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Charm City Rocks
When a single dad meets the former rock star crush of his youth, everything they thought they knew about happiness and love is thrown into chaos in this hopeful, heartwarming romantic comedy
Billy Perkins is happy. No, for real. It’s kind of his thing, actually. And why wouldn't he be? He loves his job as an independent music teacher and his apartment in Baltimore above a record shop called Charm City Rocks. Most of all, he loves his brainy teenage son, Caleb. Although not the world’s most traditional parent, Billy has plenty to teach his son about art and manhood before Caleb goes off to college.
Margot Hammer, on the other hand, is far from happy. The former drummer of the once-famous rock band Burnt Flowers, she’s now a rock and roll recluse living alone in New York City. When a new music documentary suddenly puts Margot back in the spotlight, she begins to realize how much she misses her old band and the music that gave her life meaning.
Billy has always had a crush on Margot. But she’s a legitimate rock star—or at least, she was—so he never thought he’d actually meet her. Until Caleb, worried that his easygoing dad might actually be lonely, cooks up a scheme to get Margot to perform at Charm City Rocks.
It’s the longest of long shots, but Margot’s label has made it clear that any publicity is an opportunity she can’t afford to miss. When their paths collide, Billy realizes that he maybe wasn’t as happy as he thought—and Margot learns that sometimes the sweetest music is a duet.
Billy Perkins is happy. No, for real. It’s kind of his thing, actually. And why wouldn't he be? He loves his job as an independent music teacher and his apartment in Baltimore above a record shop called Charm City Rocks. Most of all, he loves his brainy teenage son, Caleb. Although not the world’s most traditional parent, Billy has plenty to teach his son about art and manhood before Caleb goes off to college.
Margot Hammer, on the other hand, is far from happy. The former drummer of the once-famous rock band Burnt Flowers, she’s now a rock and roll recluse living alone in New York City. When a new music documentary suddenly puts Margot back in the spotlight, she begins to realize how much she misses her old band and the music that gave her life meaning.
Billy has always had a crush on Margot. But she’s a legitimate rock star—or at least, she was—so he never thought he’d actually meet her. Until Caleb, worried that his easygoing dad might actually be lonely, cooks up a scheme to get Margot to perform at Charm City Rocks.
It’s the longest of long shots, but Margot’s label has made it clear that any publicity is an opportunity she can’t afford to miss. When their paths collide, Billy realizes that he maybe wasn’t as happy as he thought—and Margot learns that sometimes the sweetest music is a duet.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2023
About the author
Matthew Norman
20 books1,126 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Matthew Norman is an advertising copywriter. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Baltimore. His first novel, Domestic Violets, was nominated in the Best Humor Category at the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards.
Matthew Norman is an advertising copywriter. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Baltimore. His first novel, Domestic Violets, was nominated in the Best Humor Category at the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards.
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May 10, 2023
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Maybe we’re all overthinking it, and everybody just needs someone who wants them to be there.
This is my fifth book by this author and I have loved them all, he is an automatic go-to when I need a laugh or pick me up. Matthew Norman writes about ordinary life with extraordinary characters. I am always invested in his characters and I loved that the romantic partners in this one are on the older side. I appreciated how the sexy time was implied instead of being shoved down your throat. Norman creates situations where you don't have to be hit over the head to appreciate chemistry.
We get the story from multiple points of view, getting inside each character's head and their thoughts and feelings. The writing style is so easy to get into that you get sucked into the story. Charm City Rocks is a charming romance that is actually a love letter to Baltimore. I've been there many times and the city gets a bad rap, it is so much more than crab legs and crime. I enjoyed how the author used the city as a character in and of itself. And being on the older side I really got into the old music mentioned. This book was really fun and I enjoyed it immensely.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
Maybe we’re all overthinking it, and everybody just needs someone who wants them to be there.
This is my fifth book by this author and I have loved them all, he is an automatic go-to when I need a laugh or pick me up. Matthew Norman writes about ordinary life with extraordinary characters. I am always invested in his characters and I loved that the romantic partners in this one are on the older side. I appreciated how the sexy time was implied instead of being shoved down your throat. Norman creates situations where you don't have to be hit over the head to appreciate chemistry.
We get the story from multiple points of view, getting inside each character's head and their thoughts and feelings. The writing style is so easy to get into that you get sucked into the story. Charm City Rocks is a charming romance that is actually a love letter to Baltimore. I've been there many times and the city gets a bad rap, it is so much more than crab legs and crime. I enjoyed how the author used the city as a character in and of itself. And being on the older side I really got into the old music mentioned. This book was really fun and I enjoyed it immensely.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
April 13, 2026
[APRIL 2026] I just finished what I’m sure will be many rereads of this book.
[FEB 2026]
Norman, you sweet, sweet unicorn.
If you knew me in person, you’d know that I have three complexes. The first two are about books. First, I’ll never understand why more men don’t read romance novels. Is it, turn in your man card when you turn the first page? Macho men don’t do Happily Ever After? What is it? Why? I don’t get it. I’ve thought about starting a romance book club for men only. Except, I don’t know any guys that like romcoms and romantasy other than myself.
Second, I can’t understand why there are (practically) no male romance authors. Yes, there are a few including Matthew Norman who is now my new man-crush. But comparative to female romance authors? The first number would start well to the right of the decimal point.
My third complex? I'll tell you at the end. It’s not book related.
So, four paragraphs into this review and I’m realizing you probably want to know what I thought of Charm City Rocks. I don’t know what to write other than I fucking loved it. It’s not perfect, however. I love that all the main characters, three or four of them in addition to the MCs, Billy and Margot, have POV chapters, but I wished Norman would have name-labeled those chapters. But quibbles. And I’m not giving my new man-crush a free pass on bad writing because he’s my new man-crush. This book is legit sweet, and swoony, romantic, and funny. Go read it.
Okay, my third not-book-related complex? I can’t understand how in this day and age, left-handed people are still being marginalized. I know we are only 20 percent of the population, but seriously, why does everything favor right-handed people? I turn 52 next month and at the top of my wish list for my birthday is my first real high-quality lefty scissors.
Cheers everyone, and bravo Matthew Norman, you good-looking unicorn.
[FEB 2026]
Norman, you sweet, sweet unicorn.
If you knew me in person, you’d know that I have three complexes. The first two are about books. First, I’ll never understand why more men don’t read romance novels. Is it, turn in your man card when you turn the first page? Macho men don’t do Happily Ever After? What is it? Why? I don’t get it. I’ve thought about starting a romance book club for men only. Except, I don’t know any guys that like romcoms and romantasy other than myself.
Second, I can’t understand why there are (practically) no male romance authors. Yes, there are a few including Matthew Norman who is now my new man-crush. But comparative to female romance authors? The first number would start well to the right of the decimal point.
My third complex? I'll tell you at the end. It’s not book related.
