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Learning to Love
String Me Along
This is a standalone, rivals to lovers, slowburn romance in the Learning to Love Series. Although it is not necessary, it is recommended to read Meet Me Halfway first.
Between moving across the country to help her best friend and building her music career from scratch, Layla is pretty dang proud of what she’s accomplished.
She’s booked every weekend, and her name is quickly becoming well known in the area.
So it comes as a shock when her booking agent slowly stops calling her. That is, until she runs into the musician who’s been stealing her gigs.
She can’t deny he has a voice to die for and the body of a god, but neither helps the fact that his personality is pure poison.
Their exchanges never fail to boil her blood, but it’s a game she starts to look forward to, and she’s determined not to back down first.
She always thought she wanted the sweet love she sings about. But with every quick-tongued remark and heated glance, she realizes sweet might not burn the way she needs.
And what better way to stoke a fire than with a little bit of hate.
Between moving across the country to help her best friend and building her music career from scratch, Layla is pretty dang proud of what she’s accomplished.
She’s booked every weekend, and her name is quickly becoming well known in the area.
So it comes as a shock when her booking agent slowly stops calling her. That is, until she runs into the musician who’s been stealing her gigs.
She can’t deny he has a voice to die for and the body of a god, but neither helps the fact that his personality is pure poison.
Their exchanges never fail to boil her blood, but it’s a game she starts to look forward to, and she’s determined not to back down first.
She always thought she wanted the sweet love she sings about. But with every quick-tongued remark and heated glance, she realizes sweet might not burn the way she needs.
And what better way to stoke a fire than with a little bit of hate.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2023
95 people are currently reading
2786 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 4, 2023
if lilian t james writes the book, i WILL read it. after finishing meet me halfway i was beyond excited to read this one. thank you again, lilian, for sending me the arc😩you have officially gotten me out of my reading slump🫶🏼guys this book was sooooo good😮💨adrian waters and garrett rowe, why choose? because i want them both🫣BUT before i talk about adrian…guys the women in these books. literally my favorite fmc’s ever. i simply can’t get over layla’s and madison’s friendship🥹it reminds me of my friendship with my best friend. i’m literally getting emotional thinking about it. ALSO just reading about madison, garrett, and jamie again made me so happy…i never want to be done with their story🥺i never wanna leave this universe, it’s definitely one of my favorites. i absolutely love layla. her heart is so pure, but she would always put up this front that made her seem like she had no heart. i absolutely loved the plot of this book. there’s a part of the story where i had to put the book down and cry for a good 10 minutes because it really hit home. i can’t tell you guys exactly because it’s a pretty big part in the book, but i want to do nothing but cry every time i think about it :( the writing was amazing of course because lilian t james just really knows what she’s doing😩the slow burn in this book was REALLLLL, even if you guys don’t like slow burns i still recommend reading lilian’s books because she makes the slow burn so worth it. it’s literally like a reward😮💨😮💨this book is only in layla’s pov but adrian’s added pov at the end omg🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋they literally loathed each other. layla thought he loathed her but his pov😭😭😭 “i watched her as she wrapped up her next song, and when her lips spread into a wide, exuberant smile that lit up her entire face, i was done for.” consider me ✨swooned✨ he was literally so rude to her but secretly stayed and watched her perform🤭also just the way he told layla that she looks beautiful when she cries when she was complaining about him seeing her ugly cry…he didn’t tell her in those exact words. he told her that her tears make the blue in her eyes pop against her dark lashes and the flush on her cheeks highlight her freckles. and then he says "you say i saw you embarrass yourself. i say i saw a woman unabashedly show how much she cares about those around her." he shook his head. "there's nothing ugly about that." PLEASEEEE😭🦋5 precious stars🥹meet me halfway it still my number 1 hehe, but i just can’t rate the sequel any lower than 5 stars because of how much this little universe means to me🥹🫶🏼ALSO i think lilian is going to be writing another book in this series because someone asked her on a q&a on her instagram and she said she had another one in mind (something along those lines). honestly i hope because i will eat that up😭😭i will never stop recommending these two books…i know there’s also a novella or two that i will be reading very soon hehe, but please everyone check out my spoiler free review of meet me halfway…read that book, and then read this one when it comes out may 30th!! i pre ordered mine already hehe the cover is STUNNING🫶🏼🫶🏼
June 7, 2023
3.5 stars
After reading the first book in this series, I was curious about Layla and excited to get to read her book. Layla is a musician and Madison’s best friend/roommate. Her first meeting with Adrian sets the stage for enemies to lovers but there is more to it than that. It’s a slow-burn and was a fun and quick read. Layla did annoy me a bit through parts of the book, but overall I enjoyed it.
After reading the first book in this series, I was curious about Layla and excited to get to read her book. Layla is a musician and Madison’s best friend/roommate. Her first meeting with Adrian sets the stage for enemies to lovers but there is more to it than that. It’s a slow-burn and was a fun and quick read. Layla did annoy me a bit through parts of the book, but overall I enjoyed it.
