Love Songs & Other Lies: A Novel

by Jessica Pennington

The debut romance from Jessica Pennington that Katie McGarry calls "fun [and] full of heart" with "a hero who stole my heart!” Part Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," part Paramore's "Still Into You." Sometimes the last note is just the beginning.

That’s the thing about the past…
Back-of-the-classroom anonymity is all Cam wants from the tiny Michigan town he’s calling home. A new life uninterrupted by the tragedy he left behind. Until he meets a girl who piques his interest and their relationship quickly turns into a confusing mix of friendship, musical adventure, and a love he didn’t expect…or want.

…as soon as it’s over, it can come right back
Two years after turning into the #1 Fan of the Breakup Anthem, Virginia “Vee” Miller is just looking for a fun, carefree summer. So she agrees to join a few of her old high school friends on a battling bands reality show tour bus. What she doesn’t know is that they also invited Cam. Her first love, and her first heartbreak. Between playing fake-girlfriend to one band member and faking friendship-only interest in Cam, it’s not exactly the fresh start she had in mind. Because Cam sees right through her, and his determination to win her forgiveness is causing its own TMZ-worthy problems for Vee. With cameras rolling, she’ll have to decide if her favorite breakup anthem deserves a new ending. And if she’s willing to expose her own secrets to keep Cam’s under wraps.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Music, Young Adult Romance, Realistic Fiction, Fiction

297 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2018

About the author

Jessica Pennington is no stranger to the combination of love and drama. She’s a wedding planner, after all. A writer since the age of ten—when she sought publication for her poem about a tree—Jessica likes the challenge of finding the humor in a sad situation or highlighting the awkwardness in a romantic one. She lives in a Michigan beach town suspiciously similar to the one in her novel, with her husband Josh and their son, Rory. She is the author of Love Songs & Other Lies, and When Summer Ends (April 2019). Find Jessica on twitter at @jessnpennington and IG @jessicapennington

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Reviews

[Fafa's Book Corner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Updated mini review:

I received this E-ARC via Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Last year I read the excerpt from Netgalley and fell in love! This was one of my most highly anticipated contemporary release of 2018. I am utterly disappointed.

I'll start off with my likes. Logan was honestly so sweet. A bit stupid but well intentioned. The writing style was good. The point of view and timeline switches were well done. The mystery aspect kept me reading as well as somewhat entertained. And that would be it.

I found Cameron to be a stalker. When I had read the excerpt it was endearing. That however didn't remain the same as the book went on. He also blamed himself for everything. Yes a lot of the fault falls on him but not all of it. This certainly didn't make me like him more.

Virginia was a hypocritic, judgmental, and petty. She successfully holds onto a grudge for two years. She doesn't even make that much of an effort to hash it out with Cameron. Which was surprising seeing as the two are stuck together for 3 months. Nor does she apologize for her behaviour.

The reality tv aspect brought on a lot of drama! I felt that this book could've been much better had it either been longer or simply not had the past aspect. Due to the timeline and point of view shifts everything felt rushed. And I honestly stopped caring about everything. The romance was either uncomfortable or dysfunctional to read about.

While I am utterly disappointed her other book sounds better, so I'll likely be reading that. I don't recommend this book.


Mini review:

I received this E-ARC excerpt via Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge in exchange for an honest review. I had heard about this book through Netgalley. It sounded really cute and funny! I didn't hesitate to request it. I didn't realize until after I requested it that it was an excerpt and it isn't coming out until next year (January 30 2018)! I was expecting it to be about 60-70 page. But instead it was 216 pages.

I don't want to mention too much as it isn't coming out until next year. I will say that it's really cute and fluffy! I enjoyed it quite a bit. I can't wait for the book to come out next year! I will definitely be buying myself a finished copy.

Highly recommend for contemporary and music fans.

[Jessica Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Love Songs & Other Lies, be sure to add my other books to your TBR (but only if you like summery books with lots of swoon!)

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[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Review on The Candid Cover

Love Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington is a whirlwind of a story that combines drama and music in a unique reality show concept. The characters are super relatable and the use of dual timelines and dual points of view give lots of dimension to the plot.

