Thanks so much to HQ Stories and Ashley Poston for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

There’s some magical about Poston’s writing and I don’t mean the magical realism, the connection she creates between Sasha and Joni was such a great idea, and felt like as a reader we were privy to their secrets.

The story at its core is about coming to terms with grief and healing and Poston does a fantastic job at weaving a love story through it all.

I absolutely loved the story!

A magical and dreamy romance that will bring joy and break your heart in equal measure. Joni Lark, a successful songwriter, returns home from LA in the midst of writer's block to spend time with her mum who is recently diagnosed with early onset dementia. At the same time she can't get an ex boyband member out of her head - quite literally. Connections are made and restored through music, questions are asked about how we stay together even as those we love are slipping away. One of my favourite lines in the book is that "...grief is a love song in reverse".
Well worth a read.

A Novel Love Story follows songwriter Joni Lark, who returns to her beach hometown to discover that her parents have decided to close the family music venue. While struggling from writers block, Joni begins to hear a half-formed melody in her head, along with an imagined voice that she can’t forget. When the very real, very aggravating man behind the voice shows up in Vienna Shores, Joni can no longer deny their inexplicable telepathic connection. To get out of each other’s heads, they’ll have to finish the song haunting them both.

I have had very mixed experiences with Ashley Poston’s books. I loved The Seven Year Slip, but didn’t enjoy The Dead Romantics and A Novel Story quite as much. So, I was a little worried as to whether I would enjoy Sounds Like Love or not. Luckily, I had a really great time with this one!

Firstly, I’m not sure whether I would classify this as a contemporary romance. There’s definitely romance in it, but I would say it’s more of a women’s fiction book with a sprinkling of romance. I really didn’t mind this, but if you’re looking for a straight up romance, this might not be the book for you.

I loved the premise and the telepathic connection between Joni and Sebastian, and the reasoning behind the connection was very sweet and really tied the story up nicely. The characters really supported each other while both going through difficulties in their lives and careers, and I loved reading about their connection (pun intended). It was also really fun seeing them working together as musician and songwriter to create a song. However, I wish there had been a little more chemistry and tension between them. I think that a forced proximity or fake dating trope would have worked nicely to create some tension and angst, so that it would have been even more satisfying when they finally got together.

Ashley Poston always does such a great job of exploring difficult topics in a thoughtful way, and weaving her own experiences into her writing (I would definitely recommend reading the authors note once you’ve finished the book). The portrayal of dementia and grieving someone that is still alive was gut-wrenching, but also strangely life-affirming; we all think we have more time than we do, so we shouldn’t waste a second of it.

A few of the characters are grappling with what other people expect them to want and do with their lives, and what they themselves want. I enjoyed the conversations around this, and the notion that you need to live your life for you and stay true to yourself and your own dreams.

The plot was paced really well, and I loved the beach town setting. I also really enjoyed some of the relationships explored, especially the one between Joni and her mum. It was also really nice to briefly see Iwan and Clementine from The Seven Year Slip again! The ending was very satisfying but bittersweet, and I felt that all the characters ended up where they belonged.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, which had the perfect mix of lighthearted romance and emotional depth. I’m already looking forward to reading Ashley Poston’s next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ashley Poston never misses. I inhaled ‘Sounds Like Love’ in one sitting and loved every single second of it, no surprise there. Honestly, at this point, we all know I’ll read anything that this author writes with no hesitiation. Her stories always manage to wrap themselves around my heart, and this one was no different.

What I love most about her books is the magic. And I don’t just mean the intense fantasy kind, though there’s always a touch of that too, but the quiet, emotional kind that sneaks up on you. She blends magical realism with romance in this way that feels effortless and real and beautiful. I adore romance in general, but the way Poston writes it? Ugh. It's next level. Her love stories are always so raw and vulnerable, but still full of hope.

You’d think with such a distinct style, her books might start to feel the same after a while, but somehow, they never do. Every one of them feels fresh and different, but still so her. ‘Sounds Like Love’ fits right into that magical little universe of hers, while also standing completely on its own.

I always struggle to put into words exactly why her stories hit me so hard, but here goes. Sasha and Joni find each other in this really unexpected way, just voices in the dark, literally, and end up being exactly what the other needed, even if they didn’t know it at the time. Watching their connection grow, and seeing how they both changed and healed along the way, was so moving. It felt honest. It felt real. And it absolutely melted my heart.

This book made me laugh, made me tear up, and made me believe in something just a little bigger than ourselves. I adored every second of Sasha and Joni’s story.

Huge thanks to Ashley Poston for writing yet another favourite, and to NetGalley and HQ Stories for letting me read this early. I already want to go back and experience it all over again.

I love anything Ashley Poston, I feel like she encapsulates romance with a twist. However, I didn’t feel like this was her best. It felt a bit shallow, and I found Joni infuriating more than once. What I love about Ashley Poston is the way she manages to balance real sadness and life with romance and hope. I enjoyed it but it left me feeling slightly lacking compared to her previous books.

