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judeinthestars's review
4.0
This book was first released by Riptide in 2017. I didn’t read it at the time but according to Carina Press, no significant changes have been made to the text.
Sawyer’s dream has always been to study the violin at Juilliard, but after three years there, she’s finally ready to admit it’s not all she thought it would be. She’s under so much stress that she’s worried she doesn’t like playing anymore. So she wants to try something new. When she auditions to go on tour with Americana band Victoria Vincent, Vix and her bandmates can’t believe their luck. Sawyer is talented and sweet and gets on really well with all of them. She’s also coming to terms with the idea that maybe she’s a lesbian. In good news, Vix is bi and both think the other is hot and their friendship morphs into some sort of summer fling and then of course into something more.
One of the things I loved the most was the banter between Vix and Sawyer, including in sex scenes (which are totally hot), and how Vix falls in love with Sawyer mostly because she’s having so much fun with her.
This is such a feel-good novel that I think I smiled almost the whole time, and I might have laughed aloud when at some point Sawyer summarizes it as « Fingerblasting and Fiddles: What I Did on My Summer Vacation ». It’s sweet and sexy (except cigarettes. Cigarettes are not sexy) and mostly happy.
One last thing, I love that this is published by a division of Harlequin. While I’m very attached to lesbian publishers, where I feel at home and know what I’m buying, making books about wlw accessible to a larger audience is always good news.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sawyer’s dream has always been to study the violin at Juilliard, but after three years there, she’s finally ready to admit it’s not all she thought it would be. She’s under so much stress that she’s worried she doesn’t like playing anymore. So she wants to try something new. When she auditions to go on tour with Americana band Victoria Vincent, Vix and her bandmates can’t believe their luck. Sawyer is talented and sweet and gets on really well with all of them. She’s also coming to terms with the idea that maybe she’s a lesbian. In good news, Vix is bi and both think the other is hot and their friendship morphs into some sort of summer fling and then of course into something more.
One of the things I loved the most was the banter between Vix and Sawyer, including in sex scenes (which are totally hot), and how Vix falls in love with Sawyer mostly because she’s having so much fun with her.
This is such a feel-good novel that I think I smiled almost the whole time, and I might have laughed aloud when at some point Sawyer summarizes it as « Fingerblasting and Fiddles: What I Did on My Summer Vacation ». It’s sweet and sexy (except cigarettes. Cigarettes are not sexy) and mostly happy.
One last thing, I love that this is published by a division of Harlequin. While I’m very attached to lesbian publishers, where I feel at home and know what I’m buying, making books about wlw accessible to a larger audience is always good news.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
sarah1984's review
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this free in return for an honest review from Netgalley, my thanks go to them and Riptide Publishing for the chance to read this. The free book has not impacted on my ability to review this honestly and critically.
Read for the URR 2017 New Year's Reading Challenge prompt 'Rock Star Romance'
29/10 - Unexpectedly fantastic! I'm very wary of Netgalley books, having had some unfortunate experiences with clunky writing and dreadful editing in the past, so I started this with the trepidation from past experience in one ear and a five star recommendation from a trusted friend in the other. Thank goodness I listened to the friend instead of past experience! (It didn't hurt that Avon Gale is an accomplished author with a number of well-thought of books to her name.)
I loved classically-trained Sawyer with her cute dresses and cowboy boots - she really stood out as the character I could best picture in my mind and as soon as Vix started taking pictures of her legs resting on the dashboard of the van I knew that that would be a fantastic album cover. I can totally picture a pair of crossed legs, lower thigh to cowboy boots resting on the dash as the late afternoon sun comes streaming in the window as a terrific cover (also, would have been great cover art for this book, imho).
I found Vix less easy to understand and empathise with, especially towards the end. When she refused to say anything to Sawyer about her doubts I was screaming at her that this was what was going to ruin the relationship and then look what almost happened. But, the smoking (cigarettes and weed) were the scenes that most put me off - the book and the individual characters doing the smoking - maybe that's why I found myself relating to Sawyer the most, because she was the only one who didn't do either. I understand that cigarettes, a little bit of marijuana and some drinking are things that are going to be included in a 'rock star' romance, but the cigarettes and marijuana are just two things that I'm never going to be okay with - all I'll ever seen them as are death and a gateway drug that will eventually lead to death, respectively.