If you are a fan of dramatic plots and reality TV, this is the book for you. There is a lot going on in terms of turmoil, as one might expect, in a book that features a reality show. I love how Pennington tells the stories of Cam and Vee’s past and weaves it into a TV show that sometimes takes place on a tour bus with very tight quarters. There is always something happening, and it makes you want to keep reading to find out what is going to go down next.

There is a cast of characters in Love Songs & Other Lies that are easy to connect with. They are flawed and likeable, as well as interesting. Vee is my favourite character because her story is so full of angst. She is trying to carve a mark for herself in the world and I love how music helps her define who she is. Her devotion to her grandma is also quite sweet and I really enjoyed reading this part of the storyline.

The novel has dual perspectives and timelines set during college years, and it also flashes back to high school. I really appreciated the layout of the book, as it is clearly defines which era the chapter is in and whether we are reading Cam or Vee’s point of view. I love how each part of the narrative is slowly woven in and how things just all come together towards the end.

Love Songs & Other Lies is an upper YA novel that will be a perfect addition to your summer TBR. There is a little bit of everything in this contemporary that has a unique concept and wonderful characters. It is a road trip that will most definitely take you on an emotional ride.

[Katie McGarry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved!!!

[Karlita | Tale Out Loud · Rating 5 out of 5]

You were the missing lyrics to a song I didn't even know I was writing.

Both feeling alone, consumed by their guilt, fear and anger, Cameron Fuller and Virginia Miller found comfort and solace in each other. Music became the bridge between the gaps that render a strong note in every lyric of each song they shared making them vulnerable and exposed to something, more than the intensity of a first love high school romance.

But when fear was confused with white lies of wanting to start a new life with zero baggage in a new town where people didn’t know the tragedy of the past, the truth and reality eventually came out. It was too much for Cam to take that he left Vee with her heart broken.

Two years after, Vee's best friend, Logan, called her to join Your Future X on a tour as a part of the PR and Marketing of their band. Little did she know that the person she least expected to see was part of the same band that she will be working with for the next three months. Could it be possible for both Cam and Vee to rekindle an old flame with cameras and fans swarming them 24/7?

I didn’t understand Cam at first. But as the story progress, I finally knew why he blamed himself for what happened, that whenever something triggered his memory, he got scared. His guilt and pain caused him too much denial that the only way he knew to stay out from the shadows of his past was to run away even if it means breaking the heart of the woman he loves.

On the other hand, Vee is like a guitar, the sound that comes out from it could be loud, bold, fierce but it can also be sweet, calm and gentle. It was so easy to like her character. She patiently waited for Cam to open up because she always cares even if she knew she would get hurt. And in the midst of confrontation, she handled her pain so well and faced her heart breaker fearlessly.

Told in dual timeline and alternating POV, the characters' pasts were perfectly in sync with the events happening in their present. It flows smoothly and the story just sucked me in like I was a part of Cam and Vee's tiny imperfect world.

From Your Future X band members, Logan, Anders and Reese to Tad, Nonni and Grace, I love how the bond of friendship was formed or how family was involved in this story. With special mention, I would like to give the best supporting friend award to Logan because he somehow played cupid for Cam and Vee to get back together. As a friend who cares, he knew that he has to do something even if it was in the most awkward possible way.

The ending was powerful and emotional, and more so comforting that I couldn’t stop myself to breathe a sigh of relief. It was momentous where there’s some kind of flashback formed in your head like those happened in the movies when unexpected events just rolled out in sequence because you didn’t know that behind every scene, someone is keeping their promise of looking after you, happy that they’re doing it even without you knowing it.

Jessica Pennington has written a lyrical, fluid story with strong characters and emotions — raw and genuine that they bled on every page affecting readers with all the feels. She was also able to give a glimpse on the true nature of Hollywood's prominent talent shows behind the scenes and highlight the influence of social media for people to gain a platform of fame.

Love Songs & Other Lies is a summer romance charged with music, adventure and friendship that will make your heart beat out of your chest, filling your lungs with painful memories and putting your ears in a loop of playlist about first love, heartbreak and second chances.