This book is ideal for anyone who loves to read journal entries or write them. That is how the entire book felt. Consequently, the pacing proved extremely slow. As an Ashley Poston fan, I was a little disappointed in this book. The chemistry between Joni and Sasha only felt alive through the lens of music. There was a lost opportunity since they were both exposed to each other's thoughts to really connect on a super deep (even other worldly) level. In addition, the OBX small town vibes could have been stronger too. Hopefully this book will reach the ideal music-loving audience.

I adored this book, it's Ashley Poston at her best. Heartfelt, emotional and joy to read from start to finish.

The romance was a delight, and I loved the concept so much. Joni's journey through the novel felt incredibly real and her connection with Sasha was just pure magic to read.

I'd highly recommend this novel to anyone! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes a book finds you at the right time and for me that book is Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston, it is a beautifully written heartbreaking yet heartwarming story of life, love, loss, family, music and finding yourself again.

Ashley is an auto buy author for me, I have always loved the way her books can completely consume you, with The Seven Year Slip still being one of my favourites but Sounds Like Love has become the book that will stay with me for the longest time for the way it resonated with me on such a deep personal level as someone who has lived through and experienced all the emotions and feelings that Joni goes through when it comes to dealing with the grief of losing someone close who is still very much alive.

While Sounds like love feels slightly different to the authors previous books, it still has the feel good feeling, the magical realism and the beautiful way that the story weaves across the pages to connect it seemlessly and especially when it comes to how love and grief is portrayed throughout I also loved how music was integrated so easily into the plot and as chapter titles to bring nostalgia and emotions to the story. As always the romance is written so well and there were so many swoon worthy moments between Joni and Sebastian that are just perfect and leaves a smile on your face.

This is a book that has left a lasting impression on me and one I will think about often. Highly recommend but please be mindful that it does deal with grief and especially Dementia.

Thank you so much to Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

The romance is not why i would recommend Sounds Like Love, it's the exploration of grief for someone who is still alive, which will hit home for those with family members living with dementia and Alzheimers. When a family members has a disease like dementia, which involves losing one's memory over time, it can be hard to know where the balance is between providing care and making the most of the time we have left with them. There are no easy answers but Poston writes with such a life-affirming touch that it feels like it'll be okay in the end. This is my favorite of hers in terms of grief exploration.

Ashely Poston always manages to surprise me. Her plots and storytelling are always so heart wrenching and utterly unique that I can always count on her for a story that will take me by surprise.

I loved the concept of our two MC’s, Joni and Sasha, being telepathically linked through music and having to figure out a way to break that bond, resulting in them bonding in a way neither of them expected. The side plot of Joni’s mother’s declining health was wonderfully written, I was crying by the end, especially as I’m experiencing grief and loss myself at the moment. So many quotes stuck with me, gutted me— “grief was a love song in reverse” has particularly been imbedded in my mind ever since I finished the book.

The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is because I felt there was something missing in regard to the romance? I’m not sure what, honestly, I really enjoyed it but I wasn’t entirely consumed by Sasha and Joni’s connection like I expected (especially compared to other Poston books I’ve read, Clem and Iwan in particular). But ultimately, I inhaled this book and loved every minute of it, even if it wasn’t perfect for me. Ashley will always be auto-buy author for me. I simply see her name and I’m ready to dive in!

Thank you for my earc of this book. I really enjoyed my time with this story and loved the magical element.
I’m not hugely into music but really liked the theme of it through this book.
The romance is lovely and I love the friendship & family elements too

This is a moving story, with the clear message of remember who you are at your core! It was sweet in places, and the writing really was beautiful. I

It was a fun easy read - I only deducted one star as I wasn't 100% sure on the telepathic connection between Seb, Joni, & Sasha. I'm not 100% sure on how that worked and I felt like it could have been explained more. It was difficult to follow where they were actually speaking out loud, and when they were speaking in their minds which was a little confusing at times.

But all in all a sweet and enjoyable read.

I need this lady to write my eulogy. Preferably before I died so I could read that as well.

There's something so beautiful about the way Ashley Poston subtly writes magical elements into her stories. I love them every time, but the thing I love the most is that she never does the same thing twice. I'm always so excited to see how she's going to do it when she brings out a new book.

Joni and Sebastien might be my favourite Poston book couple yet. Their chemistry was so great.

But what I loved more than that was Joni's relationships with the other people around her. I love when a character has conversations and things going on with their friends and family that doesn't revolve around the love interest. I loved the scenes with Joni and her mum, and Joni and Gigi. They actually had substance, which was a nice change in a romance book. I also loved the setting. Poston described Vienna Shores so well, I genuinely can imagine I've been there before.

Poston has been an automatic read for me since I read Dead Romantics and this just cemented her as one of my favourite authors.

This book, at its heart, is a book about not forgetting who you are. Joni has lost her songwriting mojo and Sebastian is at a crossroads. They become connected through their own thoughts and have to find out how to fix it… by writing the best song they can together. The secondary storyline centres around Joni and her mother Wyn who has dementia and is slowly forgetting the world around her.