So, four paragraphs into this review and I’m realizing you probably want to know what I thought of Charm City Rocks. I don’t know what to write other than I fucking loved it. It’s not perfect, however. I love that all the main characters, three or four of them in addition to the MCs, Billy and Margot, have POV chapters, but I wished Norman would have name-labeled those chapters. But quibbles. And I’m not giving my new man-crush a free pass on bad writing because he’s my new man-crush. This book is legit sweet, and swoony, romantic, and funny. Go read it.
Okay, my third not-book-related complex? I can’t understand how in this day and age, left-handed people are still being marginalized. I know we are only 20 percent of the population, but seriously, why does everything favor right-handed people? I turn 52 next month and at the top of my wish list for my birthday is my first real high-quality lefty scissors.
Cheers everyone, and bravo Matthew Norman, you good-looking unicorn.
June 15, 2023
Billy Perkins is known for being a happy guy. He teaches piano lessons in his apartment above Charm City Rocks, an independent record store. And he has his son teenage son, Caleb, whom he shares amicably with his ex-wife, Robyn. It's Caleb who orchestrates a meeting with Margot Hammer, Billy's long-time celebrity crush and drummer of the defunct band, Burnt Flowers. Burnt Flowers crashed and burned spectacularly in public fashion, and Margot's been dubbed a recluse ever since. Neither Billy nor Margot have any intention of meeting let alone becoming a couple, but when they become Internet-famous, they realize they may actually like each other (for real). Can this surprise couple last though?
Okay, CHARM CITY ROCKS is completely and thoroughly charming. It may even rock. This sweet and funny book is an ode to the power of music in our lives, the city of Baltimore, and to finding love and happiness again when you're 40+. I fell head over heels for Billy and Margot (and Caleb) and the entire cast of characters of this adorable romance.
It's so refreshing to read a romance with characters beyond their 20s, who have age-appropriate problems, even if one of them happens to be a rock-star! Billy and Margot were relatable characters, and the supporting cast was funny and rounded out the book perfectly. Norman weaves in music superbly, and if you love it in any form, you'll gravitate to this story. Also, if you've ever lived in Baltimore or know the city at all, CHARM captures the city's spirit so well. Beyond love, this is a tale of family, finding yourself again, and being brave. It truly had me smiling goofily as I read it -- cannot recommend enough! 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Okay, CHARM CITY ROCKS is completely and thoroughly charming. It may even rock. This sweet and funny book is an ode to the power of music in our lives, the city of Baltimore, and to finding love and happiness again when you're 40+. I fell head over heels for Billy and Margot (and Caleb) and the entire cast of characters of this adorable romance.
It's so refreshing to read a romance with characters beyond their 20s, who have age-appropriate problems, even if one of them happens to be a rock-star! Billy and Margot were relatable characters, and the supporting cast was funny and rounded out the book perfectly. Norman weaves in music superbly, and if you love it in any form, you'll gravitate to this story. Also, if you've ever lived in Baltimore or know the city at all, CHARM captures the city's spirit so well. Beyond love, this is a tale of family, finding yourself again, and being brave. It truly had me smiling goofily as I read it -- cannot recommend enough! 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
March 3, 2023
A couple “fun facts” about me:
With all of that said, this past week I read Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman. As a lover of music (obviously) and romance, this seemed like it would be perfect for me!
How did this one play out for me? Did it hit the right note or was it a bit off-key? Let’s find out?
What I liked about the book:
1. I loved that this was a later in life romance (Is that what we call it when they’re in their forties???…That decade is creeping up real fast for me so let’s hope not!). I especially loved the scene where they were laying in bed pointing out their own flaws to one another, not in a “make me feel better about my flaws” way, but in the way you could tell these people were totally content with one another and comfortable with their flaws being on display in front of the other. And the fact that this turned into them making love was *chef’s kiss*.
2. I loved the characters and that we got to see the story from so many different perspectives. From the perspectives of both MCs, their two kids, their ex-lovers, and even a really cool co-dad, we got to see all sides of the story, which was nice. It made it so you didn’t hate the exes of the MCs (well, except maybe Lawson) and really showed that people recall and experience the same situation very differently.
For me, this also served as a real wake up call. If Buzzfeed created one of those quizzes where you find out which character in the book you are, I would undoubtedly wish to be a Poppy and end up being a Robyn. Robyn was fine, but I definitely saw a lot of Ghost of Christmas Future in her and I didn’t love it…
3. This very much seemed to serve as a love letter to Baltimore and I loved it! With the neighborhoods portrayed, the overall ambiance of music everywhere, and the food(!), I was intrigued if this is truly what Baltimore is like. I have never been to Baltimore, but with this story I have a new destination in mind!
What could have been better:
1. Overall, I was not a big fan of the writing style. It was a very direct, sometimes too sharp style. I tend to prefer more descriptive and flowy wording for romance books.
Also, this was written from the third POV so some of the more emotional or charged moments Could have been better suited to a first person POV. For a romance book, I feel third POV is a tricky feat because it takes a lot more work to invoke the butterflies in readers, or at least it does for me. Because of that, the giddiness I typically look for when reading a romance book was mostly missing.
2. There was a lot of downtime in the book. There were definitely major plot points, but overall, there were a lot of gaps where nothing really happened. I think this is typically where the romance is supposed to make you feel giddy but see item 1 above.
3. I’m not a fan of fade to black scenes in romance books. We were told so much about how often the couple had sex, but there was nothing on page besides kissing. With Billy being a total cinnamon-roll, Margot being insecure and emotionally stunted, and them specifically pointing out their own flaws, I was looking for them to worship one another at least once.
Final Thoughts:
Cute later in life romance, perfect for anyone who likes romance novels with little to no spice.
Final Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Matthew Norman for the advanced copy of this book. The review above is reflective of my honest opinions.
- When I was in high school, I played guitar and sang in an all-girl band called Forbidden Fruit,
- I was a college radio DJ, and
- I’m definitely one of those people who argue that some albums need to be listened to on vinyl to get the full experience.
With all of that said, this past week I read Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman. As a lover of music (obviously) and romance, this seemed like it would be perfect for me!
How did this one play out for me? Did it hit the right note or was it a bit off-key? Let’s find out?
What I liked about the book:
1. I loved that this was a later in life romance (Is that what we call it when they’re in their forties???…That decade is creeping up real fast for me so let’s hope not!). I especially loved the scene where they were laying in bed pointing out their own flaws to one another, not in a “make me feel better about my flaws” way, but in the way you could tell these people were totally content with one another and comfortable with their flaws being on display in front of the other. And the fact that this turned into them making love was *chef’s kiss*.
2. I loved the characters and that we got to see the story from so many different perspectives. From the perspectives of both MCs, their two kids, their ex-lovers, and even a really cool co-dad, we got to see all sides of the story, which was nice. It made it so you didn’t hate the exes of the MCs (well, except maybe Lawson) and really showed that people recall and experience the same situation very differently.
