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Needing Harmony #1
All the Discord
Music is her passion, her life, her obsession, and sometimes, her hell.
As a high school senior, Cadence Wiles doesn’t have her life figured out. Over the summer, her mentally ill mother forced impossible choices on her and now she has to face reality. Alone, without anyone to support her, it’s time Cadence explores her newfound freedom and what it really means to be an adult.
But the five boys she meets aren’t in her plans and they’re more than determined to insert themselves into her life. Will they be able to break through the barriers she’s had to rely on to keep herself safe? Or will she keep them away as she counts down the days until she can disappear into the world as a full-fledged adult?
Her life may be difficult, but Cadence is more than willing to fight to make it everything she wants it to be. Even if that means walking against the flow of harmony.
As a high school senior, Cadence Wiles doesn’t have her life figured out. Over the summer, her mentally ill mother forced impossible choices on her and now she has to face reality. Alone, without anyone to support her, it’s time Cadence explores her newfound freedom and what it really means to be an adult.
But the five boys she meets aren’t in her plans and they’re more than determined to insert themselves into her life. Will they be able to break through the barriers she’s had to rely on to keep herself safe? Or will she keep them away as she counts down the days until she can disappear into the world as a full-fledged adult?
Her life may be difficult, but Cadence is more than willing to fight to make it everything she wants it to be. Even if that means walking against the flow of harmony.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 9, 2024
The men were most definitely, without a shadow of a doubt Stage 5 Clingers. They made me feel slightly claustrophobic. I do think the FMC needed this love and attention, but give her some room to breathe.
I wouldn't say this was very romance-orientated (until the last 10%). It focused more on the friendship between herself and these boys, especially the ways in which they supported each other.
The book starts with the FMC dealing with the aftermath of childhood physical abuse. It mentions panic attacks, anxiety, PTSD and negative thoughts stemming from the mental abuse she also suffered. I honestly thought it handled this subject really well and I appreciated that the plot focused on her after the abuse, rather than during. It was a different perspective.
Saying that... A lot of pages were solely dedicated to explaining her emotions and these could be quite drawn out/ repetitive.
It does read quite YA, but they are all in the last year of school, so the characters are on the younger side of 18. When I say YA I mean that the writing can get very cheesy and eye roles will occur.
The relationships come across as quite forced sometimes or leaning towards platonic. Honestly, I would prefer it to stay platonic, because the chemistry is absent .
The book also just ended. No cliffhanger.
I wouldn't say this was very romance-orientated (until the last 10%). It focused more on the friendship between herself and these boys, especially the ways in which they supported each other.
The book starts with the FMC dealing with the aftermath of childhood physical abuse. It mentions panic attacks, anxiety, PTSD and negative thoughts stemming from the mental abuse she also suffered. I honestly thought it handled this subject really well and I appreciated that the plot focused on her after the abuse, rather than during. It was a different perspective.
Saying that... A lot of pages were solely dedicated to explaining her emotions and these could be quite drawn out/ repetitive.
It does read quite YA, but they are all in the last year of school, so the characters are on the younger side of 18. When I say YA I mean that the writing can get very cheesy and eye roles will occur.
The relationships come across as quite forced sometimes or leaning towards platonic. Honestly, I would prefer it to stay platonic, because the chemistry is absent .
The book also just ended. No cliffhanger.
October 9, 2022
I wanted to like this, but I really just cannot.
Some of my biggest problems:
This is supposed to be a contemporary romance but is often lacking in any reality, think day time soap instead of night time drama type of ridiculousness.
The characters are all 17-19 but all talk like they are 40+. Isn't not just the language they use but it's also the thoughts and insights and the way they relate to each other. Even with having difficulty pasta they are still decades past where there could be in their thoughts and actions.
Most of the dialogue reads like the conversation you have with yourself in your head. You know, the totally unrealistic version of the conversation you would have with the cute boy/mean girl/teacher that are NOTHING like how the actual conversation went/goes/would go if it ever actually happened.
Continuity is lacking often. Plot or character points are thrown by the wayside for a scene and then maybe make an appearance again when convenient and then yup gone again.
At times it feels way too after school special with the author trying to tackle far too many issues.
The climaxes in books 1 and 2 don't come with a lot of foreshadowing or buildup and once they do happen there is a lot of wham bam thank you ma'am with the whole thing resolved in just a couple of pages leaving the reader like that was it. That baby carrot was my climax? Were is my eggplant dang it!
Spoilers ahead for more specific issues with books 1 and 2.
The series starts out with FMC moving into her new home on the other side of town. She has just been emancipated from her abusive mom, who, through an apparent sweetheart deal has landed in a mental institution paid for by her daughter rather than in jail. 1) Depression is no where near the legal capacity necessary for someone not to be able to stand trial because they lack the mental capacity to participate in the criminal proceedings. It also not going to get you off on a not guilty by reason on insanity defense. 2) Even if FMCs mom wasn't able to stand trial by reason of being mentally incapacitated or was deemed not sane and sentenced to a facility, she wouldn't be able to pick what mental institution she could go to. She would be in a state facility. Basic research would have revealed both truths to the author. Don't write what you don't know or are unwilling to learn about first. It's a bad look.
FMC is supposedly moving from the very rich part of town to a more upper middle class part of town but will still be going to the same school she has spent three years in. A school where literally no one knows she existed. Dude, even if no one was friends with her, they would still know she existed. She would be the quiet/weird/stuck up rich girl that plays music and doesn't talk to anyone.
FMC spent the summer recovering from her mom beating her so badly she may have permanent spinal cord damage. This damage results in pain that radiates through FMCs body and make it impossible for her to even sit, but immediately after reactivating her back so badly that she can't even walk she has no problems getting up on someone's shoulders to spend an hour chicken fighting in the pool. Her backpack is too heavy to lift but bowling doesn't aggravate her back at all. Her back is in such a delicate state that she is immobilized by a dog jumping on her (but only once, she is totally fine every time after that) but some how falling out of a window or getting in a car crash the vehicle flips and rolls or being hog tied in a truck all no biggies for her literally broken back.
FMCs abusive mom supposedly kept her busy and isolated, working as the sole bread winner all the time, so busy she only has one friend, a kid she met when she was six the one time she went to summer camp and has kept in touch with, on her own, since she was six!, but she also knows about the all night bowling place, the teen and young adult club that the popular boys she has made friends with somehow had no idea existed, where FMC is a regular DJ, has sleep overs with her camp friend whenever he comes into town for her appearances, volunteers at a children's shelter, and a couple of other things I'm forgetting.
FMC is immediately called out by one of the guys for being a rich girl based on her car. Is it a BMW? An Audi? A Porsche? Lexis? Mercedes? Nope. It's a Chevy Impala. A Chevy Impala!!! Even brand new no one with any money is looking twice at that and thinking whew, whomever drives that comes from money, as is required by the scene.
Seth, one of the guys, is FMCs across the street neighbor. He graduated high school that spring and after one whole summer of working construction was able to buy his very own house in her middle class/upper middle class neighborhood...
