⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

I wanted to read this because I loved the sacred stones trilogy. It was my first rockstar romance and I wasn’t sure to expect but I loved it.

What I loved in particular:
- Conry and Willow, both MCs have adorable dogs.
- Tom, a funny, thoughtful and genuinely likeable love interest.
- A great supporting cast of characters including loyal friends and a nice ex-boyfriend.
- a late night texting session that somehow managed to be both hilarious and hot.

I loved every minute of this funny, heartwarming and spicy story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this one – such a solid 4 stars from me. The musical element completely pulled me in; there’s something about the setting of a tour and the behind-the-scenes of the music world that just works so well in romance. It added such a vivid, emotional backdrop and made the story feel alive.

Clementine was such a lovely main character – grounded, caring, and easy to root for. I really admired how she put her life on hold to care for her mum, so watching her take a leap and step into this huge new world felt so well-earned. And then there’s Halloran… whew. The broody, poetic Irish rockstar with a quiet intensity – say less. Their chemistry built gradually but felt really believable, and yes, the spice? Absolutely delivered.

It’s got that perfect mix of longing, emotional depth, and heat – and while it doesn’t necessarily break new ground, I found it such an enjoyable, easy read that kept me turning the pages. The romance felt genuine, and the whole journey had just the right amount of tension and heart.

A really fun, emotionally satisfying read – especially if you love music, broody leads, and a bit of heat. Definitely recommend picking it up.

3⭐️
2🌶️

I expected to love If Not for My Baby — I’ve been following Kate since the beginning when she first started writing this, and I was genuinely excited to read it. I loved her Sacred Stones trilogy so much, but unfortunately, her writing just didn’t carry over as well into contemporary romance. This dragged on and on. I was bored — and I didn’t expect to be.

I struggled with Clementine as a character. Her motivations didn’t make much sense, and there wasn’t enough time spent getting to know her, which made the romance feel forced. I think Kate could’ve done more to flesh out her fear of love and relationships — it didn’t feel believable. If she claims to hate relationships, why is she constantly going on dates just to appease her mom?

This book is very heavily inspired by Hozier, and honestly, in a lot of ways, it read like fanfiction. I thought we’d get more longing, tension, or slow-burn chemistry — but instead, it felt more like love at first sight. It just wasn’t convincing. I also found myself skipping the song lyrics after a while; they were repetitive, especially when Clementine tried to describe his music. It felt like too much.

As a huge Hozier fan, I thought I’d love the idea of a romance inspired by him — I expected that. But something about the execution left me feeling weird. It was just so much Hozier, and it started to feel a little try-hard, even cheesy at times.

The story was predictable — not inherently a bad thing, but it didn’t bring anything new to the table. Add to that the constant mention of how tall and massive the MMC is compared to the FMC, and I was already irritated. At one point, the author literally uses “Tiny Girl™” and I full-body cringed.

Clementine’s emotional back-and-forth over Tom’s feelings was frustrating — it happened every other page. She’d jump to conclusions about his love life without ever talking to him, and it felt juvenile. I didn’t feel any real chemistry between them. What exactly made Tom fall for her so fast? All she ever does is insult herself and rant about how much she doesn’t believe in love.

Most of the book is just Clem obsessing over Halloran in a way that made her seem more like a fangirl than a love interest. It was hard to root for a relationship that felt so one-sided and shallow.

I liked the tour setting and the found family dynamic on the bus — that part had potential. But the way Kate handled Grayson’s character really rubbed me the wrong way. I expected the crew to be close-knit, but instead Grayson was made into some weird villain. It didn’t make sense. Why was he so bitter toward Tom? Why did the story feel so judgmental about him being a womanizer? The portrayal gave me the ick. There was such a clear opportunity to make the bus crew feel like a united front and really lean into that found family vibe — but instead it felt fractured and underdeveloped. I think the story would’ve been way stronger if the conflict had come from outside that circle instead of turning one of them into a bitter, unnecessary antagonist.

The side characters were forgettable. One chews on a toothpick in every scene — and that’s her whole personality. Another is generically nice. One’s basically a witch who exists solely to make out with someone else. There just wasn’t any depth.

Also, once Clementine and Tom become friends, it’s strange that she still refers to him by his stage name in her head. It made their connection feel shallow, like she was still hung up on the idea of him, not the actual person.

That said, I did like Tom as a character. He’s steady, kind, and incredibly patient with someone as emotionally inconsistent as Clementine. But let’s be honest: he’s not an original character. He’s just Hozier. Everything — his name, appearance, country, music, lyrics, height — screams Hozier. It felt like a self-insert fanfic with the serial numbers barely scratched off. I’ve read Wattpad stories that handled this kind of character inspiration better — at least those MMCs stood on their own. Halloran doesn’t. He’s not his own person.

