shakespearean disaster ready to unfold. Especially when off-the-charts chemistry, undeniable attraction, and destructive habits threaten to make or break them.
It's nothing personal―but they just might be the best and worst thing that ever happened to each other.
Tom Cobalt has been called a lot of things. Arrogant god. Overachiever. Demanding, uncooperative, jerk. It comes with the territory of being the fifth-born of a storied family. Not even his own punk-rock band can meet his high standards. So when every member of The Carraways quits on him before finishing an album, he's left with a bruised ego and a major dilemma.
Reviving his childhood dream comes down to one infuriating pair up with a hard-edged drummer or be dropped by his music label permanently.
Phoenix St. Pierre has enough baggage to ground every plane in New York City. He's volatile, sleep-deprived, and still carrying the fallout of imploding his own band. He should not be paired with Tom, the stuck-up trust-fund baby who pushes all his buttons―yet the second chance is impossible to walk away from.
Making music means too much to Phoenix and Tom to let this last shot slip through their fingers. But working together feels like a Shakespearean disaster ready to unfold. Especially when off-the-charts chemistry, undeniable attraction, and destructive habits threaten to make or break them.
It's nothing personal―but they just might be the best and worst thing that ever happened to each other.
Audible Audio
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Krista Ritchie
49 books17.9k followersNYT & USA Today Bestselling Authors Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.
To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter
Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
Fans of Krista & Becca's Books:
♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group.
♥ Inspiration for the Addicted series can be found on their Pinterest boards.
♥ Find playlists for all of their books on Spotify
♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page.
To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter
Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
Fans of Krista & Becca's Books:
♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group.
♥ Inspiration for the Addicted series can be found on their Pinterest boards.
♥ Find playlists for all of their books on Spotify
♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 367 reviews
August 5, 2026
five million stars. 🥹💘😭🩷
review to come !!!!!!!
review to come !!!!!!!
future-read
September 6, 2025everyone talking about tom but i need this to be beckett and joanas book
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.25 stars
I love a good rockstar romance, and I love any and everything Krista & Becca Ritchie write, so it’s no surprise I was a fan of Silver Sweet! What started as an enemies-to-lovers romance turned into a beautiful friendship and so much more.
Tom Carraway, Cobalt, needs a drummer to make his band a success; the problem is he has incredibly high standards that no one can seem to meet. Enter Phoenix St. Clair. They butted heads at first, but ended up working so well together. They challenged each other and brought out the best in one another.
My favorite part of this book was seeing the interactions within the Cobalt family. Always so fun! I do wish we would have had more of my beloved Hales, though. I was hoping for more Luna since she’s so close to Tom. Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and can’t wait for the next in the series!
I love a good rockstar romance, and I love any and everything Krista & Becca Ritchie write, so it’s no surprise I was a fan of Silver Sweet! What started as an enemies-to-lovers romance turned into a beautiful friendship and so much more.
Tom Carraway, Cobalt, needs a drummer to make his band a success; the problem is he has incredibly high standards that no one can seem to meet. Enter Phoenix St. Clair. They butted heads at first, but ended up working so well together. They challenged each other and brought out the best in one another.
My favorite part of this book was seeing the interactions within the Cobalt family. Always so fun! I do wish we would have had more of my beloved Hales, though. I was hoping for more Luna since she’s so close to Tom. Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and can’t wait for the next in the series!
Want to Read
February 3, 20263.2.26 | yessss we finally have a cover!!! AND IT'S SO PRETTY, I'M FANGIRLING SO HARD RN IT'S ACTUALLY EMBARRASSING 🧎🏻♀️➡️
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19.11.25 | omggg it'sssss Tom’s book 😭 I can’t wait 🤸🏻
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19.11.25 | omggg it'sssss Tom’s book 😭 I can’t wait 🤸🏻
August 4, 2026
It’s always hard to express what this whole universe means to me. It’s like trying to describe what home feels like, what comfort means, and what it’s like to have a safe place you can always come back to. That’s exactly the struggle I’m facing while trying to write this review for *Silver Sweet*. It’s more than everything I wanted. More than everything I needed.
Tom Carraway Cobalt… How can I possibly describe what you mean to me, or how deeply I saw myself in you? The fears, the insecurities, but also the desire to become more. To become everything. To be a dreamer. Tom is all of us: the believers, the ones who know that pursuing a dream is more than an endless run, it’s a necessity. It’s what makes us breathe. It’s what makes us live. And it is, undoubtedly, what keeps us alive.
Tom is many things: a troublemaker, a dreamer, one hell of a singer. But above all else, he is the embodiment of wanting. Of longing. Of refusing to settle for anything less than the life he dreams of.
Silver Sweet is a perfect book. A masterpiece. And that isn’t only because of Cobalt number five. It’s because of Phoenix, too... Because he fought, he believed, and he gave every single piece of himself. This story works because these two souls find each other through a shared desire to become legendary. To become unforgettable. To become themselves.
And if you’ve ever wondered why I loved, breathed, and lived this book, it’s because of them.
Cobalt Empire, you are... everything.
The brothers. The dialogue. The sincerity. Everything we have ever loved about the Cobalt Empire can be found in this book. Silver Sweet is so much more than a story about two rock stars. It’s a story about loving life. Living life. And it’s the kind of story that makes you want to chase your own dream with every ounce of fierce determination you have inside you.
Silver Sweet is exactly that.
It is the dream we choose to chase and the one we finally catch.
Thank you, Krista and Becca, for once again making me fall in love with being alive.
11/20: IT IS TOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! NOT A DRILL. WE HAVE A TITLE
09/04:I need this to be Tom's book!!!! WITH RJ!! Like *NOW*
Tom Carraway Cobalt… How can I possibly describe what you mean to me, or how deeply I saw myself in you? The fears, the insecurities, but also the desire to become more. To become everything. To be a dreamer. Tom is all of us: the believers, the ones who know that pursuing a dream is more than an endless run, it’s a necessity. It’s what makes us breathe. It’s what makes us live. And it is, undoubtedly, what keeps us alive.
Tom is many things: a troublemaker, a dreamer, one hell of a singer. But above all else, he is the embodiment of wanting. Of longing. Of refusing to settle for anything less than the life he dreams of.
Silver Sweet is a perfect book. A masterpiece. And that isn’t only because of Cobalt number five. It’s because of Phoenix, too... Because he fought, he believed, and he gave every single piece of himself. This story works because these two souls find each other through a shared desire to become legendary. To become unforgettable. To become themselves.
And if you’ve ever wondered why I loved, breathed, and lived this book, it’s because of them.
Cobalt Empire, you are... everything.
The brothers. The dialogue. The sincerity. Everything we have ever loved about the Cobalt Empire can be found in this book. Silver Sweet is so much more than a story about two rock stars. It’s a story about loving life. Living life. And it’s the kind of story that makes you want to chase your own dream with every ounce of fierce determination you have inside you.
Silver Sweet is exactly that.
It is the dream we choose to chase and the one we finally catch.
Thank you, Krista and Becca, for once again making me fall in love with being alive.
11/20: IT IS TOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! NOT A DRILL. WE HAVE A TITLE
09/04:I need this to be Tom's book!!!! WITH RJ!! Like *NOW*
July 6, 2026
Hands down one of my favorite books from my favorite author duo, and my top read of the year!
Tom and Phoenix are thrust together to create a band as a last ditch effort to not be dropped by their label. It’s “dislike” at first sight, but it’s CLEAR that the chemistry between these two started from their first moment playing for each other. One of my favorite parts of Silver Sweet was (after they got through some growing pains) how well they worked together as a band duo. Their brand of music was the perfect backdrop to the increasing intensity and passion of their relationship.
We’ve known Tom as one of the Cobalts who loves creating chaos alongside his favorite brother, Eliot. However, nothing could’ve prepared me for how much of a romantic both Tom and Phoenix were! At their core, these were two people who wanted the kind of romance they write about, but never found until each other. Tom and Phoenix’s personalities seem so different from each other, but part of what made their romance work is that they made room for the other to just be themselves. We’ve all dealt with the feeling of being “too much” or “not enough”, but all it takes is the right person to create a safe space for you, and that was the core of what made these two work.
As usual - this author duo never fails to drive home the importance of family. The Cobalts value loyalty above all, and they never fail to be there for one another. Phoenix fit right in because his own close relationship with his brother was yet another way for him and Tom to understand each other on a deeper level.
Silver Sweet just reinforced why these authors are some of my favorite. Highly recommend because the intensity and beauty of this couple’s connection should be experienced by everyone!
Tom and Phoenix are thrust together to create a band as a last ditch effort to not be dropped by their label. It’s “dislike” at first sight, but it’s CLEAR that the chemistry between these two started from their first moment playing for each other. One of my favorite parts of Silver Sweet was (after they got through some growing pains) how well they worked together as a band duo. Their brand of music was the perfect backdrop to the increasing intensity and passion of their relationship.
We’ve known Tom as one of the Cobalts who loves creating chaos alongside his favorite brother, Eliot. However, nothing could’ve prepared me for how much of a romantic both Tom and Phoenix were! At their core, these were two people who wanted the kind of romance they write about, but never found until each other. Tom and Phoenix’s personalities seem so different from each other, but part of what made their romance work is that they made room for the other to just be themselves. We’ve all dealt with the feeling of being “too much” or “not enough”, but all it takes is the right person to create a safe space for you, and that was the core of what made these two work.
As usual - this author duo never fails to drive home the importance of family. The Cobalts value loyalty above all, and they never fail to be there for one another. Phoenix fit right in because his own close relationship with his brother was yet another way for him and Tom to understand each other on a deeper level.
Silver Sweet just reinforced why these authors are some of my favorite. Highly recommend because the intensity and beauty of this couple’s connection should be experienced by everyone!
Review of advance copy
Rock music isn’t the reason we’re in pain. It’s the reason we haven’t let our pain consume us.