May 29, 2023
ugh i needed a good slow burn in my life and this delivered.
adrian and layla are rival musicians who end up having to partner together… very reluctantly on layla’s part. as time goes on, adrian challenges basically everything layla’s been doing with her life so far and dares her to take a chance on herself.
i am layla, layla is me. layla is for my girlies who come off super sassy (ok, bitchy) and unfeeling but really it’s because they’re squashing all their emotions down in favor of caring about everyone else’s emotions. i just loved her, flaws and all. and adrian basically came into her life and said, i see you taking care of everyone else and i’m going to take care of you and teach you to take care of yourself too.
super slow burn but the end was so rewarding. he just showed up for her time and time again and i loved it.
if you’re an MZ lover, you should definitely check out this one and the first book, meet me halfway.
adrian and layla are rival musicians who end up having to partner together… very reluctantly on layla’s part. as time goes on, adrian challenges basically everything layla’s been doing with her life so far and dares her to take a chance on herself.
i am layla, layla is me. layla is for my girlies who come off super sassy (ok, bitchy) and unfeeling but really it’s because they’re squashing all their emotions down in favor of caring about everyone else’s emotions. i just loved her, flaws and all. and adrian basically came into her life and said, i see you taking care of everyone else and i’m going to take care of you and teach you to take care of yourself too.
super slow burn but the end was so rewarding. he just showed up for her time and time again and i loved it.
if you’re an MZ lover, you should definitely check out this one and the first book, meet me halfway.
July 21, 2023
Great slow burn .
4 stars
4 stars
December 20, 2023
4 ⭐️
Slowburn, enemies to lovers and he falls first!
Sign me up!!!
Slowburn, enemies to lovers and he falls first!
Sign me up!!!
August 29, 2023
You are not in like with this man, Layla. It doesn’t matter that he loves his grandma and isn’t the selfish bastard you’d painted him to be. It doesn’t matter that he ditched out on a show to be there for you. You do not want to fuck his brains out and snuggle your cheek against his perfect pecs afterward. You don’t. You don’t. You don’t.
Sometimes a slow burn with all the pain and feels is exactly what you need to break that book slump.
First off, I’ve loved Lilian T. James since I stumbled upon her erotic novella Love Me Dirty and while the other two full length books in this series are extremely different they all have heart.
I was weary of this one because I’m not much for rockstars or musicians but this was two up and coming local musicians without ridiculous fans getting in the way.
It had all the build up as Meet Me Halfway with so much laughter, love and a true village of friends helping each other get through this crazy thing called life. Cute little pups and one adorable boy included from the first book. And both Garrett and Maddison AND Nate and Marissa are part of the fun! Not enough Harry and Sarah in my opinion but still so good. In other words, don’t read this until you read the others in the series.
I loved that Layla was the uncertain one in the relationship, the one who feared commitment and didn’t want to let others down in her life over a a guy.
Adrian was sarcastic, patient and full of bubbling emotions. But when he finally took control…WOW. This author knows how to make one good sex scene worth every page it took to get there and you really feel so invested and full of joy when it happens.
Now if Lilian could give me a filthy, smut novella every so often all my wishes will come true.
💕💕💕💕/ 5
🔥🔥/ 5
😳😳😳😳/ 5
😂😂😂😂😂/ 5
Sometimes a slow burn with all the pain and feels is exactly what you need to break that book slump.
First off, I’ve loved Lilian T. James since I stumbled upon her erotic novella Love Me Dirty and while the other two full length books in this series are extremely different they all have heart.
I was weary of this one because I’m not much for rockstars or musicians but this was two up and coming local musicians without ridiculous fans getting in the way.
It had all the build up as Meet Me Halfway with so much laughter, love and a true village of friends helping each other get through this crazy thing called life. Cute little pups and one adorable boy included from the first book. And both Garrett and Maddison AND Nate and Marissa are part of the fun! Not enough Harry and Sarah in my opinion but still so good. In other words, don’t read this until you read the others in the series.
I loved that Layla was the uncertain one in the relationship, the one who feared commitment and didn’t want to let others down in her life over a a guy.
Adrian was sarcastic, patient and full of bubbling emotions. But when he finally took control…WOW. This author knows how to make one good sex scene worth every page it took to get there and you really feel so invested and full of joy when it happens.
Now if Lilian could give me a filthy, smut novella every so often all my wishes will come true.
💕💕💕💕/ 5
🔥🔥/ 5
😳😳😳😳/ 5
😂😂😂😂😂/ 5
March 24, 2023
After reading a LOT of dark fantasy books this month, String Me Along was a breath of fresh air. I finished in less than 24 hours! Like Lilian T. James' previous contemporary novel, Meet Me Halfway, this book has some tough themes. However, overall it's a lot of fun, with a sassy and snarky FMC, a witty and grumpy MMC, and tons of pointed banter that I LOVED.
Layla is a musician and has a regular gig at a popular bar. One night, she spots attractive fellow musician Adrian Waters there before her show starts and introduces herself. He brushes her off and insults her, making a terrible first impression. Then, a few days later, Layla finds out that he has been booked over her at her regular bar. She is understandably furious, even more so when she finds out her booking agent wants her to partner with Adrian for shows. Despite obvious mutual attraction (the tension in this one is DELICOUS), both of them are SO stubborn and continuously create situations where they piss each other off. It's a SLOW burn, but the banter makes it worth it.
