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Hub City #1
Loud is How I Love You
One girl’s heart gets rocked to the core in the first novel in this sexy New Adult series.
Twenty-one-year-old front girl Emmylou knows that getting her band noticed in the ‘90s indie rock scene will be no easy task. She definitely knows better than to break the number one rule of the band: Don't sleep with your bandmates! But after she ends up having the best sex of her life with her guitarist, Travis, she finds following that rule is a lot harder than it sounds.
When the band gets the gig of their dreams, making it big seems just within reach. But Emmy’s inability to keep her hands off Travis threatens everything they’ve worked for. Can Emmy find a way to break the rules and not blow the chance of a lifetime?
Twenty-one-year-old front girl Emmylou knows that getting her band noticed in the ‘90s indie rock scene will be no easy task. She definitely knows better than to break the number one rule of the band: Don't sleep with your bandmates! But after she ends up having the best sex of her life with her guitarist, Travis, she finds following that rule is a lot harder than it sounds.
When the band gets the gig of their dreams, making it big seems just within reach. But Emmy’s inability to keep her hands off Travis threatens everything they’ve worked for. Can Emmy find a way to break the rules and not blow the chance of a lifetime?
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First published January 19, 2016
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January 4, 2016
5 Bright Stars*****
(ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review)
Loud Is How I Love You is the debut novel of author Mercy Brown. I instantly fell in love with her writing style. The way she writes makes you love and relate to the story so easily , it felt like I was sitting at a coffee house, talking to my best friend and she was telling me the story about how she fell in love with her guitarist. The passion in the words were deafening and the melody in the story are something I'll be dreaming about for many nights to come...
Emmy is passionate about one thing and one thing only, being in a band. Music is in her blood, creating tunes and rockin' in front of audiences, with her best friends is all she ever wants to do with her life. She's 21 and going to college to satisfied her mother. She's an English major whose heart belongs to music.
Emmy has a few rules she's very strict about following to ensure the longevity of her band. The first rule and perhaps the most important one is: DO NOT have sex with anybody in the band. But then there's Travis, her sexy, sweet and smart guitarist. She's been crushing on him for two years, they have a ton in common and have the best time together. Travis is not only her guitarist but her best friend.
One night after too much fun and celebration, neither Travis or Emmy are able to hold their feelings for each other any longer. Their chemistry in the sheets is just as powerful and beautiful as it is on stage, and after that one night of passion it will be very hard for them to keep their relationship as it was before. Because as we know, sex complicates everything...
Emmy is naturally a very dramatic character ( -being a very sensitive musician and all). Immediately she starts freaking out that the sex will mess with the friendship she and Travis share, and will ultimately break up the band. Emmy has seen time and time again how being in a relationship with a band member only brings problems. She is scared of losing everything she's worked so hard to achieve, and especially now that her band is finally getting noticed by some very important members of the music scene.
Travis is a very logical person and he knows Emmy best, so he handles her freak-outs beautifully, but there's only so much a guy can take in the name of love. Will they be able to figure things out and reach an understanding where both love and music can be a priority?
If there's a romance novel about music, I want to read it! And Loud Is How I love You was exactly everything I love about this genre.
There were a few times there where Emmy got on my nerves because she was so indecisive about something that seemed so clear to me. But as I read more, I understood the pain and abandonment issues she had and that were caused by her rock star father.
When you find something you are really passionate about and it makes you feel like you finally belong somewhere, you do whatever it takes to preserve it. That is Emmy's fuel behind everything she does and I really felt inspired by her.
Travis was beyond dreamy. His patience and love for Emmy was endless and the way he could just set her on fire with just a stare, drove me crazy with love for him. The steam level in this novel was high and the kind of connection between these characters was just something brilliant.
If you love music, romance and awesome writing, do not hesitate and read this book. I have no doubt that everyone will adore, Love Is How I love You.
This amazing novel releases on January 19th, 2016. You can pre-order today at:
http://www.amazon.com/Loud-How-I-Love...
"Loud is how I love you.
Loud is how I know you're there
Stay loud so I don't lose you
I will follow the sound of you anywhere."
*working on a music playlist for this review.
(ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review)
Loud Is How I Love You is the debut novel of author Mercy Brown. I instantly fell in love with her writing style. The way she writes makes you love and relate to the story so easily , it felt like I was sitting at a coffee house, talking to my best friend and she was telling me the story about how she fell in love with her guitarist. The passion in the words were deafening and the melody in the story are something I'll be dreaming about for many nights to come...
Emmy is passionate about one thing and one thing only, being in a band. Music is in her blood, creating tunes and rockin' in front of audiences, with her best friends is all she ever wants to do with her life. She's 21 and going to college to satisfied her mother. She's an English major whose heart belongs to music.
Emmy has a few rules she's very strict about following to ensure the longevity of her band. The first rule and perhaps the most important one is: DO NOT have sex with anybody in the band. But then there's Travis, her sexy, sweet and smart guitarist. She's been crushing on him for two years, they have a ton in common and have the best time together. Travis is not only her guitarist but her best friend.
One night after too much fun and celebration, neither Travis or Emmy are able to hold their feelings for each other any longer. Their chemistry in the sheets is just as powerful and beautiful as it is on stage, and after that one night of passion it will be very hard for them to keep their relationship as it was before. Because as we know, sex complicates everything...
Emmy is naturally a very dramatic character ( -being a very sensitive musician and all). Immediately she starts freaking out that the sex will mess with the friendship she and Travis share, and will ultimately break up the band. Emmy has seen time and time again how being in a relationship with a band member only brings problems. She is scared of losing everything she's worked so hard to achieve, and especially now that her band is finally getting noticed by some very important members of the music scene.
Travis is a very logical person and he knows Emmy best, so he handles her freak-outs beautifully, but there's only so much a guy can take in the name of love. Will they be able to figure things out and reach an understanding where both love and music can be a priority?
If there's a romance novel about music, I want to read it! And Loud Is How I love You was exactly everything I love about this genre.
There were a few times there where Emmy got on my nerves because she was so indecisive about something that seemed so clear to me. But as I read more, I understood the pain and abandonment issues she had and that were caused by her rock star father.
When you find something you are really passionate about and it makes you feel like you finally belong somewhere, you do whatever it takes to preserve it. That is Emmy's fuel behind everything she does and I really felt inspired by her.
Travis was beyond dreamy. His patience and love for Emmy was endless and the way he could just set her on fire with just a stare, drove me crazy with love for him. The steam level in this novel was high and the kind of connection between these characters was just something brilliant.
If you love music, romance and awesome writing, do not hesitate and read this book. I have no doubt that everyone will adore, Love Is How I love You.
This amazing novel releases on January 19th, 2016. You can pre-order today at:
http://www.amazon.com/Loud-How-I-Love...
"Loud is how I love you.
Loud is how I know you're there
Stay loud so I don't lose you
I will follow the sound of you anywhere."
*working on a music playlist for this review.
January 19, 2016
LIVE: http://amzn.to/1WqqM0l
This book is so much fun. Mercy Brown takes you back the 90’s and immerses you in the world of Travis and Emmy. The story is told from Emmy’s POV, she is the only child of a former semi-famous musician. She grew up loving music and dreaming of one day having her own band. She has accomplished that band, loves her bandmates like family and wants nothing more than to keep things together.
Travis is Emmy’s bandmate and while he loves the band, his feelings for Emmy are more important to him. So when he finally makes a move and they have one night of smoking hot sex he isn't ready to go back to being just friends. Where Emmy thinks they can’t have it both ways and fears their relationship could completely destroy the band.
I really struggled with Emmy’s fears and seeing her struggle and go back and forth with her feelings. In the end, it did make so much more sense to me. I think her fear was more than about the band and being abandon, losing her comfort zone. In the same respect, Travis is absolutely perfect. I seriously loved him so much and at times was just screaming for Emmy to move on and accept him. Not only is Travis compassionate and caring, he is sexy as hell and devoted to Emmy.
I am so excited to read further in this series. Mercy Brown is so talented and I loved discovering this world. The character development and setting descriptions made everything so much more real. I can’t wait to see what comes next for the other characters. I highly recommend Loud is How I love You, it’s so much fun, super sexy, and completely entertaining.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
"I'm too loud, I can't help it." "Good," he says. "Loud is how I love you."
This book is so much fun. Mercy Brown takes you back the 90’s and immerses you in the world of Travis and Emmy. The story is told from Emmy’s POV, she is the only child of a former semi-famous musician. She grew up loving music and dreaming of one day having her own band. She has accomplished that band, loves her bandmates like family and wants nothing more than to keep things together.
Travis is Emmy’s bandmate and while he loves the band, his feelings for Emmy are more important to him. So when he finally makes a move and they have one night of smoking hot sex he isn't ready to go back to being just friends. Where Emmy thinks they can’t have it both ways and fears their relationship could completely destroy the band.
I really struggled with Emmy’s fears and seeing her struggle and go back and forth with her feelings. In the end, it did make so much more sense to me. I think her fear was more than about the band and being abandon, losing her comfort zone. In the same respect, Travis is absolutely perfect. I seriously loved him so much and at times was just screaming for Emmy to move on and accept him. Not only is Travis compassionate and caring, he is sexy as hell and devoted to Emmy.
I am so excited to read further in this series. Mercy Brown is so talented and I loved discovering this world. The character development and setting descriptions made everything so much more real. I can’t wait to see what comes next for the other characters. I highly recommend Loud is How I love You, it’s so much fun, super sexy, and completely entertaining.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2016
I could count with a single hand the books that I ended up liking despite struggling with the heroine or the hero. Loud is How I Love is among those books. Despite the fact that Emmylou drove me batty sometimes, Mercy Brown managed to capture my attention from page one until the end. It really helped that this book reminded me so much of three of my fave films: Singles, Reality Bites and Almost Famous. Plus, it's set during my second fave decade music-wise: the '90s.
Emmylou is the feisty singer of an upcoming band, Stars on the Floor, inexplicably called Soft, out of New Brunswick, New Jersey. For Emmylou music is in her blood. Her own father was himself part of a rock band who had one hit in '70s, and there's nothing or no one that can get in the way of making it big. And that means not giving in to her sizzling attraction towards her enigmatic lead guitarist, Travis. Besides, Emmylou won't dare break the number one rule of the band: Don't sleep with band mates!
Easier said than done because the more she resisted, the more she felt drawn to Travis. So what does she do? Slept with him of course. Not surprisingly, things got complicated very fast.
But Loud is How I Love You is more than just about a girl breaking her band's number one rule. It's also about the family, friendship and the sacrifices you make to keep your dream alive. Most of all, it's all about music. The Hub City indie rock scene in the mid '90s was front and center in this novel. Aside from Emmylou's own band, Soft, we also get a glimpse of the many indie rock bands that was part of the New Brunswick music scene. Loved reading about their stories, their struggles and the camaraderie that they have with Emmylou and Soft.
The story is told entirely in Emmylou's POV. It felt like reading snippets of a journal entry interspersed with hilarious anecdotes about the travails and triumphs of being an indie rock band during this time. I got to say that I loved those anecdotes because they almost mirror a few of my experiences in this decade as well. There were times though when my eyes sort of glazed over especially when she started about her gear. I didn't mind it though because it adds a layer of authenticity to the story.
Emmylou is a bit of a mess. Okay. That's clearly understatement because the girl just couldn't make up her mind about Travis. It should have annoyed me but I actually understood why she acted that way. For most of her life, everything was about the music for her. She had a goal and she wanted to achieve it. It was the thing that I admired most about her character. She not only have the talent but also the drive and the passion to succeed. Unfortunately, her one-track mind when it comes to her dreams made her blind to other people's needs. She acted selfishly and irrationally especially when it came to Travis. She had to learn some very hard lessons throughout the book, and as the reader, I was along for the ride. I felt every bad and selfish decisions she made. Which is why I could not not like this book despite everything. It made me feel things. Plus, I really like coming of age romance stories where the main character is brought low by her own selfish actions only to find redemption and HEA at the end.
Overall, LiHILY was a satisfying albeit sometimes frustrating read. It was poignant, funny, with plenty of unforgettable characters. I'm so looking forward to Cole and Sonia's story. I'm so intrigued by Cole and Sonia was amazing in this book. So yeah, having more books in the series is definitely a good thing for me.
ARC provided by the publisher
Emmylou is the feisty singer of an upcoming band, Stars on the Floor, inexplicably called Soft, out of New Brunswick, New Jersey. For Emmylou music is in her blood. Her own father was himself part of a rock band who had one hit in '70s, and there's nothing or no one that can get in the way of making it big. And that means not giving in to her sizzling attraction towards her enigmatic lead guitarist, Travis. Besides, Emmylou won't dare break the number one rule of the band: Don't sleep with band mates!
Easier said than done because the more she resisted, the more she felt drawn to Travis. So what does she do? Slept with him of course. Not surprisingly, things got complicated very fast.
But Loud is How I Love You is more than just about a girl breaking her band's number one rule. It's also about the family, friendship and the sacrifices you make to keep your dream alive. Most of all, it's all about music. The Hub City indie rock scene in the mid '90s was front and center in this novel. Aside from Emmylou's own band, Soft, we also get a glimpse of the many indie rock bands that was part of the New Brunswick music scene. Loved reading about their stories, their struggles and the camaraderie that they have with Emmylou and Soft.
The story is told entirely in Emmylou's POV. It felt like reading snippets of a journal entry interspersed with hilarious anecdotes about the travails and triumphs of being an indie rock band during this time. I got to say that I loved those anecdotes because they almost mirror a few of my experiences in this decade as well. There were times though when my eyes sort of glazed over especially when she started about her gear. I didn't mind it though because it adds a layer of authenticity to the story.
Emmylou is a bit of a mess. Okay. That's clearly understatement because the girl just couldn't make up her mind about Travis. It should have annoyed me but I actually understood why she acted that way. For most of her life, everything was about the music for her. She had a goal and she wanted to achieve it. It was the thing that I admired most about her character. She not only have the talent but also the drive and the passion to succeed. Unfortunately, her one-track mind when it comes to her dreams made her blind to other people's needs. She acted selfishly and irrationally especially when it came to Travis. She had to learn some very hard lessons throughout the book, and as the reader, I was along for the ride. I felt every bad and selfish decisions she made. Which is why I could not not like this book despite everything. It made me feel things. Plus, I really like coming of age romance stories where the main character is brought low by her own selfish actions only to find redemption and HEA at the end.
Overall, LiHILY was a satisfying albeit sometimes frustrating read. It was poignant, funny, with plenty of unforgettable characters. I'm so looking forward to Cole and Sonia's story. I'm so intrigued by Cole and Sonia was amazing in this book. So yeah, having more books in the series is definitely a good thing for me.
ARC provided by the publisher
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January 18, 2016Indefinitely paused at 45%
Admittedly I knew straight off the bat that this book wasn't for me but I kept trudging through in the hopes that something would click for me. But when I got to the halfway point and was no closer to clicking with the story, I knew it was time to part ways.
Loud Is How I Love You had all the ingredients for the perfect read for me, with the icing being the 90's setting but I struggled to get into the book from the very beginning.
The writing has a very 'voiceover' feel to it. Which usually shouldn't be a problem, but the heroine was in her head way too much and the fact that I disliked pretty much everything that went on inside it didn't help matter any either. The narrative was long and dragging. I'm not entirely sure if it was the formatting or just the way it was written, but it didn't flow for me. I struggled and found myself re-reading paragraphs because I'd glaze over in the middle of it.
I also couldn't connect with Emmylou for the life of me. She was so back and forth that she gave me whiplash. The whole "I want you but I can't have you because of the band but I want you but I'm still going to push you away wait come back" game got tiresome. I absolutely adored Travis and the only thing that did was aggravated me even more with Emmy's treatment of him.
There was too much mundane detail and it took me out of the story. I don't see myself continuing with this series sadly, because sometimes you just know something isn't for you. This is that series for me. I have a feeling it's going to be one of those books that you either get or you don't. Considering that I kept comparing it to Jean Haus's Luminescent Juliet series (which was a huge favorite of mine), didn't help either.
But who knows? Perhaps it may just work for you. So give it a shot and judge for yourself.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
Admittedly I knew straight off the bat that this book wasn't for me but I kept trudging through in the hopes that something would click for me. But when I got to the halfway point and was no closer to clicking with the story, I knew it was time to part ways.
Loud Is How I Love You had all the ingredients for the perfect read for me, with the icing being the 90's setting but I struggled to get into the book from the very beginning.
The writing has a very 'voiceover' feel to it. Which usually shouldn't be a problem, but the heroine was in her head way too much and the fact that I disliked pretty much everything that went on inside it didn't help matter any either. The narrative was long and dragging. I'm not entirely sure if it was the formatting or just the way it was written, but it didn't flow for me. I struggled and found myself re-reading paragraphs because I'd glaze over in the middle of it.
I also couldn't connect with Emmylou for the life of me. She was so back and forth that she gave me whiplash. The whole "I want you but I can't have you because of the band but I want you but I'm still going to push you away wait come back" game got tiresome. I absolutely adored Travis and the only thing that did was aggravated me even more with Emmy's treatment of him.
There was too much mundane detail and it took me out of the story. I don't see myself continuing with this series sadly, because sometimes you just know something isn't for you. This is that series for me. I have a feeling it's going to be one of those books that you either get or you don't. Considering that I kept comparing it to Jean Haus's Luminescent Juliet series (which was a huge favorite of mine), didn't help either.
But who knows? Perhaps it may just work for you. So give it a shot and judge for yourself.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
January 19, 2016
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
LOUD. Loud is definitely the word to describe this spectacular debut book by Mercy Brown. Usually, when something is loud, we are often asked to lower the volume or to tone it down but that doesn't apply to this book. LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU was LOUD and PROUD as it paints a literary tale that screams and begs readers to experience the gorgeous prose that Mercy Brown has captured of two hearts finding the same rhythm and beat.
LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU is a fresh, deafening and intensely sweet and charming book that will resonate to all romance aficionados out there that LOVE is taking that risk. Taking that chance to shout out and let your love be heard. And let it be LOUD. Well, in this case there is only one way to have a love story be heard. The lyrics must be felt and let me just say Mercy Brown, I have heard you and your book not only delivers a deafening sound but this book delivers everything I wanted in a New Adult Romance.
"Stay loud so I don't lose you. I will follow the sound of you anywhere."
One night. One night was all it took for Emmy's world to be rocked on it's axis. One night with Travis, a member in the rock band that Emmy also belongs too. The one rule to not get involved with a member in the band was tossed out the window when Emmy couldn't shake out her intense attraction and feelings for Travis. But the only problem is Emmy doesn't want to ruin the band dynamics so she keeps Travis at a distance while Travis doesn't want to sweep what happened to them under the rug. He wants to make it known that this tangible connection that he has with Emmy can't be extinguished and that you must let your heart surrender to the music.
"Then he covered my mouth with a deep, heartfelt kiss. And it wasn’t everything I ever fantasized about with him. It wasn’t my dream come true. It was so much better than that."
This book captured what life and love is all about. There will be some high notes, some low notes but put together they compose an unforgettable song and melody. LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU comprises a story layered with love, friendship, music, life, and hope. Mercy Brown did an amazing job writing the story of Emmy and Travis. She truly captured a palpable connection of two friends who took awhile to get their love heard out loud. While Emmy may have been frustrating at times, I understood her fears because the band was her life, her family, and her purpose. And if she lost the band, it would devastate her but losing Travis would be a heartbreak that might she not be able to recover from.
As I said before earlier, Mercy Brown, I have heard you loud and clear. Your writing was fun, fresh, innovative and oh so entertaining. You made me reminisce the 90s music scene and at the same time had a love story that was meant to BE LOUD. With a lively cast of characters, Ms. Brown gave her readers a full spectrum of what looks like a vibrant and amazing series. So Mercy Brown thank you for this LOUD and BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY!
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Mercy Brown
LOUD. Loud is definitely the word to describe this spectacular debut book by Mercy Brown. Usually, when something is loud, we are often asked to lower the volume or to tone it down but that doesn't apply to this book. LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU was LOUD and PROUD as it paints a literary tale that screams and begs readers to experience the gorgeous prose that Mercy Brown has captured of two hearts finding the same rhythm and beat.
LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU is a fresh, deafening and intensely sweet and charming book that will resonate to all romance aficionados out there that LOVE is taking that risk. Taking that chance to shout out and let your love be heard. And let it be LOUD. Well, in this case there is only one way to have a love story be heard. The lyrics must be felt and let me just say Mercy Brown, I have heard you and your book not only delivers a deafening sound but this book delivers everything I wanted in a New Adult Romance.
"Stay loud so I don't lose you. I will follow the sound of you anywhere."
One night. One night was all it took for Emmy's world to be rocked on it's axis. One night with Travis, a member in the rock band that Emmy also belongs too. The one rule to not get involved with a member in the band was tossed out the window when Emmy couldn't shake out her intense attraction and feelings for Travis. But the only problem is Emmy doesn't want to ruin the band dynamics so she keeps Travis at a distance while Travis doesn't want to sweep what happened to them under the rug. He wants to make it known that this tangible connection that he has with Emmy can't be extinguished and that you must let your heart surrender to the music.
"Then he covered my mouth with a deep, heartfelt kiss. And it wasn’t everything I ever fantasized about with him. It wasn’t my dream come true. It was so much better than that."
This book captured what life and love is all about. There will be some high notes, some low notes but put together they compose an unforgettable song and melody. LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU comprises a story layered with love, friendship, music, life, and hope. Mercy Brown did an amazing job writing the story of Emmy and Travis. She truly captured a palpable connection of two friends who took awhile to get their love heard out loud. While Emmy may have been frustrating at times, I understood her fears because the band was her life, her family, and her purpose. And if she lost the band, it would devastate her but losing Travis would be a heartbreak that might she not be able to recover from.
As I said before earlier, Mercy Brown, I have heard you loud and clear. Your writing was fun, fresh, innovative and oh so entertaining. You made me reminisce the 90s music scene and at the same time had a love story that was meant to BE LOUD. With a lively cast of characters, Ms. Brown gave her readers a full spectrum of what looks like a vibrant and amazing series. So Mercy Brown thank you for this LOUD and BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY!
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Mercy Brown
February 6, 2016
Loud is How I Love You is a new adult novel set in the 90's indie rock world, introducing readers to Emmylou, the lead singer of the Soft, and her best friend and bandmate Travis. I had high hopes for this novel, given the setting, early praise, and promise of romantic tension, but I didn't end up loving it for a few reasons.
At twenty-one, Emmylou's dream is to get a record deal and play music for the rest of her life. On her road to achieving this goal, she's imposed certain rules she must abide by, rule numero uno being DO NOT SLEEP WITH YOUR BANDMATE. Emmy finds herself in a precarious position when she ends into bed with Travis after play a show. And again at his house. And again. They can't seem to get their hands off each other, which has Emmy freaking out because sleeping with her guitarist can't possibly turn out well.
LACK OF CONFLICT. The main conflict in this book is Emmy's choice between following her dreams and following her heart, which leads her to do some irritating things to Travis over and over again. She and him get together, she freaks out over their progressing relationship, and then breaks it off. This happens multiple times throughout the book. The story needed some other conflict other than this in order to hold it together. Instead, what we got felt very manufactured and it got old after awhile.
On a related note, I realize that Emmy's dream was for her band to be successful. Music is ingrained in her and a very integral part of her life. When something is that important to someone, people often do things to further their passion at the expense of others. While I understood this, I had a hard time seeing Emmy hurt Travis repeatedly. She seemed very selfish and uncaring. I'm not usually one to get annoyed by heroines, but Emmy really irritated me.
WRITING STYLE. The author's writing style made it difficult for me to enjoy the book as a whole. The book is told in first-person in Emmy's point-of-view. There was so much internal monologue and not enough dialogue. The sentence structure was really long and convoluted.
READER DOESN'T SEE THE ROMANTIC BUILD-UP. The reader is dropped right in the middle of Travis and Emmy sleeping together in the beginning. We are told that they have been best friends for a long time and that there has been this tension building between them, but the reader doesn't really get any of that. I almost think the story would have felt more organic had we been able to see that relationship develop up to that point.
2 stars
* I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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January 28, 2016
What’s the first rule of being in a band?
“Don’t f*ck anyone in the band”
Emmy has seen first hand the damage breaking this rule can do to a band, but does that stop her from sleeping with her guitarist? Nope. Loud is How I Love You tells the story of what happens in the mid-90’s when the lead singer of Stars on the Floor sleeps with her friend and band mate, Travis.
All her life, Emmy has wanted one thing: to be a successful musician. Music is in her blood, and she has worked hard for years, writing, performing, and traveling for the band. Her blood, sweat, and tears have literally gone into her music and her performances. She can’t and won’t allow personal entanglements and the inevitable bitter breakup derail her dream.
I totally loved Travis (he has the patience of a saint!), but I had a hard time truly connecting with Emmy. Since the story is told from her point-of-view, we get to see all of the hopes and dreams she has for her future, how much she loves being in a band with people who ‘get it’, and how hard she is trying not to mess up a good thing. That part was cool, but being inside Emmy’s head so much was a little difficult for me. I know she is young and inexperienced, but her thoughts were warring with each other so much, I just wanted to slap some sense into her—more than once.
All of that aside, the 90’s band references were awesome and brought back memories of late nights in college, listening to CDs and going to clubs. There are also some spectacular shenanigans happening that had me laughing out loud.
Loud is How I Love You is definitely not a typical rock romance. The writing is fresh and the story is unique, although I am not entirely sure it was my favorite style. I enjoyed the story, though, and I am curious to see what is coming next for this interesting, rag-tag group of characters in Stay Until We Break.
▸ ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
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January 30, 2022UPDATE: I just did a reread of this book, and it's just as good--if not better--as it read to me in 2016. The narrative style is chatty and well-observed. Mercy Brown is such an efficient storyteller. Every line accomplishes multi-level observations. Love love love!
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This is SO GOOD! The writing is exquisite, and the setting has so much texture. You can practically feel the bass thumping in your stomach.
Some reviewers have said that the heroine's reluctance lasts too long, but I thought she was perfect. She's young, for starters. And driven. I really "got" her. And I can't wait to read the next one.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This is SO GOOD! The writing is exquisite, and the setting has so much texture. You can practically feel the bass thumping in your stomach.
Some reviewers have said that the heroine's reluctance lasts too long, but I thought she was perfect. She's young, for starters. And driven. I really "got" her. And I can't wait to read the next one.
January 19, 2016
‘I know how he feels inside of me the way I know the songs I write. My body remembers, and now it feels like it remembers him, too. Already.’
It’s been a little while since we indulged in one of our favourite themes, the rock star romance and Loud is How I Love You sounded right up our alley, incorporating the Indie music scene and bands of the 90’s we grew up with and loved.
Emmy and Travis’s story had the makings of a fabulous rock star romance, but sadly it sort of missed its mark with us and we’ll explain why. First off, what we did love was being present for the technical side of the music industry and the banter within the band. It’s always great to see a side of the industry we wouldn’t normally get to experience, to see the before of these struggling and very talented bands who hope for their big break and in that regards, Mercy Brown brought this to life though at times it could feel a little mechanical rather than entertaining.
We loved the initial connection with Emmy and Travis who, together with the beat brothers, Joey and Cole form the band Stars on the Floor, or Soft as they’re locally known, working their way around the bars and festivals waiting for the moment they can crash onto the music scene in full force.
There’s a saying Emmy lives by and that’s “don’t get involved romantically or sexually with band members” as she feels the inevitable break will bring ruination to any band however she breaks her rule though after she sleeps with Travis, feels a connection and has some mind blowing sex she finds hard to forget, but at what cost?
‘I can’t describe how much it hurts, now that I know what I’m missing.’
Emmy and Travis (Bean) made a cute pair at first. Both passionate musicians, both with a focus on the band and their future, they hit all the right spots except for Emmy’s paranoia over their relationship leading to doom for Soft which caused us to eventually disconnect after a while.
This is where Loud Is How I Love You fell down for us. Initially we were excited as we felt the passion between Emmy and Travis and experienced the chemistry and their feelings for one another but Emmy’s constant dilly dallying caused us whiplash. She DID OUR HEADS IN! Poor bloody Travis didn’t know if he was coming or going.
There’s only so many times we can put up with constant indecision and second guessing before it becomes tedious, and in this case, it was too much of the same thing with Emmy sleeping with Travis then pushing him away and ……repeeeeat. It was understandable at first, but by the end we were a bit over it and frustrated with the story. Emmy’s actions simply became exhausting. We felt so sorry for Travis…this guy had our hearts! Boy, what he put up with from Emmy, we wanted him to run for the hills and never look back.
