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The Science of Selling Yourself Short
A failing country music diva and small-town punk rocker are polar opposites in every way. But when they’re forced to collaborate to save their struggling careers, their chemistry is obvious to everyone...except them.
Having country superstars for parents has its downsides. For as long as she can remember, Kaylee Phelan has known that she will follow in their footsteps, but then her debut album flops. With a capital ‘F’.
Now on thin ice with the record label, the executives will only let her come out with new music if Kaylee agrees to take a pop/alternative direction for her next album. But for a through-and-through country girl, this is a tough pill to swallow.
Dakota Rhodes needs to catch a break. After getting kicked out of his band and discovering his mother has cancer, Dakota’s drinking habit and writer’s block are spiraling out of control.
When Kaylee’s manager Joel Matthews approaches Dakota with a collaboration deal, he clutches at the opportunity to make music again. Only problem? Kaylee wants nothing to do with a songwriting partnership, least of all with Dakota.
As the two musicians struggle to pick their careers up off the ground, make music on their terms and navigate each other in forced proximity, sparks are sure to fly. But will they ignite something that neither Kaylee nor Dakota saw coming?
318 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2020
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Rae
1 book12 followersTaylor Rae is a new adult contemporary author who specializes in small town vibes, slow burn romance, and deep, complex characters that make you swoon, laugh, and cry all in one sitting.
Taylor was born and raised in New Jersey, where she graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in television production and sports journalism. Taylor now resides in Charleston, South Carolina with her fiancé Greg and their dog Hudson, where they enjoy walking the beach at sunset, an endless supply of southern soul food, and Clemson Tigers football games.
Taylor was born and raised in New Jersey, where she graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in television production and sports journalism. Taylor now resides in Charleston, South Carolina with her fiancé Greg and their dog Hudson, where they enjoy walking the beach at sunset, an endless supply of southern soul food, and Clemson Tigers football games.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 7, 2022
“The song wasn’t even his, but he sang it like it came from the depths of his soul. As his voice rolled through my body, it made me feel something in my bones. I didn’t know what it was, but it was ethereal.”
You guys… I don’t even know where to start. I intended to begin reading this book during the takeoff period of a three-hour flight and then pass out for the rest of it, but instead I kept going until the plane landed. And then I finished it that same night.
Dakota Rhodes isn’t the guy anyone would bet on. He has a drinking habit that got him kicked out of his band and a mother who’s been diagnosed with cancer. He plays odd jobs in dingy bars and his life is one fragile thread away from snapping entirely.
That is until he is approached with a collaboration deal. All he needs to do is deal with Kaylee Phelan, the prickly country music princess, long enough to see this collaboration through and get back with his band. But when he starts to see all the sides of Kaylee she keeps hidden, he finds that it might not be as simple as that.
Kaylee is tired of people who don’t believe in her – her record label, her parents, her manager, the list is endless. She’s only ever a stop on the way to something better and no one wants her for her. So, when she’s told to collaborate with Dakota, she resents the fact that no one seems to think she can find a way to make it on her own. But maybe Dakota will be the first person who truly believes in her and maybe that’s all the faith she needs.
To me, this story was all about perception and being seen. You’ve got this guy, Dakota, who’s the king of selling himself short. He’s good at not believing in himself and even better at convincing others to do the same. But, even with all his bad habits, he’s a good guy. And then there’s Kaylee – presented as prideful and shallow, selfish and spoiled to the whole world. But really, she’s just a girl who wants to be seen and loved and lashes out whenever she feels she isn’t.
Ultimately, Taylor Rae works magic in this novel, bringing to life characters you simply can’t help but empathize with and root for. The Science of Selling Yourself Short is a stark reminder that sometimes all you need is one person to see you for who you really are. And then the rest has a way of falling into place.
You guys… I don’t even know where to start. I intended to begin reading this book during the takeoff period of a three-hour flight and then pass out for the rest of it, but instead I kept going until the plane landed. And then I finished it that same night.
Dakota Rhodes isn’t the guy anyone would bet on. He has a drinking habit that got him kicked out of his band and a mother who’s been diagnosed with cancer. He plays odd jobs in dingy bars and his life is one fragile thread away from snapping entirely.
That is until he is approached with a collaboration deal. All he needs to do is deal with Kaylee Phelan, the prickly country music princess, long enough to see this collaboration through and get back with his band. But when he starts to see all the sides of Kaylee she keeps hidden, he finds that it might not be as simple as that.
Kaylee is tired of people who don’t believe in her – her record label, her parents, her manager, the list is endless. She’s only ever a stop on the way to something better and no one wants her for her. So, when she’s told to collaborate with Dakota, she resents the fact that no one seems to think she can find a way to make it on her own. But maybe Dakota will be the first person who truly believes in her and maybe that’s all the faith she needs.