***Thank you NetGalley, Saraciea J. Fennell of Tor Teen and Jessica Pennington for providing me an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Full Review at Tale Out Loud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update:

2.5 Stars

A few months back I read the first 5 chapters of this then/now contemporary and was one smitten kitten. Around 4:30 this morning (thanks to jet lag) I finished the completed novel and need to sort out my thoughts. There were parts I loved, lines I adored, and some slight swooning. However, there was also unnecessary side stories, rehashing of addressed issues, and a sense of overall whomp whomp. I don't know if it's because I finished this while sleepy, but I'm going to need a minute to process the pros and cons to see where I end up on this one.

Have you read this? What were your thoughts??

Excerpt review:
"It's a tiny lie...
...Those never come back to haunt us, do they?"

I am so invested in this music-infused storyline. Told in alternating POVs that flash between the past and the present, this contemporary left me feeling hooked. I was only able to read the first 5 chapters via a Netgalley excerpt, but I can't wait to get back into the story come April.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dramaaaaaaaaaaaa ugh.


***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Love Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Rating: 2 stars
Source: Review copy sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

It’s summer romance and second chances, the songs that stay in your head, and the boy you’ll never forget.

Two years after rock-song-worthy heartbreak, Virginia Miller is looking forward to a fun, carefree summer. Her friends just landed a spot on a battling bands reality show, and Vee is joining them for her dream internship on tour. Three months with future rockstars seems like an epic summer plan. Until she learns she’ll also be sharing the bus with Cam. Her first love, and her first heartbreak. Now Vee has more than just cameras to dodge, and Cam’s determination to win her forgiveness is causing TMZ-worthy problems for both of them. With cameras rolling, she’ll have to decide if her favorite breakup anthem deserves a new ending. And if she’s brave enough to expose her own secrets to keep Cam’s under wraps.

What I Liked:

I think this is a case of "it's not you, it's me". I probably never should have picked up this book in the first place. I usually hate second-chance romances and I'm not really a YA contemporary person, BUT, I am most certainly a romance person, and this one didn't sound too bad in terms of the romance aspect, so I thought I'd be safe. Plus, there are so many positive reviews on Goodreads, by trusted friends and other reviewers. Sadly, I think I should have kept my distance.

This book is told in a "Then" and "Now" type of timeline, in Cameron's POV and Virginia's POV. That should have been my first red flag - I don't like reading split timelines. I love dual POVs, but reading then and now chapters doesn't work for me. For me.

It starts in the "Now", with Virginia boarding the tour bus with the band - her friends Logan and Anders, a bandmate named Reese... and the fourth band member, Cameron. Virginia and Cameron have history, from two years ago, and it ended badly. But she has to put aside her broken heart and hurt feelings, because she's with the band on an internship in publicity, and the band is going to be followed around by cameramen, getting footage of the band as they compete across the nation. Everything is about to exposed, including Virginia's ever-present feelings for Cameron, Cameron's attempts at reconciliation, and secrets that were never meant to be uncovered.

Things I liked: Cameron. He's a sweetheart. I understand he broke up with Virginia two years ago, and supposedly that should make him the villain of this second-chance romance, but I wasn't buying that. Him breaking up with her had nothing to do with her, and her acting like a complete b***h to him in present times was so not called for. Cameron is a decent guy with a good heart. He had a crappy hand dealt to him. He's a good person.

I really can't think of anything else I enjoyed about this book. I guess there was a happy ending, but when you don't like the girl, is it really a happy ending?

What I Did Not Like:

I didn't like Virginia. Look, I get it. If I were in her shoes, I would be mad about getting dumped (and not knowing why, at the time). I would be bitter about it. Two years later, I'd probably still be bitter about it. But Virginia treats Cameron terribly. And she never apologizes for that - I think that's what makes me the most angry, when it comes to this type of situation. Sure, you get to be pissed off about having been dumped. But I don't think you should be cruel, and then never acknowledge that you were cruel, and never apologize. That's toxic behavior.

I also was not here for the drama. I haaaate drama, especially in YA contemporary novels. There is romance drama in this book - some sort of weird non-love-triangle love triangle. Like it's not really a love triangle but it also sort of is. You'd have to read the book to understand what I mean. But there are two guys and a girl, and the girl has at minimum made out with both of them, and even in the loosest sense, that's a love triangle.

And there was other drama too, not just love triangle drama. So much angst and pettiness, and also the whole cameras rolling thing. The cameras were there to film the band on tour - both onstage and offstage. There was a lot of drama associated with this; the publicist cooked up a love triangle (Virginia, Logan, Cam), and she orchestrated breakups, fake kissing footage, fights, etc. So much drama. I was not interested in all this petty drama.

I think another red flag for me should have been the cameras thing. It was meant to be like KUWTK or something - basically following everyone around on the tour bus and also on tour. Reality TV, but with teenaged wannabe rockstars. I so dislike reality TV, I dislike cameras and doctoring "reality" to be more dramatic and interesting for fans, and I really don't like books centering around rock bands and rock stars and fame. Everything gets messy when fame and popularity is involved.

Did I mention that I didn't like the romance? It was messy. It was full of drama. It was angsty. It was painful to watch. Virginia wasn't a good person, relative to Cameron. She wasn't forgiving. I get that she didn't have to be, and he isn't entitled to her forgiveness, but I also think she should have been a little more humane, given what he had going on in, during that time. Death isn't exactly easy. Especially since Virginia had negative problems, it just made her seem like a spoiled princess. Not here for that.

I should have gone with my first instinct which was to skip this book.

Would I Recommend It:

I don't recommend this book, especially if you don't like drama and love triangles and pettiness and b****y heroines. Like I said about, this book wasn't for me. There were so many things about it that I don't usually like and definitely did not like in this case. But that's on me. This is a case of it's-not-you-it's-me, and that's okay.

Rating:

2 stars. Not for me, sadly. I'd heard of this book for months, since 2017, and I'd thought it would be something I might actually like, despite the obvious second-chance romance. I tried. Within 50 pages, I knew I wouldn't enjoy the book, and it never turned around. But hey, I don't usually like second-chance romances, or YA contemporary, or books with bands/music stars, or books with cameras rolling/reality TV, or books with drama... you get the idea.

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book, and it’s honestly no surprise to me. It has all kinds of elements that I love… second chances, best friends, something of a summer road trip… and a little bit of drama.

Vee’s best friends just landed a coveted spot on a battling bands reality show, and Logan, the lead singer, has talked her into joining them and getting some much needed experience in PR and marketing. How can she turn down spending the next three months with her friends and the rest of the bands on the tour?

Then she finds out that her first love… and first heartbreak, Cam, is on the bus… and sleeping across the aisle from her.

This is written in alternating timeframes… from the past when she first meets Cam and the story of them falling in love and in the present the story of them connecting again and learning to forgive.
I found myself immediately loving Vee so much. She’s always been in the background of the band… whether it was managing them or helping them write songs, she wasn’t one to want to be on stage, the center of attention. She’s super talented though and I loved that the band appreciated that and didn’t take advantage of her.

Cam, Cam, Cam… you know immediately that he has demons that he’s trying to out run. Even Vee knew he was hiding things, but she couldn’t stay away even if he wouldn’t share the things that were haunting him with her. Watching them fall in love, though, begs the question “can you really love someone you only know bits and pieces of?” Because that is all Cam was sharing with Vee, and it was hard knowing bits of his story and knowing she was so completely in the dark about it all.

I really loved how Pennington weaved in the battle of the bands / reality TV part of the story… the constant presence of the cameras and the added drama of her on the bus even though she wasn’t a band member … and the even bigger drama of the reality TV fans added an element of fun and stress on the characters that was definitely needed. Plus the music and the performances and songwriting were just so well done!

The end of this book had me swooning my face off…



I could honestly read another 30 chapters of these characters and their story… seriously. There is just so much depth to these characters and the story that as soon as I turned that last page, I was immediately missing them.

If you’re a fan of sweet, heartbreaking, second chance love stories… stories that are filled with emotion and bit of drama, then look no further. You’re definitely going to need to put this on your TBR list … I know it doesn’t come out for forever, but this one will absolutely be worth the wait!

[Katerina Kondrenko · Rating 2 out of 5]

4 out of 10

ревью на русском/review in russian

Another book from work.

Virginia (the main character) is a 19-year-old girl who sings, plays, writes music and poetry, but is terribly shy. She has a best friend, Lucas, who is also a musician and doesn't have similar shyness issues, therefore has his own band. Vi works for them as a manager.

Cameron (the main character) is also 19 years old, he plays in Lucas's band and has a mystery past with a hint of tragedy.

The narration is conducted either from Vi or from Lucas; the timeline switches between from THEN to NOW and back). The voices turned out to be individual, you can tell the characters from each other. Vi and Cam are well-developed. Virginia acts boldly in relationships, but cowardly in creativity. Cam is vice verse.

At first, I didn't like the writing style. It seemed dry, but at the humorous moments the author showed her wits, and the book became more pleasant to read.

I enjoyed the topic of overcoming fears, personal tragedies, and the line with the nursing home. The far-fetched drama in the relationship, on the contrary, irritated me much, as did the heroine’s eternal attempts to get away somewhere, which invariably led to Cam catching up with her or finding her.

There is no particular plot intrigue: it's immediately clear whose group will take first place, as well as the outcome of disagreements between the characters. Interest is kept by the mystery of Cam's past (as soon as the secret is revealed, boredom returns, but this happens as close as possible to the last pages).

I think the book will touch the hearts of those who love music, have ever dreamed of becoming a star, and love stories about overcoming (even far-fetched) obstacles to happy endings.

[Shaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've fallen in love with Cam. Yep. You can't have him! :D

This was a beautifully written, romantic, and poignant second-chances love story, and it grabbed my heart from the start! The story unfolded in a way that drew me in and wouldn't let go well in to the night. Chapters alternated from past to present, and it felt like two stories in one. I loved it! Cam and Vee stole my heart, and I can't wait to read more of their story! <3 Please tell me there's a sequel!!!!

(I was given an ARC for my honest review.)

[Katy Upperman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Pennington’s Love Songs & Other Lies is a music-infused romance about a pair of perfectly imperfect teenagers who will have readers rooting for their happily ever after. Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, contemporary young adult fans won’t be able to put this debut down!

1. Characters to cheer for. I'm a fan of both Vee and Cam -- how passionate they are, how vulnerable they are, how screwed up they are, and how much they care for each other. From the very beginning, all's I wanted for them was a happily ever after.
2. CHEMISTRY. I mean... I could feel it from the first moment Vee and Cam interacted. I'm a sucker for the second chance romance trop, and this debut pulls it off beautifully.
3. Before and after. The perfect format for this angsty romance. I loved seeing how Vee and Cam came to fall for each other, how they fell apart, and how they slowly worked their way back to a place of understanding. All the swoons for this upcoming debut!

[starryeyedjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this story is kind of post high school with flashbacks from before, but I'm still considering it YA because there was honestly nothing that really made it feel like it wavered into new adult territory. But it was nearly unputdownable. I know a lot of readers don't like flashbacks, but I love that you get a more well-rounded idea of a character, seeing what they were like before and how they've changed. Seeing where everything went wrong and that they're being given a second chance. I also love that music was integral to this story. And though I'm not a fan of reality TV in general, I actually enjoyed that aspect, as well. The manipulations and machinations of all involved made the story that much more interesting.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was all kinds of adorable! I loved the dual POV between Vee and Cam, and I loved the dual timelines that played throughout. Pennington did a wonderful job of having convincing and correlating character arcs separated by 2 years and 2 main characters.

I highly recommend to fans of boy bands, redemption arcs, and the magic of reality TV. Guaranteed to make your heart feel warm and fuzzy!

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Songs & Other Lies was a great contemporary book about first love and heartbreak.



Vee is a character that was easy to relate to.  She lives with her mom.  Her dad lives in Chicago for work, but Vee knows her parents have been having problems for awhile.  Her mom works nights as a nurse, so Vee is on her own a lot.  Her grandma is in a nursing home and she is very close to her.  When she visits, Vee tells her grandma about everything and plays her songs for her.  Vee has major stage fright and won't play for anyone else.



Cam is the new boy in town.  His grandma is Vee's grandma's roommate at the nursing home.  But he hides when he hears Vee visit.  He's not sure what she looks like, but her personality and singing pulls him in.  When school starts, he is determined to figure out who she is.  When he sees a band opening, he auditions with the thought that Vee is in the band.  But Vee is their manager and song writer.



Cam and Vee start spending a lot of time together.  They slowly fall in love even though Vee won't admit he's her boyfriend.  Cam does tell her that he loves her, but he's keeping a lot of secrets from Vee.  His parents are dead, but he can't say the words out loud.  The secrets start to pull them apart and Cam just leaves one day.