“I’ve got everything I want now with the way things are, don’t you?” Emmy
“No,” he says. “I don’t.”
The ending was beautiful and despite being a little bored at times, we still felt the need to keep reading to experience the conclusion to Emmy and Travis’s story and as much as we enjoyed that portion, most of what came before exasperated us.
“What is this thing we’re doing? I don’t even know what to call it.”
“Just call it awesome,” he says. “We’ll figure the rest out as we go.”
We enjoyed the insights into the industry, we had fun with the band members and their friends and the romance and heat was certainly in abundance. We simply wish it hadn’t taken such a back seat to the overabundance of to’ing and fro’ing that preceded it.
♥ ♥ ♥
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September 18, 2014
I read LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU as a manuscript, and it remains my favorite read of the year. It's exactly what I've been looking for in the New Adult genre--something fun and lighthearted, with all the anxieties and hardships of early adulthood a backdrop rather than the focal point. The romance is as sexy as the gritty early 90s rock scene it's staged in, and Mercy Brown's voice is effortless and compelling. I cannot wait for everyone to read this.
January 16, 2016
‘I know how he feels inside of me the way I know the songs I write. My body remembers, and now it feels like it remembers him, too. Already.’
It’s been a little while since we indulged in one of our favourite themes, the rock star romance and Loud is How I Love You sounded right up our alley, incorporating the Indie music scene and bands of the 90’s we grew up with and loved.
Emmy and Travis’s story had the makings of a fabulous rock star romance, but sadly it sort of missed its mark with us and we’ll explain why. First off, what we did love was being present for the technical side of the music industry and the banter within the band. It’s always great to see a side of the industry we wouldn’t normally get to experience, to see the before of these struggling and very talented bands who hope for their big break and in that regards, Mercy Brown brought this to life though at times it could feel a little mechanical rather than entertaining.
We loved the initial connection with Emmy and Travis who, together with the beat brothers, Joey and Cole form the band Stars on the Floor, or Soft as they’re locally known, working their way around the bars and festivals waiting for the moment they can crash onto the music scene in full force.
There’s a saying Emmy lives by and that’s “don’t get involved romantically or sexually with band members” as she feels the inevitable break will bring ruination to any band however she breaks her rule though after she sleeps with Travis, feels a connection and has some mind blowing sex she finds hard to forget, but at what cost?
‘I can’t describe how much it hurts, now that I know what I’m missing.’
Emmy and Travis (Bean) made a cute pair at first. Both passionate musicians, both with a focus on the band and their future, they hit all the right spots except for Emmy’s paranoia over their relationship leading to doom for Soft which caused us to eventually disconnect after a while.
This is where Loud Is How I Love You fell down for us. Initially we were excited as we felt the passion between Emmy and Travis and experienced the chemistry and their feelings for one another but Emmy’s constant dilly dallying caused us whiplash. She DID OUR HEADS IN! Poor bloody Travis didn’t know if he was coming or going.
There’s only so many times we can put up with constant indecision and second guessing before it becomes tedious, and in this case, it was too much of the same thing with Emmy sleeping with Travis then pushing him away and ……repeeeeat. It was understandable at first, but by the end we were a bit over it and frustrated with the story. Emmy’s actions simply became exhausting. We felt so sorry for Travis…this guy had our hearts! Boy, what he put up with from Emmy, we wanted him to run for the hills and never look back.
“I’ve got everything I want now with the way things are, don’t you?” Emmy
“No,” he says. “I don’t.”
The ending was beautiful and despite being a little bored at times, we still felt the need to keep reading to experience the conclusion to Emmy and Travis’s story and as much as we enjoyed that portion, most of what came before exasperated us.
“What is this thing we’re doing? I don’t even know what to call it.”
“Just call it awesome,” he says. “We’ll figure the rest out as we go.”
We enjoyed the insights into the industry, we had fun with the band members and their friends and the romance and heat was certainly in abundance. We simply wish it hadn’t taken such a back seat to the overabundance of to’ing and fro’ing that preceded it.
♥ ♥ ♥
Come say hi and follow us at:
✦ TotallybookedBlog
✦ TB on Facebook
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February 27, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
I love rocker romances. This one, though, just never got there for me. Which is incredibly surprising after seeing the hardcore fangirling reviews for it. We really don't seem to have read the same book. Loud Is How I Love You was a struggle for me. The gist of it is that two bad members have had sex. And the heroine, Emmy, pretty much freaks out over it. And continues to freak out over it and ruin the band dynamics in her panic to not ruin the band dynamics. Rinse and repeat. Ad nauseam.
Alright so the good things.
I liked the hero and the other band members. Travis is a good guy who is very much in love with the heroine. He's solid, rational, sweet and so damn patient. And the other two guys in the band weren't bad either. They don't have a lot of face time but they were a nice little addition.
And that was pretty much all I liked about this one.
Now. For what didn't work.
The heroine is a trial. Emmy tries too hard and is incredibly annoying, immature, irrational and just obnoxious. And the entire book is told from her narration. And she does LOVE to hear herself think. She's in her head way too much and, unfortunately, dragged us with her. She over thinks everything, has mercurial moods and is just too young feeling. I had no faith in her. No sympathy for her when she mucks things up. I never rooted for her. Or really cared anything about her other than her hurting the hero over and over and OVER again with her lightning fast changes of resisting because they could hurt the band then deciding that no they could do thi...nope back to it'll destroy the band! Give him a little taste of what he wanted (a relationship) then freaking out and pulling it away. Then being upset when he was upset over her treatment. She was way too obsessive about the band at the risk of everything else. She couldn't see that she was destroying the band on her own in her attempts to not destroy the band. It was just too much and exhausting.
My biggest issue, though, was that it all suffers from a major case of telling and not showing. The book felt like a journal entry. Or a time log. On Monday we did this. On Tuesday we went here. On Wednesday he came over. That night we went to this club. 5 weeks later we dah dah dah. There was just too much time in the heroines head as she rehashed previous encounters, as well. Their first time having sex was picked apart three separate times during the book as she fantasized and fretted over it but never actually happened on page. Instead of seeing them have a conversation we'd get her thinking about it the next day. There was just so much of her THINKING about what had happened vs actually happening.
The other aspect that was difficult was the musical side. It was obvious the author knows this scene and knows it well. It's detailed and all aspects of the band and the things they're doing are well documented. But it was too much and instead of enhancing the story and romance it took away from it. It's probably great if you're IN the scene. But it doesn't lend itself well to the telling of a romance. It would be like me doing a book about a heroine who was in animal rescue and taking a cat to get vaccines. And then describing every little detail. That certain vaccines are given in certain locations in case of reactions. And it's frowned upon to do them between the shoulder blades because if it does happen to cause cancer there's little you can do treatment-wise vs if they develop a cancerous spot on a leg injection site. In that case you can remove the leg and do chemo and radiation. Which really isn't a big deal in cats. They handle it differently than humans and don't lose their hair or get sick from it. It's very rare they have a reaction but best to be safe especially with the number of vaccines a cat will need initially. Including rabies vaccine at four months old which will need to be boostered a year later.
Get my point? It was just TOO much. Instead of pushing the romance and story forward the incredible detail bogged everything down and became incredibly boring as they traveled to gigs, preformed, watched other bands preform, mentioned all of the other band's members and relationships and if they were likely to get record deals, etc.
All in all, Loud Is How I Love You was a bust for me. Instead of being swept up and captivated by their world it never managed to inspired me or leave me confident that the couple would make it more than a day or two after the book concluded. It's definitely working for others though so if it's one that has you curious maybe check it out. I'd suggest trying a sample of it prior to purchase though.
~~~~~~
With all the great reviews I was expecting more but 1/4th in and I'm feeling pretty meh. The heroine is rather whiny and it's suffering from a major case of telling and not showing. Plus. We're on the 3rd sex scene already BUT it's the SAME sex scene that happen before the book even started. She just keeps rehashing it and fantasizing but not fantasizing about how it WAS. Okay. I get it. Move on. Just not feeling it at all.
January 27, 2016
"Writing music is personal, intimate even, and you have to be pretty comfortable to be able to do it with other people. When you find someone you work this well with, it’s rare and special and it’s more than friendship. I know this sounds dumb, but it’s kind of like finding a unicorn. If you found a unicorn, you would take care of it, protect it. You’d keep it safe. You definitely wouldn’t fuck it, right?
And that's how monster porn gets written, little boys and girls.
I had so much fun reading this book! I thought I'd given up crushing on musician boys back in high school (given how Stephenie Perkins was always pointing out how douchey they all are generally) but nooooooo. They are so sweet, my goodness and nice and they carry your amps for you and they ask you to take two Advils and drink lots of water to keep that nasty hang over at bay because Jesus, Maria y José it reminds me why I became such a Kurt Cobain
“What is this thing we’re doing?” I whisper. I’m not sure I mean to say it out loud, because I am pretty nervous to put an actual label to it. “I don’t even know what to call it.”
He touches his lips to mine again, all soft and sweet.
“Just call it awesome,” he says. “We’ll figure the rest out as we go.
Seriously. They are so cute together! But only when Emmylou is not being a goddamn pendulum swinging back and forth between whether she’s cool with pursuing carnal relations with her best friend/band member or if they should keep it strictly platonic. And man, it reminded me so much of Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson (I love Hole <3) because intra-band dating and Emmylou is a badass when she’s not being a bitch (docking off one star because I absolutely hate it when someone toys with someone else's feelings and strings them along. Also, the unnecessary drama! Made me want to bitch slap Emmy six ways to Sunday. Like, what even? Why the fuck are you even doing that?!). And she’s pretty funny in a dry kind of way.
I was just going to be a nun of rock ’n’ roll, only with more hand jobs.