I constantly wanted to yell at both Layla and Adrian while they work through their rivalry ("just get it on already!"). Haha they clearly got off on making each other mad, but they were so well-suited for each other from the beginning. Other characters in the book see it too, but it takes so long for them to see it for themselves. That said, I love how much time they take to get to know each other before they start moving into relationship territory. Just like in Meet Me Halfway, Layla is so scared to move forward that it takes a lot for her to trust Adrian's intentions. Honestly, these are some of the most realistic relationships in romance novels that I've read, and I kind of love it.
As in Meet Me Halfway, Adrian interacting with Jamie made me tear up EVERY TIME. That poor kid has really been through the wringer, and it makes me so happy that he has yet another positive adult male figure to look up to. In addition, Adrian and his grandma made me MELT. Despite being a bit hard around the edges and needing a filter around Layla, he's really a golden retriever in disguise.
There is some REALLY good spice in this book, but it takes a LONG time to get there. Believe me when I say it's worth the wait.
Thank you so much for sharing this ARC with me Lilian! String Me Along releases on May 30, which gives you plenty of time to read Meet Me Halfway so you can meet Layla's roommate Madison before you read!
Layla is a musician and has a regular gig at a popular bar. One night, she spots attractive fellow musician Adrian Waters there before her show starts and introduces herself. He brushes her off and insults her, making a terrible first impression. Then, a few days later, Layla finds out that he has been booked over her at her regular bar. She is understandably furious, even more so when she finds out her booking agent wants her to partner with Adrian for shows. Despite obvious mutual attraction (the tension in this one is DELICOUS), both of them are SO stubborn and continuously create situations where they piss each other off. It's a SLOW burn, but the banter makes it worth it.
I constantly wanted to yell at both Layla and Adrian while they work through their rivalry ("just get it on already!"). Haha they clearly got off on making each other mad, but they were so well-suited for each other from the beginning. Other characters in the book see it too, but it takes so long for them to see it for themselves. That said, I love how much time they take to get to know each other before they start moving into relationship territory. Just like in Meet Me Halfway, Layla is so scared to move forward that it takes a lot for her to trust Adrian's intentions. Honestly, these are some of the most realistic relationships in romance novels that I've read, and I kind of love it.
As in Meet Me Halfway, Adrian interacting with Jamie made me tear up EVERY TIME. That poor kid has really been through the wringer, and it makes me so happy that he has yet another positive adult male figure to look up to. In addition, Adrian and his grandma made me MELT. Despite being a bit hard around the edges and needing a filter around Layla, he's really a golden retriever in disguise.
There is some REALLY good spice in this book, but it takes a LONG time to get there. Believe me when I say it's worth the wait.
Thank you so much for sharing this ARC with me Lilian! String Me Along releases on May 30, which gives you plenty of time to read Meet Me Halfway so you can meet Layla's roommate Madison before you read!
May 2, 2024
Tropes:
~slow burn
~rivals to lovers
~grumpy x sunshine (heroine is the grump)
~musician romance
~small town
I think it's safe to say that Lilian T. James is one of my favorite authors. I've given all of her contemporaries 5 stars and plan to dive into her fantasy romances ASAP! I was nervous going into this one because the whole musician/fame set-up never interests me, and both the hero and heroine are musicians, but I ended up loving it! If you picked up book 1 in the series (which you should because omfg I LOVED that one) then you'll recognize this heroine, since she was the best friend. She's prickly and ready to tell off any man who looks at her the wrong way, but fiercely loyal to those she cares about. And as soon as the hero meets her and hears her sing, he's toast lol.
Extra kudos to the woman narrator who had a fantastic voice and actually sang bits of the song the heroine was writing throughout the book. I wasn't expecting that extra touch!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"And I knew from the first note played
I'd be breaking all my rules to see you"
~slow burn
~rivals to lovers
~grumpy x sunshine (heroine is the grump)
~musician romance
~small town
I think it's safe to say that Lilian T. James is one of my favorite authors. I've given all of her contemporaries 5 stars and plan to dive into her fantasy romances ASAP! I was nervous going into this one because the whole musician/fame set-up never interests me, and both the hero and heroine are musicians, but I ended up loving it! If you picked up book 1 in the series (which you should because omfg I LOVED that one) then you'll recognize this heroine, since she was the best friend. She's prickly and ready to tell off any man who looks at her the wrong way, but fiercely loyal to those she cares about. And as soon as the hero meets her and hears her sing, he's toast lol.
Extra kudos to the woman narrator who had a fantastic voice and actually sang bits of the song the heroine was writing throughout the book. I wasn't expecting that extra touch!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"And I knew from the first note played
I'd be breaking all my rules to see you"
December 31, 2023
** One of my Top 20 of 2023 Picks on www.JeevesReads.com! **
With a delicious slow burn and feuding that's really foreplay, I loved the BITE of this rivals to lovers romance. These two have tension from the moment they meet, and it was immensely compelling to watch their bickering slowly simmer into banter, which fueled the passionate dynamic of their relationship. I also loved that it felt fresh and different, with a heroine who is tough as nails until she feels safe enough to let down her guard. And I loved that the hero could see right through her, understanding her in a way that few other people do. It's the ultimate black cat romance, though this hero is definitely no golden retriever. He may secretly love that she's a handful, but he gives as good as he gets - and I adored that. Together, they have the kind of chemistry that leaps off the page, and that made it so easy to binge this in one sitting. It kept me on my toes and made me smile and swoon in equal measure, which is why this was an EASY 5-star rating for me. I loved it!
