Love Songs for Sceptics: A laugh-out-loud love story you won't want to miss!

by Christina Pishiris

"Voicy, heartfelt, hilarious, propulsive...this book is brilliant." -Christina Lauren, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

For fans of Josie Silver and Emily Henry comes a debut romcom about the life-changing magic of second chances.

Zoë Frixos gets the whole love song thing. Truly, she does. As an editor at a major music magazine in London, it's part of her job description. But love? Let's just say Zoë's been a bit off-beat in that department. After falling hard for her best friend, Simon, at thirteen and missing every chance to tell him how she felt before he left town, Zoë came to one grand conclusion: Love stinks.

Twenty years later, Simon is returning to London, newly single and as charming as ever, and Zoë vows to take her second chance. But Zoë's got other problems now: In order to save her magazine from closure, she has to land the biggest interview of her career with a notoriously elusive rock idol. There's just one problem: Nick, the arrogant publicist who seems determined to stop the story and ruin Zoë's life.

With her brother's big(ish) fat(ish) Greek wedding on the horizon, Zoë begins to wonder if her first love is the right love. In the wake of a life-changing choice, Zoë must decide if she's right to be skeptical about love, or if it's time to change her tune...

This charming and quirky debut has it all: childhood friends, love triangles, enemies-to-lovers, and a My Big Fat Greek Wedding subplot.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Rom Com

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2021

About the author

Christina Pishiris was born in London to Greek Cypriot parents. She studied English at the University of Sussex and went on to become a journalist. When not writing her hobbies include compiling cheesy eighties playlists, coveting the neighbour’s cat, and writing protest letters to Guerlain after they discontinued her favourite perfume. LOVE SONGS FOR SCEPTICS is her first book.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect warm hearted pick me up read that revolves around the world of music and songs from Christina Pishiris. When Pete, Zoe Frixos's brother asks her for help in selecting the song for the first dance at his upcoming wedding, her choice of Kiss's Love's a Slap in the Face gives your a good idea of where she stands when it comes to romance and love. Now in her thirties, Zoe has the perfect job, she is the editor of Re-Sound, a hip and cool music magazine that has given her the opportunity to meet and know the stars and celebrities of pop and rock, and singer-songwriters. It may not be the best paying job she could get, but it feeds her heart and soul, and allows her to pay the rent for her London home. When she was 13 years old, she fell for her best friend, Simon Baxter, the boy next door, who spent more time in her family home than with his warring parents who go on to divorce. She never told him how she felt at the time, and soon after he returned to the US with his mother as his parents split.

She and Simon have kept in touch through the years with their Zak Scaramouche creation that forms the basis of the postcards they send to each other, bringing back memories of just how close the pair of them used to be. Simon's marriage has fallen apart and he is coming back to London to live and work. Zoe now has the perfect opportunity to get together with him, a chance she never expected to fall into her lap. The chemistry between them is undeniable, they care for each other and slot right back into each others lives with such ease it is as if the two had never been parted. However, when it comes to romance, the two just seem to be not connecting with each other in this realm. There are obstacles in the form of Simon's old university girlfriend, the singer Jess, and a PR man, Nick Jones, wants her to promote his of the moment boy band with its unsavoury Poundland Prince Charming of a lead singer. The music magazine is under threat, and Zoe desperately needs to get an interview with famous reclusive singer, Macie Tyler, her musical idol, to save the magazine and her work team that includes Mike, Lucy, Gavin and Rob.

Then there is the big fat Greek wedding preparations with Pete's marriage, the nights out with her sister in law Alice and her friends, teaching them how to dance, hen nights and more. Zoe faces a tough up hill challenge when it comes to romance, only to find life takes her along surprising and unexpected paths. One of the greatest joys of reading this book is how Pishiris weaves music and songs throughout the story, with appropriate song titles for chapter headings, and the focus on the music business, music media and PR channels, and with singers and bands that form part of the narrative. This is a fabulously fun, lighthearted, comic and entertaining read for those in search of escapist reading fare. Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for an ARC.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Blurbed by none other than Christina Lauren, Love Songs for Skeptics was so fun!

Zoe works as an editor at a music magazine in London. Love hasn’t come easy for her. When her best friend, Simon, returns to London newly single, Zoe goes for it. Just as her magazine might fall apart.

This was such a fun and quirky book, just the escape I needed between heavier reads. I LOVED Zoe. I loved Simon! I loved the London setting and the music scene. I can’t forget to mention, there’s even a big fat Greek wedding! Pick this one up when you need a lift!

