This review is for Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston which releases in the UK on the 17th June! Thanks so much to Netgalley and HQ for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Poston has become a must read author for me now, as I just love the whimsy and romance in most of her books. As soon as i saw this was available to request, you know I had to jump at the chance.

First of all, we need to talk about Sasha. Literal dream man. Tall ✅ Long Hair ✅ Musician ✅ and KIND??? And RESPECTFUL??? No-one can compete with men written by female authors, it’s a fact. Joni was also such an amazing FMC, she was independent but also had a deep love for her family and hometown that you could see coming through the pages. Their relationship was super cute and I loved their banter.

It’s not a stereotypical romance, as if you know Poston then you know her romances come with a touch magical realism. And in this we see both the MMC and FMC linked by telepathic thoughts after their first kiss, where they can also hear the echo of a song. I loved this aspect of the book, and that they couldn’t keep any secrets from each other.
You also see some themes of grief throughout the book, as you find Joni’s mum has early onset dementia. You see Joni struggling with this diagnosis and the fact that she is going to lose one of her parents.
It was a little heartbreaking.

Overall, I loved this book and would highly recommend to any romance readers out there, especially those that love a little magical twist.

This is one of those books I would happily reread straight after finishing it. The perfect reminder that success doesn't always look how you expect it to.
The magical elements were perfectly woven throughout while not taking over the book, and I loved how they developed as the story went on. Both the main characters and the side characters felt so real, and I loved them all so much (flaws and all) 🥺

I loved this book! I have read all of Ashley Poston's previous books and this was one of my favourites. I don't want to say too much as I do think its best to go into these books blind so you can enjoy the reveal of the magical element and how this plays out. Overall really enjoyed the characters and the development of the plot in this book. I was not able to put it down and found myself reading it within a day. Highly recommend to fans of Poston's previous books and anyone looking for a fun, unique romantic story!

Joni & Sebastian
Secret Identity
Songwriter FMC x Musician MMC
Magical Realism
Small Town

This is my first book by this author so I didn’t reallt know what to expect, but I really enjoyed this one!

I really enjoyed the magical realism element of this, with the MCs being able to hear each other in their heads. It felt like it added a new level to the book and I'd be interested to read more like this!

After their initial interaction, I was expecting this to be a little more fast paced than it was, but overall a great book!!

4.5⭐️

I honestly think this is Ashley Poston's best book yet. Perhaps that's due to the fun I had working out the songs used in the chapter headings, many of which spoke to my musical taste; perhaps it's down to the descriptions of The Revelry and Vienna Shores, so delightfully evocative that I honestly felt transported there in my mind. Mostly though, it's about the literal connection between Joni, burnt out and uncertain and rocked by her mother's dementia, and Sasha, guarded and distrustful and secretly romantic. I loved how the concept of being in each other's heads plays out, the snippets they pick up of each other's thoughts and lives and the way Sasha's voice interrupts Joni's actions at certain moments. And then there's the music: how it's entwined with memories, how it impacts friendships and family connections, and how it's the driving force that shapes and controls Joni's past and future. Emotional, heartfelt, and with a seam of humour running throughout, this is definitely going to be one of my best reads of the year.

Sounds Like Love was such a wonderful read! This is one of those books that grabs your attention from the very first pages, and doesn't let go for a minute.
Sebastian (Sasha) and Joni (Bird) had the kind of chemistry that leaps off the pages. The fact that they could hear each other's thoughts, and a particular melody, added a layer of intimacy that enhanced their connection from the beginning. I think that that was my favorite part of the story - that immediate closeness that's established with someone who knows you and your thoughts.
Added to that, they decided to work together to write the melody that only they could hear, which put them in a vulnerable setting I feel - because music, the kind that touches hearts, is all about feelings, and as Sasha states in this story, every song is a love song.
Sounds Like Love was all feels from beginning to end, and one that I think many readers will love!

Thank you HQ Stories for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Sounds Like Love is a heartfelt and gently whimsical story about music, memory and the mysterious bonds that connect us. Joni Lark has always found her rhythm by the ocean, but when her parents decide to close their beloved music venue, she’s thrown off beat and left with creative silence. That is, until a haunting melody — and a voice she’s never heard — starts playing in her mind.

As the notes take shape, so does the man behind the voice. And when he turns up in her seaside town, the connection between them proves to be more than just musical. Their bond is equal parts frustrating and electric, and the only way to silence the song is to write it together. The challenge? They can’t seem to agree on a single note.