*bursts out laughing*
And she’s not just another weed smoking rocker chick, okay? She reads books and I think I wanna be her best friend yeah.
What makes these stories so good, so vital, is not that they are or aren’t real or relevant, but that when you read them they make you feel like you lived them. They give you an experience that you just can’t otherwise have. That’s why books like these are so powerful, why they mean something. I can’t live in tribal Africa and experience what happens when the Christians come. I can’t be a black slave at the end of the Civil War. But I can read Beloved. Fuck, it’s the least I can do on that front. Good stories do something like what good rock and roll does, they make you feel something. Sometimes it’s something new. Sometimes it’s something familiar, but you feel it for a new reason. And I do realize that listening to good rock and roll and reading good books don’t by themselves put food on the table. They don’t put a roof over your head. But they give you a reason to keep drawing air. Survival just for survival’s sake is fine if you’re a virus. A microbe. If you’re human, there should be a point to survival, and if love and art aren’t it, then I guess I don’t know what is.
I love how well the 90’s indie scene was described- the struggles of being in a band, the bonhomie with other musicians, going for gigs with your instruments stuffed in the van, the whole 90’s vibe. I loved it all.
Also, the band references! You have Mazzy Star, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Radiohead and a sneaky paraphrasing of Nine Inch Nail’s Closer which made me giggle. Plus, I might have developed a serious crush on Travis.
Read it if you’re a fan of romances involving cute musicians and don’t mind indulging in some 90’s nostalgia.
July 20, 2017
Originally posted at Booklovers For Life
Loud is how I love you,
Loud is how I know you’re there.
Loud so I don’t lose you,
Because I’d know the sound of you anywhere.
This book was on my radar because of some heavy praise from one of my all-time favorite authors, so of course I had to give it a try! Add in the ‘90’s indie rock scene and I was totally sold. Loud is How I Love You is a fantastic new adult romance – it wasn’t anything like I expected, but I enjoyed every bit of its quirkiness. It’s heartwarming, fun, hilarious, and a really sweet read. If you’re looking for something memorable and different from your typical NA read, you need to read this book!
Emmy’s dream is to get her band, Stars on the Floor (aka Soft), noticed, and she and her bandmates have worked their butts off to get to where they are. But it’s all threatened when Emmy ends up having the best sex of her life… with her guitarist Travis. Because the number one rule of being in a band? Don’t sleep with your bandmate. If you do, you’ll only create drama that will screw things up and eventually break up the band.
But ever since that one crazy hot night with Travis, Emmy can’t stop thinking about or wanting him. Not only is Travis a bandmate, he’s also her best friend. They have an amazing connection that they’ve built over the years and a chemistry that’s off the charts, but is their relationship worth the risk of losing their dreams of making it in the music industry? Or will them being together be the downfall of Soft?
“What is this thing we’re doing?” I whisper. I’m not sure I mean to say it out loud, because I am pretty nervous to put an actual label to it. “I don’t even know what to call it.”
He touches his lips to mine again, all soft and sweet.
“Just call it awesome,” he says. “We’ll figure the rest out as we go.”
There is a TON of back and forth from Emmy. She wants Travis bad, but she also wants her band to succeed, and to her, she can’t have both. As much as she frustrated and annoyed me, I can’t say that I ever hated Emmy. It was admirable how much her music career meant to her and how she wasn’t willing to give it up for anything or anyone. It’s just that Travis is so lovable that I wanted to shake her for not trying to work things out with him sooner. Travis is some serious swoon-worthy material – he’s sweet, funny, sexy as hell, and incredibly patient with Emmy. I loved him for how he never gives up on her, even when she drove him (and me) crazy.
Stay loud so I don’t lose you.
I will follow the sound of you anywhere. -T
My favorite part of Loud is definitely Mercy Brown’s writing. She has a brilliant, fresh voice that is so unique and enjoyable to read – I loved it! And you can tell the author knows a lot about the music industry. I will absolutely be reading more of her upcoming books. I’m very impressed that Loud is her first published book, actually.
Loud is How I Love You is a satisfying, well-written NA book you don’t want to miss. The characters felt real and were so much fun to read about. I can’t wait to read the next Hub City book!
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.
Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/1PBimiG
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December 17, 2015
FULL REVIEW::::::
Visit Britt's Book Blog for more reviews.
4.5 STARS!
First sentence: Don’t fuck anyone in the band.
Mercy Brown blew my freaking mind with her amazing debut novel, LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU. This book rocked my world and I can’t wait to read more from Mercy.
I knew I had to read this book as soon as I read the synopsis. I love 90s rock music, it’s my favorite. I always have Pandora on a 90s station because that’s how I roll. And what’s better? The lead singer is a woman and the hero is her bandmate. HOLY CRAP. I was feeling giddy and was like, “SOLD. NOW GIVE IT TO ME,” when I finished reading the synopsis.
LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU made me feel like I was in the 90s with Emmylou and Travis. It was fun, lighthearted, oh-so-steamy, and entertaining.
THE WRITING WAS STUNNING
Mercy’s writing flowed effortlessly, wonderfully, and was compelling. Emmy and Travis felt like real characters and the descriptions were amazing. Mercy Brown took me back in time to the 90s rock scene and I felt like I was with the band. I totally loved it.
I LOVED THE ROCK SCENE
I have heard a few people say they didn’t like the music references, but I’m not one of those people. I loved all of the music references and I think they added a little something extra to the story. I actually like learning about the music scene and how everything works in a band, so I enjoyed that.
TRAVIS WAS SWOONY
I thought Mercy did an amazing job with developing Emmy and Travis as characters and making them feel more real. I did get frustrated at times with Emmy because of all the back-and-forth she was putting poor Travis through, but I kind of understood where she was coming from. Now, Travis. *sighs* *fans self* I was crushing on him from the beginning until the end of the book. Actually, I’m still crushing on him.
CONCLUSION:
LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU is a stellar debut novel that made me feel like I was along with the band on the 90s music scene. I loved Travis and I did like Emmy, but she definitely had her frustrating moments. I liked the secondary characters, but I’m really looking forward to getting to know them better. I feel like we only saw glimpses of them during this book. I enjoyed this story and all of the music references. The romance is steamy and I had some shippy feelings going on throughout the book.
RECOMMENDED TO:
Fans of romances with one of the main characters being a member of a rock band. Also, anyone looking for something new and different in NA.
-------
LOUD IS HOW I LOVE THIS BOOK. I was really looking forward to reading this since it's set in the 90s and the heroine is the lead singer in a band. LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU is refreshing, angsty, and oh-so-good. One of my favorites of the year, for sure.
Visit Britt's Book Blog for more reviews.
4.5 STARS!
First sentence: Don’t fuck anyone in the band.
Mercy Brown blew my freaking mind with her amazing debut novel, LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU. This book rocked my world and I can’t wait to read more from Mercy.
I knew I had to read this book as soon as I read the synopsis. I love 90s rock music, it’s my favorite. I always have Pandora on a 90s station because that’s how I roll. And what’s better? The lead singer is a woman and the hero is her bandmate. HOLY CRAP. I was feeling giddy and was like, “SOLD. NOW GIVE IT TO ME,” when I finished reading the synopsis.
LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU made me feel like I was in the 90s with Emmylou and Travis. It was fun, lighthearted, oh-so-steamy, and entertaining.
THE WRITING WAS STUNNING
Mercy’s writing flowed effortlessly, wonderfully, and was compelling. Emmy and Travis felt like real characters and the descriptions were amazing. Mercy Brown took me back in time to the 90s rock scene and I felt like I was with the band. I totally loved it.
I LOVED THE ROCK SCENE
I have heard a few people say they didn’t like the music references, but I’m not one of those people. I loved all of the music references and I think they added a little something extra to the story. I actually like learning about the music scene and how everything works in a band, so I enjoyed that.
TRAVIS WAS SWOONY
I thought Mercy did an amazing job with developing Emmy and Travis as characters and making them feel more real. I did get frustrated at times with Emmy because of all the back-and-forth she was putting poor Travis through, but I kind of understood where she was coming from. Now, Travis. *sighs* *fans self* I was crushing on him from the beginning until the end of the book. Actually, I’m still crushing on him.
CONCLUSION:
LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU is a stellar debut novel that made me feel like I was along with the band on the 90s music scene. I loved Travis and I did like Emmy, but she definitely had her frustrating moments. I liked the secondary characters, but I’m really looking forward to getting to know them better. I feel like we only saw glimpses of them during this book. I enjoyed this story and all of the music references. The romance is steamy and I had some shippy feelings going on throughout the book.
RECOMMENDED TO:
Fans of romances with one of the main characters being a member of a rock band. Also, anyone looking for something new and different in NA.
-------
LOUD IS HOW I LOVE THIS BOOK. I was really looking forward to reading this since it's set in the 90s and the heroine is the lead singer in a band. LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU is refreshing, angsty, and oh-so-good. One of my favorites of the year, for sure.
December 1, 2015
Definitely some things that frustrated me (EMMY ugh) but really enjoyed the story! Lots of music/band references and shop talk which wasn't always understood but I loved the romance and Bean. Full review to come soon
FULL REVIEW
I love good new adult, and this definitely falls into that category.
Add the 90’s indie rock scene and you’ve got me hooked.
Emmy has one goal… getting her band noticed and making it. One thing she knows for sure is that you never… EVER… sleep with anyone in the band. It only screws things up. But how can she possibly resist the magic that is Travis? The answer is she can’t, but she’s not willing to put her dreams on the line to find out just how far their connection goes.
I’ll be honest, there was one thing about this story that drove me bonkers and that was Emmy. She was so back and forth with Travis that to be perfectly honest I would have ditched her long before it actually happens. Sorry I don’t put up with bullshit and that’s exactly what her back and forth with him was.