The Ritchie sisters keep upping their game and their books are getting better and better 😭
We all know Tom as a harbinger of chaos. A troublemaker. He’s hilarious, and charming, with an ego that knows no bounds. He’s incredibly passionate, driven and ambitious. He masterfully conceals his insecurities and deep-rooted fear of failure, because he doesn’t want to be seen as weak. But it’s precisely this vulnerable side of him that made me love him more. The flaws that some point out in him - the perfectionism, the diva-like tendencies, the desire to always be the best - stem from his desire to live the life he’s always envisioned from himself.
Phoenix was a mystery to me, but the Ritchie sisters struck the perfect balance, providing us with enough information about him and his life without making the story feel overloaded with details. I feel as though I’ve know him for as long as I’ve known the Cobalts. Phoenix is a bleeding heart and, unlike Tom, he wears no masks. What you see is what you get. He’s unapologetically himself, and I love that about him.
Tom and Phoenix’s chemistry is off the charts! Their banter made me feel giddy 🤭 They have a lot in common, but they also balance each other out so well. Tom is pure energy and fire, with a mind that runs a mile a minute, but Phoenix always met him with patience and understanding, and fostered a quiet environment in which Tom felt at ease to expose his most vulnerable thoughts.
The family moments we get in this book gave me life. The bond between the Cobalt siblings is indestructible and they always have each other’s backs, no matter what happens. I can't go into any details, but there are so many memorable moments in Silver Sweet between the cobalt siblings, and also between Phoenix and his brother Birdie. I loved that Tom and Phoenix, besides all the other similarities they share, also had this in common - a deep love for their siblings, a desire to carry all their burdens, and make their world better. 🤍
Silver Sweet is a beautiful homage to music and the art of creating something that fuels the fire in your soul. It’s a book for dreamers, for those who work hard to make their dreams come true, and for those who wish to leave their mark on the world. It’s a love story between two souls who find magic in their union - a love built on a shared passion. The Ritchie sisters always manage to evoke every emotion out of me, and I’m in constant awe of them and their work. This book is a true work of art and, just like any great song, it left me feeling like I’d experienced something divine.
Silver Sweet is a melody that doesn’t leave your head, but one you don’t mind being haunted by.
Thank you Valentine & Krista and Becca Ritchie for the arc 💜
🦁🎧
I suffer from the extreme inability to quit on myself—even when people quit on me. I’m more afraid of my dream decaying into nothingness than I am of what I might do to keep it alive.
“Because nothing in life has hurt more than a broken dream. It’s like putting shattered glass under my pillow every time I try to sleep. I’m sick of bleeding out.”
I’m staring at him like he’s a dream. He feels like my dream. The one I’ve been clawing to hang on to my whole life.
His voice is blood-pumping, soul-smashing. Destructive power. A blizzard hurting to be a firestorm. I have trouble not staring at Tom when he emotes with the same intensity as the bleeding noise pouring out of him. It’s hypnotic. He’s hypnotic.
“I want to sleep with the guy who shared his fears with me in his bedroom. I want the guy who can get scared and nervous. I don’t want to sleep with steel and iron that can’t hurt. I want to be with flesh and bone that can. I just want you, Tom, and you’re so fucking far from being weak. You’re just human to me. You’ve been human.”
That’s the thing about Tom—he makes me believe we can do anything. That nothing has ever been out of reach.
We crawled and clawed and rose together. I want to keep rising with him. I want our feet to never touch the ground. Unless we need to humble ourselves, then I will repeat this crawl off the dirt with him again and again. I have no doubt we’ll always kiss the sky. It’s what we’re destined to do.
The Ritchie sisters keep upping their game and their books are getting better and better 😭
We all know Tom as a harbinger of chaos. A troublemaker. He’s hilarious, and charming, with an ego that knows no bounds. He’s incredibly passionate, driven and ambitious. He masterfully conceals his insecurities and deep-rooted fear of failure, because he doesn’t want to be seen as weak. But it’s precisely this vulnerable side of him that made me love him more. The flaws that some point out in him - the perfectionism, the diva-like tendencies, the desire to always be the best - stem from his desire to live the life he’s always envisioned from himself.
Phoenix was a mystery to me, but the Ritchie sisters struck the perfect balance, providing us with enough information about him and his life without making the story feel overloaded with details. I feel as though I’ve know him for as long as I’ve known the Cobalts. Phoenix is a bleeding heart and, unlike Tom, he wears no masks. What you see is what you get. He’s unapologetically himself, and I love that about him.
Tom and Phoenix’s chemistry is off the charts! Their banter made me feel giddy 🤭 They have a lot in common, but they also balance each other out so well. Tom is pure energy and fire, with a mind that runs a mile a minute, but Phoenix always met him with patience and understanding, and fostered a quiet environment in which Tom felt at ease to expose his most vulnerable thoughts.
The family moments we get in this book gave me life. The bond between the Cobalt siblings is indestructible and they always have each other’s backs, no matter what happens. I can't go into any details, but there are so many memorable moments in Silver Sweet between the cobalt siblings, and also between Phoenix and his brother Birdie. I loved that Tom and Phoenix, besides all the other similarities they share, also had this in common - a deep love for their siblings, a desire to carry all their burdens, and make their world better. 🤍
Silver Sweet is a beautiful homage to music and the art of creating something that fuels the fire in your soul. It’s a book for dreamers, for those who work hard to make their dreams come true, and for those who wish to leave their mark on the world. It’s a love story between two souls who find magic in their union - a love built on a shared passion. The Ritchie sisters always manage to evoke every emotion out of me, and I’m in constant awe of them and their work. This book is a true work of art and, just like any great song, it left me feeling like I’d experienced something divine.
Silver Sweet is a melody that doesn’t leave your head, but one you don’t mind being haunted by.
Thank you Valentine & Krista and Becca Ritchie for the arc 💜
🦁🎧
I suffer from the extreme inability to quit on myself—even when people quit on me. I’m more afraid of my dream decaying into nothingness than I am of what I might do to keep it alive.
“Because nothing in life has hurt more than a broken dream. It’s like putting shattered glass under my pillow every time I try to sleep. I’m sick of bleeding out.”
I’m staring at him like he’s a dream. He feels like my dream. The one I’ve been clawing to hang on to my whole life.
His voice is blood-pumping, soul-smashing. Destructive power. A blizzard hurting to be a firestorm. I have trouble not staring at Tom when he emotes with the same intensity as the bleeding noise pouring out of him. It’s hypnotic. He’s hypnotic.
“I want to sleep with the guy who shared his fears with me in his bedroom. I want the guy who can get scared and nervous. I don’t want to sleep with steel and iron that can’t hurt. I want to be with flesh and bone that can. I just want you, Tom, and you’re so fucking far from being weak. You’re just human to me. You’ve been human.”
That’s the thing about Tom—he makes me believe we can do anything. That nothing has ever been out of reach.
We crawled and clawed and rose together. I want to keep rising with him. I want our feet to never touch the ground. Unless we need to humble ourselves, then I will repeat this crawl off the dirt with him again and again. I have no doubt we’ll always kiss the sky. It’s what we’re destined to do.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Whatever drugs they were on when they wrote this, I will personally supply them while they write books 4-6. Full review to come.
Update: IT’S TOM!!!
I need this book to be for Eliot or Tom so badly.
Update: IT’S TOM!!!
I need this book to be for Eliot or Tom so badly.
August 3, 2026
Let me start off by saying that if it weren’t for Charlie Keating Cobalt, I would’ve stopped reading this series at Some Kind of Perfect because I simply don’t….. care about anyone else all that much. He’s carrying this series on his mfing BACK, and I’m here to help him hold the weight okay 😭 I don’t care how mean he gets, how cruel he can be, he’s always going to be my favorite character in this whole made up universe right next to Loren hale. No apologies or excuses fabricated.
I’ll start off with what I enjoyed. Tom and phoenix’s heated back and forth in the first quarter of this book was hilaaaaarious. They were so quick with the comebacks, I loved reading that. Tom’s point of view is an absolute delight. He’s so funny and very very hard to hate. Being in his head is a good time, it’s like living in that one meme where everything is sunshine and rainbows.
I know I said I loved Tom and phoenix’s banter at the start, but once they started liking eachother I just… lost interest. I didn’t care about their romance or one on one interactions with eachother. It wasn’t bad I just was not into it. And I skipped all the spice in this book because good god it was bad. I think this is an issue I have with all of kbr’s spice though. I’ve just never enjoyed the way they write it, I grimace every single time.
I enjoy reading about Beckett and Eliot, but not to the point where I’m anticipating their appearance on page. I could do without them. Charlie though? You would think I’m reading his book with the way I’m only thinking of him when I read. He’s just everything to me.
Now Charlie has many fans but a lot of readers also hate him. He’s mean, blunt, cruel, nasty, sharp. All that and more. But if you understand his character then you understand that he is a masochist. He’s venomous with the intention of being bitten right back. the whole point is he’s trying to provoke people into hurting him back and ten times harder. For him, pain is a good distraction from his mind. He utilizes it as a coping mechanism. Of course, it’s not an excuse to be rude, but that’s the explanation. I’ll always love the mean characters. I just naturally gravitate toward them even though I don’t personally relate to them, because I’m not like that myself. But that doesn’t mean I don’t understand them because I do, sooooo much. Charlie is either a character you love or hate, no in between. Me personally I’ve been a fan since the start and I don’t caaaaare.
This book gives readers a glimpse into Birdie’s personality, who is Audrey’s love interest. All I’ll say is, these two are verrrrrrrry different. It’s not even a case of opposites attract, more so me wondering exactly hoooow… it’s going to work? They’re from two different worlds lol. And I don’t know if I like the idea of them together… I guess I wasn’t expecting someone like birdie for Audrey, at all.
Also Audrey constantly talking like a Victorian child babe come on 😭 you grew up in Philly why are you talking like a posh Brit. I can’t take it serious lol. She’s sweet though, and I felt sad for her when she said she’s lonely. You know Doja cat in agora hills when she says “it’s so lonely in my mansion” that’s Audrey in this book looooooool. Also this girl graduated highschool early but her romance plot is going to revolve around her needing a tutor and that tutor being birdie? Why would an early highschool graduate need a tutor?? I guess I’ll see how that pans out in their book…
Now all in all, if you’re a great fan of the cobalts and Tom, I think you’ll love this. The writing is actually good, nothing like the like us series (which was bad bad BAD). If you like rockstars that go on tour, you’ll love this.
