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Lyrics of a Small Town
One last thing, if you do fall in love with him, please go slowly. Be careful. Trust your gut and know not all things are easy. Damaged things can become beautiful if they’re placed in the right hands. —Love, Gran
A small town where pickup trucks rule, the farmer’s market is bigger than the grocery store, and just about everyone goes to church on Sunday is the last place Henley Warren expects to find herself three months after her grandmother’s death. But Gran left a list of things she needed Henley to do after she died, and fulfilling those wishes means spending a summer in the same place her mom fled from when she was only seventeen years old. With each task that is ticked off the list, events are set in motion that uncover secrets surrounding Henley’s life.
Although Henley may have arrived on the shores of Alabama’s Gulf Coast feeling alone and lost in a world without her Gran, things soon change. The small town holds more than she realized—including a broody, gorgeous, potentially dangerous guy who is always showing up when she needs him the most. Henley fears her heart isn’t ready to trust someone so unpredictable but he makes her feel things deeper than she thought possible. So, when Henley discovers the twisted, dark world he is living in, will it be too late to save her heart? Or has her heart been beyond saving from the moment he stepped out of his truck on that very first day?
A small town where pickup trucks rule, the farmer’s market is bigger than the grocery store, and just about everyone goes to church on Sunday is the last place Henley Warren expects to find herself three months after her grandmother’s death. But Gran left a list of things she needed Henley to do after she died, and fulfilling those wishes means spending a summer in the same place her mom fled from when she was only seventeen years old. With each task that is ticked off the list, events are set in motion that uncover secrets surrounding Henley’s life.
Although Henley may have arrived on the shores of Alabama’s Gulf Coast feeling alone and lost in a world without her Gran, things soon change. The small town holds more than she realized—including a broody, gorgeous, potentially dangerous guy who is always showing up when she needs him the most. Henley fears her heart isn’t ready to trust someone so unpredictable but he makes her feel things deeper than she thought possible. So, when Henley discovers the twisted, dark world he is living in, will it be too late to save her heart? Or has her heart been beyond saving from the moment he stepped out of his truck on that very first day?
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2021
408 people are currently reading
4037 people want to read
About the author
Abbi Glines
118 books86.4k followersAbbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Smoke, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, Field Party and Existence series. She never cooks unless baking during the Christmas holiday counts. She believes in ghosts and has a habit of asking people if their house is haunted before she goes in it. She drinks afternoon tea because she wants to be British but she now lives in New England and that's as close as it is going to get. When asked how many books she has written she has to stop and count on her fingers. When she’s not locked away writing, she is reading, watching Netflix and all the introverted stuff.
You can connect with Abbi online in several different ways. She uses social media to procrastinate.
You can connect with Abbi online in several different ways. She uses social media to procrastinate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
August 2, 2021
When I started this book i thought finally a 5 star read, it looked really promising but sadly the execution fell flat for me😩.
This is my first book from this author and I just couldn't connect to her writing, for me it seemed almost robotic. There was so much telling instead of showing that i couldn't connect to the story or her characters. I thought i was watching a movie with Kristen Stewart😂 It reminded me sm of her acting bc she only has one face for every emotion and that was exactly how i felt while reading this book. Just indifferent.
It didn't help that the whole book was from the h's POV so I didn't know anything about the H other than what everyone thought about him. I only knew he was filthy rich, had a strained relationship with his father, his mother was an addict and he took care of her but she liked to trash talk about him in front of the h, that he will hurt her bc that is what he does. And i'm like okay but why did she think that, where did it came from? It was just thrown in and not explained🙄 Also it was said that he liked to play guitar, write songs but it wasn't explained why, did he like to became a singer?? A songwriter?? There was so many undeveloped storylines that were not explained like the h's dead bf.
The whole reason why she moved to her grandmother's house was bc she died and also in the beginning it was said that she has a dead bf and they were together since they were 15. So normally i thought this is going to a huge part of her story but nothing. It seems like the author forgot about him bc the h never talked about him or explained about his death🙄 That was weird.
And this leads me to the most unbelievable part of this book for me and that was the MC's relationship.
They start something like enemies, the H has a casual relationship with other girl and they make out in front of the h but then after few days she helps him with his mom and he kisses her out of nowhere and tells her that he had a thing for her from the moment he saw her.
Then they immediately get together, he acts jealous and possessive all the time which was so annoying, cmon it was her brother ffs!🤦♀️
"And if I do this, you won’t have other guys here?”
“Even my brother?” I asked incredulously.
He nodded. “Yeah, even him. I need time to adjust to the new relative thing.”
“Fine. Okay,” I said with a sigh.
She falls in love almost right away, her dead bf is just forgotten and that was it.