That said, I found that I didn’t hate her as a character. And I will say that the fact that she wasn’t willing to give up her dreams for a guy or a possible relationship was definitely nice to see. Her tunnel vision about the band and her goals made sense even if it did drive me nuts.
Travis… I’m not going to lie, I never had crushes on the guys in the bands that I adored (unless you count Chris Martin) but the way that Brown describes Travis completely had me sold and crushing on him right along with Emmy.
I really enjoyed the story here, and it came across as incredibly unique in the sea of cliché crammed, overly dramatic NA. Brown can definitely write steam… and there is definitely some hot, hot sex in this one.
The secondary characters that you meet throughout are wonderfully crafted and I’m definitely looking forward to getting to meet them in future novels.
Make sure you get Mercy Brown on your must read list… I think you’re going to be happily surprised once you dive into this story, like me, you just may find a new author to enjoy!
FULL REVIEW
I love good new adult, and this definitely falls into that category.
Add the 90’s indie rock scene and you’ve got me hooked.
Emmy has one goal… getting her band noticed and making it. One thing she knows for sure is that you never… EVER… sleep with anyone in the band. It only screws things up. But how can she possibly resist the magic that is Travis? The answer is she can’t, but she’s not willing to put her dreams on the line to find out just how far their connection goes.
I’ll be honest, there was one thing about this story that drove me bonkers and that was Emmy. She was so back and forth with Travis that to be perfectly honest I would have ditched her long before it actually happens. Sorry I don’t put up with bullshit and that’s exactly what her back and forth with him was.
That said, I found that I didn’t hate her as a character. And I will say that the fact that she wasn’t willing to give up her dreams for a guy or a possible relationship was definitely nice to see. Her tunnel vision about the band and her goals made sense even if it did drive me nuts.
Travis… I’m not going to lie, I never had crushes on the guys in the bands that I adored (unless you count Chris Martin) but the way that Brown describes Travis completely had me sold and crushing on him right along with Emmy.
I really enjoyed the story here, and it came across as incredibly unique in the sea of cliché crammed, overly dramatic NA. Brown can definitely write steam… and there is definitely some hot, hot sex in this one.
The secondary characters that you meet throughout are wonderfully crafted and I’m definitely looking forward to getting to meet them in future novels.
Make sure you get Mercy Brown on your must read list… I think you’re going to be happily surprised once you dive into this story, like me, you just may find a new author to enjoy!
December 15, 2015
I really wanted to love this story. I've seen some buzz about it in various places and multiple people I trust loved it. I tried so so hard, alas I was disappointed.
First off, I loved Travis, Cole, and Joey. And pretty much every other character in the book. They were fun and dynamic and there were a few times I cackled out loud. Easily, they were the best part of the story.
My main complaint is that I sort of loathed Emmy. She's constantly talking about making sacrifices for the band, yet she comes across as ridiculously selfish. Her push and pull with Travis drove me fucking crazy. To the point that I wanted to DNF almost immediately.
I also struggled with the narrative, as it was full of page long paragraphs {perhaps that was the formatting} and mentions of characters never talked about again. I'm usually all for incessant rambling and tangents because I can relate. I just couldn't connect to Emmy at all.
Overall, the secondary characters may have me coming back to see who gets a story in the next book, but I won't be clamoring for it. I'm sad that I didn't see the spark everyone else did.
**Huge thanks to InterMix Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
First off, I loved Travis, Cole, and Joey. And pretty much every other character in the book. They were fun and dynamic and there were a few times I cackled out loud. Easily, they were the best part of the story.
My main complaint is that I sort of loathed Emmy. She's constantly talking about making sacrifices for the band, yet she comes across as ridiculously selfish. Her push and pull with Travis drove me fucking crazy. To the point that I wanted to DNF almost immediately.
I also struggled with the narrative, as it was full of page long paragraphs {perhaps that was the formatting} and mentions of characters never talked about again. I'm usually all for incessant rambling and tangents because I can relate. I just couldn't connect to Emmy at all.
Overall, the secondary characters may have me coming back to see who gets a story in the next book, but I won't be clamoring for it. I'm sad that I didn't see the spark everyone else did.
**Huge thanks to InterMix Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
May 3, 2017
Ugh, that was so damn enjoyable. So voice-y, really funny, sexy as all get out, so musically authoritative, hot as hell, great book boyfriend, and characters who talk about sex like actual people. Emmy is definitely a tricky character to sympathize with through a lot of the book, because you can see how obviously she's hurting a good person and that's always a hard thing to take, but no question this is going in my NA Top 10 and I will absolutely be reading the next one.
December 31, 2015
This was every bit angsty & addicting. I was totally sucked in to this story's 90s alternative rock scene, never wanting the melody to end. Such a sexy, emotional, & oh so HOT novel. Mercy Brown, I am a fan. Please write more!
January 19, 2016
Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Sometimes a new author comes out of the gate strong and knocks my socks off and that is exactly what Mercy Brown has done in Loud is How I Love You. I was quite simply blown away by this fresh, exciting, frank, and entertaining look at a young club band living, working, going to college and playing hard all in hopes of making something out of their lives.
Emmylou (Emmy) is the front woman and guitarist for Stars on the Floor or as they seem to be known, Soft. The daughter of a deceased guitarist of a 70's southern rock band that never quite made the big time music has always been in Emmy's life and to say she lives and breathes it is an understatement. While getting her college degree is something she feels she must to do make her mother proud, Emmy wants the band to get noticed, get a contract and make it big. The band's success means everything to Emmy and thusly her personal life has suffered. The morning after the best sex of her life with her bandmate Travis, Emmy feels like her world is falling apart.
I loved being in the middle of the music scene with Stars of the Floor and the other many local bands they play with both in and out of clubs. This weird family dynamic was fascinating to watch but it also goes to prove that as much as it is every band for themselves; they celebrate the successes of bands that make it and mourn those that fall apart.
Emmy, Travis, Joey and Cole have a band that works and works well, but once Emmy and Travis hook up things begin to unravel or at least they do in Emmy's eyes. I'll admit this book has quite a bit more angst than I usually enjoy, but it was easy to see that Emmy was very conflicted in the fact that she loved Travis but feared what could possibly happen if they didn't work out. She refused to see that it might work, she just knew that band relationships and thus band break-ups are usually because of love affairs gone wrong. This blinded her and she spent a lot of time wavering on her feelings and need to Travis and her love of their band. Through it all Travis stood steadfast, tried to alleviate her fears and even took time to protect his own heart when he needed it.
I am so far out of the demographic for this book with the character being 21 and 22 (so far out I don't even want to think about it), yet I couldn't help but be drawn in by Ms. Brown's open, honest and candid storytelling and these characters who have their whole lives ahead of them however this moment in their lives seems so big that it is all they can think about. Loud is How I Love You is a dynamic story of friendship, life, ambition and love all against the backdrop of music. I don't know about you, but I know that music has always played a big role in my life; I associate so many different songs with different events and times in my life and this book brought that all home. Music is life and to these musicians it was as essential as the air they breathe.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
Sometimes a new author comes out of the gate strong and knocks my socks off and that is exactly what Mercy Brown has done in Loud is How I Love You. I was quite simply blown away by this fresh, exciting, frank, and entertaining look at a young club band living, working, going to college and playing hard all in hopes of making something out of their lives.
Emmylou (Emmy) is the front woman and guitarist for Stars on the Floor or as they seem to be known, Soft. The daughter of a deceased guitarist of a 70's southern rock band that never quite made the big time music has always been in Emmy's life and to say she lives and breathes it is an understatement. While getting her college degree is something she feels she must to do make her mother proud, Emmy wants the band to get noticed, get a contract and make it big. The band's success means everything to Emmy and thusly her personal life has suffered. The morning after the best sex of her life with her bandmate Travis, Emmy feels like her world is falling apart.
I loved being in the middle of the music scene with Stars of the Floor and the other many local bands they play with both in and out of clubs. This weird family dynamic was fascinating to watch but it also goes to prove that as much as it is every band for themselves; they celebrate the successes of bands that make it and mourn those that fall apart.
Emmy, Travis, Joey and Cole have a band that works and works well, but once Emmy and Travis hook up things begin to unravel or at least they do in Emmy's eyes. I'll admit this book has quite a bit more angst than I usually enjoy, but it was easy to see that Emmy was very conflicted in the fact that she loved Travis but feared what could possibly happen if they didn't work out. She refused to see that it might work, she just knew that band relationships and thus band break-ups are usually because of love affairs gone wrong. This blinded her and she spent a lot of time wavering on her feelings and need to Travis and her love of their band. Through it all Travis stood steadfast, tried to alleviate her fears and even took time to protect his own heart when he needed it.
I am so far out of the demographic for this book with the character being 21 and 22 (so far out I don't even want to think about it), yet I couldn't help but be drawn in by Ms. Brown's open, honest and candid storytelling and these characters who have their whole lives ahead of them however this moment in their lives seems so big that it is all they can think about. Loud is How I Love You is a dynamic story of friendship, life, ambition and love all against the backdrop of music. I don't know about you, but I know that music has always played a big role in my life; I associate so many different songs with different events and times in my life and this book brought that all home. Music is life and to these musicians it was as essential as the air they breathe.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
January 20, 2016
Emmylou knows that the #1 rule of a successful band is: Don’t sleep with your bandmates.
So, when she wakes up after a night of the best sex she’s ever had with her guitarist—and best friend—she freaks out a bit. But what freaks her out even more is that she doesn’t want to stop, it feels right to be with Travis. But what can that mean for the band she’s worked so hard and spent so long pushing towards a big break?