Me personally, I’m too attached to Charlie to ever quit this series. I’ve gotta see every book through for him and Roxanne (his love interest) who I also think is soooo cute. I can’t wait for more cameos of her. She only had one scene but it delivered. And I can’t wait to see what dynamic her and Charlie develop 👀 I know it’ll be good.
I’ll start off with what I enjoyed. Tom and phoenix’s heated back and forth in the first quarter of this book was hilaaaaarious. They were so quick with the comebacks, I loved reading that. Tom’s point of view is an absolute delight. He’s so funny and very very hard to hate. Being in his head is a good time, it’s like living in that one meme where everything is sunshine and rainbows.
I know I said I loved Tom and phoenix’s banter at the start, but once they started liking eachother I just… lost interest. I didn’t care about their romance or one on one interactions with eachother. It wasn’t bad I just was not into it. And I skipped all the spice in this book because good god it was bad. I think this is an issue I have with all of kbr’s spice though. I’ve just never enjoyed the way they write it, I grimace every single time.
I enjoy reading about Beckett and Eliot, but not to the point where I’m anticipating their appearance on page. I could do without them. Charlie though? You would think I’m reading his book with the way I’m only thinking of him when I read. He’s just everything to me.
Now Charlie has many fans but a lot of readers also hate him. He’s mean, blunt, cruel, nasty, sharp. All that and more. But if you understand his character then you understand that he is a masochist. He’s venomous with the intention of being bitten right back. the whole point is he’s trying to provoke people into hurting him back and ten times harder. For him, pain is a good distraction from his mind. He utilizes it as a coping mechanism. Of course, it’s not an excuse to be rude, but that’s the explanation. I’ll always love the mean characters. I just naturally gravitate toward them even though I don’t personally relate to them, because I’m not like that myself. But that doesn’t mean I don’t understand them because I do, sooooo much. Charlie is either a character you love or hate, no in between. Me personally I’ve been a fan since the start and I don’t caaaaare.
This book gives readers a glimpse into Birdie’s personality, who is Audrey’s love interest. All I’ll say is, these two are verrrrrrrry different. It’s not even a case of opposites attract, more so me wondering exactly hoooow… it’s going to work? They’re from two different worlds lol. And I don’t know if I like the idea of them together… I guess I wasn’t expecting someone like birdie for Audrey, at all.
Also Audrey constantly talking like a Victorian child babe come on 😭 you grew up in Philly why are you talking like a posh Brit. I can’t take it serious lol. She’s sweet though, and I felt sad for her when she said she’s lonely. You know Doja cat in agora hills when she says “it’s so lonely in my mansion” that’s Audrey in this book looooooool. Also this girl graduated highschool early but her romance plot is going to revolve around her needing a tutor and that tutor being birdie? Why would an early highschool graduate need a tutor?? I guess I’ll see how that pans out in their book…
Now all in all, if you’re a great fan of the cobalts and Tom, I think you’ll love this. The writing is actually good, nothing like the like us series (which was bad bad BAD). If you like rockstars that go on tour, you’ll love this.
Me personally, I’m too attached to Charlie to ever quit this series. I’ve gotta see every book through for him and Roxanne (his love interest) who I also think is soooo cute. I can’t wait for more cameos of her. She only had one scene but it delivered. And I can’t wait to see what dynamic her and Charlie develop 👀 I know it’ll be good.
Review of advance copy received from Author
˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .
i literally missed the cobalts sm and i'm so glad to be back!! also the banter between the two of them was top tier!! loved their back and forth sm, and like phoenix calling tom a nepo baby lol
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• tom cobalt
i loved going into his head and seeing more of him and how much he cares for ben. also the reason for him letting birdie in the band was so funny but valid for tom?? also the fact that he wrote a letter showing his love to phoenix's parents??? like hello?
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• phoenix st.pierre
i loved how he was lwk like ryke and speaks fluent french but decided not to tell charlie & beckett when they were talking about him lol.. loved he's so protective of tom and is always there for him!
anyways they're just soo cute together! and omgg the cameos of everyone?? i was defo eating them up like no tomorrow..
also loved that we got to know more about birdie who's the love interest for LL. there's one thing that happened on the tour bus that literally broke my fucking heart for him.. anyways cant wait for his & audrey's book!!
⤷ thank you to the authors, krista & becca ritche, and team kbr for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
01/08/2026 — omggg i just finished it!! and lemme just say that it was absolutely fantastic! literally picking up the ben & harriet crumbs up like no tomorrow!! anyways,, i need to go stare at a wall... full rtc!!!
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
THE WAY I HAVE THE ARC IN MY HANDS??!!! KBR I ADORE YOU!!! y'all be prepared cuz i'm about to get so annoying & insufferable the second i finish this 🙂↕️
i literally missed the cobalts sm and i'm so glad to be back!! also the banter between the two of them was top tier!! loved their back and forth sm, and like phoenix calling tom a nepo baby lol
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• tom cobalt
i loved going into his head and seeing more of him and how much he cares for ben. also the reason for him letting birdie in the band was so funny but valid for tom?? also the fact that he wrote a letter showing his love to phoenix's parents??? like hello?
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• phoenix st.pierre
i loved how he was lwk like ryke and speaks fluent french but decided not to tell charlie & beckett when they were talking about him lol.. loved he's so protective of tom and is always there for him!
anyways they're just soo cute together! and omgg the cameos of everyone?? i was defo eating them up like no tomorrow..
also loved that we got to know more about birdie who's the love interest for LL. there's one thing that happened on the tour bus that literally broke my fucking heart for him.. anyways cant wait for his & audrey's book!!
⤷ thank you to the authors, krista & becca ritche, and team kbr for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
01/08/2026 — omggg i just finished it!! and lemme just say that it was absolutely fantastic! literally picking up the ben & harriet crumbs up like no tomorrow!! anyways,, i need to go stare at a wall... full rtc!!!
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
THE WAY I HAVE THE ARC IN MY HANDS??!!! KBR I ADORE YOU!!! y'all be prepared cuz i'm about to get so annoying & insufferable the second i finish this 🙂↕️
June 27, 2026
Thank you to Krista and Becca Ritchie for an advanced readers copy.
5 ⭐️ (I would give it more if I could)
Reading Silver Sweet felt like coming home after a very long time (the wait for the book after reading Burn Bright felt excruciating). It was my most anticipated reads of 2026 and I felt so honored reading the ARC, thanks to the authors themselves.
Silver Sweet is book two in the interconnected series “Cobalt Empire” and follows the story of Tom Cobalt, the fifth-born and the punk rock singer, and Phoenix St. Pierre, the drummer with attitude issues. Tom built his band “The Carraways” when he was only fourteen and now he’s twenty one (going on twenty two) when every single member of his band member quits on him because of his high standards, which also includes having a perfect drummer. Phoenix, at twenty four, is going through a lot of things, he’s hard on edges, not getting enough sleep and trying to not sink deep down in his guilt for imploding his previous band. Both of them are the trouble children of their bands in their own ways and after being given an ultimatum by their label and agent, they only have one shot of making their dream come true.
𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐭: Tom was chaotic in the best ways possible, I was laughing at everything that came out of his mouth and was genuinely surprised that he could be this unhinged. He was hyper focused on making his dream come true (aka making music that everyone would listen) and his determination and grit was one of the best things of reading this book. He had one of the best character growths ever.
𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐱 𝐒𝐭. 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞: Phoenix is now one the best characters written by Krista and Becca Ritchie and I love him sooooo much (more than Tom). He was perfect in every sense of the word and everything about him makes me giddy and happy.
𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐱: Phoenix was the perfect amount of calm to Tom’s chaos. Their chemistry was off the charts and their banter had me rolling and kicking my feet. Them together genuinely make the perfect couple and their determination on making the best music was everything.
Silver Sweet also had the best family moments, whether it was the Cobalt siblings or the St. Pierre brothers, it felt heartwarming reading about the love shown by their families (in their own ways).
I loved everything about this book, the characters, the storyline, the side characters, the pacing, everything was perfect. Genuinely my best read of 2026.
“It is my soul that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!”
- Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare.
5 ⭐️ (I would give it more if I could)
Reading Silver Sweet felt like coming home after a very long time (the wait for the book after reading Burn Bright felt excruciating). It was my most anticipated reads of 2026 and I felt so honored reading the ARC, thanks to the authors themselves.
Silver Sweet is book two in the interconnected series “Cobalt Empire” and follows the story of Tom Cobalt, the fifth-born and the punk rock singer, and Phoenix St. Pierre, the drummer with attitude issues. Tom built his band “The Carraways” when he was only fourteen and now he’s twenty one (going on twenty two) when every single member of his band member quits on him because of his high standards, which also includes having a perfect drummer. Phoenix, at twenty four, is going through a lot of things, he’s hard on edges, not getting enough sleep and trying to not sink deep down in his guilt for imploding his previous band. Both of them are the trouble children of their bands in their own ways and after being given an ultimatum by their label and agent, they only have one shot of making their dream come true.
𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐭: Tom was chaotic in the best ways possible, I was laughing at everything that came out of his mouth and was genuinely surprised that he could be this unhinged. He was hyper focused on making his dream come true (aka making music that everyone would listen) and his determination and grit was one of the best things of reading this book. He had one of the best character growths ever.
𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐱 𝐒𝐭. 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞: Phoenix is now one the best characters written by Krista and Becca Ritchie and I love him sooooo much (more than Tom). He was perfect in every sense of the word and everything about him makes me giddy and happy.
𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐱: Phoenix was the perfect amount of calm to Tom’s chaos. Their chemistry was off the charts and their banter had me rolling and kicking my feet. Them together genuinely make the perfect couple and their determination on making the best music was everything.