The book goes back and forth between Then and Now.  The Now chapters are also Vee and Cam.  But they are not together.  Cam is back in the band and they are competing on a battle of the bands reality TV show.  Vee and Cam are stuck on a tour bus together.  It's obvious that they both still love each other, but Vee is still heartbroken.



I loved how the story went back and forth in time.  We know that Vee and Cam are not together, but going back to relive their love story and break up really added to the Now story.  There were so many sweet moments that felt real.  It was a reminder for me of falling in and out of love.  Of that heartbreak from your first love ending, when you didn't think you'd ever get over it.  I also loved the friendship between Vee and Logan.  



Vee had a lot of fears and I loved seeing her try to work through each one.  Some with Cam's help and some on her own.  I love music, so the band tour setting pulled me in quickly.  And there was a reference to 10 Things I Hate About You.  I love that movie so much and it made me adore Jessica (the author) even more.  



I gave this book 4  1/2 stars (rounded up to 5).  I loved reading Vee and Cam's story.  I just wish we knew a little bit more after the ending.  I obviously got very attached to them.

[chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I want lies, I'll get them from love songs.

Okaaay. I'm not the biggest fan of the book cover - I think it looks more like a poster than a book cover. But after I finished reading the book, I looked at it once again and things started to make more sense - there's a hot pink guitar pick next to some scattered Polaroid pictures of a boy and a girl holding hands and sheet music. The filter on those pictures look kinda weird though.

I was slightly disappointed, since I was expecting a lot of friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-then-back-to-lovers drama between Virginia and Cameron, but Virginia kept pushing Cameron away, and somehow the romance felt one-sided. But Cameron's a really sweet guy, and I really liked seeing how hard he's trying to prove to Virginia that their relationship still has a chance of working out. It's clear that he loves Virginia - but does Virginia love him back?

I loved the character development! All of the characters changed a lot in the story, especially Virginia, who has started to gather up courage and perform in front of huge crowds of people. She has an alter ego, Dakota Gray, which she assumes when she performs. (Just like how Beyoncé turns into Sasha Fierce when she gets onstage!) I found that super cool, and I'm glad to see that she has gotten brave enough to share her music on stage instead of writing songs backstage and only playing for her grandma.

And the amazing friendships! I love all of the characters so, so much, and it's really awesome that they all have each other's backs and help each other all the time. Tad, the cameraman, gives Virginia relationship advice, and Logan is always there for Virginia. She's the only girl on the bus (not counting the PR people), and it's really great that all of the boys (even people from other bands, AKA her competitors) are so nice to her.

I also like how the story was told. It has dual timelines - one chapter will be set in the past, and the other in the present. The truth behind Virginia and Cameron's relationship is slowly revealed, and it was so captivating - I couldn't put the book down!

Also, Nonni is an awesome grandma.

Overall rating

★★★★

If you like reality TV shows, music and second chance romance, Love Songs & Other Lies is for you!

[A.V. Geiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an advance copy, and I loved this book! It's all about first love... and music... and touring with a band... and healing from tragedy. SO MANY FEEEEEEELS! For some reason, the whole storyline from both Cam and Vee's perspective made me think of the song Amnesia by 5SOS (one of my favorites because of its raw heartbreak, full of regret). If you like teen romance with a side of angst, this is the book for you!

[Felicia Mathews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book! Definitely one of my new favorite contemporaries. I loved the dual perspective and how it went back and forth from present to past.

I really enjoyed reading a story where the characters weren't perfect. They had their faults, but it helped to make them seem more real.

[Melanie (TBR and Beyond) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Adorable summer read. RTC very soon!

[Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a thing for contemporaries with music in them. I just always pick them up, and the don’t usually disappoint. I liked Long Songs & Other Lies, but I know it’s going to be a forgettable read for me. While I did really enjoy the Then-Now format and the history it brought to the story, and I always love a good RomCom contemporary, I just didn’t get invested in this. The main problem I had with the story is that my interest started waning and just kept fading the more I read. By the end of the story I didn’t care about it at all anymore and I just finished it because it was so easy to read. This isn’t bad by any means, it just didn’t really do anything for me either.

