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Creative Differences
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Expected 9 Mar 27Propulsive and sexy, Creative Differences is a sapphic second-chance romance for fans of Here We Go Again and Daisy Jones & The Six.
Swanboat was your favorite band's favorite band. But after one perfect record and one fraught, intimate tour, the confessional–indie rock trio—lead singer Amelia Wells, guitarist Ramona Sloane, and bassist Bea Fink—suddenly broke up.
Five years later, Amelia is a She's transitioned into mainstream pop music, performing sold-out shows for obsessed fans. It's everything she's convinced herself she should want . . . even though her fame has started to feel less like success and more like loneliness.
Ramona hasn't spoken to Amelia since the last night of the tour. She's content playing small crowds and avoiding Amelia's inescapable hit single, "Emergency Contact," during her slot at the local indie radio station.
When Amelia's record label suggests a Swanboat reunion tour, she and Ramona each have their own reasons for agreeing. And they'd both do anything for Bea, who still doesn't know about the kiss that broke their band apart. All Ramona and Amelia have to do is get through two months of playing the songs that made them fall in love in the first place . . . and try not to do it all over again.
Swanboat was your favorite band's favorite band. But after one perfect record and one fraught, intimate tour, the confessional–indie rock trio—lead singer Amelia Wells, guitarist Ramona Sloane, and bassist Bea Fink—suddenly broke up.
Five years later, Amelia is a She's transitioned into mainstream pop music, performing sold-out shows for obsessed fans. It's everything she's convinced herself she should want . . . even though her fame has started to feel less like success and more like loneliness.
Ramona hasn't spoken to Amelia since the last night of the tour. She's content playing small crowds and avoiding Amelia's inescapable hit single, "Emergency Contact," during her slot at the local indie radio station.
When Amelia's record label suggests a Swanboat reunion tour, she and Ramona each have their own reasons for agreeing. And they'd both do anything for Bea, who still doesn't know about the kiss that broke their band apart. All Ramona and Amelia have to do is get through two months of playing the songs that made them fall in love in the first place . . . and try not to do it all over again.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 9, 2027
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July 12, 2026Saw this on Instagram last week and set a reminder to request it on netgalley when it was uploaded only for the publisher to reach out to me with an arc. Thank you Bindery Books for sending me an arc.
July 20, 2026
ARC Copy from Netgalley
Investing heavily into this one. Big big potential.
Inject this into my veins. A unique venn diagram of my love for rockstar autobiographies, sapphic yearning, and messy second chance romance. Loved the characters - especially Bea!!! They were way too cool for the rest of the band. Such a fun vibrant novel. Funny, very real and made you feel as if you were on this adventure with them. Also the music references were very nostalgic and had me drifting back to my favourite L7 and Jack Off Jill albums that I loved myself at 21.
This is a dumb criticism for a romance novel but I didn’t enjoy how the characters kept creating problems for themselves in a way that was very true to life but I wish there had been some actual obstacles for them to cross.
I felt the rigidness of the narrative was holding the book back. This almost veered towards being more than a romance novel but didn’t seem eager to step fully outside the boundaries of the genre, just staring longingly out the window at perhaps sorta being a satire and commentary on the modern diy scene.
Investing heavily into this one. Big big potential.
Inject this into my veins. A unique venn diagram of my love for rockstar autobiographies, sapphic yearning, and messy second chance romance. Loved the characters - especially Bea!!! They were way too cool for the rest of the band. Such a fun vibrant novel. Funny, very real and made you feel as if you were on this adventure with them. Also the music references were very nostalgic and had me drifting back to my favourite L7 and Jack Off Jill albums that I loved myself at 21.
This is a dumb criticism for a romance novel but I didn’t enjoy how the characters kept creating problems for themselves in a way that was very true to life but I wish there had been some actual obstacles for them to cross.
I felt the rigidness of the narrative was holding the book back. This almost veered towards being more than a romance novel but didn’t seem eager to step fully outside the boundaries of the genre, just staring longingly out the window at perhaps sorta being a satire and commentary on the modern diy scene.
July 29, 2026
Read for work, such a fun and earnest queer romance for sad girls everywhere!!
July 13, 2026
Sometimes the need to smack both the MCs upside the head is so strong. Amelia and Ramona were so painfully in their own heads, and for two MCs who are supposed to be super confident, when it came to each other they weren’t.
I couldn’t get into either character, Bea ended up being my favorite since they were the least problematic. There wasn’t anything in particular about the two that was bad, but there wasn’t anything about them that I loved. Usually I latch on to at least one, but was at a loss.
Everything was wrote well, and it was easy to follow along with the story. I didn’t love the sex scenes, mainly the wording made it feel vulgar.
Following a queer band on their journey of getting back together was a cool experience to be part of, but I just wanted a biiiit more of them being all together and getting closer.
Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!
I couldn’t get into either character, Bea ended up being my favorite since they were the least problematic. There wasn’t anything in particular about the two that was bad, but there wasn’t anything about them that I loved. Usually I latch on to at least one, but was at a loss.
Everything was wrote well, and it was easy to follow along with the story. I didn’t love the sex scenes, mainly the wording made it feel vulgar.
Following a queer band on their journey of getting back together was a cool experience to be part of, but I just wanted a biiiit more of them being all together and getting closer.
Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!
August 11, 2026
Review of advanced reader copy received from NetGalley
Another great sapphic romcom from these authors! The road trip aspect of this book was well done and brought all the best aspects into the story including with a funny and original take on the one bed trope I haven’t seen before. If you like Muna or Boygenius you will like this book, it repeatedly had me thinking about both bands in the best way. I really appreciated the way that anxiety and depression was represented in Ramona and how it was also a factor in the relationship between her and Amelia. This story was a lovely mix of angst, fluffy romance, and plot with just the right amount of spice! The characters in this book were relatable and well thought out creating believe dynamics with friendship and romantic relationships with a group of people. I would have loved to read a chapter or 2 from Bea’s prospective on the tour or have a spinoff following them. Overall this book was incredibly enjoyable and perfectly showed a lovely friends to lovers story line with lots of sapphic yearning.
Another great sapphic romcom from these authors! The road trip aspect of this book was well done and brought all the best aspects into the story including with a funny and original take on the one bed trope I haven’t seen before. If you like Muna or Boygenius you will like this book, it repeatedly had me thinking about both bands in the best way. I really appreciated the way that anxiety and depression was represented in Ramona and how it was also a factor in the relationship between her and Amelia. This story was a lovely mix of angst, fluffy romance, and plot with just the right amount of spice! The characters in this book were relatable and well thought out creating believe dynamics with friendship and romantic relationships with a group of people. I would have loved to read a chapter or 2 from Bea’s prospective on the tour or have a spinoff following them. Overall this book was incredibly enjoyable and perfectly showed a lovely friends to lovers story line with lots of sapphic yearning.
July 25, 2026
4.5 stars.
this is a digital advanced readers copy I received from netgalley and sapph-lit, this has no affect on my rating nor review.
five years after their indie rock band broke up, amelia and ramona along with their bassist beatrix are back for a reunion tour. each one of them has changed from their college years, and after ameila and ramona left things on bad terms five years ago, both must accept any feelings they have for each other.
yes!! this is what I wanted—a queer-centered story. I can never find anything like that, but this? yes ma’am.