For me, this also served as a real wake up call. If Buzzfeed created one of those quizzes where you find out which character in the book you are, I would undoubtedly wish to be a Poppy and end up being a Robyn. Robyn was fine, but I definitely saw a lot of Ghost of Christmas Future in her and I didn’t love it…
3. This very much seemed to serve as a love letter to Baltimore and I loved it! With the neighborhoods portrayed, the overall ambiance of music everywhere, and the food(!), I was intrigued if this is truly what Baltimore is like. I have never been to Baltimore, but with this story I have a new destination in mind!
What could have been better:
1. Overall, I was not a big fan of the writing style. It was a very direct, sometimes too sharp style. I tend to prefer more descriptive and flowy wording for romance books.
Also, this was written from the third POV so some of the more emotional or charged moments Could have been better suited to a first person POV. For a romance book, I feel third POV is a tricky feat because it takes a lot more work to invoke the butterflies in readers, or at least it does for me. Because of that, the giddiness I typically look for when reading a romance book was mostly missing.
2. There was a lot of downtime in the book. There were definitely major plot points, but overall, there were a lot of gaps where nothing really happened. I think this is typically where the romance is supposed to make you feel giddy but see item 1 above.
3. I’m not a fan of fade to black scenes in romance books. We were told so much about how often the couple had sex, but there was nothing on page besides kissing. With Billy being a total cinnamon-roll, Margot being insecure and emotionally stunted, and them specifically pointing out their own flaws, I was looking for them to worship one another at least once.
Final Thoughts:
Cute later in life romance, perfect for anyone who likes romance novels with little to no spice.
Final Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Matthew Norman for the advanced copy of this book. The review above is reflective of my honest opinions.
March 9, 2026
Story 4.5 stars rounded up. Narration 4.5 stars
I’m two for two with 5 star reads/listens already this year by this author. The writing featured effortless storytelling that pulled me in and didn’t let go until done. It’s a romance, of course, but it’s also about people’s pasts bearing down on their present in Margot’s case. She’s a once famous rock star drummer and is equally famous for the breakup of her band in a very public way. She’s let herself be defined by that for years and lives as a recluse in NYC. Billy is a piano teacher in Baltimore. He has a son ready to go to college and an ex that he’s still friends with. Everybody that knows Billy, loves Billy. He’s the quintessential good guy. Caleb, his son, takes it upon himself to orchestrate a meeting for his dad and Margot. Billy had a massive crush on her when she was famous. Things go from there.
I loved all the characters who were all equally realized by the author. The main characters, and several side characters as well that feature prominently. But it’s also a love story to Baltimore. Having lived in the suburbs of Baltimore for 12 years, it just made me appreciate the story more. All the places and iconic things that make up Baltimore are featured.
I ended up loving the whole thing and highly recommend to adult romance readers. There’s sex involved but pretty much it’s closed door. Narration was good.
I’m two for two with 5 star reads/listens already this year by this author. The writing featured effortless storytelling that pulled me in and didn’t let go until done. It’s a romance, of course, but it’s also about people’s pasts bearing down on their present in Margot’s case. She’s a once famous rock star drummer and is equally famous for the breakup of her band in a very public way. She’s let herself be defined by that for years and lives as a recluse in NYC. Billy is a piano teacher in Baltimore. He has a son ready to go to college and an ex that he’s still friends with. Everybody that knows Billy, loves Billy. He’s the quintessential good guy. Caleb, his son, takes it upon himself to orchestrate a meeting for his dad and Margot. Billy had a massive crush on her when she was famous. Things go from there.
I loved all the characters who were all equally realized by the author. The main characters, and several side characters as well that feature prominently. But it’s also a love story to Baltimore. Having lived in the suburbs of Baltimore for 12 years, it just made me appreciate the story more. All the places and iconic things that make up Baltimore are featured.
I ended up loving the whole thing and highly recommend to adult romance readers. There’s sex involved but pretty much it’s closed door. Narration was good.
January 2, 2025
This book is adorable. I fell in love with Baltimore and every dang character.
October 30, 2023
Billy Perkins is simply a nice guy. He's living in Baltimore teaching piano in his apartment above the local music store named Charm City Rocks. He co-parents his 18-year-old son Caleb with Robyn (they'd never married) and her husband Aaron. Life is good and predictable. Until he meets former rock star Margot Hammer, who he's had a mad crush on since she played drums in Burnt Flowers, an all-female rock band which had a disastrous break-up. Turns out, the two end up liking each other. A lot. Their encounter shows Billy that he wasn't quite as happy as he thought he was. And Margot, who became somewhat of a recluse, starts to remember what used to make her happy. When sightings of the two go viral and put her back in the public eye, it appears that lots of people still love Margot and want to see her playing again. How can Billy compete with that?
With a title like Charm City Rocks, you won't be surprised that author Matthew Norman's book about second chances is quite charming. It's a light, sweet and fun read. Exactly what a contemporary romance is supposed to be. Add a rock and roll backdrop and it's just the type of book I look for when taking a break from heavy books. It's been sitting on my "to be read" pile for months and I'm so glad I finally read it.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
With a title like Charm City Rocks, you won't be surprised that author Matthew Norman's book about second chances is quite charming. It's a light, sweet and fun read. Exactly what a contemporary romance is supposed to be. Add a rock and roll backdrop and it's just the type of book I look for when taking a break from heavy books. It's been sitting on my "to be read" pile for months and I'm so glad I finally read it.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
March 28, 2022
This book is funny and charming.
September 23, 2025
This was pitched to me by the publisher as "a charming, hopeful, heartwarming romantic comedy perfect for fans of Emily Henry’s 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 and Linda Holmes’s Evvie 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳. I love this novel—it’s like 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭 meets 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘍𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 meets Almost 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘴." I couldn't click download fast enough.
I loved it. Standing ovation. Encore please!
- Billy Perkins is a single dad & music teacher with a long-held crush on rockstar Margot Hammer.
- I loved that both Billy and Margot were in their 40's.
-"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴: 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵."* (*from ARC not final copy)
- Billy wears cardigans. My kryptonite.
- Margot yearns for that spark.
- It's an unapologetic love letter to Baltimore.
- By halfway through I paused to Matthew Norman's backlist titles on hold.
- Music abounds and that cover!?!
- Fresh and snappy dialogue that creates a brisk pace.
- The writing has an uplifting feel to it while also exploring the complexities of love, life, and family with kids and former partners.
- It made me HAPPY.
I loved it. Standing ovation. Encore please!
- Billy Perkins is a single dad & music teacher with a long-held crush on rockstar Margot Hammer.
- I loved that both Billy and Margot were in their 40's.
-"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴: 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵."* (*from ARC not final copy)
- Billy wears cardigans. My kryptonite.
- Margot yearns for that spark.
- It's an unapologetic love letter to Baltimore.
- By halfway through I paused to Matthew Norman's backlist titles on hold.
- Music abounds and that cover!?!
- Fresh and snappy dialogue that creates a brisk pace.
- The writing has an uplifting feel to it while also exploring the complexities of love, life, and family with kids and former partners.