The story follows Layla, a musician with the potential to be a big success. Right now, she's steadily booking smaller jobs in the hours she's available, but helping out her best friend means she's got some restrictions on her time. So when a bigger name comes in and steals her most reliable gig, Layla is instantly annoyed. And every interaction she has with Adrian just makes her want to wipe the smile off his face even more. The two certainly do not start off their relationship on the right foot, but it's not long before Layla is grudgingly agreeing to team up with him for some performances. The two can't be in the same room together for five minutes without bickering, but Layla can't help feeling like some of that tension might be of the sexual variety - at least on her end. Adrian clearly just hates her. But their heated interactions sometimes feel like something else entirely, and Layla isn't sure what to do about that.
Told exclusively from Layla's POV, we're left to decipher Adrian's actions and feelings without input from him. I loved that. Layla is so focused on their mutual hate that she is either unwilling or unable to see the shift in the dynamic, but I absolutely ADORED Adrian, and his feelings were obvious to me. I loved trying to analyze every interaction for its deeper context, and watching the subtle changes was so much fun. As much as I loved Meet Me Halfway, this was SO different and yet equally entertaining. The series is tied together by the characters (but easy to read as standalones), but this has a significant tonal shift. It also focuses on Layla and her unique struggles, which don't become apparent until we get to know her better. I loved that Adrian figured her out so quickly and could see behind her (very high) walls. She's the kind of heroine that not every reader is going to love, but I liked her more and more as the book progressed. Same with Adrian, honestly. The more I figured him out, the more I loved him. And the more I thought he made the perfect match for Layla. They don't have - and never will have - a soft, tender love, but it's one that is just as deep. And that slow burn? Whoa boy, I was so, SO invested when they finally gave in. This is the kind of book that hooked me from the start but gets even better as it progresses, and I loved it a lot.
With a delicious slow burn and feuding that's really foreplay, I loved the BITE of this rivals to lovers romance. These two have tension from the moment they meet, and it was immensely compelling to watch their bickering slowly simmer into banter, which fueled the passionate dynamic of their relationship. I also loved that it felt fresh and different, with a heroine who is tough as nails until she feels safe enough to let down her guard. And I loved that the hero could see right through her, understanding her in a way that few other people do. It's the ultimate black cat romance, though this hero is definitely no golden retriever. He may secretly love that she's a handful, but he gives as good as he gets - and I adored that. Together, they have the kind of chemistry that leaps off the page, and that made it so easy to binge this in one sitting. It kept me on my toes and made me smile and swoon in equal measure, which is why this was an EASY 5-star rating for me. I loved it!
The story follows Layla, a musician with the potential to be a big success. Right now, she's steadily booking smaller jobs in the hours she's available, but helping out her best friend means she's got some restrictions on her time. So when a bigger name comes in and steals her most reliable gig, Layla is instantly annoyed. And every interaction she has with Adrian just makes her want to wipe the smile off his face even more. The two certainly do not start off their relationship on the right foot, but it's not long before Layla is grudgingly agreeing to team up with him for some performances. The two can't be in the same room together for five minutes without bickering, but Layla can't help feeling like some of that tension might be of the sexual variety - at least on her end. Adrian clearly just hates her. But their heated interactions sometimes feel like something else entirely, and Layla isn't sure what to do about that.
Told exclusively from Layla's POV, we're left to decipher Adrian's actions and feelings without input from him. I loved that. Layla is so focused on their mutual hate that she is either unwilling or unable to see the shift in the dynamic, but I absolutely ADORED Adrian, and his feelings were obvious to me. I loved trying to analyze every interaction for its deeper context, and watching the subtle changes was so much fun. As much as I loved Meet Me Halfway, this was SO different and yet equally entertaining. The series is tied together by the characters (but easy to read as standalones), but this has a significant tonal shift. It also focuses on Layla and her unique struggles, which don't become apparent until we get to know her better. I loved that Adrian figured her out so quickly and could see behind her (very high) walls. She's the kind of heroine that not every reader is going to love, but I liked her more and more as the book progressed. Same with Adrian, honestly. The more I figured him out, the more I loved him. And the more I thought he made the perfect match for Layla. They don't have - and never will have - a soft, tender love, but it's one that is just as deep. And that slow burn? Whoa boy, I was so, SO invested when they finally gave in. This is the kind of book that hooked me from the start but gets even better as it progresses, and I loved it a lot.