In conclusion i don't think this author is for me.😩
This is my first book from this author and I just couldn't connect to her writing, for me it seemed almost robotic. There was so much telling instead of showing that i couldn't connect to the story or her characters. I thought i was watching a movie with Kristen Stewart😂 It reminded me sm of her acting bc she only has one face for every emotion and that was exactly how i felt while reading this book. Just indifferent.
It didn't help that the whole book was from the h's POV so I didn't know anything about the H other than what everyone thought about him. I only knew he was filthy rich, had a strained relationship with his father, his mother was an addict and he took care of her but she liked to trash talk about him in front of the h, that he will hurt her bc that is what he does. And i'm like okay but why did she think that, where did it came from? It was just thrown in and not explained🙄 Also it was said that he liked to play guitar, write songs but it wasn't explained why, did he like to became a singer?? A songwriter?? There was so many undeveloped storylines that were not explained like the h's dead bf.
The whole reason why she moved to her grandmother's house was bc she died and also in the beginning it was said that she has a dead bf and they were together since they were 15. So normally i thought this is going to a huge part of her story but nothing. It seems like the author forgot about him bc the h never talked about him or explained about his death🙄 That was weird.
And this leads me to the most unbelievable part of this book for me and that was the MC's relationship.
They start something like enemies, the H has a casual relationship with other girl and they make out in front of the h but then after few days she helps him with his mom and he kisses her out of nowhere and tells her that he had a thing for her from the moment he saw her.
Then they immediately get together, he acts jealous and possessive all the time which was so annoying, cmon it was her brother ffs!🤦♀️
"And if I do this, you won’t have other guys here?”
“Even my brother?” I asked incredulously.
He nodded. “Yeah, even him. I need time to adjust to the new relative thing.”
“Fine. Okay,” I said with a sigh.
She falls in love almost right away, her dead bf is just forgotten and that was it.
In conclusion i don't think this author is for me.😩
Want to read
July 2, 2021I feel the Rosemary Beach series vibes ...
December 3, 2021
3.5 stars
This new adult novel had fun, feels, and was reminiscent of some of Abbi Glines older books I loved so much. My favorite part of this story was Henley’s Gran list, finding family, and her own path. The romance however fell flat for me. I felt like the conclusion between Henley and Saul was rushed and it ended fairly abruptly. Even though the romance wasn’t my favorite, I did enjoy a lot about the story.
Maybe it was time I wasn’t so careful…this could be my chance to truly let go and just live.
This new adult novel had fun, feels, and was reminiscent of some of Abbi Glines older books I loved so much. My favorite part of this story was Henley’s Gran list, finding family, and her own path. The romance however fell flat for me. I felt like the conclusion between Henley and Saul was rushed and it ended fairly abruptly. Even though the romance wasn’t my favorite, I did enjoy a lot about the story.
August 7, 2021
Abbi Glines' newest small town romance is absolutely perfect for fans of the Rosemary Beach series. It's the story of a young woman, who, after her grandmother's sudden passing, returns to her hometown to fulfil her gran's final wish list. But as she begins to complete each item on the list, she realises that there is a lot more to it all than she ever expected, each task bringing her closer and closer to making sense of her life, and of herself. Long-kept secrets are revealed, new bonds are forged, and love is discovered in this delightful tale of a young woman finding her true home on the shores of Southern Alabama. Abbi Glines shines as always in the small town setting, bringing plenty of fire in her portrayal of young love, and of how everything changes when two hearts are meant to be together.
July 12, 2021
The twist and turns in this book are PERFECTION! My heart was beating so fast with the last few chapters you are holding on for dear life thinking what will happen next! I loved how Abbi drops breadcrumbs and you don’t notice until she wants you to. The heat level is insanely off the charts y’all won’t be disappointed. I hope there is more for these characters! I love how she went back to the beach and the feels are unreal. I’m waiting for Rio’s book and I really really hope there is one lol!
August 9, 2021
"The author said, "think Rosemary beach but with more edge."
"The author said she wrote the book in two weeks."
It really, really, really shows.
Borrowed everything in """ from another reviewer.
"The author said she wrote the book in two weeks."
It really, really, really shows.
Borrowed everything in """ from another reviewer.
August 26, 2021
Nice NA not at the level of RB or SB standards
But nice
Really nice
3 stars
But nice
Really nice
3 stars
August 14, 2021
I had given up on Abby Glines’ books because I felt like I was getting too old for them. This one sounded interesting though, so I gave it a shot. And shocker, I’m still too old for them. There was nothing of substance in this book. There were plots and details that were pretty much left unended…looking at you, Will. But one of my biggest annoyances was the Covid plot line. It might be unpopular opinion, but I feel like media and everything else has done a good enough job of beating us over the head with Rona but one of my escapes does, too? Ugh. Anyways, I completely did not feel the romance here. Sex and lust, yes. Love and butterflies, no. The jealousy thing with Rio was exceptionally weird. I had a really hard time with the writing style, as well. I’m supposed to believe that in 2020/2021, a group of young adults speaks so properly?! It was hard not to imagine robots talking to each other. The story just didn’t flow for me. This is going to be a no from me.