FMC is a credentialed musician, we are talking credit on multiple tip ten hits, but apparently TMZ or E! Or the NY Post was no where to be found when her mom was arrested for beating her or when she was going through the lengthy court process to become emancipated. And despite FMC and her mom having a place in society, no one, literally no one, has any idea what happened that summer. It would be talk of the town! Bryan at the very least would have heard about it.
Servants work in your home. Servers work parties. It stands out in a party scene. You'll know what I'm talking about and cringe too when you see it. Also, Bryan and those people at the party are not the same of rich and would not be associating with each other in that scenario. Never, ever. Bryan and his family are WAY above their league.
The amount of one upping. Abusive mom. Abusive mom to a tiny boy (which from best I can tell the mom just ignored him and from that he is somehow terrified of all women, to the extent he has to have only male teachers, but was also some how supposed to go to the mom for overnight visitation. Never would have happened, which the author would have known if she knew anything about what happens with custody of abused kids). Then we have the absent very rich parents who put too much pressure on their son. The one whose mom was depressed and dated a string of losers who just weren't interested in being a dad after his dad died. The one who was almost beaten to death, and I think his mom was killed, because his dad blamed them for the little sister falling through the ice on his watch years before. Or the one who lives with his aunt because his parents had to focus on their quadriplegic younger child...
FMC hints at being sexually assaulted at one point as a lead in to talking about men of power being able to get gropey and women not being able to do anything about it, but then drops the sexual assault past idea completely and it never comes up again.
Don't forget the part in the story where the town gang is after FMC, because duh!
How about the lawyer who shows up as the emergency contact after the kidnapping but apparently wasn't called after the car accident. So being run off the road by a gang isn't an emergency but being kidnapped by one is. Got it. Good to know.
There isn't any real believable tension. The gang thing and the sleezey client are just too ridiculous to create any real tension. I was totally expecting the mom or some long lost "family" member to challenge and try to get FMC's emancipation overturned because she was hanging out with all these boys and there were rumors about what they were doing. That doesn't even consider all the school she has been skipping or the fact she doesn't have food in the house or isn't doing her rehab. All legit reasons to challenge the emancipation. Hell, thrown the gang attempts in there and you have a compelling reason to argue FMC should have never been emancipated and should be back under the control of my dearest. That is some real tension and turmoil. Or have someone from the guy's past (that abusive mom or dad) popping up and causing problem. Mom kidnapped Calvin. Or dad broke out of jail and corners his son to finish the job he started. Those are way more realistic than the gang scenario. Also, weakest gang ever. Not at all scary or threatening.
Honestly, I'm not sure if book 3 is out or is coming but I'm probably going to pass. The draw of finding out if FMC reconnects with her dad or what the gang may have been searching for or what's up with that movie producer isn't enough to bring me back when I'm pretty sure some of those story lines will just be dropped and never resolved and the execution of what has happened has been so lacking.
Some of my biggest problems:
This is supposed to be a contemporary romance but is often lacking in any reality, think day time soap instead of night time drama type of ridiculousness.
The characters are all 17-19 but all talk like they are 40+. Isn't not just the language they use but it's also the thoughts and insights and the way they relate to each other. Even with having difficulty pasta they are still decades past where there could be in their thoughts and actions.
Most of the dialogue reads like the conversation you have with yourself in your head. You know, the totally unrealistic version of the conversation you would have with the cute boy/mean girl/teacher that are NOTHING like how the actual conversation went/goes/would go if it ever actually happened.
Continuity is lacking often. Plot or character points are thrown by the wayside for a scene and then maybe make an appearance again when convenient and then yup gone again.
At times it feels way too after school special with the author trying to tackle far too many issues.
The climaxes in books 1 and 2 don't come with a lot of foreshadowing or buildup and once they do happen there is a lot of wham bam thank you ma'am with the whole thing resolved in just a couple of pages leaving the reader like that was it. That baby carrot was my climax? Were is my eggplant dang it!
Spoilers ahead for more specific issues with books 1 and 2.
The series starts out with FMC moving into her new home on the other side of town. She has just been emancipated from her abusive mom, who, through an apparent sweetheart deal has landed in a mental institution paid for by her daughter rather than in jail. 1) Depression is no where near the legal capacity necessary for someone not to be able to stand trial because they lack the mental capacity to participate in the criminal proceedings. It also not going to get you off on a not guilty by reason on insanity defense. 2) Even if FMCs mom wasn't able to stand trial by reason of being mentally incapacitated or was deemed not sane and sentenced to a facility, she wouldn't be able to pick what mental institution she could go to. She would be in a state facility. Basic research would have revealed both truths to the author. Don't write what you don't know or are unwilling to learn about first. It's a bad look.
FMC is supposedly moving from the very rich part of town to a more upper middle class part of town but will still be going to the same school she has spent three years in. A school where literally no one knows she existed. Dude, even if no one was friends with her, they would still know she existed. She would be the quiet/weird/stuck up rich girl that plays music and doesn't talk to anyone.
FMC spent the summer recovering from her mom beating her so badly she may have permanent spinal cord damage. This damage results in pain that radiates through FMCs body and make it impossible for her to even sit, but immediately after reactivating her back so badly that she can't even walk she has no problems getting up on someone's shoulders to spend an hour chicken fighting in the pool. Her backpack is too heavy to lift but bowling doesn't aggravate her back at all. Her back is in such a delicate state that she is immobilized by a dog jumping on her (but only once, she is totally fine every time after that) but some how falling out of a window or getting in a car crash the vehicle flips and rolls or being hog tied in a truck all no biggies for her literally broken back.
FMCs abusive mom supposedly kept her busy and isolated, working as the sole bread winner all the time, so busy she only has one friend, a kid she met when she was six the one time she went to summer camp and has kept in touch with, on her own, since she was six!, but she also knows about the all night bowling place, the teen and young adult club that the popular boys she has made friends with somehow had no idea existed, where FMC is a regular DJ, has sleep overs with her camp friend whenever he comes into town for her appearances, volunteers at a children's shelter, and a couple of other things I'm forgetting.
FMC is immediately called out by one of the guys for being a rich girl based on her car. Is it a BMW? An Audi? A Porsche? Lexis? Mercedes? Nope. It's a Chevy Impala. A Chevy Impala!!! Even brand new no one with any money is looking twice at that and thinking whew, whomever drives that comes from money, as is required by the scene.
Seth, one of the guys, is FMCs across the street neighbor. He graduated high school that spring and after one whole summer of working construction was able to buy his very own house in her middle class/upper middle class neighborhood...
FMC is a credentialed musician, we are talking credit on multiple tip ten hits, but apparently TMZ or E! Or the NY Post was no where to be found when her mom was arrested for beating her or when she was going through the lengthy court process to become emancipated. And despite FMC and her mom having a place in society, no one, literally no one, has any idea what happened that summer. It would be talk of the town! Bryan at the very least would have heard about it.
Servants work in your home. Servers work parties. It stands out in a party scene. You'll know what I'm talking about and cringe too when you see it. Also, Bryan and those people at the party are not the same of rich and would not be associating with each other in that scenario. Never, ever. Bryan and his family are WAY above their league.