June 6, 2023
so disappointed ugh he was basically whipped after their first meeting fuck that
June 17, 2023
ok so review time. i had been waiting for this book for so friggin long but i didn't know how much i needed it. i am literally layla. i don't mean that figuratively... I. AM. LAYLA. musician? check. the heels? check. sleeping naked? check. the how she watches the fan? check. putting people before myself? always. being a sassy, maneating bitch with a love of dogs and trust issues? check, check, and check!
this book was very daisy and billy without the substance abuse and adultery and more of the friendship and grumpy pining and honestly it was so damn good. non-musical people might not understand but i always, always say that there's a special bond between people who sing together. it's different than doing anything else as a pair. idk how else to explain it, it's on a deeper, cosmic level that makes me go crazy.
so like adrian?? marry me. he was the right amount of grumpy because he also had a personality. i dont like when guys are just straight up grumps, like my man adrian GOT FLUSTERED. HE BLUSHED. i went wild for that shit. you know what else i went wild for? MARISSA AND NATE. when i tell you I SCREAMED SO LOUD when they came to the bar... AS BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND. i need their book immediately!!
boooo to you author for making me think that sadie was gonna die, THAT WAS CRUEL i literally would never be prepared for hers or rugpants' death. DO NOT EVER KILL RUGPANTS. when i tell that is the best character name i have ever heard ever, it has a special place in my heart.
i didn't realize how slow burn it was until it was 7 chapters til the end and they kissed for the first time. like DAMN. but honestly and truthfully, that smut was DIZZYING. like holy moly my jaw dropped it came out of left field. then i thought about the novella with nate and marissa and and remembered which author i was dealing with lmfao. also i got the vibe that layla wasn't the straightest and idk if it was mentioned previously but that literally just made me more like. thank you author. now i need nate's book and harry's book !!!! 4.7
this book was very daisy and billy without the substance abuse and adultery and more of the friendship and grumpy pining and honestly it was so damn good. non-musical people might not understand but i always, always say that there's a special bond between people who sing together. it's different than doing anything else as a pair. idk how else to explain it, it's on a deeper, cosmic level that makes me go crazy.
so like adrian?? marry me. he was the right amount of grumpy because he also had a personality. i dont like when guys are just straight up grumps, like my man adrian GOT FLUSTERED. HE BLUSHED. i went wild for that shit. you know what else i went wild for? MARISSA AND NATE. when i tell you I SCREAMED SO LOUD when they came to the bar... AS BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND. i need their book immediately!!
boooo to you author for making me think that sadie was gonna die, THAT WAS CRUEL i literally would never be prepared for hers or rugpants' death. DO NOT EVER KILL RUGPANTS. when i tell that is the best character name i have ever heard ever, it has a special place in my heart.
i didn't realize how slow burn it was until it was 7 chapters til the end and they kissed for the first time. like DAMN. but honestly and truthfully, that smut was DIZZYING. like holy moly my jaw dropped it came out of left field. then i thought about the novella with nate and marissa and and remembered which author i was dealing with lmfao. also i got the vibe that layla wasn't the straightest and idk if it was mentioned previously but that literally just made me more like. thank you author. now i need nate's book and harry's book !!!! 4.7
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2023
“Come on, Layla, grow a clit and just fucking go for it.”
Layla is hilarious. She thinks things like, “laundry will be my villain origin story.” She’s feisty, fiery, and takes attitude from no one. She’ll tell you how she really feels, and you’re more likely to hear her cuss you out than witness her cry in front of you. It’s no surprise that when Adrian is arrogance personified the first time they meet and 100% blows off her friendly greeting, he ends up on her hit list. Naturally, this creates the perfect staging for an enemies-to-lovers romance. And as a cherry on top, they’re both musicians. (Just think of all the beautiful music they could make together 🎶🫠)
This is a delicious (but not at all sweet) slooooow burn that will have you hooked from their first encounter. You might feel the urge to shake Layla every now and then for her emotional guards, but she figures it out in the end.
As an added bonus, we see more of Madison and Garrett from Meet Me Halfway, and Garrett is as obsessed as ever. 😍
If you enjoy books by Elena Armas and Christina Lauren, you’ll definitely want to add this to your list.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (of 5)
Layla is hilarious. She thinks things like, “laundry will be my villain origin story.” She’s feisty, fiery, and takes attitude from no one. She’ll tell you how she really feels, and you’re more likely to hear her cuss you out than witness her cry in front of you. It’s no surprise that when Adrian is arrogance personified the first time they meet and 100% blows off her friendly greeting, he ends up on her hit list. Naturally, this creates the perfect staging for an enemies-to-lovers romance. And as a cherry on top, they’re both musicians. (Just think of all the beautiful music they could make together 🎶🫠)
This is a delicious (but not at all sweet) slooooow burn that will have you hooked from their first encounter. You might feel the urge to shake Layla every now and then for her emotional guards, but she figures it out in the end.
As an added bonus, we see more of Madison and Garrett from Meet Me Halfway, and Garrett is as obsessed as ever. 😍
If you enjoy books by Elena Armas and Christina Lauren, you’ll definitely want to add this to your list.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (of 5)
June 3, 2023
I can’t give this book enough stars! Lilian did it again! Each book she releases I swear some how I love more than the last! The way she writes her characters and their stories you get so sucked in and fall in love with it all! I loved Layla and Adrian’s relationship! The enemies to lovers is done so well! This book left me wanting so much more of their stories! I also loved the little Garrett and Madison moments you see in this book!
September 9, 2025
I am forever crying.