- It made me HAPPY.
November 3, 2024
Billy Perkins is living that Baltimore life. He’s a lifelong musician living above his favorite record store with his teenage son (Caleb), teaching kids to play instruments and love music as much as he does. But when Caleb causes his rock crush, Margot Hammer of the Burnt Flowers, to visit the store, his life takes a major chord change. A video of Margot coming out of retirement to play at some Fells Point dive bar, with Billy cheering her on in the cutesiest way, goes viral. The celebrity and the Schmoe might just be an item, which pulls in a host of exes and former bandmates, and what they thought would be a tender little romance turns into a whirlwind of misunderstandings.
As the title suggests, it’s a love letter to Charm City. My neighbor Derick, who had a bad Baltimore experience, would wince at this. But Norman throws enough love at the place to fill the harbor. I don’t know if all the places, bars, restaurants, and crappy beers are real, but most of the major landmarks are, including Camden Yards (my favorite ballpark outside the Stadium). And every time one of the characters enters one of these places, smiles reign down. Margot, a New Yorker through and through, lights up at every landmark, and later has fond memories.
As for the romance, it’s a slow, slow burn. We get an incident at the beginning, then things drift a bit. The first half lacks drama, and the swoon happens sooner than you’d think. That said, it’s sweet, touching, and chaste. Norman gives us complex, interesting, and very likeable main characters and friends. The dialogue was genuine, funny at times, and fast-moving.
But the second half makes up for it. We get intro’ed to villain-like people: Lawson (Margot’s ex, a big-time actor) and Nikki (the lead singer of Margot’s former band). That swirls everything around! The action speeds up and the rivalries spark anger and jealousy. It’s at that point everyone’s issues come out. Everything unfolded with all the drama, albeit middle-aged drama, that you’d want. Though the ending was kinda easy to see, it developed nicely and left me very satisfied. Again, use the word “sweet”: gentle, kind, pleasant.
A real nice rom-com I found by chance in the library’s “new books” section. You could say it “Charm City-ed” me!
Get it? Cause of Baltimore? And its nickname is Charm City? And the book was charming? Pun? Hello?
As the title suggests, it’s a love letter to Charm City. My neighbor Derick, who had a bad Baltimore experience, would wince at this. But Norman throws enough love at the place to fill the harbor. I don’t know if all the places, bars, restaurants, and crappy beers are real, but most of the major landmarks are, including Camden Yards (my favorite ballpark outside the Stadium). And every time one of the characters enters one of these places, smiles reign down. Margot, a New Yorker through and through, lights up at every landmark, and later has fond memories.
As for the romance, it’s a slow, slow burn. We get an incident at the beginning, then things drift a bit. The first half lacks drama, and the swoon happens sooner than you’d think. That said, it’s sweet, touching, and chaste. Norman gives us complex, interesting, and very likeable main characters and friends. The dialogue was genuine, funny at times, and fast-moving.
But the second half makes up for it. We get intro’ed to villain-like people: Lawson (Margot’s ex, a big-time actor) and Nikki (the lead singer of Margot’s former band). That swirls everything around! The action speeds up and the rivalries spark anger and jealousy. It’s at that point everyone’s issues come out. Everything unfolded with all the drama, albeit middle-aged drama, that you’d want. Though the ending was kinda easy to see, it developed nicely and left me very satisfied. Again, use the word “sweet”: gentle, kind, pleasant.
A real nice rom-com I found by chance in the library’s “new books” section. You could say it “Charm City-ed” me!
Get it? Cause of Baltimore? And its nickname is Charm City? And the book was charming? Pun? Hello?
July 28, 2023
Sometimes the books I love the most are the hardest to review - not sure why! Charm City Rocks is just a delightful story, a second-chance/later-in-life love story to be sure, but also a love letter to the power of music and to the city of Baltimore.
We have a single dad, Billy, a piano teacher whose teenage son Caleb sets in motion a meetup with a rock star who Billy had a crush on years ago. (Billy is around 40 now.) It’s not exactly a “meet cute”! It’s more of a meet-disaster when Margot shows up at the titular record store, cameraman and record company agent in tow, for what she thinks is a meeting with a young girl, a drummer who idolizes her and her former band.
It was very refreshing to read a story featuring positive co-parenting. I loved Caleb - he was such a cute, dorky teen. It was also nice to read about “ordinary” people interacting with famous people and finding out that they are just regular people under the glamor.
I loved the other book by Matthew Norman that I’ve read (All Together Now) and this book has solidified him as one of my favorite authors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Dell for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was rather late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Kristen DiMercurio, did an excellent job with the various voices and accents.
We have a single dad, Billy, a piano teacher whose teenage son Caleb sets in motion a meetup with a rock star who Billy had a crush on years ago. (Billy is around 40 now.) It’s not exactly a “meet cute”! It’s more of a meet-disaster when Margot shows up at the titular record store, cameraman and record company agent in tow, for what she thinks is a meeting with a young girl, a drummer who idolizes her and her former band.
It was very refreshing to read a story featuring positive co-parenting. I loved Caleb - he was such a cute, dorky teen. It was also nice to read about “ordinary” people interacting with famous people and finding out that they are just regular people under the glamor.
I loved the other book by Matthew Norman that I’ve read (All Together Now) and this book has solidified him as one of my favorite authors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Dell for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was rather late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Kristen DiMercurio, did an excellent job with the various voices and accents.
February 6, 2023
What great fun ! Billy is a talented piano player and music teacher living a stress free life in Baltimore. He co parents his son Caleb with his first love and truly isn't wishing for much more. When cable tv features a "Where are They Now?" Rock special, Billy reveals his crush on the great dummer, Margot Hammer. Caleb is struck by this information and puts a plan into place. What happens next is fun, charming and just a great Baltimore story!
If you love rock and roll, think your best years may have passed you by or just love a romance for the ages, Charm City Rocks is for you!
#RandomHouse #CharmCityRocks #MatthewNorman
If you love rock and roll, think your best years may have passed you by or just love a romance for the ages, Charm City Rocks is for you!
#RandomHouse #CharmCityRocks #MatthewNorman
February 26, 2026
Low-angst, ensemble-cast, mainstream fiction that is a love letter to much-maligned Baltimore, Maryland
This novel is written in a manner completely different from the dual-POV, close-third or first-person POV of the romance genre. Instead, the author has chosen an emotionally distancing omniscient POV and a somewhat ponderous, "once upon a time," author-intrusion voice. In the process, he rotates shallow dips into the heads of six characters, including:
Billy Perkins - the presumed main character
Margot Hammer - Billy's romantic partner
Caleb Perkins - Billy and Robyn's son
Robyn Frazier - Billy's ex-girlfriend and co-parent
Aaron Frazier - Robyn's husband and supportive stepfather to Caleb
Lawson Tate - Margot's ex-husband
The publisher's blurb promises potential readers that this novel is a romance between these two middle-aged individuals:
Billy is a sweet, gentle, kind, 40-something man who is an overt homage to Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood on PBS from 1968 to 2001. He has the same personality, and he wears the same type of cozy cardigans. He is happy with his simple, peaceful, single state. The most important relationship in his life is with his beloved son, Caleb, and as a sunny extrovert, he has countless friends and acquaintances. He is also contented with the modest income he generates from a home-based career as a talented music teacher with an abundance of satisfied students.
