Next Thing You Know

With the Band #4

by Sundae Leighton

Dean Frost is the guitar player in the world's biggest rock band, and he's also the puzzle piece that was missing from my life.

I thought one night would be enough, but I was wrong. Dean was something I never saw coming. The green-haired guitar player with the thousand-watt smile tilted my world upside down the very night we met.

For the previous ten years I had kept my heart under lock and key. As captain of the Boston Terriers, I put hockey and my son above everything else. I had no social life. No dating, no hookups, nothing. But there was something different about Dean. He was kind, funny, and unlike anyone else I had ever met. And my son adored him.

Dean doesn't do anything halfway. Even though he's never been with a man before, he jumps in with both feet and eyes wide open. He's bratty at times, and pushes back when I pull away just to prove he wants to be part of my life. I'm terrified to get close to someone again. Scared that I'll end up heartbroken with another horrible loss. I'm convinced that Dean should be with someone else, someone closer to his own age, even though it breaks my heart. So, I do the only thing I can think of and I break his first.

It takes me too long to realize I've made an unspeakable mistake, and it might already be too late.

Genres: M M Romance

ebook

Published July 7, 2025

About the author

Sundae Leighton writes romance novels that are sweet with a dark twist. She got her start writing fanfiction with her friends in school, but didn’t take the plunge to publish her first book (Picture Perfect) until 2020. Born and raised in Connecticut, where she currently resides with her husband and their cats. She sometimes scares herself when she writes things darker than intended, considers coffee the nectar of the Gods, and once ran the NYC marathon (OK - half marathon). When she isn’t writing down what the voices in her head tell her to, she likes watching murder shows, NASCAR, and reading romance books with lots of dark angst.

You can keep in touch with Sundae at SundaeLeighton.com and find her on most social media platforms.

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Reviews

[Karigan Yeomans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Next Thing You Know by @sundaeleightonauthor
4⭐️s
•
Such a sweet story with both Beau and Dean growing into theirselves and becoming more comfortable with who they are! The spice was hot and the characters were well developed. The pace was a little slow for me at times but the plot more than made up for it. Make sure you dive into the previous 3 books for the best experience! Check out all content warnings and happy reading 🖤

[Mirjam · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotional slow-burn romance between two unlikely yet magnetic leads: Dean Frost, 22, charismatic guitarist of a world-famous rock band, and Beau Whitlock, 38, the guarded dad, hockey captain who never saw love coming.
Their chemistry is undeniable, and the dynamic with the protagonist’s son adds a genuinely sweet layer to the narrative.

Dean is a standout funny, kind, and unapologetically himself. His energy brings warmth to the story, and his commitment to a relationship outside his comfort zone is refreshing. The emotional tension is strong, especially as Beau wrestles with grief, fear, and vulnerability.







However, some aspects felt overly familiar or predictable. The push-pull dynamic, especially the "break it off before it gets too real" trope, was frustrating at times and undercut the emotional payoff. The pacing also dragged in places, and certain character motivations could have used more nuance and exploration.








Part of the With the Band Series, while each book is about a different couple, to avoid spoilers all books should be read in order:



ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I thought this was a sweet story about two unlikely people finding love together. You’ve got Dean who is a famous and hot guitar player and Beau, a hockey captain and star in his own right. They share a connection from some mutual people in their lives and that’s how they discover their own intense connection and attraction.

I liked these two and their passion right from the start. Dean is ready and willing to dive right into something with Beau, but Beau isn’t quite there. He’s not open about his bi-sexuality and he has a teenage son he’s looking out for, all while still trying to deal with the grief of losing his wife. It’s a lot for him for sure and he’s not always the best and handling his feelings. Dean has his own issues, especially coming from his family and rebuilding relationships with his brother and other bandmates. He’s ready to go all in with Beau though and determined to show him they can make it work together.

These two are very sweet together and clearly love each other but there’s a good amount of push and pull on their journey. Beau makes a lot of mistakes and Dean’s a little too forgiving sometimes but it’s clear that these two have a deep love for each other and I was glad to see them figure it out. These are two characters that really deserve to be happy, especially together. Overall, I did enjoy their story and was happy with how it all came together for them!

[bookingcrazzyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I've been waiting for Beau and Dean since they were first introduced! The teasers the author gave us in the other books had me wanting more every time!!

Both of these men are a little traumatized in their own way. Dean has some trauma from his childhood and parents. His isn't as bad as Mavericks, but it's there just the same. Beau also has a heartbreaking backstory and is always trying to protect himself and his son from more pain. Beau is the epitome of hurt them before they have the chance to hurt you. He put my boy Dean THROUGH IT. There was push and pull all throughout the book really. But there was also so much love between these two men.

I do think Dean forgave too easily in some cases. But he just wanted to love Beau and be loved by him.