Silver Sweet also had the best family moments, whether it was the Cobalt siblings or the St. Pierre brothers, it felt heartwarming reading about the love shown by their families (in their own ways).
I loved everything about this book, the characters, the storyline, the side characters, the pacing, everything was perfect. Genuinely my best read of 2026.
“It is my soul that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!”
- Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare.
August 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, Krista and Becca Ritchie can do no wrong amd this book is just another reason why I love everything they write. So so good!
Phoenix might actually be my favorite MMC from all their series! He is kind and protective, but also so so jealous and he is perfect for Tom. The way he fell fast and hard for Tom was perfect.
Tom just made me want to fight for what I want so much harder and I loved him.
The way kbr writes family dynamics is perfection! I loved every single cameo and every single crumb that we got for the future books.
After the Sneak Peak of Loathed Love I'm so so excited and cannot wait to read it.
Honestly, Krista and Becca Ritchie can do no wrong amd this book is just another reason why I love everything they write. So so good!
Phoenix might actually be my favorite MMC from all their series! He is kind and protective, but also so so jealous and he is perfect for Tom. The way he fell fast and hard for Tom was perfect.
Tom just made me want to fight for what I want so much harder and I loved him.
The way kbr writes family dynamics is perfection! I loved every single cameo and every single crumb that we got for the future books.
After the Sneak Peak of Loathed Love I'm so so excited and cannot wait to read it.
Review of advance copy
July 26, 2026TOMPHOENIX I WON!! Literally my most anticipated book of the year they are going to be so good AUGUST 4th CONE QUICK
I have been awaiting this series forever.
so excited !!!!
I have been awaiting this series forever.
so excited !!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Let me start off by saying that if it weren’t for Charlie Keating Cobalt, I would’ve stopped reading this series at Some Kind of Perfect because I simply don’t….. care about anyone else all that much. He’s carrying this series on his mfing BACK, and I’m here to help him hold the weight okay 😭 I don’t care how mean he gets, how cruel he can be, he’s always going to be my favorite character in this whole made up universe right next to Loren hale. No apologies or excuses fabricated.
I’ll start off with what I enjoyed. Tom and phoenix’s heated back and forth in the first quarter of this book was hilaaaaarious. They were so quick with the comebacks, I loved reading that. Tom’s point of view is an absolute delight. He’s so funny and very very hard to hate. Being in his head is a good time, it’s like living in that one meme where everything is sunshine and rainbows.
I know I said I loved Tom and phoenix’s banter at the start, but once they started liking eachother I just… lost interest. I didn’t care about their romance or one on one interactions with eachother. It wasn’t bad I just was not into it. And I skipped all the spice in this book because good god it was bad. I think this is an issue I have with all of kbr’s spice though. I’ve just never enjoyed the way they write it, I grimace every single time.
I enjoy reading about Beckett and Eliot, but not to the point where I’m anticipating their appearance on page. I could do without them. Charlie though? You would think I’m reading his book with the way I’m only thinking of him when I read. He’s just everything to me.
Now Charlie has many fans but a lot of readers also hate him. He’s mean, blunt, cruel, nasty, sharp. All that and more. But if you understand his character then you understand that he is a masochist. He’s venomous with the intention of being bitten right back. the whole point is he’s trying to provoke people into hurting him back and ten times harder. For him, pain is a good distraction from his mind. He utilizes it as a coping mechanism. Of course, it’s not an excuse to be rude, but that’s the explanation. I’ll always love the mean characters. I just naturally gravitate toward them even though I don’t personally relate to them, because I’m not like that myself. But that doesn’t mean I don’t understand them because I do, sooooo much. Charlie is either a character you love or hate, no in between. Me personally I’ve been a fan since the start and I don’t caaaaare.
This book gives readers a glimpse into Birdie’s personality, who is Audrey’s love interest. All I’ll say is, these two are verrrrrrrry different. It’s not even a case of opposites attract, more so me wondering exactly hoooow… it’s going to work? They’re from two different worlds lol. And I don’t know if I like the idea of them together… I guess I wasn’t expecting someone like birdie for Audrey, at all.
Also Audrey constantly talking like a Victorian child babe come on 😭 you grew up in Philly why are you talking like a posh Brit. I can’t take it serious lol. She’s sweet though, and I felt sad for her when she said she’s lonely. You know Doja cat in agora hills when she says “it’s so lonely in my mansion” that’s Audrey in this book looooooool. Also this girl graduated highschool early but her romance plot is going to revolve around her needing a tutor and that tutor being birdie? Why would an early highschool graduate need a tutor?? I guess I’ll see how that pans out in their book…
Now all in all, if you’re a great fan of the cobalts and Tom, I think you’ll love this. The writing is actually good, nothing like the like us series (which was bad bad BAD). If you like rockstars that go on tour, you’ll love this.
Me personally, I’m too attached to Charlie to ever quit this series. I’ve gotta see every book through for him and Roxanne (his love interest) who I also think is soooo cute. I can’t wait for more cameos of her. She only had one scene but it delivered. And I can’t wait to see what dynamic her and Charlie develop 👀 I know it’ll be good.
I’ll start off with what I enjoyed. Tom and phoenix’s heated back and forth in the first quarter of this book was hilaaaaarious. They were so quick with the comebacks, I loved reading that. Tom’s point of view is an absolute delight. He’s so funny and very very hard to hate. Being in his head is a good time, it’s like living in that one meme where everything is sunshine and rainbows.
I know I said I loved Tom and phoenix’s banter at the start, but once they started liking eachother I just… lost interest. I didn’t care about their romance or one on one interactions with eachother. It wasn’t bad I just was not into it. And I skipped all the spice in this book because good god it was bad. I think this is an issue I have with all of kbr’s spice though. I’ve just never enjoyed the way they write it, I grimace every single time.
I enjoy reading about Beckett and Eliot, but not to the point where I’m anticipating their appearance on page. I could do without them. Charlie though? You would think I’m reading his book with the way I’m only thinking of him when I read. He’s just everything to me.
Now Charlie has many fans but a lot of readers also hate him. He’s mean, blunt, cruel, nasty, sharp. All that and more. But if you understand his character then you understand that he is a masochist. He’s venomous with the intention of being bitten right back. the whole point is he’s trying to provoke people into hurting him back and ten times harder. For him, pain is a good distraction from his mind. He utilizes it as a coping mechanism. Of course, it’s not an excuse to be rude, but that’s the explanation. I’ll always love the mean characters. I just naturally gravitate toward them even though I don’t personally relate to them, because I’m not like that myself. But that doesn’t mean I don’t understand them because I do, sooooo much. Charlie is either a character you love or hate, no in between. Me personally I’ve been a fan since the start and I don’t caaaaare.
This book gives readers a glimpse into Birdie’s personality, who is Audrey’s love interest. All I’ll say is, these two are verrrrrrrry different. It’s not even a case of opposites attract, more so me wondering exactly hoooow… it’s going to work? They’re from two different worlds lol. And I don’t know if I like the idea of them together… I guess I wasn’t expecting someone like birdie for Audrey, at all.
Also Audrey constantly talking like a Victorian child babe come on 😭 you grew up in Philly why are you talking like a posh Brit. I can’t take it serious lol. She’s sweet though, and I felt sad for her when she said she’s lonely. You know Doja cat in agora hills when she says “it’s so lonely in my mansion” that’s Audrey in this book looooooool. Also this girl graduated highschool early but her romance plot is going to revolve around her needing a tutor and that tutor being birdie? Why would an early highschool graduate need a tutor?? I guess I’ll see how that pans out in their book…
Now all in all, if you’re a great fan of the cobalts and Tom, I think you’ll love this. The writing is actually good, nothing like the like us series (which was bad bad BAD). If you like rockstars that go on tour, you’ll love this.
Me personally, I’m too attached to Charlie to ever quit this series. I’ve gotta see every book through for him and Roxanne (his love interest) who I also think is soooo cute. I can’t wait for more cameos of her. She only had one scene but it delivered. And I can’t wait to see what dynamic her and Charlie develop 👀 I know it’ll be good.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have been following Krista and Becca Ritchie for over two and a half years now, and I always look forward to their every release with great anticipation.
The universe and the characters created by these authors, in fact, have now become an integral and fundamental part of my life, and every time I read one of their books, I cannot help but feel at home.
"Silver Sweet" is the second volume of the "Cobalt Empire" series and features Tom, one of the youngest members of the family, as the protagonist.
Tom has always been my favorite Cobalt. I don't know if reading the upcoming volumes someone else will take his place (something tells me Eliot and Beckett might), but "Silver Sweet" has been, at least until today, the title in the series I was most anxious to read.
Ever since the "Like Us" series, Tom gave me the impression of having a huge heart, and his comments always amused me so much, but I knew that deep down, he hid some vulnerabilities too. In "Silver Sweet," what comes to light is not just his dreamer's soul, but also the massive affection he feels for his family, the crisis he is thrown into by the mere thought of being alone, and the fear of not being enough for his siblings.
I appreciated every side of him; I found him wonderful. His quirky reasoning not only made me laugh from the heart, but it also reminded me of Moffy, making me feel a certain nostalgia.
Phoenix was a revelation. He is a character who on the surface might seem antisocial, but who in reality always cares about the people around him. Phoenix not only loves his brother to pieces, but he takes care of Tom from the very first moment and, when he meets the rest of the Cobalts, he is ready to rush to their aid as well.
The relationship between Tom and Phoenix is characterized from the beginning by a strong physical attraction that the two are determined to resist so as not to destroy the band. Obviously, however, spending so much time together writing songs and creating new melodies inevitably leads them to open up to each other, sharing not only life stories but also very emotional moments.
The interactions between Tom and Phoenix, the nights spent in each other's apartments, were one of the things I loved most about this book. Tom deserved this kind of love, and I am truly happy he managed to find it.
As usual, when speaking of a work by Krista and Becca Ritchie, you simply cannot leave out the relationship between siblings, and in "Silver Sweet" as well, the Cobalts proved they love each other unconditionally. I think the one who surprised me most of all was Beckett, who really took on the role of the "older brother" in this volume. I found his moments with Tom uniquely delicate, and I truly cannot wait to read his book.