The amount of one upping. Abusive mom. Abusive mom to a tiny boy (which from best I can tell the mom just ignored him and from that he is somehow terrified of all women, to the extent he has to have only male teachers, but was also some how supposed to go to the mom for overnight visitation. Never would have happened, which the author would have known if she knew anything about what happens with custody of abused kids). Then we have the absent very rich parents who put too much pressure on their son. The one whose mom was depressed and dated a string of losers who just weren't interested in being a dad after his dad died. The one who was almost beaten to death, and I think his mom was killed, because his dad blamed them for the little sister falling through the ice on his watch years before. Or the one who lives with his aunt because his parents had to focus on their quadriplegic younger child...
FMC hints at being sexually assaulted at one point as a lead in to talking about men of power being able to get gropey and women not being able to do anything about it, but then drops the sexual assault past idea completely and it never comes up again.
Don't forget the part in the story where the town gang is after FMC, because duh!
How about the lawyer who shows up as the emergency contact after the kidnapping but apparently wasn't called after the car accident. So being run off the road by a gang isn't an emergency but being kidnapped by one is. Got it. Good to know.
There isn't any real believable tension. The gang thing and the sleezey client are just too ridiculous to create any real tension. I was totally expecting the mom or some long lost "family" member to challenge and try to get FMC's emancipation overturned because she was hanging out with all these boys and there were rumors about what they were doing. That doesn't even consider all the school she has been skipping or the fact she doesn't have food in the house or isn't doing her rehab. All legit reasons to challenge the emancipation. Hell, thrown the gang attempts in there and you have a compelling reason to argue FMC should have never been emancipated and should be back under the control of my dearest. That is some real tension and turmoil. Or have someone from the guy's past (that abusive mom or dad) popping up and causing problem. Mom kidnapped Calvin. Or dad broke out of jail and corners his son to finish the job he started. Those are way more realistic than the gang scenario. Also, weakest gang ever. Not at all scary or threatening.
Honestly, I'm not sure if book 3 is out or is coming but I'm probably going to pass. The draw of finding out if FMC reconnects with her dad or what the gang may have been searching for or what's up with that movie producer isn't enough to bring me back when I'm pretty sure some of those story lines will just be dropped and never resolved and the execution of what has happened has been so lacking.
May 16, 2022
Believable Start To An NA RH
This is the first book in a new series. The book finishes at a natural break in the narrative, but there is obviously much more to come.
I couple of years ago I overdosed on this particular trope/genre and only continued with a very select number of series I’d already started. I don’t know why this appealed to me so much, except that I had read Biomystic Security and enjoyed that series so I downloaded the sample and got really sucked in.
Cadence has just been emancipated. She’s bought a house in a new area of town and plans to go back to high school for her senior year. She believes that everything will continue as it always has and that she will be invisible to her peers, she’ll keep her head down, do the work and graduate to be free of the obligation. Then she can decide what to do. What she wasn’t anticipating was that she would gain the attention of a tight knit group of friends, one of which lives a few doors away from her new house.
Cadence’s life has been very lonely and unpredictable and for the first time she starts to feel a little free. What she’s not used to is people caring what happens to her, other than her lawyer. Ever so slowly this group of young men, who didn’t notice her all the way through high school become fascinated by her and want to heal some of her hurts.
In some ways this book reminds me of the Peyton’s Path series, except Cadence is much more self-contained and private as she didn’t have friends, but it has a similar ‘feel’ to the book. It’s very slow burn and is more about forming a connection, building trust and making friends. Cadence is passionate about her musical career and has been successful at it and it brings her comfort and escape from the mental instability and violence of her mother.
The plot is paced really well with facts about all the characters being carefully unveiled throughout the book. We get to know the characters through their history as they get to know each other. There are lots of secrets hidden on initial inspection so each time we have a crumb of information revealed it helps the reader to understand the motivation for the various actions each character takes. The characters are all interesting, not just Cadence, and I enjoyed getting to know the all. I particularly love Calvin the younger brother of one of the group of friends. He’s vulnerable and shy and was damaged by his past and he and Cadence instantly bond, which is how she is introduced to the group of friends.
This book feels like it setting the stage for the rest of the series. The slow pace allows the reader time to connect with the characters, but it doesn’t feel boring at all. I’m looking forward to seeing how the relationship between the characters develops and how the strands of plot foreshadowing play out. I’m definitely going to read the next book in the series when it comes out.
This is the first book in a new series. The book finishes at a natural break in the narrative, but there is obviously much more to come.
I couple of years ago I overdosed on this particular trope/genre and only continued with a very select number of series I’d already started. I don’t know why this appealed to me so much, except that I had read Biomystic Security and enjoyed that series so I downloaded the sample and got really sucked in.
Cadence has just been emancipated. She’s bought a house in a new area of town and plans to go back to high school for her senior year. She believes that everything will continue as it always has and that she will be invisible to her peers, she’ll keep her head down, do the work and graduate to be free of the obligation. Then she can decide what to do. What she wasn’t anticipating was that she would gain the attention of a tight knit group of friends, one of which lives a few doors away from her new house.
Cadence’s life has been very lonely and unpredictable and for the first time she starts to feel a little free. What she’s not used to is people caring what happens to her, other than her lawyer. Ever so slowly this group of young men, who didn’t notice her all the way through high school become fascinated by her and want to heal some of her hurts.
In some ways this book reminds me of the Peyton’s Path series, except Cadence is much more self-contained and private as she didn’t have friends, but it has a similar ‘feel’ to the book. It’s very slow burn and is more about forming a connection, building trust and making friends. Cadence is passionate about her musical career and has been successful at it and it brings her comfort and escape from the mental instability and violence of her mother.
The plot is paced really well with facts about all the characters being carefully unveiled throughout the book. We get to know the characters through their history as they get to know each other. There are lots of secrets hidden on initial inspection so each time we have a crumb of information revealed it helps the reader to understand the motivation for the various actions each character takes. The characters are all interesting, not just Cadence, and I enjoyed getting to know the all. I particularly love Calvin the younger brother of one of the group of friends. He’s vulnerable and shy and was damaged by his past and he and Cadence instantly bond, which is how she is introduced to the group of friends.
This book feels like it setting the stage for the rest of the series. The slow pace allows the reader time to connect with the characters, but it doesn’t feel boring at all. I’m looking forward to seeing how the relationship between the characters develops and how the strands of plot foreshadowing play out. I’m definitely going to read the next book in the series when it comes out.
July 29, 2023
This is a review of the Series Needing Harmony Book #1 - #3. All three books will have the same review and Reminder for myself part.
I was looking for a nice music romance and one of the #cakeeaters suggested All the Discord. It's been on my tbr for a while, because I wanted to wait until the series is finished. But then I saw that the third book was coming out soon and I wanted something new: new author, a musician who isn't a rockstar. So I started this series. And it is not finished yet. I don't know how many books this series will have, but at least one other is announced at the end of book 3.
Candance is the FMC of this story. She has lived a hard live and here are major trigger topics in this series, like abuse, the topic rape (but nobody is raped so far), kidnapping and bullying.
She has live in this town her whole life, when she has to perform in a festival. She is looking for food, when she finds Calvin, who is lost. She see something in him and stay with him until his brother and the brothers friends find them. Meanwhile she entertains Calvin with music. That how she meets five guys: Seth, who is one of her neighbors, Paxton, Calvins brother, Toby, Justin and Bryan.