Margot is a 40-something, formerly famous, brilliant rock drummer, who has spent over a decade post-divorce in an emotional desert, minus any human connection other than her daughter, Poppy, or any musical focus or personal direction of any kind. She has not once touched her drum set in all this time. (This makes the event jarringly unrealistic that relaunches her career: plopping down and pounding out an impromptu solo in a bar in Billy's neighborhood as competently as if she had been playing the drums for hours every day for the last 10 years.)
The implied promise to readers is that, during their courtship, Billy and Margot will inspire each other to expand their musical horizons and become psychologically stronger together than they ever could be alone. Instead, after weeks of happily playing house in the apartment over Robyn's garage, during which time Billy's chipper disposition pulls Margot so far out of her doldrums that she is actually laughing, drumming, and writing music, Billy actually concludes that he is unworthy of her. He is convinced that he will only hold her back as a musician, and sends her away "for her own good." (This patronizing excuse for initiating the inevitable Dark Period in a romance, in which all seems lost with the love affair, is a hackneyed trope that I dislike.)
They do get together at the very end of the book, but not onstage, merely through a phone call. In addition, there is no HEA, only a barely initiated HFN, and it's implied that the author doesn't envision an HEA by one of the questions he offers for book clubs who choose to read and discuss this novel:
"Where do you picture these characters five years in the future? Do you think Margot and Billy stay together?"
Instead of extensively focusing on the courtship between Billy and Margot, which is the genre-mandated structure of an actual romance novel, the story gets incessantly sidetracked into these, at best, mildly entertaining subcharacter vignettes:
1. Brilliant 18-year-old Caleb decides to prop up Billy by staying in Baltimore instead of accepting admission to his first-choice university, Stanford. He feels sorry for Billy and is afraid his father will be too lonely without him. But this makes little sense because, as an open-hearted extrovert, there's hardly a minute of the day that Billy is alone.
2. The musical talents of several of Billy's students are on display. This is a reinforcement of the fact that Billy's life is complete without Margot or any romantic relationship at all. Ideally a romance novel convinces the reader that the lives of both of the romantic protagonists will be forever blighted if they don't end up together. I think that's the case for Margot, but definitely not for Billy.
3. Billy is forced out of the apartment where he's lived contentedly for over 15 years, above the titular vinyl record store, Charm City Rocks. One would assume that such a huge change would have a tragically cataclysmic effect on Billy's life, but it doesn't, because he has such a phlegmatic disposition, nothing ever riles him. Once again, it is Caleb who worries more about how Billy will survive than Billy himself. As if he is the father and Billy is the son, Caleb arranges for Billy to temporarily live over Robyn's garage. This is one of many demonstrations of Billy as an extremely passive protagonist. Basically, this event is merely a convenient device in order to briefly draw together onstage the six POV characters at the same location. This setup is very much in the spirit of ensemble movies such as: Playing by Heart (1998), Love Actually (2003), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), Valentine's Day (2010), New Year's Eve (2011) and Mother's Day (2016). (Maybe the author is hoping for a movie offer?)
4. Lawson, the promiscuous, British, movie-star ex-husband of Margot is spurred by jealousy to get re-interested in her when her relationship with Billy leads to videos of them going viral on the internet. After a great deal of effort to reanimate his former status as Margot's romantic partner, when she turns him down, he is about as affected by this rejection as if informed that a picnic he wasn't interested in attending has just been rained out.
5. The failure of the marriage of Robyn and Aaron comes out of nowhere and is barely explained enough to merit its mention. It also does nothing to improve my negative opinion of either Robyn or Lawson when we are subjected to a flirtation and a kiss between them.
6. While in a state of despair after Billy's rejection, much against common sense and logic, Margot allows herself to be talked into participating in a revival of her former band from 10 years ago. It is entirely the brainchild of the lead singer, Nikki, who is the same casually cruel narcissist whose cheating with Lawson caused the breakup of both Margot's marriage and their band, and whom Margot swore to never have anything to do with again. Completely predictably, during practice sessions, Nikki treats Margot and her other two former bandmates as unworthy background adjuncts to her personal grandiose dreams of solo stardom.
Overall, even though I actually did enjoy all of those movies listed above, and I might even enjoy the rambling focus of this novel if it were made into a movie, it doesn't work for me as a romance novel. A rather pedestrian series of plots about not very interesting people, who are each passive protagonists in their lives, can be carried off much more successfully if the actors hired to portray them are charismatic and talented.
In short, if this novel were an actual romance that is reminiscent of a particular movie, for my personal taste, I would have preferred Music and Lyrics (2007) with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, rather than a slipshod slide into ensemble pseudo-comedy.
By the way, Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman is not an indie novel. It was published by Dell, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group, in 2023. The publisher purposely chose to promote this as a romance novel, obviously in order to tap into the enormous romance market. But there are also a whole lot of readers of women's fiction out there, and it would have been much more honest to have targeted them as the true audience for this book.
Finally, as mainstream women's fiction, in which an active protagonist is not mandated, I'm sure many readers will rate this as 4 or 5 stars. As a romance novel, which requires primary attention on a romantic courtship, with two lovers who desperately desire each other, I can only rate it as 2 stars.
This novel is written in a manner completely different from the dual-POV, close-third or first-person POV of the romance genre. Instead, the author has chosen an emotionally distancing omniscient POV and a somewhat ponderous, "once upon a time," author-intrusion voice. In the process, he rotates shallow dips into the heads of six characters, including:
Billy Perkins - the presumed main character
Margot Hammer - Billy's romantic partner
Caleb Perkins - Billy and Robyn's son
Robyn Frazier - Billy's ex-girlfriend and co-parent
Aaron Frazier - Robyn's husband and supportive stepfather to Caleb
Lawson Tate - Margot's ex-husband
The publisher's blurb promises potential readers that this novel is a romance between these two middle-aged individuals:
Billy is a sweet, gentle, kind, 40-something man who is an overt homage to Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood on PBS from 1968 to 2001. He has the same personality, and he wears the same type of cozy cardigans. He is happy with his simple, peaceful, single state. The most important relationship in his life is with his beloved son, Caleb, and as a sunny extrovert, he has countless friends and acquaintances. He is also contented with the modest income he generates from a home-based career as a talented music teacher with an abundance of satisfied students.
Margot is a 40-something, formerly famous, brilliant rock drummer, who has spent over a decade post-divorce in an emotional desert, minus any human connection other than her daughter, Poppy, or any musical focus or personal direction of any kind. She has not once touched her drum set in all this time. (This makes the event jarringly unrealistic that relaunches her career: plopping down and pounding out an impromptu solo in a bar in Billy's neighborhood as competently as if she had been playing the drums for hours every day for the last 10 years.)