September 30, 2021
4 ⭐'s
I haven't read an Abbi Glines' book in quite awhile and decided to give this a go.
Henley's grandmother passed away and she's in town to handle some request her grandmother made. She meets Saul (who reminds me of Rush!) and keeps running into him.
The requests are quite intriguing and I really enjoyed all the clues but it overshadowed the romance unfortunately.
What were even more intriguing were Saul's roommates, Drake and Rio. I hope they get their own books.
I haven't read an Abbi Glines' book in quite awhile and decided to give this a go.
Henley's grandmother passed away and she's in town to handle some request her grandmother made. She meets Saul (who reminds me of Rush!) and keeps running into him.
The requests are quite intriguing and I really enjoyed all the clues but it overshadowed the romance unfortunately.
What were even more intriguing were Saul's roommates, Drake and Rio. I hope they get their own books.
Read
July 7, 2021Old Abbi Glines' vibes - unique plot sequence - flawed hero
June 4, 2022
Sooooooooo boring
August 9, 2021
Rating: 3.6
I love the cover for this book. I have a Kindle Paperwhite so I hate that the book covers always show up in black and white.
Abbi Glines said that she wrote Lyrics of a Small Town in two week (that really impressive). She started writing it after she woke up from a dream.
I think fans of the Abbi’s Rosemary Beach series might enjoy this book. It did remind me a little of the Rosemary Beach series.
This book might make you want to eat baked good because there is a lot of baking in the book.
The story is told entirely from Henley’s pov. I wish that some of Saul’s pov would have been in the book. I get why just Henley’s pov was in the book because it did create more mystery with Saul. However, I do prefer dual pov. It’s limited with just Henley’s pov because there is so much going on with Saul that the reader doesn’t get to see.
Henley Warren (h) 21 years old: She has brown hair and doesn’t like her fair skin. Henley is a good girl that had somewhat sheltered upbringing. She is a rule follower and doesn’t usually take risks. Also, she loves to bake new gluten- free / dairy- free bake goods. Unfortunately, Henley is self conscious about her looks because her mother always talked about how appearances are everything. Henley has only been in one relationship with a guy named Will. They are no longer together.
At the start of the story, Henley has just arrived in the small beach town in Alabama where her Gran lived. Henley’s mother fled the small town at the age of 17 when Henley was an infant. Henley’s mother told her that her father was 18 at the time and wanted nothing to do with being a father. Unfortunately, he passed away in a motorcycle accident when Henley was only 2 years old. Henley did spend some of her summers growing visiting her Gran and they were close.
Sadly, Henley’s Gran passed away from Covid three months ago. I wasn’t thrilled about Covid being in the story and I wasn’t expecting it. It’s on the t.v. all day every day. I want break from it when I’m reading a book. With that said, the book didn’t have a lot of talk of Covid. Covid was just mentioned some in the book, but not a lot.
Henley’s Gran (everyone calls her “Honey”) left her with a list of 7 tasks on it to complete if she didn’t survive. At first glance the tasks seem simple but end up taking Henley on an unexpected journey. Henley finds out more about her Gran and all the ways she touched other people’s lives. Also, Henley finds out more about her own past and makes many new connections. It ends up helping Henley through her grieving process to know that although her Gran is dead, she lives on in so many people’s memories. Honey reminded a little of my Baba. She always tried to see the good in other and help others. Henley used to bake with her Gran and that made me think of when I used to bake with my Baba.
I thought the idea of the 7 tasks was very clever and how all of that was woven together. There are many twist and turns in the story and revelations. Every town has its secrets and every family does too. There were a lot of characters saying cryptic things
One of the first people Henley sees when she comes to town is Saul.
Saul (H) : He has dark curly hair, blue eyes, and is tan. Henley describes Saul as looking like he belongs in a tropical vacation commercial. Saul drives a beat up old blue pickup truck. He is described by his friends as moody and never happy. I think Saul has a bit of a Savior Complex where he is always rescuing people, but it takes its toll on him. Saul always seems to shows up to lend Henley a helping hand. He is the type of friend a person calls up if they need bailed out of jail. I think Saul deserves a world’s best son award for what he has to deal in regards to his mother. Sadly, Saul has a lot of weight/responsibility on his shoulders that is slowly crushing him. Saul’s a good guy.
A side note: I didn’t like Saul’s smoking in the story. I get that he smoked when he was stressed and had a lot to be stressed about. He did eventually try to stop smoking.
I liked Saul’s friendship with his best friends Drake and Rio.