I love the complexity of amelia and ramona‘s relationship. sometimes, they could have been a little bit dense about feelings, their own and each other’s, but I think it’s very realistic how complex their relationship is. I honestly love them and all of the other characters in this book, maybe except declan, but he wasn’t too bad. all of these characters are different and flawed, but they each fit the story well. this genre alone was very interesting, because I don’t see it too much, the band mates, having a “secret relationship.” when I first saw the arc on netgalley, it piqued my interest just because I don’t read a lot of stories about music and bands.
like I said before, sometimes, amelia and ramona were very dense about their feelings and things like that, but it’s not too worrisome because I find it to be really realistic and relatable. I also wanted to see more of the other band members. yes, the story is mainly about amelia and the amona‘s relationship, but I feel like we don’t know too much about the other characters and it’s almost like you can kind of take them out in the story would play out the same, especially fink and georgia.
something I thought about when I was reading was the possibility of adding more of the band and music element into the story to kind of balance that with the romance. I think this could have even further improved storyline and learn more about the characters and how their music reflects them. the critiques I have are very minor and they didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story. I really like this book and I think I would like to buy it when it releases.
this is a great book for queer people who want to see dynamics of queer relationships. relationships are complicated whether you’re straight or gay or lesbian, but I think dynamics are slightly different between straight and queer people
this is a digital advanced readers copy I received from netgalley and sapph-lit, this has no affect on my rating nor review.
five years after their indie rock band broke up, amelia and ramona along with their bassist beatrix are back for a reunion tour. each one of them has changed from their college years, and after ameila and ramona left things on bad terms five years ago, both must accept any feelings they have for each other.
yes!! this is what I wanted—a queer-centered story. I can never find anything like that, but this? yes ma’am.
I love the complexity of amelia and ramona‘s relationship. sometimes, they could have been a little bit dense about feelings, their own and each other’s, but I think it’s very realistic how complex their relationship is. I honestly love them and all of the other characters in this book, maybe except declan, but he wasn’t too bad. all of these characters are different and flawed, but they each fit the story well. this genre alone was very interesting, because I don’t see it too much, the band mates, having a “secret relationship.” when I first saw the arc on netgalley, it piqued my interest just because I don’t read a lot of stories about music and bands.
like I said before, sometimes, amelia and ramona were very dense about their feelings and things like that, but it’s not too worrisome because I find it to be really realistic and relatable. I also wanted to see more of the other band members. yes, the story is mainly about amelia and the amona‘s relationship, but I feel like we don’t know too much about the other characters and it’s almost like you can kind of take them out in the story would play out the same, especially fink and georgia.
something I thought about when I was reading was the possibility of adding more of the band and music element into the story to kind of balance that with the romance. I think this could have even further improved storyline and learn more about the characters and how their music reflects them. the critiques I have are very minor and they didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story. I really like this book and I think I would like to buy it when it releases.
this is a great book for queer people who want to see dynamics of queer relationships. relationships are complicated whether you’re straight or gay or lesbian, but I think dynamics are slightly different between straight and queer people
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2026
Funny and super cute, and as the book description said, this really is perfect for Daisy Jones & The Six fans.. because I'm one of them.. I'd also add that Ramona and Amelia were very Mizisua to me.. #eyes👀
We have sapphic rockstar second chance romance.. with a whole lot of tension..
The plot itself was great, but I feel like what really made me love the book were the characters. I loved them a lot.. You can still feel the care and love they have for each other even though they're all completely different people with different lives, and even after so many years apart they still clicked together so easily.
Ramona's dry sense of humour. Bea who's always trying to "fix the group" by leaving Ramona and Amelia stuck together, and oh!! Amelia!! I walked out as a huge Amelia lover!! I love how she was written 🥹 Her relationship with band members, with her friends, fans, it all just felt so sweet.
I also liked how even though we didn't get Bea's pov, they're still a character we can grow to love, they weren't left out even if the focus wasn't on them.
I felt as if the author let the scenes "breathe" as in there weren't any annoying "too many details" kind of thing. We had just enough information and could create a scene in our heads and feel the story, kinda be there with the characters. I didn't feel like I was reading a book, I felt like I was watching them on stage in front of me and I was a #big fan of that.
There weren't many things i disliked, other than mentions of social media and the music artists that are popular today. I also felt like the book could've been a bit longer, maybe to put more focus on the band, them making music and just existing as a group of friends.
All in all, a really great read.. perfect for anyone who wants a quick band romance read with queer and very loveable characters!!
Huge thanks to Netgalley for providing me an arc in exchange for a review!! All thoughts are my own.
We have sapphic rockstar second chance romance.. with a whole lot of tension..
The plot itself was great, but I feel like what really made me love the book were the characters. I loved them a lot.. You can still feel the care and love they have for each other even though they're all completely different people with different lives, and even after so many years apart they still clicked together so easily.
Ramona's dry sense of humour. Bea who's always trying to "fix the group" by leaving Ramona and Amelia stuck together, and oh!! Amelia!! I walked out as a huge Amelia lover!! I love how she was written 🥹 Her relationship with band members, with her friends, fans, it all just felt so sweet.
I also liked how even though we didn't get Bea's pov, they're still a character we can grow to love, they weren't left out even if the focus wasn't on them.
I felt as if the author let the scenes "breathe" as in there weren't any annoying "too many details" kind of thing. We had just enough information and could create a scene in our heads and feel the story, kinda be there with the characters. I didn't feel like I was reading a book, I felt like I was watching them on stage in front of me and I was a #big fan of that.
There weren't many things i disliked, other than mentions of social media and the music artists that are popular today. I also felt like the book could've been a bit longer, maybe to put more focus on the band, them making music and just existing as a group of friends.
All in all, a really great read.. perfect for anyone who wants a quick band romance read with queer and very loveable characters!!
Huge thanks to Netgalley for providing me an arc in exchange for a review!! All thoughts are my own.
July 18, 2026
One thing about me? I’m gonna eat up a sapphic rockstar romance!
This was a lot of fun and a true slowburn which I adored. We really got to know Ramona and Amelia on a deeper level before the romance even started and that’s the kind of romance books I gravitate towards. There’s a great balance of character study and relationship dynamics here and it’s done super well.
The romance. Romana and Amelia are both dealing with their own insecurities when it comes to their personal and work life. These two have a great deal of history.First friends, then bandmates then lines were blurred and they went their own way. After Swanboat split up Romana went on to work in radio and Amelia went on to become one of the biggest pop stars in the world. The juxtaposition of their lives was very well done but they were also mirrors in a lot of ways. Watching these two grow and learn was great. I also appreciated the aspect of friendship that was woven through too. Their mutual friend and fellow bandmate Bea was at the forefront of their decisions too and I loved how they were written as a well rounded character with feelings and a life outside the band.
The sex. I thought the explicit scene were done super well, not cringe at all and very in character for these two. They didn’t feel like they were wearing masks when we finally got to the intimate scene. I also want to note the way the One Bed situation came to fruition was so so great and unique and FUNNY! Tropes like this can get tiring without putting a different twist on things and I loved how it was implemented here.
The writing. I am so so happy this was dual pov. More often than not we don’t get dual pov in sapphic romances and while I understand why that is, I also think having that second perspective can bring so much to the story and I think it was needed here so I’m glad we got both of these women’s voices.
The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star read was that I wished that they were aged up. They’re in their mid to late twenties when they reunite and I think if they’d have met up again in their 30’s there could have been a lot more angst and yearning involved.
Overall highly enjoyable and I cannot wait to see what Annabel and Lydia do next because I’ll be for sure following along.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own.
This was a lot of fun and a true slowburn which I adored. We really got to know Ramona and Amelia on a deeper level before the romance even started and that’s the kind of romance books I gravitate towards. There’s a great balance of character study and relationship dynamics here and it’s done super well.
The romance. Romana and Amelia are both dealing with their own insecurities when it comes to their personal and work life. These two have a great deal of history.First friends, then bandmates then lines were blurred and they went their own way. After Swanboat split up Romana went on to work in radio and Amelia went on to become one of the biggest pop stars in the world. The juxtaposition of their lives was very well done but they were also mirrors in a lot of ways. Watching these two grow and learn was great. I also appreciated the aspect of friendship that was woven through too. Their mutual friend and fellow bandmate Bea was at the forefront of their decisions too and I loved how they were written as a well rounded character with feelings and a life outside the band.
The sex. I thought the explicit scene were done super well, not cringe at all and very in character for these two. They didn’t feel like they were wearing masks when we finally got to the intimate scene. I also want to note the way the One Bed situation came to fruition was so so great and unique and FUNNY! Tropes like this can get tiring without putting a different twist on things and I loved how it was implemented here.