Full disclosure: I started this book on the heels of one of those books that (temporarily) ruins you for all other books. So I went in skeptical. And when I first started reading, I felt my eyes start rolling as I thought to myself, “Oh, great—one of these types of heroines.” Because Emmy was frustrating and indecisive and single-minded and all these things that I knew I would struggle with.
But I was wrong.
I mean, I did struggle with Emmy. A lot. But not in the way that I thought I was going to. Because, the thing is, Mercy Brown is a really good writer. So, even as I was frustrated with Emmy, I was enjoying this story and how it was written. I was charmed by how it made me laugh out loud, sometimes right in the middle of a particularly frustrating moment. But, most incredibly, Ms. Brown made me understand Emmy, who is written in such a way that caused me to take a step back in time and remember what it was like to be a 21 year old girl who was basically scared of the world. How everything back then felt like a very big deal. She made me understand that there were some good reasons that Emmy wasn’t willing to risk her heart, but that didn’t make her a bad person, and it definitely didn’t make her unlikeable.
So, Emmy was frustrating. But I also kind of really loved her. I loved that she was self-aware enough to know that she was a mess, even if she had no idea how to stop it. She tried—and sometimes the trying made it worse—but it didn’t come off as weak or annoying. It came off as Emmy trying to learn her own heart which, I think, is a journey we’ve all been on.
And Travis? God, he was perfect. Gentle and patient and protective and sexy. He’s not your typical band guy. He might not even be your typical guy. But he felt real, and wonderful. I loved him so hard. And I loved how he treated Emmy; he didn’t let her walk all over him, but he also didn’t lash out. He was the perfect calm in Emmy’s crazy storm.
It was sometimes hard to watch these two push and pull at each other, but it never felt overwrought or over-the-top angsty (in the way that I had feared). It was laced with gentle humor and genuine affection and some generous heaps of swoon and a hefty dollop of heat. I adored the side characters (Cole and Joey—YES!) and the whole band dynamic, and definitely look forward to reading more about them.
In the end, this was a beautifully written love story that left my heart happy and begging for more. It was funny and sweet, sexy and genuine and, by the time I turned the last page, I discovered I wasn’t ready for it to end. I need Cole’s book! Now, please! ~ Shelly, 4 stars
So, when she wakes up after a night of the best sex she’s ever had with her guitarist—and best friend—she freaks out a bit. But what freaks her out even more is that she doesn’t want to stop, it feels right to be with Travis. But what can that mean for the band she’s worked so hard and spent so long pushing towards a big break?
Full disclosure: I started this book on the heels of one of those books that (temporarily) ruins you for all other books. So I went in skeptical. And when I first started reading, I felt my eyes start rolling as I thought to myself, “Oh, great—one of these types of heroines.” Because Emmy was frustrating and indecisive and single-minded and all these things that I knew I would struggle with.
But I was wrong.
I mean, I did struggle with Emmy. A lot. But not in the way that I thought I was going to. Because, the thing is, Mercy Brown is a really good writer. So, even as I was frustrated with Emmy, I was enjoying this story and how it was written. I was charmed by how it made me laugh out loud, sometimes right in the middle of a particularly frustrating moment. But, most incredibly, Ms. Brown made me understand Emmy, who is written in such a way that caused me to take a step back in time and remember what it was like to be a 21 year old girl who was basically scared of the world. How everything back then felt like a very big deal. She made me understand that there were some good reasons that Emmy wasn’t willing to risk her heart, but that didn’t make her a bad person, and it definitely didn’t make her unlikeable.
So, Emmy was frustrating. But I also kind of really loved her. I loved that she was self-aware enough to know that she was a mess, even if she had no idea how to stop it. She tried—and sometimes the trying made it worse—but it didn’t come off as weak or annoying. It came off as Emmy trying to learn her own heart which, I think, is a journey we’ve all been on.
And Travis? God, he was perfect. Gentle and patient and protective and sexy. He’s not your typical band guy. He might not even be your typical guy. But he felt real, and wonderful. I loved him so hard. And I loved how he treated Emmy; he didn’t let her walk all over him, but he also didn’t lash out. He was the perfect calm in Emmy’s crazy storm.
It was sometimes hard to watch these two push and pull at each other, but it never felt overwrought or over-the-top angsty (in the way that I had feared). It was laced with gentle humor and genuine affection and some generous heaps of swoon and a hefty dollop of heat. I adored the side characters (Cole and Joey—YES!) and the whole band dynamic, and definitely look forward to reading more about them.
In the end, this was a beautifully written love story that left my heart happy and begging for more. It was funny and sweet, sexy and genuine and, by the time I turned the last page, I discovered I wasn’t ready for it to end. I need Cole’s book! Now, please! ~ Shelly, 4 stars
January 20, 2016
Originally posted on Three Little Birds Book Blog
A cool, sexy, humorous rock star romance with a bold heroine and a pretty irresistible hero I wouldn't mind marking as mine.
I really enjoyed this one. I thought the characters memorable, the romance electric, and the story completely engaging, if at times a bit of a crazy show. Loud is How I Love You is a friends-to-lovers story of the best kind with two people who are on fire together.
I loved Emmylou, although, there were times I wanted to punch her in the nose. She was so indecisive that sometimes it all felt a bit repetitive, as she went back and forth with her resolve. But I understood where she was coming from. I felt her passion for her music, her all-encompassing fervor for her art and her drive, so I understood why she was afraid. I just wish she wasn't so blind. I don't have a lot of patience for avoidable heartbreak in books, but I will say it added a nice amount of tension and angst, which made me keep turning the pages.
What I liked most about the book was the chemistry between Emmy and Travis. I felt their bond, so I liked the progression of their feelings. I interpret LiHILY as a love story after the fact. I believed from the beginning that they loved each other (based on their history and how they interacted), and the conflict was that they needed to figure out what to do with that love. I mean, why else would Emmy act like such a moron? I guess love made her stupid.
Side note: the sex scenes in this book are awesome. A delicious mixture of sweetness, raunchiness, and humor. I always love that combination.
Along with the sweet, sexy romance, Loud is How I Love You features some great, humorous scenes, which at times led me to ask myself what the hell was going on, but I did it while laughing, so I didn't mind the random absurd moments too much. This book has a great cast of characters and I think it's going to be an entertaining series, so I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. It's a solid, pretty entertaining debut, and I'll recommend it to my friends. Read it, I think you'll like it.
3.5-4 Stars
A cool, sexy, humorous rock star romance with a bold heroine and a pretty irresistible hero I wouldn't mind marking as mine.
I really enjoyed this one. I thought the characters memorable, the romance electric, and the story completely engaging, if at times a bit of a crazy show. Loud is How I Love You is a friends-to-lovers story of the best kind with two people who are on fire together.
I loved Emmylou, although, there were times I wanted to punch her in the nose. She was so indecisive that sometimes it all felt a bit repetitive, as she went back and forth with her resolve. But I understood where she was coming from. I felt her passion for her music, her all-encompassing fervor for her art and her drive, so I understood why she was afraid. I just wish she wasn't so blind. I don't have a lot of patience for avoidable heartbreak in books, but I will say it added a nice amount of tension and angst, which made me keep turning the pages.
What I liked most about the book was the chemistry between Emmy and Travis. I felt their bond, so I liked the progression of their feelings. I interpret LiHILY as a love story after the fact. I believed from the beginning that they loved each other (based on their history and how they interacted), and the conflict was that they needed to figure out what to do with that love. I mean, why else would Emmy act like such a moron? I guess love made her stupid.
Side note: the sex scenes in this book are awesome. A delicious mixture of sweetness, raunchiness, and humor. I always love that combination.
Along with the sweet, sexy romance, Loud is How I Love You features some great, humorous scenes, which at times led me to ask myself what the hell was going on, but I did it while laughing, so I didn't mind the random absurd moments too much. This book has a great cast of characters and I think it's going to be an entertaining series, so I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. It's a solid, pretty entertaining debut, and I'll recommend it to my friends. Read it, I think you'll like it.
3.5-4 Stars
January 17, 2016
An entertaining journey through the romantic woes of falling for your friend and band mate. I was drawn to this debut novel by the promises of 90’s music and a friends-to-lovers romance. I am pleased to say the author delivered on those promises and gave me a story I whole-heartedly enjoyed.
I adored these characters. Though frustrating at times, Emmy was fierce and determined to see her band be successful. But her intense feelings for Travis provided a sweet complication that she was unequipped to face. Watching Emmy fight the pull was maddening but watching her succumb to the desires of her heart was bliss.
Travis was incredibly patient with Emmy and I loved how he handled her indecisive shenanigans. He stole my heart somewhere between Sharpie tattoos, pinky swears and witty comebacks. He was the constant Emmy needed even when she refused to see how great they were together. Watching him woo her and worship her was nothing short of swoon worthy.
I am thrilled to have taken a chance on this debut author’s book. The writing was great, the characters were likeable, and the story provided a fun-filled and nostalgic adventure for this 90’s kid. This is a standalone in the series with book two, Stay Until We Break, schedule to release June 21, 2016.
*I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I adored these characters. Though frustrating at times, Emmy was fierce and determined to see her band be successful. But her intense feelings for Travis provided a sweet complication that she was unequipped to face. Watching Emmy fight the pull was maddening but watching her succumb to the desires of her heart was bliss.
Travis was incredibly patient with Emmy and I loved how he handled her indecisive shenanigans. He stole my heart somewhere between Sharpie tattoos, pinky swears and witty comebacks. He was the constant Emmy needed even when she refused to see how great they were together. Watching him woo her and worship her was nothing short of swoon worthy.
I am thrilled to have taken a chance on this debut author’s book. The writing was great, the characters were likeable, and the story provided a fun-filled and nostalgic adventure for this 90’s kid. This is a standalone in the series with book two, Stay Until We Break, schedule to release June 21, 2016.