Clementine’s talent also came across as way too convenient. She gets handed a job as a backup singer with zero experience or training. No soundcheck, no rehearsal — she hasn’t even sung the songs out loud before hitting the stage. But of course, she nails it effortlessly. Halloran is instantly mesmerized by her. It’s giving Mary Sue. She’s portrayed as this unrecognized musical prodigy who can’t share her gift with the world because she cares too much about everyone else. It was over the top.

The third-act conflict was the weakest part of the story for me. A random mean girl creates drama out of nowhere, and everything just spirals. It felt lazy and unearned. And once again, a major chunk of the emotional fallout is handled with a time skip — we’re told what happened instead of being shown. That’s probably my biggest issue with the book: the most important emotional beats happen off-page, and what we do get is too clean and too fast. Every problem resolves immediately. It left me feeling disconnected.

There’s also a scene where, after barely speaking all week, Clem and Tom end up in a hotel hallway — her in a robe, him shirtless — talking about sexting. She sings one of his songs to him because the lyrics feel “too intimate” to say out loud, and then he sings one of hers back. Apparently, he’s already been writing songs about her at that point? After maybe one real conversation? I was cringing by the 20% mark.

Also, kind of funny that “Clem” — the nickname Tom gives her — is Irish slang for “idiot.” So this whole time, he’s literally calling her an idiot. Fitting, honestly.

In the end, this just didn’t work for me. I loved the concept, but the execution was too uneven, the characters underdeveloped, and the romance unconvincing. It had potential — but it ended up being a little boring and too on-the-nose for me.

Entertaining, but not noteworthy. Not my cup of tea (Barry’s or otherwise 😜).

Absolutely addictive! I couldn’t put it down, every opportunity I had I would read a sneaky chapter. Clem and Tom were perfect characters, their blossoming relationship made me smile from ear to ear. I 100% recommend this!

this book was so lovely and beautiful, i loved absolutely everything about it from start to finish!!!

tom and clementines love ripped me open and stitched me back up, you could feel how desperately they wanted each other — the yearning leapt off of the pages and when combined with their forced proximity and having to sing together?? MAGICAL I WAS OBSESSED

clementine is one of my new favourite characters ever! she was so selfless and such a girls girl, i loved her and how genuine she was in all of her relationships and friendships. her relationships with the girls on the tour was one of my favourite aspects of this book!!

I NEED A TOM HALLORAN ASAP!!! omg he was so perfect and so gentle and kind and hotttt. don’t even get me started on the lyrics of his songs because they were ART!!

overall I adored this book and am so so so grateful for the arc!!! easily one of my favourite reads of the year!

review on my socials to come!

Headlines:
Lyrical love
Tour bus forced proximity
Gentle friendship, undeniable attraction

There was something very inviting about this story of two people from very different lives whose stars crossed over music. Clem was a talented young woman with a hope for a musical theatre career who stayed in her hometown to care for her mother. Halloran was the private and introverted but extremely successful rock star. Clem was offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a backing singer and she took it.

This story showed the unglamourous side of big music tours alongside the stage-front glamour, then in popped my favourite trope of forced proximity a-la-tour bus. Friendships in the rest of the band and crew were a good plot backdrop but the spotlight shone on Clem and Halloran (Tom). Tom was a wonderful lyricist and the way his performances were written made me feel like I was watching the gig and enraptured alongside Clem. Clem's starstruck start did settle and I loved seeing the slow and gentle start to a connection.

This read was hard to put down and I read most of it in a day. It was the kind of chemistry that had me glued to the page and devouring the highs and lows of their journey. The plot was full and the connection was magnetic.

It's been a while since I've read a rock star romance and once upon a time I'd seek these kinds of stories out. If Not For My Baby reminded me of what I'd missed. For me, this hit the spot like old favs from Kylie Scott and Kristen Callihan, so if you're a fan of those OG romances in the music world, you will love this. Newer romance readers also need this fix of addictive reading too. I can definitely see myself re-reading this to recapture the feels of these two MCs.

Thank you to the author for the review copy.

I can't explain how much I loved this book other than I read it in one sitting despite desperately needing a nap. Every single character was exquisitely crafted, the tour described so well and the EMOTION. The pining! The breakups and relationships! Clementine's relationship with her best friend and her mom really had me rooting for her by the end of the first chapter and I loved that we didn't lose these characters in the book. The mother-daughter love and respect was so well done and so genuine.

Molly and the rest of the tour group were honestly so well written and bounced off each other so well. It was an extraordinarily well written dynamic and I love that we got some closure for everyone at the end! The slow build between Clementine and Tom and the issues they faced together were very well done- not too quick to be unbelievable, not too slow so as to lose the passion and lust. I loved the contrast of Tom's school friends and family to the band.