The writing. I am so so happy this was dual pov. More often than not we don’t get dual pov in sapphic romances and while I understand why that is, I also think having that second perspective can bring so much to the story and I think it was needed here so I’m glad we got both of these women’s voices.
The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star read was that I wished that they were aged up. They’re in their mid to late twenties when they reunite and I think if they’d have met up again in their 30’s there could have been a lot more angst and yearning involved.
Overall highly enjoyable and I cannot wait to see what Annabel and Lydia do next because I’ll be for sure following along.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own.
August 8, 2026
FIRE. I love a sapphic book where theyre musicians and kinda hate each other but also maybe not? I will admit this took me a bit to get in to, but once I got it, I Got It.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review
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July 23, 2026Thank you to netgalley for providing an advance reader copy!
This book is about two avoidants who i wanted to slap in the face multiple times throughout the book.
This book is about two avoidants who i wanted to slap in the face multiple times throughout the book.
August 1, 2026
This book made me feel so seen! Paulsen & Wang are so talented at incorporating deep emotional themes into light, funny romance novels!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm not quite sure how to rate this. I think it was pitched wrong, and that affected my reading.
In general, this is a nice book. It's more of a contemporary romance than anything else, and at this it succeeds. The two protagonists have the kind of relationship where they make each other better by being together, and much of their character growth comes through this. The time they spend together before the obligate "break-up" feels real to their characters and it absolutely satisfying after what they've been through both before the book begins and throughout the story up until then. The smut is great and is just enough to where it fits this story and its writing just enough.
But of course, this is as a contemporary romance itself. I definitely think this book was pitched too ambitiously, which made this underwhelming for me. The comparison to Daisy Jones and the Six did this book no favors.
The story has very low stakes: the band was only together for a short time, and they've only been broken up for five years. The characters are still quite young, in their 20s. The reason for the band breakup doesn't make much sense for it to be such a big deal. (Generally, Amelia and Ramona just can't stop getting in their own way.) The music is not a very big focus—the scenes of concerts are pretty short, and mostly consist of the band members interacting with each other and the audience on stage. I don't even get a good idea of how big these venues are that they're playing. We're told that Mia Wells is a huge star, but we don't see much of how this affects her life except for a few moments where she's recognized in public. I was so curious what kind of crowds she would draw to this reunion tour, but we never get a good idea of the size or if there's any disconnect between Mia Wells fans and Swanboat fans (which it seems like there would be, considering the difference in genre). She's a huge star, and yet the record label still books the band at motels with worn mattresses?
The side characters are either one-dimensional or virtually non-existent. I was never clear on who exactly the other instrumentalists were. Every time they were mentioned, I was surprised again to remember that they were part of the tour. I don't even remember who played what instrument. Bea was a fun character, and it would have been so great to get more depth to them. They made such good points near the end of the book while getting Ramona and Amelia to deal with their issues, and I wish this could have been touched on more earlier.
In all, this was pitched as more of a band reunion book, but it was very solidly a contemporary romance, which also left not much room for deeper exploration of the world these characters inhabited. I would say it's more of a road trip novel, with two old crushes/friends finding their way back to each other and finding a way to be together.
It was fine, just not what I expected going in!
Thanks to Bindery Books for the eARC through NetGalley!
In general, this is a nice book. It's more of a contemporary romance than anything else, and at this it succeeds. The two protagonists have the kind of relationship where they make each other better by being together, and much of their character growth comes through this. The time they spend together before the obligate "break-up" feels real to their characters and it absolutely satisfying after what they've been through both before the book begins and throughout the story up until then. The smut is great and is just enough to where it fits this story and its writing just enough.
But of course, this is as a contemporary romance itself. I definitely think this book was pitched too ambitiously, which made this underwhelming for me. The comparison to Daisy Jones and the Six did this book no favors.
The story has very low stakes: the band was only together for a short time, and they've only been broken up for five years. The characters are still quite young, in their 20s. The reason for the band breakup doesn't make much sense for it to be such a big deal. (Generally, Amelia and Ramona just can't stop getting in their own way.) The music is not a very big focus—the scenes of concerts are pretty short, and mostly consist of the band members interacting with each other and the audience on stage. I don't even get a good idea of how big these venues are that they're playing. We're told that Mia Wells is a huge star, but we don't see much of how this affects her life except for a few moments where she's recognized in public. I was so curious what kind of crowds she would draw to this reunion tour, but we never get a good idea of the size or if there's any disconnect between Mia Wells fans and Swanboat fans (which it seems like there would be, considering the difference in genre). She's a huge star, and yet the record label still books the band at motels with worn mattresses?
The side characters are either one-dimensional or virtually non-existent. I was never clear on who exactly the other instrumentalists were. Every time they were mentioned, I was surprised again to remember that they were part of the tour. I don't even remember who played what instrument. Bea was a fun character, and it would have been so great to get more depth to them. They made such good points near the end of the book while getting Ramona and Amelia to deal with their issues, and I wish this could have been touched on more earlier.
In all, this was pitched as more of a band reunion book, but it was very solidly a contemporary romance, which also left not much room for deeper exploration of the world these characters inhabited. I would say it's more of a road trip novel, with two old crushes/friends finding their way back to each other and finding a way to be together.
It was fine, just not what I expected going in!
Thanks to Bindery Books for the eARC through NetGalley!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really liked the premise of Creative Differences, especially the idea of bringing a former band back together after everything that happened between its members. I enjoyed the way Swanboat's history was tied to the relationship between Amelia and Ramona, and how the book explores the contrast between creative fulfilment and the idea of success. Amelia has achieved the fame she once thought she wanted, while Ramona has chosen a much smaller and quieter musical career, which created an interesting way of looking at what success actually means to different people.
One of my favourite parts was actually the dynamic between the three members of Swanboat. I really liked the found family aspect of their relationship and how much history they shared beyond the romantic conflict at the centre of the story. I especially liked Bea, who often felt like the voice of reason between Amelia and Ramona. Her perspective and reactions brought some much-needed balance to their dynamic, and I genuinely enjoyed whenever the three of them were together.
I also appreciated the way the book touches on anxiety and self-worth. I liked seeing how much our perception of ourselves can influence the way we approach our relationships, careers and the choices we make. The band setting worked particularly well for this because music is so closely connected to the characters' identities and to how they see themselves.
My biggest issue was the reliance on miscommunication. I don't dislike miscommunication as a writing device when it is used well, but it was definitely overused here. There were quite a few moments where it felt like the characters were finally making progress and showing some real growth, only for that development to be reversed shortly afterwards.
I could understand some of this if it were presented as part of the human condition. People do backslide, repeat old patterns and struggle to actually change, especially when emotions are involved. My problem was that some of these reversals felt less like an intentional portrayal of that reality and more like the characters needed to regress because the plot still needed to go in a certain direction. That made their development feel inconsistent at times.
There were also some genuinely cute, quick moments between the characters that I really enjoyed and that reminded me why I was invested in the relationships in the first place.
Overall, I think Creative Differences had a really interesting foundation and some themes that worked well for me, particularly anxiety, self-worth, creative identity and the different ways people define success. I also really enjoyed the found family at the heart of Swanboat. Unfortunately, the repeated miscommunication and the inconsistent handling of character growth kept me from connecting with the story as much as I wanted to.
One of my favourite parts was actually the dynamic between the three members of Swanboat. I really liked the found family aspect of their relationship and how much history they shared beyond the romantic conflict at the centre of the story. I especially liked Bea, who often felt like the voice of reason between Amelia and Ramona. Her perspective and reactions brought some much-needed balance to their dynamic, and I genuinely enjoyed whenever the three of them were together.
I also appreciated the way the book touches on anxiety and self-worth. I liked seeing how much our perception of ourselves can influence the way we approach our relationships, careers and the choices we make. The band setting worked particularly well for this because music is so closely connected to the characters' identities and to how they see themselves.
My biggest issue was the reliance on miscommunication. I don't dislike miscommunication as a writing device when it is used well, but it was definitely overused here. There were quite a few moments where it felt like the characters were finally making progress and showing some real growth, only for that development to be reversed shortly afterwards.