I remember reading the first book in this series back in 2022 and I absolutely devoured it THEN and I absolutely devoured this book NOW.
The found family these two besties have and their forever family they have with the men they found, ugh, do not get me started. Love love love! 🥲
I remember reading the first book in this series back in 2022 and I absolutely devoured it THEN and I absolutely devoured this book NOW.
The found family these two besties have and their forever family they have with the men they found, ugh, do not get me started. Love love love! 🥲
May 30, 2023
Let me start this off by saying, Layla is hilarious and I absolutely adore her friendship with Madison! The slow-burn was delectable and I can’t ever get enough of Lillian’s writing.
If you’re looking for rivals-to-lovers romcom with no third act breakup, check it out!!
If you’re looking for rivals-to-lovers romcom with no third act breakup, check it out!!
June 16, 2023
really really want to give this five stars but nothing can beat garrett and madison. STILL this book?? hello?? amazing. i loved every second of this book. 4.8
January 23, 2024
i liked meet me halfway better :/
March 31, 2023
Lilian has done it again. Her writing always draws me in and her characters are so relatable. You can’t help but want to strangle them but also cheer them on. I was provided an ARC and want to thank Lilian for the opportunity to read String Me Along early.
Layla always puts others first especially her bff Madison who became a mom in her teens. In their 20’s, as Madison is going to school and working multiple jobs to make ends meet while taking care of her son, Layla drops everything moving to a completely new state to help her. Taking on a desk job she hates, Layla still makes time for her slowly growing music career by playing gigs on the weekends. When Layla’s booking agent gives away her standing Friday night gig at Jemmy’s Bar to another musician (along with a very bad first impression), it begins an intense rivalry between Layla and Adrian.
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a fun and easy read. The banter between Layla and Adrian is perfection! It’s a slow burn but the spice towards the end is totally worth it. There were multiple times while reading that I desperately wanted Adrian’s perspective. Lilian adds Chapter 2 1/2 at the end providing Adrian’s perspective of his first meeting with Layla. I would love to see more from Adrian’s perspective!
While not necessary, I highly recommend reading Meet Me Halfway before reading String Me Along. Meet Me Halfway is such an amazing book with great spice plus it provides a lot of great background for the characters in String Me Along.
Layla always puts others first especially her bff Madison who became a mom in her teens. In their 20’s, as Madison is going to school and working multiple jobs to make ends meet while taking care of her son, Layla drops everything moving to a completely new state to help her. Taking on a desk job she hates, Layla still makes time for her slowly growing music career by playing gigs on the weekends. When Layla’s booking agent gives away her standing Friday night gig at Jemmy’s Bar to another musician (along with a very bad first impression), it begins an intense rivalry between Layla and Adrian.
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a fun and easy read. The banter between Layla and Adrian is perfection! It’s a slow burn but the spice towards the end is totally worth it. There were multiple times while reading that I desperately wanted Adrian’s perspective. Lilian adds Chapter 2 1/2 at the end providing Adrian’s perspective of his first meeting with Layla. I would love to see more from Adrian’s perspective!
While not necessary, I highly recommend reading Meet Me Halfway before reading String Me Along. Meet Me Halfway is such an amazing book with great spice plus it provides a lot of great background for the characters in String Me Along.
January 17, 2025
3.5, the reading slump strikes again…anywhooo, this was good! amazing? not particularly, but that’s solely opinion based
February 10, 2024
The way I almost DNF this book. Nothing like Meet Me Halfway which I absolutely adore. The chemistry between Layla and Adrian wasn’t there for me. Layla herself was extremely aggravating and the way the “I hate you but I’m attracted to you” was off putting in the way it was done. It even took away from the one spicy scene that was in the book.
May 30, 2023
I really enjoyed the banter we got with Layla and Adrian in this book! Their enemies to lovers is just what I expected to see in this book! I was happy we got to still see what Madison and Garrett also! This was definitely a sloww burn book, I was really rooting for Adrian when he would show up for Layla!
Thank you to Lilian for the arc for my honest review!
Thank you to Lilian for the arc for my honest review!
June 30, 2023
I really enjoyed this. I just couldn’t stop reading it once I started. I didn’t like it quite as much as Meet Me Halfway, but it is unfair to compare them as they’re very different stories with different tones.
The relationship between Layla and Adrian is a really interesting one; there’s genuine animosity between them and they have a fair few spats. I liked Layla – I did think she was a bit too spiky, sometimes, but I got where the author was going with it. I felt very similarly towards Adrian for much of the book. I did enjoy their chemistry and I thought they had a fun dynamic. It was steamy and it had a good slow burn.
I did think that the book was a little on the bland side; I was engaged with it and enjoyed it enough to read it pretty much in one sitting but there wasn’t a lot going on. It might have been improved by a bit more drama.
That said, I love the friendship between Layla and Madison (and, in turn, Layla’s relationship with Jamie. That was a really lovely, touching element to the book and it was nice to see the depth of it from Layla’s perspective.
On the whole I think this was a really solid romance book, especially if you like an enemies-to-lovers book.
Content Notes: Hate-to-love, bargains/deals/wagers, forced proximity, musician MCs.
Warnings:
Other: .
