Linger

by Leigh Sharp

~Rockstar romance~
~Childhood friends to lovers~
~Major Trauma Healing~

Mads

Pop-punk's biggest heartthrob Logan Hart has been my best friend since we started learning how to read, and the one person who has never left my side. He’s seen me through the worst times of my life and the panic attacks that have followed ever since. Until now, of course, while he’s off touring the world and I’m stuck at a college that I never wanted to go to in the first place, learning how to stand on my own for the first time in my life.

Logan

I’m pretty sure anyone you ask would say I have it all, and as the lead guitarist of one of the most popular bands right now, I do have quite a bit— money, fame… I just don’t have her. Mads has always been a constant, no matter what. We’ve always told each other everything— well, everything except for the fact that I’m completely and hopelessly in love with her. Telling her would risk everything, so instead I’ll just pretend my entire world doesn’t revolve around her.

From the author of Unwind and In a Heartbeat

*This is an alternative version of Linger by Leigh Sharp in which all sexually explicit scenes have been altered to be fade to black moments. All other storylines remain the same.*

Genres: Romance

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2026

Reviews

[Shannon]

Thank you to author Leigh Sharp for the arc! This is hands down my favorite book by Leigh so far! I love that even though there is a deeply moving and tender love story between childhood friends who become lovers at the heart of this book, the main characters are complex and their lives are kind of messy like all of us. I also appreciated that her FMC’s trauma was handled sensitively and I believe that Mads’ experience with therapy (especially trying new therapists until you get the right one for you) will help some readers who read this book. The rockstar and concert aspect of this book was also fun and it was interesting to get a look at what is happening backstage and when the band is on tour.

[Jenna M Seewer]

I loved this book! It was such a fast read I read in one day! I loved the characters and enjoying watching the characters grow. Loved the Rock star element and I’m always a sucker for a friend to lover theme.

[TWKS]

I loved it!

Super cute, hot, sexy story which is everything you want in a rockstar romance. Love the relationship that developed between Mads and Logan. They were really sweet together and it was easy to root for their happy ending 🥰

[☆Tiffy☆]

4.5/5
The story between Mads and Logan just tugs at the hearts strings and keeps you wanting to read more to find out what will happen next! The chapter lengths I felt were perfect length. Glad I was lucky enough to ARC read.

[Maddie Jane]

I haven't read a book with a love story that involved a musician yet and it was adorable I need more asap! One of my favorite parts about Mads and Logan's relationship is that they were friends before Logan got famous and now Logan looks forward to calling Mads before every show and it calms him tremendously. Not only is he always excited to talk to her but you can feel the connection that these two characters have to each other! Before the band got super big and signed with a label Mads helped make cover art for the albums, and has helped Logan on many songs when he has felt stuck, needing inspiration😌

Mads finds comfort in Logan the same way Logan finds comfort in her, maybe even a little deeper. She had a very traumatic childhood, Logan was there through everything, knows everything and Mads always feels safe when hearing her best friend's voice. That's why when the band gets their big break to go on tour and she is forced to start college alone without her best friend with her she starts to panic about how she will make it through without him.

Logan has always loved music and wanted to make it his career, so when his band Stickit! gets an offer to tour he doesn't hesitate for a second! He has been entrusted with some of Mads deepest secrets and doesn't take that lightly he wants to be there for her however he can even if it will be from farther away now. He is always putting in effort to make sure she knows that she can call him no matter what!

How will these two friends navigate a world where they don't see each other everyday?

I absolutely fell in love with Logan, a walking green flag, no notes!!😍

[Ashley Mattingly]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

Linger was such a cute, emotional read with all the rom-com vibes I love, plus the added bonus of a whole rockstar group that made it even more fun. 🎸❤️

One of my favorite things about this book was Logan. I absolutely loved his compassion and empathy when it came to helping Mads navigate her trauma and begin to heal. The way he guided her, protected her, and most importantly the way he believed in her really got to me. 🥹

Mads was definitely a character I wanted to see soften a little more by the end. I would have loved to see a bit more of her growth and vulnerability once she and Logan were together. I think that would have made their relationship feel even more satisfying for me.

And the romance?! 🥵🔥 I loved the spice, but there was also so much tenderness woven into it. One moment that absolutely destroyed me was when Logan kissed all of Mads’s scars the first time they were together. 😭 There was something so beautiful about the way that moment showed him accepting every part of her.