I could understand some of this if it were presented as part of the human condition. People do backslide, repeat old patterns and struggle to actually change, especially when emotions are involved. My problem was that some of these reversals felt less like an intentional portrayal of that reality and more like the characters needed to regress because the plot still needed to go in a certain direction. That made their development feel inconsistent at times.
There were also some genuinely cute, quick moments between the characters that I really enjoyed and that reminded me why I was invested in the relationships in the first place.
Overall, I think Creative Differences had a really interesting foundation and some themes that worked well for me, particularly anxiety, self-worth, creative identity and the different ways people define success. I also really enjoyed the found family at the heart of Swanboat. Unfortunately, the repeated miscommunication and the inconsistent handling of character growth kept me from connecting with the story as much as I wanted to.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 very solid & happy Stars)
This one had a lot going for it. I loved the sapphic yearning, the Daisy Jones and the six vibes, the reunion tour, and even the second-chance romance which admittedly leaned hard into the "will they/won't they" tension. Even as someone who isn't always into to second-chance tropes, I really enjoyed reading this one.
Besides that, I wanna mention that the music references throughout are genuinely well done (it somewhat reminded me of Daisy Jones). But to continue to the main characters, Amelia and Ramona are the heart of the story, and their chemistry has real history behind it. A histories where you can actually feel the weight of everything unresolved between them. That said, I did find myself getting a little frustrated with both of them at times (you don’t wanna know how often I wanted to scream at them or push them together while reading this). I Even though I enjoyed the aspect that the two spend a lot of time stuck in their own heads when it comes to each other, it was still somewhat frustrating experiencing the same will they/won‘t they tension for the majority of the book. Moreover, I didn't connect with either of them quite as deeply as I wanted to, though I appreciated watching their old feelings slowly resurface as the tour brought them closer together, stop by stop. Bea (one could say the third main character and third person in the band) on the other hand, was an easy standout. She was genuinely so funny, and a genuinely great friend to both Ramona and Amelia (I’m so sure she would’ve liked to shake both of them too). I think it’s quite obvious from this review that she was the character I latched onto most, and I wouldn't say no to a spin-off centered on her. Furthermore, the backdrop of the band's reunion tour worked really well in my opinion. It blended the romance with themes of friendship, ambition, and reckoning with the past really nicely. Where this book shines though (besides having Bea as a character in it), is the tension and yearning!! But I think that’s gotten quite obvious from what I’ve written so far.
Overall I can say that if you're into sapphic musician romances with a MUNA vibe (I might’ve listened to them A LOT), plenty of longing, a slow-burn payoff, and such a good third main character (I’m looking at Bea again) this is worth picking up. It was still a solid and really enjoyable read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bindery Books for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest and voluntarily given review!
This one had a lot going for it. I loved the sapphic yearning, the Daisy Jones and the six vibes, the reunion tour, and even the second-chance romance which admittedly leaned hard into the "will they/won't they" tension. Even as someone who isn't always into to second-chance tropes, I really enjoyed reading this one.
Besides that, I wanna mention that the music references throughout are genuinely well done (it somewhat reminded me of Daisy Jones). But to continue to the main characters, Amelia and Ramona are the heart of the story, and their chemistry has real history behind it. A histories where you can actually feel the weight of everything unresolved between them. That said, I did find myself getting a little frustrated with both of them at times (you don’t wanna know how often I wanted to scream at them or push them together while reading this). I Even though I enjoyed the aspect that the two spend a lot of time stuck in their own heads when it comes to each other, it was still somewhat frustrating experiencing the same will they/won‘t they tension for the majority of the book. Moreover, I didn't connect with either of them quite as deeply as I wanted to, though I appreciated watching their old feelings slowly resurface as the tour brought them closer together, stop by stop. Bea (one could say the third main character and third person in the band) on the other hand, was an easy standout. She was genuinely so funny, and a genuinely great friend to both Ramona and Amelia (I’m so sure she would’ve liked to shake both of them too). I think it’s quite obvious from this review that she was the character I latched onto most, and I wouldn't say no to a spin-off centered on her. Furthermore, the backdrop of the band's reunion tour worked really well in my opinion. It blended the romance with themes of friendship, ambition, and reckoning with the past really nicely. Where this book shines though (besides having Bea as a character in it), is the tension and yearning!! But I think that’s gotten quite obvious from what I’ve written so far.
Overall I can say that if you're into sapphic musician romances with a MUNA vibe (I might’ve listened to them A LOT), plenty of longing, a slow-burn payoff, and such a good third main character (I’m looking at Bea again) this is worth picking up. It was still a solid and really enjoyable read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bindery Books for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest and voluntarily given review!
Review of advance copy
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!
3.75
a wonderful second chance romance about two people with a lot of history and even more baggage. when I first saw the synopsis i immediately ran to add it to my tbr because i knew it would be right up my alley. i adored the discussions around fandom, the act of making music and the industry, it felt like mia wells and swanboat were actual artists i could go and listen to on spotify, which made the story feel all the more real. my favorite part of it all was 100% the dynamics between the members of swanboat; the anecdotes surrounding their early days and the history they shared once again felt very realistic and also super nostalgic. you could tell why they were so loved and why they had their success, all of them bringing their special something to the band worked so well. the theme of nostalgia and wanting to go back to a past that's no longer really yours for so many reasons hit me like a truck. i could've read a whole book about the origins of swanboat honestly. i adored the first half of the book, and had I had the same experience in the second half as well it would've definitely been a 5 star, but something just didn't click. the conflict between amelia and ramona felt very much realistic and it made sense to me that they would stop talking after that, but this specific point felt kind of dragged in the second half. it felt like things were being reiterated but without the plot really moving forward most of the time. not to mention the third act conflict that felt more frustrating than anything, and as someone who doesn't like third act conflicts that specific chunk was on thin ice as it is. i wanted the character to maybe it approach it in a different way, i liked that they kind of regressed to their old selves whenever they were together, it made sense, but they've also changed as people throughout the years and i would've liked to see that reflected a bit more. also slight nit-pick, but i did not like how many times amelia and ramona's heartfelt scenes were cut short because of someone interrupting them, it was used enough times in the book for me to notice and it got more frustrating than anything after the second time. overall i did enjoy this and there's a lot of elements that left me glued to the page, i can't wait for this book to be enjoyed by other readers as well.
3.75
a wonderful second chance romance about two people with a lot of history and even more baggage. when I first saw the synopsis i immediately ran to add it to my tbr because i knew it would be right up my alley. i adored the discussions around fandom, the act of making music and the industry, it felt like mia wells and swanboat were actual artists i could go and listen to on spotify, which made the story feel all the more real. my favorite part of it all was 100% the dynamics between the members of swanboat; the anecdotes surrounding their early days and the history they shared once again felt very realistic and also super nostalgic. you could tell why they were so loved and why they had their success, all of them bringing their special something to the band worked so well. the theme of nostalgia and wanting to go back to a past that's no longer really yours for so many reasons hit me like a truck. i could've read a whole book about the origins of swanboat honestly. i adored the first half of the book, and had I had the same experience in the second half as well it would've definitely been a 5 star, but something just didn't click. the conflict between amelia and ramona felt very much realistic and it made sense to me that they would stop talking after that, but this specific point felt kind of dragged in the second half. it felt like things were being reiterated but without the plot really moving forward most of the time. not to mention the third act conflict that felt more frustrating than anything, and as someone who doesn't like third act conflicts that specific chunk was on thin ice as it is. i wanted the character to maybe it approach it in a different way, i liked that they kind of regressed to their old selves whenever they were together, it made sense, but they've also changed as people throughout the years and i would've liked to see that reflected a bit more. also slight nit-pick, but i did not like how many times amelia and ramona's heartfelt scenes were cut short because of someone interrupting them, it was used enough times in the book for me to notice and it got more frustrating than anything after the second time. overall i did enjoy this and there's a lot of elements that left me glued to the page, i can't wait for this book to be enjoyed by other readers as well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Creative Differences by Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang
☀️☀️☀️☀️
Big thanks to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
This sapphic romance is an ode to music, friendship, queerness, and growth. Filled with yearning and earnestness, it's a predictable but genuinely enjoyable ride.