The implied promise to readers is that, during their courtship, Billy and Margot will inspire each other to expand their musical horizons and become psychologically stronger together than they ever could be alone. Instead, after weeks of happily playing house in the apartment over Robyn's garage, during which time Billy's chipper disposition pulls Margot so far out of her doldrums that she is actually laughing, drumming, and writing music, Billy actually concludes that he is unworthy of her. He is convinced that he will only hold her back as a musician, and sends her away "for her own good." (This patronizing excuse for initiating the inevitable Dark Period in a romance, in which all seems lost with the love affair, is a hackneyed trope that I dislike.)
They do get together at the very end of the book, but not onstage, merely through a phone call. In addition, there is no HEA, only a barely initiated HFN, and it's implied that the author doesn't envision an HEA by one of the questions he offers for book clubs who choose to read and discuss this novel:
"Where do you picture these characters five years in the future? Do you think Margot and Billy stay together?"
Instead of extensively focusing on the courtship between Billy and Margot, which is the genre-mandated structure of an actual romance novel, the story gets incessantly sidetracked into these, at best, mildly entertaining subcharacter vignettes:
1. Brilliant 18-year-old Caleb decides to prop up Billy by staying in Baltimore instead of accepting admission to his first-choice university, Stanford. He feels sorry for Billy and is afraid his father will be too lonely without him. But this makes little sense because, as an open-hearted extrovert, there's hardly a minute of the day that Billy is alone.
2. The musical talents of several of Billy's students are on display. This is a reinforcement of the fact that Billy's life is complete without Margot or any romantic relationship at all. Ideally a romance novel convinces the reader that the lives of both of the romantic protagonists will be forever blighted if they don't end up together. I think that's the case for Margot, but definitely not for Billy.
3. Billy is forced out of the apartment where he's lived contentedly for over 15 years, above the titular vinyl record store, Charm City Rocks. One would assume that such a huge change would have a tragically cataclysmic effect on Billy's life, but it doesn't, because he has such a phlegmatic disposition, nothing ever riles him. Once again, it is Caleb who worries more about how Billy will survive than Billy himself. As if he is the father and Billy is the son, Caleb arranges for Billy to temporarily live over Robyn's garage. This is one of many demonstrations of Billy as an extremely passive protagonist. Basically, this event is merely a convenient device in order to briefly draw together onstage the six POV characters at the same location. This setup is very much in the spirit of ensemble movies such as: Playing by Heart (1998), Love Actually (2003), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), Valentine's Day (2010), New Year's Eve (2011) and Mother's Day (2016). (Maybe the author is hoping for a movie offer?)
4. Lawson, the promiscuous, British, movie-star ex-husband of Margot is spurred by jealousy to get re-interested in her when her relationship with Billy leads to videos of them going viral on the internet. After a great deal of effort to reanimate his former status as Margot's romantic partner, when she turns him down, he is about as affected by this rejection as if informed that a picnic he wasn't interested in attending has just been rained out.
5. The failure of the marriage of Robyn and Aaron comes out of nowhere and is barely explained enough to merit its mention. It also does nothing to improve my negative opinion of either Robyn or Lawson when we are subjected to a flirtation and a kiss between them.
6. While in a state of despair after Billy's rejection, much against common sense and logic, Margot allows herself to be talked into participating in a revival of her former band from 10 years ago. It is entirely the brainchild of the lead singer, Nikki, who is the same casually cruel narcissist whose cheating with Lawson caused the breakup of both Margot's marriage and their band, and whom Margot swore to never have anything to do with again. Completely predictably, during practice sessions, Nikki treats Margot and her other two former bandmates as unworthy background adjuncts to her personal grandiose dreams of solo stardom.
Overall, even though I actually did enjoy all of those movies listed above, and I might even enjoy the rambling focus of this novel if it were made into a movie, it doesn't work for me as a romance novel. A rather pedestrian series of plots about not very interesting people, who are each passive protagonists in their lives, can be carried off much more successfully if the actors hired to portray them are charismatic and talented.
In short, if this novel were an actual romance that is reminiscent of a particular movie, for my personal taste, I would have preferred Music and Lyrics (2007) with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, rather than a slipshod slide into ensemble pseudo-comedy.
By the way, Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman is not an indie novel. It was published by Dell, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group, in 2023. The publisher purposely chose to promote this as a romance novel, obviously in order to tap into the enormous romance market. But there are also a whole lot of readers of women's fiction out there, and it would have been much more honest to have targeted them as the true audience for this book.
Finally, as mainstream women's fiction, in which an active protagonist is not mandated, I'm sure many readers will rate this as 4 or 5 stars. As a romance novel, which requires primary attention on a romantic courtship, with two lovers who desperately desire each other, I can only rate it as 2 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2023
Charm City Rocks 🎸🥁
Thank you, Random House & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of this fun read! { #prhaudiobookinfluencer }
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Romance
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆☆.5
Pub Date: 6.6.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
“.. then one day, they never spoke again. It was like mourning a death: awful at first and then progressively less awful.”
Do you know those books that are so fun and refreshing that you can’t help but love all the characters (even the ones that are supposed to be annoying)? Well, that’s how I felt about Charm City Rocks. I truly loved every character - there weren’t so many that were hard to keep track of, but they all played a pivotal role in the book.
I wouldn’t say that Charm City Rocks is solely a romance - there is a subplot of romance, but it’s more of a look at a family and how they’ve stuck together over the years and adapted to include others. I love Billy’s character for how he treated everyone, including his ex-girlfriend (mother to his son), Robyn, and Robyn’s husband, Aaron. But I especially loved Billy’s relationship with his son, Caleb. Even with the introduction of Margot (Billy’s long-time celebrity crush), the dynamics adjusted but stayed the same. It was such a refreshing look at family in the modern age.
🗣️ Several character POV’s
❤️ Later-in-life romance
👨👦 Single dad
👌🏼 Not any unnecessary drama
🥰 Refreshing
I recommend reading Charm City Rocks if you’re looking for an easy read to add to your summer reading list!
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookendd...
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Thank you, Random House & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of this fun read! { #prhaudiobookinfluencer }
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Romance
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆☆.5
Pub Date: 6.6.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
“.. then one day, they never spoke again. It was like mourning a death: awful at first and then progressively less awful.”
Do you know those books that are so fun and refreshing that you can’t help but love all the characters (even the ones that are supposed to be annoying)? Well, that’s how I felt about Charm City Rocks. I truly loved every character - there weren’t so many that were hard to keep track of, but they all played a pivotal role in the book.