Drake (Saul’s good friend/roommate): blonde hair, hazel eyes, tan. Henley says he has thick long eyelashes that Maybelline would give billions for (I’m jealous). Drake is a shameless flirt that loves talking about bj’s and threesomes. He says really crude things. The first thing he likes to ask a girl when he meets her is how she feels about giving bj’s. Drake’s one of those friends that is annoying, but loyal. I guess he grew on me, but I still think he is gross. I wouldn’t want to be in a room alone with him. He seemed to like Emily, so maybe they’ll get a story. I hope he gets tested for STD’s on a regular basis. Drake has a brother that is a year older than him named Benji. Benji only briefly appears in the story.
Rio March (Saul’s longest friendship/roommate): He was one of my favorite characters in the book. I would really be interesting in him getting a story. I found Rio to be one of the most interesting characters in the book. I was curious about Rio when he was first mentioned before he even had a scene. Rio has short dark hair, is tan and muscular, and has dimples. I’d like Rio to find a nice girl because he could use some love and has had hard life. He has a lot of baggage still to unload. Trigger Warning: I really liked Rio and Henley’s relationship and their scenes together. I wouldn’t have minded even more scenes with them together.
Hillya is the owner of a coffee shop called Signed and Sip. Henley gets a job there. I felt sad for Hillya because she suffered a lot of loss in her life and missed out on a lot of stuff.
There’s a bit little of OW drama but not too much:
Fleur (that name makes me think of Harry Potter) : She has blonde hair and is a spoiled rich girl. Fleur and Saul are old friends and f**k buddies. Saul isn’t in love with her or anything like that. They have a toxic relationship. There is some OW drama with her in the book but not too much. She isn’t in a lot of the book. I worried that there would be would be more drama than there was with her. Saul does end things with Fleur quickly. She gave me some Nan flashbacks. There was scene I didn’t like.
A another side note:I loved the Downton Abbey shout out. I love Downton Abbey!. Also, there was a scene with COHO –Colleen Hoover. I liked that little part in the book.
Romance:
“You’re light and motherfucking rainbows. Me? I’m some level of Hell.”
As for the Romance, Saul was a bit mysterious and moody so that added to the intrigued. I wish that there would have been more scenes of them talking to each about certain things. Henley hopes that Saul will open up to her more about his life yet there were no scenes of her opening up to him about a big thing that happened her past. It would have been nice to see them going to the beach or Strawberry Festival. I get that Saul’s life could be chaotic and unpredictable at times. I thought it was sweet when he cut her grass. I wish there would have been scenes of Saul/Henley after thing settled down and Saul had more freedom and didn’t have to be on edge all the time.
Drake mentioned that Saul started playing his guitar again and writing music. I thought there would be more on his music. The book is called Lyrics of a Small Town so I thought maybe his music would play into that whole thing. I thought there might be a scene of Saul playing something for Henley, but there was never any scene.
Another side note: Saul drives around this beat up old blue truck. I wondered if there was some special meaning behind the old truck because Saul could afford a new truck.
I didn’t like that Saul was trying to convince Henley to have unprotected sex with him.
Saul’s jealously/possessiveness was a bit much at times.
The story does have an epilogue, but I wanted a little more from it. The epilogue seemed rushed and sums things up with what Henley and Saul are up to in a few sentences. I wish there would have been a nice scene with Saul and Henley, but Saul was just mentioned in the epilogue. I still had questions.
I wouldn’t mind a companion book from Saul’s pov that shows some of the stuff that readers didn’t get see in this book with Saul like more of his relationship with his father, seeing him alone with his mother, more about Saul/Rio/Drake’s friendship, and him playing guitar etc… I’d love some flashbacks with Saul spending time with Henley’s Gran.
Overall, I did really like the story but I wish some things would have been explained more and that some loose ends would have been tied up.
The author said this book is a standalone, but that it could turn into a series. I loved Rio in the book so I would like to read a book about him. There is still a lot of stuff for Saul and Henley to work out so I would like to see more of them. Also, I read Abbi’s Regency book Glitter and really like that book so I hope she will decide to do another regency book with some of the side characters.
I love the cover for this book. I have a Kindle Paperwhite so I hate that the book covers always show up in black and white.
Abbi Glines said that she wrote Lyrics of a Small Town in two week (that really impressive). She started writing it after she woke up from a dream.
I think fans of the Abbi’s Rosemary Beach series might enjoy this book. It did remind me a little of the Rosemary Beach series.
This book might make you want to eat baked good because there is a lot of baking in the book.
The story is told entirely from Henley’s pov. I wish that some of Saul’s pov would have been in the book. I get why just Henley’s pov was in the book because it did create more mystery with Saul. However, I do prefer dual pov. It’s limited with just Henley’s pov because there is so much going on with Saul that the reader doesn’t get to see.