Most of the second chance romances I've read in the past are full blown relationships, so finding this book where Ramona and Amelia *almost* got there before burning out and running made for interesting context. The built-in tension from that unresolved situation propelled the story forwards while still maintaining a slow burn in the current time romance.
Ramona and Amelia have great chemistry, and are both interesting and complex characters on their own, but they're not without weaknesses, namely the believable yet incredibly frustrating third act breakup. Without Bea, the fascinating and cool third band member, things would have been much more sulky and indulgent, so their presence acted as relief to that as well as the voice of logic.
The plot, which is structured around the reunion tour dates and locations across the US, is incredibly formulaic. Despite this predictability, the insightful internal monologues written by Paulsen and Wang made these more bland moments become great moments to expand on character. The writing is accessible and enjoyable. The pop culture references felt cool, not cringey, as did the band member themselves.
This story does not reinvent the wheel, but it is easy to read with compelling characters who clearly care deeply for each other and their music. It is unapologetically queer and emotional and, most importantly, a really good time.
"They stand there, the three of them, in a tight triangle. And it's like they're standing in the eye of a hurricane, like everything is happening around them and any one of them could get swept away in the catastrophic winds, but they won't, because they're all anchored to each other. They're held together with the weight of their own gravity, the gravity that they invent whenever they share a space."
☀️☀️☀️☀️
Big thanks to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
This sapphic romance is an ode to music, friendship, queerness, and growth. Filled with yearning and earnestness, it's a predictable but genuinely enjoyable ride.
Most of the second chance romances I've read in the past are full blown relationships, so finding this book where Ramona and Amelia *almost* got there before burning out and running made for interesting context. The built-in tension from that unresolved situation propelled the story forwards while still maintaining a slow burn in the current time romance.
Ramona and Amelia have great chemistry, and are both interesting and complex characters on their own, but they're not without weaknesses, namely the believable yet incredibly frustrating third act breakup. Without Bea, the fascinating and cool third band member, things would have been much more sulky and indulgent, so their presence acted as relief to that as well as the voice of logic.
The plot, which is structured around the reunion tour dates and locations across the US, is incredibly formulaic. Despite this predictability, the insightful internal monologues written by Paulsen and Wang made these more bland moments become great moments to expand on character. The writing is accessible and enjoyable. The pop culture references felt cool, not cringey, as did the band member themselves.
This story does not reinvent the wheel, but it is easy to read with compelling characters who clearly care deeply for each other and their music. It is unapologetically queer and emotional and, most importantly, a really good time.
"They stand there, the three of them, in a tight triangle. And it's like they're standing in the eye of a hurricane, like everything is happening around them and any one of them could get swept away in the catastrophic winds, but they won't, because they're all anchored to each other. They're held together with the weight of their own gravity, the gravity that they invent whenever they share a space."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book!
Splendid, wonderful time for me to pick up this book. I have genuinely been dealing with feeling like a third-wheel in a trio that I am in and so, I was extremely fixated on Bea and their role in the band. I was just waiting for some kind of conflict to arise regarding that and well... I don't want to spoil so I shan't tell if you if there was such a conflict. But Bea spoke to me a lot, since my friends were just leaving me out. My friends aren't fucking (at least... I don't think) but the point still stands.
My third-wheel tangent aside, I did enjoy the romance very much. It was well-developed, with the characters being deeply flawed, but they are humans beings and that is in their nature. They can't be cookie-cutter perfect. Their actions will annoy you somewhat, but I really think that's the beauty of it. Who wants to read about characters that don't feel like people? Their issues with loneliness, trying to find yourself, dealing with romantic issues, feeling inadequate, imposter syndrome, they are deeply relatable. You don't have to be a famous pop star musician to feel the things they felt, because it's so universal. They weren't also annoying about it, you know? Mostly, if a successful, famous musician was ranting about your issues, depending on their tone, you would feel annoyed about it, no? You would kind of roll your eyes. But it didn't feel like that to me.
One of the tropes that I find so tedious is internalized homophobia and all its different subsections. Like hating yourself for being queer, coming to terms with it and that's what the story is about. I am not shaming anybody who loves that trope, but it's just so annoying to me. And I am very glad that a lot of queer romances these days don't exactly follow the trope; their struggles aren't about how shameless it is to be queer, but it's very universal problems that stems from who they are as people. I really appreciate that.
Splendid, wonderful time for me to pick up this book. I have genuinely been dealing with feeling like a third-wheel in a trio that I am in and so, I was extremely fixated on Bea and their role in the band. I was just waiting for some kind of conflict to arise regarding that and well... I don't want to spoil so I shan't tell if you if there was such a conflict. But Bea spoke to me a lot, since my friends were just leaving me out. My friends aren't fucking (at least... I don't think) but the point still stands.
My third-wheel tangent aside, I did enjoy the romance very much. It was well-developed, with the characters being deeply flawed, but they are humans beings and that is in their nature. They can't be cookie-cutter perfect. Their actions will annoy you somewhat, but I really think that's the beauty of it. Who wants to read about characters that don't feel like people? Their issues with loneliness, trying to find yourself, dealing with romantic issues, feeling inadequate, imposter syndrome, they are deeply relatable. You don't have to be a famous pop star musician to feel the things they felt, because it's so universal. They weren't also annoying about it, you know? Mostly, if a successful, famous musician was ranting about your issues, depending on their tone, you would feel annoyed about it, no? You would kind of roll your eyes. But it didn't feel like that to me.
One of the tropes that I find so tedious is internalized homophobia and all its different subsections. Like hating yourself for being queer, coming to terms with it and that's what the story is about. I am not shaming anybody who loves that trope, but it's just so annoying to me. And I am very glad that a lot of queer romances these days don't exactly follow the trope; their struggles aren't about how shameless it is to be queer, but it's very universal problems that stems from who they are as people. I really appreciate that.
August 9, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Bindery Books for sending me the ARC!
I had a lot of fun with this one, and I think you’ll be able to tell because my biggest feedback is just that I want more. I want more flashbacks, more detail, more time. This book felt like it was giving me half a story. I wish we got to see more of college Swanboat, how they actually formed. The flashbacks we do get feel half-baked and sort of provide the illusion of things happening without ever diving into the specifics. A good piece of writing is all about specificity.
Even romance books need to world-build somewhat. Characters, relationships, backstories make up the world of a romance in that it makes it come alive. I kept wishing for more from each character, but everything felt like set dressing for the Amelia and Ramona to fall in love. I also actually wish there was more conflict—not in that I wanted more miscommunication mind you, but rather, instead of having constant, tiny conflicts (and SO much miscommunication that did not feel realistic or understandable, because there is such a thing as well-done miscommunication), that were resolved just as quickly as it happened, the characters had larger actual conflict that put them at odds so they needed to solve it. In general, I’m just sick of the “I loved you this whole time” and “we were both wrong” of it all. Sometimes you learn to love someone over time. Sometimes it is one person who did something wrong. Characters should be allowed to make grievous mistakes and learn from them! They do not need to be perfect.
I also noticed a few continuity errors and repetition. I think in one paragraph the word hot was repeated almost four times. Since this was an ARC there may also be differences in the final book.
Overall, this did scratch the itch I had for a sapphic romance, particularly about two members of the same band. I just wish it was an even longer book!
I had a lot of fun with this one, and I think you’ll be able to tell because my biggest feedback is just that I want more. I want more flashbacks, more detail, more time. This book felt like it was giving me half a story. I wish we got to see more of college Swanboat, how they actually formed. The flashbacks we do get feel half-baked and sort of provide the illusion of things happening without ever diving into the specifics. A good piece of writing is all about specificity.
