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Runaway Rockstar
New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott returns with a hot new rockstar romance...
Nash Porter is a rockstar who wants out. He’s had enough of nonstop grinding tours and the pressure of success and fame. It’s time for a taste of normalcy. And his retired housekeeper’s home in a charming small town, is the last place anyone would think to look for him.
Having been dumped and evicted by her idiot ex, June Calloway is ready for a change of scenery. When her grandmother suggests June visit, she jumps at the chance. What could be better than quiet time in a quaint picturesque town to restart her life and take her mind off her woes? What she doesn’t anticipate is that a rockstar-in-hiding will be her new roommate—and she’ll have to help keep him away from the media and adoring fans.
Concealing a platinum-selling, award-winning musician’s true identity isn’t going to be easy, but June has some ideas. It starts with a shave and haircut, and ends with June claiming Nash is her very ordinary, not the slightest-bit-famous, ex who has come to woo her back. Surely nothing can go wrong.
Nash Porter is a rockstar who wants out. He’s had enough of nonstop grinding tours and the pressure of success and fame. It’s time for a taste of normalcy. And his retired housekeeper’s home in a charming small town, is the last place anyone would think to look for him.
Having been dumped and evicted by her idiot ex, June Calloway is ready for a change of scenery. When her grandmother suggests June visit, she jumps at the chance. What could be better than quiet time in a quaint picturesque town to restart her life and take her mind off her woes? What she doesn’t anticipate is that a rockstar-in-hiding will be her new roommate—and she’ll have to help keep him away from the media and adoring fans.
Concealing a platinum-selling, award-winning musician’s true identity isn’t going to be easy, but June has some ideas. It starts with a shave and haircut, and ends with June claiming Nash is her very ordinary, not the slightest-bit-famous, ex who has come to woo her back. Surely nothing can go wrong.
233 pages
Published July 27, 2026
About the author
Kylie Scott
63 books17.2k followersKylie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling, Audie Award winning Romance author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 9, 2026
3.5 Stars
I’ve been a fan of Kylie Scott’s previous works, particularly the Stage Dive series, so I was really excited to read Runaway Rockstar. While this one didn’t quite reach my Stage Dive level of love, I still had a really lovely time with it.
When rock star Nash a.k.a Aaron Porter found himself in need of a fresh start away from his famous and luxurious life, he escaped the spotlight and headed to the small town of The Bend where he met June Calloway, the granddaughter of his previous worker and a friend. What started as an unexpected connection soon developed into something neither of them quite anticipated. But with Nash’s rockstar life and the town's very involved community complicating things, their relationship might or might not survive once the outside world catches up with them.
The story was light, sweet, and easy to get into, and I adored both the characters. They were genuinely likeable, and their romance was warm and had little to no angst, which I really appreciated. 🥰 Their relationship did develop a little too quickly for me, though. I would have loved more time to see their connection grow and deepen before things became more serious.
There were also so many little moments that made me smile because of how connected they were to each other. And that “Hey, June” scene... OMG! It definitely made me admire Nash even more. ❤️
My biggest issue though was The Bend community. I know the meddling, everyone-knows-everything-about-everyone vibe is part of the small-town charm, but these people were more than a little noisy for my taste. 😂 Like, c'mon… you guys don't have your own lives to focus on?! Why are you so invested in June and Nash?! For me that's the biggest takeaway that ultimately kept this from being a higher rating.
Still, there was a lot to love here. It was cute, warm, and romantic and I have to say, the rockstar and music aspect was TOP TIER for me! 🎸🎶 June and Nash were the heart of the story, and I really enjoyed watching them fall for each other and take their HEA for themselves.
I’ve been a fan of Kylie Scott’s previous works, particularly the Stage Dive series, so I was really excited to read Runaway Rockstar. While this one didn’t quite reach my Stage Dive level of love, I still had a really lovely time with it.
When rock star Nash a.k.a Aaron Porter found himself in need of a fresh start away from his famous and luxurious life, he escaped the spotlight and headed to the small town of The Bend where he met June Calloway, the granddaughter of his previous worker and a friend. What started as an unexpected connection soon developed into something neither of them quite anticipated. But with Nash’s rockstar life and the town's very involved community complicating things, their relationship might or might not survive once the outside world catches up with them.
The story was light, sweet, and easy to get into, and I adored both the characters. They were genuinely likeable, and their romance was warm and had little to no angst, which I really appreciated. 🥰 Their relationship did develop a little too quickly for me, though. I would have loved more time to see their connection grow and deepen before things became more serious.
There were also so many little moments that made me smile because of how connected they were to each other. And that “Hey, June” scene... OMG! It definitely made me admire Nash even more. ❤️
My biggest issue though was The Bend community. I know the meddling, everyone-knows-everything-about-everyone vibe is part of the small-town charm, but these people were more than a little noisy for my taste. 😂 Like, c'mon… you guys don't have your own lives to focus on?! Why are you so invested in June and Nash?! For me that's the biggest takeaway that ultimately kept this from being a higher rating.
Still, there was a lot to love here. It was cute, warm, and romantic and I have to say, the rockstar and music aspect was TOP TIER for me! 🎸🎶 June and Nash were the heart of the story, and I really enjoyed watching them fall for each other and take their HEA for themselves.
August 1, 2026
Generally, I love Kylie Scott's books so much. The humor, the banter, the relationship building between the two love interests but this one felt undercooked and just didn't hit.
I'm used to her writing somewhat silly rockstar types (think Mal from Stage Dive) but even when she did those, they still had some gravitas and weren't silly all of the time. Our MMC Nash is pure golden retriever with a side of Peter Pan. Our FMC June is coming off a breakup from a boyfriend she didn't really seem to like that much.
June moves in with her grandmother in a small town in Washington state and Nash shows up wanting to basically hide out and run away from the rockstar life. Since June's grandmother was his one-time long term housekeeper, he chooses her house. Then throw in some insta-love, almost comically short conflict, and there you have it.
This is basically novella length but even then, it felt too rush, too little characterization, and the conflict felt comical in its lack of actual teeth. But Scott does have funny moments in this book and while not my favorite by any means - the idea was there - this is not my favorite book of hers. Too bad, I love her writing normally. Three stars.
I'm used to her writing somewhat silly rockstar types (think Mal from Stage Dive) but even when she did those, they still had some gravitas and weren't silly all of the time. Our MMC Nash is pure golden retriever with a side of Peter Pan. Our FMC June is coming off a breakup from a boyfriend she didn't really seem to like that much.
June moves in with her grandmother in a small town in Washington state and Nash shows up wanting to basically hide out and run away from the rockstar life. Since June's grandmother was his one-time long term housekeeper, he chooses her house. Then throw in some insta-love, almost comically short conflict, and there you have it.
This is basically novella length but even then, it felt too rush, too little characterization, and the conflict felt comical in its lack of actual teeth. But Scott does have funny moments in this book and while not my favorite by any means - the idea was there - this is not my favorite book of hers. Too bad, I love her writing normally. Three stars.
August 15, 2026
4 ⭐️'s
I thought this was a really sweet romance between Nash and June who both showed up in a small town that June’s grandmother lived in. June getting away from her ex and Nash getting away from his rockstar life that June helps him with.
The town folk in this very small town are way too nosy but it does lead to a certain charm. And Nash has been burned too many times to fully trust people.
To be honest, I didn’t feel the connection between June and Nash and his terms of endearment bugged me. However, I felt Nash came through when it really mattered and you can’t hate that ending.
I thought this was a really sweet romance between Nash and June who both showed up in a small town that June’s grandmother lived in. June getting away from her ex and Nash getting away from his rockstar life that June helps him with.
The town folk in this very small town are way too nosy but it does lead to a certain charm. And Nash has been burned too many times to fully trust people.
To be honest, I didn’t feel the connection between June and Nash and his terms of endearment bugged me. However, I felt Nash came through when it really mattered and you can’t hate that ending.
September 21, 2026
I can say that Kylie Scott is my favorite author ever! I reread some of her books once a year, so I was super excited to see that she had a new book coming out. This book had Fake and Play vibes, although the hero was similar to Mal and the heroine similar to the heroine in Fake; this lacked character depth. It was too over the top; I would have loved to see them dig a little deeper into their relationship and also have more development of secondary characters like Audrey, Angus, and Charlie, and not on the rest of the neighbors (at which one point they go annoying). That being said, I wish this book was a little more.
August 5, 2026
🎸
⚜️ Book Title - Runaway Rockstar
⚜️ Author - Kylie Scott
⚜️ Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚜️ Some Genre/Themes/Tropes: Adult Fiction, Romance and Hidden Identity
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book via the author . I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is my honest review.