Henley Warren (h) 21 years old: She has brown hair and doesn’t like her fair skin. Henley is a good girl that had somewhat sheltered upbringing. She is a rule follower and doesn’t usually take risks. Also, she loves to bake new gluten- free / dairy- free bake goods. Unfortunately, Henley is self conscious about her looks because her mother always talked about how appearances are everything. Henley has only been in one relationship with a guy named Will. They are no longer together.
At the start of the story, Henley has just arrived in the small beach town in Alabama where her Gran lived. Henley’s mother fled the small town at the age of 17 when Henley was an infant. Henley’s mother told her that her father was 18 at the time and wanted nothing to do with being a father. Unfortunately, he passed away in a motorcycle accident when Henley was only 2 years old. Henley did spend some of her summers growing visiting her Gran and they were close.
Sadly, Henley’s Gran passed away from Covid three months ago. I wasn’t thrilled about Covid being in the story and I wasn’t expecting it. It’s on the t.v. all day every day. I want break from it when I’m reading a book. With that said, the book didn’t have a lot of talk of Covid. Covid was just mentioned some in the book, but not a lot.
Henley’s Gran (everyone calls her “Honey”) left her with a list of 7 tasks on it to complete if she didn’t survive. At first glance the tasks seem simple but end up taking Henley on an unexpected journey. Henley finds out more about her Gran and all the ways she touched other people’s lives. Also, Henley finds out more about her own past and makes many new connections. It ends up helping Henley through her grieving process to know that although her Gran is dead, she lives on in so many people’s memories. Honey reminded a little of my Baba. She always tried to see the good in other and help others. Henley used to bake with her Gran and that made me think of when I used to bake with my Baba.
I thought the idea of the 7 tasks was very clever and how all of that was woven together. There are many twist and turns in the story and revelations. Every town has its secrets and every family does too. There were a lot of characters saying cryptic things
One of the first people Henley sees when she comes to town is Saul.
Saul (H) : He has dark curly hair, blue eyes, and is tan. Henley describes Saul as looking like he belongs in a tropical vacation commercial. Saul drives a beat up old blue pickup truck. He is described by his friends as moody and never happy. I think Saul has a bit of a Savior Complex where he is always rescuing people, but it takes its toll on him. Saul always seems to shows up to lend Henley a helping hand. He is the type of friend a person calls up if they need bailed out of jail. I think Saul deserves a world’s best son award for what he has to deal in regards to his mother. Sadly, Saul has a lot of weight/responsibility on his shoulders that is slowly crushing him. Saul’s a good guy.
A side note: I didn’t like Saul’s smoking in the story. I get that he smoked when he was stressed and had a lot to be stressed about. He did eventually try to stop smoking.
I liked Saul’s friendship with his best friends Drake and Rio.
Drake (Saul’s good friend/roommate): blonde hair, hazel eyes, tan. Henley says he has thick long eyelashes that Maybelline would give billions for (I’m jealous). Drake is a shameless flirt that loves talking about bj’s and threesomes. He says really crude things. The first thing he likes to ask a girl when he meets her is how she feels about giving bj’s. Drake’s one of those friends that is annoying, but loyal. I guess he grew on me, but I still think he is gross. I wouldn’t want to be in a room alone with him. He seemed to like Emily, so maybe they’ll get a story. I hope he gets tested for STD’s on a regular basis. Drake has a brother that is a year older than him named Benji. Benji only briefly appears in the story.
Rio March (Saul’s longest friendship/roommate): He was one of my favorite characters in the book. I would really be interesting in him getting a story. I found Rio to be one of the most interesting characters in the book. I was curious about Rio when he was first mentioned before he even had a scene. Rio has short dark hair, is tan and muscular, and has dimples. I’d like Rio to find a nice girl because he could use some love and has had hard life. He has a lot of baggage still to unload. Trigger Warning: I really liked Rio and Henley’s relationship and their scenes together. I wouldn’t have minded even more scenes with them together.
Hillya is the owner of a coffee shop called Signed and Sip. Henley gets a job there. I felt sad for Hillya because she suffered a lot of loss in her life and missed out on a lot of stuff.
There’s a bit little of OW drama but not too much:
Fleur (that name makes me think of Harry Potter) : She has blonde hair and is a spoiled rich girl. Fleur and Saul are old friends and f**k buddies. Saul isn’t in love with her or anything like that. They have a toxic relationship. There is some OW drama with her in the book but not too much. She isn’t in a lot of the book. I worried that there would be would be more drama than there was with her. Saul does end things with Fleur quickly. She gave me some Nan flashbacks. There was scene I didn’t like.
A another side note:I loved the Downton Abbey shout out. I love Downton Abbey!. Also, there was a scene with COHO –Colleen Hoover. I liked that little part in the book.