Even romance books need to world-build somewhat. Characters, relationships, backstories make up the world of a romance in that it makes it come alive. I kept wishing for more from each character, but everything felt like set dressing for the Amelia and Ramona to fall in love. I also actually wish there was more conflict—not in that I wanted more miscommunication mind you, but rather, instead of having constant, tiny conflicts (and SO much miscommunication that did not feel realistic or understandable, because there is such a thing as well-done miscommunication), that were resolved just as quickly as it happened, the characters had larger actual conflict that put them at odds so they needed to solve it. In general, I’m just sick of the “I loved you this whole time” and “we were both wrong” of it all. Sometimes you learn to love someone over time. Sometimes it is one person who did something wrong. Characters should be allowed to make grievous mistakes and learn from them! They do not need to be perfect.
I also noticed a few continuity errors and repetition. I think in one paragraph the word hot was repeated almost four times. Since this was an ARC there may also be differences in the final book.
Overall, this did scratch the itch I had for a sapphic romance, particularly about two members of the same band. I just wish it was an even longer book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow. The first thing I can say is wow. When I found out I could get an ARC on this one, to say I was stoked would be an understatement.
I started reading this one yesterday while on the bus, and immediately was sucked into the narrative. It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to experience that. If it hadn’t been for my brother tapping my shoulder, I would’ve missed my stop.
It took me about 6 hours collectively to read, and I was able to sit down and read it on the plane. I was so impressed by the narrative.
Number 1) the characters were so relatable. I felt so seen in the portrayal of Bea and Ramona. I highlighted multiple quotes that made me giggle or made me connect with the story.
The way Ramona’s anxiety and depression was depicted, didn’t take up the entire storyline, which was wonderful, but it was also incredibly important to the character, and was perfectly executed.
Number 2) it was the perfect balance of fluff, angst, spice and plot. It was so perfectly blended, that I didn’t feel like I was craving something. It was all perfectly timed.
Number 3) I adored the ending. It’s very rare for me to finish a book that ends the way I hoped it would, and actually ties up all of the loose ends that I wanted.
Number 4) As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I can say this- I occasionally feel that in some books, the writing and characters are oversaturated with queer themes. I did not feel that way at all, when reading this one. Everything was exactly right.
Number 5) The writing style was so so good! I felt so comfortable with the narrative, and it flowed incredibly well.
So overall, I’m giving this one 5 stars. Can’t wait for the physical copy to come out so I can gift it to my girlfriend and get her to read it!
I started reading this one yesterday while on the bus, and immediately was sucked into the narrative. It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to experience that. If it hadn’t been for my brother tapping my shoulder, I would’ve missed my stop.
It took me about 6 hours collectively to read, and I was able to sit down and read it on the plane. I was so impressed by the narrative.
Number 1) the characters were so relatable. I felt so seen in the portrayal of Bea and Ramona. I highlighted multiple quotes that made me giggle or made me connect with the story.
The way Ramona’s anxiety and depression was depicted, didn’t take up the entire storyline, which was wonderful, but it was also incredibly important to the character, and was perfectly executed.
Number 2) it was the perfect balance of fluff, angst, spice and plot. It was so perfectly blended, that I didn’t feel like I was craving something. It was all perfectly timed.
Number 3) I adored the ending. It’s very rare for me to finish a book that ends the way I hoped it would, and actually ties up all of the loose ends that I wanted.
Number 4) As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I can say this- I occasionally feel that in some books, the writing and characters are oversaturated with queer themes. I did not feel that way at all, when reading this one. Everything was exactly right.
Number 5) The writing style was so so good! I felt so comfortable with the narrative, and it flowed incredibly well.
So overall, I’m giving this one 5 stars. Can’t wait for the physical copy to come out so I can gift it to my girlfriend and get her to read it!
August 7, 2026
ARC received from Netgalley
Okay this book was just the most wholesome thing ever without being sugary sweet, like a perfect cinnamon roll.
The characters were very well balanced and I greatly appreciated the gender diversity without it being too on the nose. (Minor side note: this also was the first book in which I ever saw a straight edge person being mentioned?! I feel seen!)
The tone and the pace of the book were very well-balanced. The stakes of the story could have been a lot higher, but in my opinion the authors struck a great note with there being some tension and unanswered questions. Hell, there’s even room for a sequel?! I am sat for an expansion of the Swanboat Universe.
The title is a cute reference to both of the main characters’ songwriting backgrounds, something many creatives must encounter when collaborating with other creatives. To me the idea of ‘creative differences’ didn’t really translate into the nature of their relationship: I read it less as ‘opposites attract’. I didn’t feel too much strife between Amelia and Ramona, despite them being quite different, but more as two sides of the same coin who really needed each other to get the most out of their creative outlets and their personality. In a way I preferred how this was written! The relationship between the two protagonists felt palpable, there wasn’t too much back and forth (which is a trope that might be enjoyed by others) and all in all it really felt like a wholesome building up to a climax.
All in all it felt like a wholesome, low-to-medium-stakes romance story with a low-moderate amount of spice that was described rather lovingly instead of graphic. Would recommend!
4.25/5 stars
Okay this book was just the most wholesome thing ever without being sugary sweet, like a perfect cinnamon roll.
The characters were very well balanced and I greatly appreciated the gender diversity without it being too on the nose. (Minor side note: this also was the first book in which I ever saw a straight edge person being mentioned?! I feel seen!)
The tone and the pace of the book were very well-balanced. The stakes of the story could have been a lot higher, but in my opinion the authors struck a great note with there being some tension and unanswered questions. Hell, there’s even room for a sequel?! I am sat for an expansion of the Swanboat Universe.
The title is a cute reference to both of the main characters’ songwriting backgrounds, something many creatives must encounter when collaborating with other creatives. To me the idea of ‘creative differences’ didn’t really translate into the nature of their relationship: I read it less as ‘opposites attract’. I didn’t feel too much strife between Amelia and Ramona, despite them being quite different, but more as two sides of the same coin who really needed each other to get the most out of their creative outlets and their personality. In a way I preferred how this was written! The relationship between the two protagonists felt palpable, there wasn’t too much back and forth (which is a trope that might be enjoyed by others) and all in all it really felt like a wholesome building up to a climax.
All in all it felt like a wholesome, low-to-medium-stakes romance story with a low-moderate amount of spice that was described rather lovingly instead of graphic. Would recommend!
4.25/5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Never in my life did I think I would read multiple Erewhon references in one book, but here we are. Creative Differences is a contemporary sapphic romance that follows musicians Amelia Wells, Ramona Sloane, and Beatrix Fink as they enter a reunion tour five years after the dissolution of their band, Swanboat. The problem? Amelia and Ramona kissed and never told Beatrix, then they disbanded and moved on with their lives. The reunion tour was supposed to benefit them all, but all it's done is resurfaced various complicated feelings and anxieties for Amelia and Ramona.
This book rarely has any miscommunication, rather it deals in no communication. This may be frustrating, but it is painfully realistic. The book also speaks heavily about anxiety, often the cause for the poor communication or lack thereof. This story is inseparable from anxiety and people-pleasing. It's also inseparable from the toxicity of the music industry. The industry is another cause for anxiety, but there's never a doubt that it is a business first. The book could've expanded on this theme very easily, however, it decided not to do so likely because it was less central to the romance than the struggles with anxiety.
Now, for the most important details: the references. Sure, there are the boring, overused references like TikTok, but it also references Tiny Desk and the Grammys. The most ridiculous by far was referencing Erewhon twice. That's right, two times. Dare I say, this was the most jarring reference I've ever read.
May Declan never find me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This book rarely has any miscommunication, rather it deals in no communication. This may be frustrating, but it is painfully realistic. The book also speaks heavily about anxiety, often the cause for the poor communication or lack thereof. This story is inseparable from anxiety and people-pleasing. It's also inseparable from the toxicity of the music industry. The industry is another cause for anxiety, but there's never a doubt that it is a business first. The book could've expanded on this theme very easily, however, it decided not to do so likely because it was less central to the romance than the struggles with anxiety.
Now, for the most important details: the references. Sure, there are the boring, overused references like TikTok, but it also references Tiny Desk and the Grammys. The most ridiculous by far was referencing Erewhon twice. That's right, two times. Dare I say, this was the most jarring reference I've ever read.