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Songs for Skeptics is a cute romantic comedy with fake dating, enemies to lovers and a love triangle. Love Songs for Skeptics is an enjoyable light read with a lot happening to keep the reader engaged. I was entertained throughout the book. As a music lover, I loved that the book focuses around the music industry with Zoe being a music journalist trying to get an interview. Zoe has to work with Nick Jones, a publicist she doesn’t like. They end up in a fake relationship but once Zoe gets to know him he is different than he thought. Zoe’s childhood best friend that she has been in love with for years also recently moved back. Zoe is left in a love triangle and has to choose who she wants to be with. She discovers love can be found in unexpected places but has to compare that to the love she’s had for years. I love the mix of so many tropes in a single book as well as music.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and Edelweiss for Love Songs for Skeptics.

Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...

[Sofie · Rating 3 out of 5]

why am i so bothered by this punching thing? maybe because the author made it a point to have a character explain to our MC how to to position her hand so she wouldn't break her thumb, and yet his instruction was the exact opposite of proper technique

for the record:


Thumb goes OVER the fingers, not under, NICK.
_________

“A healthy dose of scepticism is a good thing, if you ask me. I’d rather have a sister who was cautious about romance than one who fell for every muppet who turned up with a bunch of petrol-station flowers. You’d sooner kick a boy’s arse than let him break your heart. ”

Zoë's music publication is on the cusp of going under, and her only option is to try and get an exclusive interview with a pop-legend who hasn't done press in 10 years. The problem? Her publicist is a massive arse, and her best friend - with whom she has been in love with since she was 13 - is back in town, for good!, so she's a little distracted.

I'll be honest. This wasn't it for me. I liked Zoë - she was witty and no-nonsense - and Simon and Nick were formidable points to this love triangle, but the book felt about 100 pages too long.

It went in circles: Zoë needs to save the magazine, runs into Nick, tries to get an interview with Marcie, meets with Jess to try and initiate Marcie's apology tour, it doesn't work. Stalks Marcie. Meets with Jess. Runs into Nick. Over and over again for 400+ pages. It was so damn repetitive I sometimes had to double check my chapter to make sure I wasn't accidentally re-reading anything by mistake.

In any case, the story was fine. I wish it had been a little more focused on the romance (it is a romance novel after all) and not so much all the issues with the magazine and whatnot. We could have had a way deeper story about a girl trying to parse through her feelings for her childhood friend while a new guy enters her life and drives her crazy. It could have been a lot more introspective.

The alcoholism and drug issues felt so random, specifically Simon's OD. So out of place - and unnecessary. There must have been a better way for Simon to realize Jess wasn't right for him and that he was "in love" with Zoë.

Writing was fine. Characters were good. Plot was stretched too thin. Not my favourite.

[lexi🤍 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars!

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD Y’ALL!!!!!!!

I had a difficult time getting into the book at first as I’m not someone who’s interested in how editing a music magazine works but regardless, I ended up getting into it as I went on.

Simon, sweetie, respectfully, you’re an idiot. He threw any chance he had of being with Zoë romantically away after being seen with Jessica…. IDIOT. DO BETTER.

I was rooting hella hard for Nick and Zoë after the London Eye incident which was SO CUTE OH MY GOSH!!! Obsessed is the only word I have for them.

I’m glad Marcie and Jessica worked out their shit, together and individually because they really needed to do so.

Zoë herself is such a relatable, strong, independent woman and I really loved seeing her grow throughout this story. Imagine having two men confess their love for you and you have to choose one or none…. She made the right choice in the end, thankfully. 😉

A very good read!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! What a stellar debut! The story and writing style had me hooked immediately.

Love Songs For Skeptics is such a feel good read. Very entertaining! I loved that each chapter was a song title and the full playlist at the end was such a nice touch. Many of the songs being favorites of mine that I have listened to on repeat on numerous occasions.

The characters are well written and likeable. I found myself connecting with many of them, especially Zoë. I just loved her character so much and felt like she's someone I could see myself being friends with.

The storyline is fantastic. Zoë Frixos is the editor of a major music magazine. She's head over heels in love with her teenage crush Simon who left town twenty years ago without knowing how Zoë felt about him. But now that he's back in London, single and as gorgeous as ever, Zoë vows to let him know how she feels. And just like in many love stories there's a whole lot of obstacles in the way...

If you're a fan of contemporary romance and feel good stories I highly recommend this book. A huge thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my copy!

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

1,5 Sterne (= mit Abneigung fertig gelesen); Rezensionsexemplar von Netgalley.

Seit ihrer Jugend war Zoë immer ein bisschen in ihren besten Freund Simon verschossen. Mittlerweile sind die beiden erwachsen und haben über Jahre eine Fernfreundschaft gehabt. Jetzt will Simon wieder nach London ziehen. Gibt es endlich eine romantische Chance für die beiden? Nicht, wenn es nach dem "nervigen" PR-Manager Nick geht, der immer wieder in Zoës Leben dazwischen funkt. Noch dazu hat Zoë eigentlich gerade genug um die Ohren: Die Zeitschrift, bei der sie Redakteurin ist, steht vor dem Aus.

Ich hatte zugegebenermaßen GROSSE Probleme mit den Schwerpunkten des Buchs. Ich versuche sie im folgenden so zu benennen, dass ihr rausfiltern könnt, ob das Buch vielleicht doch etwas für euch sein könnte.

- This Is (Not) a Love Song versucht die Balance zwischen Romance und Frauenroman (mit nicht-romantischen Erzählelementen) zu halten. In meinen Augen kam beides dadurch zu kurz und blieb oberflächlich: Zoë im Liebesdreieck mit Simon und Nick; und ihre berufliche Anstrengung, die Musikzeitschrift bei der sie arbeitet, zu retten.
- Der Klappentext verrät Familienchaos rund um eine griechische Hochzeit. Das wurde auch nur am Rande erzählt. Zoës zunehmende Nähe mit ihrer künftigen Schwägerin war allerdings sweet.
- Immerhin konnte ich anhand von Zoë/Simon/Nick reflektieren, wann ich Dreiecksbeziehungen in Büchern VÖLLIG doof finde: Einer des Dreiecks ist ganz klar der passende Partner für die Hauptfigur und trotzdem dauert es bis zum Ende, dass der Gegenpart es checkt. Nicht nur: "Ach, *der* ist der Richtige?", sondern auch "Ach neee, der [klar ungeeignete...] ist wirklich nicht der Richtige?" YIKES!
- Große Liebe für Nick. Was ein Sweetheart, der Besseres verdient hat! Im Gegensatz dazu Simon. Uargh... Ab der Hälfte hätte der meinetwegen gerne Abdampfen können.
- Und als mein letzter Punkt: Ich hatte Großteil des ganzen Buchs das Gefühl, dass Zoë eigentlich die Nebenrolle in den ganz unterschiedlichen, viel spannenderen Geschichten um sie herum gespielt hat (Kollegen in der Agentur, die großen Musik-Stars, die Zoë dringend interviewen muss, Zoës Mentor, Zoës Schwägerin UND UND UND). Sie war in meinem Gefühl oft nur passiv da, damit deren Geschichten weiter vorangehen.

War für mich echt nix. Schade!

[Cece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was a bit of a let down. Love Songs for Skeptics initially caught my eye with praise from Sarah Hogle and Beth O’Leary (two authors I discovered last year and absolutely love) and I’m trying to read as many new or debut romances as I can in 2021, but this book’s first person POV didn’t work for me, I failed to connect to the heroine, and the love interests’ one-dimensionality made the central romance flop.

When this contemporary romance/women’s fiction debut opens, 34-year-old Zoë Frixos is struggling with hero-worship in both her personal and professional life. As the executive editor of a struggling print music magazine, she’s fixated on saving her publication through an interview with her longtime idol: the reclusive rock star, Marcie. She’s similarly concentrated on beginning a romantic relationship with her childhood best friend, Simon, after decades of unrequited infatuation. Unfortunately, Zoë keeps bungling her opportunities with Simon and Marcie through poor communication: avoiding a discussion of her feelings with the former and forcing her company on the latter. Nick, Marcie’s alluring new publicist, also complicates her plans, by acting as the famous musician’s gatekeeper and the third point in Zoë’s bumbling love triangle.

If you’re someone who dislikes first person point of view, I suggest you skip Love Songs for Skeptics. I don’t avoid it as a general rule and many of my favorite contemporary romances use it (The Hating Game, You Deserve Each Other), but first person is remarkably tough to get right and this book reveals many of its built-in limitations.

In first person, the narrating protagonist must emotionally engage the reader because the reader will be limited to their perspective for the entire book. If the first person protagonist fails to connect, the point of view can feel claustrophobic, which is what happened for me here. There wasn’t anything “wrong” with Zoë, but she also wasn’t portrayed as interesting or complex either. She was avoidant in relationships, preferring to “ghost” people when she didn’t know what to say to them, which is a perfectly understandable trait in real-life but a narrative dead-end in a genre romance. She was snobbish about music, loved her Greek family and cared deeply for the employees who worked under her, which are all exemplary if frustratingly vanilla qualities. Most problematically, she lacked emotional awareness, both of herself and others.

Because in Zoë’s first person narration, while we’re irritatingly aware of the minute changes in her idolization of Marcie/Simon and annoyed attraction to Nick, her point of view never provides any depth or nuance into their characters. It doesn’t help, perhaps, that both heroes are superficially drawn – Simon as the fun-loving, extroverted charmer from Zoë’s teenage fantasies who struggles with commitment and Nick as a brooding, career-minded seducer with secret passions. It isn’t revolutionary stuff and yet Zoë’s perspective still fails to add much-needed insight into Simon or Nick’s real feelings. Without that, the men’s romantic declarations (or lack thereof) come completely out of the blue. The love scenes end up feeling entirely random! They’re also shockingly short-lived, lasting only a few pages, which gives the central romance the sense of being shoehorned in, despite its clear prominence in both the plot and Zoë’s interiority.

Unfortunately, I also had a number of other, smaller problems with Love Songs for Skeptics:

Like food in Jasmine Guillory’s contemporary romances, alcohol plays an uncomfortable role in this text. In addition to the aging rock goddess Marcie, there’s a second, younger female musician named Jessica. Both women are characterized as alcoholics whose addictions have kept them from sustaining professional success, but Zoë doesn’t extend much empathy to either one of them. When Jessica, her rival for Simon’s affections, vomits publicly in an upscale restaurant from intoxication, she thinks it’s a “there-but-for-the-grace-of-God moment” yet tells Nick that she finds the episode “a little bit funny”. Nick admonishes her, wisely pointing out that “alcoholism is a disease”. Zoë is clearly uncomfortable with his assessment of the situation and draws a comparison to her own libation, but our heroine’s dependence on alcohol is never reframed or addressed. Instead, her daily drinking is catalogued in breathless, painstaking detail throughout the novel, which I found repetitive and slightly unsettling.

Then, there’s this: the only queer secondary character is fridged. His death is clearly meant to drive character growth for Zoë and Marcie, but it felt gratuitous, regressive and plot-driven. Don’t kill your gays, people.

Finally, this book is kissing-only. Again, like first person POV, I don’t have a hard-and-fast rule against closed door or low steam romance. I prefer explicit sex scenes, but I also think that a romance novel’s sexual content should fit its context and Love Songs for Skeptics is definitely a hornier book. Zoë muses, repeatedly, about how keen she is to sleep with both Simon and Nick. At one point, she considers the feasibility of having sex against a soundproofed wall in a private room of a karaoke bar! Which was hot! Then, this novel ends with…kissing? I thought it was a little anti-climatic (pun intended!).

This book gets 3 stars from me because I neither loved it nor hated it, which is what I understand that rating to mean. Actually, I wish it had been a bit messier or more flawed. As it is, my tepid reaction mirrors its rather plain, peripheral type of storytelling. I longed for Love Songs for Skeptics to dig into its themes or dive deeper into what was driving its characters. Swimming along on the surface is a serene enough experience, but it gets boring rather quickly.

[Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly the kind of book I needed to read at the moment. It was lovely to have a break with a book that is easygoing and enjoyable.

Love songs for sceptics follows Zöe, a music journalist desperately trying to save the magazine she edits. Her old friend (and childhood crush), Simon moves back to the UK, but love isn’t always simple.

My absolute favourite thing about this novel was how easy it was to read. It was exactly the kind of light-hearted romance novel that I needed right now. It made me laugh out loud and sometimes it left my heart aching. It is a lovely light pick-me up that I did not want to put down! I really enjoyed the links to real songs, it put a lot of different earworms in my mind and made me reminisce about times I’d heard them myself.

The only downside for me was that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the last chapter. It felt a little anti-climatic for me. But I devoured the rest of the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the different characters and felt their personalities jumping off the page (my personal favourite was Nick).

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves a good romance novel.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded down

Despite being over 400 pages, which is quite long for a romance or chick-lit, the whole thing remained at the surface level. Simon’s whole OD thing was completely glossed over, Zoe came to terms with Patrick’s death very quickly, etc.