For me, the more powerful storyline was Joni and Wyn’s. It felt so moving and emotional, especially as you learn what her mother and her home means to Joni. I loved Gigi as a side character but I felt she had so much going on in her own life that Joni lacked that support.

The connection (telepathically) between Sebastian / Sasha and Joni was interesting. I’ve not read a story like this before and was so intrigued about how this would work. Unfortunately I’m not really sure it’s explained all that well how or why this happens. It feels quite random and inconsistent. Can they hear the people they’re talking to? Sometimes they can and sometimes they can’t. How (or why) do they go as long as they do without knowing who the other is? Why can he infiltrate her thoughts easier than she can his? I also got confused why they would flit between speaking and thoughts in the same conversation when they’re the only two there. However, the romantic in me really loved them they could “feel” each other there and that they built this lifeline that they both rely on.

As always, Ashley’s writing is standout. The romantic and whimsical prose is beautiful and made reading this book so easy and absorbing.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read & review this book.

Ashley Poston writes beautiful love stories with wonderful magical realism elements and this was no exception. I adored this story, Joni and Sasha's romance was so addictive and I loved the tension between them both. I loved how they explored the music element of the story as well as the dementia storyline which was heartbreaking. This is the perfect summer romance read that made me want to be near the beach.

I have read all of Ashley Poston's books and this instantly goes up there as one of my favourites. It had me hooked from the start and I managed devour the whole book within several hours.

My thanks to Ashley, her publishing team and Netgalley for the chance to read this. I look forward to purchasing in the future.

Ashley Poston writes the most beautiful romances I have the pleasure of reading. Sounds Like Love is an enchantingly gorgeous love story, while touching on serious life experiences. All themes are handled with gentle care. Ashley excels in magical realism while taking readers along for the ride.
I loved Joni and Sebastian - two wonderfully complex, talented individuals who find themselves unexpectedly thrown together. Their journey to find themselves, make great life changes and end up in a happy place, was a pleasure to read. I loved seeing Iwan and Clementine again, that was such a nice touch!

I really loved this. I accidentally ended up reading two books in a row where the main character has a mother with dementia, and this one handled it so much better. It struck a really nice balance between emotional depth and lightheartedness without feeling too heavy. The setting of Vienna Shoreswas vivid, and the magical realism element—telepathy between the main characters—worked really well. I also loved the music aspect and the connection that developed between the two leads. The writing was beautiful and moving without ever tipping into being overly earnest. I think Ashley Poston recaptured the magic of The Seven Year Slip, and I loved the little cameo from that novel too.

Some small nitpicks: I felt Mitchell could have been a bit more fleshed out as a character, and I wasn’t a fan of the nickname “Bird.” I also thought there was an unresolved thread around Joni’s mum’s animosity toward Sebastian’s dad that didn’t quite get the closure it needed.

The story centers on two individuals navigating both emotional and professional struggles, each with a strong bond to their mothers. Out of nowhere, they find themselves psychically linked—hearing the same unfinished song echoing in their minds. The catch? They need to complete the song together to break free from the loop. How brilliant is that idea? I was instantly hooked.

Enter Joni Lark. She left her hometown of Vienna Shores, North Carolina, chasing her dream of becoming a music artist—and made a name for herself as a successful songwriter. But when her mother is diagnosed with dementia, her world crumbles. Her creativity vanishes, and she feels totally adrift. While visiting home from L.A., she’s still shaken by a spontaneous kiss she shared with former boy band heartthrob Sebastian McKellen on a theater balcony—an impulsive moment that left her more unsettled than inspired.

Back in Vienna Shores, Joni reconnects with her loved ones and is met with devastating news. That’s when things take a strange turn: she starts hearing a mysterious melody—and a man’s voice. No, she’s not imagining it. The voice belongs to a stranger named Sasha, and somehow, they’re both hearing the same haunting tune. The solution? Write the song together.

When Sasha comes to her town, Joni must face not only their eerie musical bond, but also her own fears, regrets, and the idea that fate might have brought them together for a greater reason. Maybe this isn’t just about finishing a song. Maybe it’s about healing, accepting the unknown, and discovering what she’s really meant for.

I was completely charmed by this story—two souls, seemingly unconnected, brought together by a magical twist of fate. Watching Joni slowly open her heart was deeply satisfying, and Sasha? Total swoon material. I mean, who wouldn’t fall for a guy who tells the woman he loves, “You’re poetry in motion”?

Another sky-high rating from me! This novel is dreamy, heartfelt, emotionally rich, and full of tender, otherworldly charm. I was swept away from beginning to end.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital copy of this moving, romantic tale in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you so much HQ stories & netgalley for the arc of one of my most anticipated reads of this year 🥰 I have just absolutely devoured it in one sitting.

This is for sure my favourite Ashley Poston book so far. I loved it so so much.

This is perfect for any music lovers especially 🎶 it was such a unique and brilliant concept and it was perfectly delivered. The writing (as always) was so, so stunning, I annotated so much.

I loved all of the characters and I was so invested in the story.

As always, I did shed a tear. Ashley’s writing just really tugs on my heartstrings. I loved this so much 💕