This is also a series, where you ask yourself, why does s**t find the FMC all the time, because in each book we either lean about things that happened to her in the past or bad things happen to her in the present. I wonder if she will find some peaceful time in the next book, where she can process things and solve some of her problems.
The serie is a slow burn. Only The Veil Diaries were a slower burn LOL. But I love that there is time to get to know the main characters. I like two of the adult side characters (Paxton's Dad and Aunt Laura) and I think it is important that there are some adult who are good role models, because the main characters need it.
It took my a while to read all three books but mainly because of irl stuff. Most of the main characters are 17 - 20. But the book is partly ya and partly na. If you love smut and can't live without it, this series is NOT for you.
Reminder (this time not really a summery):
I was looking for a nice music romance and one of the #cakeeaters suggested All the Discord. It's been on my tbr for a while, because I wanted to wait until the series is finished. But then I saw that the third book was coming out soon and I wanted something new: new author, a musician who isn't a rockstar. So I started this series. And it is not finished yet. I don't know how many books this series will have, but at least one other is announced at the end of book 3.
Candance is the FMC of this story. She has lived a hard live and here are major trigger topics in this series, like abuse, the topic rape (but nobody is raped so far), kidnapping and bullying.
She has live in this town her whole life, when she has to perform in a festival. She is looking for food, when she finds Calvin, who is lost. She see something in him and stay with him until his brother and the brothers friends find them. Meanwhile she entertains Calvin with music. That how she meets five guys: Seth, who is one of her neighbors, Paxton, Calvins brother, Toby, Justin and Bryan.
This is also a series, where you ask yourself, why does s**t find the FMC all the time, because in each book we either lean about things that happened to her in the past or bad things happen to her in the present. I wonder if she will find some peaceful time in the next book, where she can process things and solve some of her problems.
The serie is a slow burn. Only The Veil Diaries were a slower burn LOL. But I love that there is time to get to know the main characters. I like two of the adult side characters (Paxton's Dad and Aunt Laura) and I think it is important that there are some adult who are good role models, because the main characters need it.
It took my a while to read all three books but mainly because of irl stuff. Most of the main characters are 17 - 20. But the book is partly ya and partly na. If you love smut and can't live without it, this series is NOT for you.
Reminder (this time not really a summery):
February 10, 2024
Not for me
I've read frustrating books before but this takes the cake. Nothing and I mean nothing happens in this book. The heroine doesn't particularly seem interested in any of these boys romantically. There is no chemistry, the bits added in there like the kiss was just awkward. The whole book she's cagey about what happened to her, why? I didn't warm up to her at all, especially when all her smiles are "tight smiles" The heroine is supposedly 17 yet she reads like she's 35.
This whole book could have been knocked out in two chapters. I get mad when authors string readers along with the bare minimum plot so we buy the next book. Thankfully I have zero interest in following Candice.
I've read frustrating books before but this takes the cake. Nothing and I mean nothing happens in this book. The heroine doesn't particularly seem interested in any of these boys romantically. There is no chemistry, the bits added in there like the kiss was just awkward. The whole book she's cagey about what happened to her, why? I didn't warm up to her at all, especially when all her smiles are "tight smiles" The heroine is supposedly 17 yet she reads like she's 35.
This whole book could have been knocked out in two chapters. I get mad when authors string readers along with the bare minimum plot so we buy the next book. Thankfully I have zero interest in following Candice.
April 2, 2022
Young Adult....I found it interesting and also kind of kids (17 year olds) living like adults... actually better without adults. One girl and five guys. I wish I was that lucky in highschool 😅
July 10, 2022
Don’t get me wrong, this book isn’t bad. It fits sll the criteria of what I’m always looking for in an rh: high school/college aged protagonists, friends-to-lovers, slowburn, no m/m (thank the fucking gods, FINALLY, can we get a freaking hallelujah?!) and hopefully no f/f either (pls author don’t dissapoint me, can we keep this one m/m and f/f free and just focus on the girl in the harem getting all the love? Anyone who wants fo read an rh romance with m/m or f/f needs only throw a stone into this virtual library of books and they shall find what they seek, can we keep one of few books we’ve got in our corner for once? If I wanted to read m/m or f/f I’d just read a gay novel, thanks. Ok mini-rant over).
So, why is this book ”only” getting 3 stars? Well, obv, bc it fits my ”most wanted” criteria. So what’s the catch? The catch, the big fat elephant of a catch, is that those criteria I look for? That I listed just now? Well, they’re only applicable if the BASICS that you would hope/expect a story to have, are covered. Unfortunately, this book was lacking in two fundamental departments: plot, believable dialogues/monologues and characterisation & (ok so I thought of more things to list, sue me) story telling (though the first two points were far worse than the latter).
If I had to boil it all down to one word, what robbs this book of it’s potential, is what follows: C R I N G E. Cringeworthyness everywhere, from the dialogue, to the oh-so-common ”distinguishing character traits” of the male leads, bc they all have to have one trait that defines them, or one colour that defines them, or one sport that defines them, bc hooow in the wooorld would we be able to tell them apart otherwise?! (spoiler: maybe by giving them actual 3 dimensional personalities and believable backgrounds?) Not to mention that the one token rude jerk has become almost as standard in this genre as the token black person, and lookie, lucky us - here we got both! The female lead was abused? Standard. Some of the male leads too? Oh, shocker, colour me surprised! (I actually don’t mind the abused thrope, but when put together with everything else? Sigh. I can spot the Ghost Bird Series influence from a hundred miles away).
*I could go on, but we should probably move on to what’s good about this story, and why you might still want to read it*
What I liked: that all of my my ya/na reverse harem requirements mentioned at the beginning of this were at least partly met (though how successfully is up for debate with some of them). I really liked her job, such a cool profession that I can’t wait to read more about. I LOVED, LOVED CALVIN, ok?! I loved him. And he’s not even part of the harem, but the younger brother to one of the male leads. He and the dog are like the best parts, though, honestly).
In summary: I’ll read the sequel, thoguh I’ll undoubtedly cringe at some parts of that book as well.
(Author, if you’re reading this - you DO have potential as a story writer. But you need someone to bounce ideas off of that isn’t a friend (cough that will only tell you what you want to hear cough). You also need someone with experience to look over your dialogues, as well as character and story building. Honestly, I’d do it if you paid me to, and I’ve not even finished my degree yet, but I guarentee that it would make a difference in the quality of your work. I hope this doesn’t discourage you from writing thoguh, bc the only way to get better is to learn by doing (though the process does go much faster if you have someone to point you in the right direction). Ok, it’s 6 in the morning so this is it for me, I simply cannot attempt to be coherent any longer. Lengthy reviewer, out).
*This book is rated on a rh-scale, and the rating is therefore higher than it would be had this plot/writing/worldbuilding been written for another genre. Bc rh has very limited options, and we need to know what out there is even readable.*
So, why is this book ”only” getting 3 stars? Well, obv, bc it fits my ”most wanted” criteria. So what’s the catch? The catch, the big fat elephant of a catch, is that those criteria I look for? That I listed just now? Well, they’re only applicable if the BASICS that you would hope/expect a story to have, are covered. Unfortunately, this book was lacking in two fundamental departments: plot, believable dialogues/monologues and characterisation & (ok so I thought of more things to list, sue me) story telling (though the first two points were far worse than the latter).