This was so damn bingeable! It throws you straight into the story and I flew through it.
June has just escaped a terrible relationship and heads to her grandma’s small town for a fresh start and some much-needed quality time as they are kind of estranged. Enter Nash… and honestly, he was such a fun character. He’s all banter, charm, and absolute chaos, and every scene with him had me grinning.
This isn’t a romance that’s heavily focused on deep character exploration, but it does weave in enough of the characters’ pasts to help you understand why they make certain choices and react the way they do. Those moments added a nice layer to the story without slowing down the pace.
The small-town setting was exactly what you’d expect, in a good way. Everyone was ridiculously nosy, always in everyone else’s business, and it made the whole story even more entertaining.
I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves an easy, small-town romance filled with banter, lovable chaos, and plenty of feel good moments. I’ll absolutely be checking out more books by this author.
I want to say thank you to the author for the ARC.
Note (How I rate): One is DNF. Two is got there but struggled. Three stars is a good, enjoyable read. Four is an excellent read and five is a comfort read that lingers with me for life. My five stars can be imperfect but to me they hit right.
⚜️ Book Title - Runaway Rockstar
⚜️ Author - Kylie Scott
⚜️ Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚜️ Some Genre/Themes/Tropes: Adult Fiction, Romance and Hidden Identity
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book via the author . I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is my honest review.
This was so damn bingeable! It throws you straight into the story and I flew through it.
June has just escaped a terrible relationship and heads to her grandma’s small town for a fresh start and some much-needed quality time as they are kind of estranged. Enter Nash… and honestly, he was such a fun character. He’s all banter, charm, and absolute chaos, and every scene with him had me grinning.
This isn’t a romance that’s heavily focused on deep character exploration, but it does weave in enough of the characters’ pasts to help you understand why they make certain choices and react the way they do. Those moments added a nice layer to the story without slowing down the pace.
The small-town setting was exactly what you’d expect, in a good way. Everyone was ridiculously nosy, always in everyone else’s business, and it made the whole story even more entertaining.
I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves an easy, small-town romance filled with banter, lovable chaos, and plenty of feel good moments. I’ll absolutely be checking out more books by this author.
I want to say thank you to the author for the ARC.
Note (How I rate): One is DNF. Two is got there but struggled. Three stars is a good, enjoyable read. Four is an excellent read and five is a comfort read that lingers with me for life. My five stars can be imperfect but to me they hit right.
July 28, 2026
There’s like 230 pages in this book and I have 133 highlights. I couldn’t put this one down. I had a good time with this one, thats for sure. Nash with all his nicknames for June. All the banter. I was chuckling so much within the first chapter, I knew this one was going to be amazing.
June just got out of a relationship and went to spend time with her grandma in the town of The Bend. Nash is a runaway rockstar/country singer, trying to live a normalish life, while he figures out what he really wants to do next. Hence him showing up at June’s grandmas house, who used to be his maid. These two end up in a fake relationship, even though you can tell Nash has the hots for June as soon as they meet.
Nash was a goofball in this. Most of the things that came out of this mans mouth had me cackling. He was definitely a character that I will remember. June was such a sweetheart in this and getting her POV and how much she had to gird her loins from Nash, dead. These two were so funny and sweet together, I could not get enough.
The town The Bend’s characters were killing it too. Bernadette and Father Frank really stood out to me and had me just in stitches with some of the stuff they were saying. Grandma, though, was a GEM. She was literally the best and tried really hard for June to really think about what it meant for her to be with Nash but Charlie showing up, get it grandma!
Tropes:
✨Fake dating
✨Rockstar MMC
✨Famous x normal
✨Small town
✨Secret identity
✨Fish out of water
June just got out of a relationship and went to spend time with her grandma in the town of The Bend. Nash is a runaway rockstar/country singer, trying to live a normalish life, while he figures out what he really wants to do next. Hence him showing up at June’s grandmas house, who used to be his maid. These two end up in a fake relationship, even though you can tell Nash has the hots for June as soon as they meet.
Nash was a goofball in this. Most of the things that came out of this mans mouth had me cackling. He was definitely a character that I will remember. June was such a sweetheart in this and getting her POV and how much she had to gird her loins from Nash, dead. These two were so funny and sweet together, I could not get enough.
The town The Bend’s characters were killing it too. Bernadette and Father Frank really stood out to me and had me just in stitches with some of the stuff they were saying. Grandma, though, was a GEM. She was literally the best and tried really hard for June to really think about what it meant for her to be with Nash but Charlie showing up, get it grandma!
Tropes:
✨Fake dating
✨Rockstar MMC
✨Famous x normal
✨Small town
✨Secret identity
✨Fish out of water
August 25, 2026
3.5-3.75 stars. This was a cute book! Runaway Rockstar is a standalone book and is June and Nash's story. June recently went through a breakup and lost her job, so she has moved in with the grandma in her tiny town. One evening, not long after, Nash shows up. He is a rockstar that June's grandmother worked for for years as a housekeeper. He too wants to stay with Grandma and reset his life. He is tired of the rockstar lifestyle. No one in town knows who Nash is, except June and her grandmother. In order to "hide him", he claims to be the man who June recently broke up with and proposes to her in public. The townsfolk buy the story and June has a fake fiance/undercover rockstar. Of course, their fake romance starts to feel all too real very quickly. But his identity is found out and real life comes calling for Nash. Can the two make this fake relationship work in the real world?
This was a light, witty, easy read and a fun story. I liked June and Nash and found their story interesting. I did want a little more depth and more happy times and resolution after the climax. I wanted to a glimpse ahead into how their relationship really worked in the future and proof that they really loved each other after such a world-wind relationship. Still, I enjoyed this book overall and was thoroughly entertained. I look forward to more from Ms. Scott in the future!
*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*
This was a light, witty, easy read and a fun story. I liked June and Nash and found their story interesting. I did want a little more depth and more happy times and resolution after the climax. I wanted to a glimpse ahead into how their relationship really worked in the future and proof that they really loved each other after such a world-wind relationship. Still, I enjoyed this book overall and was thoroughly entertained. I look forward to more from Ms. Scott in the future!
*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*
July 27, 2026
'Nash' Aaron Porter is a country rock superstar on the verge of burnout. Desperate to escape the spotlight and reclaim his sanity, he hides away in a small town where his retired housekeeper lives—a place where no one is likely to recognize him.
June has just been dumped by her ex and retreats to her grandmother's home to heal. When she unexpectedly meets Nash, he's instantly captivated by her. To keep his identity under wraps, they agree to a fake relationship, but as feelings grow, secrets and lies threaten to unravel everything.
This is a lighthearted romantic comedy featuring an opposites-attract romance. He's a world-famous musician, while she's an ordinary woman with no interest in fame. Their relationship makes you wonder—is she simply a welcome escape from his celebrity life, or could she be the real thing?
The story flows effortlessly, making it an easy and enjoyable read. There aren't any over-the-top misunderstandings, just realistic obstacles that could have been solved with honest communication. The quirky small-town residents add plenty of humor and charm, with each unique character contributing something memorable to the story.
Overall, this was a fun, feel-good romance that left me smiling. I really enjoyed it.
June has just been dumped by her ex and retreats to her grandmother's home to heal. When she unexpectedly meets Nash, he's instantly captivated by her. To keep his identity under wraps, they agree to a fake relationship, but as feelings grow, secrets and lies threaten to unravel everything.
This is a lighthearted romantic comedy featuring an opposites-attract romance. He's a world-famous musician, while she's an ordinary woman with no interest in fame. Their relationship makes you wonder—is she simply a welcome escape from his celebrity life, or could she be the real thing?
The story flows effortlessly, making it an easy and enjoyable read. There aren't any over-the-top misunderstandings, just realistic obstacles that could have been solved with honest communication. The quirky small-town residents add plenty of humor and charm, with each unique character contributing something memorable to the story.
Overall, this was a fun, feel-good romance that left me smiling. I really enjoyed it.
July 27, 2026
Happy release day to Runaway Rockstar by Kylie Scott!!
Nash and June are my favorite type of couple. She's a little rough around the edges and he's completely obsessed. She's been hurt - badly - and he does everything he can to kiss away the pain.
I loved this book because of how devoted he was. He never once* doubts their love and spends the entire book proving it to June. It's full of quips and one-liners and a small town that rallies behind our protagonists in their time of need.
Kylie Scott has this way of writing banter that makes you cackle throughout the book. I NEEDED a light-hearted, quick romance, and she delivered!!