I wouldn’t say that Charm City Rocks is solely a romance - there is a subplot of romance, but it’s more of a look at a family and how they’ve stuck together over the years and adapted to include others. I love Billy’s character for how he treated everyone, including his ex-girlfriend (mother to his son), Robyn, and Robyn’s husband, Aaron. But I especially loved Billy’s relationship with his son, Caleb. Even with the introduction of Margot (Billy’s long-time celebrity crush), the dynamics adjusted but stayed the same. It was such a refreshing look at family in the modern age.
🗣️ Several character POV’s
❤️ Later-in-life romance
👨👦 Single dad
👌🏼 Not any unnecessary drama
🥰 Refreshing
I recommend reading Charm City Rocks if you’re looking for an easy read to add to your summer reading list!
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookendd...
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
May 29, 2023
I’m a fan of the author and was curious to read a book that seemed like a slight departure from his usual straight up fiction style. I’ve seen this labeled as a romance in a few places and while I kind of see it, I wouldn’t solely call it a romance. I think it’s more of a general fiction with a romantic subplot but it’s about much more than just a burgeoning romance between Billy and Margot. It’s about family and what that can look like in modern times, it’s about second chances, not only in love but in life in general and it’s also about just a typical family and a snapshot of their lives. The romantic elements here also have a feel of maturity and that’s probably because Billy and Margot are in their forties but I appreciated their growth as well as their relatable humor. This was really sweet, charming and a total love letter to Baltimore, a city I’m unfamiliar with but really enjoyed reading about.
March 25, 2023
A cute novel about falling in and out of love with a rock and roll twist. Billy is a single dad who teaches music and lives a simple and happy life. One day his son who is ready to go off to college is worried that his dad is lonely so he reaches out to his dad's old crush, Margot Hammer. Margot was a famous drummer but her band broke up many years ago. Margot and Billy meet and sparks fly but old flames threaten to derail the budding romance.
There were some good moments in this book but overall this book lacked a wow factor. Baltimore was the setting and I liked how the author brought the city to life. I just wanted a little more action. I was not glued to these pages and could easily put the book down. Overall, not a bad story especially if you love a story with a rock and roll theme.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this arc.
There were some good moments in this book but overall this book lacked a wow factor. Baltimore was the setting and I liked how the author brought the city to life. I just wanted a little more action. I was not glued to these pages and could easily put the book down. Overall, not a bad story especially if you love a story with a rock and roll theme.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this arc.
August 5, 2024
THANK GOD A GOOD FUCKING ROMANCE NOVEL! WITH A NICE AND LIKABLE MAN. Okay so I am pretty partial to this book because it all takes place in Baltimore. It’s so nice to hear Baltimore described as the charming city that it is. Also this book is funny, like I giggled numerous times.
June 22, 2023
Well, I'd like to know where author Matthew Norman has been all my life?!?!
I was absolutely and thoroughly charmed by this story. What happens when a single dad meet the former rock star crush of his youth? Billy Perkins is about to find out thanks to some hilarious circumstances and his son Caleb's late night Google search. Billy lives in his favorite neighborhood of Baltimore, above his favorite music store, gives piano lessons and give impromptu concerts for his sidewalk audience. He is crazy about his teenage son and has a great co-parenting relationship with Caleb's mom and step-dad. He would tell you he is happy. And then Caleb arranges a 'meet cute' between his dad and former rock goddess, Margot Hammer.
This sets off a domino effect of bizarre and riotous events that kickstarts Margot's long dormant career thereby introducing us to an ever widening circle of characters. While some of these events seem wildly implausible, I can only tell you I bought in wholeheartedly and enjoyed every moment. I never once found myself rolling my eyes, only smiling and laughing and cheering for these flawed, but lovable people.
As a more mature reader, I am always thrilled when main characters are over 30! While romance is certainly an element of this story, it is so much more. We get glimpses of the male dominated music industry and the challenges talented woman face; parents struggling with letting go of their college bound kid and what the empty nest will look like; friendship in all its many forms; and a big love letter to Baltimore, a character itself.
Loved it and am thrilled to see Matthew Norman has a backlist to dive into!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Dell for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was absolutely and thoroughly charmed by this story. What happens when a single dad meet the former rock star crush of his youth? Billy Perkins is about to find out thanks to some hilarious circumstances and his son Caleb's late night Google search. Billy lives in his favorite neighborhood of Baltimore, above his favorite music store, gives piano lessons and give impromptu concerts for his sidewalk audience. He is crazy about his teenage son and has a great co-parenting relationship with Caleb's mom and step-dad. He would tell you he is happy. And then Caleb arranges a 'meet cute' between his dad and former rock goddess, Margot Hammer.
This sets off a domino effect of bizarre and riotous events that kickstarts Margot's long dormant career thereby introducing us to an ever widening circle of characters. While some of these events seem wildly implausible, I can only tell you I bought in wholeheartedly and enjoyed every moment. I never once found myself rolling my eyes, only smiling and laughing and cheering for these flawed, but lovable people.
As a more mature reader, I am always thrilled when main characters are over 30! While romance is certainly an element of this story, it is so much more. We get glimpses of the male dominated music industry and the challenges talented woman face; parents struggling with letting go of their college bound kid and what the empty nest will look like; friendship in all its many forms; and a big love letter to Baltimore, a character itself.
Loved it and am thrilled to see Matthew Norman has a backlist to dive into!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Dell for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 27, 2023
This is such a sweet and happy feel-good story! Your happy-go-lucky everyday Joe meets the rock idol of his youth, sparks fly then fizzle out. There’s so much more to this story, though. You’ll love Billy, his son Caleb, and even his ex-wife Robyn. You’ll be impressed with Margo Hammer, first a popular drummer, then married to a handsome actor, up until that one particular MTV Video Music Awards show when Margot kicked her drums off of her platform and stormed out…in the middle of the song.
Caleb thinks his dad and Margot would hit it off, so he tells a little white lie. Amazingly, after everyone gets over the lie, they really do hit it off. But they come from different backgrounds. She’s still famous and he’s a wonderful neighborhood music teacher and dad, but no paparazzi. It’s just not going to work. And surprisingly, it’s Billy that calls it quits.
But you can’t put out a fire that easily! Various characters in each person’s life play a pivotal role in this story, from the record store owner, the little kid who plays drums on buckets, Margot’s ex-husband Lawson, to the pro football player who just wants his son to learn piano from the best.
Read this book and meet the neighborhood. You’re gonna love it!
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest
review. The publishing date was June 6, 2023.
Caleb thinks his dad and Margot would hit it off, so he tells a little white lie. Amazingly, after everyone gets over the lie, they really do hit it off. But they come from different backgrounds. She’s still famous and he’s a wonderful neighborhood music teacher and dad, but no paparazzi. It’s just not going to work. And surprisingly, it’s Billy that calls it quits.
But you can’t put out a fire that easily! Various characters in each person’s life play a pivotal role in this story, from the record store owner, the little kid who plays drums on buckets, Margot’s ex-husband Lawson, to the pro football player who just wants his son to learn piano from the best.
Read this book and meet the neighborhood. You’re gonna love it!