I received a copy of the book from Tor Teen via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a lot more angsty and heavy at times than I was expecting, but it worked. I liked the alternating POVs and timelines and thought it was used effectively. I loved Cam. I liked Vee in the "Then", but found her kind of hard to like in the "Now" until towards the end. I thought the romance was super cute (though angsty for awhile). I loved the reality competition show angle and would've liked to have seen even more of that. Overall, this was exactly the cute weekend read I wanted and I will be checking out more from Pennington in the future.

[Olga Kowalska (WielkiBuk) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Letnią porą młodsi czytelnicy szukają odprężenia i ucieczki od sztywnego szkolnego reżimu lektur, a „Piosenki o miłości i inne kłamstwa” Jennifer Pennington zapewnią im urocze chwile relaksu tak potrzebne wakacyjną porą. To inteligentnie napisana powieść obyczajowa, która zawiera w sobie wszystko to, co trzeba, żeby sprawić czystą radość z czytania – lato, miłość i muzykę. Czy wchodzącym w dorosłość czytelnikom potrzeba czegoś więcej?

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance romance that weaves the past into the present by alternating chapters of Then and Now. We also get both Vee and Cam's perspectives throughout, all of which just makes everything more intense and emotional and sweet and heartbreaking and heartwarming. Aaaahhh. So much FEELING in this book, and the song writing and performing just adds to it all. I was also impressed with the pacing of how information about each character was revealed through both timelines. I sympathized with both of these characters, which doesn't always happen with these types of stories. I just wanted so much for them to be happy. This book comes out in forever but it is one to definitely put on your list!

[Melissa ~ Missy (FrayedBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute, I loved it!

I love anything to do with bands and music and concerts, so seeing this was about past-lovers reunited because his band was going on a reality tv show contest to be the next up and coming band and she was "lied" to about a publishing internship for the bands on the show - yes, sign me up.

This was told in past and present and in two perspectives - Virginia and Cameron - and it was a little confusing at first (at least in the audiobook) but I caught on quick enough and I loved this sweet story.

The audiobook was very good, I liked both narrators. This was a fast read (listen) and I loved it, just what I was looking for!

[Mary BookHounds · Rating 5 out of 5]

COME FOR THE CUTE PREMISE, STAY FOR THE EMOTIONAL DEPTH
When I first read the blurb on this book I really wanted to read it since it has all of the elements I adore in a good YA romance plus MUSIC. The first chapter didn’t do much for me, but by the time it split into the viewpoint of each character, I was hooked. The writing is just so bright and spot on. I could really believe in this boy and girl. The story flips back and forth between the past and current events, with Vee and Cam each talking about what drew them together, their breakup and then meeting again in close quarters on a tour bus.
You could feel the fear of Vee when she has to confront Cam on that bus. Her friend Logan somewhat tricked her to go on tour with his band on an American Idol like event. Of course, there is more intense feelings this time around, especially when cameras are rolling and the popularity of this couple become a point of popularity with viewer voting on content. As Can and Vee’s secrets are revealed, it only made me love this couple more.

[Erin Arkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Full review to come.

[Amelia Brunskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, music, heartbreak and reality tv come together in this absorbing story. Alternating between the past and present of both members of a fractured relationship, Love Songs & Other Lies is a sweet, funny and, at times, sad story about first love.

[Crystal♛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC!* I’m not going to lie guys. I read 30% of this book in April then finished it today so some details are pretty hazy but I’ll do my best. Yes, I have been in a major book slump obviously.

Love Songs and Other lies was everything I was hoping for! It was even better than I’d hoped for actually. Especially the characters. Well Cam in general. He turned out to be my favorite even though I disliked him at first.

The love story was so cute and charming. And well real. I think it covered heartbreak but also love the way you would except for teenagers in the summer who are in a rock band. Then also once they have grown up some and spent some years apart.

The chapters were from the main characters POVs. Vee, Virginia Miller, and Cam, Cameron Fuller. They go back and forth from past tense to present tense. Which gives you a real sense of their story. If this novel was just written in the present with a little detailed of the past then this story wouldn’t have been nearly as intersecting or good. I got to really connect with the characters because of that fact.