Romance:
“You’re light and motherfucking rainbows. Me? I’m some level of Hell.”
As for the Romance, Saul was a bit mysterious and moody so that added to the intrigued. I wish that there would have been more scenes of them talking to each about certain things. Henley hopes that Saul will open up to her more about his life yet there were no scenes of her opening up to him about a big thing that happened her past. It would have been nice to see them going to the beach or Strawberry Festival. I get that Saul’s life could be chaotic and unpredictable at times. I thought it was sweet when he cut her grass. I wish there would have been scenes of Saul/Henley after thing settled down and Saul had more freedom and didn’t have to be on edge all the time.
Drake mentioned that Saul started playing his guitar again and writing music. I thought there would be more on his music. The book is called Lyrics of a Small Town so I thought maybe his music would play into that whole thing. I thought there might be a scene of Saul playing something for Henley, but there was never any scene.
Another side note: Saul drives around this beat up old blue truck. I wondered if there was some special meaning behind the old truck because Saul could afford a new truck.
I didn’t like that Saul was trying to convince Henley to have unprotected sex with him.
Saul’s jealously/possessiveness was a bit much at times.
The story does have an epilogue, but I wanted a little more from it. The epilogue seemed rushed and sums things up with what Henley and Saul are up to in a few sentences. I wish there would have been a nice scene with Saul and Henley, but Saul was just mentioned in the epilogue. I still had questions.
I wouldn’t mind a companion book from Saul’s pov that shows some of the stuff that readers didn’t get see in this book with Saul like more of his relationship with his father, seeing him alone with his mother, more about Saul/Rio/Drake’s friendship, and him playing guitar etc… I’d love some flashbacks with Saul spending time with Henley’s Gran.
Overall, I did really like the story but I wish some things would have been explained more and that some loose ends would have been tied up.
The author said this book is a standalone, but that it could turn into a series. I loved Rio in the book so I would like to read a book about him. There is still a lot of stuff for Saul and Henley to work out so I would like to see more of them. Also, I read Abbi’s Regency book Glitter and really like that book so I hope she will decide to do another regency book with some of the side characters.
September 23, 2021
I need a blue pickup truck to pull outside of my house and help me!!! Gah this book was such a great read. This book boyfriend pulls at all of your heartstrings. I love how relatable this book can be to some people (like me) the grandmothers death from covid REALLY hit home. SO knowing what she may have been feelig and the heartache she was experiencing throughout this story helped me dive even further into "The Shores" The romance is so intriguing and they really fight for the love they share because they know they can't live without one another.
December 23, 2021
DNF at about 50%. Skim to the end. I reached my limit of plot problems (plot points brought up then never mentioned again, real world scenarios that aren't how the real world works, etc.) about midway through and decided to stop. I liked the concept and potential but not the execution.
August 2, 2021
I loved the description of small town and the wonderment that Henley had with the town. I enjoyed Henley and her quest to fulfill Gram's wishes after her death really interesting. It seems more of Henley's life is revealed in each "mission".
I didn't care for Saul. I don't think he's right for Henley. His desire for control probably is because he doesn't have much control of his life. I think Henley has had her mother be controlling and I felt she deserved a break from that. So I would of taken three stars away but I liked Hillyer and Rio so much....and Emily....they were people that brought something good to her life....added star back.
Yeah, I liked Saul but just not for Henley.
I didn't care for Saul. I don't think he's right for Henley. His desire for control probably is because he doesn't have much control of his life. I think Henley has had her mother be controlling and I felt she deserved a break from that. So I would of taken three stars away but I liked Hillyer and Rio so much....and Emily....they were people that brought something good to her life....added star back.
Yeah, I liked Saul but just not for Henley.
August 1, 2021
The blurb for Lyrics of a small town drew me in straight away because I loved the concept of the list Henley needed to complete for her dead Gran.
I’ll admit I sat and binged this book because as more of more of the revelations came to light I was trying to piece everything together and I was desperate for answers.
As much as I loved the plot, the romance really fell flat for me. I felt like the story of Henley was focused on a lot more and as much as I loved that, I would’ve liked to see Henley and Saul’s relationship to develop more. I also didn’t like Saul much and that kills me because I normally love Abbi Gline’s heroes. He’s was really controlling and I didn’t feel like he had a lot of character growth at all. Some of the stuff he did really annoyed me and it really annoyed me that Henley just gave in to him.
That being said I really enjoyed this book for the plot. There are lots of little secrets hiding in The Shore and I’m really happy I read this book
I’ll admit I sat and binged this book because as more of more of the revelations came to light I was trying to piece everything together and I was desperate for answers.