The romance was an interesting blend of tropes. It’s a love triangle that involves both the enemies to lovers trope AND the BFF to more trope. I always say in my reviews that I don’t like love triangles, but I actually don’t mind them if they’re done well - and I feel like they’re seldom done well. In this case, the love triangle was unsatisfying because it was very obvious which guy was better. I couldn’t stand Simon, but Nick was only marginally better. His declaration of love felt very forced and unnatural.

I really liked the friendship that developed between Zoe and her soon to be sister-in-law. I also liked the bond between Zoe and her brother and the loyalty she felt for her staff at the magazine.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoë Frixos’ life is in quite a disarray to say the least. Though she has the dream job of a lifetime as an editor for a major music magazine, it’s at risk for closure unless she lands an interview with an elusive and big name music idol - which also means she has to get through her arrogant publicist Nick. Her love life is dismal, though some amazing news about her first love Simon moving back to London has her heart fluttering.

I enjoyed this fun read while listening to the amazing playlist with music from the 80’s and 90’s that is set for every chapter. It was also fun signing up for Zak Scaramouche fan club as well and you’ll get it when you read the book. I loved the refreshing and joyful writing that I find myself smiling reading this funny, lighthearted and absolutely brilliant romantic read!

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

(free review copy) YAY!!! A fresh and unique story in my favorite genre - I didn’t know if it was even possible anymore! Loved the Greek family and culture, loved the music, loved Zoë being over 30. This is a standout to me and I’m so happy I grabbed it off my stack of ARCs yesterday- I finished it in one day.

Just one tiny quibble I had with the story I think someone should have caught - there’s a pretty momentous event in the story that it made zero sense for Zoë’s family not to have attended and been there for her through. A small thing but it wouldn’t leave my mind.

[G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost DNF but I forced myself to for the sake of this review.

As someone who has worked in this industry before, I thought I would like this book and find it hilarious but I honestly didn’t. I didn’t find Zoe’s mentality relatable at all. Some of her actions were not consistent with her character. Simon seems like a douche - why does she like him and why has she been pining over someone like him? I couldn’t understand his appeal. I also find it hard to believe that she would swear off men for decades after that one rejection.

The last note I have is that these characters seem to really propagate binge drinking - it’s not that cool. Binge drinking culture is not healthy.

[Jultri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5. I hate love triangles. However, I won't hold it against the book as it was clearly stated in the blurb and hence my mistake. In fact, I found myself entertained for the most listening to this book despite the romance part of the book focusing on the love triangle consisting of the under-pressure Zoe (Editor of a cult music magazine under threat of extinction); the smooth and affable Simon (Zoe's childhood bestie and the one who literally got away but who is now back) and the not so affable Nick (publicist who potentially holds the key to the magazine's survival). The plucky, never-say-die Zoe is a worthy heroine to cheer for. She makes mistakes, but she owns up to these and learns from them. The ultimate hero too is a sympathetic character. There are nuances and complexities to all the characters. An added bonus is the frequent references to popular and less popular music. Sometimes the pacing slowed down a bit too much, but overall, this is an author to watch.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, comical, and delightfully uplifting!

Love Songs for Skeptics is a sweet, heartwarming tale that takes us into the life of the hardworking Zoë Frixos as she juggles her feelings for her newly returned, single best friend who she’s crushed on since she was thirteen, a cocky boy-bander with an overinflated ego, a potential interview with a famous, reclusive musician who could save her career, and a push-and-pull relationship with the arrogant, yet handsome publicist, Nick Jones.

The prose is sharp and fluid. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are multilayered, amusing and endearing. And the plot is a smart, engaging tale full of life, loss, love, tricky moments, awkward situations, quirky mishaps, delicious chemistry, romantic drama, tension, self-reflection, and a soundtrack of some of the most unforgettable, retro, love songs of all time. (Playlist can be found here: HERE )

Overall, Love Songs for Skeptics is a light, refreshing, entertaining debut by Pishiris that I thoroughly enjoyed and is definitely the perfect choice for fans of contemporary romance novels that have a lot of humour, heart, and hope.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, and not a bad one for what I think is a debut. I lean closer to 2.5 than a solid 3 because frankly, as a romance, it’s got a big problem: we need to believe these people are in love, but they spend almost no time together and several of those brief meetings are antagonistic, and It’s closed-door so there’s no heat to help sell it. The author loves her heroine and she’s likeable and drawn well, but the hero and everyone else suffers from an overstuffed cast and an ambitious plot. I hope this author, should she continue to write romance, scales it down and allows the reader to focus more on the central characters, or perhaps switches to a genre that requires a little less belief in a happily-ever-after.