The sex was quite different from what I've read before, a lot more explaining (about the mechanics and that there's no right and wrong, just what you like or don't) than I'm used to - not at all a bad thing because usually the more experienced partner just assumes they know exactly what to do with their new partner and does it perfectly the first time and that's not realistic. I especially liked the way Vix rubbished the myths about bisexuality and the fact that just because she could be attracted to either sex didn't mean that she felt like she was missing out on something when she was with one or the other gender. It also didn't mean that she couldn't be faithful to whichever gender she was with at the time.
I'm pretty new to F/F romance and not that long ago I read another book featuring an experienced bisexual and an inexperienced lesbian which portrayed the bisexual woman as promiscuous and unable to 'keep it in her pants' around any hot person she happened to come across. She was pretty much a female jock (without any sporting connotations) who slept with anything and everything even though she had a crush on the lesbian. That was my first F/F and I loved it. I didn't know anything about bisexuality (of either gender) or the clichés that have been spread around about their lifestyle and so I was a bit horrified to learn that I had really enjoyed a book that promoted so much incorrect information about bisexuals. Really glad to read one that was so full of positive messages and cliché destroying. Can't wait to read Jax's story next.
Read for the URR 2017 New Year's Reading Challenge prompt 'Rock Star Romance'
29/10 - Unexpectedly fantastic! I'm very wary of Netgalley books, having had some unfortunate experiences with clunky writing and dreadful editing in the past, so I started this with the trepidation from past experience in one ear and a five star recommendation from a trusted friend in the other. Thank goodness I listened to the friend instead of past experience! (It didn't hurt that Avon Gale is an accomplished author with a number of well-thought of books to her name.)
I loved classically-trained Sawyer with her cute dresses and cowboy boots - she really stood out as the character I could best picture in my mind and as soon as Vix started taking pictures of her legs resting on the dashboard of the van I knew that that would be a fantastic album cover. I can totally picture a pair of crossed legs, lower thigh to cowboy boots resting on the dash as the late afternoon sun comes streaming in the window as a terrific cover (also, would have been great cover art for this book, imho).
I found Vix less easy to understand and empathise with, especially towards the end. When she refused to say anything to Sawyer about her doubts I was screaming at her that this was what was going to ruin the relationship and then look what almost happened. But, the smoking (cigarettes and weed) were the scenes that most put me off - the book and the individual characters doing the smoking - maybe that's why I found myself relating to Sawyer the most, because she was the only one who didn't do either. I understand that cigarettes, a little bit of marijuana and some drinking are things that are going to be included in a 'rock star' romance, but the cigarettes and marijuana are just two things that I'm never going to be okay with - all I'll ever seen them as are death and a gateway drug that will eventually lead to death, respectively.
The sex was quite different from what I've read before, a lot more explaining (about the mechanics and that there's no right and wrong, just what you like or don't) than I'm used to - not at all a bad thing because usually the more experienced partner just assumes they know exactly what to do with their new partner and does it perfectly the first time and that's not realistic. I especially liked the way Vix rubbished the myths about bisexuality and the fact that just because she could be attracted to either sex didn't mean that she felt like she was missing out on something when she was with one or the other gender. It also didn't mean that she couldn't be faithful to whichever gender she was with at the time.
I'm pretty new to F/F romance and not that long ago I read another book featuring an experienced bisexual and an inexperienced lesbian which portrayed the bisexual woman as promiscuous and unable to 'keep it in her pants' around any hot person she happened to come across. She was pretty much a female jock (without any sporting connotations) who slept with anything and everything even though she had a crush on the lesbian. That was my first F/F and I loved it. I didn't know anything about bisexuality (of either gender) or the clichés that have been spread around about their lifestyle and so I was a bit horrified to learn that I had really enjoyed a book that promoted so much incorrect information about bisexuals. Really glad to read one that was so full of positive messages and cliché destroying. Can't wait to read Jax's story next.
bethlyon's review against another edition
3.0
Sawyer and Vix were the only characters that were fully developed whereas the other characters were just there.
It was a fun, nice read but not one to reread. It was lackluster as everything about the plot was foreseeable.
It was a fun, nice read but not one to reread. It was lackluster as everything about the plot was foreseeable.
astraeal's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about a band going on tour, recruiting Sawyer, a violonist in Juilliard who is not that happy in this dream school of hers, to play with them for the summer. The lead singer of the band is Vix, who happened to be Sawyer's old crush in high school. Now that's the basic summary, but we get so much more than that, like Sawyer first questionning if she's a lesbian and then slowly growing more confident in her identity. I really liked when she asked herself something like "is that attraction or admiration I feel toward this girl?" because this is a feeling I know all too well and maybe it took her years to figure it out but that's ok! And Vix calling people out on their bisexual stereotypes? Hell yeah girl, say it louder.
I also really adore the progression of Vix and Sawyer's relationship. I mean, when you're stuck with people in a van while you're traveling across the country and singing most night, you'll grow closer to them. So at first they become friends but it felt just natural for me? Their late night conversations when Vix was driving and Sawyer keeping her company made me warm in the chest. And then they become sort of friends with benefits with Sawyer exploring her sexuality and then they maybe start to like-like each other and aaaaah I love them I love their relationship how it was written and everything. I admit at some point I just wanted them to be honest with each other and truly communicate but we do need angst and drama in our life.
I also really adore the progression of Vix and Sawyer's relationship. I mean, when you're stuck with people in a van while you're traveling across the country and singing most night, you'll grow closer to them. So at first they become friends but it felt just natural for me? Their late night conversations when Vix was driving and Sawyer keeping her company made me warm in the chest. And then they become sort of friends with benefits with Sawyer exploring her sexuality and then they maybe start to like-like each other and aaaaah I love them I love their relationship how it was written and everything. I admit at some point I just wanted them to be honest with each other and truly communicate but we do need angst and drama in our life.
mjsam's review against another edition
2.0
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I seem to be in the minority on this one, but this did nothing for me. I’m not usually a fan of stories with young MCs, and though this couldn’t be categorised as young adult because Vix is 25 and Sawyer 21, the characters read more like they were both college age. It’d usually take me less than a day to read a book this size, but I put this down several times, so it took a few days to get through it.
The premise is that Vix is the lead singer of a band, she’s also bisexual. Sawyer is staring the final year of Juilliard at the end of summer, and knew Vix in high school and sort of harboured a crush on her. She joins Vix’s band as a fiddle player for the summer tour. The two hit it off and start a relationship. There’s also plenty of secondary characters in the form of the other band members and members of other bands, but only Jeff, Vix’s ex gets the most fleshed out. In all honestly, the character development of all of the characters was lacking. I liked Sawyer more than Vix, but not that much more.
As an aside, I’m not bi, but have friends who are, and one of their main gripes is people always believing that they’re sexually promiscuous and will sleep with anyone, and will always be up for a threesome, and the lack of positive bi character representation in stories. This book perpetuates that myth, not because Vix’s character is described as having slept with both men and women, but because she mentions having multiple threesomes and the other bi character, Jax, who I believe is featured in the sequel, also offers to have a threesome with the main characters, even though one of them is a lesbian (ironically Vix calls him out on his bisexual stereotyping). I’m by no means saying that no bisexuals should have threesomes, but it’s a tired trope in stories featuring bi characters, and I could have lived without it here.
So, all in all, the relationship between the two did nothing for me, there’s too much back and forth about Vix being bi, whether their relationship will affect the band, Sawyer lying to her parents, etc, and at no point did I believe they actually had the emotional maturity to overcome these obstacles. When they did get together at the end I absolutely did not believe they would still be together even a few years later.
I guess I’d give this 2.5 stars, but I’m rounding down, there were just too many things I didn’t like.
I seem to be in the minority on this one, but this did nothing for me. I’m not usually a fan of stories with young MCs, and though this couldn’t be categorised as young adult because Vix is 25 and Sawyer 21, the characters read more like they were both college age. It’d usually take me less than a day to read a book this size, but I put this down several times, so it took a few days to get through it.
The premise is that Vix is the lead singer of a band, she’s also bisexual. Sawyer is staring the final year of Juilliard at the end of summer, and knew Vix in high school and sort of harboured a crush on her. She joins Vix’s band as a fiddle player for the summer tour. The two hit it off and start a relationship. There’s also plenty of secondary characters in the form of the other band members and members of other bands, but only Jeff, Vix’s ex gets the most fleshed out. In all honestly, the character development of all of the characters was lacking. I liked Sawyer more than Vix, but not that much more.
As an aside, I’m not bi, but have friends who are, and one of their main gripes is people always believing that they’re sexually promiscuous and will sleep with anyone, and will always be up for a threesome, and the lack of positive bi character representation in stories. This book perpetuates that myth, not because Vix’s character is described as having slept with both men and women, but because she mentions having multiple threesomes and the other bi character, Jax, who I believe is featured in the sequel, also offers to have a threesome with the main characters, even though one of them is a lesbian (ironically Vix calls him out on his bisexual stereotyping). I’m by no means saying that no bisexuals should have threesomes, but it’s a tired trope in stories featuring bi characters, and I could have lived without it here.
So, all in all, the relationship between the two did nothing for me, there’s too much back and forth about Vix being bi, whether their relationship will affect the band, Sawyer lying to her parents, etc, and at no point did I believe they actually had the emotional maturity to overcome these obstacles. When they did get together at the end I absolutely did not believe they would still be together even a few years later.
I guess I’d give this 2.5 stars, but I’m rounding down, there were just too many things I didn’t like.
caphewritings's review
2.0
(D)
pretentious indie singers are such a buzzkill. i just couldn't warm up to vix, and i wasn't very invested in vix and sawyer's relationship either. it didn't help that one of the two major conflicts in their relationship was the "jealous lesbian girlfriend being biphobic and lowkey gender-essentialist" trope. i know sawyer was new and still figuring things out so it wasn't unrealistic, but still. considering how many people try to make lesbianism out to be ~inherently~ transphobic and biphobic, this being used as a plot point kind of rubbed me off the wrong way. couldn't she just be jealous and that was it? (i may be projecting here, but queer discourse twitter really scarred me for life, man.) i guess it was extra annoying here because you rarely see the same thing in m/m romance between gay and bisexual characters. gay dudes are always so nonchalant about it in ones i've read (e.g. gale's [b:Breakaway|27384973|Breakaway (Scoring Chances, #1)|Avon Gale|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446082364l/27384973._SY75_.jpg|47428410]). the fact that the one straight girl in the book was more open-minded and informed than the only explicitly lesbian character also sucked.
pretentious indie singers are such a buzzkill. i just couldn't warm up to vix, and i wasn't very invested in vix and sawyer's relationship either. it didn't help that one of the two major conflicts in their relationship was the "jealous lesbian girlfriend being biphobic and lowkey gender-essentialist" trope. i know sawyer was new and still figuring things out so it wasn't unrealistic, but still. considering how many people try to make lesbianism out to be ~inherently~ transphobic and biphobic, this being used as a plot point kind of rubbed me off the wrong way. couldn't she just be jealous and that was it? (
ericrobien's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
nerdysread's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Merci NetGalley France pour l’envoi de ce livre en numérique.
Une romance assez simple et sans surprise sur certains points. Mais honnêtement j’ai beaucoup aimé. Les personnages sont top, et j’ai énormément aimé Vix qui n’hésite pas à remettre les gens qui sexualise et fétichiste les personnes bi a leur place.
Franchement une lecture fraîche et qui fait du bien.
Attention: ce livre contient des scènes de sexes explicites
Une romance assez simple et sans surprise sur certains points. Mais honnêtement j’ai beaucoup aimé. Les personnages sont top, et j’ai énormément aimé Vix qui n’hésite pas à remettre les gens qui sexualise et fétichiste les personnes bi a leur place.
Franchement une lecture fraîche et qui fait du bien.
Attention: ce livre contient des scènes de sexes explicites