As much as I loved the plot, the romance really fell flat for me. I felt like the story of Henley was focused on a lot more and as much as I loved that, I would’ve liked to see Henley and Saul’s relationship to develop more. I also didn’t like Saul much and that kills me because I normally love Abbi Gline’s heroes. He’s was really controlling and I didn’t feel like he had a lot of character growth at all. Some of the stuff he did really annoyed me and it really annoyed me that Henley just gave in to him.
That being said I really enjoyed this book for the plot. There are lots of little secrets hiding in The Shore and I’m really happy I read this book
August 3, 2021
This definitely gave me Rosemary Beach vibes!☀️
August 4, 2021
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars! An ok read.
August 2, 2021
The hype drew me in -- the plot sounded intriguing -- and the web of crisis and obvious romantic entanglements between the characters tempted me as well. But then it all fell apart.
First, the writing is a little rough around the edges, and the book could have used a final line-by-line edit. I came away thinking it felt like an outline for a book.
I get it -- I get it! How many times are you going to repeat it? “He was the most beautiful male I’ve ever known.” Sometimes less is more -- and repetition just becomes needless page-filler.
And let's not even talk about the romance -- believe me, there was none. Sex, yes! Neither of these characters made me feel anything except maybe cold and clammy -- and a whole lot of irritation.
This was a short read -- probably a little too short to the get the job done sufficiently. A whole lot of dangling ends remained. Even the Epilogue was a waste of time. This one had a chance to be a really good story. But before I knew it, I was at the end with too many questions left unanswered and the characters never fully fleshed-out. Grrrrrr! Call me frustrated and just plain old disappointed.
Enough said -- and there will be those who will totally love this story and think I'm a crazy old lady.
October 19, 2021
I almost stopped reading this book when I first picked it up because of Covid being a driving point in the beginning but because of a scheduled book club with Abbi, I kept reading. Sadly, the book didn't really hold my interest that much.
For me recently Abbi's books just lack what I feel like they used to have for me. Saul is the lead male but honestly he was just forgettable. All he did was sulk in the corner most of the book. Henley was a rather flat character too. She had no idea what she wanted (totally normal) but also single minded in loving to bake "creativity healthy food" i.e. gluten free, dairy free...and whatever else falls in the category...
This for me was just a big fail... I could have read other books I wanted to read more and been happier. Especially since Abbi just no showed for the book club meeting and never told us she was skipping out..
For me recently Abbi's books just lack what I feel like they used to have for me. Saul is the lead male but honestly he was just forgettable. All he did was sulk in the corner most of the book. Henley was a rather flat character too. She had no idea what she wanted (totally normal) but also single minded in loving to bake "creativity healthy food" i.e. gluten free, dairy free...and whatever else falls in the category...
This for me was just a big fail... I could have read other books I wanted to read more and been happier. Especially since Abbi just no showed for the book club meeting and never told us she was skipping out..
August 8, 2021
This is a difficult one to review.
The writing and main storyline??
Five Stars!!
Amazing!!
Henley's list, the small town community - fantastic!
Abbi Glines can create an amazing story that sucks you in.
The downside??
The toxic romance. I just couldn't.
For me, it derailed the main storyline and if it had of been different, my rating would have been higher.
The writing and main storyline??
Five Stars!!
Amazing!!
Henley's list, the small town community - fantastic!
Abbi Glines can create an amazing story that sucks you in.
The downside??
The toxic romance. I just couldn't.
For me, it derailed the main storyline and if it had of been different, my rating would have been higher.
August 4, 2021
Everything about Henley annoyed the hell out of me.
August 11, 2021
3.5 stars
August 25, 2021
This story really draws you in from the very beginning. Small town/ Shore town. Henleys grandmother passed away and she needs to go stay the summer in her house to fulfill her final wish list. The list of 7 tasks has to be fulfilled in order. Every task has Henley uncovering secrets regarding her own life. So it’s a bit of a mystery being pieced together. And of course where she meets the mysterious Sexy Saul. I thought the writing was well done and the storyline interesting and different. The ending was rushed a bit and I would of liked more closure with some things in the epilogue but I did enjoy it.
August 9, 2023
A lot of pop references but I liked it sometimes. Henley was so sweet I really liked her but Saul was a bit annoying. The plot pulls you right in which was really fun. A small town romance is always nice<3 a bit more angsty than I expected but in a good way
I listened to the audiobook and I really liked that
I listened to the audiobook and I really liked that
July 9, 2021
Readers are in for a treat with this roller coaster ride – full of unpredictable twists and turns at every corner. Fans of Abbi’s Rosemary Beach series will appreciate the nostalgic feel of this story.
… and did I happen to mention it’s hella steamy?!
Lyrics of a Small Town is Abbi Glines at her very best.
April 22, 2024
I really enjoyed this straight forward new adult romance: it has a jealous/possessive broody hero, sweet heroine, heroine only POV (which adds just the right tension), just enough Ow/OM drama to add some fun/conflict, and great timing. All the stuff I love about Abbi Glines’ books.