Thank you, Kylie for the advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*there is a third-act breakup at the end I'm chosing to ignore. It was out of character and unnecessary, but I still love this book!
Nash and June are my favorite type of couple. She's a little rough around the edges and he's completely obsessed. She's been hurt - badly - and he does everything he can to kiss away the pain.
I loved this book because of how devoted he was. He never once* doubts their love and spends the entire book proving it to June. It's full of quips and one-liners and a small town that rallies behind our protagonists in their time of need.
Kylie Scott has this way of writing banter that makes you cackle throughout the book. I NEEDED a light-hearted, quick romance, and she delivered!!
Thank you, Kylie for the advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*there is a third-act breakup at the end I'm chosing to ignore. It was out of character and unnecessary, but I still love this book!
Did Not Finish
September 20, 2026Didn't grab me at all from the start.
September 26, 2026
The banter in this book made it so enjoyable! Great plot, characters and HEA! ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Readers who love a snappy-paced book with banter and humor will enjoy this book. I recently did a complete series reread of Scott's Stage Dive series, so I feel like I know her rock star prototype fairly well. In that series there were funny and witty MCs, and people acting less mature than their age (accurate for celebrities who have every need catered to them). But we also had emotional development, well earned HEAs and what felt like real stakes.
Here we have June and Nash, two people who are at a crossroads in their lives, and both seek refuge at the home of June's grandmother. June's issue is that she was dumped by her loser boyfriend, she's a relatable normie. Nash's issue is that he is an international rock star and has been for years and is exhausted and burned out. So...not quite as relatable! Nash is hiding in plain sight and when June diverts attention from him and pretends he is her ex boyfriend come to make amends as he is about to be recognized, he "yes...ands" that scenario to an unsustainable degree, next thing you know, she's pregnant with imaginary twins, and they are fake engaged.
There is a fantastic story to be told here, and I could really sense it. Nash hasn't had someone fiercely protective of him like June is. They have a connection, first as friends carrying out this story, and then as more when the physical attraction grows too large to ignore. I just feel like it all moved along too breezily, and nothing had a chance to land, like Scott got really into how funny this book was and went skipping from madcap moment to madcap moment. For example, he buys the house next to grandma's, and Jude moves in with him, kind of spur of the moment. (This is after he gives her a public proposal and engagement ring, which they never talk about how true it is or isn't). Later she finds out that he has a history of cohabitating with hook-ups, sometimes after one night and for just a short time, in lieu of dating. She clocks it, and it seems like a big deal (she saw them living together as a whirlwind but serious commitment) but they never address it at all. Nash's brother appears and there's definitely a history to be explored there, but not in this book, apparently. He appears, they fight, and then they work together with no further discussion needed.
There are plenty of issues that could come up, apart from the lightning speed of their relationship. They are sort of set up, and then effortlessly resolved. Because of the constant "yes...and" aspect of their relationship, they have ended up lying to all their friends and neighbors. We might think this fruit of a poisonous tree aspect would need to be addressed, but it's handled during a wacky public shaming scene and done. Same with his fear of being used for his money or fame, there's a set up and an easy resolution. I get that famous people are stuck at the maturity age of when they became famous, but June is supposed to be a whole adult, it feels like they never have the conversations you would have to have to make a quick-paced famous/normie relationship work.
This book moves along fast, I finished it in two hours on a plane. It feels like Scott wrote it in a big push of inspiration for a story. And maybe wrote herself into a little corner, so the single first person present novel all of a sudden has a chapter from the MMC pov to provide some needed action. Also there's a little sentence where all of a sudden the narrator, who has been June and what's in June's head, sees something happen that June doesn't. It's the only place where the omniscient narrator is used.
Ultimately for me this book didn't work as well as some of Scott's others. But if you appreciate a quick and funny read and can handwave a lot it will probably work for you.
Thank you to the author for an arc.
Here we have June and Nash, two people who are at a crossroads in their lives, and both seek refuge at the home of June's grandmother. June's issue is that she was dumped by her loser boyfriend, she's a relatable normie. Nash's issue is that he is an international rock star and has been for years and is exhausted and burned out. So...not quite as relatable! Nash is hiding in plain sight and when June diverts attention from him and pretends he is her ex boyfriend come to make amends as he is about to be recognized, he "yes...ands" that scenario to an unsustainable degree, next thing you know, she's pregnant with imaginary twins, and they are fake engaged.
There is a fantastic story to be told here, and I could really sense it. Nash hasn't had someone fiercely protective of him like June is. They have a connection, first as friends carrying out this story, and then as more when the physical attraction grows too large to ignore. I just feel like it all moved along too breezily, and nothing had a chance to land, like Scott got really into how funny this book was and went skipping from madcap moment to madcap moment. For example, he buys the house next to grandma's, and Jude moves in with him, kind of spur of the moment. (This is after he gives her a public proposal and engagement ring, which they never talk about how true it is or isn't). Later she finds out that he has a history of cohabitating with hook-ups, sometimes after one night and for just a short time, in lieu of dating. She clocks it, and it seems like a big deal (she saw them living together as a whirlwind but serious commitment) but they never address it at all. Nash's brother appears and there's definitely a history to be explored there, but not in this book, apparently. He appears, they fight, and then they work together with no further discussion needed.
There are plenty of issues that could come up, apart from the lightning speed of their relationship. They are sort of set up, and then effortlessly resolved. Because of the constant "yes...and" aspect of their relationship, they have ended up lying to all their friends and neighbors. We might think this fruit of a poisonous tree aspect would need to be addressed, but it's handled during a wacky public shaming scene and done. Same with his fear of being used for his money or fame, there's a set up and an easy resolution. I get that famous people are stuck at the maturity age of when they became famous, but June is supposed to be a whole adult, it feels like they never have the conversations you would have to have to make a quick-paced famous/normie relationship work.
This book moves along fast, I finished it in two hours on a plane. It feels like Scott wrote it in a big push of inspiration for a story. And maybe wrote herself into a little corner, so the single first person present novel all of a sudden has a chapter from the MMC pov to provide some needed action. Also there's a little sentence where all of a sudden the narrator, who has been June and what's in June's head, sees something happen that June doesn't. It's the only place where the omniscient narrator is used.
Ultimately for me this book didn't work as well as some of Scott's others. But if you appreciate a quick and funny read and can handwave a lot it will probably work for you.
Thank you to the author for an arc.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**Disclaimer: Thank you to the author, Kylie Scott, for the advance reader copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available July 27, 2026!
Tropes
♡ Rockstar/Celebrity MMC
♡ Small town romance
Overall:
Small town summer romance between a nonchalant rockstar and a woman reconnecting with herself and her grandma.
Feels:
Like Gilmore Girls meets Stage Dive
Season:
Summer
What I enjoyed:
- I liked Grandma Audrey as the initially strong, independent woman who don't need no man.
- I liked the bond between Grandma Audrey and June. More details around how they grew that bond would have been welcome - What was the fallout with June's mother? What really happened with Audrey and her man the first time?
What I didn’t enjoy:
- The sentences are choppy and hard to lock into at first; I would expect these types of sentences from a younger MC rather than one in her thirties. And the POV from Nash at the end was an abrupt departure from the rest of the book. The warp-speed of their relationship made it difficult to become immersed in it.
- Honestly, Nash reminded me of a less specific version of Mal from Play (Stage Dive #2). It's not his fault, but Mal already checks all those boxes for me. 😌
Favorite quotes:
“What I like most about making this sort of money is getting to do stuff for people.”
“It’s your life, sweetheart. The trick is being brave enough to live it as you think best without getting sidetracked by what doesn’t serve you or bring you joy.”
“Nothing could be as urgent as your love for each other,” says Grandma, who is actually kind of evil when you get right down to it.
“Any excess on my stomach or cellulite on my thighs and ass is as it should be. It’s the patriarchy who wants women frail and underfed and tired—and fuck them.”
“Was he nice to you?”
There’s no answer for a moment. Then she says, “He wasn’t always nice. But he was always kind. I think that’s more important, don’t you?”
“Nash wasn’t lying about me not being a morning person. The first hour or two or three of the day are damn hard ones.”
“It wasn’t too warm. Your granddaughter ogles me when I’m half naked and her cheeks go pink and it makes me happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Let them live their lives without the burden of other people’s judgement. Something you’ve never tolerated in your own life.”
"This is seriously giving me the feminine urge to scream and break shit.”
“He made his choices. Give him a day or so to think it over and he’ll be back apologizing if he knows what’s good for him.”