If I had to boil it all down to one word, what robbs this book of it’s potential, is what follows: C R I N G E. Cringeworthyness everywhere, from the dialogue, to the oh-so-common ”distinguishing character traits” of the male leads, bc they all have to have one trait that defines them, or one colour that defines them, or one sport that defines them, bc hooow in the wooorld would we be able to tell them apart otherwise?! (spoiler: maybe by giving them actual 3 dimensional personalities and believable backgrounds?) Not to mention that the one token rude jerk has become almost as standard in this genre as the token black person, and lookie, lucky us - here we got both! The female lead was abused? Standard. Some of the male leads too? Oh, shocker, colour me surprised! (I actually don’t mind the abused thrope, but when put together with everything else? Sigh. I can spot the Ghost Bird Series influence from a hundred miles away).
*I could go on, but we should probably move on to what’s good about this story, and why you might still want to read it*
What I liked: that all of my my ya/na reverse harem requirements mentioned at the beginning of this were at least partly met (though how successfully is up for debate with some of them). I really liked her job, such a cool profession that I can’t wait to read more about. I LOVED, LOVED CALVIN, ok?! I loved him. And he’s not even part of the harem, but the younger brother to one of the male leads. He and the dog are like the best parts, though, honestly).
In summary: I’ll read the sequel, thoguh I’ll undoubtedly cringe at some parts of that book as well.
(Author, if you’re reading this - you DO have potential as a story writer. But you need someone to bounce ideas off of that isn’t a friend (cough that will only tell you what you want to hear cough). You also need someone with experience to look over your dialogues, as well as character and story building. Honestly, I’d do it if you paid me to, and I’ve not even finished my degree yet, but I guarentee that it would make a difference in the quality of your work. I hope this doesn’t discourage you from writing thoguh, bc the only way to get better is to learn by doing (though the process does go much faster if you have someone to point you in the right direction). Ok, it’s 6 in the morning so this is it for me, I simply cannot attempt to be coherent any longer. Lengthy reviewer, out).
*This book is rated on a rh-scale, and the rating is therefore higher than it would be had this plot/writing/worldbuilding been written for another genre. Bc rh has very limited options, and we need to know what out there is even readable.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 6, 2025what do you mean this wasn't a how to guide of how to navigate the discord app
June 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Comfort: 💖💖💖💖
I just finished this book, and let me tell you, this is easily one of the best books I have read in a long time. Seriously, where has this treasure been hiding all this time?
This book completely stole my heart. It even includes original songs that you can listen to on YouTube, which made the experience even more immersive. The songs are incredible and add so much emotion to the story.
In this book, we follow Candace, an incredibly talented singer with a heartbreaking home life. She lived with an abusive mother and was abandoned by her father when she was only ten years old. As if that were not enough, her mother is institutionalized, leaving Candace to navigate an impossible situation while still trying to maintain the appearance of being a normal high school girl.
Eventually, she meets five guys. Four of them attend high school with her, while the fifth is her neighbor. Let me just say, I absolutely adored this group. One of them even has a seven year old little brother who completely melted my heart.
I genuinely cannot explain how much I loved this book. I am already dying to read the next one.
The found family aspect is one of this book’s strongest points. We do not just get a new friend group. We get a deeply emotional journey where each character’s wounds, backstory, personality, and struggles are explored with care. Watching them slowly become each other’s support system was beautiful.
Everything about this book felt thoughtfully executed, from the emotional moments to the character dynamics and relationships.
♫ ── Characters ── ♫
•Candace: Candace is sweet, caring, and incredibly strong despite everything she has gone through. She has a remarkable gift for singing and composing, and music becomes both her safe place and a way to express herself. What I loved most about her is that while she is undeniably a victim of horrible circumstances, she never lets that define her. She stands her ground with gentleness, kindness, and quiet strength.
•Paxton: Paxton is Calvin’s oldest brother, and he is such a caretaker. He gives major protective energy and honestly radiates total mama bear vibes. I loved how caring he was and how naturally he stepped into that supportive role.
•Toby: Toby was such a joy. He is the kind of friend who makes you forget about everything bad in the world and simply smile. He brings so much warmth and humor, but what I loved most is that beneath his goofy golden retriever energy, he also knows exactly when to be mature and serious.
•Bryan: Bryan feels like the voice of reason in the group. He struggles with trust and tends to be more guarded, but it is obvious how deeply he cares. He often shows his affection through acts of service, which made me appreciate him even more.
•Justin: Justin has a heartbreaking backstory that shaped him into a man of few words. He is quiet and reserved, but also deeply observant and analytical. I loved how quickly he noticed when something was wrong and how naturally he made others feel safe enough to trust him.
•Seth: Seth is truly the communication king. He feels like the leader or older brother of the group. Since he is a year older than everyone else and Candace’s neighbor, his home naturally becomes everyone’s favorite gathering spot. He is patient, caring, dependable, and incredibly kind.
Needless to say, I completely fell in love with every single character.
I do want to mention that while this is not a dark romance, it does explore heavy and potentially disturbing themes. Please check trigger warnings before reading.
⚠️ TW: abuse, child abuse, trauma, death, addiction, pills, and other related topics.
One of the most emotionally powerful parts of this book involved the child abuse awareness charity event. Candace’s song absolutely broke me, and her speech hit even harder. This is such a difficult subject to portray well, but the author handled it with so much care, emotion, and sensitivity.
This book has officially become one of my new favorites, and I am beyond excited to see how the relationships develop throughout the rest of the series.
♫ ── Tropes ── ♫
♪ Why choose/Reverse harem
♪ Found family
♪ Slow burn romance
♪ Protective MMCs
♪ Traumatized but resilient FMC
♪ Healing through love and friendship
♪ Music centered story
♪ High emotional depth
♪ Supportive friend group
♪ Touch her and die vibes
♫ ── Vibes ── ♫
Emotional, healing, comforting, heartfelt, and deeply character driven. This book feels like a warm hug wrapped around heavy themes, balancing pain and healing beautifully. If you love emotionally rich why choose romances with strong found family dynamics, protective love interests, and a resilient heroine finding both love and belonging, this one is absolutely worth reading.
March 18, 2024
What can I say about this book? Well, I picked it up at 10:30 PM and couldn't stop till I finished at 5 AM. Does that say enough?
I believe the best books are the ones that make you really feel the pain, relief and happiness the characters are feeling; this one did it.
Ofc it totally helped that I liked the FL's personality; you can see it shine even through the abuse she suffered. It's cute how she is shy sometimes but is also not afraid to express her opinion. In the book, you kind of see the big picture of her life and the things she went through, but at the same time, there is still so much more.
I do like the guys; it's a little confusing since there are so many of them, but you can clearly see that they are not a carbon copy of each other; each one has their own personality and their own monsters, and since Cadence kind of went through the same or even harder stuff than they did, they can really empathize with each other.