[Amata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read romantic stories, but this novel was recommended to my by a good friend. I decided to give it a try and I don't regret! It is one of the most engaging and entertaining novel I've read. I could not put it down - was wondering what would happen next by the end of every chapter. The narrative is funny and Zoe - the protagonist - so likeable. I even found a few things I could relate to, which made me shed a tear or two.
I loved reading this novel from the first word to the last, and even delayed getting to the last three chapters because I didn't want it to end. After this delicious experience, I might even give the romance genre a try!

[TARA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes I love romance and that’s typically the thread pulling me along, but I also find entertainment value, laughs and the presence of good people just as special.

I seriously enjoyed this narration. It was fast paced with heaps going on, but it was delivered so well by Nicky Diss. I loved the cast and plot and song titles!

I don’t want to spoil anything about the love interest, but I was VERY happy in that department too. No explicit details more chick lit, but I thought they had great chemistry.

If you consider reading this, try audio. It wasn’t life changing or anything but it was just a great book that I can’t really fault.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that moment where you pick up something for the first time in the year, and it kind of sets the tone for the rest of the year?
Love Songs For Sceptics was that book for me. The IT* book. It was so good, that I couldn't stop reading. There's just some magic about it. Something so powerful that I had to write about it as soon as I was done.
I feel like I'm lying in a bed of air, and love.
Books should make you feel that way. They should make you feel good and happy, like this one did for me.
If the author has more books, I am definitely going to go on a bender and make sure to read them all.
The book is very well written (seriously, a lot of books these days are so badly written, that I wonder how they're even on the market!), the characters and their lives are well explained.
Basically, it's the book you should start your year with.

[Tilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

I enjoyed reading this book as I was in need of a fun easy read thstheld my attention, which it did. Despite this, it wasn't a perfect book and needed a decent amount of editing. It was a pretty simple storyline and so it really didn't need to be 450 pages and I felt it was dragged out in many places.

I liked the characters and felt connected to the lead female Zoe. I thought the side characters played really good roles which added a lot to the story. However there was almost too much information about the side characters and not enough scenes about the actual romance. I needed MORE so that I could actually believe the ending.

The writing was good and the storyline was fun and interesting. I enjoyed the music business aspect and all the music references.

The ending was a bit of a let down for me and after 450 pages, that was a bit annoying!

Overall a fun read but not one that I will be rereading in the future.

TW: drug and alcohol abuse, overdose, talk of off screen suicide attempt.

[Chantel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pishiris allows the reader to follow the first-person point of view of Zoe, a thirty-four-year-old music journalist, as she struggles to find her place in the industry with her magazine on the brink of failure & the return of her childhood best friend, Simon.

If you do not mind reading about an adult character who seems to be totally idiotic in a great deal of her decision-making, then you will most like enjoy this story in its plenitude. I often found myself frustrated with Zoe & her inability to communicate her thoughts & feelings; choosing instead to lie to her loved ones & run away (literally) from difficult conversations.
 
Let's start with what I enjoyed. I liked Zoe's family dynamic & the reflections posed regarding her childhood & the impact her family life had on Simon, whose family was less than agreeable & oftentimes toxic. I think there is a great deal of positive to be attributed to good friendships & the wonderful impact they can have on a person at any age. It seemed nice that Simon & Zoe were able to keep in touch for so many years, although their lives carried them in different directions.
 
The fact that Zoe remained infatuated with Simon, whom she last saw as a young person, all throughout her adult life felt odd to me. Very early on in the story, she appeared to be a person who idolized others & rather blatantly ignored facets of their existence that were inconvenient for her. I can appreciate that to a certain extent but when reading about her absolute life-changing love for Simon with little to go on to lead me to believe that to be true, it felt shallow & dumb. She barely had any deep-level emotional conversations with this person at a time in her life when she should have developed her opinions & thoughts to the extent to be able to communicate them, yet still remains adoring of this person whom she really doesn't know, all based on a couple of years in her youth.
 
Zoe's absolute idolization of Marcie was annoying by the end of the story. I know we're supposed to believe she's this incredible musician but every time Zoe spoke about her it was just frilly things about how she felt towards Marcie, not about how Marcie had performed as an artist or her real impact on the music industry. This is perhaps a difficult thing to incorporate in the first-person point of view, however, it left me feeling as though Zoe didn't have a leg to stand on in the music journalism industry because she talked smack about a boy band all while idolizing someone whom we never get anywhere with in terms of her career.