“Should you be throwing his clothes out front then?” I ask.
“Always set firm boundaries, my dear. His job is to have my back.” Grandma crosses her arms. “And yours by extension.”
“June, still waiting on an answer,” says Carmen from the roadside. “Yes or no to beating the crap out of him with a wet fish? You know, preventative measures are never a bad idea. Might make him think twice next time he tries to pull this sort of crap.”
My smile turns into laughter turns into joy. “Maybe not this time,” I say.
“You’re getting off light,” says Carmen, with her fish still in hand. “But there’ll be other days and other fishes.”
Tropes
♡ Rockstar/Celebrity MMC
♡ Small town romance
Overall:
Small town summer romance between a nonchalant rockstar and a woman reconnecting with herself and her grandma.
Feels:
Like Gilmore Girls meets Stage Dive
Season:
Summer
What I enjoyed:
- I liked Grandma Audrey as the initially strong, independent woman who don't need no man.
- I liked the bond between Grandma Audrey and June. More details around how they grew that bond would have been welcome - What was the fallout with June's mother? What really happened with Audrey and her man the first time?
What I didn’t enjoy:
- The sentences are choppy and hard to lock into at first; I would expect these types of sentences from a younger MC rather than one in her thirties. And the POV from Nash at the end was an abrupt departure from the rest of the book. The warp-speed of their relationship made it difficult to become immersed in it.
- Honestly, Nash reminded me of a less specific version of Mal from Play (Stage Dive #2). It's not his fault, but Mal already checks all those boxes for me. 😌
Favorite quotes:
“What I like most about making this sort of money is getting to do stuff for people.”
“It’s your life, sweetheart. The trick is being brave enough to live it as you think best without getting sidetracked by what doesn’t serve you or bring you joy.”
“Nothing could be as urgent as your love for each other,” says Grandma, who is actually kind of evil when you get right down to it.
“Any excess on my stomach or cellulite on my thighs and ass is as it should be. It’s the patriarchy who wants women frail and underfed and tired—and fuck them.”
“Was he nice to you?”
There’s no answer for a moment. Then she says, “He wasn’t always nice. But he was always kind. I think that’s more important, don’t you?”
“Nash wasn’t lying about me not being a morning person. The first hour or two or three of the day are damn hard ones.”
“It wasn’t too warm. Your granddaughter ogles me when I’m half naked and her cheeks go pink and it makes me happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Let them live their lives without the burden of other people’s judgement. Something you’ve never tolerated in your own life.”
"This is seriously giving me the feminine urge to scream and break shit.”
“He made his choices. Give him a day or so to think it over and he’ll be back apologizing if he knows what’s good for him.”
“Should you be throwing his clothes out front then?” I ask.
“Always set firm boundaries, my dear. His job is to have my back.” Grandma crosses her arms. “And yours by extension.”
“June, still waiting on an answer,” says Carmen from the roadside. “Yes or no to beating the crap out of him with a wet fish? You know, preventative measures are never a bad idea. Might make him think twice next time he tries to pull this sort of crap.”
My smile turns into laughter turns into joy. “Maybe not this time,” I say.
“You’re getting off light,” says Carmen, with her fish still in hand. “But there’ll be other days and other fishes.”
July 31, 2026
I almost didn’t get to read this early, and even then I got a bit behind because of that. But I’m so glad I did, because as always I adored the banter and fun of two characters getting together that the author Kylie Scott always seems to bring to her books. And Mal Ericson from the Stage Dive series is one of my all time top book boyfriends, no one really comes close to him, but you know what? Nash/Aaron Porter in this book comes pretty darn close!
He started off quite amusing with his kind of sly way of flirting with our main character June, even as June’s grandmother, who used to work for him, threatened him with a stick, lol. They kind of had the one bed trope, only because Nash didn’t want to sleep on the couch. Then they kind of transformed into a kind of fake dating trope because of trying to keep the small town people from figuring out who he was since he was trying to get away from his crazy rock star life. With June having just shown up in town to stay with her grandmother after a break up with her boyfriend, this meant he had to pretend to be her ex. And then he got a little wild when one of his ex-girlfriends showed up and he said June was pregnant.
This small town took them in at first and rallied around them, first berating Nash to be better based on all the issues June had shared that first night at the bar with what her ex had done wrong. But the town loved Nash from the start. He immediately jumped into things like the running club, the banned book fight club, and I think a yoga group? Of course he also donated anonymously to everything in town. Nash and June fought the attraction, because of her grandmother, as well as June knowing that she had just gotten out of a bad relationship and really needed to take some time for herself. But even with all of that, they eventually gave in. And then we got some of the steamy scenes that the author writes so well.
Of course when the truth does come out, the town gets a little offended and they even go so far as to have a town meeting to try to drive them out of town. The people in charge of the town bring up all the other townspeople who did crazy things in the past and how they weren’t kicked out, not to mention how it’s not exactly something they can even do legally. But I loved the small town characters. And even when they were still mad about the whole thing, when the paparazzi came to town, they didn’t give away anything, they still kept their secrets.
So there were crazy small town people, gotta love June’s grandma Audrey who had her own bit of romance with one of Nash’s older friends. Also Nash’s brother, that whole bit was fun as well. This book really reminded me of how much I love this author and the characters and world she creates!
He started off quite amusing with his kind of sly way of flirting with our main character June, even as June’s grandmother, who used to work for him, threatened him with a stick, lol. They kind of had the one bed trope, only because Nash didn’t want to sleep on the couch. Then they kind of transformed into a kind of fake dating trope because of trying to keep the small town people from figuring out who he was since he was trying to get away from his crazy rock star life. With June having just shown up in town to stay with her grandmother after a break up with her boyfriend, this meant he had to pretend to be her ex. And then he got a little wild when one of his ex-girlfriends showed up and he said June was pregnant.
This small town took them in at first and rallied around them, first berating Nash to be better based on all the issues June had shared that first night at the bar with what her ex had done wrong. But the town loved Nash from the start. He immediately jumped into things like the running club, the banned book fight club, and I think a yoga group? Of course he also donated anonymously to everything in town. Nash and June fought the attraction, because of her grandmother, as well as June knowing that she had just gotten out of a bad relationship and really needed to take some time for herself. But even with all of that, they eventually gave in. And then we got some of the steamy scenes that the author writes so well.
Of course when the truth does come out, the town gets a little offended and they even go so far as to have a town meeting to try to drive them out of town. The people in charge of the town bring up all the other townspeople who did crazy things in the past and how they weren’t kicked out, not to mention how it’s not exactly something they can even do legally. But I loved the small town characters. And even when they were still mad about the whole thing, when the paparazzi came to town, they didn’t give away anything, they still kept their secrets.
So there were crazy small town people, gotta love June’s grandma Audrey who had her own bit of romance with one of Nash’s older friends. Also Nash’s brother, that whole bit was fun as well. This book really reminded me of how much I love this author and the characters and world she creates!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book hooked me almost immediately, and I flew through it. It was such a fun, sweet romance that never felt like it dragged. If you’re looking for pages of angst, endless miscommunication, or an ultra slow burn, this isn’t that kind of story. It’s simply about two people unexpectedly falling in love, and I absolutely adored that.
I laughed out loud more than once, which is something I always appreciate in a romance. Kylie Scott has a way of writing characters that feel natural together, and her rockstar romances are some of my favorites.
June is recovering from a breakup while staying with her grandma when she literally stumbles across the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen asleep on Grandma’s front porch. That man is Nash, a famous rockstar who’s burned out by life in the spotlight. Over the years, he’s grown out his long hair and beard as part of his rockstar persona, using it as a shield while performing. But now he wants to disappear from fame, so he realizes the best way to hide is in plain sight. After June cuts his hair and shaves his beard, he’s almost unrecognizable.
When he still almost gets spotted, June blurts out that he’s actually her terrible ex boyfriend, the same ex she’s been venting about all over town. Instead of correcting everyone, Nash leans into the lie and pretends to be the ex who’s come back to apologize and win her over.
What starts as a ridiculous fake situation turns into a genuine friendship, and watching that friendship naturally grow into something more was my favorite part. There isn’t a huge amount of drama or over the top conflict. Instead, it’s a story about finding someone who makes you feel safe, seen, and understood.
Nash has learned that trusting people often leads to heartbreak. When he believes June has betrayed him, he’s forced to decide whether it’s really her actions or his own fears and insecurities that stand between him and happiness.