The relationship between Layla and Adrian is a really interesting one; there’s genuine animosity between them and they have a fair few spats. I liked Layla – I did think she was a bit too spiky, sometimes, but I got where the author was going with it. I felt very similarly towards Adrian for much of the book. I did enjoy their chemistry and I thought they had a fun dynamic. It was steamy and it had a good slow burn.
I did think that the book was a little on the bland side; I was engaged with it and enjoyed it enough to read it pretty much in one sitting but there wasn’t a lot going on. It might have been improved by a bit more drama.
That said, I love the friendship between Layla and Madison (and, in turn, Layla’s relationship with Jamie. That was a really lovely, touching element to the book and it was nice to see the depth of it from Layla’s perspective.
On the whole I think this was a really solid romance book, especially if you like an enemies-to-lovers book.
Content Notes: Hate-to-love, bargains/deals/wagers, forced proximity, musician MCs.
Warnings:
Other: .
June 10, 2023
3 stars. I LOVED Garrett,Madison and Jamie in the first book. They are the reason I started reading this book. Sadly, they also ended up being the ONLY reason I continued this book. Parts of the book felt very lagged. The writing and setting of the story are almost identical to the first one, so that didn’t thrill me either. The main characters - Layla and Adrian were sometimes getting on my nerves. I get that this is an enemies to lovers story, but I didn’t really ✨FEEL✨ neither the enemies nor the lovers part. Overall, a simple read. Nothing over the top nor new.
dnf-or-skimmed
July 8, 2023not sure I can say I fully read this because I skipped over all the scenes without adrian
March 27, 2023
This book was a breath of fresh air amongst all the fantasy I’ve been reading. Lilian is such a talented author in not only writing you into the story with her descriptive scene building, interesting conversations and high tension banter - but she will snatch at your mama bear heartstrings and tug until those tears fall. 😭🤣
🎶 TROPES & THEMES 🎶
✔️ rivals to lovers
✔️ slow burn & banter
✔️ stubborn and fiery FMC
✔️ equally stubborn and broody-ish MMC
✔️ musicians who must perform together
✔️ full cast of endearing characters
✔️ will probably make you cry, but like in a good way 🤣
✔️ standalone with an HEA
Layla GIRL. She’s literal best friend goals. She’s been with her bff Mads for basically ever and was even there when her son was born. As a person who became a mom earlier than I planned - this was so close to home for me. I would have loved to have a friend like her there to hold my hand and be that true ride or die during such a scary transitional phase of life.
She moved states away too to live with them to help with bills, rent, and watching her son Jamie when needed. Truly, she’s INCREDIBLE! But ya girl is STUBBORN!! 🤣🤣
This whole book I wanted to shake her for always getting in her own way with progress with other musician and reluctant partner and rival - Adrian. Bud don’t get me wrong, I am here for the drama. 💅
I loved Layla and Adrian’s rival banter and chemistry. Watching them both sort of open up to each other and grow together was so beautiful.
This book was such a fun read!! And then we had some spicy bits near the end?! YESSS. 🤣🤣
I really loved this book. And now I know I need to read Meet Me Halfway even though I know I’ll probably be a blubbering crying mess the entire time. 🥲🤣
Thank you so much for this arc, Lilian!! It was such a great book!!
🎶 TROPES & THEMES 🎶
✔️ rivals to lovers
✔️ slow burn & banter
✔️ stubborn and fiery FMC
✔️ equally stubborn and broody-ish MMC
✔️ musicians who must perform together
✔️ full cast of endearing characters
✔️ will probably make you cry, but like in a good way 🤣
✔️ standalone with an HEA
Layla GIRL. She’s literal best friend goals. She’s been with her bff Mads for basically ever and was even there when her son was born. As a person who became a mom earlier than I planned - this was so close to home for me. I would have loved to have a friend like her there to hold my hand and be that true ride or die during such a scary transitional phase of life.
She moved states away too to live with them to help with bills, rent, and watching her son Jamie when needed. Truly, she’s INCREDIBLE! But ya girl is STUBBORN!! 🤣🤣
This whole book I wanted to shake her for always getting in her own way with progress with other musician and reluctant partner and rival - Adrian. Bud don’t get me wrong, I am here for the drama. 💅
I loved Layla and Adrian’s rival banter and chemistry. Watching them both sort of open up to each other and grow together was so beautiful.
This book was such a fun read!! And then we had some spicy bits near the end?! YESSS. 🤣🤣
I really loved this book. And now I know I need to read Meet Me Halfway even though I know I’ll probably be a blubbering crying mess the entire time. 🥲🤣
Thank you so much for this arc, Lilian!! It was such a great book!!
May 31, 2023
in "string me along" lilian t. james's explores the themes of rivalry, romance, and personal growth through the lives of layla and adrian, two independent musicians whose paths unexpectedly intertwine.
tropes:
- forced proximity
- rivals (musicians) to lovers
- slow-burn
as the story unfolds, both layla and adrian are reluctantly thrust into a collaboration, causing initial resistance on layla's part. soon we're able to see that there's an undeniable chemistry and attraction between layla and adrian. however, as they spend more time in each other's company, adrian starts to make layla question her life decisions. he inspires and encourages her to step outside her comfort zone and embrace opportunities that have the potential to bring about positive changes in her life. it is through this tension and banter that their relationship grows.