It IS a really slow-built romance; even though they get close quite quickly, it is still believable (at least for me). You can see how desperate Cadence is for a real connection, even though she is scared shitless. But spoiler alert: there is just a small kiss at the end of the book, so be warned.
The charaters: *spoilers*
>Cadence
-Brown hair, 5'8 hight and honey-colored eyes
-14 years playing the piano, very anlitical
>Lindie
-Mother and abuser
>Mrs. Kelly
-Fake socialite
>Amy
-Lawyer
>Calvin
-Dirty blond hair and gray eyes
-Random lost boy
>Paxon
-Dirty blond hair and gray eyes, likes to were beanies
-Calvin's big brother
>Brayan
Black hair, dark brown eyes framed by black-framed glasses
-The reactive and rich one also,he is smart
>Seth
-He was a tall, Black man, maybe around six feet, honey brown eyes with golden hues, black hair was buzzed, shorter on the sides than on top, the oldest of the group.
-Has a bullmastiff (Bebe) that has suffered abuse
-The one she kisses (first kiss)
>Justin
-Is nearly the same height as Seth with curly black hair that fell around his eyes,body language is often stoic and saysvery little, his expressions and eyes tend to speak for him.
>Tobby
-6 foot, His light brown hair had blond streaks at the tips and was shorter on the sides than on the top. It had been stylized to be spiky on top. His smile was wide and white, and hazel eyes
-Social buterfly, the pranckster and musician.
>Wright sisters
>Hazel - hair was a shade lighter (brown), and kept short, brown eyes, and tall lean bodie.
>Lillian - darker hair,always long, brown eyes, and tall lean bodie.
- loved to have fun and that sometimes got them into trouble and dominated the volleyball courts each year since freshman year.
I believe the best books are the ones that make you really feel the pain, relief and happiness the characters are feeling; this one did it.
Ofc it totally helped that I liked the FL's personality; you can see it shine even through the abuse she suffered. It's cute how she is shy sometimes but is also not afraid to express her opinion. In the book, you kind of see the big picture of her life and the things she went through, but at the same time, there is still so much more.
I do like the guys; it's a little confusing since there are so many of them, but you can clearly see that they are not a carbon copy of each other; each one has their own personality and their own monsters, and since Cadence kind of went through the same or even harder stuff than they did, they can really empathize with each other.
It IS a really slow-built romance; even though they get close quite quickly, it is still believable (at least for me). You can see how desperate Cadence is for a real connection, even though she is scared shitless. But spoiler alert: there is just a small kiss at the end of the book, so be warned.
The charaters: *spoilers*
>Cadence
-Brown hair, 5'8 hight and honey-colored eyes
-14 years playing the piano, very anlitical
>Lindie
-Mother and abuser
>Mrs. Kelly
-Fake socialite
>Amy
-Lawyer
>Calvin
-Dirty blond hair and gray eyes
-Random lost boy
>Paxon
-Dirty blond hair and gray eyes, likes to were beanies
-Calvin's big brother
>Brayan
Black hair, dark brown eyes framed by black-framed glasses
-The reactive and rich one also,he is smart
>Seth
-He was a tall, Black man, maybe around six feet, honey brown eyes with golden hues, black hair was buzzed, shorter on the sides than on top, the oldest of the group.
-Has a bullmastiff (Bebe) that has suffered abuse
-The one she kisses (first kiss)
>Justin
-Is nearly the same height as Seth with curly black hair that fell around his eyes,body language is often stoic and saysvery little, his expressions and eyes tend to speak for him.
>Tobby
-6 foot, His light brown hair had blond streaks at the tips and was shorter on the sides than on the top. It had been stylized to be spiky on top. His smile was wide and white, and hazel eyes
-Social buterfly, the pranckster and musician.
>Wright sisters
>Hazel - hair was a shade lighter (brown), and kept short, brown eyes, and tall lean bodie.
>Lillian - darker hair,always long, brown eyes, and tall lean bodie.
- loved to have fun and that sometimes got them into trouble and dominated the volleyball courts each year since freshman year.
October 17, 2022
Im rating this a 2.5, but rounding it up to 3 ⭐️ because I'm generous and shit.
SO... This was a super easy read. Which I needed after reading a few ... disturbing (for myself, anyways) books. I needed a break from all the dark and gritty and crazy.
Cadence is recently emancipated after having dealt with some pretty rough stuff over the summer with her mother. The book picks up right as her senior year is starting out when she meets Paxon, Seth, Toby, Justin, and Bryan. They had been going to school together all this time, but they never noticed her until she stepped in during a situation at some local fair.
Anyways, they decide that they want to keep Cadence because she's (insert adjective here) and, although she's initially hesitant, they start up a friendship.
This is the slowest of slow burns. Which is okay. I'm not complaining. The entire book is them building a friendship with each other (the guys have been friends for years, but Cadence is getting to know them individually and as a group).
That's basically all this book is about - them creating a friendship. Nothing really happens.
I got to the end and was like "Ok then. It's over"
There was a little bit of drama(?) there at the end but it popped up and was resolved all within a chapter.
I likely will not continue this series just because I wasn't all that impressed with the characters. I sometimes found Cadence to be annoying; she was constantly lying. I get it she wants to keep some things to herself and isn't willing to bare her soul to this group of guys she's getting to know, but she's lying about almost everything. I just found it annoying. That and she's an inconsistent character.
The guys were alright. I can appreciate that, despite it being a larger harem (or potential harem), the guys were all distinct, for the most part. I didn't get characters confused. Still, there wasn't much that remarkable about them either.
Anyways. I probably won't continue this series. It wasn't bad, it just nothing really happens.
SO... This was a super easy read. Which I needed after reading a few ... disturbing (for myself, anyways) books. I needed a break from all the dark and gritty and crazy.
Cadence is recently emancipated after having dealt with some pretty rough stuff over the summer with her mother. The book picks up right as her senior year is starting out when she meets Paxon, Seth, Toby, Justin, and Bryan. They had been going to school together all this time, but they never noticed her until she stepped in during a situation at some local fair.
Anyways, they decide that they want to keep Cadence because she's (insert adjective here) and, although she's initially hesitant, they start up a friendship.
This is the slowest of slow burns. Which is okay. I'm not complaining. The entire book is them building a friendship with each other (the guys have been friends for years, but Cadence is getting to know them individually and as a group).
That's basically all this book is about - them creating a friendship. Nothing really happens.
I got to the end and was like "Ok then. It's over"
There was a little bit of drama(?) there at the end but it popped up and was resolved all within a chapter.
I likely will not continue this series just because I wasn't all that impressed with the characters. I sometimes found Cadence to be annoying; she was constantly lying. I get it she wants to keep some things to herself and isn't willing to bare her soul to this group of guys she's getting to know, but she's lying about almost everything. I just found it annoying. That and she's an inconsistent character.
The guys were alright. I can appreciate that, despite it being a larger harem (or potential harem), the guys were all distinct, for the most part. I didn't get characters confused. Still, there wasn't much that remarkable about them either.
Anyways. I probably won't continue this series. It wasn't bad, it just nothing really happens.