Phoenix and Birdie made me emotional too, and knowing that the latter will be the protagonist of the next volume makes me really happy, precisely because I need to see them interact again.
A special mention also goes to Audrey, who was fantastic in this book.
In conclusion, "Silver Sweet" is a novel that meant so much to me. It made me laugh, cry, and feel emotions I wouldn't even know how to describe. I won't deny that I missed the Hales and the Meadowses a little, but I realize that by now the characters are truly so many, and I hope we will still get a chance to see them again in one of the upcoming volumes.
I hope the months separating us from Loathed Love pass quickly.
Thank you to Valentine PR, Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie, and the publisher for sending me an advance digital copy of the book.
Recensione in italiano:
Ormai sono più di due anni e mezzo che seguo Krista e Becca Ritchie e aspetto sempre con trepidazione ogni loro uscita.
L'universo e i personaggi creati da queste autrici, infatti, sono ormai una parte integrante e fondamentale della mia vita e ogni volta che leggo un loro libro non posso che sentirmi a casa.
"Silver Sweet" è il secondo volume della "Cobalt Empire" e ha per protagonista Tom, uno dei componenti più giovani della famiglia.
Tom ha un sogno, quello di portare la sua band, i Carraways, all'apice del successo. Peccato che non riesca proprio a trovare un batterista che soddisfi le sue aspettative.
Phoenix St. Pierre ha sempre lavorato con la musica, e da quando la sua band è implosa a causa sua ha deciso di accantonare la sua vocazione e di limitarsi a scrivere canzoni.
Sarà l'incontro con Tom, però, a fargli cambiare idea, perché se c'è qualcosa che conta davvero per Phoenix è proprio la musica e sa che i Carraways sono l'ultima possibilità che ha per tornare a sognare.
Tom è sempre stato il mio Cobalt preferito, non so se leggendo i prossimi volumi qualcun altro prenderà il suo posto (qualcosa mi dice che Eliot e Beckett potrebbero) ma "Silver Sweet" è stato, almeno fino ad oggi, il titolo della serie che ho atteso con più ansia.
Tom mi ha dato fin dai tempi della "Like Us" l'impressione di avere un cuore enorme e i suoi commenti mi hanno sempre divertita tantissimo, ma sapevo che in fondo anche lui nascondeva delle fragilità. In "Silver Sweet" a venir fuori non è solo il suo animo da sognatore, ma anche l'enorme affetto che prova per la sua famiglia, la crisi in cui lo getta il solo pensiero di stare da solo e la paura di non essere abbastanza per i suoi fratelli.
Ho apprezzato ogni lato di lui, l'ho trovato meraviglioso. I suoi ragionamenti deliranti non solo mi hanno fatta ridere di cuore, ma mi hanno anche ricordato Moffy, facendomi provare una certa nostalgia.
Phoenix è stato una scoperta. Si tratta di un personaggio che all'apparenza potrebbe sembrare poco socievole, ma che in realtà si preoccupa sempre delle persone che ha intorno. Phoenix non solo ama alla follia suo fratello, ma si prende cura di Tom fin dal primo momento e, quando conosce il resto dei Cobalt, è pronto a correre anche in loro aiuto.
La relazione tra Tom e Phoenix è caratterizzata fin dall'inizio da una forte attrazione fisica che i due sono decisi a contrastare pur di non distruggere la band. Ovviamente, però, passare tanto tempo insieme per scrivere canzoni e creare nuove melodie, li porta inevitabilmente ad aprirsi l'uno all'altro, condividendo non solo storie di vita, ma anche momenti molto emotivi.
Le interazioni tra Tom e Phoenix, le nottate passate nei rispettivi appartamenti, sono state una delle cose che ho amato di più di questo libro. Tom si meritava questo tipo d'amore e sono davvero felice che sia riuscito a trovarlo.
Come al solito, quando si parla di un'opera di Krista e Becca Ritchie, non si può proprio tralasciare il rapporto tra fratelli, e anche in "Silver Sweet" i Cobalt hanno dimostrato di amarsi in modo incondizionato. Credo che a sorprendermi più di tutti sia stato Beckett, che in questo volume ha proprio avuto il ruolo del "fratello maggiore". Ho trovato di una delicatezza unica i suoi momenti con Tom e non vedo davvero l'ora di leggere il suo libro.
Anche Phoenix e Birdie mi hanno fatta emozionare, e sapere che quest'ultimo sarà il protagonista del prossimo volume mi rende davvero felice, proprio perché ho bisogno di vederli interagire ancora.
Una menzione speciale va anche ad Audrey che in questo libro è stata fantastica.
In conclusione, "Silver Sweet" è un romanzo che per me ha significato tantissimo. Mi ha fatta ridere, piangere e provare emozioni che non saprei nemmeno descrivere. Non vi nego che mi sono un po' mancati gli Hale e i Meadows, ma mi rendo conto che i personaggi ormai sono davvero tantissimi, e mi auguro che avremo comunque modo di rivederli in qualcuno dei prossimi volumi.
Spero che i mesi che ci separano da Loathed Love passino in fretta.
Ringrazio Valentine PR, Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie e l'editore per avermi mandato una copia digitale del libro in anteprima.
The universe and the characters created by these authors, in fact, have now become an integral and fundamental part of my life, and every time I read one of their books, I cannot help but feel at home.
"Silver Sweet" is the second volume of the "Cobalt Empire" series and features Tom, one of the youngest members of the family, as the protagonist.
Tom has always been my favorite Cobalt. I don't know if reading the upcoming volumes someone else will take his place (something tells me Eliot and Beckett might), but "Silver Sweet" has been, at least until today, the title in the series I was most anxious to read.
Ever since the "Like Us" series, Tom gave me the impression of having a huge heart, and his comments always amused me so much, but I knew that deep down, he hid some vulnerabilities too. In "Silver Sweet," what comes to light is not just his dreamer's soul, but also the massive affection he feels for his family, the crisis he is thrown into by the mere thought of being alone, and the fear of not being enough for his siblings.
I appreciated every side of him; I found him wonderful. His quirky reasoning not only made me laugh from the heart, but it also reminded me of Moffy, making me feel a certain nostalgia.
Phoenix was a revelation. He is a character who on the surface might seem antisocial, but who in reality always cares about the people around him. Phoenix not only loves his brother to pieces, but he takes care of Tom from the very first moment and, when he meets the rest of the Cobalts, he is ready to rush to their aid as well.
The relationship between Tom and Phoenix is characterized from the beginning by a strong physical attraction that the two are determined to resist so as not to destroy the band. Obviously, however, spending so much time together writing songs and creating new melodies inevitably leads them to open up to each other, sharing not only life stories but also very emotional moments.
The interactions between Tom and Phoenix, the nights spent in each other's apartments, were one of the things I loved most about this book. Tom deserved this kind of love, and I am truly happy he managed to find it.
As usual, when speaking of a work by Krista and Becca Ritchie, you simply cannot leave out the relationship between siblings, and in "Silver Sweet" as well, the Cobalts proved they love each other unconditionally. I think the one who surprised me most of all was Beckett, who really took on the role of the "older brother" in this volume. I found his moments with Tom uniquely delicate, and I truly cannot wait to read his book.
Phoenix and Birdie made me emotional too, and knowing that the latter will be the protagonist of the next volume makes me really happy, precisely because I need to see them interact again.
A special mention also goes to Audrey, who was fantastic in this book.
In conclusion, "Silver Sweet" is a novel that meant so much to me. It made me laugh, cry, and feel emotions I wouldn't even know how to describe. I won't deny that I missed the Hales and the Meadowses a little, but I realize that by now the characters are truly so many, and I hope we will still get a chance to see them again in one of the upcoming volumes.
I hope the months separating us from Loathed Love pass quickly.
Thank you to Valentine PR, Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie, and the publisher for sending me an advance digital copy of the book.
Recensione in italiano:
Ormai sono più di due anni e mezzo che seguo Krista e Becca Ritchie e aspetto sempre con trepidazione ogni loro uscita.
L'universo e i personaggi creati da queste autrici, infatti, sono ormai una parte integrante e fondamentale della mia vita e ogni volta che leggo un loro libro non posso che sentirmi a casa.
"Silver Sweet" è il secondo volume della "Cobalt Empire" e ha per protagonista Tom, uno dei componenti più giovani della famiglia.
Tom ha un sogno, quello di portare la sua band, i Carraways, all'apice del successo. Peccato che non riesca proprio a trovare un batterista che soddisfi le sue aspettative.
Phoenix St. Pierre ha sempre lavorato con la musica, e da quando la sua band è implosa a causa sua ha deciso di accantonare la sua vocazione e di limitarsi a scrivere canzoni.
Sarà l'incontro con Tom, però, a fargli cambiare idea, perché se c'è qualcosa che conta davvero per Phoenix è proprio la musica e sa che i Carraways sono l'ultima possibilità che ha per tornare a sognare.
Tom è sempre stato il mio Cobalt preferito, non so se leggendo i prossimi volumi qualcun altro prenderà il suo posto (qualcosa mi dice che Eliot e Beckett potrebbero) ma "Silver Sweet" è stato, almeno fino ad oggi, il titolo della serie che ho atteso con più ansia.
Tom mi ha dato fin dai tempi della "Like Us" l'impressione di avere un cuore enorme e i suoi commenti mi hanno sempre divertita tantissimo, ma sapevo che in fondo anche lui nascondeva delle fragilità. In "Silver Sweet" a venir fuori non è solo il suo animo da sognatore, ma anche l'enorme affetto che prova per la sua famiglia, la crisi in cui lo getta il solo pensiero di stare da solo e la paura di non essere abbastanza per i suoi fratelli.
Ho apprezzato ogni lato di lui, l'ho trovato meraviglioso. I suoi ragionamenti deliranti non solo mi hanno fatta ridere di cuore, ma mi hanno anche ricordato Moffy, facendomi provare una certa nostalgia.
