About the Book:
From Tracey Garvis Graves, the bestselling author of The Girl He Used to Know comes a love song of a story about starting over and second chances in Heard It in a Love Song.
Love doesn’t always wait until you’re ready.
Layla Hilding is thirty-five and recently divorced. Struggling to break free from the past—her glory days as the lead singer in a band and a ten-year marriage to a man who never put her first—Layla’s newly found independence feels a lot like loneliness.
Then there’s Josh, the single dad whose daughter attends the elementary school where Layla teaches music. Recently separated, he’s still processing the end of his twenty-year marriage to his high school sweetheart. He chats with Layla every morning at school and finds himself thinking about her more and more.
Equally cautious and confused about dating in a world that favors apps over meeting organically, Layla and Josh decide to be friends with the potential for something more. Sounds sensible and way too simple—but when two people are on the rebound, is it heartbreak or happiness that’s a love song away?
(This title releases on November 9, 2021)
My Review:
I could not wait for this one after reading several of the author’s earlier books and absolutely LOVING them!! (And how stunning is this cover?!) I would not call ‘Heard It in a Love Song’ a romance per se because the focus is really on the main characters’ growth and experiences after their respective divorces; however, there are most definitely elements of romance in the story and the book ends on a very hopeful, upbeat note.
The author writes in a unique way, exploring the timelines of Layla and Josh’s past relationships and alternating that with their present-day lives. Both Layla and Josh are very strong characters and their stories will resonate with many readers. They are both extremely relatable, and for me, books about second-chance relationships are always enjoyable.
Layla is thirty-five and recently divorced from her husband. She gave up her passion and her dream of being a professional singer and now finally is able to explore her true self. Josh is the father of a student at Layla’s school and is also experiencing coming out of a long relationship. While I didn’t feel a lot of emotion or tension with his character, I appreciated his struggles to find someone he could connect with.
I am certain that the audiobook version narrated by the wonderful Andi Arndt is probably fantastic. Because Layla is a former band member, I would love to hear how her story is narrated!
Tracey Garvis-Graves is a fantastic writer and I read this book in one day. If you love contemporary and women’s fiction, you will like this book. It is a fresh, optimistic story about finding yourself, pursuing your passion and second chances.
(Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.)