This book was funny, charming, romantic, and exactly what I wanted it to be. If you enjoy rockstar romances with lovable characters, great banter, genuine chemistry, and a relationship that feels sweet instead of exhausting, I definitely recommend it.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Butterflies: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
I laughed out loud more than once, which is something I always appreciate in a romance. Kylie Scott has a way of writing characters that feel natural together, and her rockstar romances are some of my favorites.
June is recovering from a breakup while staying with her grandma when she literally stumbles across the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen asleep on Grandma’s front porch. That man is Nash, a famous rockstar who’s burned out by life in the spotlight. Over the years, he’s grown out his long hair and beard as part of his rockstar persona, using it as a shield while performing. But now he wants to disappear from fame, so he realizes the best way to hide is in plain sight. After June cuts his hair and shaves his beard, he’s almost unrecognizable.
When he still almost gets spotted, June blurts out that he’s actually her terrible ex boyfriend, the same ex she’s been venting about all over town. Instead of correcting everyone, Nash leans into the lie and pretends to be the ex who’s come back to apologize and win her over.
What starts as a ridiculous fake situation turns into a genuine friendship, and watching that friendship naturally grow into something more was my favorite part. There isn’t a huge amount of drama or over the top conflict. Instead, it’s a story about finding someone who makes you feel safe, seen, and understood.
Nash has learned that trusting people often leads to heartbreak. When he believes June has betrayed him, he’s forced to decide whether it’s really her actions or his own fears and insecurities that stand between him and happiness.
This book was funny, charming, romantic, and exactly what I wanted it to be. If you enjoy rockstar romances with lovable characters, great banter, genuine chemistry, and a relationship that feels sweet instead of exhausting, I definitely recommend it.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Butterflies: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
July 30, 2026
A wild, hilarious, feel‑good romp that had me grinning the whole way through! This book is an absolute hoot — completely wild, endlessly funny, and written with that lighthearted, wink‑at‑you style I love. The humor never lets up, even in the quieter moments.
June is recovering from a messy breakup after her ex literally threw her out of his apartment. With no real relationship with her mother, she heads to her grandmother Audrey’s house for a breather. They haven’t spent much time together over the years for reasons the book never explains, but right now? They’re having the time of their lives.
One night at the bar, June gets drunk, spills every detail about her ex, stumbles home with Audrey to sleep it off… to find a man passed out on the porch. Audrey, being Audrey, pokes him with the walking stick she keeps by the door — and up rises Aaron Porter, country‑rock star, gorgeous, sleepy, bearded, and very much in need of a bed. He begs for a place to crash and promises explanations later.
The next day, June and Audrey learn he’s done with touring, done with fame, and wants to live like a normal person in their tiny town. Burned out, exhausted, and craving connection, he runs straight to Audrey — who used to be his housekeeper and basically a bonus grandma — hoping she’ll give him a safe landing spot.
From there, the story becomes a delightful, rollicking adventure as Nash tries out every “normal person” activity he can find: knitting circle, meditation group, walking club, banned‑books club. He’s figuring out life in this quirky town with June and Audrey guiding him like two chaotic guardian angels.
And June? Oh, she is gone for him. Every time he walks around shirtless, she turns into a puddle. Every time he walks away, she’s admiring how well those jeans fit. She’s real, funny, giggly, and completely captivated — and he’s just as enchanted with her. Their fake relationship (to help him blend into the community) doesn’t stay fake for long, of course.
The town’s shenanigans, the gossip train, the colorful characters, and the endless community activities made me want to pack my bags and move there immediately. It’s cozy, chaotic, and full of heart.
Five stars for such a good time!
June is recovering from a messy breakup after her ex literally threw her out of his apartment. With no real relationship with her mother, she heads to her grandmother Audrey’s house for a breather. They haven’t spent much time together over the years for reasons the book never explains, but right now? They’re having the time of their lives.
One night at the bar, June gets drunk, spills every detail about her ex, stumbles home with Audrey to sleep it off… to find a man passed out on the porch. Audrey, being Audrey, pokes him with the walking stick she keeps by the door — and up rises Aaron Porter, country‑rock star, gorgeous, sleepy, bearded, and very much in need of a bed. He begs for a place to crash and promises explanations later.
The next day, June and Audrey learn he’s done with touring, done with fame, and wants to live like a normal person in their tiny town. Burned out, exhausted, and craving connection, he runs straight to Audrey — who used to be his housekeeper and basically a bonus grandma — hoping she’ll give him a safe landing spot.
From there, the story becomes a delightful, rollicking adventure as Nash tries out every “normal person” activity he can find: knitting circle, meditation group, walking club, banned‑books club. He’s figuring out life in this quirky town with June and Audrey guiding him like two chaotic guardian angels.
And June? Oh, she is gone for him. Every time he walks around shirtless, she turns into a puddle. Every time he walks away, she’s admiring how well those jeans fit. She’s real, funny, giggly, and completely captivated — and he’s just as enchanted with her. Their fake relationship (to help him blend into the community) doesn’t stay fake for long, of course.
The town’s shenanigans, the gossip train, the colorful characters, and the endless community activities made me want to pack my bags and move there immediately. It’s cozy, chaotic, and full of heart.
Five stars for such a good time!
July 28, 2026
RUNAWAY ROCKSTAR by Kylie Scott is a stand alone, contemporary, adult , erotic, rock romance storyline focusing on thirty-five year old, rockstar Aaron ‘Nash’ Porter, and website designer June Calloway
Told from first person perspective (June) with a chapter from Nash RUNAWAY ROCKSTAR follows in the wake of June’s breakup with her boyfriend. Heading to Bend Washington, June finds comfort in the arms of her grandmother Audrey but a night on the town ends when June and Audrey discover rockstar Aaron ‘Nash’ Porter seeking refuge as well. Audrey was Nash’s former housekeeper, and our hero is desperate to stay out of sight. Changing his appearance, and engaging in a fake relationship with June, Nash discovers that anonymity comes with its’ perks but the price of fame is about to destroy his relationship with June and the town of Bend.
The world building focuses on Nash’s need to relax, to remain in hiding away from the paparazzi and pressure of the business. Tired of the grind, the touring and his mistrust of people, Nash finds himself falling for our story line heroine, and the small town of Bend.
The relationship between June and Nash begins as roommates to friends but quickly begins to spiral out of control. From a fake relationship, fake engagement and fake pregnancy, the rumors and lies take on a life of their own, and our couple find themselves on the defense when the past returns revealing the truth. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, quirky and sometimes questionable secondary and supporting characters including June’s grandmother Audrey, musicians Charlie and Angus, industry people, several townsfolk as well as Nash’s ex Carrie Younger, and June’s ex Brandon Shaw. I am hoping the author has plans for Angus.
RUNAWAY ROCKSTAR is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, trust and misunderstanding, family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is captivating and entertaining; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are charismatic and desperate.
copy supplied for review
Told from first person perspective (June) with a chapter from Nash RUNAWAY ROCKSTAR follows in the wake of June’s breakup with her boyfriend. Heading to Bend Washington, June finds comfort in the arms of her grandmother Audrey but a night on the town ends when June and Audrey discover rockstar Aaron ‘Nash’ Porter seeking refuge as well. Audrey was Nash’s former housekeeper, and our hero is desperate to stay out of sight. Changing his appearance, and engaging in a fake relationship with June, Nash discovers that anonymity comes with its’ perks but the price of fame is about to destroy his relationship with June and the town of Bend.
The world building focuses on Nash’s need to relax, to remain in hiding away from the paparazzi and pressure of the business. Tired of the grind, the touring and his mistrust of people, Nash finds himself falling for our story line heroine, and the small town of Bend.
The relationship between June and Nash begins as roommates to friends but quickly begins to spiral out of control. From a fake relationship, fake engagement and fake pregnancy, the rumors and lies take on a life of their own, and our couple find themselves on the defense when the past returns revealing the truth. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, quirky and sometimes questionable secondary and supporting characters including June’s grandmother Audrey, musicians Charlie and Angus, industry people, several townsfolk as well as Nash’s ex Carrie Younger, and June’s ex Brandon Shaw. I am hoping the author has plans for Angus.
RUNAWAY ROCKSTAR is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, trust and misunderstanding, family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is captivating and entertaining; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are charismatic and desperate.
copy supplied for review
July 27, 2026
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After a bad breakup, June heads to her grandma's house to regroup. While she is there one night she finds the finest man she's ever seen sleeping on the front porch. Only to realize that the man is Nash, a famous country singer who's desperate to escape the spotlight and experience life as a normal person in a small town. Once he cuts his hair and shaves his beard, he blends in surprisingly well and is able to play the part of an ordinary stranger.