6 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of If Not for My Baby!

OH MY GOODNESS. I adored this passionate, electrifying, and deeply moving love story—Tom and Clem’s connection is pure magic! Their chemistry is utter perfection, and this novel easily earns five blazing, fiery stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Apparently, my new favorite trope is introverted male musicians finding their muse, and the fact that Clem is his backup singer and doesn’t believe in love made it even better. 🤩🥹I absolutely devoured this.❤️

Kate Golden’s writing is lush, lyrical, and brimming with emotion. Every word feels intentional—moody, musical, and deeply heartfelt. It’s not just a love story—it’s a journey of self-discovery, friendship, family, and chasing dreams.

Highly recommend grabbing a copy of this book when it comes out on the 7th of August 2025 !

✨4.25 stars ✨
🌶️ 1 spice 🌶️

“Just because you don’t let yourself dream doesn’t mean you don’t have any.”

First off, thank you to Quercus Books for allowing me an e-arc of this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What to expect in this
* Singer x backing vocalist
* Tour
* MMC is inspired by Hozier
* Fibromyalgia representation
* Swoon worth MMC
* FMC learning to follow her dreams

I’m a puddle on the floor. I have swooned too much.
This book was ADORABLE. It was heartfelt, romantic, and tender through and through.

The part I loved most about it was 100% the MMC, Tom Hollaran. A singer that has lost his passion for touring and making music, who I can only picture as Hozier. He was such a romantic. I love me a poet and he was the perfect MMC.

I loved his relationship with our FMC Clementine. I will say it was a very quick to start romance but they were absolutely adorable together. I had so much fun reading about them.

The book is very much focused on the romance itself but it did have a beautiful character development with Clementine. I loved how she slowly grew to start following her dreams and opening herself up to chances.

There wasn’t really a solid plot but it was heartfelt all the way through and I had a good time!

Check TWs and CWs
Happy reading 🩶

4.5 stars rounded up.

If Not For My Baby follows Clementine Clark, a talented singer who has set her dreams of stardom - and romance - aside to care for her chronically ill mother. After her best friend calls her with a life-changing opportunity, Clementine joins Irish megastar Tom Holloran on his first US tour. Although she wants to reject the offer, Clementine knows the pay would change her and her mom's life. Overnight, Clementine goes from serving enchiladas to belting high notes before a cheering crowd alongside Holloran. The two couldn't see the world more differently. And yet, over the course of the next eight weeks on tour, the romantic rockstar might just strike an unforgettable chord in Clementine. But will it be enough for an encore?

I absolutely love a contemporary romance that incorporates music, and Kate Golden did such a fantastic job with this book. The lyrics, the connection the characters had to music, and the concert atmosphere were all written so well that I felt like I was in the crowd experiencing it for myself.

The characters were layered and complex. Clementine feels stuck in her small town, and gives up on chasing her dreams as she feels a sense of duty to care for her mother, who suffers from fibromyalgia. She’s also terrified of falling in love after seeing her mom get hurt time and time again. Her character development over the course of the book was incredible, and seeing her doing what she loves and opening her heart was so inspiring.

Tom Halloran is a musical genius who adores his fans, but struggles with the expectations of fame. He’s quietly introverted, struggles with anxiety, and would much rather stay on the tour bus with a cup of tea and a poetry book than go partying with his bandmates. He is 100% Hozier coded and I am here for it!

Tom and Clementine’s romance was full of longing, and I loved their flirty banter and simmering tension. They had such a beautiful connection, which only deepened as they allowed themselves to be vulnerable with each other. The spicy scenes were so steamy and very well written.

I also really enjoyed the tour bus and touring antics, as well as seeing Clementine build friendships with the rest of the band and the crew. Her relationship with her mom was so beautiful, and as someone whose mom is also their best friend, I could really relate.

The ending and epilogue were so perfect for the characters. This book had me laughing, swooning, blushing, and crying. I truly had the best time reading it, and I really hope Kate Golden writes more contemporary romances!

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

Arc supplied by NetGalley and Quercus Books

5 stars

This is the kind of book I would like any romantasy author to write when they choose to do an only romancer book bc this book was literally magic. The romance and connection felt so real making the spice scenes feel much more connectable than cringy.

An entertaining read with the MMC closely based of everyone’s favourite Irish bog creature, Hozier!

I liked this but I can’t stand when it’s repeatedly mentioned how tiny the FMC is compared to the gigantic MMC. The author actually used “Tiny Girl ™” at one point in the book and I full body cringed… so that’s why it’s only 3 stars from me.