March 27, 2022
In one way, Cadence is finally free from her abusive parent. In another way, she feels like she'll never be able to really free herself from the memories and consequences of everything that has happened before starting over again at the age of seventeen. Trying to find stability in her life, she meets some interesting young men who slowly help her open up and find some happiness. It's not easy to put trust in others when you learned from an early age it is dangerous to do so, but will it ultimately be worth it to have them get closer?
This is such a heartfelt, emotional and beautiful story. It's a young adult book, so you shouldn't start it if you're looking for something spicy, but if you're looking for a story that keeps you emotionally invested in the people you're reading about than you will absolutely love this one. Cadence has finally found a good thing in the boys she meets and it's so beautiful to watch them get closer. This series has some Ghostbird vibes, with an addition of music and lyrics that make it even better. While it's the first book in a series, it doesn't end in a real cliffhanger, it just leaves some storylines that are clearly meant to develop further.
I really loved this book; I'm hoping a lot more readers will give it a chance.
This is such a heartfelt, emotional and beautiful story. It's a young adult book, so you shouldn't start it if you're looking for something spicy, but if you're looking for a story that keeps you emotionally invested in the people you're reading about than you will absolutely love this one. Cadence has finally found a good thing in the boys she meets and it's so beautiful to watch them get closer. This series has some Ghostbird vibes, with an addition of music and lyrics that make it even better. While it's the first book in a series, it doesn't end in a real cliffhanger, it just leaves some storylines that are clearly meant to develop further.
I really loved this book; I'm hoping a lot more readers will give it a chance.
August 25, 2022
Why should you read this book?🤔
👇🏻
It has those ”Soulful" 4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌗/5
•
👍🏻 Cadence is a survivor. This is her story, about try to heal from her past eounds, trying to live, trying to breathe... This book talks about serious issues like Mental abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic violence, Mental illness, etc. and its far reaching effects on life, even after getting out of the situation...
👍🏻The storyline has substance, a serious story with a message, its a soulful read. But all with that it also have teenage banter, humor, laughter, the value of the bond of friendship and support🖤
👍🏻 The book has yumm-licious characters that makes you wanna drool. 5 guys all with their sexy abs and athletic body 🤤
👍🏻 I like the work and the way the author has written the story, giving the reader the full impact and the feels. This book ends with a cliffhanger, to be continued in the next book in the series, I am definitely looking forward for 😍
⚠️Triggers Warning: Mental abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic violence, Mental illness
👍🏻My recommendation: If you looking for a good storyline, this one is definitely for you but be aware of the triggers🖤
#fromauthorstoreaders #customizeurcover #fictionlove_alwaysforever
👇🏻
It has those ”Soulful" 4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌗/5
•
👍🏻 Cadence is a survivor. This is her story, about try to heal from her past eounds, trying to live, trying to breathe... This book talks about serious issues like Mental abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic violence, Mental illness, etc. and its far reaching effects on life, even after getting out of the situation...
👍🏻The storyline has substance, a serious story with a message, its a soulful read. But all with that it also have teenage banter, humor, laughter, the value of the bond of friendship and support🖤
👍🏻 The book has yumm-licious characters that makes you wanna drool. 5 guys all with their sexy abs and athletic body 🤤
👍🏻 I like the work and the way the author has written the story, giving the reader the full impact and the feels. This book ends with a cliffhanger, to be continued in the next book in the series, I am definitely looking forward for 😍
⚠️Triggers Warning: Mental abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic violence, Mental illness
👍🏻My recommendation: If you looking for a good storyline, this one is definitely for you but be aware of the triggers🖤
#fromauthorstoreaders #customizeurcover #fictionlove_alwaysforever
May 12, 2022
2.75
Honestly I'm feeling guilty for this review due to the sensitive subject the book addresses. That being said ... Let's get into it. Overall, I didn't love this book. Not only was it a downer dealing with child abuse, it was also very very slow paced. I went into this expecting something different...
I don't know what I was expecting, but what I got was basically women's fiction about coping with an abusive childhood and finding yourself once you are free from your abuser.
If you're looking for romance look elsewhere because there isn't any. If you're looking for a plotline other than the after effects of abuse, this book may not be for you.
The good:
- Burrell wrote actual songs that she links at the end. This was unique and fun.
- there was one interesting thing at the very end of the book that perked me up.
- luckily this was a free read on Scribd
Honestly I'm feeling guilty for this review due to the sensitive subject the book addresses. That being said ... Let's get into it. Overall, I didn't love this book. Not only was it a downer dealing with child abuse, it was also very very slow paced. I went into this expecting something different...
I don't know what I was expecting, but what I got was basically women's fiction about coping with an abusive childhood and finding yourself once you are free from your abuser.
If you're looking for romance look elsewhere because there isn't any. If you're looking for a plotline other than the after effects of abuse, this book may not be for you.
The good:
- Burrell wrote actual songs that she links at the end. This was unique and fun.
- there was one interesting thing at the very end of the book that perked me up.
- luckily this was a free read on Scribd
March 17, 2023
I liked the book but some scenes were not really real. Like her hurting her back and being almost unable to walk when a dog jumps on her but falling off of a roof and running to Seth's house. I liked the guys but it reminded me too much of the ghost Bird academy by c.l. stone. What with all the guys with a dark past coming to save a girl with a past of her own, who has no friends, an abusive mother, an absent father, one rich guy unhappy with his parents, one guy living alone, one guy with a sibling and single parent, one guy who talks a lot, one guy who's tsundere type. Yeah.....did give me academy vibes except that series is a whole lot better and a lot more slow burn... anyway if you wanna read a better reverse harem with high school students i suggest that one over this. That one's long but worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2023
5/5 stars
I freaking loved this book. I’m gonna be honest, it was sitting in my KU library for a long time because I didn’t expect anything from it. Boy was I wrong. This book was so so good. The slow burn is AMAZING! The background of all of the main group… I CANT EVEN DESCRIBE IT. The way that we are slowly getting the lore and pieces of their backstory is amazing. I literally gasped out loud at multiple points in the book. I will say the main plot point that happened at the end with Seth was VERY surprising. I did not think that, that would happen, but boy am I glad it did. I just absolutely love to see their relationships starting to grow and them starting to really trust each other. I will hopefully be moving on to the next book, but we will see if I actually stick to it.
I freaking loved this book. I’m gonna be honest, it was sitting in my KU library for a long time because I didn’t expect anything from it. Boy was I wrong. This book was so so good. The slow burn is AMAZING! The background of all of the main group… I CANT EVEN DESCRIBE IT. The way that we are slowly getting the lore and pieces of their backstory is amazing. I literally gasped out loud at multiple points in the book. I will say the main plot point that happened at the end with Seth was VERY surprising. I did not think that, that would happen, but boy am I glad it did. I just absolutely love to see their relationships starting to grow and them starting to really trust each other. I will hopefully be moving on to the next book, but we will see if I actually stick to it.
November 20, 2022
Blah.
This book... So so blah.
I liked the idea of the music, the adulting.
The writing was a bit tiresome and I don't know why the author jumped between characters. It was mostly told from cadence's pov, but there was random chapters from the other for no particular reason.
Nothing actually happens in this book. The friendships are pretty bland and I found myself speed reading through the second half of the book. To go along with that, I found myself really confused trying to keep the guys straight.