Overall, this was a fun, emotional, spicy, rockstar romance with characters I really enjoyed spending time with. A solid 4 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Leigh for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kristen Reads]

I loved this book so much. Linger is an emotional childhood-friends-to-lovers romance about Mads, a woman learning to face the lasting effects of childhood trauma, and Logan, the pop-punk star who has been by her side since they were kids.

As a former foster parent who has cared for many children from hard places, I thought Mads’s story was handled with so much honesty and care. The way her childhood experiences continued to affect her relationships and adult life felt incredibly realistic. I especially loved seeing her bravely do the difficult work in therapy and slowly allow healing into her life.

And Logan—he is absolutely a new book boyfriend for me. His patience, loyalty, and the way he has always shown up for Mads completely touched my heart. This story holds both heartbreak and hope, and I won’t stop thinking about it anytime soon.

If you love emotional friends-to-lovers romances, devoted book boyfriends, and stories of healing after trauma, I highly recommend reading this one.

[Nicole Jade]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!

Friends to lovers is my favorite trope but I love it even more when it’s handled really well. They continued their lives knowing how they felt and even having other relationships without things being weird. Until of course those feelings started showing.

I was shocked at a certain character getting nixed, though in the end, they were right about everything and their feelings were fulfilled.

Will say, didn’t expect Logan’s mom to piss me off with what she said. Absolute wtf reaction.

This was just really hot and sweet. Loved it.

[Lori]

Mads and Logan have been best friends since childhood, but while Logan is touring the world as the guitarist in a hugely successful pop-punk band, Mads is trying to build a life of her own… and neither has been brave enough to admit how they really feel.

This was such a good, emotional quick read! I’m always a sucker for friends-to-lovers, and adding a rockstar romance made this one even more fun. 🎸

Logan was such a great character. Despite the fame and money, he stayed grounded, and his love for Mads was so genuine. He wanted what was best for her, even when that meant putting his own feelings aside.

Mads has been through an incredibly difficult childhood, and the trauma has left both physical and emotional scars. I really liked watching her grow throughout the story, especially with the role therapy played in her healing. The representation of therapy felt thoughtful and realistic.

This was emotional, well written, and definitely had me reaching for the tissues. 🥹 There were plenty of tears, but the ending was absolutely worth them.

I received a review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rosalie Lovejoy]

Linger is an earnest, tender friends-to-lovers story that balances angst with genuine emotional growth. It is a great fit for readers who love rockstar dynamics paired with deep emotional devotion and soft, healing romance arcs.

[Melanie Gates]

This is the first story from Leigh that I have read and I really enjoyed her writing style and storytelling.

I love a good friends-to-lovers story and adding in the celebrity status of one makes it that much more enjoyable. They've known each other since they were 5 years old. They've been each other's comfort space and safe space since then. Their connection is strong, even after they've been separated by him going on the road and she opted to go to college.

Mads life has not been easy. To say she had a traumatic childhood would be an understatement. Logan was the person for her, even as a child, who helped protect her and keep her safe as much as he could. When his band makes their big break, Mads is left to go to college by herself... and she's understandably nervous to do it by herself. The plan was that they'd go together, even after taking a two-year break before attending. Not to mention, she's had a crush on him for years.

Logan has always loved music and when he decided to make it his career, he was determined to make it big. When his band gets offered a tour, they don't hesitate at all. He's also determined to still be there for Mads in any way he can; for example, he makes sure to call her daily, especially before they hit the stage each night. Surprise, he's been pining for her for years as well. But he was afraid of losing the tight knit relationship they have so he's kept his feelings on the back burner.

When Mads starts dating someone else... Logan feels like he's losing his best friend. His person... then he hits his own traumatic experience with the loss of a loved one and his world turns upside down. What matters now didn't matter before and what didn't matter before matters now. And Mads matters even more than ever. He's navigating his feelings for her and he's struggling.

Sometimes, other relationships don't work out because you've already found the person you're supposed to be with... it just takes time to realize that. Will they or won't they?

I only wish that there was a bit more character growth for Mads. She came a long way, but I just wanted a bit more. They're a beautiful couple when they're together; their chemistry is great and the spice is spicing. Overall, I read this story very quickly and enjoyed it. I left with a smile on my face.