Phoenix è stato una scoperta. Si tratta di un personaggio che all'apparenza potrebbe sembrare poco socievole, ma che in realtà si preoccupa sempre delle persone che ha intorno. Phoenix non solo ama alla follia suo fratello, ma si prende cura di Tom fin dal primo momento e, quando conosce il resto dei Cobalt, è pronto a correre anche in loro aiuto.
La relazione tra Tom e Phoenix è caratterizzata fin dall'inizio da una forte attrazione fisica che i due sono decisi a contrastare pur di non distruggere la band. Ovviamente, però, passare tanto tempo insieme per scrivere canzoni e creare nuove melodie, li porta inevitabilmente ad aprirsi l'uno all'altro, condividendo non solo storie di vita, ma anche momenti molto emotivi.
Le interazioni tra Tom e Phoenix, le nottate passate nei rispettivi appartamenti, sono state una delle cose che ho amato di più di questo libro. Tom si meritava questo tipo d'amore e sono davvero felice che sia riuscito a trovarlo.
Come al solito, quando si parla di un'opera di Krista e Becca Ritchie, non si può proprio tralasciare il rapporto tra fratelli, e anche in "Silver Sweet" i Cobalt hanno dimostrato di amarsi in modo incondizionato. Credo che a sorprendermi più di tutti sia stato Beckett, che in questo volume ha proprio avuto il ruolo del "fratello maggiore". Ho trovato di una delicatezza unica i suoi momenti con Tom e non vedo davvero l'ora di leggere il suo libro.
Anche Phoenix e Birdie mi hanno fatta emozionare, e sapere che quest'ultimo sarà il protagonista del prossimo volume mi rende davvero felice, proprio perché ho bisogno di vederli interagire ancora.
Una menzione speciale va anche ad Audrey che in questo libro è stata fantastica.
In conclusione, "Silver Sweet" è un romanzo che per me ha significato tantissimo. Mi ha fatta ridere, piangere e provare emozioni che non saprei nemmeno descrivere. Non vi nego che mi sono un po' mancati gli Hale e i Meadows, ma mi rendo conto che i personaggi ormai sono davvero tantissimi, e mi auguro che avremo comunque modo di rivederli in qualcuno dei prossimi volumi.
Spero che i mesi che ci separano da Loathed Love passino in fretta.
Ringrazio Valentine PR, Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie e l'editore per avermi mandato una copia digitale del libro in anteprima.
June 13, 2026
This was so good Tom and Phoenix are so perfect their banter was everything and as someone who loves music this was such a fun read😭💜
It was so interesting and wholesome to see how tom sees his siblings(Ben had my heartbroken I want to give him a hug)Tom cares for him so much.I also can’t wait to see more of Phoenix and Birdie in loathed love!!
I was laughing at some of the things tom said he is so out of pocket I could never speak to my parents like that😭
(And I got appearances from some of my favorites😭😭)
It was so interesting and wholesome to see how tom sees his siblings(Ben had my heartbroken I want to give him a hug)Tom cares for him so much.I also can’t wait to see more of Phoenix and Birdie in loathed love!!
I was laughing at some of the things tom said he is so out of pocket I could never speak to my parents like that😭
(And I got appearances from some of my favorites😭😭)
Currently Reading
October 22, 2025GIVE ME CHARLIE COBALT PLSSS 🙏🙏🙏 I will literally do anything for Charlie and Roxanne
Want to Read
August 4, 2026Release day is here!
Gosh, what’s up with August 4th? So many books out
Where can i get the arc? Also, Tom?! Didn’t expect that. I woukd have thought Bennett would be the star of the 2nd one. But, I’m not complaining
Gosh, what’s up with August 4th? So many books out
Where can i get the arc? Also, Tom?! Didn’t expect that. I woukd have thought Bennett would be the star of the 2nd one. But, I’m not complaining
September 4, 2025
please let this be Tom's or beck's book
August 5, 2026
oh phoenix wolfgang st pierre the absolute green flag that you are
July 10, 2026
“Being loved by you has been the greatest pleasure of my life”
This book is filled with so much love in so many different forms; romantic, platonic, familial, and self.
Tom and Phoenix are everything and more. The most beautiful love story with two characters who deserve so so so much love. I’ve always been excited for Tom’s book and this did not disappoint. Tom Carraway Cobalt (because middle names are important!) is such an amazing character. He is loving and kind and all things warm and comedic. He’s so dedicated to what he loves which is his music. It is so much to read him and Phoenix together because I truly think they were meant for each other. They remind me of how you really are never too much for the right person. These two loving each other is as easy as breathing.
Phoenix Wolfgang St Pierre oh how I love you. He truly doesn’t play about Tom (and vice versa for Tom) he feels so deeply for his loved ones it truly rocks me to my core. Tom is the exact same and having two characters like this fall in love with each other was so so beautiful.
(KBr knows how to write love interests especially in the cobalt empire because we are now 2/2 on amazing love stories.)
Cobalt Empire is just the most beautiful family it makes me wanna cry. The love all the siblings have for each other is so incredible. Getting to read about Tom’s individual relationships with all his siblings is so beautiful I wanted to cry. “I love you with the strength of a million brothers”. He loves his family so much, and we already know from the addicteduniverse just how loyal the Cobalts are, and we see that yet again in this book.
The love that Phoenix has for his brother Birdie is the exact same, he’d do anything for him.
I’m probably missing a whole bunch but lemme tell all of you that there is so much lore drop in this book and best believe I’m gonna reread them asap.
Thank you so much Valentine PR and Krista & Becca for this ARC I’m so thankful💜
P.S,
Abby you would absolutely love this book💜🕊️
This book is filled with so much love in so many different forms; romantic, platonic, familial, and self.
Tom and Phoenix are everything and more. The most beautiful love story with two characters who deserve so so so much love. I’ve always been excited for Tom’s book and this did not disappoint. Tom Carraway Cobalt (because middle names are important!) is such an amazing character. He is loving and kind and all things warm and comedic. He’s so dedicated to what he loves which is his music. It is so much to read him and Phoenix together because I truly think they were meant for each other. They remind me of how you really are never too much for the right person. These two loving each other is as easy as breathing.
Phoenix Wolfgang St Pierre oh how I love you. He truly doesn’t play about Tom (and vice versa for Tom) he feels so deeply for his loved ones it truly rocks me to my core. Tom is the exact same and having two characters like this fall in love with each other was so so beautiful.
(KBr knows how to write love interests especially in the cobalt empire because we are now 2/2 on amazing love stories.)
Cobalt Empire is just the most beautiful family it makes me wanna cry. The love all the siblings have for each other is so incredible. Getting to read about Tom’s individual relationships with all his siblings is so beautiful I wanted to cry. “I love you with the strength of a million brothers”. He loves his family so much, and we already know from the addicteduniverse just how loyal the Cobalts are, and we see that yet again in this book.
The love that Phoenix has for his brother Birdie is the exact same, he’d do anything for him.
I’m probably missing a whole bunch but lemme tell all of you that there is so much lore drop in this book and best believe I’m gonna reread them asap.
Thank you so much Valentine PR and Krista & Becca for this ARC I’m so thankful💜
P.S,
Abby you would absolutely love this book💜🕊️
August 3, 2026
another day and another snoozefest mid. definition of boring yawning sloppy lazy. didn’t expect much since i am not a mlm enjoyer to begin with and in this case the main characters and their supposed love were insufferable as hell so it all went to downhill. they either have to find ghostwriters or attend some how to be author 101 classes bc this was not it whatsoever they really don’t know how to write romance and how to build that up anymore. all of the criticisms for earlier books being stop putting misogyny and unnecessary sa storyline for plot device and what do they do they even add more of them and treat them with absolutely zero care. just crickets. this is why this series will flop lol. i was only reading for charlieroxanne and congrats kbr found a way to ruin them before their own book. an achievement for them i guess. you can’t convince me that a vegas born and raised kotova-ruiz girl speaks like that and this is her personality bc i refuse to believe it. kbr better open their own kotova books and check the og recipes out real quick to see who kotovas and ruizes are bc it’s highly needed. and they forget charlie is about be a mmc soon with the way they’re writing him it’s pissing me off. however i still loved roxy not gaf about charlie at the moment i always wanted her to be oblivious towards him and got that one at least the only saving grace #tome. in general i’m just tired of this mess. there were so many ridiculous parts where i wanted to brought up and made fun of in this review but while i was writing it i realized i just don’t care so i won’t even bother with that.
June 24, 2026
it’s tom’s world and we’re all just living in it…
thank you krista and becca for the arc!!
review to come once i stop kicking my feet and giggling 🤭😝
review( the long version that instagram wouldn’t allow):
although silver sweet was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, i was anxious to start it as i felt that the cobalt empire series started of on a strong note with burn bright. however…this book avoided the ‘second book’ curse!! am i surprised? no. anything kbr write, i enjoy. that being said, let’s get into it…
i don’t want to say too much as i fear i might let some things slip so i will restrain myself from being the next tom holland. silver sweet is about the fifth-born cobalt, tom carraway cobalt, and his insanely talented drummer, pheonix wolfgang st.pierre. the book begins with tom navigating how to replace every member of his band, as a result of them quitting due to tom’s ‘high standards’. in comes pheonix…
he cannot stand tom carraway cobalt, but that doesn’t stop him from being his drummer.
thoughout the entirety of silver sweet, st.cobalt delivered so much tension and chemistry that even my dad would be able to clock them from their first interaction.
whilst reading jane’s books in the like us series and ben’s book that began the cobalt empire, i’ve wanted to see how each sibling perceives their other siblings (from their perspective). seeing how tom views and interacts with each of his siblings within this book felt so well written. i could tell he cares about each of his siblings deeply, even if he’s opposing them.
the exact same can be said about pheonix and his bond with his brother birdie. i’m not going to go too much into their relationship as i want you guys to experience it in it’s full form. but let’s just say, there were times they reminded me of my own relationship with my own siblings!