I loved seeing all of the characters from previous books and getting some teasers for future books.

I received an advance review copy, and this is my honest review.

[Sylvia Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cant believe this is the last book in the with the band series! I've been waiting for Dean and beau's book and was so excited to dive right in. Their relationship was a whirlwind and like every other Sundae Leighton book it was filled with romance, spice, tension and angst. I loved seeing the other characters again and finally getting all the pieces together that were spread throughout the other 3 books. Dean and Beau are absolutely adorable and I love Cole as well! I can't wait for his book and all the others that are part of this world. These characters have a special place in my heart and getting to see their stories come to life is absolutely incredible. Each story just gets better and better. The spice in this one is next level and oh so hot. The ups and downs of their relationship felt relatable and made them feel even more real. These two are the cutest couple and were definitely made for each other.

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Sundae & Chaotic Creative, for my copy of Next Thing You Know. Book 4 in With The Band series, this book is better read as part of Sundae's wider universe. It also overlaps with some other timelines. Next Thing You Know is Rockstar Guitarists Dean Frost and Hockey Captain Beau Whitlock's story. This book focuses more on their story than their jobs.

Next Thing You Know is perfect as Dual POV mm romance. This story would be very different if you didn't know what was happening for both Dean & Beau. Next Thing You Know includes some unexpected twists, and I'm beyond excited for a few characters to get their own stories in the future.

⚠️ Minor Spoiler ⚠️ I want to know what happened to one of the side characters. Did they die, leave, or where the unalived?

🎸 Rockstar
🏒 Hockey Captain
🎸 Awakening
🏒 Age Gap
🎸 Pining
🏒 Hurt/Comfort
🎸 Teach Me
🏒 Single Dad
🎸 Redemption
🏒 Dual POV
🎸 Prologue
🏒 Epilogue
🎸 Character Cameos

[C. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yup, I’m a goner. My cheeks are wet after that ending lol I’ve loved Dean since book one, The Lying Tree, and couldn’t wait to get his book. Beau turned out to be more complex than I thought he’d be but I understood him and why he did what he did. I’m looking forward to Cole & Reeds book then Tate’s. I have a feeling both are going to be great. 🖤🔥🎶🔥🖤

My favorite quotes:

• Beau: I grabbed his hand and kissed the tips of his fingers. “You, Dean Frost, are someone I never saw coming. What am I going to do with you?”​

“Keep me?” he whispered.

His bluntness surprised me. Just like how he’d told me he missed me last night. “Is that what you really want?”

Dean nodded.

• Dean: Why was everything different with Beau? Better with him? Why did I want to see him smile and hear him laugh? Why did I want everything with him when I didn’t want it with anyone before?

[Lake B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beau and Dean’s circles have recently crossed paths, and Beau is instantly attracted to Dean. However, he is not looking for anything in the public eye. Despite Beau being a hockey player, Dean is even more famous than him, as he is in a band. Throughout the story, they grow closer and tired of their lives. How can they settle down, establish a relationship, and be present for Beau’s son when they are constantly traveling opposite ways. It was nice that they all supported Cole and that Dean was able to witness acceptance after his past. It seems like there is still more to come for this group, and I’m hoping it involves even more healing for the brothers.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have wanted Dean and Beau's story from the time I 'met' them and this made me fall deeper for them. We know the happenings during the storyline but we get their POV's and their relationship. Emotions, angst, drama and spice. Great read.

[Judith Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG OMG This was so worth the wait and I LOVED IT. Beau and Dean are so cute they were endgame from the beginning. Thank you Sundae.

[Jurnee Mccarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was so freaking heart wrenching. I couldn’t put it down. Dean & Beau were absolutely incredible. I loved reading this. Watching Beau & his connection with Deans son was honestly something so special and touching. I love how hard fought their love was for each other. It was such a beautiful feeling. Beau deserved all the love and more. Watching dean protect him and love him was just heart warming. Seriously I literally cried. Like what?! I just truly enjoyed this and I can’t wait to see more from this series. It was amazing.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next Thing You Know is the fourth book in the With the Band series, each can be read as a standalone. I loved this story so much and Beau and Dean were amazing to read about. Loving this series.

[Mandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean and Beau’s story!

I loved these two, despite how frustrating Beau could be at times, you could also understand why he struggled to go all in. After losing his wife, and raising his son as a single father, he wasn’t looking for love. Then along came Dean, shaking up his entire world. Despite Beau being his bi-awakening, Dean was all in, and he never shied away from his feelings, that man was all in and he gave his everything to this relationship. While the two hit some rough patches, mostly due to Beau struggling to communicate, I loved their story.

What I loved more than anything was the band friendships that we continued to see grow and develop, as well as the friendships that Dean built with some of the other characters.

The ending was a surprise, but a welcome one, and I cannot wait to see where this takes us!