While on the topic of musicians, Jess & Marcie were both individuals who struggled with sobriety & substance use. However, Zoe always seemed to be rude & lacked any depth of understanding of their situations. She even sits across from Marcie (her idol) & watches her get plastered after a successful stint in rehab. If the person I adored was drinking themselves into numbness after I knew they just worked very hard to obtain their sobriety, I would have made more of an effort to remove the alcohol.

Zoe just sits around & retains her sobriety for the sake of gaining information from Marcie for her magazine interview. That's pretty shit behaviour. There's also a (big) hint in her behaviour towards Jess that makes it seem as though Zoe enjoys seeing her stumble over herself & get sick in public. Even if she had just drunk too much on that one occasion, it's not cool to let someone get sick all over themselves & then have a laugh while they're struggling for stability.
 
I think I pitied Zoe by the end of the story because she was a grown adult who was rarely able to express herself emotionally. She assumed Nick was a jerk upon their first meeting because she didn't want to properly vocalize what had just transpired between her & the artist. Then she spends pages onward expressing how nasty he was as a person without ever giving him the chance to demonstrate that it was all in her imagination.

She dives into the idea that Simon is her one true love without allowing herself the chance to see that he has never given her the time of day & that their friendship revolves around her being present for him & all his needs, while subsequently ignoring all of hers. I was glad that Alice was such a well-rounded character. She spoke good reason & genuine emotion & I was happy for their relationship & all that Alice put forth to try & make things clear for Zoe.

Finally, there is way too much drinking. Perhaps in real English life, everyone is always wanting/needing to get drunk to approach any situation or process any emotion but, I rather doubt it. The author writes about her characters needing to drink so often it became an annoyance.
 
I would recommend this book, though I was annoyed with the lack of simply saying how you feel. I admit that I feel this way about many romance novels. Regardless, this was well-written & I did appreciate the tone of the story overall.

[~Sofia~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and a book that was sent in the ChocolateandBook Book Box. I was a little hesitant to read this as it is not an author or book that I have seen before. I chose the Romance Genre for my book box so I knew it was a genre I liked and so I gave this book a go.

I am so glad I did, in fact I really enjoyed this book, more so than I was expecting and gave it 4 stars. The whole plot of Friends to Lovers was a good one and all based around music. Each chapter is named after love songs which I thought was such a great idea and it gives you a playlist to run through your head as you read through the story. I liked all the characters in the book and found it a really light yet happy read. I laughed a lot at the main character, who works at a music magazine which fir the theme perfectly. It is a romance but not a steamy one, but the plot does keep you intrigued to read on. There are a few plot twists in this book, which to be honest, I did guess from the start however it did not make it any less enjoyable.

This book is brilliant for those that love chick lit and would make a brilliant holiday summer read.

[Manu ✦★✦ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 53%.

It has been almost a month since I started reading this book. After careful consideration, I have decided to stop reading it. I am not sure why I did not enjoy this book because it has all the elements that I typically love. However, my main issue was that I did not like the characters, and the pacing of the book was inconsistent throughout. It was too fast in the important parts and too slow in the less significant parts. Additionally, I did not understand why the main character was interested in the blond guy and why she had more scenes with him than with the actual love interest. I am unsure if the book improves later on, but I have no desire to find out. I had high expectations for this book, but it was a disappointment.

[Scarlet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Cover hat mich von gleich angesprochen. Die Farbkombination aus türkis und gold ist wirklich sehr ansprechend. Auch der Klappentext klang vielversprechend: Liebe, Musik, ein bester Freund und ein nerviger Konkurrent.

Ich hatte am Anfang etwas Schwierigkeiten mit der Geschichte. Mir war Zoe nicht so recht sympathisch und auch ihr bester Freund Simon hat auf mich nicht den besten Eindruck gemacht. Nick im Gegenzug hat mir gut gefallen und war einer der wenigen Charaktere, der für mich persönlich richtig greifbar war. Der Rest blieb eher blass.

Die Geschichte an sich kam erst schleppend Gang und jedoch als ich mich dann mal richtig darauf eingelassen habe wurde ich doch gut unterhalten. Vieles war zwar vorhersehbar und zwar schon ziemlich am Anfang, mir war im Prinzip schon klar, wie das Ganze am Ende ausgehen wird. Trotzdem hat der Weg bis dahin Spaß gemacht.