Over all, very very blah and I'm definately not continuing with this series.
This book... So so blah.
I liked the idea of the music, the adulting.
The writing was a bit tiresome and I don't know why the author jumped between characters. It was mostly told from cadence's pov, but there was random chapters from the other for no particular reason.
Nothing actually happens in this book. The friendships are pretty bland and I found myself speed reading through the second half of the book. To go along with that, I found myself really confused trying to keep the guys straight.
Over all, very very blah and I'm definately not continuing with this series.
February 9, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Good plot and character development. Good slow burn for the start of a RH.
Just a tip or feedback, though, for Jaliza is to research back injuries and chronic pain a little more. Medication often doesn't work in such a way that pain is non-existent it usually masks pain, but there's always break through. Her condition was more of a flair up or present at times when relevant. But sadly, as someone who lives with chronic pain, it's constantly present with good and bad days. Just a piece of feedback not a criticism.
I did really enjoy the book.
Just a tip or feedback, though, for Jaliza is to research back injuries and chronic pain a little more. Medication often doesn't work in such a way that pain is non-existent it usually masks pain, but there's always break through. Her condition was more of a flair up or present at times when relevant. But sadly, as someone who lives with chronic pain, it's constantly present with good and bad days. Just a piece of feedback not a criticism.
I did really enjoy the book.
August 24, 2024
This series was a recommendation based off my love for Kerry Taylor's books and I'm so glad I read it! And I really look forward to number 5!
I absolutely loved the author's approach to each of the characters and their trauma and backgrounds. The relationships begin platonic but develop into romantic relationships with minimal angst. This means that despite the dark themes throughout the series, it's a very enjoyable read for me and I struggled to put it down.
I can't wait to see her grow further, figure herself out, and have her happily ever after.
I absolutely loved the author's approach to each of the characters and their trauma and backgrounds. The relationships begin platonic but develop into romantic relationships with minimal angst. This means that despite the dark themes throughout the series, it's a very enjoyable read for me and I struggled to put it down.
I can't wait to see her grow further, figure herself out, and have her happily ever after.
January 22, 2026
Survival, Pain and Power Of Friendship
I haven't cried thia much in a long time and feel guilty having this book sitting on my TBR list for so long.
I enjoyed every bit of it. There is few mistakes but that didn't effect storytelling whatsoever. I hope book two keep the momentum because I really loved the characters and want to see them develop ans grown more. I sincerely recommend you give a chance to read this story but mindful of your triggers before started. On to the book two!
I haven't cried thia much in a long time and feel guilty having this book sitting on my TBR list for so long.
I enjoyed every bit of it. There is few mistakes but that didn't effect storytelling whatsoever. I hope book two keep the momentum because I really loved the characters and want to see them develop ans grown more. I sincerely recommend you give a chance to read this story but mindful of your triggers before started. On to the book two!
March 20, 2022
What an amazing story here. It mentions some triggering stuff so if you are triggered by abuse this may not be for you. Cadence moved to a new neighborhood. Out performing she meets a boy who is lost. She helps him and this is how she meets a few of the guys. They slowly become important in her life. However trauma isn't easily forgotten. Can they help her heal? Love the depth of this book, the raw emotions. Loved it!
March 28, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love this author ! I honestly haven’t found a book she’s written that I didn’t like ! Fantastic stories and this one is no exception . We have a sweet , vulnerable, yet strong FMC and a group of guys that are just perfect . Slow burn , RH and pacing is perfect for the story , I can not wait for the next book , fans of ghost bird , veil diaries etc will love this , has that kind of vibe to it . Looking forward to the next !
I love this author ! I honestly haven’t found a book she’s written that I didn’t like ! Fantastic stories and this one is no exception . We have a sweet , vulnerable, yet strong FMC and a group of guys that are just perfect . Slow burn , RH and pacing is perfect for the story , I can not wait for the next book , fans of ghost bird , veil diaries etc will love this , has that kind of vibe to it . Looking forward to the next !
April 15, 2022
I downloaded this arc because it was listed as an RH and I really like RHs.
Candace is introduced to 5 guys which I can only assume are going to be her harem, but this book is EXTREMELY slow burn, so I can't be certain.
The story line is decent, though there are some dark themes that are brought up over and over again.
Overall a decent story, just not a typical RH. .
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Candace is introduced to 5 guys which I can only assume are going to be her harem, but this book is EXTREMELY slow burn, so I can't be certain.
The story line is decent, though there are some dark themes that are brought up over and over again.
Overall a decent story, just not a typical RH. .
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 5, 2025
(Audible) The reader was phenomenal! I don't have the paper copy of the book, so I don't know if there is actually music notes, but the reader played guitar and sang! She used different voices for different characters, and it was a very entertaining read/listen! No cliffhanger. I kind of fear that book 2 might become smut. I am going to read some reviews before I purchase.
March 26, 2026
I’m a sucker for found family with a hurt/comfort trope!
Rereading books 1-3 now that series is complete.
These books are not great literature-they are wordy and juvenile and farfetched.
These books ARE emotional, sweet, filled with nice (though slightly undeveloped/one dimensional) characters that prevail and the bad guys fail :)
Rereading books 1-3 now that series is complete.
These books are not great literature-they are wordy and juvenile and farfetched.
These books ARE emotional, sweet, filled with nice (though slightly undeveloped/one dimensional) characters that prevail and the bad guys fail :)
April 11, 2022
this book really set up the series? duet? well.
Cadance is sweet but surprisingly naive, supporting herself and her mum's mental health needs through her music this book is a bit of an education as well as a romance.
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I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cadance is sweet but surprisingly naive, supporting herself and her mum's mental health needs through her music this book is a bit of an education as well as a romance.
.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2022
This gave me the feels from Ghost Bird-series by C.L Stone, but a bit more grown up and more realistic (so, without the secret spy stuff). Relly cute, liked the different characters, excited to see where this goes.
June 9, 2022
4 stars
I've read part of this book when the author wrote it before publishing this version. This is a much better version! The plot is more laid out and the characters better developed. A few grammatical mistakes but not overall distracting. I'm eagerly awaiting for book two.
I've read part of this book when the author wrote it before publishing this version. This is a much better version! The plot is more laid out and the characters better developed. A few grammatical mistakes but not overall distracting. I'm eagerly awaiting for book two.
November 16, 2022
OMG
I could not put this book down. It had me hooked good. I’m so ready for the next book. I can’t wait to get it. It is a slow burn. But with all that is going on, and what everyone has gone through, it’s understandable. Hello “Finding a Melody” I can’t wait to start you!
I could not put this book down. It had me hooked good. I’m so ready for the next book. I can’t wait to get it. It is a slow burn. But with all that is going on, and what everyone has gone through, it’s understandable. Hello “Finding a Melody” I can’t wait to start you!
January 2, 2023
Loved it
I don't know why I haven't read this book before. It has been sitting in my TBR for ages. Glad I finally got round to reading it! And the fact that the author actually has the songs is amazing! I loved listening to them!
I don't know why I haven't read this book before. It has been sitting in my TBR for ages. Glad I finally got round to reading it! And the fact that the author actually has the songs is amazing! I loved listening to them!
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