To keep Nash's identity a secret, June tells the town that he's actually the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart and kicked her out. Nash doesn't just go along with the lie but he completely runs with it by adding his own lies to it. Of course, things get complicated when the town discovers who Nash really is and realizes they've both been lying all along.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the banter between June and Nash. Their chemistry was so real, their conversations were funny, and they kept me smiling throughout the story. I also loved how Nash completely threw himself into becoming one of the townspeople. Whether he was at the morning yoga meditations, being with the local jogging group, or attending the People Against Book Bans group, he embraced small-town life with everything he has. It made his character even more lovable and added humor to the story.
I also adored the supporting characters. June's grandma, Audrey, completely stole the show, and seeing Charlie and Audrey together was great. Their side story was just as enjoyable as the romance. Even though Audrey and Nash's twin brother kept warning June and Nash that their relationship could never work, the two of them were determined to ignore everyone and follow their hearts.
I enjoyed this story and to be honest I would love to know more about Nash’s twin Brother. I secretly hope there will be another book.
After a bad breakup, June heads to her grandma's house to regroup. While she is there one night she finds the finest man she's ever seen sleeping on the front porch. Only to realize that the man is Nash, a famous country singer who's desperate to escape the spotlight and experience life as a normal person in a small town. Once he cuts his hair and shaves his beard, he blends in surprisingly well and is able to play the part of an ordinary stranger.
To keep Nash's identity a secret, June tells the town that he's actually the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart and kicked her out. Nash doesn't just go along with the lie but he completely runs with it by adding his own lies to it. Of course, things get complicated when the town discovers who Nash really is and realizes they've both been lying all along.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the banter between June and Nash. Their chemistry was so real, their conversations were funny, and they kept me smiling throughout the story. I also loved how Nash completely threw himself into becoming one of the townspeople. Whether he was at the morning yoga meditations, being with the local jogging group, or attending the People Against Book Bans group, he embraced small-town life with everything he has. It made his character even more lovable and added humor to the story.
I also adored the supporting characters. June's grandma, Audrey, completely stole the show, and seeing Charlie and Audrey together was great. Their side story was just as enjoyable as the romance. Even though Audrey and Nash's twin brother kept warning June and Nash that their relationship could never work, the two of them were determined to ignore everyone and follow their hearts.
I enjoyed this story and to be honest I would love to know more about Nash’s twin Brother. I secretly hope there will be another book.
July 29, 2026
Encore une autrice que je ne lis plus qu'en VO car elle n'est plus publiée en VF mais ceci est un autre débat. Dans cette romance small town, nous allons suivre deux personnages en rupture avec leurs passées, amoureuses ou professionnelles.
June Callaway est de retour auprès de sa grand-mère Audrey, que j'ai d'ailleurs adoré pour son sens de la répartie et des punch lines. Elle a décidé de tirer un trait sur les hommes après une énième trahison. Elle va littéralement tomber sur un homme endormi et elle va jouer le jeu du fake dating pour préserver sa véritable identité. J'ai un peu mis du temps à entrer dans l'histoire car je trouvais qu'il ne se passait rien dans un 1er temps. Au final, c'est une romance dont les tropes sont déjà vus mais qui reste sympa à lire. June va faire croire aux habitants qu'il s'agit de son ex et qu'ils se donnent une seconde chance. June est une jeune femme qui ne sera pas éblouie par la célébrité mais qui pourrait lui permettre de vivre une vie normale.
Aaron Porter est un homme de 35 ans, connu par Audrey sous le nom de Nash. Il a tout pour lui mais le burn out n'est pas loin. Il est au bord de l'épuisement et malheureusement son management ne va pas accepter sa fuite. Ils viennent de deux milieux différents mais malgré cela, ils parviendront à s'entendre. Son jumeau, Angus, lui aussi dans le milieu de la musique, va faire son entrée à un moment donné et mettre son grain de sable. Les tensions vont apparaître et la confiance devra leur permettre de tout surmonter. Aaron est en pleine recherche sur lui même et notre héroïne sera la bouffée d'oxygène dont il ne pensait pas avoir besoin.
Bref, une romance qui a pris son temps pour que je puisse entrer dedans mais une lecture agréable au final. Kylie Scott nous offre une romance certes classiques mais qui met tout de même du baume au coeur.
June Callaway est de retour auprès de sa grand-mère Audrey, que j'ai d'ailleurs adoré pour son sens de la répartie et des punch lines. Elle a décidé de tirer un trait sur les hommes après une énième trahison. Elle va littéralement tomber sur un homme endormi et elle va jouer le jeu du fake dating pour préserver sa véritable identité. J'ai un peu mis du temps à entrer dans l'histoire car je trouvais qu'il ne se passait rien dans un 1er temps. Au final, c'est une romance dont les tropes sont déjà vus mais qui reste sympa à lire. June va faire croire aux habitants qu'il s'agit de son ex et qu'ils se donnent une seconde chance. June est une jeune femme qui ne sera pas éblouie par la célébrité mais qui pourrait lui permettre de vivre une vie normale.
Aaron Porter est un homme de 35 ans, connu par Audrey sous le nom de Nash. Il a tout pour lui mais le burn out n'est pas loin. Il est au bord de l'épuisement et malheureusement son management ne va pas accepter sa fuite. Ils viennent de deux milieux différents mais malgré cela, ils parviendront à s'entendre. Son jumeau, Angus, lui aussi dans le milieu de la musique, va faire son entrée à un moment donné et mettre son grain de sable. Les tensions vont apparaître et la confiance devra leur permettre de tout surmonter. Aaron est en pleine recherche sur lui même et notre héroïne sera la bouffée d'oxygène dont il ne pensait pas avoir besoin.
Bref, une romance qui a pris son temps pour que je puisse entrer dedans mais une lecture agréable au final. Kylie Scott nous offre une romance certes classiques mais qui met tout de même du baume au coeur.
August 2, 2026
June has moved to The Bend to live with her grandmother. She is trying to mend her heart over her recent breakup with her boyfriend. She has moved from Arizona and is trying to acclimate to her new surroundings. She has no idea that she is about to have her life changed again. Nash (Aaron Porter) arrives in The Bend and is looking to stay with her grandmother also. Her grandmother, apparently, was part of his entourage on tour. Turns out he bought her grandmother the house she currently resides in. None of this is known to June. She is left trying to figure out who her grandmother really is. Nash just wants to lead a normal life now. He is tired of touring and all that it entails. He is really more interested in getting to know June. He feels a connection and knows that he wants to explore what they could be. June, for her part, has no interest in getting her heart broken again. She wants to help Nash and does cover for him when it appears he is about to be busted. Their lies do get out of hand. I do think he was genuine in wanting to get a fresh start. Her grandmother was a bit much. She wanted to control June and Nash. She had no issue butting in and trying to have both of them bend to her will. When Charlie shows up, she seems to forget that she is a hypocrite. I did like how Nash called her out. I did want June to be a bit more vocal about her wants and needs. She seemed to take what anyone said and took their feelings to heart. She put herself last which is okay, except that's how she wound up where she is. I did enjoy their story. I liked both Nash and June. Angus, Nash's twin brother, not so much.
August 6, 2026
Runaway Rockstar by Kylie Scott is a light-hearted, quirky rockstar rom-com set in the charming small town of The Bend. Featuring fake dating, a hidden identity, found family, and plenty of humour, it's the perfect feel-good read.
The story follows FMC June Calloway, who is newly single, heartbroken, and suddenly without a place to live. Looking for a fresh start—and a much-needed break from men—she heads to stay with her grandmother, Audrey. At the same time, MMC famous rockstar Nash (Aaron) Porter escapes to the quiet town, hoping to get away from the pressures of fame. He seeks refuge with Audrey, a longtime friend and former employee who has always cared for him like family and never been impressed by his celebrity status.
June and Nash quickly become friends, and while the attraction between them is obvious, they're both cautious about acting on it. Thanks to the town's love of gossip, the pair soon find themselves in a fake dating situation. Watching their friendship slowly turn into something more was both sweet and entertaining.
Kylie Scott has a knack for writing lovable, slightly chaotic characters, and this book is no exception. The small-town setting was charming, the side characters added so much personality, and there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout. While the romance was predictable, it was exactly the kind of easy, feel-good read I was in the mood for.