Ashley Poston blends emotional depth with magical charm, offering a story that sings of healing, hope and second chances. With warm prose and characters who feel achingly real, this book captures the joy and pain of making peace with the past while daring to write a new tune for the future.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is definitely my least favourite book from Ashley Poston, but her other books were so good, anything is going to have a difficult time living up to it.
Joni and Sasha were such good examples of flawed characters and I think we really saw the growth within Joni, but Sasha’s character development fell a little flat for me, he kind of just gets over all of his daddy issues in the last 20 pages and doesn’t really do anything to work on that throughout the rest of the book.
I also think it took too long to understand the psychic connection between them, I wish there was more linking them than just their parents, it fell a little flat to me, but again it’s most likely because I’m comparing this to Poston’s other work.
I definitely think if I hadn’t read all of her other work then I would’ve rated this higher but I’ve come to expect more than just a romance book from this author and this one was just a romance, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I just came in with higher expectations.
All in all though, I did enjoy reading this one and I would definitely recommend to others.

I've only recently discovered the work of Ashley Poston in the last few weeks and she is a total gem! I love how she can take magical plots and then ground them in the simplest and truest facts of life.
I don't want to say too much about the plot of "Sounds Like Love" as whilst the central conceit reveals itself much as you'd expect, it does so in a way that is incredibly affecting. The weaving together of the past and present, without anything but the current narrative is beautifully done. Memories evoked from photographs and music, which is completely relatable.

I come bearing a wonderful gift: a musician x songwriter romance set in a cosy coastal Carolina beach town, the kind of place that feels like salt air and summer heartache. Sounds Like Love is atmospheric and deeply introspective – very on-brand for Ashley Poston – and while it still delivers her signature emotional gut-punches (this one tackles ailing parents, shifting dreams, and the ache of growing up), it didn’t quite hit her usual 5-star mark for me.

The story moves fast, perhaps too fast. The romance, while sweet, felt a bit underbaked. At times, it gave novella energy: heavy on insta-love, light on the build. I wanted more time with these characters, more tension, more reasons to believe in them beyond their shared past and present longing. But where the romance falters, the rest absolutely soars.

This book is 42 existential crises in a trench coat. It’s a quiet scream into the void about identity, grief, growing up, and letting go of who we thought we’d be. It made me want to dig out old mixtapes and spiral gently into the kind of reflective mood where you question every major life decision you’ve ever made, so, you know, classic Poston.

Ashley remains a master of emotional storytelling, the kind that sneaks up on you and suddenly you’re crying at the beach in a scene that doesn’t even seem sad on the surface. This book feels like a love letter to who we used to be, and a gentle permission slip to become someone new.

So yes, while the romance left me a little hungry, the story as a whole is nostalgic, painful, tender, and totally worth your time. Pick it up if you’re in the mood for a wistful summer read that feels like driving home from vacation with your windows down and your heart cracked open.

Thank you to NetGalley who provided the ARC for me to read.

Honestly I had my ups and downs with this book, that hard part of reading a book before release date is not entirely knowing what the book is about. Ashley Poston always writes beautifully but this one hit home in a new way.

Any book that can make me sob with a smile on my face is deserving of five stars. Not only that, this book is fantastically written.

TW: Dementia

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7573573259

4.5 ★ A melody, a mystery, and one very grumpy man stuck in my head…
You know that moment when you hear a song and it feels like someone wrote it just for you? Now imagine that song is literally haunting you... and the only way to get rid of it is to team up with the emotionally constipated (but weirdly hot) guy who's also hearing it. Yeah. Welcome to Sounds Like Love.
Ashley Poston strikes again with a story that's as swoony as it is soul-stirring. Joni is a burnt-out hitmaker with no spark left, returning home only to find the people and places she loves slipping away. Cue: existential crisis, salt air, and a voice in her head that is not her inner monologue but instead belongs to a brooding musician who thinks sarcasm is a love language. (He’s not wrong.)
Together, these two try to untangle the magical musical thread tying them together — while very obviously catching feelings and not talking about it like emotionally mature adults.
It’s romantic, a little mystical, deeply heartfelt, and made me want to move to a small beach town and open a record shop. Plus, the vibes? Immaculate.
Read if you love:
🎶 Found family and actual family drama
💘 Grumpy/sunshine, but make it psychic-song-connection edition
✨ Magical realism that hugs you instead of confusing you
🎤 Music as both plot device and emotional therapy

If Ashley Poston writes it, I will read it. Her writing is just so beautiful and I always find myself struggling to put her books down.

I went into this book expecting another charming, fun romance. A good time. I was not expecting to cry! And cry I did! - Still a good time though.