Oh, and one more thing. I absolutely despised Ethan. I mean, I get how he is feeling to an extent, but he was too immature for her. I wanted to scream every time he was mentioned.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to enjoy this story as an ARC reader, Leigh. I look forward to more stories from you!

TL:DR
⭐️ 4/5
🚌 Childhood friends-to-lovers
🎸 Rockstar romance
💔 Childhood trauma (FMC)
🤫 He keeps her secrets
✅ He's a walking green flag, even tries to give tips to her boyfriend to keep her happy
❤️‍🔥 Slow burn
🌪️ She's chaos in the sweetest way
🧠 Mental health rep (she's working on healing)
👓 He wears glasses
😭 Emotional damage (for the characters and the readers)
🫂 Found family
🌶️ 2.5/5

⚠️ Trigger Warnings: This story discusses child abuse, childhood trauma, panic attacks, PTSD and the death of a character on page. Take your mental wellbeing in hand when deciding to read this story. All of these delicate pieces are handled with the utmost care.

[Dominique]

3.75/5

This was a quick, cute rockstar romance centered around Logan, a lead guitarist who has been in love with his best friend Mads for years. While Mads went off to college, Logan got signed and started touring, leaving their relationship to evolve in ways neither of them really expected.

The story deals heavily with trauma and childhood abuse, and I thought the way their past experiences affected their relationships was interesting. I’ll admit, Ethan annoyed the absolute hell out of me at first 😂, but as the story went on, I understood that a lot of his actions came from wanting Mads to open up so he could actually understand what she was going through.

I really liked the best-friends-to-lovers aspect of this one. There’s something about two people who have known and loved each other for years finally getting their chance that I always enjoy, and Logan and Mads had that foundation already built.

My biggest issue was that I think this story could have benefited from being a little longer. Since it’s under 300 pages, some things felt like they could have been explored more, and I was left with a few questions that I wish had been followed through. That said, it still gave me a cute rockstar romance with a HEA, and I enjoyed the overall story.

[Brittany Harville]

Well I was a Leigh Sharp fan since book one and I will continue to say what I said then…… IF SHE WRITES IT, IM READING IT! I read this in one sitting! It was a perfect sweet best friends to lovers romance. The relationship that Mads and Logan had was unlike any other. Being friends since children due to a horribly sad childhood Mads had leaving her to be put in the system and a lifetime of PTSD and anxiety, made there relationship so powerful and heartfelt. He was her best friend through everything but also a member of a wildly famous band that had him touring while she attended university. He was still always the only person she felt really knew her and was there for her no matter what. Not knowing his secret feelings for her does she realize she has more than friendly feelings for him? Is it worth risking their friendship and what they’ve had almost their entire lives? Ugh I am obsessed with these two and how perfect they just fit together.

[Amanda Elliott]

I’m always here for a good best friends-to-lovers romance, and I loved the way Leigh balanced a fast-paced story with a slow-burn relationship.

Logan and Mads already have such a strong friendship, so watching that relationship slowly shift into something more felt natural instead of rushed. But what I loved most was Logan’s relationship with Mads as she continues to heal from her childhood trauma. He cares about her without trying to “fix” her, and he gives her the space and support she needs while they figure out what a romantic relationship looks like for them.

There’s something about a MMC who understands that loving someone doesn’t magically erase everything they’ve been through.

The story itself moves quickly, but Logan and Mads’ romance gets time to build—and that combination really worked for me. Friendship, healing, vulnerability, and a slow burn? Yes, please.

[Savannah Kempton]

ARC Review

Thank you Leigh Sharp for giving me the chance to read this as a ARC!

If I’m being honest this pulled me out of a slump! This was written so well and I loved the story line. Romance did not come immediately which was nice but as it came towards the last third of the book it all made sense. Logan truly was made for Mads in helping her with trauma and such and he knew it. Mads trauma, nightmares, and having to go to therapy was amazing to read about as there’s not many books I’ve read that really show the true battles of them. Logan’s brother died and Mads was there as well helping him through that and it just goes to show how well they worked together.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who can handle talk about abuse, mental health issues, and nightmares related to trauma. This is definitely going on my shelves when it drops!

It releases September 8th!!!!! Go preorder it now💖

[Books by the Brae]

There are so many different levels to this story that ignited such authentic feelings.
It had me feeling so nostalgic for my younger emo self! I absolutely loved the rock star element to this.