Die Idee mit den Songtitel am Anfang jedes Kapitels fand ich auch sehr innovativ und hat zum Mitsummen angeregt. Auch der Einblick in die Musikbranche war sehr gut beschrieben und für mich als Laie auch interessant.

Eine wirklich kurzweilige Geschichte für zwischendurch, auf die ich mich erst etwas einlassen musste. Aber umso mehr ich darüber nachdenke umso besser hat mir die Geschichte eigentlich gefallen.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Cute rom-com with fake dating with focus on music.

[Milena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I was very excited to read Love Songs for Skeptics. I love the cover and was intrigued by the blurb. After reading this book, I have mixed feelings about it. There were a lot of things I liked about the story: a snarky heroine, supportive female friendships, and lot's of musical references. But there were also a few things that annoyed me. Specifically, a trope where our heroine is pining for a man who is not interested in her but leading her on, while ignoring a great man who is very much interested. Another thing that I didn't love is how much of the story was about drinking alcohol. There was so much mentioning of drinking and getting drunk in this book, and I just found it trite and boring. All in all, I enjoyed Love Songs for Skeptics while reading it, but it won't stay with me or go on my favorites list.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

[Carly Findlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another lighthearted book that didn’t live up to the hype. I really didn’t enjoy this.

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m on a roll with the romance and I am absolutely loving it! I have to say, Love Songs for Skeptics found a way into my heart by having a setting based in London, and music at the very center.

I really enjoyed the writing and pacing, and thought it was so fun that each chapter was a song title, and lately I’ve discovered how much I also enjoy a playlist to accompany my reading.

The characters were entertaining and well written, and I just thought it was an overall fun love story between Zoe and her forever crush Simon, since we was a teen.

*many thanks to Sourcebooks for the gifted copy

[Nikki (Saturday Nite Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

full review to follow

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoe is a music journalist and editor for a cool magazine Re - Sound. It may not be the best paying job, but she loves it and it gives her the opportunity to meet new, interesting and creative people. When Zoe was 13 years old, she fell in love with her best friend, Simon Baxter but she never told him what she feels. Now, in her thirties, her job is her life but then Simon comes back from the States, separated from his wife, so maybe now is the time for them?
In the meantime, the things at work are not running smoothly and the magazine may be closed down. The only salvage is an interview with someone special, and Zoe knows who that can be - her favourite music artist, Marcie Tyler, bit will she manage to get this interview? Namely, Marcie's publicist Nick and Zoe are not the best friends.

The characters were developed well enough, although more than often I couldn't understand their actions. The romance aspect was, I don't know, somehow cold and not so heart - warming, I couldn't warm to Simon at all and I really couldn't see what Zoe sees in him - he was arrogant and, in my eyes, he used Zoe and took her for granted. Sure, they have a past and memories but as soon as they were together it all felt so unnatural for me. Actually, now I think about it, Zoe around men felt unnatural, she was also so tense around Nick and well, it spoiled the whole picture, made the reading difficult. Nevertheless, I still think that Zoe was the strongest link in this book. She is an interesting, complex character with fiery personality, who is passionate about her work and music, and I loved how the fate of the magazine was so important to her, and how much she cared about her co - workers. She is friendly and full of heart, so no wonder that she's surrounded by friends, but she also can be stubborn and full of unexpected ideas when she wants something badly. What she doesn't have, is luck with her love life - still holding torch for her childhood friend and not seeing what is around her.

It was a great idea to use the song titles for the chapters, they fitted perfectly, and the focus on music business, how it really is being inside it, how the music PR works, showing that it's not only a bed full of roses, was a great idea. And the best parts of the book were for me the scenes about the big fat Greek wedding preparations and everything that regarded to it. Zoe's future sister - in - law Alice was lovely and I really liked how Zoe allowed herself to relax in her company.

Altogether, "Love Songs for Sceptics" was a nice debut novel that had it moments but, sadly, it missed the wow - effect for me. I wasn't completely engaged and couldn't warm to the characters as much as I like to. The beginning, when Zoe is asked by her brother to help him choose a song for the first dance at his upcoming wedding and she chooses Kiss's "Love's a Slap in the Face" was absolutely brilliant and I was hoping that the book is going to stay with this humorous, witty tone but unfortunately it didn't happen, it simply went downhill for me. I can't put my finger exactly on what went wrong, and I can see that the story is accumulating raving reviews, so simply try this book and decide for yourself.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.