May Declan never find me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25/5 stars!
Creative Differences is a sweet, cute, and funny story about two women who are getting a second chance at love and friendship.
I think it was surprisingly good because I don’t necessarily enjoy romance. I enjoyed the banter and the mutual emotional constipation between Amelia and Ramona. Yes, you can be pushing thirty and still not have everything figured out feelings-wise.
I loved the dual POVs from both authors. I enjoyed how they tackled both FMCs' mental dilemmas because it didn’t feel like they were just putting it on paper just for the sake of moving the plot forward. It felt very realistic. It felt like these girls could be a friend I’d smack on the head for being obtuse, and they also felt like someone I could see in the mirror. They’re just like me for real. It was cliché, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. It was really fun and sweet.
I enjoyed Bea’s character as well. I loved that the story didn’t make me feel as if Bea were just a side character in the romance novel; they felt very much connected with both the FMCs, so that was really nice to read about, too. I take pride in friendships that don’t come second to romantic relationships.
I recommend this to someone who just wants to giggle for a bit and read something between a lesbian and bisexual FMC who also happen to be ex-bandmates!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publishing Date: February 9, 2027
Creative Differences is a sweet, cute, and funny story about two women who are getting a second chance at love and friendship.
I think it was surprisingly good because I don’t necessarily enjoy romance. I enjoyed the banter and the mutual emotional constipation between Amelia and Ramona. Yes, you can be pushing thirty and still not have everything figured out feelings-wise.
I loved the dual POVs from both authors. I enjoyed how they tackled both FMCs' mental dilemmas because it didn’t feel like they were just putting it on paper just for the sake of moving the plot forward. It felt very realistic. It felt like these girls could be a friend I’d smack on the head for being obtuse, and they also felt like someone I could see in the mirror. They’re just like me for real. It was cliché, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. It was really fun and sweet.
I enjoyed Bea’s character as well. I loved that the story didn’t make me feel as if Bea were just a side character in the romance novel; they felt very much connected with both the FMCs, so that was really nice to read about, too. I take pride in friendships that don’t come second to romantic relationships.
I recommend this to someone who just wants to giggle for a bit and read something between a lesbian and bisexual FMC who also happen to be ex-bandmates!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publishing Date: February 9, 2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books (Sapph-Lit) for a copy of the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
***
Rating: 3.75 stars rounded up to 4
An obligatory -1.75 star for a Taylor Swift name drop, the unironic use of the phrase "thank you for calling me in," and the authors insisting on being anatomically correct during a sex scene, but a +0.5 star for the bomb derogatory nickname "Kombucha McCommitment Issues."
Finished this book in less than a week and had a generally good time reading it - the prose is super readable, the pacing is good, and as another reviewer said, it definitely scratches the contemporary gen-z sapphic romance itch without it being too syrupy sweet. I also just like reading about hot sapphics so yeah I mean I can't complain there either.
I will say though that some of the pop culture references gave very chronically online energy, and it was at times painfully clear which sapphic gen-z artists the authors were taking inspiration from (its okay just say ramona is king princess). I also felt like the at times the descriptions of their looks/hair/fits were kind of stereotypical but then again I walk outside in my city and see some version of the Ramona/Mia/Bea aesthetic everywhere I go so maybe the authors did have a point there.
Would recommend as a fun read if you're looking for a low-stakes contemporary sapphic romance without anyone dying or the whole plot being about coming out.
***
Rating: 3.75 stars rounded up to 4
An obligatory -1.75 star for a Taylor Swift name drop, the unironic use of the phrase "thank you for calling me in," and the authors insisting on being anatomically correct during a sex scene, but a +0.5 star for the bomb derogatory nickname "Kombucha McCommitment Issues."
Finished this book in less than a week and had a generally good time reading it - the prose is super readable, the pacing is good, and as another reviewer said, it definitely scratches the contemporary gen-z sapphic romance itch without it being too syrupy sweet. I also just like reading about hot sapphics so yeah I mean I can't complain there either.
I will say though that some of the pop culture references gave very chronically online energy, and it was at times painfully clear which sapphic gen-z artists the authors were taking inspiration from (its okay just say ramona is king princess). I also felt like the at times the descriptions of their looks/hair/fits were kind of stereotypical but then again I walk outside in my city and see some version of the Ramona/Mia/Bea aesthetic everywhere I go so maybe the authors did have a point there.
Would recommend as a fun read if you're looking for a low-stakes contemporary sapphic romance without anyone dying or the whole plot being about coming out.
August 8, 2026
3 stars
First of all, thank you & Netgalley so much for sending me an audio copy of this book.
‘Creative Differences’ is a second-chance romance about a band getting together 5 years after their unexpected breakup. We follow the 3 bandmembers start performing again and all the drama that comes with it.
I always love some Sapphic musicians' fiction. It takes me right back to when I was a teenager reading/writing fanfiction about the bands I was a fan of. This book felt like coming home in a way.
The book is fairly clean, not 100% but still pretty clean. I liked it, because sometimes people add spice just to add spice and that isn't really my thing.
I liked the plot, it was predictable, but still wholesome without feeling like YA. The pace also was perfect, nothing felt too fast or too slow, it fell in place perfectly.
However, I failed to really connect with the characters. They fell flat to me unfortunately. They were likable, but never felt super realistic. Sometimes I wish they went in a little more depth to help me connect with it. This also can be because there were so many misunderstandings happening and the 2 refusing to talk to each other! That also was very frustrating.
Overall, this book is a wholesome yet predictable romance. I enjoyed myself, though sometimes I wish there was a bit more depth.
First of all, thank you & Netgalley so much for sending me an audio copy of this book.
‘Creative Differences’ is a second-chance romance about a band getting together 5 years after their unexpected breakup. We follow the 3 bandmembers start performing again and all the drama that comes with it.
I always love some Sapphic musicians' fiction. It takes me right back to when I was a teenager reading/writing fanfiction about the bands I was a fan of. This book felt like coming home in a way.
The book is fairly clean, not 100% but still pretty clean. I liked it, because sometimes people add spice just to add spice and that isn't really my thing.
I liked the plot, it was predictable, but still wholesome without feeling like YA. The pace also was perfect, nothing felt too fast or too slow, it fell in place perfectly.
However, I failed to really connect with the characters. They fell flat to me unfortunately. They were likable, but never felt super realistic. Sometimes I wish they went in a little more depth to help me connect with it. This also can be because there were so many misunderstandings happening and the 2 refusing to talk to each other! That also was very frustrating.
Overall, this book is a wholesome yet predictable romance. I enjoyed myself, though sometimes I wish there was a bit more depth.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one is a bit different from the type of books I would usually pick up, but I gave it a shot because the cover and premise reminded me of Nana and tbh I feel like Nana fans would really like this one, as vibes are similar, except this one gives the protagonists a happier outcome.
If I had to sum this up, I'd say "Creative Differences" is a book about sapphic yearning. And there's LOTS of yearning.
It's a very sweet story about these girls who used to be in a band together back in college. The band breaks up after the protagonists realise they're into each other, as they get scared by the intensity of their feelings and fear to commit. They go their separate ways for 5 years, working on their solo careers in music, until they eventually get in contact again for a reunion tour, to which they're initially reluctant to agree to. Since the band was what really brought them together 5 years previous, they're scared of falling for each other all over again.
While reading this you can expect to see them navigate their complicated thoughts, feelings, fears and communication issues.
It's a book about friendship, sexuality, loneliness, mental health issues and many more, all wrapped up nicely in the context of an epic band tour around the US.
If that sounds like your cup of tea, you should definitely give this one a shot. :)
If I had to sum this up, I'd say "Creative Differences" is a book about sapphic yearning. And there's LOTS of yearning.
It's a very sweet story about these girls who used to be in a band together back in college. The band breaks up after the protagonists realise they're into each other, as they get scared by the intensity of their feelings and fear to commit. They go their separate ways for 5 years, working on their solo careers in music, until they eventually get in contact again for a reunion tour, to which they're initially reluctant to agree to. Since the band was what really brought them together 5 years previous, they're scared of falling for each other all over again.