and finally…who am i without pointing out how i could see myself in one of the characters. tom navigating his own standards and need for perfection within each page and chapter felt way too close to my heart. watching him trust pheonix enough to put this all aside at times, not only felt like a personal wake up call to me, but it made me smile so much and feel so proud. they may be ‘just words on paper’, but they are so much more important than that.
and lastly, thank you krista and becca for letting me be part of your team and allowing me to read this story before it’s release on august 4th. i cannot tell you how desperate i am to have the physical copy arrive when release so i can annotate it asap!!
thank you krista and becca for the arc!!
review to come once i stop kicking my feet and giggling 🤭😝
review( the long version that instagram wouldn’t allow):
although silver sweet was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, i was anxious to start it as i felt that the cobalt empire series started of on a strong note with burn bright. however…this book avoided the ‘second book’ curse!! am i surprised? no. anything kbr write, i enjoy. that being said, let’s get into it…
i don’t want to say too much as i fear i might let some things slip so i will restrain myself from being the next tom holland. silver sweet is about the fifth-born cobalt, tom carraway cobalt, and his insanely talented drummer, pheonix wolfgang st.pierre. the book begins with tom navigating how to replace every member of his band, as a result of them quitting due to tom’s ‘high standards’. in comes pheonix…
he cannot stand tom carraway cobalt, but that doesn’t stop him from being his drummer.
thoughout the entirety of silver sweet, st.cobalt delivered so much tension and chemistry that even my dad would be able to clock them from their first interaction.
whilst reading jane’s books in the like us series and ben’s book that began the cobalt empire, i’ve wanted to see how each sibling perceives their other siblings (from their perspective). seeing how tom views and interacts with each of his siblings within this book felt so well written. i could tell he cares about each of his siblings deeply, even if he’s opposing them.
the exact same can be said about pheonix and his bond with his brother birdie. i’m not going to go too much into their relationship as i want you guys to experience it in it’s full form. but let’s just say, there were times they reminded me of my own relationship with my own siblings!
and finally…who am i without pointing out how i could see myself in one of the characters. tom navigating his own standards and need for perfection within each page and chapter felt way too close to my heart. watching him trust pheonix enough to put this all aside at times, not only felt like a personal wake up call to me, but it made me smile so much and feel so proud. they may be ‘just words on paper’, but they are so much more important than that.
and lastly, thank you krista and becca for letting me be part of your team and allowing me to read this story before it’s release on august 4th. i cannot tell you how desperate i am to have the physical copy arrive when release so i can annotate it asap!!
June 18, 2026
no notes.
i am sobbing.
i am sobbing.
July 29, 2026
ARC REVIEW!!💜🎤
release date august 4th
2/5🌶️
•MM
•touch him & die
•hate to love banter
•forced to work together
•rockstar romance
“being loved by you has been the greatest pleasure of my life”
my heart will never not be happy returning to this universe. 🥹 it will forever be my favorite.
there's just no family like the Cobalts. i genuinely don't think i'll ever get over the dynamic between these siblings. it's so rare to read a family that's this in sync with one another. they love fiercely, they show up without hesitation, and no matter the time of day, they're dropping everything to make sure the others are okay. their love feels effortless, unconditional, and safe. getting to watch them all living together somehow made my heart even happier. my heart was so full. these characters feel like home to me, and every time i come back to this world i'm reminded why this series owns such a huge piece of my heart.
and Audrey... i already know she's going to be an absolute spitfire, and i cannot wait for her book.
ANYWAYS. 💜
this book was filled with so much love in so many different forms: romantic, platonic, familial, and self
Phoenix and Tom completely stole my heart.
from the second they were forced to work together, the banter was absolute perfection. i was laughing out loud every other chapter because they were constantly saying the most ridiculous things to each other. but underneath all the teasing was chemistry that was impossible to ignore. they just fit. watching them create music together, push each other, and pour everything they had into the band was so satisfying. their passion matched each other's in the best way, and somewhere along the way they quietly became each other's safe place. i loved every second of watching that happen.
Tom Carraway Cobalt: beneath all the chaos, the unhinged comments, and the cocky jokes that had me laughing out loud was someone incredibly hardworking with the softest heart. and loved with everything he had. one of my favorite things about him was how locked in he was on making his dream happen. nothing was going to stop him, and i loved that through it all, he wanted Phoenix beside him every step of the way. watching him grow throughout this book made me so emotional. he never lost the parts of himself that made him Tom, but you could see him slowly let someone in, and it was beautiful.
Phoenix St. Pierre: perfect. that's really the only word for him. he was the calm to Tom’s chaos, and they balanced each other so effortlessly. i adored every interaction he had with the Cobalt siblings because he fit into their family so naturally. everyone loved him... even Charlie, which says everything. and as if all the Cobalt family moments weren't enough, we also got to see the relationship between the St. Pierre brothers, and my heart couldn't take it. i will never get tired of reading about families that genuinely love each other, support each other, and want to see one another succeed. those moments always end up meaning the most to me.
this family owns a piece of my heart, and every time i leave this universe i already find myself counting down until i get to come back.
release date august 4th
2/5🌶️
•MM
•touch him & die
•hate to love banter
•forced to work together
•rockstar romance
“being loved by you has been the greatest pleasure of my life”
my heart will never not be happy returning to this universe. 🥹 it will forever be my favorite.
there's just no family like the Cobalts. i genuinely don't think i'll ever get over the dynamic between these siblings. it's so rare to read a family that's this in sync with one another. they love fiercely, they show up without hesitation, and no matter the time of day, they're dropping everything to make sure the others are okay. their love feels effortless, unconditional, and safe. getting to watch them all living together somehow made my heart even happier. my heart was so full. these characters feel like home to me, and every time i come back to this world i'm reminded why this series owns such a huge piece of my heart.
and Audrey... i already know she's going to be an absolute spitfire, and i cannot wait for her book.
ANYWAYS. 💜
this book was filled with so much love in so many different forms: romantic, platonic, familial, and self
Phoenix and Tom completely stole my heart.
from the second they were forced to work together, the banter was absolute perfection. i was laughing out loud every other chapter because they were constantly saying the most ridiculous things to each other. but underneath all the teasing was chemistry that was impossible to ignore. they just fit. watching them create music together, push each other, and pour everything they had into the band was so satisfying. their passion matched each other's in the best way, and somewhere along the way they quietly became each other's safe place. i loved every second of watching that happen.
Tom Carraway Cobalt: beneath all the chaos, the unhinged comments, and the cocky jokes that had me laughing out loud was someone incredibly hardworking with the softest heart. and loved with everything he had. one of my favorite things about him was how locked in he was on making his dream happen. nothing was going to stop him, and i loved that through it all, he wanted Phoenix beside him every step of the way. watching him grow throughout this book made me so emotional. he never lost the parts of himself that made him Tom, but you could see him slowly let someone in, and it was beautiful.
Phoenix St. Pierre: perfect. that's really the only word for him. he was the calm to Tom’s chaos, and they balanced each other so effortlessly. i adored every interaction he had with the Cobalt siblings because he fit into their family so naturally. everyone loved him... even Charlie, which says everything. and as if all the Cobalt family moments weren't enough, we also got to see the relationship between the St. Pierre brothers, and my heart couldn't take it. i will never get tired of reading about families that genuinely love each other, support each other, and want to see one another succeed. those moments always end up meaning the most to me.
this family owns a piece of my heart, and every time i leave this universe i already find myself counting down until i get to come back.
July 28, 2026
Silver Sweet Review 🎤🥁
It is my absolute honor to say that I received an ARC for Silver Sweet, and I am beyond grateful to Valentine PR and Krista & Becca Ritchie for giving me the opportunity to read this book early and share my thoughts.
This is the second book in the Cobalt Empire series, and it follows Tom Carraway Cobalt, the god of chaos, and Phoenix Wolfgang St. Pierre, the god of scowls.
Tom's dream has always been to have a successful band. To him, life without music isn't worth living. The problem is that he's chasing perfection, and after everything that happened with his previous bandmate, Phoenix is like his last chance.
Phoenix swore he would never be part of another band again. But music is his passion, his purpose, and his dream. Joining the Carraways is his last opportunity to fight for the life he's always wanted.
What would happen with two people who became each other's lifeline?
They'd somehow find perfect harmony, becoming the soundtrack to each other's lives.
I am completely obsessed with this book.
We already knew Tom as Jane and Ben's brother, Luna's best friend, the troublemaker who was always trying to get a reaction out of Connor. But being inside his head, seeing the world through his eyes, was absolutely addictive.
Tom knows exactly who he is and where he wants to go. He loves his brothers fiercely, he loves his family, he worries endlessly about Ben, and he wants to be the best brother he can be. Most importantly, he is unapologetically himself, and I think that's one of the most beautiful things about him.
And Phoenix... I never expected to fall for him as hard as I did.
He is nothing like I imagined. He's caring, incredibly talented, resilient, and his love for his brother runs so deep. Phoenix understands exactly what's at stake. He knows he can't afford to fail. What he never expected was to find someone who works just as relentlessly as he does. Someone who truly understands him, challenges him, inspires him, and pushes him to become the best version of himself.
Tom and Phoenix are everything I never knew I needed. They complete each other. They become the harmony in each other's lives and the rhythm of each other's hearts. Maybe they weren't exactly looking for love... well, maybe Tom was a little... but once they reached yellow-light speed, there was only one direction left to go. Green. Never red.
But more than just Tom and Phoenix, I loved everything about this book.
I loved spending more time with the Cobalt brothers, seeing their daily lives and relationships. I adored Birdie and I already cannot wait for his book. Every cameo made me smile, from Rose and Connor to Leo and Roxanne. Every appearance reminded me why this universe continues to be one of my absolute favorites.
If I could, I would give this book a thousand stars. Unfortunately, the maximum is five.
So Silver Sweet is an easy 5 ⭐ read for me and, without a doubt, my favorite book of the year... although, considering who wrote it, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. 🎤🥁
It is my absolute honor to say that I received an ARC for Silver Sweet, and I am beyond grateful to Valentine PR and Krista & Becca Ritchie for giving me the opportunity to read this book early and share my thoughts.