The friendship between Mads and Logan is something I absolutely adored. The depiction of Mads' journey of healing and self discovery and how Logan completely supports her through this with such unconditional compassion and understanding is fantastic. The portrayal of battling with anxiety is excellent and reigns so true to the reality of it.

I felt like there was a really good balance in this story with the excitement of a rock star life style levelled out with sensitive themes that depict real life adversities.

Thank you so much to author Leigh Sharp for this ARC of Linger.

[Melissa Richardson]

I love a good friends-to-lovers romance. Mads and Logan have been friends since kindergarten. They’ve been through a lot together and independently thought about what it would be like to be in a romantic relationship. As with all good stories, neither of them are willing to risk losing the other to take the chance. Mads has been through horrific trauma and Logan has always been there for her through it all. They know they love each other and finally realize how deep their love is after a tragic event. Now the obstacle is distance as he’s a rock star touring the country and she’s trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. I’ll definitely be purchasing a shelf trophy of this one once it’s released.

[turnthedamnpage]

(**I read the open door version. 🖤✨)

I’m a sucker for friends to lovers. The relationship between Logan and Mads is so cute. They’re inseparable best friends — even when they’re states apart.

This was a fast-paced slow burn. Yep, and it totally makes sense when you read this book. I devoured Linger in only a couple of short sessions.

Sometimes nothing else works out because we’re not where we belong. I truly loved the way this was wrapped up.

This was an adorable rockstar romance.

However, there are some extremely dark scenes that are mentioned/detailed. There is also mention of an accident that leaves a family scarred. Please check triggers prior to reading for your mental health.

[judith vaughan]

This is the first book I have read by Leigh Sharp. "Linger" is about Mads and Logan best friends from before they could walk basically . However Logan has been in love with Mads ever since they had become best friends. Logan and Mads relationship may not always be sunshine and roses but it is cute they definitely are there for each other and you can really tell that they love each other. Mads dealing with her trauma was written beautifully and Logan helping Mads through it by being there was everything. I read this in one seating and was really glad that I was gifted this ARC. I cannot wait to read more from Leigh.

[Jessica Cohagen]

Linger has definitely placed itself as my favorite book that Leigh has written!
Mads and Logan have such a perfect dynamic that plays off each other perfectly as they both face the challenges in their life.
While this book has some darker aspects, the overall book feels like a comfort read that leaves you smiling with all their interactions.
I seriously could not put this book down because I was so invested in their story!

To sum it up; great banter, perfect balance of darker themes with a lighter love story, addictive!

[nicole]

The first five years of Mads life was rough, and my heart truly went out to her. I admired her strength as a 22 year old woman, and I enjoyed watching her navigate figuring out what it is she truly wanted. Not just doing what she thought she needed to do for others.

I also loved that she had someone like Logan in her corner. He was understanding, supportive, and patient with her when she needed it most. Their friendship and connection felt genuine and added so much heart to the story.

This was a slow-burn romance, but it truly worked for the story.

[Allison H.]

Loved this story! We are taken into the life of a young girl starting college and apart from her best friend since childhood. Not only is she navigating a new chapter in life, but she also has some things from her past that she is still working through...talk about tough!

I love how the author navigates sharing trauma and mental health and what parts of a day can look like for someone going through these things. Finding the right people and support system is key and we watch as Mads works through figuring this out, along with what her heart wants.

Her best friend Logan is a rockstar and has been in love with her forever, but he doesn't want to ruin the friendship. You can see where this is going hehehe. I really enjoyed seeing how this all played out and the growth and changes these characters all went through.

It was a sweet story and I am so glad I got the chance to read it 💕

[Kansas]

Review of advanced copy received from author

3.5/5 Stars

I wanted to love this book since rockstar romances are one of my favorite tropes but this just wasn’t hitting the way I expected it to. Ethan (the bf that’s not the mmc) wasn’t really it for me and kinda took me out of it. Thank you to the author for the arc copy.

[Laura Sharp]

This book was written very well and was an amazing story of friendship to lovers. I loved the build up to expand Logan and Maddie’s relationship.

[Laura]

I met Leigh at Lit Fest in Chicago and she was wonderful! I was so excited to start this book and I LOVE the friends to lovers. The book kept me engaged and excited to keep reading.