"string me along" is an exciting slow-burn romance that gradually builds up the emotional intensity, allowing readers to savor every moment of their evolving relationship.
something that i particularly enjoyed was witnessing layla's friendship with madison and jamie, it was so special and heartwarming. additionally, i was delighted to have glimpses of madison and garrett's journey as well. it was satisfying to see their story continue alongside layla and adrian's.
tropes:
- forced proximity
- rivals (musicians) to lovers
- slow-burn
as the story unfolds, both layla and adrian are reluctantly thrust into a collaboration, causing initial resistance on layla's part. soon we're able to see that there's an undeniable chemistry and attraction between layla and adrian. however, as they spend more time in each other's company, adrian starts to make layla question her life decisions. he inspires and encourages her to step outside her comfort zone and embrace opportunities that have the potential to bring about positive changes in her life. it is through this tension and banter that their relationship grows.
"string me along" is an exciting slow-burn romance that gradually builds up the emotional intensity, allowing readers to savor every moment of their evolving relationship.
something that i particularly enjoyed was witnessing layla's friendship with madison and jamie, it was so special and heartwarming. additionally, i was delighted to have glimpses of madison and garrett's journey as well. it was satisfying to see their story continue alongside layla and adrian's.
September 10, 2023
3 Stars
I have to say that this book had big shoes to fill after the first book of the series. I did really enjoy Layla and Adrian's banter and sass with each other. It brought out some humorous moments and added some tension to this book. And when they finally started to open up a little bit....I was so here for it!!! I enjoyed the musical element and the camaraderie and partnership that brought about as well. It was a great added layer.
I think this book lost me a bit with the slow pacing and lack of development for most of the book. I feel like Layla and Adrian fell into a rut that didn't move forward for over 50% of the book. I'm very picky about my slow burns, and this book just didn't burn right for me. I feel like we didn't really see much growth for Layla until way too late in the book, and by that point, it just feels like we missed out on so much development. I didn't love this book because of these pitfalls, but it still had many good moments.
Tropes include:
MF Love Interests
Single POV
Rivals-to-Lovers
Musicians
BFFs
Stubborn/Sassy MFC
Broody/Sarcastic MMC
Forced Proximity Professionally
He Falls First
Bickering/Bantering
I have to say that this book had big shoes to fill after the first book of the series. I did really enjoy Layla and Adrian's banter and sass with each other. It brought out some humorous moments and added some tension to this book. And when they finally started to open up a little bit....I was so here for it!!! I enjoyed the musical element and the camaraderie and partnership that brought about as well. It was a great added layer.
I think this book lost me a bit with the slow pacing and lack of development for most of the book. I feel like Layla and Adrian fell into a rut that didn't move forward for over 50% of the book. I'm very picky about my slow burns, and this book just didn't burn right for me. I feel like we didn't really see much growth for Layla until way too late in the book, and by that point, it just feels like we missed out on so much development. I didn't love this book because of these pitfalls, but it still had many good moments.
Tropes include:
MF Love Interests
Single POV
Rivals-to-Lovers
Musicians
BFFs
Stubborn/Sassy MFC
Broody/Sarcastic MMC
Forced Proximity Professionally
He Falls First
Bickering/Bantering
January 3, 2025
Adrian & Layla
My thoughts while reading this book fluctuated between "butterflies in the stomach" and "Just move on already".
I think in the end the single POV didn't really help the story. In "Meet me Halfway", the first book in this series, Madison owns her story, so the single POV is justifiable. But here, Layla is both all over the place, and not going anywhere at the same time. Her inner monologues grew tiring really soon, as they were all repetitive.
Her so called hatred for Adrian, though understandable, wasn't leading her anywhere. After a couple cute gestures from him, she realizes she likes him, but she's still an asshole to him all the time. As for Adrian's side, the glimpses we get from Layla's POV are not enough to fully understand him. The bonus chapter in the end, the only one from his POV, felt like an attempt to go back in time and fix stuff that didn't really make sense throughout the book.
The story is not bad per si, but it could've been carried out better.
But I have to say that there were some parts where a thunderstorm of butterflies was set free in my stomach. Some really cute moments, unfortunately all cut too short.
My thoughts while reading this book fluctuated between "butterflies in the stomach" and "Just move on already".
I think in the end the single POV didn't really help the story. In "Meet me Halfway", the first book in this series, Madison owns her story, so the single POV is justifiable. But here, Layla is both all over the place, and not going anywhere at the same time. Her inner monologues grew tiring really soon, as they were all repetitive.
Her so called hatred for Adrian, though understandable, wasn't leading her anywhere. After a couple cute gestures from him, she realizes she likes him, but she's still an asshole to him all the time. As for Adrian's side, the glimpses we get from Layla's POV are not enough to fully understand him. The bonus chapter in the end, the only one from his POV, felt like an attempt to go back in time and fix stuff that didn't really make sense throughout the book.
The story is not bad per si, but it could've been carried out better.
But I have to say that there were some parts where a thunderstorm of butterflies was set free in my stomach. Some really cute moments, unfortunately all cut too short.
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