If you’re looking for a summer YA romance with some music influence then I definitely encourage you to read this if you haven’t already.

Oh yea, I can’t forget that Virginia was named after the song Meet Virginia by Train. WHICH I LOVE SO MUCH BECAUSE DUH.

[Marta :} · Rating 4 out of 5]

- this book was written after the author listened to say something by a great big world and christina aguilera and therefore it’s a second chance romance. - you get the love-to-hate-to-love trope and it’s going to be quite painful.
- there are many original songs in this one because the book is focused on bands and Vee, the protagonist, is also a singer and songwriter.
- my favourite parts of this book include the angst (i’m such a huge fan of angst), the fact that the story is being told back and forth between the past and the present, switching between the period when Vee and Cam met and slowly got together to the time where they are broken up and on the bus and alsooo grandmas (!!!) – there are not enough grandmothers in the ya literature.
- I also enjoy books that include reality shows because they are so full of intrigue, let’s talk about the situation in this one, just think how awkward it would be to have cameras on you and your ex, both of you still having feelings for each other. I know it would be terribly awkward for me (thankfully I don’t have an ex, so I’m covered). But I had so much second-hand embarrassment for Vee whenever someone would point how Cam is staring at her in a certain way. Oh god.
there is a huge reveal near the end of the book and wow, it was quite unexpected, even though I’m good at seeing those things coming. But I didn’t see it coming this time. It was really good.
- love songs & other lies has a great message when it comes to achieving your goals and becoming the best version of yourself. I think I related a lot to Vee because I’m also afraid of doing things I’d love to do (like writing) because what if people don’t enjoy it??? I also loved how Vee got over her fear mostly due to herself and not because of Cam.
- there are so many parts of this book taking place on the beach and the summer nostalgia was huge with this one. But they were so romantic as well, Cam and Vee are just really cute, okay? I love how they fought for each other, both of them really wanted for the other to be happy and I don’t know, they are kind of goals.
- all in all, I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a summer read with second chance romances, bands and lots of fun!

[Kelli Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made a mistake when I chose this. Yes, you read that correctly. Let me explain. I was looking for something to read, something light and easy, in order to fall asleep. Joke was on me, because I was hooked after one chapter. And I didn't put the book down until I'd finished. The whole thing, that is.

I didn't know much about this going in. Just that it was a second chance romance. Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers. And since those are my favorite tropes—SOLD. I cared about nothing else. It's no surprise I loved it for those reasons. However, it IS a surprise when it comes to the rock star trope. That's probably my least favorite thing to read in a contemporary. But, I dunno what it was exactly. This time around, I was shook.

The way this story is told is masterful. Past and present. But more than that is the way Pennington packs so much emotion into everything. I could feel the sadness, the hate, the love...and the hope. I was mad for Vee. I was sad for Cam. I wanted them to work through their past and try again. And the angst! I haven't had my heart gripped so tightly in a very long time. The ups and downs. The secrets. I could barely stand it, yet I couldn't stop myself from reading.

What's craziest though, is that I forgot how old the characters were. It doesn't feel like a typical YA contemporary. They feel older and wiser. Mature. And most of that probably has to do with what they'd gone through. I just know I was thankful the author didn't write them in a way that had them coming off as idiotic or immature or other descriptive words that people use when belittling teens. They felt REAL. And true.

This is a beautiful tale of love and loss. Secrets and lies. Redemption. It's easily become one of my all-time favorites. And it will DEFINITELY remain on my best of 2018 list.

Just read it.

[Colleen's Conclusions · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Love Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review but it has no impact on my thoughts. My thoughts are my own.

I absolutely LOVED Love Songs & Other Lies. It was one of those summer music tour type books with friends AND it had two point of views and it was a timeline type of story that was very easy to follow. I just liked the way this book was written, it was just perfection.

And those lyrics were beautiful. I liked all of the characters in the story, especially Logan and Vee, and Cameron and Vee. I definitely shipped Cameron and Vee all the way through. This book was one that kept me reading all weekend, and I stayed up a little past my bedtime to finish it even though I didn't want it to be finished.

Everything about this book was perfect, I couldn't find one thing I didn't like about it. I'd definitely recommend it to other people that like music type stories. I hope there will be a sequel to this book coming out soon! This was definitely a five star read.