I just loved it. The atmosphere. The town. The people. Joni and Sasha. Joni's parents, especially her mom. As someone who has a playlist for every occasion, I loved Wyn. I loved Joni and Sasha finding themselves as well as each other, finding home and what that means to them.

Sorry to the next book I read because I'm going to be thinking about this one for while.

Thank you to the publisher, HQ stories, and NetGalley for providing me this absolute delight of an arc.

This is my first time reading an Ashley Poston novel but it will definitely not be my last. ‘Sounds like love’ was an absolute treat to read. From the magical realism, to a strong FMC, an equally strong MMC, family dynamics, music throughout I found I just couldn’t put it down or stop smiling. It was supernatural, emotional, heartfelt, whimsical, funny, deeply romantic and stole my heart. There isn’t a single thing I would change in this book and I cannot wait to read it again.

Joni is a song writer with writers block, who finds herself psychically linked to a former boyband member.

Sounds Like Love is a poignant and slightly melancholy romance with good characters and a real sense of family and belonging. An easy read, and an easy book to love.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A very good writing of a story that I would recommend to fans of romance with a bit of magical realism. Personally the book wasn’t for me - didn’t really enjoy the telepathic thoughts situation but I can also see how it is an intriguing part of the story.

I also think the author did a brilliant job at including the topic of dementia in the story - and the ending was truly heartbreaking and emotional.

The plot was thought-out and well structured and fans of romances will definitely love this one.

Five stars once again to Ms. Poston! Her books never cease to fill a niche and a spot l am looking for. The magic and the romance was a perfect mix and I felt myself smiling at my kindle as I read at multiple points, I also cried twice when reading it in the air at 1am on my flight home, having to keep my tears contained was a struggle. If it is not clear, to me the tears are a great thing J I was able to emotionally connect with so many of the plot points and the characters. I really felt like this book really spoke to my soul and worries I know that have had. If I could listen to the songs I. The book in real life then it would be an absolute dream come true.

A mesmerising read that drew me in from page 1. Beautiful author craft, a captivating story and some really great characters.

Joni Lark is an LA songwriter who has lost the ability to write since her mum’s early dementia diagnosis. At a gig where a singer is performing a song she wrote, she flirts with and kisses ex boyband star Sebastian, but immediately thinks it’s a mistake. She returns home for a ‘holiday’ desperate to find her writing mojo again but is instead faced with the realities of her family suffering such a difficult time. It’s made even worse when she realises she can hear a voice in her head, and it’s not hers but that of Sebastian.

This is a lovely magical realism story about music, love and grief. It covers a lot of plot with all of the story elements and it’s clear Ashley handed these with care as they’re close to her own story. There’s a lot of lovely, poignant moments for several of the characters and the location is really fleshed out - I felt like I was on the beach. Hearing each other’s thoughts could have got confusing but I personally found it fine to follow and enjoyed especially hearing how Sebastian spoke about Joni when he thought she couldn’t hear.

I did find Joni difficult at times, she struggles with the grief of losing her mum before she’s let her and feels her parents aren’t taking it seriously enough which was just hard to see as the reader because I felt we could see they were just living in the moment.

The writing is a little too flowery for my personal taste and I’m not enough of a music fan to truly internalise this experience as I just don’t know enough of the references. It was also so centered on writing a particular song and without being able to hear it I felt we slightly lost the magic for ourselves.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
I give this book 4.5 stars.

When her parents decide to close the family music venue, Joni’s life begins to fall off key – she couldn’t possibly write another song. Until a melody comes to her, half-formed, and with an imagined voice in her head.
But then the very real man behind the voice shows up in Vienna Shores
To get out of each other’s heads, they’ll have to finish the song haunting them both. But there’s just one problem – they can’t agree on anything!

“Grief is a love song in reverse “
This book really resonated with me, the author delivers a romance with a unique concept of how two people can interact with each other and a more serious message (coping with early dementia)
Music playing a pivotal role in this story was a huge part of my enjoyment, I loved the chapter titles being a reference to music. The intertwining bond between Joni (Bird) a songwriter and Sebastian (Sasha) a former boy band member, their personal struggles and falling for each other. But most importantly how music has the power to connect and heals us on so many levels in so many different ways.
The perfect small town setting, the complications of family, illness,friendships and love. A journey through burnout,regret, and most importantly growth and understanding.
An enchanting tale that i recommend if you’re looking for a heartfelt summer read.
The author mentions at the end that this is her long goodbye for her Oma ❤️
With thanks to Netgalley, Ashley Poston and HQ for my chance to read and review this book.