To me, this story was all about perception and being seen. You’ve got this guy, Dakota, who’s the king of selling himself short. He’s good at not believing in himself and even better at convincing others to do the same. But, even with all his bad habits, he’s a good guy. And then there’s Kaylee – presented as prideful and shallow, selfish and spoiled to the whole world. But really, she’s just a girl who wants to be seen and loved and lashes out whenever she feels she isn’t.
Ultimately, Taylor Rae works magic in this novel, bringing to life characters you simply can’t help but empathize with and root for. The Science of Selling Yourself Short is a stark reminder that sometimes all you need is one person to see you for who you really are. And then the rest has a way of falling into place.
June 27, 2020
Taylor Ray’s The Science Of Selling Yourself Short is a sweet and swoony story about struggling to make it—in love, in life, and in the music industry. Country Princess Kaylee Phelan’s needs a musical restyle and her manager brings in a hard rocking (and hard drinking) guitarist Dakota Rhodes. They fight each other all the way to the stage, but in the spotlight they make magic.
As an avid fan of contemporary romance novels about rock stars, I found Taylor Rae’s addition to the genre to be a new twist on an old favorite. Her female protagonist Kaylee is industry savvy and jaded when it comes to love, but hides a vulnerable heart. And her male lead Dakota shoots straight, even when he can’t walk that way. His struggle with alcoholism is portrayed in a realistic and humanizing way.
If you love tales about the pitfalls of love in the fastest-paced of places—on tour, on stage, on airplanes!—this book checks the boxes! It’s so good I shared it with friends!
As an avid fan of contemporary romance novels about rock stars, I found Taylor Rae’s addition to the genre to be a new twist on an old favorite. Her female protagonist Kaylee is industry savvy and jaded when it comes to love, but hides a vulnerable heart. And her male lead Dakota shoots straight, even when he can’t walk that way. His struggle with alcoholism is portrayed in a realistic and humanizing way.
If you love tales about the pitfalls of love in the fastest-paced of places—on tour, on stage, on airplanes!—this book checks the boxes! It’s so good I shared it with friends!
July 8, 2020
This book grasps you from the very first page. The way Taylor has written these characters makes you see them so vividly that you think you are sitting with them as they go through all the emotions. It makes you remember that everyone deserves to be loved, that no matter how messed up you are you should see yourself as the amazing person you are. I can not wait to see what Taylor puts out next. She is a star and we are all so lucky to have her words! Please read this book!
July 9, 2020
I enjoyed reading The Science of Selling Yourself Short. This book felt like a casual drama. Nothing over the top. Each characters is likeable and all carry a sense of relatability and complexity to them. I felt especially so with Dekota. He was my favourite character.
Despite finding parts to be a little predictable. I quite enjoyed my time with this book again been a fairly out of my usual genre. It was a light and easy read with a decent flow.
Overall, this is a perfect weekend read for contemporary romance lovers to wind-down and escape for a little while. This was a good book!
Despite finding parts to be a little predictable. I quite enjoyed my time with this book again been a fairly out of my usual genre. It was a light and easy read with a decent flow.
Overall, this is a perfect weekend read for contemporary romance lovers to wind-down and escape for a little while. This was a good book!
July 21, 2020
Fantastic! This country and metal / rock singer couple has enemies to lovers trope that gives me the feels!! ❤️ The story's overarching theme is in-depth and realistic, the prose highlights the sense of self worth. I highly recommend reading this story!
June 27, 2020
You may think you know how the story goes but it's a sweet, heartfelt, ride getting there.
July 2, 2020
The Science of Selling Yourself Short is an amazing book that shows much insight into heavy drinking and being in the music industry. It is so beautifully written and definitely deserves to be read.
August 21, 2020
I have been reading a lot of Taylor's work the past few months on Wattpad and The Science of Selling Yourself Short is undoubtedly my favourite! I am also very grateful to have been given the eArc in exchange for an honest review ❤️
The book takes us through, Kaylee - a struggling Country music artist and Dakota- a rockstar with multiple issues of his own. This dual-perspective book had my heart! It was really amazing to see this love story between two completely opposite people and the struggles and issues that they had, accepting and understanding eachother throughout the book.The writing was beautiful and captured each of their perspectives well. It also had a realistic approach to a lot of the situations that the main characters go through, which make this book all the more enjoyable to read. I highly, highly recommend this book if you're looking for some New Adult reads!
The book takes us through, Kaylee - a struggling Country music artist and Dakota- a rockstar with multiple issues of his own. This dual-perspective book had my heart! It was really amazing to see this love story between two completely opposite people and the struggles and issues that they had, accepting and understanding eachother throughout the book.The writing was beautiful and captured each of their perspectives well. It also had a realistic approach to a lot of the situations that the main characters go through, which make this book all the more enjoyable to read. I highly, highly recommend this book if you're looking for some New Adult reads!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews