Cannot believe it’s been over two years since this request — my apologies for not getting to things sooner, in the neverending disaster that is my TBR pile.

Good story, couldn't wait to keep reading all what was going to happen. Morgan Lee Miller is good at creating and weaving a story that draws me in and to experience what is going on.

This book was a bit of a poor little rich girl tale, with too much drugs and alcohol for my taste. So just not my book, sorry!

I often felt, while reading this, that I was too old for the novel but in spite of that, I found I was completely engaged in Blair’s journey. Blair is an accomplished musician by the age of 24 and plays eight instruments. Her band is gaining popularity and fame with each album and tour so it’s no surprise they’re chosen as the opening band for Reagan Moore, and phenomenally successful young pop singer. Reagan and Blair find they have a great attraction for each other but neither wants to be in a relationship. Blair is also struggling with some self-destructive behaviour.

I didn’t like Blair at all right from the beginning but her character grew on me. It’s told in first person from Blair’s point of view and it is essentially Blair’s journey. Her failings are put on every page and I found my feelings about her were constantly moving. The story has a great build-up and, even though I felt it lagging a little in the middle, by the end it felt complete and whole. Like a full story has been told without having glossed-over unconfortable bits.

I enjoyed the writing and the sense of reality even though the main characters are 24-year-old superstars. I do think that it will have a much greater appreciation from younger readers.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

I liked this book, but it does deal with some heavy topics: loss of loved ones, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

Blair Bennett is about to get her big break as the opening act to mega-star singer Reagan Moore. But in the wake of her beloved grandfather's death, she's also spiraling in depression and drug/alcohol abuse. These two paths -high/low, light/dark - inter-weave through Blair's first weeks on the road, but something will eventually have to give, and Blair could very well lose everything... her big break, her music, and her budding relationship with Reagan.

**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

*I received a free digital ARC via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Hard hitting

I was drawn to this book first by a GR friend’s review, then by the beautiful cover and finally the description. I expected much from it, yet it has to come with some warnings – the alcohol and drug abuse is written so well, that you can feel the pain coming from all sides.

I guess, even with knowing that, I hadn’t expected it to be so hard hitting. Blair might seem to come off as quite selfish, as she sinks into despair, but the truth is she’s been trying to handle anxiety and depression in an extreme way. None of her friends have any real understanding of what she’s going through, placing the blame firmly on her side, which in the beginning just makes things worse. It takes her hitting rock bottom to truly be able to find a way out, whilst completely leaving her on her own once more.

This book shows the price of fame, whilst also showing humanity at its best and worst. Whilst I can be disappointed at the reaction of the side characters to Blair’s condition, it wasn’t at all surprising considering general opinions of addiction. The only way out is with support and help, which she was forced to find herself.

Running along behind all this is the romance element. Blair opens herself up to someone new, but neither is truly able to handle all of it until she’s clean. Luckily there is a HEA to be found behind all the drama and destruction, as things pull good in the end. But considering how hard won it is, I am surprised that Blair doesn’t have any bitterness towards those that let her down whilst she was letting herself down.

For me, I did find it well written, as well as enjoyable and relatable. The only thing I personally didn’t like was the awkwardness of some of the sex scenes. They didn’t always flow as well as the rest of the book did.

Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked

Blair has written songs for big artists and she's finally caught herself and her band a big break, opening for Reagan Moore on her tour. Reagan is one of the biggest pop stars in the business. But she'd recently lost her grandfather, and broken up with her girlfriend, so while things seem to be going pretty well, she feels like she's breaking down inside. Reagan feels like something good in her life, first as friends and then as the two women grow closer, much more. But when her past catches up to her, she's not only in danger of losing her career but also the woman she's come to love.

This one was a tough one for me to read because there was a lot of drug use (and abuse) that I'm not really a fan of. Eventually it did become part of the story and I can see why it was there. There were a few other elements of the plot that really threw me off, either out of character or odd pacing of the story, where some parts flew by and other parts moved along quite nicely. I loved Reagan's character and I liked that we maybe got to see a different view into the world of a rockstars. There were a lot of good characters in this book which balanced out some of the heavier things.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I've read from this author, and she's just getting better. I felt like she really had a lot of knowledge of music that made it all feel very informed.

At first, I was a little reluctant to give this book a read because I thought it was going to be more on the depressing, drugy side but it wasn't. It was a surprisingly pleasant read! Yes, there is a bit of angst and Blair needing to get over her depressions (which is where the drugs come in) but it's not really at the forefront. That would be her building relationship with Regan and the tour they are on.

I loved how their relationship built and the slow burn. I also thought it was cool that Regan being bi and a huge star wasn't the issue. It was more the paparazzi and how hard it is to date when you cant't really go outside that was the problem, not the sex of the person. It felt much more grounded in today's reality.

Last thing, the book felt complete. I wasn't left feeling like I was missing out on a real ending, so kudos on that. I'll definitely be following this author from here on out.

Blair is a songwriter and performer who plays multiple instruments and was raised by her grandfather who was a music legend. Since he died Blair has had a very difficult and challenging time to get over the loss of her grandfather.She and her music partner Miles are about to embark on an opportunity of a lifetime being the lead in musical act for Reagan who is an A class celebrity and performer. As time on the tour goes on it becomes obvious that Blair and Reagan are attracted to one another and slowly develop a sweet relationship. Reagan is very clear that she does not want to relationship and what she and Blair have is just a convenient sexual hook up since they are on the road and it’s convenient. These two characters, while well-developed ,do not ever really talk to one another about how they’re feeling or anything of consequence. A very big secret that Blair keeps from both Reagan and her musical partner miles is that in addition to drinking and doing drugs she also does cocaine. Are there drinks to excess and does drugs to help her forget how confused she is in her life especially since the death of her grandfather and how she does not feel adequate to be in a relationship with Reagan. At one point on the tour Blair really goes on a bender for several days at which point people become aware that she has been doing cocaine . What will mean for the relationship that Blair has with Reagan and her band mate? Is it possible for Blair to begin to face her demons without the help of alcohol and drugs?
This is an interesting read and I especially liked the parts that dealt with what life is like for people who are famous as well as what life on the road is like when you are on tour.

kay, so this was a tough read for me, because the lead character in the book, Blair Bennett, is about as unlikable as a character can get, and it takes a long time for her to realize that she is being horrible to the people in her life. The story starts with her still grieving hard over the death of her grandfather (who died of cancer) and breaking up with the girlfriend who helped see her through all her grandfather's illness. She's also an addict who is keeping her hardest addiction away from her closest friend. But then suddenly she meets the beautiful and successful star, Reagan Moore, and is almost instantly infatuated with her. It's hard not to, Reagan is amazingly grounded despite her superstardom and is almost the complete opposite of Blair. But they click, and Blair trades her substance abuse for the high of being in Reagan's orbit.

Like most people who aren't able handle hard life events in a healthy way, Blair comes crashing down when something triggers her. It is sad to see, but instead of looking inward, Blair blames her inability to cope without drugs and alcohol on everyone but herself. Her friends let her carry on, until Reagan realizes that Blair simply is continuing her downward spiral. Reagan throws down the gauntlet, and it's up to Blair to choose where she is going to go from there.

I have read books with regards to addicts and the toll it takes on the addicts themselves and the people around them, but what hit me so hard with this is that Blair just never got it. It's like Blair never got out of her teen rebellion stage, and ended up using so many people around her. She was not a good person at all, and I am glad that the book was willing to go that way with it's main protagonist. A lot of Blair's issues came from a deeply seeded sense that she was never good enough for what she was, but even that wore thin when she just got out of control. I was glad that when she hit the line with her friends, she wasn't spared any feelings. She hurt them, and they let her know about it and did not let her off the hook.

This is a solid book with a hard person to cheer for - although I ended up being happy because Blair's friends and Reagan are amazing people. It is a great story about love, addiction, and depression that hits on all the right notes.

We are in a quandary about this book. On one hand the writing is phenomenal inasmuch it draws you into a world and environment so much that you can actually feel it all and the chemistry between the romantic leads is insane. On the other hand, we disliked the main protagonist intensely.

At twenty-four, Blair Bennett’s star is on the rise. She’s written songs with immensely popular artistes and her band, Midnight Konfusion is on the verge of a big break since they are the opening act for the biggest pop star of them all, Reagan Moore. But personally Blair is a mess. A long-term user of weed, cocaine and alcohol, she is using much more to avoid properly dealing with the death of her grandfather. Reagan is warm, funny, approachable and clean. On the extended tour in the USA, Blair and Reagan grow closer and closer even though they’d decided that things between them would remain at ‘just sex’. Blair’s irresponsible behaviour put Reagan’s standing, tour and reputation in a jeopardy and their relationship could possibly unravel.

The book focusses on Blair. In the very first scene, she is high on coke and breaking up with a beautiful girl who has held Blair through five months since her grandfather’s passing. Blair is completely selfish and self-obsessed without giving a thought to anyone else including her family, friends and girls she is involved with. Her emotions are tepid at best because when she has questions about where her relationship with Reagan stands, she quickly – and without qualms – picks someone else to sleep with. IRL a relationship with this kind of a person would be toxic because she is weak and doesn’t show any indication of realisation of her destructiveness and is therefore unlikely to change. She’s shown to have started using without any real cause and is likely to continue doing so. And to top it all, she wears victimhood as her armour and expects everyone else to take care of her.

Our dilemma comes from how well the book is written. It is engrossing and immersive. There are some great moments and dialogues. Also, Reagan is a great character.

Like we said, we are in a quandary about this book.

Reagan Moore is a pop musician who has signed on rocker Blair Bennett and her band to be her support act. Reagan (think Taylor Swift) has a squeaky clean image and works hard to maintain that image. Blair is a super talented musician, has just lost her father figure, her grandfather to cancer. His death has rocked Blair's world and she devastated.  Enter Blair's insecurities and throw in your cliched sex, drugs and rock and roll along with the chemistry between Reagan and Blair and you have a rocking read.
You don't have to be musician to enjoy this book. Yes, it's written about a couple of 23 year olds having the time of their lives and in the fortunate position of following their dreams but it's still a really good read. Both characters are feeling vulnerable when it comes to their relationship between each other and the emotions that Miller portrays is totally relatable. The support characters are interesting and down to earth and have a significant contribution.  Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

This is such a frustrating book that I liked so much! How can I like it when I was so frustrated??!! My rating is actually a solid 4, but this book frustrated the hell out of me :) in a good way!
So let’s start off with Blaire! For some very odd reason I loved this character.. even though I believe the main frustrations I’ve had are because of her character, but yet I was rooting for her throughout the book! Oddly enough and I know i might be completely off here, but in my mind I had ruby rose in my head :) again I might be completely off there!

Blaire is such a well written character I really applaud the author on bringing to life such a character! She’s spoilt, she’s a brat and she’s entitled and destructive (not that I’m saying ruby rose is like her at all).. but yet, I loved this character and I can’t even explain why I loved Blair that much!

This book is not your typical celebrity read which actually surprised me at the beginning because I wasn’t expecting this kind of depth! I thought this would be a fun read, but in reality this is a deep emotional read!
The other MC is much more likable and their romance is so slow.. which obviously resulted in me liking the second half of the book a lot more :)
I’m not sure this book is for everyone! I think you might like this if you start reading this, knowing that this is quite an emotional one that deals with drugs and family loss! But if you’re expecting a fun read about celebrities in concerts and nice parties, then you might get upset!
Overall, I will not be forgetting this book and I do recommend it :)
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”

First and again, the synopsis does not have much to do with the content of the book. It is not a joyful and fun story, although there is some part that is like that, but it is basically a story of grief and self-destruction.

Blair is a not very nice character, at times she's really obnoxious and is pretty shallow and very selfish, you can see there that I haven't warmed to her at all. And Reagan is supposed to be a rock star but she does not behave as such, her personal environment is not like the clichés we all know. And the chemistry between the two is scarce and forced at most.

And as they travel together, spend a lot of time together, Reagan doesn't notice Blair's abuse problems, even for a moment. But neither Blair's best friend from high school and band partner, nor even her own mother, are aware of that. Nobody seems to notice until is almost too late. And at the end of the book, the story becomes cheesy and soft in the worst sense of the word.

I have not enjoyed this book much, I hope that others will see mor positive things positive to remark. Not me, though.

This is a Netgalley ARC review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This book started a little slow. But once it got moving it was tortured and beautiful. Blair has family issues. Reagan doesn’t know how to balance the spotlight. They help each other. The music references were spot on to the emotions Morgan Lee Miller was trying to convey. I feel like the problems that Blair and Reagan have as celebrities are accurate portrays of real life people. This book dives into issues that could trigger some people but feels very much like real life.

I did not notice any formatting or typographical errors.

When the book starts, Blair Bennett makes a less than stellar first impression. Still reeling from the death of her grandfather, she breaks up with the girlfriend who has supported her through his illness and death with the dreaded “It’s me, not you …I’m not in the right place” rationale that she’s just too messed up to be in a relationship. Like I said, not a great first impression – Blair comes off as a rather selfish heel. So I started this book with the idea that I wasn’t really going to like either Blair or the book. I may be turning into an old fuddy-duddy, but I just felt that Blair was a bit too young and reckless for my liking and then there’s the whole fluffy pop music setting (omigod, I am an old fuddy-duddy – next thing you know I’ll be shouting at the kids to get out of my yard). By the end, I was engaged in the story and was impressed how Ms Miller handled Blair’s character and growth.

The story begins shortly after the death of Blair’s grandfather, when she and her best friend/band mate are starting as the opening act for the US leg of pop star Reagan Moore’s world tour. Rather than a self-absorbed diva, Reagan is a pretty sweet and down to earth young woman who keeps herself apart from most people as the pressures of fame have forced her to guard her privacy. There’s a unmistakable connection between the two women which builds slowly on the tour with both so hesitant to be the one to make the first move – whether its the first kiss or admitting that the relationship is more than just a convenient hook up.

Told from Blair’s POV, this is really more about her than a straight up romance. I think this would fit into the New Adult category as Blair is really still trying to find her place in the world – she may be 24 but her choices and actions seem much younger and hedonistic. Even though she’s been raised in a loving and supporting family, she has a penchant for trouble, not thinking about consequences and the disappointment some of her escapades engender. Don’t get me wrong, Blair isn’t an unlikable character – she’s a real one. She is deeply passionate about her music and Miller captures the thrill and love Blair feel for music and performing as well the highs and lows of the emotions as she tries to make sense of her relationships with Reagan, Miles and her family. Deeply affected by her grandfather’s death, she struggles with the grief and her new found fame and the relationship she is building with Reagan. She is talented, intelligent, loyal and genuine and its very obvious that she has strong and supportive relationships with her family and friends. Her actions are sometimes questionable and there’s a subtle escalation of self-destructive behaviour that sort of sneaks up on you just as it sneaks up on Blair – it makes you appreciate how sneaky that slippery slope is – one small or inconsequential things leads to another until it hits a critical point. Miller deftly leads both Blair and the reader to some pretty serious realizations without hitting you over the head with them.

The romance is a central part of the story, but it isn’t the standard kind of romance – the attraction is there, but the leads enter a relationship both so hesitant to allow themselves to be vulnerable that its is more of a friends with benefits rather than an initial all consuming passion. The realization and ability to admit to themselves and each other the depth of their feelings is hampered by Blair’s internal struggles and Reagan’s obsessive guarding of her privacy. There’s a realism of both character’s insecurity as to whether the other person felt the same and whether to take the chance that I thought worked particularly well. At times they speak to one another more honestly through cover songs that they play during the concerts, hoping that the words will express what they can’t seem to talk about. It’s kind of sweet (and cheesy) but effective and I found myself asking Alexa to play a few of the songs while I was reading. There’s a particularly heartwarming memory of Blair’s when she asks her grandfather how he knew he was in love – he tells her a story about listening to Annie’s Song which Blair thought was lame as a teenager but suddenly makes sense. ( I couldn’t remember the song at first – but when Alexa played it, I was completely in agreement – lame, sappy and just totally gives you the feels.)

I ended up liking this book a lot more than I originally expected. There’s more going on than first appears and I was impressed that Ms. Miller won me over with a well written book that deals with some more serious issues.

Blair was annoying and honestly I wanted to slap her.

I don't have a specific opinion on this one. I dont like it that much but I dont hate it. at first I thought that the flow was quite interesting then I was dissipated for a minute,, i didn't give my review right away just to see what parts I'd remember. and only Reagan was there for me to remember. she's too sweet and loving i liked her character so much.


I recommend it though . its well written book.

I got free copy in exchange of an honest opinion

I liked this book a lot more by the end than I did at the beginning. At first, I couldn’t get where the author was going. I loved Morgan Lee Miller’s debut novel, All the Worlds Between Us, and it felt like she wanted to try and create an older, more rock’n’roll version of the complex but sweet teens that are Quinn and Kennedy.

For a significant part of Hammers, Strings, and Beautiful Things, I had the feeling I was watching a train wreck waiting to happen. At twenty-four, Blair Bennett is about to go on a tour with the world’s biggest pop star, Reagan Moore. The band she and her best friend Miles form is on its way to the top, and her talent as a songwriter is undisputed. Life would be perfect if only her grandfather hadn’t just died. A renowned musician, he was her idol as well as the only father figure she’s ever known. He was the one who taught her about music and made it possible for her to learn eight different instruments. So she’s a mess, and when we meet her, she’s breaking up with her girlfriend, claiming she can’t be good for the girl when she doesn’t know who she is anymore. At first, she comes accross not so much as broken but as irresponsible and spoilt. She’s in pain and it mostly translates through selfishness. It’s like she’s trying to tick all the boxes for the dark and broody rock’n’roll chick. I kept wondering when Blair would fall off stage, hurt herself or worse. Snorting coke and drinking that much alcohol can’t be good for your coordination.

Reagan is the opposite. At twenty-three, she’s incredibly grounded, professional and reasonable, despite being one of the most famous singers in the world. She also manages to be sweet, charming and kind. And she seems to see through Blair’s façade, all the way to the nice and romantic girl underneath the grief and self-destructive ways.

For a long time, the story is mostly the two of them flirting and falling in love and playing music, until Blair flips and goes too far, putting Reagan’s reputation and the whole tour at risk. And that’s when I really got into the story. I wanted Blair to overcome her issues, to let the nice person I could feel she could be out, to show herself to be deserving of Reagan’s love. Because as annoying as she was, I believed in her.

That’s why this book was a little frustrating. Morgan Lee Miller creates endearing characters, she writes them well and she knows how to tell stories. Yet this story took way too long to start. More than half the book is spent setting the scene. It’s well-written so not too boring, but had I not read Miller’s first book and hence been aware of how good she can be, I don’t know if I would have stuck until the end. Which would have been a pity, really. If you decide to read this book, stick with it, it’s worth it.

And I just found out that Miller’s third book will be the sequel to All The Worlds Between Us, giving Quinn and Kennedy that third chance I was hoping for. So, you know, life is good.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Blair is a songwriter and part of a band with her best friend Miles (he's on drums, she's on everything else). They are the opening act for Reagan, she's a mega superstar who is mega talented and has no life during her tours.

She and Blair slowly get to know each other during the tour, and they sorta start a relationship adjacent sort of relationship. Unfortunately, right before the novel started Blair had lost her grandfather who was her rock and she is slowly unraveling as the tour goes on, even though her life as seen from the outside seems to be perfect.

I definitely guessed what was going to happen very early on in the story, but, it was still a hard bunch of chapters to read near the end. I did love how subtly the author wrote Blair unraveling, nothing too big or too small. It was amazing.

It was a really amazing read, and a heckuva ride too.

I received this book via Netgalley thanks to Bold Strokes Books.

I am not sure how I really feel about this one, mainly because it read more like a YA book to me. I tend to skip them mainly because I can't connect with the characters. Reagan Moore is a big pop star that has signed on Blair Bennett and her band to be the opening act for her American tour. They both are in their mid 20's and I would say still have some growing to do in terms of relationships. Blair is dealing with the death of her grandfather and likes to drink and party with her band mate/best friend. Reagan is more settled because she is recognized everywhere she goes. She has to keep a low profile and hasn't had any successfully relationship. As the tour starts and they travel from city to city, Blair and Reagan become closer.

Again, this read more like a YA book/romance to me and I am not really into them. I have a hard time connecting with the immaturity of the characters and I felt the same way reading this one. I did like the serious topics that Miller took up in this one. I think that is really what kept me interested in finishing it. I did like the chemistry between the two MCs. Many of the obstacles that they faced was likely because of their age. I still thought it was a decent read, but it just wasn't for me.

I will rate it 3.5 stars.