*I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2016
3 -3.5 stars.
The main character is definitely a mess and takes some getting used to with her flighty ways and the push, pull of her feelings for Travis, who is amazing by the way. I think some of the band talk with all these extra groups and people that didn't seem too awfully important kind of, bored me? I found myself skimming quite a bit of this. And a few events seemed a little bonkers. But I really did enjoy some of the secondary characters which makes me want to continue with the series and see how the next book pans out.
The main character is definitely a mess and takes some getting used to with her flighty ways and the push, pull of her feelings for Travis, who is amazing by the way. I think some of the band talk with all these extra groups and people that didn't seem too awfully important kind of, bored me? I found myself skimming quite a bit of this. And a few events seemed a little bonkers. But I really did enjoy some of the secondary characters which makes me want to continue with the series and see how the next book pans out.
January 23, 2016
My Thoughts:
I love reading rock star romances. So, whenever I get the opportunity to try a new one, I jump at the chance. I was really looking forward to reading, Loud is How I Love You. For one, I love that the female lead was the head of the band in this story. This is rare in the rock star stories that I have read. Also, I was intrigued that this story took place in the 90's which is during a time when I was a teenager myself. I wanted to go back in time and reminisce. Lastly, I loved the idea of the lead singer falling for the guitarist in her group. Overall, Loud is How I Love You was a disappointing read for me.
The story is told from the point of view of main character Emmylou "Emmy." Her dream is to one day make it big with her indie rock band, Stars on the Floor. She is close to her bandmates, drummer Joey, and bassist Cole, but is best friends with guitarist Travis. Then, one night Emmy has the hottest sex of her life with Travis. She immediately panics afterwards, fearful that getting involved with Travis could cause problems in the band.
She attempts to go back to a platonic friendship with Travis, but can't seem to stick to her decision. It is obvious to the reader that Travis has feelings for Emmy, and she for him, although she doesn't want to admit it at first. Will Emmy's flakiness break up the band and destroy her chance to be with an amazing guy?
I loved Travis as a character. He was sweet, loyal, easygoing, patient, and a really good person. However, Emmy drove me crazy with her back and forth, wishy washiness. Travis deserved better than how he was treated by Emmy. I could see that Emmy's fear was deeper than destroying her band. However, I felt for Travis, and the pain she continually caused him.
Most of the story was slow moving, and I felt myself losing interest in the story. This was the reason I found myself skimming through large portions of text. I think a big reason the story was slow moving was due to the fact that there was too much narration or "telling" what was happening, as opposed to the characters "showing" what was happening through conversation and interaction. I got bored with overly detailed passages, and needed the story to move faster.
What I enjoyed about the story the most were the parts where Emmy and Travis did interact with one another. When they were together, you could feel their chemistry, passion, deep connection, and how much they felt for one another. These were the moments that I truly treasured in the story, and didn't want to end. However, I felt like there weren't enough of these kind of moments.
My Rating:
I give, Loud is How I Love You, by Mercy Brown, 2 Friends to Lovers, Falling In Love, Tough Decision, Music Filled Stars. The next book in the Hub Series is Stay Until We Break, and is Sonia (Emmy's best friend,) and bassist Cole's story. I hope to see less narration and more dialogue and face to face interaction in the sequel.
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit http://www.abookishescape.com
I love reading rock star romances. So, whenever I get the opportunity to try a new one, I jump at the chance. I was really looking forward to reading, Loud is How I Love You. For one, I love that the female lead was the head of the band in this story. This is rare in the rock star stories that I have read. Also, I was intrigued that this story took place in the 90's which is during a time when I was a teenager myself. I wanted to go back in time and reminisce. Lastly, I loved the idea of the lead singer falling for the guitarist in her group. Overall, Loud is How I Love You was a disappointing read for me.
The story is told from the point of view of main character Emmylou "Emmy." Her dream is to one day make it big with her indie rock band, Stars on the Floor. She is close to her bandmates, drummer Joey, and bassist Cole, but is best friends with guitarist Travis. Then, one night Emmy has the hottest sex of her life with Travis. She immediately panics afterwards, fearful that getting involved with Travis could cause problems in the band.
She attempts to go back to a platonic friendship with Travis, but can't seem to stick to her decision. It is obvious to the reader that Travis has feelings for Emmy, and she for him, although she doesn't want to admit it at first. Will Emmy's flakiness break up the band and destroy her chance to be with an amazing guy?
I loved Travis as a character. He was sweet, loyal, easygoing, patient, and a really good person. However, Emmy drove me crazy with her back and forth, wishy washiness. Travis deserved better than how he was treated by Emmy. I could see that Emmy's fear was deeper than destroying her band. However, I felt for Travis, and the pain she continually caused him.
Most of the story was slow moving, and I felt myself losing interest in the story. This was the reason I found myself skimming through large portions of text. I think a big reason the story was slow moving was due to the fact that there was too much narration or "telling" what was happening, as opposed to the characters "showing" what was happening through conversation and interaction. I got bored with overly detailed passages, and needed the story to move faster.
What I enjoyed about the story the most were the parts where Emmy and Travis did interact with one another. When they were together, you could feel their chemistry, passion, deep connection, and how much they felt for one another. These were the moments that I truly treasured in the story, and didn't want to end. However, I felt like there weren't enough of these kind of moments.
My Rating:
I give, Loud is How I Love You, by Mercy Brown, 2 Friends to Lovers, Falling In Love, Tough Decision, Music Filled Stars. The next book in the Hub Series is Stay Until We Break, and is Sonia (Emmy's best friend,) and bassist Cole's story. I hope to see less narration and more dialogue and face to face interaction in the sequel.
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit http://www.abookishescape.com
January 23, 2016
I reallllllly liked this one. A lot! It's a fun, lighthearted read. I loved watching Emmy try to navigate her music and band, college life, and falling in love. Mercy captured the conflict and confusion we all had at 21 when it came to life and our future. I especially loved the setting: I grew up 20 minutes from New Brunswick so I loved knowing (and having been to) each bar and landmark in the book. It painted a clear and vivid picture in my head. Mercy is definitely on my to-read list moving forward!
June 1, 2015
I was lucky enough to read a very early version of LiHILY, and it's still one of my favorite reads of all time. Mercy's characters will grab you by the heart and squeeze you so good. Get your hands on this one as soon as you can, folks.
January 17, 2016
... Didn't like her very much. Self absorbed and overly dramatic with little thought to anyone else. Not so much NA, more like childish and self centered.
January 18, 2016
Read full review HERE
I’ll start this review by saying that I never read a book quite like this one. Yes, it’s a new adult romance novel, and I’ve read plenty of that, and yes, it involves musicians, and I’ve read my fair share of those as well, but this book stands out completely. Why? Well, it’s the writing style!
I’ll admit that it took me a few chapters to be 100% used to the writing, but once I was, I just wanted more. This book is told in the first person, present tense, but in a way that seems like she’s talking directly to you, with snide remarks and everything. Emmy’s voice is also a rambler, which means that there are really long paragraphs with very little punctuation – rambling style – and while at times it was a bit difficult to read, it sure as hell was fun.
Emmy is not the most likable character, although I understood her hesitations most of the times, it was just too much. At some point I just wanted to club her on the head and make her see the light!
Travis on the other hand is probably my favorite male musician from every book I’ve read, because he’s not the bad boy… not at all! He’s pale and blond and thin and he knows very well how he feels for Emmy and he knows that he needs more than what she believes she can give him.
The romance was fun and hot and it felt real. I loved reading everything that went on Emmy’s head when she was thinking about Travis, which was all the time! It was just so damn cute!!! But one thing that stands out in this book are the friendships. I absolutely loved how everyone was so supportive of each other, within the same band and betweens bands. It’s a totally different outtake on the music scene.
This book is just hilarious, the situations these characters get into to and how they get out of them it’s too much :D, I was laughing out loud at 3 a.m. :D.
I’ll definitly read the next book in the series, about Cole (bass player) and Sonia (Emmy’s BFF), because I’ve read the first chapter and I just need more and June is so damn far away… :D :D :D
I’ll start this review by saying that I never read a book quite like this one. Yes, it’s a new adult romance novel, and I’ve read plenty of that, and yes, it involves musicians, and I’ve read my fair share of those as well, but this book stands out completely. Why? Well, it’s the writing style!
I’ll admit that it took me a few chapters to be 100% used to the writing, but once I was, I just wanted more. This book is told in the first person, present tense, but in a way that seems like she’s talking directly to you, with snide remarks and everything. Emmy’s voice is also a rambler, which means that there are really long paragraphs with very little punctuation – rambling style – and while at times it was a bit difficult to read, it sure as hell was fun.
Emmy is not the most likable character, although I understood her hesitations most of the times, it was just too much. At some point I just wanted to club her on the head and make her see the light!
Travis on the other hand is probably my favorite male musician from every book I’ve read, because he’s not the bad boy… not at all! He’s pale and blond and thin and he knows very well how he feels for Emmy and he knows that he needs more than what she believes she can give him.
The romance was fun and hot and it felt real. I loved reading everything that went on Emmy’s head when she was thinking about Travis, which was all the time! It was just so damn cute!!! But one thing that stands out in this book are the friendships. I absolutely loved how everyone was so supportive of each other, within the same band and betweens bands. It’s a totally different outtake on the music scene.
This book is just hilarious, the situations these characters get into to and how they get out of them it’s too much :D, I was laughing out loud at 3 a.m. :D.
I’ll definitly read the next book in the series, about Cole (bass player) and Sonia (Emmy’s BFF), because I’ve read the first chapter and I just need more and June is so damn far away… :D :D :D
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