Overall, Runaway Rockstar was a fun, low-angst romance that didn't take itself too seriously. If you're looking for a light, quirky palate cleanser or something to help pull you out of a reading slump, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
The story follows FMC June Calloway, who is newly single, heartbroken, and suddenly without a place to live. Looking for a fresh start—and a much-needed break from men—she heads to stay with her grandmother, Audrey. At the same time, MMC famous rockstar Nash (Aaron) Porter escapes to the quiet town, hoping to get away from the pressures of fame. He seeks refuge with Audrey, a longtime friend and former employee who has always cared for him like family and never been impressed by his celebrity status.
June and Nash quickly become friends, and while the attraction between them is obvious, they're both cautious about acting on it. Thanks to the town's love of gossip, the pair soon find themselves in a fake dating situation. Watching their friendship slowly turn into something more was both sweet and entertaining.
Kylie Scott has a knack for writing lovable, slightly chaotic characters, and this book is no exception. The small-town setting was charming, the side characters added so much personality, and there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout. While the romance was predictable, it was exactly the kind of easy, feel-good read I was in the mood for.
Overall, Runaway Rockstar was a fun, low-angst romance that didn't take itself too seriously. If you're looking for a light, quirky palate cleanser or something to help pull you out of a reading slump, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Swoon! Nash is a famous rockstar hiding from his life when he approaches his old housekeeper Audrey to give him a place to take a breath. Audrey’s granddaughter June is also staying, and Nash and June hit it off from the beginning. There are real challenges to face, but this is breezy and funny and tongue in cheek from the start. Nash is VERY famous, and his record company (and his ex) are on the scent, and they want him back to sign a new contract. Meantime June has recently broken up with her live-in boyfriend so she’s hurting and doubting herself. Throw in Nash’s snarly brother and Audrey’s ex and there are plenty of feelings and mistrust to navigate.
I adore everything about Runaway Rockstar! Kylie Scott keeps the plot tight – the setting is small town, timeline is short, characters are busy, chemistry is fiery and the love comes quickly. Perfect!
The banter between Nash and June is terrific. I love how rarely Nash answers June’s questions – he disarms her by showing what he thinks is important - he is relentlessly optimistic and determined to trust the good in June. June in turn is lovely – she’s loyal, organised and open to all the silliness and the joy that comes with being with Nash, even when fame has downsides. A teeny third-act hiccup makes their romance feel earnt, and I know they will be great together in their happily-ever-after.
If you have read Kylie's Stage Dive series, you'll know what to expect. If not, you are in for a treat! Thanks so much Kylie Scott for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
I adore everything about Runaway Rockstar! Kylie Scott keeps the plot tight – the setting is small town, timeline is short, characters are busy, chemistry is fiery and the love comes quickly. Perfect!
The banter between Nash and June is terrific. I love how rarely Nash answers June’s questions – he disarms her by showing what he thinks is important - he is relentlessly optimistic and determined to trust the good in June. June in turn is lovely – she’s loyal, organised and open to all the silliness and the joy that comes with being with Nash, even when fame has downsides. A teeny third-act hiccup makes their romance feel earnt, and I know they will be great together in their happily-ever-after.
If you have read Kylie's Stage Dive series, you'll know what to expect. If not, you are in for a treat! Thanks so much Kylie Scott for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
July 27, 2026
I kind of have this thing against rockstar romance. Which is not the genre it's more the person I imagine you would have to be to be anyone famous like that. And while I know it's my own bias it does jade the way I view the characters and it was a major factor for me reading this.
Because I instantly loved June. And I wanted to go find her ex and run him down with my car. And I feel like half of the residents of the bend would ride with me and the other half would have put in for petrol. On top of that you have her fractured family relationship, and I was relating so hard I felt like we were actually related.
Then along came Nash and he was so good with words but not getting his point of view made me wonder if he was just a beautiful wordsmith. Throw in his history and I wanted June to be cautious, so I kept waiting for the big gutting drama. And when it did arrive it was so human and not at all the soul crushing experience I expected and Nash stood up so perfectly and we got the tiniest bit of his point of view but enough to win me over.
And honestly it makes me think back to who this author is and the books of hers I've loved and wonder why I was expecting to be shattered. Because this story was awesome. The secondary characters were such actual characters and so well written I could actually picture them at the bar. I sincerely wish the epilogue was longer or, even better, that Charlie and Audrey or Angus get their own book at a later date and we can get a little more Nash and June.
Because I instantly loved June. And I wanted to go find her ex and run him down with my car. And I feel like half of the residents of the bend would ride with me and the other half would have put in for petrol. On top of that you have her fractured family relationship, and I was relating so hard I felt like we were actually related.
Then along came Nash and he was so good with words but not getting his point of view made me wonder if he was just a beautiful wordsmith. Throw in his history and I wanted June to be cautious, so I kept waiting for the big gutting drama. And when it did arrive it was so human and not at all the soul crushing experience I expected and Nash stood up so perfectly and we got the tiniest bit of his point of view but enough to win me over.
And honestly it makes me think back to who this author is and the books of hers I've loved and wonder why I was expecting to be shattered. Because this story was awesome. The secondary characters were such actual characters and so well written I could actually picture them at the bar. I sincerely wish the epilogue was longer or, even better, that Charlie and Audrey or Angus get their own book at a later date and we can get a little more Nash and June.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kylie Scott and rockstars equal must read romance. Runaway Rockstar is a fabulous fake dating romance, with fantastic characters, meddling small town residents, and plenty of quips to go around.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June’s retreated to her grandmother’s small town after a breakup with her annoying ex. She’s shocked when country rock star Aaron Porter aka Nash shows up at their door. Her grandmother used to be his housekeeper, and he’s decided that her house is the perfect place for him to hide out and reevaluate his celebrity life. Only, in order to keep people in town from recognizing him, June announces that he’s her ex and that he’s arrived to win her back. And that unavoidable charisma and mutual attraction? Well, she’s trying to ignore it…with little success.
Read if you adore:
🎸 Fake Dating
🎸 Rockstars and regular people
🎸 Small town
🎸 Witty characters
🎸 Banter and quips for days
I love this book! June is a trademark sassy Kylie Scott FMC, which means she’s relatable and a blast to read. Nash is a charming flirt and he knows it, even though he’s dealing with some bigger issues. These characters have so much fun together, and it’s great to watch them bring out the best in each other.
Runaway Rockstar is simply a good time. If you love rockstars, fake dating, and small town romance, you’ll have a blast reading Kylie Scott’s latest story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this ebook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June’s retreated to her grandmother’s small town after a breakup with her annoying ex. She’s shocked when country rock star Aaron Porter aka Nash shows up at their door. Her grandmother used to be his housekeeper, and he’s decided that her house is the perfect place for him to hide out and reevaluate his celebrity life. Only, in order to keep people in town from recognizing him, June announces that he’s her ex and that he’s arrived to win her back. And that unavoidable charisma and mutual attraction? Well, she’s trying to ignore it…with little success.
Read if you adore:
🎸 Fake Dating
🎸 Rockstars and regular people
🎸 Small town
🎸 Witty characters
🎸 Banter and quips for days
I love this book! June is a trademark sassy Kylie Scott FMC, which means she’s relatable and a blast to read. Nash is a charming flirt and he knows it, even though he’s dealing with some bigger issues. These characters have so much fun together, and it’s great to watch them bring out the best in each other.
Runaway Rockstar is simply a good time. If you love rockstars, fake dating, and small town romance, you’ll have a blast reading Kylie Scott’s latest story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this ebook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 27, 2026
Runaway Rockstar is a fun and entertaining story that I devoured easily in one sitting. This fast paced, sweet and funny romance is filled with characters that will have you laughing out loud in parts and the small town of The Bend is captured so well you feel like you are one of the locals. When June goes to stay with her Grandma Audrey after a breakup, the last thing both of these women expect is to find Aaron 'Nash' Porter on their doorstep hiding from his famous rockstar life after becoming burnt out and wanting more. In order to protect Nash's identity and privacy, June creates story that quickly gets out of control and takes on a life of it's own. I really enjoyed following Nash and June's story filled with rockstar antic's, ups, downs and complications as these roommates then fake partners then lovers go through while trying to decide on a new life path, healing and starting over. The witty banter between all of the characters, especially Nash, June and Grandma is amazing but the town meeting and their input about the fake relationship is next level. A great romance book to get lost in over the weekend that just puts a smile on your face and nobody writes rockstar's like Kylie!!!
August 11, 2026
4,5★ Runaway Rockstar was so fun and easy to read, I loved it!! June is staying with her grandma after a bad breakup when country rockstar, Nash, shows up because her grandma used to be his housekeeper and he has run away. To keep the people in town from figuring out who he is June and Nash pretend to be dating.