While reading this you can expect to see them navigate their complicated thoughts, feelings, fears and communication issues.
It's a book about friendship, sexuality, loneliness, mental health issues and many more, all wrapped up nicely in the context of an epic band tour around the US.
If that sounds like your cup of tea, you should definitely give this one a shot. :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was absolutely planned that my 100th book of the year would incorporate as many of my favorite things as I could find in a book. Naturally, it's a Bindery book. Even when a book hasn't been in one of my (many) preferred genres, I've not yet been let down by a Bindery book. This book was no exception (it was literally tailored for me) rockstar romance, tour bus (and car) shenanigans, romance, sapphic lit, second chance, a little enemies to lovers (could have had more snark and higher stakes) sensitive handling of anxiety and depression, a fun approach to "the inn only has one bed!" and the sapphic YEARNING!!! I absolutely loved Bea and their calm yet firm way of handling their two best friends/bandmates. (Sometimes the dummies in love need someone to point out how they are dummies in love.) Would absolutely read more from their perspective! Watching Ramona tackle anxiety and her mental health while on a rockstar tour was uplifting. And even though my brain kept auto-correcting Amelia to Amelie, seeing her navigate loneliness and exploring how sometimes making the "safe" choice isn't really safe at all gave her depth that I didn't expect from the "popstar FMC."
Thank you to Bindery and NetGalley for my gifted EARC!
Thank you to Bindery and NetGalley for my gifted EARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the author, publisher and to NetGallery for this ARC ♡♡
Lots of potential but unfortunately it just couldn't quite stick the landing!
There was lots to like about this book - solid premise, vivid characters and talented writers. The writing tense (3rd person present) threw me off at the beginning, but after a few chapters it grows on you. I liked how diverse this book was and how natural it all felt.
However, compared to some other books with a similar premise of 'musical exes getting back together' (like Daisy Jones & the Six and Deep Cuts), Creative Differences fell short on delivering a clear aesthetic and chemistry between the two main leads. The constant references to TikTok and social media trends felt jarring and shallow, especially considering the 'indie rock girl group' vibe of Swanboat. I would have loved to have seen this book set in the late 2000s/early 2010s, I think it would have fit the novel's overall vibe a lot better.
Amelia and Ramona start off as interesting, well-rounded characters. But instead of coming from a place of tension, their constant miscommunication was just immature and frustrating.
While Creative Differences doesn't live up to the calibre of its peers, it's still a fun read!!!!
Lots of potential but unfortunately it just couldn't quite stick the landing!
There was lots to like about this book - solid premise, vivid characters and talented writers. The writing tense (3rd person present) threw me off at the beginning, but after a few chapters it grows on you. I liked how diverse this book was and how natural it all felt.
However, compared to some other books with a similar premise of 'musical exes getting back together' (like Daisy Jones & the Six and Deep Cuts), Creative Differences fell short on delivering a clear aesthetic and chemistry between the two main leads. The constant references to TikTok and social media trends felt jarring and shallow, especially considering the 'indie rock girl group' vibe of Swanboat. I would have loved to have seen this book set in the late 2000s/early 2010s, I think it would have fit the novel's overall vibe a lot better.
Amelia and Ramona start off as interesting, well-rounded characters. But instead of coming from a place of tension, their constant miscommunication was just immature and frustrating.
While Creative Differences doesn't live up to the calibre of its peers, it's still a fun read!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Super sweet second chance romance with great chemistry between two wx bandmates and three characters with a friendship that I loved to read about.
In Creative Differences we had bisexual and lesbian FMCs and a non-binary Bea in a queer relationship with a woman and since you can't never have enough of queer people, it was an absolute delight to have all of them.
I enjoyed their romance (it's dual pov and it really worked here! Both authors worked really well together) but I personally really liked their individual journeys, both Amelia and Ramona had their own inner turmoil about their personal and profissional lives and each other and it was entertaining to see it being untangled while they were on tour; I loved the musical side of it, it's of course integral to the story and it was nice to have some of the artists I like getting name-dropped.
So if you like romance and especially a second chance romance between ex bandmates on a nostalgia ride with great chemistry and tension you'll enjoy this a lot.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
In Creative Differences we had bisexual and lesbian FMCs and a non-binary Bea in a queer relationship with a woman and since you can't never have enough of queer people, it was an absolute delight to have all of them.
I enjoyed their romance (it's dual pov and it really worked here! Both authors worked really well together) but I personally really liked their individual journeys, both Amelia and Ramona had their own inner turmoil about their personal and profissional lives and each other and it was entertaining to see it being untangled while they were on tour; I loved the musical side of it, it's of course integral to the story and it was nice to have some of the artists I like getting name-dropped.
So if you like romance and especially a second chance romance between ex bandmates on a nostalgia ride with great chemistry and tension you'll enjoy this a lot.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.
Creative Differences follows Ramona, a late twenties radio host and Amelia, a rising solo musician as their band gets back together for a reunion tour five years after a kiss broke them apart.
I really liked this book! The tension and chemistry between Ramona and Amelia was palpable and I loved how the dual perspective allowed us to see them both fall for each other again. Bea and the band members were all delights and I really appreciated how supportive they all were to each other and how the whole band found ways to work together.
I just wished we would've gotten more of the actual lyrics from the songs the band was playing on tour. There were only a few scenes actually on stage or of the group writing together and I wanted more of that! Also both main characters really just needed to talk through things and it was frustrating for them to almost get there several times but not quite.
But I really enjoyed the characters and relationships enough that these were minor critiques.
Thank you again to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.
Creative Differences follows Ramona, a late twenties radio host and Amelia, a rising solo musician as their band gets back together for a reunion tour five years after a kiss broke them apart.
I really liked this book! The tension and chemistry between Ramona and Amelia was palpable and I loved how the dual perspective allowed us to see them both fall for each other again. Bea and the band members were all delights and I really appreciated how supportive they all were to each other and how the whole band found ways to work together.
I just wished we would've gotten more of the actual lyrics from the songs the band was playing on tour. There were only a few scenes actually on stage or of the group writing together and I wanted more of that! Also both main characters really just needed to talk through things and it was frustrating for them to almost get there several times but not quite.
But I really enjoyed the characters and relationships enough that these were minor critiques.
Thank you again to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Advance reader copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
Artistic Differences really captures the essence of a band story, a love story, and also a friends as soulmates story: This book isn’t just about Ramona and Amelia, it’s about Bea as well, and how the three of them come together again as a band after a sudden and traumatic split five years before. All of these elements combined is what makes it so engaging and great to read, instead of just another formulaic literary rom-com that also has a band.
Something else that’s done perfectly here is how the neurodivergence of the characters is handled and represented in a very natural and realistic way. This is something that I really appreciated, as my spouse and I are both neurodivergent.
And the spice? It’s very, very slow burn, but is very, very worth it.
Thanks so much to Bindery Books and Sapph-Lit for the advance reader copy through Net Galley. I really loved this one, and I hope that the published version comes with a playlist, because the characters’ favorite music is mentioned often and featured prominently, as it should in any story about a band.
Artistic Differences really captures the essence of a band story, a love story, and also a friends as soulmates story: This book isn’t just about Ramona and Amelia, it’s about Bea as well, and how the three of them come together again as a band after a sudden and traumatic split five years before. All of these elements combined is what makes it so engaging and great to read, instead of just another formulaic literary rom-com that also has a band.
Something else that’s done perfectly here is how the neurodivergence of the characters is handled and represented in a very natural and realistic way. This is something that I really appreciated, as my spouse and I are both neurodivergent.
And the spice? It’s very, very slow burn, but is very, very worth it.
Thanks so much to Bindery Books and Sapph-Lit for the advance reader copy through Net Galley. I really loved this one, and I hope that the published version comes with a playlist, because the characters’ favorite music is mentioned often and featured prominently, as it should in any story about a band.
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