The only drawback is that I felt like we needed more of their romantic backstories. It was left very vague, which made the no condom situation a little concerning. I do appreciate that she asked the right questions, and he gave the right answers in the moment, but considering the few things we did know about his past, I would have appreciated him to take it a step further and get tested. The lack of info about his past partners added to that concern. If id had more details I might have felt better about it. Also, along the same lines… if they are using the not-very-trusty pull-out-and-pray method and the h isn’t on birth control, I would have expected an unplanned pregnancy..👀 and that, very disappointingly (and unrealistically 😬), didn’t happen.
4-stars
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - the H has an on-again/off-again causal-ish hookup/FWB that we see him kissing in the first chapter - but he breaks it off with her early in the book, before anything happens with the h - the OW isn’t happy about it but she only causes peripheral off-page drama
- OM drama - the hero is jealous of any guy who looks at the h
- no virgins - no hos
- condoms then no condoms after a quick safety check in - h isn’t on BC
The only drawback is that I felt like we needed more of their romantic backstories. It was left very vague, which made the no condom situation a little concerning. I do appreciate that she asked the right questions, and he gave the right answers in the moment, but considering the few things we did know about his past, I would have appreciated him to take it a step further and get tested. The lack of info about his past partners added to that concern. If id had more details I might have felt better about it. Also, along the same lines… if they are using the not-very-trusty pull-out-and-pray method and the h isn’t on birth control, I would have expected an unplanned pregnancy..👀 and that, very disappointingly (and unrealistically 😬), didn’t happen.
4-stars
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - the H has an on-again/off-again causal-ish hookup/FWB that we see him kissing in the first chapter - but he breaks it off with her early in the book, before anything happens with the h - the OW isn’t happy about it but she only causes peripheral off-page drama
- OM drama - the hero is jealous of any guy who looks at the h
- no virgins - no hos
- condoms then no condoms after a quick safety check in - h isn’t on BC
October 20, 2021
As usual, when I see Abbi Glines has a new release I jump for it. I can’t help but admit that her newer releases have either left me bored or just plain unsatisfied. I’m glad to say that even though I didn’t love this one, I at least was interested enough to finish it.
I was hoping that this would give me Rosemary Beach vibes and it did. The idea of a small beach town was here and I loved getting to know the residents. Our main characters Henley and Saul’s romance had a good backdrop here.
Moving onto the plot, it was pretty good. I like the idea of Henley learning about herself while on the quest that her grandmother gave her. The author gave us surprises a few times and it gave more depth to the story.
The relationship between Henley and Saul was okay. It seemed like it happened suddenly towards the middle of the book. They didn’t have many conversations, but soon there’s this tension and it feels like it came out of nowhere. It was a bit more new adult than I’m used to from her writing in the terms of the sex scenes. I’m not mad about it, it just surprised me! I wish we could have looked a bit more into their future and how things worked out for them.
All in all, this was a pleasant surprise. Not a book that I adored, but it gave me hope that maybe I’ll enjoy her upcoming releases more.
I was hoping that this would give me Rosemary Beach vibes and it did. The idea of a small beach town was here and I loved getting to know the residents. Our main characters Henley and Saul’s romance had a good backdrop here.
Moving onto the plot, it was pretty good. I like the idea of Henley learning about herself while on the quest that her grandmother gave her. The author gave us surprises a few times and it gave more depth to the story.
The relationship between Henley and Saul was okay. It seemed like it happened suddenly towards the middle of the book. They didn’t have many conversations, but soon there’s this tension and it feels like it came out of nowhere. It was a bit more new adult than I’m used to from her writing in the terms of the sex scenes. I’m not mad about it, it just surprised me! I wish we could have looked a bit more into their future and how things worked out for them.
All in all, this was a pleasant surprise. Not a book that I adored, but it gave me hope that maybe I’ll enjoy her upcoming releases more.
August 9, 2021
Okay, here's the thing: this was a promising read. Until about halfway through, when Saul began to raise some red flags for me.
Before that, it had been interesting to see how her Gran's list allowed Henley to answer a lot of questions she had about her past. Then. the red flags began.
Before that, it had been interesting to see how her Gran's list allowed Henley to answer a lot of questions she had about her past. Then. the red flags began.
February 9, 2022
Pretty good
Looking for something to break up this funk I’ve been in, and a small town romance almost always does the trick.
This was a little more angsty than I expected, but in a good way. I was thoroughly committed to Gran’s list and all the places that it took Henley, including the connections she found and the relationships she built.
A good read.
Looking for something to break up this funk I’ve been in, and a small town romance almost always does the trick.
This was a little more angsty than I expected, but in a good way. I was thoroughly committed to Gran’s list and all the places that it took Henley, including the connections she found and the relationships she built.
A good read.
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