I was honestly so happy I was accepted to read this as I love Kate Golden's previous books and I've highly anticipated 'If Not For My Baby' - I loved this so much!! I fell in love with all the characters and their dynamics with one another, but I definitely felt immersed in Clementine and Tom's blossoming relationship. I want to read more!! I didn't want to put it down. This book was gorgeous.

Clementine Clark no busca el amor. Después de crecer viendo a su madre enamorarse (y desenamorarse) cada semana, ha aprendido a blindar su corazón y a enterrar sus propios sueños, incluyendo su pasión por la música. Pero todo cambia cuando su mejor amiga le ofrece la oportunidad de unirse como corista a la gira estadounidense del enigmático cantante irlandés Thomas Halloran, un artista que combina poesía, introversión y una presencia escénica magnética. Lo que empieza como una decisión puramente económica, pronto se transforma en un torbellino emocional que pondrá a prueba sus creencias y barreras autoimpuestas.


La relación entre Clementine y Tom evoluciona de manera apresurada, bordeando el insta-love, lo que le resta realismo a su vínculo. A pesar de que Tom se presenta como un protagonista masculino sensible, paciente y alejado del estereotipo de rockstar posesivo, Clementine (quien narra toda la novela) resulta una protagonista difícil de conectar. Sus decisiones son contradictorias: rechaza a Tom mientras se obsesiona con él, actúa con celos irracionales y dramatiza escenas por malentendidos mínimos (como cuando huye llorando porque alguien menciona a la ex de Tom, aunque ella ya sabía de su existencia). Este vaivén emocional y su inclinación a esperar que otros adivinen lo que realmente quiere, hacen que su personalidad se sienta inconsistente y, por momentos, agotadora.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

What a book. Simply perfection. For any music lover, this book is a must. The way Kate Golden describes the emotions felt in response to music is so vivid and relatable, it gave me shivers.

The chemistry between our characters is *chefs kiss*, the tension building is delicious, it'll leave you swooning and wishing for more. The depth of characters shown in this story is un-matched, the relationship they craft from healing something within each other is so real, its beautiful.

I’m not sure how to rate this book as it was a fun read but it did feel like a Hozier fanfic towards the end, especially the epilogue. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t as obvious but maybe that’s just a me thing. I liked the first half best as it grabbed me right away and the found the main character likeable. It just lost me a bit towards the middle as I could see where it was going and her decisions annoyed me. I am more of a fantasy reader so I definitely want to read more of the author’s fantasy work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the digital ARC.

I loved this one 🥹 I am someone who loves a romance where music plays a central role, and Kate’s writing about music was beautiful, especially the way she described Halloran’s singing and songwriting. The tour performances were written so well it felt like stepping into the crowd and enjoying it alongside the characters.

Halloran is completely Hozier coded, he’s a famously talented Irish singer with a passion for music, but also someone who’s quietly introverted and struggles with anxiety. It made him feel endearing, and his connection with Clementine was intense and beautiful, full of longing, vulnerability, and genuine care.

Clementine herself was a great FMC and very inspiring. She was the perfect reminder to chase your dreams and live life on your own terms, doing what brings you joy. Her journey was empowering and I loved her relationship with her mum. Their emotional heart to heart toward the end had me tearing up 🥺 I also loved watching Clementine build relationships with the tour crew, and her found family dynamic particularly with Indy and Molly was lovely.

There are a couple of spicy scenes (and they’re great!), but honestly what had me giggling was the flirting and tension 🤭

Thank You so much to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC. This was so good! I've wanted this book for months so was so happy when I got this approved. Clementine Clarke is such a great character, she felt so real with her dating troubles and love spectisim. Tom Halloran may be one of the best book boyfriends I have ever read. He was so supportive and sweet. While this book is a Celebrity X 'Normal' Person, Halloran definitely felt so humble that I forgot that he was a Rockstar. Overall I absolutely adored this book and highly recommend that you give it a look!

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/04ac4556-f5bb-4ef5-b62e-5d0667ec2641

I have been desperately waiting for this arc, and it did not disappoint! I'm so incredibly in love with Clementine and Tom. They have such an easy nature together that I find comforting. Golden's prose is idyllic and swept me away into their world. I wish to forget this book so I can read it over and over again. I am so excited for a physical copy to annotate and mark up with all my favourite nods to the inspiration. Definietly recommending this for my Romance Bookclub at work! One of my favourite reads of the year so far!

This is the first book in a very long time that has made me stay up most of the night because I couldn’t stop reading!

The way Kate Golden talks about music in the first half felt like therapy for all the times I’ve been completely overcome with emotion and cried my eyes out over song lyrics while the person next to me sings along and doesn’t understand why I’m so emotional. Clementine made me feel seen! The connection between Clementine and Tom felt so genuine and the tension was incredible. If Not for My Baby has easily joined First Time Caller as a favourite contemporary romance of the year so far.