I missed reading from Kylie Scott and this book reminded me why I love her books so much. This book was short and very entertaining! June and Nash were each trying to figure out their lives and I adored all their moments. June was funny, bold, and I loved how she didn’t care about Nash’s fame while being protective of him. Nash was such a flirt, cautious yet went all in with June, and a great guy. I adored how he made her coffee and kept trying to sleep in her bed.
This book also had hilarious side characters. Audrey, June’s grandma, was epic, along with Charlie and the rest of the town. The people of the town were hilarious and I loved how Audrey gave Nash chores because he said he wanted to be normal. Even his brother, Angnus had his moments.
If you’re looking for a fun and short romance I definitely recommend you give this one a try!
🩵 fake dating
🎸 rockstar
💛 famous x normal
🎸 secret identity
🩵 small town
🎸 fish out of water
💛 he makes her coffee
I missed reading from Kylie Scott and this book reminded me why I love her books so much. This book was short and very entertaining! June and Nash were each trying to figure out their lives and I adored all their moments. June was funny, bold, and I loved how she didn’t care about Nash’s fame while being protective of him. Nash was such a flirt, cautious yet went all in with June, and a great guy. I adored how he made her coffee and kept trying to sleep in her bed.
This book also had hilarious side characters. Audrey, June’s grandma, was epic, along with Charlie and the rest of the town. The people of the town were hilarious and I loved how Audrey gave Nash chores because he said he wanted to be normal. Even his brother, Angnus had his moments.
If you’re looking for a fun and short romance I definitely recommend you give this one a try!
🩵 fake dating
🎸 rockstar
💛 famous x normal
🎸 secret identity
🩵 small town
🎸 fish out of water
💛 he makes her coffee
Review of advance copy received from Author
What’s a rockstar to do when he is burnt out and just needs a break?
And what’s a girl to do when she gets home from the bar with her Grandma to find a sleeping giant rockstar on the porch?
I. Love. Nash. The different pet names he calls June throughout the book, the way he fixes her coffee every morning. The way he flirts! He is a giant swoon in faded jeans. The characters’ baggage (rockstar, recent break up from unworthy boyfriend) and conflicts (both of them only temporarily in the physical and mental spaces they are in) are perfectly tailored in this book to be just the right amount of dramatic, believable, and resolvable. Beyond the excellent writing, this book struck me because while the essence of each character is loud and undeniable, the book is quiet. It was calming and funny, and while we as readers are viewing June’s experiences, the feelings we experience mirror Nash’s suspended reality hiding out in this small town. We get our own little break from the world.
I mentioned Nash’s flirting right? Good. What about his broody, tattooed twin brother? I would like to read his book now please and thank you!
And what’s a girl to do when she gets home from the bar with her Grandma to find a sleeping giant rockstar on the porch?
I. Love. Nash. The different pet names he calls June throughout the book, the way he fixes her coffee every morning. The way he flirts! He is a giant swoon in faded jeans. The characters’ baggage (rockstar, recent break up from unworthy boyfriend) and conflicts (both of them only temporarily in the physical and mental spaces they are in) are perfectly tailored in this book to be just the right amount of dramatic, believable, and resolvable. Beyond the excellent writing, this book struck me because while the essence of each character is loud and undeniable, the book is quiet. It was calming and funny, and while we as readers are viewing June’s experiences, the feelings we experience mirror Nash’s suspended reality hiding out in this small town. We get our own little break from the world.
I mentioned Nash’s flirting right? Good. What about his broody, tattooed twin brother? I would like to read his book now please and thank you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Finally, Ms. Scott. Finally.
*Sigh*
This was such a soothing book. I'm sorry that I rate book through vibes but reading this feels like being wrapped by the softest blanket ever. With hot cocoa in your band and the rain gently pounding the window. I feel safe and warm.
I love our main characters. They are simple and sweet with each others and the people around them. I love the hijinks they got into together, with the whole fake relationship and the colourful people of The Bend.
As for the plot, it is more of an internal, deep rooted issues that these two faces rather than external forces. Hence, it is a little low stakes. And that was what made the story soft and safe for me. It's a perfect weekend read when all you want is sweet and absurd banter with two hilarious and honest people. A clean palate cleanser (there's still smut, of course hehe).
All in all, this is what I expected from this author, a stellar, fun, wonderful banter and cute romance between two people who I wanted to be best fucking friends with. Needless to say, highly recommended if you're looking for something easy and fun.
*Sigh*
This was such a soothing book. I'm sorry that I rate book through vibes but reading this feels like being wrapped by the softest blanket ever. With hot cocoa in your band and the rain gently pounding the window. I feel safe and warm.
I love our main characters. They are simple and sweet with each others and the people around them. I love the hijinks they got into together, with the whole fake relationship and the colourful people of The Bend.
As for the plot, it is more of an internal, deep rooted issues that these two faces rather than external forces. Hence, it is a little low stakes. And that was what made the story soft and safe for me. It's a perfect weekend read when all you want is sweet and absurd banter with two hilarious and honest people. A clean palate cleanser (there's still smut, of course hehe).
All in all, this is what I expected from this author, a stellar, fun, wonderful banter and cute romance between two people who I wanted to be best fucking friends with. Needless to say, highly recommended if you're looking for something easy and fun.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Not to be confused with the Stage Dive series, Runaway Rockstar is a separate rockstar book written by Kylie Scott. And she knows how to write her rockstars!! But instead of feeling like a continuation of Stage Dive, this is like one of her standalone books. The characters and storyline are their own. This is a quick, funny read.
Nash is supposedly a Nashville based country rockstar - but on a personal note being from Nashville, he does not represent the current Nashville scene. However, that does nothing to diminish his character. He is exactly like Kylie Scott's sarcastic but charming men!
For those who know the Stage Dive series, Nash is not as cheeky as Mal and not as brooding as Jimmy. He's like David but with a dose of Mal. And his counterpart in the story is June. She is an everyday girl. She's heartbroken and ready to start over. Their dynamic is genuine and honest with a little boundary pushing. June wants to try something new after heartbreak and Nash wants to be under the radar of his celebrity. But of course, don't forget June's Grandma with her own secrets and free spirit.
Nash is supposedly a Nashville based country rockstar - but on a personal note being from Nashville, he does not represent the current Nashville scene. However, that does nothing to diminish his character. He is exactly like Kylie Scott's sarcastic but charming men!
For those who know the Stage Dive series, Nash is not as cheeky as Mal and not as brooding as Jimmy. He's like David but with a dose of Mal. And his counterpart in the story is June. She is an everyday girl. She's heartbroken and ready to start over. Their dynamic is genuine and honest with a little boundary pushing. June wants to try something new after heartbreak and Nash wants to be under the radar of his celebrity. But of course, don't forget June's Grandma with her own secrets and free spirit.
July 27, 2026
This has a cute, fun premise and is a fast read, but doesn't live up to its potential.
June's aggressively mediocre boyfriend kicked her out and she's licking her wounds at her grandmother's house. When who should show up but country rock superstar Aaron "Nash" Porter, who is tired of the rockstar life and just wants to be normal for a while and live with his former housekeeper, grandma Audrey. For reasons, June and Nash end up in a fake relationship with ever escalating stakes.
This was fine. Everything happens at a sort of surface level - I didn't get much of a deeper connection with anyone. It's primarily from June's POV, with one random bit from Nash's. And I kept thinking how it would be much better as a dual perspective, since Nash spends a lot of the book acting like an over eager golden retriever when he's also supposed to be this world weary rockstar?
It's got a lot of silliness, and a lot of potential, but doesn't hit the mark for me. It felt rushed and underexamined. There were moments, but they don't sustain it. I'm not mad. Just disappointed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June's aggressively mediocre boyfriend kicked her out and she's licking her wounds at her grandmother's house. When who should show up but country rock superstar Aaron "Nash" Porter, who is tired of the rockstar life and just wants to be normal for a while and live with his former housekeeper, grandma Audrey. For reasons, June and Nash end up in a fake relationship with ever escalating stakes.
This was fine. Everything happens at a sort of surface level - I didn't get much of a deeper connection with anyone. It's primarily from June's POV, with one random bit from Nash's. And I kept thinking how it would be much better as a dual perspective, since Nash spends a lot of the book acting like an over eager golden retriever when he's also supposed to be this world weary rockstar?
It's got a lot of silliness, and a lot of potential, but doesn't hit the mark for me. It felt rushed and underexamined. There were moments, but they don't sustain it. I'm not mad. Just disappointed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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