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest
review. The publishing date was June 6, 2023.
December 13, 2023
I hardly ever give a romance 5 stars, but this just hit all the buttons with me. The main characters are in their 40s, and have balanced, ok lives. But they are so much better together! And that happens, when Billy's son Caleb gets stoned and catfishes Margot's record label, setting up a meeting between the two.
Some of the things I loved most:
Billy rocking out on his Steinway at night to the neighborhood
Margot talking to her daughter Poppy
Billy's talks about being a man to Caleb
Margot's ex-husband the rockstar
Caleb, the sweet, sensitive tall son
Baltimore - and the baseball games
Now off to recommend this to some family/friends :)
Some of the things I loved most:
Billy rocking out on his Steinway at night to the neighborhood
Margot talking to her daughter Poppy
Billy's talks about being a man to Caleb
Margot's ex-husband the rockstar
Caleb, the sweet, sensitive tall son
Baltimore - and the baseball games
Now off to recommend this to some family/friends :)
April 5, 2026
3.5 stars.
I was shocked to actually enjoy it when I realized it was a 3rd person POV, present tense.
However, this wasn't what I expected. I thought this would be a romance but it reads more like a family drama.
We spend a lot of time in a variety of POVs.
Stupid 3rd act breakup.
Weird ex drama.
But... I kinda enjoyed it.
I was shocked to actually enjoy it when I realized it was a 3rd person POV, present tense.
However, this wasn't what I expected. I thought this would be a romance but it reads more like a family drama.
We spend a lot of time in a variety of POVs.
Stupid 3rd act breakup.
Weird ex drama.
But... I kinda enjoyed it.
March 25, 2026
*Read for Booked On a Feelin’*
This was my first book from this author and I enjoyed it! The book was super easy to read and full of lovable characters. Even the people you didn’t want to like were still likable…except 2 people.
What would have been great for the book would have been a playlist included.
This was my first book from this author and I enjoyed it! The book was super easy to read and full of lovable characters. Even the people you didn’t want to like were still likable…except 2 people.
What would have been great for the book would have been a playlist included.
February 28, 2025
I love that it’s all surrounded by music, but it so incredibly boring. All the characters felt one dimensional, the dialogue was so bland and the plot was predictable.
What I can’t get passed is that it feels like the fmc only liked the mmc because she had been locked away from the world, and felt insecure with her life and music/career, and he was so enamored with her and she liked that. I felt like the mmc only liked the fmc because she was his celebrity crush when he was younger and that’s why he likes her now, not because of who she is, but who he thinks she was. So everything is just so superficial, and it’s so incredibly frustrating. I really should’ve DNF’d at 17%.
OH and it really, really, REALLY needed an editor, it did NOT need to be so long.
What I can’t get passed is that it feels like the fmc only liked the mmc because she had been locked away from the world, and felt insecure with her life and music/career, and he was so enamored with her and she liked that. I felt like the mmc only liked the fmc because she was his celebrity crush when he was younger and that’s why he likes her now, not because of who she is, but who he thinks she was. So everything is just so superficial, and it’s so incredibly frustrating. I really should’ve DNF’d at 17%.
OH and it really, really, REALLY needed an editor, it did NOT need to be so long.
March 7, 2024
A single dad named Billy, unexpectedly encounters his former rock star crush, Margot Hammer. As Margot, a former drummer of the once-famous Burnt Flowers, faces a reclusive life in New York City, a music documentary brings her back into the spotlight. Billy's son, Caleb, devises a plan to reunite Margot with her love for music by getting her to perform at Charm City Rocks, where Billy lives above a record shop.
I normally love a celebrity romance but something felt off to me in this one. Billy was too much of an obsessed fan and it was bordering on weird. Maybe if I would have kept reading that would have changed but I was already over it.
I normally love a celebrity romance but something felt off to me in this one. Billy was too much of an obsessed fan and it was bordering on weird. Maybe if I would have kept reading that would have changed but I was already over it.
February 15, 2024
If you’re not from Baltimore, please know that every single reference to a landmark, restaurant, shitty Natty Boh beer, gas tank mural, stadium, neighborhood, cobblestone street, squeegee boy, etc. is real and actually exists in Baltimore… with one exception, Charm City Rocks exists, but it is called The Sound Garden.
Additionally, Matthew Norman fails to capture one important aspect of being a Marylander, and that’s our obsession with our flag. Didn’t even mention it in the book! How dare!
Come visit us in Baltimore, We’re more than just murder!
Additionally, Matthew Norman fails to capture one important aspect of being a Marylander, and that’s our obsession with our flag. Didn’t even mention it in the book! How dare!
Come visit us in Baltimore, We’re more than just murder!
June 14, 2023
Does the author own the Fells Point pretzel stand? I have never read anything that mentioned pretzels so much and they aren’t even a Baltimore thing (which, to be fair, is pointed out) despite it being a real stand for tourists near the water taxi.
Did he use a British slang dictionary for the British actor character? He was so cringey and fake sounding.
A really corny book. Cute idea but what a slog.
Did he use a British slang dictionary for the British actor character? He was so cringey and fake sounding.
A really corny book. Cute idea but what a slog.
June 18, 2023
Wow. Sweet romance, but also the funniest thing I’ve read in a while.
Between Curtis Sittenfeld and Elissa Sussman, I’ve really hit the jackpot on romcoms lately. Being a musician, and a music fan, this one hit me more squarely. I’ve enjoyed everything he’s written, and each book is progressively better. I hope he makes a fortune selling the rights to Netflix or some such, but I doubt it will be as good as his writing.
Between Curtis Sittenfeld and Elissa Sussman, I’ve really hit the jackpot on romcoms lately. Being a musician, and a music fan, this one hit me more squarely. I’ve enjoyed everything he’s written, and each book is progressively better. I hope he makes a fortune selling the rights to Netflix or some such, but I doubt it will be as good as his writing.
July 3, 2023
CHARM CITY ROCKS by Matthew Norman is a delightful musical love story! It follows the journey of a likable piano teacher who encounters his teenage rock drummer crush, resulting in pure entertainment. If you're seeking a refreshing summer read, this book is a perfect choice!
P.S. Check out the Charm City Rocks playlist on Spotify!
P.S. Check out the Charm City Rocks playlist on Spotify!
August 3, 2023
2.5 - I am getting closer and closer to 40, so I am learning to appreciate a mature, "later in life" romance more and more. I like that there was no side fluff. But I didn't feel the chemistry between Margot and Billy. There were a couple scenes where there was maybe like 2 lines of cuteness. But neither of them felt fully developed. The story was rushed.
October 12, 2024
This book was just kind of bland. Not a lot going for it, the characters were fine, the plot was fine, the world was fine but it just wasn’t enough for it to be a good book. It was fine. Just not my cup of tea I suppose. It probably didn’t help that I listened to this as an audio book but I still get really into audiobooks, this one just couldn’t hold my attention at all. 4/10
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