This is the second book in the Cobalt Empire series, and it follows Tom Carraway Cobalt, the god of chaos, and Phoenix Wolfgang St. Pierre, the god of scowls.
Tom's dream has always been to have a successful band. To him, life without music isn't worth living. The problem is that he's chasing perfection, and after everything that happened with his previous bandmate, Phoenix is like his last chance.
Phoenix swore he would never be part of another band again. But music is his passion, his purpose, and his dream. Joining the Carraways is his last opportunity to fight for the life he's always wanted.
What would happen with two people who became each other's lifeline?
They'd somehow find perfect harmony, becoming the soundtrack to each other's lives.
I am completely obsessed with this book.
We already knew Tom as Jane and Ben's brother, Luna's best friend, the troublemaker who was always trying to get a reaction out of Connor. But being inside his head, seeing the world through his eyes, was absolutely addictive.
Tom knows exactly who he is and where he wants to go. He loves his brothers fiercely, he loves his family, he worries endlessly about Ben, and he wants to be the best brother he can be. Most importantly, he is unapologetically himself, and I think that's one of the most beautiful things about him.
And Phoenix... I never expected to fall for him as hard as I did.
He is nothing like I imagined. He's caring, incredibly talented, resilient, and his love for his brother runs so deep. Phoenix understands exactly what's at stake. He knows he can't afford to fail. What he never expected was to find someone who works just as relentlessly as he does. Someone who truly understands him, challenges him, inspires him, and pushes him to become the best version of himself.
Tom and Phoenix are everything I never knew I needed. They complete each other. They become the harmony in each other's lives and the rhythm of each other's hearts. Maybe they weren't exactly looking for love... well, maybe Tom was a little... but once they reached yellow-light speed, there was only one direction left to go. Green. Never red.
But more than just Tom and Phoenix, I loved everything about this book.
I loved spending more time with the Cobalt brothers, seeing their daily lives and relationships. I adored Birdie and I already cannot wait for his book. Every cameo made me smile, from Rose and Connor to Leo and Roxanne. Every appearance reminded me why this universe continues to be one of my absolute favorites.
If I could, I would give this book a thousand stars. Unfortunately, the maximum is five.
So Silver Sweet is an easy 5 ⭐ read for me and, without a doubt, my favorite book of the year... although, considering who wrote it, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. 🎤🥁
July 20, 2026
I’ll start by saying thankyouthankyouthankyou to Krista & Becca, Team KBR, and Bloom books for this ARC!! I can’t believe I’ve gotten the chance to read ARCs for my favorite authors ever!!! (someone pinch me please!!)💜✨🎤🥁
Silver Sweet! Where do I even begin!!! I guess I’ll begin by saying Tom Carraway Cobalt and Phoenix Wolfgang St. Pierre are so very dear to me!! All of the Cobalts are so different so I know with every book I read I’m going to be transported into a whole new Cobalt dimension!! So for Tom I was so excited to get into the rockstar world and be a little emo hehehe!! Not just Tom but also Phoenix!!
I love that one of the tropes was touch him and die, so I was so excited to see how that was going to play out while we all know that they are supposed to “hate” each other!! These are just always the best kind of relationships! Also their BANTER!!!! It’s Cobalt banter for sure and it’s just the BEST BANTER EVER!!! I was giggling so much with their banter it’s always the best! Getting to know a new member of the series aka Phoenix was everything! I just love the way KB always write their characters with so much love and care and you can feel that while you’re reading!! Phoenix is the type to look like he might kill you and he will but he’s also a cinnamon roll on the inside for those he cares for!! So while having a touch exterior he is the most caring which I loved reading about! Same thing with Tom expect he looks and is a cinnamon roll but full of chaos!
Them together is explosive in the best way possible! We’ve all known Tom to be a perfectionist so we know that his band is everything to him. He will do anything and everything for things to be perfect and he needs that control to feel whole in a way. So getting to navigate that feeling with Tom and letting someone else take the reins it was quite the process but in a good way. Also just seeing all the Cobalts interact with the new member is always so fun and entertaining to read! I always look forward to when they are reintroduced!! There was a few specific moments that I WAS DYING ABOUT!!! I love these people in general so getting to read them together was mind blowing in a good way!! I was like AHHH ITS HAPPENING! I was freaking out for sure!!! Also getting crumbs of possible love interests is always a good tease!!🙈
Thank you again x a million!! Krista & Becca you have absolutely killed it yet again!! 🫶🏼🫂✨
Silver Sweet! Where do I even begin!!! I guess I’ll begin by saying Tom Carraway Cobalt and Phoenix Wolfgang St. Pierre are so very dear to me!! All of the Cobalts are so different so I know with every book I read I’m going to be transported into a whole new Cobalt dimension!! So for Tom I was so excited to get into the rockstar world and be a little emo hehehe!! Not just Tom but also Phoenix!!
I love that one of the tropes was touch him and die, so I was so excited to see how that was going to play out while we all know that they are supposed to “hate” each other!! These are just always the best kind of relationships! Also their BANTER!!!! It’s Cobalt banter for sure and it’s just the BEST BANTER EVER!!! I was giggling so much with their banter it’s always the best! Getting to know a new member of the series aka Phoenix was everything! I just love the way KB always write their characters with so much love and care and you can feel that while you’re reading!! Phoenix is the type to look like he might kill you and he will but he’s also a cinnamon roll on the inside for those he cares for!! So while having a touch exterior he is the most caring which I loved reading about! Same thing with Tom expect he looks and is a cinnamon roll but full of chaos!
Them together is explosive in the best way possible! We’ve all known Tom to be a perfectionist so we know that his band is everything to him. He will do anything and everything for things to be perfect and he needs that control to feel whole in a way. So getting to navigate that feeling with Tom and letting someone else take the reins it was quite the process but in a good way. Also just seeing all the Cobalts interact with the new member is always so fun and entertaining to read! I always look forward to when they are reintroduced!! There was a few specific moments that I WAS DYING ABOUT!!! I love these people in general so getting to read them together was mind blowing in a good way!! I was like AHHH ITS HAPPENING! I was freaking out for sure!!! Also getting crumbs of possible love interests is always a good tease!!🙈
Thank you again x a million!! Krista & Becca you have absolutely killed it yet again!! 🫶🏼🫂✨
June 27, 2026
Silver Sweet is a work of art that just sank straight into my heart and is now a fixture in my mind that requires attention at least 5x a day.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Krista and Becca Ritchie are my all time favorite authors! They never fail to deliver the absolute best stories and characters.
So we are back in the Cobalt Empire world with book 2, Silver Sweet. This one is all about our angsty, mischievous musician brother, Tom Carraway Cobalt.
His story shows us so many sides of Tom. We see his passion for music. His care and love for his brothers. We see him navigate new experiences while falling in love and perusing his passion.
We also begun to see the significant others starting to bond and form really endearing and meaningful friendships.
With crumbs of possible future love interests being dropped everywhere… I ate every single one up!!
I just love the raw and relatable emotions that always come through in Krista and Becca’s writing. They truly have a special talent when it comes to sucking you into these worlds and making you feel like you know these people.
I don’t want to spoil or give too much detail away but this is one of the best books I’ve read. This series is very likely going to be my all time favorite series ever if it continues on this track!
I am literally chomping at the bit for Loathed Love and cannot believe we’re getting another book this year!
Thank you so much Krista and Becca and Blooms for the ARC. I am forever grateful to be able to read these books early.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Krista and Becca Ritchie are my all time favorite authors! They never fail to deliver the absolute best stories and characters.
So we are back in the Cobalt Empire world with book 2, Silver Sweet. This one is all about our angsty, mischievous musician brother, Tom Carraway Cobalt.
His story shows us so many sides of Tom. We see his passion for music. His care and love for his brothers. We see him navigate new experiences while falling in love and perusing his passion.
We also begun to see the significant others starting to bond and form really endearing and meaningful friendships.
With crumbs of possible future love interests being dropped everywhere… I ate every single one up!!
I just love the raw and relatable emotions that always come through in Krista and Becca’s writing. They truly have a special talent when it comes to sucking you into these worlds and making you feel like you know these people.
I don’t want to spoil or give too much detail away but this is one of the best books I’ve read. This series is very likely going to be my all time favorite series ever if it continues on this track!
I am literally chomping at the bit for Loathed Love and cannot believe we’re getting another book this year!
Thank you so much Krista and Becca and Blooms for the ARC. I am forever grateful to be able to read these books early.
June 9, 2026
Thank you to Penguin Australia for the ARC.
Everything about this book made it for me. I loved the balance between the family dynamic of the Cobalts and Tom and Phoenix’s love story. Full review will drop when the book releases!
I love KBR endlessly and this book reminded me of that. Cobalt Empire is strong and thriving !!!!
Everything about this book made it for me. I loved the balance between the family dynamic of the Cobalts and Tom and Phoenix’s love story. Full review will drop when the book releases!
I love KBR endlessly and this book reminded me of that. Cobalt Empire is strong and thriving !!!!
August 4, 2026
For someone who usually doesn’t like when music is involved in a book (especially when one of the main characters is the one making the music), I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved a book about TWO musicians. Tom and Phoenix essentially get thrown together after Tom’s bandmates leave, and the whole book is the two of them making music, falling for each other, holding back, and finally giving in. But of course, it has the classic Krista and Becca Ritchie writing style that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. When I tell you I couldn’t put this down once I started, I fully mean it. Tom and Phoenix’s genuine care for the other’s health (physical and mental) as well as their families was so so special to me. If I could read 500 more pages about all of these characters, I would in a heartbeat, I love them so much.
If you want two people who want the best for each other, put their own wants on the back burner when needed, and have such love and care, you need to pick up this series; only two books in and we are FULL of a million sweet and tender moments that I can’t stop thinking about.
If you want two people who want the best for each other, put their own wants on the back burner when needed, and have such love and care, you need to pick up this series; only two books in and we are FULL of a million sweet and tender moments that I can’t stop thinking about.
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